Chapter 6: Life Is Not Beautiful 2

‘What kind of idiotic idea came out of that guy’s head?’

The chancellor not expelling me for my foolishness wasn’t too unbelievable.

In the WFS world, Sergei Darmore was known to have such a personality.

Considering how he treated a disciple who betrayed him, it was fitting for him to behave in such a manner.

Had I known that old man was Sergei, I wouldn’t have cursed during the interview.

However, he isn’t someone who moves like an NPC, bound by preset rules.

On Earth, he may have avtually been an NPC, but in the story, he seemed like a living being.

The way he casually tortured and killed a traitor who leaked secrets was proof of that.

If I cross a certain line, the chancellor should expel me.

But to tell me to defeat him to get expelled?

‘There must be something.’

He may not know much about me.

But I know a lot about him.

At least, if he’s openly giving me a way like this, there must definitely be some reason behind it.

The condition that I can only be expelled if I win against him.

It also means that if I don’t win, he won’t expel me.

In other words, there’s a reason he won’t expel me.

‘Expulsion is a punishment, not a reward… If I really wanted to leave the academy, I can just drop out. Why add such a condition?’

Others don’t know I’m bound by a contract and can’t drop out, so they probably see my actions as just a protest.

Or maybe they think I want to spite my family.

Naturally, the chancellor knows my circumstances, so I can’t claim it’s unfair.

But even the chancellor has his limits.

Whether it’s his judgment or someone else’s influence, I don’t know.

But if a significant problem arises, eventually, he’ll have no choice but to expel me.

‘How is he going to handle public opinion?’

Either way, I blatantly requested expulsion.

Some astute individuals will realize that my actions are aimed at getting expelled for some reason.

This will lead to questions about why I’m not being expelled despite wanting to, which will help me leave the academy.

‘Time is on my side.’

My current plan has only been delayed by a week at most.

I have plenty of time.

So, I just need to keep it up.

There are plenty of crazy things I can do over four years.

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Raei  Translations
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Professor Rachel eventually told me that expulsion was impossible.

Instead, she offered to assign me to Class A.

It wasn’t the outcome I particularly wanted, but I still succeeded in entering the high-ranking class I initially aimed for.

High-achieving cadets receive more attention, and controversies arise more easily.

Of course, high grades might make it harder to expel me, but if the chancellor is intent on not expelling me, attracting attention is more likely to succeed.

Rather than a headline like [Eleven-time offender. Finally commits murder…], a headline like [Excessive academic zeal’s side effects. The top cadet who m*sturbates while studying to maintain calmness in any situation…] is more provocative and controversial.

Huh?

Now that I think about it, isn’t that a pretty good strategy?

Even if I feel ashamed later, if I need to get expelled, I might as well try it.

While thinking this, I found myself in front of the classroom I was assigned to.

Class A.

The highest-ranking classroom.

It was the compensation Rachel Professor gave me since she couldn’t expel me.

I immediately opened the door and entered.

Click-

As I entered, everyone’s attention turned to me.

Unlike in academy stories, there were only two other people in the class.

Both had unremarkable, ordinary appearances.

As I sat down, the two briefly flinched.

However, I ignored such reactions and thought about how to get back at the chancellor.

After a short wait, a few more people entered the classroom.

And they all had the same reaction.

They looked puzzled as to why I was here.

I guess it’s understandable.

I wouldn’t expect someone who asked a professor for expulsion to be in Class A either.

And then…

“Why are you here?”

I met someone I knew.

Not through WFS, but through connections I made after being reincarnated here.

“I was denied expulsion.”

“Pfft— What’s the reason?”

“The chancellor said that a professor’s authority isn’t enough, so if I can beat him in a fight, he’ll expel me.”

“What kind of bullsh*t is that?”

This guy is Theseus Winterfield, the eldest son of the northern duke and my friend.

He belongs to a higher social class as a duke’s heir, but we’ve been close friends since we were young.

I befriended him thinking it would be beneficial to be close to someone from such a high-ranking family.

While we were talking, more people kept entering and taking their seats.

This is the first class, and according to the academy curriculum, these are the cadets we’ll be sharing common lectures with, but no one came near us.

One was the heir to a ducal family, and the other, a second son of a ducal family, rumored to be insane.

Ding-

As the bell rang signaling the start of class, Theseus, who was standing next to me, headed elsewhere.

Everyone found their seats.

I took the time to observe the people I would have to see for at least a few weeks, assuming I wasn’t expelled in the meantime.

Three noticeably beautiful women.

One handsome man.

And one guy who looked incredibly strong.

And two guys I already knew.

Then, suddenly, with a loud bang, the door swung open, and someone entered the classroom.

“Greetings to all academy cadets. I am Maximilian Wilhelm. I’m the martial arts instructor for Jeolip Academy’s Class A.”

