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“Ellie.”

“Here…”

“Allysa.”

“…Present.”

Everything had an order. Each person had different mindsets and ideas, having different ways of thinking.

Davey thought that education itself would not be a problem, since the students were still growing up and were still at the stage where they could absorb knowledge. However, if they had been denied their own way of life, they would be forced to face the situation as a problem and use their last resort.

Davey came out to the school grounds with the students in his class. He ignored the students’ suspicious glares and continued to scan through the names on his roster.

“Molly.”

“Yeees~”

“Loisa.”

“Yes.”

Since this appeared to be Davey’s rule, the students still answered whenever he called out their names. They were unwilling, but none of them ignored him.

“Josiah.”

Davey eventually reached Josiah’s name, the student who was branded as the troublemaker.

Hearing no answer, Davey looked up and called out, “Josiah Frances.”

Amidst the silence, one of the bespectacled students raised her hand carefully and said, “Uhm… Instructor? Josiah’s not here.”

Davey turned and looked at the bespectacled girl. Then, he turned to the other side of the grounds where there was a large flower bed and said, “You won’t have another chance after this. Are you not going to respond? Josiah Frances.”

“…How did you know that I was here?”

“Can a teacher even be called a teacher if he doesn’t know what his students are doing?” Davey answered nonchalantly.

A pretty girl with black hair and a calm expression appeared from behind the thick overgrowth.

“Josiah?”

“Goodness, it’s really Josiah.”

Josiah Frances was a 4th Circle expert mage who seemed to be hailed as an unprecedented genius in the current Shakuntala Academy.

Mages of the 6th Circle were said to be equivalent to Sword Masters who dealt with the sword. However, if one looked at their percentage alone, it could be said that the growth of a mage was much lower than other occupations. With such unfavorable circumstances, it would certainly be surprising to see a sixteen-year-old girl reach the 4th Circle Expert level.

The problem here was that almost all of the academy professors were around the 4th to 5th Circle. Needless to say, it was understandable that Josiah had to think whether she truly needed to attend these classes as a student or not.

‘In that regard, I can say that Winley is very amazing.’

—You sister-loving bastard.

Winley, who was only fifteen this year, had reached the 4th Circle by studying magic through books alone. She did not even take classes in this academy to have reached such a high level.

If Winley was a genius then… In fact, Davey wanted to deny that fact. However, considering the fact that she had reached the 3rd Circle at fourteen, Winley could definitely be considered to be among the ranks of geniuses.

“Hmm… I’m a little bit interested.” Josiah squinted at Davey as she walked forward, still sporting a bored expression on her face. She said, “I was told that our new instructor is similar in age to us.”

“And so?”

“That’s why I am here. I’m just a bit curious. And just like I expected, it’s very interesting.” Josiah looked Davey up and down before continuing, “I don’t even feel any mana from you, so how are you calling yourself an instructor?”

Josiah’s words caused a stir. How ridiculous, right? To find out that the instructor who would teach them magic lessons did not have enough mana to even be considered a 1st Circle mage?

“Jo… Josiah! No matter what you think, he’s still an instructor…”

“Don’t we follow the rules of competency and skills in this place?”

“Even so…”

“Don’t you understand that this is the reason why those guys from Class A look down on us?”

This was something that Davey had heard from Celvice earlier.

They were students in Class F because their magic level was F-class. It was, in fact, very disgraceful for someone to be labeled as a student of Class F when they were studying in this academy where skills and abilities were what mattered the most.

“Watch that mouth of yours, Josiah. Just because we lost the Magical Confrontation does not mean that we’re individually incompetent.”

“That’s right. Besides, you did not even participate in the magical meeting last time, no? Why are you blaming everyone here when you’re the very uncooperative one? We did not even have enough people to fight back then.”

The students all gritted their teeth as they criticized Josiah. They were revealing their thoughts and feelings.

“What’s the point of being called a genius and having a lot of circles? In the end, you still failed and were sent to Class F because you can’t even fulfill the attendance!”

After stinging Josiah right where it hurt with his words, the boy immediately covered his mouth and appeared to be flustered. However, it was all too late. Josiah’s expression had already turned cold.

“That’s right… I did not participate in last year’s magic festival. I will not make excuses for that. However, a mage who does not even reach the 1st Circle is going to teach magic? Isn’t that ridiculous?” Josiah said, quickly turning around.

Davey immediately snatched the back of Josiah’s collar and dragged her back. No matter how much of a genius she was, she seemed to be a loner in this class. On top of that, it seemed like rumors about her absence from the Winter Magic Festival being the reason why she had suddenly fallen to class F had been circulating among the students.

—She’s obviously a victim too, but…she seems to be feeling guilty for dragging the entire class down.

‘A pretty face is always a problem no matter where you go.’

