Top Instructor of a Third-Rate Academy

Chapter 8

"Quit the academy? What are you suddenly talking about..."

I asked back, flustered, but Avril didn't answer.

Instead, he pointed a finger at me as if in disbelief and looked at Rozalin.

"Is this guy really the great master Pan was talking about?"

Great mas...

"Tsk, why are you pointing your finger at my instructor? Wanna die?"

"Didn't you say he was smart? The most excellent master in this world. And yet his head is full of flowers like this."

"If you say that one more time, I don't give a damn about the demons, you'll die by my hands."

Rozalin, didn't you say just a few minutes ago that you called Avril to protect me?

"Wait, just a minute, Rozalin."

"Yes!"

Rozalin smiled sweetly and looked at me.

It was a smile where only her lips were curled up, just like when she looked at Freutche.

She was in full combat stance, looking genuinely angry.

"Hey, don't you think it would be better to hear why he's talking like that?"

"No, so why are you letting these guys who talk strange things to you get away with it! It'll make you sick, I'm telling you! If you get sick, your faith in humanity disappears, and if your faith in humanity disappears, education collapses, the country collapses, and the world is destroyed!"

I gently pushed aside Rozalin, who was thrashing about as if she was about to lie on the floor and throw a tantrum.

Avril, who was watching this, swept his hair back with his hand.

Bright yellow eyes, hidden among the gray hair, were directed at me.

They were very cold, inorganic, and calculating eyes.

"Instructor. This world has been destroyed once."

I already know that from Rozalin.

"And we are going to save the world."

I already know that from Rozalin, too.

"You have a talent, Instructor."

That too, from Rozalin...

"So why are you wasting your time in a shithole academy in this countryside?"

Just one thing.

This was the only thing I hadn't heard from Rozalin.

"Your talent, Instructor, is a hero-maker. You create monsters like Pan. But how many people here have the makings of such a hero?"

His expression was calm, but there was a clear annoyance in his tone.

"Is there anyone here who acknowledges you? On the contrary, didn't you die in vain here, unable to even display your talent?"

Even Rozalin, beside him, was nodding her head, "Hmm, hmm," in agreement with Avril's words.

"So quit the academy and prepare for a journey. We have information and money. I will present before you the many talented people who made a name for themselves in the future. I will also provide the optimal conditions for education."

That offer.

Was terrible.

"I'm not going."

"..."

As my words ended, Avril's eyebrow twitched.

It was the most intense reaction he had shown since we met.

"You don't seem to understand the situation."

"No. I understood. You, you're telling the truth."

No matter how he tried to hide his expression, I could tell.

The unwavering pupils as he looked at me and spoke. The rhythm of his breath, as if annoyed, as if asking why I couldn't understand. From his arrogant posture to the light gestures of his hands and feet that moved with sincerity.

That's why I hated it even more.

"If I go there, I have to abandon the students here."

"So?"

"And I would have to abandon the people of this town as well. If Rozalin is right, in a year, demons will appear here. And everyone here will die."

Avril nodded his head as if he understood.

"I will send an instructor to replace you here. I will also station a mercenary corps that can handle evacuation and interception when the demons attack."

"I don't think it's a problem that can be solved with that."

Rozalin had introduced Avril as being quick with calculations but having a shitty personality.

I could definitely see what she meant.

This person thought of everything in the world as an equivalent exchange.

If you receive one, you give one.

And he designs the most efficient path for the world.

"Is that wrong?"

There were no people in it.

"At the academy, there are students who have trusted me. I am teaching them with a sense of mission. I cannot break that promise."

I know, too.

This is a foolish thing to say.

I also know that the method Avril mentioned is rational.

But that was the perspective of a merchant looking at the world, not the perspective of a teacher.

"Ridiculous. We have to entrust our future to a person like this?"

As if he knew my stubbornness, Avril sighed.

"Since you don't seem to be able to make a proper judgment of the situation, I'll have to force you..."

"What kind of bullshit are you trying to pull?"

Avril's hand was caught in mid-air by Rozalin.

I hadn't even realized that Avril had reached out his hand towards me.

What if Rozalin hadn't been there?

Something would have happened to me against my will.

Rozalin didn't just grab Avril's hand.

She held his hand with her left, and with her right, she had a sword drawn at some point, aimed at Avril's neck.

Avril looked quite surprised.

"...You have two hands."

"Killer, right? I'm still adjusting, so if you do anything stupid, I might not be able to control my strength and just kill you."

That was said with sincerity.

It was a statement that truly implied she could kill the heir of the Goldline Merchant Guild at any moment.

A war between the Vürhelm and Goldline families, prestigious noble houses of the empire...?

A war of immense scale might break out.

Fortunately, Avril meekly withdrew his hand.

Rozalin stared at Avril, then took a step in front of me, crossed her arms with a "Hmph," and said.

"I'm on our teacher's side!"

"You've grown lazy after meeting the person who was always singing the praises of the instructor here."

"Ahem, hey! When did I ever sing his praises! Anyway! It's not like he's wrong. Who said this place is a shithole and a third-rate school? Did you forget who's here?"

"You mean Pan."

"And strictly speaking, I'm also from this school! This place isn't that bad, you know?"

The girl who, just in the faculty room, had talked about quitting because she didn't like the instructor...

