The Retired Supporting Character Wants to Live Quietly

After returning to the academy, I resumed my daily routine.

Following the morning meeting, I patrolled the campus, meddled in various subjects, bought snacks from the dessert cafe, and exercised with the professors in the afternoon.

Fortunately, the academy has a well-maintained tennis court.

Often, I gather with the professors for team matches with bets involved.

Today, Anna and I were teamed up against Lindus—no, Lina and Waver.

At first, I doubted Anna’s ability to play tennis.

Anna usually moved sluggishly and didn’t seem fit for strenuous sports.

However, those doubts vanished once the game started.

Thwack-!!

Anna’s racket swings were powerful, sending the ball like a bullet, forcing Waver and Lina to scramble around the court.

Thanks to my decent tennis skills from real life, our team won by a landslide.

“Wow, this is… no contest.”

Waver said, hands on his hips, tongue out. Lina was busy cooling off, flapping her chest.

“Well done, Anna.”

“Thank you…”

Anna mumbled, head down, holding her racket limply.

“So, you guys are treating us to snacks today, right? Let’s go, I’m thirsty!”

We all headed to the dessert cafe and ordered juices and other drinks.

“This is delicious…”

Anna said gloomily, sipping her juice slowly.

“But professor, I have a question.”

Lina, sitting across from me, asked.

“During the battlefield tour, the veterans cried when they saw you, right? Were they people you met during the liberation battle?”

“Yes, that’s right. I thought they’d forgotten after ten years.”

“How could anyone forget someone they met in such circumstances? Were you in the same corps?”

“No, I was part of the attacking force, and they were trapped inside the fort.”

“Ah, I see. So you met them during the rescue after Sir Linus recaptured the Castle. What a remarkable connection.”

Lina looked at me with teary eyes, clearly moved.

Sometimes, Lina reminds me of a retriever, always friendly and welcoming to everyone.

“Head Professor, look over there.”

Waver raised his hand and pointed to the rear of the main building where the faculty offices are located.

Someone was standing by the window Waver pointed at but quickly disappeared. It was the Head Theoretical Professor, Ismera.

“She’s been watching us since earlier. She’s been doing that often since the battlefield tour.”

Back then, Ismera had been furious, saying that Kirrin and I were idly strolling around, leaving the students behind.

It wasn’t due to her bad temper but rather her strong sense of responsibility as both the Head Theoretical Professor and acting vice-headmaster.

It’s not like Kirrin and I were slacking off, but still.

Since then, Ismera’s gaze towards me has become much harsher.

In the past, she always had a smile typical of elves, but lately, she’s been openly showing her emotions.

Even as a pureblood elf, her angry look is still quite pretty, but it’s uncomfortable to be glared at like that all the time.

Given how she worried about Kirrin before and now about me, it’s understandable.

Maybe I should talk to the Princess about promoting Ismera to headmaster next time I visit the Palace.

The academy is stable enough now, and I don’t necessarily need to be the headmaster.

It seems best for me to remain as the Head Combat Professor, for Kirrin to step down as the assassination instructor, and for Ismera to become the headmaster.

The Emperor’s stubbornness is the issue.

Why does he insist on keeping the Dark Elf’s daughter as headmaster and make her untouchable?

If the Princess agrees to promote Ismera, maybe I’ll talk to that guy named Nemara about it.

It’s not urgent, so I’ll think about it later.

# # # # # # #

Waver and I washed up at the bathhouse in the commercial district and then headed home leisurely.

With a few spring rains, summer is just around the corner.

The sky was already turning purple, stars emerging in the east, and a warm breeze from the unseen sea cooled my body, fresh from the bath.

It felt great.

I ran around tirelessly to save Linus up to the prologue, then defeated the Demon King in line with the story, reaching the ending.

I don’t know what happens after the ending, so I intended to enjoy a quiet life, but I was unexpectedly drawn into the academy.

And I’m very satisfied with life here.

They say there’s no paradise in escape, probably because they escaped to places other than paradise.

If they had escaped to good places like I did, it would have been fine.

“Oh, right!”

A thought struck me, stopping me in my tracks.

I hadn’t checked the patient records from Priestess Maya yet.

Should I go now?

No, Olysia is at home waiting with dinner. I’ll check it on my way to work tomorrow.

But what should I say to access the patient records…?

