This Time, I Am A Mob's Potions Teacher Who Has Become Engaged To The Mastermind Of The Otome Game - 3
On the morning of the new school term, the class assignments were posted in the grand hall of the main building, and the students eagerly crowded around to check which class they’d been placed in.
Amid the cheers and groans echoing through the hall, one particularly loud voice of despair stood out.
It was the heroine, Sarah.
She looked like she was about to collapse, supported by Isabelle, who stood by her side.
“Why…?”
Completely devastated, Sarah dropped to the floor where she stood. Her lips trembled, her eyes welled with tears—she looked as though her world had just fallen apart.
“I can’t believe I’m in a different class from Isabelle! I don’t want to go to a classroom without her!”
“Sarah, we’re still in the same grade, so don’t let it get you down.”
“B-but even if we’re in the same grade, your classroom’s all the way at the end of the hallway—it’s way too far!”
That’s right—Isabelle had been placed in the class led by Professor Goudimel, which meant she was now in the same class as Orson.
As for the rest of the group, they were all placed in my class.
I was also sad that she ended up in a different class, but more than that, I was uneasy about her being with Orson. Isabelle is the daughter of a duke and the fiancée of a prince—she has way too many qualities that could put her on Orson’s radar.
In the game, Orson had been focused solely on Sarah, so it hadn’t been a problem,but in this world, Sarah hasn’t awakened her powers as a light wielder yet, so the situation has already changed.
Please… let nothing happen.
◇
On the first day of the new term, there are no classes.
All we do is give a brief orientation to the students in our assigned class.
Because of that, things wrapped up quickly, and as I was heading to the prep room, I ran into Orson in the corridor.
“Leti-sensei! I’m so happy to see you again!”
“L-leti…?!”
Whoa, whoa, whoa—way too familiar.
Who gave you permission to call me by a nickname?
Are you my boyfriend or something?
“Mr. Doruille, let’s start by correcting your attitude toward your elders.”
“Sorryyy! I just felt so relieved when I saw you, I let my guard down!”
Is that so.
Meanwhile, the moment I saw you, my internal stress bar maxed out.
“Well, I’m glad you’re feeling relaxed, Mr. Doruille.”
“Actually, there’s something I wanted to ask you, sensei.”
“You’re welcome to ask, but please mind your tone when speaking to a teacher or someone in a position of authority.”
“Geez, sensei, you’re so uptight!”
Just as I was about to give him one more warning so I wouldn’t be swept up in his playful attitude, I felt a sudden jolt and reflexively shut my eyes.
Jill was breathing heavily, and Micah let out a low growl.
When I opened my eyes to see what had happened—
Orson’s face was right in front of mine, dangerously close.
“Mr. Doruille, this is a serious conversation. Please don’t fool around.”
“I am trying to listen seriously, sensei.”
By the way, I was now pinned against the wall, with his arms on either side of me.
Trying to have this kind of conversation with a teacher… well, I guess that’s exactly what you’d expect from a romance game love interest. Honestly, I was almost impressed.
“Sensei, the other day you said, ‘So, you knew who I was, too,’ right? What did you mean by that? What exactly did you think I knew?”
Checkmate.
Even though I’d been so careful not to raise suspicion—
I had let it slip because I knew he was pretending not to know where the faculty office was, so I ended up saying “you knew me, too.”
“I-It was just a slip of the tongue. I was deep in thought at the time, that’s all.”
“Reaaally?”
Clearly, my answer didn’t satisfy Orson.
Well, of course it didn’t. He already suspected something—he wouldn’t accept a vague excuse so easily.
“Professor Bellecour… you’re not just an ordinary teacher, are you?”
“Oh? Are you saying I’m strange?”
“Nooo, I mean special.”
He flashed me a bright, friendly smile—
but behind that cheerful face, I sensed something ominous…
For a moment, I seriously thought today might be the day I die.
I was seconds away from seeing my life flash before my eyes—
when someone suddenly pulled Orson away from me.
With my vision unobstructed again, I saw Alois, gripping Orson’s shoulder with a suspicious look on his face.
Their eyes met—and for a brief moment, a strange silence hung between them.
“So, you’re the transfer student from the Kingdom of Diesse?”
“Yup! Just call me Orson—nice to meetcha!”
“Alois Évrard Nox. You can call me Alois.”
“Eh?! Nox—as in, the prince of this country?!”
If things go according to the game, Orson already knows what Alois looks like.
Maybe that’s why his reaction just now felt so fake.
“In this academy, I’m just another student. So please treat me that way.
Politics has no place here.”
Orson’s eyebrows twitched slightly.
“Hmm, not sure I really get it, but you seem like a good guy, Alois☆ Let’s be friends!”
With that, Orson ended the conversation and casually disappeared in the direction of the main building.
Only after he was out of sight did the tension finally drain from my body, and I let out a deep sigh.
“Professor Bellecour, are you alright?”
“Yes. Thank you for stepping in and speaking up.”
He really is a prince—appearing gallantly right when I needed help.
That concerned look he had when he arrived was so noble, I honestly wanted to install a screenshot button in my eyes to capture the moment forever.
“This might not be the best way to put it, but… please be careful around Orson.”
“Hehe, thank you for your concern. I’ll be fine.”
That’s all I could say to Alois… but inside, I was anything but fine.
Of all things, it seems Orson has his eye on me.
And it’s not like I have any special powers like Sarah…
I’ll need to start digging for answers.