TTIGRAAS: Predator

Chapter 31

The ride back was uneventful. Few hostile magic beasts, no bandits trying to get revenge for those my students got arrested (Tiss was a bit concerned about that so I kept an eye out for it), and pleasant weather.

I got the feeling that Tiss wasn't fully over the whole slime-reveal thing, but she was treating me in the same kind way as before. She just seemed preoccupied, giving me strange looks occasionally before catching herself and switching to a smile.

We finally got back to the academy, and I was definitely ready to be back. I was eager to get the results of my kids' test. The second half had been called off, of course, but the results of the part that stuck still hadn't been announced. After facing what they did, if Class S wasn't the winner, I would be pretty angry.

I wanted to see Jeff's shocked face when it's announced Class S outdid Class A.

If it ended up being the other way around, that would be no fun at all. He'd gloat and brag at me and I'd just have to respectfully take it like the professional I am. Just thinking about that was enough to get me a bit worked up.

At least the kids don't seem too anxious about the results...

They were just happily running around the academy's courtyard, carefree despite recently facing an opponent that they couldn't handle. Their resilience was admirable.

"Owwwwww..."

Kenya just ate dirt after tripping during the game they were playing. He got right back up afterward though. After groaning, he brushed himself off and kept playing.

See what I mean? Resilient.

Soon after, the five came running over to my spot resting underneath a tree.

"Professor Rimuru! Today's the day, right?!" Ryota said, surprisingly loud but unsurprisingly excited.

"I already said it was, Ryota." Gale answered tiredly.

"Why are you so worked up anyway? We obviously scored the highest!" Alice confidently said, flipping her hair out of her face.

Chloe nodded in agreement.

"They aren't counting the whole phantom thing, though. That'd be unfair, right Teach?"

"Yes, but I'm sure you made a good impression on Tiss, so I wouldn't worry too much."

Just then the bell rang, meaning that the kids' free period was over. Normally, that'd be a negative thing for them, but not this time, since today that means that it was time for the results of the outdoor training event to be posted.

Immediately, the kids got even more excited.

"Let's go!" Kenya shouted, grabbed my arm with one hand, and Ryota's with his other, and started running, the others following close behind.

"Hey! Slow down, you're not supposed to run inside the school!" I shouted a warning, but Kenya ignored it. So, I dug my heels in and stopped him in his tracks.

Kenya cried out in pain from his arm getting yanked and Ryota got flung forward from the momentum.

"Heeeeeey!" Kenya whined, but I could tell he was practically uninjured. He was made out of tough enough stuff to handle that just fine, especially after taking in that spirit.

"No running."

"Aw, c'mon, teach!" Kenya mumbled and grumbled a bit unhappily while rubbing his likely sore arm. "That was mean."

"He did warn you." Gale chimed in.

"You guys ran too." I made sure to point out, causing Gale to stiffen a little.