Temporary Professor (6)

1.

Swordsmanship department main building.

Lecture Room 101.

Today, the first Basic Swordsmanship class is being held here.

With ten minutes left before the lecture begins, all the students are seated.

Thirty students.

Chosen personally by the Saintess from among hundreds of applicants, they were mixed from all grades, from freshmen to seniors.

They might look like a motley crew, but.

They are all excellent talents.

Students with good grades, students with potential even if their grades aren’t great.

Children who will surely make a name for themselves in the future are gathered in one place.

-Tick tock

It became exactly six o’clock.

At the same time, the classroom door opened and a girl entered.

The murmuring disappears.

The students’ eyes followed the girl.

A neat white uniform.

Only the color is different from the academy uniform.

But that alone made her stand out.

A white uniform alone among black uniforms.

It couldn’t help but be noticeable.

The girl leisurely headed to the blackboard.

Golden hair swayed over her fluttering cloak.

“Nice to meet you.”

The girl stood facing the students in a posture as upright as an instructor.

“I am Elia, the temporary professor who will teach you Basic Swordsmanship.”

A stiff tone.

The atmosphere is different from usual.

The warm and kind atmosphere has disappeared, replaced by a cold and aloof one.

“I will teach you step by step from the basics, such as how to breathe, how to use Magical power, and how to hold a sword.”

Judging by the level of the lecture outline, it’s not even at the level of an academy freshman.

Some students were already disappointed.

These were students who thought they would learn special swordsmanship.

They didn’t expect to really learn from the basics as the name suggested.

“You don’t have to take the class if you don’t want to.”

Elia raised her index finger.

“There is only one condition. Only those who score at least 1 point against me through sparring will be granted the right to skip class. If not, you’ll have to enjoy the class, right?”

Yohan in the front row flinched.

He knows very well because he spars with Elia every day.

That it’s an impossible task.

“And let me say this in advance. Don’t expect kindness from me. While I am your professor, I am prepared to be hated by you.”

In short, it means it will be a tough class.

“Before we start our first class, let’s take some time to get to know each other briefly today.”

Elia pointed out the window.

“Shall we go outside?”

Elia smiled brightly.

Thus, her class began.

2.

“I have reviewed your grades on paper.”

They went out to the athletic field outside the building.

“They’re all quite impressive.”

Although they weren’t selected based on grades.

The top and second-ranked students from each grade.

And most of them were students in the upper ranks.

“But that’s all useless in front of me.”

Elia crossed her arms.

“Whether you’re in the upper or lower ranks, I will judge your skills directly.”

When selecting, they inevitably relied on applications, but a few words written on a piece of paper cannot fully grasp a person’s skills.

Skill.

Potential.

The best way to properly confirm such things is to face them directly.

Elia drew the sword she was wearing at her waist.

A black Blade Body.

Its noble color captivates the eyes.

“Attack me all at once.”

Elia loosened her shoulders and stretched lightly.

“Huh??”

The students were bewildered.

To suddenly tell them to attack all at once.

“Haaah…”

Sighing, Elia shook her head.

“If this were a battlefield, your necks would have been sliced off while you were blinking.”

Then one student raised his hand and said.

“But this isn’t a battlefield…?”

Elia glared at the student.

A look that said, ‘Don’t talk back.’

Feeling a sudden surge of killing intent, the student slowly lowered his hand.

“People these days are too steeped in peace. Everyone, just 20 years ago, we were at war. And the war isn’t over yet. It’s just a truce.”

Elia’s long sermon began.

Just listening to the story, it sounded like the words of an old veteran who had rolled around on the battlefield for decades.

…Even though she herself is a person of these days.

The students stared at Elia as if she were strange.

“Anyway, what I’m saying is that just because it’s peaceful doesn’t mean it’s really peaceful.”

The sermon that lasted for 10 minutes finally ended.

“Everyone, attack me all at once. Those who don’t attack will have a separate, fun time.”

Elia smiled brightly.

A pretty smile.

For some reason, it felt like a ferocious beast was growling behind that smile.

“Haaah!!”

While they were hesitating about what to do.

The student who ran out first was Hoth, the top student of the freshman class.

He charged forward, spinning the hand axes he held in both hands.

As expected of the rumored freshman.

