I forgot about that!
The next day.
In the morning, we had a lesson on magic beasts, so after attending a lecture on their ecology and attributes, we moved to the practice building, where we were to take care of the creatures kept there for the first time.
Oh, but since we were first-year students, our tasks mainly involved looking after weaker creatures that were practically pets. Everyone was nervous and hesitant, but somehow, they managed.
Me? I...
"Wow~ they're really terrified of you."
Teacher Neil laughed cheerfully.
No, but seriously, this isn’t funny to me!
When I spotted a cute, fluffy creature and tried to approach it, it let out a shriek—"Piii!!"—and fled to the corner of its cage, trembling violently.
And it wasn’t just that one. Every time I got close to another creature, they either went berserk or ran away, making it impossible for me to take care of them.
"Um, if I can’t take care of them, does that mean I won’t get any credits...?"
"Hmm, but in your case, you’ve been handling much bigger ones, right? Honestly, I could just count that towards your credits."
Bigger ones... He means Kurogane and Mashiro.
Wait, does taking care of them even count as proper caretaking? … I guess it does.
But really, the reason this is happening is almost certainly because of those two and their possessiveness…
"But still, not being able to touch the adorable fluff right in front of me..."
"Come on now. You get to touch an even bigger, fluffier Sacred Beasts every day. Isn’t that a bit greedy? If the Sacred Beasts hadn’t forbidden me from approaching recklessly, I’d love to observe them up close every day..."
Teacher Neil bit his lip in frustration.
Honestly, Teacher, you’re being really creepy right now.
"That said, they weren’t this scared when we were just observing them before. I wonder why?"
"You're right… Ah!"
The feather I got from Suzaku-sama during the observation!
I should’ve kept it in my pocket!
I quickly retrieved it from my inventory, and the moment the previously terrified creatures saw it, their trembling ceased, and they bowed before me.
Huh!? The effect is way too powerful!
Suzaku-sama did say that all the creatures kept in the academy were already tamed, but I didn’t think it would be to this extent…
"Wait, what!? What’s going on here!? The moment you took out that feather… Is that some kind of magical artifact for controlling creatures…? Wait, that crimson feather… No way, that feather, could it be—!?"
Ah, crap.
I should’ve known this would happen if I showed it to Teacher Neil.
I hurriedly shoved the feather back into my pocket.
"Ahhh! Wait, hold on, let me see that feather more closely—"
Just as Teacher Neil reached for my skirt pocket, Sei stepped in front of me and caught his hand.
"… Teacher Neil, you shouldn’t lay hands on a lady like that."
Sei smiled coldly as he pushed Teacher Neil’s hand away.
Realizing his own actions, Teacher Neil quickly raised both hands in the air.
"Wait! No, it’s not like that! I just wanted to see that feather… Wait, Sei-kun! That feather, it’s yours…?"
"Yes, it’s a feather from Suzaku. It has a special charm on it to prevent Miss Cristea from being feared by magic beasts. Were you planning to take it away from her?"
"I knew it! Ah, no, I didn’t mean it like that! I just wanted to get a closer look, that’s all…!"
Upon realizing it was a feather from Suzaku-sama, Teacher Neil—who had never seen Suzaku’s Sacred Beast form—started getting excited. But when he saw Sei’s icy smile, he quickly backpedaled.
Unlike Byakko-sama, who’s always lounging around in his tiger cub form, Suzaku-sama always stays in human form.
She once said, "I wouldn’t be able to properly serve my master in my true form," so it doesn’t seem like she has any intention of showing her Sacred Beast form to others.
Seeing Teacher Neil fluster in panic, Sei let out a sigh and pulled a feather from his own pocket.
"Ah! That’s…!"
"I have one too. Since magic beasts are wary of me as well, I can’t part with it right now, but I can show it to you at the dorm later."
"Really!?"
"Yes. So please focus on class for now."
"Of course! I’m heading back to the dorm early today! This is amazing!"
Teacher Neil clenched his raised hands into fists and lifted them higher before skipping off toward the other students.
"Um… Sei, thank you."
I thanked him for stepping in, as he watched Teacher Neil leave with an exasperated look.
"No, it’s my fault for not reminding you to keep it in your pocket during practice."
"No, I completely forgot too…"
Realizing this was turning into an apology contest, we both ended up smiling wryly.
"It’d be best if you kept it on you during practice for a while. That way, the creatures will get used to your presence and calm down even without the feather."
"Got it. But if new ones arrive, I feel like it’ll be back to square one…"
"Hmm… In that case, we’ll just have to ask Suzaku again."
… Before that, I should probably have a word with my own Sacred Beasts.
With the morning classes over and no afternoon classes scheduled, I headed to the salon building with Miria to prepare to welcome my brother.
Accompanied by Kurogane, Mashiro, and Miria , I made my way there—only to find an absurdly extravagant carriage parked in front of the building.
"Wait… What is that? … Oh."
Upon closer inspection, I noticed the crest of a lion.
… There are only a few people in this country who have the right to use that emblem.
I have a really bad feeling about this!!
What do you think about this chapter?
