Chapter 27
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: Magic Tower Combat Training Practical Recruitment: Toskantana Aiden Pisvolt
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Students passing by stopped in their tracks at the notice posted on the bulletin board.
“Aiden Professor is teaching it himself?”
“Really? Should I join too?”
“Don’t bother. With your skills, you wouldn’t even keep up.”
A female student stuck out her tongue in response.
“What, do I have to show off perfectly? I can subtly show off while pretending to struggle…”
Whatever that “subtly” meant, one thing was clear: it had succeeded in stopping passersby in their tracks.
The word “practical” sent the student into a frenzy.
He tried to hide it, hunching over, but up close, his movements looked unnatural.
Catching his breath, he strode forward, muttering that he had to check it out.
[The purpose of this practical is to prevent a repeat of the recent practical disaster and to enhance students’ independent combat abilities. Those interested should submit an application to the research lab…]
If it had been any other professor, they would’ve cursed outright.
They’d say something like, “Your mistakes caused casualties, and now you want another practical at a time like this?” But…
The student glanced at the instructor’s name with trembling eyes.
[Instructor: Toskantana Aiden Pisvolt]
The hero who stopped the practical disaster.
A being who had already achieved every feat an individual could accomplish, with no need to become a professor.
A Master was a nation’s core asset.
They could live in luxury just by existing.
If glory was the goal, they could demand a position like Captain of the Imperial Knights…
Yet all they took was a university professor role.
The student bowed his head.
He had descended, renouncing ambition for the sake of nurturing the next generation.
Even those who envied him as a Master had no choice but to grudgingly acknowledge it.
Not content with declaring his ambition to awaken Aura in his students, he was producing tangible results.
So this couldn’t be twisted intent—it had to be a genuine proposal for the students’ benefit.
While other professors shrank back from the practical disaster.
His chest tightened with heavy emotion, which he struggled to calm.
The student recalled the incident.
Now haunting his nightmares every night—the heart of that tragedy.
“It’s wrong. Wrong!”
In the tension that shook their bodies, someone screamed.
They’d pressed their heads together but failed to dispel the barrier.
Of course, if students could undo what even professors couldn’t, that would’ve been suspicious.
But there was no time to dwell on suspicions; it was urgent, desperate.
When the Magic Wolves appeared, they squeezed out every bit of knowledge they had—or didn’t.
—Grrrrrr.
The Magic Wolves emerged one by one into the clearing.
Their steel-gray fur gleamed, foam dripping from their rabid mouths.
Blood smeared thickly around their muzzles made those who recognized it go pale.
“Damn it, what are the professors doing…?”
“No, no! Let us out of here!”
Someone pounded the barrier in panic, stomping as if the wolves would charge any second.
“Someone, anyone, get us out!!”
They knew it was futile.
But contrary to thought, the barrier shattered right in front of them.
Shattered, literally.
Fragments like broken glass shards floated in the air.
The screaming male student’s eyes widened round.
A dumb sound leaked through his gritted teeth.
“Wha… huh?”
For a moment, the pretty reflections of the world in the drifting shards caught someone’s eye, drawing a gasp of admiration.
It felt refreshing, having tried so hard to break it themselves.
But that detached sentiment didn’t last.
A blond man burst through the barrier, white feathers fluttering.
Soft ones that would crunch underfoot.
Some wondered what they were; others stared wide-eyed for the truth. Either way.
Whoosh—
Drawn to the feathers drifting like a gentle breeze, they realized the monsters poised to pounce had scattered into dust.
Body fluids, including blood they hadn’t wiped away, splattered unnoticed on the ground.
The sudden harmony left students speechless.
Instead, they blankly followed the blond man with their eyes.
In the silence, his shoe heels clicked sharply.
He glanced their way with a half-bored expression, sword still sheathed, and muttered lowly.
“I kept you waiting.”
With that, he turned and strode ahead.
“So rest easy now.”
Soon, white feathers swirled in a storm, sweeping like warm winds.
When the mystical sight passed, every wolf lay silent.
His calm command to rest easy.
But the number who took solace in those words was beyond counting.
“Hah.”
The student who had stopped at the bulletin board notice had been there too.
Having witnessed it all, that’s why it tormented him nightly, painfully.
But more than that…
‘I was powerless.’
The student stared at the notice, then closed his eyes.
A new resolve burned in them.
* * *
Not long after posting the recruitment notice, students gathered.
These were the ones left after rigorous selection.
