Chapter 131: Excellent Negotiator

"Yeah, the wind is chasing me. But no one can keep up with the wind, so the circle closes, right?" (Camellia)

"￣へ￣... Well, that makes a lot of sense."

Phew, it was just a false alarm. I was already starting to worry. This girl is really peculiar and strange.

"Right?! Well, now that everything’s been said, take the entrance exam." (Camellia)

"Wait! I was in the middle of seducing Olivia. Let me finish."

"Ah! Right! Do you think that, as a teacher, I’m going to let you do all those things you said you’d do to my precious student? I definitely can’t allow that!" (Camellia)

"Hey, you shouldn’t be meddling in your students’ love lives. What’s wrong with Olivia having a little fun with me? Right, Olivia? You think it’s weird that she’s butting in, too, don’t you?"

"Huh? I-I... Um..." (Olivia)

"See? She says you shouldn’t meddle, too."

"Hmm, the academy has some rules regarding relationships, and as the exemplary professor that I am, I can’t just ignore them... But I’ll pretend I didn’t hear a thing if you take the academy’s entrance exam." (Camellia)

"?_?. Hmm, that doesn’t sound like something a professor should be doing."

"Why not? I’m doing it right now, so it becomes something a professor can do. And, just so you know, I’m not just a professor —I’m one of the best, a role model. Isn’t that right, Student Olivia?" (Camellia)

"Huh? This... I-I..." (Olivia)

"See? She has so many good things to say about me that she doesn’t know where to start. I’m excellent. Well, let’s see how you do on the test... Even if you fail it, I’ll find another way to get you in... even if it’s through the back door." (Camellia)

"Oh, so there’s a back door at the academy, too."

"Hmm, I think so—since people sometimes contact me about that—but I always refuse. But even if it doesn’t exist, I’ll create a back door just for you. If that doesn’t work, I’ll resort to some drastic measures. I’ve got some dirt on the principal I can use." (Camellia)

"Would you go that far just because the wind told you something without any proof?"

"Hmph, he’s never been wrong, and besides, when something interests me, I don’t hold back. If all else fails, I’ll use my influence to get you in as my assistant or something like that." (Camellia)

"I see. I can tell you’re very determined about this, but I want to confirm one thing first. If you answer it, I’ll consider the offer and take the entrance exam."

"You’ll just consider it?" (Camellia)

"?_?. Take it or leave it. Actually, you should be grateful I’m even considering it, considering you threatened to kill me not long ago."

Alright, I finally found the opportunity I’d been waiting for to ask.

"Ugh! I just got carried away by the atmosphere---. Fine, ask your question. Huh! What’s that thing you pulled out? Or rather, where did you get it? Is it an artifact or an skill?" (Camellia)

She’s sharp. Even though I tried to be discreet, just in case, I pulled the traveler’s watch out of my storage.

I didn’t know if I’d be touching on a sensitive subject, but I needed to know anyway.

"That’s not important. My question is whether you’re a user of a Dweller skill."

Well, I asked it. I really wanted to confirm it, since she mentioned blending into the wind and also appeared out of nowhere.

According to the letter, these are characteristics of Dweller skill.

Now, I don’t know if that question will make her attack me, but I’m not even going to try to keep up with her speed—it seems impossible.

As soon as I sense any negative intent, I’ll press the button and get out of here.

"Oh! That’s an interesting question, but you’re going to be disappointed, because in my family it’s forbidden to say anything related to... Huh? Can I answer? What about the pact? Seriously? Something big is going on here. In fact, it’s no coincidence that she asked that question. She must know something, too." (Camellia)

Luckily, I didn’t trigger any negative reaction in her.

It just looked like she was going to refuse, but in the middle of that, she seemed to start talking to someone—who I’m going to assume is the wind.

In that sense, she’s just like Amy.

"?_?".

"Wait! Don’t look at me like that. I’m talking to the wind—I’m not crazy." (Camellia)

"Just out of curiosity, does the wind have a form in your eyes, or can you see it somehow?"

"Huh? No, I can only hear it." (Camellia)

Well, I was actually looking at her like that because I wanted to see if I could sense anything, but it seems that, to begin with, the wind has no form, so it’s not like Amy, who seems to actually see her ’friends.’

"...I see. Then, I’ll assume you do have it."

In any case, her words had already confirmed everything for me: indeed, she possessed the skill.

And I wouldn’t rule out the possibility that talking to beings that no one else can see or hear is one of the characteristics that users of the Dweller abilities have.

Actually, I still don’t know if Amy is the one who’s supposed to have the ability.

She already said she only had two, but it could be like Rose’s case, where her profession requires it.

Well, I’ll have to figure that out later.

"Yeah. I don’t know how you know about her, but I guess you’re not going to tell me, are you?" (Camellia)

All right, this means she’s definitely a target—I’ve finally found the second user of the Dweller skill.

Now, the question is how to make that skill my own.

"No. And well, as for enrolling in the academy, like I said, I’ll consider it... and no, I can’t."

"Hey! What’s this? Why?... Actually, that’s not fair. I told you something that’s a family secret, and that consideration didn’t even last three seconds." (Camellia)

"Well... I’m really drawn to the idea of school life and all that, but, unfortunately, I can’t. You know, I’m a married woman and I have a massage parlor to run."