“Instruc…tor? What are you doing?”

“That’s what I want to ask. It’s not really up to me whether you choose to be rebellious or not. But, what are you trying to do right now?”

Josiah frowned at Davey. “Then, do you think a teacher like you is qualified to teach us? A teacher without a mana circle?”

The students all fell silent. If Josiah was right, then they would truly be reluctant to listen and learn. They did not want to be taught by someone who could not even be considered a mage. They also found it undesirable for someone like that to take care of them until the Magic Festival.

“That is not for you to judge. Anyway, I completely changed my mind. Go and stand over there,” Davey said firmly.

Josiah nervously pulled her collar away from Davey, then retrieved the wand from her waist. She murmured, “Fight me, Instructor. If I find that you’re a qualified teacher, I will see the reason for turning up for your classes. They might be too soft-hearted to show their unhappiness under your guidance, but…”

She then said in a determined voice, “But I’m different. At the very least, I will determine if you are qualified to be our teacher…”

Thud!!!

Everything happened in a flash. Before she could even finish her words, Josiah had collapsed onto her knees. She was no longer proudly holding her twinkling wand and pointing it toward Davey. Groaning, she frowned at Davey. “Urk?!”

Josiah could not understand why she was suddenly kneeling on the ground. “How did this…?”

“A student will evaluate their teacher and decide whether the class is worth attending or not? So, you’re crazy! Goodness. Do you think your teacher is your friend? Do you think the world is such an easy place? Someone who’s merely at the 4th Circle is speaking haughtily like this? What? Do you think you’re some kind of Great Sage?” Davey gave scathing remarks.

“Urgh…”Josiah frowned even more. Despite not knowing what had happened, she fought back against the pressure by releasing her own mana. She said, “What the hell did you do…?”

“What did I do? I just received your answer well. You want to get quick results? Good. Since that is what you want, I will take that into account and teach you accordingly.”

Davey intended to nurture the students mildly and gently.

However, since this was what the students wanted, then he would remove the mild and gentle teaching from his curriculum. He looked at the students and asked, “Are you of the same mind?”

The students hesitated at Davey’s question. Although they had pretended as if it did not bother them, they were still very reluctant to trust in a teacher who was essentially a boy of their age. On top of that, the boy did not even seem to be a mage.

What naive simpletons, no? Excited and stimulated by the current situation, the students were completely unaware of their impending doom. They could not even imagine what they would go through in the near future.

“There will be no exceptions. Run twenty laps around the school grounds. Let’s do this in the order of arrival. The first five can stop at 20 laps. As for the rest, you can add 7 laps for every person who surpasses you.”

The students’ faces were drained of color.

Mages were more like scholars who studied theories and researched phenomena. Of course, this meant that their physical capabilities and magical abilities were very far apart. It could even be said that they lacked stamina. Despite knowing that, Davey was asking the students to run twenty laps around the school grounds.

The students’ faces turned stiff at Davey’s order. It was an order that even knights-in-training would not be able to do well.

“You’re not going? Then, I’ll make you do it,” Davey said as he snapped his fingers lightly.

Vwoooooong!!!

The students suddenly floated from the ground before being thrown mercilessly toward the school’s running track.

“Kyaaaack!”

“Eeeeek!”

The students screamed in confusion. Then, they stood up and began to walk around. Those who were moving away from the running track in protest suddenly came to a stop at the edge of the track.

“What the hell is this…? A wall?!”

Thud!!! Thud!!!

There was obviously nothing in front of them, but the students could not leave the running track. It was as if they were being stopped by a firm and sturdy wall.

Davey walked leisurely before reaching the edge of the track. He looked up at the students who could not hide their embarrassment before murmuring quietly, “From this moment forward, you have to run as if you’re going to die. You’re free to use your magic, or you can simply run until you die. I don’t care. However, you will receive the appropriate penalty if you fall behind, understand?”

If the students got caught, then they would lose. That was what Davey was going for.

At the same time, the space behind Davey began to crack and tear apart to reveal a very ominous and dreary place. It was reminiscent of hell.

Thump!!! Thump!!!

And from within the blazing heat of the crack in space, a gigantic skeletal hand shot out.

“Kyaaaaaaaack!”

“M-Monster!!!”

The students screamed as they took several steps back, their steps faltering. Even the confident and proud Josiah stiffened up at the indescribable situation that they had suddenly been placed in.

“Now, here’s a question. Timmy Lendarouge. Do you know this guy’s name?” Davey asked.

Timmy, who could not hide his fear, murmured absent-mindedly, “The mage’s natural enemy… Balrog.”

Balrog was a huge monster that lived mostly in volcanic areas. It had originally been a member of the demon race, but on the continent were a number of Balrogs who had lost their will and were running rampant.