"And how do you know how the future will unfold to be doing something strange? You and I have had many experiences. But we don't know the future, and we don't know what it means to return to the past."

"Do you believe that destiny will change just by changing this academy?"

"You're the one who believes that, that's why you're trying to take him. What if Pan goes to the capital after the instructor leaves and becomes lazy? Or what if the instructor's abilities diminish after teaching somewhere other than Akarind Academy?"

"That's a sophism. If such a small gesture could bring about a huge storm, then you shouldn't be playing house like this either."

"Let's minimize it, minimize. And above all."

Rozalin grinned.

"I'm a good disciple, so I don't want to make my instructor do something he doesn't want to do."

"You're crazy."

"Now that we've had our reunion, right? Avril. So let's stop the jokes and talk."

And in that moment, Rozalin's expression turned serious.

"Know your place and just do your job, Avril."

For a moment, I felt as if the temperature around me had dropped.

"Just because a penny-pinching bastard who dabbled in money-making survived until the end and was treated like a hero for once, you're acting as you please. I said it before. You'll die by my hands. Does it sound like a joke? Did you forget my personality?"

Avril, who was staring at her, took a step back.

He didn't seem particularly scared.

It was a strategic retreat, or a compromise, without any emotional fluctuation.

"...I'll come tomorrow."

Avril turned and slowly walked out of the academy.

Rozalin, watching him, grumbled as if she was displeased.

"Shady bastard."

"Is this really okay?"

"It's fine. That guy, even though he looks sulky like that, he's a kid who grasps what needs to be done very coldly and moves. And he's not a stupid guy, so he probably understood what I said. By the way."

Rozalin looked at me.

Unlike when Avril was there, her expression had changed vividly.

It was an expression of regret, but there was no trace of the sharp-edged fighting spirit from a moment ago.

"So I'm leaving tomorrow!"

"To the House of Marquis Vürhelm... it'll be about two weeks round trip."

"A month? Or a little later. There's a lot I need to gather."

Rozalin said that and then started listing off materials that sounded like they came from myths, like Mandragora and Orichalcum.

"Since it's come to this, I'll bring them all and give them to you before the other guys get them. It'll take some time to take care of everything while I'm out."

"Can you come back?"

The problem was the Marquis Vürhelm himself.

He had heard that she had dropped out of school and was doing something like being a guard captain.

It was highly likely that he would immediately confine Rozalin to her home and proceed with punishment.

'...'

Rozalin's story about her arm also bothered me.

"It's fine! Well, it's obvious what they'll be doing. If I know and go, it can all be resolved. I'll go and bring back a lot of helpful things!"

If that's the case.

I nodded my head.

"Alright. I'll trust you."

"Oh?"

Rozalin's expression went blank.

"Why?"

"You'll believe me that easily?"

"I have to trust my student."

Because that's what a teacher does.

At my answer, Rozalin stared at me, then turned her head with a slightly flushed face, "Ahem."

It seemed like a slight smile was on her lips.

"Come to think of it, the story Avril mentioned earlier about singing the praises of the instructor..."

"OHCOMETOTHINKOFITIMADEAHANDMAIDENFROMVÜRHELMWAITSHESPROBABLYINTHEGUARDROOMSTEALINGOURACADEMY'SSECURITYINFORMATIONLEFTANDRIGHT!FORTHEDUTYOFAGUARDCAPTAINIGOTTAGORIGHTAWAYINSTRUCTOR-NIMSEEYOUINAMONTH!"

Rozalin left behind a scream-like message and disappeared into the distance in an instant.

She was so fast that it was difficult to even follow her with the naked eye.

That girl, is she still hiding something from me?

Ding-dong―!

In the meantime, it seemed that the class period had ended once.

Oh no, I barely prepared for the next class.

I hurriedly returned to the faculty room to prepare for the class.

* * *

Starting today, Rozalin is gone.

It's only been three days, but maybe because each day was so stormy.

I felt a little sad.

"Cassian!"

As soon as I opened the door to the faculty room, the huge Instructor Freutche strode towards me.

Is he here for revenge for being humiliated by Rozalin yesterday?

Just in case, I deployed my vision to be able to dodge Instructor Freutche's punches or kicks.

Since he was from the Royal Knights, Freutche's movements were concise and orthodox.

So if he swings his hand, I'll unconventionally bend my body back...

"Go-go-Goldline! Why on earth you?!"

But Freutche had called me for a completely different reason.

Freutche pointed outside the faculty room.

"The chairman's office, hurry, quickly!"

No way.

Just in case, I headed to the chairman's office.

Could it be that as soon as Rozalin disappeared, Avril submitted my resignation or stormed into the chairman's office to scout me?

Knock, knock.

"Chairman. It's Cassian."

When I entered the chairman's office, Avril was indeed there.

Unlike yesterday, he had taken off his robe and was wearing a red tunic embroidered with gold thread, and from his crossed legs to his posture, he was arrogant beyond measure.

And it suited him very well, it was obvious he was born into wealth.

"Ooh, Cassian! Has the sage of our academy arrived?"

But something is strange.

The atmosphere...?

"You, what is your relationship with Goldline? The Goldline Merchant Guild has decided to officially sponsor our academy's education! And they've specifically chosen you as the person in charge!"

Me?

I looked at Avril.

Avril was smiling as if to say, 'Let's see what you do.'

It was definitely the smile of someone who was plotting something.