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Chapter 231
He seed to feel sorry for them.
Those kids must have had so kind of fateful opportunity that brought them here, but given the high level of education, it’s likely they had a hard ti keeping up.
When kids who are just now learning how to hold a sword are taught how to handle aura, it’s impossible for them to follow along.
That applies not only to swordsmanship or magic, but also to the theoretical subjects.
“I don’t want to see those kids getting kicked out of the academy in vain. And the Headmaster feels the sa way. But rules are rules. In reality, those kids only have one last chance left.”
“Does that include lissa?”
“No. Cadet lissa returned from a leave of absence, so by regulations she was simply re-admitted. She’s not really subject to academic probation. In fact, she’s more of a model student. She was only assigned here due to academy protocol.”
In other words, his main concern was the ten commoner boys and girls, excluding lissa.
Of course, not all of them were commoners.
A few were from impoverished noble families.
“They’re all diligent children. But the gap has widened so much that their hard work alone isn’t enough—it’s truly unfortunate.”
“If that’s the case, shouldn’t soone specialized be teaching them?”
“Well... the professors don’t want to take charge of them.”
Ah.
Because of performance trics?
No matter how hard they teach, realistically, those students can’t catch up to the others who’ve received elite training from a young age.
“You can’t bla them. Professors need to maintain their performance records, and taking on those students would be a major blemish.”
He let out a long sigh.
“I’m free from that pressure, is what you’re saying.”
“Exactly. You can receive honorary professor status under the Headmaster’s authority.”
Is that the only reason?
As I waited silently, he gave a bittersweet smile.
“But there’s a more important reason.”
He looked at seriously and spoke.
“They’re kids with promising futures. I don’t have the skill to keep them from losing this chance.”
“You an in practical skills. You’re thinking I might be able to do sothing for them. So, what level do they need to reach to avoid academic probation?”
“If you’re not interested, you can refuse. The freshn are about to take placent exams. As long as they don’t fail.”
So, he wants —soone senior to them—not to allow them to score failing marks in a freshman exam?
“How long do I have?”
“One month.”
Wow, that’s rough.
“You want to turn them around in a month?”
“I know it’s difficult. But I want to give them a real chance to try their best.”
Even if they end up expelled from the academy, he hopes the experience will be helpful in their future lives.
Professor Roml really is a man of integrity, from the way he thinks.
“Well, I’ll take a look first before deciding.”
“Thank you.”
He gave a gentle smile.
* * *
Professor Roml is practically lissa’s ntor.
At the very least, I know what kind of person he is and what he's thinking, and why he’s asking for this.
Since I had already planned to make full use of lissa, I was starting to feel a strange heaviness in the air.
The kids who were born into unfortunate circumstances must have grabbed onto so miraculous chance to get here.
Peeking into the classroom from outside, I saw ten boys and girls gathered.
Most of them looked like commoners, though one or two seed to be nobles.
They ca from different backgrounds and probably had different specialties, but they had one thing in common:
Not one of them had any life in their eyes.
Their faces looked like they had hit a wall so brutal, they’d moved past despair and into complete resignation.
Seeing that, Luna and I crouched down simultaneously and exchanged glances.
“This looks hopeless, huh?”
“Yeah, a month seems way too short.”
To be honest, the way Luna and I trained lissa wouldn’t work in a normal situation.
It was an extre thod that pushed a person beyond their limits.
Academy professors have years of teaching experience and refined thods, but I’ve never really taught anyone even during my long ti in the Labyrinthos.
I’ve seen similar growth in myself, but in my case, I already knew the answers—I just had to reach them.
Professor Roml said he believes in , but I can’t be certain.
lissa won’t join us until two days later, so she’s not even here yet.
“Hmm... I only know how to go with a hard reset.”
“What’ll you do?”
“Well, let’s at least give it a shot.”
Sotis you only see things clearly when you face them directly.
I threw open the classroom door and entered, and all their gazes fell on .
Then they spotted Luna behind and their eyes widened.
Lately, Luna had stopped wearing her mask, saying it was uncomfortable.
I didn’t object to her choice.
In the heavy silence, I walked forward and slowly began to speak.
“Nice to et you. I’m Leon Cascadia, and I’ll be in charge of you for the next month.”
As soon as I finished my brief introduction, I heard the sound of them holding their breath.
So my na still carries so weight in the academy.
But that was all.
With their defeated expressions, they showed no further reaction.
“First of all, you’re all on the verge of expulsion due to academic probation, correct?”
No response.
“Is that correct?”
I asked again, but still no reply.
Luna looked over at .
Should I hit them?
She asked the sa way she always did, and I gave her my usual answer.
