Chapter 114: Girls and Girls, Boys and Boys
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 114: Girls and Girls, Boys and Boys
"You—ugh!"
Faced with Muen’s sudden stubbornness, Kade appeared both furious and helpless.
In his eyes, Muen studying magic was a complete waste of time.
Setting aside his disastrous past grades in magic, one only had to look at the history of the Campbell family. That line of meatheads—had they ever produced a single famous mage?
Not a single one. The Campbells relied on their renowned martial inheritance to produce several Crown Bearers despite having only one heir per generation, allowing them to hold their ducal seat securely for centuries.
If Muen’s grandfather knew this kid had plunged headfirst into magic and was even skipping martial arts classes, he’d probably leap straight out of his coffin in a rage to curse his unfilial descendant to death.
But Kade was powerless. Muen didn't even care about his credits; what leverage did Kade have to force him?
He was the son of a Duke, after all. As Muen said, if the Campbell family was willing to pay for credits... that scumbag Dean Bear, who was currently tearing his hair out over the academy's budget, would surely wave his hand and agree.
Drop them? Sure, drop whatever you want! One martial arts class isn't enough? Drop a few more! As long as the money is right, anything is negotiable!
If they paid enough, the Acting Dean might even hand over the graduation certificate with both hands right now.
"Muen Campbell, you’ll regret this."
At that thought, Kade couldn't help but sigh in disappointment.
"You say it’s only for a month, but I’ve seen your type many times. You think you’re special, so you dive into a field you have no talent for. By the time you hit a brick wall and want to turn back, it’ll be too late."
"Then I’ll wait until my head is bloody and bruised before we talk," Muen replied with a smile.
"If I don't try, how will I know if the wall is harder, or if my head is?"
"You..."
Kade was momentarily speechless.
However, in that instant, he truly saw something in Muen’s eyes that hadn't been there before.
Something incredibly firm.
What a pity, Kade sighed inwardly.
Eyes full of determination were the one thing hot-blooded youths Muen’s age never lacked. He had seen it too often.
But more often than not, that very determination blinded them, leading them down the wrong path.
"I hope that by the time you wake up and turn back, it won't be too late."
Kade patted Muen on the shoulder and said no more.
"Then, thank you, Teacher."
Seeing that Teacher Kade had relented, Muen offered his thanks and prepared to take his leave.
"Goodbye, Teacher."
"Wait."
Kade remembered something and suddenly called Muen back.
"You should still attend this one class. A new assistant teacher just arrived; you ought to get to know him."
"A new teacher..."
Muen thought about it and nodded. "Alright then."
Though time was tight—he wished there were forty-eight hours in a day—he wasn't so busy that he couldn't spare time for a single lesson.
Besides, it was good to meet the new teacher. He might need to ask for guidance later.
*
With a few minutes left before class, Muen arrived early at the martial arts arena.
On the stage, two students were sparring. Their moves were as flashy as ever but utterly useless, making one want to jump up and shout, "Stop fighting! You can't kill anyone like that!"
However, it was clear the two students were trying to streamline their moves, moving toward a more practical style.
"I guess they were affected by the recent events?"
After all, the invasion of the academy had been quite a shock to the lower-year students.
Muen stroked his chin, stopped paying attention to the pair, and walked toward the spectator stands.
A few students were already scattered about. When they saw Muen arrive, there was a small commotion.
Muen’s hearing as a Second-Tier Martial Artist was quite good, so he could faintly hear them whispering about whether "Muen Campbell is a pervert" or "Muen Campbell is gay."
His mouth twitched, but he ignored the gossip. At the very least, these controversial topics were much better than the recent "Is Muen Campbell two-timing thirteen girls or fourteen?"
At least some people were starting to argue against the negative rumors, weren't they?
Muen walked to the side, looking for a quiet spot to wait for class to start.
However, when he reached the corner of the stands, he found someone already sitting there.
Ariel.
Calling it "sitting" was generous; she was slumped there like a salted fish, her eyes vacant as if she had lost all hope in life. She looked remarkably like a certain famous meme of a slumped-over middle-aged man.
What’s with her...?
After a moment of hesitation, Muen walked over and asked cautiously, "Ariel, are you... alright?"
"..."
Ariel’s lifeless eyes shifted. When she saw it was Muen, her gaze remained flat.
"Don't bother me..."
Ariel waved her hand as if shooing away a mosquito.
"Leave me alone. I want to think about Jingjing."
"Class is about to start. I don't think Jingjing wants you thinking about her right now," Muen reminded her kindly. "Teacher Kade has a bit of a temper."
As a martial arts teacher who was perpetually fired up, the thing Kade could least tolerate was students acting sickly in his class. Even Muen, who had dared to sleep in Professor Prang’s class last term, only dared to zone out while standing up in Kade’s class.
