Academy’s New Guard is Unusual - Chapter 38

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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 38
Mailo had assumed Grave was joking when he said he’d open a lecture course.
Mailo knew Grave was no ordinary man, but as things stood, Grave’s position at the Academy was merely that of a Security Force member.
At the Academy, members of the Security Force were nothing more than handymen called upon as needed. A Security Force member opening a lecture course was the same as a janitor offering to teach — absurd on its face.
No matter how exceptional Grave might be, some things simply couldn’t be done. That’s what Mailo had thought — and yet.
‘……How is this even possible?’
Mailo blinked stupidly as he watched Grave standing at the lecturer’s podium.
Grave stood before the podium, looking down at the students.
The sight seemed so natural. He looked just like a real professor.
‘There’s actually a professor using a Security Force member as a Teaching Assistant?’
Elysium Academy boasted the finest faculty on the continent, and its Teaching Assistants were equally of the highest caliber.
When the Academy provided Teaching Assistants free of charge to every professor, which instructor would ever resort to using a Security Force member?
‘……What on earth is going on?’
Mailo turned his gaze toward Leon at the far end of the Lecture Hall.
Leon’s face was expressionless, yet he was subtly watching Grave’s every move. Mailo’s instincts suddenly crystallized.
‘He’s been had too!!’
Leon was in exactly the same position as him.
‘Did a real professor get swept up in this as well?’
Just then, Grave’s flat voice echoed through the room.
“Any questions?”
Evangeline’s hand shot up instantly.
“What’s the name of this course?”
“Practical Combat.”
“Practical Combat? But we all have different Attributes, don’t we?”
It was actually a reasonable question.
The four Attributes — Aura, Dark Magic, Holy Power, and Magic — each possessed distinctly different characteristics. Because of this, ordinary lecture courses were typically structured around students of the same Attribute.
Yet the students in this Lecture Hall clearly came from different Attributes.
A Knight, a Dark Mage, a Priest, a Mage, and Evangeline herself.
Even general liberal arts courses grouped no more than two Attributes together, yet here was a combat course combining four —
It was unprecedented.
“Don’t worry about that. Each Attribute will have a specialist instructor. Through one-on-one analysis, we’ll tailor each lesson to the individual student’s needs.”
Grave’s answer drew cheers from the class.
It was an exceedingly appealing promise.
Mailo tilted his head in confusion.
‘A specialist for each Attribute?’
Was that even possible? Grave could probably teach Aura directly, but the other Attributes —
‘……Wait, he actually uses Dark Magic and Holy Power, doesn’t he?’
From what Mailo could tell, Grave possessed exceptional skill in both Dark Magic and Holy Power. Having taken a direct hit from a fist infused with Holy Power, Mailo could say with certainty.
Now that he thought about it, Grave was even skilled at Magic. During the gate inspection, hadn’t he fired off light and fireballs alike?
‘Is he planning to teach all of it himself? God, what a nightmare — ‘
That was when Grave clapped his hands once.
“Now, let’s fill out the Course Enrollment Forms.”
“Aren’t Course Enrollment Forms normally submitted on the last day of the adjustment period?”
“If you have to come back later to submit them, isn’t that a hassle?”
“Well, I suppose — ”
Just then, Rosa, dangling her legs from atop a desk, spoke up.
“Let’s at least listen to the Orientation first.”
Her tone was brazenly disrespectful, but Grave simply nodded without reaction.
“Right. Let’s begin the Orientation.”
At the mention of the lecture beginning, Mailo naturally moved toward the rear exit.
Standing by the back door, Mailo gazed at the students with sympathy.
‘Poor wretches.’
Grave beat even professors. How could the students hope to escape?
However, contrary to Mailo’s expectations, Grave didn’t immediately start throwing punches.
“Let’s start with the basics. What do you think Attributes are?”
“Me! Me!”
“Yes, Evangeline.”
