325 You're not at fault, Teacher!
Upon arriving at the room in the elven village, I found the teacher sitting cross-legged on the bed.
— Drowsy.
The elven teacher, slow to mature, sitting cross-legged resembled a little girl who’d been denied a snack and was pouting.
What now.
This should be a serious moment, yet the scene was oddly endearing.
To the immediate side, Fermina and Kusaya sat on chairs, chatting.
Not chatting—more like Fermina interrogating Kusaya relentlessly.
Three distinct individuals, each absorbed in their own world, now focused on me, who had just materialized directly into the room.
"Shinobu-san."
The teacher slowly lifted their face, murmuring.
"How are you feeling?"
A neutral question, for safety.
Fermina’s eyes snapped open, locking onto me.
What is that look?
I can talk too, when I want to!
I'm just not serious most of the time!
If I put in real effort, I can do it too!
"Your body is fine. I'm sorry for worrying you."
Body, huh.
Meaning my mind is still far from recovered.
"Please don't push yourself. There's no need for you to risk danger anymore."
Speaking gently, as softly as possible.
Fermina looks like she's about to foam at the mouth and collapse.
What's that face?
I have kindness too, just a little!
I mean, I'm incredibly kind!
It's the people who don't understand that who are broken!
"Thank you."
Even as I speak, the teacher's spirit doesn't return.
My words don't seem to lift the burden.
Still, there's nothing else to do but keep speaking.
"You don't need to worry. You acted out of good intent. It was Potimas who sought to exploit your conscience."
There was no fault in the teacher's actions.
A common saying among frauds is that the victim is to blame—but the one who deceived is always at fault.
The teacher did only what they could, to the extent possible.
There were reborn souls who were saved as a result. Potimas's schemes were neutralized in advance. Everyone was unharmed.
The outcome was acceptable.
"But the fact remains that I aided Potimas."
Yet the teacher is troubled.
Hmm.
The teacher bears too much responsibility.
They shoulder burdens that were never theirs to bear—and suffer for it.
There is no obligation for the teacher to save reborn souls, simply because they are a teacher. They used elves with desperate effort. They were betrayed by Potimas—and now feel responsible for that betrayal.
They are carrying too much weight.
Sometimes, I think they should live more lightly.
That’s precisely what makes the teacher admirable.
“That’s precisely the teacher’s misconception. The teacher was deceived. Nothing wrong was done. And, if I may say so, whether the teacher existed or not, Potimas would have eventually committed some atrocity—eventually. Regardless of the teacher’s actions, that man would have required the world’s full force to be eliminated. The teacher was simply born into misfortune.”
Potimas is at fault.
It’s all his fault.
That is the truth.
“So… does that mean my very existence was a mistake?”
Dah—!?
Why are you reaching that conclusion!?
“No. I’ve said it repeatedly—there is no fault in the teacher.”
The immediate denial fails to lift the teacher’s gaze.
Eh… ah… uh…
What should I do?
A glance is sent toward Fermina and Kurayu, seeking help.
Fermina subtly averted her gaze.
Kurayu exhaled softly, shoulders shrugging.
Tch!
Useless!
"Don't look at me like that. I don't have all the facts. I only arrived here last in the sequence. My position and circumstances differ from the others. I can't offer an opinion."
Kurayu's excuse time.
Well, there's no denying it's true.
Kurayu and Tanikawa spent longer outside the elven village.
Therefore, their time with the teacher was shorter. Their confinement within the elven village was also brief.
Unlike the other reincarnated individuals, who had been under house arrest since childhood, their positions were different.
An impartial judgment is impossible.
" Well, from what I’ve heard, I don’t think the teacher is at fault. This is entirely a matter of the teacher’s own feelings, isn’t it? I think the only way forward is for the teacher to reflect on their own mind and sort things out."
...Are you really my age?
Ah, no—when you include the previous life, I’m older than you.
A brief moment of escapism, but in truth, Kushiya is more mature than the other reincarnated individuals.
When the teacher collapsed just now, she was the first to act.
Kushiya has traveled the world as an adventurer. That experience broadened her perspective, and her mind has matured accordingly.
Compared to those who lived stagnant lives in the elf village, she’s clearly had more exposure.
" So, teacher. I’ll stay by your side until you’ve sorted things out and recovered. Take your time. Think about it."
"Mr. Kusaya, you're not saying that because you want to take it slow, are you?"
"Ah? Caught?"
Sophia smiled with a mischievous expression.
The teacher also let a small smile appear.
Hmm?
Strange.
This was supposed to be the scene where I gracefully relieved the teacher of their sorrow, wasn't it?
All taken by Lady Sophia, then?
Something is wrong. This is absolutely wrong!
Sending a glance toward Fermina-chan, imbued with the intent of questioning what this meant.
Fermyna refuses to look this way!
The expression of the teachers shifts to surprise as I am struck down by an inexplicable sense of defeat.
Hmm?
A quick glance revealed that even the teacher, Kuratsuya-san, and Fermina-chan were all gazing into the sky, ears pricked, as if listening intently.
And, abruptly, from astonishment.
The expression on their face grew strained.
The gaze turned toward me.
Ah.
It’s here.
Command the fragmented entity to hack the system.
Check the history of the Heavenly Voice (Prototype).
From the expressions of the three present, I suspect some kind of revelation has been received from the Heavenly Voice (Prototype).
Then, bingo.
Hmm, what’s this?
World Quest activated.
Prevent the plan of the malevolent god scheming to sacrifice humanity to prevent the world’s collapse, or cooperate.
Ah, damn it.
They came in with a bang.