Currently, Esdinas Academy is a relatively “dangerous place for men”.
The moment men are taken advantage of by women, their pride diminishes, and they lose their dignity as men.
There’s even talk about a prince from a certain kingdom who had to step down from his position as crown prince after experiencing Mana Drain.
Because of this, students of the special admission class—especially those in the [Vermilion Bird] class—have been seriously concerned about “Red Sol Phoenix”, someone who seems to have an abundance of mana but no real physical defense capabilities.
But what if we looked at this from a traditional perspective?
A blond, tanned delinquent.
Even his behavior is cocky and laid-back, making him the quintessential example of what people call a “Golden Sun”.
If it weren’t for the Mana Drain issue, the Academy might have, even jokingly, considered separating this Golden Sun from others.
Yes.
Even though one shouldn’t judge a person by appearances alone, sometimes appearances align so perfectly with a “stereotype”.
Phoenix is exactly like that.
His appearance as the Golden Sun is so obvious that the students of the special class couldn’t help but be concerned, albeit for different reasons.
In this very place, gathered in a certain audiovisual room in the old school building of Esdinas Academy.
[Hmm….]
Three female students from the special class, along with Instructor Kadisha, stared at the large divided screen displaying a live feed from Instructor Esta’s bedroom, deep in thought.
“See, I told you! It’s true, right?”
Yunia pointed at the Golden Sun, who was pressing down hard on Instructor Esta’s lower back with careful attention.
“I’m telling you, it’s just a massage!”
“I don’t believe it.”
Despite Yunia’s words, Ludmila shook her head firmly.
“He could turn around at any moment and pounce on Instructor Esta. All men are like that.”
“That’s…!”
“That’s the reality. It’s been the case in the past.”
Yunia tried to say something in response to Ludmila’s sharp words, but couldn’t open her mouth because of Ludmila’s serious gaze.
“Among the men in the mercenary group, there were many who would try to seduce women and spend the night with them if they showed even the slightest hint. Many of them even dared to commit crimes.”
“That’s… that’s unbelievable! Cutting Wind? I’ve never heard of such things happening in the mercenary world.”
“It’s not something that makes it into the news, Evangeline.”
Evangeline also found it hard to believe what Ludmila was saying, but Ludmila had lived in the adult world far earlier than the others.
“There were some mercenaries who stayed away from such crimes. But in most male-dominated groups, if a beautiful woman appeared, the men would be all over her. Phoenix is no different.”
Ludmila glanced at Yunia and continued.
“He hasn’t made a move on you, not because you’re not attractive, but perhaps because, from his perspective, you’re ‘not yet an adult’.”
“So, that’s why Instructor Esta is risking herself to check.”
Instructor Kadisha tapped on the screen showing the live broadcast on the magic board.
“Otherwise, even Instructor Esta wouldn’t allow a man to touch her like that in such a vulnerable state, right? Especially not the [White Sword Saint].”
“Well, that’s true, but…”
Evangeline, her face turning bright red, covered her face with both hands, but still peeked through her fingers at the screen.
“Doesn’t it seem like Instructor Esta is actually enjoying the massage?”
“What?”
“Oh, no, no. It’s just that her expression looks like… like the one my mother makes when she lies down for a massage… I mean…”
Evangeline hurriedly tried to cover up her words, but everyone in the audiovisual room shared the same thought.
[Hmm-hm…]
[I’ll ease up the tense spots a bit.]
There was no obscene feeling in the Golden Sun’s actions as he repeatedly pressed and released various parts of Instructor Esta’s body, which seemed to be quietly sleeping.
It felt more like watching an artist carefully shape a masterpiece, with a sense of reverence for the craft.
“Look, does that really look like the expression of a man about to jump on a woman?”
“Hmm…”
Yunia defended Phoenix, while Ludmila simply crossed her arms and continued to silently watch Instructor Esta.
[Haaah….]
“Uh.”
Evangeline cautiously raised her hand.
“Isn’t it actually Instructor Esta who seems to be… feeling something inappropriate? …Ah, never mind!!”
“…”
Gulp.
The four swallowed at the same time.
[Haa… Haah…]
How warm and comforting must that touch be for Instructor Esta to let out such a pleasant sound like that?
Even more so.
[Shall I do the front as well?]
[Mmm…]
The fact that she was now whining as if she wanted her front to be massaged too—
“No, stop!”
Yunia jumped up from her seat.
“An-any more than this!”
* * *
“Mmm…”
“Did you sleep well?”
Esta felt groggy.
It seemed like she had fallen into a deep, pleasant sleep, but now, as she woke up in bed, a tan-skinned, naked man was lying beside her, smiling softly while offering her his arm as a pillow.
A strange man—no, not a stranger.
He was Phoenix, but somehow, a more mature version of Phoenix.
