Ahead of the Second Semester (2)

The start of the new semester was rapidly ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠approaching.

While students were swept into a frenzy over course registration, Berhal was equally consumed with reviewing the faculty's final course syllabi.

"That takes care of the third years. Next up is the second years..."

He had reviewed plenty of paperwork during his days as Commander of the Imperial Knights, but that paled in comparison to his current administrative burden. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Mountains of parchment threatened to bury him alive.

Knock, knock.

"Department Head."

"More documents?"

"Yes, sir."

The teaching assistant breezed into the office, dropped off a thick sheaf of paper, and breezed right back out. Berhal pulled a miserable face and let out a heavy sigh.

How many years can I realistically survive as Department Head?

To think he would be plagued by worries of dying from overwork here, a fate he had never once feared on the battlefield.

Several exhausting hours later, Berhal finally concluded his review of the second-year curriculum.

"Phew."

It was not bad at all.

Professor Elcanto. Rumor had it the man had scurried all over the place during the break, and his syllabus reflected remarkable diligence. He had clearly struggled to fill the void left in the wake of Professor Dakeus's dismissal.

Did he experience some kind of epiphany over vacation?

They would meet tomorrow at the pre-semester faculty meeting, and for once, Berhal found himself looking forward to it.

"All right, next are the first years... Now where did the first-year paperwork go?"

Berhal rummaged through his desk for a good while before his eyes drifted toward the massive pile the assistant had dropped off hours ago.

"No... surely not."

That colossal stack? All of it?

"Ugh!"

With trembling hands, Berhal checked the cover sheet. Sure enough, it was for the first-year courses.

"...Wait a second. There are only two elective classes! Why is it this thick?"

The first-year core major courses were divided among the other professors. Professor Elcanto was handling the second-year class, and because Ziel still held the status of a general elective instructor, he was barred from overseeing core major courses. Consequently, the first-year core classes had already been evaluated alongside the other grades.

Which meant...

"This entire mountain is for just two elective classes...?"

A pained groan slipped past his lips. Gazing out the window, he noticed moonlight was already seeping through the glass panes.

Get a grip. If I start right now, I might finish before dawn.

Steeling his resolve, Berhal began turning the pages one by one. His initial dread was short-lived.

"...Well, now."

As he read on, the sheer volume of paperwork began to make complete sense.

Basics of Swordsmanship and Sparring.

Mana Development and Coordination.

Only two courses. Yet the preparation behind them was unmatched by anything else in the academy. Where other professors jotted down vague outlines with superficial details, Ziel had laid bare every single operational mechanism with breathtaking precision.

The syllabus overview is solid. And look at this... This is how he plans to train them?

Starting with Deleve, Ziel had cataloged the background, performance metrics, and combat tendencies of every single enrolled student, accompanied by diagnosed flaws and customized development roadmaps.

Academy lectures were not private tutoring sessions. Standard protocol dictated teaching a standardized curriculum that applied broadly, offering individual pointers only when strictly necessary.

He's operating on the premise of individual development from the ground up.

Ziel had flipped the entire philosophy on its head. Group instruction inherently struggled to balance disparate skill levels, yet Ziel had chosen the exact opposite path, supporting his methodology with airtight rationale.

The element that stood out most of all, however, was—

Sparring against Magic Puppets? What is this?

This went far beyond merely inviting knights from the Kundel family.

So the Magic Puppets were...

"Borrowed?"

He borrowed them from the Arcane School? How on earth?

"Did the Arcane School faculty lose their collective minds?"

Short of mass insanity, such a thing should have been impossible. The document even noted that high-grade magical tools had been requisitioned alongside them.

"What kind of madness..."

How had he pulled this off? Granted, Ziel had rendered assistance to the Arcane School's first years during the joint field practicum, but there was no way in the world they would casually hand over forty priceless Magic Puppets just to express gratitude.

Besides, the real power broker over there is their third-year supervisor.

Professor Emeric was merely the rookie supervising the first years. The entire scenario defied comprehension.

"Just who is this man...?"

During the break, he had conducted home visits and somehow secured the prestigious Kundel knighthood for academy lectures. Now, he had marched straight into the rival Arcane School and walked out with forty Magic Puppets.

"Did he pay them off?"

Regrettably, that was the farthest Berhal's imagination could stretch. The notion of blackmail crossed his mind for a fleeting second, but a lowly elective instructor could hardly extort a hostile faculty department.

"..."

After agonizing over it, Berhal gave up and returned to the pages. His bewilderment soon gave way to pure admiration. The syllabus for Basics of Swordsmanship and Sparring was nothing short of a masterpiece.

"I completely lost track of time."

The final page even featured a flawless, one-page executive summary.

