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Chapter 186
Since the incident with Instructor Karan, there were no more conflicts with the other instructors.
Whenever I greeted them, they responded kindly.
It seemed like I had finally blended in well with the instructors.
Karan, however, would avoid eye contact and quickly flee whenever our eyes met.
It looked like we wouldn’t be seeing each other again any time soon.
I had a talk with Aisha about keeping my identity hidden during the morning training sessions.
After hearing everything, she nodded more easily than I expected.
“You and I are eternal training partners, senior. No matter how you look or change, that won’t change.”
Aisha declared with a brilliant smile.
Her charm was dazzling.
And so, I was able to resume my morning training with Aisha.
When I participated in training as Vikamon, Seron was visibly startled, but training is training.
Once we started rolling around, she didn’t have time to dwell on it.
Seron had recently been growing stronger at a noticeable pace.
She had always trained hard daily, but now, with Aisha and me adding the right kind of training, her growth had accelerated rapidly.
From my own training experiences, I know that in any field, people hit a kind of wall.
Up until they’re about to break through it, they don’t even realize it’s there, no matter how tough things get.
But once they break through, they experience unprecedented growth.
Seron was at that breakthrough point.
That’s why she’s improving so quickly.
‘Seems like she’s secretly working on a new technique.’
Knowing Seron’s personality, she’ll probably unveil it soon.
I’ll look forward to it.
And so, I settled into a peaceful life at the academy.
Until December 25th.
Christmas—the birthday of the Goddess’s daughter—arrived.
In the past, a warrior woman had sealed the Demon Sovereign beneath the Demon Dungeon.
Her birthday, blessed by the Goddess, was celebrated at the end of the year as the most meaningful day.
‘This is clearly just the game’s version of a Christmas event.’
It was easy to see where the dungeon replay game drew its inspiration.
But then, a problem arose.
The existence of Isabel, who had awakened the Goddess’s Wings.
A globally significant day.
And Isabel, who had awakened the same wings as the day’s protagonist, drew international attention.
Perhaps because of that, famous figures from around the world announced plans to visit Zerion Academy.
They wanted to celebrate Christmas alongside Isabel, who bore the Goddess’s Wings.
For Zerion Academy, it was a nightmare.
They had to prepare to receive these high-profile guests, and the preparations were intense.
I, as Professor Vega’s assistant, was also involved.
Professor Vega was officially Isabel’s guardian at the academy.
Which meant we had to review and manage all the meeting requests from these VIPs.
Even for Vega, it was too much work to handle alone.
As her assistant, I had no choice but to help.
Thankfully, my experience working with the student council made the workload manageable.
“...I originally had no intention of having an assistant, but this makes me reconsider.”
“Good thing I’m here, right?”
“Yeah. I’ll buy you a drink next time.”
“I’ll pass.”
If I drank with Vega, I’d never make it home again.
By the way, I was living in the special dormitory provided for academy assistants.
Not that it changed the nightly routine of visiting Iris’s room.
‘I thought she’d stop calling me over now that she knows I’m not Hannon anymore.’
But for some reason, Iris still summoned me every night.
She said she needed me to sleep properly or something.
I couldn’t refuse the request of someone who had protected and helped me.
Besides, helping with her sleep was a crucial task for me too.
“So, who are you spending Christmas with?”
Christmas is also a day for couples.
A time during the holidays when lovers can be together.
So many couples spend Christmas Day together.
Even Vega asked me about it with a sly grin.
I don’t know why a grown adult acts like this.
“I’ll be by Isabel’s side.”
“Oh? Not Seron or Sharin, then?”
“It’s not like that. It’s just proper that I be there to support Isabel while she meets all these VIPs.”
It was partly my fault that Isabel’s Goddess’s Wings became famous.
Even if she was destined to awaken them, I played a role in triggering it.
That comes with responsibility.
“Having at least one person around to lighten the mood will help relieve her stress.”
“Hmm.”
Vega didn’t argue with that.
She probably knew this situation was burdensome for Isabel too.
“Be careful not to give people the wrong idea later.”
“What do you mean?”
“You’ve got more than one girl around you, don’t you?”
Vega said that with a deadpan expression.
I didn’t have much to say to that.
But with the way the world was right now, it was hard to enjoy Christmas with a light heart.
‘Thankfully, there hasn’t been any word from Duke Robliage yet.’
If he ever said he was coming to visit Zerion Academy, I’d have a whole new problem to deal with.
Amidst a flurry of complicated feelings, Zerion Academy had taken on a festive Christmas atmosphere.
Christmas decorations were set up all over the place.
