Free Web NovelDu—du—du.
A knock sounded on the door.
Vieya blinked. She had just set down the phone, and someone was already knocking.
Who? That fast?
“Come in.”
Vieya put down the rolled-up white-paper document and looked toward the office entrance.
The mature woman in black-rimmed glasses pushed the door open leisurely. Her tight black dress pressed close to her curves; with every step her full, prominent chest swayed—making Vieya’s heart leap in panic.
Heavens. My daughter studies in this Eagle Faction?
“Good day, little Dean.”
Helibel smiled at the white-haired loli sitting in the Dean’s chair, her voice soft and fragrant.
“It should still be lunch break right now. I wonder what urgent matter little Dean summoned us for? Or perhaps... little Dean needs us to help you relax? A massage, maybe someone to beat your legs?”
“Massage your legs my foot. I really do have business this time.” Vieya said carefully. “But I’ll wait until everyone’s here. Sit anywhere you want. Make yourself as comfortable as you are during your lunch break.”
“Really? I can sit casually?”
“Sit, sit. The other three still aren’t—uh, you...”
Vieya stopped mid-sentence as Helibel walked straight to her side.
“I meant sit on the sofa over there. I didn’t tell you to come stand next to me.”
“Little Dean.”
“What now?”
Vieya truly felt that letting this woman stay as Eagle Faction’s leader posed a real danger of corrupting her daughter. But she didn’t like killing or persecuting people casually, so her tone simply carried a trace of impatience.
“And also, can you remove the ‘little’ from in front of ‘Dean’?”
“Uh...” Helibel pursed her lips with a troubled look.
“Forget it. Go sit on the chair across from me. Don’t block my view.” Vieya pointed at the long wooden bench. “If you really have nothing to do, then tell me how you usually manage those kids. And... wearing clothes like that... aren’t you afraid the students’ parents will complain?”
“No they won’t. As long as the teaching quality is high and nothing that clearly violates Academy rules happens, parents won’t fuss over trivial things like this.”
Helibel moved to the seat Vieya pointed at, then continued:
“In this chaotic world, parents’ greatest wish is that their children become strong—able to stand alone, maybe bring glory back to their families... Compared to that, my clothes are insignificant.”
She shook her head, then eyed Vieya—who looked deep in thought—and teased:
“But I didn’t expect little Dean to be such a conservative person. I thought as the Swordmaster, you would’ve lent your name to all those sex-line ads. I assumed you’d be an open-minded person.”
“What...? I lent my name to what?”
Vieya suddenly recalled certain things, her expression shifting. She hurried to explain:
“I didn’t pay attention to those merchants... I don’t really know what they made.”
As long as the gold arrived every month, she’d never cared.
“Oh? So that’s how it is.”
Helibel’s voice abruptly sharpened. Her stare made Vieya’s skin crawl before she finally spoke:
“But little Dean, you are now the face of the Academy. You can’t take those filthy sponsorships anymore. Not even by name! Your reputation is bound to the Academy’s. If you really lack money, the Academy has plenty of bonuses you can claim.”
Vieya: “......”
“Don’t worry. About those merchants who used your name without permission—we’ll have the Academy’s Legal Department send them warning letters.” Helibel said sternly. “We’ll start handling it this afternoon. Little Dean, do not mess around outside. Take care of your reputation.”
“Ah... fine...”
Vieya suddenly felt something was off—like her aura had somehow become shorter than Helibel’s.
She wanted to stubbornly retort that she didn’t care about reputation, that those ads were just her way of making her image more ‘approachable,’ definitely not about the gold... freeweɓnovēl.coɱ
But then she imagined her daughter walking into a shop one day and seeing a toy branded with “Mom”...
No! Absolutely not!!
Forget that stupid gold. I don’t want it anymore.
Vieya lowered her head and pretended to study the pile of documents on the desk. But Helibel kept staring. Watching every move, every breath.
Finally, Vieya couldn’t bear it. She lifted her head and asked coldly:
“Do you have further business?”
