Chapter 145 : Chapter 145

Chapter 145. Why are there delinquents at the Academy? (1)

3 years later.

Three years had passed since Patrick’s victory in Arcana.

It was not a very long time, but during that period, the status of the Kingdom of Atronia had changed significantly.

Originally, the Knight Faculty of the Academy was the beginning of the elite course for becoming a knight in the country.

It looked good on the outside, but in the end, it was a domestic talent nurturing institution.

Those with real talent and whose families could afford it sent their children to study abroad at foreign academies.

Moreover, in the case of studying abroad at a foreign academy, many talents would put down roots in that country.

As a result, a brain drain occurred, and it was a contributing factor to the continuous decline in the level of knights in the Kingdom of Atronia.

But when Patrick won Arcana, the situation changed.

The production of an Arcana winner.

The effect this brought about was tremendous.

The very next year, the number of applicants more than doubled.

On top of that, when word got out that Patrick was mentoring other students within the Academy, the following year saw students coming from abroad to study.

And even starting this year, it was announced that they would not discriminate against commoners as long as they had talent.

As a result, the competition rate for the Knight Faculty this year became much fiercer than before.

A competition rate exceeding 1,000 to 1 emerged, and the examination standards were also much higher.

The joy of those who overcame that fierce competition and succeeded in enrolling was beyond words.

“Finally…”

Just like this boy.

The young boy entering the Academy grounds had a look full of anticipation.

This boy’s name was Jillian Vetori.

He was a boy who had succeeded in enrolling in the Academy, breaking through this year’s fierce competition rate.

“I’m finally an Academy student too.”

Jillian could not contain his emotions.

To enroll in the Knight Faculty of the Academy, he had worked extremely hard.

Every day, he swung his sword until his hands bled, and he digested the strict training his knight father ordered without skipping a single day.

That effort had finally borne fruit.

“I did it. I really did it.”

How could he not be moved?

The Knight Faculty uniform he was wearing.

The badge on his chest indicating he was a first-year.

Even every single paving stone of the Academy he was standing on filled him with pride.

“Starting today, I too am a student of the Knight Faculty. I’m becoming a junior to that Senior Patrick Schneider.”

Like many young people his age, Jillian also idolized Patrick Schneider.

No, the word idol was not enough.

A talented individual who achieved the 7-star realm at the youngest age and defeated Garcia, a genius who had also reached the 7-star realm and was the successor to the Sword Saint, to proudly seize victory in Arcana.

A person of noble character who, despite receiving numerous temptations from all over the continent, did not abandon his home country, the Kingdom of Atronia, and remained loyal.

On top of that, he had even won the love of Princess Isabella, who was rumored to be the most beautiful woman in the kingdom.

In a word, he was a man who had it all.

“I have to greet him when I see him. If possible, could I learn a thing or two? If I could, there would be nothing more to wish for.”

Someone spoke to Jillian, who was muttering to himself, full of dreams.

“What a funny guy.”

When Jillian turned his head, he saw three or four students wearing the same first-year uniform as him, gathered and looking at him.

They looked at Jillian and said.

“How dare you, not knowing your place, talk about learning a thing or two from Senior Schneider? You look like you’re from some poor, beggar-like family in the countryside, you really don’t know your place.”

“The Academy’s standards have really dropped. To think they’d accept a shabby-looking guy like that.”

“Don’t tell me he’s a commoner, how unlucky.”

At their provocation, Jillian felt a surge of anger.

His family was indeed nothing more than a mere knightly family.

But…

“I don’t know what great family you’re from, but now that we’ve enrolled in the Academy, shouldn’t all statuses be equal?”

At Jillian’s words, the other person, far from accepting his fault, sneered and said.

“Hoo, seeing you get worked up, are you really a commoner?”

“Tsk tsk, I heard they were accepting commoners on a large scale starting this year, so it was true.”

“To think that guys like this will go around saying they’re my classmates? It’s creepily unpleasant.”

“We need to kick him out quickly.”

At their words, Jillian’s eyes turned cold, and he threw his glove at the feet of the guy in front.

“Pick it up. It’s a duel.”

