episode_0015

Finally, the day of the instructor selection exam arrived.

Before heading to the academy, Kalia and I reviewed the plan one last time.

“–So, if I pass the selection exam, I’ll hire Miss Kalia as my assistant.”

“And I’ll use your request as an excuse to search the academy’s archives for misdelivered books.”

“You said to make the employment contract for one year, right?”

“Yes. After all, once I find the books, I won’t have any more business here. Lingering too long would only interfere with my real job.”

It’s a simple plan.

Infiltrate the academy disguised as an instructor and their assistant, secure the target document, and then retire when the time is right.

The subject is finance, which is basically something that mixes mathematics with a bit of economics and public finance.

Wasn’t it about teaching how to manage and operate assets?

Right up my alley.

I just have to stand on the podium and teach the kids, so there won’t be any difficult tasks.

I should just enjoy it, thinking of it as returning to my original profession.

“If you happen to find any talents who seem like they’d fit in with the organization, I’d appreciate it. Talents who can get into the academy aren’t common, after all.”

“Don’t you worry about that.”

I’ll get a sense of what kind of personalities they have as I teach them.

This is a world overflowing with injustice and oppression.

No matter how good you are, you’ll be pushed aside because of your status. Even if you achieve great things, they’ll be taken away by the nobles.

The royals can even kill commoners indiscriminately without punishment.

In a society like this, there’s bound to be more than a few who are dissatisfied, right?

“But…where did your horns go?”

What I’m concerned about right now, though, is Kalia’s appearance.

A black miniskirt that covers her knees, a white blouse with frills. Long, straight hair neatly let down to her thighs.

A textbook example of a female teacher’s attire. It emphasizes her slender figure and brings out her natural charm.

If there was a woman like this on Earth, she would definitely be a top model.

…Except for the fact that the black horns that used to protrude from her forehead are gone, and the shape of her ears has changed.

“Ah, this? It’s a type of disguise magic. Demons aren’t allowed in the academy, originally.”

Kalia flicked her fingers, and she returned to her usual appearance.

So there was a trick like that. I was secretly horrified, thinking she had cut them off.

“Is that so? I didn’t know that.”

“It’s not exactly something that’s specified in the regulations, so it’s normal that you wouldn’t know.”

She shrugged and clicked her tongue.

“In the first place, there aren’t even any countries that recognize demons as citizens, let alone equal human beings, so how would they get admitted?”

I guess. Demons are discriminated against even more than Jews on Earth.

I heard that ever since the Demon King was assassinated by the hero chosen by the Goddess, countries favorable to demons have disappeared.

Humans occupy most of the continent, and with the influence of the Church of the Goddess, deep-rooted demon-hating ideologies have spread for hundreds of years, so who would welcome them?

Unless it’s a group full of anti-national and anti-social tendencies like our organization.

“If you revealed your demon appearance at the academy, you’d probably be torn limb from limb.”

“…..Then why are you being deployed on this mission? You should just assign it to someone else.”

“It can’t be helped. Who else can work with you as well as I can?”

“……”

That sounds like a love confession. Like, who else can handle you but me?

She seemed to realize it herself, and her face turned slightly red as she cleared her throat.

She’s so cute, her image is completely different from when I first saw her.

“Ahem, ahem. That was a slip of the tongue. Please forget I said that.”

“You said it as if it were so obvious, though.”

“For.get.it.”

“If you insist.”

She’s saying it with a serious and scary face, so I should listen. Even if I tease her more here, it’ll definitely backfire.

Well, it seems like it’s already too late, and her face is turning even redder.

* * * * *

Anyway, after twists and turns, we finally arrived at the test site.

“Is this the place?”

“Yes.”

“It’s huge.”

The building designated as the temporary test site for instructor selection was ridiculously big.

On par with the magnificent cathedrals I’d seen in documentaries or photos in my past life.

I wonder how many floors that is. 15 floors?

No, judging by the windows, it looks like it’s over 20 floors.

“If a mere research building is this big, how big is the main building…?”

“You can look forward to it. Talent and funds from all over the continent gather here, so it’s unparalleled in its splendor.”

Studying and living in a palace-like school must give you a sense of pride.

It makes you feel like you’re such an excellent talent to be treated like this.

Well, it’s not exactly wrong, is it? If you’re good enough to get into this place, you’re either the offspring of a prominent family from each country…

Or you’re a ridiculously talented genius who may be a little lacking in background, but has shown outstanding talent since childhood, supported by such a family.

Either way, a jackpot in life is guaranteed in the future.

If you graduate safely, or even if you drop out halfway, just having the experience of attending will allow you to achieve great success in your home country.

“Those taking the finance instructor selection exam, please gather this way!”

Just in time, I heard the voice of an academy staff member. I left Kalia behind and picked up my luggage.

“It looks like it’s about to start. I’ll see you later, Miss Kalia.”

“Good luck. I’ll be looking forward to it.”

