I Possessed a Broken Academy Instructor

Chapter 37

“Haahm. …So boring.”

At Dokgo-ran’s words, Pamiu gazed at the tablet in her hands as if it were not worth responding, yet inwardly she agreed.

‘Already two weeks.’

Even if Jin Crow had left the academy without a word as the entrance auditor, daily life flowed on without anything remarkable.

The cadets seemed content to listen to the relatively lenient Instructor Ginatio instead of the sensitive Jin Crow, and the instructors were also in a mood of satisfaction that Jin Crow had taken on the dreaded role of entrance auditor.

“…….”

However, as the week promised by the instructors passed without Jin Crow’s return, the atmosphere began to grow increasingly strange.

‘No, he hasn’t returned.’

The instructors whispered among themselves, but who were the cadets?

All carefully selected elites, and many were children of so-called prestigious families.

In other words, the cadets who were in the know had already realized that something had gone awry.

‘Atlas Colony.’

Pamiu calculated an angle to hide her tablet from Ginatio, who stood on the platform deep in thought, and skimmed through the information related to the colony Jin Crow had headed towards.

‘It’s clear that some information control is being enforced…’

Previously, in cases like Planet Aurum or Planet Lemal, the sudden anomaly of the Creatures had led to weak information control, but this time, all information was being thoroughly censored.

Because of that, Pamiu briefly considered accessing the dark web, but shook her head.

“There’s no need to leave a trace out of mere curiosity.”

No matter how personal the tablet was, the location data of the Central Special Officer Academy would remain.

If that happened, it could easily attract the attention of dark web divers.

Entangling herself in such trouble was a clear nuisance, so instead of mindlessly tapping on her tablet, Pamiu chose to scan the faces of the cadets gathered in the classroom.

“Yawn.”

“Shall we head to the snack bar later?”

“First, let’s see Instructor Yang.”

The cadets didn’t seem to care much whether Instructor Jin Crow returned late or not.

In fact, most wore expressions that seemed welcoming.

However, those Pamiu’s gaze fell upon did not belong to that ‘most.’

“Ah, I just want to hit someone. I want to spar~.”

“Don’t say it so loudly.”

“Ah~. I want to spar~.”

First, let’s exclude Dokgo Ran, who was burying her head on the desk and rubbing it, as she was the type who never really thought ahead.

“So, what happened? Huh? That….”

Hino Kanae, perhaps having utilized her family’s information network, received something from the guard cadets she always kept close, her eyes widening.

Then, she narrowed her brows seriously, biting her nails in anxiety, only to suddenly realize and stop, a perfect picture of a flustered fool.

Who would believe it?

That woman was the heir and eldest daughter of the famous ‘Hino family.’

Pamiu couldn’t help but smirk and shifted her gaze.

In truth, the most eye-catching were these two.

“…….”

“…….”

Miel Anber, with a squirrel-like impression.

And Baek Hwi-young, who originally had little presence but had recently been frequently noticed with his ashen hair.

Though outwardly quiet, Baek Hwi-young appeared anxious, lost in thought these past few days, while Miel trailed after him, glancing at him nervously. They made for a delightful topic among the children in their prime.

Both were considered beauties in their own right.

Of course, Pamiu had no interest in such things.

“But really, why are they all so serious?”

Whatever had happened to Jin Crow, it mattered little to the cadets.

At most, it would mean the cancellation of a lecture.

‘What does it even matter?’

Yet, Pamiu brushed it off with a casual indifference.

Well, worrying wasn’t a flaw, after all.

What was important now was not their reactions or feelings.

Tap-tap-tap.

Her fingers moved busily, a flurry of activity.

As could be seen from the way Instructor Ginatio stood quietly at the podium, they were in self-study.

‘Should at least study something.’

Even with midterms looming, self-study in a newly established course was a rare occurrence.

But she understood.

With the core figure, Jin Crow, absent for over two weeks past the agreed period, there was little else for the assistant instructor, Ginatio, to do.

