Chapter 68
Chapter 68
“Exactly. We went to all that trouble to get the professor who originally taught the course kicked out, only for that bastard Ban Trash to take his place.”
“Isn’t Understanding the Basics of Magic offered in two sections?”
“Yes, that’s right. It’s a shared introductory course for all first-year students, so it’s split into Sections One and Two to accommodate the enrollment. That bastard is teaching Section Two.”
“Replace the professor of Section One with Baron Aiden.”
“!!”
The butler’s face twitched with surprise.
“Baron Aiden? Isn’t he one of Rubines’s most renowned professors? The one certified by the Ministry of Education as an A-fessor?”
Every year, the Ministry of Education graded professors.
It assessed them in a number of areas, including expertise in their field, research achievements, and contributions to society. Among the various categories, there was one that received its own separate grade.
Teaching ability.
An A-fessor was a distinguished professor recognized for teaching ability at the A level.
For reference, there was also an S-fessor rank above A-fessor, but Rubiness Academy had not a single professor who had received it.
“Are you planning to make Ban’s class compete with Baron Aiden, a professor of the highest caliber?”
If they taught the same course, Ban’s shortcomings as an instructor would be laid bare.
That wasn’t the only scheme Duke Bolman had in mind.
“Have the Board of Directors convene and designate the Understanding the Basics of Magic course he teaches as a Quality-Managed Course.”
Under Ministry of Education guidelines, each academy had to select its own Quality-Managed Courses and conduct internal inspections.
Once a professor’s course was selected, it would be subjected to such intense scrutiny that some professors would sooner take a leave of absence.
‘The Quality-Managed Course assessment is practically considered a legitimate means of demotion.’
The butler clicked his tongue.
If there was even the slightest flaw in Ban’s class, he would suffer every kind of disadvantage.
‘He’ll be driven out as soon as this course is over.’
But then, another concern suddenly came to the butler.
“…What if Ban delivers a perfect class?”
“What do you mean?”
“…It’s unlikely, of course, but what if he teaches a class that surpasses even Baron Aiden, an A-fessor…?”
The butler’s voice trailed off.
The duke’s measures might end up giving Ban wings instead.
Just as they had, time and time again.
“…You have a point. We’d better set another trap. Contact Senin.”
An unexpected name came up.
The protagonist of the business class, whom Ban had thought of not long ago.
“Lord Senin is currently a first-year student at Amethyst Academy? Could it be—”
“Yes. The Student Council has already been bought off and brought under his control, hasn’t it? Have Amethyst’s Student Council audit delegation dispatched to inspect Ban’s class.”
The Student Councils of the four academies maintained close ties with one another.
One result of that was the “Dispatched Audit Delegation” system.
Student Councils were supposed to represent the interests of the students.
But Student Council members were students of the academy, too. Fearing the consequences, they often found it difficult to blow the whistle on their own institution.
So, if there was a problem at an academy, a Student Council from another academy would send an audit delegation to blow the whistle on its behalf.
“With Lord Senin’s abilities, we can trust him to handle it.”
“Yes. Senin is the one who will succeed me, Bolman.”
This time, the butler set his worries aside and nodded as if he agreed.
Senin was a remarkable schemer, impossible to believe at his young age.
‘Lady Emily, his older sister, is impressive in her own right, but she can’t compare to Lord Senin.’
Senin stopped at nothing to achieve his goals.
Destroying Ban’s reputation by reporting him would be child’s play.
A rival distinguished professor assigned.
The course designated for intensive management.
A student audit delegation dispatched.
Thus, Duke Bolman set three separate schemes in motion to drive Ban out, and those who received his orders began moving against him.
“You expect me to teach a first-year course? And just to deal with some Ban the Trash?”
Aiden was a young professor.
He had a polished, cosmopolitan air about him, much like Ballas, the Temporary Professor from the Prestigious Magic Family.
“You shouldn’t underestimate Professor Ban. Even Temporary Professor Ballas, who’s expected to succeed you, couldn’t handle him.”
“Don’t compare me to some greenhorn like Ballas. I’m an A-fessor. Certified by the Ministry of Education.”
“…My apologies.”
Aiden showed his displeasure.
He refused to be placed on the same level as Ballas, a rising star in the magical world, and now they expected him to deal with someone like Ban the Trash.
His pride was deeply wounded.
“I have my reputation to consider. I won’t do it for nothing.”
“Of course, His Grace Duke Bolman will see to it that you’re properly compensated.”
“I’m not talking about money. Give me the right to attend the Imperial Symposium.”
“!!”
The butler flinched.
As the name implied, it was a symposium hosted by the Imperial Palace for professors from the four distinguished academies.
Just being invited was considered a tremendous honor.
“Wouldn’t it be possible if the Board of Directors recommended me?”
“But I can’t simply hand you a place. Director Karak’s faction will oppose it.”
“Then why not make a wager on this course? The professor who receives the higher score in the teaching evaluation gets to attend the Imperial Symposium.”
It was a reasonable suggestion.
Ban was currently aligned with Director Karak’s faction.
Since the wager would be fair, even Director Karak’s side would have no grounds to object if they lost.
“Understood. I’ll submit a proposal to the Board of Directors: whichever of the two professors receives the higher score in the teaching evaluation will attend the next Imperial Symposium.”
And so.
A reward Ban would never have wanted was placed on the line.
That wasn’t the only thing that had become a problem for Ban.
