Growing Supporting Characters -1- [Academy Senior Director - Histania Malik]
Sitting at the desk with its neat nameplate, Malik met the glare of the professor staring him down.
"I've already received the headmaster's approval."
At Malik's one-sided declaration, the Healing Department professor raised his hands and protested.
"This is a unilateral notice! We need to hold a meeting with the faculty...!"
"My decision stands. Professor Eleanor of the Healing Department."
"Hey! Histania Malik! Is this because I gave you tough grades back when you were a cadet?!"
"Call me Senior Director. Professor."
Malik gave a small smile and restated his position to the Healing Department professor. The man clearly hadn't grasped it.
"Starting this afternoon, I plan to teach self-defense techniques to the Healing Department students."
"You think you have the skills to teach without any knowledge of healing magic?"
"Is healing magic all that impressive?"
Malik conjured a swirl of emerald mana in one hand as he spoke.
"Swordsmanship Department students learn basic emergency healing spells from the start too. What's so special about it?"
"..."
"Healing touch is vital for severe wounds. But for minor injuries, what good is a spell that does nothing?"
"What does that have to do with anything? It's magic that saves lives!"
"Exactly as I said. I'm going to teach the Healing Department students basic self-defense. That's it."
The elderly professor clutched his throbbing forehead and shot back at Malik.
"You think that makes sense? Healers support from the rear...!"
"Who said that?"
"What?"
"Who told healers to just sit on their thumbs in battle?"
Malik let out a scoffing laugh as he addressed the professor.
"If the front line falls, the battle's lost anyway. Did some past professor tell them to twiddle their thumbs until they die? Or is that your personal judgment?"
"..."
"You're coming at me with nonsense you heard somewhere. As Senior Director, I can't just sit here and listen."
"Hey! Senior Director! Aren't you going too far?! I've seen more battlefields than you, saved more lives!"
"And someone like you never tried to fix the biggest weakness in healers? Hilarious."
Malik's expression turned icy as he continued.
"At the very least, they need the strength to run away. You think someone who can't protect themselves can save others?"
"Urk..."
"I'm telling you this after getting approval. I hope Professor Eleanor clears his schedule."
"..."
"If you can't accept it, then as Senior Director of this academy, I'll have no choice but to make a decision to provide better education for our students."
Scrrraaape. Malik pulled open a drawer, placed a white envelope on the desk, and eyed the professor. A warning: if you can't accept it, then leave.
"Talent is plentiful."
"..."
"Positions are limited."
Professor Eleanor nodded at Malik's words, sensing things had gone awry.
*
Three weeks earlier. While discussing convenience store issues with Ricardo, Malik sought advice from the suspiciously sharp young man.
"Hey, Ricardo."
"Yes, boss?"
"Not 'boss'—President... no, just Malik."
"Then President."
"Sigh... Fine. I've got one thing I want to ask... What do you think of this academy?"
"Out of the blue?"
"It's one of my long-standing worries. I feel like what the academy teaches is lacking."
"Hm..."
"Meager, maybe. The Imperial Academy has the best support and luxurious faculty, but the results feel ambiguous compared to the resources poured into students."
"Isn't that just because you've lived such a hardcore life, President?"
"Hm... Yeah, your point isn't wrong."
"Not denying it, huh?"
"While others were drinking, I was swinging my sword. At your age, I was out hunting elite orcs solo."
"Impressive."
"Flattery. But hearing you say that, it makes sense... Still, something feels missing. Even for monsters like you..."
Ricardo let out a hollow chuckle and shook his head.
"I'm an outlier. You're one too, President."
"...Can't argue."
"This year's cohort has some real talents, though. Hanna, Mihail, Yuria—this class is a boon, right?"
"...Still not enough."
"Hm... Then..."
That day, Ricardo asked him this: Did he want to improve the big picture, not just the elites?
Malik nodded vigorously at Ricardo's question. It was exactly his regret.
Not just the talented few. He wanted to raise the level of the average ones. Since he'd taken the director role, he wanted real results. Malik listened closely to Ricardo's ideas.
"How about elevating the ones who get the short end of the stick at the academy?"
"Short end...? Does that kind of discrimination exist here?"
