15
Chapter 15
'Green light, my foot.'
"Oh, it was just a joke, but I'll apologize if I offended you."
Joke, my ass.
She was practically oozing sincerity.
Still, it was unexpected.
I thought she would be as prickly as usual.
"Wizard Eriel, why are you apologizing to me? The one you wronged wasn't me, but our instructor over here."
I was going to let it slide since she apologized, but she had a point.
Though the term 'our instructor' was a bit burdensome.
'I'm telling you, this time it's for real!'
'Shut it.'
"R-right. I'm sorry. My joke was too much for a first meeting."
"I accept your apology. Just be careful in the future."
After I rebuked her, Eriel nodded half-heartedly with a flushed face and hurriedly left.
"I'm sorry."
Now she's saying she's sorry again?
I'm confused.
Of course, I don't believe Ark's nonsense about some 'green light.'
There isn't a single shred of romantic interest between me and Trainee May.
If anything, she probably dislikes me.
What is it exactly?
In my mind, May was a model student who was slightly lacking in practice but otherwise ordinary.
Actually, it's more accurate to say I've never given her much thought...
"Instructor, I'm sorry."
"What exactly are you apologizing for now?"
"I thought you were about to step in, but I interrupted, and I felt you might be angry..."
If I had stepped in, the result would have definitely been better.
Because I intended to tear her apart until she gave a heartfelt apology, not a reluctant one.
Surprisingly, few wizards have strong mental fortitude.
The only thing they have in abundance is pride.
"I am not angry. Did you think this instructor was such a narrow-minded person?"
"I... I didn't mean that..."
"Regardless, sit down for now. You said the energy of the medicinal herb hasn't fully dissipated."
She gave a short nod of agreement.
Where did that bold woman go who was so confidently demanding an apology? She looked completely tense.
"Why did you do it?"
"Pardon?"
"I clearly told you to give up and go back if you felt you couldn't do it. Did you not hear me?"
"No, I heard you."
"Then it was intentional. Did you intend to put your instructor in a difficult position?"
"What? No! I never had such an intention."
She shook her head and strongly denied it, but I knew.
Compared to other trainees, May didn't express much hostility toward me.
Even if she felt differently inside, pushing her body to the limit just to annoy a disliked instructor is something only a fool would do.
"Then why?"
"I don't know if you're aware, but my practical grades are actually quite poor."
"I know."
"You knew... That's why I didn't want to give up. Since I was the last one remaining. Even if my body doesn't keep up, I'm confident in my willpower."
She spoke with a bright smile, but the reason was too superficial.
"I'm sorry for causing you unnecessary worry."
"If you're sorry, stop doing things you'll need to apologize for."
I should get going.
I'm curious about the reason, but there's no need to pry if she doesn't want to share.
"Then..."
"Um, Instructor, should I come at the same time as yesterday for today's makeup lesson?"
What is this girl talking about?
"As I said yesterday, the purpose of the makeup lesson is to prepare for the Greeta competition. I have no intention of teaching trainees who can't even handle basic physical training."
"You might not believe me, but I actually finished everything. So..."
"Again, as I mentioned yesterday, basic physical training isn't a one-time thing; it will be part of every lesson."
"Yes. I'll do my best!"
What exactly is she planning to do her best at?
Can't she tell that I'm basically telling her not to come because it's clearly not going to work?
How frustrating.
"It's a hassle for me if you collapse again. Even today, the way the other trainees were looking at me was quite a sight."
"Oh, I'm sorry. Because of me..."
"I'm not blaming you. It was also my fault for leaving my post yesterday."
"No, it's because I overdid it, so you shouldn't have to..."
"Ahem, regardless, once the Dean returns from vacation, I plan to tell him that the Ranger Class will not be participating in Greeta this year, so there's no need for you to attend the makeup lessons."
"I can do it."
"You collapsed after just one day. Stop being reckless."
"I really can do it. Please believe me."
*Sigh*, this is exhausting.
Was she always like this?
I don't understand why she's being so stubborn.
