Ch.358358. The Intent Behind Early Graduation (3)

I can barely breathe.

Standing in front of people isn’t exactly something I’m used to. But from the moment I open this door and step inside, I feel like I’ll freeze up in the lecture hall.

“What are you doing standing there? Aren’t you going in?”

“Gosh! You startled me, Professor.”

Professor Jake approached and nudged my shoulder as I stood there fidgeting.

I was so startled that only then did I realize how stiff my body had become, as if frozen solid.

Meanwhile, the professor who had once taught me let out a small chuckle.

“Hmm? This is unexpected. I never thought I’d see you with such a dumbfounded look on your face.”

“I’m only human. Of course I get nervous standing in front of so many people. There are so many eyes watching.”

“Huh? You, Junon, getting nervous in a situation like this?”

His tone was incredulous. Beyond that, his eyes showed he couldn’t even comprehend it.

“You’ve been through so many situations that should make you nervous, yet you’re anxious about something like this? Even in duels, half the fighters get so tense before facing their opponents that they can’t perform at even a quarter of their ability. There are plenty of eyes watching there too, aren’t there?”

“In duels, I’m obviously busy analyzing my opponent’s movements. Who has time to worry about people watching? You have to catch every little movement or you’ll fall behind.”

Hand and foot positioning, stride distance control, weight balance adjustments—every subtle movement is a signal for an attack. Not to mention having to account for combo attacks or feints, which requires even more attention.

If an opponent uses magic, I need to be even more alert to detect the flow of mana entering my territory, so the gazes of spectators don’t even register.

“Heh, I see. So you were busy predicting attack signals and combinations? That’s why you didn’t notice the spectators’ gazes?”

“That’s right.”

Professor Jake made an exasperated expression.

Sure, there are spectators watching, but since every tiny movement from an opponent could signal an attack or lead to a combination, I couldn’t care less about people’s eyes.

…Did I say something wrong?

“Fine, I can understand that for duels. But what about on the battlefield? At the very least, just stepping onto a battlefield puts everyone in a life-or-death situation. Yet you didn’t show any signs of nervousness then either! I couldn’t hear what you said as the Imperial Army Commander, but I’m guessing you weren’t nervous then either, were you?”

That’s true, so I can’t deny it.

Ah, the fact that I can’t answer means I did say something wrong.

Well, that’s inevitable.

When I served as commander, it was obviously not just about the country being in danger—the moment a strategy failed, my life would be at stake too, so there was no room for nervousness.

‘Haha. How could I possibly explain that?’

From Professor Jake’s perspective, it must seem strange that I, who adapted well to situations that should have been much more nerve-wracking, am now nervous about giving a lecture.

‘But from my perspective, I have my reasons.’

The reason this appointment certificate makes it hard to breathe is because I’ve never experienced anything like this before.

Duels, battlefields, being a commander—I’ve experienced all of these at least once in the past. In duels, I focused on my opponent; on the battlefield, it was my life at stake; and as a commander, my determination to return alive overshadowed any nervousness.

So this time, even if I catch every subtle reaction from their eyes, I don’t know how to respond.

“Looks like you’re genuinely nervous. Well, if you have questions, ask now. We don’t have much time left.”

“Do you have any tips? I’ve never taught students before, so I’m completely lost.”

Professor Jake let out a deep sigh.

“Junon, you’ve already taught kids before.”

“Huh? When?”

“The faction battle. You were the one who led Sirah to victory.”

“Come on, that was completely different. I only did a two-week training camp with them. I barely even remember it.”

For a while, Professor Jake said nothing and just ran his hand over his face.

Then he suddenly opened the lecture hall door.

“Just do it your own way, kid!”

“Whoa!”

Pushed from behind by Professor Jake, I was forced into the lecture hall. As I stared blankly at the door, he gave me a thumbs up and closed it.

‘I’m in trouble now.’

As I stood there awkwardly, countless eyes turned toward me the moment the door closed. With the lecture hall packed with students all staring at me, my mind started to go blank.

At the same time, the alarm signaling the start of the next lecture period rang out.

‘I should head to the podium first, right…?’

I can’t just stand here, so I move toward the center of the lecture hall.

‘Should I take attendance first?’

No, attendance isn’t necessary! I don’t even have an attendance sheet. This is just a one-time, promotional lecture!

The fact that I couldn’t even recognize this simple fact because of my nervousness shows how overwhelmed I am. I have no idea how to conduct this lecture for the remaining time.

As I fumbled with the textbook, trying to continue the lecture, a sharp voice rang out.

“Hmph, I thought this professor might be different, but I see there’s no difference after all. What good does it do to simply recite what’s written in the book? I came to hear from someone who supposedly saved the country, but I’d be better off training alone in the restored Mizar Hall.”

“I know, right? I had high hopes because they said he was a young professor.”

“This is too ordinary. I don’t think we can learn anything from this professor’s lecture.”

