"Do you understand now? There is no need for complex vocabulary in daily conversation. Don't many people in Japan end their sentences with simple phrases like 'That's truly amazing' or 'That's truly crazy'? The English word 'Really' is the equivalent of that 'Truly.' Kimura, give it a try."
"Re... Re-ally."
"Your pronunciation is dreadful. You've completely mixed up your Ls and Rs. As a linguist, I can understand you, but it sounds bizarre. Languages have their overlaps and differences, and Japanese people specifically struggle with the L and R distinction because their language doesn't differentiate between them. But even without that overlap, you must overcome this hurdle! From now on, I'll be strictly grading your pronunciation. Be prepared. Anyone who makes a mistake will receive a 'deep kiss' as a penalty in front of the whole class."
Bitch-sensei's lesson concluded.
Aside from her occasional eccentricities, the conversational techniques she teaches us—drawn directly from her career as a professional hitwoman—are incredibly practical.
I often find myself questioning when I'll ever need the Pythagorean theorem in real life, but that doubt never surfaces in Bitch-sensei's class.
Bitch-sensei. I had recently begun to think that teaching was her true calling. Little did anyone imagine that a significant crisis was about to befall her.
●○●○●
The following day, a strange sight greeted me at school.
Two professional assassins were targeting Mr. Karasuma.
One was our own Bitch-sensei, but I didn't recognize the other. Mr. Karasuma eventually clarified the situation for us.
the man's name was Lovro. A retired professional assassin, he had been the one to arrange Bitch-sensei's position here. Currently, he earns his living training assassins and brokering contracts.
Privately, I wondered if assassins really required brokers. It sounded like he was running a talent recruitment agency, just for killers.
However, when I asked why they were pursuing Mr. Karasuma, it turned out that Lovro had lost confidence in Bitch-sensei's abilities.
It made sense; she had recently started acting more like an educator than a cold-blooded contract killer.
"As Lovro says, Irina's strength lies in infiltration and deception. However, once her identity is compromised, she becomes an ordinary assassin with no added value. That is Lovro's verdict."
"Bitch-sensei... is she leaving the school?"
I heard the distressed voices of Kurahashi and Yada.
The two of them were particularly close to Bitch-sensei and found her lessons captivating, so their sadness was only natural.
Even I felt a pang of unease at the thought of her departure. While I initially viewed her as a mere criminal, she had genuinely become an excellent teacher. Even as a student, I could see that her instructional skills far surpassed those of the teachers in the main building.
Regardless of her teaching ability, the reason Lovro and Bitch-sensei were hunting Mr. Karasuma was simple: whoever succeeded in killing him would prove they were the superior assassin, earning the right to continue the mission against Koro-sensei.
"...Wait?"
A doubt crossed my mind.
Bitch-sensei is an assassin, yes, but she is also a Kunugigaoka Junior High employee.
Since we often forget this, the authority to hire or fire Class E teachers rests with Director Asano. Therefore, the final decision belongs neither to Lovro, nor Bitch-sensei, nor Mr. Karasuma, nor even Koro-sensei... it belongs to the Director.
I tucked that thought away as a potential lifeline for her if things grew dire.
"This is a nuisance, but it won't affect your lessons. Please carry on with your day as usual."
Mr. Karasuma truly suffers because of these people.
"Class is dismissed!"
"Thank you very much!"
PE class ended. At that exact moment, as if waiting for her cue, Bitch-sensei ran toward us with a forced, flirtatious sway, holding a water flask.
"Great job, everyone! You must be exhausted. Here, have a cold drink! Take a big gulp!"
Her goal was as clear as day.
This went beyond the concept of "to kill or not to kill." That drink undoubtedly contained some form of toxin.
Mr. Karasuma clearly reached the same conclusion; he shot her a sharp look and deftly stepped away.
"It's likely a muscle relaxant. You plan to stab me once I lose motor control. Let me be clear: I won't let you get that close to me in the first place."
"Then! I'll put it here, so drink it!"
Bitch-sensei's shoulders shook with obvious embarrassment. She placed the glass on the ground and decided to try the "clumsy girl" routine, faking a fall and wailing loudly.
"Ow! That hurts! Carry me on your back, Karasuma!"
"Good grief. Do you really think I'd fall for that?"
Mr. Karasuma sighed and walked away.
Our classmates, sympathizing with Bitch-sensei's failed attempt to target that flawless man, began to comfort her.
Meanwhile, I heard a voice behind me.
"Stupid pupil. She has brought shame upon me..."
I turned to find a man in the autumn of his life, radiating an aura that suggested he was far from ordinary.
"Who are you? Ah, excuse me, good day."
"Good day. I am Lovro. I assume you've heard the story? I am one of the assassins targeting Karasuma."