"I said, don't bother me."
Ariel rolled her eyes, an even thicker aura of "salted fish" wafting off her.
And within that aura, Muen faintly smelled something like a seabird that had lost its mate, flying lonely over the vast ocean... sadness?
Huh? Sadness?
What could a peak "Soaring Phoenix" protagonist—someone who dared to clash with a villain boss two tiers above her—possibly be sad about?
Could it be... she realized her chest got smaller?
Glancing at Ariel’s flat chest, Muen thought with a hint of malice.
But soon, that malice turned into a chill that ran down his spine.
Because he saw that Ariel was tightly clutching a regularly shaped stone in her hand.
A Voice Transmission Stone!
The stone was in a semi-activated state, faintly glowing. Ariel seemed to want to contact someone, but for some reason, she was hesitating.
"Beauty, oh Beauty... I’ve been looking for you ever since I left the infirmary, but they all say you’re fake, that you don't exist."
Ariel gently stroked the stone, sighing with melancholy.
"But I’m the only one who believes in your existence. Because back then, you actually exchanged frequencies with me. If you were a person who didn't exist, how could you have a Voice Transmission Stone? How could you exchange frequencies with me?"
Crap! This is bad!
Hearing Ariel’s words, Muen’s brain buzzed.
He finally understood why this girl was suddenly acting like a tragic poet.
This damn lesbian was still obsessed with him from that time!
Couldn't she be like other stallion protagonists and move on quickly? Weren't there enough beauties in the academy?
What was the point of fixating on a woman who didn't exist?
No, I have to get out of here.
Muen realized the danger. If he stayed here right now...
"The world doubts you, but I don't. So, I will prove to the world right now that you exist. Wait for me, Beauty!"
After a long internal struggle, Ariel finally stopped hesitating. She tapped the Voice Transmission Stone sharply, activating the frequency.
And then—
She heard a ringtone coming from a short distance away.
"Huh?"
Ariel looked up in confusion and saw Muen, who had just turned to leave. His movements were stiff as he pulled out his own Voice Transmission Stone.
In his hand, the stone was vibrating, its ringtone clear and loud.
Eh?
Ariel blinked. She looked at the stone in Muen’s hand, then at the one in hers. Her brain seemed to tie itself in a knot, a look of bewilderment crossing her face.
Strange. I dialed the Beauty’s frequency. Why is Muen Campbell’s stone ringing?
Could it be...
"Hello? Oh, Senior Sister."
Just as Ariel’s thoughts were heading in a dangerous direction, Muen pressed a button on the stone, silencing the ring. He held it to his ear with a grave expression.
"Yes, I’m in class."
"Is something wrong? Oh, you want me to bring the textbooks to the library later?"
"Mhm, I understand. Don't worry, I’ll be there on time."
Muen chatted with the "person" on the other end as he walked away, eventually blending into the crowd and disappearing from Ariel’s sight.
"A coincidence?"
Watching Muen’s somewhat hurried departure, Ariel scratched her head and didn't think much more of it.
Because at this moment, her heart was filled with immense joy.
The frequency had undoubtedly connected; the other party just hadn't picked up.
In other words, the Beauty was real!
The scene of them exchanging contact info under the romantic starlight, in a hall filled with floating flowers, witnessed by a solemn priest, was not a hallucination.
"Is she busy?"
Ariel smiled and hung up.
She couldn't be too impatient; she didn't want to leave a bad impression. Since she knew the other person was real and had their contact info, she could take it slow.
Like simmering a frog in warm water—that was always the best way to woo a girl.
"Speaking of which..."
Ariel, her spirits restored, rubbed her smooth chin in thought.
"Back then, there seemed to be an upperclassman who was very close to the Beauty. If I find her, I might get more clues."
*
"Fuck, that scared the life out of me."
On the other side, Muen, now hidden among his classmates, patted his chest with lingering fear.
Just a little more. If he had been just a second slower, he would have been stabbed to death by the protagonist Ariel for the ridiculous reason of forgetting to mute his Voice Transmission Stone, becoming the most hilariously killed yellow-haired villain in history.
Thank goodness.
As a special magical tool, the Voice Transmission Stone functioned similarly to a smartphone from Muen’s previous life; you could silence the ringer without answering.
And he had reacted fast enough, his acting convincing enough to pretend it was a call from a senior sister.
Otherwise, if Ariel had caught on and forced him to answer it in front of her...
And then discovered that the guy she hated most was actually the "Golden-haired Beauty" she was pining for...
He didn't even want to imagine the scene. Being stabbed to death would be the merciful outcome.
"I need to find a chance to change my frequency. If Ariel keeps chasing me like this, something's going to go horribly wrong sooner or later."