"Anyone can say that."
Willpower is important, but willpower alone doesn't make everything happen.
"So you also think I can't do it, Instructor..."
She looked completely crestfallen.
"It's not just you; none of the trainees in the Ranger Class have a chance of winning an award in this competition."
Forget winning; it'll be a miracle if they don't make fools of themselves.
"You won't know until you try, right?"
"When you have my level of experience, you can tell just by looking."
"I still want to do it. Even if I don't win, it'll be a good experience..."
"That experience could easily become a trauma."
She should have taken the hint by now, but she bit her lip firmly, showing no intention of giving up.
"Why are you so obsessed with Greeta?"
"I want to be successful."
Success? That's unexpected.
The word 'success' doesn't usually go hand-in-hand with being a Ranger.
Of course, the pay isn't bad and the social status isn't that low, but it's a stretch to call it a profession where one can truly 'make it.'
While Rangers are a specialized branch and reasonably respected, most high-ranking positions are held by former Knights or Wizards.
Was there ever a Ranger who truly succeeded?
As far as I know, there's never been a case of a Ranger receiving a title for their achievements.
Even long-serving Rangers typically only reach the rank of Team Leader, or at most, a Staff Officer for the legion.
"If success is your goal, becoming an Administrator would be a faster route."
"But if you don't have power, no one will acknowledge you..."
I didn't get it at first, but thinking it over, she wasn't wrong.
The Beluga Empire has traditionally placed a high value on martial power.
For starters, the Dukes are all Sword Masters, and the majority of high nobles are former Knights or Wizards.
"You're not entirely wrong, but everyone is born with different talents, so you don't necessarily have to stick to just one path."
It's true that they value martial prowess, but that doesn't mean they look down on civil officials.
Some Chancellors reached their position through purely administrative skills.
"I know I lack talent. But talent isn't everything. I believe I can change things if I work hard."
I could feel the firm determination in May's expression as she looked at me.
"I think we've said everything we needed to, so I'll be going now."
"Instructor..."
She looked like she might burst into tears, perhaps thinking I had dismissed her.
I spoke while pulling back the curtain.
"If you really want to do it, come at the same time as yesterday."
"Th... thank you. I'll work really hard!"
I gave her a wave and left the infirmary.
'You monster. If you didn't want to do it, you should've just convinced her to quit. Why call back a girl who already collapsed?'
'Who said I was bullying her?'
'Aren't you?'
Even Ark sees me as trash...
Well, he's the one who wanted to explore ancient ruins of his era at first, yet looked at me with disdain because I just want to be fired from the academy.
'Why aren't you answering? I know you're just calling her back to unfairly target her until she gives up.'
'Unfairly target? What does that mean?'
'Picking on someone with ridiculous excuses to find fault and torment them, just like you did yesterday, you idiot!'
'Torment? I have no intention of doing that.'
'Then what, are you actually going to teach her properly?'
'She said she did everything I asked. Since she wants to continue, I should let her.'
'Did you eat something weird? The guy who lived with zero motivation and only wanted to be fired is actually thinking like this.'
Ark is overreacting.
There are several reasons, but May's last words moved me.
More accurately, hearing her story reminded me of someone I had forgotten.
That person also lacked talent, just like May—no, even more so.
Though smart, their magic power affinity was so low they couldn't even use basic magic.
When told to give up because of a lack of talent, they said something similar to this:
'If I lack talent, can't I just work harder to make up for it? Please believe in me, I can overcome this.'
Everyone around them said it was hopeless and told them to quit, but I gave them a chance despite the opposition.
Because I saw the determination in their eyes.
Fortunately, as I hoped, they proved their words right.
And just now, I felt the same thing from May.
Of course, feeling the same thing doesn't guarantee the same result, but I'm willing to take a chance.
'I don't usually pick on people.'
Strictly speaking, what I did yesterday wasn't unfair.
I was strict, yes, but it was also true that the trainees' posture was wrong.
'What are you talking about? Are you actually sick? You haven't had lunch yet, and I don't think there was any poison in your breakfast.'
