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“Murmur has something to worry about.”

Dorothea, the elementary section vice-principal, will definitely provide the materials needed to repair the real Vesta.

Even in the main story, clearing the quests Dorothea gives each semester would reward you with incredible loot.

From items you absolutely couldn’t get in the elementary section chapter, to limited materials, and even magic books that let you instantly learn skills—she basically showered you with rewards like Santa Claus.

But nothing in this world is free.

The more you clear Dorothea’s quests, the harder the super events in the elementary section chapter become, to the point where you’d seriously consider reloading a save.

I, Murmur, knew this all too well, so despite the fact that Dorothea, the elementary section vice-principal, is a pervert, I couldn’t just swallow her kindness whole.

“Murmur wants to fix Vesta. I can’t just keep her lying in bed like this.”

The real Vesta was occupying a corner of the bed I, Murmur, use.

It’s not that her presence was annoying or anything, but it just didn’t look good. Not at all.

Even Iris, the dorm supervisor, who came in for a room inspection, was startled.

And personally, keeping a super high-performance maid lying in bed like this just didn’t sit well with my pride as a smart person. It was too inefficient.

It’s like watching someone in an American drama wrap pork belly in lettuce and take three bites at a time…

“So I want to ask for Dorothea, the elementary section vice-principal’s help. But I’m scared something bad might happen.”

“What kind of bad thing are you worried about, Murmur?”

“Murmur… will be receiving help.”

Vesta didn’t deny that she was ‘Vergilia.’

And she didn’t ask how I knew that either.

…Or maybe it’s just not the right time for such questions and answers since she’s in a limbless state?

Anyway, even though I, Murmur, poured out my worries so seriously, she didn’t pretend to be ‘Maghauscia’ and ignore me.

“That’s right. Murmur will be receiving Dorothea’s help.”

“If I receive help… I’ll have to repay the favor later.”

That’s just how it should be for anyone.

“Murmur is scared. What if, later, Vice-Principal Dorothea asks Murmur to repay the favor?”

“Murmur’s worry is very simple.”

Vesta gave a mature smile.

I couldn’t tell this kind of thing to my friends because my heart would be racing, but for some reason, I could keep talking to Vesta.

“If Vice-Principal Dorothea says something like that, you can just help her.”

“Murmur is scared… that Vice-Principal Dorothea might ask for help even when she’s doing something bad.”

“Then you just don’t have to do it.”

Vesta’s words were clear and straightforward.

“Then Murmur would be a bad person.”

“That’s not true. Repaying help with help is just fulfilling one’s duty as a person.”

“So Murmur thinks that makes me a bad person.”

“No, Murmur. Showing kindness to someone and then using that kindness as an excuse to push them into evil deeds—that’s what makes the person doing it wicked and malicious.”

Vesta’s red eyes shone like stars in the night sky.

“Using someone’s good heart to fulfill your own desires… If you resist that evil, you’re not a bad person. You’re just a good person showing courage to uphold what’s right.”

“But what Vice-Principal Dorothea is trying to do… isn’t something as obviously bad as hitting people or stealing things.”

Her intentions are surprisingly good.

It’s just that the results are unforgivable.

“Then… you can make that judgment when the time comes.”

“Is that really okay?”

“It might be hard for Murmur to understand, but…”

Vesta gave a bitter smile.

I could feel her genuine concern for me, Murmur, in her gaze.

“A child harming their parents is an unforgivable sin.”

“Murmur knows that too.”

“But it’s not absolute. Think about it. If a parent, driven mad by a black magic curse, becomes a murderer, and the child puts them to rest, could you really call that evil?”

Vesta’s voice was as warm as a cup of heated milk.

It dissolved my worries like sugar in coffee.

“Nothing in this world is absolute. Even if you receive Vice-Principal Dorothea’s help, you don’t necessarily have to aid her in her evil deeds.”

“But Murmur wants to be a hero.”

“Not aiding evil and upholding your own sense of justice—that’s what makes a true hero.”

Just by opening up and talking, I felt incredibly better.

It was like a heavy burden had been lifted.

…But, is this really okay?

We had such a serious conversation, but isn’t this just freeloading?

If I receive help, the events will get harder later…

“Murmur has decided!”

It’s not that I, Murmur, am bad.

It’s Vice-Principal Dorothea who’s bad!

* * *

“Hehe… So you’ve decided to call Clotilde’s Maghauscia ‘Vesta’ now~?”

“That’s right. The original Vesta will now be called ‘Bianca.'”

Vice-Principal Dorothea’s office was surprisingly normal, unlike what I, Murmur, had worried about.

