Surviving the Assassin Academy as a Genius Professor - Chapter 53

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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 53
EP15 – In the Wake of the Storm

Much happened in the days that followed.

“Batalion was a traitor?”
“The lunatic. And the professors just let him go?”

When the full story came to light, the cadets erupted in outrage.
They set fire to the Batalion Hall, named after the senior professor. Yet no one faced punishment.

Despite Hiaka Academy’s victory in the Assassination War, a profound sense of defeat pervaded the institution. The Discipline Office and the faculty coordinated their efforts to root out the seeds of rebellion, ferreting out those who had colluded with the neutral faction leadership.
Half of them were beaten to death.

“We were stabbed in the back by Croitz dogs—does this make any sense?”
“Even if we’d launched a surprise attack, this is unforgivable.”

The kingdom’s people condemned Hiaka Academy.
They did so despite the institution’s exceptional response, which had resulted in almost no cadet casualties.

“The royal house expresses its regret regarding this incident. We are deeply disappointed. Is this the sort of thing that should occur in an academy founded to teach counterintelligence?”

The royal faction responded by harshly censuring the academy’s operations and deciding to drastically reduce its funding.

Meanwhile, the royal house issued an angry statement toward the Kingdom of Croitz. The Croitz side, for its part, claimed complete ignorance and denied all involvement. Though plenty of evidence surfaced, carefully buried as it was, Croitz maintained its stance of utter denial.

This fact spread across the entire continent, and the prevailing assessment shifted from the tense Hiaka-Croitz military balance tilting toward Croitz.

People generally favor the weak.
Nations, however, generally favor the strong.

Hiaka faced mounting criticism.

Yet Hiaka did not sit idle.
Ezekiel borrowed the national treasure known as the Underworld Register from the royal house.
Following this, the leaders of the Black Path and White Path disappeared along with the Elite Assassination Unit.
Over the next two weeks, a series of massive terrorist attacks struck throughout the Kingdom of Croitz.
Major cities’ magical transmission towers were destroyed. Mines caved in. Airports and key facilities were bombed. Several assassination squads trained at Croitz Academy vanished without a trace.

No one could say who had done it, yet those who needed to know understood perfectly.
These assassinations ended only after the Croitz royal house issued a statement: “We don’t know who did this, but we’re going to stop here, because if we don’t, we’ll both be dead.”
A form of Proportional Deterrence Strategy, in other words.

Hiaka had inflicted damage equal to—or exceeding—what it had received, yet no one felt satisfaction.

Only a lingering sense of defeat remained.

Croitz boasted about the several excellent Grandmasters who had abandoned Hiaka and come to their side, promoting their achievements through daily interviews in newspapers and broadcasts.

‘What nonsense.’

From my perspective, it was all rather absurd.

At first, the articles were predictable propaganda—”Why Croitz’s Future is Bright,” “Why Hiaka’s Assassins Fall Short of Croitz,” “Many Senior Professors at Hiaka Are Considering Transition” (they used the word “transition,” not “betrayal”)……. But then, articles like this started appearing.

– Just seeing these places is worth the transition—Batalion’s Five Must-See Spots in Croitz!

If even I, someone with barely a shred of patriotism to my name, found it absurd.
What must the other professors and cadets have thought? The answer came easily enough.

And so ended this chaos.
Two weeks brought many changes.

Quite a few cadets had requested withdrawal.
Not a few professors had set down their teaching positions as well.

In an academy so suffused with despair.
Shaman, head of the Assassination Studies Department, began striking a deal with the royal court through the board of trustees.

【 Assassination Studies Department Head Shaman: “I would appreciate it if the Hiaka Assassination Department could be opened to the Empire.” 】

A remarkably bold proposition.

【 Magic Studies Department Head Ezekiel: “Shaman!” 】
【 Warrior Studies Department Head Balkan: “Surely you don’t mean that?” 】

The other two department heads reacted with surprise.
And with good reason—until now, the Hiaka Assassination Department had undergone Galapagosization for so long that it had never exposed its unique research or assassins to the outside world.
Of course, information control was not absolute, so gossip and such still circulated through the Assassination Daily News and similar outlets. But academic exchange, collaboration, and commission intake had all been kept to a minimum.

