Tap, tap, tap~
"Hmm, I think this is enough? That should do it, Engine."
"Is this really all it takes? Well, it does look like an ordinary classroom."
An empty room in Chaldea. Since there are so many kids, instead of just using the library, we're building an actual classroom. Even though we have transcendents like Shiki...
The Chaldean technical staff wanted to build it themselves, so I was acting as the supervisor.
"The desks Da Vinci made... they're too modern. Why do they have built-in digital screens? Take them out. Using digital screens actually makes it harder to study. Reading from books causes less eye strain and helps with focus. These are objective statistics from those of us who lived as students."
"But it's so convenient!"
"Sigh... the kids will figure it out."
"Exactly! I have my reasons for putting them in! Right?"
"Right~!"
The Da Vinci and Robinci pair were as excited as fish in water.
Nemo Engine and Koyanskaya were also happily handling the renovations... As it neared completion, I decided to find Servants to take charge of this class.
A homeroom teacher and an assistant teacher.
First, I decided to have Taiga, who already teaches the kids, as the homeroom teacher... and then I went to find a Servant perfect for the role of assistant teacher.
"Are you in?"
I knocked, and soon heard a voice telling me to enter. When I opened the door and stepped inside, no one was there.
Shortly after, the bathroom door opened and she stepped out.
"Do you have business with me?"
"At least get dressed before coming out. You're going to cause a global catastrophe at this rate..."
"As long as the vital parts aren't exposed, there is no problem. So, what is your business? Could it be..."
"I didn't come for that. We're putting together a class, sort of like a club concept. Could the Head Nurse take on the role of assistant teacher?"
"Assistant teacher...? Who is the homeroom teacher?"
"Taiga, who is a professional teacher."
"...Then my role will be very important."
"I'm counting on you~"
Nightingale seemed a bit more pressured than I expected, looking quite determined. Taiga doesn't usually cause trouble, though...
"Jaguar? I wonder if that'll be okay. They say she's good at teaching kids... but since it's Jaguar, I have my doubts~"
"I'm sure she'll do fine."
Walking down the hallway, I ran into Kukulkan and chatted with her; she also seemed to think Taiga being a homeroom teacher was a bit of a mismatch.
Well... she's a great teacher, though. Probably...
Anyway, I secured the staff. Next is... wait, is there more?
"Wait! Even if it's you, if you're going to renovate Chaldea's facilities, you should at least give me a heads-up."
"Director?"
"Hello, Director. Looks like we're fellow youngsters now."
"Who are you calling a youngster...! Whose fault do you think it is that I look like this?"
"I'm still taller, though."
"Hmph... So, you're making a classroom for the kids?"
"That's right. Do you want to join, Director?"
"Why would I... that's for children, and I'm not a child, okay? Anyway, I've confirmed it. I'll record this in the official documents, so don't worry about it."
The Director said that and walked away. She walked with such tiny, waddling steps. How cute. Since she's younger than me now... I wonder if having a younger sister would feel like that?
Sakura has such a big age gap with me that she feels more like a daughter. If I had married and had a kid as soon as I turned 20, they'd be around Sakura's age. But that's pretty much impossible these days~
Since I've finished everything, I head to the classroom. But somehow...
"There are windows, but they're blocked off. It feels like a class trial is about to start."
Since there's no 'outside' of Chaldea, the windows are blocked. What's with this atmosphere?
"He-hehe, then... sh-shall I take care of that for you...? Hehe."
"Gogh, what brings you here?"
Gogh had entered the classroom.
"I-I came to talk about... um, paintings with the Da Vincis... Shall I paint something outside the window?"
"That would be great."
"Gogh-h-h... Then, I shall paint it~!!!"
Immediately entering her 2nd Ascension mode, Gogh swung her massive sunflower brush. In an instant, a painting that looked like the real outside world appeared beyond the window.
Is this an optical illusion? It looks so real. I tried opening the window...
