I Was the Strongest Sword God in My Past Life

part 15

Not just a commoner, but a lowborn.

With effort alone, Kashen became a fifth-class saber at the age of 28. It was regrettable that he had to retire from active duty due to an ankle injury.

‘And his personality is terrible, but…’

A man worthy of respect.

However, Romina knew that Kashen had been feeling doubtful about his instructor position lately.

The aristocratic attitudes of the noble students.

The inferiority complex of the students with relatively low achievements.

Kashen disliked this atmosphere.

But changing such a trend was too much for a teacher, as the difference in positions created distance.

To ventilate the pervasive air of discrimination within the school…

‘It has to come from the students…’

Romina looked at Kashen with moist eyes. Kashen frowned as he stared back at her face.

“Why do you smirk while looking at me? It’s unpleasant.”

‘…….’

* * *

The conference room.

A day after the exams.

An emergency meeting was convened ahead of the announcement of the school rankings. The commotion was due to Gate Number One, to which Jian belonged.

Over twenty professors were seated around a massive table, and in their midst, Selfis was dribbling saliva.

“56 five-point marbles, 60 three-point marbles, a total of 500 points… Indeed, there seems to be a problem with scoring it this way.”

A young professor teaching acting chimed in.

“This is unprecedented. From 162nd to number one? This could cast doubt on the standards of the school ranking.”

At that, Romina glared at the acting professor.

“Doubt? A total score of 500 points is first place not only in Arcana but also in other academies. It’s a new record. If such a student isn’t number one, then who is!”

“Does it make sense to elevate the last place to number one with just one exam? What about the written tests and other subjects? Isn’t this abnormal scoring result due to the grading system of Gate Number One being a relative evaluation?”

Jerome, the acting professor who was listing points methodically, caused Romina to shut her mouth tightly. The reason Jian, ranked 162nd, came out as 9th was due to the exam’s grading system.

Relative evaluation.

Isabel, Lake, and Rita, who were in the top ranks, were defeated, and a new record of 500 points was set, resulting in an unbelievable 9th place finish.

“Why do you keep calling me the last place?”

Romina, bristling with anger, was about to stand up when Kashen mediated between the two.

Kashen, unlike usual, was properly dressed and had his long hair tied back, looking quite the part of a teacher.

“Everyone, please calm down.”

Kashen continued in a calm voice.

“It might not be a bad idea to abolish relative evaluation on this occasion.”

“Hey! Kashen!”

“Stop it. And don’t use informal language during the meeting. Romina.”

The reason the noisy relative evaluation system hadn’t disappeared was that there had been no precedent for destroying the balance.

“But now, Gate Number One has become a precedent for breaking the balance.”

It was indeed problematic to raise Jian to 9th place as it stood.

“It might be better to abolish relative evaluation and distribute scores based on the order of performance monitored during the test.”

At Kashen’s words, Romina let out a ‘Huh?’ expressing her displeasure.

“Professor Kashen? What about the unfortunate party who would be relegated to, at best, 40th place? …Right?”

“That only applies to the other five students. As for Jian’s ranking…”

At that tense moment, when Kashen halted his speech, not only Selfis but all the professors’ attention was drawn to him.

Unable to bear the suspense, Selfis asked, “What about Jian’s ranking? Continue, Professor Kashen.”

“Jian’s ranking can be maintained. We just delay the announcement. We can reveal it when everyone finds the situation acceptable.”

“But that will certainly reduce the backlash… What about the dormitory facilities and the benefits of being number one?”

As Selfis inquired, Kashen replied firmly, “Principal. Of course, the benefits must be given. That’s why we have the ranking system. A student with abilities deserves to enjoy them, don’t they?”

Kashen estimated Jian’s skills to be about a fourth-grade saber in combat. That was a skill level not lacking even among active members.

‘Number one…’

Selfis fell into contemplation.

It seemed like a matter that would pass if he alone permitted it.

‘If we abolish the relative evaluation…’

Isabel’s rank wouldn’t drop. Her efforts were enough, having dealt with Wureuk and cleared the hidden incident.

‘Then the chairman would be pleased.’

The problem was Jian.

Annoying throughout the semester due to lack of skills, and now that he’s skilled, he’s making me look foolish in interviews?

‘I don’t like that guy… However.’

The proposal from G Channel for Jian’s extracurricular activities had arrived.

To put it plainly, they wanted Jian to participate in a broadcast.

For that reason alone, Jian had to be given the benefits of being number one.

‘Ha! A direct recruitment proposal from the broadcasting station, unimaginable.’

“Hmm-.”

Humming, Selfis sank into thought.

The image of Jian, performing in an Arcana school uniform on a TV broadcast expected to easily surpass 10% viewership.

Unknowingly, Selfis’s lips curled up in a smile.

“Very well! If there are no further objections, let’s proceed as Professor Kashen suggests.”