“No, just... little Dean pretending to work seriously—acting like you know how, even though you clearly don’t—is really cute.” Helibel giggled.
“......”
Vieya fell silent. Then raised a hand and pointed toward the door.
“Get out. Right now. Immediately. Stand facing the wall until the other three arrive.”
“Dean, you summoned us—something you needed...?” Bonnie of the Wolf Faction appeared at the door, the other two behind him. But all three froze when they saw the loli Dean standing on her chair pointing toward the doorway.
“Dean? You are...?”
“Hehe, little Dean has been waiting for you for ages, stretching her muscles.” Helibel sighed. “You three really... She calls you once and you still arrive late?”
Her complaint gave both sides a face-saving way out.
Bonnie immediately followed her lead.
“That’s right. Dean, something happened on the way, so we were delayed a few minutes.”
The three bowed.
“...It’s fine. Come in and sit.” Vieya put her hand down and composed herself. She even reluctantly accepted Helibel’s excuse. “Before we get into today’s discussion, I want to ask you a question.”
“Please ask, Dean.”
“How much did you know about the previous Dean’s actions?”
Vieya sat cross-legged on a stack of magic books, arms folded, gem-like eyes staring straight at the four.
“Don’t tell me you knew nothing. I don’t want to hear it. You may have washed yourselves clean in front of the Arbiters’ inspectors—but I know you knew about it, didn’t you?”
They were silent for a moment. Then the most senior—Bonnie—answered.
“Dean, you are correct. In a sense, we are guilty of concealed knowledge.”
He sighed sincerely, but then his tone shifted.
“But at that time, we were all high-ranking staff under the old Dean. Even if we wanted to act, everything was under his surveillance.”
“We could only endure humiliation, preserve our strength, and wait for you—the new Dean—to appear and give us a chance to overturn everything!”
“...Is that the same nonsense you told the Inspectors?” Vieya asked.
“Hehehe, Dean, people truly can’t be judged by appearances.”
Bonnie looked at his three companions, then at the white-haired loli hugging her chest in the Dean’s chair, showing a complicated expression.
“But we didn’t break any laws. Multiple clerics verified this. Even the team from the Main Academy confirmed our loyalty.” freewebnøvel.coɱ
The Bear Faction leader, Senma, placed a hand on his chest and echoed, “Our loyalty to the Academy is eternal.”
“Good. Then I’ll choose to believe you.” Vieya clasped her hands and smiled. “Next, I’ll be giving you a task.”
“So—everyone—show me your loyalty.”
The four exchanged glances. Then, in unison, they declared:
“—For the new Dean of Recalia Magic Academy, we offer our loyalty!”
...
Evening.
After an exhausting day, Vieya walked home while summarizing everything that happened, yawning nonstop.
She had planned to leave on time—but right before the end of work, she was dragged into signing a whole pile of contract-termination documents for those advertisements.
It wasn’t until almost eight that she finished, dragging her tired soul home.
No. 66, Nicks Avenue.
Vieya looked at the open courtyard gate, then at the brightly lit hall. Without hesitation, she walked in.
Inside the hall—
Jasmine was facing off against a pink-haired girl.
“Speak! When did you meet my mom behind # Nоvеlight # my back?!”
“What do you mean ‘behind your back’? I came openly! And your mom allowed me to visit your house! What right do you have to drive me out?” Rorina glared back. “If you keep this up I’ll tell your mom everything—you badmouthed her at school!”
“You can’t do that...” Jasmine clenched her fists but her tone completely wilted. “I never said bad things about Mom! That was you—and that girl—twisting it...”
“Tch, don’t mention that fish-selling girl.” Rorina snorted proudly. “She has to go help her parents sell fish tonight. She can’t even come here even if she wants to.”
“Then why don’t you go home?! Why do you have to come to my house?” Jasmine growled. “Do you not have parents?!”
“Oh, wow. You actually guessed right.”
Rorina flicked her pink single ponytail casually. “This lady has no such weakness as parents!”
