Chapter 137: Two New Teachers

Eh? Why is Roulette-san here when she was supposed to have returned to the Gospel Kingdom?

“I did return, but I came back to offer my New Year’s greetings.”

“I see…”

The churches run by the Gospel Kingdom have teleportation gates. In other words, people from the Gospel Kingdom can instantly travel back and forth to any country with a church.

Normally, permitting the installation of such a thing would be impossible due to the fear of invasion, but after all, this is a country the Gods are keeping a close eye on. If they were to use it to invade another country or for their own selfish gain, divine punishment would undoubtedly fall upon them. That is why countries permit their installation.

Besides, since the teleportation gates are also connected to the “Academy”, a country cannot send its citizens to enroll there unless they have a church.

Teleportation gates are convenient… I wish they’d let us use them freely too. Maybe I should ask the Nine Goddesses next time I see them…? Nah, I might get scolded, so I’ll pass. That would be too audacious toward the Goddesses…

“His Holiness the Pope was also delighted by your exploits, Lady Sakuraile. Our country’s Divine Beast-sama was also listening with great interest.”

Exploits… I just entered Risha’s dream and persuaded her to wake up. You didn’t add a bunch of fins and tails to the story to exaggerate it, did you…?

More importantly, Divine Beast-sama…? Ah, a different Divine Beast from Kohaku-san, who I heard before was in the Gospel Kingdom. I believe it was a cat Divine Beast?

“And so, um… Our country’s Divine Beast-sama was wondering if it would be alright to come and offer greetings to Kohaku-sama…”

“There is no need. That one must have their own duties. Tell them there is no need to trouble themselves over me.”

“I, see…”

Huh? It seems the Gospel Kingdom’s Divine Beast is acquainted with Kohaku-san. Since Divine Beasts are servants of the Gods, I wonder if the Gods they serve are acquainted with each other.

“As expected, Kohaku-sama serves a rather high-ranking God. And Lady Sakuraile is favored by that God… Ufufu, this means I must keep an even closer eye on you…”

I feel like a dangerous person has locked onto me… You’re wrong! The ones keeping an eye on me aren’t Kohaku-san’s master, but the Nine Goddesses!

…But I can’t say that. It would cause a huge uproar if I did.

It makes me seriously want to ask the Nine Goddesses to make the Gospel Kingdom stop interfering.

Although the Gospel Kingdom doesn’t interfere with countries, the same doesn’t apply to individuals. Because they believe that if someone has the aptitude to be a [Saint], they should invite them in so they can hear the voices of the Gods more often.

As long as the God doesn’t strongly desire it, they supposedly respect the individual’s will, but…

The Gospel Kingdom seems like a religious nation, but it’s actually completely different. They run the “Academy” to nurture people and aim for a better world, too.

Because things like conveniently using the name of God to dominate people or start wars are strictly forbidden by the true Gods.

Conversely, if a God told them “Do it,” they might turn into a nation of fanatics who would do anything, but with those Nine Goddesses, I think the possibility of that is almost zero. I don’t know about the four Goddesses I haven’t met yet, though.

Of those, Luliet-sama, the Goddess of Fertility, is probably fine, but the remaining three are known as the so-called “militant faction” among the Nine Goddesses…

Elzeveil-sama, the Goddess of Courage who reveres martial prowess. Yaete-sama, the Goddess of Blades clad in storms. Hildalte-sama, the proud and noble Goddess of Justice.

In the myths of the Nine Goddesses, there are stories of exterminating evil monsters, and almost all of them were defeated by these three Goddesses. They are even called the “Three Goddesses of War”.

They aren’t known to be warmongers… well, if they were that kind of Goddesses, the current Gospel Kingdom wouldn’t exist.

“Please, do come visit our country once. We will welcome you with open arms as a nation.”

“R-Right. If I have the chance…”

I’m terrified that the moment I step foot in the country, I’ll be hoisted onto a pedestal as a [Saint] while they chant “Wasshoi, wasshoi.”

Because they apparently don’t need the person’s permission just to certify them as a [Saint]. It’s just a matter of whether you affiliate yourself with the Gospel Kingdom or not… Huh?

From behind Roulette-san, a familiar-looking man approached. Jeremy-sensei? Why?

Didn’t Jeremy-sensei remove himself from the noble registry, meaning he can’t attend the New Year’s Banquet?

Spotting Jeremy-sensei, Estelle openly displayed her wariness. In response, he only offered a wry smile.

“Happy New Year, young ladies.”

“Happy New Year… Why are you here, Jeremy-sensei?”

“Hahaha, even if I’m an apprentice, I’m still a teacher at the ‘Academy’. I’m permitted to attend as Lady Roulette’s escort.”

Ah, I see. He’s not a Symphonian noble, but he was invited as a teacher of the “Academy” affiliated with the Gospel Kingdom. It’s his home country, so of course they would bring him along.

“Also, to see Pamela’s grand performance.”

