Elite Instructor at a Third-Rate Academy

38 – Logic of a Ruffian ☆

It’s incomprehensible.

Terra Symond pondered over the two consecutive losses. Originally, as planned, he intended to leave as soon as he received the recommendation letter from Viscount Half Cliff. Once the school’s approval was obtained, he would inform the students and immediately pack his bags. The prospective new position was at a first-class academy in the capital area, closer to the royal family, better than here, a third-class academy.

─ A-1 class will be in chaos if I disappear.

In such a chaotic situation, Genoa officially applied for a class change. Blame arrows would be directed at him, and instead of assigning a new homeroom teacher, they would end up moving to the classes they wanted. Haelon also considered it better than Genoa insisting on a class change, so it was a viable plan.

“I don’t like it.”

The only reason he couldn’t execute this plan was his pride.

“It wasn’t to the extent that I couldn’t win.”

After the initial sparring, he had two more bouts. It started with an invitation to fight, and Terra took it seriously each time. If it came to martial arts, Terra was confident. His alma mater, Belot Academy, operated a martial arts curriculum and had excellent professors. However, the result was a defeat.

─ It didn’t seem to be anything special, so why did I lose so consecutively?

This was the question that touched his pride.

“It was beyond ordinary.”

Terra Symond’s martial arts seemed better than what he had systematically learned. If he thought he could win and made a move, before he knew it, his collar or sleeve would be caught, and he would be thrown to the ground. He couldn’t understand the reason for this absurd frustration. If the opponent was unbeatable, if there was a significant difference in skill, he would give up, but that wasn’t the case, making him feel insane.

“Foolish act.”

There was no reason to grumble just because of pride. What did it matter if he won or lost against another instructor? Just ignore it and leave. Once the recommendation letter arrives, show it to the headmaster, fill out the transfer application, and that’s it.

“Damn it…!”

However, the words he had spoken just before the previous duel hung like thorns in his throat.

“Terra Simond. May I inform you of a matter concerning the council?”

It was right after he had been knocked down three times.

“No.”

“Very well. I shall take my leave now.”

“Why don’t you tell me why you did it before that?”

Terra asked in front of his disciples, openly demanding an explanation for the insult he had received. If it was a coincidence, he couldn’t believe it, and if it was intentional, he needed to address it now. His wounded pride from that moment had yet to heal.

“I did it on purpose.”

“Were you trying to impress Genovanna Senit?”

He had not expected Terra to be so provocative; he seemed different from Ivon Dikio and playfully suggested that he might have been mistaken.

“I didn’t know you were so fond of the kids.”

Despite knowing it was forced, Terra continued to provoke.

“Council members are good at making assumptions.”

“What do you mean?”

“They genuinely believe in their judgments, even without any evidence.”

He didn’t deny the part he agreed with.

“Do you plan to become an officer if you quit as an instructor?”

After a long silence, Terra posed a question.

“Isn’t that a matter that Stiand instructors need not concern themselves with?”

“I hope you’ll stay in the teaching profession.”

“I am not your student, so you should refrain from unwarranted interference.”

“If you intend to become an officer, you must learn to make judgments based on the situation, not just your own thoughts.”

For a moment, Terra sensed a gap in his words greater than his martial skills.

“You’ve reached the rank of lieutenant, but in terms of attitude, I still see you as a student.”

“Is that so?”

“Even your defeat and the grip on your throat were considerations meant for you to realize on your own.”

As if to challenge Terra with the question of whether he had now understood, he suddenly stood up and clenched his fist.

“Shall we have another round?”

“I don’t think you’ll win.”

“Give it a try, you know.”

“It’s difficult if you don’t change your thinking.”

Without responding, he charged again, using his own strength to push his opponent to the ground.

“Darn it!”

“Why did I lose? Why can’t I win?”

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

“If you don’t change the subject of your thoughts, a solution won’t come.”

“It’s pathetic to think you can teach just because you’ve won a few times.”

Even though he considered himself a great academy instructor, Temulic Stained stood there, unyielding as a stone, mocking whether he knew he had become a mere pawn.

“Terra Simond.”

“I don’t even call you an instructor anymore.”

“Words won’t make you understand.”

“What?”

“If you were so embarrassed and angry, you should have changed.”

“Just because you’re good at martial arts, you think you can play at being a teacher?”

“It’s pitiful to still believe your opponent is beneath you.”

Terra couldn’t answer the question about what it meant to be caught by an opponent who thought he would definitely win. Even after experiencing such an event, he only said this.

“Let’s fight again next time.”

“Think about why you lost, not why I won.”

As he moved away, he said that the answer would only come if you pondered on it, and for some reason, it felt distant. The Q&A from that day left scars deep in Terra’s heart, becoming a heavy shackle that he couldn’t easily leave behind, even if the opportunity to leave Ryland came.

— I have to win at least once.

Terra Simond couldn’t admit that there was someone better than him in this pigsty. It was because acknowledging that would be admitting that he himself was a pig. Naturally, he had to prove that it was a false proposition.

[#38 – School Refusers]

The school refusers Kennis had to meet today were three in total.

The boys were Gresnok and Galterius, and the girl was Petrona, the anomaly being Galterius, the illegitimate son of a viscount. The other two were commoners, so they could be easily oppressed by the authority of the instructors.

“Is this Gresnok’s dormitory?”

When he asked the C-class male dormitory supervisor, the supervisor nodded.

