What is a Teacher?

The priests quickly gathered and subdued Kohinata. We didn't know what to do because of the sudden situation. If the teleportation zone was tampered with in some strange way and we were transported somewhere in between dimensions,... the worst thing that could happen was to come to mind and I approached the priest who was checking the tablet.

"Kimishima hah! What happened to her???"

The priest turned to me, but only stared back at me troubledly, "T-That's..." When I numbly tried to ask again, the impatient voice of Head Priest Gregory jumped out from behind me. "Ort. What's going on?" The priest called Ort turned to Gregory.

"Gya, it's set in Gallal Blue Temple..."

"Wha... what a mess..."

The Head Priest was aghast at Ort's words. The color of his face indicated that Kimishima had been sent to a not-so-good place.

"Gregory-san. What is Galal Blue...?"

"It is a temple that was located in the Hodgkin Federation, a temple that was already destroyed more than ... fifty years ago."

"Destroyed? You don't mean the Monster Parade or something?"

"…Yes."

"..."

It was bad. I had heard that it was the site of a massive monster invasion that completely displaced humans. A good portion of the Hodgkin Federation had been displaced by them. If I was sent to a place like that alone, I'm sure I'd be ... in a bad spot. I had to do something.

"Can't someone ... rescue her there?"

"Unfortunately, it's also very far away from ... human settlements. Even if we could send someone, it would be difficult to escape that far..."

"So ...hah. It is possible to transfer from here to there... "

“There are teleportation stations in the main temples of each country, but the only places that send transfers there are here ... and at the Envirion Cathedral"

"No way..."

No way to make a move. ... Damn it. Well then, let's get Kohinata to ...

"Kukuku. It's her fault, you know. As soon as she arrived in this other world, she said she was going to break up with me. That's why. I broke up with her once and for all! "

“That's because Akira-senpai seems to have changed since coming here! Yesterday, you were so violent with Sensei. That's why Yuzuki-senpai is getting more and more scared of Akira-senpai!"

"Shut up! Don't talk like you, first year, know anything about me!"

Break up? ... Were they dating? The two of them. I didn't even know about that... Damn. No. Sending Kohinata away and leaving the two of them alone in a place like that... What am I supposed to do?

Domoto? If it's that guy. They said he's got some pretty good potential...

…No…I can’t.

In the end, it was only at the expense of the students.

...

…Damn.

Thinking about my own danger at a time like this, I'm ... an idiot!　

It was obvious. There was only one thing I could do.

…

Whoo. Whoo.

Deep breaths. Yes, that was it. Thanks to the power of my guardian spirit. This way, my mind was stilled. For a martial artist, having a 'clear mind' was the most important thing.

… All right.

“Gregory-san. I'll go. I may not be able to do anything, but I can't let ...... Kimishima be alone ... in this strange world that we don't know. ...I can't let her be alone."

"It's dangerous... But, Shigeto-san. Even if you go, there will be nothing you can do. On the contrary, even Domoto-san, who ranks highest among this group, will probably not be able to do anything and will be devoured by the monsters..."

"That's not how ... it is, however. I can't just abandon her. Please. Please teleport me to Kimishima."

"But…"

I had already decided. I was sure I wouldn't be able to do anything..., but I had to do something at least a little bit like a teacher. I would not be able to live with the regret.

"I-I'm going too..."

"No, you heard him. It's not going to make any difference who goes. You guys need to figure out your own lives."

"But I..."

"Me too, Sensei!"

Along with Sakuragi, Nishina also came forward; these two first-year students were good kids who didn't rebel until the very end. Thinking of this, I stroked Nishina's head.

"It's all right. I don't intend to die. I have Iaido too."

"Sensei…"

"Yeah, ah, well, if you don't mind, you both got some kind of preserved food, right? Would you mind sharing?"

"Eh?"

“We will not die. We're not going to die. We're going to run away with Kimishima. But I still need food, don't I?"

"Yes!"

The two opened the lid of the bags they had slung over their shoulders and offered me what they said was a few days' worth of emergency food from inside. I smiled at them and accepted the food. Then I went straight into the magic circle.

"Kusunoki! Don't do anything in vain!!!"

Kohinata yelled at me as he was held down, but Domoto stood in the way to obstruct him. Kohinata was also puzzled, "Domoto?"

What...? I looked at Domoto, and he immediately took off the sword at his waist and threw it at me. I reflexively accepted it.

"Try to struggle at best."

"... Thank you."

"I heard you told Akira that he couldn't use a sword with Kendo... Can you do it?"

"...I have no choice but to do it, right?"

"Hmph..."

Domoto smiled, a smile he had never shown me before, and stepped back. It was true that a small sword was not enough. I looked at the sword and saw that it had the same handle as my small sword. All right, then. I could count on it.

"You, too. Take care."

He smiled at the other students and encouraged Gregory to perform the teleport. The priest in front of the tablet also looked to his superior, the Head Priest, for help, unsure of what to do. He absolutely needed permission here.

"Gregory-san! Please."

"... I understand."

"Thank you."

... Difficult face and distress, but finally Gregory gave up and gave his permission for the teleport.

As soon as the priest began to fiddle with the tablet, the magic circle letters began to brighten. "Sensei!" Nishina and Sakuragi's voices seemed a little far away as they shouted.

There was once a teacher who tried to save his student from drowning in the local river and was swept away. Suddenly. That memory came to my mind. I wondered why he jumped into the river when he couldn't swim.

... Heh. That's exactly what I was doing just now. Mocking myself unintentionally.

Crack.

The moment I was struck by a light feeling of dizziness.

I was in a desolate ruin.

You can get access to 10 Chapters ahead of the Novelupdates release on my Patreon. <3