—————————————————————–
Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Yuziro
—————————————————————–
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
He waited patiently in the classroom for the students to arrive. While he preferred an outdoor setting for his class…
“Outdoor classes are not permitted on the first day. It’s established practice that even for other outdoor classes, the first session is held indoors.”
Hines’s tone left no room for argument.
What could a special professor do when the headmaster invoked school regulations?
But why was the old man still lingering by his side…?
“Are you certain about the course content?”
Hines’s worried tone revealed his true concern. He’d already signed the syllabus; why the second thoughts? He suppressed his annoyance and nodded politely.
“Yes. Having spent my life on the battlefield, this is all I can teach.”
“But isn’t it too dangerous…?”
Why the persistent worry?
Did he doubt his teaching ability?
Did he think the curriculum was absurd?
If he truly believed it was unsuitable, he wouldn’t have signed the syllabus in the first place.
He decided to be direct.
“What exactly are you worried about? Stop using the students as an excuse and ask what you really want to know. I’ll answer if I can.”
“Hmm…”
Hines stroked his white beard, lost in thought, then snapped his fingers.
He felt a distinct ‘energy’ envelop the classroom.
From experience, he knew this was the manifestation of magic.
“…A soundproofing spell. It prevents sound from traveling through. I assure you, it wasn’t meant as a threat. Now, would you mind removing your ‘hand’?”
His fingertips rested against Hines’s throat.
If he had sensed even a hint of hostility from Hines, if he had been even a moment slower to realize this wasn’t a battlefield, his hand would have already pierced the old man’s throat.
It was a form of PTSD.
If his thoughts moved first, he died.
If his body moved first, the opponent died.
The battlefield was a place of constant tightrope walking, every day, every hour, every minute, every second.
He slowly withdrew his hand, noting Hines’s calm words and the single bead of sweat trickling down his face.
“My apologies. I’m still adjusting. Please refrain from using magic silently within my ‘range’.”
The Archbishop of Pride, Alba, disguised as a professor.
He’d thought he was fine because his ‘thoughts’ had taken precedence, even after witnessing Alba’s unsettling dark magic… but it seemed it would take a long time to break free from this tightrope walk.
“Haha, it’s been a while since I’ve been under such direct threat.”
“Again, I apologize.”
“Not at all. It was my mistake. How could I forget how threatening magic can be to a soldier who’s been away from the battlefield for less than a month?”
Hines chuckled and glanced at the clock on the wall. “We’re short on time, so I’ll be quick.”
“Go ahead.”
“Is the war… not over yet?”
Hines’s tone suggested he held a certain conviction. Meeting his serious gaze, he carefully chose his words, maintaining a poker face despite his inner turmoil.
Why this question? Did Hines know something?
He… knew nothing, right?
Perhaps his mentor, one of the twelve Zodiac Knights, would know, but why ask him?
“…The war is over.”
He answered truthfully, based on what he knew. Even if there was something he was unaware of, he couldn’t claim knowledge he didn’t possess.
“If I can’t trust the words of someone who was at the forefront of the war, who can I trust?”
Hines studied his face intently, then nodded slowly. He concealed his thoughts and asked.
“Did you hear something somewhere?”
“No. Where would this old man hear such things? I merely asked out of concern, given the nature of your class.”
“I see…”
Hines chuckled and said as he headed out of the classroom, “I hope many students attend your lectures. It’s a rare opportunity.”
Thump
Only after the door closed did he remember something. The academy, like the universities of his past life, allowed students to choose their courses.
Furthermore, classes taught by special professors weren’t mandatory and offered minimal credits.
“Surely… no one will show up, right?”
According to school regulations, a minimum number of students had to register for a class to proceed. Five for the Royal Class, ten for regular students.
If this condition wasn’t met, the class would be…
“Cancelled… wasn’t it?”
Of course, as a special professor, even if his class was cancelled, he could simply propose another. The problem was, he couldn’t submit the same syllabus.
If this class was cancelled, he had nothing else to teach.
“……”
A cold sweat ran down his back.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
“Are you really going to take this class, Amy? Shouldn’t you reconsider?”
Ariana, her dark blue hair swirling around her, pleaded with the girl with flaming red hair. Amy frowned and pushed her away.
“If you don’t want to take it, then leave. Stop clinging to me, it’s annoying.”
“That’s mean. How could you do this to me?”
Amy frowned even more at Ariana’s feigned crying.
“Don’t be disgusting and shut up.”
“Why do you suddenly want to take this class? You never take these kinds of classes.”
The competition for grades in the Royal Class was fierce, often decided by a single point. Taking a class with minimal credits and unknown content was unlike Amy, who prioritized grades above all else.
“Sigh…”
Ariana was right. She didn’t particularly want to take this class. But she was going because of her brother.
“Professor Allen was Eil’s superior officer.”
“Eil? Your brother? The one who spent ten years on the battlefield? You still call your brother by his name? Ah, that’s not important.”
