24
Chapter 24
"That's all for today's class. Good job, everyone. Numbers 20 through 25, please clean up the training ground."
"Thank you, Instructor!"
Finally, the regular classes are over.
I can't wait for my supplementary lesson.
He started teaching me magic yesterday, and it's just so fascinating and fun.
I was thinking about heading over early after dinner to warm up, but a group of students approached me.
Sophia, Charlotte, Drant, and Louis—all of them were students taking supplementary lessons from Instructor Amelia.
"May, can I talk to you for a second?"
"Sure, Sophia. What's up?"
I wondered what it was.
While I hadn't spoken much with the other kids, Sophia had approached me at the start of the semester, so we used to hang out quite often.
We had grown apart, though, once I started taking private lessons with Instructor Bio.
"Where did you get that bow and dagger you used in class today?"
"Oh, these? Instructor Bio provided them for me."
Everyone went wild when I brought the bow and dagger to class today.
I felt great because so many people were envious and kept asking to touch them.
Since the weapons were so high-quality, I worried some might be jealous and asked the Instructor if I should only use them during supplementary lessons, but he disagreed.
He asked if I planned to just let them rust after he went through the trouble of getting them for me.
He told me that weapons need to be used frequently to become an extension of one's hand, so I brought them to class for the first time today.
"Instructor Bio really bought those for you?"
"They must have been incredibly expensive."
"He didn't look like much, but maybe he's richer than he seems."
They all looked shocked.
I had asked him if it was okay to say he got them for me, and he had acted hurt, asking if I intended to imply some stranger had bought them.
He explicitly told me to make sure people knew he was the one who bought them.
"The Instructor bought them to encourage me to work hard."
"I'm so jealous."
"If I'd known he'd buy weapons like those, maybe I should have tried to endure his training."
"What are you all talking about? Instructor Amelia is such a great teacher."
"True. Compared to that mindless training, Instructor Amelia is an angel."
"Just doing the same thing over and over... it was horrific."
Instructor Bio's training certainly wasn't easy, as they said, but my mood soured as they kept speaking so poorly of him.
"I was actually going to suggest you train with us, but I guess that's out if you're getting gear like that."
"He bought them so I'd work hard, so it shouldn't matter, right? I can just keep learning from Instructor Amelia too."
"Exactly. May, why on earth are you doing such mindless training? Isn't it exhausting?"
"Oh, I've just gotten used to it..."
"Wait, seriously? You're just going to keep going with that psycho instructor?"
...I could let a lot of things slide, but I couldn't stand her calling the instructor—who had been so kind to me—a psycho.
"Sophia! Watch your mouth. How can you say such things about an instructor?"
"What? Was I wrong? He makes us do self-study all day and pushes us to the brink with physical training during supplements. If that's not a psycho, what is?"
"That's not true. The instructor is a good person, and he's incredibly skilled."
"Hmph. He's just a Theory Instructor anyway. Besides, he's missing an arm."
"What did you just say?"
"Yeah, Sophia, that was way too far."
The others tried to stop her, but Sophia didn't seem to realize what she had done wrong.
"What do you mean? Everyone thinks the same way, they just don't say it. That's why I came to suggest she join us."
...Now that I think about it, they actually came to invite me to their supplementary lessons.
In a way, they were probably just worried about me and reaching out with good intentions. Was I too harsh?
But still, insulting the instructor...
I have to hold back. If I get into a fight and face disciplinary action, it could jeopardize my chance of becoming the school representative.
"Actually, Instructor Amelia once made me a similar offer."
"Instructor Amelia suggested it herself? Then why... don't tell me you turned her down?"
"Because I had already decided to learn from Instructor Bio."
"You're hopeless. Just do whatever you want."
Sophia snapped at me and walked away.
I wonder if it was a mistake to mention turning down Instructor Amelia's offer.
I felt uneasy, but I dismissed it, thinking nothing would come of it. That was my mistake.
Starting the next day, a strange rumor began to circulate through the Academy.
That I was in an inappropriate relationship with the instructor.
That's why I was the only one kept for supplementary lessons and why he bought me weapons...
Since I'd already told most of the students about the weapons when I showed them, I thought no one would believe such nonsense.
That's why I didn't realize it at first.
That the others were looking at me with strange eyes.
Before long, friends began to disappear from my side during class, when moving between rooms, and even during lunch.
I eventually realized the severity of the situation and tried to explain, but it wasn't enough to stop the snowballing rumors.