Muen made up his mind.
Unfortunately, he was inside the academy. Changing a frequency might have to wait until the next Open Day.
*
"Have you guys heard? The new assistant teacher was personally recommended by Dean Pink Bear himself."
Because Muen had sat down nearby, the students' topic shifted from him to the new teacher about to appear.
Muen listened in with interest.
"Recommended by the Dean? Does he have a big background?"
"I don't know, but I heard other teachers saying he performed heroically during the recent invasion."
"What? Is he a top-tier expert?"
Some students got excited. Who wouldn't want a true powerhouse as their teacher?
"Probably not. If he were that strong, he wouldn't be an assistant."
The more rational students pointed out the flaw.
"If he’s not strong but still contributed to the invasion, he must be very brave."
"Like Muen Campbell was?"
Someone blurted this out, then realized Muen was right behind them. They glanced at Muen’s reaction and awkwardly shut their mouths.
Muen gave them a small smile, not minding.
However, hearing their talk, Muen couldn't help but feel curious.
What kind of person would this teacher be?
Regardless, he couldn't repeat the mistake he made with Teacher Fran. This time, he had to get on the new teacher’s good side!
Muen vowed silently.
*
"Alright, class is starting! You little brats, quiet down!"
As Teacher Kade’s signature "Lion’s Roar" echoed, the noisy arena instantly fell silent.
Kade scanned the students and nodded in satisfaction.
"I’m sure you’ve all heard. A new assistant teacher is joining our martial arts class. He will be assisting me in your instruction. I hope you all get along with him."
"Let me tell you in advance: this new teacher is an excellent individual. I hope you don't look down on him just because he’s an assistant. Treat him with the same respect you show me, or else..."
Kade gave everyone a cold glare. Though he didn't finish the sentence, the students felt a massive weight of pressure.
But this only made them more curious. Who was this person that even the stern Teacher Kade praised so highly?
Even Muen craned his neck to see.
"Introduce yourself, Teacher Kelun."
Kade stepped aside, showing a rare, kind smile. "Remember to speak up."
"I know the drill!"
A man with a massive scar across his face stepped forward. He gave a hearty laugh, revealing teeth so white they were almost blinding.
"It’s just announcing my name, right? I used to do this all the time. I’m an old pro."
In that moment, as the scarred man’s face became clear in Muen’s vision...
The expectant smile on Muen’s face froze, bit by bit.
He thought his eyes were playing tricks on him and rubbed them repeatedly.
But no matter how much he rubbed, the man on the stage remained that same, damnably familiar face.
What the hell?
What’s wrong with this world?
Or am I dreaming?
Why is this guy here?!
Muen fell into a state of extreme existential crisis as the new teacher, Kelun, began his introduction.
"Hello, everyone! My name is Kelun. I’m currently a Third-Tier Martial Artist. I used to be an adventurer. My specialty is occupying a hilltop and systematically waiting for prey to fall into my trap..."
Just as Kelun said, he was indeed good at introductions. In just a few sentences, he gave everyone a clear understanding of himself and left an impression of a hearty, straightforward man.
Except for Muen.
Because Muen’s mind was currently filled with nothing but shock.
"Welcome, Teacher Kelun!" After the introduction, many students took the lead in clapping excitedly.
"Thank you, thank you, everyone." Kelun scratched his bald head bashfully.
Teacher Kade allowed the students to cheer for a moment before saying, "Alright, if you have any questions, ask them now. Don't let it interfere with the lesson later."
As soon as he finished, Kade saw an unexpected person raise their hand first.
"Oh? Muen Campbell, do you have a question?"
"I don't have a question."
Muen stood up, his expression as serious as if he had discovered a cross-dressing pervert hiding in a ladies' room.
"But I want to report something."
"Report? Report what?" Kade was baffled.
"I’m reporting a bandit! A bandit has sneaked into the academy!"
Muen pointed at Kelun and roared, "Don't you guys check backgrounds when you hire teachers?"
"A bandit?" Kade looked at Kelun in confusion. "Is this true?"
"A bandit? What bandit? Is he talking about me?" Kelun looked utterly innocent.
"It’s not 'is he,' I am talking about you, you bastard!"
Muen slammed the table. "You think I’d forget you after only a month? I’d recognize that face even if it were burnt to ashes! Playing dumb won't work!"
"Student Muen, how can you speak to a teacher like that? You’re hurting my feelings."
Kelun answered solemnly, but then his face crumpled. His masculine, fierce face drooped, his eyebrows sagging in a look of profound sorrow.
"But... I understand why you have such a prejudice against me."
As he spoke, he touched the prominent scar on his face, looking as pitiful as a puppy that had its tail stepped on.
