The Retired Supporting Character Wants to Live Quietly

Meanwhile, Kirrin had abandoned her half-eaten cake and was running towards the academy gate.

Sophie’s words kept echoing in her mind, growing louder and more troubling, leaving her too agitated to leisurely enjoy her cake.

She knew that Dian was giving Knightley private lessons because she had personally pleaded with him on her knees to do so.

However, she never imagined their relationship would develop in this direction…!

Ugh… I was too complacent… so blind and lazy… stupid!

What should I do if what Sophie said is true…?

This can’t be happening!

In a daze, Kirrin reached the academy gate, where she saw several guards escorting two connected carts carrying a massive troll.

“Careful, careful! Move slowly to the left!”

In front of them, Dian was guiding the carts with his arms.

“W-what is this…?”

“Headmaster, you’re here? As you can see, it’s a troll. We caught it after it appeared east of the academy. We can use its blood to make high-quality healing potions.”

“East of the academy… outside the gate?”

Dian gave Kirrin a puzzled look as she asked the obvious question.

“Yes.”

“Weren’t you supposed to be giving Knightley a private lesson…?”

“Professor Waver and Knightley went together. Since we were hunting anyway, we also used it as a practical lesson for Knightley in fighting large monsters.”

“Really? Is that true? Ha, that’s a relief…”

“What do you mean by ‘that’s a relief’? Huh? Wait, are you crying?”

Kirrin quickly wiped her moist eyes and smiled at Dian’s question.

“It’s nothing…. I’m just happy….”

“Of course you are. We’ll use some of the troll’s blood to make healing potions for ourselves, and the rest will be sent to the Second Princess for her field agents. She’ll see us favorably and provide more support, allowing you to keep your position….”

Kirrin looked at the excited Dian with teary eyes.

Sophie had misunderstood… Thank goodness….

# # # # # #

Hindrastra watched Kirrin, who seemed on the verge of tears.

Why is she acting like that? And suddenly wearing garter belts and stockings?

Didn’t she usually wear pants?

“Head Professor!”

Just then, Magic Response Professor Orendi appeared beside me from the air.

“The magic setup is complete in the underground lab near the north gate.”

“You did it properly, right?”

“Of course. Even if the troll goes on a rampage, it won’t be able to escape.”

“Good job.”

The captured troll is planned to be imprisoned in the unused underground lab at the north gate.

Orendi, following my instructions, had already set up various spells there, and the troll will be kept there for regular bloodletting.

We can even include this as a practical lesson.

Monsters typically yield valuable byproducts when hunted, and troll blood is particularly precious, so learning how to handle it will be beneficial.

“Keep moving! Clear the way ahead!”

I led the guards to safely place the troll in the underground lab and then called Professor Ismera.

“Gasp?!”

Professor Ismera, who hadn’t yet regained her composure, gasped in shock at the sight of the troll.

“What… what is that?!”

“It’s a troll.”

“I know it’s a troll, but why is it here at the academy?!”

“I captured it. We’re going to make healing potions from its blood. You’re aware of the benefits of troll blood, aren’t you? So here’s the plan.”

As I explained the plan to use the troll, Ismera vehemently shook her head in horror.

“We can’t do that!”

Usually, she’d laugh and beat around the bush, but my plan must have been quite a shock.

“There’s no problem, Professor Ismera. It’s beneficial for many people. Except for the troll. And trolls aren’t people.”

“But it’s alive….”

She’s a vegetarian, a pacifist, and an environmentalist, all rolled into one.

“Enough, we have a manufacturing class in the Theoretical Department, right? Include this as a practical lesson. We’ll handle controlling the troll in the Combat Department.”

“What does the headmaster think about this?”

Knowing it was pointless to argue with me, Ismera turned to Kirrin.

“We’ll do whatever Dian suggests.”

Ismera looked at me, her face frozen in shock, and I shrugged, causing her further frustration.

“Do as you wish. But if anything goes wrong, you both will be held responsible.”

“Sure, fine. So, are you agreeing, Professor Ismera?”

“I don’t agree, but since the headmaster and the Head Combat Professor insist, I have no choice but to follow. Let’s be clear about that.”

“Understood.”

This elf bitch…

# # # # #

After that, it was the same as usual.

