episode_0053

After chasing away the annoying guest, Calia and I returned to the office and fell into contemplation.

“Mr. Ismail, I don’t think we can keep him here any longer.”

“Well, that’s obvious. He killed someone.”

I did kill the paladins who followed the Saintess, but fortunately, I wasn’t caught.

The academy’s security is lax in places of lesser importance like the garden. Unlike the 21st century, security awareness is lacking here.

Instructors and guards rarely visit.

The bodies are buried deep in the ground, so they probably won’t be discovered easily.

‘But there’s no way the Saintess will let this go.’

The problem is the Saintess. I revealed my identity and dealt with her guards right in front of her, so will she just leave me alone?

She let it slide for now because there’s no way to drag me out of the academy, but she’ll definitely try to secure me by any means possible.

She could put pressure on the academy’s dean, or negotiate with the king.

Or she might even try to kidnap me directly.

She’s a woman with a tender heart but plenty of drive, so the possibility is very high.

So, what’s the most efficient countermeasure?

“We need to bail before we get caught.”

I need to leave the academy first.

So that there’s no point in interfering here.

It’s a method that people who see the instructor position as their lifelong job would never choose… but we’re not like that, are we?

We were hired for a short term with a specific purpose from the start.

If we’ve completely achieved that purpose, there’s no need to cling to this place.

If we return to our organization’s hideout and hide, the Saintess will never find us, no matter what she does.

“Ms. Calia, did you secure the documents you were looking for before?”

“You mean the documents that were mistakenly sent from another branch instead of the ancient texts? Don’t worry.”

Calia, who was placing her breasts on my shoulders and giving me a scalp massage, confidently pointed to our dormitory.

“I found them a long time ago and took care of them. I replaced the empty space with a real book.”

“Good.”

Then we can leave right now without any problems.

The contract period is still remaining, but… we can just pay the penalty. I’ve saved up quite a bit of money from the royalties I’ve received so far.

What excuse should I make?

A parent’s death? Or should I insist on observing a three-year mourning period according to Eastern tradition?

‘It’s early December now.’

About a month before the winter vacation starts.

It’s a shame that I have to leave without teaching the students the entire scheduled curriculum, but there’s no choice. We have to survive, too.

Still, I taught them about socialism, communism, the ideological differences between each faction, and the core theories, so it should be fine.

If they listened carefully to the lectures, they should be able to apply it in practice.

“I guess the next class will have to be a farewell ceremony.”

“A farewell ceremony… Are you going to tell them in advance that you’re leaving?”

“It’ll be better for everyone than leaving suddenly.”

While drinking the cafe latte that Calia made, I thought about what excuse to make to the students.

They are my first students in life, after all.

I wonder if I should give them a farewell gift.

* * * * *

And the next day. During the political science lecture.

“Everyone, I have some rather shocking news to share with you today.”

I didn’t hesitate to announce to the students.

Our master-disciple relationship ends today.

“I’m planning to leave the academy starting next week. So, today will be the last time I teach you. If you’re also taking the finance lecture, you’ll probably see me until tomorrow.”

Unsurprisingly, the reaction was explosive in a bad way.

“W-Why, Instructor?!”

“You’ve taught us so well…!”

The students were all flustered and asked me back. Some even stood up from their seats and shouted.

I guess I didn’t teach the kids wrong. I didn’t know they’d be this disappointed.

I don’t know, it feels like a rewarding reaction for the effort I’ve put in as a teacher.

“I’m sorry. I have unavoidable circumstances.”

“What is it that’s making you do this!”

“…It’s difficult to say exactly, but let’s just say it’s because of religion.”

I couldn’t tell them the truth, so I decided to gloss over it vaguely.

So that the students can interpret it in a way that’s favorable to me.

“I had a conflict with a high-ranking cleric. It wasn’t a big deal, but unfortunately, the other party’s feelings were greatly hurt.”

“So, you’re afraid of retaliation…?”

“Something like that.”

