I Possessed a Broken Academy Instructor

Chapter 49

In the early days of the disciplinary committee’s convening.

There was much chatter among some instructors and a few cadets, filled with concern… or perhaps doubt, about whether it was truly necessary to expel Shangs Mavre.

A dishonorable discharge for a regular officer.

Naturally.

But he is a special operations officer, is he not?

Even the special operations officers, who would be thrown into penal units at a moment’s notice, are somehow clinging to their positions in the Synthetic Nation.

Of course, that question never surfaced to the top.

First, the reputation of Chans Mavre was not as favorable as he himself believed.

And second, there stood Jin Crow, wearing an expression that seemed to say, “Is there anyone who opposes this? If so, step forward. Let me see your face.”

Lastly, with the Rosen faction implicitly supporting him and the Kukenhausen faction remaining silent, even the minor faction instructors who had been the only ones to defend Chans Mavre kept their mouths shut.

‘Of all the times to get caught…’

Moreover, the entanglement of various complex political interests, including the powerful Dokgo and Hino families, was significant.

It was a grand disarmament season.

Even the large factions, not wanting to be unnecessarily scrutinized, were retreating and yielding; how could a minor faction take it upon themselves to defend a filthy former imperial Triple Gear scoundrel?

In any case, Chans Mavre was neatly expelled from the Central Special Operations Academy.

— *I am willing to send a legal team immediately to clear up misunderstandings and slanders…*

Of course, a few days later, a minor opinion was conveyed in the name of the Mavre family, but Jin Crow personally threw the expulsion papers in his face and, in the process, sent Chans Mavre off in a state of disgrace.

“I’ll make you regret this.”

It was a mutter meant to be heard, but in truth, Jin Crow was not there.

In fact, even if he had been, rather than feeling fear or any emotion, he would have sent a look of disdain while sipping whiskey alongside his cigarette.

‘I hope he doesn’t come back later, crying and clinging to me in gratitude.’

Had Chans Mavre crossed the line further, the slightly deranged Baek Hwi-young he knew might not have stopped at a mere orbital bombardment.

No, this was a certainty.

If Chans Mavre had been left at the academy, he would likely have been reported missing a few months later, his body discovered in pieces, whether in a pond or a wasteland.

Naturally, a beautiful flash would have rained down over the Mavre estate, neatly disassembling that family.

Jin Crow tried to ignore the chill creeping up his neck and quickened his pace.

Creeeak—.

The door opened automatically, as he had informed them of his arrival in advance, and as he stepped inside, he was greeted by the sight of Ideale, who was just then pouring herself a cup of black coffee.

“Ah, Instructor Jin Crow. You’ve come.”

Having been busy just moments before, the faint imprint of her glasses lingered around her eyes.

With a soft thud, she placed her coffee cup on the table, and he wasn’t foolish enough to miss the implication, so he took a seat.

Soon after, Ideale sat down, and Jin Crow glanced at the rich black coffee she had poured for him, took a sip, and opened his mouth.

“Necessary it was.”

Yet, it was a voice rarely heard, one that sought understanding from Ideale.

Had she sensed it?

Ideale, momentarily pausing her hand that held the coffee cup, nodded slowly and replied to his words.

“It was necessary.”

She too had faced the battlefield, always wary of and disdainful towards the arrogance that clung to the ‘nobility of the Empire’ ingrained in every soldier’s mind.

In truth, she had opposed the expulsion that had come to pass.

However, as the situation increasingly turned against her, and each display of her previously unrefined conduct came to light, the sight of nobles clamoring about slander and deceit was enough to drive her towards a ‘resolution.’

“Well, in the end, everyone is happy.”

Jin Crow thought sincerely, offering a silent gratitude to the now-living Shangs Mavre, though it was a sentiment that would never be conveyed.

Meanwhile, Ideale, unaware of the tumultuous thoughts swirling in Jin Crow’s mind, rose from her seat and brought forth a document she had prepared in advance, presenting it to him with a flourish.

It was not a document she had seen for the first time.

After all, the very reason he had come to meet the headmistress was to receive this document.

Ideale and Jin Crow both took a sip of the bitter coffee, the taste lingering on their tongues, and it was Jin Crow who broke the silence first.

“Is there a problem?”

“Well…”

Her response was rather vague.

Yet, the document Jin Crow sought from her was far too complex to be handed over with a mere chuckle.

Tap, tap—.

She drummed her fingers on the table.

“Capital Star Mercato…”

Her softly murmured words were laced with the turmoil of questioning, “Is it truly right to grant this?”

In the homeland, during the vacation period, he could go wherever he pleased without the need for a permit.

To put it bluntly, it was a holiday.

Unless it was wartime, it was only right to grant freedom when it was due.

However, the destination Jin Crow had declared was the only foreign land, aside from the Empire and its colonies.

“The Free Planet Alliance.”

If one were to ask what kind of place it was, opinions would be sharply divided.

