Chapter 74
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 74
Chapter Title: Fetch, Puppy!
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Huangtaeja, the hero, and the elf princess had all been punished by their true master before class even started.
Just looking at him, you could tell he was the stubborn type who lived by his convictions without a care for subtlety.
What was needed in a situation like this...
"What the... suddenly...?"
"What is he talking about...?"
"That mountain peak... for a while...?"
Amid the confused students, I quickly sized up the situation.
"Everyone, run!"
"""Yes!"""
The clueless ones would handle the lower ranks, so we just had to dash to the peak fast.
My comrades who followed my word like iron, the hero's party who caught on quick, and Kanf, who just ran because we did.
A broad smile spread across Tullan's face at our swift judgment.
"Not bad instincts!"
Leaving the dazed students behind, we bolted toward the summit.
"Owen! Loser calls the winner 'big bro' for a week!"
"Looks like I'll have a little brother!"
The hot-blooded duo shot ahead first.
"V-Veronica... want me to cast a spirit spell...?"
"Nah, I'm good, Anais!"
Kanf's face flushed, whether from breathlessness or embarrassment.
Lucas laughed at him and surged forward.
"Ha! Pathetic stamina, elf boy."
Kanf's forehead vein bulged as he chased after.
"Inferior human scum!"
And then...
"Thieving cat!"
"Psycho bitch!"
I had no idea what they talked about, but Jenia and Lea suddenly kicked into high gear...
[Whoa...]
Lumi, clinging to my hair at the insane speed, let out an impressed squeak.
'Guys... we might not even need to worry about the lower ranks...'
Jenia and Lea, arms linked and smiling, but sparks flying between them.
The two lads filming a shonen manga after sharing their youth.
Kanf and even the hero, curious about the results.
'Ugh... should I ask who won...'
I was honestly curious too, lips twitching, when Tullan approached me.
This massive bulk loomed right up to me.
It was intimidating, but a crown prince of a nation doesn't back down... usually.
I looked up and met Tullan's gaze squarely.
His smile deepened as he regarded me.
He placed a hand on my shoulder.
"Well done, Liam! Leading others isn't a talent just anyone has!"
"Uh... thank you."
Way better than being seen in a bad light, so I simply expressed my gratitude.
Tullan grinned in satisfaction and headed to the blackboard.
'When did he pull that out...'
As I pondered nonsense, the students arrived, panting hard.
-Huuuuh...
"Attention!"
Tullan's booming voice rang out, instantly drawing every eye.
"You, the last one to arrive! Why do you think I made you climb the mountain?!"
"F-For... stamina... I think."
"Half right! Then, why build stamina?!"
The guy who just staggered in, still out of it, thought it over and answered.
"For sustained combat!"
Tullan nodded.
"Half right! Anyone who knows the answer, speak freely! Any opinion is fine!"
Lancelot shot his hand up first at Tullan's question.
"Yes! Speak!"
"The correct answer... is for survival!"
Tullan grinned, baring his teeth—a cool smile straight out of a scene with the liquor alchemist.
"Exactly! The core theme that pierces everything—survival! Whether facing endless monsters, exploring dungeons, fleeing from unavoidable strong foes, or clinging to that foe when escape fails! Stamina is what's needed!"
Tullan's rough hand danced elegantly across the blackboard. Scrawled large was 'Survival'.
The bold word 'Survival' burned into our minds, and Tullan pointed at me with his chalk hand.
"Now, you there! Answer why I made you climb!"
"For judgment."
"Correct!"
Thrilled by the back-to-back hits, Tullan launched into explanation.
"Most dungeons are tackled with comrades! Solo runs happen, but not recommended. In a dungeon, your body has to move first! Arrows can fly from blind spots in an instant, monsters ambush from behind! What you need is hearing to react to comrades' warnings—and quick judgment!"
His hand erased the word and wrote 'Tullan' on the board.
"Pleased to meet you! I'm Tullan, diamond adventurer! Used to be guild master in the Marquis of Florence's territory—now teaching students."