The Hero of the academy who single-handedly defeated a Demon has a different spirit.

Some students admired Hoth, who was boldly charging forward.

But they don’t know.

That he’s not running out of his own will.

It’s because he saw Elia’s eyes.

Eyes that seemed to say, ‘I’ll kill you if you don’t run out right now.’

He was already planning to step forward first, but as soon as he met those eyes, he was terrified and became even more desperate.

As one person stepped forward, other students followed one by one.

Elia raised her sword with satisfaction.

3.

30 minutes later.

“Haa… haa…”

“Ugh…”

Students sprawled on the ground.

Gasping for breath, they wipe away the sweat streaming down.

“Oh dear, everyone’s being so dramatic.”

Elia stood alone in the middle of the fallen students.

Not a single drop of sweat.

Even though she faced 30 people alone, she didn’t seem tired.

…A monster.

No one said it, but everyone was thinking the same thing.

It felt like they had done a boss raid.

Every time she swung her sword, six people were knocked away.

Even though they attacked all at once, she dodged with a single jump.

She single-handedly defeated a Demon King Army Commander, they say…

They confirmed her skills.

It’s on a different level.

She’s stronger than any professor in the academy.

No, she’s a stronger swordsman than anyone beyond the academy.

The students were so sure.

“I know your skills well.”

Elia sheathed her sword.

“The juniors and seniors seem to have established their own swordsmanship, and the freshmen are full of spirit, which is good. The sophomores are a bit disappointing. And everyone was so busy attacking that they didn’t pay any attention to their surroundings.”

Elia clapped her hands.

“Alright, alright, get up. How long are you going to lie down?”

They didn’t even get to rest for 5 minutes.

Their arms were tingling.

Just blocking Elia’s Sword Aura with their swords felt like their arms were paralyzed.

It felt like they had done a 3-hour sparring session, even though it was only 30 minutes.

Some got up.

Some couldn’t get up.

Seeing that, Elia sighed deeply.

They’re being too dramatic.

To be like this after moving for only 30 minutes.

She doubts that they are the best talents.

As she said in advance, Elia has no intention of being kind to the students.

Coldly.

Cruelly.

She decided to act like a gruff instructor.

There will be no leniency.

That’s how it was when she taught the Hero, Louis.

No, it was even worse.

She would often give a sword to a child who wasn’t even an adult and throw him into the forest or into a canyon.

“There’s still an hour left before class ends. Get up.”

With continued urging, the students staggered to their feet.

Their whole bodies ached.

Their legs were trembling just standing still.

It was 30 minutes, but it felt like a 3-hour sparring session.

“It seems like we need to start with physical training.”

Not all of them, but some students still can’t catch their breath.

“Let’s run around the athletic field for the rest of the time.”

That’s better.

They were horrified, thinking she was going to ask them to spar again.

“You can run 30 laps, right?”

“Pardon?”

The students looked around the athletic field.

A vast athletic field of 5000 pyeong.

It’s hard enough to run one lap, but to run 30 laps.

As if asking if she was serious, the students looked at Elia.

“Using Magical power is allowed. If you can’t run it in an hour, there will be supplementary lessons.”

Then one student raised his hand.

“Professor! How can we run 30 laps in an hour?”

Elia tilted her head.

“Why? Can’t you do it?”

Of course not.

They could barely do it if they ran at full power.

But if they exert themselves at full power for an hour, they might not be able to get up tomorrow due to Magical power overuse.

“I’ll run with you too.”

She doesn’t think of herself as a great educator.

But Elia has experience in education.

She has raised Heroes and trained Knights.

So she knows how students will react and complain in this situation.

She’s making them do something impossible.

‘Try doing it yourself, instructor.’

In that case, she just has to show them.

That it’s possible.

“I’ll give a prize to the person who runs 30 laps before me.”

Elia hopped in place.

“Start!”

With a whoosh, the air rushed out and Elia leaped forward.

She’s fast.

She disappeared far away in just a few steps.

Yohan followed behind her.

One by one, they run.

Supplementary lessons if they’re late.

They run desperately, not knowing what awaits them.

Considering what she has shown so far, it would definitely not be a sweet supplementary lesson.

“You haven’t even run half a lap yet?”

Elia, who had already run one lap, passed by the students.