<748 – Unbeknownst to Anyone (6)>
Word of the professors getting caught up in a dimensional explosion spread to the other professors still at the Academy.
Shock.
Fear.
Aghast.
There seemed to be no words more fitting to express the atmosphere on campus.
“The Foundation… Did they even predict the professors would gather during Frill’s time and then expel them all outside the Middle Realm with a dimensional explosion?!”
“How many professors were mobilized for this operation?”
“It’s over several dozen.”
“What about the professors who went after the teaching assistants who are suspected to be missing in the Underworld and Northern Front?”
“… It’s over several dozen too.”
“How much of the Academy’s professor force is left?”
“Not even 50%.”
Fear flickered across the professors’ faces.
With mostly inexperienced or gentle professors left behind on campus, they felt an immense fear over the disturbing trend unfolding.
Something had begun.
Before they knew it, far too many professors had slipped out of the Academy.
“We will carry out additional dispatch of professors.”
“Isn’t that pulling too many out?”
Professor El Draco revealed a sense of unease about the professor meeting that was scraping together the remaining professors.
“I’ve never been interested in these meetings, but even I can see there are too few professors. Isn’t this the first time in the Academy’s history that so many professors have gone external?”
“This is also the first time so many students are in crisis. The Wahyhiemhai Foundation, leading the three great evils, is about to mobilize a large number of students who are not yet about to graduate. Students, acting crazily like they’re on a [Graduation Project] level, are at risk of perishing in droves.”
Professor Mahabharata had a point.
The malevolent actions of the Foundation’s director, who tore apart the souls of Oknodie and violated their personalities, had incited too much outrage among the students, leading to unification.
Even the Church of the End, which always shouted “Vladimir forever” in the second-year area and made the vampire students feel awkward, began to envy Oknodie soaring in the sky. Suddenly realizing a lightning-summoning spell, they created a ruckus, clamorously discovering the Sound Sphere movement technique taught by Kasia, all of them rushing out of the Academy.
The atmosphere in the second-year, which only had the Imperial Pure-Blood noble faction students, lower class students, and a few surrounding students of Oknodie left, was in complete disarray.
Though they were technically still in the Academy, it was clear their minds had already left to search for interesting news from outside.
“If the remaining students’ lecture efficiency isn’t good and their attitudes aren’t dramatically improved, then ultimately, the entire Class 981 second years won’t return to a normal study atmosphere until this situation resolves. For the sake of the entire class, we must wrap this situation up somehow.”
“Even if the cost is the weakening of the strategic power of Gift Academy and an invasion of the mainland?”
Even in response to Professor El Draco’s question, Professor Mahabharata nodded firmly.
“I just hope that judgment isn’t wrong.”
“What’s with the bravado? Even if dozens of you go out, there’s still ‘Sadako’ left here in the Academy.”
“…”
A professor teaching various ambush patterns to lazy students trying to skip the [Picnic Healing] class.
In his irritation at Professor Demonika’s remark, Professor El Draco glared at her face.
“Did you know that the transfer student brought in by that Weird professor, whose name is [Avalon], is currently missing and that Avalon’s magic reaction was detected just before Frill’s disappearance?”
“Is that Weird professor a spy for the Foundation?”
“Do you have to ask such an obvious question like it’s something to debate? I see the rumors that Professor Demonika is a downgraded version of Professor Diemon are apparently true.”
“That’s ridiculous.”
A blatant sneer spread across Demonika’s face.
“Pirate. Someone who hasn’t lived for a century wouldn’t know. Where do you think all the ‘professors’ who died at the Academy have gone?”
“…….There’s only one place that comes to mind to store corpses at the Academy. Are you saying they dumped them there without sending them to the headquarters or various organizations?”
“If they are resurrected as Undead on their own, they’ll create an irreparable stain on the organization. So they’d rather pay extra to have them taken to [Sadako's Catacombs].”
Indeed.
If Professor Sadako remained at the Academy, it meant not just one professor was left.
All of the ‘professors’ corpses, under the dominion of Professor Sadako, could be revived as Undead at any time.
The emergency power of the Gift Academy.
Thousands of historically dead professors sleeping in the deepest recesses of Gift Academy’s catacombs could arise at any moment.
Even Professor Sadako’s combat power is nothing to scoff at, however, the total strength when mobilizing the professor-level forces could surpass any single professor.
“Calm down, Professor El Draco. And don’t forget that the Academy still has Professor Robert Elahim, who is isolating numerous level 7 or higher overlord monsters.”
“And among the missing professors is Professor Dihtart, who, despite having a short employment history, is well-versed in dimensional magic. They will surely return safely.”
As other professors consoled him, even Professor El Draco was left with no choice but to be part of the additional deployments for the sake of protecting the students.
After having a hard time dispatching the professors, Professor Mahabharata could finally breathe a little easier.
‘This alleviates some external problems… but as Professor El Draco said, the internal issues at the Academy are troubling.’
It was true that Professor Sadako had placed the professors’ corpses in the catacombs and could revive them as Undead should things take a turn for the worse.
