The First Day as an Instructor
Word spread fast through the Sword School that a new elective instructor had arrived.
"Hey, did you hear? They brought in a new elective lecturer."
"Really? Why?"
"Who cares? It's just an elective anyway. You just cruise through it."
"Exactly. The upperclassmen said the same thing. As long as you don't skip class, you're golden."
"Right. Just coast through. Today's orientation, so won't he let us out in ten minutes?"
Elective Course 1 of the Sword School: Understanding of Self-Defense.
None of the students actually cared about elective courses; they only signed up because the academy curriculum required them to take something. In truth, they didn't strictly have to take this specific class. Electives were nice to have, but one could just fulfill the required credits with major courses instead. Yet, oddly enough, registration for electives had been fiercely competitive—specifically for the two electives not taught by full professors out of the five available options. And one of those two was Understanding of Self-Defense.
"Hey, but this really is an easy-A blowoff class, right? That's what the seniors swore."
"I'm telling you, it is. It's taught by an elective lecturer, so it's pure gravy. Just sit there and you get credit."
"Man, when I think of the hell I went through just to get a seat..."
One hundred freshmen in total, joined by upperclassmen from the second year and above who had failed to clear their electives previously for various reasons. The forty students seated here were the victors who had clawed their way through that fierce competition. A cutthroat war waged just to slack off, and the forty gathered here were those very champions.
"Deleve, what are you doing?"
"Studying for my major."
Among them was one student flipping through a major textbook with an expression that said the class couldn't matter less.
"Class is about to start, though."
"Who cares? Teaching assistants always run the electives anyway. They just walk in, give a half-hearted orientation, and tell everyone to do self-study."
Deleve Kundel.
The third son of the Kundel family, boasting striking looks defined by the smooth blond hair and vivid blue eyes that were the very hallmark of House Kundel.
"I heard a real instructor came this time. An actual lecturer."
"He won't last a few months anyway. My brothers told me elective instructors never stick around long."
"Ah, right. Your brothers are in third and fifth year, aren't they?"
Deleve soon buried himself back in his textbook. A few students nearby stole glances at him, murmuring among themselves.
"He's the one who enrolled at the top of the class, right? From the Kundel family?"
"Think it'd help academy life if we got close to him?"
"Who knows? Go over and talk to him."
Deleve noticed the stares, but his head was entirely filled with his major studies. Surpass my brothers. He had entered Edelbein Academy hailed as the greatest talent in his generation—and at the top of the admissions roster, no less! He had to prove that genius. He couldn't afford to disappoint his family's expectations.
Meanwhile, across the lecture hall...
"Celia, want to check out the plaza after this? The seniors said there's a place with amazing—"
"Luke, get lost. Why do you keep talking to me? I'm going to sleep."
"Oh... right..."
There were also students like Celia Rihardt, who had decided to just sleep through the lecture entirely. Rihardt, alongside Kundel, was one of the empire's Five Great Families. Celia was the second daughter of House Rihardt and the most gifted swordsman among its heirs. Like Deleve, she had slumped over her desk and closed her eyes in utter disinterest, but her sleek, lustrous crimson hair framing her face drew the gaze of every male student in the vicinity.
"Hey, did you hear? That assassination syndicate fell apart."
"An assassination syndicate?"
"You know the one. That crazy, terrifying organization."
"Oh, the one with 'Phantom'? That guy?"
"Yeah. It was in the papers. The empire wiped them out."
Elsewhere, students were chattering away in animated whispers. Out of all forty students, not a single one possessed the slightest interest in this elective lecture.
And then—
"Everyone, take your seats. Class is starting."
Not a single student had noticed Xiel enter, either.
"Wh-what the?"
The students jumped in alarm as a voice suddenly rang out from the front of the room.
"When... did he get in?"
"Hey, did you see him? When did he walk in?"
A former assassin. And not just any assassin—the mythical being known as 'Phantom,' hailed as the apex of the Organization. He hadn't needed to employ an ounce of assassin tradecraft to walk up to the podium unnoticed by mere students. He had simply strolled in naturally, slipping effortlessly through their blind spots. From the doorway to the lectern was roughly ten meters, and his timing crossing that distance had simply been impeccable.
"..."
The lecture hall fell dead silent.
"He's... the new elective lecturer, right?"
"Hey, isn't he actually really good-looking?"
"More than just good-looking..."
At the whispers, Celia snapped her head up. Right then, sunlight streaming through the window illuminated the side of Xiel's face, and she caught her breath. Fair, porcelain skin. Sharp shadows falling beneath his eyes and along the bridge of his straight nose. And those striking amber eyes. It was almost baffling how someone with a face like that could move through a room without drawing a single eye.
Well now. She had planned to sleep, but a slow smile curved Celia's lips instead.
