28
Chapter 28
The Main Stadium, located in front of the Academy Main Building.
Below the podium, all the academy trainees are lined up by department and year.
Looking down from the reviewing stand, there are quite a few of them.
The Ranger Class only has 80 first-years, but the Knight and Wizard classes have 100 students per year, totaling 600.
Including the instructors, there are roughly 700 people, which is by no means a small number.
After waiting for about five minutes, the Dean came down from the main building.
After a brief nod of greeting, the Dean immediately stepped onto the podium equipped with a voice amplification device.
"Good morning, trainees. The reason I've gathered you all so early this morning is that the trainees who will represent Belliard Academy at Greeta have been decided."
Perhaps his throat felt dry, as the Dean took a sip of water from a glass beside him before continuing.
"The trainees I call now, please step forward. Helena de Beluga, Raining Epert, May Levi."
I knew about May and Raining, but since I'd missed the Wizard Class duels, I wasn't aware—it seems the Imperial Princess had been chosen as a representative.
This was the first time I'd seen her in person, though rumors of her beauty had been rampant for a long time.
I thought there might be some exaggeration, but it seems the rumors actually undersold her.
More than anyone I've ever met... Ah! Come to think of it, the Seventh Imperial Princess of the Quasar Empire I met during my final active-duty mission was just a child then, but she had the look of someone who would grow into a great beauty.
Three years ago, as a symbol of the cessation of conflict between the Beluga and Quasar empires, an engagement between the Seventh Imperial Princess and the Ninth Imperial Prince was pushed forward.
Intelligence arrived that neighboring countries wishing for the conflict to persist, along with pro-war faction nobles within both empires, were attempting to thwart the engagement by assassinating the princess, so I was tasked with her protection.
It was a truly difficult mission, one where I even lost an arm.
I believe the engagement ceremony took place at the time, but I haven't heard any news since.
It's already been three years.
Well, no news is good news, so she's probably doing well.
Anyway, it's quite unexpected that the representative is the Imperial Princess.
I heard she's only a second-year; did they give her a pass because she's royalty?
As the trainees stepped up, the Dean approached them, shaking hands one by one and handing out certificates of appointment.
"We will now hear the thoughts and resolutions of the three trainees chosen to represent Belliard Academy, so please welcome them with enthusiastic cheers and applause."
The Dean first offered the podium to Raining.
I naturally assumed Princess Helena would go first, but looking at it now, it seems to be by year.
As Raining stepped onto the podium, enthusiastic cheers erupted from the Knight Class.
The Dean had made a grand introduction, but Raining simply gave a brief greeting, promised to work hard and achieve great results, and quickly stepped down.
Then, as Princess Helena stepped up, an even louder roar of cheers and applause erupted than for Raining.
Perhaps because she possesses both the status of a princess and stunning beauty, she is popular regardless of the department.
Her content wasn't much different from Raining's, but she spoke so well that I wondered if she'd received special speech training.
Especially at the end: 'I will prove my worth with my skills at the tournament so that no one can say I became a representative because I received special treatment as royalty.'
I felt a slight sting of guilt, but at the same time, her confident and poised demeanor was quite impressive.
To say something like that, it seems she climbed her way up through skill rather than being given a pass because she's a princess.
Princess Helena bowed elegantly and stepped down from the podium.
As expected of royalty, she didn't seem nervous at all.
In fact, she smiled brightly throughout her speech.
On the other hand, the face of May, who was waiting nearby, was completely frozen stiff.
'She looks really nervous.'
'I have eyes too.'
I could even see her hands shaking now, but May stepped onto the podium.
Unlike the other representatives, there was no applause or cheering.
A few students from the Knight and Wizard classes clapped at first, but as the rest of the crowd remained silent as if by unspoken agreement, they stopped out of embarrassment.
"I... I am May Levi from Ranger Class B. Before I share my resolution and thoughts, there is something I would like to tell you all first."
With a slightly trembling voice, May denied the rumors spreading through the academy that she was in an inappropriate relationship with me.
When the rumors were mentioned in front of all the trainees and instructors, everyone began to whisper.
I walked straight toward May.
Now, it was my turn.
"Instructor Bio?"
"Instructor..."
"Good work. I'll handle the rest."
As I stepped onto the podium, May moved aside for me.
"What is he doing?"
"Is that instructor the one behind the rumors?"
"Shouldn't someone stop him?"
The instructors in the back whispered, and Berman tried to step forward, but the Dean held him back.
I had already informed the Dean that I would clear things up here.
"I am Bio Rain, the theory instructor for the Ranger Class. I've already asked Trainee May for her cooperation, so I'll take over from here. First off, all you idiots who actually believe these rumors, shut your mouths."
'Isn't "shut your mouths" a bit too aggressive?'
