Top Instructor of a Third-Rate Academy

Chapter 10

"Do you know why I quit being a knight 6 years ago? It's because those damn merchants were squirming, trying to secure a position in the royal court under the pretext of supplying weapons!"

Freutche spoke with an expression of unbearable agitation, as if he were acting.

"Who are we! Are we not the teachers of Akarind Academy! A teacher must have the dignity of a teacher! But to think of us as some kind of merchants!"

"I agree."

"Of course, I knew you'd say that!"

Freutche, who had served as the vice-captain of a small kingdom's knight order, retired from knighthood 6 years ago and came to this Akarind Academy.

My first impression was that he was a simple-minded, emotional teacher who often said unpleasant things.

But I don't dislike Freutche.

Going a little further, I'm quite fond of Freutche.

And that's because the only issues that got him worked up were those related to the students.

"They don't even know how to judge people! It's good for the students that someone like you, Cassian, is going to Class C! Tsk, I hope talented kids like Rozalin don't quit again, right?"

"I'll try my best."

"You think I don't know you're trying?! The problem is the result, the result! Swordsmanship is about talent! The bones, the muscles, the flexibility, everything has to be right! I've told you so many times, a clumsy person like you can't do it!"

It's a little heartbreaking when he sometimes criticizes me with strange words like 'oaf'.

But still, I could understand it if I thought that all such criticism was for the sake of the students and Akarind Academy.

Freutche crossed his arms and took a deep breath, "Tsk," as if trying to calm down.

With his short-sleeved attire and posture, his bulging muscles moved as if they were angry.

'From his forearms to his triceps, biceps... he's still training hard.'

Another reason I thought well of him.

He was a competent knight who was strict with himself and never neglected his training.

'Rozalin was wrong.'

The reason Freutche went out so little was because he devoted all that time to training.

The belief that only when one has honed their own abilities can they nurture their disciples.

That's why Instructor Freutche was quite popular with the students.

I was thinking of borrowing that very popularity.

"Which class are you in charge of this time?"

"I'm in Graduation Class B."

"Not Class A?"

"The department head went there. It's not just about skill, it's about those kids, you know. We need to establish discipline."

"Right."

"What do you need help with?"

"I'm going to create a swordsmanship textbook for the Basic Class C. Can you demonstrate it to the students once?"

"You made one?"

At my words, Freutche snorted and his eyes sparkled.

"About half. I didn't make it this time, it's something I've been working on, but I need to verify..."

"Then of course we have to try it! It's not just anyone, it's your swordsmanship, Cassian! Heh, finally! My long-cherished wish is coming true!"

Freutche's eyes sparkled like a child's as he swung his arms around.

It was to be expected.

This guy was competent.

Especially when it came to swordsmanship, he was competent enough to be in the top ten of the people I've met.

Freutche recognized my abilities at once, and after that, we started talking about swordsmanship.

He was the one who persuaded me to come to Akarind Academy.

"When?"

"Tonight. We need to verify the swordsmanship, so shall we meet at the training ground?"

"Sounds good!"

Freutche nodded his head as if he was pleased.

He seemed to have completely forgotten about the story of Avril he had been talking about just a moment ago.

"By the way, are you going to be okay?"

"Hmm?"

"Class C, I mean. They're all there, right?"

Them.

I quickly realized who Freutche's words were referring to.

He must be talking about the guys who bullied Pan the other day.

Those guys acted with impunity, backed by the authority of their noble fathers from the empire.

Their attitude in class was poor, they bullied the weaker students, and they had caused trouble in the town as well.

With guys like that, it was impossible for their evaluations and scores to be good.

Thanks to that, Class C had a structure of the law of the jungle, where the untalented students and those with terrible class attitudes were pitted against each other, with one side preying on the other.

"But I can't just give up."

Freutche smiled bitterly and patted my shoulder.

Thanks to his strength, my shoulder ached.

"Anyway, good luck. I think it's right for you to just do what you're good at, but I do appreciate your single-minded determination to teach the students."

"Just that one thing?"

At my words, Freutche didn't answer but burst out laughing, "Hahaha," and disappeared to his lecture.

I watched his back for a moment, then stood up.

Let's go, I have to teach.

* * *

With the change to A, B, and C, the classroom assignments also changed.

Class A, with its increased focus on practical classes and individual instruction, had a large seminar room near the training ground converted into a classroom.

It was said that high-end desks and chairs were brought in, as well as magical tools for lectures.

Above all, the teaching staff was splendid.

The captain of the Goldline Merchant Guild's escort was appointed as the instructor for Basic Class A.

'A talent comparable to the Imperial Palace Knights.'

The Goldline Merchant Guild supplies military goods to the empire.

Because of that, riffraff can't even get a foot in the door.

To be the captain of such an escort means to be on the level of a centurion of the Imperial Palace Knights.

A superhuman among superhumans who could take on more than a hundred knights on his own.

"Woooow—!"

Gasps of admiration erupted from the students gathered in the training ground.

Class B used pretty much the same space as before.

The problem was Class C.

'This is harsh.'

Class C was assigned to an annex located at the rear of the Akarind Academy main building.

This annex was the old main building used when Akarind Academy was first established 60 years ago.

But the facilities were so old and worn out that it was being used as a warehouse.