"The Student Affairs Office or the Personnel Bureau would drool over this."

Such administrative capability was coveted not just within the academy, but inside the Imperial Palace itself. The man was talented enough that one could lock him in an office just to churn out flawless reports all day.

"He truly is a man of endless talents."

Berhal then moved on to the plan for Mana Development and Coordination. Perhaps because the first syllabus had already delivered such a shock, this one did not surprise him quite as much.

"A plan to sustainably supply mana to students using a 'special artifact' to enhance class engagement and focus? What in the world is this now?"

It caught his eye, but the sheer absurdity of the previous document had dulled his curiosity. Ziel had probably procured some eccentric magic tool from somewhere. With Instructor Ziel, bizarre methods were simply par for the course.

"Hmm."

More than any core lecture, these two elective classes commanded his utmost anticipation. What kind of unbelievable results would Ziel produce this time?

Glancing out the window, Berhal let out a weary breath.

"Well, there goes my sleep."

Dawn was already breaking over the horizon. The semester began tomorrow.

The reactions of the other professors were largely identical.

"...You borrowed Magic Puppets? From the Arcane School?"

"That is correct, Professor Marchen Curtis."

"How?"

"I asked them to lend them to me."

"...And they just gave them to you?"

"Yes."

Both Professor Marchen of the third years and Professor Idel of the fourth years stared at Ziel in stunned disbelief. Only Professor Elcanto, in charge of the second years, nodded knowingly to himself.

As expected of Instructor Ziel. He must have used some incredible method!

Elcanto had resolved to become Ziel's most devout follower back in the first semester. Yet he could not shake the feeling that an unwanted rival had emerged.

That fellow is the new teaching assistant he brought in, right?

In the past, Elcanto would have seethed with jealousy that a mere elective instructor had already hired an assistant. Now, however, he was jealous of the assistant himself. Because he could not become Ziel's assistant!

I need to claim Instructor Ziel's achievements as my own... but with that brat hovering around him, there aren't many ways for me to be helpful!

His opportunistic motives remained painfully transparent.

Meanwhile, Professor Isabella, supervisor of the graduating fifth years, observed Ziel with even keener interest than she had at the end of the first semester.

What a fascinating man. Managing to recruit the Kundel knights over break, and now this.

Rumors had been spreading like wildfire. Some claimed he had the Imperial Family backing him. Others whispered he was under the patronship of House Kundel, or that Second Prince Dietrich had personally tried to recruit him. There were even rumors that House Steelheart had fallen so completely into ruin that nothing remained except an abandoned estate.

If such a man existed within their ranks, how did that family collapse in the first place?

Or had he barely survived the downfall and only now resurfaced? Regardless, he was an intriguing enigma.

"All right, settle down everyone. Let us commence the meeting for the upcoming semester."

Berhal called the distracted professors to order.

"Please review each other's syllabi on your own time. For now, let us organize the key academic calendar. Compared to the first semester, we have fewer events, so things should be somewhat easier, but we must still remain vigilant."

The first semester had featured the Exchange Event and the practicum—annual traditions that invariably drained everyone involved. Yet they were nothing compared to the monumental event awaiting them in the second semester.

"As you all well know, the second semester brings the Edelbein Festa."

The Edelbein Festa—in other words, the grand academy festival.

"The students always hold exceptionally high expectations for it."

Isabella nodded, her tone dripping with relaxed leisure. Fifth years were exempt from all festival duties so they could focus on post-graduation employment. It was the primary reason Sword School professors fought tooth and nail to supervise the fifth-year class.

I'm so jealous.

Ugh, the festival...

When am I supposed to prepare for that on top of everything else?

The other professors could not escape the workload.

"Let us brainstorm various events for this Festa. I heard that last year we hosted a sword dance exhibition and a sparring tournament. Let's aim for something fresher this year. Please give it some thought and share your ideas freely."

While students were the core participants, the faculty bore the ultimate responsibility of vetting and managing the attractions. Long faces formed around the table.

Only two individuals looked different.

A festival.

Ziel was mildly intrigued by an event he had never encountered in his life.

The Festa!

Gilbert was already brimming with wild anticipation the second the word left Berhal's mouth.

"And Instructor Ziel, I would like you to take the lead on the first-year festival events. It might feel like a heavy burden, but it will serve as wonderful experience."

"Understood."

Ziel accepted without a moment's hesitation. Berhal offered a faint smile and added, "Of course, considering you are an elective lecturer, this is an excessive amount of responsibility. Therefore, appropriate incentive bonuses will be provided. I look forward to your hard work."

"Understood."

Incentive bonuses!

Must be nice.

Damn it, why don't we get bonuses...?

