Chapter 578
Chapter 578
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 578
Chapter Title: I Became the Academy's Sex Ed Professor (4)
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G... Guts to endure being raped? Is that even something a professor should say?
My face burned hot at Jillian Ludwig's absurd nonsense. Even if that man was a war hero, this was... this was sexual harassment! I felt like an idiot for being so impressed by his last lecture. Who would've thought he'd pull something this outrageous on the very first day!
Fuming, I shot up from my seat right then and there.
I planned to storm straight to the chairman's office and report Ludwig.
"Rosemary Ardina, where do you think you're going?"
"Hmph! Don't try to stop me!"
"I have no intention of stopping you. But if you abandon this class now, you'll get penalty points."
"Hmph! Shouldn't you be the one getting penalty points, Professor?!"
"...What do you mean by that?"
"Sexual harassment on the first day of class—that's 100 penalty points!"
"Sexual harassment?"
"That's right! Guts to endure being raped... What else would you call that?!"
"I see. So you've judged that as sexual harassment? Truly befitting the academy's bottom-ranked student. Or is jumping to conclusions a tradition of the Ardina family? When doubts arise, you shouldn't lash out in anger first—you need to grasp the other person's intent. That's basic noble etiquette."
"...W-What did you just say?!"
"Let me turn the question back on you. Do I strike you as someone so lacking in intellect that I'd sexually harass an academy student in an official setting? If I did, I'd be fired from Glorious Academy at minimum, and I'd lose my Medal of Honor too. Do you really think I seem that foolish?"
"T-That..."
Wait... Am I the one who's wrong here?
Jillian Ludwig's demeanor was far too confident. He'd dropped the word "rape" in the middle of class, yet his expression and tone were utterly calm. He looked so serious, like it was perfectly natural to question something like that. My heart shrank in response.
"Anna Hilts, what do you think? Was that question sexual harassment?"
"Uh... um... Well? I don't think it quite rises to harassment."
"Sion Ernst, and you?"
"I'm not sure."
"'Not sure' isn't an option. Did you judge it as sexual harassment?"
"No."
Ugh, so sneaky!
So incredibly sneaky!
They thought it was harassment too!
Just look at them weaseling out of it!
Don't you nobles have any pride?!
Fine, Anna Hilts might get a pass as mid-tier nobility, but Sion Ernst! You're supposed to be on my side! Hogging all of Ernst's... and Lucius's affection! And you're submitting to a guy like that? You're no noble at all! This is why commoner stock just won't do! Glaring daggers at Sion Ernst, I... sat back down.
As a lady of the Ardina family... ahem, I couldn't afford rash judgments.
"Hmph, then explain yourself."
"Rosemary Ardina, 3 penalty points."
"W-Why?!"
"Uh... maybe because she tried to brush it off without even apologizing?"
"Anna Hilts, 1 merit point."
"Eek!"
Anna Hilts... I see. So you're on that man's side, huh?!
I was going to get friendly with you... but not anymore!
"Sigh. Very well, let's start over. I asked if you have the courage to endure being raped. I asked that because you're 'women' enrolled in the 'Knight Department.'"
"W-What's that got to do with anything?!"
"Knights are commanders who lead from the front lines above all others. That means if you lose in battle, you're highly likely to be taken prisoner. And knightesses like you all... naturally face a high risk of rape or similar humiliations. It's a statistical fact."
"Uh... so?"
"That's why here's the follow-up. Suppose you're captured as POWs and face the risk of being raped by enemy soldiers... What would you choose?"
"Easy. The answer's suicide!"
"Oh? Suicide? You mean ending your own life?"
"Of course! A lady of the Ardina family can't be r-raped by the enemy! Not for the family's honor! I'd choose suicide!"
"What a truly idiotic answer."
"Id... idiot?! What did you just call me?!"
No, really! An idiotic answer?!
Why does this guy keep insulting me?!
Okay, sure, I'm dead last in the academy rankings! But that's because the Knight Department doesn't suit me! It's not because I'm stupid! Yet he keeps docking points and calling me dumb—uuuugh... I won't forgive him! I'll tell Father when I get home!
Jillian Ludwig's the real idiot...
"Hic!"
Wha... what?
"Why are you invoking death so casually?"
Wh-What's this?! I... I can't breathe!
Noooo! S-Someone save me!
