15
“A conference? And with external guests invited?”
They had organized a conference just for my exam!
They even invited external guests.
A well-planned scheme to thoroughly disgrace me.
The topic was even more absurd.
“The unraveling of the fractal structure in interstellar magic? Isn’t this one of the challenges in basic magic studies?”
Hans beside me had an enraged expression.
“What kind of new professor’s exam has such a topic?! It’s absolutely ridiculous and impossible to follow…!!”
“It’s fine. No, I actually like it.”
“Master Kong?”
If Balik had given a conventional written exam, I might have been in great trouble.
Although I possessed the skills of a mage apprentice, I had studied magic for just over a month. My knowledge was far from absolute.
However.
“If it’s this kind of problem, the story changes.”
I confidently lifted the corners of my mouth.
“Hans, you told me. That I would become the star of the magical world.”
“…Yes.”
“Tomorrow, people will see that light.”
And so, the day of the exam arrived.
* * *
“We have arrived.”
Getting off the carriage, I marveled.
‘This is Rubiness Academy.’
Seeing the scenery with my own eyes that I had only seen in the game was a new experience.
‘It’s huge. Not like any other city.’
It felt like a city within a city?
Seoul National University, a large campus that could be counted on one hand in Seoul, was incomparable.
‘If you add up the size of the land, it’s about 20% of the entire area of the Free City.’
Considering that the Free City is one of the Empire’s top cities, the size of Rubiness Academy could be compared to a substantial small city.
Of course, most of that land is off-limits sealed areas, unused places, and only a small part is used by actual students.
‘The places students use look like university campuses. Well, the structure of the faculties is similar to a university.’
By the way, the academies of the ‘Hero Academy’ are composed of a total of four faculties.
Knight Department.
Magic Department.
Liberal Arts Department.
Support Department.
From the fact that there are four of them, you might have noticed that one playable protagonist is assigned to each department.
“In each academy, four protagonists are assigned, and those four are assigned one each to those four departments.”
At Rubiness Academy, one will be assigned to the Knight Department, one to the Magic Department, one to the Liberal Arts Department, and one to the Support Department, making a total of four.
“For once, let the protagonists with faint presence be assigned.”
Anyway, that’s something for later.
I applied as a professor of the “General Department” in the Magic Department.
The “General Department” was simply the “Miscellaneous Department.”
A non-mainstream department that brings together various minor schools of magic that cannot enter the mainstream.
Among the General Department, I am scheduled to become a professor specializing in the “Magic Theory” field, which is the most marginalized.
“I love the feeling of being an outsider. I’ll quietly enjoy my professor’s life.”
However, the moment I stepped into the academy, I realized one problem.
Too many people were focused on me.
“Oh? Senior Banregi?”
“You really applied as a professor?”
“What the hell?”
It was only natural.
Half of them had graduated from the academy just a few years ago.
The current fourth-year graduating class must have been those who witnessed the trashy appearance of their class when they were freshmen.
“Professor, you’re not going to be appointed, are you? Seriously, I was thinking of going to graduate school. Should I reconsider?”
“Don’t worry. There’s no way you’ll pass the exam.”
“With the influence of the Ecclesia aristocrat, you might be appointed by parachute.”
“No, Valik professor said he would definitely fail us. Don’t worry about it.”
It seemed like rumors about me had already spread.
“Well, even if I quietly endure, it’s a sinking gaze.”
Still, it seemed necessary to calm down a bit.
“Don’t worry, everyone. I’ll do well. I’m harmless,” I said with a reassuring heart.
“Are you guys students at Luminous Academy? You seem lacking. But it’s okay. From now on, I’ll lead you, so you just have to trust and follow me.”
“….”
Oops.
The black dragon’s mouth caused trouble again.
I quickly tried to salvage the situation with as warm a tone as possible.
“Are you the graduating class? Are you going to graduate school? If you need anything, feel free to come find me. My research lab is always open for you.”
“Uwaaa!! We’ll go now!”
Like graduates fleeing from a wicked slave trader, the graduating class students turned pale and disappeared.
I awkwardly lowered the hand I had raised.
“…When I say I’ll do well in graduate school, I mean it.”
For your information, when I became a professor, I had to recruit graduate students.
They’ll do well.
…Seriously.
At that moment, a voice, thick with oil, echoed.
“Mr. Student, long time no see. Ah, you’ve truly become quite splendid in my absence. Your Excellency Hwam, are you well?”
He was a middle-aged man adorned with jewels that shimmered across his entire body.
A splendor that did not pale in comparison to a duke’s bird.
Upon closer inspection, he was quite handsome, but due to excessive adornment, he ended up looking rather ridiculous.
I was taken aback.
‘Count Karak, the principal!’
That’s right.
The man with this ostentatious appearance was the principal leading the Rubiness Academy.
‘The culprit who ruined Rubiness Academy.’
Originally, Rubiness Academy was not the last among the top four prestigious academies.
There were times when it even competed for the 1st and 2nd spots.
It all went downhill after that man took office as the principal.
‘The worst principal in history.’
However, I felt a tense feeling.
There was a reason.
Coincidentally, Principal Count Karak Baekjak grinned with a sly expression.
“Classmate, no, not a student anymore. It’s not because of failing Ban Gongja that you were concerned about upsetting Duke Huam, right? Heh, I also recognize Ban Gongja’s excellence, but there was nothing I could do.”
A loyal servant-like expression and tone.
However, I didn’t miss the coldness that brushed through the depths of Count Karak’s eyes.
“He’s not just a simple loser.”
The final hidden boss of the Rubyness Scenario’s first year.
That was Count Karak’s hidden identity.
