The Teacher of Budding Villains Suffers Today, Too - Chapter 36

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 36
“…….”
In her agitation, she’d thrust Rachel’s hand away—but that wasn’t what she’d meant to do. Flustered, Noah quickly hid both hands behind her back.
“Noah.”
But the damage was already done. Noah’s eyes trembled visibly.
“I understand you’re upset, but that doesn’t give you the right to be disrespectful to an adult.”
“…….”
“What did I teach you to do in situations like this?”
In the old days, Noah would have only grown angrier. But since coming to Swan Knight Academy, she’d learned so much.
For instance, how to acknowledge when she’d done something wrong.
“…I’m sorry. I was wrong.”
Noah admitted her mistake without hesitation.
‘Thank goodness. All that teaching hasn’t fallen apart.’
And this was no ordinary matter—it concerned Crown Prince Lucas himself. Rachel had worried, just slightly, that Noah might rebel more fiercely, but the strength of the education she’d built up proved substantial. Noah regained her composure quickly.
“Noah, if anything is troubling you, would you like me to ask His Highness the Crown Prince about it?”
“What? You would, Teacher?”
“Yes, I’ll go and ask him.”
“No! Please don’t!”
Noah, who had been hesitating moments before, suddenly raised her voice. Rachel couldn’t fathom why.
‘What if he realizes I’ve figured it out and tries to become a Commoner even faster?’
Already lost in her own thoughts, Noah sprang to her feet.
Rachel rose with her, keeping her eyes fixed on the girl.
“Noah, I’m trying to help you.”
“I know what you mean, Teacher. But I’d really prefer it if you didn’t say anything to my brother. This is something between him and me.”
Noah had drawn a clear line—”between her brother and herself.” Rachel found it difficult to press further. It was a family matter, after all, and she was an outsider.
Besides, the fact that Noah, usually so indifferent about most things, was putting forth such earnest effort to resolve this issue with her brother was genuinely encouraging.
“Very well. I still don’t believe His Highness truly wishes to become a Commoner. But I don’t want to completely dismiss your view either. Do what you think is best, as long as you don’t interfere with His Highness.”
“Yes, I will.”
Noah slipped quietly out of the Headmaster’s Office.
Rachel watched her retreating figure, her brow knitting slightly. She wondered how she might shift Noah’s thinking without the girl catching on.
* * *
The day ended quickly. After classes and putting the children to bed, it was already past ten.
Rachel stretched and began sorting through the day’s events one by one. Writing it all out by hand took considerable time, but it had the advantage of helping her retain the details better.
‘Noah showed some rather striking behavior today.’
Rachel thought of Noah. The girl had done something quite remarkable today.
‘What an odd assumption—thinking Lucas would just abandon the Crown Prince’s seat.’
From Rachel’s perspective, it was somewhat absurd, but for Noah it clearly felt serious. The girl’s face had been rigid in a way Rachel had rarely seen, and her voice had wavered thinly.
‘I should watch carefully—she might let her imagination run even wilder.’
Having finished her thoughts, Rachel made her way carefully toward Noah’s room. She felt she ought to check on the child once more.
“Miss, is something the matter?”
He spoke to her as she walked quietly down the Corridor. Having finished his Swordsmanship training perfectly again today, he was smiling in good spirits despite the late hour.
“Henry, aren’t you asleep yet?”
“How could I sleep when you’re awake, miss?”
Henry’s reply came without hesitation. At times like this, Henry felt truly reliable—in a different way than Colo.
“How was your day?”
Henry asked Rachel. She hesitated briefly, then opened her mouth.
“Noah came to me for advice, and what she said was rather unusual.”
“Unusual, you say?”
“Well… Noah believes His Highness the Crown Prince is trying to become a Commoner.”
“What?”
“She does have her own reasons, but as I see it, they’re not very credible. Either way, Noah is sincere about this, so it’s been on my mind.”
Rachel explained the situation simply. Henry’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“I’ll keep a careful eye on Noah as well, in case she does something rash.”
“I’d appreciate that.”
With Henry offering to look into it, Rachel felt reassured. She smiled gently, holding his figure in her eyes—because there was no one more trustworthy than he.
“By the way, miss—is there anything you need?”
“What? Something I need?”
At Henry’s question, Rachel tilted her head. Everything she needed was available within the Academy, so she was puzzled about why he was asking.
“Your birthday is in two days, miss. I was thinking of preparing a gift, but I can’t decide what would be best no matter how much I think about it. So I thought I’d prepare something you actually need.”
“My birthday?”
“Surely you haven’t forgotten?”
Forgotten was perhaps too generous a word; she simply hadn’t known in the first place. As someone inhabiting an borrowed body, Noah had no idea when Rachel’s birthday was.
“Oh, I’ve just been so busy I lost track. Thanks for reminding me, Henry.”
Rachel navigated the situation smoothly enough.
“Is there anything you’d like?”
“The fact that a knight like you would stay at this academy is gift enough for me. You don’t need to give me anything else.”
Rachel delivered her answer with practiced ease. Henry’s expression fell slightly at that.
“Really, I’m fine with it. Go on and get some rest, Henry.”
Rachel repeated her reassurances to him more than once.
‘I’d have no conscience if I accepted a gift from him.’
It was unthinkable to receive a present from someone who sacrificed so much for her sake.
After finally settling Henry down, Rachel made her way toward Noah’s room.
‘She’s probably asleep by now.’
She’d planned to knock if she heard any sound or detected a strong presence from within. But beyond the door lay only silence. Rachel took some comfort in that.
‘Tonight should be all right.’
Once she made it through tonight, Noah’s thoughts might shift. She’d be less extreme than before.
Rachel stood gazing at the door for a long while, thinking of Noah.
* * *
“Teacher! Rachel!”
“Yes?”
Theo had called out to her. These days, he was usually so busy playing with his friends that he rarely sought her out. When he did, Rachel naturally turned her attention toward him.
“Tomorrow’s history lesson…! Could we start thirty minutes late?”
“Hmm? Is there some special reason the class needs to begin later?”
“Well… I can’t say, but still…!”
Theo laughed awkwardly and dodged the question. The moment Rachel saw that expression, she saw right through him.
‘The day before the teacher’s birthday and he’s asking this? Way too obvious.’
Even in her previous world, the children in her class had somehow found out and celebrated her birthday.
They’d decorated the classroom with their small, careful hands and written her thank-you letters—several of them.
‘Was it because I remembered their day?’
She’d put real effort into preparing gifts for their holiday, and if this was their way of returning the gesture, she had to admit it touched her.
‘But how did they find out when my birthday was?’
She’d always found it remarkable how children managed to discover their teacher’s birthday. She wondered who they’d asked this time. It was both surprising and deeply gratifying.
‘If they’re going to this trouble, I can’t spoil it.’
They’d surely coordinate among themselves to decorate the classroom beautifully. The fact that these self-centered children—the ones who thought their own opinions were law—could come together like this was genuinely touching.
‘Pushing class back thirty minutes is nothing.’
It wasn’t as though they’d skip the lesson entirely. Thirty minutes was easy enough to accommodate. Rachel nodded with a bright smile.
“All right, let’s do it. But you have to focus during the lesson, understood?”
“Yes! We will!”
Having gotten the answer he wanted, Theo let out a cheer and bounded down the corridor. Rachel watched his retreating figure with quiet pride.
Not imagining for a moment what might happen on her birthday.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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