Ch.360360. The Intent Behind Early Graduation (5)

“Excellent… you say?”

He brushed off the rude remarks as if they didn’t matter, and never mentioned anything about disciplinary action.

“You immediately recognized the power difference with your opponent and stayed alert. You could have just worried about how to face them, but instead you came up with a specific strategy to form ranks against the large magical beast and didn’t take long to execute it. I think it’s perfectly fine for you to have some pride in your ability to discern which lectures are worth attending.”

He casually patted Kiara’s shoulder twice, saying she didn’t need to attend his lectures if she didn’t want to, and encouraged her to keep improving as he left the field.

The field created by the Talbert Arc completely dissipated.

The other eliminated students had already been escorted out of the arena, leaving Kiara, who had removed her own final badge, as the only one remaining.

Standing alone in the arena, Kiara stared blankly at Junon.

She had realized it directly.

Appearances aren’t everything. Her father, who had weathered many battlefields, had always told her to look beyond external appearances and discern what might be hidden beneath, no matter how unremarkable something might seem.

He’d warned her that what looks like a simple hole might be an ant lion’s trap, and that one should remain vigilant like a chameleon that changes color to blend with its surroundings.

Kiara had finally grasped the true value of those words right before her eyes.

‘Such a painful mistake…’

She had been ignorant, arrogant, and reckless.

In the classroom, she had given sharp, nearly contemptuous responses.

This wasn’t something that could be easily forgiven or overlooked, let alone understood.

Yet he had said nothing except that she had reason to be confident.

Whether in action or speech, she had committed a grave discourtesy from any perspective. And yet, what came back was praise?

Her lips trembled. What kind of person possessed such character?

It wouldn’t have been strange if he had frowned, feeling insulted by mere students. He could have made her repeat what she’d said in the classroom, or reprimanded her for entering the academy with such skills only to insult a professor, making her pay for her loose tongue.

But…

The response that came back wasn’t harsh rebuke or heavy scolding, but warm praise.

She had blurted out that there was nothing to learn from such a person?

She had looked down on him, saying he was just a professor who recited textbook content and gave useless lectures?

She had even made the crazy statement that she’d be better off training alone in the restored Mizar Hall?

‘How foolish… why did I say such things…!’

Her head lowered involuntarily at her incredibly stupid behavior.

Without him having shown anything, she had questioned whether there was anything to learn from his lecture, underestimating him based on mere assumptions that he wouldn’t be any different from other professors.

She had inwardly doubted whether this man was truly the commander of the Duchy’s army who was revered as a hero who saved the nation.

She had made hasty judgments about a lecture that hadn’t even properly begun, based only on a superficial first impression.

But he had personally demonstrated that there was plenty to learn. Unlike other professors, he had set unprecedented conditions and proved himself by becoming their sparring partner.

Not with recklessness, but with skill. He had imprinted on everyone present why he had become the commander of the Duchy’s army and a hero who saved the nation by single-handedly defeating all of them.

Now that he had proven everything, Kiara was so embarrassed her face burned hot.

Because of her foolishness, she had written a course withdrawal form with her own hands, throwing away the perfect opportunity to learn from this young professor who was flawless in skill, reputation, and character… What could be more stupid than that?

Kiara immediately ran to Junon, who was wiping away the sweat flowing beneath his jet-black hair with a towel.

“Professor Junon!”

“Hmm?”

“When is the next enrollment for your class?”

“Huh? Well… since it’s not officially registered as a regular course yet, you’ll have to wait a bit before I can accept new applications, but weren’t you trying to drop it?”

“No! I really, really want to take your class!”

“So suddenly…? I mean…”

As Junon scratched his cheek awkwardly in confusion, other students rushed over as well.

“We want to take it too!”

They all shared Kiara’s sentiment.

Despite having the best professor right in front of them, they had failed to recognize it, and now they were trying to seize this golden opportunity.

Of course,

‘Wait… weren’t these the same students who submitted withdrawal forms earlier? Why the sudden change?’

The person who had caused this massive reversal couldn’t quite understand the situation.

***

“Everyone? How about… calming down a bit? Choosing a lecture isn’t something to decide so hastily. You should be more careful…”

“We want to take it because we want to! We can see it will be helpful, so we want to learn!”

“That’s right!”

The students surrounded Junon and agreed with Kiara’s words in unison.

Though Junon still seemed bewildered and kept backing away, it was clear his class wouldn’t be canceled.

They were showing their regret through actions, having written withdrawal forms before entering Mizar Hall.

‘The kid’s doing just fine.’

Jake smiled contentedly as he watched Junon surrounded by the first-year students.

It was quite a spectacle in many ways.

A newly appointed professor conducting his first lecture had brought students to Mizar Hall with weapons instead of books.

The first lecture was taking place in Mizar Hall’s arena rather than a classroom.

The spirited look that Junon had initially shown was now faintly reflected in the students’ eyes as well.

Though unconventional, practical experience was Junon’s strongest weapon, so Jake thought this teaching method was perfectly suited to him.

“I didn’t see it, but it seems the first lecture went well somehow.”

