episode_0018

Academy Dean’s Office, February 1, 187.

Six professors were sitting at a table.

The human girl with sky-blue hair cut short is Red Horse Housemaster Yelena Jorowitz.

A dark elf with ashen skin, white hair, and red eyes. Blue Dragon Housemaster Abarion.

That cobra beast, boasting a brown scaly neck crest and sticking out its tongue, is the black bird’s master Saraljit.

Baekyang Housemaster Ariadne is a black-haired woman who can’t sit still for even a moment and twitches her fingers.

The human male in his 50s, boasting a well-built physique and a beautiful mustache, is the head of the research department, Miles Papanopoulos.

Darmu, the Orc student council president, shows off his green muscles and crosses his arms.

Their eyes were focused on the head of the table.

An old man stroking his white beard and quietly reading a letter.

The Black Count of Quain Island, the White Count of the Great Lakes, Lord Judge… numerous titles describe this old man.

But the most famous of them all is, of course, the position of Dean of the Academy.

Russell Corvus turned the letter to the next page.

Something happened while I was writing, and the student council president’s handwriting was different from the previous chapter.

‘As the demand for wizards exploded, the number of private educational institutions outside the academy began to increase.

From apprenticeship-style tutoring, to small classrooms established by each territory and tribe, and finally to the revived magic universities.

‘This was a dangerous state of affairs reminiscent of the self-indulgence and excessive drinking of the days of the Holy Kingdom of Palo Alto.’

After much debate, the Academy decided to use both carrots and sticks.

An edict was issued prohibiting magic education for more than 50 people outside the academy, and all magic universities had to close.

However, at the same time, the academy created a new admissions process to accommodate new wizards.

A standardized entrance exam that the entire empire takes on one day at one time.

Through the entrance exam, the academy regained its hegemony in magic education.

The authority of a fair and objective competitive selection process that selected only 50 people out of hundreds of thousands was enormous.

Before that, the Grand Mage’s private tutoring and the Dukedom’s magic classes were catching up to the academy’s reputation.

There were many evaluations that the wizards they raised were no match for the wizards at the Academy.

However, with the introduction of competitive exams, such small schools were denigrated as places for losers who failed the exam.

‘That was 100 years ago now.

The Academy now had four classes of students.

A lottery-admitted student who continues the ideals of the white circle.

Students hand-selected by the Black Circle while traveling around the continent.

A recommended student who came under the protection of the Red Imperial Flag.

Students who pass the entrance exam are bringing a new blue wave.’

The dean smiled bitterly.

Lady Hwangtae. The introduction is too long.

It’s good to trace the root of the problem, but there’s no need to talk for so long about something that both the recipient and the user know.

When the princess’s letter began talking about the creation of the dormitory, the dean closed his eyes for a moment and recalled.

In this part, he himself was a living witness to history.

The academy selected students from too many different backgrounds using too different methods.

Students did not understand each other and conflicted, leading to disparagement, ridicule, and even violence.

The biggest problem was the imperial family. According to the principle, the imperial family’s recommended students are merely guests entrusted to the circle.

However, that is a story from 100 years ago when the empire was first established.

By the time Russell attended the academy, the principles had already become rusty.

The imperial family and nobility took for granted the right to enter the academy, and could not bear their children mixing with the lower classes.

When Russell was in third grade, a large-scale violence broke out on campus.

In the gang fight that took place during a group meal, the Third Prince and the daughter of the Duke of Yorovitz were involved and seriously injured.

Nowadays, gang fights like this have become a daily occurrence, but at the time, it was an incident that shocked everyone.

The imperial family and dukes were outraged and demanded that the academy accept only students from good families.

However, the privilege granted by the first emperor was problematic.

‘Both circles can select students in the same way they have up until now, and no emperor can take back this privilege.’

When attempts to expel vulgar students were blocked, they called for a dormitory system instead.

Please at least make sure that eating and sleeping don’t get mixed up.

When the academy agreed to this, all the students poured in with demands.

Please, let us build a separate dormitory. I don’t even want to see those guys.

Thus the red horse, the blue dragon, the black falcon, and the white sheep were separated from each other.

The large dining hall where everyone ate together and the main hall where everyone slept together were demolished.

Russell opened his eyes and quickly flipped through the president’s letter.

What everyone knows, what everyone knows, what’s wrong, what’s true, but completely ignoring the context at the time.

But he stopped when the next part came.

’35 years ago, the imperial civil war broke out.’

To put it bluntly, the civil war was not a bad thing for the Academy leadership.

As the empire fell into chaos, the price of wizards soared, and in particular, the archmage tactics taught by the academy became incredibly valuable.

As small educational institutions collapsed during the war, the Academy became the exclusive provider of magical education.

The red horse, a brave external force, was divided after losing its sponsor, and the blue dragon, which was loyal to the academy system itself, took hegemony.

The Dean glanced at Abarion, the Blue Dragon Housemaster.

Whenever the dark elf was alone with Russell, he knew he shouldn’t say this, but he also whispered that the civil war was good luck for our blue dragon.

