The Master of the Villains Has Disappeared

The accommodations at Primus were quite well-equipped.

The proof was that Isabel, a noblewoman to the bone, didn't feel any particular discomfort.

Of course, the size itself couldn't be compared to the Yurt family mansion.

But perhaps because it was for professors, there were separate facilities like a personal research room and a library, which I actually preferred over the mansion.

After all, the mansion had various difficulties for things like researching my body condition.

"Isabel~. Can you come here for a moment?"

After organizing all the luggage for two people, mine and Isabel's, I called Isabel and asked.

I was thinking of going to Primus's grand library for a bit, and wondered if she wanted to come along.

"Of course, you can stay here if you want. I'll just be looking for boring books."

"No, I want to go too."

Isabel gladly accepted my proposal and immediately clung close to me.

How should I put it, she's just like a puppy.

Come to think of it, it was a bit strange to say a person is like a dog, but her appearance resembled a puppy just before going for a walk.

It was quite cute how this girl with a slightly cat-like face was acting like a puppy.

After only seeing my disciples who had completely shed their childishness, seeing a real child like Isabel gave me a strong sense of contrast.

Hmm, those guys were cute sometimes too.

'I suppose I'm not much different in others' eyes...'

Perhaps it's because, like a certain high school detective, my body has become younger but my mind remains the same.

Even though I knew that to others, Isabel and I looked like same-age friends, to me, Isabel felt closer to a younger sister than a friend.

"Well then, shall we go?"

"Yes!"

Stepping out of the accommodations, I walked in step with Isabel towards Primus's grand library.

What I was looking for were ancient books.

Although it can't be compared to the ancient kingdoms, Primus is also a place with quite a long history.

Especially Primus's grand library is a treasure trove of wisdom where all kinds of books from across the continent gather.

'I should be able to find some clues at least.'

The grand library was the place with the highest possibility of having information about the strange life-extension magic that had turned me into this state.

Orphion, who had brought me to Primus, had also suggested visiting the grand library.

These were the reasons that finally made me push open the doors of the grand library.

What followed was the sight of various books piled up like mountains.

"Wow, it's huge..."

"It is big. Definitely..."

Both Isabel and I were equally surprised by the scale of the grand library.

It was enough to make one momentarily mistake it for the imperial palace.

"Hm? Who... are you?"

"Ah, I'm─"

Thanks to the professor's token given by the dean, the entry procedure didn't take long.

Although they couldn't believe that such a young child was a professor and contacted the dean's office, in the end, they let us in without much fuss.

They did turn pale for a moment when something about an ancient dragon was mentioned.

'Hmm, where should I start...'

Finally arriving at the center of the grand library, I looked around and fell into thought.

What was unexpected was that Isabel, who had disappeared somewhere for a moment, came back with romance novels.

When I asked her where she found such things, Isabel answered with intuition.

She said she had a feeling there might be some interesting books, so she searched every nook and cranny and found these.

"Leta, do you want to read together?"

"Ah, no. I have something else to look for."

Carefully rejecting Isabel's offer, I first moved towards the history books section.

While I was looking for clues about the ancient kingdoms, it was also because all the novels Isabel had brought were female-oriented reverse harem stories.

'It's impossible without even needing to read them.'

It was obvious that if I read novels about multiple men chasing after one woman, my sanity would surely be locked in the room of spirit and time.

While they might be interesting for Isabel, they were very awkward novels for me.

Therefore, instead of novels about a noble girl managing her love interests, I sat next to Isabel with thick hardcover books recording the continent's history.

Especially those recording the history of the region where the Diarkh Kingdom existed.

Soon, the only sound that could be heard was the rustle of turning pages.

I was absorbed in my book, and Isabel in hers.

However, when I had read about half of a book titled "The Beginning Was Brilliant".

"Excuse me..."

"?"

An unfamiliar voice tapped my shoulder and spoke to me.

As I slightly shifted my gaze to the side, I encountered a pendant engraved with the divine beast's emblem.

My heart sank at the sight of that small pendant that only the imperial family could possess.

Although fortunately it wasn't one of my disciples, in a way, that made it even more necessary to show proper respect to this unfamiliar royal.

This was the reason I carefully called Isabel.

"Isabel, Isabel."

"Hm? What... Ah!"

Recognizing the imperial symbol, Isabel also showed proper respect to the royal.

Of course, I did the same.

I grasped the edge of my long cloak with my fingertips and slightly bowed my waist in greeting.

What followed was a voice that sounded slightly flustered for some reason.