“There are four Attributes! Aura, Magic, Holy Power, and Dark Magic!”
“Oh, impressive that you know that.”
“Hehe! What’s the big deal!”
Though his tone was clearly mocking, Evangeline puffed out her chest and preened anyway.
“There are four Attributes — Aura and Magic, Holy Power and Dark Magic. But are these truly four different Attributes?”
“Of course! You don’t even know that?”
“What makes them different?”
“The names are different!”
“Aside from the names?”
“Then — ”
Evangeline, struggling for an answer, turned desperately to Andy. Andy sighed and answered in her place.
“The fundamental force that serves as the basis for each Attribute differs, as does the manner of manifestation.”
“……Yes! That’s it! You’re exactly right, that’s exactly what I was trying to say!”
Evangeline murmured and repeated Andy’s words.
“Then in what way do the fundamental forces of each Attribute differ?”
This time, Grave directed the question at Andy.
Andy sat quietly, turning over the information in his mind before speaking.
“Holy Power is founded on faith in the divine, while Magic is founded on atmospheric Mana. Dark Magic relies on a pact with demons — wait, that means they’re all external forces.”
Andy spoke as though struck by the realization. Grave nodded lightly.
“Correct. Even Aura, by the conventional understanding, involves absorbing the Qi of nature. All four Attributes are different, yet they share a common trait: all are external forces.”
The Lecture Hall had gone quiet. The restless students were now concentrated on Grave’s explanation. Even Evangeline, no less.
“Because of this, the channel connecting to the external force is critical in all four Attributes. The Knight’s Breathing Technique, the Priest’s Prayer Incantation, the Mage’s Incantation, the Dark Mage’s Curse — these are all examples. Now, could a Priest use a Knight’s Breathing Technique?”
Grave asked the question plainly. The answer came from the far back of the room.
“Why would you do something that stupid?”
It was Rosa. She tilted her head with a defiant air, letting her long legs dangle from the desk.
Grave stepped down from the podium and approached Rosa. He stood directly in front of her, looking down.
Rosa tilted her head up at him with the same defiant slant.
‘He’s going to hit her.’
Mailo swallowed hard.
Yet instead of raising his fist, Grave’s lips curled upward.
“Why is it stupid?”
“If you’re a Priest, you just recite the Prayer Incantation. Using a Knight’s Breathing Technique is stupid.”
“Stupid, you say — ”
Grave let out a soft laugh and flicked his fingers lightly.
A pure white light blossomed at his fingertips. Holy Power.
“The primary purpose of Holy Power is healing and blessing. The key is maintaining the divine force evenly during manifestation. The Prayer Incantation helps one maintain that force.”
“So what? You act like knowing that much is something special?”
Rosa sneered, her lip curling higher. Even Mailo, watching from a distance, felt his irritation spike — yet Grave continued his explanation without missing a beat.
“And what of the Knight’s Breathing Technique? In combat, a Knight must be able to momentarily reduce power or focus it at a single point. This is why the Knight’s Breathing Technique specializes in controlling force. Applied this way, you can even do something like this.”
Grave extended another finger.
Between the two elongated fingers, the pure white light exploded outward, swelling massively until it burst beyond his fingertips in a towering column.
At the sight, Rosa’s defiant posture straightened.
Grave continued his explanation in an even, measured voice.
“Magic converts the force of nature itself and uses it. Thus, the Incantation of Magic functions as a conversion. Applying that principle — ”
Grave raised a third finger. A vast column of pure white light suddenly billowed like wind, swirling through the air. Soon it scattered like cherry blossoms on a spring breeze, Holy Power sprinkled everywhere.
Within moments, a white mist enveloped the entire Lecture Hall.
“Is… is that even possible?”
Rosa stared blankly at the phenomenon, her mouth hanging open.
But it wasn’t over yet.
Grave extended one more finger.
