C194: Rosen's Secret (2)
Teacher Vierano thought my rejection was unexpected and couldn't resist asking.
"May I ask why? Out of pure kindness, I……."
"Calm down. I'm not saying I pletely disagree with teacher Vierano's opinion."
I took a step back to reassure teacher Vierano for now. Just because I refused him it didn't mean that I would unconditionally deny his will.
"Assistant Sedina is a great student, she has excellent grades and ability. I found out that she had been living in a bad environment, but that doesn't mean I can decide and do whatever I want."
"How e? You're not the teacher in charge."
"Yes, I'm in charge. But Mr. Vierano, you should know that someone's choice is ultimately up to him."
"……."
Of course, this is just a good excuse. To be honest, I didn't want to let Sedina go.
Sedina is not just an assistant, but an excellent source of information from the Black Dawn Society.
'Sedina's absence will be a considerable gap for me.'
The work as a teacher can be handled somehow, but it is different for the First Order of the Black Dawn Society.
Sedina will be my eyes in the Black Dawn. If Sedina leaves for the elves' village, there will be a big setback in my future work but I can't tell Vierano that.
"But Mr. Rudger. This is for Miss Sedina."
"I do not doubt Mr. Vierano's idea. However, Assistant Sedina rejected that opinion once."
"What if it's not her will?"
"You decided that if you persuaded me, I would change her mind."
"Did you know that Ms. Sedina is not close to anyone else but only works as an assistant for Mr. Rudger? Even when I talked to her, she replied that Mr. Rudger should give his opinion."
"Did she?"
I didn't know that either. I told her to make friends, but he must have been alone the whole time.
"Because it is Mr. Rudger, I am asking you. You can change Miss Sedina's mind."
"If I persuade her to break her thoughts, that's not assistant Sedina's will."
How can the actions made by others be considered yours?
"Teacher Vierano is not sure what real happiness is for assistant Sedina."
"……That's undeniable."
"I also fully sympathize with Mr. Vierano's feelings for the same kind. But, sir do you really think Assistant Sedina would be happy to go to elves village?"
I fully understand that Mr. Vierano cares about Sedina but will other elves think the same? I don't think so.
"I've also heard about elves. They have a strong sense of kinship, but on the contrary, even if others have elf blood, they are rejected if they are different from them."
That was Belaruna case. As an elf and interested in medicine and alchemy research, she has been rejected by the elves and being treated as a freak.
Eventually, Belaruna, who was kicked out of the forest where she stayed, had no choice but to e to the human world.
Elves are obviously a beautiful and noble race. At the same time, they have a tight mindset because they value tradition too much and do not make changes.
Will such people accept mixed blood as their members?
"But Miss Sedina has half the blood of the elves."
"It's only half."
"……."
"Teacher Vierano must have had a fairly high position in the forest."
"………How do you do that?"
I only got a clue from what he said so I patted the table with my fingertips and said.
"From your confidence. You have the power to incorporate Assistant Sedina into the elves' village and you'll take good care of her. An ordinary elf would never have thought of that."
Vierano, an elf who came out to the human world and worked as a teacher was enough to be called a freak among other elves.
If he didn't, Vierano would not have said he would take Sedina carelessly.
"If you persuade Sedina, I'm confident that I can take her to the elves village."
That means Vierano has enough power to dismiss the opinions of other elves.
"Mr. Vierano, are you an elder in the forest?"
"Yes, that's right."
"…… Huh?"
I asked just in case, but I didn't expect this to be the right answer.
There is a distinction among elves like how noble and moner is for humans called High House and I thought he was only part of them.
"You already knew about me."
"It's just…."
I nodded in moderation as I tried to make an excuse.
"As one of the seven roots of the world tree, we, the Dentis family, have been in charge of protecting the forest beyond the boundary since ancient times. And I am the head of the Dentis family."
"Is it okay for someone like that to be a teacher in Theon?"
"I can't help it because of past promises and being here doesn't mean I'm neglecting my original mission. In fact, I used to return the wandering members of my family to the forest and in the arms of their patriots."
Protecting the outside of the forest prevents foreign enemies from entering the forest.
Does he have the purpose of protecting the people who are far away from the forest?
"My family can help Ms. Sedina adapt well. The thick roots of Dentis are tough enough to beat anyone."
"But other elves wouldn't do that. The Dentis family is not the only High House of the elves."
Once you hear the story, the Dentis family is a very enterprising place. Helping elves wandering in the outside world, and extending a helping hand to mixed races without discrimination.
This is a rare trait among elves but other elves wouldn't do that, especially the other High Houses.
"Anyway, I listened to Mr. Vierano's words. But since you asked for help yourself, let's ask for Sedina's opinion."
"Yes, that's enough. I don't mean to bother Miss Sedina anymore. I know that this ideal is nothing but self-righteousness."
He's very considerate in this regard, even though he's an elder. I thought he'd just act his way, but it's quite unexpected.
'Come to think of it, teacher Selina said that teacher Vierano is popular among the students.'
Usually, teachers in Theon have no choice but to get close to people of the same lineage.
Ms. Selina, who is in charge of spiritual studies in the first grade, naturally knows the spiritual teachers who are in charge of the other grades above her.
……Of course I am not.