As I pondered this, I sensed someone ahead.

Looking up, I saw Kirrin leaning against a wall, startled when she saw me.

“D-Dian… Are you off work?”

“What are you doing here?”

“Oh, I was on my way home as well…”

What is this Dark Elf saying? Her dorm is on the other side

“What brings you here?”

“Well… it’s a bit awkward to bump into you like this at this hour…”

Kirrin mumbled, circling around the point.

“Since we’re here anyway… how about having dinner together?”

“You haven’t eaten yet? I don’t mind.”

“R-Really! Then let’s go quickly!”

Excited, Kirrin scurried over and clung to my side.

After a while.

“Dian… I meant to go to a restaurant in town… but this is the opposite direction…”

As we continued heading towards my house, Kirrin glanced around nervously.

“I suggested dinner, not anything else…”

“What are you talking about? We’re just going to eat.”

“But this place is so secluded, it feels like something could happen without anyone knowing…”

“I don’t know what you’re thinking, but it’s not like that. We’re here.”

Kirrin’s eyes widened as we stopped in front of my house.

“Th-This is…?!”

“Hey, Olysia! I’m back! We have a guest!”

“Eeek?!”

Hearing Olysia’s footsteps, Kirrin panicked and backed away.

“See you tomorrow, Dian!”

With that, Kirrin fled at an incredible speed typical of Dark Elves.

“Welcome home. But where’s the guest? Why are you alone?”

“They were here, but they left.”

“Huh? Are you kidding me? Come in. Dinner’s ready.”

I sat down to eat with Olysia and mentioned Kirrin.

Olysia clicked her tongue knowingly and nodded.

“If she has any pride, she wouldn’t come in.”

“What’s the story?”

“I told you before, right? The headmaster came looking for you the day you visited Sir Linus’s house.”

“Oh, right. I remember now.”

Kirrin was caught sniffing my freshly washed shirt by Olysia back then.

I had forgotten about that. No wonder she was flustered when I brought her to my house.

“Sir Dian, what’s your relationship with the headmaster?”

“There’s nothing between us.”

“Does the headmaster think that too?”

“How would I know, you brat. Pass me more food.”

As she brought more food from the kitchen, Olysia spoke.

“I think the headmaster clearly likes you, Sir Dian. Why else would she be smelling your clothes? If she didn’t like you, she’d be crazy to do that.”

“I know she likes me. But that’s all there is to it. There’s nothing more.”

“Hmm, I see.”

Olysia, cheeks puffed out, was lost in thought, not even touching her food.

Of course, I know Kirrin likes me. I’m not blind or stupid.

But that’s it. Right now, I don’t have any feelings for Kirrin other than sympathy.

Just because someone likes you doesn’t mean you have to like them back.

But it seems Olysia thinks differently.

“Sir Dian.”

Olysia spoke in a serious tone, her expression grave.

“You should consider the headmaster.”

“What do you mean?”

“Try developing a good relationship with her.”

“Why should I do that?”

“Because you’re at an age where you should be thinking about marriage. Do you plan to live like this forever?”

“I plan to. Being single is comfortable.”

“That’s nonsense. People need a partner. Besides, the headmaster is a good woman.”

I stayed silent, wondering what she was getting at.

“She’s pretty, has a great figure, is kind, and she’s the headmaster of an Imperial Academy. Sure, the fact that she’s a Dark Elf is a bit of a hurdle, but so what? It’s not like we’re at war anymore.”

“So, you’re saying I should marry Kirrin?”

“If you do, I’d be happy.”

“Why would you be happy if I get married? Ah, I see.”

This brat.

She thinks that if I marry the headmaster, I’ll never be kicked out of the academy and can stay in the Imperial Palace.

As smart as she is, she’s still a child.

“Why don’t you invite the headmaster over sometime? I’ll prepare a grand feast. I’ll even tidy up the master bedroom.”

“You really don’t hold back, do you?”

When I reached out to flick her forehead, Olysia quickly dodged and snapped her fingers as if remembering something.

“Oh, and there’s mail for you. It looks like an invitation.”

“An invitation?”

Olysia retrieved an envelope from the living room table.

It was an invitation to the “Tatarnok Village Restoration Day Event.”

This must be from Linus.

He mentioned joining him for an event in the village we rescued from the Demon King’s army. So, this was it.