I Got a Fake Job at the Academy

Chapter 750 - Side Story 23: The Process of Comfort (1)

Sedina licked her lips. She wanted to say something, but the words wouldn't come out easily.

The fact that the difficult and painful past was merely something that had passed wasn't easy to understand.

The events of the past always ate away at Sedina. Even when she tried to comfort herself that she was okay, when the memories of that day came back to life, her heart would ache as if being strangled.

It was severe trauma. The clearer her present happiness became, the darker the shadow of past pain grew. The more she struggled to escape, the deeper her body sank as if falling into a swamp.

Just like how the more you tell yourself not to think of something, the more blatantly you think of it.

However, rather than denying those words, Sedina decided to think them over once more because the one who said it was none other than Rudger Chelici.

Rudger never threw answers at her directly. He was an excellent educator, and one of his educational philosophies was to make students realize things on their own.

Giving sufficient clues to move toward the answer was his method. Having watched him from closer than anyone else, Sedina could immediately find the clues.

It's something that has passed. It's merely the past. It was hard to truly accept those words. Sedina sometimes imagined what it would have been like if she had lived smoothly without any pain.

If her mother hadn't passed away. If her relationship with her father had remained good. If she had maintained a good relationship with Julia.

And so. If she hadn't joined the Black Dawn.

'Would I have been able to meet Teacher?'

When her thoughts reached that point, Sedina could finally understand why Rudger had said such things.

What if there had been no such ups and downs in her life, if it had just been smooth? She wouldn't have met Rudger. Even if she had come to Theon and met him, she wouldn't have grown close to him.

She would have just lived a peaceful life like any other ordinary student. And she wouldn't have been properly prepared for the dangers of the future that were to come.

If Ella Plante had been alive, she would have taken some precautions. But would that have been perfect? Ventmin would still have been alive and would have targeted Sedina in some way.

In fact, nothing else mattered.

What struck Sedina most was the fact that this relationship she now had, facing Rudger, wouldn't have been created.

Then she finally understood why Rudger had said such things.

"The unhappy past didn't always bring only bad results, is that it?" 

"What you went through was unfortunate. But you were able to rise above that misfortune."

People learn something from failure. True lessons come from pain felt deep in one's bones. At least Rudger's belief in that had never changed.

Forcing pain for the sake of growth was wrong, but this kind of naturally occurring pain held the potential to be a driving force.

If one could overcome the suffering and make even that pain and process entirely one's own.

Rudger believed without doubt that such a person was the closest to being a perfect superhuman.

"I didn't get up on my own. You helped me stand up, Teacher."

But most people are weak. They suffer from even trivial pain, and once they fall, they can't easily get up.

Sedina was the same. Without Rudger, she would have just sat down and been pessimistic about everything.

"I won't deny that I mended your injured wings. But after that, whether to fly or not is ultimately up to the individual. Sedina, did you settle for where you were?"

In Rudger's eyes, she absolutely had not. Rather, Sedina had always lived doing her best in the life given to her.

Just looking at how she was now properly established as the Elven Queen showed that.

"If the painful past continues to torment you, then say this to it clearly. Thank you. Thanks to you, I was able to come this far."

Rudger had regrets too. There were painful things, times when he wanted to give up but he ultimately overcame them.

Sedina felt those words seep into the deep wounds in her heart. The scar that had only been painful somehow seemed to have become infinitely smaller. It hadn't completely disappeared, but the pain that strangled her chest was no longer felt.

"I wanted to comfort you, but I ended up only receiving comfort." 

"Just meeting and talking like this is enough for me."

Ella Plante chimed in from the side.

"We were trying to lighten the mood but ended up only having serious conversations. More importantly, do you have any plans? Since you came all this way to visit, it's fine to stay for about a day." 

"If I stay, won't the other elves' reaction be unfavorable?" 

"What's wrong with that? Since joining hands with the Empire, there's been quite a friendly atmosphere toward humans. So you don't need to worry. Since you came all this way, it would be a shame to just see each other's faces and part, right?"

As Ella said, it was indeed a bit regrettable to just leave. Rudger looked at Sedina's expression. It was Ella who made the suggestion, but even Rudger himself didn't know why he ended up looking at Sedina's face.

However, seeing Sedina's anxious expression as she waited for Rudger's answer. Suddenly reminded of how she looked during his teaching assistant days, Rudger couldn't help but chuckle.

"Yes. If it's staying for about a day."

At that answer, Sedina's expression brightened brilliantly. She seemed to be trying not to show it, but it was visible.

Her mother Ella poked Sedina with her elbow, wearing a mischievous smile.

"Our daughter. You look very happy?" 

"Wh-what do you mean?" 

"This is as far as this mother can help, so take care of the rest yourself."

Sedina tried to argue with that, but Ella escaped to the World Tree first, saying it was too hot.

Seeing the empty seat of her mother who had quickly fled, Sedina could only stand there dumbfounded like a dog that had been chasing a chicken.

Rudger cleared his throat briefly while watching Sedina like that. Sedina flinched and looked back with an anxious gaze.

It seemed she belatedly recalled that she had made too much of a spectacle in front of a guest.

In times like this, it would be good to show consideration as an adult.

"I'd like to tour the inside of the castle, would that be alright?" 

"Yes, yes! Of course! I'll guide you personally!"

It was an obvious change of subject, but perhaps it was very welcome. Sedina's appearance was like watching a puppy happy to receive a treat.

Afterwards, Rudger toured the inside of the castle with Sedina's guidance.