Russell didn’t nod at what he said, but he didn’t stop him either.

But Russell couldn’t think about that now.

Because the content of this letter was testimony, not history.

Just as she herself is a witness to the division of the dormitory, the Crown Princess is also a witness to the civil war.

Amidst the refined sentences and beautiful rhetoric, the Crown Princess screamed and sobbed.

The imperial succession war lasted for 23 years and ended 12 years ago.

To be precise, it is presumed that the war has ended. No rebels have appeared since then.

Since there is no peace treaty or ceremony of improvement, I have no choice but to say that.

When the civil war ended, the empire’s population had been reduced by half.

Two of the seven dukes seceded and became independent, and six of the nine vassal states refused to recognize the empire’s suzerainty.

In addition to the deepening division between the three elves, the orcs and goblins were recognized as autonomous territories within the empire, and the dwarves declared isolation.

The empire embarked on a war of reconquest to reclaim its deserted vassals, but after a ferocious battle, it had no choice but to tolerate their independence.

And at the academy, children inherited their parents’ resentment.

There was a dueling culture in the past. As the Circle was an organization that fought against magic using magic, it encouraged duels between wizards.

However, as the Academy changed from an institution for purging archmages to an institution for magical education, duels slowly died out, and it was a trend that almost died out just before the civil war.

The civil war revived dueling. No, it has increased so much that it cannot be compared to the Circle days.

‘I believe we can change that culture through this game.’

There is still one more letter left.

Looking at it, it is a detailed practical plan.

Putting that aside for now, the dean looked at the professors.

“What do you think?”

silence.

Everyone is just watching.

“Those who agree, please raise your hands.”

Student affairs president Darmu and Baekyang headmaster Ariadne raised their hands.

“Those who oppose, please raise your hands.”

Red Horse Headmaster Yelena Jorowitz and Blue Dragon Headmaster Abarion.

“What are the other two?”

“I agree with the purpose of the plan itself, but…”

Black Bird Housemaster Saraljit spoke with his forked tongue lashing out.

“I suspect that this is a means by which the imperial family is trying to interfere with the Academy.

How about collecting a little more information before making a decision?”

“Do you dare to doubt the will of the imperial family now?

Your Majesty is not a petty person who plots against the Academy.”

“Master Yelena, it is amazing that the daughter of the viscountess understands the will of the imperial family.

And if you think so, why not change your side to yes now?”

Saraljit’s ridicule criticizing the fact that the Jorowicz family has been relegated to the status of vassals in the civil tradition. Yelena gritted her teeth.

“I am against it. It’s not because this is an imperial conspiracy!

This is because we do not know what kind of backlash the Crown Princess’s behavior will receive from nobles who want to continue the dueling culture.

Your position may become narrower.”

Abarion continued speaking softly.

“I am also against it. No matter how elaborate a copy it is, it cannot be used in practice.

Students should not be deprived of the opportunity to receive practical training.”

“Practical combat should be taught in a controlled environment, not as a private duel!”

Ariadne responded fiercely, but the dark elf continued speaking as if she hadn’t heard.

“Moreover, the fact that this plan came from Baekyang Dormitory makes me question whether it is really a fair plan.

Isn’t Baekyang Dormitory’s current duel win rate less than 30%?”

“Are you saying that it is a fair rule that the strong do what they want and the weak endure?

The Academy’s infirmary is never empty for a day!”

“But please remember that the tomb of the Academy is empty.”

“So it’s okay as long as I don’t die?

After the duel, some students became afraid of fireworks and were unable to approach the fireplace even in winter, shivering from the cold.

There are students who are afraid of water and cannot even take a bath properly!”

“Sorry, Headmaster Ariadne.”

Jelena Jorowitz comes to her colleague’s defense.

“Are there people in the empire who aren’t like that?”

Ariadne was speechless.

She flopped down in her seat helplessly, but at the same time, Dharmu stood up as if bouncing.

“Shouldn’t it be the opposite?

As adults suffer from the pain of civil war, shouldn’t the pain be cut off from children?

While serving as dean of the student department, I saw countless students vomiting and urinating due to the stress of duels.

They said it all together. I don’t want to fight over something like this, but I’m scared that my parents and classmates will call me a coward if I run away!

Now, at the academy, dozens of people have gathered and started fighting with sticks and rocks, even if they just passed by with a shoulder bump!

I come from the most barbaric tribe of orcs, but I’ve never heard of anything like this!”

Both sides kept their mouths shut, perhaps deciding that there was no point in exchanging opinions any further.

In that silence, Research Director Miles scratched his bald head and spoke.

“Uh, um. I… don’t know much about politics like this, so I’ll follow whatever the dean decides.”

Russell refrained from clicking his tongue.

That spineless person. He was a person who embodied one of the negative stereotypes of the Blue Dragon dormitory.

Bosinju’s yes man who is good at studying. so-

The dean paused for a moment.

You are, aren’t you?

How different are you from Miles Papanopolus?

“Dean?”

Ariadne must have noticed that the atmosphere had changed, and looked at his complexion.

