52
Chapter 52
"Instructor!"
"We thought you weren't coming!"
They all rush toward me, looking far too happy to see me after only a two-day weekend.
"You wanted to surprise us, didn't you?"
"Oh, Instructor, you're something else."
"I'm so touched."
...It's true I wanted to surprise them, but I planned to show up on Friday when the training ended, not this early.
But yesterday, I spotted a member of Vicious Exile wandering the forest.
The best move would have been to cancel the training, but that failed.
The Dean trusts me to some extent, but my word as a mere instructor wouldn't carry much weight, so I contacted Old Man Daph.
I told him I'd seen a member of Vicious Exile in the forests of Creta Island and had even fought them, and asked him to cancel the training.
Knowing that Zero was the one who severed my arm, the old man said he'd do his best, but it didn't work.
The training was scheduled for tomorrow, and since Vicious Exile is a secret organization unknown to the public, there was no justification for cancellation.
I heard the Southern Legion, who were supposed to accompany us for this session, had already arrived.
Since it couldn't be canceled, the only option left was for me to protect the kids.
He offered to dispatch some Black Agents, but after a bit of thought, I declined.
Among those connected to the Intelligence Agency, only the old man and Evan know that I'm still alive.
I had considered the two juniors who would stubbornly insist on quitting if I retired, and they were the only ones who could actually be helpful here.
The old man suggested coming with new agents who didn't know me, but I wasn't sure if that would help.
I lost my arm to a combined attack from Zero and a silver-haired Avian, despite the odds being 2 to 1, being injured, and having to provide escort.
I have no idea how many executives from Vicious Exile are here or what their objective is.
Seeing them wander the forest suggested they were searching for something, and the first thing that came to mind was Wild Ginseng.
But if they were after the ginseng, I wouldn't have been able to harvest forty-four roots.
Besides, Ark said that knowledge of Wild Ginseng belongs to the Sword King, not the Alchemist, so that's out.
That leaves only one possibility: the ruins of the Seven Stars.
To be honest, the shock still hasn't completely worn off.
According to Ark, Alchemists—though not as much as Evankel—are quite meticulous, so they wouldn't have let their ruins be discovered easily...
"Instructor?"
"Huh?"
"I think they're calling you over there."
I turned my head and saw Instructor Amelia gesturing for me to come over.
I was far too lost in my own thoughts.
"Good luck with the training, everyone. I'll see you later."
After saying goodbye to the students, I approached the other instructors, who all looked surprised to see me.
I told them I'd had a change of heart and took a spot in the corner.
"What on earth do you mean? You want us to take full charge of the trainees?"
Ugh, I can feel my own face heating up from embarrassment.
Everyone was so excited to go to Creta, and sure enough, they asked the Southern Legion to handle all the escort duties for the trainees.
"I didn't say 'take full charge.' I mean the academy instructors will focus on preparing for any potential emergencies."
"Isn't that the same thing? Teaching the trainees is supposed to be the instructor's role, so how can we..."
"That's true normally, but this is practical training, isn't it?"
"W-well... that's true, but."
It feels like the knight representing the Southern Legion is losing this argument.
"It would be far more beneficial for the trainees to be accompanied by the Southern Legion, who work in the field, than by the instructors they see every day at the academy."
"Ahem, I believe the Dean mentioned to Duke Carlos several times that he should look after them..."
"No, I mean... I did hear that he wanted our cooperation, but..."
"Please bear with us for the sake of our empire's pillars of the state. Once I return, I'll ask the Dean to speak with the Duke."
"Some of these trainees may join the Southern Legion in the future anyway. We'll leave it to you."
In the end, the Southern Legion lost.
It was the scenario I expected.
Earnest soldiers who came simply to help couldn't possibly win against cunning instructors who were determined to offload their work from the start.
It might have been different if the Legion's representative were a sharp-witted wizard, but since he's a knight, it was a complete victory for the instructors.
"I would like to accompany the trainees."
