『Yujin, may I ask you something?』

‘Go ahead, Tia.’

As Yujin walked toward where Professor Reina Sahart had retreated, having finished his conversation with the headmistress, he nodded at Tiamat’s question.

『You called that punishment for the headmistress, but all you did was forbid her from speaking about your identity as a dragon. Was that enough?』

‘Yes, it was sufficient.’

Yujin’s answer was straightforward, but Tiamat’s expression grew curious.

『I know it’s strange for me to say this now, but don’t you think you were much more lenient this time compared to what you did with that elf? Just letting her off with a gag order seems... uncharacteristically merciful.』

‘Ah, you’re referring to Mirien. The circumstances were different back then.’

Yujin chuckled quietly before replying to Tiamat.

‘Honestly, the blame falls largely on me. Just because I was appointed as a professor at the academy doesn’t mean I had the right to trespass. Even if I had my reasons, heading toward the student dormitories without proper authorization was inappropriate. From the headmistress’s perspective, I must have seemed like an intruder.’

『Hmm...』

‘The headmistress had every right to try and stop what she thought was a trespasser. So her actions weren’t entirely unjustified. Punishing her severely for that would’ve been unreasonable.’

As Yujin spoke, he glanced back at the headmistress, who was trailing nervously behind him. Her timid demeanor made him chuckle softly, and he addressed Tiamat once more.

‘That’s why I let it go. Even if she harbored hostility and killing intent toward me due to her misunderstanding, her actions were ultimately justified. I simply accounted for that.’

『I see. That makes sense.』

‘Of course, I still imposed the restriction regarding my identity as a dragon. It’s better to keep that under wraps for now.’

Dragon Tongue could alter even the laws of reality. Inscribing a binding decree into a single human soul was trivial for Yujin.

When considered in that light, the power of dragons truly was unfair. To think a single word could control a person’s fate so completely.

‘Then again, that’s the way it is with those in power.’

Yujin chuckled bitterly at the thought and continued walking.

Meanwhile, Reina Sahart was pacing nervously in the headmistress’s office, which was located in the deepest part of the academy. She stared out the window toward the garden with an anxious expression.

Having brought the princess to what she believed to be the safest location, Reina felt both relieved and uneasy. Nothing had happened so far, which struck her as strange.

‘No incidents at all… What’s going on?’

The garden, which should have been the center of chaos, was eerily quiet. There was only silence.

Could it be that they’d relocated to avoid drawing attention? But would that man really leave so easily?

She couldn’t tell. Perhaps everything had ended before she could react, or maybe this was all just a misunderstanding on their part.

The latter felt like wishful thinking, but without knowing the true extent of that man’s power, Reina couldn’t help but cling to that hope.

After all, he had effortlessly subdued even the Archmage, the president of the Mage Association. While she didn’t want to believe the headmistress would be easily defeated, the worst-case scenario loomed in her mind.

Hoping it wasn’t the worst-case scenario, Reina could only watch the princess, who was lying on the office sofa, her expression conflicted.

Suddenly, the door clicked open.

“!”

Reina turned immediately.

"Headmistress!"

She breathed a sigh of relief as the familiar figure entered. The fiery red hair and noble golden eyes of the headmistress were unmistakable. Reina’s tense expression softened.

"Professor Sahart," Ines Karrandar greeted her with a smile.

"Thank goodness… I was so worried something might have happened to you."

Reina hurried toward the headmistress but froze mid-step as something caught her eye.

"Hello, Professor Sahart. Haha, it feels like we’re meeting after two days, doesn’t it?"

A man with jet-black hair and inscrutable eyes stood just behind the headmistress, as if nothing had happened.

Yujin.

He was there, casually following the headmistress as if they were simply acquaintances.

"How… Why…?"

"Ah, Professor Sahart. There’s no need to be alarmed. This person… No, Professor Yujin is not a black mage."

Seeing Reina’s eyes shake as though an earthquake had struck her pupils, Headmistress Ines quickly tried to explain.

"It was all a misunderstanding on our part. So please, calm down and hear us out."

"......"

