047

The Chairman called an emergency meeting.

“For now, it seems we can use the old building for space.”

The old building, which had been closed off since the implementation of the A, B, C grading system last year, was reopened.

During the break, teachers, including Berlis, had been going around repairing various parts of the building.

Thanks to them, the neatly refurbished old building could accommodate the students with plenty of room.

“Everyone will be in the old building, regardless of A, B, or C. And the promotion and graduation classes will have their classes in the new building.”

“The old building needs a bit more repair. The second floor has been renovated, but the third floor's renovations aren't finished yet.”

“Teacher Berlis. It's possible, right?”

“Ahaha, we have to. So many students are coming~. It's going to be a noisy school.”

Berlis smiled brightly.

It was an innocent smile, unfitting for such a situation.

“What should we do about the students from the Empire...? Even if we have the classrooms, putting over thirty Imperial children in the old building could lead to facility issues.”

At the Head of Department's words, the teachers fell into contemplation.

He wasn't wrong.

After Avril's support, the new building was on par with, if not better than, the academies in the Empire.

However, the old building was a dilapidated wooden structure, and there were limits to what renovations could do.

Having space and having a comfortable space were two entirely different issues.

“Advisor Avril. Can you make it usable for now?”

“It will cost a bit more money.”

Avril frowned slightly, then nodded.

He seemed to be troubled by the unexpected financial problem.

“Good. Now all that's left is the teachers. Advisor Avril?”

“We recruited new instructors right after implementing the grading system. Since the promotion class and the graduation class's C-class instructors are newly assigned, it will take some time to verify and select new personnel.”

“Hmm. For now, let's try to recruit from our side as well. We may have to contact teachers who have already retired. Hoho.”

With Avril around, they could somehow fill the instructor positions, but the problem was time.

The students' enrollment was next week.

That meant students from all over the world were already on their way to Akarind Academy.

Saying they couldn't hold classes now because the academy lacked instructors was nothing more than an excuse.

“What about the dormitories for the students?”

“There are some remaining buildings from the village expansion. If we install temporary walls in those buildings and use them as temporary accommodations, it will be helpful.”

As Avril said this, his eyes seemed to relax slightly.

It was a subtle change, but after observing Avril for about four months, I had become able to read the changes in his expression.

Over the past four months, the Akarind territory had undergone tremendous development.

The territory had been expanded to nearly three times its original size, and a castle wall had been erected around the outer perimeter.

The inner and outer castles were separated, and an inner defensive wall was built between the territory and the castle.

With the arrival of the Goldline Merchant Guild, commerce had also flourished.

The number of restaurants increased, lodging facilities became more luxurious, and even small-scale entertainment facilities were established.

A mercenary guild was established, as well as skilled blacksmiths, carpenters, and even butchers.

It was a luxurious composition, hard to find in such a rural territory.

‘The problem was the people.’

Even if the territory expanded, without enough residents, it would be no different from a ghost town.

Now, they could fill those empty spaces with people.

Above all, since they were students from Imperial noble families, their spending habits would be different.

It would be a way to revitalize the somewhat stagnant economy of the Akarind territory.

‘Was it really unexpected?’

Avril's renovation of the Akarind territory was solely for the battle against the demons.

It was to fend off the demons that would appear a year from now, and to use it as a supply hub and base in the subsequent battles against them.

However, the scale of Akarind territory's development was far too large for just that.

Without people, it would have been an investment that was just pouring money down the drain.

It was hard to tell how much of it was planned and how much wasn't.

“Um... about the new student class.”

At that moment, Instructor Gwen raised her hand.

“I think we can do it on our own….”

A question mark appeared above the heads of all the teachers in charge of the basic class.

The 'we' she mentioned surely included me and Qantaii.

The swordsmanship instructors, Berlis in charge of magic, and the instructors for tactics and academics all gave her a look that said, 'what kind of nonsense is that?'

“Oh? Teacher Gwen. What do you mean by that?”

Only the Chairman asked with interest.

“It's true that when the number of people increases, the number of instructors should also increase... but I think that's the case for general academies that don't have a systematically unified curriculum.”

“But our academy has a curriculum. Hahaha. That's right. We have a very competent instructor named Teacher Cassian.”

Suddenly?

I couldn't grasp the direction the conversation was flowing, so I just blinked and watched cautiously.

What is that Teacher Gwen suddenly talking about….

“And one more thing. The current advancement system is more systematic than you think. It's not divided by grade level….”

“It's a system where seniors and juniors are grouped into one class!”

At Gwen's words, people realized with surprised expressions.

In the past, enrolled students were divided into grades 1 through 6 for classes.

But now, grades 1 and 2 were grouped into the introductory class, grades 3 and 4 into the advancement class, and grades 5 and 6 into the graduation class, taking classes together.

In other words, one track was bundled in two-year units, so….