Far to the southeast of the Free City,
in a rugged region where deserts and canyons ran together,
a city towered above its surroundings, strangely out of place.
The streets had a calm atmosphere.
People with an air of intellect sat drinking tea as they read books.
It was the Scholarly City of Amethyst.
As its name suggested, the city had sprung up around Amethyst Academy.
For reference, each of the Four Great Academies had its own distinctive city.
Rubiness was a Free City, Amethyst was a Scholarly City, Sapphire was a Fortress City, and Peridot was a Sacred City.
“Another fine day today.”
“That’s because Amethyst Academy protects us from the harm caused by Mana Distortion. There’s nowhere as pleasant to live as this place.”
“And the students are all so splendid, too.”
The citizens of the Scholarly City were immensely proud of Amethyst Academy.
That pride, as it so often did, gave way to contempt for the other academies.
Rubiness, the worst of the Four Great Academies, was especially often the subject of conversation.
“I hear Rubiness students are so debauched. And the faculty’s quality is far worse, too.”
“And to think that a place like that is a sister academy to our Amethyst Academy.”
“Do you know who just became a professor at Rubiness Academy? It was none other than Ban the Trash!”
“What? Is that really true? Even if Rubiness Academy is rotten, that’s going too far.”
“I hear he’s even taken charge of a required course. What sort of corruption did he commit to get that?”
“Those students at Rubiness have my sympathy.”
The Scholarly City was far from the heart of the Empire, so rumors traveled slowly there.
Few people knew about the things Ban had accomplished recently.
And yet, there was a reason that such particularly bad rumors about Ban had spread here.
“Given that a student’s rights have been violated at Rubiness Academy, I propose that an audit group be sent.”
In Amethyst’s Student Council room,
a young boy was speaking up boldly.
It was Senin!
The heir to the Rapalt Ducal House, and the protagonist of the business class.
Senin was the one who had spread all the bad rumors about Ban throughout the Scholarly City.
“……”
The Student Council room fell silent.
Astonishingly, every upper-year student was watching Senin’s reaction.
That was remarkable, considering Senin had only just enrolled as a First-Year Student.
Before enrolling, he had already bribed the Student Council members or gotten hold of their weaknesses.
His methods were terrifyingly skillful for someone his age.
But not everyone had fallen into Senin’s clutches.
“This is nothing more than a rumor. You want to send an audit group without any clear evidence?”
“!!”
It was a third-year student.
And yet, there was something familiar about his face.
Senin named him.
“I’m disappointed in you, Vice President. Are you trying to shield him because he’s your brother?”
Cal Ecclesia.
The fourth of the five Ecclesia siblings!
Cal was the vice president of Amethyst’s Student Council.
“This isn’t about personal feelings. It’s about procedure.”
“We’ve already received a request for cooperation from Rubiness’s Student Council. Wouldn’t ignoring it amount to neglecting your duties?”
‘…That bastard.’
Cal gritted his teeth inwardly.
It wasn’t simply because Senin had gone after his older brother, Ban.
Senin had taken over the Student Council, leaving Cal in a position where he was little more than a figurehead.
‘Why am I so lacking that I can’t even handle someone like him?’
His eldest brother Ron, his second-eldest sister Mariam, even his youngest sibling—they were all extraordinary.
Even Ban, who had been called Ban Trash, had shed his shell and turned out to be dazzlingly talented.
Cal alone was an ordinary talent.
‘It’s fine. Not everyone needs to become a star. But I want to land a blow on that bastard, at least.’
The fact that he was feeling even angrier than usual today was just a matter of mood. It surely wasn’t because that bastard was slandering his older brother, Ban.
—If you ever need my help, reach out to me.
Ban’s voice suddenly came to mind.
—I’m your older brother, after all.
Cal remembered how Ban had once faced the Evil Spirit Lord in his place.
That had been the first time he’d relied on Ban.
He didn’t want to admit it, but Ban had the most dependable back of anyone he knew.
Cal abruptly made an impulsive decision.
“Fine. We’ll send an audit group to Rubiness. But if your claims turn out to be false, you’ll be held responsible. Leave the Student Council.”
“!!”
Senin flinched, but soon gave a faint, amused smile.
“Very well. In exchange, if I’m right, you’ll also take responsibility and step down as vice president.”
Cal nodded.
He decided to believe in the Ban he had seen back then.
Believing in one’s older brother was a younger brother’s privilege, after all.
‘You told me to believe in you, so if you show me something pathetic, I’ll hit you, Brother Ban.’
After that, they discussed the specific procedures.
As they decided who would be sent in the audit group, an unexpected person volunteered.
“I’ll go, too.”
Everyone looked at the person who had raised her hand, their faces full of bewilderment.
Apparently even Senin found her difficult to deal with, because he carefully voiced his objection.
“You don’t have to. There’s no need…”
“Why? Can’t I go?”
“No, that’s not what I mean… I was worried it might be a bother for you.”
“Don’t pretend to worry about me when you don’t mean it. It’s annoying.”
“!!”
She was speaking so bluntly to the heir of a ducal house—Senin?
But everyone seemed used to seeing this, because no one was surprised.
There was good reason for it.
“Whether I go or not is for me to decide, so mind your own business.”
Flash!
A girl with a striking appearance.
Joanna, the daughter of a Prestigious Magic Family, spoke in a low, sunken voice.
“I’ve got a debt to repay Professor Ban, too.”