#717 A Tenacious Resident

After the entrance ceremony ended, everyday life returned to our farm.

Oh, this is me speaking.

Despite saying that everyday life has returned, our place is now bustling with many boys and girls who have moved in as students, making the atmosphere completely different from before.

The influx of young people certainly seems to rejuvenate the farm.

Many farm residents, starting with Sensei, are involved with the students in their roles as educators, and the Farm School seems to be working positively overall.

However...

There’s just one thing...

“One thing” that remains unchanged and puzzles me greatly.

And that is...

Teacher Carp.

A female teacher of Mermaid Witch Academia.

As a teacher of a prestigious school, she is strict and does not hesitate to drop out students who can’t keep up. 

She, too, is a mermaid.

My relationship with her began when the Mermaid Witch Academia Farm Branch was established, and she came as the students’ chaperone.

Mermaid Witch Academia Farm Branch was also the start of our student exchange program, which eventually transformed into this Farm School. I sincerely believe that’s impressive in itself, but...

I find it strange that the changes that came with it remain unchanged.

What does that mean? Well...

It means Teacher Carp is still at our farm.

*  *  *

“Students! Make sure to review and prepare ahead of time! Studying is all about daily accumulation!”

Teacher Carp, as usual, is passionately teaching the students.

She’s instilling basic subjects into the new students who just enrolled.

But, you see...

“Um... Teacher Carp?”

“Success in academics depends on how hard you try at the beginning. If you work hard here, you can keep it up till the end, and if you slack off, you’ll never get rid of the habit of laziness! So students, work hard until you’re out of breath...!”

“Uh. Teacher Carp? Hello, Teacher Carp? Teacher Carppp.” 

“What is it, calling my name so casually and in succession?! You may be Princess Platy’s husband, but I expect you to understand how to behave toward a lady, Lord Saint!!!”

Couldn’t you at least have responded the first time I called you then?

“There’s something I want to ask you, Teacher Carp...”

“What is it?! As you can see, I’m fully committed to nurturing new talents! Sure, you are Princess Platy’s spouse, but if you are to interfere with me...!”

“...When are you going to leave?”

“Pardon?”

Teacher Carp is, after all, a teacher of the Mermaid Witch Academia in the Mermaid Kingdom. She originally came here as part of establishing the farm branch of that academy, with the students being female.

Several years have passed since then.

The female students from the Mermaid Witch Academia Farm Branch joined the farm exchange students, went through numerous classes and exams, and successfully graduated.

They have left this place and are each pursuing their own lives.

At that point, the Mermaid Witch Academia Farm Branch, having fulfilled its purpose, was disbanded.

But Teacher Carp is still here, at the farm.

What’s going on?

“What’s this? Are you trying to kick me out of here, Lord Saint?”

“To put it bluntly, yes.”

“You’re being frank?!”

But isn’t that the right thing to do?

She became a farm resident as a member of a prestigious school in the Mermaid Kingdom.

Now that her reason for staying is gone, shouldn’t she return to the Mermaid Kingdom and reconsider her situation?

“But the farm is attracting young people eager to learn. It’s my mission as a teacher to properly educate these children!”

“Isn’t that mission supposed to be directed only to your students at Mermaid Witch Academia? The students here are different.”

Mermaid Witch Academia’s farm branch was disbanded when the students at that time graduated.

Afterward, Farm School was established and began recruiting students, but it has become completely unrelated to Mermaid Witch Academia.

Therefore, there’s no reason for Teacher Carp to be involved.

“If you keep staying here without authorization, it might become a source of trouble. As such, we would appreciate it if you could leave...!”

“But I’ve devoted more than a decade to teaching at Mermaid Witch Academia. I pride myself on my skills! I thought that with my abilities, I could work here...!”

That’s why you should demonstrate your abilities at the school where you work.

I don’t get it.

What is it that makes Teacher Carp so determined to cling to the farm?

Does she like living here?

But if she’s the serious and stoic Teacher Carp that I know, shouldn’t she reject a comfortable life and say, “I won’t allow myself to be degraded”?

I can’t understand her intentions at all.

“Hehehehehe... If you’re having trouble dealing with that serious woman...”

“Who’s there?!”