Jillian had resolved to teach these rude fellows a lesson with a duel, as his honor had been insulted.

But…

“Pick it up. It’s a duel.”

“Puhahaha.”

“That’s the same thing.”

“Ah, that was funny.”

“Tsk tsk tsk, what a country bumpkin-like idea.”

Even Jillian’s resolve was only met with ridicule.

“You trash!”

In an instant, Jillian, who was furious to the point of his hair standing on end, shot forward quickly.

The opponent was startled by his swift movement.

And Jillian’s fist struck the opponent’s face before he could react at all.

Pooow!

“Kuaak!”

As the opponent collapsed after taking a punch to the face, the guys who had been sneering were greatly surprised.

“Yulian!”

“Damn it, this country bumpkin!”

“I’ll kill you!”

The guys, their eyes changed, drew their swords.

Jillian looked at them coldly and then…

“I’ll take you all on.”

And he reached for his waist to draw his own sword.

The opponents were rather overwhelmed by Jillian’s appearance, showing fighting spirit instead of backing down despite being outnumbered.

‘Damn it, is this guy something?’

‘I thought he was just a country bumpkin.’

‘Yulian went down in one hit.’

In fact, Jillian was a talented individual with a considerably high level of skill among this year’s first-years.

The very fact that he, from an insignificant family, had managed to enroll in the Academy by overcoming the fierce competition was proof of his excellent skills.

But having come this far, his pride would not allow him to back down.

Just as they were about to have a brawl…

“Stop!”

A booming voice made their bodies freeze.

Looking towards where the voice came from, they saw a student wearing the Knight Faculty uniform approaching them.

The crest on his uniform indicated he was a fourth-year, and two longswords were slung across his back.

The first-years froze solid at the sight of the senior, whose eyes were full of confidence and dignity.

‘A fourth-year with twin swords. Then, don’t tell me…’

‘Could that be him?’

The fourth-year student who appeared among the frozen first-years spoke.

“What are you all doing on the very day of the entrance ceremony?”

“……”

The juniors, completely overwhelmed by his presence, could not even dare to open their mouths.

Especially the delinquents who were at fault couldn’t even meet his gaze and were fidgeting.

And the senior spoke in a voice full of dignity.

“I’ll let it slide this one time. Get to the auditorium immediately and take your places.”

At those words, the first-years, completely frozen, answered.

“Yes. Understood.”

“We will follow your orders, Senior Schneider!”

“It’s… it’s an honor for my family to… no, to meet you, Senior.”

At the first-years’ words, the senior with the twin swords on his back frowned and said.

“I am not Patrick.”

“Huh? Then your name is, senior…”

“I am Matthew, from the fourth year.”

At that, the juniors let out a gasp of admiration.

Matthew.

He was a famous senior known as the second-best in the fourth year of the Academy.

A swordsman who, like Patrick Schneider, used dual swordsmanship.

Despite still being a student, he was a swordsman whose level was estimated to be in the mid-4-star range.

The fact that he was a close friend of that Patrick Schneider was also famous.

At Matthew’s appearance, the first-years looked at him with a gaze that was half respect and half fear.

Matthew scratched his head with an annoyed expression and said.

“I’m busy as hell, I don’t have time to look after you guys. Everyone, get inside the auditorium quickly and line up in your places.”

“Yes, understood.”

The first-years ran inside like well-disciplined new recruits.

And just then, a few third-year students rushed up to Matthew and said in an urgent voice.

“Senior Matthew.”

“Did you find him?”

“We found him. But his condition is…”

Matthew’s expression crumpled.

“Damn it, don’t tell me it’s happening again?”

“Yes. It’s happening again.”

“Damn bastard!”

At his junior’s words, Matthew scowled and said.

“I told him that much yesterday, didn’t I? Aww. He really doesn’t listen.”

Compared to three years ago, Matthew had developed quite a temper.

Who could be the cause?

The juniors, glancing at Matthew, said.

“Senior, since it’s come to this, why don’t you just give up?”

“That’s right. We have no choice but to do it without that person.”

“That would be better.”

