The Saintess and the Lumberjack (1) There are no gardens at St.
Jansk University.
It had been mentioned once before, but it was important enough to bear repeating.
Which meant that even after the administration somehow managed to hand him a pair of pruning shears, Ivan still had absolutely nothing to do.
But Ivan had already resolved to truly live his life—or at least to give it his best effort.
That left him with no other choice.
Which was why he found himself mercilessly butchering a roadside tree with a pair of pruning shears.
“I was wondering what you were up to.
You’ve managed to make that tree look even worse than the bonsai at my house.” “…Hm?” Enrique sneered from behind him.
Ivan glanced up at the sky, then at the mutilated tree, before turning around to face her.
“Shouldn’t you be asleep?” “What, surprised to see a beauty who isn’t a sleepyhead?” “You must be more sleep-deprived than I thought.” Having never felt anything but respect toward women over seventy years older than himself, the perfectly normal Ivan simply shook his head.
Enrique’s eyebrows twitched.
She forced herself to calm down before speaking again.
“So your position is really gardener?” “For now.” “I suppose it’s a job that’s good for one’s mental health.
Not bad.
Though my prescription is a little different.” Elise had probably intended for this bearded monster in his thirties to enjoy a peaceful hobby, improve his mental well-being, and earn a little spending money on the side.
But Enrique had a different idea.
What this guy needed was practice interacting with people.
Not the kind involving axes or guns.
Well…
technically those counted as interactions too.
But she meant ordinary human relationships.
“Come with me.
I could use an extra pair of hands.” “…Hm?” “I’ve decided to work as a guest lecturer for the Knight Department starting today.
I was already an honorary professor anyway, and I was getting bored.” “…Knights?” “Unfortunately, they don’t have an Assassin Department.” Of course, the world had no need for a university that taught such a thing.
And that was how Ivan ended up standing at the front of a classroom, glaring at a room full of freshmen.
*** St.
Jansk University was one of the world’s premier international institutions, equipped with remarkably modern facilities by the standards of the age.
There was the Theology Department, whose main building looked as though an entire cathedral had been transplanted intact.
The Magic Department faithfully recreated the environment of the Kalion Archipelago.
And then there was the Knight Department’s athletic complex.
The freshmen wandered around wide-eyed, taking in everything they saw.
They’re just like little chicks…
Thinking of old memories, Enrique chuckled to herself.
Standing atop the instructor’s platform inside a spotless gymnasium lined with enormous rings and every imaginable training apparatus, Enrique slammed her hand against the podium.
Bang!
“Good to see you, kiddos!” Perhaps it was meant to establish her dominance.
The freshmen immediately focused their attention on the unfamiliar instructor before them.
Understanding Close-Quarters Combat I.
A required course for every first-year student in the Knight Department.
Considering its importance, the students couldn’t help wondering who this slender woman was.
Whispers spread through the room as they mentally searched through the faculty roster.
Enrique grinned proudly and puffed out her chest.
“My name is Enrique.
Enrique Sergeyevica.
If that name sounds familiar…” She smirked.
“You’re right.
I am that Enrique.” “The Hero’s Party!!” “Ahhh!!” “Shadow Blade!!” Scattered screams and cheers erupted throughout the gym.
Enrique’s grin only widened.
Yes.
This is it.
This is what fame feels like.
A name so renowned that even royalty dared not treat it lightly.
With a playful smile, she continued.
“There’s only one thing I’ll be teaching you this semester.” “Defeat.” “You’ve all chosen a path where you’ll someday take up weapons and fight on the front lines.
This class is your very first trial before that day comes.” No swordsman could win every battle forever.
One day, defeat would inevitably arrive.
And more often than not…
Defeat arrived hand in hand with death.
Which meant they had to grow accustomed to it.
Before learning how to win…
They first had to learn how to lose.
How to survive after losing.
And, if possible…
How to judge an opponent’s strength before suffering defeat.
“Teaching each of you individually wouldn’t be difficult, but class time is limited.” “So I’ll divide all of you into groups according to your skill level.” Even if they were all freshmen, they couldn’t all receive the same instruction.
Naturally.
You couldn’t teach the valedictorian and the student who barely scraped through the waiting list as though they were equals.
The stronger students deserved harsher training.
Which meant the class needed to be split.
Besides, teaching over fifty students in only three hours would have been impossible.
“Now then, freshmen.” “If I fought you myself, I wouldn’t be able to evaluate your abilities.” “Every match would be over in a single exchange anyway.” Despite her arrogant declaration, not a single student dared object.
After all…
The Hero’s Party had slaughtered the Demon King and the Seven Dragon Generals.
They were, without question, the strongest warriors in the Allied Kingdoms.