Receiving her encouragement, I entered the academy.

“Let’s see… Mr. Laemis?”

“Yes, that’s me.”

“You graduated from Henderland University and completed your doctoral course. And then you came here after focusing on personal research, is that correct?”

“Yes.”

“Impressive for someone so young. Please, go in.”

First, a confirmation of personal information.

I showed the guard the fake ID and letter of recommendation I had prepared in advance, and checked my name and credentials with a simple Q&A.

Along with the other applicants, I underwent the examination in turn and lined up to enter the building. Inside was a large room with dozens of desks lined up.

“Please take a seat at any desk you like. We will begin the exam soon.”

I wonder how difficult the questions will be?

Even so, it’s a place to select instructors for the world’s best educational institution, so they must have prepared some relatively difficult problems, right?

I understand that academic development is still lacking. That’s the limitation of the era, so it can’t be helped.

But even so, they should be able to select talented people by applying as much as possible based on the knowledge that has been researched and discovered so far.

With some anticipation, I unfolded the test paper.

I couldn’t come to my senses at the ensuing cavalcade of shocks.

[1. Describe the formula for deriving the general solution of a cubic equation and its applications.]

Hmm….that’s a bit too basic, isn’t it? It’s in the high school math textbook, so everyone’s read it at least once.

But let’s just say it’s because it’s number 1.

They may have deliberately put in an easy question as a test of basic knowledge to ease the tension.

[2. You are the prime minister of a country. Explain the problems that may arise when introducing a price ceiling on market prices to stabilize prices.]

This is also a question that only requires an understanding of supply and demand curves and knowledge of basic market logic.

If you study microeconomics in the economics department, or even just study properly in the 3rd year of middle school, you can’t not know it…but let’s pass it for now.

Up to number 2 may just be a test of common sense.

Then what about number 3?

[3. When issuing paper money to replace gold/silver coins, describe the measures the government should take.]

….I’m tired of making excuses for them.

Is this even a question? It’s something that comes out of just reading a few history books and books on currency!

Paper money = credit money, so the government’s guarantee of value is essential! If not, promise to exchange it for gold or silver!

If you don’t know this, you can’t even study economics itself!

I glanced up to check my surroundings. What are other people doing?

“Price cei, ceiling? Is such a policy even possible?”

“Cubic…equation? I’ve only learned up to quadratic? There was a separate formula for this–”

“Damn it, it’s the academy after all. They’re so thorough in vetting the qualifications of their faculty.”

….Am I filming The Truman Show, or am I caught up in a hidden camera prank?

I checked the back page. There are 5 questions in total. If 3 of them are like this, the other 2 will be the same.

Why would they use questions that aren’t even good enough for a college student’s pop quiz for instructor selection–

‘Ah.’

At that moment. I realized it once again.

That the scholarship and technology of this world is still around the 17th century.

That real-time sharing and dissemination of information doesn’t exist, and that even when new discoveries are made, it often takes years to spread.

And that the knowledge the questions are asking about… is advanced information that hasn’t even been around for decades.

‘It’s enough to just know it.’

It’s only been a short time since the symbols for multiplication and division came out.

Just knowing the knowledge used in these questions is proof that you’re keeping up with the trends in academia.

If you can even provide detailed commentary and explanations, it means you have a rich understanding that you can use in lectures.

So the question setters must have thought that this was fine.

‘Ah, I see. I know your level.’

I sighed. I rubbed my dry face and reawakened my mind.

‘I’m so bored I want to die.’

There’s no need to pretend to be a hidden expert in a place full of youngsters.

They said that if you pass the written test, the next step is an interview, right?

I’ll show you a glimpse of the knowledge accumulated by 21st-century humanity. I’ll make it so you can’t stand not picking me.

‘It’s time to go back to Kang Cheonsu, the genius professor in his 20s.’

Suppressing a yawn, I scribbled down the answers to each question.

And I proudly took first place with a perfect score.

* * * * *

And then came the time for individual interviews for each applicant.

“Next person, please come in.”

“Is this the last one?”

“Yes. He solved it in the shortest time and got a perfect score.”

“Amazing. It took me almost 2 hours just to understand it.”

The academy instructors in charge of the selection couldn’t contain their anticipation.

What kind of talent could the person who solved all the difficult questions that everyone had carefully selected be? How outstanding could they be to write such clear answers?

With throbbing hearts, they welcomed the only person with a perfect score on the written exam.

“Nice to meet you, Mr. Laemis.”

“First of all, congratulations on your good performance on the written exam.”

“This time, we would like to confirm Mr. Laemis’s lecturing ability… Would it be possible for you to give us a lecture on the spot? Any topic is fine.”

“Hmm…that shouldn’t be difficult.”

At the end of inviting disaster with their own hands without knowing anything.

“Have you ever heard of the invisible hand? What about the neutrality of money?”

Their heads were smashed to pieces.