Indeed, perhaps because the Elven castle had a long history, from the architectural style to the level of valuables inside, everything was exceptional.

Even what he had seen along the way while being guided by Ambella had been enough to make his eyes widen, but even that was only a tiny fraction of the whole.

Of course, there were occasional places where he wondered if it was really okay to tour even here. But as long as the guide was the Elven Queen, who would dare object?

Moreover, even when other elven retainers tried to help from the side, Sedina stubbornly insisted she would guide Rudger alone. Naturally, the elven retainers' disgruntled glares could only be directed at Rudger.

'This is quite something. I'm receiving a luxurious guide that's one of a kind in the world, but I'm not happy at all.'

Rather, as a guest, it was burdensome and he could only be mindful. Of course, Rudger wasn't the type to show that outwardly, so he silently toured as Sedina guided him. He was also inwardly enjoying the process itself.

Night came, and Rudger enjoyed dinner.

This time it wasn't just Sedina alone.

Ella Plante was there, and so was Ambella Burke. Additionally, even Vierano Dentis, who came after hearing the news.

"It's been a while."

Vierano greeted Rudger lightly. Without making a fuss like other people, it was natural as if they had met yesterday.

That was comfortable for Rudger. Vierano's appearance was unchanged from three years ago, which was also why that attitude resonated more.

In a world where everything was changing, he felt reassured by that figure who alone preserved his old appearance.

Change was good, but that didn't mean the old was bad. Preserving one's self in a changing world was also a precious element.

"How have you been, Teacher Vierano?" 

"I've been fairly busy too. Our Dentis family couldn't be left out of the kingdom's reconstruction. Of course, most of it was handled by our family members, and what I did was just help with a few things." 

"Ha. That humble act of yours is still the same. Without the Dentis family, the kingdom's reconstruction would have taken much longer." 

"It's all thanks to our family members doing well." 

"It's thanks to you that you moved them and united them as one." 

"Are you the only one, Head Ambella? Moreover, I was often away during that time doing teaching work at Theon."

Rudger asked.

"Teacher Vierano, you were still doing teaching work?" 

"Yes. Teaching new children is always rewarding. Now that I'm no longer the head of Dentis, it's my modest pleasure." 

"I see. How is Theon now?" 

"Peaceful. I think it's actually better than before. The emotional gap between noble and commoner students has narrowed, and the freshmen coming in each year are also energetic."

Listening to Vierano's story, Theon seemed to be changing in a positive direction every year.

When Rudger was there, the nerve war between the noble faction and the commoner faction was severe, but that balance had already collapsed long ago.

Rudger himself had played a huge role in that.

"Thanks to Teacher Rudger working as Director of Planning, many things changed. Especially the fact that the noble faction's influence decreased was significant."

Of course, Rudger hadn't changed everything alone. He had just fired the signal flare. It was Chancellor Elisa who had taken complete power afterwards.

"After the holy war, the Chancellor's reputation rose tremendously. The term 'war hero' would be an understatement."

It wasn't just her. The teachers who participated in the holy war at that time even received medals from the Empire.

Most teachers were of commoner origin.

When they gained fame, it was natural that the precariously maintained balance would collapse.

"Well, it's not like the Chancellor unilaterally crushed the opposing faction." 

"Rather, she even gave power to the noble faction, worried that the commoner faction would become too strong."

Sedina added an explanation from the side.

"Oh. That's surprising." 

"Handing over the vacant Director of Planning position to Teacher Hugo Burtag was one part of that."

Hugo Burtag was one of the people who strongly opposed Rudger becoming Director of Planning. Of course, no matter how much he insisted, he was no match for Rudger, so it was meaningless struggling.

But for Hugo to sit in that position.

"Does he do the work well?" 

"You know what's funny? Teacher Hugo wanted the position so badly, but once he actually got it, he struggled."

Sedina giggled as if just remembering those times was enjoyable.

Hugo wanted a position where others would look up to him, but he was far too lacking to endure the responsibility and pressure that position brought.

Still, he didn't give up immediately and made various efforts.

He even spent time buried in mountains of documents, shut up in the planning office while reducing his sleep time compared to others—how much must it have been?

"But due to excessive overwork, he lost a lot of hair and aged rapidly in a short period. He used to be so annoying, but now he's pitiful."

The fat and greedy Hugo had conversely become very thin and haggard. Eventually, unable to endure it, he had no choice but to step down from the position of Director of Planning.

That became the decisive signal for the noble faction's downfall.

"But well, now they're adjusting well with each other in balance. The Empire also gives them convenience, so Theon is experiencing an unprecedented golden age."

Vierano put down his teacup while gazing at Rudger.

"Do you have any thoughts of coming back?" 

"Did Chancellor Elisa ask you to say that?"

At Rudger's playful question, Vierano laughed, shrugging his shoulders.

"I did hear such words, but this is a question purely of my own will." 

"I think the possibility is open but not for now, at least." 

"For now. I see. I understand."

Vierano seemed to think that alone was a sufficient answer and nodded with satisfaction.

He didn't force anything, nor did he persistently interrogate. The composure of one who had lived long, that was Vierano's greatest advantage.

"Hey. We all gathered together, but isn't it too much for you guys to only have fun conversations among yourselves, leaving me out?"

Ambella, the only one who couldn't join the conversation, protested with a sulky voice.

"Then what kind of story do you want to talk about, Godmother?" 

"Hmm. A story about the holy war?"

That appearance felt uncharacteristically cute of her, so everyone gathered there burst into laughter.