The First Day of School (2)
"Cough…! Y-you, who the hell are you!"
"Not 'you,' but Professor. You were using your words just fine a moment ago, so what's the problem?"
"Right now, that… Gack?!"
He instinctively tried to put up a defensive stance, but it was pathetic. Did the Imperial family not even teach basic self-defense? No, they probably taught it, but it hadn't been drilled in properly. Who would have dared to try and hit the Emperor's son for real? It was an attack with an angle so obvious it was painful. If I sent him to the battlefield, he’d be dead in under ten seconds.
In the midst of that, he started screaming at the top of his lungs, probably because he felt wronged.
"Damn it! They were the ones doing the bullying, so why are you doing this to me!"
"Ah, so you admit there was bullying?"
"…… T-that, just now."
"If you didn't know until now, you're incompetent. If you did know and ignored it, you're complicit. Either way, as someone who will one day be a commander of the Empire, you deserve to be beaten."
"W-w-wait…!"
"What do you think you're doing, Professor!"
I stopped my hand and looked toward the source of the voice. It was the female student who had been sitting in the upper rows, clutching Daisy’s hair just a moment ago. She held her head high, shouting as if she were the one in the right.
"How can you commit such a vulgar act in a sacred classroom? And against His Highness, no less…!"
"You there, student. What's your name?"
"I am Olivia Bluesun! Why, do you intend to use violence against me as well?"
"…? No. His Highness the Third Prince will be the one taking responsibility."
"No, why, gack…!"
Three hits. The prince, perhaps lacking the strength to endure any longer, collapsed to the floor and began to gasp for air in a disgraceful manner. Seeing that, Olivia glanced around at her surroundings and quietly sat back down in her seat.
Honestly, I wanted to line up all the ringleaders and drill some manners into them, but at least for now, I couldn't do that. Corporal punishment without a standard is just assault.
"Military Science is a discipline for learning about war."
"Haa… haa…."
"It is a field where we study the events that have plunged the Empire into terror over the past few years, learn what could have been corrected, and discuss how we should act in the future."
Only beasts listen when you just beat them. Of course, if you asked me whether the Third Prince’s current state was any better than a beast’s, I’d say no, but I had a request to fulfill.
"Then, I will ask a simple question. What do you think is the most important thing in war? You there, student, try answering."
"Y-yes? Ah, that… I think it’s a powerful weapon…."
"That is certainly important, but it is not the answer I was looking for. Next student?"
"…… It is a great leader."
"Oh, correct. Everyone, give them a round of applause."
Clap, clap, clap.
The sound of my palms hitting each other echoed through the silent lecture hall. I hadn't actually told them to clap, but it didn't matter.
"No matter how powerful a weapon you have, if the hand wielding it points in the wrong direction, defeat is inevitable. The reason our Empire was able to win the last war was because we had a leader who pointed us in the right direction. His Majesty is that person."
"Haa… ugh…."
In truth, it was the countless soldiers, including my own family, who did all the hard labor in the middle of the battlefield, but since the person at the forefront says so, no one would dare argue. And compared to the 'I love women, pant pant' emperors often found in romance-fantasy novels, the current Emperor is a remarkably wise ruler. If he weren't, would I be doing this annoying chore? I’d rather just stage a coup with my father.
"Now, I will ask one more question. Would you entrust your lives to the Prince currently lying next to me? Based on what just happened… yes, Miss Olivia, why don't you answer?"
"O-of course…!"
"Hmm."
"Of course… that, well, you see…."
"It seems it’s a difficult question to answer. Then, next time…."
"I… I don't want to."
Everyone’s gaze turned toward the sudden response. It was Daisy. Although her head was bowed toward the ground, shedding tears, and she was so terrified that her fists and legs were trembling, she was speaking with more courage than anyone else in this room.
"As… as a citizen of the Empire… if I have to entrust my life to someone, I would prefer it to be someone I can trust a little more. Not someone who… who schemes behind people's backs."
Even if it sounded like she was mixing in some personal opinion, well. This was a truly excellent answer. With a sense of respect, I gave Daisy a thumbs-up. The other students looked absolutely shocked.
"Good. From now on, in my Military Science class, we will be learning about these very things. That is all for today's lesson. See you next time."
I hoisted the Third Prince, who had passed out at some point, onto my shoulder and gave a slight bow to the students. If they had taken the hint, things would be easier for everyone, but judging by the few glares directed at me as if they wanted to kill me, it didn't look like it would be smooth sailing. Well, that’s how kids are. As someone dreaming of being a true teacher, this was something I had to endure.
I heard that the Academy's infirmary is currently understaffed, so the Healing Magic Professor is doubling as the infirmary head. Apparently, since healing mages are worth their weight in gold, that’s how it ended up. Still, seeing the door open, it seemed there were no classes going on right now.
"Professor, I would like you to use some healing magic."
"Yes…? What is the matter? Is someone hurt?"
