I became an antagonist teacher in RPG WORLD

Chapter 10: Whispers of Opportunity

Iris stepped lightly through the quiet halls of House Hesperii, the fading light of the evening casting long shadows through the windows. The sunset bathed the estate in a soft, golden glow, but her focus was on avoiding the creaky floorboards beneath her. She'd managed to sneak out earlier for a quick hunt, and now, with the Verdwyn Lizard's scales safely tucked away, all she had to do was make it back to her room undetected.

Just as she rounded the corner, thinking she'd made it, a voice pierced through the silence, shattering her sense of triumph.
"What are you doing sneaking around like that?"

Iris froze mid-step, her heart sinking. Slowly, she turned to see Lucian, leaning against the wall with a mischievous grin on his face, his bright eyes practically glowing with curiosity.

 He looked like a cat that had just caught its prey.

"Uh... I was just..." she fumbled, desperately searching for an excuse.

Lucian smirked, crossing his arms. "Let me guess—off on some wild monster hunt? Or maybe plotting an epic adventure?"

Iris sighed, knowing she wasn't fooling him.

"I wasn't doing anything dangerous. Just... expanding my horizons," she said, a weak grin spreading across her face

.Lucian raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed.

 "Right, because everyone who's 'just exploring' comes home smelling like lizard guts and wielding a shiny sword.""Okay, fine!" Iris groaned, unable to hold back a smile.

 "Maybe I ran into a creature or two, but I totally handled it. Like a pro. I'm practically a monster-hunting expert now!"Lucian's eyes sparkled as he leaned closer.

 "Is that so? Then I suppose you're just one battle away from legendary status," he teased, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

Iris shot him a playful glare, lowering her voice.

"Listen, I handled it, but you have to keep this a secret. If father finds out about this, he'll make me stop—and then I'll be grounded for a month."

Lucian put on a mock-serious expression, raising a finger to his lips. "Your secret is safe with me. On one condition."

Iris narrowed her eyes suspiciously.

 "And what would that be?"

"You have to let me tag along next time!" Lucian exclaimed, puffing his chest out with a dramatic flair.

 "I'm tired of sitting around doing boring lessons all day. I want to fight some monsters too!" His eyes gleamed with excitement, clearly imagining himself as a heroic warrior.

Iris raised an eyebrow.

"You? Monster hunting? You're the heir to House Hesperii! You might get your hands dirty."

Lucian waved off her concerns with a grin. "I'm not afraid of a little dirt. Besides, just think of the stories I could tell! 'Lucian, the brave monster-slaying noble,' has a nice ring to it, don't you think?"

Iris laughed, shaking her head. "Fine, but if you promise not to scream when you see a giant spider, or else I'm leaving you behind."

Lucian leaned in, his expression mock-serious. "I promise not to scream... as long as the spiders don't get you first."

Iris grinned, narrowing her eyes. "Let's see who cries first, then, shall we?"

For a moment, they locked eyes in a playful yet intense staring contest, both trying to outdo the other. "Grrr," Lucian growled playfully, leaning closer.

They quarreled down the hallway, as usual, bickering over the smallest things.

Finally, Iris rolled her eyes. "Well, never mind. I'm leaving," she said with a poker face, turning away dramatically.

"Hey! YOU BETTER KEEP YOUR PROMISE!" Lucian called after her, raising his voice in mock outrage.

"Be quiet, you're so loud!" Iris shot back, her annoyed tone clear as she pressed her hands over her ears, swirling her fingers around inside to block the noise. "Seriously, you're worse than a monster," she muttered, half-laughing as she walked off.

ꕥ

Iris lay sprawled across her bed, exhaustion settling into her bones. "I'm tired..." she mumbled, staring up at the ceiling. After a moment of rest, she raised her hand, summoning her status window with a quick flick of her fingers.