Academy’s New Guard is Unusual - Chapter 112

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 112
Back at the Security Corps, I sat on the barracks bed and ran through the situation in my head.
‘What used to be a regular Dark Mage has now appeared as a Table of Truth Dark Mage.’
The difficulty had gone up.
Whether it was the effect of Hard Mode or not, I wasn’t sure.
‘It won’t end just with the Table of Truth appearing.’
There was a good chance the others had gotten stronger too.
‘So this is the Experience Point Event period.’
My lips curled up unbidden.
Then Milo stirred. Soon he jolted awake with a shout.
“Gaaahhh!!”
“Quite a raucous way to wake up.”
“W-what—?!”
“Your body?”
“Ah, I’m fine.”
Milo tried to get up. I pressed down on his forehead.
“Stay down.”
“I’m all right.”
“Your body is fine. But your Life Force hasn’t recovered yet.”
“Ah, I understand.”
Milo settled back down gently. His eyes rolled around in their sockets.
“Holy Power consumes Life Force just like Black Magic does. The only difference is what it targets. After you spend Holy Power, you need rest.”
“I see.”
Milo’s face showed he didn’t understand at all. I explained again, tailored for him.
“Use too much Holy Power and you’ll have a short lifespan.”
“What?! Will I die?!”
“You could.”
Only then did Milo’s expression grow serious.
“W-what do I do then? I haven’t even had a girlfriend yet.”
“Regrettable, indeed.”
“How much time do I have left?”
“Ten…”
“Ten years?! That’s plenty of time—!”
“Nine, eight, seven…”
“No, no, no!!”
Milo tore at his own hair and wailed.
Even Kuga on my shoulder giggled at the sight.
There was definitely something fun about teasing him.
“Just joking. As long as you replenish the Life Force you’ve spent, you’ll be fine.”
“How do I replenish it? By eating meat?”
“Similar. You eat demons.”
“Huh? That doesn’t sound similar at all—”
“Actually, it tastes about the same.”
“…Have you eaten it before?”
Milo asked lightly with a laugh. He seemed to think I was joking.
Unfortunately, I wasn’t.
‘Right there, eaten by Cassandra and an Archdemon at the same time.’
Cassandra had an incredible appetite. If I hadn’t let her eat demons there, she would’ve devoured me instead.
“…In any case, use Holy Power sparingly, since it consumes Life Force.”
“Yes, understood.”
Milo nodded and added in a lower voice.
“What’s the next plan?”
Milo seemed as serious as if he’d become some kind of intelligence officer.
‘Next plan, you say.’
I’d already removed the Fragment of Foreign God lodged in Volcan, caught the Demon Knight long ago, and dealt with the Dark Mage.
What remained was trivial at best.
I could safely say I’d eliminated most threats to the Midterm Exam.
‘There’s no way this ends so easily, though.’
I was certain something more had to come.
‘What if the Rear Gate gets compromised?’
If I had to pick the biggest villain of the Midterm Exam, it would be Volcan.
The most dangerous element of the Midterm was when Volcan would smash through the Rear Gate, letting the Wanderers pour in.
But I’d already removed the Fragment of Foreign God that was embedded in him.
No matter how strong the Wanderers were, they couldn’t collapse the Rear Gate from the outside.
‘What if a new factor emerges that can bring down the Rear Gate?’
That was possible. This damn game always demanded preparing for the absolute worst.
The Rear Gate needed reinforcement.
“Milo, from now on, report to the Rear Gate with Rudrick.”
“With Rudrick? Where are you going—”
“There’s a high chance something will happen at the Rear Gate. I need trustworthy people there.”
“Huh, understood. I’m your second-in-command after all.”
Milo, who’d been looking downcast, perked up immediately.
He was an easy one to handle.
The level of power Rudrick had shown was high-tier. High-tier meant stronger than most professors.
If I added Milo to that, we’d have quite solid reinforcement.
‘I’ll keep Volcan with me just in case.’