“Finally, Dark Magic uses Life Force as collateral to wield power beyond one’s own. Thus the Curse of Dark Magic carries a runaway effect, consuming Life Force. Applied likewise — ”
The white mist that had been dispersing suddenly blazed with intense radiance. The Lecture Hall filled with light so brilliant it was blinding.
Like a pure white sun hanging in the sky.
Every student stared at Grave in stunned silence.
Then, from outside, came the cheerful chatter of other students. Another Lecture Hall’s Orientation must have ended.
Grave clicked his tongue and clapped his hands once. The pure white light vanished instantly.
The experience felt so surreal that everyone in the room wondered if they’d been dreaming.
“Now then, let’s fill out those Course Enrollment Forms.”
At Grave’s gesture, Leon distributed the forms to the students.
Their relationship seemed a bit odd, but no one noticed.
The students simply wrote out their forms as though enchanted. Even the unruly Rosa scribbled hurriedly.
Once Grave had collected the forms, he turned around without ceremony.
“Don’t be late.”
Even after Grave left the Lecture Hall, not a sound could be heard.
Only after the door closed with a thud did anyone dare breathe.
‘Damn, that was cool — ‘
For some reason, Mailo felt a swell of pride.
* * *
Andy stared blankly at the closed door.
In truth, what Grave had just explained was basic foundational theory — the kind you’d find in a textbook when first learning Magic.
Magic’s Incantation carries the nature of conversion, Aura carries amplification, Holy Power carries maintenance, and Dark Magic carries a runaway effect.
So elementary that it was almost confusing.
But he’d never seen this kind of cross-Attribute application before.
Of course he hadn’t. There was no reason to.
Magic was most efficient when using Incantations. If you wanted greater power, you used a stronger Incantation. If you wanted greater duration, you used a sustaining Incantation.
Learning halfway into another Attribute’s method would yield poor efficiency overall. That was the accepted wisdom.
It definitely was — and yet.
‘What did I just witness?’
What Grave had demonstrated directly contradicted that wisdom.
If you could infuse the properties of another Attribute into Holy Power, then Magic should be possible too.
If he could wield Magic the way Grave had —
At that thought, Andy’s heart raced.
“It’s just a parlor trick anyway. Using higher-rank Holy Power would be better.”
Rosa, back to her usual insolent demeanor, spoke up provocatively.
Rosa had a point. There surely existed Holy Power of higher rank with a wider area of effect and greater power than what Grave had shown.
Andy nodded in agreement.
“But with Magic of the same rank, applying a Knight’s Breathing Technique would be stronger. Using a Prayer Incantation would give better duration.”
“Why bother? Just use higher-rank Holy Power.”
“That’s true. Of course, raising one’s rank is more efficient than these parlor tricks. But — ”
Andy posed a question to Rosa.
“Can everyone use higher-rank Holy Power?”
Rosa’s striking eyebrows quivered slightly.
Each person has their limits. That’s what we call Talent.
But those parlor tricks were useful precisely when one had reached those limits.
In other words, they were the last recourse of those who’d hit their ceiling and could climb no further.
It was not something to be dismissed lightly.
Then, from the heavy silence, someone stood.
“So they’re actually effective, then?”
It was Evangeline. Something about her confident expression made Andy uneasy.
And his unease swiftly became reality.
“Hey, friend. That Aura Breathing Technique? Teach me how to do it.”
Evangeline placed a hand on Vivien’s shoulder.
Of course, Elysium Academy’s educational philosophy held that “all humans are equal before education.” This was why violations of rank were punished severely.
Yet no matter how strictly egalitarian the school rules were, casually placing a hand on the shoulder of a member of the royal family and acting so familiar — that simply did not happen.
The other students gasped in shock, but Evangeline remained unfazed. Andy watched the two nervously, his mind racing.
‘Is Evangeline high nobility?’
It had to be. There was no other explanation.
Evangeline’s appearance was indeed striking.
She very well could be from a high noble house.
“Hey, friend, answer me.”
……It had to be.

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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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