The Teacher of Budding Villains Suffers Today, Too - Chapter 65

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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 65
“I really think you’d be great at writing novels, you know?”
She meant it. Noah was the type of child who spent long stretches alone with his thoughts. Children like that usually had minds bursting with ideas—often the kind of brilliant ones that never occurred to others.
If he could gather those luminous ideas and shape them into prose, how captivating it would be. Such talent surely wouldn’t remain his alone. He might become quite famous, bringing joy to countless readers.
“Noah, have you never thought about trying your hand at writing?”
Rachel broached the subject gently. Noah gazed back at her, his expression clouding with doubt.
“I don’t know where to start. I’ve never written anything long before.”
“Don’t worry about that. No one is good at something from the beginning. You build your skills by writing even just a line a day, bit by bit.”
Rachel’s voice was warm as she encouraged him. Noah nodded, absorbing her words.
“I believe you’re the sort of child who stays committed to whatever you do. So try your hand at something—anything. I’ll be cheering you on.”
Rachel breathed new courage into the boy.
“But I’m not sure Father would approve.”
“Of what?”
“He probably wouldn’t like me spending time writing instead of studying.”
Noah spoke with simple honesty, touching on a reality Rachel couldn’t dismiss. In an empire where the Emperor’s influence loomed so large, every word he spoke cast a shadow over his heirs.
“You won’t be writing all day. It’ll be fine. If any problems arise, your teacher will handle them.”
Rachel didn’t make empty promises to children. True, if serious trouble erupted, she might have to face the Emperor himself—but the prospect didn’t fill her with dread.
‘If it comes to that, it comes to that. What else can I do?’
She’d grown a spine of sorts by now. Rachel could let such things roll off her back.
“By the way, what’s your schedule for this afternoon?”
“Some of my friends are coming to the Imperial Palace today.”
“Your friends? You mean your companions from Swan Knight Academy?”
“Yes! I’ve missed them so much I invited them over!”
Though they’d seen each other not long ago, it hadn’t been enough for Theo. He’d extended a new invitation.
The thought of his approaching friends made Theo’s face light up with unbridled joy. At that age, spending time with friends was everything—especially for an energetic child like him.
Rachel gave Theo’s back a gentle pat and smiled.
“The friends really want to see you, Teacher. I wish you’d come with us.”
Not just the children wanted that. Rachel’s heart answered the call to see her students again. She nodded without hesitation, and the two boys immediately took hold of her hands, pulling her forward. She held theirs willingly in return.
“Eckard sent a message carrier. Apparently he went to his grandmother’s house a while back and met his cousins there.”
“Is that so?”
“He said his cousins had such poor manners that he thought they ought to attend Swan Knight Academy. What do you think, Teacher?”
“For Eckard to notice something like that—he’s clearly grown quite a lot. I can feel the difference in him.”
Rachel deftly steered the conversation in a new direction. Given the current circumstances, the academy couldn’t take on new students. She couldn’t let someone’s hopes rise on a careless word.
“Right? I feel it too. He’s really changed so much.”
Fortunately, the talk naturally shifted to Eckard’s development. Once conversation ignited, it burned onward without pause. The three of them chatted as they made their way out of the palace.
“Hey! Theo!”
Mare’s voice rang out from a distance. Rachel’s face broke into a radiant smile as she turned toward the sound. In an instant, the gathered children rushed toward her.
“Teacher!”
“Everyone!”
Rachel hurried to meet them halfway. The children, seeming noticeably taller than before, tumbled over each other to share their news.
“I got praised for my horsemanship!”
“I’ve read ten more books!”
Their words brimmed with confidence. Rachel listened with genuine delight, drinking in every word.
“You’ve all accomplished so much. Your teacher is truly proud.”
No false sentiment colored her voice. While she’d been away, worry about the children’s welfare had gnawed at her. That they’d thrived in her absence filled her with pure gratitude.
“Good to see you all again.”
“Your Highness the Crown Prince!”
The unexpected arrival of Lucas drew all eyes toward him. The children rushed to greet him, and he ruffled their hair affectionately in return.
“Theo and Noah missed you terribly. Thank you for visiting the palace at just the right moment.”
“But we’re friends!”
“Yeah, we’re friends, so of course we came!”
The children spoke with surprising grace. That friendship alone was reason enough to gather—Rachel hadn’t fully grasped until now how beautiful such words could be. Watching Theo and Noah in turn, she felt a pride too deep for words.
“Rachel. You’ve made all of this happen.”
Lucas spoke with quiet affection. Rachel found herself nodding in response.
He was right. She had shaped these spirited, reckless children into ones of grace and courtesy.
“The wisest thing I did regarding Theo and Noah was entrusting them to you.”
“I’m truly grateful you’d say that. Though I had so many shortcomings…”
“What shortcomings could there be? One thing was certain—your love for these children never wavered.”
Lucas spoke with unshakeable conviction. Rachel felt tears threatening to spill from her eyes.
If this was happiness, then perhaps it was. For a moment, she let herself believe it was.
* * *
The day of the meeting with the Mage Tower Master was set. Rachel couldn’t help but feel anxious. She practiced Mana Operation alone, sometimes even read books about it. Yet the more she did, the more acutely she felt her own shortcomings.
‘I wish I had a teacher soon.’
Rachel longed for a mentor with desperate urgency—someone to fill the gaps in her knowledge, to show her the path ahead. She needed such a person.
‘Then again, was I a good teacher to Theo and Noah…?’
She found herself reflecting on this often. Perhaps because of it, Rachel sought out Theo and Noah whenever she had a moment free. Of course, the children always welcomed her warmly.
“Teacher!”
It was Theo who spotted Rachel first today. He bounded over excitedly and threw his arms around her.
“You’re still working on making toys?”
“Yes!”
Theo wanted to create playthings that he and his friends could enjoy together. What he was fashioning looked something like a board game, and Rachel could only feel proud of his ingenuity.
In a world without board games, to invent one seemed miraculous to her. Recognizing him as a child of unusual creativity, Rachel set about looking for Noah.
“Noah’s writing.”
“Again?”
“Yes. He finished his assignments and went straight into writing a novel.”
“So busy with his stories yesterday too. He’s really taken to it.”
Noah was utterly absorbed in writing novels. Rachel always read his work and offered him encouragement. Using that as fuel, Noah produced new pieces each time.
“Teacher, you’re going to the Mage Tower tomorrow, right?”
Noah appeared, his hands smudged with ink, and asked the question.
“Yes. I’ll be meeting the Mage Tower Master tomorrow.”
“That’s why… I want to give you this.”
Noah handed over a rolled sheet of paper.
“What is it?”
“Please read it when you get back.”
Noah was too shy to even meet her eyes. Whatever gifts the children gave her, she cherished. Rachel smiled broadly and nodded in agreement.
After finishing her time with the children, Rachel returned to the palace brimming with curiosity. The first thing she did upon arriving was unfold the paper Noah had given her. She quickly read through the contents.
“Ah…”
And she drew in a breath of wonder.
What was written on the paper was a story about a brave baron’s daughter. She overcomes the scorn and persecution of others, ultimately earning recognition for her abilities. More than that—the story even included a part where she enters the Mage Tower and outshines the other mages.
‘I don’t want to betray Noah’s expectations.’
Rachel steeled her resolve. She didn’t want to be a teacher Noah would be ashamed of.
She clenched her fists tight, imagining the meeting with the Mage Tower Master that awaited her tomorrow.

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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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