Elite Instructor at a Third-Rate Academy

43 – Do You Know it’s a Narcotic☆

“If you have books and materials about the dead, please share them.”

Warren chuckled as he read the letter Kenis had sent. It seemed absurd to insist on allowing only one dead person to attend school without knowing the current situation of the Northern Army. In the same correspondence, there was a letter from the Emperor, and just the weight alone was different.

『Warren Remmelts, Colonel of the Military Administration』

True to his bureaucratic nature, there were no unnecessary words.

“In the area under the jurisdiction of the Northern Army, signs of detachment are emerging in the Goldei family, currently surrounded by Barus. Barus, determined not to negotiate with anyone other than the former operations commander Kenis Rada, will be approached by me as the Southern Army administrator to persuade him. Georg and everyone, including Fanatie, are in a difficult situation, and if necessary, they will delegate full authority to me to give them what they want. Report back afterwards.”

“There’s an issue at the border.”

“Among the students refusing to attend, there’s one particularly challenging to persuade, a student named Petrona. Being of a different race, her mindset seems entirely different, and even though there’s no relevant literature or information available, it’s designated as restricted. Warren, as the Southern Army administrator, you have the authority to access this information, or I request it. You don’t need detailed information; just find out what they like and what it takes for them to live well. Also, if you can provide information about the legal rights of the non-human, I would appreciate it. I want to properly assess why all of this is in the restricted area.”

“Seniors are concerned about such matters.”

This is indeed a tremendous loss. Striving to appoint the highest-level personnel within the Empire as an unknown academy instructor. Kenis, as Warren knows, was such a person. He would fulfill his duties without complaint wherever he went, so he would diligently handle the reintroduction of this non-human student.

“To the former Northern Army Operations Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Kenis Rada.”

After writing this, Warren, realizing what Huangming refers to, summoned the deputy administrators.

“Yes?”

“No, what if you leave your post again!”

To the statement that he would go and persuade personally, the two deputy administrators expressed their displeasure.

“If I fail to persuade, His Majesty will act.”

Both couldn’t fully trust, but even if Raven is a greedy one, his greed for talent is excessive. What would happen if the Emperor visited the Rialand Academy? Everything, including the people of the Rada family, would be known. It’s not for no reason that there’s no *Hwangrae (黃來) incident. Then, for what excuse should he visit there?

“A sports festival.”

“Yes?”

“A pre-check of the sports festival.”

“Administrator, what are you talking about right now?”

Warren asked them to write down why he was going to the Rialand Academy.

“Well, does that make sense?”

“It does.”

“You shouldn’t move without His Majesty’s orders.”

Then, the two deputy administrators, now quiet, threw the magical words about what would happen in the future.

“Since I’ll take responsibility for everything, discuss it well between the two of you.”

Finally, his face brightened a bit. Warren knew he was a novice, but at the same time, he took pride in his excellence in his work. If he didn’t have that, how could he have approached Vissale with such confidence? Just as he was about to leave, the one in charge of external affairs among the deputy administrators detained him.

“Isn’t a pre-check of the sports festival too suspicious?”

Now, even the one in charge of internal affairs raised an objection.

“Honestly, many people will question why Rialand and the Southern Army are related.”

Upon reflection, indeed, Rialand is a place that has been nothing since its founders were wiped out. If the Southern Army administrator visits under the pretext of a sports festival, it will undoubtedly cause a commotion. So, Warren proposed a very simple solution.

“Fund.”

“No, are you really going to use that as a prize?”

“That’s impossible.”

“Phew, thank goodness. Administrator, you shouldn’t spend public funds on something like that!”

There are so many first-class academies requesting support, and they’re thinking of giving money to the third-rate Rhyland.

“Why don’t we sponsor it in our family’s name.”

Saying this, their expressions seem quite downcast. It seems they haven’t seen the letter sent by Emperor. If they knew that Kenneth Lada was involved, they might have some idea of why he’s doing this, but they seem completely clueless. When you see things like this, it’s clear that these desk-bound officials lack any insight. If they had any, they wouldn’t support the administration that’s struggling so much.

“And also, prepare this.”

When they asked for books related to mystics and processed yew leaves, the assistant administrators opened their eyes wide.

“Do you know this is a narcotic?”

When asked if they plan to use it for temptation, Warren just demanded a clear answer on whether it’s addictive or not. With a reassuring response, they were only told to prepare ten books that delve into the habits of mystics and 1kg of processed yew leaf powder before Warren changed into his disguise.

[#43 – School Refusal]

Today, Kenneth found Saint to be annoying for the first time.

“Violence is never an option for any reason.”

As he discussed the methods for re-enrolling Gresnok and Galterius, they kept talking about theoretical matters. He didn’t know much, but it seemed like they were gossiping about how Gresnok got hit by the homeroom teacher. They claim to like him, but behaving like this to garner attention is typical teenage behavior.

“Violence should never be used unless it’s to protect oneself.”

Tetradia, his former lover, and his younger sister, Vissale, were not the type to nag about things.

They were only interested in cultivating flowers or decorating their bodies. Heavenly girls. So harmless, so comforting, and so unproblematic that Kenneth found Saint’s interference to be extremely annoying. He barely resisted saying what he wanted to say, as if he were receiving advice from an experienced military officer, to a newly appointed officer.

“Every situation is different.”

