Ch#93
“It's break!”
“Hooray!”
As the bell signaling the official end of Yeongjae Academy's first semester rang out, cheers erupted from students everywhere.
Ibi's group was no exception.
“It's finally over!”
Ruska climbed onto his chair, spread his arms wide, and rejoiced as if he'd just escaped from prison.
Ibi clapped beside him, while Airin, Arcel, and Professor Males watched with expressions of 'What's with him now?'
“Trapped in the prison called school for the crime of being a student, suffering the punishment called studying…… Aaaah! Professor!”
Professor Males, who had snuck up, grabbed Ruska's ear and pulled him down to the floor.
“What? Prison? Punishment? You punk, what is studying! It's a student's duty—why call it punishment!”
“Ow, ow, it hurts! You're serious, Professor!”
Airin plugged her ears at Ruska's wail of pain mixed with his yells.
Her face said the fool was being foolish again today.
“Anyway, that ends the first semester.”
Professor Males released Ruska's ear and spoke with regret.
Pride filled his eyes as he looked at the four seated children.
At first, he hadn't wanted to teach anyone.
Just lend his name to the professorship, collect a decent salary, do personal research, and retire to a pensioned life.
That had been Professor Males's original dream.
But now, everything had changed.
‘It's all thanks to Ibi.’
When only one student signed up for his class, he'd thought he'd have an easy year with just that one.
So he'd assigned absurd homework, waiting for them to give up.
‘But then…… a bundle of luck rolled right to me.’
Teach one, enlighten ten. Every question was so commendable that he couldn't help pouring his heart into teaching.
And the bundle of luck didn't come alone.
She brought Airin, then Arcel and Ruska too.
Teaching the four children for a semester rekindled long-forgotten memories.
From long ago, when he first became a professor—among students grumbling about difficulty, his disciples whose eyes sparkled brightly.
Right then, a letter arrived from Lucy. She was the disciple who sent regular updates.
Professor Males wrote a reply after ages. Lucy rushed over, met Ibi, and joyfully invited her to the group gathering.
She even asked him to come since everyone was waiting.
Hearing that made his throat tighten unexpectedly.
‘Am I getting old……?’
He regretted distancing himself from such precious things just because he hated faction fights and show-offs.
‘At least it's not too late.’
Second semester would start and autumn would come, bringing many gatherings here and there.
‘I'll take Ibi to my disciples' gatherings then.’
He looked forward to seeing his disciples after so long and introducing Ibi to them.
‘Taking her to such gatherings often before the Autumn Ball means she won't be too surprised.’
Thinking of the Autumn Ball made Professor Males's stomach ache.
The Autumn Ball was a grand event held at the start of the autumn festival among the four seasonal rites.
During that time, virtually every noble house and major group held balls.
Yeongjae Academy was no different. At the autumn festival's start, it hosted a splendid ball.
Students who usually wore only uniforms inside Yeongjae Academy were permitted formal ball attire that day, making the hall dazzling.
‘If only I could hold my kid's hand and go!’
Now a chief professor, he'd made Ibi his prized disciple.
If Professor Sian Rosen was some nobody, he'd switch to himself as guardian right away.
That way, he could handle Ibi's affairs even better and attend the Autumn Ball together.
How startled would a young child, raised without much, be at a ball hosted by the imperial palace?
Besides, Yeongjae Academy's Autumn Ball was essentially for guardians.
A place for subtle competitions boasting about whose guardian or child was better.
They could build solid connections too. With virtually every famous figure attending, how could they not?
Wouldn't it be better for him to go rather than the barely-seen Professor Sian?
That's what he'd thought…….
“Professor! So what's our break homework?”
Professor Males snapped out of his thoughts at Ruska's sudden loud voice.
He spoke to Ruska, who clearly itched to bolt out immediately.
“Ruska, you finish all of Advanced Math Volume 1. Airin, solve the 30 problems I picked for you. Ibi and Arcel don't need more.”
“Aaaah! Why only me!”