“So!” “I’ve prepared instruction that’s tailored to your level.” “And for that…” She gestured dramatically.
“We have a teaching assistant!” The students followed her hand.
Standing silently in the shadows with his arms folded was a bizarre-looking man.
Eyes that burned with an icy blue flame.
A sharp, intimidating face.
An expression devoid of emotion.
And a thick beard covering nearly his entire lower face, making it impossible to guess his age.
To make matters stranger, he wore faded work clothes with a towel draped around his neck.
(The administration had hurriedly assembled the complete gardener outfit for him.) Question marks practically appeared above every student’s head.
Enrique flashed another grin.
“Our teaching assistant is this university’s gardener.” “I invited him on very short notice this morning.” “Now then…” “Let me introduce his profile.” “Age: thirty-four.” (Most of the students gasped.) “Occupation: gardener.” (Two students gasped.) “Income: none.” “He survives on the nation’s welfare pension.” (Officially, Lieutenant Colonel Petrovich was dead, meaning he could no longer receive a military pension.
Instead, he lived off donations while running an orphanage.) “This assistant will evaluate your abilities.” “I’ll watch your matches, assign scores, and divide you into classes by the end of today’s lesson.” “I have a question!” One student shot his hand into the air.
He wore neat athletic clothes, had refined features, and looked every bit the son of a noble family.
Enrique nodded.
The young man smirked before asking, “What if that poor gardener gets seriously injured?” “What?” “Hahahahaha!!” Enrique burst into laughter until tears welled up in her eyes.
“Then I’ll reward you!” “I’ll give bonus points based on how badly you injure the assistant!” “Hahaha!
Oh, that’s priceless!” “…??” “Oh, don’t misunderstand me.” She smiled brightly.
“I’m not doing this because I enjoy watching people die.” “But at the very least…” “Show some respect.” “Whether it’s respect for your elders…” “Or respect for those who’ve lived far longer—and experienced far more—than you have.” “If you want to stay alive.” With that final smiling warning, Enrique concluded her introduction.
*** Throughout the entire speech, Ivan silently stared at the students.
His serving as the teaching assistant for the practical evaluation wasn’t particularly surprising.
After all…
Having a skills assessment during the very first class at an academy was simply common sense.
Though why a university insisted on making the first lesson a combat evaluation was beyond him.
Then again, perhaps education in this pre-modern fantasy world was simply primitive.
Regardless…
Four students immediately caught his attention.
Oscar.
Isabelle.
Yuri.
And…
The muscle-bound monster sitting all the way in the back.
Esidisi’s bodyguard.
…No.
Why is that guy sitting down?
Is he actually attending as a student?
Does he have no shame?
A hulking man in his forties sat among students barely half his age.
The sight was nothing short of bizarre.
His name was…
Morde, wasn’t it?
Morde Erickson.
Ivan remembered facing him during his military service.
One of Great King Einar’s closest retainers.
He’d always been one of the more intelligent ones.
By now he should have retired and been training disciples.
Yet here he was…
Enrolled as a freshman.
And that kid…
Yuri.
Yuri Frank.
Top-ranked freshman of the Knight Department.
Highest score in swordsmanship.
Perfect score on the written examination.
Recipient of a full scholarship.
Her behavior is suspicious.
The moment Yuri saw Ivan…
She hurriedly looked away.
Cold sweat formed on her forehead.
She fidgeted nervously.
(She had even looked horrified upon hearing that Ivan was merely the gardener.) Ivan’s eyes narrowed.
A Possessor…?
Otherwise…
Why would someone be afraid of an ordinary, harmless-looking man like me?
Inside Ivan’s mind…
Two thick red lines were drawn beneath Yuri’s name.
“So.” “Who’s first?” As soon as Enrique finished her lengthy explanation, the students began glancing awkwardly at one another.
Understandably so.
Standing out among strangers in their early twenties wasn’t exactly easy.
They weren’t afraid because they lacked skill.
Nor were they afraid of embarrassing themselves against Ivan.
They were simply…
Shy.
How laughable.
Ivan silently continued glaring at them.
Then— One student in the back slowly raised his hand.
It was the muscular giant in his forties.
Morde.
“We meet again.” “Right?” “…Mm.” “And no matter how I look at it…” “You really do remind me of someone I used to know.” Rolling his shoulders with a series of loud cracks, Morde laughed heartily.
“Come up here.” “Let’s settle this.” “Oh…” “And if I win…” With a single leap, Morde landed atop the ring.
“I’ll shave that beard off for you.” “Go, Mr.
Erickson!!!” Isabelle, who had been anxiously watching Ivan the whole time, suddenly shouted at the top of her lungs.
It was a devastating betrayal from the daughter of a member of the Hero’s Party.