I Got a Fake Job at the Academy

Chapter 786 - Side Story 59: The Ghost Queen (1)

Rudger looked at his old workplace colleagues gathered together again and recalled the past. He had unintentionally gotten caught up in a train terrorist incident and had to disguise his identity on the spot to avoid having his true identity exposed.

When he came to his senses, he had become a teacher at Theon and formed connections as first-time workplace colleagues.

Bruno, Merilda, and Selina. Originally Chris Benimore was also with them, but he couldn't attend as he had stepped down from his position and was working hard to rebuild his family.

They had changed a lot in appearance over the three years. They had all shed their green rookie teacher look and now exuded the composure and atmosphere of proper magic teachers.

Rudger shared a meal with his old colleagues after a long time.

"So then, you're completely returning now?"

Selina, sitting in the seat next to him, asked with a very excited face. Rudger nodded.

"Yes. However, since this year's academic schedule has already been completely set, I plan to teach only a small number of students as a special instructor." 

"Ah. You're talking about those children?"

Merilda waved the fork she was holding, saying it was troublesome.

"I'm teaching third-year children now, but I've heard a lot of stories from the first-year side. They said they were children with such outstanding talent that even other teachers didn't know what to do with them. On top of that, their personalities were also somewhat strange, so they couldn't handle them." 

"Uh. Then aren't you taking on a role that's too difficult right after returning to work?"

Bruno asked with a worried face. For someone who had been off work for three years, the task given to them right upon return had quite a high difficulty level.

"It's fine. Rather than being crowded with many students, starting with such a small number gives me more room and peace of mind." 

"Those children, they even refuse classes and such." 

"There were actually children like that. At a glance, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call them delinquents, but that's only how they appear on the surface."

Rudger thought of Mina and Eric. The talent they possessed was violently powerful, hurting others and going further to hurt themselves.

"Those children have such outstanding talent that they can't properly control their power."

It resembled Rudger's own appearance in childhood.

Because his spirituality that could communicate with gods was so excellent, Rudger always had to suffer from the gods.

If he let his guard down even a little, they would try to project their power into this world through the vessel called Rudger.

However, Rudger met an excellent teacher named Grandel. With her help and his own efforts, he was able to overcome the discomfort that this constitution and talent brought.

It was ultimately a good thing, but Rudger knew well that the process of reaching this point was so difficult and arduous that even he, who had steel-like mental strength, had considered giving up several times.

"That's why I want to help them. I can't just stand by and watch children who are swayed by their own power and can't walk their own path, floundering around."

Those children were his past self. If left alone, someone might eventually overcome their outstanding talent and move forward but that process would be long, and they would suffer that much.

Perhaps they might even collapse without overcoming the pain.

In that sense, Rudger was lucky because his teacher was Grandel, the legendary 8th Circle mage.

'So just as I received grace from my teacher. I too must bestow grace upon those children in the role of teacher.'

That was his resolution and role in making the choice to return to Theon.

"Well, the method will be somewhat different from usual, sometimes rough and sometimes tough. I just hope the students follow along well."

He said with a calm voice that didn't contain even a speck of exaggeration. At that answer that made even the listener feel reassured, Merilda and Bruno exchanged glances with each other and soon smiled.

"As expected. Teacher Rudger is Teacher Rudger." 

"Yes. I'm relieved. If it's Teacher Rudger, you'll surely do well."

The two thought that since Rudger had returned after three years, he wouldn't easily adapt to Theon's atmosphere.

Even if not, three years was enough time for a person's thoughts or way of life to change because people are bound to change, just as a once-dedicated teacher often loses motivation over time and just lives roughly going with the flow.

And usually such changes flowed more often from positive to negative. Because the more you let go or give up on something, the less mental burden you have and the more comfortable your mind becomes. It was a very basic element shown by the dynamics of emotion.

But Rudger still retained his former appearance even after three years. Rather, they couldn't shake off the feeling that he was even more mature than back then.

Both Merilda and Bruno came to Theon and taught many students for several years, and experienced various incidents. Even before becoming teachers at Theon, the two were excellent mages. And as they accumulated more experience teaching excellent children, their eye for seeing people inevitably became sharper.

In their eyes, Rudger was still an idol that other teachers should emulate. And he was their most reliable workplace colleague in the world.

"If you have any difficulties, please tell us. I'll help you as much as I can." 

"You can tell me anytime too. Even though we look like this, we two have quite a bit of influence at Theon." 

"Just your words alone are appreciated."

Rudger answered that way, then prefaced with "but." His eyes looking at Merilda and Bruno held some kind of curious expression.

"You two. Is there something going on?"

Actually, this was almost an instinctive judgment, close to a question thrown out suddenly. But thinking he had seen through it, Merilda and Bruno exchanged glances with each other and gave awkward smiles.

Soon they showed the gold rings worn on their left hands. Made in identical designs, they were symbols representing marriage.

"You seem quite surprised."

After the meal ended, Rudger walked through the school grounds together with Selina.

However, it was far from an atmosphere of pleasant conversation, because Rudger had received quite a shock.

"Yes. I was really surprised. Of all things, for Teacher Merilda and Teacher Bruno to become that kind of relationship."

It wasn't exactly an impossible thing. There could have been some progress in the relationship between the two over the past three years. Rather, considering they were hired at the same time, it would be strange if there wasn't.

"However, I should say, how should I put it? I thought if it were Teacher Merilda, she would date a more dashing and handsome man."

