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Vikamon Niflheim.

A third-rate villain, expelled not only from a count’s family but also from the academy for assaulting the Third Princess.

Ironically, it was in that very form that I returned to Zerion Academy.

And not just as a student—this time as a special instructor.

Today is my first day attending the academy as an instructor.

‘...My brother disappeared.’

There was a sense of despair in Iris's voice.

She had hoped to call me "big brother" in the form of Hannon, but Hannon himself had vanished.

Perhaps because of that, she gazed at me with sorrowful eyes.

“I’m an instructor now.”

“You're my brother.”

“Still, I'm an instructor.”

“You're my brother.”

Iris clearly wasn’t planning to back down.

Unfortunately, there was no way around it.

After all, Iris was the one who helped me the most in this whole affair.

The moment she heard my request, she jumped into action.

She wouldn’t stand by while someone she’d just become friends with was about to be expelled to another academy after just a day.

Without hesitation, she issued orders left and right.

First, my pardon was granted.

During the boycott incident, I had been deployed to Zerion Academy to uncover corruption.

That was Vikamon’s mission, and thanks to the merit of that operation, I was pardoned.

Although I could no longer return as a student after being expelled, arrangements were made for me to come back through the special instructor track.

Professor Vega also lent her support in this.

Professor Vega has been at Zerion Academy longer than anyone else.

When she handles things, people rarely oppose her decisions.

Thanks to that, I was able to return safely to Zerion Academy as an instructor.

Today marks my first official day on the job.

Hania, being quick-witted, even spread rumors to help people accept my presence.

「It's a return favor for helping Iris.」

Hania said it like it was nothing.

My ex-girlfriend is the best.

As I headed to the martial arts classroom, I could feel all eyes on me.

Both men and women stared at me with mixed emotions.

Their eyes widened as they took me in.

Vikamon’s appearance had a striking presence.

I’d never received this kind of attention before.

Especially from the women—completely different than before.

One female student met my eyes and just stood there, mouth agape, with a blank look.

Unfortunately, I didn’t feel any sense of superiority from it.

‘I used to wish I could live just one day as a handsome guy.’

But after love fell apart, so did desire, and even my pride was gone.

As a result, I didn’t feel any sense of superiority walking around with this handsome face.

It was sad.

But even that sadness felt faint.

A sign that even the last of my emotions was starting to fade away.

Still, I couldn’t remove the Veil Bandages.

The Winter Demon Dungeon is coldest in the heart of winter.

In other words, a year had passed since January.

Vikamon’s birthday is January 2nd.

Once the birthday passed, adulthood came immediately after.

So the bandages of the shroud couldn’t be removed—destiny.

But it didn’t really matter much—things wouldn’t change either way.

I had planned to wear the Veil Bandages for another year anyway.

“Y-you?”

As I kept walking, I ran into a familiar face in the hallway.

Isabel was there.

She was with her close friend, Lina, and both looked shocked to see me.

I had suddenly shown up in Vikamon’s form, so of course they were stunned.

“Whoa, it’s Senior Vikamon!”

Lina recognized me too, her eyes going wide.

“Hey, Isabel. Long time no see.”

“Long time?”

Isabel’s eyes widened even more.

I passed by her without stopping.

Tap!

I soon heard hurried footsteps from behind.

It was Isabel, who had left Lina behind and rushed over.

“You—don’t tell me you’re going to Panisys?”

“Yeah, that’s how it ended up. The Celestial Grace started disliking me.”

“What? Huh?”

Isabel looked stunned.

Then she grabbed my arm and shouted.

“That’s not something to say so casually!”

Was she trying to burst my eardrum?

The Celestial Grace was tied to the evil faction.

Being targeted by him was extremely dangerous, and Isabel clearly thought I didn’t grasp that.

“Of course it’s dangerous, but I’ve already done things that make it unavoidable.”

“Still, that doesn’t mean you should take it so lightly!”

She was right—I had taken it too lightly.