Uh…
No casual chatter or joking around.
Usually, they’d grumble about overdoing the motivation, but they stood in solemn formation, all smiles wiped away.
That’s why I was bewildered in real time.
What is this?
Their eyes were anything but ordinary.
Especially Elin… mainly Elin and those like her.
They exuded a murderous aura, like soldiers ready for battle.
The honeybee bumblebee was growling ferociously, as if heading to war.
Why is a honeybee bumblebee growling…?
I caught my wandering thoughts.
Isel shrugged beside me, as if asking if I’d done well.
‘…Your doing?’
My head throbbed.
‘This is insane.’
With the practical disaster fresh, I’d aimed for a light atmosphere…
But the coaxing, soothing, praising practical to show it was fine started with grim determination, like military hell training.
“Combat training practical personnel: 76 in total. Assembly complete.”
I turned reflexively at the voice.
A beauty radiating mature poise.
Her straight blue hair swayed refreshingly, gleaming with luster.
She wore a thin longsword at her side—cool, aloof vibes.
Of course, that was the game illustration; to me now, she was an aloof blue chitinous beetle.
Aloof beetle teacher? Ugh…
‘Shouldn’t have thought that.’
Fourth-year student.
Knight Department class representative.
“Radia, eldest daughter of the Drake family. Right?”
“I’m honored you remember. The daughter of the Drake family greets the Empire’s supreme Three Swords.”
Named, she immediately knelt on one knee in salute.
I couldn’t hide my deflation, chuckling inwardly.
We’re doomed, totally screwed… epically failed.
My deflation had a specific reason.
The Drake Admiral family.
A ducal house guarding vast oceans including coastlines, called the Empire’s invincible fleet by some.
Radia would later be known as Admiral Radia, a naval warfare genius.
…And one of the protagonists vying with Elin.
I need to separate them.
I wet my throat with saliva.
‘Why…’
Are you here…?
“Do you really need to take my class?”
Radia’s eyes flashed.
“This practical disaster stemmed from lax patrols by the student council’s lower echelons, the leading committee, and the security unit. Even if it was an order from above, we can’t evade responsibility.”
Regret and guilt flickered briefly in Radia’s pupils.
She steeled her voice, lifted her head, and met my gaze.
“As the security unit’s deputy captain, I take responsibility for the disaster.”
I stared at Radia.
Hmm… is that so.
I stroked my chin.
Seemed easier to pry loose than expected.
The students felt their breath catch in the heavy atmosphere blanketing the group.
No, it wasn’t a feeling.
It was real.
Scanning around, they were familiar faces.
Some rarely seen ones were probably original Aiden Professor students.
The rest were practical victims.
Those who had been suppressed rose to the surface.
Still haunted by the wounds, slumped and withdrawn, but their fierce eyes turned pain to anger.
They hated the helplessness.
They wanted to escape that frustration from back then.
I confirmed it seeing Isel and Elin standing resolute.
Calm, settled pupils.
Eyes craving revenge.
This practical was for that.
As I thought that, the refreshing woman knelt.
“I’m honored you remember. The daughter of the Drake family greets the Empire’s supreme Three Swords.”
Security unit deputy captain.
She’d heard it wasn’t the security unit’s fault.
The president had ordered it directly; they had no choice.
But her heart wouldn’t accept what her head knew.
“As the security unit’s deputy captain, I take responsibility for the incident.”
Many eyes watched, but silence answered.
When it didn’t go as expected, Radia showed clear unease.
The professor in white uniform.
Seeming detached from the world, blending ennui and grace.
But those intensely burning ice-blue eyes pierced through everything, scraping the skin keenly.
Meeting that gaze tightened the breath.
No overt emotion, yet the pressure followed.
Students let out small gasps.
Not just from dignity or elegance.
It was the weight of his actions propping him up that drew true admiration.
‘Cool.’
Saving students without fanfare, just fulfilling duty, knowing what to do and acting on it.
A student watching Aiden fidgeted their hands.
Tension swelled conversely.
Aiden, who should affirm Radia’s words, stayed silent.
The stagnant air froze, chill sweeping in.
“…Lady Radia.”
Aiden broke the silence slowly after savoring it.
“Responsibility isn’t taken like that.”
Radia’s eyes widened at the words.
“If you truly wanted to take responsibility, you should’ve come to me for self-reflection instead. In that sense, you’re not qualified for my class.”
The sudden dismissal froze Radia.