"A real elective lecturer actually showed up," Kus whispered beside Deleve, who still had his textbook propped open. "Last year, a teaching assistant just came in and told everyone to do self-study."
"Didn't they say the last one couldn't even survive a semester before quitting?"
It was at that exact moment.
"Yes. Starting this year, I have assumed the post of elective instructor."
"...Did he hear that?"
"I heard it."
"...!"
"What is the student beside you reading? I have not distributed the textbooks for this class yet."
Deleve glared at Kus. "Because of you..."
"The student's book, Theory of Swordsmanship Counters, is not covered in this curriculum, so put it away."
How on earth had he heard—and seen—that? The distance between the lectern and the students was at least twenty meters. Hearing a murmur was one thing, but there was no way he could have read the title of a book from that distance. Looking utterly baffled, Deleve snapped the book shut and swallowed hard.
"My name is Xiel Steelheart. As of today, I will be overseeing the elective courses for the Sword School."
The lecture hall was completely still.
I thought we could just sleep!
I was going to study my major...
Nothing the seniors said is holding up!
They had heard that for electives, whether in the Sword School or the Arcane School, you just had to avoid unexcused absences.
"I will conduct this class strictly by the book."
By the book. At those words, a sinister foreboding crept over the students.
"Students who engage in other activities or fail to participate faithfully will be singled out, just as I did now."
This was definitely not what they had been promised.
"Evaluations will also be conducted strictly by the book. The grading criteria are detailed in the syllabus, so please refer to it."
The grading breakdown listed in the syllabus was brutally meticulous: class participation, frequency of questions, rate of improvement, and more. He was actually going to grade every single one of those, instead of just leaving them as bureaucratic formalities?
Are we screwed?
Seriously, why was everything the seniors told us a lie?!
Why had they clawed their way through that registration bloodbath?
Wasn't this class... free?
They swore it was total gravy!
They had done all that just to slack off.
"Is this class not sweet gravy, but a total dumpster fire...?"
While the rest of the students sat stunned and gaping, Celia alone looked at Xiel with gleaming curiosity.
"Hmm."
Of course, it wasn't because of what he had just said.
Then another student raised his hand, staring at Xiel with an entirely different sentiment.
"Instructor."
Deleve. The very student with brothers in the third and fifth years.
"Since this is just an elective anyway, can't we just take it easy?"
Silence fell over the hall once more.
"That's how it's always been done, from what I hear." Both in the Arcane School and especially in the Sword School, electives were universally regarded as token requirements that existed solely because academy regulations demanded them. "Besides, this is the Sword School. What do we need self-defense for? When danger comes, we just draw our swords and cut it down."
Deleve's attitude was no different from the arrogance previous elective lecturers had endured. The swollen pride unique to freshmen! The swagger of entering as the top student! And on top of that, the casual haughtiness born of belonging to the empire's greatest noble lineage.
Xiel observed him quietly, then asked, "What is your name?"
"Deleve Kundel."
Kundel. One of the preeminent houses of the empire, and Deleve was its third son. In other words, among all the freshmen of the Sword School, his backing was virtually unmatched. He was even lauded as the greatest talent among his brothers! At the entrance ceremony, every single professor had personally stopped by to greet him.
He should get the message now.
Yet Xiel responded with an utterly flat expression:
"Deleve Kundel. Step forward."
"Excuse me?"
"I said, step forward."
Deleve let out a scoffing chuckle. He was curious now. What could this lecturer possibly have to say after calling him up? I'm a Kundel. A name known across the entire empire! Deleve strode forward as ordered.
"Yes, I'm here."
In the same tranquil, uninflected tone, Xiel addressed him:
"Do you understand the importance of self-defense?"
"We belong to the Sword School."
"I asked about the importance of self-defense, yet you answered that you belong to the Sword School. That is an incorrect answer."
Deleve cocked his head. "My answer means that because we're the Sword School, we have no need for self-defense."
"Why is it not needed?"
"Well... isn't drawing a sword faster in that time?"
Xiel saw things differently. There were countless urgent situations where, even if one had a blade, there was no time to draw it. And plenty of situations where, even if drawn, there was no room to swing it. In truth, several of his assassination targets had possessed sublime swordsmanship, yet died without ever unsheathing their blades.
I must teach him. Professor Elcanto had said to conduct the class strictly by the book. This student clearly did not comprehend the importance of self-defense, so it was Xiel's duty to show him.
"Then would you like to experience it firsthand? Whether self-defense is necessary, or whether it is not."
Not through theory, but through practice. Theory was important, but actual combat was far more vital. That was a truth he had learned countless times while mastering the art of assassination.
Deleve, on the other hand, found this absurd. A mere elective lecturer? He was more than happy to demonstrate. It would be a fine opportunity to show off his prowess before his peers anyway. And putting the lecturer in his place would ensure his elective classes were smooth sailing from here on out. Of course, no one would dare touch him with his Kundel lineage to begin with, but earning his freedom with his own hands felt different.
