Teacher Xia Lai is also teaching in Kivotos today

After saying this, Weihua turned around and ran away shyly.

Looking at Weihua's departing back, the smile on Lin En's face slowly disappeared.

"Mika, although your idea is very beautiful, but... the hatred between Arius and the Holy Trinity is not something that can be eliminated so easily..."

Lin En, who had lived with Saori and others for quite some time, knew very well that this hatred was no longer just "hatred". To some extent, it had become an "obsession" in their hearts.

As for the reason, Lin En was very clear about it.

"… [Vanitas vanitatum, et omnia vanitas] (No matter where you go, everything is nothing)."

Thinking of this, Lin En couldn't help but recite a sentence that Saori used to say often.

Because everything will eventually return to nothingness, everything is meaningless. No matter what you do, it is impossible to have a good ending. So in Saori's view, for Arius, there is no and will be no redemption, only pain and hatred.

At that time, even with his guidance, it only slightly eased their feelings.

After all, as an adult who "joined in halfway" and always "spoke incomprehensible words", how could the time I spent with them during that period of time be comparable to this resentment that has lasted from ancient times to the present?

But even so——

"But even if this is the case, I will never give up on them."

After looking down at his slightly clenched fists, Lynn let out a slow breath.

Although he has many questions in his heart that need to be answered, he now has more important things to do.

"I can't let those kids in the cram school worry about me..."

Thinking of this, Lin En turned around and walked towards the classroom where everyone in the cram school was.

However, at this moment, he had not expected that in addition to the greetings from everyone in the cram school, he would also receive the result that all three people except Hifumi would fail the test.

"..."

Facing Hifumi's helpless smile, Azusa who answered "I didn't learn" seriously, Koharu who was lying on the table like an ostrich and didn't dare to look him in the eye, and Hanako who was looking at him with a smile as usual, Lin En couldn't help but hold his forehead with his hand.

It seems that he now has things more worthy of his worry than those trivial things.

--------

After dinner, Lin En quietly left the dormitory without saying hello to anyone in the cram school.

Thanks to Xia Lai's identity as a teacher, although he occasionally met Trinity students who were responsible for night patrols along the way, he basically did not encounter any obstacles.

But what puzzled him was that the students on patrol from the Justice Implementation Committee always showed concern for him, handing him water or snacks. It was fine once or twice, but when Lin En saw these students on the road ahead for the fourth time, he had no choice but to avoid them.

With the help of Alona, ​​Lin En finally arrived at his destination after some guerrilla warfare and knocked on the door gently.

"…Are you the teacher? Please come in."

After hearing the sound coming from inside, Lynn opened the door and walked into the spacious living room.

The nameplate beside the door also clearly indicates the function of this room:

Tea party conference hall.

Chapter 36: Mr. Joker is on pins and needles

"Although I didn't expect the teacher to suddenly send me a message saying that he would visit me at night, but since the teacher did this, it means that there must be a reason for doing so, right?"

When Nagisa pushed the tea towards her, Lin En did not pick it up, but looked at her seriously.

"Nagisa...can I hear your reasoning for putting those four kids in the cram school?"

Hearing this, Nagisa's movement to pick up the teacup paused.

"...I didn't expect you to be so direct this time. But this is not something worth hiding."

However, just as Nagisa was about to speak, Lin En gently raised her hand to stop her from speaking.

"Let me guess first... Koharu is favored by the Justice Realization Committee, and Hasumi, as the vice chairman, hates Gehenna very much. So, Koharu is not so much a poor student as a hostage used to threaten the Justice Realization Committee; Hanako used to be a very good student, but she deliberately failed the exams from one day on, which makes people have to be suspicious; and as for Azusa... because she is a transfer student, and she often conflicts with other students, it is impossible not to be suspicious; as for Hifumi... maybe it's because she often sneaks in and out of the black market?"

"...As expected of a teacher, your guess is almost exactly the same as mine."

After listening to Lin En's "speculation", Nagisa put down his teacup and couldn't help but sigh slightly.

