Chapter 4
Chapter 4
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: Everyone Carries a Resignation Letter in Their Heart (3)
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Everyone carries at least one resignation letter in their heart.
"Something's off."
Something feels strange.
The world... the world... was it always this beautiful?
The days spent at the academy felt so gray by comparison—the surroundings here were vibrant and bright.
Colors leaped to life, and an inexplicable sparkle filled the air around me.
A clear sky with a few lazy clouds drifting by.
The warm sun shining down from all sides.
A cool breeze brushing against my cheeks.
The noisy chatter of people passing through the square.
The sound of water splashing from the fountain behind me.
Merchants calling out to attract customers.
Everything harmonized perfectly.
"Was the world always this beautiful?"
This... this is quitting? This is handing in my resignation...?
It felt strangely like I was seeing this place for the first time.
...Well, to be fair, this was my first time properly taking in the square like this.
The Hero Academy is located in Carmen, the capital of the Karr Empire.
It's the largest and most developed city on the entire continent—and a magnet for people from across the land, either enrolling in the academy or just coming to gawk at it. The floating population is massive.
I'd spent a full three years here, but I'd hardly ever stepped outside the academy grounds. This was my first real chance to wander the capital properly.
Why hadn't I come out more?
Well... it wasn't that I didn't come out. I couldn't.
Most of the academy teachers hated my guts, so they dumped work on me even during holidays.
I had no clue if breaks or vacations even existed.
I could've ignored it, sure, but I had nothing better to do on days off anyway.
Back then, my only interest was teaching Jenny everything I could, so I'd use the time to hunt down specialized books or just keep working.
Even in the Marquis Harkur territory, I'd only ever poked around there.
So, strolling through a city outside that felt like a thrilling new adventure.
"Definitely lives up to being the world's biggest city."
There was so much of everything.
No... not just "so much of things." It was more like "everything in abundance."
People, buildings, guards, street vendors—you name it, it was there in droves.
But I didn't mind.
The place buzzed with life, and everyone seemed content with their lot.
Sizzle~
"...!"
That's when a tantalizing aroma crept into my nostrils, accompanied by the sound of something grilling on a hot plate.
My mouth watered on instinct.
I turned my head, and there it was.
"Come on over! Best chicken skewers in northern Carmen square!!"
A modest street stall, where a confident man was hawking his wares—and grilling up some skewers.
Sizzle sizzle—
He flipped the perfectly browning chicken over the charcoal, revealing golden-brown perfection.
And as the juicy drippings hit the coals...
Siiiizzle~!
They vaporized instantly, sending a plume of white smoke laced with irresistible fragrance billowing everywhere.
"...Gulp."
Before I knew it, my feet were carrying me straight there.
...This guy's got a killer setup.
"Whoa, buddy. You're drooling."
"...Ah, sorry. Uh, one... no, make it two. One with sauce."
"Got it~! One sauce, one salt! Forty brets!"
I ordered like I was entranced and pulled out my coin pouch.
Fished out four metal coins stamped with "10" and handed them over.
He took them, grabbed a perfectly cooked brownish skewer in one hand, and dipped a basting brush into a jar of sauce with the other.
Thick, red-tinged sauce.
Chili-based! Can't resist that spicy-sweet kick.
He slathered it on generously, top to bottom, no gaps, then handed me both skewers—one plain, one sauced.
"Enjoy!"
"Thanks."
I gave him a quick bow and eyed my prizes.
Couldn't wait.
Gonna take a bite right here.
Which one first?
Plain salt one, obviously.
I chomped down.
"Mmph...!"
The instant my teeth sank in, the tender texture and juicy meat exploded across my tongue.
Juices burst forth, and with nothing but salt and pepper, the pure charcoal smoke and rich chicken flavor hit my nose full force...!
"Whoa, eyes popping out there, kid."
Just like the skewer guy said—pure eye-opening bliss.
Now the saucy one...!
"...!!"
Unbelievable.
Just one coat of sauce, and the flavor profile shifts this dramatically!
The smoky chicken notes faded a bit, but in their place, the spicy-sweet chili sauce teased my taste buds relentlessly!
"...Wow."
The Hero Academy boasts the world's top education, so meals there are lavish.
But they're all fancy noble fare, tailored to high society.
"I'd missed this kind of taste."
The everyday folk flavor from Marquis Harkur's markets!
This is it, this is the stuff.
"Thanks again. Take care."
But loitering here would just be rude.
Guy's trying to do business.
"Hold up, kid!"
I bowed and turned to leave when the skewer vendor called me back.
"You look like a traveler. First time in the capital?"
"......"
Guess all my luggage makes me look the part.
Fair enough—no ties here anymore, so yeah, basically a traveler.
"Yeah, pretty much."
First time in the capital... kinda ambiguous, but whatever.
"If you haven't booked a room yet, try this inn. I trained there. Decent grub for dinner too."
He handed me a pamphlet.
It pitched an inn called "Morning Serenity."