It’s not wrong, is it?

The Saintess is the highest-ranking cleric in the order, and the power she holds as the representative of the Holy Emperor is considerable.

I openly wielded a knife in front of her, so the explanation that her feelings were hurt is fairly accurate.

“Damn religious fanatics, because of them–”

“Don’t curse too much.”

After calming down the guy who was openly cursing the order, I said in a tone that sounded sincerely regretful.

“If I stay, it will be detrimental to you. You all have to return to your territories or find jobs after graduation, and I don’t want you to suffer because of me.”

A disciple of someone hated by the order.

With this title, it becomes difficult to get a job and succeed, no matter how capable you are.

The future you’ve been diligently paving is blocked.

It’s a sufficient excuse for a teacher who cares about his students to leave the school.

These guys are smart enough to get into the academy, so they should understand what I mean.

“And there’s no need to be too disappointed. Even if I stayed, I wouldn’t have been able to study with you until next year.”

“What do you mean?”

“The political situation these days is not good. The atmosphere inside the academy is also ominous.”

This is something I learned about at last night’s faculty meeting. Things are worse here than I expected.

“These days, students are dividing into factions by country and fighting a lot, right? There were probably some people involved here as well.”

“…..”

Some nodded, and some lowered their heads in shame.

Yeah, I knew there would be some.

I thought I saw some faces getting scolded in the faculty room.

“Not only are accidents happening that I couldn’t have imagined in the past, but even public sentiment has become harsh. Wasn’t there an order to ban outings except for those from the Elaine Kingdom last week? Saying not to go out carelessly and get hurt.”

As the war continues, the atmosphere in the capital has become quite grim.

Now, if you see a demon or a foreigner, a group lynching is the basic option.

It is said that cases of foreigners with exotic appearances being robbed and murdered on the streets have become common.

As a result, the number of foreign parents requesting that their children withdraw from school has surged.

Moreover, the amount of aid and budget sent from each country is decreasing, citing lack of military funds and financial difficulties… They won’t last long.

The dean complained that it would be really dangerous starting next month.

It will probably be difficult to last until next spring.

“This is just my guess, but the academy may close before the graduation and entrance ceremonies are held next year.”

“C-Closure? A school with hundreds of years of history is closing?”

“Then my degree…”

Everyone’s mentality seems to be shaken by the thought that their hard-earned studies might be wasted.

In order to calm down such students, I said in a gentle tone.

“But there’s no need to be too frustrated. The knowledge you’ve gained so far doesn’t disappear anywhere.”

I point my finger to my head. The space where what you’ve learned to death after entering the academy is stored.

“You are talented people who have studied at the world’s best academic institution. Even if you leave as you are, you will be treated with great respect wherever you go. Isn’t that right?”

It’s something I’ve said before. Even if you drop out of the academy, it’s considered a significant experience.

Just by entering here and following the amount of learning even a little, it is proof that you are a capable person.

If the school closes, there will be no juniors, so you will be treated as even more valuable talent.

In other words, the students I’ve tamed to my liking are going to spread all over the continent and run on the road to success.

Even if they don’t, it means that it will be easy for them to spread their will and aspirations.

“Please keep in mind the knowledge I have taught you and use it in society. If the knowledge I taught you helps your life, I will be satisfied with that.”

With words of blessing, I bowed deeply.

With the hope that they will run wild as I expect.

“Ah, I almost forgot. I have prepared a gift for you as a final farewell. Ms. Calia?”

“Yes, Instructor.”

At my words, Calia took a bunch of books out of her bag.

Hardcover books with a neat appearance, but the author’s and publisher’s names are not written.

“This is a book I wrote myself. It contains all the content I taught and didn’t teach in the lectures. If you read it slowly later, it will definitely be helpful.”

Books prepared to be given differently according to the students’ tendencies. Each title was written like this.

[Das Kapital] [The Doctrine of Fascism] [An Anarchist]

They are the best instigation books I have carefully selected from my memory.