【 Shaman: “It’s a matter of fundamental principle. Why did the neutral faculty members betray us?” 】
【 Ezekiel: “Because they were blinded by money!!” 】
【 Shaman: “Of course, the ‘self-interest’ you mention will be a major reason. But that is merely Batalion’s personal motivation. As administrators of this department, we had to identify the root cause.” 】
【 Shaman: “It is shameful to admit, but I must confess—Hiaka Academy has become a rag.” 】

At that moment, I was eavesdropping on this conversation from the Cat Cafe on the first floor, and I couldn’t help but let out a hollow laugh at those words.
It was bold.

【 Ezekiel: “…….” 】
【 Balkan: “…….” 】
【 Trustee Headwig: “…….” 】

The department heads and trustee, all inwardly stunned.

【 Shaman: “After the 2nd Assassination War, we closed our doors. At first, perhaps we were trying to hide. But somewhere along the way, we became a greenhouse. And now, we may have atrophied of our own accord.” 】

Shaman was indeed an excellent department head. He understood the true nature of the situation clearly and possessed the force of will to propose such a radical policy.
After he had finished laying out his arguments for opening the department.

【 The department heads’ eyes turn toward the trustee. 】
【 Trustee Headwig: “What? Ah.” 】
【 Trustee Headwig: “Hmm! In other words, you’re suggesting we suckle at the Empire’s generous breast?” 】
【 Shaman: “Indeed, Trustee. Your phrasing is always so crude.” 】
【 Trustee Headwig: “Thank you! How sad though—to unlock, with your own hands, the bolt you locked so carefully?” 】

From this conversation, I grasped the shape of the next main story.

【 “But for countries like us—half-developed, half-behind—there must be a middle path~” 】

To open the once-closed Hiaka Assassination Studies Department.
And forge a connection with the Empire,
A land of opportunity.
Academic exchange and student exchange programs. A main story in which cadets are deployed to countless dungeons, labyrinths, and commissions, seizing great opportunities and growing stronger.

「 Main Story 2: The Betting Table 」

The grand casino called the Empire is the single gateway story of the early game.
Either the academy stakes everything and takes flight, or crash into the abyss in a moment of death.
As the name suggests, countless choices are forced upon you—the scenario with the greatest risk and greatest reward.

‘From a cadet’s perspective, the way I was taught by the professor was to go outside and produce results.’

This time, it was the professor’s perspective.

‘My cadets must go outside and produce results—that’s how it should work.’

The cadets’ achievements and accomplishments would convert directly into my own record, earning me Star Fragments.

【 Director Hedwig : “Splendid! But I have a question. Just opening the department doesn’t instantly create competitiveness, does it? What competitive edge does our Assassination Studies Department actually have?” 】
【 Shaman : “I believe all our professors and cadets possess competitive strength.” 】
【 Director Hedwig : “If our children studied, I wouldn’t want to hear about things like being top of the Empire!” 】
【 Shaman : “……There are geniuses in this year’s first-year Assassination Studies cohort.” 】
【 Director Hedwig : “You mean Zamryong Academy? But I hear they’re uncontrollable because of the princess?” 】
【 Shaman : “Regrettably, that is the truth. At present, Zamryong Academy remains completely beyond our control. We’ll need to work toward loosening that constraint in time. However, their genius is genuine and unparalleled.” 】
【 Director Hedwig : “How much~?” 】
【 Shaman : “Overwhelming.” 】
【 Director Hedwig : “More than the department chair?” 】
【 Shaman : “……Yes. Even surpassing myself. So originally, we intended to nurture them in secret within the department.” 】
【 Director Hedwig : “I admit it was foolish. Without real-world experience, growth is difficult~” 】
【 Shaman : “That is so.” 】

After that meeting concluded, the director’s approval came through.

【 Director Hedwig : “Mm-hmm! I understand.” 】
【 Director Hedwig : “I’ll make a proposal to the royal court!” 】

Then Adel called to me.

“Professor, the shop’s closing time is coming up soon.”

Closing earlier than usual.
The owner was in low spirits.

“Understood.”

I’d heard all there was to hear, so I decided to head home.

Thus, when Adel and I returned to the Professor’s Residence,
a familiar figure was sitting on the living room sofa.
Wearing Red Shoes, legs crossed.

“……Where’d you pick up the habit of sneaking into empty houses?”
“Isn’t that just what assassins do?”

