29
Chapter 29
It felt like only yesterday that I was explaining myself with a trembling voice in front of all the trainees, but a week has already passed.
"Unnie, good morning."
"Morning."
The baseless rumors that had tormented me for nearly two weeks vanished completely in a single day.
Actually, not even a full day.
The moment I headed to the classroom after my explanation, students who had been ignoring me suddenly flocked to me to apologize.
Not only that, but when I returned to the dormitory after class, my roommates all bowed their heads in apology.
It would be a lie to say I didn't feel some resentment toward those who apologized so late, but I accepted all of them.
Because I had felt firsthand and painfully how lonely and difficult it is to be completely alone for two weeks.
Besides, Instructor Bio had told me that trainees at my age are easily swayed by atmosphere and rumors, so I shouldn't take it to heart and should accept those who seem sincere.
Not everyone apologized, however.
A few, including Sophia, are still awkward around me, but the atmosphere is no longer as hostile as before.
Even if they were hostile, I now have peers who stand by my side.
Imperial Princess Helena, in particular, has been taking great care of me since the day of my explanation.
She remembered that we had met in the bathroom last time and even expressed her sympathy regarding my grandfather's situation.
She even invited me to a tea party next weekend and gave me a dress to wear.
She is stunningly beautiful, but her heart seems even more beautiful.
After a quick wash, I headed to the dining hall with my roommates.
"Oh? May Unnie, can I eat with you?"
"It's May Unnie! Unnie, there are plenty of seats here."
I took a moderate portion, worried that eating too much would make me drowsy, and sat down.
After finishing my meal, I went to the classroom with my classmates, and while we were chatting, I realized class was about to start.
"What's with those empty seats? Class is starting soon."
"Aren't those the seats for Sophia's group?"
Now that I think about it, those were the seats of Sophia, Charlotte, Drent, and Louis.
"Where did they all go? Did they get sick?"
"I'm in the same room as Charlotte, and I saw her packing her bags this morning."
"Huh? Sophia also left the dormitory last night after the Dormitory Instructor came to pick her up."
"Unnie, you're too kind. Those kids didn't even apologize."
"They've been like that ever since they lost in the selection match. Unnie, don't let it get to you."
"Exactly. I heard a rumor that they were the ones who spread the lies last time."
"They kept acting entitled because they're nobles, and since nobody wanted to hang out with them, they only stuck to each other lately. Maybe they're transferring to another academy."
Is that so?
While students occasionally transfer or leave for personal reasons, seeing four of them disappear at once was unusual, and it bothered me slightly.
I decided to prepare for class and was taking out my notebook and materials when the front door of the classroom opened.
"Good morning, everyone. First, I have some unfortunate news to share."
"What news?"
"It appears that the families of Sophia, Charlotte, Louis, and Drent—all four of them—are currently under investigation by the Special Inspector of the Imperial Department of Finance for various irregularities, including tax evasion and embezzlement of Imperial funds."
Family irregularities?
How could four of them all at once... Now that I think about it, I recall they mentioned their territories were adjacent.
"Quiet! Has anyone here lent money or items to those students?"
No one raised their hand.
"Good."
"Instructor, what's going to happen to them?"
"If the corruption is proven true, the individuals involved will at the very least be stripped of their titles. In severe cases, it could be the death penalty. While trainees won't be executed, they will likely be reduced to slave status."
We hadn't been on the best of terms, but it's still heartbreaking to think that peers I've spent months with would end up like that.
Embezzlement is a serious crime, of course, but it wasn't as if they were the ones who committed the act...
Perhaps everyone was thinking the same thing, as the mood in the classroom plummeted.
"Enough with the depressing talk. Did everyone enjoy their breakfast?"
"Yes! Did you enjoy yours, Instructor?"
"The potato soup was a bit bland."
"Right! The vegetable soup was too bland as well."
"In those cases, you can adjust the taste by adding finely shredded bacon. Try doing that next time."
He's so energetic today.
While the change in my classmates' attitudes over the week was notable, the most dramatic change was Instructor Bio.
He used to be an instructor who always had a blunt expression, simply calling on students by the date to read class materials, but he's done a complete 180 since the explanation.
It's not just that he's being friendly to the trainees, as he was a moment ago.
"Everyone passed the pop quiz from last Friday. I've left money at the school store, so as promised, go there after lunch, show your student ID, and get one ice snack each."
"Instructor, you're the best!"
"Thank you!"
The atmosphere, which had been gloomy just a moment ago, was suddenly filled with cheers.
"I'll buy snacks for those who pass this week's test as well, so work hard. Now, let's begin. What is the date today?"
"It's the 29th."
"Numbers 29 and 30, please come forward."
As the two trainees stepped forward, the instructor opened a subspace and pulled out some vibrant green grass.
"These are Liones and Kalef, the medicinal herbs we're studying today. Trainees, please distribute them to your peers."
My peers began handing out the herbs.
He said he went out to a medicine shop yesterday to get them, which would have been unimaginable in the past.
He had never brought in a single dried root, let alone fresh specimens like these.
Beyond that, he now praises us even for simple correct answers and frequently buys us snacks.
Of course, I always knew he was a good person even before the change...
Could it be because of me?
After the selection match, when he called me aside and finished explaining the next day's clarification, he asked if there was anything I wanted from him.
I was so grateful for everything he'd already done that I was about to say I was fine, but then something occurred to me.
I told him that while I have no complaints about the current teaching methods, I thought the other students would follow him better if he opened his heart and approached them more.
I felt bad that the others didn't know the real Instructor Bio, and it was a shame that he wasn't being recognized.
Since he didn't respond at the time, I thought he had ignored me, but I never dreamed he would change so drastically and suddenly.
"Trainee May, what are you thinking about?"
"Oh... it's nothing."