"No. Just thinking long-term."
Ricardo placed three pens on the table and moved them one by one as he explained.
"Swordsmanship Department goes to knight orders."
Scrrraaape.
"Magic Department to the Magic Tower."
Scrrraaape.
"And the Healing Department..."
Ricardo gave an awkward smile and looked at Malik.
"Nowhere to go."
Malik objected to Ricardo's view. Too narrow-minded.
"High-achieving healers get scouted everywhere. Imperial Knights, Magic Tower—even more options than other departments."
Ricardo smiled awkwardly.
"Are there that many slots for healers?"
"..."
"Sure, talent in healing is rare, but small families without high nobles—do they hire a ton of healers?"
Ricardo's face was impassive as he pressed.
"You know better than anyone, President. How to squeeze people to avoid useless expenses."
"..."
"When the front line's dying, you want a mage who can cast basic spells over a healer waving from range."
Ricardo was right. Hiring one or two proper healers avoided waste—it was true.
"Healing mages are too passive right now."
"..."
"Strategically, protect healers first... Yeah."
"..."
"Honestly, I'd buy an extra potion instead of hiring one."
Clap! Ricardo clapped his hands.
"So, if we strengthen the Healing Department, won't it light a fire under the others like a pack of mutts...?"
"..."
"They won't settle for 'this is good enough.' They'll think, 'Losing to those desk-jockey bookworms?'"
And that idea had led to this moment: the "Healers Who Won't Die to Ambushes" class.
And.
-Oh, and keep the Healing Department professor at a distance.
-Hm? Professor Eleanor?
-Yeah, he's a bit suspicious.
He'd made a mental note of who to cut loose.
*
"Ahem."
Standing before the dusty training ground, Malik held a wooden sword. Before him were the Healing Department students—ones who got poor treatment at the academy.
Less efficient than combat majors. Most mages had basic healing anyway.
Nobles in name, but scorned in practice. And the healing kids could be picky too.
Malik eyed the grumbling students in the dust-swirled ground, took a steadying breath, and boomed out the start of class.
"Pleased to meet you. I'm Histania Malik, Academy Senior Director and your instructor for self-defense starting today."
"""Whoaaa..."""
Negative mutters spilled from the Healing Department students' mouths. Why do we need self-defense? When does it end? Grumbles like that.
-What...
-Self-defense?
-Why do we need it...
-Seriously? Front line handles it.
Malik smiled faintly at the murmuring students. Starve them out, and convenience store sales would rise naturally.
"...If you're hungry, the second floor has a conv— ahem."
Not yet. Promo time hadn't come.
Malik timed it, holding silent.
"For today, we'll start light: how to use the daggers in your hands."
Malik beckoned with a hand to the Healing students.
"From now on, anyone who stabs me gets their dorm grade bumped up one level."
""...Pardon?"""
"Got the headmaster's permission, so participate hard."
""He's insane...""
Malik smiled at the buzzing students. He could fix healers' biggest flaw.
New knight order healers struggled most with building basic stamina. Pathetic hand-to-hand. Blind spots in vision. Casual habits ignoring threats everywhere.
So.
He'd train them brutally. As a life senior.
"Um..."
Malik nodded to the bold girl raising her hand in the corner. If she complained, he'd enforce gender equality first.
"Yes? Pink-hair student."
Yuria fidgeted with her fingers as she spoke.
"Can I use my bare fists? And instead of dorm grade... could I get dorm fee support...?"
"Ah."
Malik nodded at the issue he could handle himself.
"I'll give you a thousand gold."
"Pardon...?"
"Land one hit on me, and you get a thousand gold plus a full year of free dorm fees. And..."
Malik casually pulled a ticket from his pocket.
"Academy convenience store weekly pass and a Forest Friend meal voucher."
The students' reactions split at the bold offer.
"What... Forest Friend?"
"Hey... for real?"
"Perfect for a date with my boyfriend."
Yuria clenched her fist with resolve.
With Ricardo...!
Malik nodded with a smile.
This is the academy vibe.
He thought of bringing Ricardo as a guest lecturer later, then signaled start.
"Begin."
And.
-Kyaaaack!
Unending screams began echoing across the training ground.