Chapter 146: Why Are There Delinquents in the Academy? (1)
Chapter 146: Why Are There Delinquents in the Academy? (1)
Three years later.
Three years had passed since Patrick’s victory at the Arcana.
It wasn't a particularly long time, but the prestige of the Atronia Kingdom had changed drastically during that period.
Originally, the academy’s Knight Department was merely the start of an elite course for those wishing to become knights within the country. On the surface, it looked prestigious, but in reality, it was nothing more than a domestic talent cultivation center.
Those with true talent and wealthy families sent their children to study at foreign academies. Many of those who studied abroad ended up putting down roots in those countries. This resulted in a constant "brain drain," which served as a primary reason for the stagnant level of knights in the Atronia Kingdom.
However, everything changed once Patrick won the Arcana.
Producing an Arcana champion—the ripple effect of this achievement was staggering.
The very next year, the number of applicants more than doubled. Furthermore, when word got out that Patrick was personally instructing other students within the academy, students from abroad began to enroll the following year.
Starting this year, the academy even announced that they would not discriminate against commoners, provided they possessed talent. As a result, the competition for the Knight Department this year was fiercer than ever before.
The competition ratio exceeded 1,000 to 1, and the testing standards were significantly higher. The joy of those who managed to overcome such fierce competition and gain admission was beyond words.
“Finally…”
Just like this boy, for instance.
The young boy walking onto the academy campus had eyes filled with anticipation. His name was Jillian Betori. He was one of the students who had successfully entered the academy after surviving this year’s brutal competition.
“I’m finally an academy student.”
Jillian couldn't contain his emotions. He had worked incredibly hard to enter the Knight Department. Every single day, he swung his sword until his hands bled, never missing a day of the rigorous training imposed by his father, who was a knight.
That effort had finally borne fruit.
“I did it. I actually did it.”
How could he not be moved? The Knight Department uniform he wore, the badge on his chest indicating he was a first-year, even every single paving stone of the academy he stood upon filled him with pride.
“From today, I am a student of the Knight Department. I’m now a junior to the great Patrick Schneider.”
Like many young people his age, Jillian idolized Patrick Schneider. No, "idol" was an understatement.
Patrick was a powerhouse who had reached the 7-Star Realm at the youngest age in history and had claimed the Arcana championship by defeating Garcia—a fellow 7-Star genius and the successor to the Sword Saint. Despite receiving countless temptations from across the continent, he was a man of noble character who remained loyal to his birthplace, the Atronia Kingdom.
On top of that, he had even won the heart of Princess Isabella, rumored to be the most beautiful woman in the kingdom. In short, he was a man who had everything.
“If I see him, I must greet him. If possible, could I perhaps receive a lesson? If that happened, I’d have nothing left to wish for.”
As Jillian muttered to himself, lost in his dreams, someone spoke up.
“What a joke.”
Jillian turned his head to see three or four students, all wearing the same first-year uniform as him, gathered together and staring his way.
They looked at Jillian and sneered.
“You don't know your place, do you? Asking for a lesson from Senior Schneider? You look like you’re from some pathetic backwater family. You’re way out of your league.”
“The academy’s standards have really hit rock bottom, accepting a cheap-looking brat like that.”
“Don't tell me he’s one of those unlucky commoners?”
Jillian flared up at their provocation. It was true that his family was just an ordinary knightly house of no great renown, but still…
“I don't know what grand family you lot are from, but once you enter the academy, everyone is supposed to be equal regardless of status, isn't that right?”
Instead of acknowledging their fault, the group simply snickered at Jillian’s words.
“Ho, seeing how worked up he gets, he really must be a commoner.”
“Tsk, tsk. I heard they were accepting commoners on a large scale starting this year, and it turns out it was true.”
“To think I have to call someone like this my classmate? It’s sickeningly unpleasant.”
“We should kick him out quickly.”
Jillian’s eyes turned cold at their words. He pulled off his glove and threw it at the feet of the one standing in front.
