9
Chapter 9
"I intend to abolish F Class."
"What??? Abo... abolish it??????"
Suddenly??? What is he talking about?
I was bewildered, unable to grasp the Vice-Principal's intentions. What on earth is he planning?
Enoch composed himself and looked back and forth between the two men. The Vice-Principal looked relaxed, and Mr. Saphent was smiling quietly.
"Of course. It would be difficult to simply announce the abolition out of the blue."
'Damn right. You orc bastard. I just started teaching those kids.'
"Therefore, I have a proposal."
"A proposal?"
"VIPs from six nations will be visiting soon. We will show them just how unrivaled the level of education at our Academy is."
'First I've heard of a VIP visit. Does this damn Academy not bother informing teachers of such important news?'
"We will hold an Academic Festival! A stage where each class can personally demonstrate the skills they've honed in front of the VIPs."
It had been four days since I became the person in charge of F Class. I'd only actually taught for two.
All I had taught the students was the mana accumulation method suitable for their respective paths. I hadn't even shown them how to use it yet.
Even if Mana Storage and the Engine were for practical use, they were bound to be unfamiliar.
'So he doesn't give a damn about F Class's situation. Is that it?'
"If the results are outstanding, they'll have the honor of being singled out by the VIPs, right?"
The Vice-Principal's scheme was starting to become clear.
He wanted us to be mere background. It was obvious he planned to use F Class as a sacrifice to make the higher classes look better.
"If F Class fails to receive a single nomination during this Academic Festival, I will consider it a result of laziness over the past six months. At that moment, F Class will be abolished."
The Vice-Principal gave a chilling smile, curling his thumb downward in a gesture of failure.
'You're the ones who neglected the students for those six months!'
I had plenty to say, but arguing here wouldn't change anything.
"Then consider it settled and prepare well, Sir Enoch. I have high expectations~ Haha."
Having finished speaking, the Vice-Principal left the room.
Mr. Saphent, who had been following, stopped just before exiting the door.
"You'd better prepare properly. Unless you want to see your students kicked out of the Academy."
Saphent chuckled as he closed the door.
Enoch fell into thought for a moment, lightly tapping the desk with his finger.
'...Fine. Nothing for it then.'
Enoch made his decision.
#
Two men leaving the room.
"You've made thorough preparations, I assume?"
"Of course. I've prepared something truly spectacular. F Class won't even be worth noticing."
Vice-Principal Vincent was pleased with Teacher Saphent's answer.
"Good. If this goes well, you'll be promoted to professor and put in charge of a special class."
"Oh my. To think you'd go to such lengths just to handle F Class. I will definitely meet your expectations!"
"Hahaha. Finish it well, and I'll see you at the professor appointment ceremony."
The Vice-Principal hummed a tune, looking pleased as he disappeared down the hallway. Saphent watched him go, his eyes narrowing.
'That orc bastard... he's surely planning to demand money once I become a professor.'
But if he could destroy F Class and become a professor of a special class? He'd be more than willing to pay whatever it took.
Through the hallway window, the training ground was visible. B Class students were training hard today, drenched in sweat.
"The moment F Class is abolished, it will prove that I am a far superior wizard. Aren't you looking forward to it, Enoch?"
He twisted his lips into a smirk.
#
Early morning.
Dew clung to the Back Hill Clearing. The air was clear and refreshing.
Two F Class students, unable to even enter the training ground for fear of other classes' reactions. Yet, their expressions were solemn.
After hearing from Enoch about the Academic Festival, the children could roughly guess what would happen to F Class. Despite that, neither of them spoke of giving up.
"Starting today, the lessons will be extremely grueling at your request. You won't regret it, will you?"
Instead of answering Enoch's question, the students looked at each other.
A strange sense of fighting spirit passed between them. That was enough.
When they looked back at Enoch, their eyes were filled with determination.
Benny had secretly brought wooden swords from the training ground. His palms were the hands of a boy, without a single blister.
"Yes! I hate being a mere prop! I'm going to be the star of the Academic Festival!"
Edelyn briefly recalled her life at the Academy over the past six months.
Days where no one would acknowledge her, even though she longed to learn.
Days where she practically lived in the library just to make an effort on her own.
Moments where she had to close a book without even understanding half of it because there was no one to teach her.
The teachings Enoch provided shattered that frustration in an instant.
"I... I still want to learn more from you, Teacher. I don't want it to end like this!"
Her voice trembled slightly, but her gaze remained steady.
A smile spread across Enoch's lips as he heard the students' resolve. He was simply proud of his students for striving to grow.
'It's a peaceful daily life compared to before regression, but to these children, it must feel like standing on a battlefield.'
