Chapter 94
Chapter 94
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 94
Chapter Title: 10. I Came, I Saw, I Won (10)
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What is this? It felt like I was wading into a massive mud pit.
"It's not because the students are badmouthing the Master, right?"
"No, that's just daily life. It's not even enough to make my ears itch."
It couldn't be helped.
From time immemorial, the teachers who stand up most for their students are the ones the students hate the most.
The best teacher during school days is the one who doesn't meddle no matter what you do!
The teacher who doesn't nag about cutting your hair and leaves you alone even if you sleep in class doesn't get any hate.
But teachers like me, who care for students with love and passion, get a ton of flak.
"Why are you interfering so annoyingly?"
Young students don't yet realize that's a teacher's passion and affection.
But after graduation, the ones who stick in their memories are those very teachers.
The ones who hit hard, scolded relentlessly, yet showed up in your face all the time!
"No, no. I guarantee you, after they graduate, they won't even glance in the Master's direction."
"Disciples never step on their master's shadow or look them straight in the eye, after all!"
"No, that's not what I meant..."
Ignoring the iron bat's frustrated expression, I checked Yuglasia Academy's scoreboard.
[Arsia Academy: 0 points]
[Marsis: 7 points]
[Yuglasia Academy: 34 points]
[Merkiria: 0 points]
"Kuh, beautiful."
"Even so, the Master's former disciple worked her tail off to snag 7 points for them?"
"Yeah... I really wanted to bring that kid along..."
No. 17's performance left a deep impression—like a protagonist awakening and single-handedly securing two wins for Marsis.
But even that was reaching its limit now.
"There are nine matches left. The finale is a full-day siege battle, so to overturn Yuglasia's lead in the remaining two days, they'd need to win most of them. Even No. 17 can't pull that off."
Unless there's a 100-point jackpot like in those old variety shows at the end, victory is impossible.
With overlapping schedules, one person can only compete in up to two matches per day!
Even if they win both daily, they won't catch up after that upset loss to Marsis!
"...or so I thought this morning!"
"Master, you always say it: 'The axe you trust chops your own foot.' It fits perfectly!"
Was the Imperial Tournament committee losing its mind? The point allocation sheet we got at lunch was bizarre.
[Today's match points: 10 points each.]
Day 1 of the Imperial Tournament gave 1 point per match.
Day 2: One of six matches worth 2 points, rest 1.
Day 3: Six matches like before, but doubled to 2 points each, and No. 17's win was a 4-point match.
Yesterday: 3 points per match, one at 6!
But Day 5 onward, 10 points per match? Winning just two would put them back in contention!
Where did the fair Imperial Tournament go?!
"Master, by that logic, Merkiria's kids have even more reason to complain."
"They're just cannon fodder anyway—no big deal! They're no fun!"
"The Imperial Tournament's no fun anymore because of Yuglasia. How boring is a match where the winner's already decided? Especially for the gamblers—they must be rioting by now."
"Yuglasia bettors are probably rioting more."
"Like you, Master?"
"Yeah, like me!"
I'd bet 5,000 gold at a secret bookie with final odds of 15x.
Unofficial, of course!
Official odds topped 100x, but tiny bet limits and you had to claim from an Imperial Treasury branch later—risky if caught.
Better the low-odds spot: no exposure, big payout.
"Win, and it's 75,000 gold! That covers my investment nicely!"
"If Master gets rich, I get tasty treats too!"
The iron bat next to me was hyped too.
But why does this iron rod crave food?
More importantly, I've asked a dozen times: how do you even eat?
"That's a secret!"
"Yeah, yeah."
Nodding, I scanned today's matches.
One individual, three team battles.
Two massive team ones with over 100 participants.
"Some academy desperate enough will think they can handle the team battles."
Toughest foe: Marsis, as expected.
No. 17 had won one event per day since Day 3—tricky—but in a 100+ person team battle, focused fire could inflict heavy casualties.
"If No. 17's in her right mind, she'll squeeze out mana for bombardment right from the start before her teammates become dead weight."
"To block that, we'd need the student council president as backup."
"But we don't know which match she'll pick."
Aris wanted a rematch with No. 17, but struck out yesterday.
We expected her in the 6-pointer, but she took a 3-point match, beating VP Karen for those points.
Today, all 10-pointers—no telling where No. 17 shows based on points alone.
Well, par for the course.
Even cheat rabbits in novels take 8 volumes for a heroine rematch.
"Enough bullshit—get to work, Master!"
"Yes, ma'am."
The Imperial Tournament pits academies, not individuals.
Professors don't just cheer "Do your best!"—we review past matches, strategies, tactics.
"Doesn't look that way when you're munching popcorn and watching!"
