Chapter 82: It’s Common Knowledge That Evil Deeds Are Always Interrupted

“Why, why is it like this?” Moyuna’s persistent questioning followed Ruby all the way to the teachers’ dormitory. They had clearly agreed to be in the same classroom, yet instead of sitting together as classmates, Ruby was the one standing at the lectern while she remained below. That meant she was a step behind him.

“Maybe it was just a case of mistaken identity.”

The Rhine Magic Academy truly lived up to its reputation as the Holy Empire’s finest institution. Even the teachers’ dormitory matched its legend—a three-story building much like Moyuna’s house in the imperial capital. From the outside, it appeared there were no more than a dozen rooms in total. Yet, with so few residents, the halls felt especially spacious. Red carpets lined the corridors, decorative vases stood atop stone pillars, and fresh flowers, clearly arranged with care, brightened the space.

Ruby’s teacher identification also served as the key to his door. Though it looked like gold, he couldn’t quite determine its true material—it was neither exactly gold nor anything he recognized. The design was as convenient as a hotel key card on Earth; a quick scan of the crystal embedded in the door and it clicked open.

He entered a spacious living room, fully equipped for entertaining guests. There were two bedrooms—a master and a guest room. After making a quick circuit, Ruby was surprised to find the suite also boasted a bathroom, complete with a tub for soaking. He wondered, though, how they managed without modern plumbing; cleaning out bathwater later might be a nuisance. The only disappointment was the absence of a kitchen—apparently, no one expected teachers to forgo the cafeteria’s fine cuisine to cook for themselves.

“Aren’t you even going to clarify things?” Moyuna had no interest in admiring the accommodations. Glaring at the name inscribed on Ruby’s teacher ID, she was visibly annoyed. “Ruby Edel Starry Night? Just from the name alone, I can’t accept it!”

“He wouldn’t believe me even if I tried to explain. Besides, without magic, I doubt I’d connect much with the students anyway.”

Ruby’s philosophy had always been to go with the flow. Besides, the position as the self-study supervisor was practically made for someone looking to take it easy—all he had to do was stand there and watch.

“Hmph, I think you’re quite pleased with your new name. Doesn’t it sound as if you’ve married into the Starry Night family? And you were awfully polite to that pink-haired girl back then…”

There was a faint note of jealousy in Moyuna’s tone, reminding her of the time Ruby first met Eve. Knowing Ruby’s personality, she wouldn’t be surprised if he truly ended up marrying into another family one day.

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

“Ridiculous? How am I being ridiculous—ah!”

Ruby’s calm response only fueled Moyuna’s irritation. The young Archmage advanced on him, closing the distance until her face was nearly pressed to his. To avoid an overly intimate encounter, Ruby instinctively backed away. Unfamiliar with his new surroundings, his heel caught on something, and he tumbled onto the soft carpet in the living room. Moyuna, caught off guard, fell with him, but managed to brace herself with her hands on his shoulders, narrowly avoiding a repetition of a certain princess’s mishap.

“…Get up.”

Ruby could feel her weight on his shoulders—though he often joked about her penchant for sweets, she was still as light as any girl. Her white hair brushed across her face and then fell beside Ruby’s ear, a silvery curtain hiding both their expressions. At such close range, their breaths mingled, and as Ruby gazed into her luminous eyes, he found his own breathing faltering. In the end, he had to speak, if only to catch his breath.

Moyuna ignored his words, pressing her face even closer until, with an odd, electric sensation, their noses touched. It was the closest she had ever been to Ruby.

“Excuse me, I’m Baiyu Vien from the second floor—ah! I didn’t mean to intrude, it’s just that the door was open and I came to say hello…”

A stranger’s voice called out from the entryway. The two on the floor hurriedly sat up, turning to face the unexpected visitor—a mature woman with a lovely face, now sporting an awkward smile. She hadn’t seen everything clearly, but she’d seen enough to know the two had been in a compromising position.

“It’s fine. My name is Ruby, a newly arrived teacher.”

Since the neighbor was now a guest, Ruby, as host, naturally began a conversation. Meanwhile, the young Archmage quietly retreated to the window, needing a moment to calm her racing heart.

“Hello, Professor Ruby. Just call me Baiyu. I heard from the personnel office that a new teacher was arriving, so I thought I’d come introduce myself.”

Baiyu, the visitor, was a mature woman with a figure much like Veloxis—though not quite her equal in beauty. Her round face and brown eyes lent her a touch of cuteness despite her maturity, and her long black hair, trailing down her back in natural waves, gave her a gentle air. She extended her hand to Ruby in a friendly gesture.

Moyuna glanced over the newcomer, eyes narrowing as she noted, ‘Another unfriendly bust size!’

“Thank you.”

Ruby meant to shake her hand, but she had misjudged the distance, placing her hand on his abdomen instead. It felt oddly out of place.

“Ah, sorry. People always say I’m a bit scatterbrained—old habit.” Realizing her mistake, Baiyu stepped back, and they finally managed a proper handshake.

“Professor Ruby, forgive me for meddling, but it’s best to keep a little distance if you’re involved with female students. Bringing one into your dorm right after starting… well…”

After releasing his hand, Baiyu spoke up. Since there was only one new teacher, she naturally assumed Moyuna was a student—and she would not condone any inappropriate relationships.

“You’re mistaken. We’re not like that. We were just looking for something.”

Ruby shook his head, explaining their relationship. As he spoke, he saw the Archmage girl raise a hand and draw her finger across her neck—a clear sign of warning.

“Oh, I arrived a year before you. If you need anything, just ask your senior.”

“I do have quite a few questions.”

In truth, Ruby knew only the basics about the academy, so having a guide was most convenient. Baiyu answered all his inquiries: though the academy was large, it had fewer than a thousand students—all of them elites. These elites could choose different courses based on their needs: Offensive Magic, Support Magic, Healing Magic, and Intelligence Gathering. Each discipline was divided into three grade levels, and Baiyu was responsible for instructing the first-years in Offensive Magic.

Ruby’s own position was quite special. At Rhine Magic Academy, classes were held for four days a week, with the last day, Friday, designated as a school-wide self-study day. Students could pursue anything they wished—training, practicing what they’d learned during the week, and so forth. Ruby’s responsibility was simply to supervise his assigned classroom and ensure no accidents occurred.

“That does sound pretty easy.”