Meanwhile, someone must have done some digging, because a shameful family secret I never wanted known was exposed.
'Did you hear? May from the Ranger Class—her family are collaborators.'
'Collaborators?'
'Did you sleep through history class? Families that helped the traitors are called collaborators.'
Twenty years ago, when His Majesty the Emperor ascended to the throne, some nobles in the South conspired and rebelled, claiming the Second Imperial Prince should be the new emperor.
Of course, my grandfather, who was the lord at the time, did not support the rebellion.
However, all the surrounding territories had joined in, and the rebels threatened to burn our lands to the ground unless we cooperated, seizing our food supplies.
After the rebellion was suppressed, the Imperial Family judged that our Levi family had also participated in the revolt.
My grandfather, who had been dragged to the capital, committed suicide after pleading that he had no choice but to provide provisions to protect his people and the land.
Thanks to his sacrifice, we avoided the stigma of being traitors, but the Imperial Family designated our family as collaborators—one step below traitors.
They argued that even if it was done under threat, helping was still helping.
We avoided total annihilation, but my father, who was supposed to inherit the title of Viscount, was demoted to Baron and lost the fertile lands in the south.
All of this happened before I was even born.
When my father first told me this story, I felt it was truly unfair.
That's why I wanted to become strong and successful.
Because if my grandfather had been strong, he wouldn't have been threatened by the rebels.
Furthermore, I heard there were other families in similar situations, but those who possessed outstanding talent faced no punishment at all.
I wanted to achieve such success that the Empire couldn't afford to discard me, so I could eventually clear our name and restore our family.
Honestly, I believed I wouldn't be able to hide it forever.
I thought there would be friends who would understand if they knew the full circumstances...
But public opinion had already shifted so far that not a single person would listen to my side of the story.
Even Ria, who I thought was my closest friend at the Academy, and my other roommates stopped speaking to me altogether.
I became completely alone.
No matter how many times I erased the graffiti on my desk, it kept reappearing; my class materials would vanish, or some days, my chair would be gone...
I tried to handle it with composure, thinking I had to solve this on my own, but I couldn't concentrate in class and grew exhausted.
I couldn't even ask Instructor Bio for help.
It's not that I didn't think about it, but rumors about an inappropriate relationship have already spread, and if the instructor steps in now, there's no denying it could make things worse.
How did it ever come to this?
This is just too exhausting.
****
"There are rumors that you are in an inappropriate relationship with your trainee, May Levi."
...What kind of nonsense is this?
Sigh, I'm really glad I asked for the reason instead of just agreeing immediately.
If an instructor touches a trainee, they aren't just fired—they go to prison.
Setting that aside, this is so absurd that my hands are shaking.
"Those are completely baseless rumors! There is absolutely nothing improper happening between me and Trainee May."
"You took the trainee out two weekends ago, didn't you?"
"We went to get weapons for the selection trials. I explained this when I requested permission, and the paperwork was signed."
"I'm not blaming you for the outing. I heard Trainee May's weapons are quite expensive; who paid for them?"
So they're spreading these rumors just because I bought her expensive weapons?
'Tsk tsk, I knew it the moment you told her to make sure everyone knew you bought them just to show off.'
No, if you buy something for someone, you should let it be known. This is unfair.
"Yes, I bought them. They are high-quality gear as you said, Dean, but I obtained them cheaply through a blacksmith I helped in the past. To think you'd make a fuss over..."
"That's not all. Didn't you also visit the Levi Territory at the time? I heard you intervened in a dispute with Viscount Giltain, who was executed by Duke Carlos last week."
He knows about that too?
"That's a bit complex to explain. Viscount Giltain had bribed an administrator under Duke Carlos to gain an advantage. I'm not sure if Instructor Berman told you, but I once served under Duke Carlos, so I reported it to the Duke to rectify the situation. Since when is it wrong for an instructor to help a trainee?"
"It's not wrong, of course. Provided it was purely out of goodwill."
He still doesn't seem to trust me.
"Then what else is there?"
"Until an hour ago, I believed you. I still want to, but a close friend of mine told me today that he saw a couple entering a shabby inn in the southern part of the capital two weekends ago. He said the woman was wearing a robe with the Belliard Academy crest."
...I felt uneasy from the moment the Dean mentioned a shabby inn, but damn, the situation has really gone south.
Ark said that depending on the quality of the wild ginseng May took, it would take at least an hour for me to control and stabilize the energy.
Since we do supplementary lessons for nearly two hours every day, an hour isn't that long, but physical contact with May is essential to control the energy.