Isabel stared at me anxiously.

She had already lost two people dear to her.

If something happened to me too, Isabel might truly break.

Seeing her eyes, I finally became aware of it.

‘...Yeah. My attitude was wrong.’

Somehow, it really feels like my sense of crisis is completely shattered now.

“…I really should’ve locked you up.”

But hearing the next words made my sense of danger come rushing back.

Apparently, it’s not completely dead yet.

“Isabel, don’t worry. Like I said earlier, I was prepared for a clash with the Celestial Grace.”

“…What are you?”

“We’re going to be late for class.”

Before Isabel could say anything more, I quickly started walking.

Isabel let out a sigh and followed behind.

As we walked, I started to see a familiar forehead.

It was surprisingly radiant, as if it was reflecting sunlight—clearly well-maintained every day.

“Seron.”

“Hmm?”

Seron turned her head at the sound of my voice.

The moment her eyes met mine, she completely froze.

It was the look of someone who had just run into a totally unexpected person.

“Uh, uh, I…”

It seemed like she couldn’t even get a few words out.

Seron just stared blankly, her mouth slightly open.

She might drool like that.

“Good morning.”

“G-good! Good morning!”

She must’ve bitten her tongue—the pronunciation was off.

“…Why, why are you dressed like that?”

What kind of speech pattern is that?

Seron was creaking like a broken doll.

Seron’s broken.

Well, she has been used a lot.

“So you don’t like it?”

I smiled softly.

Seron collapsed and bowed her head deeply.

“…I like it.”

Good.

Glad she does.

At that moment, I felt an intense gaze from behind me.

“You… no, Assistant Instructor Vikamon.”

Just as Isabel’s sharp voice sent chills down my spine—

Another familiar face appeared up ahead.

With navy blue hair fluttering wildly, she came running over.

The eyes on her revealed face glimmered with the starlight of Mirinae as they met mine.

“Oh, Sharin.”

I greeted her warmly.

I had actually been planning to pass along news from Hannon, so her timing was perfect.

But then Sharin’s cheeks began to puff up rapidly.

“You need to be punished.”

Before I could even understand what she meant—

Sharin’s body suddenly launched into the air.

A person was flying toward me.

Instinctively, I moved to catch her, but she suddenly extended her head forward.

Wham!

Sharin headbutted me in the chest, sending me tumbling across the floor.

There was no helping it, given the force she’d flown with.

After sending me flying, Sharin casually placed her hands on her hips and snorted through her nose.

Then she turned her head with a huff and walked off.

The students looked at me with stunned faces.

I also wore a completely confused expression.

“What happened?”

Right then, Iris appeared, bringing Hania along with her.

She tilted her head as she looked at me and the scene around me.

“Why are you lying on the ground like that, big brother?”

Her next words caused all the nearby students to gasp.

“B-b-b-big brother?!”

The most shocked of all was Isabel.

Seron was still broken and incapable of movement.

Iris looked at me with a sweet smile.

It was clear to anyone that she had meant what she said.

“There were… some things going on.”

I mumbled.

Iris raised an eyebrow slightly.

But then she decided to leave it at that for now.

Isabel still had a completely dumbfounded look on her face.

The fact that Iris knew my identity—and had called me big brother—must’ve been a powerful shock.

“Assistant Instructor Vikamon, please get up.”

Meanwhile, Hania held her hand out to me.

“Thanks, student Hania.”

I took her hand and stood up, and she leaned in and whispered quietly,

“Just to check—don’t tell me you still haven’t told Sharin your true identity?”

Ah.

So that’s why Sharin was angry.

＊ ＊ ＊

After that, I safely completed my day at Zerion Academy.

To be honest, there wasn’t much of a "schedule" to speak of.

After all, the actual instruction of students was Professor Vega’s responsibility.

In my case, I was only occasionally asked to bring her materials or supplies.

But there was one benefit.

Today, the female students were unusually focused in class.