"And about Hifumi-san... Actually, there is another reason, which you may not be fully aware of. In Trinity Comprehensive Academy, there is a student named 'Tsurugi Kenshin'. She is the chairman of the Justice Realization Committee and is also called the 'strategic weapon' of Trinity by the people of Kivotos. While out one day, she unexpectedly ran into Hifumi-san who was held hostage by an unknown person. Therefore, when she saw that scene, she rushed up to fight the other party without hesitation."

However, when Nagisa narrated this to him, Lin En's eyes twitched involuntarily.

Why did he feel that this scene was... so familiar?

However, Nagisa did not notice Lin's abnormality at this time, but continued to narrate seriously.

"Although I wasn't at the scene, according to the description of Vice-President Hanekawa Hasumi who arrived later, Tsurugi didn't seem to gain any advantage over the opponent in the fight, and even seemed to be at a disadvantage. The reason is that even though she shot and hit the opponent, Tsurugi, who was very close to the opponent, didn't attack immediately, as if she was afraid of something! In the end, it was the opponent who took the initiative to let go of Hifumi, which allowed Hasumi to successfully rescue her."

"..."

Looking at Nagisa with a solemn expression, Lin En finally understood the meaning of the word "sitting on pins and needles".

"But what we find a little puzzling is that when registering the record, Hifumi-san was vague about the identity of the unknown person, except for giving the name "Joker", which is most likely a nickname. It's like... she was intentionally covering up for the other party. You know, the other party has a combat power that can rival Tsurugi-san, and Hifumi, who is being held hostage, is helping him cover up his identity... So, I have to be on guard."

If cold sweat was tangible, then Lin En would probably be sweating profusely after listening to Nagisa's words.

This was not only because he felt guilty as the person involved, but also because he was afraid that he had accidentally offended such a powerful guy that night.

Although he could clearly feel that the student named "Tsurugi" was not serious or trying his best, he didn't want to experience the same feeling as when he first faced Hina again.

"……I see."

After getting rid of all the distracting thoughts in his mind, Lin En sighed helplessly when he recalled something.

"So... Nagisa, you had to do this for the sake of the [Eden Treaty]... or for the sake of peace, right?"

"Yes, and I also believe that you will understand me... just like you told me last time."

"Ah."

After nodding slightly, facing Nagisa who wanted to continue talking, Lin En, who was sure of something, nodded and spoke.

"But, although I understand, I cannot accept it... because, they are the same as you, Nagisa, they are all my students. So, I will never give up on them... and you easily."

"……I see."

Hearing Lin En say this, Nagisa couldn't help but smile.

Perhaps even Nagisa herself did not notice that the smile she showed at this moment was not the stereotyped smile she showed when using daily social rhetoric, but a smile that truly came from the heart.

"Although I cannot predict what will happen in the future, I am willing to believe in you, teacher. But... I hope you can understand me. I will not give up my position easily."

"Well, of course I understand."

Lin En was about to stand up and say goodbye when he said this, but he suddenly remembered something and asked Nagisa casually.

"Speaking of which... Nagisa, how did you know there was a traitor in Trinity Academy?"

However, facing this question, which seemed to Lin En to be extremely simple to some extent, Nagisa, who was also preparing to stand up and see him off, was stunned for a moment.

After noticing this scene, Lynn couldn't help but frown slightly and sat down again.

In his imagination, he could accept either an answer like "This is a confidential matter of Trinity. I'm very sorry but I can't tell the teacher" or an evasive answer like "This is confidential information obtained from the intelligence department."

However, it seemed as if Nagisa had never thought about this aspect of the problem, and was unable to give even this kind of answer right away?

In other words... this seemingly ordinary problem is definitely related to some bigger core issues.

When Lin En sat down again, Nagisa realized that it would be useless to make excuses now and couldn't help but smile bitterly.

"Regarding this matter... although I can tell the teacher, I hope that the teacher can keep it a secret for us. Because... even if we look at the entire Trinity Comprehensive Academy, I'm afraid that no more than five people will know about it."