I took her out because people would look at us strangely if I kept my hand on her shoulder for an hour.
Ark also mentioned that if we were interrupted, both May and I would be in danger.
Besides, it's not just May and me at the training ground; Instructor Amelia and other trainees are there too.
Even at the infirmary before, the mage in charge tried to link me and May inappropriately, so I did it to be cautious...
They say you avoid the orcs only to meet an ogre. If I'd known this would happen, I should have just gone out, found the wild ginseng myself, and let her take it during the lesson.
"Do you have anything to say?"
The Dean's eyes are full of disappointment.
"If not, you may leave. Out of respect for your past contributions, I won't report this to the Justice Bureau, and we'll simply settle this by having both of you resign."
He's just deciding everything on his own... wait, both of us?
"Both of us? What do you mean by that?"
"To avoid making a scene, wouldn't it be logical to expel Trainee May from the Academy as well?"
...The fact that he's kicking May out too is so absurd I can't help but laugh.
'What are you going to do? Are you just going to quit like this?'
Since the Dean said he wouldn't make a scene, my goals would be achieved if I just left now.
With a single word of agreement, I could return to Seinti and enjoy my leisurely, lazy retired life as before.
I could take a break and even start the ancient ruin explorations that Ark keeps asking for.
I understand.
All I have to do is say those two words...
'Are you out of your mind?'
"I have done nothing to shame my position as an instructor of this Academy."
I wanted to be fired more than anyone, but an unfair dismissal like this was out of the question.
"...I gave you a clear chance, and yet you throw it away like this..."
"When something isn't true, I can't simply agree that it is, can I?"
"Are you saying you weren't the one at the inn? I'll bring my friend here for a confrontation—"
"There's no need for that. It was indeed me who entered the inn."
"What?"
The Dean looked stunned by my prompt admission.
"I'm disappointed that you viewed me as that kind of person, Dean."
"You stubborn man! Then what on earth was it?"
"I didn't take May to that inn for an inappropriate relationship, but to pass on a Secret Technique to increase her magic power."
"A Secret Technique? Are you saying you taught her a mana cultivation method?"
"Something like that. Since it's a secret, I can't explain the details, so please summon May and check her magic power yourself."
The Dean pondered for a moment and then used magic to call May.
After a short wait, May arrived in the Dean's Office; still suspicious, the Dean grabbed her wrist to verify her magic power directly.
Moments later, the Dean's expression shifted to one of shock once again.
"Trainee May, you may leave now."
"Yes, sir."
"May, it won't take long, so wait outside. I'll be out shortly after we finish."
"Oh, yes!"
As soon as May left, the Dean bowed his head.
"I am truly sorry. I made a grave mistake."
I was slightly surprised.
He was the Dean and a Marquis; I never expected him to apologize by bowing his head like this.
Then again, he had tried to cover for me when he first misunderstood, so Marquis Banks wasn't a bad person.
Just a bit dim-witted.
"I accept your apology, so please raise your head."
"Thank you. Still, if you had done it within the Academy, this misunderstanding wouldn't have happened..."
Is he still blaming me?
"There are too many eyes within the Academy, aren't there? I considered doing it during the supplementary lessons, but since Instructor Amelia and other students share the training ground, I did as I did. I didn't think it would become such an issue..."
"I see. I did trust you, after all. But the situation was just too suspicious, especially with you buying those weapons..."
Hmm, it seemed the air wasn't fully cleared, so to be certain, I revealed the fact that I had made a bet with Instructor Amelia.
"It's a bit unbecoming for an instructor to bet on which trainee becomes the representative, but since I was already teaching her, I felt such a proposal was an insult to me and couldn't tolerate it."
"Haha, so that was the case. That explains the high-quality weapons and the Secret Technique."
I thought he might lecture me for betting over a student, but fortunately, he seemed too apologetic about the earlier misunderstanding to say anything.
"Well, now that the misunderstanding is resolved, I'll be going."
"Ah, about Instructor Amelia... no. Never mind. My apologies once more. You may leave."
I wondered what he was going to say, but I bid him farewell and left the Dean's Office.
I had something far more important to attend to.
When I stepped out, I saw May with her head hanging low.
She hadn't even done anything wrong, yet she looked like a criminal.
Ah! Wait, she wasn't entirely innocent.
She was guilty of not telling me.
If the rumors had spread enough to reach the Dean's ears, May must have known about them.
She should have told me sooner if this was happening.
I approached May, who still had her head bowed.