WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS

Surviving the Assassin Academy as a Professor

Translator: Touch

Editor: Grass

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Chapter 66: The Bell Rings Over Snow-Covered Ruins (11)

There once was a certain 「spirit」.

│▽ㅇ)

It was a spirit of the Spying Star│ㅅㅇ) .

This one, in particular, enjoyed watching people who were worn down or drowning in sorrow.

And lately, Hiaka had become an ideal location for entertainment. A true hotspot.

There were so many people crying left and right. It was simply delightful.

Among all the places it roamed, there was one particular household the spirit never failed to visit—a family of four who had moved in about a year ago.

From the conversations it eavesdropped on, the spirit inferred that this family used to live in the capital.

But after the wife underwent surgery that left them buried in debt, they lost their home and ended up on the streets. The husband decided to relocate to this city, where the pay for working at the academy’s sewage facility was decent.

He brought along his younger brother, who suffered from severe mental and emotional issues. The couple also had a single child—a boy around ten years old, with awkwardly long hair.

In short, the entire household relied on the husband to survive.

Unfortunately for them, during the assassination war, the husband was struck by a fragment of the 『Meteor』 spell and lost consciousness. He collapsed on the ground, blood pouring from his head—but the hospital ward was already full. There was nowhere for the family to take him.

They had no choice but to treat him at home.

But to pay off their debts, the family lived in a slum on the outskirts of Zone 2—the cheapest neighborhood in the area. It was not the most well-equipped or sanitary place for someone gravely injured.

And now, the healing mage had informed them they had to be prepared.

Prepared for the husband’s nearing death.

“This is all your fault! If you hadn’t gone out to play for no reason and gotten hurt, requiring surgery…!” the brother shouted.

“Who are you to talk to me like that?! And what were you doing while he ended up like this?! You’re just a parasite who stays at home all day…!” the wife snapped back.

│▽ㅇ) hehehe

The wife and the brother argued every day, yelling and crying without end.

Days passed, but the arguments never ceased. They tore into each other at every chance they got, right in front of the dying husband.

In the midst of all that, the child remained vacant.

He would sit blankly before his father, listening to the arguments, then wander outside for a lap around the neighborhood.

Whenever he stepped outside, the ruins blanketed in snow stretched before him.

Although foreign media praised it as one of the cleanest defenses against the 『Meteor』 spell, there were still many areas where buildings had collapsed and lives had been lost.

This was one of those areas.

The child wandered the ruins in a daze. He visited his shattered school, then the park he used to play in.

It was all destroyed.

He slipped and fell on the icy street.

Then, with slow, dragging steps, he returned home and sat blankly in front of his father once more.

│▽ㅇ) …

The spirit thought it strange. The spirit tilted its head.

Humans usually cried when they were sad, especially children.

│▽ㅇ) Why isn’t he crying?

But its interest faded quickly.

There were far too many amusing things around the world to watch to stay fixated on one strange child.

It was time to visit another household.

│ …(ㅇ▽ㅇ)

* * *

The snow quietly piled up on the professors’ shoulders and heads.

“77 hours, 51 minutes, 32 seconds…”

Professor Dante stepped forward from the line of professors and spoke.

“We originally planned for the exam to last 72 hours, knowing that it wouldn’t be enough.”

Over 1,200 cadets stood in silence, eyes fixed on him. 

“Thus, we intended for the professors to fill in the gaps to finish within those 72 hours. But you all exceeded our expectations, much to our surprise. So we decided to wait just a bit longer.”

It was said that such a final exam had never existed in history, and that the rewards tied to it would be equally unprecedented.

Rumors had circulated before the exam that simply participating would earn cadets a noteworthy credential to add to their résumé.

Even amidst initial confusion, the cadets dove headfirst into the assignment.

But it hadn’t been an easy three days. Everyone had shed blood, sweat, and tears to bring this tree into existence.

And now…

“This tree is entirely your creation,” Dante said.

It was complete.

The tree was fully expanded, reaching high up into the sky.

Their efforts had not been in vain, as Professor Dante calmly acknowledged their achievement.