"After all, because of this scar, people often assume I’m a bad man. But—even if I’m misunderstood like this, I am proud of this scar. If you want to know why—"
Kelun puffed out his chest, his voice ringing with conviction.
"Because I got this scar while fighting a bloody battle for three days and three nights to save a poor little girl from a pack of bandits!"
"Whoa—!"
The students below broke into an uproar.
This new Teacher Kelun was that brave?
Fighting a pack of bandits alone for three days and nights to save a girl?
Just thinking about it revealed how dangerous it must have been. What incredible courage that required! How kind must his nature be?
No wonder he was hired as an assistant despite only being a Third-Tier Martial Artist; he must have performed a great service during the academy crisis to earn the Dean’s praise!
"Bullshit!"
Only Muen’s eyes were wide with disbelief. He couldn't believe someone could be so thick-skinned. He retorted sharply, "What 'saving a poor girl'? Weren't you the ones surrounding her back then?"
Not only did you surround the girl, you were lusting after my body too!
Luckily, Eluka had been reliable back then, or he would have lost something very important!
"Enough, Muen Campbell!"
Teacher Kade, unable to listen any longer, barked, "How can you baselessly slander an excellent and upright teacher?"
"Excellent and upright? Him? He doesn't deserve those words!"
"Muen! Campbell!"
"It’s alright, it’s alright, Teacher Kade."
Kelun held back Kade—who wasn't actually moving forward—and shook his head with a smile.
"I don't mind. Even though I fought those vicious bandits for three days and nights to save that girl, even though I took a break to have some tea and buns while gently comforting her, and even though I performed great deeds during the academy crisis—saving the academy from fire and water in its darkest hour, you could say—to me, these are just trivial matters. I don't care what others say. I really don't."
"But you—ugh." Teacher Kade was momentarily choked with emotion, wondering how such a righteous and broad-minded man could exist.
In comparison...
"Muen Campbell, can't you learn something from him?"
Kade lectured him with a look of 'why can't you be better.' "As a man, how can you judge someone's character solely by their appearance? Remember, what matters isn't a person's face, but their noble soul!"
Noble soul my ass! This guy’s soul is pitch black! Even Hell wouldn't take him!
"Muen Campbell, that’s enough! Slander wasn't enough, now you’re resorting to personal attacks?" Kade’s face was as dark as the bottom of a pot.
"But..."
Muen was about to argue further when he heard someone whisper:
"Student Muen, how can you be like this?"
"Huh?"
Muen frowned and looked toward the voice.
The voice was small, but in the brief silence, it was exceptionally clear. However, the speaker seemed to be hiding in the crowd, and he couldn't pick them out.
Normally, Muen wouldn't care about such comments.
But as soon as those words were spoken, the other students—who had been too intimidated by his status to say anything—suddenly found their courage and began to chime in.
"Yeah, Student Muen, how can you be like that?"
"Even if you don't like the teacher, you shouldn't slander him like this."
"Teacher Kelun is clearly so outstanding."
"I thought you were cool after that jump you did before, but now... sigh."
"..."
Muen narrowed his eyes, scanning the crowd.
Aside from the first person who was clearly trying to stir the pot, the others seemed to be genuinely standing up for the teacher.
Thinking about it, with the "Dean’s Recommendation" and "Great Hero" buffs, plus Kelun’s convincing lies, it was easy to win the favor of these hot-blooded teenagers.
In contrast, Muen’s reputation was already shaky, and his sharp accusations made it look like he was just picking a fight.
Was I too aggressive?
Muen took a deep breath and slowly sat back down.
Fine. If Pink Bear let him be a teacher, he must have his reasons. I don't need to worry about it. This is the academy; with his Third-Tier cultivation, he probably couldn't even beat Ariel. It’ll be hard for him to cause real trouble.
And perhaps he was being biased. What if the guy really had turned over a new leaf?
So, Muen Campbell, stay calm.
Don't get angry over such a small matter.
You are the son of a Duke. Maintain your aristocratic grace and cultivation.
*
"Teacher Kelun, is there a special reason you joined the academy to be a teacher?"
With the interlude caused by Muen over, the pleasant Q&A session resumed. One of the few girls in the martial arts class raised her hand and asked curiously.
"A reason? Of course there is."
"Oh? What is it?"
At the mention of gossip, the students' curiosity was instantly piqued.
"It’s..." Kelun cupped his flushed cheeks, his gaze darting toward a certain direction every now and then. He said bashfully, "To find my true—"
"SHUT UP!"
Before he could finish, Kelun was met with a deafening roar.
And—
A fist growing larger in his field of vision.
Under the shocked gazes of everyone, including Teacher Kade, Muen had charged forward at some unknown point.
His eyes were cold, his punch heavy.
To hell with staying calm. I can't take this anymore.
"Die, you filthy degenerate!"