Balrog was very famous among the mages because it was a monster completely immune to magic below the 5th Circle. And so, due to the risks and dangers that they posed, there were records about their race having been exterminated under the leadership of the Pallan Empire once before.

“You must have seen a lot of records about them in the ancient books, right? This is very overwhelming and shocking, no? You can count on the fact that chicks like you will be burned to ashes the moment you get caught by this guy.”

There was nowhere else to escape. The only way for the students to survive was to run forward. Stuck in such a ridiculous situation, the students were dazed and thoroughly confused.

“Let’s switch it up. Run twenty laps. What does that mean? It means you have to be prepared to die. Run or die. Let’s see what is the conclusion, you dying or the Balrog’s summoning time running out? Ah, just to let you know, you’re free to fight the Balrog to death.”

They wanted a face-off, no? Then, their wish was Davey’s command.

Baaaam!!!

The Balrog, a gigantic skeleton covered in flames, jumped out of the spatial crack and slammed its fist down on the ground.

—Graaaaaaaaaaaaa!

The students turned pale as their ears rang from the Balrog’s roar. As their surroundings shook from the Balrog’s every step, they had no choice but to take two steps back in fear.

The Balrog obviously released a great pressure into the surroundings. It would not be strange for the students to lose strength in their legs and for them to collapse onto the ground right now.

However, the students continued to creep away. They did not know if they would even have the courage to run away, let alone fight against a balrog.

“No one will come to save you. You said that you’re in Class F, right? From what I heard, you guys are notorious for failing your classes in the academy. If that’s the case, then why would they care about some of you dying?”

Josiah threw a fit and shouted at Davey, “Is that something a teacher should say…?”

“A teacher?” Davey asked, a vicious smile plastered on his face. “I clearly remember you saying that you won’t accept someone without a mana circle as your teacher. So, how come I’m a teacher now?”

Josiah’s expression turned ugly at Davey’s rebuttal. She snapped, “I will absolutely not let you go.”

“You can only say that after surviving this. Move it.”

As if suddenly receiving orders, the Balrog began moving toward the students.

The first one to come to their senses was Josiah. She realized the direness of their situation and screamed, “Everyone, run!!!”

“Aaaaaaaaaaaack!”

“Kyaaaaaaaack!”

The students were all crying, snot and tears running down their faces. However, despite their unsightly expressions, they still ran and ran without taking any breaks.

—A wicked man…

“Human beings have to be driven into a corner through an extreme situation to reveal their true nature.”

—In the end, you still are no different from your teacher.

“Not at all. At least, I’m not driving them to their real deaths.”

Davey stepped away from the running track, leaving behind the screaming students who were running for their lives. Once he stepped away, the Balrog that was releasing a tremendous amount of pressure suddenly disappeared from view.

Yes, the Balrog had been a mere illusion.

In the first place, there was no Balrog. What Davey had done was block the running track so no one could come to this area. Then, he casted a 6th Circle mass illusion magic on the students.

“At the very least, I did not leave them with nothing and let a real Balrog chase after them until they died.”

It was true that Davey had been chased by a real Balrog that had been intent on tearing him apart. Back then, he had only been a rookie learning to feel the mana in the air.

In the end, an illusion was still different from reality.

—Don’t tell me…

“Not only that, but he even meticulously placed a holy buff on me so that my legs would not collapse from fear. Although he made it so the Balrog only had half of its original speed, the distance between us was so narrow that I could feel the heat emitting from its body on my back.”

Davey was even kind enough to cast an overall physical protective magic on the students so that they would not sustain any injuries whatsoever. And since the others could not see the Balrog running after them, the students just looked as if they were running on the running track—a very common sight to see in an academy.

All things considered, Davey could definitely be considered as a kind teacher.

“How is it?”

Perserque glared at Davey. She looked like she was already done with Davey’s grin as she mercilessly tugged at his cheeks.

—In the first place, I don’t think this stupid running lesson has anything to do with magic.

“Why not? The best way to know how an individual’s mana was activated, distributed, and moved is to push one’s heart to the limit by doing an extreme cardio exercise.”

Davey did not know about the others, but for him, when teaching someone else, he believed that one should not cram their students’ heads with simple theories and lessons. He believed that the first thing one should do was to identify the students’ capabilities and individual characteristics. Only by finding out those things would he be able to find the most efficient way in teaching.

“Even if we don’t have much time, everything would be useless if we don’t prepare well. Remember that, Perserque.”

—At the very least, I am certain of one thing.

Perserque said firmly.

—You are just as crazy as your teacher.

Perserque might not know it, but it had been her father, the father who she missed and respected so much, that had ranked first when it came to teaching Davey using crazy and idiotic methods.

As the thought of Ares appeared in his head, Davey felt a flash of anger. He thought, ‘I should have set fire to Ares’ quarters before I came back here.’