-Ooooh...
Everyone gasped at 'diamond adventurer,' but Lancelot's eyes shone especially bright.
"I'll teach you monster traits, ways to boost dungeon survival rates! Quick wits! And more—haha, endless stuff!"
Tullan chuckled self-deprecatingly, as if there wasn't enough time to cover it all.
"But I guarantee this: I don't care about your dungeon feats, contributions, or floors cleared! Only one thing! Returning alive with your comrades! I'll drill those methods into your heads all semester."
His resolve to save the students no matter what came through loud and clear.
"My classes will run like this from now on! Don't sweat being last! It wasn't about rankings. Use this time to build stamina and etch survival knowledge in your minds!"
Tullan wiped the board again.
"Class starts! First, what is a dungeon...?"
His masterful lecture captivated us instantly; we were hooked.
Honestly, I'd worried what if he gathered us and said, 'Now kill each other.' But this was...
"So... useful..."
I couldn't help but agree with Jenia's soft mutter beside me.
His resonant voice pierced our ears; his large gestures held our gaze.
"Alright, nailed the essential supplies! Next, armor types—but if you favor certain gear, raise a hand."
-I prefer plate covering joints...
-I go with leather...
Everyone chimed in during the great lecture.
Tullan listened intently, nodded, and replied.
"All correct! Too heavy or too light is trouble—so premium gear is light yet tough. But students can't afford that. So I recommend gear averaged for floors 1-5 first! Now, by class..."
"So... thoughtful..."
"Agreed..."
No 'Figure it out with your bodies, rookies!' here—just meticulous, cool analysis that left us stunned.
"This helmet might look stuffy, but add chain mail like this, and even without full plate, you boost head, neck, and heart defense. I arranged with the smithy near the academy—students can borrow anytime."
"K-Kind...!!"
Ah... so you really are the true master...
Today, I learned the hard way how foolish it is to judge by appearances.
We were entranced by the lecture, like under hypnosis.
Even Lumi straightened her back, focused intently.
[Oh...]
'You don't even have fitting armor...'
Why so into it...
"More than expected..."
"Useful, right...?"
"He was... really great..."
"Grad school... maybe?"
Our monster expert Lancelot had totally won Tullan over.
Diamond adventurers spot platinum ones easy.
If Maxim heard, he'd unleash the imperial sword arts ultimate combo—but Maxim wasn't here.
I boarded the carriage, genuinely worried for House Verstappen's future.
"Let's head out!"
-Snap!
We teleported home in a flash; dinner time was nearing.
"Ahh! Home sweet home... Hey, can't we just teleport right after class?"
"No need to flaunt it."
I didn't want to smash anti-teleport wards every time.
Unless urgent, we held back inside the academy.
The more you use, the looser the magic circle feels—a twinge of conscience... plus, the imperial budget foots the bill.
"Anyway, new agenda—so change and meet in the dining hall."
"""Yes~"""
We changed and gathered in the dining hall.
"Mm... let's conference over dinner. Servants! Bring courses in order!"
As plates arrived sequentially, all eyes turned to me.
"About today—after handling heretics in morning class, I talked with Alvheim's third princess..."
Veronica, who knew the gist, nodded; Jenia and Lea pondered.
Lancelot just ate well...
Jenia spoke first.
"Suspects: heretics or demon king... but too early for the king. And the original protagonist couldn't beat the current one anyway."
Jenia was game-thinking.
Demon king moves on academy day 1? What could low-level protag do?
"Same thought—timing's off for sure... First time for me too."
Seemed they leaned non-demon king.
But something felt off to gloss over...
"Mm... nagging feeling."
"Me too."
Like spotting a bug in the house corner.
Confirm with eyes, act, or prioritize—but issue was.
"Mm... if delays stretch our stay, attendance...?"
Our student status.
Rumors of crown prince and crew skipping after day 1? Headache.
"Swordsmanship has leeway..."
Envy that 2:45 divine schedule...
Lea suggested.
"First-time event—I wanna check, even skip class."
