Akira strolled towards Obarihime, who wasn't aware of his approach until she saw Ruri push up her medium sized breasts in an attempt to make them bigger.
Akira paid her no mind though as he was more interested in Obarihime's double D's instead.
Obarihime would often catch him staring, and he'd slowly look away after getting caught.
He stood in front of Obarihime and put his hands in his pockets, a small smile forming.
"Obarihime, a minute," he said.
"Lord Akira, it's so good to see you. I heard that new building is a school!" Ruri said as she smiled brightly. "Why don't you become my teacher?" she smirked.
"Sure. But, I'm planning on teaching the adults at night. The daytime is reserved for the kids," responded Akira.
'Huh? It was a joke...'
"Obarihime—"
"I heard you," Obarihime interrupted as she stood up from her chair and walked past Akira.
Walking beside her, Akira said, "You are capable of reading and writing in Kobold, aren't you?"
"Why?"
"I want you to become a teacher alongside Frill and I. It's about time you make yourself useful around here."
"Huh?" Obarihime raised an eyebrow and looked at Akira with a look of distaste in her eyes. "I've been plenty useful. Put someone else to work."
"You haven't done shit since you returned home," Akira said matter-of-factly as he ceased walking.
"You eat like a pig, gossip with your whore of a friend and then cry to Masaki whenever things don't go your way."
Obarihime stopped walking, clenched her fists and furrowed her brows.
"Masaki won't be alive forever. You can at least prove yourself useful before he croaks. Because once he dies, everyone will turn their back on you."
"You don't know that," retorted Obarihime as she turned to look at Akira. "The villagers respect me and they wouldn't betray me."
"These villagers hate you. So, if you don't suck it up and provide them with some services, you'll be left in the gulag," Akira said as he walked in the other direction.
"What the hell is a gulag?!" Obarihime shouted. Then, she sighed and tucked her hair behind her right ear. "Stupid demon..."
***
"I can't believe we get to go to school, just like the kids from the city!" one goblin child said as he wore a bright smile.
"I know! I'm so excited!" another replied.
"You guys are idiots. We're just catalysts for a much bigger plot. Akira wouldn't just build a school at the interest of us kids," one of them chimed in.
With his slick black hair, his red eyes and an earring on his right ear, the young goblin put his feet on the table and leaned back, immediately grabbing the attention of his fellow 20 classmates.
"We're being used. In fact, we were being used since he got here. Don't get excited over stupid things. He's still the man we've heard from the stories."
Asahi immediately gained the classroom's attention. None of them dared to speak after him.
Because deep down they knew that he was right.
Asahi was the smartest child in their little town, mostly due to him being 2 years older than most of the few kids.
And he was one of the few children who was taught to read and write as soon as he was old enough.
Oddly enough, Akira was pleased to know that such a child was located in the sticks.
"That's quite the assumption, Asahi," Akira spoke as he suddenly appeared next to Asahi.
"Whoa!" Spooked by Akira's sudden appearance, Asahi fell on his back, his neck burning and heart pounding.
"Even though it might seem that I'm after something that'll benefit me alone, it will also benefit every single person in this village. Your parents and grandparents included," he added as he helped Asahi up.
Then, Akira walked towards the black board and smiled gently.
"Now, this isn't going to be a regular school. We're going to be doing this differently from the people of the city," he began.
"You will all learn basic magic, Lilim—the demon's tongue—Human and Mathematics. From that, you will learn how to read and write."
"Uh..." a younger goblin girl spoke up.
"In a classroom, you raise your hand if you have a question, Saori," instructed Akira with a gentle smile.
"Right..." Saori raised her hand and Akira nodded, signalling that she may speak. "Does that mean you won't send us to purgatory?"
The class went radio silent and Akira sighed through his nose.
'I should've expected this. The kids are nothing but traumatized afterall. My "stunt" to control the village worked, but now they have nothing but an unending fear of me,' he said to himself.
Akira cleared his throat and said, "I only send kids who don't listen to their teachers and parents to purgatory. Behave, and I swear you won't be swimming with the fish."
He gave Saori a gentle smile, which allowed the entire class, apart from Asahi, to sigh heavily, relief welling up within them.
"Now that we've gotten that out of the way, I wish to hear more of your questions."
"Lord Akira," a young boy with short white hair raised his hand up high.
"Kagami, go ahead."
"Should we call you Lord Akira all the time?"
"You may call me teacher while we're in the classroom," Akira answered.
"Will there be playtime?!" another student asked a question as he raised his hand.
"Of course, Hiro. There will be plenty of time to play and learn. You are still children afterall."
"I have a question," Asahi said in a disrespectful tone.
Akira shrugged and smirked.
"Why would you go as far as teaching us how to speak the demon's tongue? How does that benefit any of us or the village?"
Akira smiled gently and simply replied, "You wanna be cool when you go to the city for business, right? Then, you're better off learning multiple languages instead of just one."
"That doesn't answer my question," Asahi retorted.
Akira chuckled and cracked his neck. "It does. You're just too stupid to understand it. Give it some time, and you'll know why learning my mother tongue is important."
In response, Asahi simply sucked his teeth, averted his gaze and folded his arms.
"Now then, how about we get started with our first lesson: Lilim Basics," Akira said.
He snapped his fingers, allowing textbooks, pens and booklets to appear on all of the students' desks, making them watch in pure amazement.
He smirked and turned to the blackboard.
"Once you've learnt Lilim, I'll personally teach you the principles of magic and mana," Akira said. "Now then—"
***
As the Sun set, the children left the classroom carrying their booklets and pens.
Akira watched them leave, overhearing their excited conversations about what the next day would hold.
'These kids aren't as stupid as I thought. More especially that Asahi boy. With enough time, he'll grow into a fine scholar,' he said as he crossed his arms.
"I told Frill that she could come in tomorrow, but where the hell is Obarihime?" he asked himself as he walked out of the classroom and closed the door behind him.
"Whatever. She'll show up once she notices that she really is useless. But, hurting her fragile ego wouldn't hurt," he said as he rubbed his chin and cackled like an old witch.
The next morning arrived and the students sat on their chairs while speaking amongst themselves.
Then, the door flung open and Frill walked in. Her hair was tied back and she wore glasses.
As she walked towards the black board, she immediately grabbed the attention of the young boys and girls, creating a hushed environment in a matter of seconds.
"Good morning. My name is Frill and I'll be your Kobold language teacher," Frill said as she smiled gently.
'I hope it'll be as easy as Lord Akira said. I'd hate to have my face chewed off by these adorable little kids...' she said to herself as nervousness began welling up in her.
After introductions were made, the learning began and Frill's nerves slowly dissipated.
Somehow, being surrounded by young children who were unfamiliar with learning made her feel important, needed, and useful.
She was happy, even if it was her first day.
As the moon rose and the night enveloped the sky, Obarihime sat in her bedroom and looked out her window, pouting and sighing heavily.
*"You eat like a pig, gossip with your whore of a friend and then cry to Masaki whenever things don't go your way."*
Akira's words were imprinted on her mind. She crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes, her chest hurting and eyes watering.
"I don't eat like a pig..." she muttered beneath her breath.
Then, she lifted her shirt and felt her stomach. It was flat, but from her perspective, it seemed she was putting on some weight, which began to worry her.
"I should stop eating this man's cooking. But, it really is good..."
She heard the door open from downstairs and she immediately closed the window, opened her bedroom door and walked downstairs.
"You're finally back. What's for dinner?" she asked.
"Huh? I'm not making dinner tonight. You are," retorted Akira as he removed his jacket and placed it on the hanger.
"Huh?"