A true antagonist.
“…Whether I say it or not, it doesn’t matter to me.”
Dealing with that terrifying principal and clashing with each other to protect the Rubiness Academy is the responsibility of the ‘protagonists.’
“After all, I’m an extra. There’s no need for me to confront the principal for no reason.”
Beliefs and greed.
Justice and pure evil.
In the future, there will be numerous clashes at the academy, but I had no intention of fighting on either side.
My dream is to be neutral, the first time, the second time, the third time, you could say?
At that moment,
From Noble mtl dot com
“Oh, the memories of Ban Gongja’s school days come to mind. It feels nostalgic to come to the academy after a long time. How is it? As a graduate and aspiring professor, do you have any stories you want to share for the sake of the academy?”
I faintly furrowed my eyebrows.
It’s an “exam.”
He’s trying to see if I will be a hindrance to myself.
“I have to appear harmless as much as possible.”
I turned my head swiftly.
It’s a simple matter.
“Not at all.”
“Hmm?”
“Why would I give any advice? The Headmaster is leading so brilliantly.”
But the Headmaster’s response was strange.
“Oh, is that so? Hmm.”
A somewhat puzzling reaction.
“??”
“No, it’s nothing. hahahaha, how did you become so serious?”
I felt uneasy, but the Headmaster quickly returned to his usual sycophantic mode, bowing like a loyal servant.
“Oh, I’ve been holding you for too long. I can’t attend the exam due to my schedule, but I’ll cheer for you. You know my feelings towards Master Ban, hehehe? Oh, please send my regards to Duke Hoam too!”
I had no choice but to head to the exam venue when the time came.
* * *
“Hmm, it’s fascinating.”
Headmaster Karak, looking at Ban’s back, had sharp eyes.
The servile atmosphere from just a moment ago had completely disappeared.
“For Master Ban to change like that.”
An unexpected evaluation.
Ban hadn’t said anything special just now.
However, what caught Karak’s attention was a different aspect.
“The overwhelming aura reminiscent of Confucius. That can’t be a fake,” he said.
The charisma of the Black Flame Dragon was stirring up the room again!
Though Karak was composed, the overflowing charisma was evident in his discerning eyes.
Above all else,
“Would I offer any advice? The Headmaster is leading so splendidly.”
Bans’ gaze as he spoke.
Incredibly arrogant and dignified.
In his mind, he thought,
“Isn’t the problem with this academy you being the Headmaster?”
A surprising response.
Since he couldn’t openly blame the Headmaster, he expressed it this way.
…Of course, it was a complete misunderstanding, but the arrogant look Bans just displayed made it inevitable.
“hehehe, yes, that’s correct. I’m the one who made the Venus Academy like this,” Chancellor Karak chuckled.
“It seems the Duke of Huam was not lying when he said Bans had changed in his letter.”
No, it was more than that.
Chancellor Karak looked towards the conference room where Bans had disappeared.
“I’m curious to see what kind of appearance he’ll show.”
He had no intention of interfering in Bans’ appointment test.
Valic, burdened with the responsibility of handling the Duke of Lafayette, knew it was entirely within his jurisdiction.
“It’s impossible to pass, but…”
Just in case.
If a miracle were to happen.
“I should keep an eye on it.”
The Chief Karak’s eyes gleamed like a snake.
—
Tap.
As I entered the conference hall, everyone’s gaze turned towards me.
“There are more people than I thought.”
There seemed to be over 50 spectators.
“Most of them seem to be Lafayette’s hangers-on.”
Surprisingly, there didn’t seem to be many students or professors from the academy.
In fact, this couldn’t even be considered a proper conference, so there was no reason to attend.
There were only a few professors who had attached themselves to the Duke of Lafayette.
“I wonder if Sir Valic will be nervous and give a proper lecture.”
“I heard he couldn’t even give a presentation properly when he was at the academy.”
Murmurs filled the air.
It was clear that Valic intended to embarrass me in front of a lot of people.
But inside, I couldn’t help but smile.
‘I’m sorry, but I’m familiar with this kind of situation.’
It’s not just running around in sales.
Sometimes, for product promotion presentations, I’ve stood on a much larger stage than this.
The charisma of the Black Flame Dragon supported me.
“Nice to meet you all. I’m Ban Eclesia, invited as a lecturer for this conference.”
“!!”
Even to my ears, it was an impressively dignified voice.
The hall murmured, and Valic, with a wrinkled brow at my unexpected appearance, received the microphone.
“Welcome, Professor Ban Eclesia, who came as a lecturer. I am Valic, the chairman of this conference.”
Valic’s eyes gleamed fiercely.
Even though I showed an unexpected appearance, I felt his determination to definitely put me in my place.
“Professor Ban Eclesia will lecture on the unraveling of the fractal structure in interstellar space. After the lecture, please evaluate the lecture. Today’s evaluation score will determine Professor Ban Eclesia’s temporary appointment exam pass.”
Most of the people gathered here were from the Raphat Duchy.
In other words, it could be considered that I had no chance of passing.
‘If it’s ‘typical.’
But.
“The topic this time is a puzzle in the magical realm. We are truly looking forward to how Professor Ban Eclesia will deliver the lecture.”
‘A puzzle.’
The answer was here.
I stepped onto the podium.
“Before I begin, I would like to ask for your understanding. Today’s lecture may be somewhat difficult for you to grasp.”
The arrogant voice of Heuk Yeom-ryong echoed.
“For me, the topic is too simple, and I’m not sure how to explain it to your level.”
Shock and bewilderment appeared on everyone’s faces.
Faces that seemed to say, ‘Are you crazy?’