Oh, for your fiancée? That scores high points.

…But still, this person is supposed to be the one I admire. Yet, he really feels different… It’s like looking at a twin brother. I just can’t accept this frivolous aura.

Come to think of it, what about Pamela-sensei… I turned around and saw that she had returned to the concertmistress’s seat and was playing. I guess her break is over.

While I was thinking that, a brass player suddenly stood up and began playing a fanfare.

“His Majesty the Emperor of the Symphonia Imperial Kingdom, Wyndham ri Symphonia, and Her Majesty the Empress, Richelle la Symphonia, enter!”

A loud voice rang out through the venue, and Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress descended hand in hand from the two staircases leading to the second floor near the main hall.

Everyone in the venue welcomed them: the men bowed deeply, and the women dropped into a deep curtsy.

His Majesty stepped forward and took a wine glass from a servant. In front of him stood the microphone and mic stand I bought at my store, along with an amp speaker with a built-in battery.

“I am delighted to welcome the New Year with all of you like this. I hope you will all continue to work diligently as one for the sake of the country and the people this year. Now then, to the continued prosperity of Symphonia… Cheers (Prost)!”

“””Cheers (Prost)!”””

With everyone’s shout as a signal, the court orchestra resumed playing.

Huh? Is this Tchaikovsky’s Waltz of the Flowers?

To be precise, it’s one of the pieces from the ballet suite The Nutcracker.

I don’t know if they learned it by ear from the [In-store BGM] or if the sheet music was sold at the instrument store, but they seem to be playing it perfectly.

Well, with my non-professional ears, I couldn’t tell if they were making mistakes anyway.

In fact, most of the nobles are captivated by the performance. It must be fine. Everyone is deeply interested in the music they’ve never heard before.

“Thank you, Lady Sakuraile.”

“Eh?”

I was suddenly thanked by Jeremy-sensei, who was standing next to me. Thanked for what?

“Meeting you has made Pamela seem reborn. She has a look on her face like every day is just incredibly fun, much like when she was a child just starting to learn music.”

Prompted by Jeremy-sensei, I looked at Pamela-sensei, and indeed, she was playing joyfully. It’s not that she wasn’t taking it seriously. Rather, on top of that, she looked like she was truly enjoying the music.

“Unlike me, she rapidly distinguished herself, but for the past few years, she had been deeply troubled. The traditions and fetters, the jealousy from her colleagues, performances that had turned into repetitive, unchanging tasks… I couldn’t do anything for her as she struggled in agony, trying and failing to break out of her shell… You are the one who reached out a helping hand to her.”

“I didn’t do anything. It was because Pamela-sensei struggled desperately, trying to grasp onto something, that she was able to seize that chance.”

In reality, I hadn’t done anything myself. True, the Earth music from the [In-store BGM] might have been a catalyst, but I feel like Pamela-sensei would have found a new kind of music on her own anyway.

Conversely, I almost feel a little guilty, as if I robbed her of that opportunity.

Just as the song, which had reached its climax, ended, a thunderous applause erupted from the venue toward the court musicians.

I’m sure Tchaikovsky never thought his music would be highly praised in another world either.

Subsequently, a quiet piece of music began to play. I’ve never heard it before, so it’s probably music from this world. The attendees’ attention on the orchestra also lessened compared to earlier, and it seems they now have the leeway to eat and chat.

After all, this is a New Year’s party, not a concert. The first piece after His Majesty’s arrival was likely meant to build excitement or create an impact, but the music shouldn’t become the main protagonist.

…Come to think of it.

“…Um, you mentioned you came as a teacher of the ‘Academy’. Are other teachers here as well?”

“Yeah, a few of them. Apparently, new teachers are taken to these kinds of parties every year to show their faces. Since the parents of the students would also want to know what kind of teachers there are.”

“Um, is a female teacher from your cohort here? Someone with glasses…”

“Eh? You mean Ms. Theremin? She is here, but… how do you know Ms. Theremin, Lady Sakuraile?”

She’s here! The female teacher who plays the role of the villainess in Jeremy’s route is in this venue!

“Um, I heard she is an incredibly excellent teacher. That she can speak several foreign languages. My tutor, Stram-sensei, mentioned it.”

I spouted a plausible lie to deceive the puzzled Jeremy-sensei and smooth things over.

“Ah, Old Man Stram, huh… He’s also a former teacher at the ‘Academy’, so I guess stories like that make their way to him… Oh? Speak of the devil… See, that’s Ms. Theremin over there.”

Jeremy-sensei directed his gaze toward a single woman standing quietly in a corner of the party venue.

A woman with her orange-brown hair worn up, wearing oval silver-rimmed glasses, who carried a somewhat strict aura.

Since she’s in the same cohort as Jeremy-sensei, she should be twenty-two now. She’s young, but she definitely bears a resemblance.

Clarissa Theremin.

The female teacher who plays the role of the villainess and stands in Estelle’s way in Jeremy-sensei’s route was right there.