"M-married!" (Olivia)

"Oh, right. But don’t worry, sweet Olivia, that won’t stop us from having our fun. I think you and I are meant for something. I mean, we have so much in common—like... we’re both elves and... lots of other things I’ll figure out later."

"Wait, don’t change the subject again. I’m serious. About being a student—do you know how many nobles from so many kingdoms have tried to bribe me to get one of their incompetent sons into the academy because they can’t get in on their own merits?" (Camellia)

"Hmm, I’ll take a guess and say about forty-five."

"...Huh? How did you do that? You really got it right. Wait, can you read my mind?" (Camellia)

"No! I took a chance and won. Life is a gamble. Now, pay up!"

"Huh? Pay you?" (Camellia)

"Yes! I guessed right, didn’t I? If so, that means you lost, and therefore you have to pay me. Pay me with whatever you have on you. Or do you want to back out?!"

"/_ \ , I guess it’s true that you won. Haah, this was the money I was going to use to..." (Camellia)

"Oh! I see you don’t like giving money... Why don’t you trade it for something simpler, like basic magic books—something with basic spells? As a teacher, you must have some, right?"

"Oh, yeah, I have a few of those. Are you sure that’s all you want?" (Camellia)

"Yeah, I’m a flexible person."

Well, I was just joking, but she actually pulled out some basic magic books. Considering how expensive they were in the system shop, they came in handy.

Haha! A windfall is always welcome.

"...Miss Zephyr, didn’t you two make a bet? Why did you give her that? Besides, aren’t magic books more expensive than gold?" (Olivia)

"Huh?... Hey, that’s right! Give me that back! If you want them, you have to enroll in the academy, you know? Magic books are strictly regulated." (Camellia)

Oh, that explained why I couldn’t find anywhere to buy them. That means my profit was even better...

"So magic books are regulated, huh? I don’t think it’s right for you to be giving them away as payment for bets. I’ll make sure to keep that a secret. By the way, I’m serious about enrolling in the academy. I’m a married woman and I have a business to run, but maybe, when we have more financial freedom, I’ll be able to do it."

Well, I won’t deny that I’m interested in going to the academy, but even if I wanted to, I can’t.

I can only go out for a short time, and the doppelg?nger is already busy with Amy, so accepting her proposal is out of the question.

But I could put it off. Who knows if I’ll find a way in the future.

"You’ll have a scholarship sponsored by me. All your needs and school supplies will be covered." (Camellia)

"Even so, I’ll have to say no."

But even with my continued refusal, it seemed Camellia wasn’t going to give up. Unfortunately, no matter how she negotiates or what she offers, what can’t be done simply can’t be done.

"Oh, come on, what else do you want from me? Fine, it’s all or nothing. I’ll bet it all. Gh! You know, I like men, which means this is a huge concession. My final offer is that, if you enroll in the academy, I’ll let you do whatever you want with my body." (Camellia)

"(?_?) I’ll tak—!... Huh?"

This woman was an excellent negotiator, and just as I was about to accept, I suddenly got a strange, uneasy feeling.

There didn’t seem to be any immediate danger, but I sensed that something was about to happen and...

"Wait, something’s off. The wind is telling me something. Let’s postpone this."

Camellia also seemed to sense that something was strange through the wind.

’I’m going there with Shiro.’(Astan)

It seemed Astan sensed it too, and after a brief moment, he arrived at the corner where we were, along with Shiro.

"Huh? What’s he doing here? Ah! And that girl really was, after all, one of the Kiber—..." (Olivia)

Olivia seemed to realize that Astan was the one Lys was chasing, and she also seemed to recognize Shiro, which isn’t surprising.

But her words were cut short because, not long after they entered this corner, two more people rushed in.

"What do you think you’re doing with my sister!? Why are you bringing her here!?(?__?)" (Momoka)

"I told you to calm down. Don’t do anything rash. Oh, look, there’s Iris, and isn’t that Instructor Trinity? I had a feeling there were a lot of familiar scents in the area." (Scarlet)

They were Momo and Scarlet

"Huh? What’s going on here?" (Lys)

Lys had arrived, too. It looked like she was just going to take a quick look, but when she saw so many people gathered in that corner, she stepped forward and asked.

Well, anyway, she wasn’t hiding very well.

The situation itself seemed interesting to me in many ways, but there really wasn’t time to dwell on it because...

BROOMM!

There was the sound of an explosion. It didn’t seem to be that close, but it appeared to be big enough to be heard from a great distance, and not long after...

-This is an alert from the Argos system. Residents are advised that we are under attack by unknown forces. Do not leave your homes. Those outdoors are advised to take shelter inside a building.-

Suddenly, the bracelets began to vibrate and display a message. We all received it; apparently, we were under attack.

"So we really are under attack... Ugh! When did so many students show up? Well, you’re all good students. Stay here and stick together. The buildings have defensive measures in place, so it’s unlikely anything will get in. I have to help out there. Make sure you don’t try to go outside." (Camellia)

Camellia spoke quickly to everyone present and, in the blink of an eye, disappeared.

It seems that, all of a sudden, the situation took a strange turn...