That ought to give the Rear Gate decent defense.
Once I’d finished my calculations, I left the room.
Rudrick was in the hallway, puffing on a cigarette.
Looked like he’d been driven out by Scarlet again.
“Rudrick, from now on, you’re on Rear Gate inspection duty with Milo.”
“I’m on patrol duty. Sir.”
“And?”
“I can’t abandon Rear Gate inspection for patrol.”
“I’ll talk to Hanswell.”
“Wait—”
I headed for Hanswell before Rudrick could grab me.
Hanswell was, as always, handling paperwork.
“Oh, Grave. What brings you? Don’t tell me another squad is joining up?”
Hanswell’s eyes gleamed with anticipation.
That was rather burdensome.
“Actually, how about assigning Milo and Rudrick to Rear Gate inspection for a while?”
“Hmm. That’d create a personnel gap. Especially Rudrick—he wouldn’t be much help with inspection duty.”
Hanswell came back firmly.
When work was involved, he was sharp as a blade.
“I’ll integrate Squad 29 shortly.”
“…But creating a flexible work environment is necessary too. If the duty system becomes too rigid, it’ll be hard for personnel to handle unexpected variables. Rudrick, report to Rear Gate inspection starting today.”
Hanswell pushed his glasses up as he spoke. Rudrick squinted.
“I’m on patrol duty.”
“Rudrick, since when do we call casually wandering around your district, hiding somewhere and smoking, then clocking out ‘patrol’?”
“How did you—”
Rudrick’s thick brows trembled, struck at a weak point.
Hanswell continued his lecture while adjusting his glasses.
“The water upstream must be clear for the water downstream to be clear. I understand some dereliction of duty when the squad leader is like that. But we’re in the Midterm Exam period now.”
Hanswell’s scolding rained down on Rudrick.
Following behind, Rudrick couldn’t do much against Hanswell’s endless lecturing.
“Fine, fine. I’ll go to Rear Gate inspection.”
“Good thinking. Flexible duty is refreshing for personnel.”
Hanswell nodded with satisfaction.
Thanks to that, I’d successfully sent Rudrick and Milo to the Rear Gate.
I’d have to absorb Squad 29 soon enough, though.
I clicked my tongue and called Volcan.
“Volcan, come with me to the Main Building.”
Under normal circumstances, Volcan would’ve immediately said “Yes, sir!” and agreed. But he hesitated.
“Sir, I’m sorry. I’d rather avoid going to the Main Building if I can.”
“You’re avoiding the Main Building?”
“The students aren’t mature enough yet, sir.”
Volcan smiled bitterly as he spoke.
“Don’t worry. If anyone gives you trouble over your skin color, I’ll beat them senseless.”
“B-beat them?! That’s barbaric talk! They’re still students, sir.”
“Which is why we need to educate them more firmly. Come on.”
I grabbed Volcan and dragged him along. He came reluctantly with a string of protests.
Contrary to Volcan’s worries, the students barely paid him attention.
It was thanks to Kuga sitting on my shoulder.
“Wow, so cute! What’s its name?”
The moment students saw Kuga, their eyes sparkled as they approached.
You could see just how powerful Kuga’s cuteness was.
“Kuga! Kuga!”
Kuga even clapped his paws, drawing their attention. Quite the attention-seeker.
With all the focus on him, I ended up hiding Kuga in my pocket.
Today was packed—there was even a supplementary lecture after the regular one.
I headed straight to the Lecture Hall. On the way, I caught fragments of student conversations.
Students treated Security Corps personnel as NPCs and didn’t care who was around—they just talked freely.
“The Twin Witch professors and Professor Drakoff are giving supplementary lectures for Professor Leon, apparently?”
“What? Those notoriously picky professors are giving a supplementary lecture? That doesn’t make sense.”
“It’s true. I checked.”
“What on earth did he do? Blackmail them or something?”