Reina paused, taking a deep breath to steady herself. Right… She had considered the possibility that this was all a misunderstanding. After all, they had no solid evidence—only circumstantial clues that painted a suspicious picture.

Maybe it really was just a misunderstanding. If that were the case, there was no reason to overreact.

‘But… this person…?’

However, in her moment of panic, Reina almost overlooked something peculiar. The headmistress had referred to him with an honorific, "this person," a term usually reserved for those of significant status.

Who could possibly command such deference from the headmistress? A woman who had spent decades as one of the most formidable figures in the world, unflinching even before emperors?

Something didn’t sit right, but Reina decided to trust the headmistress. If she said it was a misunderstanding, there must be a reason.

"How… how did this happen?"

"It’s exactly as I said. I had a conversation with Professor Yujin and determined that he is not a black mage."

"Is that so…?"

Had the headmistress used lie-detection magic? Would that even work on someone as powerful as Yujin? Typically, for such magic to be effective, there needed to be a significant disparity in power between the caster and the target. If their levels were similar, or if the target was stronger, the spell could easily be resisted or rendered useless.

‘He’s someone who could overpower the Archmage with a flick of his fingers. The power gap between him and the headmistress likely isn’t that vast…’

Although Reina trusted the headmistress implicitly, she couldn’t ignore the objective reality. The Archmage was no ordinary mage; he was a grandmaster in his own right. For Yujin to have defeated him so effortlessly meant his strength was beyond comprehension.

If Yujin had accepted the lie-detection spell, it was likely because he knew how to manipulate or counter it.

As Reina mulled over these thoughts, the headmistress spoke again.

"Think about it. From the beginning, we only had circumstantial evidence to suspect him. Even those circumstances were weak and riddled with inconsistencies."

"That’s… true."

Reina couldn’t deny it. If they had been certain Yujin was a black mage, they wouldn’t have investigated so cautiously. Instead, they would have apprehended him immediately. Their actions were based solely on suspicion, and even the results of their investigation felt inconclusive.

"Besides, the accusation that he harmed the princess was a misunderstanding. Look for yourself. Professor Yujin didn’t harm her; he helped her."

"...I understand."

With that, Reina approached the sofa where Alicia lay. Placing a hand on the princess’s forehead, she activated her magic to examine her condition.

A faint hum filled the room as Reina’s mana spread through Alicia’s body. And then…

‘…There’s no demonic energy?’

Reina realized that the demonic energy within the princess had been suppressed. It was still present, roiling within her, but it was no longer rampaging or consuming her. It felt… sealed.

"How is this…?"

"I don’t know the details, but Professor Yujin said he sealed the demonic energy. If he were a black mage, why would he bother doing such a thing?"

"......"

Reina eventually nodded at the headmistress's explanation, her tension easing as relief began to wash over her.

"I see... So, it was all just a misunderstanding. I wasted my energy worrying over nothing."

She felt a strange mix of exhaustion and relief. Despite her earlier anxieties, she was grateful for how things had turned out.

"...I apologize, Headmistress. I caused unnecessary concern with my unfounded assumptions."

Reina stood and bowed to the headmistress, who shook her head gently.

"No need to apologize. You were simply doing your duty. If anyone is to blame for escalating the misunderstanding, it’s me."

"That’s not true. I was the one who jumped to conclusions—"

"Enough. Let’s not dwell on this anymore. If you must apologize, do it to Professor Yujin directly later."

The headmistress gestured toward Yujin, prompting Reina to turn toward him. With a formal bow, she said, "I apologize, Professor Yujin. My misunderstanding caused you unnecessary trouble."

"It’s alright. I fully understand your perspective, Professor Sahart."

Yujin smiled warmly, nodding as he accepted her apology.

The headmistress clapped her hands lightly, breaking the moment. "Now then, Professor Sahart, please escort Professor Yujin to his accommodations. Ensure he gets the best room available."

"Understood."

"And Yujin... I’ll contact you later to visit my office. While you’ve already been appointed as a professor, there are still formalities to complete."

"Of course. I’ll be there."

"Good. Off you go now."

With that, Reina led the way, gesturing for Yujin to follow.

"Professor Yujin, please come with me."

"Certainly. Headmistress, I’ll see you later."

