"Then...just now...can you say that last sentence again?"
She asked Hajime this. Her cheeks flushed rosy pink, and she lowered her head, looking up at Hajime with her eyes raised, feeling coy.
"...That last sentence, huh?"
"Yes. However, the word 'teacher' should be removed..."
She had been so insistent on maintaining the boundary between teacher and student, so why did she choose to cross it at this very moment? Hajime's facial muscles twitched.
At that moment, the sound of a chair leg bouncing and hitting the ground was heard. It was Yuuka, trembling.
Of course, at this time the students were in a state of great confusion, talking about everything at once.
"Ugh... what's going on?! When did it get like this?" "How come even the teacher has fallen for you?! Tell me this isn't true!" "As expected of Hajime-sama..." lines like these echoed one after another. Junshi, Noboru, and Akito gritted their teeth, looking as if they were ready to pounce on Hajime at any moment.
Despite the noise all around her, Aiko seemed not to hear anything; she was too nervous.
Although I don't know what has happened to her state of mind, maybe it's because she has made up her mind and is ready to die in this battle.
As a teacher, it's entirely possible that Aiko would sacrifice herself for her students. Therefore, facing the risk of death, she chose to pursue Hajime as a woman... If this is true, she truly has a genuine determination to die, which is quite heavy.
However, with the decisive battle imminent, if her mood were to plummet or even spiral out of control, it would be troublesome. Very troubling.
After all, this little animal teacher was an expert at causing trouble and wasting time. It could be said that there was no choice at all.
Surrounded by the piercing gazes from everyone around him, Hajime sighed and decided to agree to her request.
“…Aiko, please.”
"Yes! Leave it to me! I'll definitely do my best to stir things up! It's time to show off my skills as a teacher!"
Incitement is not a teacher's job... She should apologize to all teachers nationwide. Is this person's self-image as a teacher truly flawless?
Aiko looked full of energy. Hajime felt uneasy and looked away from her.
He overheard his classmates talking again. "Teacher and student... it's like something out of a pornographic video game." "That guy is the devil!" "It must be Casanova... The person over there is actually Casanova! Don't make eye contact with him, or you'll get pregnant!" (Editor's note: Giacomo Casanova was an Italian writer and romantic.)
Ling said the last sentence. I have to find a chance to teach her a lesson later.
“Uh… ahem! Mr. Nagumo! I, I’ll try my best too!”
For some reason, even Liliana jumped out and actively asserted herself. Her face flushed, her almond-shaped blue eyes sparkling with anticipation.
Why did she have to jump out and confront me at this very moment? Hajime wondered, staring helplessly into the distance. He really wanted to throw her through the portal of time and space and forcibly repatriate her once again.
"...Well, come on, Princess-san."
“…I’ll do my best!”
"it is good."
"I'll try my best!"
"..."
"I, I'll try my best... wuwu..."
“………………Please, Liliana.”
"...Call me Lily."
"Um... please, Lily."
"Yes! Leave it to me! Just watch me demonstrate the power and charm of a princess! I can easily sway even a mere commoner!"
It felt like she'd said something a princess shouldn't have, but that was probably an illusion. It couldn't be true that the princess, beloved by the people, was actually thinking, "Manipulating the people is too easy."
The students were getting more and more agitated, and one could almost hear voices like, "She said she wanted artificial respiration earlier, it must have been out of lust!"
I could hear a groaning sound, "Ouch!" It sounded extremely painful, as if my internal organs were being squeezed out. It was Yuuka, who was pressing her side.
Nana and Taeko, who seemed to be sitting on her left and right, each elbowed her. "Yuuka-chan, stop being such a wimp!" "I really don't have any feelings for him!" "Alright, alright, even tsundere has its limits, timid Yuuka," the three of them exchanged.
Before we knew it, the desperate and serious atmosphere at the beginning, like being stuck in a swamp, had long since disappeared.
Now, no one at the scene had their heads bowed. Although the degree of dejection varied, everyone's faces were cheerful.
"...Okay, time to draw a conclusion."
Hajime's expression was very subtle.
Even so, he allowed the atmosphere to relax, aiming to lighten the students' mental burden.