I had intended to speak first, but Amelia beat me to it.
The other instructors glared at her, but the passionate Instructor Amelia didn't care in the slightest.
"I'll accompany the trainees as well."
"Instructor Bio?"
"Instructor Bio didn't even apply to go..."
"Didn't I say my mind had changed? The kids might be bored of seeing the same faces, but I thought it would help my future teaching to see how they fight and behave in a real-world setting."
Since both Ranger Class instructors volunteered, I thought one or two from the Magic or Knight Classes would follow suit, but to my surprise...
There were no further volunteers.
Instead, they seemed to think that Amelia and I had already made them look good enough.
After handing out the evaluation sheets and finishing a brief briefing, they gave Amelia and me a single communication crystal and headed back to the city without even a 'good luck.'
They couldn't even stay to see the trainees enter the forest; they're really too much.
Half of the Southern Legion members who weren't escorting trainees entered first to begin subjugation from the far coast, while the rest entered group by group.
"I'm so relieved that you're in our group, Instructor!"
May was absolutely beaming.
I hadn't specifically tried to be in the same group as May, but that's how the assignments turned out.
"I wanted to go with the knight."
"Instructor, do you know how to use magic?"
The atmosphere was far too chaotic.
The same went for the other groups that had already gone ahead.
"Attention, everyone. Did you come here for a vacation?"
As I spoke in a low, stern voice, they all looked intimidated.
"N-no, sir."
"We're sorry."
"The training began the moment you entered the forest. Unless there is a threat beyond your capabilities, I will not intervene. Act as if I am not here."
Only after the warning did they seem to snap back to reality.
"Then why don't we pick a leader first?"
May was the first to speak up.
Everyone nodded in agreement, and one candidate emerged from each class.
May for the Ranger Class, Isis for the Magic Class, and Erec for the Knight Class; Isis was the one who asked about my magic, and Erec was the one grumbling about wanting a knight.
Erec and Isis were from count families, while May was from a barony.
I expected a close vote, but May ended up as the leader with a 7:4:3 split.
It seemed to be because she's the oldest and because of her achievements in Greeta last year.
"Thanks for picking me, everyone. I'll do my best to make sure our group takes first place!"
While Isis and the Magic Class generally seemed accepting, Erec and the Knight Class looked displeased, clearly unhappy that their leader hadn't been chosen.
"Let's set up a base first."
"A base? When is there time for that? We can just use sentries and Alarm Magic, so let's just sleep anywhere and start hunting."
Was he fifteen this year?
Judging by how the Knight Class students follow him, his skills aren't bad, but he's far too naive.
"Erec, the training lasts until Friday. There's no need to rush the hunting. Besides, hunting like that makes it hard to maintain your condition."
Most of them seemed to agree with May, but Erec and a few others from the Knight Class looked displeased.
"Who has the map of the Creta forest that was handed out to each group?"
Isis raised her hand and pulled out the map.
"Looking at the map, there's a fairly deep stream in the center. We'll set up our base there."
"Is it because of the water? We can just create water with magic."
"It's not just for drinking water. Setting up a base by the river reduces the number of directions we have to defend. We can save magic power, too."
"Oh, you're right."
Even the Knight Class students, along with Isis, looked impressed.
I wondered whose student she was to be so smart and capable.
I felt a subconscious surge of pride.
After traveling for about forty more minutes, we arrived at the riverbank.
We encountered Kobolds and Goblins once each along the way, but May, leading the pack, spotted them first and handled them without significant casualties.
Some trainees were a bit clumsy, but overall, they handled themselves well.
"Split into two groups and gather materials from the area with plenty of banana leaves and trees that we saw on the way. Let's finish the base first."
"Can't we just sleep roughly? I want to hunt."
"The knights told us earlier that it's currently the rainy season on Creta Island. Do you all want to sleep in the rain?"
May was leading them so well that I figured I didn't need to keep a close eye on them, so I told the kids I'd watch from a distance and stepped away.
