Chapter 21 : Storm’s New Instructor (5)
by AfuhfuihgsAll heroes of the continent are born with destiny.
When exactly this destiny began to manifest or where it originated from remains unknown.
However, the duty of a hero to protect people from monsters and beasts is clear.
Additionally, the level of a hero’s abilities varies greatly depending on the crossroads they face.
Under such basic principles, heroes carry out their activities, and the military academy also raises its cadets based on these.
“How many third-level heroes were among the new recruits this time?”
“Eight in total, Commander.”
For instance, heroes born with their destiny are called ‘first-level heroes’ when they reach their ‘first crossroads.’
Most cadets entering the academy fall into this category, but occasionally, there are those with exceptional talent who have already reached the ‘second crossroads’ or whose potential is much higher.
Thus, most heroes who graduate from the academy are classified as second-level or third-level heroes.
Heroes capable of killing high-level monsters and beasts.
From the ‘fourth crossroads,’ where they are truly called heroes, they begin to attract the attention of both the kingdom and the continent as high-ranking heroes.
Even the most ignorant commoners, who know little about the world of heroes, were aware of this.
“The number has decreased compared to last year.”
And here stands a hero who has surpassed the fourth crossroads and blossomed into the ‘fifth crossroads.’
His name is Theodore Crowflin.
He is the head of the Crowflin Ducal family, renowned for their swordsmanship, and the commander of the Clephe Knights, considered the best in the kingdom.
Despite being a noble with the greatest power in the kingdom, second only to King Lucius Clephe, he remained a loyal servant who still wished to be active in the field.
As Duke Crowflin slightly furrowed his brow and commented on the decrease in third-level recruits, a knight assisting him calmly explained.
“It seems many of them have been drawn to the academy as instructors. I heard that more than three third-level heroes were selected as new instructors this year, just like last year.”
“Again? It seems more and more heroes are aspiring to become instructors lately.”
“Yes, ever since the Star of the Kingdom took up the post of instructor, this trend seems to have intensified.”
The Star of the Kingdom.
It referred to Akina Crowflin.
In other words, it was a title given to Duke Crowflin’s daughter.
During the Great War, she seemed destined to lead the kingdom from the front lines, but after the war ended, she suddenly declared her intention to become an instructor and left for the academy.
With her immense fame, unparalleled skill, and stunning beauty, Akina, who enjoyed overwhelming popularity in the kingdom, became an instructor at the academy.
Naturally, many heroes admired her and sought to follow in her footsteps to become instructors.
“Haha, I never expected to lose talent because of my daughter.”
“Think of it as waiting to cultivate even greater talents. We can continue to nurture third-level heroes within the knights’ order, can’t we?”
“You’re right.”
“And recently, I heard there’s a new instructor who was appointed as a lead instructor after Akina. It seems the flow of talent into the instructor positions is steady.”
“Ah, you must be talking about Edgar Mulick.”
Duke Crowflin had already heard about Edgar Mulick.
The second son of the Grand Magic family had become an instructor in the swordsmanship department, and his skills were so exceptional that he immediately earned a third-rank instructor title.
As someone who walked the same path of a sword hero, Crowflin couldn’t help but be intrigued.
“I heard he’s opened the Fourth Crossroads.”
“That’s just baseless talk.”
“Haha. I think so too. The newspapers have always been prone to exaggeration.”
- Edgar Mulick has opened the Fourth Crossroads and become a fourth-level hero!
Such rumors were circulating, but sword heroes working in the field did not believe it.
It wasn’t about believing or not believing; it was simply impossible.
After receiving one’s first destiny, the fastest a hero can reach the second crossroads is at an incredible speed. On rare occasions, once-in-a-century geniuses might start at the third crossroads.
But progressing from the third to the fourth crossroads takes at least five years.
Edgar had only graduated from the academy a year ago, and before that, he had been studying in the magic department. Could he already be a fourth-level hero?
Even if you generously considered Edgar a genius, the speed was absurd.
The newspapers pointed to the “simultaneous hunt of fifteen Kelleil monsters” as evidence, but any third-level hero in the Clephe Knights could have achieved that result.
‘Still…’
Duke Crowflin felt a surge of curiosity.
Even if it was exaggerated, it was still remarkable.
A person who had just switched to the path of a sword hero had reached at least the third crossroads and obtained a third-rank lead instructor position.
And he was the son of the Marquis of Mulick, a family closely tied to the Crowflin Duchy.
There was no shortage of reasons for Edgar to draw attention.
That’s why all the newspapers were in such a frenzy, writing articles about him.
“Rick, didn’t the Kingdom’s investigation team make a request for cooperation recently?”
