The RS Failures and Flames of Chaos
The classroom where he met his students was far from the typical image most people imagined. There was space to cook meals or brew tea, plush luxury chairs and several beds, a changing room, and even a simple bathtub for washing up. It felt more like a lounge for students waiting before a professor's lecture or a rest area just for them.
Getting into Buzdra Academy in the first place meant you were from nobility. They received top-tier treatment and facilities to match.
Unlike professors, assistant professors were the ones who eased students' moods inside the classroom—lackeys, essentially. They encouraged the sad ones, bolstered the spirits of the depressed, mediated fights, and helped with studies on the side. Their job was to support the students so the professor could run classes smoothly.
But Kang Naru was an exception to all that.
'No need to teach 'em. Just let the kids self-study and do your own thing. Self-improvement or whatever.'
That was Melissa's direct order. She seemed to have given up on RS Class too. Telling him to slack off and just collect his paycheck.
But his conscience wouldn't allow it. Teaching hadn't been his childhood dream, but standing before these students stirred an unexpected sense of duty.
"First off, I'm Kang Naru, your new assistant professor. But even though I'm an assistant, my body's a bit off. As you probably know, I lost the use of one leg fighting Vera. I'm sorry for taking you on in this condition, but that doesn't mean I'll slack off compared to other assistants. I plan to guide you just as meticulously as any other students get."
He couldn't half-ass it, not when Melissa had recommended him. He'd give it his all, as always.
"I know exactly what you're thinking, sitting here in this RS classroom. This might be your last shot at staying in Buzdra Academy. Fail RS Class, and you might not graduate. That's why I'm going to bust my ass to improve your skills. I'll get you into EL Class no matter what. That's the only reason I'm here."
At the same time. The training grounds.
Boom!
A massive explosion sent sand flying into the air. A dozen students who had surrounded Alicia were hurled back, crashing to the ground.
"Whoa!"
"Oh!"
Onlookers gasped in admiration.
"Incredible!"
Wigrev clapped furiously as he rushed over like a shot.
Alicia, sword in hand, panted heavily, staring in disbelief at her own handiwork.
"Wind Song Style Forest Cut. I finally did it..."
"I knew you could! No worries for next week's exam now!"
"It wasn't just me."
Alicia bit her lower lip, furrowing her brow.
"I couldn't have without that guy telling me."
Water was mana, stone was sword aura. Thanks to that insight, she'd solved the homework that had plagued her for weeks.
She'd thought he was just a cripple.
"...Even rotten fish is still chub mackerel, huh."
She snorted derisively. Then she yelled at the fallen students to get up, claiming she needed more practice with Forest Cut—and promptly sent them flying again. Satisfied, she thought of Naru once more.
"That guy's intriguing."
"That's my intro done."
He finished speaking and scanned the students. They stared back blankly.
"Wow... You're cool, Assistant Professor."
Angelina clapped with sparkling eyes and a bright smile. The other two followed suit—one shyly, the bandaged one calmly.
Any response was welcome.
"Now we'll do one-on-one interviews. Tell me all about yourselves."
He sat at his desk—the assistant professor's dedicated spot—which looked cheaper than the students' cushy chairs. Probably had to be a full professor for the good stuff. Anyway, he looked at them.
"Who wants to go first?"
"Me!"
Angelina, the most eager, shot her hand up.
"Grab that small chair over there and come sit."
"Yes!"
Angelina hauled over a round stool and plopped down in front of him. Her blonde perm reached her shoulders, giving her a neat, refined lady vibe. She'd smiled brightly from the moment they met, so he felt more affinity for her than the others.
"Angelina, right?"
"Yes. House Mars has produced elite guards for generations, steadfastly protecting the capital's gates for centuries—the kingdom's most loyal family."
She rattled off her lineage unprompted. He wondered.
"What does your father do?"
"He's captain of the guard at the north gate."
Not nobility, then? Must be some recommendation system for commoners.
"Forgive the stiff questions."
"Of course, Assistant Professor. I love questions—the more, the better!"
She beamed. Every gesture screaming goodwill. Probably angling for conduct points—assistants could award or deduct them too. He knew it was calculated, but mutual benefit was fine. Fake or not, it wasn't bad.
She seemed smart and model-like—how'd she end up in the failing class?
"Major?"
"Water magic. Want a demo?"