Suddenly, an unfamiliar voice rang out. When I turned around, I saw a mysteriously poised mermaid.

It’s Zoth Syra, the Witch of the Abyss!

“Why are you here when you should be extremely busy as the Mermaid Kingdom’s Prime Minister?!”

“That’s what I, Zoth Syra, Witch of the Abyss, came here for. To bring back a troublemaker who’s been ignoring the advice to return home.”

What?! Zoth Syra herself, who’s now in a position to have others do her bidding as a prominent figure in the Mermaid Kingdom, came personally?

Doesn’t it seem like a lie that she was a wanted fugitive on the run just a few years ago?

“And the one ignoring the advice to return home is...?”

“Why, who else but that idiot over there with the sour look on her face.”

So it was Teacher Carp, after all!

Was she officially called back by her country and told, “Come back, you!” but refused to? Isn’t that a bit much?!

“I-I feel a sense of purpose staying here. Farm School is indeed the world’s best training ground for talent. This school will undoubtedly become even more perfect if I incorporate the expertise I’ve cultivated at Mermaid Witch Academia.”

“Then you should return to the Mermaid Kingdom and make your case to the board or the principal if you have something to say. It’s a stretch to think you can just stay here without consulting anyone. As someone as earnest as you, you should know that best.”

“Grrrrr...!”

Teacher Carp falls silent, unable to argue back.

Being as conscientious as she is, she must understand that she doesn’t have a convincing case in this situation.

Why, then, is she so reluctant to leave the farm?

“Hmm, I guess it eludes you, Lord Saint. It’s a pity. But I don’t mind sharing the secret just for you...!”

“Stop, please...!”

“She continues to stay here, ignoring appeals from her homeland because she doesn’t want to leave Gobukichi’s side! Isn’t that right?!”

...

Huh? What? 

Why was Gobukichi’s name brought up in the conversation? We’re talking about the same Gobukichi, the leader of the Goblin team, right? Why?

“You fail to understand that, too?! How sad!”

Agh! What’s going on?!

Why is she pressing me with such intensity all of a sudden?!

“No one else in this wide world is as sincere and accurate as Mr. Gobukichi! There are no mistakes or omissions in his efficient daily work! As someone who gets to work with such an amazing talent, do you not understand his value, Lord Saint?!”

“...Well, um...!”

I’ve always appreciated Gobukichi’s help and have never forgotten to show my gratitude.

He’s an important farm resident, but could Teacher Carp be...?

“You like... Gobukichi...?!”

“What are you talking about- Ahhhhhhh!!!”

“Woah!”

I understand you’re shy, but could you not resort to using karate chops to hide it?!

“I am NOT smitten! As a teacher, I can’t be swayed by such frivolous feelings! If I had to name this feeling, it would be respect! Yes, that’s the perfect word!”

“Then you should have no problem leaving the farm, right?”

“Nghh...!”

Under Zoth Syra’s relentless pressure, Teacher Carp is losing ground by the second.

“Well, if there’s no problem, then let’s go back together. Isn’t it your raison d’etre to uphold the rules? I came here personally to take you back, you should be grateful. Hmmm?”

“Don’t say things like that... I know what you’re up to, Zoth Syra!”

“Huh?!”

“You’re pining for Mr. Orkubo too, aren’t you?!”

“Nhoaaaah!”

Oh, Zoth Syra seems taken aback.

Is this the starting signal of Teacher Carp’s rebuttal?

“You want to be with Mr. Orkubo too, but now that you’ve been appointed prime minister by Lady Mahi, you can’t leave the Mermaid Kingdom, right? I empathize with your plight, but taking it out on me is misguided!”

“What?! Who’s the misguided one here? Your disregard for the rules and my dire situation is unrelated! Did you think I’d accept you staying beside the one you love while I work tirelessly?!”

“See that? You are jealous! You’ve been appointed to the important role of prime minister, so you should work hard, abandoning your own happiness!!!”

“Look who’s talking! You’re a teacher, toooooooooo!”

Uh, okay, so...

Zoth Syra likes Orkubo...

...And Teacher Carp likes Gobukichi?

Both of them don’t want to leave the farm where the person they like is, but their positions won’t allow that.

...What should I do to handle this situation?