Isn’t this the freshmen welcoming party?
I thought it might be heading towards a funeral atmosphere after Alphin the Herta got criticized by Professor Tiren, but…
“From the first class, there are already two of you sleeping, you rotten bastards.”
It only got worse from before.
Without even needing a drink, he’s been repeating the same lecture for twenty minutes.
“What golden generation? It’s not gold, it’s ‘tailbone’ generation.”
Fortunately, the sharp gazes of the students are all directed at me.
The reason why I blatantly drew the attention of Professor Tiren and the students is simple.
Preservation of Alphin the Herta’s value and mental upkeep.
Alphin the Herta is called a genius magician and praised as the top power of the first grade, receiving expectations from many people.
In the previous term, with President Muse Fairfield, Xyah, and Shirai all in Class A, the students’ attention was scattered.
However, with the change in those three’s classes, there are now too many elements pressuring Alphin.
In my opinion, Alphin already has enough pressure on his shoulders and shouldn’t be attacked anymore.
Though what Professor Tiren said wasn’t wrong, is it right for so many students to see Alphin’s state of falling asleep?
Especially in the front row of the first class?
It’s clear that even the other first-year students, who should be uniting to prevent a narrowing of influence, will look at Alphin with displeasure.
If I have to choose, it’s better for the hatred to be directed at me instead.
I’ll bear the hatred of many students, but what’s a small price like this when it comes to being a meat shield.
“…!”
If Siya’s eyes were emeralds, Alphin’s would be olivine. A yellow-green color closer to olive than green, they always carry a look of fear.
“Why are you looking?”
As soon as our eyes met, Alphin swiftly turned his head away. Anyone watching would probably think I was the one who looked first.
Alphin the Herta.
Though the name suggests someone impudent and overpowering, he is closer to being a prey rather than a predator.
Struggling to even make eye contact and visibly panicking when the other person is a man—simply put, just a tongue-tied loner.
Right after the opening ceremony, he left the banquet hall because he dislikes crowded places.
This is the reason I pay so much attention to Alphin, even if others may think it’s unnecessary.
“Hey, the guy who snored and fell asleep in the first class.”
Professor Tiren called me out with a gruff voice, pointing at me with his finger. Is he planning to humiliate me in front of everyone?
“Are you spacing out?”
“Sorry.”
“Not admitting wrong but apologizing first—this aspect I like.”
Tiren wiggled his index finger.
‘Is he asking me to come down?’
If he says so, might as well comply. When Professor Tiren is angry, he doesn’t smile. Judging by the sly smile on his face now, he probably has something strange in mind.
No matter how much I’ve embraced the attention-seeking concept, staying put and resisting here would be tough.
“Hurry up, are you challenging me?”
Unjust. I intended to come down, but Shirai wouldn’t let me leave my seat.
“I’ll buy you ice cream later.”
Only after whispering this into Shirai’s ear could I escape her persistent grip.
Thud.
The students’ gazes remain as sharp and cold as ever—it feels like being locked in a prison surrounded by thorns.
Whenever we make a choice, responsibility inevitably follows,
just like the hundreds of eyes that followed my every step forward.
“You there.”
I finally managed to reach Professor Tiren.
His towering height, broad shoulders, and stylish hairstyle that belies his middle age.
His sturdy build, perfectly fitting red shirt, beige button-up vest over it, black coat with fur lining, and scarf with an anaconda design—these are close up, more imposing than from afar.
“Turn around once just like that.”
Frozen in place from confusion, Professor Tiren grabbed my shoulder with forceful grip and—
Whirl—!
Swiftly spun my body 180 degrees.
Then he whispered something that only I could hear.
“Taking responsibility is this frightening, you know.”
Tiren Draganov—aside from his sturdy build, he’s just one of those common old men who love nagging.
“Look at all these eyes hostile towards you. Not scary at all, huh?”
Professor Tiren noticed the reason I drew attention from the beginning.
The reason he arranged for me to face hundreds of students was to teach me a lesson.
“I probably seemed like an idiot who doesn’t understand you, huh?”
“…”
“Life doesn’t go as you wish, kid.”
Amid the gazes of countless students,
I instinctively nod at the sincere lesson from the older Professor Tiren.
Yeah, life isn’t easy.
That’s why I’m going through this ordeal now.
“Do you understand why I nagged for twenty minutes? Eh?”
“To make me look bad in front of everyone?”
“Right, exactly what you said. If I had let it slide without making a fuss, these kids wouldn’t hate you as much, would they?”
The fear dispersed in an area can’t compare to the concentrated fear in one spot. When I was sitting down, there were fewer people in sight, so I didn’t feel pressured by their gazes.
But now, with no limits on my sight and facing the direct glares of hundreds, honestly speaking, it’s hard not to be scared.
To put it simply, the old man’s plan succeeded.
This old man wanted to teach me firsthand that the cost of responsibility is much greater than what you imagine. That’s why he gave a twenty-minute nagging session.
To make everyone believe that the historic academy’s first class has been ruined because of one person. These numerous students fell into Professor Tiren’s psychological trick.
– Where did this cunning one come rolling from?
