"Why do you look like that? What kind of letter is it?"
"…It’s nothing."

Yulia quickly crumpled the letter and left the room.
I wondered if I had seen it wrong, but when I returned to my room and checked again, the content remained the same.

• …If my sponsor isn’t interested, I will wither away and die. Please reply.

"I’m going crazy."

What kind of threat is this?
The one receiving support is threatening to cut it off.
In a typical relationship, that wouldn’t have any effect, but
since our relationship is anything but typical, I had no choice but to feel cornered.

'For now, let’s read all the letters I had tossed aside.'

I realized I had just been shoving away all the letters Yulia sent.
At first, I thought they were misdelivered, so I tossed them aside, and it wasn’t until later that I realized they were letters from Yulia.
By then, there was already a pile of them, and it was too bothersome to read them one by one from the beginning.

I had enrolled her in the academy, thinking she would do well on her own,
so what on earth happened for her to suddenly send such an extreme letter?
Let’s read the first letter.

• To the Black Uncle. What do I mean by 'Black Uncle'? Well, it’s a nickname I came up with after seeing the back of you in a black suit and black carriage. If you’re unhappy with being called this, just let me know your real name. Calling you ‘Anonymous Sponsor’ is too stiff. And...

• To the Black Uncle. I attended my first class today! I learned for the first time that I have to move to the next classroom after each lesson. No one told me this, and I almost ended up absent on the first day. The first class was...

• To the Black Uncle. Today I went out into the city. I had heard that the capital is vast, but I was really surprised by how dizzying it was. Since the dormitory provides basic meals, I don’t have much trouble living here, but it’s a bit disappointing that there are no stores I can visit in the city. I might have to find some odd jobs to earn some pocket money. Ah, today...

...

All of them have bright and cheerful content.
While there are some cute complaints, there’s no sense of dissatisfaction at all.
It’s hard to believe that such a girl suddenly wrote a letter filled with deep despair.

"For now, let’s write a reply."

I hurriedly started to scribble a response.
They said if I didn’t reply, she would cut off the support.

If she cuts off the support, Yulia will leave the Imperial Magic Academy and go into hiding.
It wouldn’t be strange for her to eventually turn dark and return as a villain.
She currently has no companions to stay by her side, nor does she have Silvia to guide her.

I also enclosed a small allowance with my reply.
If there’s anything she wants to eat, she should feel free to indulge.
If she needs more, just say so. Please. Okay?

'Bullying... How exactly?'

I can’t even imagine her being bullied with her incredible physical abilities.
But there are many ways to bully someone beyond using brute force.
Humans can employ all sorts of petty and nasty tactics.

What if Yulia gets bullied and turns dark?
It would be a disaster. The end.
I’d probably be the first to get caught and brutally murdered, signaling the beginning of the end.

"Who the hell is it? Who dares to bully Yulia?"

Grinding my teeth, I prepared to set off immediately.
I had to hear the whole story.

"Silvia. I’m leaving the kids to you."
"Are you going alone? Where are you going?"
"To the Imperial Magic Academy."
"Oh. Please be careful."

Silvia briefly tried to follow but quickly bowed her head and saw me off.
She was assigned to guard and monitor me, but whenever I went to the academy, she always held back.
Did she have some unpleasant memories?
I decided not to pry.

"Coachman. Bring out a different carriage. One with the family crest."
"Yes."
"From now on, make sure to use this carriage when going to the Magic Academy."
"Understood."

I sealed away the plain carriage I had used on my previous visit to the academy.
That was the ‘Black Uncle’s’ carriage.
Once Yulia had seen the carriage, I couldn’t use it again.

The carriage raced along the unfinished road.
While I was momentarily lost in thought about Charlotte’s armor, we arrived at the Imperial Magic Academy in no time.
I couldn’t believe how close Vermont was to the academy...

"Is the dean in today?"
"I’m sorry, but the dean isn’t in today..."
"Then have him come. Tell him Aslan Vermont is waiting."
"Y-yes..."

