Chapter 37
Chapter 37
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: Welcome to the Summoner's Academy. (2)
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“Are you really going to proceed like this?”
“The number of professors resigning is increasing.”
“Do you really think this is possible?”
A meeting including the dean and me, along with professors representing each grade.
But the atmosphere was far from good.
-Master, aren't we going to fail like this? Can't you lay out more of your plan? There's too little bait, so the kids aren't biting!
-If I put out too much, they'll all swarm. I have to dole it out just right.
A seasoned angler never scatters too much bait.
They just toss out a little at a time, and the fish bite and flop around, hooked.
Scatter too much, and useless trash from everywhere clings on.
“If anyone wants to leave, let them leave.”
“How can you say that!”
“Even if Professor Riserwin is exceptional as a summoner, this is his first time as a professor, isn't it?”
“At this rate, we won't have enough professors to teach the students!”
“Then we'll just reduce the number of students.”
“How can you say that!”
Shouts flew back and forth. Haha, they're panicking a lot over cutting professors, huh?
But this academy had way too many useless professors.
Sure, those contracted with high-rank summons aside, how did summoners with just a few low-rank spirits end up as professors?
I checked, and they weren't even particularly skilled. Nor were they good teachers. They were just idiots from good families!
“And with the academy already facing talks of closure due to a lack of students!”
“What are you talking about? A lack of students? Our academy's enrollment is similar to the others. The problem is perception.”
You've got to get your words straight.
Yuglasia Academy's student numbers weren't much different from its heyday.
Why? Because it's the easiest academy, fallen students from others often end up here.
Especially lower nobles—they see it as a cheap chance to contract a guardian summon instead of paying big bucks elsewhere. Plenty apply to Yuglasia on purpose.
Plus, it's still called one of the Empire's Four Great Prestigious Academies, so the name holds value. Some alumni from its prime are summoners on the front lines, so guys wanting military connections drop in occasionally.
But those types aren't here to sincerely learn summoning from Yuglasia.
“Numbers aren't important. No, having fewer can actually prove our value.”
There are tons of imperial nobles.
Way too many.
But from count rank up, their numbers dwindle, which is why they're called upper nobility.
“Do you know why ducal and marquis houses, dubbed the Absolute Ten Families by the imperial center, are called that? Because their numbers are limited. There are families with comparable power, influence, and history, but those ranks are reserved for a select few, hence 'Absolute Ten'.”
Historically, almost no families have risen to marquis in the empire.
Even in the last great war, only one did.
A duke? Once in the empire's thousand-year history.
“What are you trying to say?”
“If Yuglasia has that kind of value, accepting fewer students will yield more worth. So no need to stop those leaving. I've already contacted superior summoners. Pooling the leavers' salaries for them will profit us long-term—summoners of that caliber.”
Even I have connections in the military and with other races.
Of course, excluding guys who know Naruan or Astra.
If it reaches the princess's ears by mistake, it's dark under the lamp! The plan turns into 'too close to the lamp'.
That princess would shut the gates and besiege the capital without batting an eye.
Even armed with a crowbar, a one-man siege against the continent's strongest capital is impossible.
Especially before the dwarves finish the escape route—no traces left behind.
“Is that even possible?”
“It is.”
My confident words silenced the room.
Let's think about our Hell Joseon.
Kids go to college complaining high school taught nothing useful, yet they grind to get into Seoul unis.
Because they're rare!
Especially SNU!
Everyone there claims they were top of their class? That's why a degree there gets respect.
If anyone could go, no one would bother with SNU. Just hit the local uni for convenience.
So, like folks craving their old alma mater's prestige from past lives, make Yuglasia that vibe!
“Most current students are those rejected elsewhere, lacking summoner talent but squeezing in under the Four Great Prestigious name. How many freshmen actually learn proper summoning? And how motivated are the truly talented ones stuck studying with them?”
Hang with PC bang buddies, even studiers face inner conflict.
Study environment matters. That's why Mencius's mom moved three times for her son.
“No need to accept those kids. Taking in ones without faith or love for the academy harms the students who do believe. And education is most efficient with small groups anyway.”
“But the tuition for operations…”
Right. Sure, empire subsidies help, but magic and summoning guzzle funds.
Fewer students means tuition shortfalls. So.
“Raise the tuition.”
“Pardon?”
Short on tuition? Raise it. Good parents don't care about cost if you teach well.
Why else do they pull every trick to cram kids into pricey privates?
“Th-then talented kids who can't afford it!”
“Give scholarships.”
And the rare rags-to-riches types? Cover their tuition, teach 'em.
Later, a “Yuglasia made me who I am” interview? Great PR.
“Do you think that makes sense?”
“Yes. It does. Why's Mercaria's tuition cheapest? Most commoners? As advertised, for plebs? No. Their grads match other empires' because one prof handles hundreds.”
