<772 – Like a Warrior (18)>
The professors of the academy had a lot of karma in various ways.
“Professor, we need to go to the next lecture in 10 minutes. Can we finish this lecture now?”
“I’ll contact that professor. Don’t worry, just finish my lecture.”
“…”
No matter what lecture came next, the professor wouldn’t let up until everything was taught.
Even ignoring the communication, the next lecture professor mercilessly deducted attendance points.
“Professor, we have a lot of other lectures too. This lengthy assignment is tough for us.”
“When you’re a student, you can afford to sleep a little less. I believe in the power of youth.”
“…”
The professors tormented the students with harsh assignments.
Thanks to that, students had to gauge which lecture assignment would get them the least penalties when they decided not to submit.
Even when they had the capacity to take on more work, they hesitated to sign up for additional lectures, considering the overlapping assignments.
“Can I ask additional questions about the content from that lecture time? I didn’t understand.”
“My time is precious. Ask the assistant.”
“Senior…”
“If you help with chores, I might accept your questions.”
Wisdom and knowledge that never come free.
The reason was clear.
The empire faction professors were planted in the academy not out of a sense of duty to teach students or pride in their fields, but to quibble with the principal by Seonhwang.
Without a sense of mission, they did not take the students seriously.
Their behaviors of rolling students with the “my way” attitude, disregarding whether they were overwhelmed with assignments or running out of time, all stemmed from this reason.
The problem lay in the first-year freshman students of Class 981, who had been oblivious to this fact, now realizing the grim reality as they had entered their second year.
“Who is this? Aren’t these our academy’s second years?”
“Have you all completed your assignments before coming here?”
“It would be troublesome if you rushed into the field at such an important time for learning. Go back to the academy.”
Hearing the brazen words from the betrayer professors, Ishtar finally expressed her absurd feelings.
“How dare you discuss learning? For what do you think learning exists? You, who are on the side of those who must never stand as professors.”
“Haha. It seems I won’t be able to let you leave peacefully despite my wanting to do so out of old affection. I’ll have to give a ‘review’ to the student who forgot the terror of a professor.”
A sinister emotion crossed the professors’ eyes.
Faced with the glance of someone who now wasn’t merely a ‘student’ but a ‘woman’ who scrutinized her like a serpent, Ishtar felt a fresh shame in some sense.
When scum openly showed their scummy nature like this, it rather cleared her chest.
During her time as a professor, she sometimes wondered if this was right, but she couldn’t even lift a finger.
But now, it was different.
Like a civilian without rank, she could just hit back.
“What old affection? You are the ones who oppressed even the members of the Warrior’s Guard, calling them eyesores of the empire.”
“It’s a common occurrence with leaders lacking reputation. Be sure to attend the lecture on [How to Become an Excellent Commander] next time. Of course, now that I’m retired, there won’t be any professors to teach such a useful lecture anymore. Hahaha!”
If it were Ishtar of the past, she would have rushed in impulsively to that statement, but the current Ishtar clearly saw the professors laying traps and waiting for her to charge in.
Having been caught up in a dimensional explosion and dramatically escaping to another dimension, her energy had dwindled, but her professors were still formidable.
“Something I learned while attending the academy is that there’s a clear ‘level difference’ among professors.”
And so she provoked them back.
The professors’ faces twisted with rage.
“Furthermore, it was strange that among the lectures selected by Oknodie, who only took the toughest lectures, there were so few empire faction professors.”
“Do you dare to insult the empire?”
“Insult the empire? How disappointing. I was insulting you, professor. You feel it, don’t you? The professors who remain at the academy now are the real deal, while you are merely those whom Seonhwang has planted to lower the academy’s standards… Ah, please don’t misunderstand. I just think your skills really have dropped. Top Student and Second in Class avoid you professors; it’s just tough, isn’t it?”
There is a reason why loyal subjects are persecuted while treacherous ones are held in high esteem.
Even if honest words are wrapped nicely, they seem sulky, with no one wanting to make that effort, and treacherous words, even if crudely spoken, sound pleasing and are wrapped carefully, so the heart opens wide.
By overtly mocking and ignoring unpleasant words, the professors lost their cool.
“How dare one who was not chosen by the Gods speak! You should have grown up into a pitiful commoner in a quiet countryside, ending your life as a concubine of a rural lord—a stroke of luck!”
“Even if the One God made you a warrior, do you not realize that, with the birth of the [Second Hero], your grace is no longer what it used to be?”
