Chapter 85
Chapter 85
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 85
Chapter Title: Entry into Prynar Academy
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The wreaths made at Prynar Academy using a special crafting method never wilt.
Though artificial, there are plenty of people with more money than they know what to do with who crave flowers that live forever.
Yet these wreaths, ignoring all that demand, are distributed only to instructors and select students.
The tradition began when the Ten Heroes, having saved the world from the true Demon King, crafted them with prayers for eternal peace.
Not a tradition from the academy's founding, but one adopted centuries ago for special events and carried on since, its symbolism intertwined with time lends it immense significance.
At the very least, having someone place one of those wreaths on you is as good as a public declaration that you're in their camp.
'Does that punk even grasp how important they are?'
Blurt sneered.
He knew.
Most of the Ten Great Families refused to acknowledge Yedre.
Among the current Ten Great Families leading the pack—Graize, Hart, and Blizha—the mystery was why they'd recommended an Outsider for an instructor position.
Rumors swirled that the other families were voicing doubts and growing displeased.
The guy was bound to show his true colors eventually.
No, he'd crash and burn right here.
'No one's gonna hang a wreath on that bastard.'
There were baseless rumors he'd gotten chummy with Dre, Gold, or Elishea.
Even if true, they were just students.
Academy rules forbade students from presenting wreaths.
That left Outsiders, but they were despised by nobles and prominent figures across the world.
No matter how he sliced it, this was shaping up to be an embarrassing moment for the punk.
Blurt wondered if the moron with those sleazy eyes would even feel shame properly.
That was his thought...
"What the...?"
Why was the queen consort of an entire kingdom here?
Not the pleasure-loving king, but the woman hailed as Entiaer's greatest queen consort ever, the one actually running the kingdom.
Blurt couldn't comprehend it.
What kind of pull did that bastard have?
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ You kept your promise and came.
Is it because this is an official event? Unlike the suit-like attire from before, you're in a proper dress... and damn, you look stunning.
I nearly lost my wits or popped a boner on the spot, so I hurriedly bent at the waist pretending to bow in greeting.
"Queen Consort Eniris..."
"You're beautiful."
"How do you compare to Asita?"
"Asita's still growing!"
"They say she's top-tier among the Twelve Beauties, and it's true."
"I've heard she's incredibly skilled in magic too."
The academy students, who'd been dead silent except when clapping—making me wonder if this was a library—were now buzzing loudly.
Not as rowdy as during Kaiz's time, but the air thrummed with even more excitement.
Even the instructors looked shocked.
Queen Consort Eniris had way more influence than I'd imagined.
Yeah.
She'd told me to name my reward for stopping Prostia, and I'd asked her to join this event.
She'd already preempted me by offering to handle the Sertun Count's extermination and the alliance with the Hart Clan, so I felt bad asking for anything huge.
Looking back, it was the perfect choice.
First impressions matter, and as someone living at Prynar Academy where I'd be banging girls left and right, nothing was more crucial.
The female instructor hosting the event stood frozen, until someone jabbed her side.
Snapping out of her daze at Eniris, she shook her head vigorously.
"Um, th-then! A word from the esteemed guest!"
The queen consort smiled gently and spoke in a small but clear voice.
Magic made it echo through the entire auditorium.
"Lord Dre is a benefactor of this nation. I offer the respect due a benefactor and pray for boundless glory in your future."
Benefactor? You're overselling it.
But the effect was great.
No matter that the world's top young geniuses gathered here—no one had ever been called a benefactor by a queen consort.
And her speech wasn't over.
"Moreover, may the friendship between you and the royal family—and myself personally—endure long, perhaps until the end of time. May Prynar bless it."
Eh, Prynar?
A question flickered, but seeing her raise both arms to place the wreath around my neck, I closed my eyes and bowed my head.
As she drew near, a pleasant fragrance wafted over.
The comforting scent of home after a bath, lying in bed at day's end.
It eased me without thinking.
And when I opened my eyes...
"......"
A deep, plunging cleavage came into view.
Her pure image had hidden it, but... damn, these are huge?
Among the women I'd seen, Repelt had the biggest rack, but this seemed even larger.
G-cup...?
How did I miss this...?
*Rumble rumble.*
...Calm down, son.
If you get hard here, it's black history for life.