I'd only glared at Jillian Ludwig, but suddenly my whole body went rigid. My heart pounded hot and wild... but every cell felt ice-cold in contrast. No words came out, no thoughts formed—just pitch-black darkness filling my mind. No... scary... Mother! Lucius!
-Sring
"What do you think you're doing?"
"Oh? The jewel of the Ernst family, indeed."
"Hah... hah... haa..."
And just like that... somehow, I came back to my senses.
When I opened my eyes, Sion Ernst had his sword drawn.
"Professor Jillian Ludwig. I demand an explanation."
"Simple. I made Rosemary Ardina feel death."
"...Death?"
"Yes. I unleashed killing intent on Ardina. Nothing works better on fools who prattle about death without understanding it."
"..."
-Sring
"Understood."
"Drawing your sword to defend a comrade? Commendable spirit. 5 merit points. But this is class time—you should have trusted me. So, 5 penalty points."
"Got it."
So... Jillian Ludwig just tried to kill me?! Ridiculous! What professor threatens a student like that?! I shot up again in outrage, about to unleash hell... but I took a calm breath instead. Like a proper noble! Showing the poise befitting a lady of Ardina! Definitely not because I was scared of Ludwig!
"Rosemary Ardina, never speak of death so lightly again."
"..."
"Answer me."
"...I'm sorry."
"Death isn't a word to toss around lightly. They say words hold power—and that's no lie. Belittle death like you did, and you might meet it anywhere, anytime. Especially if you're to become a knight—you must fear death above all."
"O-Okay."
"Now you understand. Choosing death just to avoid rape? Let me ask again. Rosemary Ardina, do you truly have that courage?"
"I..."
"'I'll choose death to protect my honor'—easy words. But few live up to them. And even if you do, it's never the right choice. Lost honor can be reclaimed... but death steals even that chance."
"..."
"You'll lose your loving family, lover, friends... all of them. Death isn't just yours alone. From the nation's perspective, it's a waste too. Do you know how many resources go into training one knight like you? If you're a knight, you endure humiliations like that."
"...Got it."
It was definitely terrifying.
If Sion Ernst hadn't stepped in... I might've passed out. That feeling of clear awareness but paralyzed body, slowly dying without control... I never want to feel it again. Death is frightening. Rape? Hate to imagine it... but better than dying, right?
...But that's not what this class is really about.
Steadying my breath, I questioned Ludwig once more.
"So... we should just meekly let ourselves get raped?"
"Exactly."
"...Eek."
"It'll anger you. It'll humiliate you. But as knights, you must bear that insult fully. ...Easier said than done, of course. Plenty fail at it and either suicide or defect to the enemy. I've witnessed it myself."
"Ah..."
"That's why I planned this class. To prevent that from happening again."
"Y-You mean..."
"Yes. I'm going to teach you how to endure that humiliation."
"N-No way! I get the intent, but... you're saying you'll r- r- ra... rape us! Am I wrong?! The method's all wrong! No matter the good intentions, that's... that's not right! It's wrong!"
"Heh. Running away already? Just like an Ardina."
"...What do you mean by that?"
"Your uncle ran away in the end too. And it got him executed."
"Whaaat?!"
"If you want to run, I won't stop you."
"Wh-Who said anything about running?!"
I was floored... but provoked like this, I couldn't back down.
Sure, he says that... but h-he won't actually rape us, right! Looks like he plans some unbearable humiliation... Hmph! I won't run! I'm a lady of Ardina! For the family honor, I'll endure it with dignity!
"I... have a question."
"What is it?"
"From what I've heard, this seems like a pretty dangerous class... Did you get the chairman's permission? Even with good intentions, if the method's risky, we need a guardian to protect us. N-Not that I don't trust you, Professor!"
"A reasonable question indeed. Anna Hilts, 1 merit point."
"Ah! Thank you!"
"To answer... it's already settled. No need to worry. A guardian would just be a distraction anyway. For your sakes, this is the best way."
"O-Okay!"
"And Rosemary Ardina. If doubts arise like this, wait until the explanation's done before asking. Next time, take a page from Anna Hilts."
"I-I know that already!"
...Who're you calling dumb?!
I only gave Anna the chance for her sake—I was thinking the same thing!
Anyway... if it's all explained, I can trust it. He's a war hero, after all. Like he said, he has too much to lose. No way he'd cross the line in class. Grudgingly, I decided to observe for now and sat quietly.
-Sring
But then, Sion Ernst beside me drew his sword.
The classroom atmosphere, barely settled, plunged back into chaos.