Go ahead.
KWAANG!!
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In an instant, Luna smashed the podium in front of into dust.
“Answer.”
Her cold voice made the kids freeze in shock.
“Still won’t?”
“Y-yes, ma’am!!”
Only then did the terrified students finally respond.
Good.
Now the atmosphere is finally satisfactory.
If a sudden loud noise caused chaos in the other classrooms, it would beco a hassle.
I released the soundproofing spell I had casually cast.
"Good. Now you're being a bit more cooperative. Let ask again. You were admitted to the academy through special recruitnt despite repeatedly failing due to poor grades, and now you're on the verge of being expelled with an academic warning. Is that correct?"
At my question, so students clenched their fists and trembled.
Then, with great difficulty, they answered.
"Y-Yes..."
"That’s… correct..."
"In order to avoid that future, you must compete with the incoming freshn in an exam one month from now and avoid a failing grade."
For freshn, failing a few tis isn't a big issue.
But for these students, it's different.
Normally, upperclassn don't get outperford by underclassn.
But things change if the freshn aren't ordinary.
Even if they were, these students are in such bad shape they’d have trouble even against them.
"Just in case any of you are thinking ‘there's no way I'd lose to a freshman,’ let make one thing clear."
I opened a docunt and began reading nas aloud.
"The youngest son of the Hontail family."
The legitimate heir of the Hontail family, one of the 13 great magical houses of the continent.
"Disciple of the Sword Master of the Rotorius Kingdom—Carnivel Licentra."
I continued listing nas.
Licia Hevilion, granddaughter of the dean of the Galleon School of Alchemy.
Ashuria Abelgard, the hidden adopted daughter and disciple of the great mage Luteon Abelgard, who is now in seclusion.
And finally—
"Representative of the Great Forest? No… the World Tree’s representative, Triana Bel Trigard."
With each na I called, the students’ faces grew gloomier.
"The individuals I’ve ntioned are already acknowledged as overwhelmingly talented even among their peers. And even excluding them, the average level of incoming students is undeniably high. Far beyond what you can handle."
Because the exam is graded on a curve, the higher your competition, the harder it is to get a high score.
And unfortunately for these students, they had the misfortune of enrolling during a year when the freshman class was exceptionally strong.
Their future was obvious.
"anwhile, you have one month."
I flipped through the docunts smoothly.
"I don’t manage the theory classes. My subject is practical combat."
I said this plainly, tapping the blackboard behind .
"Alright, everyone outside."
* * *
I trudged out of the classroom and into the training ground just beyond, handing each of them a solid real sword.
"A real sword?"
"Shouldn’t we be using wooden ones?"
"Wooden swords, huh…"
I let out a short laugh.
"Let be honest."
With a snap of my fingers, I cut off all surrounding sound.
"When I looked at the records from when you were admitted, every single one of you was marked as ‘talented.’ But that ans nothing."
Dropping the formal tone, I spoke with a mocking edge.
"Talent? That half-baked talent of yours is a di a dozen in this world. Professor Roml must've lied to give you hope. But I’m not the nurturing type. Especially not when I’m assigned to losers like you. Frankly, I find it disgusting."
Luna began lightly stretching beside .
"Got a problem with that? Then go ahead and try. If even one of you can graze Luna’s clothes, or knock both of her feet off the ground, I’ll take back everything I said and apologize."
"......"
"Still not happy? Fine, she won’t even use aura."
"Aren’t you underestimating us too much?!"
"You lot have so serious delusions. I heard Professor Roml kept encouraging you, saying you have talent and shouldn't give up."
I leaned back lazily on a nearby chair, crossing my legs arrogantly.
"Think you're sothing special? You're not. So stop wasting ti. Co at her with everything you’ve got, and then get the hell out of here. Once you're gone, I can focus on teaching students who actually show promise."
What began as re anger from them soon boiled into intense hostility—and finally, murderous intent.
"Even if I die here, I’ll never forgive you."
Their fury surged.
In contrast, Luna remained completely calm, waving them in with a flick of her fingers.
"Co on. You pathetic failures."
"Uoooooaaaah!!!"
The first to charge was a student holding a sword.
At the sa ti, I scribbled notes on the clipboard I held.
Fundantals are decent.
Shows signs of effort.
But the underlying approach is flawed.
There’s a simple way to reveal soone's true worth.
Put them in an extre situation.
Those half-defeated kids could hardly be expected to show their full potential.
I didn’t miss a single movent from all ten of them.
If Professor Roml said they had talent, then it's likely these kids are just lost.
If they truly had no talent, they wouldn’t have lasted this long.
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