"Of course, that's true."

Despite Rormane's refusal, I continued speaking.

"But this isn't an interview to select a new elf priest. Please refrain from personal questions."

"Do you have any hereditary diseases?"

Rormane completely ignored my words and continued questioning Ismera.

"I don't have any hereditary diseases, but..."

"Are you good at cooking and cleaning?"

"Elves don't cook with fire... so I'm not good at cooking."

Now the questions were becoming so ridiculous that I couldn't help but laugh.

"That's quite problematic. If you've come to a human city, you should naturally adapt to human life."

Rormane said.

"Restoring the Great Forest will take a very long time. During that time, Vice Principal Ismera, you'll be staying in the city, so shouldn't you become somewhat accustomed to human ways?"

This was less of a question and more like an admonishment.

"I'll keep that in mind."

For now, Ismera answered obediently. The Secretary General of the Order wasn't someone you could just confront because you were in a bad mood.

"By the way, if that's the case, whoever marries you in the future will face quite a lot of difficulties."

"Excuse me?"

"Since you can't even do basic housework, let alone cooking. What do you think?"

At that, Ismera's previously compliant expression suddenly changed.

It was the same expression she had when she was hostile toward me at the beginning of the semester.

It was a subtle change that others might not notice—one that I could only perceive because I'd been close to Ismera for some time.

"I will take your advice to heart, Secretary General. Living among humans naturally means I must accept human culture."

Ismera smiled slightly.

"You mentioned marriage earlier. Yes, I plan to marry soon, having found someone worthy of being my lifelong companion. When I marry and serve my husband-to-be, I'll surely be grateful for the advice and concerns you've shared today."

"Marriage, you say."

Rormane responded without losing her smile.

"If it's not too presumptuous, may I know which fortunate person will take such a beautiful pure-blooded elf Vice Principal as his wife?"

"I thought you already knew?"

Rormane's eye twitched.

"Well, I'm quite dull... I can't quite figure it out."

"Then I'll tell you. The person who will be my partner is—"

"Let's get going now, Secretary General."

I cut off Ismera's words and stood up from my chair.

"You must have squeezed this visit into your busy schedule, and you're probably concerned about leaving the Order unattended for too long."

Rormane looked up at me and smiled.

"Am I making you uncomfortable?"

"You're asking uncomfortable questions."

"I belong to the Order."

Rormane said.

"I have no vested interest in this Special Mission Academy. I think it's inappropriate for someone like me to ask questions about the academy's operations or other matters. I can ask things I'm personally curious about."

"Likewise, because you're not our superior and have no vested interest, I can also ask you to refrain from such questions."

Rormane didn't answer but stared at me intently, and I met her gaze without flinching.

"Very well. Let's stop here."

After a moment, Rormane gave me a smiling glance.

"Thank you."

"I apologize for the sudden visit and any inconvenience."

Rormane turned to Kirrin and Ismera.

"I was curious about the place where Maya, the priest dispatched from the Order, works. I'm relieved to see it's better than I expected."

"Thank you..."

Kirrin bowed her head.

"Before I leave, I'd like to make one request."

"Wh-what is it?"

"I'd like to have some time to talk privately with Professor Dian, my old friend."

Rormane doesn't know that Kirrin and Ismera are aware of my past.

Despite that, seeing her speak so openly shows that Rormane hasn't changed in ten years.

Although she's become adept at maintaining social dignity after rising to a high position, her inner nature remains the same.

Anyway, I was also curious about what Rormane had in mind.

"Principal, Vice Principal. I'm sorry, but could you give us some privacy?"

At my request, Kirrin rose from her seat.

"Ismera! Hurry!"

She forcibly dragged Ismera, who was still glaring at Rormane without getting up, and they left the principal's office as if escaping.

Once we were alone, I sat back down in the chair and asked.

"Rormane. What's your deal?"

"What do you mean?"

"Why did you come here?"

"I came because I missed you, Dian."

Rormane answered lightly, as if there couldn't possibly be any other reason.

"I was going crazy missing you so much. But the Secretary General of the Order can't move around on personal whims. So I needed a pretext. Something grand like inspecting and encouraging the Royal Academy."

