239 Each Scholar's Life

Several reincarnated individuals, including teachers, began attending the human academy.

Unexpectedly, besides the two reincarnated individuals the teacher had previously encountered, two additional reincarnated individuals now attended the same academy.

Natsume and Hasebe.

Regarding Hasebe, it might be impolite, but she leaves little impression.

Not particularly unnoticeable, nor particularly striking.

Somewhat ordinary?

That’s the impression one might have.

No, truly, I don’t remember.

Sorry.

Yet the impression of Hasebe, now reincarnated, was sharply distinct from her previous life.

First, beauty.

From hazy recollections, she did not seem exceptionally beautiful in her prior life—more of a youthful, endearing face, perhaps. In this life, however, she was undoubtedly beautiful.

Her features were refined from childhood, already revealing a future clarity in her appearance.

Well, reincarnated individuals tend to be quite frequently handsome or beautiful, aren’t they.

Whether it’s a gift from D or something else.

And the inner self had changed even more drastically.

“Divine Words are exactly what their name suggests—words spoken by the divine. The divine’s own pronouncements! Therefore, we must raise our levels and train our skills to hear even a fraction of those words! Otherwise, we won’t be able to hear the divine’s voice at all!”

Ugh.

Impossible.

Why did it come to this?

I hadn’t fully grasped Hasebe’s presence until now.

It seems the Divine Word Sect has concealed her effectively.

I’ve had occasional contact with Yagihara, who was similarly hidden, so I recognized him.

And the reincarnated individual the Divine Word Sect holds is Kusama.

Hmm.

I’ve kept putting it off, but I should probably make contact with the Divine Word Sect at some point.

There are examples like Potimas—potentially troublesome enemies depending on circumstances.

What purpose does the encirclement of the reincarnated serve?

And why exactly was that one individual deliberately sent to the elven village?

What objective does the Church of Divine Speech pursue in its activities?

Knowledge is required.

As for Hasebe, leaving her be should be fine.

This girl’s half mad, somehow.

One might say she has been indoctrinated to suit the needs of the Divine Word Church, but she does not appear to be entrusted with secret orders or similar duties.

No suspicious actions have been observed during the previous surveillance.

Surveillance continues, but there is no need for such heightened alertness.

If there is an issue, it is likely with Natsume-kun.

Natsume was far more memorable than Mr. Hasebe.

In a bad way.

A brash, domineering sort, essentially.

At her age, a high school student, she still spent all her time doing things like that boy, Jayan.

Also the one who tried to crush me.

My memories as a spider do not retain Summer's name as the other party.

Awareness limited to the sensation of nearly being killed.

Yet, it is completed by the memory of Wakaba-hime.

I recall the image of Natsume-kun crushing a spider.

The figure of the teacher, motionless.

Do you harbor resentment toward that moment?

That’s true.

An attempted murder is still an attempted murder, even if it was nearly fatal.

Few memories remain of her time as a spider, but the terror felt then—and the gratitude for being saved—she still remembers clearly.

Perhaps I can find a way to harass Natsume-kun...

Killing is the quickest and clearest solution—but if I do that, the teacher will grieve.

Recall the moment the teacher was speaking with Onoshima-kun.

The teacher’s face when speaking of the dead student was expressionless.

But I know.

There are times when one wakes from sleep, crying, trembling.

The posture of crouching, whispering “I’m sorry,” voice shaking.

Four students have died.

One is still alive—effectively three.

The harshness of this world I know well.

A Japanese high school student reborn as an infant in this world, limiting casualties to just three.

I suspect they’ve crossed dangerously perilous bridges and pushed beyond limits long before I became aware.

I consider this achievement more than sufficient.

Yet the teacher does not see it that way.

The three dead—they always wonder if they could have been saved.

It’s impossible.

One person can do only so much.

Even gods are not omnipotent.

To believe one can save everyone—this is nothing but Pride.

You have every right to be proud.

But perhaps that’s precisely why you are you.

Truly.

Whether you’re a teacher, a demon lord, or merely a shadow—trying to end everything in a happy ending is impossible.

It can’t conclude with a grand finale.

To save everyone, the world has too many rotten elements.

Like Potimas. Like Hayame.

I had my eyes on Hayame from an early stage.

They called him a prodigy by birth. I suspected he was a reincarnated soul.

Predictably.

I confirmed it was Hayame when we joined forces.

I had anticipated it.

After all, Hayame’s essence hasn’t changed from his past life.

No—worse than before.

Born into nobility, hailed as a natural genius, wielding immense power since childhood.

Yes.

I’m riding high.

Already, full of arrogance.

Nose thrust high, breaking through the heavens.

Breaking that nose is simple enough—but that’s not my role.

I can’t help but feel irritation watching it, but I shouldn’t interfere too much.

The academy, a sealed space, has finally gathered the reincarnated ones.

If I make a misstep here and draw attention, Potimas or him might intervene.

That would be problematic.

Especially his intervention—Yamada-kun’s elder brother, the Hero Julius—I must avoid at all costs.