Ariana’s amethyst eyes widened. So, Allen was a soldier too? She muttered in surprise, “A soldier as a special professor…?”
“That’s what I’m curious about.”
“I can see why he’s teaching this class. He’s the real deal, isn’t he?”
Ariana’s interest was finally piqued.
Survival techniques against savages, taught by a war veteran. It was the kind of material that would become an instant bestseller if published.
“If he was his superior officer, your brother must know him well. What kind of person is he?”
“Hmm…”
Amy recalled Eil, who had recently returned home from the hospital.
“Someone who deserves happiness, he said.”
“…What does that even mean?”
Amy simply shrugged at Ariana’s confused expression. “That’s what I said too. He just laughed. He laughed for a long time, then… he said he’s a ‘hero’.”
“I think I understand why you’re taking this class.”
“Right?”
She would have wanted to meet him herself. Someone whom a Duke’s son wouldn’t hesitate to call a ‘hero’. Ariana’s curiosity soared.
“If I don’t like it, I’ll just drop it.”
“Well, that’s true.”
With that, the two girls opened the door to the classroom where Allen awaited.
“Please, have a seat. We still have about three minutes before class starts.”
Allen looked at them with a hint of relief. Puzzled, Amy glanced around the classroom.
“Over here! There’s space here~!”
Sena Eos called out with a bright smile.
“……”
And a few other students scattered throughout the room. Amy and Ariana quietly took seats near Sena. As soon as they sat down, Sena whispered, “I didn’t expect you two to take this class.”
Ariana quickly responded.
“Why are you taking it?”
What need did a Saintess have for ‘Survival Techniques Against Savages’? Even if she participated in the war, she would be treated with utmost care in the rear.
Sena smiled brightly, as always. “Because I’m curious. I’m curious about what kind of person he is, what kind of class he’ll teach, what exactly survival techniques are! And most of all, he’s handsome!”
“…Right, that’s who you are.”
Ariana facepalmed, as if regretting asking. She’d forgotten that Sena, with her innocent and inquisitive nature, was the eccentric who took every class.
Of course, aside from her major courses, there weren’t many classes Sena continued after the first session, but still…
“Sigh.”
Amy shook her head, looking at the two as if they were a comedy duo.
“Well then… shall we begin?”
As the clock struck noon, Allen stepped up to the lectern. He glanced over the students, took a deep breath, and began.
“The class I’ll be teaching…”
Just then, the classroom door opened.
“I apologize for being late.”
A beautiful girl with a calm demeanor entered the room.
“If you haven’t started yet…”
Shimmering silver hair. Crimson eyes that shone like the setting moon. Skin so white and clear that the phrase ‘snow skin and flower face’ seemed fitting.
Her name was Lux Stella Sirius.
“May I join the class?” The Empire’s princess had arrived.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
‘It won’t be cancelled.’
He felt relieved as he watched the students trickle in.
From ordinary students not on the VIP list to those from the Royal Class.
The familiar faces were, of course, the Royal Class students. Reinhardt, Sena, and the late arrivals, Amy and Ariana.
They were all Royal Class students and on the VIP list.
Come to think of it, why was Reinhardt on the VIP list? If it was because he was in the Royal Class, why weren’t the other Royal Class members listed?
‘Well, whatever.’
VIP or not, as long as they were his students, he would do his best to teach them.
However, he was slightly disappointed that there were only nine students, even though it was almost time for class to start. Still, with four Royal Class students, one short shouldn’t be a problem, right?
He glanced at the clock and stepped up to the lectern.
“Well then… shall we begin?”
Since it was the first day, he planned to keep it simple: a brief introduction and an overview of the course structure. The first lecture was traditionally an orientation.
“The class I’ll be teaching…”
Just as he was about to speak, the classroom door opened.
“I apologize for being late.”
The student who made a grand, protagonist-like entrance was the Empire’s most precious jewel, Lux Stella Sirius, the very person he’d hoped to avoid.
“If you haven’t started yet…”
She entered the classroom, her every step exuding a regal air that commanded attention.
“May I join the class?”
Lux asked, stepping closer.
Her voice held a strange magic.
He was hearing it for the first time, yet it felt strangely familiar. Where could he have possibly heard the voice of the Empire’s princess…?
“Professor?”
Snapping out of his thoughts, he met Lux’s gaze. Ruby-like eyes, a faint peach blush on her cheeks, and red lips. He quickly regained his composure.
“Ah, yes. Of course. Thank you for joining us. Please, have a seat.”
She had managed to catch him off guard, a veteran of countless battles.
“Thank you.”
She chose a seat in the very back row, right in the center. The highest point, the center. As expected of someone of noble blood, she carried herself differently.
“Now then, I believe everyone is here…”
He waited a moment longer, just in case, but sensed no other presence. He surveyed his students, a faint smile playing on his lips.
“Shall we begin?”
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