"That's not it."

Rormane smiled and tilted her head exaggeratedly.

"Then what?"

"You came because of the 'patient diary' that Priest Maya reported."

Rormane neither confirmed nor denied, just kept smiling.

"Did you think I wouldn't know?"

"Perhaps Celine told you some falsehood? That I ordered Maya to monitor you. Celine was always like that. Talking about her hunter's instinct while making innocent people look bad..."

"The other day, I found traces of Priest Maya sneaking into our house. Your persistent questioning of Ismera was all because of those records, wasn't it?"

Rormane's smile faltered.

"There were records about other women connected to me too, right? You saw those and came here with your eyes rolled back in anger?"

"Dian. What kind of person do you think I am?"

"What kind of person? Do I really need to say it out loud for you to know?"

"I see."

Rormane nodded slowly.

"You probably think I'm a crazy woman with an obsession."

"Just look at your behavior."

"You're right, Dian. I'm a woman crazy about you."

Rormane said with a smile.

"But is that a problem? Have I broken any laws? Have I betrayed human decency? I simply like you. I don't think it's right to be despised and ignored just for liking someone."

"Well said. Did you break any laws? Did you betray decency?"

I pointed directly at Rormane.

"During the war, you committed so many outrageous acts. Killing a captured succubus at will, deliberately drugging me to get me to accept your help, and many other minor incidents."

"Are you bringing up things from ten years ago now?"

"I could talk about yesterday too. Was it right to have Priest Maya investigate me? Please come to your senses, Rormane."

"Come to my senses?"

Rormane laughed.

"You really think I'm insane, don't you?"

"I don't think you're completely insane. Just in a comparable state regarding certain areas."

"I see. But there's a huge misunderstanding there. As always."

"If you're going to make the same excuses you did ten years ago, don't bother."

I raised my hand to stop Rormane from speaking.

"Rormane. Let me be frank. You have no right to meddle in my life."

"Of course, Dian."

"Who I meet or what I do is my business. Don't try to control that. This is a warning."

"How frightening."

"And you're no longer just an acolyte priest but the Secretary General of the Order. You know how to behave appropriately for your position, don't you?"

"Of course I do."

I sighed and leaned back against the chair.

This person is just letting my words go in one ear and out the other.

"Why haven't you changed at all?"

"The same goes for you, Dian."

Rormane smiled brightly.

"I saw earlier. The combat professors who were right behind the principal and vice principal during the tour. You ordered them to guard you, didn't you?"

"Yes."

"Were you afraid I might beat that pure-blooded elf to death like that succubus back then?"

"I couldn't think of any other reason why you'd come here."

"Is that so? Unfortunately, you're wrong, Dian. No, you're half right. I came because I was curious about what kind of woman Vice Principal Ismera is."

Rormane turned her gaze to the chair where Ismera had been sitting.

"Maya's patient diary, yes. I ordered it. I told her to record and report your every move. But it wasn't meant as surveillance."

"Did you have some noble purpose?"

"I was curious."

Rormane smiled with her eyes.

"I wanted to know how you were doing at the academy. Since I couldn't be by your side, I wanted to see through someone else's eyes. And Maya faithfully carried out my orders."

"And you expect me to believe that?"

"What will you do if you don't believe me?"

Rormane spread her arms slightly.

"It doesn't matter whether you believe me or not. Nothing changes. After all, you didn't trust me much even when you were in the special task force ten years ago, did you?"

"That's right. You're an untrustworthy child."

"That's fine then. By the way, I'm really glad I came here. Now I feel somewhat relieved."

Rormane changed the subject.

"That elf, Ismera. I like her. She's pretty, capable, and intelligent."

"What are you suddenly talking about, Rormane?"

"Plus, she's got backbone. I never imagined she would confront the Secretary General of the Order head-on."

Rormane's eye-smile grew wider.

"I, Rormane, have concluded that Vice Principal Ismera is fully qualified to be the partner of the real unsung hero Dian, who was overshadowed by Linus."

What the heck is this now?