Chapter 49
Chapter 49
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 49
Chapter Title: Going to the Academy (2)
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Academy.
This place was incredibly dangerous in the novel.
It was the spot with the jinx that if the protagonist leaves the academy in an academy novel, the story tanks, and if the protagonist heads to the academy in a non-academy novel, it tanks too.
Of course, I didn’t give a damn about that.
Srrrrk.
The plant carriage glided to a smooth stop in front of the academy.
As expected of a place the empire poured massive resources into, the academy was jaw-droppingly enormous right from the first glimpse.
I’d figured it was about the size of a typical university campus, but up close, it dwarfed that—more like a small city.
The academy featured two massive gates, with uniformed students hustling in and out.
“This is youth!”
Nania flashed a huge grin, overjoyed to finally reach the place she’d dreamed of.
Her excitement brought an involuntary dad smile to my face.
Off to the side of the academy entrance stood a sign reading [Special Recruitment Office], where a bored-looking man and woman munched on snacks.
“Let’s go.”
“Yeah.”
With their free passes in hand, Vina and Rainy took the lead with confident strides.
“Haaam…”
The woman, who’d been zoning out while watching flies buzz through the air, glanced at the approaching Vina and Rainy.
“Huh…”
She jolted upright in her seat.
Gulping nervously, she asked cautiously,
“Wh-what brings you here…?”
“We’re applying to be professors.”
“B-both the elf lady and the saintess…?”
“Yes. Archery Department and Divine Department, respectively.”
I’d kept nudging Vina—who whined in pain after one arrow—toward the Spirit Department, but she had her pride as an archer.
She wouldn’t budge.
“The academy welcomes you with open arms! Please fill out these application forms first…”
“Ah, sure.”
The woman seemed to handle experienced hires, leaving the guy for talent recruitment.
I approached him.
He glanced my way and asked,
“Here for talent recruitment?”
“Yes.”
The man rose slowly from his seat.
Sitting, it hadn’t been obvious, but he was pretty burly.
“Which department professor position are you aiming for?”
“Swordsmanship Department.”
He smirked.
“Lucky timing. I’m a Swordsmanship Department professor. Get my approval, and you’re in.”
I subtly gauged the aura radiating from him.
Decent enough to qualify as talented, but I’d win.
“Real swords? Or should I grab wooden ones?”
“Real swords.”
“You know your stuff.”
The man lifted his sword from the ground.
Its blade gleamed—clearly well-maintained.
I drew mine in response.
Mine wasn’t some famed blade, but a true craftsman doesn’t blame his tools.
To me, swords only mattered if they shone like something out of legend.
“Hoo…”
He let out a short sound of admiration at my grip.
“Here I come.”
He charged after giving a clear signal.
For talent recruitment, a moderate win would’ve sufficed, but I planned to demonstrate overwhelming dominance and demand perks.
Set on thoroughly demolishing this professor, I went all-out from the jump—dirty, but effective.
Wooong.
I’d hide my holy power, so I unleashed only the mana churning inside me.
Normally fusing holy power and mana, pure mana felt a tad lacking.
I spread mana thick over my blade and charged the oncoming professor.
Bang!
Air burst with a whoosh as I shot forward, his eyes widening in shock.
Lightly, first form.
Zing!
Tough to block, but he barely parried—not a professor for nothing.
But now came the real show.
Aiming to wrap it in ten exchanges, I pressed him hard.
2nd exchange.
Zing!
3rd exchange.
“Urk…”
4th exchange.
“Ngh…”
5th exchange.
Clang!
His shiny sword flew regretfully from his grip, sailing twenty meters before clattering down.
“…”
“…”
In a world short on entertainment, nothing beat spectating fights for popularity.
A cloud of onlookers had gathered to watch the duel, now speechless at my overwhelming prowess.
“…”
Having endured a swordsman’s ultimate shame—losing his grip—the professor stared at his quivering hands.
‘Went a bit overboard?’
Worrying if spite had made me shake it loose, he spoke up.
“M-Master!”
“Huh?”
The middle-aged guy—easily twice my age—knelt at my feet, eyes sparkling.
“Master! Take me as your disciple!”
His disciple pledge boomed across the area.
This man apparently felt no shame.
What about the age gap?
“Wow… that’s an academy Swordsmanship Department professor.”
“He wrecked the professor.”
“First time seeing a prof beg to be someone’s disciple!”
Passersby halted their paths, crowding in to whisper and stare.
The embarrassment overwhelming, I tried for a compromise.
“Hey… calm down first.”
“Please accept me! Mas-teeeer!”
A young beauty begging might’ve tempted me slightly, but this bearded uncle?
The more he clung, the deeper my refusal sank—straight through to bedrock.
I absolutely didn’t want him as a disciple, but I needed his help, so I offered a compromise everyone could swallow.
“Let’s compromise.”
“Huh?”
“No disciples.”
“How could…”
He gazed up like a scholar bereft of his nation.
“Instead.”
“Instead…?”
“I’ll let you observe my classes.”
Still kneeling, he pondered briefly, then murmured slyly,
“Sparring sessions like that too?”
“Of course. My classes will all be spars.”
His face lit up.
“No way! Thank you so much. Thank you.”
Truth was, with zero swordsmanship theory, spars were my only option.
He acted like I’d made a grand sacrifice, nodding fervent thanks.
“And one more condition.”
“Yes! Name it! Money? Women?”
He peered up with glittering eyes, ready for anything.
His gaze burdensome, I endured and shoved forward Nania, who’d been hiding behind me.
“Get this friend into the academy too.”
“Hmm…”
He cocked his head.
“Is she applying for professor via talent too?”
Hell no—that’d be disaster.
Nania looked perfectly human thanks to Rainy, Vina, and assassin prodigy Yumi’s makeover.
But any power display, and this prof would sense her aura and uncover her identity.
No skill demos allowed.
“Nope. Total powerless.”
Nania shot me a hurt look at “powerless,” but no choice.
“Hmm… Tricky per academy rules… What’s the relation?”
Even this seemingly devoted prof looked stumped, so “friend” wouldn’t fly.
“Family.”
“Oh… Family? I can push the academy on that. Your wife, Master…?”
“No, my daughter—”
“That’s right!”
As I started “daughter,” Nania burst forward and hooked my arm.
What insane line is that? I shot her a glare, but she just beamed innocently.
Too late to deny the wife bit.
Mixed signals like daughter/wife would draw suspicion.
Sighing inwardly, I confirmed,
“Yeah, that’s right…”
He bowed politely to Nania.
“Sister-in-law, please take good care of him!”
Sister-in-law out of nowhere…
She’s barely half your age.
Nania lapped it up, nodding happily.
“Hehe… Take care of my husband, okay.”