Chapter 34

Chapter 34: Student’s Duties (2)

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Originally, a study group should be a word fragrant enough to decorate a page of youth on its own.  

……Not a thin ice sheet where everyone, including Carlisle, is struggling for survival while exchanging furtive glances.  

All members, including Carlisle, had their books open and were staring at one side.  

Naturally, there was no book near Gray, who was sitting at the head of the table with her eyes quietly closed.  

“…….”  

Why on earth.  

How can someone who came to study not even have a book open?  

And that’s even worse. Because I can’t even guess what this person is here for.  

“Um—”  

In the midst of that suffocating silence, the first one to speak was Princess Illia.  

It makes sense, since she’s the most desperate. She has no one to rely on but Carlisle. It probably helps that she’s the one who least needs to worry about Gray’s mood.  

“There’s something I’d like to ask about this problem—”  

“Hmm, let’s see. Which part is it?”  

“It’s a problem from page 34 of the algebra textbook…”  

Carlisle also forced himself to ignore Gray and turned his gaze to the textbook Illia held out.  

“Let’s see, this one is—”  

“74.”  

Before he could even continue, Gray dropped the answer to the problem.  

When Illia and Carlisle blinked at Gray in unison, her eyes slowly opened.  

“What.”  

“…….”  

“I gave you the answer.”  

“……Miss, Her Highness isn’t just looking for the answer but the solving process—”  

“First variable, Elbton’s proof. The rest, calculate it yourself.”  

“…….”  

“Anyone with a head can do the calculations, right?”  

……The Hero doesn’t understand human hearts.  

Just look at Princess Illia’s spinning, questioning eyes.  

“……Um, may I ask what Elbton’s proof is……?”  

“You don’t even know that?”  

“…….”  

“Are you stupid? How did you even get into the cradle?”  

“……S-sorry……”  

Before Illia could finish her dying words, Gray rested her chin on the table and continued.  

“Algebra textbook, page 3. First paragraph to the third. Read it.”  

“…….”  

The Princess blinked blankly.  

When Gray gave her a cold look, she flinched and hurriedly flipped to that part.  

“……Wow.”  

Soon, after reading the neatly explained paragraphs about Elbton’s proof, Illia let out a short exclamation.  

“Thank you, Hero!”  

“It’s nothing worth thanking me for.”  

“No, I’m really grateful for your help!”  

“No. It’s really not a big deal.”  

“…….”  

“How can you not even do this?”  

“……S-sorry……”  

……Watching the conversation loop like a broken record, Carlisle smirked as he looked at Gray and Illia.  

Despite her harsh words, there was no need to intervene.  

Gray was answering all of Illia’s questions, even if her tone was rough.  

No, rather—  

Setting aside the Hero’s insane memory of remembering every detail on every page—  

‘She’s a better teacher than I thought.’  

Her incredible intelligence wasn’t going to waste. Every time Illia asked what something was, Gray immediately pointed out where to look and what to read to understand.  

What’s more noteworthy is how the Princess keeps up with such intense teaching.  

‘This girl’s talent is anything but ordinary, isn’t it?’  

In fact, the textbooks in front of them are at a level that, by Carlisle’s standards, only college students should be handling.  

For a mere seven-year-old child to absorb and digest it all, even with precise guidance, is quite a spectacle.  

[She’s the Emperor’s child, after all. It’d be nonsense to say she lacks ability. Has there ever been an incompetent among the Imperial family?]  

‘That’s true.’  

The Imperial family rules the largest empire on the continent. They’re people who’ve inherited talent in at least one way or another.  

[This Princess was likely ostracized by the Imperial family because she hasn’t yet discovered her own talent. She must have something extraordinary.]  

Imperial family members are inherently superior to ordinary people, excelling in at least one field without exception.  

It’s a proposition that’s almost a law since the founding of the Empire.  

The problem is that the current Imperial family members are far from matching the Emperor’s humility.  

‘Remember the First Prince and Second Princess?’  

[Those bastards deserved to be torn apart.]  

‘Tell me about it.’  

Though he answered like that, Carlisle didn’t bother correcting Gray’s phrasing.  

No joke, if it weren’t for those two, the Empire would’ve lasted ten more years during the Hell Invasion.  

It makes him feel even sorrier for the Princess, who had to endure such people.  

