Elite Instructor at a Third-Rate Academy

5 – The Reason for Refusing School (End) ☆

Genoa heard the news late in the afternoon. The mischief she’d urged Senite to do seemed to have had an unexpected impact. It was somewhat bewildering how a single instructor ended up knocking down fourteen.

“Galterius, what on earth did that kid do?”

She interrogated Amy in a stern voice.

“He got kicked and fell down!”

hehehe, a playful laughter again. The kid boasts when speaking but proves useless when actual strength is needed. At least after receiving the punishment, there wouldn’t be a repeat of last time. It was a message that retaliation was certain if the instructor crossed the line.

“Never mind, go on.”

“Yeah!”

Despite her usual cheerful demeanor, Amy’s annoyance and pity were evident. Genoa called her back from her muttering. This is why commoners shouldn’t enter the academy. It’s unmanageable, from tuition to expenses, and yet this troublemaker came without intending to apply for a scholarship.

“Hey, get some snacks with this.”

It was two silver coins. They were quite substantial for pocket money, enough for Amy to smile.

“All of this?”

“It’s for the errands left.”

“Really?”

“Go before I change my mind.”

Amy, thanking her federally, distanced herself. Perhaps a smack would have been appropriate. Although not to expect it next time, two silver coins for an errand seemed excessive. It’s as convincing as its appearance, subtly hinting at potential future requests.

“This’ll do.”

Senite provided a reason to return to school. It’d be better if she came back as an A-ranker just like herself, rather than suffering and praying in her room. It was frustrating yet understandable to want to return to C-8 class.

─I should tell Senite too.

Coincidentally, she was hungry. If it was Amy, she’d have her dorm key and could sneak in some drinks. Genoa changed into her uniform and walked towards the central square with the cafeteria. Throughout her walk, this thought lingered:

─Silly girl, she shouldn’t really think things will work out with Velasquez, right?

Genoa despised commoner-born female students. It wasn’t because of their social status, but rather because their shallow intentions were blatantly evident. Ochia, who always remained quiet and concealed herself, was a different story altogether. However, Amy openly pursued romance from the moment she entered the academy. And she chose only those noble youths with high status or inheritance rights.

“Do you think the nobles can’t see that?”

Many commoners, especially women, entered the academy for such reasons. They received financial support for the overwhelming tuition and tried to fix their fates through marriage. If Amy wasn’t gentle and kind, Genoa might have scorned her.

“Anyway, she’s a friend.”

At least, that’s how it was for Genoa. That’s why he might be pretending not to see Bellasques, knowing he was a lightweight. Even at this moment, there they were, a woman holding hands with Amy across a table.

“Hey, you.”

For some reason, he felt irritated today and decided to pick a fight for no reason.

“What’s wrong, Genoa?”

Considering the family’s prestige, Del Torre could never surpass Van Cliff.

“Just tone it down a bit, will you?”

“Why are you picking a fight again?”

“Do it where I can’t see. What’s the point of doing this?”

Now, the woman next to Bellasques sent an uncomfortable look. I don’t know her name, but she was probably not an heiress without inheritance rights. This guy always chose women with a much lower status than himself. When he got bored, he solved it with money, and Genoa didn’t like it.

“Genoa, why are you meddling in other people’s business?”

“Sort it out before a name comes out of my mouth.”

After saying that, he ordered two dishes nonchalantly. Despite hearing Bellasques mumbling behind him, he openly ignored him. Seeing him chatting with the woman until he turned around, Genoa guessed what was going on silently.

“Amy, you know everything, yet you pretend not to, right?”

[#05 – First Warning]

Kenneth had not done laundry for over ten years.

Back when he was a freshman at the academy, he had done it about twenty times in total. So, he was inexperienced in such matters. Everything from finding the laundry room to getting detergent was unfamiliar. Instead of stimulating nostalgia, he found washing the wet instructor’s uniform more annoying and had various thoughts.

“As long as there’s no disciplinary action, I’m lucky.”

He didn’t intend to fight, but some guys rushed at him so aggressively that he failed to control his strength. Five men properly hit the spine, and Galterius got a kick so powerful that his neck almost twisted. Luckily, it wasn’t a fracture; otherwise, it could have been dangerous. On the other hand, all the women got slapped on the cheek, so they would have to walk around with bruises for a while.

“Ochia.”

Feeling like he was reluctantly pushed into the atmosphere, Ochia had a wounded expression after getting slapped on the cheek. It couldn’t be helped. If students engaged in a brawl, he had to make them realize the gap in skills as their homeroom teacher. He had to prove his skills if he wanted to rise from being a weakling to an elite.

“Hey.”

He was frothing at the mouth when a familiar voice interrupted.

“What’s going on?”

“I want to know if what I heard is true.”

It was Freid. Somehow, with a mixed expression of amusement, Kenneth answered nonchalantly while washing his uniform.

“As you can see.”

“I know about the toilet incident.”

This time, I definitely laughed. She quickly wiped away her expression, but I could still feel her joy.

“If it’s a fight.”

“Are you really a fan?”

Kenneth nodded his head.

“No, where is the officer who fights with the students?”

-Why does this woman keep bothering me?

“That’s how the situation was.”

“How can you fight against high-ranking nobles?”

Today, the meaning of rank has long been lost. It is a time when the status of a family is determined by the economic power of their territory. From that perspective, Ladan and Aivar, who are only counts, were powerful enough to compete within the empire.

“Is Lailand against corporal punishment?”

When Kenneth asked, Pridey raised her eyebrows as if to say do as you please.