Whoosh~
...Why can I feel a breeze?
"Ah~ Gogh! What are you doing creating another world! Just like last time! You're going to turn Chaldea into a real Backrooms at this rate!"
"B-but Master wanted it..."
A world... yeah. Abigail came running in and dragged Gogh away. Looking outside, I can even see traffic lights, though the pedestrian signs look a bit twisted.
Is it the Backrooms... Let's not go out the window.
"It's finally complete! Then it's this Jaguarman's turn! Students, head to class immediately~! It's time for my screen time to increase!"
"But that did not happen."
"Why!? That's the only reason I'm being a teacher!"
And so, Taiga's screen time was King Crimsoned.
In the roughly finished classroom, the actual children gathered to study and play.
Not the ones who just look like kids like Shuten or Wu Zetian, but real kids like Illya and Sakura. Ibaraki seemed dissatisfied with being dragged there, but she played along well enough.
"What~! I've never seen a horse like this before~!?"
"You've been caught, Jack. Right in my trap!"
"Ah~ Jack finally stepped on it!"
The kids seem to be playing well. With Nightingale patrolling to keep watch, no one will cause trouble, and Taiga is teaching seriously, so it should be fine.
By the way, the Director seemed a bit down earlier...
============================
There's a mountain of paperwork to process today as well. Documents to the UN, the Clock Tower, and the families... The paperwork to be sent to the Masters' families and my own family is overflowing. To the families of the deceased and the living staff as well.
The work never seems to end.
And it's not like I'm doing this alone either...
"Goodness, I can't believe I have to do paperwork even in Chaldea. The amount of files here rivals the FBI. Sub-organizations of the UN really are something else."
Edgar, my self-proclaimed Servant. As the first director of the FBI and the woman who built its foundations, her abilities were top-notch.
Even though I didn't ask for help, she came and is assisting with the work.
To think I was a Master in another world... I wonder what kind of life the 'me' over there lived.
"How about taking it easy? Even a Lord needs a break."
"Are you the one saying that? Lord El-Melloi."
"Don't be so formal. Trimmau, bring the tea."
"Yes."
Lord El-Melloi III—Reines El-Melloi Archisorte.
We've known each other since the days of Lord El-Melloi II. Of course, since she's from a different timeline, our knowledge of each other varies slightly. At least the fact that we met during the Rail Zeppelin remains the same.
Besides, we're both young. Though I'm even younger than I was then...
She occasionally visits the Director's office to talk about her life as a Lord, the Clock Tower, and various other things.
The performance of the Volumen Hydrargyrum created by the former Lord El-Melloi is still impressive, providing a perfect cup of tea, which is quite satisfying.
"You know you might collapse eventually?"
"I won't, thanks to your Head Nurse. Though I do get stressed because she keeps coming in to interfere with my work."
"That's because you try to overwork yourself. Even a certain King of Heroes once died from overwork."
"What even is that..."
She only tells me to rest but doesn't actually help with the work. I suppose that's the annoying part... She's likely certain that if she helps, I simply won't rest at all.
Both the 2nd and the 3rd... the El-Mellois are too perceptive. Professor Kayneth, whom I met before, was the same. It was only once, but he was a sharp and capable person. Is there something special about the El-Mellois?
Maybe I'll meet the 2nd and 1st as Servants later. I heard they appeared in Rome?
Knock, knock.
"...Come in."
I took a sip of tea and answered the knock. The door opened shortly after.
"Whoa... Is all of this paperwork? Did you do all this today?"
The one who entered was Humpty Dumpty. What does he want?
"Yeah. So what is it? Is there a document I need to sign?"
"I came because you looked a bit sulky."
"Sulky..."
Did it show? I am a bit down. Maybe it's because I've been doing nothing but paperwork... We had a party together recently, but I still feel tired.
Koyanskaya used to help for a while, but she stopped coming at some point. The Queen of Sheba only sticks with Romani and only helps him.