The professors’ intense fury flared up like a fire igniting oil.
Even under the unbearable insults and blasphemies, Ishtar remained calm, waiting for her comrades’ support.
Finally, Archer Skola, who had circled around, and Nise from the Thunderbolt Celestial Divine Church launched a surprise attack from above.
<Rapid Fire>
<Quick Shot>
<Flurry of Arrows>
<Concentration>
<Penetration>
At the start of the semester, a dazzling flash erupted from Skola’s archery that even surpassed Oknodie’s prowess.
<Pinnacle of Archery – Time of True Aim>
<Dual Pinnacle of Archery – Genesis Flash Arrow>
Beyond the area blanketed in white, Nise raised her hand high and chanted a spell.
<Prayer – Divine Light of Matheus>
My young nun, what shall you offer in prayer?
The will of Divine Light of Matheus reached Nise.
Representing numerous students, she prayed.
‘The dazzling flash of liberation refusing to endure the taboo of hitting the professors of Gift Academy. I will dedicate this moment of lightning that releases that long-standing stress to you!!’
The power of Divine Light of Matheus showed a sudden explosive increase that transcended the realm of 24 divine classes.
For a moment, raising the high god to the same rank as the One God Sofemia showed just how desperate the students’ long-standing wishes and will were and the depth of their stress.
[From today, you are my new Pope.]
In response to Nise’s prayer, the lightning struck down upon the professors who were frantically activating their defensive measures, blinded by the flash.
This lightning, powerful enough to be called divine punishment from heaven, rained down in thousands, wreaking havoc on the Flagship of the Foundation as well.
-If only the academy professors had some use,
This time, the expectation from the Director was outright betrayed, creating even greater damage.
In the next decade, if only they had that much time, the vacant spaces of butlers and base leaders could have been filled with former professors newly recruited into the Foundation.
But the timing was poor.
The clash between Jezel’s coalition and the Flagship of the Foundation coincided too closely with the timing when they barely escaped from the other dimension.
While their power had not fully restored, the Warrior Party significantly increased their experience points by defeating key members of the Foundation during this infiltration.
Moreover, Nise from the Thunderbolt Celestial Divine Church unleashed unprecedented stress beyond that of the Glowing Dinosaur Oknodie offered, satisfying Divine Light of Matheus since the previous Pope had vanished.
Having received the divine authority that became the strongest while in the weakest condition, not even professors stood a chance.
Crackle
Zzzzzt
In an instant, the magic circles burned into ashes as Ishtar opened the Holy Mirror.
The professors, who had learned her battle methods, detected the mana response and quickly launched attacks towards the direction the Holy Mirror opened, even with their visibility impaired.
Had non-empire faction professors been there, they would have easily handled the crisis with confidence.
Having built their experience and track record to rise to the ranks of the world’s best.
The empire faction professors differed slightly.
-“In ancient history, you can interpret it however you like, and it works out as long as you say it roughly. This kid seems to have decent skills, so let’s send him up as an ancient history specialist.”
-“Hey, we have an opening for a new empire professor. Does anyone exceptional come to mind? Oh, the one from the duke’s house got lucky with the professor allocation? Even if they’re not bright, their body is sturdy? Let’s just create a position of the martial arts authority that talks trash.”
Instant professors created through certificates proving their superiority in various associations and academies of the empire!
Though they held power, they were hardly worthy of being called the world’s best—lacking in practical experience.
-“Seniors, what do we do when the kids are so smart they’ll expose all our tricks?”
-“Crank them hard. That’ll keep them from thinking about anything else.”
-“Ah, that method works!”
Only knowing how to boss around students, the professors strictly demanded crisis management skills from their students but failed to display it themselves.
With their eloquent speeches about the beauty of ancient scripts and their sneaky glances at forbidden books, they were tired by their own words and eventually stopped pestering about the old knowledge. The magic circle created by the authority of ancient scripts shattered with one divine punishment.
With sincerity being vital in martial arts, if they didn’t know what martial arts were, they’d make them run a lap around the mountain, and if they still didn’t understand, they’d tell them to increase the weight and run again. Eventually, students who gained self-awareness would run away or realize that basics are everything! The professor who used to ridicule them fell into their own laziness and couldn’t evade the ambush.
Thud!
With the fourth-tier area’s deployment lacking even that, Xenia’s critical strike hit its mark.
One professor fell, experience points increased, and the now stronger Warrior Party set their sights on the next target.
A desirable positive cycle had begun.
