I Became an Academy Counselor

Chapter 92

"Boss, do you not like it?"

I didn’t know what kind of reaction Jane was expecting, but she looked at me nervously.

Meanwhile, I just stood there, mouth agape, unable to comprehend the situation.

...This is really the house? Really?

"You didn’t steal this, right? Or threaten someone for it?"

"What are you saying?! Steal? No way! We bought it fair and square!"

"...This mansion?"

"Of course! What do you take us for? We paid full price! We’re legitimate businesspeople now!"

Jane straightened her back proudly, declaring that they had purchased the land legitimately.

But I still couldn’t believe it.

The organization I knew used to live in a rundown, abandoned building, where the kids quietly stared at the floor with empty eyes.

Not... a mansion with a fountain.

"How?"

"Well, it’s a long story..."

"We took some money from bad people."@@@@

"Hey, Colin! Why would you say that?"

"What, were you going to try and gloss over it? Do you really think the Boss wouldn’t figure it out? Does it look like she’s asking because she doesn’t know?"

"Tch..."

I wanted to tell Jane that, yes, I really didn’t know. I was genuinely asking.

...But the atmosphere wasn’t quite right for that, so I kept quiet as the boy approached me, holding out his hand.

"Long time no see, Boss. Glad you’re back."

"...Yeah. Looks like you’ve grown up quite a bit in the time we’ve been apart."

"Thank you for the compliment."

That wasn’t a compliment.

It felt odd. This kid used to be so innocent and sweet...

What on earth had happened in that short time to turn him into someone who looked like they’d been through everything?

"...Can you explain exactly how you ‘took’ money from these bad people?"

"Of course."

Colin’s explanation was brief and to the point.

After I left, several people noticed the organization growing quickly and assumed there were weak points to exploit.

So, they dealt with those people and took all their assets.

"...Legally?"

"Absolutely! We paid the previous owner a fair price and bought this mansion! We still have plenty of money left to cover taxes!"

"Oh, I see..."

"Those guys were loaded with gems and gold! They were like treasure goblins!"

I wondered if it really counted as a legal transaction if they used money they’d stolen from criminals.

For a moment, that thought crossed my mind, but I quickly decided to stop thinking about it.

What’s done is done, and the house is already bought, so what can you do?

As long as the kids are happy, that’s what matters, right?

Yeah, that’s it... definitely.

It’s not like I stopped thinking about it just because I didn’t want to. Nope. Not at all.

"What’s that you’re holding, by the way? Looks like you brought something unnecessary."

"Unnecessary?! Are you crazy? This is a gift from the Boss to the kids!"

"...! I’m so sorry!"

"Uh, no... It’s fine..."

Where on earth does this unwavering loyalty to me come from?

I don’t remember doing all that much for them.

I thought about asking, but decided against it.

The last time I brought it up, I got roped into a three-hour conversation I couldn’t escape from.

I had no desire to go through that again.

"Boss is here!"

"What? Really? Don’t lie!"

"No, seriously! Look over there!"

"I said, get lost. Didn’t you hear me?"

If they kept pushing, Orca wasn’t going to stay quiet.

With that clear threat, she waved the arm emanating dark energy threateningly.

The class rep sighed and finally stopped trying to convince her.

"I thought you’d changed, but I guess you’re back to your old self, Orca."

"I’ve always been like this."

"Yes, you have. If the counselor were still here, they’d have taken care of—"

"Don’t mention that person again if you don’t want to die."

"...My apologies. I’ll leave you alone then."

As the rep walked away with their head down, Orca flipped them off behind their back.

Hmph. As if I’d ever attend such boring classes again.

If it weren’t for the teacher’s request, I wouldn’t have bothered with those incomprehensible, dull lectures.

...Yeah, if it weren’t for the teacher’s request.

"..."

Unable to contain her frustration, Orca slammed her fist into the wall.

No matter where she went in the academy, all she could think of was that teacher.

Had she really come to depend on them that much?

Even when she tried to laugh at herself for being weak, it wasn’t as easy as it used to be.

"...Where should I go?"

She’d gotten rid of the class rep, but wandering the halls aimlessly wasn’t an option.

Orca tried to think of a place she could go, but only one came to mind.

The counseling office.

The place where the teacher always welcomed her.

"Damn it."

To be honest, that was the best place for her.

No one else really went there, she was already familiar with the room, and it was a good place to rest.

After thinking it over for a while, Orca finally started moving.

There was no other motive. She just wanted to rest. That’s what she kept telling herself.

It didn’t take long to reach the counseling office.

When Orca pushed the door open, she stood there, staring blankly at the empty room.

That was where she used to play chess with the teacher. And that’s where the teacher would always light incense to help her sleep.

She’d expected it, but the absence of the teacher’s presence was even more glaring now.

...It was lonely. If she was being honest, she wanted the teacher to come back.

The mention of hypnosis and everything else had made her angry—no, furious at the time.

But still...

But still...

What if it wasn’t true? What if the teacher wasn’t really like that?

Thinking back, they didn’t seem like the kind of person to do something like that.

Sure, it crossed her mind that maybe her thoughts had been altered by hypnosis or something like that, but now that she reflected on it, she wasn’t sure about any of it.

After all, she was just a fool possessed by a demon, ignorant of such complex matters.

The only thing she was certain of was that she wanted to see the counselor again.

She didn’t know why they were always kind to her, but she had appreciated it.

That’s why she missed them.

She wanted to see that slightly clueless smile that always made her laugh.

Whenever she came to this room, the counselor had always welcomed her with open arms.

She had never realized how big the counselor’s absence would feel until now.

Orca sat in the spot where they used to light the incense and lit it herself.

The familiar, luxurious scent filled the room, accompanied by a wave of longing.

And a dull ache in her chest.

Without saying a word, Orca walked over to the bed and pulled the covers over her head.

She wanted to see the counselor.

No matter how much they scolded her, it would be fine.

Even if they hated her, that would be fine. Even if it was all a lie, she didn’t care. She would apologize if that’s what they wanted.

She just wanted to see that smile one more time.