"What, are you going to attack me?"
"Student Deleve Kundel may attack, or I may attack. It makes no difference."
Deleve's brow twitched. Freshman or not, he was the greatest talent of his siblings. He's taking me lightly. Xiel Steelheart? Never heard of him. Deleve had been sparring with official knights long before matriculating. Full of confidence from placing first in the admissions exam, he looked at his opponent: a mere elective lecturer. How good could he be? If he were a veteran knight, he wouldn't be stuck teaching electives; he'd have an entirely different post.
With an annoyed smirk, Deleve gripped his scabbard.
"Instructor, don't regret this. Don't blame me if you get hurt."
Xiel took a few steps back in silence, widening the distance. Deleve smirked inwardly. The gap was generous—excessively so. Taking a single step forward would give him more than enough time to draw and slash.
"Try to block my attack, then mount a counterattack."
"Sure thing. Come at me whenever you like."
And then—
Fwip.
For a moment, it looked as though Xiel had vanished into thin air. Not just Deleve, but every single student in the hall thought the exact same thing. An instant later—
SLAM!
Someone slammed violently into the floor. Not Xiel. Deleve.
"..."
"..."
Nobody understood what had just transpired.
"Uh... wait..."
"Deleve is..."
They hadn't seen the process. All they knew was that in the blink of an eye, Deleve was sprawled on the ground in an utterly humiliating heap.
"Agh, kuh... urgh..."
A pathetic groan slipped past his lips. He hadn't had time to draw his sword. He hadn't even had time to react.
"Kuh."
Flustered, Deleve scrambled to his feet. He had merely been tripped; the physical impact wasn't severe. The physical impact, that was. His pride and composure had already begun to shred to pieces.
"I-I was distracted just now."
At those words, Xiel turned toward a student seated by the window.
"You, student. Draw the curtains."
"Pardon?"
"I told you to draw the curtains. Block out the light."
Compelled by Xiel's flat command, the student involuntarily stood up and pulled the curtains shut. Only the indoor lanterns lit the lecture hall.
What is he trying to do? Deleve watched in confusion, then let out a snicker.
"What? Are you afraid of looking bad when a student beats you?"
He still believed it. He thought he had only fallen because he had let his guard down. That was why he could still mouth off. For now.
"Since you do not seem to understand the definition of self-defense, I shall demonstrate, Student Deleve Kundel."
In that moment, Xiel picked up a piece of chalk and—
Clack.
Flicked it straight across the room, striking the light switch dead-on. Vision plunged instantly into pitch-black darkness. Then, through the dark came a dull thud and a scream.
THUD!
"Aaargh!"
"An ambush can strike at any moment. Not only when you cannot see a thing like right now, but even while you are fast asleep."
Click.
The lights flicked back on. Two chalk marks were stamped cleanly onto the mana-powered switch. The scene that greeted the students' eyes was identical to moments before.
"Cough, urgh..."
Deleve was splayed across the floor in another grotesque heap. And standing over him, looking down, was Xiel.
"This is the true meaning of self-defense. An ambush strikes under the most disadvantageous circumstances. You will have no time to draw your sword, nor will you have time to scream once struck." Xiel turned his gaze to the rest of the class and continued: "Will you shout after you are dead that it was a cowardly sneak attack? Or will you react, create an opening, and mount a counterattack in that gap?"
These were complaints Xiel had heard countless times throughout his assassination career.
'You cowardly assassin!'
'Stabbing me in the back!'
'Fight me like a man!'
Usually shouted by the most despicable scoundrels. Bandit chiefs, for instance. Or slave traders.
'If we fought fair and square, you wouldn't last a single—kuh!'
Of course, he had never let them finish the sentence. They usually died before completing a full thought.
"..."
Deleve gave no reply. The other students remained frozen in dead silence. Partly because his argument was unassailable. Mainly, however, because the absurd movements Xiel had displayed were impossible to process. The second time could be excused by the dark. But in the first instance, not a single person had seen how Deleve had been thrown.
They didn't hire an elective lecturer...
What kind of... what kind of monster did they bring in?
Xiel looked down at Deleve once more.
"Do you understand the importance of self-defense now?"
The importance of self-defense, as interpreted by Xiel. It was a method the students could never have imagined. Watching their blank, shell-shocked expressions, Xiel thought to himself with quiet satisfaction:
Conducted strictly by the book, just as requested.
It was his first day as an instructor. And the students—
This isn't an easy A.
This is an absolute nightmare...
Holy shit, we are so screwed...
They shuddered at the impending horrors of the semester ahead. An elective they had to complete no matter what. If they dropped it, they would have to wait until next year. And at Edelbein Academy...
There was no such thing as course withdrawal.