Ch.63Thorough Preparation (1)

# The Professors of the Imperial Academy

The professors at the Imperial Academy tend to have close relationships with each other.

Due to the nature of their work, they often seek each other’s opinions, but above all, they frequently eat meals together.

It’s difficult not to become close when sharing meals regularly.

Ruide had inserted himself into this circle.

He wanted to know where the great river called “the story” was currently flowing.

“We have a rare guest joining us for lunch today. Where have you been for the past week?”

When Fenicia asked casually, Clifford answered.

“The slacker. No, I can’t even call him a slacker anymore. Anyway, he was probably being lazy somewhere and didn’t even realize a week had passed.”

Fenicia chided him.

“Chancellor. Ruide is now a professor, not a student, so such language is inappropriate…”

“I know that, woman.”

Clifford had been living a happy life recently.

After putting down the heavy burden of being the Chancellor, the world couldn’t be more beautiful. He knew stress would decrease without work responsibilities, but he hadn’t expected such an improvement in his quality of life.

Clifford was currently regretting not quitting earlier.

“Does that mean at my age I should use titles like ‘Lord Ruide’? I can’t do that.”

“…I apologize, Lord Ruide.”

“Don’t be so subservient either. The Windsors are like the wind. Nothing is more foolish than trying to catch the wind.”

Fenicia glared at him with half-closed eyes.

“Is it okay to regret after they’re gone? You were bedridden for a month. For a while, you were mumbling in your sleep, ‘I let a noble person slip away…'”

“Woman! When did I ever do such a thing?”

Clifford’s face turned bright red.

Meanwhile, Ruide was only half-listening as he took out his lunchbox.

It was a rare lunch he had made himself. He had been researching cooking recently.

The menu was fried rice with eggs. For this, Ruide had stolen eggs from the faculty’s chicken coop.

‘This will definitely be delicious, right?’

Ruide was an authority on egg fried rice.

What determines the taste of this dish?

Without a doubt, MSG.

He had created MSG through virtual research while spending a week in Amelia’s bed.

“Oh my, what’s that?”

Fenicia showed interest. The other professors did too.

“I heard you’ve been working to abolish detoxification magic specialists by order of His Majesty. I suppose this is part of that effort.”

“I’ve heard some nobles have already taken up cooking as a hobby instead of relying on detoxification magic specialists. Lord Ruide is truly remarkable.”

“Oh, that’s me. As you can see, I brought a lunchbox too.”

A male professor spoke up.

A moment of silence.

The female professors subtly ignored him and showed interest only in Ruide.

“Wow, it smells delicious!”

“Did you make it yourself?”

While everyone was speaking indirectly and hiding their true intentions.

Fenicia quickly made the first move.

“Could I perhaps have a bite?”

Ruide quickly refused.

“No.”

“……”

If she were to taste his cooking, she would surely become unhappy.

All other food would seem like garbage in comparison!

Since he couldn’t cook for her every time, refusing was the right choice.

‘Well then, let’s take a bite.’

He scooped up the fluffy egg fried rice with a dedicated spoon and ate it with a “nom.”

And then he felt that savory taste!

‘This is it! This is the MSG flavor I wanted.’

To think he could enjoy this taste even in medieval times?

Impressed, Ruide quickly finished his meal.

The research was a great success.

Seeing Ruide, who rarely showed emotion, react this way, the other professors became extremely curious.

“Gulp.”

Moreover, that food looked incredibly appetizing.

Fenicia, whose face had turned red after being rejected, quickly changed the subject.

“…Everyone, let’s stop bothering Lord Ruide and have a constructive conversation.”

“Ahem, perhaps we should discuss this at the later meeting…”

The professors who wanted to eat in peace looked at Fenicia.

“No. With the rapidly changing circumstances at the academy, there is no ‘later.’ We need to respond moment by moment.”

“…It’s just exam preparation, there’s no need to respond moment by moment.”

When Torres, the swordsmanship instructor, subtly commented, Fenicia’s eyes lit up with fire.

“Just?? JUST? Instructor Torres. I’m truly disappointed. Is our Imperial Academy’s exam period JUST an exam period?”

The Imperial Academy was currently in its exam period.

The upcoming “Comprehensive Evaluation.”

Unlike the midterm tests they had taken before, this was what could be called the main exam.

Students would take written tests, undergo basic combat assessments, and most importantly, participate in the highlight of the comprehensive evaluation: the “Performance Assessment.”

Students would be given missions and observed to see if they could successfully complete them.

‘Is this the real beginning?’

And that was also the starting line for the main story.

If Act 1 was about the awkward Justin adapting to the academy and realizing the contradictions and problems in its system…

From now on, direct threats would approach.

The villain would run wild, and before the villain could swallow the academy, Justin would heroically resolve the situation.

Justin, who had been just an ordinary commoner rolling around until now, would finally become a righteous protagonist.

‘Good for him, since he’s been suffering from cancer.’

Ruide sincerely cheered for Justin.

Of course, he wouldn’t help him. Ruide disliked Justin.

“Ugh, does this mean we have to work overtime now?”

“I really hate this.”

“My wife is going to kill me.”

‘Poor civil servants…’

Ruide sympathized with them. Fenicia seemed merciless.

“I’ll accept your last will and testament.”

“Shouldn’t you at least say you’ll reduce our working hours at times like this, Vice Chancellor…?”

“No such thing. The Imperial Academy is built on grinding down its professors.”