“Haah…”

“Ugh, so boring.”

How long had it been since she had immersed herself in another lecture, using the murmurs of idle chatter and Dokkoran’s whining as white noise?

Beep-beep.

In the momentary lull of the classroom, the watch’s alarm rang out.

The cadets turned their heads, searching for the unfortunate soul who would have to endure the scolding, but disappointingly, the source of the sound was the podium.

“…W-what is this?”

Instructor Ginatio initially looked down at the watch with a disinterested, perhaps slightly dazed expression.

Then, with a strange mix of a smile and a sigh, he left the classroom without a word.

“Hmm?”

“What’s going on?”

Naturally, the cadets, bewildered, blinked and exchanged glances, but none could fathom why Assistant Instructor Ginatio was acting that way.

For a moment, silence reigned, but as expected…

“Ugh… I feel like I’m going to die of boredom.”

“Why not just let us borrow the simulation room?”

“Midterms are coming up. There probably wasn’t any space.”

“Shall we spar after this?”

One by one, as they opened their mouths, the classroom quickly erupted into a cacophony, and Dokoran’s eyes sparkled as she raised her hand.

“Me too! Let’s spar!”

“Hey, hey. Keep your eyes down.”

“I’ll control my strength this time, okay? Huh?”

As the noise escalated to a level that could no longer be masked as mere white noise, Pamiu seriously contemplated whether to overturn the classroom before shaking her head.

If she got angry here, how would she be any different from Dokoran, who sat beside her, hunting for prey?

Just as that thought crossed her mind, she reached for her tablet once more.

Creeeak—.

The door to the classroom, which had just been exited by Assistant Instructor GiNatio, swung open, and a man strode in.

“……What a mess.”

The cadets, who had assumed it was GiNatio and turned their heads a moment too late, froze in place.

Thud, thud…….

The heavy footsteps, clad in military boots, struck the ground.

A weighty atmosphere, different from before, enveloped the classroom, and even those cadets who had yet to grasp the situation turned their heads, realizing something had gone awry.

All eyes turned to the man standing at the podium, while GiNatio, who followed him in with a somewhat awkward expression, looked at him with a mix of welcome and unease.

“Every cadet who was making noise just now.”

His deep voice resonated, tinged with a metallic edge.

Moreover, despite his clearly black eyes, a glint shone within them.

Having returned from some ordeal, Jin Crow surveyed the cadets with an even sharper demeanor than two weeks prior.

“Five points off.”

His voice sounded particularly devilish, and it was likely not just their imagination.

*

“……You’ve had a hard time, Instructor Jin Crow.”

Ideale brewed tea herself and placed it before Jin Crow, who nodded in response.

“There was much to do.”

No matter how much the position of entrance examiner was avoided, this time it was excessive.

Preventing a coup d’état or facing off against a general of the Penta Gear-level rebels was not part of the mission.

Having already received a general overview of the situation as the head of the Central Special Operations Academy, Ideale could not refute him.

Thus, instead of answering, she nodded silently and took a sip of tea.

“…….”

“…….”

How long did that uncomfortable silence stretch on?

In the end, it was Ideale who could no longer bear it and spoke first.

“The merit of executing the Level 2 fugitive, Liberto, will soon earn you the Level 2 Iron Cross Knight’s Order. Of course, it’s a meager reward for the instructor.”

Had he been captured alive, a Level 1 honor might have been within reach, but she knew well that such a thing was not feasible.

Indeed, despite her words of it being meager, the Level 2 Iron Cross was a commendation of considerable rank.

Moreover, what he desired could now be granted as a reward.

“I have received five specimens of the creature, Von, collected by the 15th Fleet deployed in the suppression operation. If you wish, I can arrange for you to use them in practice starting tomorrow.”

“That will suffice.”

At this point, one could say she had shown all the goodwill she could muster.

Any further gestures or considerations would only serve to draw unnecessary attention.

Jin Crow swallowed the remaining tea in his cup, rose from his seat, and straightened his slightly disheveled uniform before offering her a brief nod.