'You shut yours too.'
To truly capture everyone's attention, you have to be this bold.
"There are three main allegations. First, that I only gave extra lessons to May and intentionally failed everyone else. Is that really an issue? The other trainees simply failed my tests. If you lack talent, you should at least have persistence. These were supplemental lessons for a tournament, not a regular class, so I excluded those who weren't qualified."
Since May's selection as a representative proved the results, everyone seemed to accept this.
"Second, it is true that I helped solve the problems in the Levi territory. I discovered that a neighboring territory had used force to seize the Levi family's mine and had even bribed the administrator of Duke Carlos, who was acting as the mediator. Are you trainees really going to turn a blind eye to such injustice?"
Once again, no one dared to object.
"Third, that I bought May a high-quality weapon. I didn't buy it myself; I received it from an artisan I knew, but it is true that I procured it for her. Providing that weapon was purely out of personal interest."
The moment I mentioned "personal interest," the previously quiet students began to buzz.
The instructors in the back were reacting the same way.
"The object of my personal interest was not May, but May's victory."
"Isn't that essentially the same thing?"
"What is he talking about?"
"They must be in that kind of relationship for him to want her to win so badly, right?"
As expected, none of them understood.
"Since you're having a hard time understanding, I'll bring out a witness first."
The commotion grew louder at the sudden mention of a witness.
At that moment, a person from the stadium walked up onto the podium.
"Instructor Amelia?"
Amelia stood beside me, her expression stiff.
"I am Amelia, the practical instructor for the Ranger Class. I misunderstood and thought Instructor Bio was intentionally failing trainees because he was too lazy to teach extra lessons, so I conducted my own supplemental sessions. In the process, Instructor Bio and I had a clash and made a bet on whose student would become the academy representative. The loser agreed to grant the winner one wish..."
As soon as she finished, Amelia retreated as if trying to escape.
I had used that wish to force Amelia to act as a witness here.
Originally, I planned to humiliate her—perhaps by making her run laps around the academy naked—but the identity of the person the Old Man sent...
Regardless, clearing up the misunderstanding was the priority.
To be honest, from a human perspective, I didn't think Amelia was a bad person.
The background check and the way she kept picking fights even after losing the duel were obviously annoying, but it all started because I was teaching sloppily to get fired.
If we had met at Seinty Academy, where I actually taught with sincerity, we probably wouldn't have been on such bad terms.
I didn't like how she trailed off at the end, but this was enough.
"A bet?"
"An instructor made a bet over a student?"
The whispering grew even louder.
May, standing beside me, also looked completely shocked.
It was only natural, as only Amelia, the Dean, and I were aware of this fact.
"Let me say this once more: my goal was to win the bet by ensuring May's victory. I have never felt anything for Trainee May beyond that of a student."
The looks directed at Amelia were cold, but the looks at me weren't much better.
While the rumors about May were cleared, it was inevitable that people were upset about an instructor betting on a student.
However, I had anticipated this reaction.
"Instructor Amelia frequently criticized my teaching methods and looked for any excuse to start a fight. We even dueled at the beginning of the semester; though she won, she continued to despise and slander me."
Amelia's face stiffened, perhaps not expecting me to go this far, but I continued regardless.
"As a gentleman, I viewed this as the shallow jealousy of a woman and chose to overlook it with a generous heart. However, as an instructor, I could not tolerate remarks that dismissed a trainee's potential."
"When did I ever do that!"
Amelia snapped, stepping forward to interrupt.
"Didn't you blame me for failing students who were clearly more skilled than May? If that isn't dismissing potential, then what is?"
Since it was the truth, Amelia couldn't answer and retreated with her head lowered.
"That is why I proposed the bet, and why I wanted to win so badly. Not because I craved the wish, but to make Instructor Amelia realize her thinking was flawed."
'He's lying through his teeth without even blinking.'
'Thanks for the compliment.'
My actual goal was to humiliate Amelia, but since no one can read my mind, a little sugar-coating goes a long way.
"It is true that Trainee May lacks innate talent. Except for her written scores, she is likely deficient in every other aspect compared to most of the trainees gathered here. Even for me, she was the most untalented student I've ever encountered."
As I bluntly criticized her lack of talent, May's spirit seemed to break, and she lowered her head deeply.
"But Trainee May never faltered or gave up; she put in endless effort. I sensed potential in that attitude, and in the end, she proved me right. Furthermore, I hear some of you distance yourselves from her because her family are collaborators. What does that even matter?"
The crowd, which had been silent, began to whisper again at my impassioned words.
It was unavoidable, as siding with collaborators could easily be perceived as treason against the Imperial Family.
Moreover, Imperial Princess Helena was standing right behind me.
That last remark was definitely not a mistake.
