This Time, I Am A Mob's Potions Teacher Who Has Become Engaged To The Mastermind Of The Otome Game - 1

I was out late at night, despite the hour.

As I walked through the pitch-black darkness with no stars in sight, I eventually found myself in a corridor.

Thanks to the flickering flames of the sconces attached to the pillars, the corridor was brightly lit, and I felt a small sense of relief.

“Out and about at this hour? You’re being a naughty girl.”

When I heard that voice and turned around, he was there.

The man I met in the corridor at night smiled gently at me.

It was a smile that should’ve been charming and friendly, and yet, the moment I saw it, I felt as if a cold hand had brushed across my heart.

“Fabius-sensei, why are you out here?”

My voice came out high and tight.

“Why do you think?”

As he slowly approached, the shadow at his feet moved in a way that was clearly unnatural.

Eh? I wonder why?”

“Leticia, you’re really bad at hiding things, you know? I think you’ve already figured it out, haven’t you?”

His low, calm voice was pleasant to listen to, and yet something felt very wrong.

My instincts were screaming at me to run, and I stepped back—but the distance between us only kept shrinking.

“It seems I miscalculated. I never imagined you’d get in the way this much. I thought someone like you wouldn’t be able to handle the power of light. I should’ve erased you back in the garden that day.”

“Get in the way? What are you talking about…?”

“You still don’t understand?”

He lightly touched his chin, eyes narrowing in amusement. There was something almost seductively dangerous about his demeanor.

“In that case, let’s do a little review before the end—just you and your teacher.”

I wanted to block my ears, to shut it all out—but my hands wouldn’t move.

His voice reached me, every word sinking in.

Tools

“It was you who defeated the monster in Finis Forest and saved Prince Alois, wasn’t it? You were also the one who brought back Clarlac after he was consumed by the book of dark magic. I found traces of light magic in the library. I saw with my own eyes how you calmed the magic that Moria had lost control over. At Lacrima Lake, you soothed the spirit that Gerard had enraged. They only listened because you’re a Lightbearer who treated them as equals. And lastly, Doruille—the traitor. Kindhearted as you are, you protected him from the assassin who came for him, even after he drank the elixir of Sia and became something inhuman. You brought him back.”

He spoke without pause, piling fact upon fact, and the bewitching smile on his face slowly twisted into something darker.

“Everything failed to go as planned because you kept getting in the way. I thought Seraphine would handle you properly, but she turned out to be completely useless.”

“You… used Miss Seraphine?”

“Such a harsh way to put it. Let’s just say she cooperated with me.”

Suddenly, a sharp cracking sound rang out.

Looking back toward the school building, flames erupted—and in the blaze, a creature that looked like a winged black panther was rampaging through the grounds.

“Who are you, really? There’s no way an ordinary commoner could wield the power of light.”

“I am just a commoner, like you said. But I wanted to help bring happiness to the people of this country, so I asked the power of light to lend me its strength.”

“How amusing. Do you really believe this country is worth saving?”

The smile vanished from his face.

In its place, hatred surfaced. Thunder rumbled overhead as dark clouds began to gather around them.

“I want to destroy this country—this place that only takes and takes, that inflicts endless despair.”

I have to stop him.

But my body won’t move the way I want it to.

Before I realized it, he was already standing right in front of me.

Noel, don’t do this.

Noel… Noel… Please, realize it.

If you go through with this, it’ll only bring you more pain…!

His hand reaches out toward me.

And as he does, I see it—part of the back of his hand is no longer human skin, but covered in black scales.

Then, my vision goes dark.

◇

“Waaaahhhhhh!!”

I woke up to the sound of my own scream.

The familiar ceiling came into view, and I realized I was lying in my bed, in my dorm room.

“It… was just a dream.”

My heart was still pounding from how vivid it had felt, and even though it was the cold season, I was drenched in sweat.

It had been terrifying.

That person—he—who appeared in my dream just now was Noel from the game.
That was a memory from WizLove that had turned into a dream.
And of all things, it had to be one of the most traumatic scenes. Just my luck.

I tried to go back to sleep, but Jill hit me with a cat punch.

“Hey, girlie! Keep dawdling and you’ll be heading out without breakfast!”

“Ah! I’ve got to hurry!”

Just as Jill said—it was barely enough time.

At times like this, the role of Leticia Bellecour as a background character came in handy—
all she had to do was wear the usual outfit and style her hair the usual way, and she was ready to go in no time.

With the help of a maid hired by the academy, I quickly transformed into my usual role as the Potions Instructor and left the room.