This Time, I Am A Mob's Potions Teacher Who Has Become Engaged To The Mastermind Of The Otome Game - 7

Curious about what Noel and Alois had been talking about, I finally gathered the courage to ask him.

“Prince Alois, would you mind telling me? What were you discussing with Professor Fabius?”

“We were talking about the magical beast. Professor Fabius sensed something and warned me. He said it was probably sent to target me, so the one responsible is likely nearby—and that I should be careful.”

So Noel was trying to protect Alois.

The moment I realized that, the tension drained from my shoulders, and I felt a pang of guilt deep in my heart—for doubting him, even a little.

I hadn’t fully trusted Noel.

Even though I thought I believed he wasn’t the same as the Noel from the game… somewhere in my heart, I still suspected he might betray Alois. I still harbored that doubt.

“Professor Bellecour… I have a favor to ask. I—”

“GYAAAAH!! MOOOOORIIII!! Blow this bug away right now!!”

“I-I can’t! I’m scared of bugs toooo!”

Alois’s words were drowned out by Sara’s high-pitched scream.

Her voice grew louder and louder as it came closer, followed by the sound of rustling leaves and snapping branches—until Sara, Dieter, and Frederic burst into view.

Sara was clinging to Dieter, and on his back was a huge bug.

It looked eerily similar to that shiny black abomination from my previous life, and it was named “Zii.”

I’m pretty sure—no, absolutely sure—that bug was modeled after that insect.

Naturally, with such a disgusting thing stuck to his back, Sara had panicked and tried to cling to Dieter for help. But he ran away, and in the chaos of chasing after him, they ended up straying far from the rest of the group. Frederic must have followed them to bring them back.

I could more or less piece together what had happened.

“Not with your bare hands! Use magic! I don’t care if you burn it off, just get it off my back, now!”

“Hey! You two! Would you please stop running around?!”

As Sara and Dieter frantically ran from the bug, Frederic swatted it off with the sheath of his sword and promptly finished it off.

“Waaah, thank you, Gira! You’re the best!”

We’re way off from the rest of the class, and all she can say is “you’re the best”?
These troublemakers…

I shot them a sharp glare, and all three of them instantly looked apologetic.

“S-Sorry… A big bug flew at Luffie, and she panicked, and…”

“I can guess the rest. But listen carefully, alright? You’re lucky you had a teacher and your classmates nearby this time. But if you act like this when it’s just a small group exploring the forest… you could end up as monster food. So be more careful, understood?”This isn’t meant to scare them.

Right now, this is a school lesson—there are adults like us doing everything we can to ensure the students’ safety.
But if they ever enter the forest on their own, their only lifeline will be the companions they’re with.

If they end up separated, they’ll be easy targets for magical beasts or any number of other dangerous creatures that inhabit the forest.

That’s exactly what this class is meant to teach them. And yet these three wandered off on their own, so it’s my duty to correct them. I need them to truly understand the importance of what we’re trying to teach here.

“Yeees, sorryyyy!”

“S-Sorry… We’ll be more careful.”

“…Apologies. It was my carelessness.”

The three of them mumbled their apologies one after another.

“Good. Now then, let’s go back to the others.”

“What about Professor Fabius? Why isn’t he here?”

Sara looked around, eyes darting in every direction as she searched for Noel.

“Professor Fabius went to check on the forest. He’ll be back soon.”

“It’s dangerous for him to go alone. He’s not being protected by anyone, right? All the teachers are busy protecting us students.”

“…Yes, you’re right…”

Just as she said—right now, Noel is completely alone, heading deeper into the forest to investigate the magical beast.
No one knows what might be lurking out there.

Noel may be strong, but that doesn’t mean he’s invincible.
The thought of what if something happened to him—
It filled me with a crushing sense of dread.

“Alright! Let’s go help Professor Fabius!”

“Wait, what?! Lufie—hold on!”

Sara grabbed my hand and tried to skip off toward the depths of the forest.

Just as I moved to stop her, a thunderous roar echoed from within the trees—it shook the ground beneath our feet.

What if something had happened to Noel?

Dark thoughts swirled through my mind, refusing to be silenced—until Alois looked up at me, his eyes filled with resolve.

“Let’s go too. I can’t stand the thought of leaving Professor Fabius to face danger alone.”

Exactly. Even knowing how strong Noel is, we didn’t want him to bear this alone.

I squeezed Sara’s hand in return.

“Yes… I feel the same.”

At this point, there’s only one thing we can do.

“Let’s go save him—together. And we can all get scolded afterward. I’m sure Professor Goudimel is already fuming mad.”

“Waaah! Not Goudimel-sensei’s lectures again! Spare meee!”

“Hey, Lufie. If you hate getting scolded so much, maybe try following the rules once in a while. Watching you is nerve-wracking, you know.”

And so, with my noisy little group in tow, I stepped into the depths of the forest.

Noel—wait for us.
We’re coming to you.

I won’t let you fight alone.