This Phoenix wasn’t blonde but instead had black hair and brown eyes.
He seemed like the former delinquent with tanned skin from his Academy days, now reformed with dark hair and without his colored contact lenses—more put-together and proper.
“Honey, you must’ve been really tired.”
His voice, sweet as if whispering words of love, made Esta want to hold on to that drowsy feeling a little longer.
“Want to sleep more?”
“Mmm… no.”
Esta slowly sat up.
In the mirror, she saw herself covered with just a thin blanket, her hair flowing all the way down past her waist—no, down to her hips.
She looked more mature than usual.
Seeing herself in a form she had only dreamed of—a form she had longed for—Esta began to regain her awareness.
Ah.
It’s a dream.
“Up you go.”
“!!”
Even though she knew it was a dream, Esta couldn’t resist as Phoenix gently lifted her in his arms, like a princess.
“Maybe you pushed yourself too hard yesterday. You feel lighter somehow.”
Look at this man, holding her up with his strong, muscular arms.
“Are you okay, honey?”
Look at this man, holding her so tenderly, with eyes full of affection that seemed to say he would never show such a gaze to anyone else—yet still holding her as if she were fragile, worried that she might break.
“…Of course.”
Esta buried her face in his chest, allowing herself to be enveloped in his embrace.
“How are you supposed to stand tall and firm at the lectern like this?”
“Hmm…?”
“Who would believe that someone who acts like this, whining all the time, is a Professor in the Academy’s Swordsmanship Department?”
“…”
With those words, Esta realized it.
“You know…”
“Yeah?”
“D-Do you think I could ever become that kind of person?”
She knew this was a dream, but at the same time, it was also her “dream” in another sense.
“Do you think I could really become a professor at the Academy? Not just teaching noble etiquette in swordsmanship but teaching students how to survive, no matter what dangers they face, with a practical form of swordsmanship?”
That dream, that desire—it was something akin to a “wish.”
“…Of course.”
The man smiled kindly, without a hint of doubt or hesitation, and gently kissed Esta on the cheek.
“It will definitely come true.”
“Do you think the students won’t find it strange?”
“Find what strange?”
“Well, I am the one contracted to a unicorn…”
“Oh, that? That’s just something people say to try and bring you down.”
The man carried her to the sofa, still holding her in his arms.
“It’s like a corset, really.”
“A… corset?”
“They use the unicorn as an excuse to wish you’d stay single forever. It’s just jealousy from women who want you to live as a lonely old maid without ever having a relationship.”
“….”
“If you want to live like that, you can. I won’t deny your choice.”
Esta felt that the hand stroking her hair was incredibly warm.
“Whatever choice you make, whoever you choose, never forget that I’m always on your side.”
Smooch.
“But…”
The warmth of the kiss on her lips was unlike anything she’d ever felt before.
“If you choose someone, I want to be by your side.”
“…”
Without realizing it, Esta reached out her hand—
[Instructor!!!]
“!!”
Suddenly, the man and everything around her vanished like a mirage, leaving Esta with the sensation of cold water splashing over her entire body.
“Ah… right.”
As her dream world crumbled.
“I’m… an instructor.”
Esta was pulled from her sweet dream back into the reality she had to face.
* * *
Clank.
From outside, she could hear voices calling her name.
[Instructor!]
“Ludmila?”
Esta had expected Yunia to be the one shouting if someone knocked on her door, but surprisingly, it was Ludmila looking for her.
‘As expected.’
She was probably standing guard, suspicious of what I might be up to and making sure nothing inappropriate happened.
About an hour had passed.
Esta had fallen into a deep sleep, and I had helped release the mana knotted up in her body, relieving her entire physical fatigue.
“…Hmm.”
And now, Esta, slowly waking up to the voices from outside—
“Phoenix.”
“Yes, Instructor?”
“…Step aside for a moment.”
With the expression of someone who had been forced awake from a blissful dream, like a trainee on the second day of boot camp after a perfect night’s sleep, she rose from the bed, her face looking utterly deflated.
Thud, Thud.
Wearing nothing but a bikini, she walked over and opened the door.
“Instructor! There’s something urge—”
“There’s no problem.”
Slam!
Despite Ludmila’s concerned words, Esta opened the door briefly, then shut it again with a harsh bang.
Thump, Thump.
She walked back and collapsed onto the bed where I stood awkwardly, still watching her.
“…”
“…Instructor?”
“…Well.”
With her body half-sprawled on the bed, Esta pressed a hand down on the instructor pad that was sitting on the desk, then glanced at me with a small whisper.
“…Next time, can you make it a bit longer?”
“Sure.”
Wiping the sweat from my forehead, I nodded.
“Shall I prepare a 120-minute session for you next time?”
Esta simply nodded briefly, then closed her eyes once more.