Lea hooked on the new incident; Jenia too.
"Early, but... matches demon king monster traits too well. Let's just confirm."
Consensus—we planned quick out-and-back.
"Then... Thursday classes: skip or get prof pardon."
"Mm... alternative? Wanna hear?"
"Alternative?"
At my question, Lea drew a square in air.
"Ah! Use the cube?"
"Yeah—hide in classroom?"
Lea proposed hologram of us.
"Mm... still uneasy..."
I eyed Lumi chomping mini steak heartily.
"Lumi, maybe..."
[Me too.]
"Y-Yeah."
She sleeps all day usually, but quick on the uptake now.
"Mm... cube grew a bit—auto-set and leave?"
Liked the item; hated leaving it solo...
Lea grinned slyly.
"Heh, that into it?"
Read again...
I nodded meekly; Lea beamed proudly.
Jenia glared daggers at Lea, ignored.
"Mm... need someone mana-savvy, trustworthy... Aha!"
"Idea?"
"Haven't trained our puppy on Fetch yet."
"""Puppy?"""
Thinking of our trainee pup, I smiled.
"Introduce next time."
Lancelot looked 'another weirdo?'; girls uneasy.
...Why? What.
-Kyaaah!
-Whoa... so handsome...
Black-haired man striding academy halls with nose high.
Immense magic talent and Orphis prince status elevated him further.
Girls squealed like meeting dream prince; guys seethed with envy.
-Parasite brother lookalike...
-Sigh... jealous...
-He'll snag any girl he fancies.
He walked prouder, shoulders squared—used to the gripes.
He knew their jealousy well.
See—students parted like sea; girls turned blushing, guys paled and averted, crowds thinning...
'???'
-Hey, don't stare.
-L-Let's go...
-Wrong guy to mess with... bones break...
Belial sensed oddity, turned—
"Hey, puppy? Eyes front, good boy."
White-haired, yellow-eyed crown prince draped arm over shoulder, smiling.
"Smile! There ya go! Politics class too? See me quick before."
Chills—arm felt crushing; inscrutable smile terrified.
Like frail kid bullied by thugs, Belial dragged off instantly.
-Friends with crown prince...?
-But that face...
-Shh! Loose lips sink ships!
Whispers lingered in the hall.
"Um... what's this about...?"
Empty classroom: two men. One tense; one lounging on desk, legs crossed.
As puppy's throat bobbed awaiting reply—
"Puppy, today's lesson: Fetch."
Tossed sub-space cube at him.
"Fetch!"
"What the...?!?!"
Belial snatched mid-air, inspected—eyes widened.
"Formulas all set, trained too—just infuse mana in overlapping classes."
Puppy's gaze glued to cube, ignoring me.
That naked greed—time for training.
'Puppy's losing it over new toy!'
Magic rope 'round neck, tied to ceiling.
Puppy panicked at tightening pressure.
"Guhk!"
"No whining... tied to make you look up, puppy."
Not strangling—just a collar.
I locked eyes with tense puppy, sent warm vibes.
"Puppy, want it?"
"..."
"Take and run if you want."
"Run, you say..."
"If you can keep your status, talents, fame, looks, connections—run."
-Gulp
Puppy pondered his life's pillars.
Position, talent, fame, looks, ties—which could this madman crush easy?
Puppy sans those... pitiful blank face.
Pitying the fool, soft warning.
"Keep disappointed me from stepping in your homeland."
"Yes..."
Seeing him whimper resigned, satisfaction swelled!
'Bite's improving!'
"Simple use! Infuse mana in formula—it autos. Don't tweak settings?"
"What spells..."
"Had to step out, so set mine and friend's holograms. Left for me, right for friend—activate both. Mana's loaded; don't worry."
Patted compliant Belial's shoulder, exited.
"Puppy, class soon—together?"
"F-Fine..."
Poor scared pup—slung arm over shoulder, led out.
"Nice day—smile! Got new training today..."
Dunno puppy's thoughts, but probably thrilled with good master!