The academy staff turned with a somewhat suspicious expression.
In any case, the dean would come.
If he doesn’t, I’ll make a scene.
Could the dean really ignore Aslan Vermont making a fuss?

[Evil God 'Kali' is greatly satisfied with your antics.]

Antics?
I haven’t done anything yet.
So it’s not antics.
If the dean starts treating me like a nuisance, I’ll have no choice but to become one.

'Should I stop by the library?'

The mansion’s library is spacious enough,
but to be honest, it feels like nothing but a pile of kindling.
It takes a long search to find even a somewhat reliable book among the heaps, so I stopped looking there long ago.

'Are there any books on dark magic?'

As the best higher education institution in the empire, the library boasts a massive collection.
I wanted to find books on spirit magic that Yulia would like,
and books on swordsmanship that Charlotte might be interested in,
and I was curious if there were any dark magic books as well.

However, this library doesn’t have a search system.
In a fantasy setting, shouldn’t I be able to search through some kind of archive?
Even if there are books on dark magic, asking the librarian probably won’t yield proper answers.
It’s quite troublesome.

[Evil God 'Kali' insists we should go that way.]

...Which way?

[Evil God 'Kali' gets angry, saying it's not that way but this way!]

No, I mean, where is this way?
After wandering around for a while, I could finally follow Kali’s vague directions.
In a secluded corner, I found a small bookshelf that was too dark to see well.

'I found it.'

Books about dark magic.
Does evil magic exist?
The history of black magic.

Each one is related to dark magic.
Without hesitation, I picked them all up.
By the time I chose books for Yulia and Charlotte as well, I began to miss Silvia a little.

"I’d like to borrow these."
"Um. If you’re not a student or faculty member of this school, borrowing is difficult."
"Is it still difficult?"
"…!"

I casually slid my sponsor card across the counter, and the librarian flinched.
Of course, sponsors are allowed to use the library, but it must be the first time they’ve seen a sponsor actually trying to borrow something.

"Borrowing is complete. Aslan Vermont. The period is one week, with a total of three extensions allowed, one week at a time..."
"Aslan Vermont!?"
"…?"

Suddenly, a high-pitched shout came from behind me.
Thinking it couldn’t be, I turned around, and chills ran down my spine.
As I had feared, standing behind me was Yulia, still looking like a parasite.

'My sponsorship card. Was it discovered?'

I hurriedly covered the sponsorship card with my hand.
Could it be?
The moment she finds out the anonymous sponsor is me, it’s all over.

"Who are you?"
"Oh, it’s nothing... no, I’m sorry..."

Yulia chewed her lip and turned her head away from me.
I could see her fists clenched tightly, suppressing her anger.
What would happen if someone like her, who dislikes me to this extent, found out I was her sponsor?

She would probably immediately refuse support and go into hiding.
And then, if she came back darkened by some strange villain... let’s not go there.
Imagining it a few times was enough to make my lower back tingle and my knees weak.

'Be careful. Be extra careful.'

As I passed by Yulia, sweat dripped down my face, and I felt chills run through me.
It was like walking past a grizzly bear glaring at me.
What kind of courage does it take to think of bullying someone like her?

I hurriedly fled the library as if I were escaping.
As I left, I felt a deadly glare on my back.
I wanted to confront her immediately, but I was holding back.
It seemed she had developed patience while attending the academy, so I was thankful for that.

'Was I too careless?'

Should I have brought some guards?
I should have at least thought about the possibility of Yulia ambushing me at the academy.
Next time I come, I’ll have to prepare some kind of safety measure.

"Oh. The dean has arrived. Should I show you to his office?"
"Please do."

Just as I received the notification that the dean had arrived,
I felt good. I’d see who’s been bullying that bomb.
Whoever it is, if they get caught by me...

"No... Bullying? That’s impossible..."
"Bullying is something educators typically have a hard time noticing. Yulia testified in writing, you know? So are you saying Yulia is lying?"
"Yes. That’s probably the case. Yulia has already subdued her seniors and has formed a position where no one can touch her within the school..."
"…What?"

What the hell is this?
So instead of being bullied, she’s the one doing the bullying?