Duke Crowflin was the type to address his curiosity immediately.
He had just thought of a suitable solution and asked one of his knights.
“Yes? Ah, yes. They requested cooperation because there’s a possibility of high-level monsters or beasts in the Red Thicket area. If it turns out to be a beast, it’ll fall to our knights to handle it.”
“Then prepare an additional special cooperation request letter.”
“Where should I send it?”
“To Tristan Hero Academy.”
More precisely, to the swordsmanship department of the academy.
The request was directed to the new instructor, Edgar Mulick.
It was a cooperation request for additional investigation into the Red Thicket, with Edgar serving as a referenced collaborator.
With only a month left until the academy term began, I had been spending my days quite busily.
I had been learning the duties I would undertake as an instructor in the swordsmanship department, as well as participating in research and regular meetings, all of which consumed a lot of time.
Additionally, as a member of the academy, there were many administrative tasks I had to handle.
On top of that, I had been appointed as a lead instructor for this semester.
I needed to focus on preparing the new course that would be launched.
Because of how busy I had been, I had to delay a planned meeting with my father.
I did wonder if I really needed to be working this much, but since I was genuinely interested in my new duties after returning, I didn’t have many complaints.
“It seems you finally have a bit of free time.”
Ray, who was organizing documents beside me, spoke with a calm expression.
At first, I found his manner of speaking a bit stiff, but after hearing it enough times, it started to feel oddly comforting.
“Yes. Ray, you’ve worked hard as well. There must have been a lot to handle.”
“I was only assisting you, Edgar.”
Ray and Akina’s support had been immensely helpful during the long adaptation process.
Ray, with his background as a butler, efficiently managed all the small tasks as my assistant, while Akina, as the senior instructor, meticulously taught me everything I needed to know.
Thanks to their help, my new course on <Valut Swordsmanship> passed administrative approval smoothly and was confirmed for launch.
Now, all that remained were the cadets’ course registrations, which were taking place today, and the start of the academy term, about a month away.
“Edgar, the course registration results will be out in one minute.”
“Hmm.”
“Are you nervous?”
“Haha, Ray, you joke too much. Why would I be nervous about something like this?”
“…”
Ray sighed as if my appearance, clearly showing nervousness, was obvious to anyone.
At Tristan Hero Academy, course registration takes place one month before the start of the term.
Course registration at the academy is conducted through a magical tool called the “Crystal of Destiny,” which is provided to all cadets.
After registering their pre-selected course list, cadets activate the crystal at the appointed date and time, and the registration is completed.
Each course has a set number of seats, and if a cadet activates the crystal too late, they will fail to secure a spot, leading to fierce competition on registration day.
And now, my new course, <Valut Swordsmanship>, was about to be launched.
It was a class aimed at first-year hero cadets, and I had set the maximum capacity to 30 students.
Instructors like Akina Crowflin, who are the most popular in the department, often set their class sizes to 100, but as a newly appointed instructor, I knew I wouldn’t fill that many seats, so I set a modest limit.
Even so, I couldn’t help but feel tense.
The department had a rule that if a class didn’t fill at least 30% of its seats, it would be canceled.
“Edgar, don’t get your hopes up too much. Even though you’ve become famous lately, getting cadets to sign up for a new course is a different challenge.”
“Ray, it’s not about hopes, it’s about worry. If I don’t fill 30% of the seats, the class will be canceled, and the Mulick family’s honor will suffer.”
“It’ll be fine. The Mulick family has survived greater blows to its honor.”
“…”
I fell silent at Ray’s remark, which hit right on target.
It’s true—arguing with Ray usually ended in my defeat.
Ding!
Just as we were chatting, a signal appeared on the “Crystal of Destiny.”
It was an indication that the course registration linked to the crystal had been finalized.
“Edgar, would you like to check it yourself?”
“Haha, Ray, you’ve been underestimating me since earlier. You know I’m a new instructor, but I’ve been assigned the title of lead instructor, which…”
“Shall I check it for you?”
“…That would be nice.”
Feeling uncharacteristically nervous, I let Ray approach and check the results.
He calmly examined the crystal, then turned to me with an expressionless face.
“Edgar.”
“You can speak.”
“It’s exploded.”
“Huh?”
His words were strange for a result announcement, and I tilted my head in confusion.
Ray glanced back and forth between me and the crystal before slowly continuing.
“The magical space connected to your personal crystal has exploded.”
“…Why?”
“Far more students registered than expected. Your new course, <Valut Swordsmanship>—it looks like two or three times, maybe even four or five times the capacity has signed up.”
In that moment, my first class had, in the best way possible, exploded with success.
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