Facing the imminent crisis of world destruction, with Earth as their homeland and the enemy's next target, no one could easily accept such a reality. The initial attitude of the students at the third round table was a normal reaction.
However, we cannot abandon them and ignore them.
Because despair, pessimism, and self-destruction may lead to betrayers like Shimizu and Hiyama among these people. Therefore, it is necessary to pay attention to this aspect.
When Hajime said he was going to draw conclusions, Aiko and Liliana's demeanor immediately turned serious. It seemed like their words and actions, while sincere, were also meant to ease the tension.
The classmates also changed their attitudes, and the atmosphere immediately became moderately tense.
After confirming that everyone was serious, Hajime continued:
"My top priority is to rescue Yue. To that end, I will attack the divine realm. During the decisive battle three days later, the divine gate will likely reappear, and I intend to use it to enter. I will leave Nakamura and Amanogawa to Taniguchi and the others, while the rest of us will confront the incoming apostles."
Hajime paused at this point, checking to see if everyone understood the general goal. Most of the students still looked apprehensive, but at least they were listening.
"Now, I'll announce what I plan to do over the next three days. First, I'll be heading to the deepest part of Orcus. Orcus's environment is perfect for mass-producing divine artifacts. I'll need help, and I'd appreciate Kaori, Myuu, and Remia."
"Yeah, I understand, Hajime-kun."
"Okay, Dad! Myuu will help!"
"As long as it's something I can do, please give me your instructions."
Kaori, Myuu, and Remia all readily agreed.
The reason why Myuu and Remia were with him was to be on the safe side, to prevent them from being taken hostage again. Furthermore, since Hajime would have to focus on gathering and refining, it would be best if someone could take care of his life, so Hajime really needed their help.
"Shia, go to the Rasen Labyrinth."
"...I see. You want me to ask Miss Meredith for help, right?"
"That's right. We were forced out back then, so we don't know how to take a shortcut yet. If the spring near Brook doesn't respond to the Clearance Certificate, we'll have to go through the maze again..."
"No problem. This time I'll definitely clear the maze within half a day. With my current strength, that huge maze will be no different from a playground."
"I think so. Please."
"yes!"
Shia nodded enthusiastically. Thinking of the rabbit that had once been so-so, now incredibly reliable, Hajime couldn't help but smile wryly. Then, Hajime quickly changed his mindset and called out to Tio.
"Tio."
"I understand. It's time to go back to my parents' home, right?"
"As expected, you're smart. 'The time has come'—please convey this to me."
"I see... That's right. The period of dormancy should be over..."
Tio placed her palms on her chest and closed her eyes. The depth of her emotion was something no one could possibly imagine.
Hajime said to her with an incredibly gentle expression:
"I said, 'We'll make a new agreement later.' Is that no longer necessary?"
"Haha, don't be so foolish. How could I easily give up such an important right? ... This opportunity is rare, Master, why don't you make a promise with me now? What I want is—'the best future'."
"That's a bit too broad... Never mind, I promise you. I will definitely capture the 'best future' for all of us. So, Tio—"
"Yes. Leave it to me. The Black Dragon Tio Kularus will dedicate everything to the path you choose!"
The two of them smiled at each other, and the calm atmosphere made it clear that Hajime and Tio, like Yue and the others, had a bond that no one else could interfere with in different ways.
Next, Hajime turned his gaze towards Shizuku.
"Yaegashi, please go to the Empire. I will duplicate a Portkey to the Kingdom for you. Please try to convince Gaharud to send troops to the Kingdom."
"That's fine, but...why me?"
"I see that Gaharud is quite fond of you. You should be in a better position to negotiate than others. You're quite good at it, too."
Considering the burden on the Empire, Hajime and the others would naturally have some concerns about the restrictions of the "Oath Necklace" and the emancipation of slaves. If things go wrong, the only person they can be assured of in terms of combat power is Shizuku. After listening to Hajime's explanation, Shizuku's expression was a little subtle, and she pouted and said:
"I understand what you mean, but to be honest, I'm a little hurt that you sent me to find a man who wants to pursue me, knowing my feelings for you. However, I also understand that now is not the time to dwell on such things."