He couldn't send students heading into war without giving them weapons.
"I've heard your resolve. As of today, the kind teacher you once knew is dead!!!!"
Enoch's voice echoed across the clearing.
"Hell training begins now."
The children's eyes wavered for a moment.
#
"Run! Run! Don't stop!"
At Enoch's shout, the students began to circle the clearing like mad.
They ran with great spirit for the first lap. By the second, their feet felt heavy. By the third, their clean faces were a mess of dust and sweat.
Benny's arms began to numb before his legs did, as he had to run while clutching the heavy wooden sword.
"How is it possible for a Martial Arts Type to struggle this much?! Eyes forward! No walking until I tell you to stop!"
"T... Teacher... I... I think I'm... dying..."
"This is the path you chose. Grit your teeth and endure!"
Benny pleaded, but Enoch had no intention of giving in.
"Don't stop your feet! Keep running!"
"C... can't I at least use mana?"
"If you use mana in your current state, the output will break your body first. Building your physical strength comes first. Build the vessel!"
"Then can't I at least leave the wooden sword behind? M... my arms hurt so much."
"I'm not a Martial Arts Type, so I wouldn't know, but I've heard this: a swordsman must not let go of his sword even while sleeping! If you understand, then get m...o...ving!!!"
Benny ran off with a tearful expression.
Edelyn's complexion turned pale after the first lap. Her bangs, soaked in sweat, clung to her face.
It was impressive enough that she was still running, but she began to stagger from side to side, having hit her physical limit.
"Wizards are no exception. If your physical strength is depleted, you can't even control your mana! Mind and body! Both must be tempered."
"Huff... puff... wheeze... huff."
Edelyn felt as if her thighs were about to burst, the taste of blood filled her throat, and the pain in her lungs was excruciating.
She didn't have enough breath left to say a word. So, she just looked straight ahead.
'Wow... what tenacity. Even Benny, a Martial Arts Type, is complaining about dying, yet she's following along without a single word.'
Looking at the children's condition, continuing the run would risk injury.
"Alright! That's enough!"
The moment they heard Enoch's voice, the students collapsed onto the ground. Neither could even lift their heads.
Enoch could feel the heat radiating from the air around them.
"If you don't want to be mere props at the Academic Festival, you'll have to work harder than this."
"Haa... gasp... ugh... haa."
"Huff huff huff."
Two people approached from the edge of the clearing.
Through the scent of dirt, the aroma of freshly baked bread and crisp fruit reached the noses of the exhausted students.
"Eating well is also a part of training. You need fuel to move your body and control your mana."
Morse, leading the way, set a large basket down in front of the students. Inside were freshly baked, steaming breads and a variety of fruits.
Sancta followed behind, carrying a water pouch in each hand. The students gulped them down as soon as they received them.
It was only after drinking about half that they seemed to regain their breath. After quenching their thirst, the children began eating the food ravenously.
Not a single word was spoken during the meal. Benny and Edelyn ate as if their lives depended on it.
"Even after eating, running will still be hard because of the muscle pain."
The students looked up at Enoch's words.
A sweet temptation lingered in their ears.
'Can we finally rest?'
However, Enoch's expression remained triumphant.
#
F Class gathered in one spot after finishing their meal.
"Sancta. Please treat them!"
At Enoch's request, Sancta stood before the students.
"Everyone, close your eyes."
Sancta confirmed that everyone had closed their eyes and then released her mana.
— Whooooosh.
"Ah. Augh...!"
Groans erupted from the children.
Healing Type mana treatment only accelerates regeneration. The students had to endure the muscle pain in full. It was a terrible sensation—the body recovering while the pain remained.
'It would be solved if Sancta learned Heal... but right now, every single day is precious.'
They couldn't stop, even if they felt the pain.
"You can run again now, right?"
A cruel smile played on Enoch's lips. Thanks to Sancta, the students who had been collapsed from vitality depletion were physically restored.
Though their eyes were full of mental exhaustion, their bodies were miraculously light.
"Now run again! If your body gives out, I'll have you healed; if you're hungry, I'll feed you! All you have to do is train!!"
"...Yes. Yes!"
There was no strength in the students' voices.
The children began running around the clearing again. Benny gripped his wooden sword tightly, and Edelyn bit her lip as she ran.
The running hell, which seemed like it would never end, finally ceased as evening approached.
On the way back to the Academy from the clearing, neither of the children spoke.
They returned to the dormitory physically intact, but perhaps due to the severe mental fatigue, both fell asleep the moment they hit their beds.
A wooden sword remained gripped in Benny's hand.