Remove the filter

“I see… So demons infiltrated our academy…”

In the solemn atmosphere of the Dean’s office, Mira muttered while looking at the demon corpses in sacks in front of her.

And since I, in Yeonhwa’s form, along with Kana and Arin, were involved in this incident, we were currently standing quietly with our hands behind our backs in front of Mira. How much time had passed? Finally, as if she had organized her thoughts, Mira turned her gaze towards me, who had killed the demons.

“Ms. Yeonhwa, I knew about you from what Aria told me, but this is the first time meeting you in person. Normally, I would have offered you some refreshments and had a leisurely chat, but given the situation, I’ll only say what needs to be said. First of all, thank you very much for eliminating the demons who snuck into the academy.”

“Yes, well. But they weren’t that strong. There wasn’t really any problem, so it’s fine.”

Mira bowed her head to me in gratitude, almost excessively. However, since sincere gratitude was evident in it, I responded appropriately and nodded.

And after I accepted her thanks, Mira then looked at Arin and Kana standing beside me.

Then, gently holding their hands, she bowed her head as if apologetic and said:

“This may be an unfair request to you two, but can you swear to keep quiet about what you saw behind the cafeteria today?”

“Yes! We’ll keep quiet…”

“Wait, Kana. Dean Mira, could we perhaps hear the reason why we shouldn’t disclose this?”

At Mira’s request to please bury what happened today only in their minds, Kana was about to immediately say she understood, but Arin stopped her and asked Mira for the reason for keeping silent.

It was a question she had every right to ask. Since the two had unintentionally become involved in this incident, it wouldn’t be strange for them to want to know at least the minimum reason.

“…”

Mira was silent for a moment at Arin’s question.

Even if Mira didn’t give a reason till the end, Arin probably wouldn’t tell anyone about this incident. It was Arin’s character to trust and follow even if she didn’t know the reason and found it suspicious.

However, Mira’s character wasn’t shameless enough to ask for silence without giving any reason.

“If you ask why… Yes, shamefully, I don’t want to inform everyone about an incident that would tarnish the academy’s reputation. And the fact that demons have moved means it’s a national issue. It wouldn’t be good for rumors to spread that demons have infiltrated the Puhara Kingdom before the news reaches His Majesty the King’s ears.”

“Ah, I see…”

Mira honestly revealed both personal and public reasons. Nodding involuntarily at those reasons that couldn’t help but be understood, Arin nodded.

Well, the fact that demons have entered the human kingdom is already a huge problem, so if rumors spread now before countermeasures are established, the country would be in a mess for a while.

In the game, they also went with the method of secretly covering it up for this reason.

And perhaps because she wanted to handle the matter as quickly as possible for this reason, Mira, with a face that was not her usual playful one but with pursed lips, bowed her head to us and urged us out.

“Well then, I need to hurry and deal with these demons, so you all can just act as usual.”

“Yes, then goodbye.”

“Th-thank you for your hard work.”

“Take care…”

Clank──

With the sound of the door closing, I came out of the Dean’s office and looked at Arin and Kana, who were still standing beside me with half-dazed expressions.

Until just now, they were too confused to properly assess the situation, but now it seemed they were overwhelmed with thoughts they needed to sort out.

But since they would soon organize their thoughts and return to their usual lives anyway, I started moving my feet first and said to the two who were still standing still:

“Kids. You’ll probably only be able to see me at the end of lunch time, so if you want to learn something from me, come find me then. I’m going ahead now.”

“Yes, go ahead!”

“Yes, yes! Take care, Master!”

Arin and Kana answered behind my back as I coolly walked away. I didn’t even have time to hear their words as I came down the stairs and as soon as I was out of their sight, I immediately started running.

Huh? Why, you ask?

Well, it’s because I’m already 3 minutes late for the start of the swordsmanship class. Haha, damn it.

Swordsmanship class is at 2 o’clock. And checking the clock, the current time was 2:03. It was about to become 4 minutes in real-time.

After speaking so boldly at the entrance ceremony, and then in the classroom, to be late for the very first class?

If such a worst-case scenario happened, I’d die of embarrassment.

“Aaargh! Why is the practical training ground so far away, damn it!”

But time was already telling me I was late, and given the diligent nature of these Lua Academy students, they would all surely be gathered at the training ground, so the only option left for me was to come up with a plausible excuse.

Tap tap tap tap───!

“Avatar!”

[Do you want to select Swordsman – Aria?]

“Select!”

On the way running to the practical training ground. Since I couldn’t keep running in Yeonhwa’s body, I immediately switched to Aria’s body while running to a place where there were no people.

The fact that no filtering was applied meant there were no people around. As soon as I changed into Aria’s body, I ran towards the practical training ground at an even faster speed, and at the same time, I forced my unwilling brain to think.

‘A reason why it’s okay for me to be late… reason… reason…’

All sorts of thoughts flashed through my mind, and my brain tried to find the most optimal solution among them.

But as the practical training ground drew closer and no suitable method came to mind, I gritted my teeth, but just as I was about to enter the practical training ground, a brilliant idea lit up the lightbulb in my head.

I’m not the only one late here. Right now, Arin and Kana in the main building are also late.

In that case…

Screech──

I open the door of the practical training ground and enter. Inside, as expected, all the students taking my class were gathered, except for two.

“””…”””

And as I entered, all eyes turned to me. The gazes were so sharp they were almost painful, but I acted as if nothing was wrong, looked around at the students standing in small groups, and let out a short sigh.

“Haah… I specially came 3 minutes late in case there were any sluggish ones from eating lunch, but two seats are empty.”

At my words, the students took their eyes off me and started counting their numbers.

Total number: 53. But the students here now were 51, excluding Arin and Kana.

So, inwardly apologizing to Arin and Kana who must be running here with all their might right now, I deliberately hardened my expression and lowered my voice.

“We’ll postpone the class for a moment until the two missing ones arrive. And those in my class should know, but I’ll show you through those fools what happens when you’re late to a class I’m in charge of.”

I’m really sorry, kids. I’ll make the punishment light as an apology.

In the quiet corridor in front of the Dean’s office.

Arin and Kana, who had organized their throbbing heads, looked at each other and trembled.

Because of the cold? No. If only it were for such a reason, but the reason they were trembling was for a completely different reason.

What the two were looking at together was none other than a clock. And that clock was pointing to 2:05.

“Um, Kana… What time was our class?”

“As I remember, it was 2 o’clock sharp… but.”

5 minutes late.

Late, late… late… The more they thought about it, the more that word echoed in their minds, and Arin and Kana recalled what Professor Aria had said in class yesterday.

-I won’t say much else. In this class that I’m in charge of, there are just three problems you shouldn’t cause if you don’t want to clash with me. First, don’t be late…

There were words after that, but since that was the most important thing right now, the two stood up simultaneously without anyone needing to go first.

What to put strength in: legs. What to do: run at full speed. When to stop: not until reaching the practical training ground.

“Kana, ruuuun!!!”

“We’re late!!!”

To arrive even a second faster, betting their lives. The two started running.