“Who in the world can’t do calculus mentally? You’re not focusing, are you?”  

“I’m sorry—!”  

“…….”  

The sight of her being scolded by Gray right now only deepened that feeling.  

[Hmm.]  

But the Holy Sword, watching this, spoke up as if realizing something.  

[Isn’t this a great thing?]  

‘Huh?’  

[Her intentions may be impure, but she’s still helping others. It seems meaningful.]  

The Hero is sharing her talents with others.  

It may look strange, but it’s undoubtedly a great thing.  

‘You sound like you have a suggestion in mind?’  

[How about arranging more sessions like this? It’d be a good experience for her too.]  

-System Message  

▶ ‘Variable: Holy Sword’s Proposal – Hero’s Princess Training’ has been generated.  

▶ Help Illia Grace, the 7th Princess, grow properly under the Hero’s guidance!  

▶ This is not part of a quest.  

▶ Acceptance and refusal are free, but additional rewards are given upon success!  

▶ The Hero will receive additional growth points.  

▶ Special benefits will be granted for the ‘Main Event.’  

A sudden window popped up before Carlisle’s eyes, making him blink.  

It really came out of nowhere.  

‘……No reason to refuse?’  

Looking at each line, there’s no reason to reject it.  

The immediate growth points for Gray, the special benefits for the main event—  

Even if Gray seems like someone who shatters everything in her path right now, the Holy Sword itself acknowledges that she still has ‘plenty of room to grow’.  

And, in Carlisle’s opinion—  

Considering how monstrous the Archduke Demons were before the regression, their current strength still feels lacking.  

Any means to fill that gap should be utilized.  

Above all—  

‘……Might the Hero’s personality improve a little?’  

[……I can’t guarantee that part.]  

Raising a child might have some positive effects…… Hopefully.  

Anyone can hope, even if the outcome is uncertain.  

‘But, Hero.’  

[Yes?]  

‘What do you mean by impure intentions?’  

He was asking about the Holy Sword’s earlier remark.  

Did Gray come here with impure intentions? He didn’t understand what that meant.  

The reason for the remark became clear soon enough.  

“Um, Carlisle—”  

While Princess Illia withered and grew under Gray’s Spartan education, Vespa dragged her chair closer to Carlisle.  

“About this part—”  

As she placed the book in front of him to ask a question—  

……Or rather, tried to.  

Gray, who had been firing sharp words at Illia, drew the Holy Sword from her back (scabbard and all) and pulled Vespa’s book toward herself.  

Gray skimmed the contents with a glance.  

“Go to the library, borrow ‘World History Travels’, and read pages 40 to 110.”  

“……Uh, ah, Miss……?”  

“If you still don’t get it after that, ask me.”  

“…….”  

Vespa nodded blankly.  

Meanwhile, Gray flipped open the book she was reading and tossed it in front of Carlisle.  

She tapped a section with the tip of her sword.  

“I don’t get this. Teach me.”  

“…….”  

The content written there was the most basic of basics.  

It made no sense for someone who instantly pinpointed solutions to Illia and Vespa’s problems to not know this.  

“……Miss, are you really asking because you don’t know?”  

“I don’t know.”  

“…….”  

“Come here and teach me.”  

Gray tapped the chair beside her.  

She even glared, as if warning him to sit there now or get hit.  

“…….”  

When Carlisle reluctantly sat beside her, Illia and Vespa rolled their eyes.  

“—Miss, um, I think Carlisle is uncomfortable—”  

“Shut up.”  

“…….”  

Vespa was instantly crushed by Gray’s words.  

And so, the situation continued.  

With Carlisle seated beside her, she kept intercepting questions meant for him.  

And she kept him glued to her side.  

……How should I put this?  

It seems the reason she even attended this gathering was to erase any ‘reason’ for Carlisle to help others.  

Like a child unwilling to share her favorite toy, she wants to keep him to herself.  

‘Ah.’  

……So that’s what ‘impure intentions’ meant.  

[Like a child who had her favorite toy taken away.]  

‘Exactly.’  

[Well, being cherished isn’t so bad, is it?]  

‘Not at all happy about it.’  

[……No need to be so harsh.]  

Why is this guy sulking again?  

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-System Message  

▶ Target ‘Vespa Luciana’ is confused by how the Hero treats you!  

▶ A special event related to the target will soon be generated!  

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