“This was poorly planned from the start.”

At that, Matthew roared.

“Who’s going to report that to the professor? Are you going to do it? Are you?”

“……”

“……”

You have to do it, senior.

The juniors were sensible enough not to say those words.

“Damn it, can’t be helped. Where is he?”

“On the roof of Building B.”

“Let’s go quickly. We have to drag him here, even if it means grabbing him by the scruff of the neck.”

Matthew grumbled and moved somewhere.

* * *

The entrance ceremony.

The first-years gathered in the auditorium lined up in their places according to the seniors’ guidance.

“Stand straight. Don’t smile, shut your mouths. Breathe only through your nose.”

“You there, get in line. Line.”

“From now on, if the line gets crooked, your Academy life will also get crooked. Stand straight.”

The first-years froze at the seniors’ strict demeanor.

As with any department, the discipline in the Knight Faculty was particularly strict.

Among the first-years, there were some brats with pouting lips who wanted to show off their family’s prestige, but the seniors’ stern presence crushed such bravado in advance.

‘So these are the Academy seniors.’

‘Every one of them is amazing.’

‘Will we be like this in a few years?’

After the freshmen had lined up, the seniors also took their places.

And a short while later, a man came up to the stage.

A man in his mid-30s with a dark, brown-toned skin.

At his appearance, the mouths of the first-years, who had been frozen with tension, went slack again.

How could they not know?

This man was probably…

“Welcome, everyone. I am Justin Leyte, the head professor of the Knight Faculty.”

As Professor Leyte introduced himself, a gasp of admiration erupted from the mouths of the first-years.

“Ah…”

“As expected…”

“The Indomitable Knight.”

The first-years’ faces turned dazed as if they had taken some kind of drug.

Although he announced it a bit later than Patrick Schneider, Professor Leyte also revealed his level.

After that, many reached out to recruit him from here and there, but Professor Leyte refused them all and announced that he would nurture future generations at the Academy.

The Academy, in gratitude, entrusted him with the position of head professor, overseeing the entire Knight Faculty.

That was the publicly known fact.

In reality, his main job was to provide dedicated care for a certain student.

Anyway, Professor Leyte, whose status had risen significantly in the public eye, spoke.

“Congratulations on your admission to the Academy. From now on, you will receive the teachings of various professors and seniors and be reborn as knights…”

Professor Leyte’s speech continued calmly.

The content of his speech was nothing special.

It really was nothing special, but…

‘A 7-star knight.’

‘The Indomitable Knight.’

‘Awesome. Even the way he speaks is different.’

‘His voice is so sexy.’

As expected, the influence of who was speaking could not be ignored more than the content of the speech itself.

Justin Leyte, who, despite having reached the pinnacle, was striving to nurture the next generation.

The eyes of the first-year students looking at him were dazed and intoxicated.

After finishing his long speech, Professor Leyte said.

“Next, as the representative of the current students, Patr…”

It was then.

A student hurriedly went up to the stage and whispered something to Professor Leyte, who was in the middle of his speech.

“Huh? What? …Again?”

From the looks of it, something was wrong.

A few first-years standing in the front row thought they heard something about a hangover, but they weren’t sure.

And a short while later.

“Ahem, with this, we conclude the entrance ceremony.”

Professor Leyte ended the entrance ceremony just like that.

Originally, a representative of the current students was supposed to come out to congratulate and encourage the juniors, but unfortunately, that was impossible in the current situation.

As the situation was glossed over, the first-years began to murmur.

Something about this didn’t feel right.

At that, Professor Leyte grabbed the megaphone again and said.

“Everyone, train hard. If you do…”

Kwa-ching!

He drew his sword and deployed a chillingly blue Aura Blade.

The first-year students who witnessed that brilliant sword of light once again stared at it with dazed eyes.

And Professor Leyte said…

“If you do that, you too will one day be able to unleash an Aura Blade like this. Understood?”

“Yes!”

“Yes!”

Watching the first-year students answer energetically, Professor Leyte thought to himself.

‘It’s a relief that at least this works.’

No one saw the small tear welling up in the corner of his eye.

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