“Pick it up. It’s a duel.”
Having had his honor insulted, Jillian was determined to show these rude bastards a lesson through a duel. However…
“‘Pick it up. It’s a duel.’ Pwahahaha!”
“He sounds exactly like the stories!”
“Ah, that was hilarious.”
“Tsk, tsk, tsk. Such a typical idea from a country bumpkin.”
Even Jillian’s resolve was met with nothing but mockery.
“You pieces of trash!”
In an instant, Jillian’s temper hit its breaking point, and he lunged forward. The opponent was startled by his rapid movement. Before they could react, Jillian’s fist slammed into the boy’s face.
Thwack!
“Agh!”
As the boy collapsed after taking a hit to the face, the others who had been laughing were shocked.
“Yurian!”
“Damn it, you bumpkin!”
“I’ll kill you!”
Their expressions changed as they drew their swords. Jillian looked at them coldly and…
“I’ll take on as many as you want.”
He reached for his waist to draw his own sword. Jillian’s display of fighting spirit, refusing to back down despite being outnumbered, actually began to overwhelm his opponents.
‘Damn, is this guy actually good?’
‘I thought he was just a country brat.’
‘He took Yurian out in one hit.’
In truth, Jillian was a talent with quite a high level of skill among this year’s freshmen. The very fact that he, from an insignificant family, had passed the fierce competition to enter the academy was proof of his ability.
However, their pride wouldn't allow them to back down now. Just as they were about to clash…
“Stop!”
A thunderous voice rang out, freezing them in their tracks. Looking toward the source of the sound, they saw a student in a Knight Department uniform approaching them.
The patterns on his uniform indicated he was a fourth-year, and two longswords were strapped to his back. The freshmen were instantly intimidated by the senior, who exuded confidence and dignity.
‘A fourth-year with dual swords. Then, could it be…?’
‘Is that him?’
The fourth-year student, standing among the frozen freshmen, spoke.
“What do you think you’re doing on the very first day of the entrance ceremony?”
“……”
Completely overwhelmed by his presence, the juniors couldn't even open their mouths. The troublemakers, knowing they were in the wrong, were especially restless, unable to even meet his gaze.
The senior spoke again in a voice full of authority.
“I’ll let it slide this once. Get to the auditorium immediately and take your places.”
The freshmen replied in a stiff, nervous tone.
“Yes! Understood!”
“We will follow your orders, Senior Schneider!”
“It is… it is an honor for my family to meet… no, to see you, Senior!”
At the mention of his name, the senior with the dual swords on his back frowned.
“I’m not Patrick.”
“Huh? Then, Senior, your name is…”
“I’m Matthew, a fourth-year.”
The juniors let out a collective gasp of admiration.
Matthew. He was a famous senior known as the runner-up of the fourth-year class. A swordsman who utilized dual-wielding techniques just like Patrick Schneider. Despite still being a student, he was a swordsman estimated to be in the mid-4-Star Realm. It was also a well-known fact that he was a close friend of Patrick Schneider.
The freshmen looked at Matthew with a mixture of respect and fear. Matthew scratched his head irritably and said, “I’m busy enough as it is; I don't have time to deal with you lot. Hurry up and get inside the auditorium and line up.”
“Yes, sir!”
The freshmen ran inside as quickly as new recruits full of military discipline. Just then, several third-year students rushed over to Matthew and spoke in urgent voices.
“Senior Matthew!”
“Did you find him?”
“We found him, but his condition is…”
Matthew’s face contorted. “Damn it, is it again?”
“Yes. Again.”
“That son of a…!”
Matthew grimaced at his junior’s words. “I told him so much yesterday! Argh, he really never listens.”
Compared to three years ago, Matthew had developed quite a temper. Who was to blame?
The juniors watched Matthew’s reaction before speaking up.
“Senior, since it’s come to this, why don't we just give up?”
“He’s right. We have no choice but to do it without that man.”
