Faculty Meeting.
The atmosphere at the Academy had gradually begun to stabilize, and as teachers and staff slowly shook off the aftermath of the incident and began returning to work, a proper meeting was being held for the first time in a while.
“Teachers from each class are returning, and we also have new teachers who have come here upon the recommendation of partner guilds that have agreements with Helios. Once the new headmaster arrives, we will shift the currently combined classes back to their individual classes and resume normal lessons. Does anyone have anything to say about this matter?”
“No.”
“Then, moving on to the second item. Choi A-rin is scheduled to return to Ares Academy. She had been effectively placed in the Zero Class because she was a long-term absentee, but she originally belonged to A-Class, so we will process her return there. What do you think?”
“I object.”
“Pardon?”
“I said I object.”
“You object?”
The man sitting with his arms folded and his legs crossed, wearing an exceedingly arrogant expression, was Jang Dong-wook. After Ji Geon-hyeong, who had been colluding with the criminal organization Root, died, he had been newly assigned to A-Class upon the recommendation of guilds affiliated with Helios. Wearing a distinctly displeased expression, he spoke.
“That is right. Are you trying to push me around because I have newly come to this Academy as a teacher?”
“Push you around?”
Ding—!
◎ Using the Skill ‘Third Eye’ to check the opponent’s disposition.
- Name: Jang Dong-wook (Swordsman / Rare Grade)
- Disposition: Neutral.
※ Traits: Excessively high pride and arrogance / Jealousy toward rivals.
‘He seems to have quite a strong sense of pride. And he seems rather jealous too. Yet his disposition is neither good nor evil... What an unusual case.’
“Despite appearances, I used to be a teacher at Oblige Academy. I maintained an unblemished teaching career and even received the Best Teacher Award. I am confident that my career is more than comparable to those of the other teachers here.”
“Hmm... What does that have to do with your objection?”
“Did you not say that you would return a long-term absentee to our A-Class? If you do that, the parents will naturally file complaints, and I will naturally have to shoulder the responsibility. In the end, that would leave a stain on my career too, would it not?”
“So you are saying that you would be troubled because complaints would leave a stain on your career?”
“Of course! These are the parents of the A-Class, which is regarded as the best at Ares Academy. If we suddenly return Choi A-rin to the class, what will happen to me, a newly appointed teacher?”
“Teacher Jang is right. In particular, most of the parents of the cadets in A-Class hold positions in the government or influential guilds, so the burden on him will be considerable.”
“Complaints will be filed, and the burden will be considerable... I may only be the Acting Headmaster, but are you still saying that you object?”
“...”
When I invoked the authority of the Acting Headmaster against the teachers who wanted to object, they fell silent and began watching one another’s reactions.
‘Even if I am only acting headmaster, a headmaster’s authority is practically law within the Academy. Still, none of the teachers gathered here are Villains, so it would be awkward to suppress them by force. In the end, compromise is the only option.’
Looking at Jang Dong-wook, who wore a deeply dissatisfied expression, and the other teachers who were only watching one another, I broke the silence and proposed a new approach.
“I have a question for you all. Does Choi A-rin lack the academic performance or conduct needed to attend this Academy?”
“That is not the issue. But she is a long-term absentee, is she not? Moreover, if she is immediately returned to A-Class, which every student wants to attend, there will be considerable backlash.”
“Teacher Baek Seon-woo—! No, Headmaster. In that case, what if we have her return next year? By then, most of the current students will have graduated, and there will be no problem with approving her return.”
“Next year... I think that would be too late. In the end, to summarize what you have all said, there has been no problem at all with her academic performance or conduct. Your concerns are ultimately her long-term absence and the expected backlash from the cadets and their parents.”
“... That is right.”
“Then do we not simply need to resolve those issues?”
“Pardon?”
“In the end, do we not simply need to give them, including all of you, a justification they can accept?”
“That is true, but there are several difficulties...”
As the teachers watched one another’s reactions, I took out the Ares Academy rulebook, which I had prepared in advance, and set it down on the table before them.
“This is...”
“These are the Ares Academy regulations, which you have probably all looked through at least roughly once. I examined them closely just in case, and there is a clause that states, ‘If a cadet has difficulty attending the Academy due to family circumstances, all days of absence will be excused provided that those circumstances are substantiated, and the cadet may return immediately regardless of the academic term.’”
‘!!!’
“Since it is written in the Academy regulations, would that not be sufficient justification?”
“Even so, how will you quell the parents’ complaints?”
“That is right. Even if it is in the regulations, there will be strong opposition if you place her directly into A-Class.”
‘In the end, they are less concerned that she is a long-term absentee than they are about complaints from the parents. Well, they all hold positions of some kind, so I suppose it is only natural for them to worry.’
As they expressed concern about backlash from the parents, I made them a proposal.
“Then what if we do this?”
***
Two weeks later.
After my time as Acting Headmaster ended, I left behind the now-vacant headmaster’s post and returned to being an Academy teacher. Looking at the Zero Class children I was seeing again after a long time, I smiled and opened my mouth.
“I hear that you attended class quietly for a whole month without causing any trouble. Excellent!”
‘What? That man is suddenly praising us?’
‘Phew... We behaved ourselves for a month just in case. Not making a move was the right answer after all! What a relief.’
“Why is no one reacting? Were you planning to cause trouble?”