“Our Vice Chancellor is too harsh.”

‘She really is too harsh.’

Fenicia was strict. She briefly reminded Ruide of Clifford.

“I’ll provide five times the additional pay.”

“What?”

“F-five times?”

“Really? Last year it was only 1.5 times…”

“Receiving fair compensation for your labor is only natural. I have no intention of neglecting your work.”

Both the professors and Ruide were surprised.

‘This is seriously sweet.’

Even major corporations wouldn’t offer benefits this good.

Five times was incredible.

‘But last year it was 1.5 times… as expected, this old man is too money-oriented.’

Glancing over, Ruide saw Clifford clearing his throat unnecessarily and drinking water.

“I’ll dedicate my life to this work.”

“I swear my loyalty.”

“Actually, I’ve thought the Vice Chancellor was more competent than the Chancellor from the beginning.”

“What did you say, you rascal?”

Ruide could hear Fenicia’s trust level rising.

Indeed, regardless of age or dignity, a superior who pays well is the best.

**

Ruide’s cooking class opened again after about two weeks.

Standing at the podium, Ruide glared at Amelia. Though they had reconciled, this time he knew for certain.

Amelia was an idiot.

“Today we’ll do something other than cooking.”

“Something else?”

“Yes. Today is about magic.”

Ruide’s cooking class.

But officially, the title was “Magic Class.”

Even in the actual lecture report, it was described as “a progressive class that explores various things and especially breaks down fixed ideas prevalent in the era.”

‘If only I could trust that.’

A fairly big wave would soon hit, and until now his approach had been “Amelia will somehow handle it.”

He now understood why Amelia, despite possessing such power, was treated with little importance in the original novel.

She looked capable but was actually an idiot. Ruide regretted playing the animation game with Amelia in their past life. Our Saber-chan wasn’t this stupid.

So, having completely lost trust in Amelia, Ruide decided to raise everyone’s level overall.

Half the people taking this class were also precious to Ruide. There was nothing bad about raising the power level of people he was close to.

“Just promise me one thing. Don’t reveal what I teach you to anyone, and use it only for your personal desires.”

The students were half excited, half puzzled.

What did he mean by using it for personal desires?

“Don’t step forward. Whatever happens, only react to the danger right in front of you.”

The students still didn’t understand well. They thought there must be some hidden meaning. Only Damon muttered quietly, “Why is he stating the obvious?”

Ruide, with a face full of dissatisfaction, repeated.

“If you don’t understand, memorize it. Use power only for yourself. Repeat three times.”

The students were a bit flustered but followed Ruide’s instructions.

“Use power only for yourself.”

‘They listen well.’

Feeling somewhat better, Ruide drew a line on the magic board. At that moment, Gilbert raised his hand.

“Should the swordsmanship club just sit quietly during this class?”

It was a genuine question. After all, Ruide had said he would teach magic.

“An excellent knight should know how to deal with mages. Understanding the principles of their power makes it easier to defeat them.”

Amelia spoke maturely. She looked at Ruide with an expression that said, “I did well, right?” Ruide thought Amelia was just like a Golden Retriever.

“No. I’ll teach magic that knights can use too.”

“What?”

Gilbert was surprised. Not just Gilbert, but everyone was surprised.

Knights could never use magic. It was a difference in how they gathered magical power. Knights purify magical power once through special breathing and gather it in their lower abdomen.

Mages create a ring around their heart to circulate magical power.

In car terms, the number of rings is the engine (output), and the sophistication of the rings is the magical power (fuel efficiency).

The number of rings indicates the ability to use powerful magic, and the better the technology of those rings, the less magical power is consumed.

Incidentally, Ruide’s innate magical power was off the charts from the beginning, so he didn’t need such trivial techniques.

Anyway, for this reason, knights cannot use magic.

“Follow me.”

But there were two meanings to magic.

As a true master of magic, Ruide could use both.

“Magic is about equipment.”

“Magic is about equipment…”

The students unconsciously repeated after him and then made blank expressions.

“What?”

Ruide simply demonstrated with actions. He reached out into the air. Space tore open and a subspace appeared. And then—

Crash!

Numerous weapons and equipment poured out!

These were items he had stashed (?) from the Imperial Treasury.

Ruide coolly said:

“Take one each.”

“……!”

The students’ eyes widened to the point of tearing.

**

Ruide was lying in a wide field. It had been a while since he’d been at Dellin’s Lake.

Beside him, Hersy was lying in the same position as always. Hersy smiled brightly as she looked at Ruide.

“By the way, Ruide. I think you said before that you would only use formal speech, but why did you use informal speech in this class? Have you become a bit more comfortable with us?”

“Huh…?”

Ruide spoke in a slow voice.

“I forgot.”

“……”

A truly Ruide-like answer.

Hersy cleared her throat and carefully said:

“Um… you said you’d take special care of me in the previous class. Ahem.”

It seemed somewhat materialistic, so Hersy had hesitated to mention it, but she was too curious to hold back.

What on earth would Ruide give her?

“That’s right.”

‘…You forgot this too.’

Hersy made a troubled expression.

Ruide took something out from his chest and poked Hersy’s cheek with it.

A hard piece of wood.

Looking at it, she saw it was a staff.

A staff emitting an unusual light.

“What is this…?”

“A somewhat useful staff. Use it when you’re in trouble.”

What Ruide handed to Hersy.

It was Dellin’s Staff.