"You scarfed my skewers like they were the best thing ever. Show 'em that, and they'll cut you a deal!"
"Oh, thanks a ton."
Perfect timing.
I planned to stick around the capital a day or two anyway.
No need to shop for lodgings, and now a discount to boot.
Plus, it's run by his old chef mentor?
"I'm heading there for sure."
I'd cancel anywhere else if I had to.
I pocketed the pamphlet and resumed wandering.
Too early to check in—might as well sightsee more.
All sorts of shops.
Commoners' homes.
Noble mansions.
Adventurers' Guild branch.
Churches.
I took in countless buildings and throngs of people.
Before long, I'd climbed a hill overlooking the whole capital.
And the sun was dipping low.
"Time flew like that already?"
I wasn't even working—just bumming around—and yet the day vanished.
Blame the endless sights in this massive city.
"......"
From the hill, under the orange sunset glow, I watched people wrapping up their day and heading home or to inns.
"Everyone's so busy."
And in that moment,
I snapped back to reality from the dream.
"...What do I even do tomorrow?"
A deep sigh welled up from my chest.
In this bustling city, no home to return to, no job to go back to.
It hit me—I had no place here amid all that vastness.
My mood plummeted in an instant.
This... this is quitting? This is resignation...?
"Nah, cut it out."
The sunset's got me all sentimental.
Tch, better start job-hunting ASAP.
Workaholic much? Total addict.
And without any standout skills, no less.
For now, dinner and bed—head to that "Morning Serenity" inn from the skewer guy's pamphlet.
Map included, so it'll be easy to find.
#
"What?! He retired?!"
Aria Lost, the renowned mage-hero from the prestigious Lost family and a female instructor at the Hero Academy,
shot to her feet in shock upon hearing Kane had quit teaching.
"...Aren't you overreacting a bit, Miss Aria?"
Her colleague, who'd broken the news, looked flustered, but she ignored him and pressed on.
"Wh-why would he retire...?"
The colleague smirked dismissively.
"What'd you expect? Marquis Harkur's youngest daughter graduated. Once his leash snapped, he bolted. Honestly, a commoner worming into our esteemed academy from the start..."
He kept rambling, but it fell on deaf ears.
No way. He's not the type to just give up...!
With that, she stormed out of the staff room.
"...Anyway, how about coffee today... Ah, Miss Aria?!"
Her colleague called after her in a panic, but he couldn't stop her.
She headed straight for
"Principal. Is it true Instructor Kane left?"
the principal's office.
"Hm?"
Parus Remnant, the academy principal, had been brooding over Kane already. Her sudden barging in sharpened his expression and tone.
"That's right, Instructor Aria. What brings this on?"
"...N-no, nothing."
Overwhelmed by his vibe, she clammed up and slipped out.
She knew it well.
Almost everyone at the academy, Principal Parus included, thought poorly of Kane.
Which made it even harder to accept.
...Why on earth would he leave?! He's the true educator of this era...!!
She ground her teeth.
Of course, she hadn't always respected him this much.
At first, like everyone, she'd balked at a lowly commoner with no hero aptitude defiling the sacred Hero Academy.
Such a guy couldn't teach worth a damn anyway.
But that changed around six months into his tenure.
His subject back then was 'Basic Pharmacology Theory.' But he never missed a day at the library, poring over hundreds, thousands of specialized texts, theory compilations, and papers late into the night.
A scene she'd glimpsed passing the academy library.
Kane, surrounded by stacks of dozens of books.
Three hours passed, then five.
He stayed glued to that spot, reading nonstop.
And it wasn't even his field—pharmacy.
Swordsmanship theory, martial arts, unarmed combat.
Magic theory, alchemy.
Medicine, law, ancient literature, history—all fields.
He devoured and analyzed nearly every book in existence.
Aria first thought it was for show.
Figured it'd fizzle out after a few days.
But a month turned to two... then over a year.
Her view of "Kane" flipped entirely.
From repulsive commoner to tireless marvel.
Heroes aren't the only great ones.
Ordinary folk can surpass them.
At least, that's what she'd seen in Kane.
And it wasn't even for himself.
Even more shocking: he wasn't chasing knowledge or career glory.
He poured his accumulated wisdom and skills entirely into teaching the students.
Sharing his knowledge, techniques, theories—tailored perfectly to each student's aptitude.
He read them like a book.
Students improved rapidly under his guidance.
The pinnacle? Former student council president Jenny Harkur.
Yet no one credited him.
They refused to see it through their tinted glasses: a mere commoner? Impossible.
Maybe the teachers know deep down.
Students are young and cocky, lacking experience.
But teachers? Battle-hardened veterans who've faced superiors.
They'd know.
They just deny it.
A commoner couldn't possibly be that skilled.
So they pushed him out.
Keep him around, and the truth nags at you.
...Whatever. This place was never for him anyway.
Kane would thrive anywhere.
Maybe they'd cross paths someday.
With that resolve, she let go.