The fact that Drakoff and the Twin Witches were giving Leon’s supplementary lecture seemed to be causing a stir.
After all, it was rare for a professor to teach a supplementary lecture for another professor.
It made sense that the notoriously picky Drakoff and the Twin Witches doing so would be shocking.
“They say the Crown Prince is harboring a crush? A forbidden love, supposedly—”
“What? Come to think of it, he has been acting strange lately.”
This seemed to be the work of Evangeline and Andy.
“There’s a rumor that this Midterm Exam will be really difficult.”
“Really? Ugh, I didn’t study—”
I listened carefully to the students’ conversations as I made my way to the Lecture Hall.
At the entrance stood a pale Leon and a chatty Administrative Bureau staff member, Calix.
“You’re truly remarkable, Professor. The Twin Witch professors, famous for being the pickiest among faculty, and Professor Drakoff are giving supplementary lectures for you. They must be deeply moved by your teaching.”
The longer Calix talked, the more prominent the veins became on Leon’s forehead.
‘He’s about to throw a punch.’
Just before Leon’s fist came up, Calix stepped back.
“Unfortunately, I have an Administrative Bureau meeting, so I won’t be able to participate in the supplementary lecture.”
Calix spoke as if genuinely regretful.
Soon the lecture began.
Leon conducted it more smoothly than last time.
His lecture was raw and desperate.
Like someone with a blade held to their throat, he taught with genuine urgency.
Of course, outwardly nothing showed, but the sweat on his forehead and his slightly trembling hands were proof.
Combined with the Failing Students’ synergy, Leon’s lecture was quite decent.
I slowly observed the Failing Students. Their momentum felt different from before.
It was thanks to giving each one assignments tailored to them.
They were still Failing Students, of course, but with a bit more time, the effects would show.
Just as Leon’s lecture ended, the Twin Witches and Drakoff appeared.
“Supplementary lecture?! What an honor!!!”
Drakoff was still as loud as ever, and the Twin Witches were still as sharp as ever.
“A supplementary lecture. You know how the rumors are flying? They’re even saying we’ve fallen in love with that leonine dog of a professor—”
Bella shot back pointedly.
I casually took Kuga out. The moment Bella saw Kuga, her words trailed off.
“W-what is this?! Something so cute?!”
“Hi Kuga!”
“It talks! It actually talks!”
Bella let out a sharp cry. Even the usually cold Lira reacted similarly.
“Just once! Let me touch it just once!”
“Gold coin, Kuga.”
Kuga extended a tiny paw toward the panting Bella.
“Are you asking for money right now?”
Kuga tilted his head as if to say, “Obviously.”
“That’s right, Kuga.”
“Tch, petty—”
Bella grumbled as she held out a gold coin.
After Kuga pocketed the coin, he presented his head.
Bella carefully petted Kuga’s head and shivered.
Then Kuga swatted her hand away.
“Done, Kuga.”
“What?! One gold coin for just one petting?! What’s with these prices!”
“Market rate, Kuga.”
“Dammit! Take it all!”
Bella shut her eyes tight and handed over her entire purse.
After Kuga claimed the purse, he extended his head again.
Bella laughed weakly as she petted Kuga’s head.
‘Easily squanders his fortune.’
I clicked my tongue and entered the Lecture Hall.
“We’ll begin the supplementary lecture.”
“Huh?! But the lecture just ended!”
“If you don’t want to listen, you can leave. Supplementary lecture participation is entirely voluntary.”
Truthfully, I couldn’t force anyone to attend a supplementary lecture.
So—
“Of course, those who don’t attend will fall behind accordingly.”
I added that subtle hint.
The Failing Students looked at each other and sat back down. Remarkable synergy indeed.
Just as I was about to start the lecture, the back door suddenly opened.
And what entered was hair like melted sunshine.
“Since it’s a free class, I can attend as well.”
It was the Crown Prince.
“Oh my!”
“Forbidden love!”
Evangeline and Andy nudged each other and whispered excitedly.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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