“Why? Because you always scheme ways to avoid studying, punk! Airin can grasp it quickly by solving a few tough ones, and Ibi and Arcel don't need more!”
“Unfair!”
“Take it up with your laziness!”
Their bickering echoed in the classroom for a while longer.
“Anyway, have a good break! I'll be at Yeongjae Academy often during vacation too, so drop by if you have questions or get bored!”
“Yes!”
Professor Males waved brightly at Ibi's reply.
He lightly smacked Ruska's head as he passed muttering 'Who comes to study on break?'
Professor Males kept waving until the four children were out of sight.
‘She'll stay at Airin's house during break.’
Seeing Ibi smiling hand-in-hand with Airin, he had no worries about her being lonely.
* * *
The four left the classroom and headed to the dorms with bright faces.
Ruska stared mournfully at the homework from Professor Males before shoving it into his bag carelessly and said to Ibi.
“Ibi, don't forget! You have to come visit my house!”
“Yes! Of course!”
Ibi answered energetically, but Arcel cut in from beside her.
“Remember my house comes first too?”
“Of course!”
At that, Ruska's face fell again.
“Damn lottery……”
Airin, Arcel, and Ruska had insisted Ibi stay at their houses first during break.
“I promised first!”
“Where's the proof! Ibi might side with you because she's too nice!”
“What? Hey!”
As Airin and Ruska growled, Arcel calmly suggested.
“How about we do it fairly with a draw?”
“Why should I! I promised first!”
Airin resisted, but Ruska refused to accept otherwise, so she agreed to the draw.
The result: Airin 1st, Arcel 2nd, Ruska 3rd.
“This is a lie!”
“Victory for justice!”
As Ruska despaired and Airin rejoiced, Arcel muttered, ‘As long as it's not last…….’
That had been a few days ago.
At the plaza, Arcel and Ruska split off toward the boys' dorm.
“See you later! I'll write from Airin's house!”
“See you, Ibi, Airin.”
Ruska and Arcel waved and left, and Ibi and Airin hurried to the girls' dorm.
The dorm was already bustling with kids rushing home.
“Let's hurry too!”
“Yes!”
At Airin's words, Ibi entered her room and quickly changed.
It was the outfit she'd worn coming to Yeongjae Academy and when going out with Clois for the festival.
It was the best among Ibi's clothes.
Ibi packed her other belongings neatly into the large bag from Yeongjae Academy and staggered out carrying it.
“All packed?”
Outside, Airin waited, already changed.
It was as pretty as what she'd seen the first day entering the dorm.
“Airin, you look like a princess!”
Ibi gaped and clapped, and Airin spun gracefully, elegantly brushing back her hair as if to admire fully.
Even in Yeongjae Academy uniform, Airin couldn't hide her strikingly gorgeous beauty.
In pretty clothes, she was even more dazzling.
“Like this kind of outfit?”
“Yes! So pretty! Even prettier on you, Airin!”
“How do you always say the most delightful things. Good thing you're not a boy. Otherwise, I'd propose right now.”
Airin rubbed Ibi's cheeks with both hands, delighted.
“Anyway, you said you liked stuff like this?”
Ibi felt an ominous vibe seeing Airin's sly grin.
Something was off. Airin clearly had plans…….
“Let's go first. I'll carry your bag. Whew, what's so heavy?”
Airin took Ibi's bag from her shoulder and clicked her tongue.
“It's heavy! I'll carry it!”
“Nonsense. How could you!”
The two tussled over it going downstairs.
Family carriages waited in front of the dorm to take the children.
No need to search for the Terins family carriage.
An overwhelmingly large, beautiful one had been waiting right in front since who knows when.
As all students watched enviously, the Terins family coachman took Ibi's luggage politely and opened the door.
“Wow. First time riding something like this.”
Ibi looked around in awe inside the carriage, and Airin said.
“Can't be surprised already.”
“Huh? Why?”
A scheming smile spread across Airin's face.
“You'll have tons of surprises today.”
