Editing Failing Witch:Volume3 Episode2 (section)

===Part 4===

“…”

Myousou Yagoro’s mouth formed a small triangle.

He was in a cafe somewhere.

A girl in a maid outfit, which she wore as generic work clothes, sat across the table from him with her arms crossed in a display of displeasure. The angry girl didn’t seem aware that the intensity of that display was also lifting up her boobs, but Yagoro couldn’t mention it since he knew she would bite his head off if he did.

That was Nancy, a Maleficium student and Benandanti member.

“Yagoro.”

“…Yes?”

“It’s nearly time for the Maleficium Trial Class.”

“Um, and what does that have to do with-”

“You need to help with the work and actually participate in this school event. Because you are a Maleficium student!!”

“(Shh! Shh!! Not so loud!!)”

Yagoro hurriedly leaned forward and pressed a finger against Miss Talkative’s lips.

Information regarding Maleficium was thoroughly restricted. Failed exam students would forget the contents of last year’s exam the same as people “forgot the dream they had last night” and no one would recognize a Maleficium teacher or student when passing them by in the streets of Temple School City. Nevertheless, Yagoro felt instinctual fear run down his spine when she yelled it so loudly.

“'''Trick Question Warning: Just because invisibility magic exists does not mean you can strip off all your clothes and walk around like normal.'''”

Nancy’s eyes widened with his finger on her soft lips.

And after a few seconds…

“Bft, bfh, Yag- bh, Yagoro, what in the hall are you- bff!?”

“What’s wrong, Nancy!? Are you ill!?”

Yagoro circled around the table and tried to hold her in his arms, but that only made her struggle more. He was worried about her, so he stayed by her side.

They were seated at a table, so being on the same side made for a terribly unnatural conversation.

“(D-do you have to sit so close, teacher?) Ahem!! Anyway! We will be holding a mock battle with the exam students that day. I-it is, in effect, a demonstration of the Maleficium students’ overwhelming skill.”

“That’s not very nice.”

“But we do not have enough (_______). You know what I mean, don’t you?”

“You don’t have enough (bunny girls)?”

“(Agressors), you stupid teacher!!”

He had gulped and responded with as much gravitas as he could muster, but apparently the maid hadn’t liked his answer.

Didn’t she know he could only joke around like this with students who had actually passed their entrance exam and had time for it?

“This is a major event and the President will even be participating, but Maleficium always has to dedicate a lot of personnel to research and experimentation and to dealing with crime and disasters. That’s why we need skilled student helpers who are not in a club or on a committee.”

“Hey. Isn’t the Maleficium Trial Class meant for exam students? I’m trying to hide my affiliation from my current student, so I can’t have her see me helping out at a Maleficium event.”

“Hmph.”

With a clunk, maid outfit Nancy tossed something onto the table.

“'''+1 point…''' Isn’t that what you always say?”

It was a smooth white mask with no eyes or mouth.

“…Are you serious?”

“That will cover up your face. The rest is up to you. If you watch your mannerisms, breathing, gait, and other habits, your student won’t recognize you. This is hardly an absurd request. You can accomplish it all with witchcraft easily enough.”

As always, this was easier said than done.

Still, it was possible if he applied the techniques used in theatrical ceremonies that let you vanish into a role.

“Sigh.”

Regardless, he didn’t see what he got out of this as a tutor. Nancy must have known this, which was why she was being so pushy about his “voluntary” participation. She had mentioned the Student Council President participating and he was pretty sure that monster could single-handedly defeat thousands or even tens of thousands of exam students.

He saw no reason to do this.

So he decided to refuse.

But…

“(I-I worked so hard to get into Maleficium, so, um, it would be nice if I could enjoy at least one school event with you.)”

“Ugh.”

Maid Nancy gave him the puppy dog eyes.

Damp with tears.

(Good grief.)

With a stranger, he may have refused. But unfortunately, she was a former student who had taken on the entrance exam with him at her side.

He couldn’t just say no.

Viocia, Dorothea, Melehe.

Picturing those girls in his head made him frown, but he sighed and grabbed the smooth white mask.

Aggressor.

That was a word he had often heard while with the Force. It hadn’t been relevant to him since he was training to be an astronaut, but thanks to his high level of skill, he had been pressured into the role on more than a few occasions.

In other words…

“We play the fictional enemy in the mock battle. In order to drive a fear of Maleficium into their young hearts.”