Princess Nipia said this, didn’t she?
The real deceiver isn’t me but this scheming old man.
“Isn’t the sacrifice for teaching a bit too harsh?”
“Who gave you the guts to mess with me? You made me look like such an amateur, snoring during class.”
I know—it was my fault that this happened.
Snoring in the sacred classroom and displaying shameless confidence. Anyone would have grounds to scold me.
But what to do?
One person—no, all the students here including the swordsmanship club students—many destinies are at stake.
I know it’s usually what criminals say, but it was truly out of necessity.
Professor Tiren’s method of teaching is off.
“Great. You turned one student into an outcast.”
“Well, who told you to speak up while I was in the middle of a speech?”
Finally, Tiren removed his hand from my shoulder and nodded to the right.
From my perspective, the front-right corner seat.
Where Alphin the Herta was sitting.
“Do you like that person?”
Here we go again.
“But you’re unfortunate. You’ve gone through all this humiliation to cover for him, yet he doesn’t even look at you?”
Alphin has deeply bowed his head, hiding his hands under the blanket.
I can see it. Alphin’s delicate hands shaking under the blanket. The pale green eyes trembling beneath his messy hair.
How cautious is Alphin? According to the developer’s comments, during his middle school years, it took him an entire hour to read a script during a presentation.
A kid who cannot stand in front of others, let alone make eye contact. Expecting anything from him would be abnormal, wouldn’t it?
“My actions were not based on any expectations. I don’t like him either.”
“It sounds like a lie, but if it’s true, you’re quite a dedicated lover.”
So, no.
Seems he has no intention of listening to what I say.
“Let me return to my seat then.”
“Wait, wouldn’t this be a bit bitter for you too?”
“…?”
“I’ll give you an opportunity to fix it.”
Professor Tiren took a deep breath. It was so deep that you could visibly see his lungs expand.
And just like how he fought for his life against the Asura Duke,
“Hey, hey, hey! People! Breaking news!”
He shouted loudly, and the heads of students who were glaring at me turned toward him in confusion.
“If this person beats me in sparring, I’ll give them free time during my lectures for the next four days.”
Tiren Draganov.
He is a recognized strongman by Principal Sylus.
As he stretched out his left arm and cast the barrier, the lecture hall was instantly enveloped in a turquoise aura.
Until Professor Tiren cancels the barrier, everything that happens here will be restored after the barrier dissipates.
However, changes caused by people will remain.
That is, any injuries sustained during sparring will not disappear after the barrier is lifted.
“The test begins.”
*
First-year Magic Club C Class Lecture Hall.
Every student’s gaze in this room is directed toward the lecture hall stage.
An unexpected duel has begun between Professor Tiren and a male student.
“Boring.”
An ancient sword, said to have been wielded by King Arthur.
An ice-formed blade resembling Excalibur swiftly descends toward a sharp-featured blond boy.
“Talk is cheap, and your skills are even worse.”
“…”
A one-sided picture bordering on assault.
The male student is already covered in scrapes. Thanks to the impeccable power control by Professor Tiren, not a drop of blood has been shed, but his hair is in disarray, his school uniform is torn in various places—he could fall and collapse at any moment.
Professor Tiren is currently wielding only two ice swords with a handicap, but the male student is unable to even attempt an attack and is barely avoiding the flying swords.
Even the students who were glaring at him with hostility just moments ago are now secretly rooting for him.
Four days of free time if he wins.
Though the odds seem nonexistent.
“Ugh…”
“For crying out loud over just a scratch on the arm.”
Bang! Boom!
The shock sounds from the ice swords colliding with the floor,
and,
“Yawn.”
The sound of a bored Professor Tiren yawning fills the lecture hall.
The male student is doing well to evade Professor Tiren’s attacks. The problem is, he cannot counterattack after avoiding them.
Every time the male student evades a sword and approaches, the remaining ice swords orbiting Professor Tiren block his entry.
However, this is the lecture hall of the Ether Hall’s Magic Department.
Surely, someone admitted to Lumere Academy would be able to cast fairly decent magic.
Yet, the students don’t find it strange that the male student isn’t using any magic.
The barrier Professor Tiren has cast is hindering the flow of mana within his body. Most students have surely felt it by now.
It’s not enough to completely prevent the use of mana, but for students with below-average base mana level, their mana flow has been completely locked, preventing them from using even basic magic.
Of course, this is the standard for a “Lumere Academy student.”
“This is what I mean by extra credit, kid.”
Professor Tiren knows this, so he’s only using two Excalibur swords while offering the extravagant proposal of four days of free time right from the start.
As he had no intention of losing from the beginning.
Eventually, the male student was cornered by the ice swords, and could only gulp nervously and sigh in despair at the sight before him.
“Don’t worry too much, you’ll wake up in the infirmary.”
The moment the two ice swords turned toward the male student at the signal of Professor Tiren’s gesture—
Suddenly, three arrows appeared from midair, tracing a parabolic path.
Whoosh!
The flames from the three arrows swiftly melted the Professor’s ice swords into liquid,
And a petite girl enveloped in a robe descended the staircase, revealing a dangerous aura.
“You crossed the line.”
