"Sensei, wasn't today a bit much?"
"Nah, not really~"
"
"Kathia-chan is pretty sheltered no matter how you slice it. You know? In dangerous zones, managing to scare someone off with just a deterrent is already a blessing~"
"Seriously...?"
"Especially with Appraisal, you really shouldn't use it carelessly~. Other Appraisal holders, or people with good instincts — they can tell you've Appraised them~. Didn't you get a weird feeling the first time you met
"Ah, that awful sensation. So I was being Appraised back then."
"That's right~. Depending on the situation, that alone can be taken as proof of hostile intent~. Well, in truly dangerous zones, you'd better assume everyone who isn't an ally is an enemy, so it doesn't really matter much~"
"So in some cases, they'll just kill you without any questions asked?"
"That's how it goes~"
"Sensei, you—"
"Let's stop there. That next question won't benefit either of us~. Although, for the sharp Kathia-chan, that answer is probably already the answer~"
"So that's how it is. Sensei, you've done all those things yourself."
"Pretty much~"
"And the class full of people you gathered through all that — we still can't meet them?"
"Nope~"
"Why not?"
"Can't tell you that either."
"Hey, Sensei. Seriously — you've protected twelve people, right? In a world this vast, how did you even find them? Until I understand that, I can't even be sure everyone's really alive."
"On that point, you'd be perfectly justified in forcing me to swallow a thousand needles if I'm lying~. The method is secret, but the numbers — how many I've protected and how many I've found — there's no lie there~"
"So what about the ones you haven't found? Sensei, be honest. Of the six people listed as undiscovered, how many have you genuinely not found?"
"...Two. The remaining four have been confirmed dead."
"...I see."
"I'm sorry."
"That's not something you need to apologize for. Can I ask? The names of the people who died."
"Kanta Hayashi, Himeiro
"...Got it. If that's the case, I can understand why you're basically calling off the search."
"We'll keep searching for the remaining two for now, though~"
"Hey, why are the Elves helping with that search? It seems like you've explained things to them, but can they be trusted?"
"All I can say is please trust me on that~"
"With how much you keep hidden?"
"Especially including that, yes~"
"I'm not like Shun, where I can just trust people on pure instinct. I want to trust you, Sensei, but as long as you keep hiding things, I can't trust you from the bottom of my heart."
"I think that's actually the right approach~. Shun-kun is too straightforward, isn't he~"
"I agree on that. There are times I think that guy can't function without me around."
"Oh? Oh my, oh my~? Well now — maybe there's no sprout yet, but there's at least a seed~? If that's the case, this could get interesting~"
"Huh? What'd you say? Sensei, what's with that creepy smile. You're supposed to look like a beautiful little girl right now, so that creepy grin is really unsettling."
"Heavenly punishment~!"
"Gah!?"
*** "Kathia."
"What is it?"
"What's your relationship with Shun and his brother?"
"Relationship? We're friends. What about it?"
"Liar. You're not just friends. That Sensei elf too. The Saint candidate, the next Sword Emperor — all of them. What exactly are you people?"
"Is that something you should be asking me?"
"What do you mean?"
"Is it really me whose answer you want to hear?"
"That's..."
"If you want to know about that, ask Shun himself. You won't be satisfied hearing it from me."
"...Yeah, maybe not."
"I have some idea of what you're feeling right now. Which is exactly why you should direct those feelings to the person himself, don't you think?"
"...Got it. Sorry. And thanks."
"You're welcome."
"I'm completely punting this, but oh well — it's their siblings' problem anyway. Don't drag me into it when I've got nothing to do with it. Right, nothing to do with it. Nothing at all. ...Maybe I should mention something to Shun tomorrow."
*** "Oshima-kun, why are you in here changing with all the girls like it's perfectly normal?"
"Hm? ...Ah. Sorry. I've been living this way for so long now, I stopped thinking about it. If it bothers you, Hasebe-san, I can shift my schedule or change somewhere else."
"Eh, ah, yeah."
"Hey, why the stiff response?"
"Ah, yeah. I just didn't expect you to answer so calmly. Shouldn't you be panicking or making excuses at a time like this?"
"Well, ever since I was reincarnated, I've completely lost any attraction to the female body. It's like the obsession I had back when I was a guy was a total lie — it all just vanished. So looking at a girl's body doesn't do anything for me. Bonus: no guilt or anything like that either."
"Huh. Don't you feel at least a little embarrassed?"
"When you're born a duke's daughter, everything from changing clothes to bathing is handled by your maids. Any sense of shame flew out the window ages ago."
"R-right. That sounds pretty rough in its own way."
"Yeah. That's why dorm life, where I'm finally free of all that, is amazing. I actually can't believe the other noble girls complain about how inconvenient it is without maids."
"Mm. I feel the same."
"Oh, so — should I go change somewhere else after all?"
"Ah, hmm. Listening to what you just said, I think it's probably fine? I'll have to get used to it eventually anyway. Let's just leave things as they are."
"Really? You sure?"
"Mm. As a girl, you're my senior, after all. Guiding people — that's my mission. Leave it to me!"
"G-go easy on me, then."