“Heh. I had a feeling about that kid when I first saw him. Muniher, you should have seen this from the beginning.”

“Is there really a need to see it all? We already know he’s skilled at teaching in force battles. It would be stranger to say he’s not suited to be a professor after seeing this.”

“Haha. I suppose you’re right.”

Jake laughed and agreed with Muniher’s opinion.

All eyes were focused on Junon.

It was only natural that his performance—breaking through formations and defeating multiple opponents head-on—would captivate attention. Before this large audience, he had forgiven the students’ rudeness and arrogance, instead extending a hand to them with magnanimous character.

How could anyone not look at Junon and listen to him after that?

Even the professors who had taught him wore satisfied smiles.

“I’d say he’s definitely caught everyone’s attention now, right?”

“Hey.”

“Who’s going to hear us here? Everyone’s attention is focused over there, and our voices are drowned out by all the commotion.”

“Well, that’s true, but you never know.”

“Come on, don’t worry. Besides, don’t you think we need to fan the flames a bit? I feel it’s still not enough.”

“Hmm… I agree. I was about to bring that up, but now I don’t need to.”

“So you were thinking the same thing, Muniher? Haha!”

“That’s why I came to check in person.”

Realizing they were on the same page, the two professors nodded without needing to say more.

“This is all for you, Junon.”

“Indeed it is.”

They planned to play a little prank on Junon, who was floundering helplessly in the crowd of students below.

However, there were ears listening after all.

“Hey, hey! Don’t push from behind like that… whoa!”

“Huh?”

“Good heavens.”

“Ah, hello professors… ha, haha…”

“Um… I’m sorry! I just happened to trip while walking and… hahaha…”

The storage door must have been old as it creaked, and two students seemed to have tumbled down as it gave way.

Muniher dragged his palm down his face, while Professor Jake broke into a cold sweat and asked the two students who had just fallen:

“Ahem. You two, did you… happen to hear what we were talking about?”

“…No!”

“…We didn’t hear anything!”

After their delayed response, Professor Muniher sighed.

“Nothing to be done about it now. Since it’s come to this, you two will have to join us.”

“What?!”

If it had been anyone else, it might have been different, but Jon and Noel, who had known about Junon early on, hadn’t been looking in that direction. Though they feared severe consequences…

“What do you say? Can you do it?”

“Of course we can!!”

“Oh my. These kids seem to have been hoping for this! Good. Implement it immediately!”

“Yes sir!!”

After receiving the plan in whispers, they showed an eagerness to actively participate in the two professors’ scheme.

And so, shortly after convincing the first-year students and leaving Mizar Hall, Junon found himself facing an enormous crowd.

***

‘Wow…’

People here. People there.

Levrant, who had arrived with expectations, found the place bustling with countless people.

Long lines stretched out. Looking closely, the academy had mobilized staff they rarely called upon to help manage the gathered crowds.

Seeing so many people gathered made her wonder if something special was happening. When the academy mobilized people to this extent, it usually meant either a famous person had arrived or there was a festival.

‘It should be fine to check for a moment, right?’

Her destination was toward Junon’s classroom, not this way. But she was curious, and if there was a festival, she might be able to buy souvenirs or gifts.

Even if it wasn’t that, if a famous person had arrived, like when Professors Muniher and Dalia were invited from the Empire, she could just leave quickly. She could take a quick look and turn back if it wasn’t interesting.

So she joined the line heading to the designated place, only to find it even more crowded with people.

‘It’s not a festival… and not an academy event either.’

So it must be a famous person. Since she came to see Junon, there was probably nothing for her to see here, and she was about to turn away when—

A familiar hair color caught Renias’s violet eyes.

‘N-no way… I must have seen wrong!’

But she couldn’t easily turn away. What if she hadn’t been mistaken?

“I-I’ll know if I go check myself, right? Yes, that must be it.”

She didn’t care what sounds came from around her. Right now, confirming whether she had seen wrong was the priority.

But the closer she got, the more Renias’s cheeks puffed up.

The squealing sounds from women around her were not few. Among the non-students, civilians with flushed cheeks also caught her eye.

Their behavior, which normally wouldn’t have bothered her at all, particularly stood out now. Voices that usually wouldn’t even register in her ears now grated on her nerves.

“…Ugh.”

—You were so cool during the duel! Wow, is this the weapon you used, Professor?

—Please sign here instead of my notebook!

—When does the main course start? I can’t wait to attend!

—I couldn’t get in because enrollment was full, aren’t you offering any other classes?

The more she listened, the more she heard only women’s voices. Despite witnessing the scene she had once deeply desired—him receiving people’s praise and recognition—the cross-shaped vein on her forehead kept growing.

With puffed cheeks and hurried steps, Renias finally reached the scene. She was right in front of him, with a clear view.

And then…

“Reni? What brings you here at this hour… Hm? Why are you grabbing my arm?”

“Brother, let’s go eat!”

“Suddenly talking about food? It’s still early—urk!”

“Quickly, quickly!”

She grabbed his arm without warning and dragged him away.

For some reason, her irritation was surging.