I coaxed and soothed my little brother until I finally settled.
Only after she stepped back, the scent fading, could I exhale in relief.
And she kept up the lip service to the end.
She took both my hands in hers for a shake, then smiled at the auditorium full of students.
The sight, like the Goddess of Mercy descending, sparked applause from everyone.
The speech was over.
I hadn't said my prepared words yet...
But I wasn't tacky enough to barge in now.
One odd thing, though.
Really fucking odd.
Every student here was a genius or noble.
Genius aside, nobles have noble blood, right...?
Understanding of All Things had told me spotting noble blood grants EXP.
But it hadn't triggered once so far.
Why?
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Understanding of All Things activated. Retrieving points the target failed to recognize. The skill Understanding of All Things triggered out of nowhere.
Perplexed, options started popping up before my eyes.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Would you like to 'understand' the people before you? ......?
Was the EXP gain on sight not automatic, but manual...?
It hadn't been like that before.
...Holy shit.
I was floored but hit Yes anyway, and immediately...
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Noble blood sighted.] [Noble blood sighted.] [Rare ability holder sighted.] [Rare bloodline sighted.] System windows flooded in.
Every glance at the students triggered more. Just to check, I glanced at the queen beside me.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Sighted a being of supreme noble and beautiful bloodline and talent. Granted massive EXP.] ✨ LEVEL UP! ✨ Lv. [Current-1] → Lv. [Current+1] ✨ LEVEL UP! ✨ Lv. [Current] → Lv. [Current+1] Just from looking... two levels up.
Whoa... easy pickings.
I was surprised, but it made sense for Queen Eniris.
"Alright! Next up, please come forward!"
I dawdled on stage as much as possible, scanning the students and racking up EXP.
Thus, my debut as a new instructor ended successfully.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "What was the queen consort thinking?"
Blurt grumbled, trailed by several figures.
These were the academy's true power players: the instructors.
They headed to a meeting room.
Along the way, they endured Blurt's complaints, some nodding in agreement.
"What do you mean, 'what was she thinking'?"
Blurt snorted at Alfred's question.
"You seriously asking? Why go all out with exaggerations and lies to prop up that parachute?"
"You think he's a parachute?"
"You seem to think differently. I'll be rude and ask outright: why try to take him as a student?"
"I'm not taking him as a student."
"What?"
Alfred turned away after that.
Blurt inwardly cursed the inscrutable prick.
Yet he held back, showing respect for Alfred.
"You doubt Outsider Dre's skills?"
The Witch, Emily, spoke.
"Obviously. Isn't everything about him suspicious?"
"You doubt the principal's judgment too?"
"That's..."
Three Ten Great Families had sent recommendations, but the principal had ultimately approved the instructor role.
She looked like a young girl and acted the part.
But that was obsessive roleplay far from her true nature; Blurt knew her rational mind well.
If Renea accepted him, there was something to him, sure—but...
"You saw it too, right? I couldn't sense a thing from him."
Emily smiled at Blurt's trailing words.
"He has results, doesn't he? You've heard them yourself."
"Slicing the principal's warp with a sword strike? Drawing with Hero Kaiz? I admit he's no total noob... but still..."
"He broke my control."
Everyone, Blurt included, was stunned.
"What, that's bullshit..."
"I swear on my name."
"......"
Blurt inwardly disliked Emily from Witch Island, but her skills were real.
A witch swearing on her name outweighed a mage's oath.
He had to believe this endorsement.
"Whoa, maybe the guy's more impressive than I thought?"
Blurt glared at whistling Yapuno.
"...Hmph. We'll know what he's made of soon enough."
Yeah.
In a week, like it or not, they'd test his skills.
Blurt was certain he'd be proven right.
Meanwhile, Alfred pondered deeply, and the witch murmured delightedly.
"I'll have to 'verify' him myself."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ After the event, backstage.
I knelt before Queen Consort Eniris.
"Oh dear, Lord Dre."
She smiled awkwardly, oblivious.
This knee included guilt for my profane thoughts...
She was a lifesaver.
Including this, she'd given endless advice.
When I said I had no clue how to instructor, she suggested acting an ideal character.
It might not stick at first, but acting would make it real eventually.
I'd tried arrogant prick teacher, but it flopped.
Still, focusing on acting banished stray thoughts.