'They're paying a generous extra allowance, so I figure helping one person wouldn't be so bad, right?'
I gave a vague answer because explaining it to Ark would take too long.
'You already have plenty of money. Seriously, the rich are always the weirdest.'
****
After finishing afternoon classes, I headed to the dining hall instead of the faculty office.
Usually, I go to the dining hall after work, but I missed lunch while talking to May.
I planned to go back to the faculty office for the makeup lesson anyway.
I had dinner and stopped by the faculty office to handle some paperwork. Just as I was about to leave because Ark said it was time... huh?
Amelia was standing beside me.
"Instructor Amelia, do you need something?"
"I fell for your twisted logic yesterday, but after thinking about it, I've realized. Instructor Bio, you just don't want to teach the makeup lesson, right?"
Ho, I guess she wasn't a complete idiot after all.
"I don't think anyone actually likes working overtime, do they?"
"Of course they don't."
Instructor Nordic, who was sitting next to me, chimed in.
"Then stop stripping the students of their opportunities with your twisted logic and just quit. I'll take over."
...This was unexpected.
Just when I'd made up my mind to actually try, she tells me to stop...
I thought about it for a moment, but no.
"I'm afraid I can't do that."
Truth be told, there was more to my decision to trust May than just a memory from the past.
It was because she stepped up for me when I was being insulted, and the way she addressed me.
'Our instructor.'
Even back at Seinty Academy, where I had a decent reputation for working reasonably hard, no trainee had ever called me something so embarrassing.
Let alone here, where I'd done nothing but assign self-study with zero motivation; I never imagined a trainee would stand up for me and call me that.
For a guy like me, who did everything half-heartedly just to get fired, having someone treat me as a real instructor was touching at first, and then it made me feel guilty.
"Even if it's a hassle, since I've already decided to do it, I should see it through."
"What are you talking about now? I heard you kicked out all the trainees yesterday."
"Your information is a bit slow. I didn't kick everyone out; there's still one left."
"One left? You're saying there's a trainee who actually finished that brutal physical training?"
"I didn't know since I didn't see it myself, but she told me so when we spoke today."
"Who is it?"
It seems she has no idea May collapsed yesterday.
Ah! Come to think of it, the practical class for May's group was in the afternoon today.
If she attended the afternoon class, she might not have known.
"It's Trainee May."
"May? You mean May Levi?"
"Yes, that's correct."
Instructor Amelia looked genuinely shocked.
"Really? How could a girl who lags behind everyone else just running five laps around the training ground do that...?"
"I suppose she overcame her physical limitations through sheer effort."
It was finally time to go, or I'd be late, so I stood up.
"Now, all your questions are answered, right? I'll be off."
"Wait a minute. Then what about the other students?"
"Haven't they already given up?"
I had no reason to teach them.
"Looking at the makeup list, there are many students more skilled and passionate than May. If you're going to do this, do it properly."
I tried to brush it off because I was short on time, but she was crossing a serious line.
How could an instructor who claims to care for her students say something like that?
"Are the trainees even at a level where they should be discussing skill differences?"
"I know they're still lacking. My point is that there are students more talented than May with a better chance of making it to the finals. I just want them to receive lessons as well..."
This woman still hasn't woken up to reality.
"You keep comparing the students based on skill and talent; by what right do you make those judgments, Instructor Amelia?"
"I mean, when teaching them in regular classes... no, even without that, it's obvious just by looking at their grades."
"So you're saying those without talent should just drop dead?"
"When did I ever say that? Don't be so extreme. I'm simply saying I wish more trainees were given a chance."
"If they truly had the skill and passion, would they have given up yesterday? I cannot agree with you."
"...."
She refuses to admit her mistake until the very end.
Whatever. There's no point in wasting my breath.
I was about to leave, but I felt I should set things straight, so I added one last thing.
"If there are students you want to give opportunities to, handle that yourself, Instructor Amelia. Because the only trainee I'll be teaching is May."