Basically online lectures.
Prof yaps, you absorb solo.
Sure, standouts get personal guidance, but with 100+ in class, can't pause for one kid.
“And why's Marsis priciest? True to its Education Tower rep, hordes of sorcerers and mages teach tiny groups.”
Marsis? One prof maxes at five students. Near 1:1 tutoring.
Disciple hits a wall?
They smash it through focused training—that's Marsis.
Post-grad, mentor-disciple bonds stick, so army and magic towers fight to snag profs.
Once bonded, disciples naturally join affiliations.
So if we adopt that, guarantee high employment? No reason we can't be Marsis.
“If we manage students more expertly than Marsis, high tuition won't draw backlash.”
“But with current education…”
“Exactly why we need revolution.”
“Wh-what's this?!”
“Is this even possible?!”
Professors gawked at my handed-out plan, eyes wide.
Even the dean backing me looked shocked.
-Master, master? Are you insane? You hate the kids? What's this? Hell?
-I said I'd bring entrance exam hell.
-What's entrance exam hell? Heard of eight hells before—was it nine? Kids' free time's just sleep? No, not even that?
My plan was simple. To explain:
1. After-school self-study
2. Night self-study
3. Weekend self-study
4. Vacation self-study
That covers it.
“With this education, parents won't object.”
“B-but can students endure…”
“They can.”
Hell Joseon kids endure it, mana-boosted brats here? No problem.
Not even senior year level. Imperial Tournament prep's special one-month senior hell. This? Middle schoolers handle it.
Kids'll manage.
“H-ten hours a day!”
Haha, why so shocked?
Study tribe high schoolers rivaling battle race S-Koreans do double digits baseline.
Ten hours? Matches school time. Minus night study, still there that long.
“Weekends too—won't they oppose?”
“Parents pay tuition, even if they oppose.”
“Th-this violates student rights!”
“Students' duty is study. We provide self-directed study.”
“This isn't self-directed!”
“We assign study, but what they study is up to them—self-study fits.”
“Sophistry!”
“That sophistry's what our academy needs now.”
“…That.”
The prof rebutting hard shut up.
Yeah, that's right. Our situation demands anything.
I get his heart—thinking of students, good prof.
But that's student me talking.
Now as teacher, best prof makes top students—here, mighty summoners!
Especially with academy on brink!
Save academy, save students.
No time for delicacy.
Plus, my mercy? Just ten hours study.
Extras, sure.
Weekends only six.
And ten hours includes breaks per period?
What heaven? High school me'd love it.
But some profs lack faith.
“Then, I'll ask sincerely.”
Haha, lie-detect magitech? Where'd that come from? Oh, staff room staple—handy.
“Do you truly believe students can endure this?”
“Yes. In a country I know, kids start 7:30 a.m., study to 10 p.m., then private lessons after.”
“L-lies!”
“No, magitech didn't react!”
“Tr-truth? It's true?!”
Sorry, no mana means no reaction.
Handy at gates—no alarms.
Well, it's another world's country.
-R-real hell like that exists? What academy's that!
-Terrifying place called Hell Joseon.
-N-name has 'hell'... Nation named hell... Scary...
Even crowbar's shivering.
Kya~ Hell Joseon's majesty!
“Demon realm or what?”
“What cruel acts…”
“Oh, and their peak study tribe, high school seniors, sleep four hours for study.”
“Fearsome, terrifying. High school seniors!”
Haha, these profs.
Culture shock, but soon they'll praise it.
My goal: ignite education fever, private cram craze among nobles!
“Ex-Yuglasia prof cram school!” Nobles flock like flies to sign up!
Post-retire? Decent academy teacher income!
“Reframe it. Not just burden on students. We profs join too. Unite, guide them straight. We sacrifice first, show passion—students follow with trust. Then our academy reclaims glory.”
Hammered “we”.
Community rots together, but tune vibe right, “we” rallies always.
Majority rule's power for a reason.
Sync a few, hit goals fast!
-What sin did students commit?
-Nonsense. Just sharing my study methods.
-You said pleb! From ruined nation next to empire! No lies! No such world!
-But you know! No lies in my words! Soul-linked, lies don't pass between us!
-Noo! Master's just blocking thoughts like usual! Else no hell academy with demons!
-Huhu, say that, but I feel your fear!
Felt crowbar's soul-fear.
Hahaha, finally terrified this perv! Spread to students too!
“Then we take Professor Riserwin's words as consensus.”
Dean's words—some profs sour-faced, but all agreed.
-Now, crucial task left.
-Wh-what? Summon Hell Joseon demons?
-No, first…
-First?
-Academy remodel.
-What're you plotting...
What? Obviously block escapes.
Night study's for ditching, right?
If I were student, fine. Teacher? Gotta block it.