On the right wall, there were tons of cute clothes, toys, snacks, candies, and dolls that elementary section kids would go crazy over.

On the left wall, proving her status as a pharmacology professor, there were various rare materials, potions, and powdered medicines neatly stacked.

“Murmur, do you like the name Vesta~?”

“Yes, there was a maid who was kind to Murmur before, and her name was Vesta.”

“Hehehe… What a cute story~”

Vice-Principal Dorothea let out a sinister laugh and pushed forward a bowl of cookies with large chocolate chips.

Next to it was a cup of pure white milk, something no elementary section kid could resist.

Hoho, but even though I look like this, I’m actually an adult inside.

I didn’t touch the cookies and continued the conversation.

“Murmur believes that Vice-Principal Dorothea will keep her promise.”

“Of course I plan to keep it. Murmur just needs to help me… just a little bit~”

“Murmur won’t do anything weird.”

“Hehehe… Would I ever ask a cute, lovely, pretty, small, and young elementary section student to do something weird~?”

Dorothea winked, flaunting her long eyelashes.

“All those weird things are for adults to do~ Don’t worry.”

…Isn’t that even more dangerous?

“But Murmur, do you not like cookies?”

“Murmur just brushed her teeth, so I can’t eat cookies.”

How about that! Perfect, right?

No adult would force cookies on a good student who just brushed their teeth.

“What a shame… They’re really delicious cookies.”

Dorothea smiled and made eye contact with me, Murmur.

Looking up at her like this, and seeing her in ‘real life’ with my own two eyes, it struck me again how beautiful she is.

Yeah, I know all the crazy stuff she’s done, so it’s hard to see her in a good light, but she’s still a beauty.

She’s an elf, after all.

When I first created the protagonist, I gave an extra point to charisma if they were an elf.

“I heard Murmur has been attending classes more diligently lately~”

“Murmur is trying hard now.”

“If there’s a reason… can you tell Vice-Principal Dorothea secretly?”

This woman… she’s really good at handling kids.

She’s a genuinely dangerous child enthusiast.

She’s so natural at leaning in with her long ears and suggesting a ‘secret talk.’

“If you tell me, I’ll share a secret with you too. Hehehe.”

What should I say? A pretty elf with a sparkling face, a rather large chest, and a great figure—when someone like that talks like that, it doesn’t sound like a criminal statement at all.

“Murmur wants to become a hero.”

“…A hero?”

“I want to prove that the hero wasn’t wrong!”

Dorothea’s ears twitched noticeably.

“The fact that the failed hero wasn’t wrong is something Murmur doesn’t need to prove~”

“Murmur wants to do it. It’s about the hero who saved Murmur!”

“Murmur, that’s an adult’s matter. A small, cute child doesn’t need to know about it, nor can they do anything about it.”

Dorothea gently stroked my, Murmur’s, cheek.

“The unfairness Murmur feels… the cold stares… the rotten stench of society’s atmosphere… those are just things dirty adults have created on their own.”

“Murmur is…”

“Hehehe… It’s okay for a child not to know about such things~ It’s just that adults are bad~”

Dorothea pinched my, Murmur’s, soft cheek.

“Murmur, just keep playing happily with your friends, without discrimination of race~ or status~”

Almost touching.

Almost showing.

Dorothea de Chamber ended the conversation on her own and stood up.

At the same time, she smoothly pulled out a camera.

The large-lensed brown camera was a Polaroid, but it strangely looked like a magical artifact.

“Uuu…”

“Today, there’s only one thing Murmur needs to do for me.”

Gulp.

I was so nervous I accidentally drank some of the milk in front of me.

What is she going to ask me to do?

A kiss?

Stay still while she licks me?

Wear embarrassing clothes that would get me banned on anonymous sites?!

…Take a shower together?!

Take a bath?!

“U… ugh…”

I was prepared, but now that it’s really happening, I genuinely don’t want to…

Maybe I should’ve just taken the materials and bailed!?

“Murmur just needs to let me take pictures of you having a fun day with your friends~”

“…That’s it?”

“Hehehe… That’s it. Murmur is exactly… the most ideal, soft, cute, smart, and diligent elementary section student I’ve always wanted~”

“So Murmur doesn’t have to wear a super cute dress, read a picture book on your lap, or sing a nursery rhyme?”

Dorothea’s eyes sparkled for a moment.

“Hehehe… If Murmur wants to─”

“Murmur will show Vice-Principal Dorothea how much fun I’m having with my friends today!”

Showing her how much fun I’m having with my friends is easy!!!

What could possibly happen from taking a few photos?

It’s totally soft!

This is basically a walk in the park!

 

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