End-of-Month Field Training (1)
Continental Calendar 997, 3rd Month — 4th Week from Esdinas Academy Semester Start. Monday. Old School Building, Vermilion Bird Class Classroom.
"This weekend, we're heading out for field training, so I hope you've all prepared accordingly."
Monday morning kicked off with Instructor Esta's announcement about field training preparations.
"I thought we weren't going..."
"So we're really doing it?"
"Is it just us?"
The Vermilion Bird Class students wore uneasy expressions, reacting negatively to the field training news. Though none of them had ever gone on one before—this being their first—the three members of the class were openly reluctant. Why?
"Things are already chaotic as it is. If we leave for field training, won't that just give more people a chance to target us?"
Unia looked at me with a worried voice.
"There are already so many people gunning for you, Phoenix..."
March had been a wild month. Officially or not, the number of female students trying to approach the Old School Building had surpassed fifty in total. If you're wondering how we got that number, it's because everything I'd done since enrollment—over the course of that single month—had caused quite a stir at the academy.
Especially among the male students, where the Jerque technique was starting to show definite results. They worshipped me, but some were plotting shady schemes.
"Instructor Esta, the male students—not to put too fine a point on it, but the young heirs from noble families or Silverstar affiliates—are already bribing female students to send attackers after whatever special secret technique Phoenix has. Do we really have to go outside the Old School Building?"
As Rydmila pointed out, there were plans to kidnap me.
'Kidnapping and brainwashing are Regiph Hapsderk's specialties, though.'
I'm the mid-boss who kidnaps heroines, yet here male students were scheming darkly to kidnap someone like me. Why?
"Whether you're out there or holed up inside, anyone who wants to attack will keep trying. They're not just doing it for their own gain—they're in a position where they have to hand over those Magic Pants to their fathers, brothers, or associates."
It was all because of the Magic Pants.
"At the very least, until the mass-production factory for Magic Pants is up and running and people start using them widely... that's at least a year away."
The rarity of the Magic Pants.
"Even Silverstar can't just haphazardly plan this out—they have to carefully select the factory location, equipment, and personnel before implementation. In the meantime, the Magic Pants that get produced will go first to the students, the faculty and staff, and those working for the academy."
Demand was every adult male in the world, but supply was less than ten pairs a day. And even those who had them wanted two or more. The hype around Magic Pants was indescribably intense.
Just yesterday, a female student, instigated by some noble son, had snuck out in the dead of night to assault the Old School Building. She was stopped by the faculty, but to the end, she refused to name the male student who'd put her up to it—the one behind the attack and my attempted kidnapping.
Why? If his name got out and he was exposed as the mastermind, he might get cut off from more Magic Pants. Later, when Silverstar started mass-producing and distributing them, his order might get pushed back, or for whatever reason, supply might skip his territory or region entirely.
They were on guard against that while still pulling strings behind the scenes to kidnap—no, make contact with me somehow. I had to admit their determination for that big prize.
"I have one question, Instructor."
"What is it, Unia?"
"If we leave the Old School Building empty, couldn't someone break in?"
"No need to worry about that. Instructor Cardisha will stay behind at the Old School Building, and security staff will remain to guard it. And..."
> Displaying: Student Council President Keiar and executives
"Student Council President Keiar and the executives have agreed to guard the Old School Building. They won't enter it—just set up a base nearby and camp out."
The screen showed Julius, the crown prince, and the executives forming teams and settling into the forest around the Old School Building.
"From the Student Council's perspective, this counts as their training. Guarding a base camp while fending off unsavory elements trying to touch the precious treasure inside—perfect practical exercise. Because..."
"This training is only for first-years, right?"
"Exactly, Rydmila. This first March training session has been decided: only freshmen leave the academy."
That was how it shook out. If someone asked why second- and third-years weren't going, the answer was that the Student Council's Old School Building defense battle served as their training.