The assassin's manner of speaking was unexpectedly friendly and frank; he even introduced himself clearly.
Since he had identified himself, I felt obligated to return the courtesy. I straightened my posture and bowed slightly.
"I am Keiichi Nozaki. Bitch-sensei always looks after us."
"Nozaki? Ah. The boy mentioned in Karasuma's report. One of the few who destroyed a tentacle on his own. You also possess high tactical and leadership abilities."
"Oh... really?"
I felt a bit embarrassed. I hadn't realized Mr. Karasuma held me in such high regard. I would have to work even harder.
As I pondered this, Lovro asked a deep question.
"I want your honest opinion. Do you think Irina can kill Karasuma?"
"Impossible."
I answered instantly without thinking.
Let me be clear: I do not underestimate Bitch-sensei. On the contrary, I respect her immensely now.
In class, she simply tells us she learned languages as her job required, but such an achievement only comes through monumental effort.
I, who use "The Zone" to dilate time while studying, haven't been able to master a single language even a month after the exams. Thus, I can imagine how difficult it is to learn them in a short period.
I don't know exactly how "short" she means, but as someone who fails to master a language despite studying in "The Zone," I see Bitch-sensei as an incredibly hardworking person.
If I asked her how she learns so quickly, she would probably just say: "I learned them because I needed to."
Because I recognize that difficulty, I respect Bitch-sensei for treating it as a matter of course.
"Everyone has their own field of expertise."
However, everyone has strengths and weaknesses.
Predators fall into two categories: those who kill with fangs and claws, and those who weaken their prey with venom.
If I were to compare Bitch-sensei to them, she is the second type—the one who uses poison. A beautiful butterfly that appears harmless, slipping behind enemy defenses to strike with a lethal sting.
But her charm no longer works on us, nor on Mr. Karasuma, because we know she is a poisonous butterfly.
On the other hand, what about Mr. Karasuma?
Mr. Karasuma is undoubtedly the first type, killing with fangs and claws. He is a veteran combatant who has sharpened his senses and every fiber of his being. If I had to compare him to something, I would call him a dinosaur.
Can a butterfly kill a dinosaur? The answer is "no."
"I believe their compatibility is non-existent. Or did you teach Bitch-sensei close-quarters combat as well, Mr. Lovro?"
"No. Therefore, my answer matches yours."
Yes, it wasn't a matter of doubting her skills. Bitch-sensei had revealed all her cards as an assassin, while Mr. Karasuma himself was the "ultimate card." The problem was fundamental: their compatibility was terrible.
Perhaps if Bitch-sensei's identity remained unknown, she would have had a chance.
Maybe this is what Bitch-sensei meant by "the L and the R"—the fine line that determines whether she can continue her career.
●○●○●
During the lunch break.
I finished my meal early and went behind the school building to practice my knife swings as part of my physical training.
My imaginary opponent was, of course, Mr. Karasuma.
I entered "The Zone" and began visualizing his movements while swinging my knife continuously.
I am still getting used to that specific sensation of "The Zone," where it feels like I am moving my body through a viscous, solid liquid. It feels as though every swing takes an eternity.
"Your training is remarkably serious."
As soon as I finished, Lovro spoke to me. I hadn't noticed him, but he had apparently been watching.
"I want to be able to defeat Mr. Karasuma."
"Haha..."
Lovro laughed. Then, he showed me his left wrist, which was severely swollen.
"This is the result after I targeted him. I caught him completely by surprise, and yet, look what happened to me. Do you still wish to win against him? Do you even believe you can?"
"I do. Because I want to become strong like him."
I answered without hesitation. Lovro laughed a second time and shrugged.
"I wish I had a student like you."
I wasn't sure if he was joking. While I hesitated, Koro-sensei suddenly appeared behind Lovro with a large (X) mark on his face, carrying a black suitcase.
"This won't do, Mr. Lovro. He is my student, and I refuse any attempt to steal him."
"Heh, it was just a joke."
"And you too, Nozaki-kun! Betrayal is forbidden!"
"I didn't do anything of the sort."
I cut him off instinctively. Is there such a thing as "betrayal" between a student and a teacher? If so, I am loyal to Mr. Karasuma alone.
Koro-sensei's face returned to its normal color as he turned toward Lovro, pointing toward the school grounds.
"It seems Professor Irina is going to try again. Wouldn't you like to watch, Mr. Lovro?"
"The outcome is already known..."
He shrugged, yet he walked in the direction Koro-sensei indicated. They seemed to have a wonderful master-pupil relationship; he cared about her results despite everything.
Koro-sensei invited me along, so I followed them.
Separately, wasn't it about time I asked him about that suitcase he was carrying?
As I considered the question, Mr. Karasuma was opening his lunch. At that moment, Bitch-sensei launched her attack.