“What we’re about to do has the headmaster’s permission, so you don’t need to worry.”

After placating the supervisor with somewhat verbose words, he took out a hammer hidden at his waist.

“Step aside.”

Kennis exerted all his strength and swung the wooden sword at the door handle. It didn’t break on the first hit, but after three consecutive strikes, the joint came loose, and the door creaked open. The supervisor, visibly shaken, asked if everything was okay, to which Kennis responded with a casual smile.

“It’s for the morning assembly; it’s fine.”

As he opened the door, the supervisor mumbled something about not understanding and fled. Inside the room, Gresnock, now awake, stared at Kennis with bewildered eyes. Kennis observed Gresnock, wrapped in his blanket, and then declared in a straightforward manner.

“If you have a valid reason for refusing to attend, go back to sleep.”

“Are you crazy? Whether I go out or not, what does it matter to you?”

“I’ll ask again.”

The homeroom teacher inquired if there was any special reason to consider.

“It’s just how I feel. But what if I break that thing?”

Gresnock retorted, wondering if Kennis could even ask him such a question, and Kennis reached a decisive conclusion.

“In other words, no valid reason.”

“Fine, there isn’t. Damn it!”

“I’ve given you enough grace period.”

The semester had already started, and if more time passed, catching up would be impossible.

“Who are you to care? What the hell is this nonsense?”

“Homeroom teacher.”

Stopping at that point, Kennis took a step back and punched Gresnock in the stomach. With a thud, Gresnock was pushed back against the wall, gasping for breath and retching.

“If there’s something you don’t like, come discuss it during the disciplinary period.”

Kennis looked at the student, unable to speak due to vomiting, and picked up a hammer.

“Don’t bother fixing the door if possible.”

─Because I’ll break it again until you come to school.

“Are you insane… jerk… What authority do you have… damn it… is this even allowed?”

Kennis, gently caressing the slightly damaged hammer at the end, responded.

“Of course, I have the authority.”

Finally ceasing his vomiting, Gresnock, with a challenging gaze, pushed back against the logic of a troublemaker.

“You can’t even beat a non-combat homeroom teacher when you hope to be in the combat field.”

So, he promised not to come if Kennis could knock him down.

─Of course, that’s impossible.

This guy couldn’t even catch the hem of Terra Symond’s robe, let alone defeat him. Before the issue of skill, his lack of perseverance and focus made him inferior to Jeffrey. Even if Gresnock and Galterius attacked together, it would be futile. So, with this third-rate troublemaker, it wasn’t about words but about waking him up with force.

“I heard you’re good at Thai. You should have come to school earlier.”

If he had, he wouldn’t have dared to challenge the homeroom teacher, and convincing him with words was not an option.

“Whenever you want, come and join us, and take off your rank badge.”

It’s not a sight to see an officer speaking like this to an ordinary private. What can they do? Even if they raise objections, it will end at the school level, and even if they go further, it will be resolved at the Warren Line. If they go beyond that, the royal family will intervene. It’s a catastrophe for them, so they have no choice but to withdraw their objections. Their authority was unparalleled in Lailand.

“Now, I have to go see your dear friend, Galterius.”

Kennis kicked the door with his foot. The door, without a latch, shook as the water inside splashed. The momentary sight of his room becoming like a dilapidated building was ridiculous. He knew that he would either go to school or try to kill him soon while trembling with a sense of humiliation. Men are simple. Ruffians are even simpler. If you press and hierarchize them with force, they will obediently follow.

“Galterius.”

This time, when he showed up again, this guy was still in the middle of physical training. He was in the midst of doing push-ups, so Kenness told him to get up. And when he stood up and took a stance, Kenness hit him a couple of times in the face with his fist before forcefully gouging his jaw. And then, there was a crack sound, and he collapsed on the floor.

“Nobleman Ennis, the reason for refusing to go to school.”

When asked if the above facts were true, he only turned pale and frothed at the mouth.

“I told Gresnov the same thing just now. If you don’t like it, come to the classroom and argue with me. If you break my fist, I won’t come looking for you again, whether you want to devise a way to win or get beaten up every day, it’s up to you. You can raise objections if you want. However, it won’t look good to others if a combat-oriented student complains that they couldn’t beat a non-combat-oriented instructor. See you tomorrow. If you don’t show up during the ordinance, the instructor will come and conduct customized lessons at an unexpected time, just like today.”

Kennis put the sheath of his sword warningly at Galterius’s head. He was halfway unconscious, so he might not remember any of this. Once again, he kicked the door with a bang, and one latch fell off. There wasn’t much to it, so he could easily ask without any burden. But still, as a nobleman, Galterius wasn’t just lying there.

– I’d rather have someone like this.

Galterius was arrogant and unruly, but luckily, he knew how to make an effort.

“Ah, Temulic is here!”

Finally, when they met at the agreed-upon place, Senith greeted him with a playful smile.

“They say men can’t enter the women’s dormitory.”

Intentionally speaking softly, she nodded with a sweet cake in her mouth.

“It’s an honor to be able to help.”

Kennis ordered a few more desserts. Since she was a church member, he knew she would never demand compensation. As expected, she said she didn’t need anything, but the rings on the bars trembled. It’s easy to handle once you find something simple. After thinking for a moment, he took out a candy from the deep pocket of his pants.

“I don’t know what flavor you like.”

And so, he handed her anything, and she made a cute sound as she smacked her lips.

“It’s cherry flavor.”