"Oh, I didn't mean to force you to greet me."

The royal, with an awkward smile, said this and revealed her name.

However, while the face was unfamiliar, the name wasn't so strange.

'If it's Princess Irina, surely, at that time...'

The child who was there at that moment when I declared Lilian as my disciple in the middle of the imperial palace.

The young girl who asked with a surprised face if my disciple was really her sister.

However, she had grown to the point of being unrecognizable, even possessing a trace of maturity.

Although I couldn't act like I knew her just because I belatedly recognized the princess.

'...Time really flies.'

Finally lifting my head slightly to meet the princess's eyes, I carefully asked her business.

Almost simultaneously, her slender index finger pointed to one of the books piled up at my seat.

"'The Prosperity and Decline of the Arieta Empire'. If you're done reading it, I was wondering if I could take a look."

"Ah, yes. Here you go."

"Thank you~."

Actually, it was a book I hadn't read yet.

But refusing the princess's request would be like shouting "I want to be arrested for blasphemy".

As it wasn't such a difficult request, there was no particular reason to refuse.

However, the princess who received the book I handed over tilted her head while looking at me and Isabel.

Then came one question.

"Were you on the train by any chance? I mean, the train that was attacked? I think I saw you at the station."

I nodded slightly to affirm the princess's question, who seemed to be feeling a sense of déjà vu.

However, as she didn't seem to know that I was a professor yet, I didn't give any further answer.

'I wonder how she would react if she knew I was the one who drove the train like a roller coaster...'

If the princess had fallen when I made the train fly, I would have to write an incident report first.

Therefore, it was better not to reveal that I was the one who lifted the train into the sky.

Fortunately, Isabel, who knew the truth, didn't reveal my real identity either.

It seemed closer to not being able to speak up due to lack of courage to talk to royalty, but well, anyway.

"It was nice to meet you, Princess Irina."

Once again picking up the hem of our cloaks with our fingertips, Isabel and I said goodbye to the princess.

The princess responded to this greeting by lightly waving her hand.

Come to think of it, we were destined to face the princess again at the opening ceremony in a few days.

But right now, finding more clues about the ancient kingdoms was more important than talking with the princess.

After that, only the sound of turning pages could be heard again.

Although Isabel's occasional gasps and inhales were distracting, I didn't have the courage to peek at the reverse harem novel.

○

"How... is it? Does it suit me?"

"Yes."

On the day of Primus's opening ceremony.

Having just finished all preparations, I gave a thumbs up while looking at Isabel in her school uniform.

The next thing I did was sit Isabel down on a long nearby bench.

Sure enough, I responded to the puzzled Isabel with a photo magic.

"...It came out well."

This was a kind of habit.

When my disciples were still young, I used to take pictures of them growing up.

The reason was simple.

Just to recall memories, thinking "This is how it was back then".

Thinking it would be better to leave a few photos than none at all, I took pictures at every opportunity.

Although I couldn't take many after my disciples had grown to a certain extent.

Anyway, right now, heading to where the entrance ceremony was being held was more important than reminiscing about old memories.

As usual, I moved with Isabel and arrived at the already noisy large auditorium.

"Then, see you later."

As I had to attend as a new professor, not a new student of Primus, I headed to where the professors were gathered instead of sitting next to Isabel.

The Primus opening ceremony began shortly after.

The students were introduced by the dean who stood on the stage, and the faculty members were also being introduced.

—Mana Design subject. Professor Leta Yurt.

Finally, at the moment my name was called, I walked onto the stage like the other professors and briefly gazed at the numerous Primus students.

Currently, I was wearing a pure white robe instead of a school uniform.

It was an extremely ordinary robe except for the emblem symbolizing the ancient dragon drawn on its surface.

-Murmur murmur.

-Murmur murmur.

'...Hmm.'

The impact of the emblem must have been significant, as the murmuring showed no signs of subsiding.

Still, well, the fact that I was a professor had already been announced by the dean, so.

Thinking there wouldn't be any problem, I lightly waved my hand towards Isabel and then gently sat down in the seat prepared behind the stage.

I deliberately ignored the fact that Princess Irina's expression, visible far away, was taking the form of shock.

○

｢That child I met in the grand library was actually a professor. And one under the protection of the ancient dragon... What if I've offended the professor?｣

"...Hmm."

The woman who held Princess Irina's letter in her fingertips tilted her head slightly and then fell into thought.

Although it didn't seem like her sister was hiding anything in particular, she felt like she was missing something.

"Leta Yurt, huh..."