"Here?"
"Yes. But I have a weird constitution—three or four low-tier water spells drain my mana completely. I need a long rest after. One mid-tier and I'm done."
"Ah... I see."
Low mana reserves? That explained the failing class. With lectures in an hour, he told her to save it. After more questions, he called the next.
"Name...?"
"Lydia."
This one was wrapped head to toe in bandages. Her visible eyes and demeanor screamed blunt.
"What happened to you?"
"Fire."
"Full-body burn scars?"
"Yeah."
"Major?"
"Swordsmanship. Aspiring knight."
Chatting revealed Lydia had lost confidence from her scars, living listlessly. She hated showing her bandaged self, becoming so introverted she skipped sparring exams. Frequent absences tanked her scores—deliberately scraping into RS.
"It's your future—why not muster courage for the exam?"
"Future? What lord takes in a monster like me?"
She smiled bitterly.
"I'm a freak. No hair, hideous."
Her eyes held utter resignation. Not fixable now. He tabled counseling, kept it light. Near the end, Lydia blurted:
"You gonna ditch us too...?"
"Other assistants ditch you?"
"Quit after days."
"Why?"
"Wanna advance careers—stuck with us kills prospects."
"No results possible, huh."
"We're hopeless. Me, Angelina, Hazel—all irredeemable."
"Don't be so pessimistic. I'll try."
"Same old line. Everyone says it. Wonder how long you'll last."
Lydia scoffed and stood. Next was Hazel, the last—dark brown hair, fidgety, eyes darting everywhere shyly.
"Both parents high priests at the temple, right?"
"Y-yes..."
"Most kids go priest route, but you took to alchemy?"
"Yes... I like alchemy..."
"Any health issues?"
"No... I'm healthy..."
She avoided eye contact, head down, staring elsewhere.
"A-Assistant Professor, um..."
"Yeah?"
"You're not just staring at my big boobs... right? Or peeking up my skirt 'cause it's short...?"
What the hell? He was looking at her forehead.
"No? Never."
"Our family hates all lewd stuff—pure and holy. Please look at me properly..."
I said I didn't. Too absurd; he chuckled.
"If my gaze bothers you, curtains and blinds for privacy?"
"Why...? Discriminating against me is wrong..."
"You keep misunderstanding."
"It's not! Books say men are lecherous..."
"Hazel! What are you saying in front of the new Assistant Professor?!"
A sharp voice from afar—Angelina, jumping up.
"How dare you accuse him of visual rape? You're the visual rapist!"
Angelina shrugged dramatically, strode to Hazel's bag, grabbed it, flung it open, and showed him.
"Look, Assistant Professor! Hazel's bag is full of porn books! That's why her grades suck—she's always lost in dirty fantasies!"
"Angelina! You tattletale!"
Hazel panicked and lunged, but Angelina pressed on like a dutiful class rep snitching.
"She even masturbates in the empty classroom! How can a pervert like her badmouth you?!"
"Stop it, you suck-up!"
Furious, Hazel yanked a small vial from her pocket and smashed it on the floor. Pop! Smoke billowed, birthing a four-legged baby salamander wreathed in flames. The fire spread, igniting the classroom center in seconds.
"F-Fire...!?"
Lydia, still seated, eyes widened—then fainted.
"Attack Angelina, salamander!"
"Think I'll lose?!"
"Stop it, girls!"
He tried intervening, to no avail. The salamander crawled toward Angelina; she countered with water magic but collapsed after one spell, drained. Trembling, she shielded her face.
"Eek!"
"Stop, Hazel!"
To protect Angelina, he hobbled forward desperately. But powerless, what could he do? Tackle the blazing salamander and roll? Certain severe burns, but in the moment, it felt like the only option.
'Better me hurt than hear students got injured!'
Powerless, yet still a hero at heart. No hesitation sacrificing for others. He lunged—then the world flipped.
Suddenly, vast plains. Breezy wind tousled his hair.
"What the...?"
Blinking around, he spotted a goddess-like woman under a great tree. Approaching, he recognized her: ancient Eastern witch Vera.
"Kang Naru. This one admits defeat. As promised, I'll lift the Laphone curse and restore your power."
She smiled warmly. Sudden, but it clicked. He grinned wide.
"Hand it over. Quick."
Gotta save the kids.