“!!! N-no, Teacher—! By the way, who is she?”
At my question, the children reacted as though they had been startled out of their wits. Then, pointing at Choi A-rin beside me, they looked curious.
“My introduction was late. This is Choi A-rin, and she will now resume her lessons in our Zero Class. You have probably seen her name at least once on the list of long-term absentees, so even if you do not know her face, you should know her name.”
“S-she is Choi A-rin?”
“Oh—! She is really pretty.”
“As far as I know, she was in A-Class. Why is she here?”
“What does it matter? Just having someone like her join us brightens the atmosphere!”
‘Their reactions are not as bad as I expected. Since she is suddenly returning, I was planning to suppress them with the butt of my rifle if they showed any opposition.’
As I watched the children react more favorably than I had expected, I smiled with satisfaction.
***
Two weeks before Choi A-rin’s return.
“Then what if we do this?”
“Pardon?”
“What do you mean?”
“Let us return her to the Zero Class.”
“!!! T-the Zero Class?”
At the suggestion that she be returned to the Zero Class, Jang Dong-wook and the other teachers nodded as though my proposal was acceptable.
“Well, Zero Class is generally seen as the place where troubled children gather, so there will be less opposition.”
“An excellent move. With this measure, we can follow the Academy regulations and eliminate the parents’ opposition.”
‘Look at how their reactions change just because I said Zero Class. Phew... Getting Choi A-rin readmitted is the priority for now. She is a capable student, so she will have no great difficulty moving to another class later.’
Just as most of them appeared to regard my opinion as a good one, Teacher Park Chang-hu, who had been quietly watching the situation, raised his hand and voiced an objection.
“Excuse me...”
“Is there a problem, Teacher Park?”
“As I recall, Choi A-rin was a student with outstanding scores not only in written examinations but in practical examinations as well. And she was in A-Class.”
“Hmm... I am well aware of that.”
“Then even if parents complain and file petitions, should she not return to her original class? More importantly, we should consider the thoughts of Choi A-rin herself! Will she be able to accept this decision? To be honest, I am worried.”
“Worried?”
As I questioned Teacher Park Chang-hu as though to ask what he was worried about, he wore a deeply apologetic expression and cautiously opened his mouth.
“I know this may be quite rude to say to you, Teacher Baek, but as you know, the Zero Class you are in charge of consists of children who cause considerable problems at the Academy, does it not? Of course, their class conduct has improved compared to before, but I am concerned whether Choi A-rin will be able to accept this upon returning.”
Ding—!
◎ Using the Skill ‘Third Eye’ to check the opponent’s disposition.
- Name: Park Chang-hu (Fighter)
- Disposition: Blue (Good)
※ Trait: Upright convictions. He must speak what is right, no matter what.
‘As expected, Teacher Park Chang-hu is a fine man who puts the children’s interests before the parents’ jealousy and complaints.’
“Teacher Park—! A good alternative has just been proposed, has it not? Why are you being so tactless?”
“Come now~! She cannot even afford the tuition and receives the Academy’s support, does she not? Frankly, should she not be grateful simply to be allowed to return to the Zero Class?”
“T-that is right! Must we even consider the position of a student who is returning?”
“All right, all right—! Stop.”
After stopping the other teachers from reproaching Teacher Park Chang-hu, I looked at them and spoke.
“Teacher Park Chang-hu.”
“Yes, sir.”
“That is a good point. I did not overlook that matter either. Fortunately, Choi A-rin said that she did not mind the Zero Class as long as she could return to the Academy.”
“Pardon? Is that true?”
“That is right. She said that she would be happy simply to attend the Academy again, so you need not worry too much.”
“I-I see. I did not know the circumstances and unnecessarily...”
“Not at all. Who cares for the children as much as Teacher Park? Especially when it is hard to find someone who, unlike certain people, takes action even at the risk of his life. Is that not right, teachers?”
“...”
After deliberately looking at the other teachers as though to tell them that they should be ashamed of their conduct, I cleared my throat once and moved on to the next agenda item.
“Ahem—! Next, we will discuss the new headmaster who will arrive in two weeks.”
“The new headmaster?”
“Who is the person coming?”
As every teacher looked curious and their gazes concentrated in one place, I displayed a photograph before them and opened my mouth.
“This is the person who will become the new headmaster of Ares Academy.”
“!!! T-that person?”
“You mean it really is that person?”
***
Two weeks later.
“Damn it—! Why do I have to come to this Academy?”
Ring-ring—! Ring-ring—!
“Haa... Guild Master Han Tae-seong sure picked a perfect time to call. Hello? What is it?”
[Today should be a very happy day, yet you are answering the phone angrily. That is unexpected.]
“Do I look as though I could be happy to come here right now? Do you think I joined Helios just to become a headmaster?”
[It is a position that people beg to be given, even offering bribes. After Baek Seon-woo, you are the second person to show such a lack of ambition.]
“Haa... Tch—! By the way, you will keep your promise, right?”
[Of course. Your position as an Elder will be retained, so do not worry. Frankly, who else is there that I can trust but you?]
“Phew...”
[Good luck, Seventh Elder.]
Click—!
“If he were not the Guild Master, I would ram him right now. Damn it—! Me, an Academy headmaster!”
Wearing a thoroughly irritated expression, the Seventh Elder walked through the Academy’s front gate.