Eyes of Doubt

The bell's ringing that signals the start of classes was heard inside the classroom.

However, the students were already seated, as expected of our good education.

As I made my way to the podium, I looked around the classroom to see if there were any absences.

My name is Liselotte Canaris. I am a teacher in this school.

"Then, we're now going to start our joint class. Mr. Krause, is that okay?"

"Yes. My preparations are now complete, Ms. Canaris."

The dark-haired man... Theophil Krause replies to me with his matching, well-groomed face.

Despite his cool looks, instead of being arrogant about it like the usual 'handsome men,' he has a friendly personality that quickly made him the center of attention among the students.

After all, he is the only male in the school.

I don't know how he got a job here, where boys are not allowed, but his skills were the real deal.

I have heard that he worked as a court wizard before, so maybe he had gotten his experience over there.

"Today, we will be talking about The Omission of Magic Spell Chants."

I open the grimoire and explain it to them while Mr. Krause writes the letters on the blackboard.

It's a weekly joint class, the purpose of which is to stimulate the students to study in a different environment than usual.

After the explanation, we move on to practical skills.

"Then I'm going to show you how it's done, so watch closely."

I put down the grimoire and kept my distance to face Dr. Krause.

"Ready as you are, Ms. Canaris."

"Then allow me to do it without reservation."

I created a fireball in front of him without chanting and shot it at him.

A hit would definitely inflict a severe burn, but he counteracts it by creating a water shield.

It's a casual move, but it takes a high level of skill to cancel out a spell like this perfectly.

I'm better with a sword than with magic, but it's still frustrating to see it offset so easily.

"It's brilliant, as expected of a former court magician."

"No, no, there are a lot of people that are even better at me over there."

Mr. Krause humbled himself as he says that.

But inside the classroom, applauses and shrill voices could be heard, praising him for his skill.

After that, the class ended without incident.

This man is someone who instantly became popular with his students soon as he came here, but I still couldn't trust him well enough.

Though it was only a groundless suspicion, I decided to monitor Mr. Krause's movements after class to assuage this anxiety.

I followed him out of the classroom, pausing only a little while.

Then he started to have some kind of standing conversation with a student who walked up in front.

"Isn't that Inez Barrack, the student council president?"

She possesses an unyielding spirit of never wanting to lose. But she also has a strong sense of integrity. Therefore, she was easily well-trusted by the people around her.

I listened carefully to hear their conversation.

"Teacher, you will accompany me to my self-study after this, right?"

"Come to think of it, I did say that..."

Barrack starts to get angry at Mr. Krause's words.

"Geez, then don't forget it! After all, I've studied hard on that as well."

"Don't worry. I won't."

"What...self-study? Alone with a student?"

I sometimes help my students with their studies when I have time, but for some reason, Barrack is acting very close to this man.

And I even thought she was the most knowledgeable in drawing the line...what's more, with a teacher?

"Anyway, make yourself free at that time. As for the place, the same as usual."

"Yeah. After all, we don't want to find out that a student and a teacher are staying alone together."

"I just don't want any strange rumors. Since you're a teacher, you can use some kind of invisibility spell or something, right?"

"Well, I wonder about that."

"Suspicious...I can't believe this kind of man is being left alone in this place."

"Say what you want. You'll never be able to kick me out anyway, But you are always welcome to try."

The two of them exchanging words made me wonder for a moment if they were that kind of friends.

But I don't think the Barrack will easily trust him.

Maybe she only trusts him as a teacher? This chapter is translated by neorecormon of stabbing with a syringe translations.

If the student council president trusts him that much, then he might not be a problem, but let's investigate him a bit more.

After parting from Ms. Barrack, I followed the back of Mr. Krause, who started walking on his own again.

Apparently, he's heading for the next classroom. Further ahead is the hallway for the second-year students.

"Good day to you, teacher."

"What's up, Arendt? Class is about to start."

The next person to speak to Mr. Krause was Annica Arendt. The latter's house is famous for being a prestigious family.

But nowadays, the person herself has become more 'famous' than her family for her personality.

Rumors are she often goes out of town to seduce men.

"Hey, teacher. Do you have any time to spare after this?"

"Tell me the reason first."

"I thought of asking you out on a date."

W-wow, very direct.

W-wait, if it's a beauty like Arendt, any man would surely agree on a drop of a hat!

At any rate, I have to stop this harlotry at once!

But just before I was about to reveal myself, I heard some unexpected words.

"I'm not interested in such things. Also, you're going to be late for class."

He, he turned down the invitation of Arendt?

Even as a woman, I think she's an attractive girl.

"Also, you there! The one who has been spying on me from that corner."

"Ah, wa, yes!"I was caught off guard when he spoke to me, causing me to make a funny noise.

What a deplorable thing to do to me...!

"What the, aren't you Miss Canaris?"

They found out who I am, too. To view the complete translation, only read at my WordPress site. by doing that, you are supporting the translator as well.

I gave up on hiding any longer and appeared in front of the two.

"Ah, you see...I heard a man and a woman talking alone, so I got a little suspicious."

"I see. It will be a problem indeed if it is a man other than me."

Are you implying that it won't be a problem as long as it's you?

Well, he's a pretty good teacher from what I've seen so far, but still...

"The bell is about to ring, Arendt. You should go ahead."

"Eeeh, but what about-"

"I'll go after having a little chat with Ms. Canaris here. Tell the other students I'll meet them in a few minutes."

She won't be able to stay here anymore, now that he made her a messenger.

Having no other choice, she gave a clean bow to us and walked towards the classroom.

"By the way, Ms. Canaris, you don't have any more classes today, do you? Do you have something you need around here?"

"Ah, I was...there's something I need to do in the archives in the room ahead."

"As far as I know, Miss Canaris is only supposed to be in charge of third-grade students. Why would you need materials for second graders?"

H-he's right!

Think, I need to think of a suitable reason..."

"There is something I would like to review personally. Y-you know, so that I can answer some of my student's questions."

"I see, so that's the way it is."

Mr. Krause seems to be convinced by my explanation.

Meanwhile, I'm dripping a cold sweat, wondering when did he find out that I've been following them.

I was thinking of tracking a suspicious person, yet I'm the one acting suspiciously in the current situation.

I'm starting to regret saying that to myself. Why did I follow him in the first place?

I spoke to myself in self-loathing, though I kept it all inside my head to prevent the other party from noticing.

"But then again, you turned down Arendt's advances quite easily."

"Well, I've had my fair share of female experience. For me, that's just the whim of an adventurous spirit unique to those in adolescence."

This time, I was more convinced by his answer.

It is true that there should be no shortage of women who comes at him, with his title as a court wizard and this looks as a man.

"I understand. I also apologize for holding you back, Mr. Krause."

"No, I'm also relieved that there are no problems. So long, Ms. Canaris."

He said that and walked off after Arendt.

As I watch his back, I gathered my thoughts.

"He's an excellent teacher, he has the grace to accompany his students to their own studies, and he knows how to treat women appropriately."

The more I arrange them, the more I feel like he deserves to be a teacher at this school.

"So, was it all my needless anxiety?"

I almost concluded that but then shook my head to regain my composure.

"Let's just look into him for a few more days. If it doesn't turn up anything, let's give up."

I told myself that and went back to the staff room.