WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS

Surviving the Assassin Academy as a Professor

Translator: Touch

Editor: Grass

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Chapter 53: After the Storm

A lot had happened since then.

“Professor Battalion was the traitor?”

“That motherfucker. And the professors let him go alive?”

Once the truth regarding the recent assassination war came out, the cadets were furious.

They set fire to the Battalion Building, named after the treasonous chief professor, and no one was punished for it.

Although Hiaka Academy had won the actual battle against the Kreutz assassins, it still felt like a crushing defeat.

The Disciplinary Enforcers and faculty worked together to track down the seeds of treason, exposing many who had colluded with the neutral chief professors.

Half of those accomplices were beaten to death.

“We got backstabbed by those Kreutz bastards! I can’t fucking believe this!”

“We should’ve been the ones launching a surprise attack. How could we let this happen?”

The citizens of the kingdom condemned Hiaka Academy. Even though the academy had responded swiftly, resulting in almost no cadet casualties, the criticism didn’t stop.

And according to one newspaper:

‘The royal family expresses its condolences over this incident. However, they are utterly disappointed. Is this what should happen to an academy that trains agents in counterintelligence?’

The royal government strongly criticized the academy’s current state of operations and announced a drastic reduction in support and funding.

Nevertheless, the royal family also issued an angry statement toward the Kingdom of Kreutz, condemning them officially.

But Kreutz, for its part, feigned ignorance until the end.

Although they had carefully hidden most evidence linking the assassins back to their kingdom, plenty still surfaced. Yet Kreutz continued to deny everything.

This truth spread across the continent, and public opinion began to shift.

Many judged that the tense power balance between Hiaka and Kreutz was tipping in Kreutz’s favor.

People tended to side with the weak, but nations sided with the strong.

Hiaka faced harsh criticism, but they didn’t stay idle.

The Mage Department’s Dean Ezekiel borrowed the national treasure 「Registry⧉」 on loan.

Next, the branch directors of the Black and White Paths vanished together, alongside the royal assassin units.

Over the following two weeks, massive terrorist attacks broke out across the Kingdom of Kreutz.

Mana transmission towers in major cities were destroyed. Mines collapsed. Airports and other critical facilities were bombed. Entire assassin squads made up of Kreutz Academy alumni disappeared without a trace.

No one knew who was behind the attacks, at least not officially. But anyone with even a shred of common sense knew the truth.

The assassinations only stopped after the Kreutz royal family issued a statement. Though vague, its meaning was clear: if the attacks didn’t cease, both parties would be dragged into destruction.

It was a proportional deterrence strategy, with the Kingdom of Kreutz threatening to return just as much damage to its “unknown” aggressors.

At this point, Hiaka had inflicted at least as much damage as it had suffered during the surprise assassination war—if not more. But no one felt satisfied.

All that lingered was a sense of defeat.

Meanwhile, Kreutz was celebrating. Many talented Grandmasters had defected from Hiaka to their country.

These defectors were interviewed in newspapers and featured on TV, their stories broadcast daily.

What utter bullshit.

Their stories were absolutely ridiculous.

At first, headlines like “Why Kreutz Has a Brighter Future”, “Why Hiaka’s Assassins Are Inferior to Kreutz’s”, and “Other Chief Professors at Hiaka Are Planning to Convert Too?” flooded the media. And they purposefully used the term “convert” instead of “defect,” softening the traitors’ public image.

But soon, the articles became even more ridiculous.

‘No dishes like these in Hiaka! Battalion’s Top 3 Kreutz Restaurants!’

‘These Five Kreutz Landmarks Alone Made It Worth Converting, According to Battalion!’

Even I, someone with barely a shred of patriotism toward Hiaka, found them infuriating.

So one could easily imagine how much more frustrated the other professors and cadets felt.

After the wartime chaos, a lot changed over the next two weeks.

Many cadets filed for withdrawal, and quite a few professors resigned.

As an air of despair settled over the academy, Shaman Kreutz, Dean of the Assassin Department, made a proposal to the school’s board of directors.

【 Assassin Department Dean, Shaman: “I propose we open Hiaka’s Assassin Department to the Empire.” 】

It was a bold suggestion.

【 Mage Department Dean, Ezekiel: “Shaman!” 】

【 Warrior Department Dean, Balkan: “Are you being serious?” 】

The other department deans were stunned, and understandably so.

Until now, Hiaka’s Assassin Department had remained isolated, keeping its unique research and assassins away from the public.

Of course, it wasn’t entirely sealed off. Gossip from the academy sometimes leaked to tabloid papers, such as The Assassin Times, or through other means.

However, academic exchanges, interdepartmental cooperation, and various academic missions and contracts mostly remained undisclosed to the rest of the world.

【 Shaman: “This is about getting to the root of things. Why do you think the neutral professors betray us?” 】

【 Ezekiel: “Because they were blinded by money!!” 】

【 Shaman: “Certainly, ‘personal gain’ was a major factor. But that was only the case for Battalion. As the heads of our respective departments, we must seek out the fundamental issues that caused their defection. It’s shameful to admit, but Hiaka Academy is a mess right now.” 】

From my seat at the first-floor cat café, I eavesdropped on their conversation via the textbox and couldn’t help but scoff.