In the first place, all the teachers in my lineage are Hugo's aristocrats, so we don't get along.
Ms. Selina said that teacher Vierano looks like a younger brother, but he behaves like a grandfather. She also said that he has a charm that makes her lean on him mentally.
After that, she said, 'Students said it! It's not me!' She made a desperate excuse, but I don't know why.
'Yes, rumors are rumors so I thought he would be different in reality.'
However, after meeting with teacher Vierano and talking for a long time, I think I know the reason for sure.
He has a strangely caring personality, even if he pretends not to be. I think I would feel like this if I had a close grandfather. However, the strange point is that he is trying to pretend not to be.
'What a dishonest elf.'
"Thank you for your time Mr. Rudger."
"It's fine."
"I have to leave but I'll return soon, bye."
Teacher Vierano left the office with those words.
The guest left, but I had a new problem.
Standing quietly from my seat, I knocked on the door of the assistant office.
"Sedina, can we talk?"
"……Yes."
Sedina replied in a low voice.
"May I e in?"
"What? Now, hold on!"
After about a minute of noises the door has been carefully opened. Seeing that her cheeks are slightly red and breathing is rough, she seems to have cleaned up in a hurry.
"Come in."
The view through the open door was unexpected. I thought Sedina must have piled up all kinds of papers all over the room since she can use origami magic and gathering information is her job but my prediction was off the mark.
"There are a lot of plants."
The assistant office itself is not that narrow since it's supposed to be used by at least seven people.
Considering that Sedina uses it alone, it can be seen as wide but it was filled with plants. Even though it is the same space, the air itself feels much clearer.
"Sorry, I'm sorry from decorating the room as I pleased."
Sedina, who thought I was mad, hurriedly bowed her head.
"You don't have to be sorry. It's just because it's fascinating."
Looking at the leaf conditions of most plants visible, there was no defect.
"You must have raised them hard."
"Yes, yes."
"Is it a hobby?"
"Yes, I have raised them since I was young."
"Since you were young."
It must be because of the elf blood. I glanced around inside the assistant classroom and asked Sedina.
"Sedina Rosen."
"Yes, sir."
"Let me ask you a question. It's an extension of what I just talked about with teacher Vierano."
"Ah…"
"Do you really want help?"
Sedina hesitated to answer my question but when she hesitated, she made a big mistake.
She had to firmly shake her head to say that she didn't. Conversely, I would've had a chance to show my sincerity, saying that I don't doubt her loyalty but Sedina didn't.
'Her heart has bee weak.'
Her loyalty to the Black Dawn Society was a little shaky and this was a big boon for me.
"Sedina, I regard you as a very good person even if you are like this so you can be honest."
"Mr. Rudger?"
"I also know that you can't get along with other people and yet you are here. You must've entered Theon thanks to your ability."
I can see that she came to the Black Dawn Society out of revenge because she hated her family. But will her future be bright?
After all, the Black Dawn Society must disappear and I'm going to make it happen. So what will happen to Sedina who belongs there?
"If you say you want to leave, that's fine."
"What do you mean?"
"If you say you'll give up everything to live a quiet and peaceful life, I'll help you."
Sedina it's an excellent talent in my service but I won't force her to follow my will. A person's will is important, I know that more than anyone else.
"What you say here is a secret between you and me. You don't have to worry about it leaking somewhere."
"I…."
Sedina hesitated between the path of vengeance and the path of serenity, wiggling her hand.
She was given an opportunity to go either way and a smart kid could see which way was better for him.
At that time, Sedina raised her head and made eye contact with me. Unlike before when she always avoided my eyes, her eyes are very straight.
"First of all, I'd like to apologize to Mr. Rudger."
The moment I heard it, I realized it. Like a smart kid, she will make the right choice…….
"I haven't been able to properly assist Mr. Rudger."
"What…?"
"Even on the last day of the festival, Mr. Rudger was swept up in that and I didn't realize it. I didn't go to visit you and in addition, I even hid my identity."
Saying that, Sedina lifted her brown hair. It was smaller than the ears of the elf, but still pointed mixed-race ears could be seen.
Her disgrace, which has been hidden so far.
Her ears were red just by showing them to me, she must have been shy and wanted to hide it.
"I may not, obviously, be qualified because I received an undeserved grace to be with teacher like this."
Sedina tried to say that she was okay, but her expression showed her pain that she could not hide.
"Still, there is someone who has told me that he needs me. There is someone who has plimented me on how great I am. Whether it's future peace or revenge, honestly, I'm not sure right now."
"Sedina…"
"But this one thing is for sure. Sir, I really want to follow you for acknowledging me. So please don't say that it's okay for me to leave."
It was a firm attitude that Sedina doesn't show since she usually bows her head.
As I stared at her, Sedina belatedly realized what she had said and returned to her usual state.
"Sorry, I'm sorry! How could I……."
"No, don't be. Sedina Rosen I've heard your opinion."
"Teacher?"
I said, putting my hands on Sedina's shoulders.
"I have something to confess to you."
"What? What?! Confession!?"
Did she realize that I was serious?
Sedina's face flushed even more red than before.
Yes, it's a confession. I'm making a serious confession here.
"Sedina, I'm not actually a First Order."
"……What?"