Unfortunately, My Student is a Magnet for Trouble (2.3)

…

"Oi! Brat! You still alive?" I entered the room where I left Cranel. After filling most of his pouches with crystals from the first few floors, I did my usual routine of clearing most of the spawn points, and returned to teach my student. "Or are you dead?"

Claws shaped like knives entered my field of vision, heading straight for my eyes. Ducking beneath the blow, I grabbed its throat, squeezed, and swung the monster into the edge where the hallway opened into the room. Despite their speed and skill, they were all born with an easily-accessible weak point. The monster burst apart and the crystal was already in my hand.

"Oh, Sensei! You're already back!" Cranel nearly stumbled as he stopped running. Panting lightly, a sheen of sweat on his forehead, and a blush on his cheeks... the tired smile he gave carried some unfortunate implications. W-what do you m-mean take r-responsibility? What we shared i-is never going to happen again… r-right? Okay, mind, get out of the gutter! "Look! The room's completely dark now, that was the last one of the War Shadows!"

"Huh, nice job." Examining the room, I found that my student was correct. Cranel did indeed tire out the Dungeon for the first time. A feat that most adventurers couldn't say they've done. The required endurance needed to wipeout a room's 'energy' is immense. Well, unless you knew how to properly conserve your energy. "So, did you learn anything, or did you just kill them?"

"Well, Sensei… they were spawning very quickly and in large numbers…" Cranel gave a chuckle, scratching the back of his head. Oi! Don't try to look cute and get out of this! I'm weak to those attacks! I cleared my throat, hurrying my student along. "I only managed to pick out three of their special moves! Sorry, Sensei, I couldn't find the last one!"

"Allow me to guess, it's the one that requires them to be beaten within an inch of their life?" I sighed and shook my head. Cranel's smile faded and he gave a meek nod. Looking at an adventurer, covered in his prey's remains, and looking downcast while twiddling his fingers was certainly odd. Well, I was about to lecture him in the middle of a monster-filled dungeon, so am I to complain? "At this rate, some stupid adventurer will run from something they've nearly killed, it'll stumble on you, and you'll have a very bad day, brat."

"Ummm, that was very specific, Sensei." Cranel blinked, his head tilting as he considered my words. "Did that happen to you?"

"I've been in this Dungeon so many times it's easier to ask what hasn't happened to me." I shook my head. I was rubbing off on Cranel. Only two weeks of training him, and he already knows a few tricks to avoid several topics. I like that you're growing up, my white-haired student, but I don't appreciate being the test dummy for your topic-avoidance lines. Save those for your dates. "And, you ignored the question, brat. Why are you still against knowing how much damage it takes before a monster decides to unleash its most desperate attack?"

"I… I don't want to make them suffer, Sensei. Even though you said they don't feel anything…" Cranel turned his gaze towards his feet, and began to cuff his heel on the rocky floor. "I'm not against killing them, but beating them within an inch of their life is just… it doesn't sit well with me, Sensei." The red-eyed, young man looked at me with a wince, regretful of not following my directions. "Can't you… just tell me what they do when they're near death?"

"You're wasting your kindness, Cranel." My white-haired student winced as I said his name instead of 'brat.' Still, I already knew that was the case. Ever since he voiced his displeasure about how I handled that one goblin, I knew that he wouldn't do such a thing. I sighed. "You need to know the dangers of monsters when they're nearly dead. They become a hundred times more aggressive when they know they're going to die. At that point, their only hope is to take you with them."

"…" Cranel remained stubbornly silent. Futilely, I'd hoped that he'd simply do what I'd say despite his own beliefs. Ha, as if a Protagonist would ever compromise on their 'Ideals.' After a moment, he raised his head and met my gaze. My teeth gritted as my stomach curdled. "Hikigaya-sensei, I don't want to do such things to monsters. If I get hurt because of that then… I'll accept it."

What a fucking stupid thing to say.

"There's being an idiot, Cranel, and then there's being a selfish idiot." The reprimand came smoothly from my lips. Oddly enough, I was angrier than I thought at my white-haired student's declaration. Even though I knew it would be in-character for him to say. "You'll 'accept' being hurt because of your choice to not hurt monsters? That's one of the most idiotic things I've ever heard."

Cranel kept quiet, but he bit his lip and gritted his hands. Damned brat actually thought he was right? That what he said was rational and noble in any way? I approached him quickly and swiftly. The small, young man barely reached my chest and yet he kept his gaze unerringly on mine. I ignored the attempt to intimidate and placed a finger on his chest.

"What about Hestia-sama? The goddess who waits for you to come home every day?"

A jab with my finger, along with the surprise of my words, made Cranel stumble back. I followed.

"What about Flova-san? The orphan waitress who makes you food every day?"

Another jab, another stumble, and another step forward for me.

"What about your own damned dream, Cranel?"

A final push, and Cranel was between my finger and the wall.

"What about them, Cranel? Are they just going to simply 'accept' your choice to get injured because you found compassion for a beast that's only born to kill?"

When confronted, people showed their true personalities. Everything I truly knew about my student was all second-hand knowledge. Nothing more than a stereotyping. In reality, I knew nothing about this white-haired, young man.

All I had were guesses at what he saw as important.

His goddess.

A girl who looks after him.

The goal he strives to attain.

I used all of them to antagonize his line of thinking. Essentially, by using the ideals he held as levers, I wanted to clearly see who Bell Cranel was, no matter what the outcome might be.

