Chapter 14
Chapter 14
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: Don't Mistreat Your Subordinates. You'll Get X-ed Later. (5)
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"...Weird."
"What's weird?"
Hermoph was a teacher at the glorious Hero Academy and a former mage from a hero party.
He had recently realized that the academy's atmosphere felt off.
"Doesn't the vibe feel subtly different somehow?"
"Does it? Feels the same as always to me."
After the graduation ceremony, they had a short week-long break.
Then, they began the new semester.
The existing students moved up a grade.
And the first-year freshmen enrolled.
It was the academy starting a perfectly ordinary new year.
But for some reason...
'Something feels chilling.'
Hermoph had always had sharp instincts, even back in his active days.
It wasn't any special magic or ability, but his keen intuition had saved the hero party from crises more than once or twice.
That's why he felt uneasy.
For some reason, he had a hunch that something big was going to happen this year.
"Ah, there is one thing different from last year."
At that moment, a fellow teacher grinned at him.
"That filthy commoner teacher's gone. Quit and vanished!"
"Now that you mention it."
A mere commoner who dared to teach without being a hero or even part of a hero party.
And he didn't even have the Hero's Quality. A pathetic, worthless trash teacher named Kane.
'Oh yeah, there was a guy like that.'
In truth, he'd been forgotten from memory after just a week.
To Hermoph, he was nothing more or less than a dirty, incompetent commoner.
"If his absence has elevated the academy's prestige, then we can say the atmosphere has improved. From that perspective, yeah, it's different from usual."
"Haha, exactly."
'Right, instead of worrying, I should be thrilled! The academy's reputation has soared even higher over the past three years. And now the one stain—a commoner teacher—is gone. Nothing but smooth sailing ahead.'
With that thought, Hermoph brushed off his uneasy feelings.
Sure enough, just as he said, the academy had grown rapidly over the past three years.
Student mortality rates had plummeted, and among this year's graduates, only three had died.
To become a hero or true hero, one had to overcome constant life-threatening trials.
Until now, the academy's student death rate had exceeded 30%.
Meaning twenty students died per grade each year.
Naturally, injuries were even more common.
In practice, fewer than half graduated unscathed.
But somehow, over the last three years, both death and injury rates had sharply declined.
Because they were cowards? Because they gave up on trials?
No.
Despite the low mortality, they overcame the teachers' grueling challenges and achieved the highest average scores in history.
The emperor himself praised the academy's achievements.
Leaders across the continent marveled and took a fresh look at the institution.
No longer a terrifying survival academy where half died or were maimed while sending the rest to the top.
It had become an ideal academy raising the overall level of its students through a systematic curriculum.
Thus, this year, nations across the continent—even those of non-human races who rarely mingled with humans—sent requests to enroll their children.
'That's all thanks to us teachers being so outstanding. And the students' quality keeps improving.'
Naturally, every teacher including Hermoph, every student, and even alumni...
All believed it was because they were exceptional.
No one truly knew the exact reason for the dropping death rates and rising student performance.
But since things had steadily improved for three years, everyone assumed the academy would only solidify its top position going forward.
'And as a teacher here? I'm fucking amazing! Heh heh heh!'
Hermoph was no different.
...But later, he would come to regret this moment.
He should have investigated the source of his unease right away.
He should have figured out exactly why student deaths had dropped so sharply and scores had risen across the board.
If he had, this horrific future might not have befallen the academy.
However, aside from a tiny handful, no one foresaw that future.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "I've been practicing mana control based on what you told me, Instructor Kane."
Huh, he actually jumped straight into practice.
She must have kept circulating mana and doing image training on the way back to the village after I explained.
Well... since she can barely sense mana at all, I couldn't tell for sure.
Impressive.
It must have required serious focus and a decent mana pool.
As expected of someone with C-grade aptitude.
"I think I've got a feel for it, but I lack real combat experience."
"True. You haven't actually used it in battle yet."
Yeah, real combat experience is key.
"I'll practice mana control while fighting goblins."
"Oh ho, I see."
I see.
So, lure in a goblin, have Reina practice spear arts in combat.
And if she gets hurt, Sonya heals with magic. Both gain practical experience.
Solid plan.
Perfect practical training for a frontline fighter and support mage duo.
Eh, what? Just straightforward combat practice?
