037

Competition is a childish thing.

Especially competition involving students.

A teacher should treat students as an end, not a means.

They should find satisfaction in the students' growth and feel a sense of accomplishment when their teaching is successful.

That is the duty of a teacher.

“So we have to win, no matter what.”

“……Isn't that a little different from what you just said?”

“How did you interpret my explanation? I said I find satisfaction when students grow.”

“No, that's true, but.”

“I want to find satisfaction in your growth.”

It was all about being a teacher.

Bridget’s expression crumpled.

“Why are you so obsessed with winning? Aside from the teacher stuff.”

“Because of the Head of Education.”

The Head of Education for the basic class.

This position held authority beyond simply teaching the students of Classes A, B, and C.

Right now, all I did was open a swordsmanship lecture and provide it to the students who signed up.

But becoming the Head of Education meant having the authority to decide what to teach and what not to teach these students.

‘With that authority, I can design the students’ curriculum more systematically.’

I could flexibly arrange the curriculum according to their achievement level, and freely arrange field trips or mid-term and final evaluations.

‘I might even be able to restore the system that Avril broke.’

Right now, the proportion of practical training is high, but I might be able to increase the proportion of swordsmanship theory.

Or, I could select people from among the students to research swordsmanship theory with and create a student researcher status.

‘I might be able to implement the post-graduation research system of the Royal Academy.’

In the Empire, there was a system where students could take advanced classes to listen to more in-depth lessons instead of ending with the short-term learning of the academy.

This was called the post-graduation research system, or graduate school.

It was originally difficult to operate a graduate school system in a rural academy like this, but if I became the Head of Education for the basic class, the story would be different.

I could preach the joy of theory to the students from their first year and secure outstanding students in advance through tests.

And then, when they are about to graduate, I could slyly suggest the post-graduation research system.

‘Since Avril’s investment is also growing, it’s worth a try.’

So, Bridget.

“Win.”

“Well, I don't want to lose to those guys from Class A or B either.”

Bridget snorted and wrinkled his nose.

Come to think of it, Bridget had a bad history with the Class B students recently.

I had heard that Yuria and Rozalin had taken care of them.

But it seemed Bridget was thinking of having a showdown with them himself.

“You shouldn't get caught up in competition and miss what's important.”

“I don't think you're in a position to say that right now, Teacher.”

“I'm competing for something important.”

“Of course.”

And so, Bridget sauntered over to where his teammate, Eleveth, was.

Eleveth was in the middle of a lesson with Rozalin.

“So, first of all, make your facial expression fierce. You're too weak! On the battlefield, if you have a weak expression like that, you'll be the first prey! Make them think, ‘If you mess with me, you’re screwed!’ Even if you’re already screwed without being messed with! Glare at them with that kind of spirit!”

I didn’t know if that was the right form of teaching.

There was a reason why Rozalin emphasized expressions so much.

Eleveth.

A girl about 160cm tall with light pastel brown hair.

Her eyes and mouth were thin, her forehead was small, and her nose was also small.

She was a girl with a faint and weak impression overall, and the way she handled her sword was similar.

She carried a sword as big as her body, hugging it like a doll.

‘Her swordsmanship is similar too.’

She erases her presence and aims only for vital points with minimal movement.

In a way, it was a swordsmanship specialized for assassination.

That was why her position was a support-type dealer.

She was a good match for Bridget, who served as both a tanker and a dealer.

“Uh…… I’ll try my best.”

“Forget it. That expression doesn’t suit you.”

“Uh…… really?”

“Oh, so you've gotten good enough to even challenge your senior’s teachings? Has your guts grown along with your skills? Should we have a little chat with our bodies for the first time in a while? Should I make another huge lump on the back of your head like last time?”

Bridget didn’t back down from Rozalin’s threats and took a stance.

It was the basic stance of the Vürhelm swordsmanship that he had been engrossed in for the past month.

Seeing that stance, Rozalin’s eyes curved softly like a cat’s.

It was a look of satisfaction.

“Right. What need is there for words?”

It seemed that their training was going well in their own way.

I went to find the other teams’ students and proceeded with my guidance.

* * *

Typically, the evaluation period is bound to be a time of pain and hardship.

This is especially true for the final evaluation that concludes a semester.

A time to wrap up the year and for the final grades to be confirmed.

Because of this, those who are greedy for their studies bring out their final ounce of concentration, and those who are not greedy for their studies fear the upcoming report card.

But today, the atmosphere was a little different from usual.

In the center of the huge training ground, about 130 students were gathered in a bustling crowd.

They were all tense, trying to calm their faint excitement.

Their breathing was ragged, and they couldn't keep their hands and feet still, fidgeting.

Among them, the only one who seemed calm was Yuria, who was standing to one side as the person in charge of treatment.

No, was it that she wasn't nervous, but just her usual dead-like state?

“Looking at the students’ condition, it seems they’ve prepared quite a lot!”

“Indeed. Thanks to the appropriate goal set by the Chairman, the basic class instructors were able to follow with motivation.”

The Chairman and the Head of Department were present for a mere 1st and 2nd year basic class final evaluation.

Not only that, but the faces of the promotion and graduation class students, who should have been busy preparing for their exams, could also be easily seen.

There were even non-academy people from the surrounding territories loitering around the training ground.

From people selling food to those who had set up gambling tables.

It was a festival.

“Wh-why are so many people here? I-it’s just a final evaluation! At the academy!”

“They are truly people who are very interested in others.”

The legs of Gwen and Qantaii, who were sitting in a corner, were trembling uncontrollably.

How faint-hearted.