There are quite a few who defend me as well. No, beyond that level, everyone seems to question this lecture.

Right. This is Levrant Academy.

Talented students from all regions submit applications, and only a select few are accepted here rather than at road schools. If they determine that a lecture has no value, they have the right to refuse it.

They have the right to choose lectures from capable professors and reject those who aren’t.

“That’s right. There’s no use in just verbally delivering what’s written in the book.”

What meaning could I convey? I hate this style too.

Didn’t Professor Jake say it?

Just do it my own way.

“So does that mean we’re free to leave the lecture hall now?”

When the noble girl who first criticized me asked this, I immediately countered.

“How about we change locations first?”

.

.

.

Whirr—

The Talbert Arc activates. The pre-programmed dueling field unfolds before our eyes.

This is the official dueling field often used for matches between students. The rules are simple: capture the opponent’s badge or accumulate enough damage to turn it red, and that person loses.

I stretch my body thoroughly and say:

“If you can defeat me under the official dueling rules, you’re free to leave right away. If you don’t want to attend my lecture, you can cancel it later through course adjustment. Think of today as an orientation, so there won’t be any major issues.”

“Fine. Then I’ll go first…”

“No, I’m going to change the rules a bit this time. Wasn’t it ordinary things you disliked?”

Other students seem to agree with my statement to some extent.

However.

This is a rule not seen in conventional official duels.

Whirr—

“Huh? All the badges suddenly…”

“They’re activated?”

“Wait, isn’t this a bit strange?”

Everyone starts to panic as their badges suddenly activate, but they gradually begin to understand the situation.

Yes. Their badges are already activated. This means the duel has already begun.

“What is this…! Do you think this makes any sense?”

The noble girl who had shouted earlier seems to be the first to grasp the situation and immediately yells at me.

Dozens of badges shine in the same color, with only one person’s badge displaying a different color. This means it’s a one-versus-many battle. And the one with the different badge is…

“It makes perfect sense to me.”

None other than myself.

***

Official dueling rules.

These are commonly used not just at Levrant Academy but at educational institutions everywhere, so students can easily encounter them even before enrollment.

Therefore, no one here is unfamiliar with these rules.

The badges of most students are glowing the same color. There’s nothing unusual about this. In team battles, multiple sides are typically distinguished by different colors to identify allies and enemies.

However, what everyone finds puzzling is that all student badges are glowing only in the same color.

And before them stands the only person with a badge glowing in a different color.

Professor Junon has been designated as their dueling opponent.

‘This is absurd.’

‘He’s going to face all these people alone?’

‘There’s a limit to showing off.’

It’s an understandably suspicious situation. There seems to be no merit for him in conducting a one-versus-many duel.

Unless there are different rules, but that doesn’t seem to be the case. The badges don’t provide enhanced mana protection for the professor either.

In other words, while this duel is being conducted fairly, it paradoxically creates a huge imbalance due to the numerical difference. It’s a duel where one side is highly likely to suffer a major defeat due to what could be called a numbers disadvantage.

Nevertheless, Junon said:

“If you can defeat me under the official dueling rules, you’re free to leave right away. If you don’t want to attend my lecture, you can cancel it later through course adjustment. Think of today as an orientation, so there won’t be any major issues.”

He’s saying that if he loses, they don’t have to attend his lecture. He won’t even object if they adjust or cancel the course.

He seems to suggest there’s no problem with this duel. He’s confidently accepting the imbalance of one-versus-many without hesitation.

Furthermore.

Rumble—

“The outer wall…”

“It’s opening?”

He even opened the outer wall to make the duel visible to everyone.

With this blatant intention to show the duel in real-time, a girl steps forward.

“Kiara?”

“Leave her be. Seems like she wants to give the professor a piece of her mind.”

“Ah, right.”

Her two friends didn’t stop her.

In fact, they felt the same way.

“Professor Junon, are you in your right mind?”

“About what?”

“People will gather to watch this. You do realize what conditions you’ve set, don’t you?”

“I know perfectly well. That’s why I invited spectators.”

“Hmph.”

Is he that confident he’ll win?

Watching this duel, some will mock what fool would duel like this, while others will be shocked at the absurd conditions. And when the duel ends, there will be numerous witnesses.

Kiara felt she was wasting time.

“Fine, Professor. But don’t regret it later…”

Crack!

“…Huh?”

The magic she was casting experienced a brief interference and immediately lost its form.

And in that brief moment:

“My badge!”

“When did he…?!”

Two people nearby were eliminated and ejected from the field. Their badges were now in Junon’s hand.

At that moment, Kiara was certain. The one who had destroyed the binding magic she was trying to use to restrain Junon’s feet was this man.

Turning to meet Kiara’s eyes, he grinned as if it was no big deal.

“I don’t think I’ll have anything to regret.”

“…”

“The duel has already begun. Didn’t any of you even have that much vigilance?”

A chilling sensation began to creep down the spines of the freshmen.