Sword, Magic and Academic Society

Mujikka-sensei swiftly went over the bundle of reports I put down on the desk. Her eyes widened seeing their contents.

It was just the reaction I was expecting. I mean, even I was impressed by seeing their improvement rate in the recent reports. Mujikka-sensei glanced at Godorfun and then reported in a flat tone.

"...It's the detailed data on club members’ training progress. In addition, there is the analysis of each member's tasks, advice on improving their training methods, predictions for their future growth, and even reference to their health and schedule. There are currently 13 students of Class 1-A who have passed your success criteria, Sir. Everyone will probably be able to meet your required criteria in around 2 months. It's a tremendous growth rate."

The old man's eyebrow twitched in surprise as he listened to the report. Mujikka-sensei asked me in place of Godorfun who didn't say anything.

"Rovenne-kun, you’re not only the coach of the Hill Road Club, but also an honorary advisor of the Emission Magic Research Club, Geography Research Club, and Etiquette Club. In addition, you even work as an explorer on your days off and have raised your rank from G to E in a month, right? How is everything so detailed? Are you sleeping properly?"

In my free time, I established the Emission Magic Research Club, with Al being its president, and the Geography Research Club to study the lands in the Rondina continent this kingdom was situated in. The latter’s president was Coco.

Geography had limitless possibilities. A map wasn't just a simple piece of paper that represented a positional relationship. It encompassed various aspects such as the distribution of monsters, flora and fauna, elevation differences, crucial information like water sources, the status of crop cultivation, and even climate information such as temperature. It allowed people to analyze and categorize every possible area based on their positional relationships.

However, the maps in this world were far from covering everything I wanted to know and were quite crude copies.

I was having a discussion with Coco on this topic and in the heat of the moment, decided to establish this club. Well, it was a part of the club activities’ awareness program.

As for my rank up as an explorer, it happened against my will. I argued with the receptionist lady at the Explorer Association's Eastern Branch that 'It's strange for my rank to rise so quickly'. However, she dismissed it with 'It's the rule', and I couldn't break the defense of the lady's illogical claim.

I didn't even need to guess who was pulling the strings. I had gone to the headquarters to meet Satowa and protest about it. But he pretended to be out on business.

"Of course, I haven't done it on my own. In fact, I will say I’ve done practically nothing at all. This data was compiled by the Hill Road Club's manager group, headed by Chief Manager Kate. I just created the framework for the manager role at first, and the contents of the report were voluntarily compiled by the managers, keeping in mind what each member needs."

I simply stated the truth. Then, I stared back at Godorfun who just kept his silence while looking at me, and asked the question I was genuinely curious about.

"Aren't you going to check them yourself? Though I guess I should make it clear beforehand, the reports may have their own shortcomings in your eyes, considering you have seen the reports compiled by specialists in that field, but I’m thoroughly impressed by the details they have put into the report in this short amount of time. Well, I guess that's why they are students of this Royal Academy, huh?

This isn't some half-assed work that they’ve done just because their coach asked them to do it. I believe you can get a glimpse of their overflowing enthusiasm every now and then in the reports. Anyway, we can put my assignment to rest, but I do wish for you to take a look at their efforts. If you are still going to adhere to your 'result is all that matters' policy... Then you are truly a failure. Since I’m at it, let me correct my statement about inviting Schord to this academy. I’m strongly against it. Since it will just be a waste of time."

I said my peace and was about to stand up from my seat. This was my deliberate act to disguise my true intention. However, I was serious about the failure part. It was truly just a waste of time talking with people who weren't determined enough to foster others.

I also said this to Mujikka-sensei.

"From this day on, I am retiring from the position of coach of the Hill Road Club. Can you please go through the procedure?"

"What!? Do you know the chaos that will ensue if you retire now after setting all this up in such a short time!?" Mujikka-sensei said in a loud voice.

Ah, this person is indeed a teacher, I thought after looking at her intense reaction, showing her kind consideration for the students.

"It's not something I have to think about. I should have made myself clear earlier. This is a task for Godorfun, not me. I may have grandiosely articulated this, but I have zero motivation to be their guide. It's not my intention to become a great person who teaches others. All I had in my mind was to put forth my answer to the assignment Godorfun had tasked me with. And for the compensation, it is to be introduced to a suitable mentor. Nothing more, nothing less.

The spirit of the Hill Road Club and the managers are just a part of my answer. Let me be clear as well, I’ve already stopped coming up with training plans for the members. The responsibility of each grade has been left to Leo, Dan, and Stella, and they are putting in their effort at their own discretion. Once the dust settles in a few months, they should be able to decide on a president and a unified training policy for the whole club. So, there will be no confusion as you are fearing, Mujikka-sensei. The Hill Road Club is no longer a fledgling that couldn't take its flight without my presence."

Just as I showed my intention to get up from my seat, Godorfun, who had been silent all this time, finally opened his mouth.

