“You were led here by Professor Roger a while ago, weren’t you? That teacher is quite lax.”

A boy a little taller than Jill smiled bitterly. His round eyes, as blue as the sky, peeked out from his black hair. He had an elegant face that didn’t suit this warehouse in the middle of nowhere. His smile was also friendly.

“Ah… no, I…”

“Or maybe someone threatened you and asked you to come here? The elites of our school are still as terrible as ever. But this place isn’t so bad either. Don’t look so worried.”

“You’re… from the Blue Dragon Class…?”

The boy blinked and chuckled.

“Yes, from the Brown Rat Class. Are you an exchange student? Or a transfer one, perhaps? And you don’t know me?”

The boy snorted, finding Jill’s hesitation to answer amusing.

“I’m Lutiya Theos Rave. I’m sure you’ve at least heard the name.”

Jill gasped. Regardless of what he might think of her reaction earlier, Lutiya gave her another friendly smile.

“Don’t be so wary. People say all sorts of things, but they’re just rumors. It vexes me sometimes.”

“D-don’t they say you’ve been getting your teachers to leave?”

“Well, that’s a dilemma between us and our school. In a sense, it may be our fault. But it’s also their fault for pushing all the responsibility onto the teacher. How terrible…”

After closing his eyes in pain, Lutiya shook his head and smiled at Jill.

“But we won’t lose. Let’s get along. Let’s show the guys at our school that even a squirrel can do it if he tries.”

Jill’s eyes widened at his words of enthusiasm, and she nodded back.

She was wary, but he seemed like a normal, proper student. She was embarrassed at herself for being intimidated by him despite having not met him before. She wondered what kind of student he was and why he was driving his teachers into resigning.

“Y-yes, that’s right. Let’s do our best together! Ah, but I’m not a student—”

“Perfect. I’ll introduce you to everyone. This way.”

“T-this way? Wait? Not in the classroom?”

Lutiya took Jill’s hand and turned away from the classroom. They started walking away.

“Today is extracurricular study time. We’re all in the dragon stables at our school. We aren’t allowed to use our dragons, so we study them while our school isn’t using them.”

“Is it also to set an example—I mean, is it by the school’s request?”

“Yes. There are other things too. Like not being allowed to enter or leave the school without permission. Because of that, we can’t use the cafeteria or the store.”

“What?”

Jill, who had secretly been looking forward to the abundant menu of the school cafeteria that was introduced in the pamphlet, was shocked.

How can that be—?!

W-we have to do something…! Yes, even if His Majesty gives me lunch boxes!

She’d feel bad going to the cafeteria when her students couldn’t. Besides, even if it was a meritocracy, wasn’t such a massive difference in treatment going too far?

She didn’t like the way they were being made into an example in school. As such, she made up her mind.

Let’s do it! I’ll become a teacher!

Then, while appealing for a better working environment, she’d eat everything on the menu in the cafeteria.

First and foremost, she needed solidarity with the students. They’d have bonding moment. As Jill was thinking about how to introduce herself, a burning smell entered her nose.

Confused, Jill looked up. Then, a series of popping sounds rang out. Mixed in was what sounded like a dragon’s roar.

An accident?! A quarrel!?

Before she could think about it, Jill started running. Lutiya cried out in surprise, but she didn’t turn around. The popping sounds continued as she ran, and the dragon’s noise got louder. Then, as she got closer, she heard laughter.

Following the sound, Jill rounded the corner and saw a magnificent dragon stable. Twenty students had gathered around the large double entrance, each of them was lighting a paper tube and laughing. They were setting off firecrackers. Surprised, the dragon cried out in frustration from the stable.

It didn’t seem like the dragon was directly harmed, but it was a distasteful prank. Moreover, provoking the dragon while unarmed was extremely reckless. Half-stunned, Jill stepped forward.

“Hey, what are you guys doing—”

“Oh, come on, no need to panic. I told you, it’s extracurricular study.”

Lutiya called out from behind. He seemed to have followed her. However, he didn’t seem surprised by the scene in front of him. Having a bad feeling, Jill turned around to face Lutiya.

“…Is this what you meant by ‘extracurricular study.’”

“Yes. Those kids will be your friends from today on. Looks fun, right?”

A student who was setting off firecrackers said, “Lord Lutiya.” Lutiya responded by waving his hand.

Stunned, Jill muttered, “So, they are from the Blue Dragon Class.”

“Yes, that’s right. The Brown Rats are confirming how well our dragons are trained. How kind of them.”

Lutiya explained innocently. He didn’t seem to be feeling guilty in the slightest.

“Don’t worry. I’m a member of the Rave Imperial Family. They may have thrown me into the Brown Rat class, but they can’t lay a hand on me. They are cowards.”

In front of Jill, who was speechless, Lutiya shouted at the students.

“Now, next up are the fireworks!”

“Leave it to me, it’s a special mix!”

Along with the boisterous voice, there was a whoosh! Following it was a spectacular firework. At the same time, the dragon flew out of the stable. It seemed to have finally lost its patience—except, it had been tied up. Knowing this, the students continued to laugh.

“Our school’s pride and joy is scared of some noise!”

“Hey, I was wondering what all the fuss was about… It’s the Brown Rats!”

Several teachers came rushing out of the school building. Lutiya responded with a laugh.

“They’ve finally come out! Time to retreat! Everyone, run! Just as planned!”

“Don’t let them get away! Grab them! We’ll throw you all into the punishment room! Get the security!”

“No, you won’t.”

“Hahaha! Say that to our homeroom teacher! They don’t have any complaints!”

‘Our homeroom teacher.’ Jill, who had been stunned, regained her senses.

“Shit! Where’s Roger?! He’s slacking off again!”

“Who cares about that teaching assistant?! Let’s run away. Oh, by the way, your name is—”

“—I-I’m your homeroom teacher.”

Jill stood upright and raised her voice, and the commotion died down.

Everyone was looking her way, but she couldn’t back down now.

“I-I’m the new homeroom teacher for the Blue Dragon Class…! Nice to meet you!”

She knew it sounded silly, but that was all she could say. Her only relief was that the dragon returned to its stable with a dissatisfied cry, perhaps because everything had quieted down.

“…New… homeroom teacher?”

The students, and even the teachers, exchanged confused glances. I know right? Jill broke into cold sweat. Even she found it hard to believe, especially in such a situation.

W-what do I do now…!? Shouldn’t I have done that?!

It was Lutiya, who was about to take Jill’s hand, who burst into laughter.

“Hahahaha! This is a masterpiece! So the higher-ups have finally surrendered to us!”

“Eh… well, no…”

She still didn’t understand the situation and didn’t know how to respond. Lutiya quickly took the attendance book from the confused Jill’s hand and checked it.

“Jill, huh? Let’s get along, Teacher Jill.”

He held out his hand with a smile, and her cheeks twitched. She shook it back, but this wasn’t something she could take at face value. The alarm that had been ingrained in her by her husband blared in her head.

As if to prove it, Lutiya’s eyes weren’t smiling in the slightest.

---

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E/N:  I’d like to see Jill just smack him in the face.  Considering what she does to Hades, the actual emperor of the empire, he has nothing to defend himself with.