第７３６堀：驚かされる事態 (Part1)
### Chapter 736: A Surprising Situation
**Side: Mikos**
Hmm.
I, Mikos-chan, was troubled.
"...In short, for this calculation, using this formula..."
The education at Weed is far too advanced; I can’t keep up with the class content at all.
Especially arithmetic.
I can handle addition and subtraction since I learned them from my parents and at school, but multiplication and division are pushing it, and I have no clue about fractions or how to calculate surface area.
Science is fun because of the experiments, but math is just impossible.
I seriously don't get it.
What the teacher standing at the podium is saying sounds like a language from another world.
Still, I can't admit that I don't understand.
Because everyone else taking the class with us is younger than we are...
We are exchange students from Haiden. I can't show them anything that would bring shame to our country.
Or rather, I don't want Yuki-sensei to be disillusioned with me. As a maiden, that is the one thing I cannot compromise on.
After all, the reason I came to this school in Weed is because of Yuki-sensei’s request.
Not because he wanted me to study, but to solve the problems this school is facing.
"...Base times height, and then divide by two..."
There might be bullying going on. That was the content of Yuki-sensei’s request.
Because of that, the children have been skipping school during the day—well, "skipping" might be a strong word, but they haven't been coming to class, choosing to hang out with Lilishe-sama at the church instead.
Of course, the school is aware of the situation, and we’ve received cooperation from the teachers.
But it hasn't even been a week since we enrolled in this school.
The most I’ve managed to figure out are the names of the students who are skipping.
I’ve tried asking the teachers about the circumstances, but they say they don't really know either.
If there were blatant bullying, I could just move to resolve it, but it seems to be something else entirely; the cause is a total mystery.
Moreover, our grade levels are different, so it was impossible to just barge into that class.
"...But if there are no problems within the school, there’s no reason to sneak out during the day to go to Lilishe-sama’s place..."
There’s a high possibility that there’s bullying or some other issue happening where eyes can't see.
My journalist soul is telling me so.
And once I, Mikos-chan, brilliantly solve the problem, my stock will skyrocket.
*“Mikos, you did great. Thanks to you, the children are attending school safely.”*
*“No, it’s because it was a request from the Yuki-sensei I love.”*
*“Mikos. I love you too. Let’s be together forever from now on.”*
*“Yes.”*
And just like that, we’ll naturally become a mutually loving couple.
And then, I’ll be pushed down onto the bed...
"...kos-san. Mikos-san."
"Yes!?"
Crap. I was so lost in my delusions that I didn't notice someone calling me.
"Your face is red. Do you have a cold? Are you alright?"
"Ah, no. I'm fine."
"Is that so? But please don't push yourself. Now, please calculate the area of this."
Gah, I got called on.
...Um, the content on the whiteboard is a composite shape, huh?
If it were a single shape, I could do it, but, um, um...
This is bad. Mikos-chan is in a super pinch.
How long can I keep pretending to think? Or should I just be honest?
No, I’ll wait for my intellect to awaken!!
*Ding-dong, ding-dong...*
*"Kagura-san, Mikos-san, Solo-san, you are requested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Please come to the staff room immediately. I repeat..."*
My savior has arrived!!
"It seems you have work to do. It’s a shame, but please do your best."
"I'm sorry, Sensei."
For now, I put on an act of being disappointed, just in case.
"It’s alright. You can solve this assignment another day."
"Y-yes. Thank you very much. Then..."
Darn it. They did me an unnecessary favor.
I have to find a way to solve that problem before I get back...
As I walked down the hallway thinking that, Kagura suddenly spoke to me.
"If you don't understand, you should just say you don't understand."
"Ahaha, well, well."
"Huh? Was it obvious?"
Apparently, my perfect disguise had been seen through by Kagura and Solo.
"‘Was it obvious?’ is not the question. I think the teacher knew too, which is why he said that."
"I agree."
"No way!? And I thought he was a nice teacher!?"
"No, he *is* a nice teacher. He was just buying into your enthusiasm to solve the problem on your own."
"Yes. I think so too."
"Ugh, the skill to corner Mikos-chan like that... could that teacher be some kind of master negotiator?"
"“Not a chance.”"
While exchanging such jokes, we arrived at the staff room.
Unlike the abandoned school from before, it was clean, full of children, and a lively, good place.
Well, I’d prefer not to visit at night.
Since the Liches are sometimes there on patrol, I’m confident I’d lose my nerve.
It reminds me of that night.
Ah, but maybe it’s not just a bad memory?
Yuki-sensei came dashing in to save me during that pinch.
He faced the ghosts—which were like lumps of pure terror that made my heart want to give up just by looking at them—without flinching at all, dealing with them calmly.
He was cool. He was truly my prince.
As I was reminiscing about that...
"Oh, you're here."
My prince was standing in the staff room.
Well, he’s overwhelmingly above a prince, though.
But why is Yuki-sensei at school?
"Yuki, why are you at school?"
"Well, I am the honorary principal of this school, after all. I come and go normally. Though I’ve been busy lately and haven't been able to come much."
Ah, I feel like I heard something like that before.
"Um, then, does Yuki-sensei have nothing to do with us being called to the staff room?"
Huh? It’s not Yuki-sensei? The gazes of all three of us, including Mikos-chan, gathered on him.
"No, I’m the one who called you three this time. I have a little business. But if I go to the classroom, it’ll cause a commotion."
"Fufu. That’s true. Yuki-sensei is still very popular."
A female teacher smiled at Yuki-sensei as he shrugged his shoulders.
I believe she was the teacher for Vilier and the others. She’s the most senior among the teachers and is a remarkable person who also handles duties like the principal’s in Yuki-sensei’s place.
"Since Yuki called us, is it about the matter you entrusted to us? Sorry, but we haven't gathered any information yet."
That’s the only reason I could think of for him to go out of his way to meet us at school.
But as Kagura said, we still have no information.
...Hah!? Could it be that he’ll be disillusioned with me?
*“You’re useless. I don’t like a Mikos like that.”*
*“N-no way—!?”*
No, that’s not it.
I thought about it and immediately denied it myself.
Yuki-sensei isn't such a small-minded person that he would decide whether he likes someone based on the success or failure of a job.
"No, it’s not about that. Didn't you hear the broadcast? It’s about the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, diplomacy. I’m sorry to ask this of you three, but please suspend the investigation into the children for now and come with me to the New Continent."
"Eh? Ah, the talks for the If Continent were settled, right? That means the next one is our continent, right? So that’s why you called us?"
Oh, I heard that the preliminary meetings for the If Continent went quite well, so the next one is indeed the continent we are from.
Wait? But is there really a need to go out of his way to call us while we’re at school?