I'll keep practicing.
Anyway, I thought this spot private, but she drew eyes everywhere.
Aware, she gently placed a hand on my shoulder and whispered.
"Come to the palace next time. We'll continue our unfinished business then?"
"...Pardon?"
Business? This event?
"Ufufu."
She flashed a warm smile and turned.
Female knights in radiant armor followed.
"......"
Bad for the heart... but a good woman.
So, what now?
Suddenly free.
Today's schedule was done.
Sure, class plans, which class I'd join, what lectures— but not urgent.
Oh, right. Leveled up.
Time to check stats and skills after ages?
Too noisy here; need somewhere quiet.
Finding a secluded spot was tough.
My fame had spiked from her speech; eyes everywhere.
They kept distance for now.
Probably 'cause I'm an instructor; students sense the gap.
Thinking of classmates as a student soon felt grim.
Student-slash-instructor? Fucking weird, right?
Wandering paid off: a spot behind the building, screened by bushes.
Bat emblem on the wall.
...Bat, huh.
Makes me think of the witch.
Specifically, right after Witch Emily escorted me to the auditorium.
Our chat in the shadows.
'Join my class?'
'Got something to test.'
'Pass on being a lab rat.'
'Oh my, rude.'
The sultry witch chuckled, then pressed close and whispered in my ear.
'That invite to my shop alone? Not empty words.'
'......'
'Visit once, then decide on a class. Busy? Tell me. I'll make time to come to you.'
She pulled away and walked off first; I couldn't follow up.
...That mean what I think?
Overthinking?
I pictured Witch Emily.
Her outfit—not principal-level, but closer to whore.
Pale skin bared boldly, massive milkers, sexy collarbone cleavage, armpits, etc.
Recalling her lewdness made me swallow hard.
Do all witches dress slutty...? If so, perfect.
Then, presence in the shadows.
Who? Fan come calling?
Gold? Repelt?
...Or the witch.
Heart pounding, I swallowed...
A blonde beauty appeared.
Yeah, Repelt...
"Yedre."
No, it's this fucking Kaiz asshole begging for a beatdown, you shitstain prick.
I wanna rip your mouth, pour boiling water, wait for it to heal, rip again, rub salt. Fucker.
"What do you want."
My voice dripped obvious irritation, but this iron-mented shithead was immune.
"Why mention Almiraz?"
"Huh?"
Random bullshit, asshole.
Oh yeah, Almiraz—totally slipped my mind.
I told the academy heads; they'll handle it.
"Why?"
"What future did you see?"
......?
This guy seriously thinks I'm a real prophet now?
It reeked of bullshit.
Floored, I asked.
"What? Did Almiraz do something in your last loop?"
"Yes."
"?"
What?
I eyed him puzzled since he answered straight; he continued.
"Once. He dropped a floating island."
"...?"
What'd you say?
Dropped this island? Full of monsters like these?
How the— I opened my mouth...
"Outsider Dre. Are you an apostle of the Forgotten God?"
"What?"
Forgotten God?
What's that lore?
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Asita's class was in an uproar.
"Hey, hey, Asita. That new instructor's super weird, right?"
"Y-Yeah..."
A girl not usually friendly.
No, one she wasn't close with.
Asita hung her head under the relentless chatter from the class's rumored sexpot.
This stemmed from rumors Asita knew Dre.
She glanced pleadingly at Clarit or El, but Clarit focused on student council work as always, and El gleefully gossiped with the kids.
"Instructor Dre really slayed a dragon. Graize intel confirms it—solid info."
"......"
Was she the only one finding El's attitude off lately?
"The queen consort herself..."
"So beautiful..."
"Worth the trip from afar."
Unlike El's hopes, interest skewed toward Queen Eniris.
Makes sense, but...
Then the flashy-yet-subtly-sexy girl spoke.
"That Instructor Dre? A little polish and he'd be hot as hell."
"...R-Really?"
Asita blinked at the girl's interest—famous for that.
"Yeah. Hero's handsome too, but I prefer beastly, wild guys. What about you, Asita?"
Asita replied in a voice chillier than she understood.
"He... probably has a girlfriend."
"Pfft, goalie's there? Still score."
"......"
Why?
Her mood soured viciously.
Clarit's ears perked from afar, but her icy aura kept anyone from noticing.