I spent the rest of the day patrolling the forest while spreading my magic power, but I only found the training groups and Southern Legion members—no sign of anyone from Vicious Exile.
When I returned to the riverbank where May was, two quite decent-looking wooden huts had been completed.
Soup was bubbling in a central fire pit, and some fish, likely caught from the river, were roasting on sticks by the fire.
Their attention shifted to me for a moment before they went back to their own conversations.
"Unnie May, when can we eat?"
"The potatoes aren't cooked yet, so we'll have to wait a bit longer."
While May calmed Isis and checked the soup, Erec approached her.
"Noona May, seeing your skills earlier, I think you'd be the overwhelming number one even in the Knight Class. Why are you in the Ranger Class?"
"Whether it's as a knight or a ranger, shouldn't I just do my best wherever I am? You're praising me, right? Thanks."
May answered with a bright smile, and Erec stepped back, his face flushing red.
He seemed disgruntled before, but seeing him follow her around calling her 'Noona,' it looks like he's acknowledged May's ability.
"Everyone, bring your bowls. Let's eat."
May served the soup to each person with a wooden ladle.
"Unnie, this is so delicious!"
"Wow, there aren't even many ingredients in it, but I think this tastes better than what my family's chef makes."
They're overreacting.
Wait, they aren't doing this just so May has to cook for them every day, right?
I was watching the trainees devour the soup when May approached me.
Carrying a steaming bowl of soup.
"Instructor, I made plenty of soup and it looks like there'll be some left over. Please have a bowl."
Left over, huh.
Looking at the trainees behind me, they all looked like they wanted another bowl.
"I'm fine. Go on and eat."
May insisted again, but I declined.
'She brought it because she was thinking of you; just take it. Why be so heartless?'
'No thanks.'
'Is there a rule that says you can't?'
'No.'
There's no rule against receiving food from trainees.
Though there is a rule against giving food.
'Then you're just going to starve?'
'No. I bought everything yesterday.'
Using Subspace Magic, I pulled out a small table and spread a black tablecloth.
I set out the forks and knives first, and finally brought out the food I had prepared.
Steak made from calves from the Paulaner region in the East of the empire, and grilled king lobster with cheese caught off the coast of Creta Island, with soft white bread and homemade strawberry jam.
A fresh salad topped with plenty of Pratamia cheese, and lemonade with a twist of lime.
These were foods I'd bought from the best spots in Creta from last night until this morning, knowing I'd be joining the training.
This particular meal was from Marmita, a Belchelin 3-star restaurant on the 18th floor of Unfading Light.
As I sat on a camping chair and began cutting my steak, the trainees all stared at me.
"What are you looking at? Get back to your meal."
'Are you a demon?'
'I'm accompanying them on a trip I didn't even want to be on; I'm sure the students will understand.'
* * *
Creta Island, the rooftop of the 20th floor of Unfading Light.
Zero, Wolf, and Eagle sat in chairs, looking down at Creta, which was glowing with a brilliant night view.
A fireworks display was currently in full swing.
"The view is quite decent."
"If I were to carry you and fly, Zero, I could show you an even better view..."
"I'll pass on that. I prefer doing the carrying rather than being carried."
"Oh, Zero, you really are something."
As Eagle leaned closer, Zero wrapped an arm around her shoulder.
Wolf, watching the two of them, looked utterly appalled.
"Did you come here to date?"
"Stop being so jealous."
"Why, you little sparrow!"
"Both of you, stop. Wolf, isn't it about time to start?"
"It'll start soon."
Wolf replied, glancing at his pocket watch.
"Then let's just enjoy the show."
Moments later, with a massive boom, a final, giant firework was launched.
Boom— Bang— Bang— Bang—
Along with the roar, the fireworks forming the golden lion, the symbol of the Beluga Empire, vanished, but the explosions didn't stop.
Most of the skyscrapers Creta was proud of were engulfed in flames.
"The view has become much better."