Teacher?
When those two words left Ron's mouth, everyone instinctively looked over.
What they saw was a petite little girl wearing pink one-piece pajamas.
Her hair, eyebrows, and pupils were all pink. Her eyes and face were filled with childish innocence, making her look incredibly adorable.
Of course…
The half-burnt cigarette in her mouth and the can of beer in her hand were extremely out of place.
They didn't match that cute appearance at all.
The newcomer was none other than Tsukuyomi Komoe from the A Certain Magical Index world.
A legally recognized loli—
nicknamed: the Human Ashtray…
Though only 135 centimeters tall and looking no older than a twelve-year-old elementary school student,
She was, in fact, a homeroom teacher.
She taught chemistry, specialized in research on ignition-related abilities,
and was also proficient in nearly every academic field.
"Hello… hic… Ron."
Tsukuyomi Komoe let out a drunken hiccup as she responded hazily.
However—
When she looked around the tavern and took in everyone present, she sobered up instantly.
Hold on a second!
Something feels very wrong here…
A tiger drinking alcohol.
A gray wolf doing scientific research.
A green creature playing chess with a little girl.
And two monsters hugging each other and crying loudly.
Yeah…
This is seriously bad for the eyes.
For a moment, the legal loli was completely stunned.
It wasn't until the cigarette burned down and her fingers felt the heat that she snapped back to reality.
Just as Tsukuyomi Komoe was hesitating over whether to leave—
Tohru walked over with a smile.
"Don't be scared. Everyone here is very kind."
"Right~?"
As she spoke, she turned to look at the others.
Hearing that,
Gray Wolf, the Holy Lord, Demon Little Dragon, and Black Little Tiger all grinned at once, raising their hands in greeting.
"Hello."
Their voices were uneven—hoarse, rough, and mixed with the Holy Lord's trembling growl.
Faced with such a bizarre scene—
If it were any other little girl, she would've run away crying without a second thought.
But Tsukuyomi Komoe merely tossed the cigarette butt into her beer can, lowered her head slightly, and smiled sweetly.
"Hello, everyone!"
"Although…"
"You all seem a bit troubled~"
"Is something bothering you?"
At those words—
Gray Wolf, the Holy Lord, and the others froze.
Wait.
This script feels wrong, doesn't it?
Shouldn't a cute little girl scream and burst into tears when she sees us?
And what was with that tone just now?
Why did it suddenly feel like—
A teacher's presence?!
Still…
They were troubled.
The Holy Lord was troubled because his son was far too "filial."
Black Little Tiger was suffering from unrequited love.
And Gray Wolf was distressed because his son refused to eat sheep…
While the three were still dazed,
Tsukuyomi Komoe had already climbed onto a seat at the bar.
Her short legs couldn't reach the floor, swinging back and forth.
"What would you like to drink?" Ron asked with a smile.
"Anything's fine. I never pick drinks."
She waved her hand casually, then skillfully lit a Seven Stars cigarette.
The pale-blue smoke was pinched into a long, straight line, rising into the air before dispersing completely.
Rayleigh, watching from the side, was utterly dumbfounded.
Way too practiced…
"Kid, you just called this little girl a teacher—are you serious?"
"How old is she, really?"
Rayleigh whispered.
"Completely serious."
"She's a chemistry teacher and also proficient in social psychology, behavioral psychology, and more."
"She's an expert in psychology."
"As for her age… unknown. She participated in an experiment related to immortality."
Ron smiled and took a bottle of liquor from the cabinet, handing it to her.
After hearing that, a trace of longing rose in Rayleigh's heart.
If that were used on Shakuyaku—
Then I'd be charging into battle day and night, spear in hand, pushing deep into enemy lines until she begged for mercy!
…Of course, that was just fantasy.
Over here—
Tsukuyomi Komoe opened the bottle, filled her glass, and took a small sip.
Gulp.
The moment the liquor slid down her throat,
A warm sensation bloomed in her abdomen.
"Mmm…"
"So good. Way better than the shochu I usually mix myself."
She couldn't help but moan softly, smiling brightly.
Ron said gently, "This is called Erguotou. I'm glad you like it."
Compared to beer's crisp freshness,
The spicy burn of strong liquor followed by lingering sweetness was far more addictive.
"I love it!"
She nodded vigorously, then turned toward the still-dazed Holy Lord and the other two, blinking at them.
"You three really don't have anything you want to talk about?"
As soon as she finished speaking—
The Holy Lord, Gray Wolf, and Black Little Tiger all rushed over.
That posture.
That expression.
Made Ron unconsciously think of one sentence:
Coach, I want to play basketball!
Although Tsukuyomi Komoe looked exactly like an ordinary little girl—
Everyone in the tavern knew better.
The more harmless-looking and smaller someone was, the more terrifying they tended to be.
Saitama, nighttime Escanor, and Kanna were perfect examples.
Soon after—
The three of them tearfully poured out their life stories.
"Let's start with Gray Wolf."
Tsukuyomi Komoe turned her body sideways, crossed her legs, and spoke while smoking.
"From what you're saying…"
"A wolf that likes eating grass is indeed a serious issue."
"But it's not a big problem."
Gray Wolf's eyes lit up.
"What should I do?"
"Very simple. Your son needs some stimulation."
"Only then can his most primitive instincts be awakened."
She thought for a moment, then said softly:
"For example… a basin of fresh sheep's blood."
Gray Wolf nodded immediately, then turned around and shouted,
"Aizen!"
"Prepare a basin of sheep's blood for this king!"
Aizen nodded calmly.
"Yes, Lord Gray Wolf."
He rolled up his sleeves and walked into the kitchen, beginning to slaughter a live sheep on the spot.
His movements were so practiced it made one's heart ache…
After that, Tsukuyomi Komoe gave long, detailed advice to the Holy Lord and Black Little Tiger as well.
The Holy Lord benefited immensely.
He dragged Demon Little Dragon back to the Demon Realm and began a proper father–son outing.
As Tsukuyomi Komoe put it—
What matters most between father and son is companionship, not constant fighting.
But when it came to Black Little Tiger—
Things got stuck.
Her suggestion was for him to abandon his current stance and join the so-called righteous side.
Black Little Tiger rejected it without hesitation.
He couldn't betray his father for a woman.
Even if that woman was Lan Tu.
"Thank you for your advice. I'll pay for your drinks."
He placed several gold ingots on the table, then returned to his seat, drinking alone in silence.
When fate binds two hearts together, why must I suffer for loving wrongly…
It hurt.
It hurt too much.
At that moment—
Ron suddenly remembered that his system storage still contained a Doglicker Manual he'd obtained from Chaton.
For Black Little Tiger, this was absolutely priceless.
Maybe it could be traded.
So Ron walked over and sat beside him, speaking softly:
"I might have a way for you to marry Lan Tu."
"But the chances are very low."
"Do you want to try?"
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