With Iris in tow, I walked back towards the school building.
　Iris's only injury was a dagger wound on her shoulder, and she had already been treated with a powerful paralyzing poison.
　They were now facing each other in the reception room.

I'm glad you're okay, Iris.
"...... Yes. If it weren't for you, I don't know what would have happened to me.

　I'm not sure what I would have done without you.
　In fact, if Iris had fought Azuma properly, I don't know who would have won.
　In the first place, she had been driven into a corner by the assassin's poison.
　Even with the surprise attack, Iris still lacked one thing: experience.
　No matter how strong she is, she's only supposed to fight within a set of rules.
　It is unlikely that a one-on-one fight will ever begin.
　One side makes a move and how you respond to it. It's a world where experience counts.

"Dr. Schweizer, may I ask you a question?
What is it?
"Well, ...... I caught you, didn't I?

　Iris asks crisply.
　It seems that she was desperate earlier, and she wants to confirm the conditions I proposed.
　It's true that I was caught by Iris within the time limit - even though it was such an irregular situation, that fact alone is true.
　I'm not sure what to do, but I'm going to do it.

"First, consider the situation. Mr. Iris, you've been threatened with death.
I'm aware of that .......
If you know that, what does it matter now if you caught him or not?
It's important to me.
Do you really want to fight me?

　I ask again.
　I posted a condition that if you can catch me, I will seriously fight Iris.
　I fought the assassins in front of her in order to make her give up that condition.
　With her class, she could have followed my sword with her eyes.
　But there was a crucial difference--I was going to make her understand that.
　Iris nodded her head, clenching her fists even as she heard my words.

"...... Yes.
So. I'm sure you've met the requirements if you've answered that way.
Yes!　Well then, ......!
Can I ask you a reason first?
"Why?
That's right. Even though you are strong enough to be called the "Sword Saint Princess", I'm still an instructor at this school. Even if I've just been assigned to this school, that doesn't change. I have to ask why I, as a teacher, have to fight you, as a student, in earnest.

　At my words, Iris looked a little lost.
　But after a few moments of silence, she looked at me with a serious expression and said.

I'm ...... honestly struggling to grow. I've been called the Princess of the Sword, the same name as the Saint of the Sword,......., and I've been highly praised by those around me. I have not been able to get stronger since then.
"You haven't gotten stronger?
Yes. That's when Mr. Schweizer arrived. I really thought it was crazy for a child to become a teacher. But you were stronger than me. It was the first time I really thought I couldn't win, even in a mock battle. So I wanted to see what you were really made of.
I see what you mean.

　I could understand why Iris wanted to fight me.
　She felt that she hadn't grown up yet, and now someone younger than her, but more powerful than her, had come along.
　For her, it would be necessary to fight with someone who is stronger than her in order to break through the barrier.
　That's not a wrong idea, actually.
　I've also experienced the feeling of not being able to get stronger unless there is someone better than you.
　Iris is probably in such a situation.
　It was enough for me to understand the kind of person Iris is, a girl who, despite the threats to her life, is not afraid to seek strength.

(......, but in that case, showing her the fight had the opposite effect.

　I believe that fighting me will help her to go a step further.
　I also feel that Iris is still in her infancy.
　I also feel that Iris is still developing, that she lacks experience in fighting, and that fighting someone of my level would be a good opportunity to cultivate that.
　So I have two choices.
　Either I can help her grow or I can't.

(It would be easier for me if Iris became stronger than she is now, but ......)

　I'm not so optimistic about the situation.
　It would have been better if Iris had been the target of the attack.
　But now there are assassins who want to kill Iris when she is alone.
　If I had come two days later, she might not be here at all.
　In such a situation, I'll be helping Iris grow up while guarding her and working as a lecturer.

(As expected, there's a lot to do. ......)

　To be honest, I'm lost. To be honest, I'm not sure what to do. I'm not sure what to do, but I think that making Iris stronger is part of my job as a teacher.
　And if she becomes strong, there is literally no need for guards--my role ends there.
　If I make it clear that I am a knight who has come to protect Iris, perhaps she will contact the Order, and the escort mission may be eliminated.


　Even so, as a knight commander, Remyll might say that he can protect you even if he's not a lecturer.
　I think it would be better to keep quiet about it.

"Teacher ......?

　Iris called out with a worried expression, as if she was curious about the fact that I had been thinking in silence for so long.
　She doesn't want me to protect her, she wants to be strong enough to defend herself on her own.
　I can't tell her that she doesn't need to do that.
　If I can protect myself, so much the better.

(Then there's only one thing for me to do, .......)
I can't do that. ......
Are you going to fight?
"No, not exactly. You never know how many times you'll have to fight before you get the results you want, Iris.
No!　Well, I'll do my best.
Of course I'll do my best, but I'm trying to be more efficient.
"...... efficient?
Yes. Look, I'm not supposed to give special treatment to one person as an instructor. But this time is special. I'll train you.

　After much deliberation, he concluded that if he was going to stay with Iris and protect her, it would be best to settle for that kind of relationship first.
　In any case, if it was an escort mission, it would be easier for me to be close to Iris.
　I didn't expect to get close to her like this, but...
　Iris rolled her eyes when she heard my words, but then she smiled happily and said

"Yes, please!

　He bowed his head.
　On the second day of my teaching job, I became the teacher and mentor of my escort.