"So, are we inside or outside?"
A sudden silence fell over the classroom.
...He makes these strange puns occasionally, and I'm still not used to them.
I love that the instructor is friendly to the trainees and works hard in class, but now that he's becoming popular, I feel a bit... jealous.
No... rather than that, I'm worried he might be overexerting himself.
****
Many believe that with money, power, and martial strength, there's nothing you can't achieve, but they're missing one thing.
Justification.
Even if those three conditions are met, you'll never be truly recognized without a proper justification.
Some might dismiss justification as trivial, but looking at wars between nations, it's hard for the side without it to win, and even if they do, problems arise.
It's the same with children's quarrels.
Usually, the stronger child bullies or picks a fight, but adults passing by will scold the instigator, not the victim.
I am no different.
I came to Belliard because I had no justification to refuse the Imperial Family's recommendation.
My attempt to be fired by teaching poorly was also because I lacked a proper reason to leave.
But now, I have a justification that everyone can acknowledge.
"I'll be leaving now."
The moment I closed the door and stepped out, I felt a smile tugging at the corners of my mouth.
My resignation was rejected.
However, I expected as much, so I wasn't disappointed at all.
Not only because of the trust I'd built, but because I'd raised the talentless May to the rank of Expert in less than a month, regardless of whether I'd passed on Secret Techniques.
I had proven my ability, and since May's participation in the Greeta competition was still pending, it was obvious they wouldn't let me go easily.
Nevertheless, there was a reason why I submitted the resignation letter.
To gain the upper hand in a negotiation, it's best not to reveal your true intentions first.
If you must reveal them, you should propose terms so high that they make the other person wonder if it's even possible.
Of course, absurd demands are a shortcut to failure and should be avoided, but from the Dean's perspective, my wanting to quit immediately wasn't an absurd request.
Although my immediate resignation was rejected, I managed to get what I actually wanted.
'I understand how you feel, and since you're not in good health, it can't be helped. I apologize once more. But Instructor Bio.'
'Yes, please go ahead.'
'There isn't much of the semester left, is there?'
'That's true...'
'You may not realize it, but finding a new instructor in this situation is by no means easy. And even if the misunderstandings are cleared, if you leave so abruptly, some trainees or instructors might find it strange.'
'With the Dean's own warning, surely that wouldn't happen?'
'They might not say it to your face, but they might talk behind your back. Plus, Trainee May needs to prepare for the competition. So, I ask you to remain as an instructor at least until the end of this semester.'
I pretended to ponder for a long while before agreeing, acting as if I had no choice.
'You can't hide your expression at all. Are you that happy?'
'Do I even need to answer that?'
Belliard Academy finishes the semester in mid-December and begins winter break.
Since it's almost November, this tedious life as an instructor will be over in about a month and a half.
Once I return home, I plan to spend at least a month just fishing and getting some proper rest.
If I get bored, maybe I'll be an instructor again... No, absolutely not. I'm planning to explore ancient ruins, as Ark mentioned.
It was about a week after I entered the academy; maybe thinking we'd become close, he confessed that he was currently incomplete.
He explained that the Seven Stars used to share their knowledge through Ark, but currently, Ark only possesses the knowledge of one member.
He said the rest could be obtained by visiting various ancient ruins and that finding them would be far more helpful than his current state.
He tried to lure me in by mentioning there might be artifacts like last time, but honestly, I wasn't that interested.
Who knows, I might just find more dog bowls and water bowls.
I managed to sell those well to Old Man Roy, but you can't play that game forever; eventually, you get caught.
I wasn't particularly keen, but if it's useful knowledge like wild ginseng, it would certainly be beneficial.
And my situation of being tied to the academy will be resolved soon anyway.
However, the passage of time is the problem.
Ark said he knows the general locations and can find them once he's nearby, but 5,200 years have passed.
They say the landscape changes in just ten years, so in 5,200 years...
Among the places he mentioned, the only ones I recognize are the East and West Great Forests at opposite ends of the continent, the Frozen Earth in the north, and the Krinis Desert in the south.
He mentioned ruins exist in those areas, but they are as vast as the empire's territory, making it like searching for a needle in a haystack.
'Once you quit, you're going to explore ruins, right?'
I know it'll be hard, but since he wants it so badly, traveling leisurely and searching doesn't seem like a bad idea.
'I'm considering it, but let me get some rest first.'
A leisurely trip under the pretext of searching for ruins sounds fine, but I'm definitely spending a month resting in Seinti.
'How long are you going to res... Hey, where are you going?'
I shifted my direction while heading toward the classroom.
'The school store.'
'The school store? You promised to quit, so you should at least teach properly now. Are you planning to skip class entirely?'
'That's why I'm going.'
I had spent too much time talking to the Dean, so I picked up the pace as class was about to start.
When I arrived at the store and asked what the trainees bought most, they told me about ice snacks made by freezing milk with various spices.
"How much for forty?"
"Are they for the trainees? These ice snacks are made with magic, and transport requires magic as well... they're 2 silver each."
Only 2 silver?
It wouldn't even cost a gold coin, so why...
Ah, for the kids in the Ranger Class, most of whom are commoners, this might be a burdensome price.
I handed over a one-gold coin, paid, and put the forty snacks into my subspace.
'Did you really buy those for the trainees?'
'Do you think I bought them all for myself?'
On my way to class, I suddenly remembered May asking me yesterday if I could be a bit kinder to the trainees.
At the time, I didn't know how things would turn out, so I pretended not to hear, but the situation is different now.
The reason I've been teaching the trainees so haphazardly until now was solely to get fired.
But since my departure is now a certainty, there's no need for that anymore.
Only about a month and a half left.
I can't make up for the long period of poor teaching.
But for this remaining time, I'll try to be a slightly better instructor.