Just as he was about to leave the office.

“Ah.”

Unlike Jin Crow, who had finished his tea, Ideale, sipping slowly from her cup, suddenly seemed to remember something.

“It will be exhausting as soon as you return, but how are the preparations coming along?”

“What do you mean?”

“……I’m glad I asked.”

Murmuring this, Ideale manipulated the hologram on the desk, bringing up a neatly organized academic schedule.

“Midterms are approaching, so please compile the relevant materials and submit them to the instructor’s office.”

At her words, Jin Crow realized he had almost forgotten something important, and with a deeper bow than before, he stepped out of the office.

Creeeak, thud.

Once Jin Crow had left, Ideale, now alone in the office, stared at the spot he had vacated and murmured to herself.

“……Is he very angry?”

It was no wonder, for the air in the office was thick with his characteristic, jittery psionic energy.

*

After Jin Crow and the military police officer, Obia Timist, returned, the Central Special Officer Academy continued its daily routine as usual.

“Again.”

“Ahhh!”

Of course, a typical day at the Special Officer Academy was far more grueling than that of any other military academy, making it a near-death experience for the cadets.

KWA-aaaNG!

With a thunderous roar, a cadet flew through the air, blood spraying forth as he crashed against the wall.

Then, the man instructor, Yang Jinrae, with a long scar tracing past his eye, spoke indifferently.

“Miel.”

“Yes, yes!”

At his command, Miel dashed over, her footsteps echoing as she approached the fallen cadet.

“Grrrgh…”

In an instant, tears welled in her eyes at the sight of the cadet’s ribs, arms, and legs grotesquely twisted under the instructor’s merciless touch, but she did not lose sight of her duty.

“Huuh…”

Taking a short breath, she closed her eyes and reached out toward the cadet.

Within her, two small gears began to turn slowly, interlocking as they released her unique, bright, and warm psionic energy.

[Diagnosis]

[Crushed fractures, contusions, internal bleeding…]

[First Aid]

Blue lights, visible only to her, scanned the insides without incision, and soon began the healing process.

Sssss-.

To the outside observer, it merely appeared as if she was placing her hands on the injured cadet, but with each bead of sweat that formed on her brow, the cadet’s expression began to improve rapidly.

Perhaps a minute passed.

Though still uncomfortable, the cadet was now able to rise on his own, and Yang Jinrae nodded in satisfaction before speaking.

“Exempt. Go to the infirmary.”

“Ugh, understood. Thank you, Miel.”

“W-what? It’s just what I’m supposed to do.”

Miel shook her head outwardly, but inwardly, her cheeks flushed slightly as she dashed back out of the training hall.

Naturally, whispers arose among the cadets who had been watching.

“…She definitely broke his bones on purpose, right?”

“I saw it. She was practically aiming for his arm!”

“Crazy.”

“Well, I can’t say I don’t understand it.”

Yet, the subject of their chatter was not Miel, but the male cadet who had received her treatment.

With a goofy grin plastered on his face as he exited, it was clear he was quite taken with her.

“Well, if it’s Miel, I suppose that makes sense. She’s just so cute, isn’t she?”

“Ugh, that’s gross. Poor Miel.”

“But doesn’t Miel have a boyfriend?”

“Oh, that Baek-hwi… whatever his name is? I heard they’re not dating, just childhood friends.”

“He was handsome, though. Should I try to charm her?”

Even the female cadets had to admit that Miel was without rival.

No, to be precise, it was more like they couldn’t openly express their jealousy.

‘Miel. Miel Ambert.’

Though she wielded a dual gear, her rare healing abilities, combined with her cute and lovable appearance, and her timid nature, made her a curious target.

‘It would be quite amusing to toy with her.’

Chans Marbre, the eldest son of the Marbre family, formerly of the Baron Marbre line that had surrendered to the United Human Federation during the First Galactic War, forced a hideous smile from his face as he mulled over her name.

“Next. Chans Marbre.”

“Yes.”