"If someone's going to target it anyway, better to lay out the board officially and let everyone watch each other. That way, even if someone sneaks in at night, faculty can keep an eye out, and students won't resort to extreme measures."
"What do you get for breaking through the Student Council executives?"
"Magic Pants. Extras."
Instructor Esta pulled out a treasure chest straight out of a dungeon and opened it. Inside, nestled like actual treasure, were the Magic Pants we'd—especially Evangeline—packed diligently one by one.
"Not just male students—female students are after these too, so the upperclassmen's training will get pretty intense. Probably like a warzone."
"Female students want Magic Pants?"
"They could use them in all sorts of ways. Claim they lost theirs and auction it off for big money on the sly. Gift it to a fiancé not at the academy. Or most importantly—"
Instructor Esta gestured up and down her body.
"For little brothers growing fast but worrying about enrollment. Or to hand to fathers or older brothers vulnerable to mana drain."
To wish little brothers vigorous growth from a caring big sister. To desperately protect family from becoming mana drain victims.
"So far, Magic Pants have gone to male students, but this is the only chance for female students to officially snag some."
Male students wanted them desperately, and female students were just as eager. The academy was leveraging that desperation for student education and holistic growth.
"Upperclassmen get that setup... Freshmen just get a fresh look at the academy curriculum."
Instructor Esta projected a magic image on the blackboard, pointing to spots on the full Esdinas Academy map.
"Freshmen will experience various external dungeons under their instructors' guidance. For us—for the Vermilion Bird Class—we're headed to the scheduled spot."
"Ludbekia Marquisate."
"Yes."
As Instructor Esta pointed above the Ludbekia Marquisate on the map, a chill ran down my spine for no reason.
"You'll see when we get there."
Her eyes seemed to pierce right through me, as if confirming my true nature—
"The Ludbekia Marchioness is sharpening her blade."
—no, more like worry about how someone with eyes like that was looking at me. Probably.
"Is that so. Haha."
No way I'd get found out. No intention of it, either.
A Moment Later, Old School Building Situation Room.
We'd come to the situation room to check the magic screen showing real-time academy-side developments beyond the Old School Building forest.
The moment we arrived, the magic screen showed a mob of male students at the forest entrance leading to the Old School Building, fervently shouting my name—both first and last.
"The Goddess Church would have a fit hearing that."
Outwardly, that was all I could say about the voices proclaiming their faith in me.
'They're not truly treating me like a god yet.'
They might be grateful, but the guys screaming themselves hoarse in the forest—loud enough to reach the Old School Building—weren't my true devotees.
"Praying to a god because you want something isn't wrong, but isn't it a bit too blatant?"
They exalted me as a god while really just angling for Magic Pants. They buttered me up to secure more miracles than anyone else, then profit off them.
Those who'd truly regained confidence through the Magic Pants and felt genuine thanks didn't show up at the Old School Building making noise like this. They just expressed gratitude every time they felt the effects.
"......"
One last check before heading out for training. I scanned the lower halves of these fake devotees causing the noise pollution, confirming if they wore Magic Pants.
Even if not wearing them now, they'd probably tried them at least once.
'Nope.'
None. So I could head out reassured.
'If the protagonist even put on Magic Pants, they'd react instantly and burn him to a crisp.'
Do people know? Magic Pants—with just a flick of my finger—could become bombs.
"......"
I wouldn't, though. It was only for one person—or one type of being.
'Anyone who rubs up on an angel while wearing Magic Pants dies.'
Anti-angel bomb. Magic Pants explode the instant they react to angel powers.
Thus, the academy was safe. Even if we left for training and an angel tried something weird with a guy, if he wore Magic Pants, they'd provide powerful resistance against her.
'If you get a gift, there should be a reward.'
The secret function of Magic Pants unknown to the world. Anyone wearing them could overpower an angel—turn her into a female.
Well.
'As long as they enjoy it.'
Even Great Master Wonhyo downed skull water refreshingly—good is good, right?