However, one had to wonder whether those resurrected professors would willingly cooperate with the Academy.
-Why would they, who were forced to grind away at the Academy while alive, pledge loyalty even after dying!
-Hohoho. Are you implying that I should fight for the Principal after I burned to death during a Mage Creation demonstration due to a slight mishap?
-You want me to fight for the Academy after my apprentice published my thesis under her name while I was gone? From now on, I’m the Foundation’s henchman, you bastards!!
All those professors, whether they were devoted to the Academy while alive, had been dragged along reluctantly, or had met with unfortunate accidents that took them out in one shot, were questionable on whether they would cooperate willingly!
Indeed, the corpses of professors in the catacombs were things only worth considering as a last resort, not a dependable power.
“Declare an indefinite suspension of classes for all students. Effective immediately, Gift Academy will enter a wartime state.”
Professor Mahabharata issued a drastic measure.
*
The lecture schedule was upside down.
Thanks to that, it wasn’t just Titosso, but the other friends left at the Academy found themselves with nothing to do.
“Oknodie, do you think the Foundation will attack?”
“No idea?”
“This time… this time we’ll protect you.”
“Thanks!”
“Wait, am I the only one training in this warm atmosphere…?”
“Mobs are weaklings; they can’t afford to take a day off!”
“…”
Recently, both the professors and the friends who headed out of the Academy seemed incredibly busy.
While I understand the desire to roam around when there’s ample time to play, it was still frustrating to be ditched for Darknodi, a fake who left me behind!
“Raise your arms high.”
“Need flame resistance? Should I heat your armor?”
“I can help with flash resistance too!”
Observing Hestia and Rosgini intervening and training Titosso, I reflected on my elite friends who stayed loyal throughout.
I couldn’t just let those great friends watch Mob’s training from the sidelines feeling itchy and turn into training bullies!
“Hey, aren’t you all a bit bored?”
“A little?”
“It’s alright since I play around with Goo sometimes.”
“I really enjoy drawing pictures!”
“Well, if it gets too boring, I was planning to give out prizes!”
Taking on the role of Santa Claus, Titosso was the first to show interest.
“What kind of prize? Like a magical tool you sent to our house yesterday from Goblin World?”
“Much better than a magical tool!”
“Is there really a present that good?”
Being a magician, Rosgini understood the importance of magical tools.
High-performance magical tools could activate high-tier spells with just the incantation, making them absurd items.
They could not only change the outcome of a battle but could also reverse the tide of a war.
“Of course! Magical tools are used once and done, but this present can be used repeatedly once you receive it!”
“Are you giving me a light stand, Titosso?”
“Ugh, please don’t give me a light stand as a gift!”
Rosgini giggled, comforting Titosso, who was filled with black bread.
As Titosso munched the bread, filling her cheeks, Hestia raised her hands in surrender.
“I don’t understand. What are you trying to give us?”
Ta-da!
The answer is…
“Level up!”
Once you achieve the level up, you can retain that effect permanently.
Of course, it’s way better than a magical tool!
“So you’re saying you’ll raise our levels…?”
“Oknodie. Honestly, my growth feels stagnant…?”
“I’m too busy researching the Red Flame School’s spells.”
“You’re already growing perfectly well with the Mana Flow Technique Manual for Maids.”
Mob, Titosso, Rosgini, and Hestia all looked dubious.
Their excellent student responses showed they understood that they must grind through diligent practice to surpass their stagnation, but there’s always a cheat in this world!
“I’ll give away all the gimmicks I didn’t use!”
With no lectures and no professors around, the timing couldn’t be better for me to consume the opportunities left at the Academy.
Though I had amassed quite a bit of quirky items from outside, it’s undeniable that even those small gimmicks could become significant strength for my friends.
“Somehow this feels dubious… Can you give me an example?”
“I’ll devour the Elizaveta II that the Dorm Supervisor is trying to procure!”
“Oknodie, did you really suffer a lot with the Foundation…”
“It’s like my personality from first year has returned.”
Mob and Rosgini made comments that somehow resonated even with Titosso and Hestia.
“Hmph, if you don’t want to eat it, don’t! Just give me Sing!”
“Wasn’t Sing at the Academy?”
Oops. I misspoke!
Sing, who was hiding in the gap of space, glared at me with terrifying eyes.
“Sing? Isn’t she on leave?”
“Wasn’t she training in the special training room?”
“There’s also rumors she died while sword fighting with fourth years!”
“Hm? Now that I think about it, I feel something in my instincts.”
Hestia looked a bit uneasy while accurately staring at the space where Sing was hidden.
There was nothing to be done.
Since I was exposed due to my mistake, maybe I should just help once?
“T-That’s… it’s not Sing; it’s Sister Sing who has come!”
“…”
Sister Sing, in a thigh-slit chi-chi dress, begrudgingly revealed herself.
“Sia, Sister Sing!”
“Wow… so pretty!”
As Titosso clapped and praised, Sister Sing sighed silently.