Because Merilda actually had the habit of frequently saying she would marry a handsome man.

And yet that Merilda was with Bruno. 

Bruno wasn't a bad person, but looking only at his external appearance, wasn't he a plump-looking uncle who was only absorbed in golem creation?

"Huhu. It's really interesting, isn't it? You know what's even funnier? Teacher Merilda was the one who confessed first." 

"...It's certainly a fact that surprises me in many ways." 

"I think that's what makes human relationships interesting. Things that seem like they'll work out suddenly fall apart, but conversely, even when it doesn't seem likely, they've grown close at some point."

Rudger nodded in agreement. He too had formed many connections while living until now, but he hadn't anticipated becoming close with them in that way.

The human heart couldn't be defined by any theory or reason because it was arbitrary and haphazard, and its form wasn't constant either.

Depending on mood, time, and place, it could change, and sometimes it maintained its form upright like an immutable substance.

The human heart couldn't be defined. And naturally, people who possessed such hearts also couldn't be organized into any framework or standard.

Because they held possibility, people always showed unexpected aspects.

"More than that, it's getting late at night, will Teacher Rudger return and rest now?" 

"Yes. Since I had my first class today after so long. Thinking I need to prepare for a new class tomorrow, I'm planning to head back now." 

"I see. I also have a spirit studies lecture tomorrow, so I think I should go early too."

Selina backed away from Rudger as if walking backwards, with her hands clasped behind her back. Her pink hair shone brilliantly like flower petals under the lighting even in the chilly night.

"Ah, by the way. Teacher Rudger!" 

"Yes. Please speak."

Selina, who was about to leave, smiled brightly toward Rudger.

"Once again, welcome back."

At those words, Rudger chuckled and nodded.

"Yes. I've returned safely."

After parting with Selina, Rudger headed to the assigned lodging. Since it was the same place he had used before, finding the way wasn't difficult.

At that moment, Rudger cast his gaze toward a research building he happened to see along the way.

Theon, where night was gradually deepening and navy blue darkness was settling. At a time when all the students had returned to the dormitory to do assignments or chat with roommates, lights were on in the research building too.

And through the window, he could see shadows moving sluggishly around.

At a glance, the appearance and movement resembled ghosts or undead similar to zombies, but they were strictly living people.

"They're having a rewarding time."

Rudger looked at that sight with satisfaction.

If the graduate students had heard those words, they would have lamented with curses of despair, asking what kind of rewarding time this was.

But what could be done? They had made the wrong choice at an important time that would be a turning point in their lives.

Rudger was thinking of getting a closer look out of curiosity when he discovered signs posted near the research building.

[Caution. What appears nearby is not zombies but graduate students, so don't be frightened. They don't bite.]

Next to it, another sign was planted.

[Warning. Reports have been received that ghosts have been spotted in this building, but we inform you that these are not ghosts but graduate students. So please stop occasionally shining light magic or using exorcism magic.]

Somehow the letters on this sign being red gave an eerie feeling as if they were written with someone's blood.

With such warning phrases written in front of the research building where sluggish graduate students wandered about, it was impossible to distinguish whether this was a research lab or a haunted house.

It seemed that students passing by frequently discovered and were startled by the appearance of graduate students working overtime day after day.

Rudger was quietly watching that sight when.

"Aah!"

Together with a high-pitched voice cutting through the darkness of night, a girl urgently approached Rudger.

"T-Teacher! What are you doing here!" 

"Is it Hermoa? I was just passing by and looking at the research building." 

"This is a dangerous place! They say zombies and even specters appear! It's so scary and terrible that even fourth-year seniors don't approach this place!"

It seemed that Hermoa, being a new student, didn't really know that this place was a research building. And also why fourth-year students about to graduate particularly feared this place.

"What about you, what were you doing?" 

"Me? Ah, I was just......"

Hermoa slipped the book she had been holding in her arms behind her back. Had she been studying in the library until now? Seeing this appearance reminded him of when he first encountered Rene at Theon.

During the werewolf incident, she too had stayed in the library until late at night and came out late. He recalled the memory of saving her when she was with Erendir and was attacked.

However, judging by how Hermoa was hiding the book, it seemed to be a somewhat embarrassing book to show him. Well, students don't always read books related to studying, so there was no reason to be suspicious.

Hermoa hastily changed the subject, worried that Rudger might take interest in her book.

"A-Anyway, you need to be especially careful because undead appear here! If it's night like now when they're actively moving, it's even more dangerous!" 

"It's not dangerous though." 

"You probably don't know since you're coming after three years, but this place has a really bad reputation, you know? People's screams echo every day. They're definitely being horribly tortured inside!"

Torture seemed too much, but thinking about what graduate students normally go through, there wasn't actually much difference.

"......If you're that worried, why don't you report it to the police." 

"Dozens of reports have already been filed but it's still fine. So the students have all given up and are keeping quiet about it. And on days like today when the moon doesn't rise, there's one thing you need to be especially careful of." 

"What else?" 

"On nights like this when clouds cover the sky, they say the Ghost Queen occasionally appears!"

Ghost Queen? At the words he was hearing for the first time, Rudger cast a gaze that showed he didn't understand the meaning.

"Anyway, it's dangerous so let's get away from here quickly!"

It was when Hermoa was about to say something.

-Creeeak

The main entrance of the research building opened wide with a creaking sound and from the pitch-black darkness, something pale was coming out with moans filled with pain and despair.