Tenured professors earning several times—or even ten times—an elective lecturer's salary were now openly envying him. As if anticipating their grumbles, Berhal dropped a surprising announcement.

"Naturally, those bonuses are open to everyone. With apologies to Professor Isabella, who isn't participating, of course."

Before the faculty could register his meaning, Berhal leaned over the table.

"The Arcane School has proposed a very interesting idea. And the Dean has formally accepted it."

He delivered the unexpected news with a grim glint in his eye.

"They suggested that we introduce an official ranking system to this year's Festa."

Ziel broke the silence.

"A competition, then."

"Precisely, Instructor Ziel."

Berhal nodded and elaborated. "Previously, the Festa was celebrated purely as a festival without competition between departments or clubs. Students simply operated their own booths and hosted small activities."

Indeed, a festival had simply been a festival. But the Arcane School had abruptly thrown down the gauntlet.

"The Arcane School must be getting desperate," Isabella chuckled, her amusement unmistakable. "They were humiliated in every conceivable way during the first semester, weren't they?"

Her eyes drifted toward Ziel. She was looking right at the culprit who had repeatedly dragged the Arcane School—a department boasting superior size, political influence, and funding—through the mud.

"That's why they made such a proposal. They want to show everyone what they're truly capable of this time."

"Indeed, their intention is clear, Professor Isabella," Berhal agreed. "The Arcane School desperately wants to beat us. More accurately... they want revenge. They've been gnashing their teeth, particularly over that joint practicum."

The Special Support System audit. And the failed trap during the field practicum.

Ziel tilted his head in mild confusion.

"Had I not intervened during the practicum, the Arcane School's first years would have been maimed or killed. Why would they seek revenge for that?"

Berhal burst into laughter at the deadpan query. It was an ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠entirely characteristic question for Ziel.

It's all petty politics to them.

From what Berhal had gathered, the Arcane School had hatched a scheme to sabotage the Sword School during the practicum, only for it to backfire completely. Instead of humiliating their rivals, they had been rescued by Ziel. To add insult to injury, they had even been coerced into lending their Magic Puppets and artifacts afterward.

Though I still have no idea how he coerced them into that loan.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"It appears their pride was deeply wounded by the entire affair, Instructor Ziel."

"Pride... by its dictionary definition, offers no rational grounds for taking offense in this context."

"Indeed. Which only proves how petty and childish the Arcane School truly is."

Berhal smirked, sweeping his gaze across the room.

"Therefore, all we need to do is prepare thoroughly for the Festa, regardless of whatever tricks they try to pull. Naturally, achieving a higher rank will grant our department an increased budget, and corresponding incentive bonuses will be distributed to all participating faculty."

The eyes of the other professors lit up with predatory greed. Only Isabella, the sole detached spectator, continued to gaze at Ziel with profound amusement. Ziel paid her stare no mind whatsoever.

"Let us ensure our festival preparations are flawless. And... please prepare diligently for the second-semester practicums as well."

A festival did not mean practical training was canceled. Beginning last semester, first-year students were now required to participate as well.

"This term's practicum will consist of knight order visits. As soon as negotiations with the various knighthoods are finalized, official notices will be posted."

It was a field excursion to active knight garrisons. By the same token, the Arcane School would visit wizard towers.

"With that, let us wrap up."

The meeting had been swift and efficient. The board was set.

"The second semester begins tomorrow. Professors, I look forward to working with you all. And that includes our newly arrived teaching assistant."

"Leave it to me, Bo—I mean, Department Head!"

Gilbert proclaimed his fiery resolve. Tomorrow, the second semester would officially commence.

Following the adjournment of the faculty meeting, Ziel headed toward the staff dormitory alongside Gilbert.

Things are going to get busy.

His very first class would be Mana Development and Coordination. It was time to put the purified Heart of the Necromancer King to practical use.

"Boss, how about a drink to celebrate the new semester?"

"What does the start of a semester have to do with alcohol?"

"...W-Well, it's a celebration!"

"Find someone else. I am busy."

"I don't have any friends here though..."

"Then make some."

A ruthlessly cold boss!

As expected of the Boss! He won't touch a single drop of alcohol before an important operation! What unbelievable discipline...!

Naturally, Gilbert interpreted the brush-off in the grandest light possible. Just then, Gilbert paused.

"Boss, there's a massive silhouette charging straight toward us from over there."

Ziel, pulled from his thoughts, raised his head.

"It looks like he's picking up speed."

The approaching figure possessed a truly extraordinary bulk.

He has gotten even bigger than he was in the first semester.

Ziel tensed slightly, his assassin instincts flaring.

"Dodge."

"Pardon?"

"He intends to body-slam us."