As for the boys… I have no idea.

In any case, my situation hasn’t changed much since Hannon.

Because Professor Vega conducts her classes with me included.

‘That’s so like Professor Vega.’

A student is a student, no matter the situation.

She treated students the same, unwaveringly.

Once again, I realized that if nothing else, Professor Vega was sincere when it came to her students.

‘Even after she found out I was a Vikamon, she didn’t make a big deal out of it and just understood.’

From her perspective, I was someone who had deceived even the academy to get in.

Yet, she still accepted even someone like me.

「This is the result of everything you’ve done until now. You've never slacked off on a single one of my assignments. You may be a bit eccentric, but I know very well that your sincerity is genuine.」

「Professor, should I give you a kiss of gratitude?」

「Try it, if you want to get expelled.」

Luckily, I avoided expulsion.

And just like that, I became a not-quite-official teaching assistant.

Maybe because the infamous Vikamon had returned, student interest in me hit its peak.

To the point where stories about the students who left for the Kingdom of Panisys were completely forgotten.

“Assistant Vikamon!”

“Come eat lunch with us!”

Lunchtime, in particular, was pure chaos.

Not just the combat department—students from other departments came begging me to join them for lunch.

“What the heck, you’re from the Magic Department. Get lost!”

“What’s your problem? Assistant Vikamon was originally from the Magic Department! It’s only natural a junior wants to see their senior!”

First-years and second-years alike crowded around.

Thankfully, there were no third-years.

They already knew who Vikamon had once loved, so they had no reason to get close.

“...Vikamon. You’re back.”

“Still as handsome as ever.”

“You came back because of Nikita, didn’t you?”

“What a tragedy.”

The third-years watched me from afar, emotions mixed across their faces.

While I was being swarmed by students, I spotted Seron in the distance.

Seron was standing with Eve, eyes darting around nervously.

She was clearly in distress—anyone could see it.

Seron had been left alone with Eve after Card’s disappearance.

She looked completely lost.

“Seron.”

So, I called her out—right out loud.

As soon as I said her name, all the students turned their heads in unison.

Seron flinched, surprised to be called out.

“Y-yes!”

She still hadn’t gotten used to my face.

I pushed through the crowd of students and walked toward her.

As I approached, Seron started shaking like a red tomato.

Our eyes met, and Eve looked at me with utter exasperation.

Some things never change—like Eve.

“I need to go to the Magic Department. Want to come?”

I held up a bag of bread I’d prepared in advance.

“O-oh, y-yes! I-I’ll come!”

Seron nodded frantically, trembling all the while.

The students behind us immediately turned their eyes on her.

“What the heck, her?”

“Isn’t she the one who used to hang around that lightning freak?”

“Why is Assistant Vikamon being so friendly with someone so ugly?”

The hostility was clear in their voices.

I didn’t expect Seron to become their new target.

I hurried to try and defuse the situation—

“What are you yapping about, you dried-up worms?”

Seron’s expression changed in an instant, and she turned toward them.

She bared her teeth with a face full of fury.

A red badger with its fur bristling.

The killing intent radiating from Seron made the students flinch.

Now that I think about it, I’d forgotten—Seron had a pretty fierce personality.

She acts like a puppy in front of me, but with others, she’s way rougher.

It’s ironic how much she craves affection, yet she never lets insults slide.

“If you wanna fight, bring it on. I’ll knock all of you flat. If you don’t have the guts, then keep your eyes down from now on.”

Seron had grown rapidly lately.

By the time she entered the international individual preliminaries, she was already a clear powerhouse.

Her words made the students shrink back.

“I’d appreciate it if you didn’t insult my friend so carelessly.”

And Eve, with her eyes sharp as knives, also glared at the students and spoke.

With her naturally intimidating appearance, Eve already scared most of them.

With her backing Seron up, no one dared to talk back.

“Tch, pathetic. Let’s go!”

Seron yanked at my collar and turned around confidently.

Our red badger is strong.