“Excellent work.”

He continued.

“As you all know, Hiaka Academy has gone through hard times—not just in the Illusion Arts Studies sector, but across the entire academy. I won’t speak too much about the hardships, as I’m sure you’ve all felt it in your bones.”

Beneath the enormous, glittering Christmas tree, the cadets’ expressions grew somber.

“However, in the grand scheme of things, Hiaka has merely stumbled on its long journey. The path won’t wait for us, so Hiaka must rise and walk forward again on its own.”

This was Dante’s way of rekindling the academy’s—and the nation’s—morale.

“So that you may continue to grow into trees yourselves,” he said.

That was his intent behind this exam.

“We professors will be the ones to light the way for you.”

With those final words, Professor Dante raised his hand. The other professors followed suit, lifting their arms in unison.

Their synchronized movement sent an inexplicable shiver through the cadets.

Then, just as the clock struck midnight, the entire faculty snapped their fingers.

Snap!

A brilliant light burst forth from the base of the tree and spiraled upward, climbing at incredible speed until it reached the top.

It looked as if a pillar of light was connecting the earth to the heavens.

At the very top of the tree, a symbol appeared.

☮

It symbolized the 「Peaceful Star ☮」, representing harmony and restoration.

It was as if a new star had been born in the dark night sky.

This emblem, likely over 2,000 meters in diameter, was also a manifestation of illusion.

Professor Collider then shouted,

“Happy Holy Day!!”

And the giant bell at the center of the emblem began to toll.

Gooong—

The cadets were overcome with powerful emotion before this utterly dreamlike sight.

The sound of the bell echoed across the entire academy.

The meeting chamber of the Council of Elders was in total chaos.

A colossal tree—so massive it defied any reasonable sense of scale—glowed softly in the night sky, casting a hazy, magical light.

“N-No way!”

“How could this be…?!”

They were a full 25 kilometers from the academy. Even a 400-meter statue of the Emperor wouldn’t be visible from this distance. In fact, entire mountain ranges blurred into mere hills from here.

And yet, the giant tree appeared strikingly clear to their eyes, almost as if it were floating nearby in the sky.

“I cannot believe it…”

“How big is that thing…?!”

At last, when the faint emblem of the 「Peaceful Star☮」 lit up at the tree’s apex, the illusion came into even sharper focus.

The moment anyone thought, “I don’t want to see this”, the tree dimmed and faded—demonstrating the sheer sophistication of the spell's formulas.

It was a masterwork of Illusion Art, so elaborate that even elders with only a cursory understanding of the field could recognize its brilliance.

Ezekiel, witnessing this miracle for the first time, felt a deep shudder course through him.

There was no doubt. This was a 9th-level Illusion Art, mastered to near perfection.

Dante Hiakapo… What in the world was he?

Ezekiel composed himself and surveyed the room.

Sure enough, the elders were all frozen in awe. And understandably so. Even a dragon would look like a small fly next to that tree. Its vastness felt as if it had breached the boundary between fantasy and reality.

Yet amidst all this, the king alone remained expressionless and that was what unsettled Ezekiel.

Even if every citizen in Hiaka were moved to tears, it would all be for nothing if the king felt nothing. Hiaka was ruled entirely by the king’s personal authority.

Ezekiel’s heart pounded as he waited for the king to respond.

“Hmm…”

The king finally spoke, turning away from the tree and facing the chamber again.

The ministers and elders, still breathless from awe, fell silent at once.

“Ezekiel,” the king said crisply.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“What did you say your objective was, again?”

“Yes. That is a large-scale illusion imbued with [Expansion], so—”

The king raised a hand, cutting him off.

Ezekiel immediately bowed his head.

“I come from a warrior’s background. I know little of Illusion Arts. Explain in simpler terms.”

“…My apologies. The idea is that any Illusion Arts practitioner can attach their own illusions to the tree. We intend to let them decorate this Holy Tree.”

“And why is that?”

“Because doing so will attract attention from across the continent. The sheer scale of the event will prove that our academy, and the Kingdom of Hiaka, remain strong and unbroken.”