“The students who were in the first grade last year can be kept in the entrance class and guide the newly enrolling students.”

“Hmm, that makes sense.”

Our gazes turned to Avril.

Avril's initial implementation of the basic, advancement, and graduation class curriculum must have been to quickly cycle through the students of Akarind Academy.

Select talented students, pour a high-quality curriculum into them, graduate them quickly, and send them into the field.

And for students who weren't qualified, they would be quickly weeded out and moved to the general studies area.

But if they followed Gwen's idea, it was essentially a return to the old way.

They would maintain the A, B, C grading, but revive the 6-grade class system.

“...I have no choice.”

Avril, who had been lost in thought for a moment, nodded.

“The students who were in the second grade last year will go to the advancement class, and the students who were in the advancement class will go to the graduation class, but the students who were in the first grade last year will be held back under the name 'Introductory Class 2'. And these students will be attached as mentors to the 'Introductory Class 1', that is, the basic students.”

Half of the 130 students. That is, 75 students.

Those students would have to take charge of 272 new students, meaning each would be responsible for 3-4 junior students.

Since it was a system of students teaching students, many problems would likely arise... but it would still be effective enough.

“In the beginning, if we organize a senior-junior exchange program, we can buy more than a week before the lecture program officially starts.”

“Hohoho. Then we can buy time to prepare the classrooms and recruit instructors. A beautiful plan! You're this month's outstanding teacher!”

As soon as Gwen finished speaking, the Head of Department quickly praised her and clapped.

Seeing him continuously glance at the Chairman, he was truly a master of flattery with years of experience.

The Chairman looked at Gwen with a proud face.

And Gwen looked at me with a somewhat shy expression.

Why me?

I didn't understand, so I met her gaze, and Gwen quickly turned her head away.

Did I do something wrong?

Anyway, thanks to Gwen's idea, everyone could breathe a sigh of relief and prepare for classes.

“Then, the first-grade instructors, please gather by your respective parts, discuss how to operate the mentoring system, and submit a report.”

After the meeting, the teachers dispersed in small groups.

The academic instructors who taught history and etiquette for the first grade also gave us a light nod and moved away.

And what remained were Qantaii and Gwen.

I approached them and greeted them.

“Ah, um, uh, eugh, that.”

Qantaii was breaking down, dripping with cold sweat.

I could understand, really.

He was a wanted man on the run for killing his superior on the battlefield.

Seeing his long mustache tremble relentlessly, it seemed he couldn't handle the fact that thirty people were coming from the Empire.

And Gwen.

“What, what is it! Huh?”

She was as hysterical as usual.

“Pardon?”

“Ah, what, was it so strange that I praised your curriculum? It was g-good, so I can praise it once!”

“Ah. So that's why you were looking at me?”

“Aack!”

Gwen uttered something unintelligible and ran off somewhere.

Even Qantaii, who had been dazed, stared blankly after her.

“Who are we going to have a meeting with now...?”

“I don't know. Won't she come back?”

Indeed, after a short while, Gwen returned with a fuming expression.

“Why aren't you following me! Hurry up and come so we can have a meeting!”

“Is that how someone who wants to be followed runs away?”

“Hurry up and come!”

I couldn't quite grasp what was going on, but it wasn't a bad feeling.

It wasn't the acknowledgment of my reincarnated disciples, those who had directly seen and heard my other self.

The acknowledgment from people I worked with, who I had jostled with in the workplace....

It was sweeter than I thought.

* * *

The long meeting took about two days.

We gathered as soon as we woke up in the morning, formed teams, and continued our discussions.

“Why was Eleveth only assigned two students? She's the one who took down a High Orc with Bridget! This student should be in charge of two students from the Empire and three regular students, I tell you!”

“That's right! Isn't Eleveth the very model of a senior who can be an example to other students?”

“Eleveth has a gentle personality. Although her swordsmanship is outstanding, her timid nature makes it difficult for her to speak up to students, and her orphan background makes it hard for her to manage students who try to oppress her with their status. Two regular students are appropriate.”

“That's prejudice and discrimination based on personality and status, I tell you!”

“It's wrong to only look at a student's ability without considering their personality.”

The three of them were completely divided on how to assign the students.

Gwen focused solely on ability.

Qantaii focused on arithmetical distribution.

And I focused on the convenience of school life, such as personality and status.

And the end of such discussions was usually.

“You haven't forgotten the bet to be in charge of this year's basic class education, have you?”

“Ugh! Let's go again! I trained like crazy during the break!”

“No. I'm busy. If you feel it's unfair, you should have won then.”

“It was a foul! Avril brought in a High Orc and got extra points!”

“I didn't tell him to do that.”

It was my victory.

I never thought I'd use the result of last semester's final bet like this.

Anyway, on the morning of the third day.

I organized the finalized documents and submitted them to the Chairman.

It was just four days before enrollment began.

“We're back!”

It was time for the welcome faces to return.

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