Arkham Academy was more or less the same as the regular academies in Xiye’s memory.
Due to some preconceived notions, she had even thought the décor here would be dark and terrifying.
While waiting for class to begin, Xiye sat at the podium and opened her lesson plan, watching the morning sunlight spill across the desks through the window.
What a comfortable and peaceful moment this was.
But can someone tell me…
Why is Yukino here!
Maintaining a stiff smile, Xiye lifted her head from the lesson plan and looked toward the white-haired girl sitting in the last row of the classroom. The latter’s pale blue eyes blinked, as if asking curiously:
“Is there a problem?”
Of course there’s a problem!
Aren’t you supposed to be part of the Night Parade of a Hundred Demons? How did you even get in here?
Gatekeeper, where’s the Gatekeeper? Gatekeeper, help!
Sadly, the Gatekeeper couldn’t hear her cry for help, and even if he could, he definitely wouldn’t be able to defeat Miss Snow Woman—after all, the Gatekeeper was just a Salted Fish.
Yes, a genuine Salted Fish.
Looking at the evil god students gradually flooding into the classroom, Xiye realized that most of the students weren’t even humanoid. Like the Gatekeeper, they were Salted Fish with arms and legs, able to stand upright and walk. The main way to tell them apart was by their outfits and fish scales; for example, the Gatekeeper was a trout wearing a security cap and shoulder badge.
Besides these, there were a few marine creatures like Octopus, Starfish, Sponge, and Eel.
It was a bizarre scene, but fortunately, Xiye had seen her share of storms—compared to those indescribable beings in her memory, these big-eyed seafood creatures before her even seemed a little cute.
The students were extremely curious about the new teacher at the podium. They whispered to one another, and for a moment the classroom was filled with “gulu gulu” and “popopo” sounds.
This situation came to an abrupt halt when footsteps echoed from the doorway, as if everyone was afraid of whoever those footsteps belonged to.
Xiye could naturally sense the suddenly tense atmosphere, so she turned her gaze to the door and saw two figures entering, one after the other.
“New teacher? Ha! I bet she’s just like the others—some weak, useless small fry. Huhu…!”
The one in front had barely stepped in before making a very disrespectful declaration.
Xiye looked her over:
She was a little loli, not even 1.5 meters tall, with short dark blue hair and pale blue highlights on the inside. Her eyes, matching her hair color, had pentagram-shaped pupils. Her chest was utterly flat, and the reason it was so obvious was because, aside from a cloak that looked as if it were torn straight from the starry sky, this child wasn’t wearing anything at all—not even underwear.
A light breeze lifted the cloak, and Xiye not only caught a glimpse of spring scenery but also saw that beneath the cloak was crammed full of blinking eyes, enough to trigger anyone’s trypophobia.
She dropped her gaze, glancing at her vibrating phone screen:
“Kesusu, student number No.00025, Academy: Arkham, code name: ‘Cthulhu.’”
“Susu, teacher’s here?”
The girl behind Kesusu spoke.
“Huang Xiaoyi, student number No.00052, Academy: Arkham, code name: ‘Hastur.’”
Huang Xiaoyi was a bit taller, still loli-like, with long golden hair flowing like molten gold. The hair on both sides was braided into twin plaits resting on her shoulders, each tied at the end with a tiny white bow.
Her golden eyes had triangular pupils. She wore a pure white camisole dress and matching loafers. Her calm, restrained aura was a sharp contrast to the lively Kesusu beside her.
And as for development, she was clearly ahead of Kesusu—the white fabric showed a hint of flesh tone, enticing as crystal shrimp dumplings.
Ah, all old acquaintances~
Xiye withdrew her gaze and savored these two familiar names in her heart:
Cthulhu, Hastur… Heh…
Back when she was still an Investigator, she’d crossed paths with these two many times. The results were:
Cthulhu was severely wounded by her yacht and then sealed away;
Hastur, when she transformed into the King in Yellow, was ambushed with a Sacred Relic called the Book of the Shepherd and also sealed.
If it hadn’t been for that sudden explosion in human technology and magic a few decades ago, there really wouldn’t have been much anyone could do against these two evil gods.
But there are no “what ifs.” After sealing them away, Xiye thought she’d never have to deal with the pair again in this lifetime. Who would’ve thought…
Ten years ago, you were evil gods, and I was a legendary Investigator.
Ten years later, we’re all beautiful girls.
What a twisted fate—damn it!
If they ever found out my true identity, I wonder what expressions they’d make?
…Kind of looking forward to it?
“Huh? Xiaoyi, don’t look down on me. So what if the teacher’s here? She’s just a small fry anyway—no way she could beat me, right?”
With that, Kesusu’s scornful gaze fell on Xiye.
“……”
Xiye could clearly feel Kesusu’s eyes run all over her face, finally locking firmly onto her “Big White Rabbits.”
“Grr…!” Kesusu let out a dissatisfied grumble.
“You’ve already lost, Susu.” Huang Xiaoyi tugged her cloak. “Come on, let’s get back to our seats. Class is about to start.”
“Wait!”
Kesusu yanked her cloak back, her bare, fair little feet making a “pat-pat” sound as she stomped up to the podium in just a few steps, coming to stand in front of Xiye.
“What’s your name?”
Standing, she was about eye-level with Xiye seated, but she still lifted her small face, arms crossed, striking a haughty pose.
“Hello, Kesusu, my name is Xiye. Starting today, I’ll be your teacher.” Xiye, keeping with her professional principles, responded in a gentle tone.
“Xiye? Hmph… No, wait—how do you know my name?” Kesusu glared at her.
Xiye smiled slightly:
“It’s a teacher’s duty to know the basic information about every student, you know?”
“Tch, putting on airs. Fine, whatever, you… Xiye…”
With a light hop, Kesusu leaped right onto the podium.
“Heave-ho!”
Just as Xiye wondered what this child was up to, Kesusu suddenly stuck her little foot right up to Xiye’s mouth:
“I’ll give you a chance—lick my foot, and I’ll consider you my dog.”
As she spoke, Kesusu wiggled her soft, boneless-looking foot in front of her.
“From now on, I’ll look after you in this academy. How’s that, small fry teacher?”
She put on a classic bratty-girl smirk, leaned back, and from beneath her cloak, several thick, deep-purple tentacles sprouted—each thicker than her slim waist.
Oozing viscous slime, these tentacles sprawled across the podium, forming a massive throne. Kesusu fit perfectly in its center.
Seeing Xiye unmoved, Kesusu pursed her lips, raised her brows:
“Hm? Cat got your tongue? The small fry teacher’s gone mute—heh, what a small fry♡ small fry♡~ Wah—!”
Before she could finish, Xiye shot up from her chair with a “whoosh,” smiling as she grabbed Kesusu’s ankle and, without any effort, yanked her down from her tentacle throne.