Academy’s New Guard is Unusual - Chapter 80

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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 80
Harman, the Security Corps Captain, came from a noble background. As a boy, Harman drank every day and rolled around with women.
His family head, unable to bear it any longer, cast him out. To survive, Harman took a job with the Security Corps at Elysium Academy.
When Harman first joined the elite Security Corps, the atmosphere was fervent.
Everyone was filled with a sense of mission to protect the continent’s greatest academy.
Chief among them was the Squad Leader of Harman’s unit.
“We guard the seeds of the continent itself.”
The Squad Leader dragged Harman around and taught him earnestly.
No matter how much Harman bristled, it made no difference.
In the end, Harman couldn’t help but be shaped by it.
Life in the Security Corps turned out to be unexpectedly enjoyable.
Until a Rift opened.
The Rift opened right in front of Harman.
By protocol, Harman, being closest to the Rift, should have gone in.
Then the Squad Leader pulled him back.
“You request backup!”
The Squad Leader didn’t hesitate and threw himself into the Rift.
Harman ran to Headquarters like a madman and requested support at once.
However, the Rift Response Team, which had been assembled quickly the last time a Rift opened, was taking far too long to form.
Frustrated, Harman sought out Ilexid, the Principal at the time.
And he told Ilexid that a Rift Response Team needed to be assembled at once.
“We can’t just throw professors recklessly into the Rift to save Security Corps personnel. We’re still assembling the team, so wait.”
The team was only assembled two days later.
The professors who emerged after sealing the Rift spoke cheerfully about their success.
The Squad Leader was never even recovered—only his body.
It was then that Harman understood: the Security Corps was merely a consumable.
No matter how hard a consumable works, it only wears out faster.
Harman slipped back into lethargy.
Thus the years passed, and Harman, now Security Corps Captain, set an example by leading the way.
Not hard work—moderation.
Just enough to avoid wearing out.
The Security Corps atmosphere relaxed, but those above didn’t care one way or the other.
As a result, casualties in the Security Corps dropped noticeably.
But then—.
‘I’m in his way?’
It was absurd. What could some greenhorn who’d just joined the Security Corps possibly know?
It was the reckless impertinence of a newcomer.
Yet there was nothing green in the eyes looking down at Harman.
Those eyes were far more worn than Harman’s own.
“Want to make a bet?”
The question snapped Harman out of his reverie.
“…A bet?”
“Yeah. If the Security Corps suffers more casualties this year than last year, I lose.”
This year’s cohort of new students was the highest caliber since Elysium Academy’s founding.
This was because of an Oracle claiming a hero who would save the continent would emerge from Elysium Academy.
And where there’s bait, pests gather. Problems had been occurring continuously since the Entrance Ceremony.
It was inevitable that the Security Corps would face serious casualties.
Compared to last year, accepting the bet would be the smart move—.
‘Something feels off.’
His aging instincts warned him.
He’d read it in the reports: Grave had made a “bet” with another Squad Leader to consolidate the squads.
This was the man’s method.
He shouldn’t take it.
Yet Harman’s weathered neck nodded anyway.
“All right.”
Even if he lost the bet, if Security Corps casualties stayed lower than last year—.
That would be enough.
“There’s a condition, though.”
The man spoke in a flat voice.
“A condition?”
“You guarantee my autonomy. As a Security Corps member, I need to respond when a Rift opens.”
“Fair enough.”
“And tell every Security Corps member: whenever they see a Rift, whether anyone gets sucked in or not, they’re to fire a Rift Signal Flare. When all four attribute buttons are pressed simultaneously, I’ll go.”
The man held up his Security Baton.
The signal flares were originally meant to report information about a Rift. But he wanted them used to summon him?
It was an odd request, but Harman nodded along.
“Fine.”
“So, shall we discuss the prize for the bet?”
The man’s fingers flickered with certainty.
He was confident he would win.
“What do you want? Command of the Security Corps?”
“Why would I want that? What good is a Security Corps?”
“Then what?”
“Hmm.”
Grave looked Harman up and down.
The cold gaze made Harman shiver involuntarily.
“Hand full control of the Security Corps to Hanswell.”
“…To Hanswell?”
He wasn’t asking for it for himself—he wanted it given to Hanswell?
Harman squinted as he asked.
“Why?”
“Hanswell does good work.”
“True enough. Will that do?”
“Yeah. And you?”
“Quit the Security Corps.”
“Good. Better keep your word.”
The man turned to leave, his business concluded.
From his retreating back, Harman somehow found himself thinking of his old Squad Leader.
For a moment, Harman stared blankly, then opened the drawer below with weathered hands.
Inside lay a sword, thick with dust.
Harman looked at the blade for a long while, then closed the drawer again.
He was tired.
* * *
The Security Corps Captain followed through on his word with certainty.
He reassigned me as additional support to Squad 42.
In other words, I was now support reinforcement for the support squad.
Support squared, as it were.
Thanks to that, I could choose any duty assignment I wanted.
I could even stack day and night shifts back-to-back.
Hanswell didn’t protest this time either.
The Security Corps Captain then announced my signal flare protocol.
He posted a notice in the central hub of Security Corps Headquarters: pressing all four attribute buttons on a Rift Signal Flare would trigger Squad 42’s support response.
Naturally, the Security Corps took it with a grain of salt.
Even though I’d half-unified the corps through raw strength, to them I was just another competent fighter.
They all laughed it off as some strange joke.
I didn’t really mind.
When humans are desperate, they’ll grasp at straws.
And when their lives are truly on the line, they’ll trigger that flare.
That was enough.
What mattered most was something else.
‘The Midterm Exam’s coming up.’
