“We’d like to make a toast with Hades-sensei, so could you come over?”

Hades blinked, Jill saw it from the corner of her eye.  After a bit, Hades let out a startled, “Eh?”

“Re-really, you don’t have to worry about me.”
“But everyone wants to thank you, sensei. We’ll be interrupting your time with Jill-sensei, but please come, by all means.”
“Eh, why?”

“Don’t genuinely ask a child that, you piece of junk…”

Rave was exasperated, but Noin’s back straightened without hesitation.

“Because you’re the one who brought us victory, it’s only natural.”

Hades started to say something, but stopped.  At times like these, this person’s expression always became like one of a bewildered child.  Noin smiled, not finding that strange in the slightest.

“And also, everyone’s worried you might be feeling down because Jill-sensei scolded you.”
“I’m not that angry.”

Noin apologized with a “sorry” in the manner of an honor-student at her refutation from the side. However, there was one thing she still had to say.

“His Majesty is good at deceiving people. Don’t let yourself be beguiled.”
“Shouldn’t the ability to win the hearts of people be natural for an emperor?”

Jill was left at a loss at the smooth reply.  Rave burst with uproarious laughter.

“That’s so true, right?”

Jill felt fluxed at being pressed by Rave for agreement.

“…As long as you understand, it’s fine.”
“Jill-sensei, Lutiya and the others are waiting for you too. Could both of you come join us? Tomorrow, the Gold Dragon, Blue Dragon, and Purple Dragon classes all graduate.”

Hearing that, she no longer felt like it was a time to be arguing with Hades.

He truly is an excellent student.  Lutiya is silently watching from over there probably because he trusts Noin.

“All right,” Jill pulled herself together with those words and got up.

“Shall we go in high spirits!?”
“Jill, don’t casually try to take the whole paella pot with you.  Yours is only the portion you put on your plate!”
“It’s fine, isn’t it?  I’m going to binge this with the student—s!”
“I already know.  You’re claiming that, but you plan to eat almost all of it by yourself!”
“Also, Your Majesty, I too will be upset if anyone speaks badly of you, and will then knock that person flat!”

Hades released the massive iron pot filled with paella.  Jill, while readjusting her hold on the pot, informed Hades of something else.

“Rave-sama isn’t the only one.  I am also in the same boat as Your Majesty, for I am Your Majesty’s wife.”

Rave, whom she glanced at, smiled back as if to say, “That’s how it should be.”

Somehow, she felt vexed.

Thus, before the paella pot could be taken away from her again, Jill started walking.  Hades’s panicked voice was drowned out by the cheers of the students.

Once the sun had fully set, fire was set to the assembled wood.  The flames brightly illuminated the dark night.  It was a campfire.  Laughter burst forth, lit by the same light.

The next day, at the morning assembly held in place of a graduation ceremony, the Dragon Emperor himself stood to give the address.  His congratulatory speech blessing the students’ futures was said to have greatly contributed to both the restoration of the Grand Duchy of Raika and the reopening of the La Baia Military Academy.

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