They had all been procured and arranged by the hardworking assistants.
Back during the dungeon replays, the mood would suddenly change when Christmas came around.
But behind that transformation was the effort of these assistants.
As Christmas approached, a peculiar atmosphere spread among the students as well.
Some were clearly trying to use the opportunity to kindle romance.
Of course, those far from such chances quietly swallowed their tears.
‘Zerion Academy had a student Christmas party, too.’
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December 24th.
It was a party to enjoy together just before Christmas Day.
The party culture involved male students inviting female students to attend with them.
Perhaps that’s why many couples would end up forming from that party.
You could say it was the last event for students before heading off to the Winter Demon Dungeon.
Had I still been Hannon, I might’ve enjoyed it in my own way, but now I was back as Vikamon.
As an assistant, it was a story far removed from my world.
“You did well today. You can go now.”
“You’re not going to make me work even on Christmas Eve?”
“Don’t act like helping out briefly entitles you to praise when you normally laze around.”
Fair enough.
After saying goodbye to Vega, I left the professor’s office.
It was December 24th.
Evening was approaching, and the sun was setting.
We’d had so many documents to deal with that I had to help with paperwork all the way until this time.
Through the window, I could see students moving about with the assistants, helping with party preparations.
The students looked happy—perhaps because even the preparation was an enjoyable event for them.
They were probably excited for the party about to begin.
I walked along, watching them.
Party prep wasn’t part of my job.
“V-Vikamon assistant, would you go to the Christmas party with me?”
And then I realized—I had underestimated Vikamon’s face once again.
I hadn’t expected even someone like me, an assistant, to be invited.
As I walked down the hall, I was repeatedly approached by female students asking me to attend the party.
The tradition was for men to do the asking, but these noble ladies of the Empire were bolder than I’d expected.
I politely declined each one and moved on.
Now I understood why Vikamon had thrived even as a host.
“Loving all that attention, aren’t you?”
At that moment, I heard a familiar voice.
I turned my head toward it—and there was Seron.
My eyes went wide when I saw her.
“Seron, you…”
She had neatly styled her bangs, different from usual.
And she was dressed rather prettily, unlike her normal attire.
“What are you doing? Your forehead looks like it’s dying.”
“Trying to start a fight on Christmas Eve, huh?”
Seron pouted and raised her fist at me.
Then she sighed and glanced at me.
“Prince Sweet Potato, I came to take you.”
“Take me?”
I blinked.
Take me where?
Then I recalled the invitations I’d gotten from the students earlier.
“Seron, the party…”
“I know. You're an assistant. That’s why I talked with the others and secretly prepared something.”
Secretly?
I looked at her, baffled.
Seron didn’t care and pulled my arm, linking hers with mine.
“No more talking. Just follow me.”
At her words, I followed her as if under a spell.
She led me to an empty classroom.
She pushed open the door.
Inside, the classroom was fully decorated for Christmas.
The desks had been pushed together and topped with a big cake and all sorts of food.
There were familiar faces there.
“You're here,”
Hania greeted me, setting down a bowl of chicken while wearing an apron.
“Husbanddd, I looost,”
Whined Sharin next to her, making a scissor gesture with her fingers in mock defeat.
Apparently, they had done rock-paper-scissors to decide who would go get me.
“You worked hard, even on Christmas Eve,”
Eve praised me as she set down some drinks.
“Don’t just stand there—come in. This space was specially approved,”
Said Iris.
I snapped out of my daze and stepped inside.
“What is all this?”
I asked, still struggling to grasp the reality of it all. Isabel smiled softly.
“Knowing your personality, we figured you’d just ignore Christmas and work right through it. So we gathered the people who know you to prepare a little party.”
Isabel had seen right through me.
She was right—I didn’t pay much attention to Christmas.
“You work every single day. Just for today, spend it with us.”
So that’s what this was.
A warm feeling welled up in my chest.
It was joy.
Even if all the other emotions had faded, this joy remained clearly.
“...Yeah.”
I smiled, following everyone’s lead.
They had all come together to prepare this party just for me.
Of course I was happy.
It meant everything I’d done hadn’t been in vain.
“We don’t think this can repay everything you’ve done…”
“But we should still enjoy what we can with our Prince Sweet Potato.”
“Husbanddd, I’m hungry. Let’s eat alreadyyy.”
Pulled from my thoughts by their urging, I nodded.
Still, there was one thing I had to say.
“Thank you, everyone.”
As I gave my thanks, everyone smiled warmly.
Just for today, it was a truly heartwarming sight.
At least until Sharin tried to crash the party with her antics.
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