It was a shocking statement to make at a board meeting.

【 Ezekiel: “…” 】

【 Balkan: “…” 】

【 Chairman Hedwig: “…” 】

The department deans and the chairman were clearly shaken by Shaman’s declaration.

【 Shaman: “After the Second Great Assassination War, we shut our doors. At first, it was to conceal ourselves from the rest of the world. But over time, we became a stagnant greenhouse, and perhaps now, we’ve started self-pruning and falling behind.” 】

Shaman truly was an exceptional department dean.

He understood the root of the crisis and had the authority to propose bold reforms.

After laying out his argument to open the department...

【 All eyes turn to Chairman Hedwig. 】

【 Chairman Hedwig: “Hm? Oh. Ahem! So what you’re saying is, we should suck on the Empire’s warm teat? 】

【 Shaman: “Correct, Chairman. But your words are as crude as ever, I see.” 】

【 Chairman Hedwig: “Why, thank you! Isn’t it sad, though? To unlock the gate we worked so hard to seal.” 】

From that conversation, I understood what the next main storyline was going to be.

【 “But for a middling developed nation like us, I suppose a middling path is all we can take~” 】

By opening up the once closed-off Hiaka Assassin Department, they would begin academic exchanges and student exchange programs with the Empire—the land of opportunity.

Students would be sent into various dungeons, labyrinths, and contract missions, seizing great opportunities to grow stronger.

「 Main Story 2: Betting Table 」

This was the only early-game storyline that allowed the player to access the grand casino called “The Empire.”

We would either put everything on the line and soar to greater heights—or fall into the abyss with a single misstep.

As the arc’s name implied, the game would force the player to make many risky choices for a chance at greater rewards.

When I played the game as a cadet, this storyline was about taking what I’d learned from the professors and applying their teachings in real-world situations.

But now, I was playing from a professor’s perspective.

I suppose the cadets under my guidance will have to go out into the wider world and produce results on my behalf.

Those results and achievements would be counted as my own, rewarding me with Star Shards.

【 Chairman Hedwig: “Fine! But I have a question. Just because we open up the department doesn’t mean we’ll gain a competitive edge. In fact, what advantage does our Assassin Department even have?” 】

【 Shaman: “I believe every professor and cadet here holds great potential.” 】

【 Chairman Hedwig: “Don’t give me that, ‘My child is the best! They could become an imperial chief professor!’ nonsense like some doting mother!” 】

【 Shaman: “…There are certain prodigies among the current first-year assassin cadets.” 】

【 Chairman Hedwig: “You mean the Black Dragon cadets? I heard they’re uncontrollable because of the princess.” 】

【 Shaman: “I am ashamed to admit it, but that is true. As of now, they are entirely beyond our administration’s control. But we’ll address that in time… And regardless of our control over them, their talent is genuine.” 】

【 Chairman Hedwig: “How genuine?” 】

【 Shaman: “Overwhelmingly so.” 】

【 Chairman Hedwig: “More than you?” 】

【 Shaman: “…Yes. More than me. That’s why we initially planned to train them in secret, away from the rest of the world.” 】

【 Chairman Hedwig: “That was foolish. You can’t expect them to grow without experiencing real combat~” 】

【 Shaman: “You are exactly right.” 】

By the end of that meeting, the chairman gave their approval.

【 Chairman Hedwig: “Ahem! Very well. I shall submit a proposal to the royal family!” 】

Just then, Adele called out from across the room, “Professor, the café’s closing soon.”

The store has been closing earlier than usual lately because the owner has been feeling quite depressed.

“Got it,” I said.

I had heard everything I needed to hear. It was time to go home.

But once Adele and I returned to my residence, we found a familiar figure sitting on the living room couch with her legs crossed, red heels resting on the edge of the coffee table.

“...Where did you pick up the habit of sneaking into people’s homes?” I asked.

“Isn’t it a normal skill set to learn as an assassin?”

It was Princess Rebecca.

* * *

“Ah, Dean! One more thing,” Chairman Hedwig said brightly.

“““Yes?””” came the unified reply. 

“Oh my! I forgot there were three department deans here! Haha.”

After shooing the other two department heads from the room, the chairman leaned closer to Shaman.

“What are you planning to do with the mole you mentioned before?”

Shaman furrowed his brows. The chairman always jumped straight to the point, never bothering with formality.

“I planned to keep watching,” he said.

“Really? You’ll simply watch the spy?”

“Yes. I have my own plans.”

“Hmph! Very well. Then on a different note…” The chairman’s voice dropped. “I heard you loaned out a national treasure to some professor under your authority. Is that true?”

Shaman narrowed his eyes. “Who told you that?”

“The people in 「our line of work」!”

Shaman shook his head and sighed. That damned “line of work” again…

“You never show any interest in the department, yet somehow manage to overhear everything.”