"...When was the last time you took a proper rest?"
"At your birthday party."
"Are you even eating?"
"Thanks to the Sparrow Chef, I couldn't skip a meal even if I wanted to. She even brings late-night snacks sometimes."
"If Benienma is bringing you late-night snacks, just how much are you working? I didn't realize because I had so much to worry about. Take a break."
"How can I rest? You handle all the dangerous matters, and in less than two months since the Incineration of Humanity, you've already resolved four Singularities. Even if we aim for the end of the year, finishing four before April is absurd. You'll probably finish before summer. If that's the case, there are so many reports I need to send to all the organizations early on. Besides, since you're doing so much, I, as the Director, should at least do this much. Even if I'm not of much help to you."
Repaying a favor... honestly, there's nothing else I can do. I'm the Director of Chaldea, a Lord... even if the world returns to normal, there's nothing I can give you. The Clock Tower and the Church would be meaningless; unless I could bring weapons from the Atlas Institute, nothing would even compare to you. You'll be safe regardless.
There's nothing I can do for you. So I have to do this at least. This is a life that was once lost... since I was saved, I have to live it to the fullest.
"...Heh."
He gave a faint smile and approached me with benevolent eyes.
Pat, pat...
"...?"
".....Huh?"
"You're still in your 20s. You're at an age where you'd just be starting out in society. You worked hard as a magus and an heir, and now you're an adult suffering in the position of Director of Chaldea. I know you want to be recognized. I know you want to be helpful to everyone. But before that, take care of yourself. People usually live for themselves, not for others. We aren't heroes, are we? So, before worrying about others, worry about yourself first."
"...But, I'm the Director."
"Yes, the Director. The position that carries all the responsibility. But that responsibility doesn't exist right now. It has no meaning. The world is gone, so who's going to tell the Director to take responsibility? Did that dead Lev say that? Olga. You don't need to push yourself so hard and whip yourself like that. No one will complain if you take a rest. Our 20s are usually the hardest time. It's when it's hard to get rewarded even if you work hard in society, and it's a difficult time where you're just criticized because you have no experience and know nothing. That's why you have to look after yourself even more."
"...What was it like for you?"
"Me? I wouldn't know since everything happened before I even got a job~ But... if there's one thing I've learned in life, it's that living too much for others eventually leads to a loss. I'm not saying you should ignore everyone and live selfishly. I'm saying be moderately selfish, put yourself first, and worry about others only when you have the leeway to do so. Olga, this is your life. You don't need to live the way others tell you to, and there's no reason to sacrifice yourself for a sense of duty. The society that weighed you down is gone, so just live how you want. As for what comes after... well, I'll take responsibility for you."
"Eh...? Wh-why would you..."
"You mentioned the responsibility of the Director, right? Then, since I saved you, I should take on the duties you were supposed to bear. Because I have to take responsibility. Even if there's only a two-year difference, I'm technically the elder here. So, you can lean on me when things are hard. You can rely on me."
"...Why would you go that far for me?"
"...Because I never had one. A person I could lean on and rely on. Every time things got tough, I wished someone would do that for me. Right now, I have plenty of leeway, don't I? So I figured I could at least do this much. So, if anything is bothering you, leave it to me. I'll be your pillar."
".....Okay."
"Heh, then~ shall we go get some snacks? How about some freshly baked croissants from the Baker? Or maybe croffles?"
"...Whatever."
"That's the hardest choice to make~ Let's just go~"
He took my hand and led me out of the room. What is this... this feeling...?
"I really can't tell if he's doing that unintentionally or not. Being that oblivious is truly terrifying~"
"Hasn't he pulled that kind of thing and then run away without taking responsibility before? He's a total scoundrel."
"Don't say it like that, Udon Assassin~ At least our dear disciple is a self-aware scoundrel. Well, we don't think of him that way, but he seems to think so himself~"