Good thing that eerie feeling was just my imagination.
"Yeah, learning in real combat is great."
Combat experience is crucial.
No matter how talented, if you can't apply it in battle, it's worthless.
That's why aptitude alone isn't enough—experience, knowledge, and adaptability matter.
Talent and skill.
Only when blended perfectly do you get a true expert.
"Plus, goblins won't seriously hurt either of you."
Two or three goblins? Even without a tank, two E-rank adventurers can handle it.
No, it'd be overkill.
Worst case, run back to the village nearby—the guards look reliable enough.
"Just in case, I bought some healing herbs and antidotes in town."
Sonya showed me her bag of wound-healing and detox herbs.
Huh, she's well-prepared.
...But come to think of it...
"Don't I just get in the way?"
Why did I need to tag along for their training?
They're doing it themselves anyway.
"If you spot anything to fix, please tell us."
"Heh heh heh."
...Like I said before.
I only know theory; I can't advise on actual combat.
The only way is for them to develop on their own.
"...I'll help however I can."
"Yay, thanks!"
"Thank you."
Well, I've already helped once.
Nothing else to do in the village, so might as well watch them grow.
As an educator, nothing beats seeing students improve.
"Shall we give it a swing first?"
Reina, eager to test her new weapon, pulled out the iron rod with sparkling eyes.
Whoosh~ swing!
Down from above, up from below.
Sides too. She swung it around, getting familiar.
No proper technique yet—just swinging.
But with D-grade aptitude, she'll adapt fast.
"Ooh... feels like it suits me. Is it the weapon?"
Reina swung the iron rod around with a refreshed face.
She looked thrilled.
When shooting arrows, her cute face always scrunched in tension.
Well... less the weapon, more her natural aptitude.
Whoosh!
After a few minutes of swings, thrusts, short swings—various stances.
Reina practicing diligently.
"This should be... enough to fight."
As expected, she adapted quickly.
"I'll go lure a goblin."
She grabbed her bow and headed into the forest.
Yeah, aggro from range by pissing it off is reliable.
.....
A few minutes after she entered the woods.
Rustle─
"Ready!"
Reina burst out through the bushes, now wielding the iron rod.
"...Hoo."
Sonya took a deep breath, focusing.
First time using this spell, so it'd need way more concentration than her usual buffs.
"Kieeeek!"
Behind Reina, a frenzied goblin charged out of the bushes swinging a dagger.
Ooh, skillfully lured just one.
Even after brief practice, she can't handle multiples without spear experience yet.
This shows why that trash-with-a-D-rank-name, Kogel's party, boasts over 70% success—top tier.
Sonya with her focus and mana sustaining buffs.
Reina's skill luring one goblin despite no archery aptitude.
They must have contributed massively from the backline.
And, hate to admit it...
Kogel's decent for a D-rank, minus the stupidity.
"...Hup!"
Snapping me from my thoughts—Reina's battle cry.
She swung the rod at the charging goblin, just like in practice.
Slash!
"Kiiik!"
The overzealous goblin couldn't stop and took a glancing hit to the torso.
But her big, slow swing meant no fatal wound—just a scrape.
Per Imperial Basic Spear Arts that imperial soldiers learn.
Her movements had lots of wasted motion.
Spear weight helps attacks, but the key is long reach to control foes.
Easy to mistake spears for heavy-hitting long weapons due to size.
But mostly short pokes, defenses with the shaft... sneaky weapon, basically.
Keep enemy weapons away.
Strike long from all angles.
That's spear basics.
...Or so the Imperial spear manual says.
But that's just book theory to me, who knows no combat.
Who knows if it's real.
I just read it, so it must be~ right?
Can't advise Reina's practice with such flimsy knowledge.
Best to watch till she figures it out herself.
"Hyaa!"
Poke!
"Keeek!"
Well, no fancy tech needed for one goblin.
Her thrust pierced its forearm, dropping it completely.
"Ki... kihin..."
Bled out too much, too pained to stand.
Hmm, one really just practice level.
Needs at least two for Reina to take a hit?
Bit disappointing, but wounds let Sonya practice too... Huh?
As I thought that, Sonya stepped forward.
"O benevolent mana, grant healing light to the wounded. 'Low Cure'!"
Flash─!
A brilliant healing light enveloped... the goblin?
"...???"
W-What? What did I just see?