“That would actually be better.”
“The planning for this was flawed from the start.”
Matthew suddenly roared, “And who’s going to report that to the professor? You? Or you?”
“……”
“……”
The juniors wisely kept their mouths shut, though they were thinking, ‘You should be the one to do it, Senior.’
“Damn it, it can't be helped. Where is he?”
“On the roof of Building B.”
“Let’s go, quickly. I’ll have to drag him by the collar if I have to.”
Matthew grumbled as he moved off toward his destination.
*
The entrance ceremony.
The first-year students gathered in the auditorium and lined up according to the seniors' guidance.
“Stand straight! No smiling, keep your mouths shut! Breathe only through your noses!”
“Straighten that line! The line!”
“If your lines are crooked now, your entire academy life will be crooked! Stand properly!”
The freshmen were stiff with tension at the seniors' strictness. This was true for any department, but the discipline in the Knight Department was particularly rigorous. Among the first-years, there were some greenhorns who wanted to flaunt their family’s influence and pouted, but the seniors' stern guidance crushed such arrogance before it could manifest.
‘So these are the academy seniors.’
‘Every single one of them is amazing.’
‘Will we be like that in a few years?’
Once the freshmen were lined up, the seniors took their own positions. A moment later, a man stepped onto the podium.
He was a man in his mid-thirties with deep, bronze skin. At his appearance, the mouths of the tense freshmen hung open again. How could they not know him? That man was likely…
“Welcome, everyone. I am Justin Late, the Head Professor of the Knight Department.”
As Professor Late introduced himself, a wave of admiration erupted from the freshmen.
“Ah…”
“As expected…”
“The Indomitable Knight.”
The faces of the first-years turned dazed, as if they had been drugged. Although he had announced it slightly later than Patrick Schneider, Professor Late had also revealed his realm. Afterward, many sought to recruit him, but Professor Late had refused them all, stating he would focus on nurturing the next generation at the academy.
In gratitude, the academy had appointed him as the Head Professor in charge of the overall management of the Knight Department.
At least, that was the public story. In reality, his primary duty was to personally "care" for a specific student.
Regardless, Professor Late, whose public status had skyrocketed, spoke.
“Congratulations on entering the academy. From now on, you will receive instruction from various professors and seniors to be reborn as knights…”
Professor Late’s speech continued calmly. The content wasn't anything special. It really wasn't, but…
‘A 7-Star Knight.’
‘The Indomitable Knight.’
‘So cool. Even the way he speaks is different.’
‘His voice is so sexy.’
As expected, who was speaking mattered more than what was being said. Justin Late, a man who had reached the Supreme Realm yet chose to dedicate himself to teaching the youth. The eyes of the first-years were intoxicated as they looked at him.
Having finished his long speech, Professor Late said, “Next, representing the current students, Patr—”
It was then.
A student rushed onto the podium and whispered something into Professor Late’s ear mid-speech.
“Huh? What? …Again?”
Judging by the atmosphere, something had gone wrong. A few first-years in the front row thought they heard something about a "hangover," but they weren't certain.
A moment later.
“Ahem. Well then, this concludes the entrance ceremony.”
Professor Late ended the ceremony right then and there. Normally, a student representative should have come forward to congratulate and encourage the juniors, but unfortunately, that was impossible.
The freshmen began to murmur at the abrupt conclusion. They felt like something wasn't right.
Seeing this, Professor Late grabbed the amplification magic tool again and spoke.
“Everyone, train hard. If you do…”
Shing!
He drew his sword and unleashed a chillingly blue Aura Blade. Witnessing the brilliant blade of light, the first-years stared at it with dazed eyes once more.
Professor Late then said, “If you do that, you too will one day be able to manifest an Aura Blade like this. Understood?”
“Yes, sir!”
“Yes, sir!”
Watching the first-years respond vigorously, Professor Late thought to himself:
‘I’m glad this at least works.’
No one noticed the small tear glistening in the corner of his eye.