“Is there anyone to back you up?”

-There is.

If something were to happen to her, who would be the first to come to her aid? Would it be her brother-in-law, Lavin, who became the emperor, or his half-brother, Bissaleil, who would inherit the Ladan family? Both wouldn’t stay quiet. Both the imperial family and the hometown need Kenneth’s abilities. Even if she doesn’t go back there, there is no reason to be afraid of the anger of just the noble lords.

“No, there isn’t.”

Thump thump – as Pridey approached, pushing only the laundry, she suddenly turned around.

“Do as you please.”

Kenneth remained alone, rinsing her clothes in cold water. When she saw the dirty clothes that still smelled of filth, her words to the students just now felt like empty boasts. After all, she had spoken nonsense covered in filth, so she hadn’t had any dignity.

-It’s fortunate that we won.

After rinsing her clothes, Kenneth washed the relics of Rotylon. It was a strange situation. Until just a moment ago, she was commanding from the headquarters, but now she was squatting here. A laugh, unsure if it was sad or joyful, escaped her.

“Look at this!”

It was Pridey again. Always being nosy, and now trying to leave, she held a large piece of wood in her hand.

“Do you think it can be worn again after being washed like that?”

“I was trying to dry it and see if there are any stains.”

When Kenneth replied dryly, she approached and sat down next to Kenneth.

-Prisia.

That’s probably it.

“Seems like you’re someone who’s doing laundry for the first time.”

“What are you doing now?”

“Look at this. If you do it like that, not only will the stains not come off, but the smell won’t go away either!”

Freddie snatched Kenneth’s cadet uniform. Swish, swish, swish—after folding it on the cloth, he immediately vigorously rubbed it, crumbling the carefully arranged creases. His grip was so strong that the knife-like wrinkles disappeared to the point where you could see the strong grip that caused it.

“Water!”

Hastily pushing the water jug towards him, Freddie tossed in some clothes and shook it vigorously, creating a water storm.

“Grab it!”

Chuk—when he reached out the end of the cadet uniform, he received it as it was.

“I’m going to wring it out.”

Freddie first turned the clothes and wrung them out round and round. As Kenneth followed suit, the clothes were squeezed dry in no time.

“Let’s consider last time’s mistake over with this.”

“Oh, that thing.”

—He wasn’t particularly dwelling on it.

“Don’t dry it in the shade. It’ll smell like mold.”

“Understood.”

“Ha, the way you talk… Are you still upset?”

“I find it more comfortable with people I’m not close to.”

“Well, then let’s become friends.”

Freddie shrugged and stood up.

“You didn’t have lunch, right?”

“Yes.”

“Come this way.”

Kenneth raised his head to look at Freddie. When their eyes met, she didn’t avoid his gaze at all. It wasn’t affection. This woman had no trace of any emotional interest in him. Then what could it be? What purpose did she have for doing this?

“Should we become friends?”

“Oh, your personality is really annoying!”

Freddie kicked the laundry basket with her foot and shouted.

“I don’t know why I’m apologizing?”

“I said it’s okay if you’re okay with it being okay!”

While boasting alone, Kenneth immediately stood the laundry basket, which had bent on the floor, upright.

“I’ll tidy up and wait on the first floor.”

“Now you’re talking.”

“If you have something to say, please spit it out.”

“Goodness, are you the type who can’t even eat without business? Especially with strangers, let alone a woman who seems reluctant to engage.”

“No.”

Kennis had questions to ask, especially about what happened in Class C-8 today. Something serious had occurred, and he needed to understand the reasons behind it. Ordinary students had thrown dirty water at the instructor they had just met. It was undoubtedly malicious, and he had no knowledge of the background of such an incident.

─ There are students refusing to attend classes.

He went up to his room, changed into his cleanest clothes. Checking for any unpleasant odors, he found none. Descending, standing in front of Friede’s door in his new attire, passersby responded with mocking laughter.

“Let’s go.”

As Friede came out wearing a skirt, a few male students showed faint signs of hostility. Kenis figured out what it was, deliberately keeping a distance of about ten steps. Then the girl following from behind asked.

“Do you know where the dining hall is?”

“Yes.”

“I don’t know what I want to eat.”

She inquired about the menu. Knowing where it was sold, Kenis silently led her to the destination.

“How did you know and find your way here?”

In response to the question of whether he had followed her, she explained that she had familiarized herself with the geography of this place over the past three days.

“Separate orders would be more convenient.”

After ordering what he wanted to eat, Kenis handed the menu to Friede.

“Do we have to order so much?”

He had no intention of ordering a lot, but the actions of the man in front of him were unpleasant. Although courteous elsewhere, there was an irritating feeling of arrogance. Friede felt unjustly treated. She had apologized for the previous breach of etiquette, and Kenis hadn’t suffered any consequences.

“This, and this. Also, this. And that too!”

Intentionally choosing expensive items, Kenis placed four silver coins on the table. When the waiter came, he handed one of them and politely asked for the order. It was a calculated move. It annoyed him that, despite being so kind to others, Friede treated him coldly. For some reason, his pride was hurt, and he was almost at the point of confronting her.

“But why did you fight like the kids?”

Friede provocatively asked for no apparent reason.

“The question is incorrect.”

“Excuse me, do you also consider me a student here?”

“Why the students acted that way comes first.”

Indeed, the freshmen had crossed the line.

“The senior instructor is said to be a madman, right?”

“Yes.”

“In that class, there’s a Sennet, a former church-trained saint.”

As Kenis nodded, Friede looked around and lowered her voice.

“He almost got robbed.”