“Looks like his claim of being a capable man wasn’t entirely a lie.”

There were no enemies in the hidden passage, and the place Jill and the students finally arrived at was a massive underground chamber.  Perhaps it had been created for storage, it had wall shelves and something resembling a candelabrum could be seen in the corner, but everything was covered in dust.  Connected to the place were also a few small rooms.  At the back was a staircase and a handle could be seen at the top.

“Jill-sensei, it won’t open.  Something might be blocking it.”

Hades had likely done it to prevent soldiers from entering through there.  When Jill approached it and lightly touched it, a response resembling magical power came back.

“This is probably an exit, but it won’t budge unless the level of magic power is matched.  I’ll open it.”
“Jill-sensei, before that, how about we make this a temporary base for now?  We don’t seem to be being pursued right now, and the only entrances and exits are here and the one above.  We should post a rotating watch with a few people and rest first.”

Jill nodded at Noin’s suggestion.  He was concerned about the injured students.  Lutiya also spoke up.

“We should send out a small scouting party.  If the school building is above us, the first places we need to check are the infirmary and cafeteria for supplies.  We won’t be able to rest properly otherwise.  sensei, if you’re opening that door, I’m going too.  Blue Dragon Class, form up.”
“In that case, I’ll go.  The Gold Dragon Class knows the school layout better.”
“We’re better at sneaking around.  Besides, if this place gets attacked, it’ll be better if I’m not here.  We have injured.”

Noin pursed his lips with a sullen frown, but he didn’t seem like he could argue back.  With a smug snort, Lutiya laughed in triumph.  Then when he looked at Jill, he furrowed his brows to their limit.

“What’s wrong, sensei?  What’s with that face?”
“Ah, just… youth, you know?  It’s wonderful being young.”
“Sensei, you’re younger than us.  Just open it already and let’s go.”

Lutiya sulkily hurried her along, but even that made Jill happy.  She could sense their growth.

And yet the older brother…

Just the brief flash of a thought was enough to irritate her.  With such thoughts in mind, she adjusted the magical power.  The exit at the top of the stairs revealed itself and quietly opened.

Jill cautiously peeked out to check it was empty, then stepped outside with Lutiya and a few other students.  Fortunately, they emerged onto the cafeteria kitchen.   Lutiya immediately called out to Noin, then set up a lookout and began transporting water and food down to the underground area.  It may have originally been intended for food storage.

The exhausted students were overjoyed, but dragons could regularly be seen flying by outside the window.  Enemy troops probably weren’t around to avoid being caught in their attacks.  Still, there was no telling what would happen if any of them were spotted.

Jill quietly peered outside the cafeteria when Lutiya grabbed her shoulder.

“If you’re going scouting, I’m coming too.”
“Me as well. We’ve finished carrying in the food.”
“No, but… if neither of you stay behind, won’t the students get anxious—”
““We’re going.””

Despite what they said, Jill was troubled.  While she hesitated, the students called out to her.

“It’ll be fine, Jill-sensei.  Just close the entrance with that magic from earlier.  Sauté-sensei and Kuma-sensei will still be here.”
“Kokee!”

Even Sauté responded cheerfully.  Jill reluctantly nodded.

“Fine, then the three of us will go.  Listen, my orders are absolute, got it?
“We know.  The infirmary is this way.
“That route goes through a connecting corridor.  We’ll be less visible if we go up to the second floor and come back down.”
“Huh?  That’s the long way around.  Don’t tell me you don’t get that taking more time is more dangerous?”
“No fighting!”

The two fell silent at Jill’s command.

Fortunately, they weren’t spotted by the enemy.  They reached the infirmary, took everything they could carry, and headed back.  Along the way, they checked their surroundings.  Glancing at a collapsed corridor now buried in rubble, Noin murmured,

“Things are broken all over… I wonder if the dragons did this while going around destroying everything.  For the school to end up like this…”
“Serves it right.  Oh yeah, maybe I’ll drop out of this place and enroll in the school Jill-sensei is going to make.”
“Eh?  Jill-sensei, you’re going to build a school?”

Noin, who had become despondent at the state of the school, blinked in surprise.

“Yeah, that’s my goal right now.  It’s still a long way off, though.”
“Hey, how about I help?  That way, you can make it happen sooner.  If the future Grand Duke of Laica enrolls as a student, people will come crawling to support you.  Money, connections, influence, leave it all to me.”

Jill, burdened with medical supplies on her back, let out a laugh at Lutiya’s offer.

“I appreciate the offer, but I’ll pass.  Owing a student anything isn’t good.”
“…Then, if I were no longer a student, it’d be fine?”
“Well… yeah, I suppose.  If you still want to help once you grow up, I’d be grateful.”
“…Hey, sensei, do you really have a boyfriend?”
“What’s this all of a sudden?  Did you hear that from one of the girls?”

Lutiya stopped walking and turned away.  He averted his gaze down to the side, avoiding eye contact.  Noin, for some reason, looked back and forth between the two, flustered.

“Come to think of it, I did promise to tell everyone if you guys won, didn’t I?  Well, it’s complicated… not something I want spreading around, and not to mention the situation we’re in right now…”
“…Is it some kind of political engagement?  If that’s the case, then I—”

“Aaaaaand, here’s an announcement for all stu—dents!”

As Jill was gazing off into the distance, lost in thought, the voice of the one she was currently in a strained relationship with came upon her from behind.

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