"The Levi family only handed over military supplies because they were threatened by traitors; they did it to protect their land and people. Of course, regardless of the threats, they still provided aid. But do you really think the Levi family is the only one?"
Most of them still looked bewildered.
"There are many collaborators—Reyners, Mirain, Bansio, Katis, Beron, Carta..."
As I named the families one by one, some people in the crowd looked visibly shocked.
The Dean standing behind me was likely no different.
After all, his full name was Banks Carta.
"All the families I just mentioned cooperated with the traitors out of necessity, just like the Levi family, yet none were labeled as collaborators or punished. Does any trainee know why?"
There was no answer.
Of course they wouldn't know.
It wasn't public knowledge; both the Imperial Family and the nobles involved wanted it buried.
I had only heard such families existed, so I sought help from Old Man Daph to get the details.
Unless the Emperor personally orders it, no one can alter the records of the Intelligence Agency.
While it was information the Emperor likely wanted hidden, one must find the information before it can be erased.
The Emperor probably doesn't even know these records exist.
The Intelligence Agency is a loyal organization, but by its very nature, it records and stores every single piece of information it finds.
"It is because those families possessed talents so exceptional that the Empire could not afford to lose them. The Levi family, however, had no such talent, and the lord at the time committed suicide to prove his innocence. Despite that, they couldn't escape the collaborator label."
I finished speaking and looked at May.
She still looked confused and flustered, but the closing had to be hers.
I hadn't discussed this with her beforehand, but it would be fine.
A clever girl like May would know exactly what to say now.
****
I was slightly disappointed when he mentioned the bet at first, but after listening to Instructor Bio's speech, I understood everything.
He seems to be a far more wonderful and kind person than I imagined.
He knew my family were collaborators, yet far from discriminating against me, he never once let it show.
Instead, he spared no effort in supporting me with tonics, a great weapon, and rare herbs to increase magic power, and even helped my territory.
I truly respect him.
"It was because those families possessed talented individuals with potential that the Empire could not afford to lose. But the Levi family lacked such talent, so the lord at the time committed suicide to prove his innocence, yet they still couldn't avoid being labeled as collaborators."
The instructor stops talking and suddenly looks at me.
I'm flustered that he's suddenly doing this after saying he'd handle everything, but I soon realize his intent.
As I step back onto the podium, the instructor makes room for me.
"The reason I never gave up despite my lack of talent was because I didn't want to repeat that past. I will not stop striving until I am recognized as a talent the Empire cannot afford to lose, not just in this Greeta tournament."
As I finish my greeting and step down, an enormous roar of cheers and applause erupts, unlike before.
****
May really is something else.
She spoke far better than I had expected.
Not only the trainees, but every instructor around them is clapping with a look of genuine emotion.
At this rate, not only will the misunderstanding be completely cleared, but I can stop worrying about being labeled a traitor for siding with collaborators.
For instance, the 8th Imperial Princess, Helena, stepped forward and hugged May as she descended from the podium.
Listening closely, she was comforting her, saying she hadn't known the situation and that May must have suffered a lot.
Her heart seems to be as beautiful as her face.
Finally, Marquis Banks warned that anyone who spreads false rumors in the future would be severely punished before dismissing the trainees.
"Instructor Amelia, you'll lead the Ranger Class. Instructor Bio, follow me."
His tone is stiff, unlike usual.
Since I basically exposed the fact that some families are collaborators, it's a natural reaction in a way.
I thought he wasn't such a narrow-minded person, but well, it doesn't matter.
Actually, it's better this way.
I had planned to request a separate meeting with the Dean once today's explanation was over anyway.
As we head toward the Dean's office, he doesn't say a single word to me, likely still quite upset.
"Let's go in."
Upon entering the office and sitting down, I immediately pull the prepared document from my coat and place it on the desk.
"Instructor Bio?"
"I've written it here, but to put it simply, going through something as absurd as this has given me a lot to think about..."
I put on the most bitter and hollow expression possible to look pitiful.
"Didn't the explanation go well just now?"
"Thanks to your help, the explanation went well, but it broke my heart to realize that not only the trainees and my colleagues, but even you, Dean, didn't trust me..."
"Now, I told you I trust you..."
Trust my ass.
He told me to shut up and leave because he'd just cover it up without even asking properly—that was only a few days ago.
"It's not just the emotional wound. I overexerted my frail body while teaching Trainee May, so I don't think I can continue as an instructor."
"Then this is..."
Obviously, it's a resignation letter.
The rumors are resolved, and I've already used up Amelia's wish.
There are still some who spread the rumors, but using the information the Old Man gave me, I can take care of them from the outside.
Working from the outside will be faster and attract less suspicion.
I have enough justification; there's no longer any reason to stay here.
This tedious job as an academy instructor—I'm finally quitting.