Buzdra Academy (1)
"I have to head this way. There's a professors' meeting. The principal's office is on the top floor of that main building you see over there. You can make it on your own, right?"
"Yeah. No, Professor."
Since we're inside the academy, it was best to show proper respect to my superior, Melissa. She smiled, reached out to brush the dust off my shoulder, and straightened my collar neatly.
"Ugh, if I could, I'd pull you into a hug and kiss you right now."
"We did plenty of that this morning."
"I want to do it again, that's why."
"It's dangerous here."
"I know."
Lately, we were living like a honeymoon couple fully immersed in married life. I'd never imagined things would turn out this way with Melissa, my former party member.
"There, looking sharp." She gave my shoulder a light pat and stepped back.
"Anne, the teaching assistant, will guide you to your class. She said to wait in front of the principal's office."
"Got it."
"See you later. Catch you at dinner, honey." She winked and waved.
I waved back lightly. Once Melissa was gone, I took a deep breath in and out.
"Let's go."
Leaning on my cane, I strode toward the main building. Students' gazes naturally turned toward my limping figure.
"Who's that limping guy? He looks different from us."
"Oh, I remember! Naru from the Laphone family! The hero who got wrecked by that ancient east wind, Vera. That's him!"
"Black hair, white skin—yeah, I see it. No double eyelids either."
"They said he was coming as a teaching assistant, and it was true."
"But isn't he not with the Laphone family anymore? I heard they divorced."
"For real? When?"
As soon as Melissa disappeared, the students' whispers grew bold enough to hear outright. With her around, no one dared approach, but now they chattered openly, as if I were beneath notice.
"With a body like that, he'd lose to us too."
"He looks super young. How old is he?"
"Probably only five years older than us?"
"He's got that exotic handsome vibe."
A group that looked like delinquents giggled at me, secretly mimicking my limp from behind as they followed.
Why did people lack respect for me despite my past fame? Because my active period was too short. I appeared like a comet and vanished like one. My official hero exploits lasted only a year and a half. Like a one-hit wonder singer who blows up with a single massive song but fades away—I'm the kind of hero who flashes briefly in people's minds. They know the song but rack their brains to remember the artist. That's me.
With that short burst, I got lucky: proposed to by a noble lady, married her... Anyway, being in my prime youth fueled the dismissive attitudes toward my career. People saw me as a promising talent who failed to bloom and broke instead—a total has-been.
Once my bet with Vera ends and my power returns, I'm curious what kind of comments people will make then.
As I reached the main building, a man suddenly called out from the entrance.
"Hey! You there!"
"…?"
I turned, and he beckoned. "Come here!"
A man who looked like a teacher stood there, arms crossed arrogantly in front of a haughty female student. She was strikingly beautiful—upon closer look, Alicia, the duke's daughter. I'd seen her face a few times at balls, so it was familiar. We'd never spoken; I'd only watched from afar. I remembered everyone around her praising her endlessly for her refinement and character.
"Hurry up!" she urged me impatiently. Can't she see me limping? She should come over herself.
I approached on my cane, feeling her gaze sweep over me with clear distaste. Ignoring it, I looked at the man.
"Why did you call me?"
"I know you. You're Mr. Naru, right?"
"Yes, that's me."
"Knew it! They said you were coming as a teaching assistant, and here you are! I'm Wigrev, teaching assistant to Professor Padley, who handles the Joint Class for 12th years. I look after the EL group girls."
Joint Class? EL group? I'd researched Buzdra Academy beforehand, so I could follow. It spanned grades 1 through 14. From 1st to 11th year, students received training tailored to their talents: swordsmanship, archery, magic, alchemy, and so on. By 11th year, they honed professional skills in their fields. Starting 12th year, they learned party roles, teamwork, group living, and cooperation. All 12th years were adults over 20, divided into three houses: Harmony House, Joint House, and Cooperation House.
Of these, Melissa oversaw Harmony House, with three teaching assistants under her—including me. EL groups were small classes within a house, made up of female students. Elite Ladies. (Male classes were EK: Elite Knights.) While professors managed entire houses, TAs handled the separated male and female subgroups. Due to societal emphasis on noble ladies' purity and chastity, strict gender separation began from 10th year onward. Still, they shared some lectures, like party play training.
"Anyway, nice to meet you. Here, take this."
Wigrev suddenly thrust a wooden sword at me.
"As a former hero, you must handle swords well, right?"
Why a sword? "…What's this for?"
"My lady has a group swordsmanship exam next week. She needs to demonstrate Wind Song Style Forest Cut in front of the professor, and she wants to see someone do it cleanly. Give us a demo. You know it, of course?"
"I know it, but…"
Is this guy blind? He sees my legs and still asks for a demo? I debated. Staring at the cane in one hand and the wooden sword in the other. Yeah, impossible.
Wind Song Style Forest Cut meant slicing an entire forest with one swing—used to fell multiple foes at once. It could also send sword energy in all directions to carve an escape path when surrounded.
"Can't do it? But you're a hero?"
I looked up. Alicia stood there, arms crossed.
"Show us. Entertain me. You're a hero, aren't you?"
I was more confident than anyone, but my mana control was gone, my legs were wrecked—impossible. More than that, their mindset baffled me: asking the impossible after eyeing my legs.
Something was off. I'd heard Alicia, the duke's daughter, was polite and of excellent character. But this one seemed downright arrogant.
"My legs make it difficult."
I held out the wooden sword. She snorted.
"Hand it over there. I don't want to touch it."
She nodded toward Wigrev. Dirty, huh? I turned and offered it to him.
"Here."
"Aw, why can't you just do it? Learn something. Not very heroic of you."
He took it back, speaking as if I were at fault. All I did was answer your call.
"I'm going."
No point dragging this out—it'd just tire me. I turned away abruptly.
As I limped off on my cane, Alicia's voice rang from behind.
"Toss that wooden sword. It's bad luck now—cursed."
"A has-been's touch makes it gross, right? I'll dump it quick."
Wigrev groveled before her, tail wagging like a dog. Is that how a TA acts in front of a student? No honor or authority.
"What does a fool like that know?"
"Shouldn't have called him. Sorry."
Hold up. If I left like this, she'd cement my image as an incompetent idiot. As the duke's daughter, her connections in the academy were vast. Fix it now, or I'd be dismissed by everyone throughout my TA tenure. A bad premonition. I didn't mind the insults lately, but I hated dragging Melissa down—the one who recommended me. Imagine the principal scolding her: Where'd you dig up this loser?
I didn't want to give that bitch the satisfaction, but no choice. I turned back.
"Wind Song Style Forest Cut. The key points are TWSRRS."
"T double-U S R R S?"
"The Water in the Stream Recedes, Revealing the Stones. Imagine the stream's waters receding to expose the stones, and circulate your mana accordingly. It's like scattering the pebbles of a dried-up streambed into the air. Water is mana, stones are sword energy. The water absorbs into the pebbles for propulsion; the pebbles gain buoyancy and destructive power."
"Water is mana, stones are sword energy…"
Alicia blinked, deep in thought. Now that I've given you the answer, memorize it well. Not sure if a rude girl like you can pull it off.
I turned and entered the main building.
On the continent's eastern edge, in the Greenwise Mountains. Vera's Shrine.
In a lavish room lit by candles, a woman stood gazing at the sandglass on the table. Just then, the last grain of green sand trickled to the bottom.
She clicked her tongue.
"So you won after all. Driving yourself into suffering, enduring every humiliation to shorten my ten-year bet to two—you're one tough bastard."
She was the ancient east wind, Vera.
"As promised, I'll lift the Laphone family's curse and restore your power."