The Retired Supporting Character Wants to Live Quietly

[Translator - Peptobismol]

[Proofreader - Demon God]

Chapter 140 - The Academy Visit of Lormane (6)

Lormane, seated in her chair, greeted Maya with a smile.

"Come in."

"Have you been well, Chief Administrator?"

Maya bowed her head in greeting as Lormane stood up and approached her.

"I’ve been well. Let’s have a look at you."

Lormane gently cupped Maya’s cheeks, her touch soft.

"Judging by your complexion, it seems you’ve been doing well at the Academy."

"I’ve been well, thanks to Headmaster Kirrin’s consideration."

"Good. I’m glad to hear you’ve adjusted to your assignment. Please, take a seat."

Maya instinctively moved to prepare the tea, but Lormane stopped her.

"You’re my guest today. Let me handle it."

"Understood."

After preparing two cups of tea, Lormane sat across from Maya and began speaking.

"What is it you wish to report?"

"It’s about various matters at the Academy."

Maya took a sip of tea before continuing.

"Do you recall what my predecessor reported upon their return?"

"Of course I do. They basically cursed the Academy, saying it would collapse within a year."

"That’s correct. But since I’ve been dispatched there, several significant changes have occurred."

In a quiet voice, Maya began to report to Lormane about the developments at the Academy: the revival of the Combat Department, the resumption of intense practical exercises, the creation of the commercial district, the capture of trolls and wild horses, the recruitment of special students, and winning the competition.

"This is a completely different picture from what your predecessor described."

"Yes, Chief Administrator. And all of this is thanks to Professor Dian."

"As expected of Sir Dian. He’s truly remarkable. To single-handedly restore the Special Mission Academy, which was considered a failure even by the Imperial Palace... that’s no small feat."

Lormane smiled with a dignified grace.

"Sir Dian has always been like that. Such a capable and extraordinary man. It’s a pity that so few people truly understand who he is."

"I agree wholeheartedly."

As Maya nodded in agreement, Lormane’s smile deepened.

"You think so too? But you probably don’t know the full extent of it. What you’ve seen of Sir Dian as a professor is only a small part of who he really is."

Lormane began recounting stories from about ten years ago, back when the Demon King Slaying Special Force was first formed.

"You see, back then, Sir Dian did something truly remarkable...."

"His judgment was flawless. If we had followed Sir Linus’s plan, we would have been wiped out."

"I sometimes wonder if Sir Dian is a man sent from the future, or perhaps a divine apostle sent by the gods to save the continent."

Lormane passionately described the exploits of the Demon King Slaying Special Force, though in reality, she mostly focused on Dian’s achievements.

Maya silently sipped her tea, listening as Lormane went on at length about Dian.

"Oh dear."

At one point, Lormane found herself talking about how handsome Dian was, how strong and well-built his body was, and she covered her mouth in mock embarrassment.

"I seem to be saying all sorts of things. Forgive me, Maya."

"It’s alright. Hearing you speak, I now understand why everyone at the Academy is so fond of Professor Dian."

Maya’s response made Lormane fall silent as she stared intently at her.

After a brief pause, Lormane asked.

"What do you mean by that?"

"Exactly as I said. Everyone at the Academy likes Professor Dian."

"Everyone?"

"Yes, the professors, the staff, and the students."

"Of course. Anyone who meets Sir Dian can’t help but fall under his spell."

Lormane smiled, a faint blush coloring her cheeks.

"Sir Dian has a certain charm, something that captivates people."

Then she launched into another long and fervent speech, lavishing praise on Dian, this time with entirely new anecdotes and expressions that hadn’t been mentioned in her earlier monologue.

It wasn’t until Maya’s teacup was empty that Lormane finally stopped.

"I’m sorry, Maya. I got a little carried away. It’s just that, for the past ten years, I haven’t had anyone around who knew Sir Dian."

"It’s no trouble at all."

"Shall I pour you more tea?"

"I’ll do it."

Maya quietly stood up and poured herself a fresh cup of tea before returning to her seat.

"So, do you have anything else to report?"

"Yes. The elf, Professor Ismera, who was the Head of the Theory Department, has been promoted to the newly created position of Vice-Headmaster, and a mage named Kaiden is joining as the new Head Theoretical Professor."

"Kaiden?"

Lormane’s eyes lit up with interest.

"Kaiden has been in seclusion at the Tower of Illusions for the past ten years, with no contact with the outside world. How did that come about?"