“Senior, are your hands shaking now?”

“It’s a misunderstanding.”

As people seemed to have gathered enough, Freutche stepped forward and organized the area.

A voice resonating from his well-trained abs echoed through the training ground.

“Then! The basic class final evaluation will now begin! First, Team 1! Class A’s Taylor, Frank, and Jessie!”

At his call, three students straightened their postures and stepped forward.

Class A, Team 1.

All three students had balanced strength and agility, so there was no clear distinction between tanker, dealer, and support.

Therefore, it was a team that emphasized flexibility so that they could change positions fluidly.

“Do your best!”

Qantaii, cheering loudly for his class, waved his hand.

“Move as soon as the orc appears. Begin!”

With Freutche’s signal, an orc began to fly in from one side of the training ground.

Fly?

Perhaps to minimize damage to the people and reduce the orc’s stamina, Hati had thrown the orc from outside the training ground.

In the air, the orc was a bit flustered, but by the time it was about to land, it regained its balance and landed.

Kwaaang!

With a roar like a giant siege weapon being thrown, dust scattered in all directions.

The spectators who had come to watch were left speechless by the effect.

“Wow……”

“Be careful!”

In the dust that obscured the view.

A feral gaze flashed, and a gleam of light moved in a straight line.

It was in the direction of the students.

“Lure it!”

The orc’s body charge.

With the orc having a clear advantage in both physique and strength, it was a difficult attack for a single student to block.

Taylor, at the front, raised his sword and took the lead, luring the orc’s attack.

And at the moment of impact.

Swish!

Frank, who had run diagonally behind Taylor, pulled him strongly and changed their positions.

And the moment the orc brushed past Taylor.

“Hmph!”

Jessie, who had already rotated low to the ground, cut the orc’s leg.

Blood spurted from the orc’s leg, and the orc roared and rolled on the ground.

Dust rose again, and almost simultaneously, the orc’s scream covered the training ground.

Kwaaaak—!

But before the orc could even regain its balance, Taylor charged first.

His sword thrust towards the orc’s arm.

The orc twisted its upper body to dodge the attack and naturally struck with its other arm.

And as if waiting, Jessie’s attack shot up from below.

Puk!

Jessie’s sword cut through half of the orc’s wrist.

The moment the orc writhed in pain and clutched its wrist.

“Heave-ho!”

Frank, who had already gotten behind the orc, stabbed its heart area strongly with his sword.

With a ‘puk’ sound, the sword went in, and at the same time, the three of them distanced themselves from the orc.

The orc seemed to want to say something, its mouth gaping, but in the end, it let out a death-like groan and lay its body on the ground.

About 1 minute.

It was a clean exchange that took place in a single flow.

“W-wooooow……!”

“That’s crazy!”

“Akarind Academy is the best!”

Belatedly, the audience got excited and cheered.

It was not easy to see a performance of fighting a monster in a rural territory like this.

Moreover, the process of the three swordsmen flowing organically was even beautiful.

Heroes were engraved in the children’s eyes.

But their surprise was nothing compared to the surprise of the promotion or graduation classes.

“……This is the basic class?”

“W-what happened to our juniors?”

Students 3-4 years younger than them were showing an unbelievable performance.

One orc.

They could handle that much too.

The problem was the way they handled the orc.

If they had been standing there instead of the orc, could they have dodged their swords?

Their own faces overlapped with the face of the fallen orc.

“Could it be…… the magic of that instructor who came from the capital?”

Their gazes turned to Qantaii.

His bizarre appearance with a floating mustache now looked like a reclusive master hiding his power.

But their surprise was yet nothing compared to the surprise of the Chairman and the other teachers.

Because they knew the truth.

From whom all those strategies and tactics came.

And that those tactics were created and taught in just a few days.

‘Teacher Cassian, the klutz, is showing this level of performance……?’

‘No way. The students’ training period wasn't even two weeks!’

The second and third teams stepped forward.

They too dealt with the orcs in just two or three exchanges.

An orc flying through the air and getting stuck in the training ground.

And students who faced the orcs with various tactics each time.

The more the test went on, the louder the audience’s cheers grew, and the voices of the students and instructors faded.

‘Everyone’s movements have the same theme but different execution. Is this possible?’

‘How can so many teams have the same feeling?’

‘One or two teams might be lucky and be able to be taught. Because that team’s talent is outstanding. But this, how can all of them…….’

It was to the point where even the Chairman stopped smiling, leaned his upper body forward, and stared intently at the training ground.

That was how much of a leap it was, a leap that was difficult to understand with common sense even for someone who had dedicated decades to education.

And finally.

“Team 23! Bridget! Eleveth!”

The moment their names were called, Avril, who was standing next to the Chairman, slowly stepped forward.

Avril always created a strange tension.

This time too, just by taking one step forward, his red tunic and the robe embroidered with a golden scroll caught people’s attention.

“I heard the teachers made a bet on who is the most outstanding.”

“I’ve heard the rumors.”

“So it seems a regular orc won't be enough to decide the winner. As it happens…… they are also the most talented in Class C.”

His gaze passed over Bridget and Eleveth, and then to me.

That was surely aimed at me.

“So let's change the test item a little. It will be more fun for the spectators.”

It was an unplanned declaration.

The gazes of Cassian, Gwen, and Qantaii turned to Avril.

The audience was filled with anticipation, thinking a new show would unfold.

In the center of that intersecting gaze and noise.

Kwaaaaaaaang!

From the air, an orc warrior with a physique about 1.2 times more powerful than a regular orc landed on the ground with a huge noise.

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