“…I’m sorry. If Gaharud intends to harass you, just use my name. ‘If you dare to harass Yaegashi Shizuku, Nagumo Hajime will never let you go’—just tell him that.”
"Ugh... this surprise attack is so despicable!"
Shizuku's cheeks flushed slightly, showing that she understood.
"Teacher and Liliana, go to the Royal Capital to gather the troops and boost morale through speeches. You must motivate the soldiers so they can stand up to the apostles. Also, the final battle will take place in the grasslands in front of the Royal Capital. The enemy will attack from the sacred mountain behind us, so we must not fight inside the Royal Capital at all costs."
"In that case, we need to evacuate the residents of the capital first, right? We can use the space gate, but if we want everyone to evacuate within three days... we must expedite the process."
"In the end, a space gate will open between the capital and the empire. Once the Empire sends its forces, we can send the residents to the Empire through the same gate. I'll provide new gates as needed, and this way, the evacuation process will be accelerated."
"But, Nagumo-san, since the Angels can fly, wouldn't it be too disadvantageous to fight on the plains?"
"Teacher, I told you I'll strengthen the army's combat capabilities. I'm not just going to strengthen my personal military equipment, I'm also going to deploy weapons specifically for attacking military bases, such as anti-aircraft weapons. Also... Nomura."
Kentaro let out a strange "Uh-oh" sound when his name was suddenly called. He seemed to have never dreamed that Hajime would call his name at this time.
"You're an earthbender, right?"
"Eh? Yes, that's right..."
"Lead the kingdom's craftsmen and those suited to earth-attribute magic to build a fortress on the plains. A simple fortress will do. Like the overnight castles of history... build it within three days. It will be the human stronghold on the battlefield of the decisive battle."
"T-This is a huge responsibility! And I know nothing about architecture!"
"That's why I asked you to seek the help of the craftsmen in the royal capital. Leave the design of the buildings to them, and you will contribute your abilities as a top-level earth magician. Afterwards, I will provide you with a special divine tool, and you will construct a battlefield suitable for fighting on the plains."
"...We just have to give it a try. Fine."
Kentaro's face turned pale under the pressure of the heavy responsibility, and his teammates, including Jūgo, came over to cheer him up. At this time, Hajime turned his gaze to Yuuka.
"Sonobe."
“Ah!?”
Her response was strange. It seemed Yuuka, like Kentaro, hadn't expected to be called out. She jumped up from her seated position, a truly remarkable feat.
“W-What are you doing!?”
"Why are you so angry?"
"It's okay, it's okay, she just wants to hide her shyness." Nana interrupted and explained.
"You'll be the captain and lead these guys."
"Huh? Captain? Me!? Why!? I can't do it!"
Yuka stood up hurriedly. Hajime stared at her, his eyes filled with a hint of expectation, as if he could see through her heart.
"From what I know, you're the most capable leader... Could it be that I misjudged you?"
Yuka's feelings turned complicated after hearing what he said. For her, being expected by Hajime was indeed a happy thing.
However, the responsibility of leading the team as a captain in this situation is too heavy.
"I agree! Yuuka-chan led us just now, didn't she?!"
"Nana!? What nonsense are you talking about!"
"Huh? What do you mean?"
Hajime tilted his head in confusion. So Aiko explained to him how Yuuka had orchestrated the group and successfully created the opportunity for a counterattack.
"I see." Hajime nodded.
"Looks like I have to thank you too."
“No, that’s not necessary…”
Hajime's expression softened slightly. Yuuka tried her best not to look at him. However, when Shia and the others followed suit and thanked her, Yuuka lost her composure and blushed even more.
"As expected, no one is better suited to lead us than you. Even in such a perilous situation, you were able to come up with a plan to save the day and direct your companions to carry it out. This is something no one else could do."
Hajime said this, and everyone else nodded deeply in agreement, without exception. They all looked at Yuuka, their eyes filled with unwavering trust and affection.
This was especially true for the students of Round Table Three. While they were in the palace, the one who cared the most for them and spent the most time with them was Yuuka. They all knew that Yuuka was running around the capital, doing her best to accomplish "what she could do." In the eyes of most students, Yuuka had long been a leader, far more than the distant heroes.
"It seems everyone agrees."
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