"I don’t know the full details, but it seems Professor Dian asked Mage Kaiden for assistance while preparing for the competition. Since illusion magic was used during the event, I assume that’s when the connection was made."

"I see. I understand now. There must have been some behind-the-scenes negotiations with the Imperial Palace as well."

Lormane smiled knowingly.

"If you wish, I could start keeping a 'patient ledger' on the new Head Theoretical Professor as well."

"That won’t be necessary. Kaiden is a good person. I’m sure he’ll support Sir Dian well, so there’s nothing to worry about. But...."

Lormane’s gaze shifted to the patient ledger sitting beside Maya. She picked it up.

"This is the observation report you asked for on Professor Dian."

"Thank you. I’ve been looking forward to it."

"But... are you sure you want to read it?"

Maya hesitated to hand it over, her tone cautious.

"What do you mean?"

"I recorded everything exactly as I saw and heard it, without any embellishment. I just wanted to warn you."

"There’s no need to worry."

Realizing what Maya was hinting at, Lormane smiled.

"Do you think I would have asked you to do this without knowing what I was getting into? Go on, hand it over."

Maya handed over the patient ledger, and Lormane slowly opened it to the first page.

The first entry read:

[Late at night, Professor Dian arrived at the infirmary with a troubled expression, carrying an unconscious and disheveled young female student, drenched in sweat.]

Lormane turned the page.

The next entry read:

[Professor Dian brought in another unconscious young woman with visible rope marks on her wrists and bruises around her thighs.]

She turned another page.

[Late at night, Professor Dian arrived with what appeared to be a minor, claiming she had passed out from a stomachache.]

Crunch, crunch.

[There were clear signs of strangulation on her neck, and significant bruising on her lower abdomen.]

Crunch, crunch.

[The patient repeatedly touched her belly, murmuring, 'I can’t get rid of it,' while Professor Dian whispered something to her. In tears, the patient replied, 'I’ll do it. I’ll do whatever you want,' before lying down and sobbing for a long time.]

[Additionally, there was a dried, sticky substance at the corner of the girl’s mouth. It was unclear whether it was vomit or some other fluid.]

[Professor Dian and Head Theoretical Professor Ismera visited the infirmary together, both looking extremely fatigued after staying up all night. They requested holy healing.]

[No other students who participated in the same class came to the infirmary, suggesting that some kind of intense, unplanned physical activity had occurred between the two of them.]

Lormane continued turning the pages without reacting.

Meanwhile, Maya sat quietly, sipping her tea.

Before Maya’s deployment to the Academy, Lormane had given her special instructions: document everything related to Professor Dian.

Maya quickly understood why. Lormane was clearly infatuated with Dian.

The way Lormane had acted when Dian first visited the Church had been enough evidence for Maya.

As someone who admired and respected Lormane, Maya had diligently carried out her instructions and recorded everything in the patient ledger.

However, today, Maya realized she had been wrong.

After listening to Lormane passionately praise Dian for nearly two hours, Maya understood that Lormane’s feelings for Dian weren’t ordinary.

That’s why she had hesitated to hand over the ledger.

Maya was also curious.

As a priestess, she was prohibited from engaging in romantic relationships with anyone, regardless of gender.

So why was the Church’s highest-ranking official so obsessed with Professor Dian?

If word got out, Lormane would face severe disciplinary action and likely be excommunicated.

And yet, Maya felt a strange sense of satisfaction.

She was pleased that the Chief Administrator trusted her enough to show such dangerous, genuine emotions.

"Hmm."

Lormane let out a small, ambiguous sound as she reached the final page of the ledger.

That page detailed all the sounds Maya had heard from Dian’s upstairs room the previous night.

"I see. I understand now."

After a long pause, Lormane smiled faintly as she closed the ledger.

"You’ve written it all down quite diligently. Thank you."

"You're welcome."

Lormane said nothing more after that.

She simply stared down at the last page of the patient ledger, her silence stretching on.

But Maya wasn’t uncomfortable in the least. She calmly continued to sip her tea.

When her cup was empty, Maya stood up to pour herself another.

Then she quietly resumed her seat and continued drinking.

"Maya."

After finishing her third cup, Lormane finally spoke.

"Yes, Chief Administrator."

"Is there anything special happening at the academy this week?"

"As far as I’m aware, there is not. We're currently preparing for the end-of-term evaluations."

"Then I suppose I can visit the academy for a bit."

[Translator - Peptobismol]

[Proofreader - Demon God]