The rest of the professors also focused on Russell’s every expression.

Russell thought for a moment, then opened his mouth.

“When the civil war broke out, I did not take a side.

At first, I thought that was the correct attitude to remain neutral.

And I still have no regrets about that decision, but…”

If neutrality had not been maintained, the Academy would have lost all credibility.

Neutrality was right. The problem is next.

“Duke MacFrederick’s army massacred hundreds of civilians.

But I couldn’t come forward. I’m worried that if I act now, I’ll break my neutrality.”

“The Dean has no obligation to protect civilians.”

Abarion’s excuse, but Russell did not stop talking.

“A month later, the chief mage of the imperial army used magic indiscriminately and turned into a demon.

But I didn’t come forward even then.

I didn’t stop Duke MacFrederick, but if I help the imperial army now, I’m afraid I’ll be suspected of siding with them.

In the end, the imperial army subdued it on their own, so no problems arose…”

He is the judge. It is the dean’s duty to punish runaway wizards.

But Russell neglected his duty.

“Now the Academy Dean is a magic educator, not a judge of wizards.

No one would have expected that from the Dean.”

“It continued after that. Massacre… runaway wizard… black magic…

There were times when I thought I really had to intervene. But the evil deeds I had neglected caught up with me.

The evil deeds were whispered. Why are you coming forward now? Just like you’ve skipped it so far, let’s skip it this time too.

Every time I give in to the whispers, they grow stronger.”

No one dared open their mouth.

“In the end, even the students at the academy were caught up in the massacre and died.

then! I really should have stepped up then! No matter what happened, I should have come forward!

But… the weight of the moments I was silent… shackled me once again.”

Therefore, the strongest wizards on the continent did not intervene in the civil war even for a moment.

They watched the world burn as empires lay waste and people were massacred.

Siraljit muttered.

“But you still didn’t protect the academy. That was the best.”

“Did you really keep it? Is this what you kept?

After hearing what Darmu and Ariadne said, do you still think that way?”

Tears of repentance flowed from Russell Corvus’ eyes.

“I’ve known about the problem Darmu mentioned for a long time.

I was worried. Should duels be banned? Should we warn parents not to bring their resentment here?

okay. I was worried. What do you think the conclusion of your concerns was?”

He stood by again.

Because I didn’t think I had the right to speak about peace to them now.

In a vicious cycle where cowardice begets cowardice, and silence begets silence, the dean continued to choose escape.

Russell looked back.

At the back of the dean’s office were statues of the academy’s past deans.

And above it hung portraits of the circle’s hunting leaders.

Hunting leader. The name may be grandiose, but in the end, they are just people chosen from among those chosen by luck.

On the other hand, Russell never missed the top honors from admission to graduation and accumulated numerous career experiences and achievements.

Even if five past hunting leaders attacked at the same time, it was doubtful that they would be able to defeat the current dean.

But eventually they acted.

The hunting leaders of the circle had the wisdom to decide who to judge and who not to judge.

And he had the courage to put that wisdom into practice.

Why did I have neither courage nor wisdom?

Why was I, like Miles, a cowardly conservative who only cared about what others thought…

“But.”

In the midst of despair and self-loathing, Russell found a glimmer of hope.

“Still, I have achieved something…”

When the dormitories were divided, students clearly hated each other.

Although I inherited the prejudices that adults taught me, I did not have the flexibility and sense of reality that adults have.

But even amidst that hatred, students dreamed of a better academy.

Although we entered school through different paths, we had the same motivation to become friends.

It was so foreign that I couldn’t understand it, but there was someone who taught me.

Although it was a mixed and irritating school, there was joy that came from it.

“We formed a student council.”

So, the year the dormitory was founded, students founded their own student council.

So that your dormitories are not divided and so that your dormitories can communicate and interact.

When I think about it now, the fact that the academy was not split up thanks to the student council may be an overestimation of youth.

Considering the academy’s financial structure and position in the educational world, there was no benefit to be gained from branching out to all four dormitories.

The union of dormitories was the result of adults’ cold profit and loss calculations, not the achievement of the student council.

Nevertheless, the student council founded by Russell survived in the end and sent this letter.

Russell came out of the stream of consciousness and returned to reality.

The professors must have sensed that a conclusion was coming, so they adjusted their posture and sat down.

“I believe that this letter does not contain the will of His Majesty the Emperor, but the will of His Highness the Crown Princess, or rather, the student council president.”

The first student council president gently stroked the envelope.

“I will trust the children. In the end, only children can be better than adults.

If this were a request from the imperial family, I would reject it, but since it is a request from the student council, I will accept it.”

Ariadne, Darmu, and Miles responded with applause.

Abarion nodded loudly, but Yelena looked like she couldn’t hide her worry.

Saraljit scratched his scaly crest and asked a question.

“Dean. But what would you do if the imperial family intervened under this pretext?

What do you do with the external pressure that will come from the rapid change in dueling culture?”

“At that time.”

Russell’s eyes lit up.

“I won’t run away.”