The ultimate goal of this game was Evangeline’s graduation. Everything else was just secondary work toward that end.
The problem was that Evangeline’s graduation was frustratingly difficult.
There were obstacles like Republic terrorism and the Principal’s rampage, sure, but the real problem lay elsewhere.
‘Evangeline’s stubborn as a brick wall.’
Left to her own devices, Evangeline was the type to get expelled as a matter of course.
For someone like that, the Midterm Exam was a major crisis.
‘At least she’s been through two Rifts. That helps.’
Having cleared Rifts of Holy Power and Aura Attribute, she should at least pass those two subjects.
The problem was the other two: Magic and Black Magic.
‘The two hardest subjects are left.’
With serious coaching, even those two could maybe be salvaged.
Of course, I had no intention of being the one to do the salvaging.
I could ask the twin witches about Magic—.
‘I need to find a Black Magic professor.’
As it happened, there was a lecture today.
I could swing by the Main Building and pick up a suitable Black Magic instructor while I was at it.
Just then, Nora found me.
Nora was the Squad 10 Squad Leader I’d appointed as Leon’s teaching assistant. It felt like it had been quite a while since I’d seen her.
It was proof that Nora was doing her job well.
“There is a regular professors’ meeting today. Attendance is mandatory for teaching assistants as well.”
Nora reported respectfully, bowing her head.
“A professors’ meeting?”
“Yes, sir. Organized by the Academic Affairs Department.”
The Academic Affairs Department was one of the academy’s three major divisions, handling all matters concerning faculty.
A meeting organized by them would gather every professor.
“Perfect timing. I was thinking of recruiting a professor anyway.”
“…The Academic Affairs Department likely regards us unfavorably.”
Nora spoke carefully, gauging my reaction.
“Unfavorably how?”
“Well, Professor Leon rejected their appointed teaching assistant and accepted a Security Corps member instead.”
The Academic Affairs Department, which directly managed professors and lectures, had the highest pride among the three divisions.
And Leon had rejected their carefully chosen assistant and hired a Security Corps member instead.
He’d definitely earned their ire.
“Sounds entertaining. Let’s go now.”
At my casual answer, Nora’s eyes widened in surprise.
Right then, Milo rushed up from behind.
“Hehe! Let’s go!”
I gently held Milo back.
“Milo, you stay with Volcan.”
“A-are you throwing me away?”
Milo’s eyebrows drooped sadly.
Throwing away—an odd choice of words. I creased my brow.
“Volcan needs someone trustworthy by his side.”
“Trustworthy—! Yes! I’ll stick with Volcan like glue!”
Fortunately, with those words, Milo puffed out his chest and left.
“Let’s go.”
“Yes, sir.”
Nora led the way, explaining the situation as we walked.
“Recently, the Academic Affairs Department conducted a thorough review of the lecture plans. It seemed they were looking for something to complain about, but nothing came up.”
“Impressive.”
“It’s nothing, really.”
Nora’s lips curled up slightly. She seemed to downplay it, but she was clearly pleased by praise.
After that, Nora continued with various reports.
I made my way through the obligatory “That’s remarkable,” “Excellent work,” and “Well done” in rotation.
When we arrived at the Grand Hall where the Academic Affairs Department was holding the meeting, professors were chatting away at the entrance.
At the center of it all was Rocksvale, the Knight of Radiance.
With his tall frame and perfectly matched dignified demeanor, Rocksvale was unmistakably the protagonist of the scene.
Professors swarmed around Rocksvale—it was practically a fan meeting.
In stark contrast, there stood someone off to one side.
It was Leon. There wasn’t a single professor near him.
He looked much like Evangeline would have.
“I heard that the recent rumors about Professor Leon turned out to be false, so he’s being ostracized among the faculty. He must be quite disheartened.”
Nora explained carefully.
Contrary to Nora’s account, Leon himself looked perfectly fine. His lips twitched slightly, barely suppressing a smile.
‘He’s happy about it?’
When our eyes met, Leon flinched and hardened his expression.
But that corner of his mouth still tilted slightly upward.
Soon we entered the Grand Hall.
Inside, it was decorated like a luxury hotel—a red carpet, various refreshments, round table settings.
Behind all that stood Academic Affairs Department staff.
Normally, academy staff had no particular uniform, but the Academic Affairs Department was different.
They all wore white blazers and white slacks.
Their coordinated dress spoke volumes of the department’s pride.
“Professor Leon’s seat is this way.”
An Academic Affairs staff member guided Leon. They gave us a casual wave.
“Teaching assistants go over there.”
Following their gesture, I turned to see chairs arranged in the back.
Unlike where the professors sat, these were shabby, worn-out chairs.
The atmosphere was gloomy—it looked like a servants’ waiting area. The treatment matched, too.
The problem was the number of chairs.
There were exactly two chairs short.
“So a Security Corps member wants to sit with us, huh?”
“Why don’t you go clean the bathroom instead?”
The other teaching assistants openly snickered.
It was petty territoriality. The way they said it so blatantly suggested the Academic Affairs Department was behind it.
I looked quietly around at the teaching assistants.
Some of them stood with their mouths shut tight. They were ones I’d trained.
The moment my gaze landed on them, they shot to their feet.
“What? Why are you standing?”
The other assistants asked in confusion, but mine just quickly shuffled out of the way.
There were quite a few of them, which was rather impressive to watch.
Then one of them rushed out in a scramble.
“Please, sit here!”
It was Hans.
Sword Saint, if you please.
Hans bowed low and murmured respectfully.
‘Oh right, I did say that.’
I sat down with a solemn expression befitting a Sword Saint.

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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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