Seeing Lin En nod, Zhu calmed down a little and held his hand with a little nervousness.

Because this was the first time she told others about this incident that was enough to cause an uproar in Trinity College.

"...Do you remember that when you first met Weihua and me, you mentioned Shengya, right?"

Chapter 37 No matter what the result is, I will always be with you

"Yes, she should be one of the members of the tea party, right? I remember you said at that time that she had been feeling unwell recently, so she needed to stay in bed and rest, right?"

As Lin En said this, he recalled the obviously unusual scene at that time, and his brows couldn't help but frown.

"Well, Shengya is indeed a member of the tea party...but actually..."

Having said that, Nagisa bit her lip, and after hesitating for a long time, she finally spoke with determination.

"Shengya's aura... was destroyed by that traitor. In other words... she is dead now."

"what?!"

The words that Nagisa said to Lin En were like a bolt of thunder that shook Lin En's whole body and his eyes widened.

But almost the next moment, he realized something was wrong.

"No... that's not right! If Shengya is already dead... then who is the Shengya that appeared in my dream?"

"Clang-crack-"

Just as Lin En subconsciously refuted this, Nagisa's cup of black tea, which she had just picked up to calm down, suddenly smashed onto the saucer, smashing the ceramic cup and the saucer into pieces.

"Mr. Nagisa?! What happened?"

Hearing the slightly worried voice of the Holy Trinity student coming from outside the door, Nagisa quickly came to his senses and answered hastily.

"Nothing, just a little accident, you don't need to come in."

"……I see."

At this time, Nagisa's reputation in Trinity played an important role. Although the Trinity student who was guarding outside still had some doubts in his tone, he did not break into the meeting room against her orders.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Lin En... I made you laugh."

Nagisa answered in this way and quickly began to pick up the broken pieces of ceramics on the table. At the same time, she took out a silk scarf and began to wipe the other tea utensils that were stained with black tea.

With Lin's help, Nagisa quickly cleaned up the mess on the table, took a deep breath, and looked at Lin.

"Teacher Lin En...can you tell me in detail about your 'Shengya in the dream'?"

Looking at Nagisa, who was still serious but somehow a little shaky, Lin En nodded gently and explained to her that he had dreamed of Shengya and talked to her in the dream the night before he received their commission.

As for Lin En's doubts, after listening to his story, Nagisa also answered honestly.

"Shengya has the ability to predict the future and meet others in dreams. However, these two abilities do not seem to be completely under her control, and I am not very clear about the actual situation. It's just..."

Nagisa couldn't help but tighten the scarf in her hand while saying this.

"If the teacher really saw Shengya, it means she should not be dead. But..."

The news about Saint Ya's death was obtained by the tea party from the leader of the Knights of Rescue, Miya Aomori. But in Nagisa's opinion, Lin En had never had any contact with the Holy Trinity before, and there was no reason for him to deceive himself about such a thing.

In other words... Captain Miya deceived her and the tea party in this matter.

Almost at the same time, Nagisa finally noticed something that she had not paid much attention to before -

Some members of the Knights of Rescue complained that they seemed to have not seen Captain Miya in the Holy Trinity for a long time.

In other words, Captain Meiya should be by Shengya's side now!

When Nagisa thought of this, he felt even more confused.

Logically speaking, neither Captain Miya nor the Rescue Knights should have any reason to deceive themselves. After all, they also support the [Eden Treaty] which aims at peace.

But...why did they hide Shengya on purpose and tell myself and Weihua that Shengya was dead?

What is this for?

Looking at Nagisa who was holding the scarf tighter and tighter in her hand, Lin En couldn't help but sigh.

"Nagisa, are you okay?"

"what……"

Nagisa, who was brought back to reality by Lin En's thoughts, first blinked in surprise, then smiled bitterly with some helplessness.

"Sorry, teacher, I'm a little..."

At this point, Nagisa bit her lips and murmured in a low voice with a complicated expression.