“How long will it last? And how much was invested?”

“Chief Professor Cain personally contributed ten million hika. The academy added another twenty million. The illusion should remain stable for seven more days.”

“Seven days…”

The king stroked his golden beard, deep in thought.

Everyone in the room waited, aware that the next words from his lips would signal the conclusion of the meeting.

“There is no need for a royal decree.”

Ezekiel’s heart plummeted.

What? No royal decree? That was the entire reason we gathered for this meeting!

“…Pardon?”

The words slipped out before he could stop them. 

“Let’s expand the stage,” the king continued.

“…Pardon? Ah, I beg your pardon, Your Majesty. What do you mean by ‘expand the stage’?”

“If it were me, I’d board an airship from the other side of the continent just to come see that tree.”

“…!!”

Only then did Ezekiel understand the king’s intent—and it stunned him.

Up until now, he, Dante, and the academy had only hoped for national recognition.

But the king intended to showcase this to the entire continent.

And it made perfect sense. Ezekiel had dreamed of that very outcome, even if he’d never dared say it aloud.

This illusion… was a once-in-history marvel—something humanity had never seen before!

“Elder Hadel.”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

“Send a letter to the Hattengraj Imperial Academy. Immediately.”

“Yes!”

“Elders Vitali, Koran, and Yushin—go consult with the ministers at once. The Crown will invest 300 million hika to extend the illusion’s duration. And establish temporary tourist facilities near Zone 9. This is a royal command.”

“By your will, Your Majesty!”

They’re making it a tourist attraction???

Ezekiel’s jaw clenched tightly with excitement.

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

The king gave no reply. But now that the dam had burst, everything would begin flowing and expanding naturally.

Just imagine… How will those arrogant Imperial bastards react to this?

What about those Kreutz dogs who thought they’d destroyed Hiaka’s Illusion Arts forever?

Take this, Battalion! You son of a bitch!

That traitor had been rewarded by the enemy nation for stealing Hiaka’s Illusion Arts research and handing it over to Kreutz.

But now… that bastard would have to vomit it all back up.

Ezekiel could barely hold back his glee. His lips twitched, eyes shining.

Dante, you glorious bastard!

This miracle—all of it—was the result of a single man...

Professor Dante Hiakapo.

Ezekiel felt like he might lose his mind.

You beautiful man! 

At this current moment, Dante was more precious to him than his own granddaughter!!

“Your Majesty,” one of the elders said to the king, who stood gazing at the tree.

“What is it?”

“Please forgive my interruption, but… might there be a fitting slogan for this event?”

“A slogan?”

“My apologies. Since time is of the essence, I thought—”

“‘A Prayer for Hiaka.’”

The king responded without a moment's hesitation. Since Kreutz had been dodging accountability for the assassination war—and Hiaka now seemed weak—this slogan would significantly alter public sentiment.

“And say that Chief Professor Cain came up with it.”

Then, the king’s lips curled into a wide, draconic grin—something clearly amusing had just occurred to him.

“While we’re at it, arrange a peace summit with the Empire.”

Ezekiel’s face lit up again. If there was a summit… even the King of Kreutz would have to attend!

“Ezekiel. Will you be able to bring this Chief Cain fellow to the summit?”

“…Yes!! If under royal escort, it should be possible. That is… if Your Majesty permits him to wear a mask.”

“I’ll allow it. When the date for the summit is set, bring him to the palace.”

Ezekiel remained silent.

In that instant, Archmage Ezekiel couldn’t help but imagine it: Professor Dante, standing tall and confident, dazzling the gathered monarchs with his illusions... and the King of Kreutz, trembling with rage after investing billions of hika into their own Illusion Arts!

“By your will, Your Majesty…”

But Ezekiel’s lips wouldn’t quite close. His lips trembled, slightly ajar, a final thought clinging to his tongue. 

Should I say it ? Should I not?

He hesitated.

Should I? Should I not? Should I? Should I not…?

Ezekiel desperately wanted to shout, “Please take me with you too!!”…

But alas...  How could he ever say such a thing to the king?

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