I Became an Academy Counselor - Chapter 19

Ophelia’s POV

It’s been a week since I hypnotized the princess, and it was lunchtime.

Suddenly, Principal Veronica bursts into my counseling room, looking as if she’s seen something horrifying.

“…Hello, Principal. What brings you here so suddenly? I’d appreciate it if you knocked next time.”

“That’s not important right now!”

“Um… It’s actually quite important.”

What does she mean it’s not important?

Knocking is extremely important for maintaining proper etiquette.

…I thought I’d been caught playing games for a second there.

If it weren’t for my childhood experiences of secretly gaming behind my mom’s back, I might have died on the spot.

I’ve gotten a bit careless lately since students have started knocking, and now look what’s happened.

As I try to calm my startled heart, the principal strides over and grabs my shoulders.

“What on earth did you do to that girl?”

“Huh? …Who?”

“That arrogant little brat! The Princess!”

“Oh, Princess Stella? I just counseled her a bit, as you asked.”

And here I thought I’d made some mistake.

I was getting nervous because she came in looking so flustered, but it seemed that it wasn’t anything serious after all.

“What’s with that reaction? As if it’s nothing.”

“Well, it isn’t anything special, is it?”

“You’re saying that’s not special?!”

But something was odd.

The principal’s reaction was much more intense than I’d expected.

She looked like she’d seen something impossible, an expression of utter disbelief.

“Stella has recently started going around complimenting people around her.”

“…Really? That’s great.”

That’s unexpected.

That was just a simple homework assignment, not even part of the hypnosis.

I didn’t think she’d actually do an optional assignment like that.

…Maybe she acknowledges me more than I thought.

She tends to soften up considerably towards people she acknowledges.

I felt oddly proud that she was doing the homework I’d given her.

Principal Veronica didn’t seem to share my sentiment though.

“It’s so creepy I can hardly stand it… I thought it would be impossible for that girl to act like that even if the sky fell down…”

“…”

What kind of reaction is this…?

Even so, this is an awfully intense response.

She’s the one who asked me to do this in the first place.

“You’re reacting like you never asked me to do it…”

“I-I didn’t expect her to change so creepily!”

“Hmm…”

This is troublesome.

The principal’s reaction was much stronger than I anticipated.

To say it’s creepy for someone to give one compliment a day to someone they know…

What kind of life has Stella been living…?

No, more importantly.

If this continues, someone might start to suspect me.

It’s a bit regrettable, but maybe I should hypnotize her again and return her to normal…

“…Still, it’s as expected of you, Teacher Ophelia. Your skills are undeniable.”

“Huh?”

“I don’t know how you managed to sweet-talk that self-absorbed girl, but… It’s truly impressive.”

“O-Oh, is that so? Thank you.”

“Mm.”

…Could her reaction be less negative than I thought?

Maybe it’s just unfamiliar to her, and she’ll gradually come to accept it over time.

“As expected, my eye for talent wasn’t wrong. I’ve been hearing rumors about you since you arrived. They say you’re a capable counselor.”

“Th-Thank you…”

“You don’t seem to be used to being complimented.”

Ugh, did she notice?

…To be precise, I’m not used to getting compliments from superiors.

I’ve never received anything like that before.

All I ever heard were reprimands.

After work, only games could soothe my tired heart.

…That’s why I wanted to soothe the students’ hearts too.

Just as games gave me joy, I wanted to provide them with joy.

“You don’t need to worry too much. I’m not scolding you. I was just a bit surprised.”

“That’s… a relief.”

“Please continue to take good care of the students, Teacher Ophelia.”

“…Yes, leave it to me.”

You don’t need to tell me that.

Ever since I realized this world was the same as the game world I loved, my purpose has always been the same. To save the students I cared about.

I had no other goal.

“By the way, did you perhaps react like that in front of the princess…?”

“How did you know? I was so shocked I came running here.”

“She might be sad if you react like that, so maybe you should refrain from doing so…”

“What? Her? No way. You’re quite the joker, teacher.”

…It seems we still have a long way to go.

I wanted to make sure reactions like this wouldn’t happen before she graduated from the academy, at least.