“Don’t underestimate me! I’m a smart chairman!” Hedwig exclaimed with a pout.

Well, to be more precise, Chairman Hedwig wasn’t actually pouting.

They were wearing an owl mascot mask that covered their entire head, and it was the beak of the owl mask that moved using Illusion Arts. No one—not even the department deans—knew the age, gender, or even the race of the person beneath the mask. No one was sure if the chairman was even human.

“You’re correct. I loaned out the national treasure for a period of two years,” Shaman explained.

“Why?!”

“Why do you think?”

Shaman had been keeping an eye on Dante ever since Professor Hakon’s death, which had deepened the rift between the Black and White Paths. But during the most recent crisis, this newly appointed professor had managed to drive away the monster that had effortlessly incapacitated two chief professors.

In other words…

“That young professor is an even rarer prodigy than the Black Dragon cadets.”

The department’s administration hadn’t yet had the opportunity to formally meet him due to the crisis, but Dante’s name was already etched into the minds of the department’s upper ranks.

“Oho, really?” the chairman said, intrigued.

“Speaking of which, I have a question too,” Shaman said.

“What is it?”

“Who is that professor?” 

But to his surprise…

“I don’t know,” the chairman replied. 

“You don’t know? What do you—? You were the one who brought him in, Chairman!”

Shaman raised his voice in frustration.

The owl mask’s blinking eyes looked absurdly innocent.

“I don’t know!” the chairman repeated.

Shaman couldn’t bring himself to argue further. He could only accept that this inscrutable creature was playing mind games again.

“Anyway!” Chairman Hedwig clapped their hands. “Now’s not the time to be concerned about some new professor. What’s of the utmost importance right now?”

“What?” Shaman asked warily.

“The genius cadets, of course! A tool is only useful if it obeys the wielder. As the department dean, you should find a way to get those kids under control. Understood, hmm?!”

Shaman remained silent.

Shaman hadn’t wanted to bring this up just yet, but the situation warranted it. 

“…I hear those kids actually listen to Professor Dante,” he said after a moment of hesitation.

The owl’s beak hung open.

“Really?”

Shaman nodded, then elaborated. 

The Black Dragon cadets generally refused to take orders or guidance from any professor. The princess, in particular, was flawlessly uncontrollable, leaving no weaknesses to exploit.

Yet, for reasons no one could quite explain, the cadets held a strong goodwill toward Professor Dante—and only him. From the aloof leader Kaiser, to Balmung, Elize, and many others.

After listening carefully, the chairman spoke seriously.

“Maybe it’s time we replaced the department dean.”

“…What?”

“I’m just joking! Haha!”

Shaman didn’t respond. He just stared in silence. 

It was a strange day…

Or so thought a certain squirrel, busily collecting acorns and pinecones in preparation for winter on Mount Stargaze.

Deep in the mountain was a cave, and in that cave lived something that resembled a human. As a squirrel, it didn’t know exactly what that thing was… but at the very least, it wasn’t a threatening neighbor.

For some reason, this neighbor never left the cave during the day. It always waited until nightfall. It was a creature that lived on a strict routine.

But that day, things were different.

The neighbor came out of their cave before sunset.

Having lived together in the same area for half its life, the tiny squirrel couldn’t help but feel curious. So it decided to follow its neighbor.

The neighbor crept slowly down the mountain path, then stopped at a certain point. There was an invisible boundary of sorts, and the squirrel recognized it too.

For some reason, the neighbor never walked past it, even though there was nothing notable beyond it.

But on this truly strange day, the neighbor stood at the edge, hesitated... and then crossed it. 

The neighbor walked hundreds of steps (by squirrel standards) farther down, then stopped again. It stared at the paved road at the foot of the mountain.

What’s it doing? The squirrel wondered, a pinecone still clutched to its chest. 

The neighbor just kept watching, scanning the road below, unable to take its eyes off it. 

The squirrel couldn’t take it anymore. It tilted its head and let out a curious sound.

“Squeak?”

What are you doing?

…But as always, the neighbor didn’t answer.

It never did.

It probably couldn’t hear its words

After a while, with nothing changing, the squirrel turned to leave.

But as it yawned in boredom, the pinecone slipped from its grip and fell.

Oh no! My pinecone.

And then, unbelievably, the neighbor turned around, crouched down, and picked up the pinecone.

“Squeak.”

The squirrel asked for it back, but the neighbor ignored it and started walking away.

You’re just taking it? That’s mine!

“Squeak squeak?!”

Would you look at this bastard?! Didn’t even flinch while blatantly stealing what’s mine!

“Squeak! Squeak!”

Hey, everyone! Look at this thief! They’re stealing my winter food stash, even though they’re not even going to eat it!

“Squeak squeak squeak squeak!”

And to the squirrel’s utter dismay, the neighbor started picking up more pinecones. It was hoarding all the pinecones in the neighborhood!

The squirrel protested with all its might, but its neighbor heard none of it. 

And in the end, the poor squirrel lost its pinecone for good.

It truly was a strange day.

After the Storm – END

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