At Selfis’s response, the acting professor wore a reluctant expression.

Yet, with no more objections, the meeting came to an end.

* * *

As Kasen walked along the path to the main building, Romina caught up with him.

“Hey!”

“I’d prefer if you used honorifics at school, Professor Romina.”

“Buzz off! With that ill-fitting suit and your hair tied up. Ugh, do you always dress like that, or what’s with the way you talk?”

When Romina sneered, Kasen untied his hair.

“What’s the big deal you’ve been wanting to say? If it’s a quarrel, let’s settle it with our bodies. I’m still active duty.”

“Are instructors considered active duty these days? Well… what you did just now wasn’t too bad. Sneakily taking care of things~.”

“I simply offered my ideas as fairly as possible.”

Romina chuckled with a ‘Really?’ and then touched Kasen’s chin.

“Why become dishonest with age? Are you a high school girl? Dressing up in a suit just to sound convincing.”

Romina continued to tease Kasen with a sly smile.

“Dear sir~ You should give credit where it’s due. There are students worthy of that, aren’t there?”

As Romina pressed closer, Kasen pushed her forehead.

“Sure, it’s natural to be biased.”

Romina’s eyes widened at Kasen’s uncharacteristic response.

‘Huh? What’s this?’

Kasen’s gaze drifted into the distance.

And then, wistfully,

“Jien is my prized pupil.”

He said, adding a boast for good measure.

“You’ve seen his swordsmanship? I taught him that, as his sparring instructor.”

Romina was speechless at Kasen’s unexpected reply.

‘…Kasen, since when were you like this?’

* * *

Weekends at Arcana.

Unless there’s a special schedule, students are free on weekends.

They can go out without having to buy an exit pass with SP, or they can rest comfortably in the dorms.

Jien chose the latter. He first moved from the ominous D4 dormitory to the A1 dormitory.

Bubble bath.

A double-sized bed.

A room square times larger than the one I used before.

The dormitory guaranteed various conveniences. Facilities incomparable to building D4, where cockroaches crawled out.

“…It’s really the best.”

Jien sat in the massage chair, feet soaking in the foot bath.

In a previous life, even after smashing all sorts of gates, such luxury was out of reach.

‘Times have changed indeed.’

As the body relaxes, so does the mind.

‘I’ve been too negative, only seeing the bad.’

After regaining my memories, I hadn’t rested comfortably. The fatigue accumulated from overworking my body.

‘It’s melting, melting away.’

Right now, Jien was happier than anyone.

‘Just like this, leisurely for about three hours…’

Zzing.

‘Did I expect a message this weekend?’

[Jien Russell. Can you come to the principal’s office now? -Selfis-]

Checking the phone, Jien’s expression turned sour.

‘The messages seem much more polite than before…’

Jien had already heard from Kashen why his ranking was registered as [undetermined].

Yet, fortunately, the benefits remained the same.

Jien received the benefits corresponding to the number one rank 9, as per the evaluation test scores.

That was thanks to Selfis’s ‘willing’ approval.

Had the principal not allowed it, the 459 SP (School points), the dormitory in building A1, and the right to off-campus activities might have all flown away.

[I’ll come now.]

A successful first step.

Jien felt quite good.

* * *

The principal’s office remained the same. The wooden table, the luxurious furniture, and the extravagant accessories were all unchanged.

What had changed was not the principal’s office…

“Hehe, the virtual gate test. I was really impressed. If I hadn’t given the opportunity, I would have lost a great talent.”

He was the principal. Selfis spoke with an unexpectedly tender voice.

“Thank you, Principal. But may I ask why you’ve summoned me today?”

Gien’s modest reply implied he wanted to get straight to the point, but Selfis just chuckled and poured some tea into the cup before him.

“Let’s have some tea first. If you need sugar, add this. It’s from a crystallized insect called ‘Sugarbug.’ The taste is quite…”

‘I remember he used to drink alone. Where have I seen this act before…’

Selfis didn’t get to the point, instead, he kept beating around the bush.

“People call this the era of peace, but it’s not really so.”

“Yes.”

“Have you heard about the Mage Tower observing an unknown gate?”

Selfis spoke with feigned seriousness, but Gien was not at all curious.

“A gate with a mana level higher than grade 8 has been observed. Yes! It might even be an unknown difficulty of grade 9.”

Enthralled, Selfis’s hands struck the table.

The cup trembled.

“Even more! There are villains who use the power of Stigmata for crime! How can this be called an era of peace!”

After finishing his speech, Selfis stroked his mustache and finally got to the point, ‘That being said-.’

“It would be nice if the students could give a positive image to the citizens through extracurricular activities, wouldn’t it? It would also enhance the school’s prestige.”

Selfis pushed forward a single sheet of paper.

[Extracurricular Event – Battle Survival]