Looking back onto his face, I was honestly afraid of what I'd see.

"Sensei…" Cranel's face was hidden by his bangs. His hands were still curled into fists. Despite the armor plate he wore, I felt his rapid heartbeat upon my finger. Raising his head, there was no hatred in his eyes that I could see. "I apologize. You're correct. I… I'll do as you say next time."

"Good." A breath I didn't know I had held in left me. Tension left my shoulders as I released my student, and stuffed my hands into my pockets. The words were low and grudging, but that was to be expected. No one ever wanted to admit they were wrong. Honestly, I would've been more worried if he had happily agreed to my suggestion. "Now, let's start gathering these crystals up. We don't want to worry anyone."

The silence that followed, filled with some animosity and reluctance, was far from comfortable.

However, it was real.

I took what peace I could from that.

…

"Bell-kun! Bell-kun! Bell-kun!" Flova's antics, combined with good food, managed to get rid of the stifling cloud between myself and Bell. I wasn't foolish enough to think that tomorrow would be any less difficult, but I counted my blessings as we naturally unwound in the atmosphere of the pub. "Do you have any plans for next week at the Monster Festival?"

"Monster Festival?" My student turned to me, curiosity and a look for aid clear in his eyes. Nope. You need to confront the blatant date attempts yourself. Be a man. No using your Sensei as an escape route. You will get no help from me. No matter how well you can beg like a puppy. "What's that, Sensei?"

"It is an event organized every year by the Ganesha Familia, after Ganesha-sama holds the three-day God's Banquet, Cranel-kun. That takes place over the weekend, so the Monster Festival shall begin four days from now." Lyon decided to give the information herself. Oi. I know you're trying your damned best to get Flova her man, but this seems too rehearsed. Am I already accounted for in all your Scenarios? Where did Flova keep her orange glasses and white gloves? "Hmph, isn't your mentor supposed to keep you updated on current events? What sort of unreliable fool do you have as a teacher?"

Before I could ready my own barrage of insults, the doors to the pub obnoxiously burst open.

"The Loki Familia returns from yet another successful expedition! Mama Mia! Prepare your best ale and food!" Short-shorts, thigh-highs and chest-wrapping-chan cried out, a finger raised to the air declaratively. Nice victory pose. 7.5 out of 10, Loki-sama. Just the right amount of referencing to be a memorable, secondary character. "A round for everyone here! There's plenty of Valis to spare! It's time to celebrate my Familia's triumphant victory, and, more importantly, my survival of having to wear a dress for hours on end!"

"Ah, Loki-sama! Welcome back!" Grand-san, or Mama Mia, gave a big grin at the newcomers and a glare at both me and Lyon. I felt a shiver go up my spine, and Lyon seemed unsettled. Don't bicker today, or you'll both regret it. Message received. Message acknowledged. Ignoring existence of Lyon Ryuu. "Congratulations on your Familia's success! Please, head to your table and I'll have the food served! Alf-sama already reserved and ordered for you!"

"Awww! Good job, Riveria-chan! You really do care!"

"Please control yourself, Loki-sama. Or I will have to control you, Loki-sama."

"Oh no! Aiz-chan! Protect me from Riveria-chan!"

Pomf. A scabbard made contact with the god's head and dropped her like a sack of potatoes.

"Aiz-chan… why."

"Protection… does not require touching there… Loki-sama."

A cheer went across the tavern. Waitresses began handing out free drinks. The rest of the class-act of the Loki Familia went by unnoticed by me. I can only stand so much Riajuu Energy. My dead eyes cannot withstand the 'wholesome, hopeful, and successful' appeal that the Loki Familia's Level 5 Adventurers and their goddess emitted.

Out of principle, I wasn't much of drinker. However, I did respect their choice to give free drinks to everyone. That was why I ignored them instead of ruining their night with a few nasty curses. Ah, not magical curses. Just good, old-fashioned 'wishing-ill-upon-the-more-fortunate' curses. Nothing to be worried about.

"A-Aiz W-wallenstein?"

Ah, crap. I knew I forgot about something.

Cranel's eyes may as well have been in the shape of hearts. His eyes tracked her movements, but not strangely or perversely. Instead of looking at her assets, my white-haired student seemed to be drinking in her presence. Innocent, admirable love.

Stomach. Churning. Need. Bucket.

I gave him a quick rap on the head.

"It's bad manners to look for more than ten seconds, Cranel." I grunted, holding back a chuckle, as my student rubbed his head. Looking about, I was glad to see Flova busy handing out drinks and setting tables. However, judging from Lyon's grimace, the elf wingwoman had noticed. Ganbare, Lyon-chan. "You've got a long way to go before you can sit anywhere close to those Level 5s."

"…Yeah. You're right, Sensei." Still, however, Cranel looked upon the table where one of the top-teams of adventurers sat. His eyes remained firmly on Wallenstein. This time, however, he wasn't drinking her in. He was seeing the challenge ahead. A gap that stretched from horizon to horizon, lay between him and his dream. Yet, in his eyes, there was only determination. "One day, I'll have a group like that, and be just as strong."

"Good thinking, brat." I chuckled. With Realis Phrase, his dream was closer than he thought. "Keep focused on that, and you'll do perfectly fine."

A comfortable silence stretched between the two of us, without the addition of Flova or Lyon, something I was made immensely happy by.

Then, of course, Bete Loga decided to open his damned mouth.

…