Perhaps because it was where various supplies were kept, there was a faint musty smell.

It seemed they had cleaned it, judging by the fact that they had cleared out all the luggage and brought in desks, albeit clumsily.

"Wow, isn't this really too much?"

"Are they discriminating against us like this? They're just pushing us to quit the academy. Should I just snitch to my father?"

"Don't. I heard Goldline did this."

"Why on earth did a merchant guild like that come here?"

"I hear they're connected to Instructor Cassian..."

"So the instructor is the one who put us here?"

The soundproofing was not good, and the students' voices came through the window frame.

Their voices were as clear as if I were listening right next to them.

And these sounds would probably carry from the hallway to the classroom.

With the sound of footsteps, the students' voices gradually died down.

When I entered the classroom, there was no noise, only the gazes directed at me.

The small children were looking at me resentfully.

'Avril, really...'

The resentful gazes of those young students hurt.

I forced myself to lift my spirits and stood in front of the students, opening my mouth.

No, I was about to.

"Instructor. Are we being abandoned?"

"Isn't Akarind Academy pushing us to drop out?"

"Do you know how much tuition we pay? We didn't come here to be treated like this!"

"Everyone, be quiet. I'll explain."

The students' complaints began all at once.

There was no one leading it.

Because they all had complaints.

"Everyone, it's not like that, so it's okay."

"It's not okay! Look at this building! It's smelly and dirty!"

"Even my horse doesn't live like this!"

You live quite luxuriously, don't you?

I stood still and waited for the students' complaints to continue to pour out.

No matter how many complaints they had, they were still in the introductory class, 14 and 15-year-old students.

There wasn't much they could do other than vent their complaints like this.

Sure enough, after about 5 minutes, the students' voices died down.

It seemed they were embarrassed that I wasn't reacting to their complaints.

When the surroundings became completely quiet.

I looked around at the students.

"This is the old building of Akarind Academy. The graduates of Akarind learned in this building for 45 years."

"In a place like this?"

"Yes. As such, there are more things hidden here than you think. From the love records of the seniors to the hidden legends of this school. And..."

I paused for a moment to draw the students' attention.

The anger in the students' eyes gradually faded, and curiosity filled them.

"Even the treasures left by our predecessors."

"Hey, what treasures!"

The delinquents who led the atmosphere in Class C scoffed as if they didn't believe it.

But that was only a minority opinion.

"So, today's first class is an exploration of the old building. I'll give you two hours, so look around the old building and bring back a secret that others haven't discovered. I'll give a prize to the person who brings back the biggest secret. The 2nd and 3rd floors have other grades, so you should only search the 1st floor and the garden. Now, begin!"

"Uh, uh-huh!"

With my 'begin' signal, the students shouted "Waa—" and rushed out.

The three delinquents who had scoffed as soon as my story began were flustered, "Uh, uh," and left the classroom late.

The expressions on their faces as they last left the room were a mix of annoyance and curiosity.

The classroom, now empty of students.

I sat down in the teacher's chair by the podium and took a breather.

'I've bought a day's time like this.'

Of course, I didn't send the students out just to kill time.

It was a measure to make the students feel an attachment to the old building and create meaning.

'From a space to a place.'

By changing the space of the old building into a place with many memories and history, a place where secret treasures might be hidden, I would foster attachment.

At the same time, it was important to form a rapport with the students who were likely to dislike me.

'I'm finally using what I learned in my education class back in the academy.'

Until now, I was just an instructor in charge of swordsmanship education.

I didn't like most of Avril's policies, but there was one thing.

I liked that I could become a full-fledged homeroom teacher of a class and be responsible for their education.

'If I build trust well, the education will also progress further.'

Of course, I wasn't going to rely on this alone.

I was planning to push Freutche a bit tonight under the pretext of basic swordsmanship theory.

'I'll teach him all the swordsmanship of the A-class students. And I'll teach our class kids how not to lose to that kind of swordsmanship.'

It's nearly impossible for these kids to win against the A-class students.

But what if they simply don't lose and manage a draw?

And what if, by a stroke of luck, one of the A-class students makes a mistake?

No matter how outstanding the basic A-class is, they couldn't surpass Freutche.

So if Freutche wields a more advanced swordsmanship, and our class students adapt to it.

'One of them might be able to win.'

The problem is Freutche coming into our class, but it should be fine if I can somehow adjust the class time.

We could also prepare a spar with the Graduation Class B that Freutche is in charge of to build up their practical skills.

It was when I was thinking that.

Knock, knock.

Is someone back already?

As I thought that and looked at the main door, I saw a small boy standing there, looking around.

"Pan?"

Pan, who was assigned to the basic A-class, came to me with an expression that looked like he was about to burst into tears.

"Instructor..."

"What's wrong? Isn't it the middle of the A-class lesson right now?"

"...Well, can you teach me swordsmanship?"

"Huh?"

"An A-class student can ask any teacher in the school for instruction... so that's possible for you too, right, instructor?"

"No, I'm in the middle of a class right now..."

Pan's eyes swept over the empty classroom.

Ahem, I am definitely in the middle of a class.

Just as I was about to get up to soothe Pan and send him back.

"The new teacher in Class A won't teach me anything... Please help me."

At Pan's next words, it felt as if flames were erupting from my eyes.