It was Princess Rebecca.

* * *

“Ah, but department chair!”
“Yes?” “Yes.” “…….”
“My! There are three department chairs! Ha-ha.”

After driving out the two department chairs, the director asked Shaman,

“What do you intend to do with that spy you mentioned before?”

Shaman’s brow furrowed. This man was always like this—diving straight into business regardless of the topic. No sense of decorum whatsoever.

“I intend to keep watching.”
“The spy?”
“Yes. I have a plan for everything.”
“Hmm! Fine then. But there’s another matter. I hear that using your departmental authority, you lent some national treasure to a certain professor?”
“Who told you that?”
“People from this industry!”

Shaman shook his head.
Again with this “industry” talk……

“You show no interest in the department most days, yet you hear everything.”

At that, Director Hedwig’s mouth gaped wide open.

“Don’t underestimate me! I’m a brilliant director!”

To be precise, the mouth of a rather foolish-looking owl costume mask was twitching and rippling with Illusion Magic.
Neither the department head nor anyone else knew the age, gender, or even species of what dwelt inside.

“That’s correct. I granted a two-year loan of the national treasure.”
“Why!?”
“Why indeed.”

Ever since the previous conflict between the Black Path and White Path—when Hacon died and tensions erupted—he had been watching closely. But this recent incident had clarified something definitive.
Dante, a single new professor, had driven away a monster that had rendered two chief professors utterly powerless.
What did that mean?

“That young professor is a greater genius than Zamryong Academy itself.”

Given the gravity of the situation, there had been no opportunity for formal introductions, yet his name was already seared into the minds of the department’s upper echelon.

“Really?”
“Which is why I have a question for you as well.”
“What?”
“Who is that professor?”
“I don’t know.”
“You don’t know? What do you mean—you brought him here yourself!”

Shaman’s frustration boiled over.
The eyes of the foolish owl mask blinked slowly.

“…I don’t know!”

He couldn’t very well ask ‘If you don’t know, then what are we supposed to do?’ All he could do was accept that this unfathomable creature inside the mask was playing games again.

“Anyway! This is no time to worry about new professors! What matters is what’s important!”
“And that is?”
“The gifted students, of course. A tool only works if it obeys, doesn’t it? Department Head, you must think of a way to control those children. Mm-hmm!”
“…….”

He hadn’t wanted to mention this.
Yet given the circumstances, information had to be shared.
Assassination Studies Department Head Shaman spoke carefully.

“……It seems those children listen to Professor Dante.”

Pop! An owl’s beak snapping open.

“Really?”

So when I explained further.
Zamryong Academy fundamentally refuses to take any professor’s words or guidance, and the princess is a student so perfectly uncontrollable that there isn’t a crack in her defiance. Meanwhile, from that line-drawing ace Kaiser to Valmond and Elise—many students show considerable favor toward Professor Dante. Only toward Professor Dante.
The director listened to the story carefully, then spoke with gravity.

“…What?”
“A joke, a joke. Ha ha!”
“…….”

The “neighbor” had come out of the cave before the sun set.

The squirrel’s curiosity led it to follow in the “neighbor’s” wake.

What was it doing?

Growing frustrated, it decided to ask a question.

“Chirp-chirp?”

What are you doing?

It never did.
The “neighbor” seemed unable to hear sounds.

The squirrel watched for some time, but that was all the “neighbor” did.

As it yawned, the pinecone it held between its paws fell to the ground.
Oh no. My pinecone.

But what was this? The “neighbor,” turning its body, crouched down and took the pinecone from the ground.

“Chirp-chirp.”

Give it back, the squirrel said.

“Chirp?”

You’re just taking it?
That’s mine!

“Chirp chirp?!”

Oh dear, oh dear.
Hey, hey, HEY—look what this creature is doing!
Didn’t blink an eye before snatching it away!

“Chirp! Chirp!”

Neighbors, neighbors, come see! This beast is stealing my winter stores! And it won’t even eat them!

“Chirp chirp chirp chirp!”

Oh dear, oh dear, picking them up again? Picking them up! This creature’s been scraping together every last pine cone in the whole neighborhood—all for itself…… The squirrel protested with such fervor, but its “neighbor” could not hear, and so the poor creature was robbed of its pinecones.

It was truly a strange day.

EP15

In the Wake of the Storm

END

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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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