No, really. I orchestrated Day 1's assassin squad upset that shocked the Empire.
After that, I slacked! Just popcorn while kids fought!
"Ugh, at least think about where your ex-disciple might show up!"
I shot the mildly pissed iron bat a surprised look.
"Why so gung-ho?"
"Because your ex-disciple got thrashed by my little sis while growing up—basically my sis's disciple! And this side's my disciple, hand-beaten by me! I can't let her lose to some punk who tasted my big sis's killer fists!"
"Super personal reason."
A showdown between No. 17 (beaten by wooden bat) and Yuglasia (beaten by iron bat)?
I directly trained No. 17, but my Yuglasia kids' training time differs by just a year.
That gap? Iron bat power can close it.
"Intriguing."
"Hmph! This is the inevitable clash between me and my sis! Big sis can't lose to little sis!"
She's 7-8 years younger by birth year, yet insists on "big sis."
Ego weapon difference?
Maybe bat evolves to ego wooden bat later!
"But my sis got sold to a bad master and ended up your disciple."
"Now that I think about it, I wonder if Lane's doing okay..."
No. 17's around, so he probably passed on the juniors safely. But maybe tortured in some basement by the princess.
"Wait, Master? You said that wouldn't happen! Your last disciples are from good families—they'd escape after handover!"
"What's the use? Opponent's a princess. Even the Emperor won't touch her; no noble dares."
"Poor thing, Master's disciple is so pitiful!"
"Worst-case scenario."
When I read Lane's physiognomy, he's fated to die stabbed in a lovers' quarrel—not by princess.
"I don't get physiognomy, but I'd bet your entire fortune that the fate you mentioned last is your own fate."
"Betting my assets against me leaves me with nothing to gain?"
"But you already admitted it before!"
True, but that was if caught.
So, no getting caught!
#19 Their Circumstances: The Plight of a Former Host (Current Slave)
I'll never get caught.
"That's how it happened."
In a vast room fitting only a huge bed—nothing else.
Here, Lady Iris filled me in on the instructor.
He'd talked of retiring to farm in some remote village, but ended up professor at Yuglasia, one of the Empire's elite academies.
But the princess found out.
Now, instructor's just waiting to get nabbed.
"Lane, stay put here. What you said has the Empire's intel folks and crown prince faction combing that 'remote village' end of the continent."
"Yes, ma'am."
Nodding satisfied her, then she stroked my face with pleading eyes.
"You're innocent, Lane, but with who we're dealing with, some mainland wanderer might take it out on you after a year on the run. So rest here till I return."
She looked so genuinely reluctant. I ventured a question.
"Um, Lady Iris..."
"A. I. Ri. S! How long you gonna 'Lady' me? We're past that!"
"Hahaha, uh, Lady Iris."
"Really, Lane..."
Irked, I subtly pointed at something with a raised hand.
"Could you... undo this...?"
"No."
"R-Right..."
Her dead-fish stare shut me up quick.
Push further, and who knows.
"Good, you get it. Now... you really staying put? Tell the maids if you need anything."
Nodding, she hugged me tight, big eyes brimming.
"Once Imperial Tournament ends, I'll have a break. Then we handle all the stuff we've skipped while busy."
"Y-Yes."
Couldn't ask what "stuff." Just saw her off.
"Gotta escape."
To be safe, I sat on the bed 30 minutes, steeling resolve.
Escape. Instinct screamed it.
Finally got why the world's top empire's princess—a stunning beauty 20 years younger—demands marriage from instructor, yet he bolts.
Experiencing it firsthand? My misfortune!
"But how..."
This was Leonhardt House: one of three ducal houses, sole Imperial-serving duke, head of the Ten Families!
And in its main estate's highest spot: central 5th-floor room.
"No collar, but escape seems impossible..."
Fingering the collar around my neck, I muttered.
Special dwarf-made collar princess commissioned to catch instructor!
No keyhole—only user unlocks. Paralyzes, knocks out, tracks location constantly. Terrifying.
"But still... first..."
Fear gripped me: meet returning Lady Iris, lose something precious. Cracking the door...
"Something wrong?"
"Need anything?"
"Ah, haha! Just asking where the bathroom is."
Eight pairs of eyes smiled at me.
But dressed as knights, not maids, Lady Iris?
These aren't maids for me—they're jailers watching me!
"Bathroom's inside the room."
"Th-Thanks."
Their smiles screamed "Shut up and stay in," so I bowed and retreated.
"No windows, huh."
How's a room this big windowless?
Blocked for my arrival?
Bathroom same: no windows.
"Smells'll be an issue after big business."
Even personal use feels off.
"Yeah, gotta bolt."
Room screamed no escape, fueling my urge.
"But... how?"