Why is that guy here?

*****TURN 6*****

Bursting into the classroom was the professor who had dragged me to the entrance ceremony on the day of admission, Maximilian Wilhelm.

The classroom became even noisier.

“Isn’t that the hero?”

“Are we really going to be taught by him?”

“Of course, it’s Class A. It’s only right that the best cadets of Jeolip Academy are taught by the best.”

Maybe it’s the aftermath of focusing more on business than familiarizing myself with WFS.

I found no opportunity to join in.

It seemed that Theseus and Lucas, those two, also knew about him.

While everyone else was discussing the person I didn’t know, someone raised a question.

“Why is the professor here, though? Class A isn’t solely made up of cadets specializing in martial arts.”

“Eventually, won’t it split into various majors like magic, alchemy, or dark magic?”

Some cadets, puzzled why a martial arts professor was teaching before we chose our subjects, asked him.

It’s a valid point.

We haven’t chosen our majors yet.

Though it’s not exactly like a university, it was still an academy that replaced university education, so there should be majors.

Yet, the academy hadn’t implemented such a curriculum.

Why is that?

Usually, this would be made clear.

It could be that I feel it’s strange because I’m from the modern world, so I waited quietly for the professor’s answer.

“A very good point. The reason is that the regulations have recently changed. For the next two weeks, cadets can choose and experience different subjects before selecting their major. And the first week involves a short experience of all subjects.”

Maximilian Wilhelm began explaining the academy’s regulations.

His eyes shone brighter than anything else.

So, I didn’t stare at him and just listened half-heartedly.

It wasn’t that I didn’t want to look at him, but his overwhelming passion for teaching was too dazzling for me.

“So, this time, you will all be learning about aura and related concepts. I will explain the basics of aura just once, so listen carefully.”

His introduction led to a neat explanation.

It seems he isn’t just occupying the position of an academy professor for nothing.

“The realms of aura are classified into four categories: Aura User, Aura Expert, Aura Ace, and Aura Master.

Each realm is determined by the ability to handle aura expulsion, aura envelopment, aura enhancement, and aura awakening.”

In the WFS world, aura is not mana.

Aura transforms the individual to influence the world, whereas mana transforms the world to influence the individual.

It’s like the difference between generating heat in the body to produce fire and generating fire to heat the body.

“Aura expulsion is about creating attraction and repulsion through aura. Aura envelopment is extending aura outside the body to a certain distance and letting it linger on other materials. Aura enhancement is inserting aura between body parts to augment the body, and aura awakening is using aura to transform the world.”

And then it gets divided into various specifics like aura levitation, aura support, aura detection, and complete aura awakening.

However, the martial arts professor didn’t explain that far.

“Well, there will be cadets who major in magic or alchemy, so let’s stop here for now. I have something for us to do.”

Suddenly stopping his explanation, the martial arts professor announced he had something for us to do.

“We will start dueling now.”

But we just dueled yesterday.

What nonsense is this?

“Everyone, pair up for the duel. No objections will be entertained.”

As the professor’s words echoed, panic started spreading in the classroom.

This class was composed of high-achieving cadets, not fighters.

There were cadets confident in dueling and others talented in alchemy or academics who chose those fields.

But now he plans to make all of them duel.

Even in the class exam, such cadets were tested differently.

Yet, as if anticipating my thoughts, the professor added an explanation.

“Of course, this is limited to those specializing in martial arts or magic.”

Fortunately, the professor showed some mercy to a few, assuring them they wouldn’t have to spar.

Several cadets from other academic streams breathed sighs of relief at this.

And the field I choose is martial arts.

I know how to use magic, but since being reincarnated, I haven’t studied much because it’s too annoying.

Conclusion: I have to participate in the duel.

Other quick-witted cadets started pairing up first.

And the guy from the northern dukedom sitting close to me immediately betrayed me.

“Just so you know, I’m not pairing with you.”

“Why?”

“Have you forgotten what you did in the last duel?”

Ah, how did he know?

I was planning to kick him in the groin and reap the benefits.

But when I tried to find someone else.

“Excuse me, could you…”

“Sorry.”

“I’m not in martial arts.”

“Unfortunately…”

No one wanted to pair with me, leaving me leaving me alone.

And, unfortunately, the number of Class A cadets available for dueling was an odd number.

So, eventually…

“Abraxas Mentuhotep. It seems you’ll have to duel with me.”

In the end, my opponent was determined to be the martial arts professor, Maximilian Wilhelm.

“Just for your information. Don’t even think about surrendering now. If you do, I’ll fold your body for you.”

The thought briefly crossed my mind that getting folded and kicked out of the academy might be a win, but…

That man seemed like he would really fold my body and kill me, so I decided to endure.

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