Some would exalt it as the last bastion of liberalism for those oppressed and ravaged by the feudal system of the Empire and the militarism of the synthetic states.

But the common assessment of those not beguiled by the sweet allure of brainwashing was, in truth, quite succinct.

A paradise for the worshippers of gold.

A hell for the impoverished, and a kingdom for the capitalists.

The embodiment of capitalism, where skyscrapers seemed to pierce the atmosphere while slums dug deep into the earth, teetering on the brink of despair.

“You know we can’t restrict personal movements, but you understand that if an incident occurs during your leave, things could get complicated, right?”

Setting down the coffee cup she had been gripping, Ideale looked at Jin Crow and replied.

“I understand.”

“…Lately, that statement makes me more anxious. Please, try not to cause any incidents.”

Ideale nervously brushed aside a strand of white hair that had stuck to her cheek, grasping her pen, and with a rustling sound, her concise signature graced Jin Crow’s leave application.

Of course, this was possible because, aside from her anxiety, a very basic common sense resided in her mind.

“If he’s a soldier of the Synthesized Nation, especially an instructor from the Central Special Operations Academy, their Public Security Bureau would surely be on alert.”

Even if Jin Crow were to die abroad, it wouldn’t spark a war; the Free Planet Alliance’s standing wasn’t significant enough to act without regard for the Synthesized Nation’s gaze.

Wouldn’t it be more realistic for someone to approach Jin Crow under the pretense of military supply corruption?

For now, the Red Hand was not a pressing concern.

In fact, it might be the perfect time to visit the Free Planet Alliance while they were currently being hunted for the incident they caused.

“Well then.”

As was customary, Jin Crow set down his half-finished coffee after concluding the main topic and stood up.

After a brief nod, he left the room, and Ideale, who had been staring at the spot he vacated, pressed her sore neck and eyelids for a moment before letting out a deep sigh.

“Ha.”

No matter how much she tried to adapt, swimming through the paperwork was not something one could easily get used to.

It had been two years since she took on the role of principal.

Yet somehow, the little over half a year since Jin Crow had joined felt far more exhausting.

Gulp.

Having swallowed the last of her now-empty black coffee, she muttered a desire to lie down and sleep, forcing her weary body to rise and head back to her desk.

What could she do?

Such was her nature.

Once seated, she flipped through the documents she had been reviewing, and soon found herself unable to suppress a chuckle at the words written on the paper.

–

■External Exhibition Inspection Plan

□Responsible Instructor: Chief Instructor Ludwig Lee

□Target Audience: 75 Second-Year Cadets

□Lecture Objective: Accumulation of practical experience for cadets, local supply, operational planning, etc…

–

“…Instructor Jin would have liked this.”

Of course, she was the one who had recently crumpled up the front-line inspection plan that Jin Crow had submitted and tossed it into the trash.

‘Second year should be fine.’

…Still, first year was a bit much.

*

While Shangs Mavre was neatly trimmed, the unfortunate Dokoran, who had lost seven teeth in a single blow, earned the honorable nickname of ‘Ran Dentistry’ in the academy’s blind and received a light punishment of a week’s confinement in the dormitory.

“Yawn.”

Honestly, is there a more hollow formality than confinement?

Of course, for Dokoran’s temperament, being unable to step outside the dormitory for a week was quite a significant punishment…

“Hey, Ran, do you want to eat this?”

“oooh! As expected!”

Thinking that her loud outburst had unjustly led to Dokoran’s punishment, Miel brought her snacks every day to coax, no, comfort her, ensuring that no incidents like Dokoran breaking the window to escape occurred out of boredom.

“The tea tastes good.”

“Indeed.”

With the addition of Hino Kanae, who surprisingly got along well with Pamiyu, Dokoran’s confinement effectively turned into a meaningless spree of eating and playing in the dormitory.

“So? When did you meet that kid Park Huiyeon?”

“Baek Huiyeong, I told you. Ran, you’ve got crumbs on your mouth.”

Miel Ambert diligently wiped the snack crumbs off Dokoran’s mouth, while Hino Kanae and Pamiyu Dimejeare sat by the window, sipping from fine teacups and playing chess on a tablet hologram.

If Baek Huiyeong, who was tangled in dust at the training ground with Beatus, had seen this scene, he would surely doubt his own eyes.

How many days had passed like this?

“Yawn.”

As the chatter began to dwindle, Dokoran, sprawled lazily on the bed as usual, suddenly spotted something on the holographic screen projected by her watch, her eyes lighting up.

“What did you say you’d do during your break?”

“Huh?”

“…How many times do I have to ask that? I’ll be going home, what else would I do?”

“I don’t really have any plans, though.”

Miel replied, sipping the chocolate milk that Hino Kanae had prepared for her, while Pamiyu and Kanae gazed at her with a strangely anxious look.

“Hunt the Cosmic Beasts in the Free Planetary Alliance!

Carpe Diem Entertainment”

“Then let’s go do this!”

What she showed was an advertisement that piqued considerable interest.