It’s too pitiful…

“It looks like I need to teach you how to handle students too, Principal.”

“W-What? That’s fine. I’ll have you know, I’ve been a teacher for a very long time. I don’t need to learn such things…”

“Be quiet. You can’t capture students’ hearts with such outdated methods.”

“O-Outdated…?”

Is it because of her age?

I sighed at her insistence on sticking to old ways.

Children are sensitive, you know.

You can’t handle them like that.

“Shall we have a thorough discussion in your office?”

“U-Um. Alright…”

***

Stella’s POV

“Damn it, isn’t this too much? To make such a ghostly expression.”

I grumbled as I walked.

Having no one I was particularly close to, I had been carrying out Ophelia’s homework assignment entirely on my childhood friend.

For six times.

At first, my childhood friend couldn’t figure out what was going on, but as the daily compliments continued, she soon started looking at me like I’d gone crazy.

But I didn’t stop.

I couldn’t do this to anyone else.

Charlotte was the closest person among those I acknowledged, so I had no choice.

…I probably would have kept going if I hadn’t run out of things to compliment.

Complimenting someone turned out to be harder than I thought.

Especially giving compliments to the same person every day.

I could find two or three decent things to say, but…

After it became more than I could count on one hand, I just couldn’t think of anything.

I spent over two hours agonizing over finding something to compliment, so I could confidently say I tried my best.

But the homework was only until I met that teacher again.

Thinking it was no longer possible to compliment my childhood friend, I spent a long time pondering who else I could compliment.

I couldn’t just compliment random students I didn’t know.

So I decided to compliment the old hag, who was at least someone capable that I acknowledged.

I told her, “Your combat ability is amazing and incredible.”

‘I’ll never compliment that old hag again…!’

But what was with that reaction?

There was no need to scream and run away suddenly.

I knew that having me compliment others would seem awkward.

But since Charlotte had accepted it reasonably well, I was building confidence that it would be okay, even if a bit awkward.

My confidence was shattered in an instant.

I thought I could get by for a few days with the old hag.

I, Stella, have power… However, I do not have many close friends in the academy to compliment.

I thought I had done well enough.

Honestly, there was no need to do more, right?

That’s why I headed to the counseling room.

The homework deadline was until the next time we met.

There was no problem with me going to see Teacher Ophelia myself.

A week should be enough to show minimum sincerity.

I was trying my best, seeing how she even managed to tame that demon-possessed girl…

But it was too much.

No matter how I thought about it, I couldn’t compliment anyone else.

“I’ve arrived.”

The counseling room was tucked away in a corner of the academy’s third floor.

A paper with cute drawings asking visitors to knock.

Having reached my destination, I knocked on the door.

To meet Teacher Ophelia.

“…Hm?”

But there was no response.

Thinking she might not have heard, I knocked harder and waited, but still nothing.

It seemed Teacher Ophelia was out.

I tried turning the doorknob, but as expected, the door didn’t open.

She must be absent.

…Tsk.

Of all times to be away. How unlucky.

I’m sure Teacher Ophelia spends most of her time in the counseling room.

“You…”

As I turned my head, planning to come back after school, I saw a girl with a sulky expression staring at me.

…It’s the demon-possessed girl, Orca.

I heard she was deeply upset after losing to me.

What’s she doing here?

Is she trying to enter the counseling room?

“Are you trying to enter the counseling room? It seems the teacher isn’t in. It might be better to come back another time…”

“Move.”

“…”

After I kindly offered some advice, this is the response I got.

As expected of commoners.

The door seems to be locked anyway, so she’ll just have to leave awkwardly…

Click.

“…Come in. You have business in the counseling room, right?”

“?”

But my expectations were completely off the mark.

The counseling room door that had definitely been locked was opened by Orca.

“You, that…”

“What, aren’t you coming in?”

“…No, I’ll enter. Thank you.”

“Hmph.”

I wonder why this woman has the key to the counseling room.

Even as I thought this, I decided not to refuse her kindness.

…Maybe she’s a bit kinder than I thought.

Not realizing I had thought this, I entered the counseling room.