Believers don’t compromise, that’s why they’re called believers. Their steadfastness in their faith is a key ingredient in making them saints, and arguing directly won’t make it any better. It’s impossible to break down this boundary line that thinks only within the doctrine and views everything outside of it as evil or impure, even if you try to expand it with the reason of being their mentor.

“Saint.”

“Yes, I want to hear your answer.”

“When you look at the Bible, didn’t the Virgin Mary wander in the wilderness for thirty-two days?”

Tetradia, who went to the cathedral, is now useful for reading Bible verses.

“Yes.”

“Various types of trials came down on her back then, right?”

“That’s right. The Virgin Mary overcame all of them.”

“That was all part of God’s plan, right?”

“Yes, on some days, she was visited by angels, and on other days, horned demons came to her, but it was all arranged by God.”

All the tempters who tried the Virgin were actually ingredients to awaken her Holy Heart.

“So, trials are absolutely necessary for one’s maturity, right?”

“Yes, without them, we’d become lazy and spoiled quickly.”

Kennis unleashed his sophistry at this point.

“I didn’t commit violence; I merely subjected Greznok and Galterius to the trials they needed.”

“Oh, really?”

“I just gave them appropriate suffering to prevent the two, who didn’t even attend school, from falling into the swamp of corruption.”

“But it’s still violence!”

“It’s unfortunate,” he said, detaching himself, then returned to the Virgin Mary story.

“Even in the wilderness, a storm rages, and lightning almost struck the Virgin Mary, right?”

“That’s… a natural disaster, not violence.”

“No, you should see it as if God administered it all, considering He oversees everything.”

“God doesn’t commit violence!”

“Then you could say He gave trials through the power of nature.”

As the conversation progressed, the enigmatic Senite, who was ignorant of the ways of the world, hesitated for a moment before inadvertently agreeing. God might not commit violence, but it’s a universally known truth among the faithful that He administers trials through nature. Otherwise, there would be no way to explain everything from pests tormenting farmers to storms and waves killing fishermen.

“I’m not God; I just administered trials with bones and muscles.”

“That’s… strange.”

“It was all in accordance with God’s will.”

“But God wouldn’t have given such a command… Did He, by any chance, appear in a dream and tell you to scold them both?”

─Funny, using words suitable for children.

“No, it’s not scolding; it’s about making them better people.”

“By divine revelation?”

“You can know that even without divine trust or a dream.”

After uttering the verse “May your creations be lovely in your eyes,” Kenneth looked at Senite.

“How about it? Aren’t Greznok and Galterius more lovely now than before?”

“Well, yes, but… It feels strange, like I’m in a desert.”

As she wondered if she had horns on her head, she just laughed it off.

“Instead, I won’t hit you in the future, so don’t worry.”

─In other words, he promised not to scold her.

“Oh!”

While they had different thoughts, Senite exclaimed, excitedly stating, “Temulic contradicts himself!”

“Does he?”

“I won’t escape with words this time.”

─I’m scared.

As she tightly held the iron bars and pondered, she had a lovely yet somewhat obsessive appearance.

“Trials have no will.”

“That’s right.”

“Even storms, lightning, and tempests, which are the powers created by God, they have no will.”

“I see.”

“But Temulic possesses will.”

Now, gripping the iron bars tightly and standing in front of herself, as if asking her to answer something, she calms her chest. Despite applying pressure with bandages, it can be seen that Cenneth’s body is showing signs of swelling. No, without a doubt, she must have faced ridicule growing up when she gained weight. It’s something that concerns an average woman, and even more so for a saint.

“Where is my will?”

In response to Kennes’ question, Cenneth pointed to her head.

“Here.”

“Then, when I punched Gresnock and Galterius, it means they didn’t lack will, right?”

“No!”

She immediately denies it and starts to unfold and fold her fingers.

“I just moved my fingers with my will.”

“No, Cenneth. Will and actions are separate from each other.”

“Eh?”

“Even if I think about wanting to hit someone, it doesn’t translate into action because my head and limbs are separate.”

Cenneth pondered deeply and then affirmed with a worried expression.

“This is like the trials given by God. God also possesses hands and feet like earthquakes, rainstorms, and thunder, but He does not use them in everyday life. Only when a believer’s corruption becomes severe, He uses His power to show it and wake them up. Our heads and bodies are just like that. If I had hit Gresnock and Galterius with my head, I would have understood, but if I had used my limbs, the relationship would be the same as that of God and natural disasters. My limbs cannot think independently or have the will to move.”

“No…so you’re saying I have no horns?”

She touches the iron bars and jerks her body back.

“There’s nothing to be scared of.”

“No.”

“This feels strange…even though it seems to make sense, it feels like someone has turned my mind upside down.”

“The truth is naturally complex.”

“Violence is not allowed, but how did trials and God’s will…something is twisted.”

“We’ve arrived at the women’s dormitory.”

It was the moment she was supposed to meet a female student named Chesa. Cenneth frowned deeply and made a strange noise before shaking the iron bars and shouting.

“I’ll study harder!”

─ Chae-sha.

She barely restrained herself from saying, “Let’s do something else.”

“Don’t fall for wordplay like that next time.”

“Sennit, Chae-sha is waiting for you.”

After conveying her message, she straightened her disheveled clothes and ascended to the women’s dormitory. Kenneth handed over documents detailing Chae-sha’s background for Sennit to review. Strangely, there was a note with the reason for refusing to attend classes.

“Poor.”