Ever since Hindrastra had dealt with those bullies in the first graduating class, she hadn’t caused any trouble and was adapting well.

She couldn’t return to her true form or flee, because Linus would come after her, so laying low was the best strategy.

Of course, Linus wouldn’t actually come. He was too busy taking care of the baby.

Just a few days ago, he sent another letter, an invitation.

He mentioned that outsiders could now visit his home, so he asked to let him know when I could come.

This weekend seemed suitable, so I sent a reply.

I asked Olysia to go to town and pick out some appropriate gifts for a house with a newborn baby.

I wanted to choose them myself, but I was too busy to make a trip to town.

I wonder if Lormane has also been invited. As the General Secretary of the Church, she might find it hard to make time.

Lormane… I hope she can’t come… for various reasons.

Remembering her made me shiver, and I quickly dismissed the thoughts.

I should patrol the campus. Sitting around will only make me think more.

Grabbing a practice wooden sword, I left the faculty building and roamed the campus.

“Hello, Head Professor….”

The students I passed greeted me in timid voices, stepping aside cautiously.

Strange. They used to crowd around noisily, so why are they like this today?

“Hieek?!”

Another student ran away as if she had seen something filthy. This atmosphere is strange.

“Hey, you! Over here!”

I singled out a student who met my gaze and then quickly looked away.

“Hurry up, come here.”

“I didn’t do anything….”

“Avoiding my eyes is a mistake.”

As the student approached, I slung the practice sword over my shoulder and asked.

“Is something going on? Why is everyone avoiding me?”

“Nothing’s going on….”

“You little… Speak properly!”

“Really, nothing’s going on!”

With a panicked cry, the student ran off. Something must be happening.

Should I ask Knightley?

I have no expectations from Hindrastra.

That girl was extremely hostile towards me and would definitely pretend not to know anything even if she did.

Yes, let’s ask Knightley.

# # # # #

Meanwhile, Knightley was surrounded by her followers.

“Knightley, you’ve heard, right? ‘That rumor.\'”

The rumor that was currently the hottest topic among the academy students was the ‘Dian-Knightley scandal.’

The young, capable, handsome, and witty Head Professor supposedly had an inappropriate relationship with the noble and beautiful top student of the academy.

Who wouldn’t latch onto this rumor?

However, despite being a scandal that should have turned the academy upside down, things were surprisingly quiet.

That’s because most students were quietly spreading and consuming the rumor in secret.

Professor Dian, being the Head of Combat, had long been rumored to be a secret prince, a noble hiding his power, and other such things that made him difficult to approach.

And Knightley, with her cold personality and status as the daughter of the Duke Toulouse family, was someone ordinary students wouldn’t dare speak to.

This left only her deluded followers, who mistakenly thought they were close to her, brave enough to mention it.

“What rumor?”

Normally, Knightley would have said something like ‘Get lost,’ but today she asked her followers with a somewhat gentle demeanor.

“Umm…the Head Combat Professor… called you to his office and forced you to do something bad…”

What started as ‘left the academy gate together’ had now morphed into ‘was assaulted in the professor’s office.’

Hindrastra’s mischief, beginning with ‘As a new transfer student, I didn’t know,’ had escalated to this point.

Hearing this, Knightley scoffed.

“He has never forced me to do anything.”

“So, something did happen?”

“It did. But it’s between me and the professor. You don’t need to know.”

“So… is it true that you’re dating the professor…?!”

“I told you. You don’t need to know.”

She didn’t lie since the private lessons were a secret.

And she wasn’t dating him, so she didn’t say they were.

“Oh my….”

The followers covered their mouths, looking at each other.

Seeing this, a satisfied smile spread across Knightley’s face.

Recently, she had been worried about Professor Dian’s soaring popularity within the academy.

Especially with the arrival of the exceptional new student, she feared Dian’s attention might shift to her.

But the absurd rumor turned out to be beneficial.

By keeping silent, everyone was solidifying the connection between her and Professor Dian.

She didn’t know who started the rumor, but she was grateful.

Professor Dian is mine. My personal professor. I won’t let anyone else have him….

“Hey, Knightley! I need to ask you something!”

Just then, Professor Dian called out to Knightley from a distance.