Yujin gave a polite farewell before leaving with Reina. The headmistress, now alone in the room with the still-sleeping Princess Alicia, let out a long sigh.

"First… I’ll send Princess Alicia back to her dormitory…"

With a hum of energy, she activated a spatial transfer spell, transporting Alicia to her room.

Now entirely alone in her office, the headmistress muttered softly to herself.

"What should I do… I told him I’d contact him, but what if he’s offended by being summoned like that? And how am I even supposed to contact him…?"

Lost in her thoughts, the headmistress spent the rest of the night in anxious contemplation.

***

Meanwhile, Yujin and Reina walked through the academy’s corridors in an atmosphere thick with awkward silence. While Yujin appeared unbothered, Reina felt the weight of her earlier misunderstanding pressing down on her. Her guilt kept her from initiating any conversation, making the silence even more uncomfortable.

Normally, Yujin would break the ice in such situations, but he was currently engaged in a mental conversation with Tiamat.

‘Being a professor here should be interesting. I’m already thinking about what to teach the students and how to prepare.’

『You seem quite excited. It’s good to see. Do your best.』

Immersed in this conversation, Yujin hardly noticed the awkward tension.

Eventually, they arrived at the staff accommodations. Yujin’s first impression was one of admiration.

"Oh, this is quite an impressive place."

The staff residence was a luxurious facility, rivaling the opulence of a modern five-star hotel. With amenities like a swimming pool, hot springs, and a spa, it was a place even professors with separate residences frequently used as a retreat.

"Professor Yujin, you’ll be staying here from now on."

"Understood. Thank you for showing me the way."

After a pause, Reina hesitated before speaking again. "I… I’d like to apologize once more. My misunderstanding caused you undue trouble, Professor Yujin."

"Hmm."

Yujin turned to look at her, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

‘…I feel like playing a little prank.’

With a faint smile that seemed both amused and cryptic, he spoke. "It’s fine."

"But—"

"No, really. It’s fine. Besides, it wasn’t entirely a misunderstanding."

"…Pardon?"

Reina’s eyes widened slightly as she looked up at him. The man before her smiled in a way that reminded her of a snake about to strike, his expression unreadable.

"Professor Sahart, do you know what pus is?"

"Pus…?"

Her confusion deepened. Why was he suddenly bringing up such a topic?

"When a wound becomes infected and pus accumulates, it must be drained before the wound festers and rots away. What about demonic energy?"

"…!!!"

Her eyes widened further, her face paling as she processed his words.

"What happens when sealed demonic energy festers and rots away? I wonder… How should we handle it? Truly, it’s a perplexing problem, isn’t it?"

Tap. Tap.

She unconsciously took a step back, her body trembling slightly.

"Y-you…"

"Professor Sahart, you have a sharp intuition. I actually like people like you."

Step.

Yujin took a step forward, and Reina retreated two steps in response.

"Playing it safe is good, but isn’t it dreadfully boring? Sometimes, adding a bit of thrill makes work much more enjoyable, don’t you think?"

"......"

"So, shall we play a game?"

Yujin’s smile was radiant, almost innocent in its purity. But the words that followed were anything but.

"Try to guess who I really am. Then, reveal the truth."

"…!"

"Simple, isn’t it?"

Reina, her face ashen, took several steps back before abruptly turning and running down the corridor.

Yujin watched her flee with mild amusement before calmly entering his assigned room.

『Yujin.』

Tiamat, who had observed the scene, looked at him with a puzzled expression.

『Why did you say such strange things to her? Were you trying to scare her?』

"Ah, that?" Yujin feigned indifference, looking off to the side before grinning. "It was just a little prank."

『......』

"Honestly, I just felt like teasing her a bit. Since I was already mistaken for a black mage, I thought I’d lean into it and act the part. How was it? Convincing, wasn’t it?"

Tiamat sighed internally, her expression a mix of exasperation and resignation.

『Too convincing. You’re quite the troublemaker, aren’t you?』

"Thank you for the compliment."

『It wasn’t a compliment.』

"Ah…"

Yujin scratched his head awkwardly, a sheepish smile on his face.