"That fool... I told her repeatedly that a direct attack is suicide."
It seemed Lovro himself had tried to convince her that a frontal assault was futile.
As I detected the disappointment in his voice, Koro-sensei opened the suitcase and showed it to Lovro.
"What is this...!"
Lovro's eyes widened in shock. He began watching Bitch-sensei with newfound intensity.
I looked at the contents: old, frayed wires, torn gym clothes, and a doll resembling Koro-sensei.
Based on the contents, I guessed these were the remnants of grueling "wire trap" training.
"I intentionally didn't teach her direct combat. Trained movements manifest in the subconscious, and since her assassination style relies on her femininity, those techniques would have been an unnecessary burden."
Lovro began discussing his educational philosophy for Bitch-sensei. However, his words felt strange to me.
Or rather, traditional teaching methods had started to feel strange since I began Koro-sensei's lessons.
So, I asked:
"Then, if she fails to kill in the first encounter... what is Bitch-sensei supposed to do?"
"Nyu-ru-fu-fu-fu, Nozaki-kun. It seems you fully understand the importance of the 'Second Dagger.' Yes, she has no defensive means if her first attempt fails. That is why she was struggling to overcome her weakness. This suitcase is tangible proof of her effort."
"Overcoming weaknesses, huh."
Before our eyes, a confrontation unfolded between Mr. Karasuma and Bitch-sensei. Or perhaps it couldn't be called a confrontation in the traditional sense.
Mr. Karasuma believed she had nothing left to offer but her body and relaxed slightly, while Bitch-sensei was hiding a "trump card." Once I understood the situation, I saw her opening.
Bitch-sensei removed her coat, whispering something as she circled behind Mr. Karasuma and the tree he was leaning against. She then approached from his left, flaunting her charms with artificial allure.
Mr. Karasuma sighed; perhaps his sigh held disappointment that this was all she had.
He placed his lunch on the ground and looked at her with indifference. At that moment, she struck.
Simultaneous with her movement, the coat she had discarded seconds ago suddenly rose, wrapping around Mr. Karasuma's leg and pulling him toward a tree branch.
Mr. Karasuma lost his balance.
It might have been the first time I ever saw him falter like that.
Bitch-sensei climbed on top of him to pin him down.
A look of victory flashed across her face, but that sense of achievement delayed her attack by a fraction of a second.
"D-damn! That was close!"
I heard Mr. Karasuma's anxious voice clearly. The knife stopped right in front of his face, and Bitch-sensei's attempt ultimately failed.
It was no use. Even with the advantage, the gap in physical ability was too vast. Her attack wouldn't land! In a contest of pure strength, she stood no chance.
But Bitch-sensei didn't give up, and Mr. Karasuma eventually yielded to her persistence. In the end, the attack seemed to have hit him (symbolically).
"Amazing..."
The word escaped me naturally.
I had become one of those people who ends their sentences with "That's truly amazing" or "That's truly crazy," just as Bitch-sensei had described.
"Her determination to face her weaknesses and overcome them is the best example for the students."
"Truly, she says that constantly. Yesterday, she told us: 'Don't run from difficulties; face them and triumph!'"
"Precisely. She will continue to face any obstacle in the future without fleeing. When the students see how she triumphs over adversity every time, they will learn the meaning of a challenge, and this will elevate every one of them as assassins."
Truly, as Koro-sensei says, seeing a teacher practice what they preach gives us students a feeling of "we can do it too." This teacher is far more worthy of trust than those who only offer empty words.
"For that reason, if you wish to kill me, her presence here is absolutely essential."
Koro-sensei said this to Lovro with a smile as Bitch-sensei approached us.
She looked like a child waiting for praise from her parents...
"Master..."
"Failure of a pupil. It seems staying as a teacher suits you better. Make sure you complete the mission and kill him, Irina."
"...! Understood! I certainly will, Master!"
A master who praises in a roundabout way, and a pupil loyal to the point of naivety.
──
"Father! I got a 100!"
"I see."
──
...No. Our relationship isn't like that. My father doesn't care about me at all...
──"You weren't looking at Miss Ritsu."
...No, that's wrong. I tried to look. The one who didn't look at me was my father.
I severed the train of thought that was drifting toward darkness.
In any case, Bitch-sensei's place in this class was secured. Everyone, including Kurahashi-san, felt happy. Let's leave it at that for now.
"I did it! Hohohoho!!"
Bitch-sensei danced with joy, and Lovro departed quietly. I watched them in silence.
●○●○●
To ensure I wouldn't lose to Bitch-sensei's determination, I continued my training with Mr. Karasuma after school today. Suddenly, he shared some unexpected news.
"Nozaki-kun. Soon, another transfer student will be joining you."
"Really?"
One problem ends, and another begins.
It seems peace will never visit our classroom.
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