I dropped the Third Prince, whom I had been carrying on my shoulder, onto the bed with a thud. I thought he’d have some basic physical fitness since he’s seventeen, but him fainting from a punch that I didn't even put much strength into was outside my expectations.
"G-good heavens! His Highness the Prince! What happened? Is there a terrorist attack on the Academy?"
"…? I hit him."
"WHAT?!?!"
They said they would send an official document from the Imperial Palace, but it must not have arrived yet. Moments like this made me realize I was in a world without the internet. I started to think that maybe Aisa wasn't just being extra when she packed those handwritten copies for me. It’s embarrassing to explain it myself, after all.
"You can read this. First, please use some healing magic."
"Ah, yes, y-yes…."
While the professor was using her magic, I sat on a small chair nearby and let out a deep sigh. At first, I had definitely intended to refuse. No matter how I looked at it, this kind of violent teacher wasn't what I had dreamed of being. Even if they threatened to block me from entering the Academy as retaliation, if things got too bad, I could just go down to the countryside and open an orphanage. I had the money for it, and I had the status for it.
But, this is quite the situation.
'How can I refuse when the parent asks so earnestly.'
Even if he is the Emperor, he is ultimately a father. He couldn't do it with his own hands, so he asked me to beat some sense into him and make him a decent human being; I couldn't bring myself to say no to that. And if it were just any kid, it might be different, but considering that the royal children in this Academy are the candidates for the next Emperor, I couldn't just sit idly by.
After all, it is my fate to live my second life here.
"U-um, Professor Darren…."
"Yes?"
"The external wounds are completely healed, but it will take a few more hours for him to wake up. My mood swings are a bit severe, so my healing magic has some side effects…."
"Ah, yes. I am aware."
"O-oh, you are. I spoke out of turn…."
Seeing her call me by my name, she must have read the document. I had originally thought about using a pseudonym, but I was told that unless it was a Wintergard, no one would accept me beating up a prince, so I ended up using my real name. In truth, I don't think the Emperor expected me to start throwing punches the moment I saw him, either. But since he was the one who ordered it, if he doesn't like it, he can go complain to his father.
"… Was it Daisy?"
"Yes? Yes…. It’s Daisy. Since I’m a commoner, I don’t have a family name yet…."
And what’s important right now isn't some fainted prince. I brought Daisy along because I didn't know what would happen if I left her in the classroom. She was the female protagonist of the novel I reincarnated into, The Academy's Raised Young Lady. The title might make it sound like a hardcore adult work, but in reality, it was nothing of the sort. Obsession, confinement, threats, gaslighting, and so on. It was a dark, depressing story filled with clichés where girls would scream for no reason. Usually, there’s one or two villains and at least one 'sunshine' character, but this novel was the type that fed the female lead nothing but misery to an excessive degree.
"Not having a family name isn't a crime. I have no intention of scolding you, so don't be afraid."
"…… Yes."
So, taking care of children like this is entirely my responsibility. The Emperor clearly asked me to make his children into human beings; he didn't mention anything about the victims they create. It’s not like I can hold a school violence committee meeting at the Academy, so I’ll have to help her somehow. My worries just keep piling up.
"Professor, could you check if this child has any injuries on her body? I will keep an eye on His Highness the Prince."
"Yes? Yes, of course…!"
First, I need to confirm the facts of the abuse. Daisy won't tell me everything honestly just because I ask. Even in a society without class, there are many students who don't tell the truth for fear of retaliation; how much more so now, when there is a gap between commoners and nobles? She was a child who was already struggling just by speaking her mind in the lecture hall earlier.
"Good heavens… w-what is this bruise here?"
"Ah, that. I, I fell…."
"……."
Yeah. Just like I’m hearing right now. Children of this age have a strong tendency not to tell the truth, so I have to gather clear evidence and shove it in their faces so they can't deny it. Of course, the probability of the resentment being directed at me for trying to find that out is high, but well. There’s no time to worry about my image in a situation like this. If anything, it might be better to use that to extract information.
'I learned this in college… what was it called?'
Ah, Good Cop, Bad Cop. It’s a technique where one person plays the role of the coercive and violent detective, and the other plays the role of the soft and kind detective, making the subject open up their heart to the latter and spill everything. Even though both detectives are on the same team.
On Earth, the teacher playing the Bad Cop would be destined to die from a flood of complaints, so it’s a method I could never use, but this is the Middle Ages.
"……."
"……."
Seeing the Healing Magic Professor meet my eyes and nod, it seemed she had the same idea.
"… I will go prepare for my next class for a moment. I’ll be back in about ten minutes."
"Y-yes…! Please do!"
I’ve already shown plenty of my violent and coercive side, so now all I have to do is step away. Then, according to the theory I learned, Daisy will tell that professor everything she has been through.
Just as I was about to stand up thinking that…
Someone’s hand grabbed the hem of my coat.
"Um… I… I don't want to talk to anyone but Professor Darren……."
"Huh?"
… Hmm.
As expected, theory and practice are always different.