"Wait. I will go through them."

After saying that, Godorfun went over the reports for a short while before letting out a delighted chuckle.

"Good grief, what an unpolished report. But indeed, I can feel their dazzling enthusiasm. This is a good report. It clearly shows the difference in each grade's training policy. It's really interesting, their beliefs certainly are reflected here. You can clearly see their struggle in dealing with the task of nurturing others, a question without a clear answer."

I grinned and Godorfun followed suit.

"...I had been thinking all this time, the degree of strictness I should adopt to guide them. I believed those who couldn't crawl their way up were simply worth only that much. I, as you said, wasn't facing the teaching role with sincerity..."

I was surprised to hear his words. It was pretty much impossible for a man of his status to swallow such rude remarks from a student in my understanding. For the first time, a stem of respect for him grew inside me.

"I think this method is also just that important. There will surely be some things that others can't learn no matter how diligently you teach them. I believe this is how you yourself must have trained. However, you can’t just stop teaching as someone from an educational institution. It's a sign of cutting corners for a professional teacher. You have to have a relentless passion to pursue the best for your students. This was my observation after witnessing the back of Schord Bainfause, another teacher."

These words didn't come out of nowhere. No matter how much I criticized Schord, he never took my words at face value, outright opposed me, nor got angry at me. It was because I knew he always had the best for me in his mind and never cut corners that I was able to argue with him without any apprehension.

"Was the situation in the general dormitory also instigated by you?"

Godorfun asked while stroking his white beard.

"That, too, was done by them at their own discretion. They moved in without telling me. I didn't do anything."

I answered with a sour expression on my face.

Godorfun closed his eyes for a moment after listening to my words. Then, when he opened his eyes again, he looked at my face and re-announced the result of the assignment.

"I have been negligent in my duties as a teacher in the end... Allen Rovenne, let me correct my previous statement. I am sorry. Also, you have aced the assignment. But, I want you to stay in the Hill Road Club as its coach. Can you do it?"

...Wow, I wasn't expecting this stubborn old man to so easily change his verdict, and even lower his head... Damn, where was your pride, old man?

"Fine. I also apologize for my rudeness toward Godorfun-sensei."

I still hadn't completely let out all of the resentment I had for the chief, but this was what it was. I could only bury the hatchet down here. I also accepted his suggestion to stay as the coach. Mujikka-sensei heaved a sigh of relief after hearing that.

"I’m glad. I was really worried about the situation for a moment there..."

"Hmph. I used to have such arguments with Schord every day. You're out of luck to be in charge of a snobbish brat like me, so might as well resign yourself to the situation now."

Hearing my remark, Godorfun broke out into even more hearty laughter.

"Fuhahahaha. No, it's my luck. Through you, I can indirectly grasp the essence of Master Schord. This is the best part for me in all this. But... Did you say 'I have zero motivation to guide them'? You sure know how to joke! Hahahaha!"

......Hey, I was serious about that.

◆◆◆

After Allen left the staff room.

Mujikka plopped herself on the sofa like a puppet who had its strings cut.

"Haa~ I’m tired. Just how much of that was your acting, and how serious were you, Sir?"

Godorfun appeared to be in high spirits.

"Fufufu. Nothing was acting, what you saw was all true. Well, a part of it was indeed to incite that brat and ascertain his thinking. For the most part, I was indeed at a loss for words. I guess that just means I still lack discipline when even a brat of his age can shut me up with his preaching! Hahaha!"

"...So basically, everything went along as you had planned... This is another victory for you. Well, the silver lining is that it was all settled peacefully, I guess. But saying 'I didn't do anything, everything is the fruit of their effort'... The master and disciple (Allen and Schord) pair are really cut from the same cloth."

◆◆◆

As if it were natural, an unbelievable rumor found itself traveling from one ear to another throughout the Royal Capital after three days. The rumor stated that 'Godorfun the Buddha' failed Allen Rovenne on a nearly impossible assignment that he was tasked with that spanned several months, which followed with Allen Rovenne getting into an argument with him over it. Allen then thoroughly beat Godorfun down with his words and in the end, the result was reevaluated, accompanied by an apology.

Three people broke into laughter when they heard that rumor.

Explorer Association Headquarters—

"Wahahaha! Did you guys hear? That geezer lost in an argument against that brat and had to lower his head! Oi, Satowa! What's that brat's current rank!?"

"Well, it has been raised to E. But since his contribution level and character evaluation hidden score is A, we can raise his rank anytime as long as he displays his abilities in one request. It shouldn't take long for it to be raised to C-rank where we can put up a nomination request. Though he did visit the headquarters once to protest, but I pretended I wasn’t here."

Shell chuckled after hearing Satowa's reply.

"Isn't his abilities on par with C-rank visible from him hunting down that one horned rabbit so easily? Raise his rank as soon as he submits the medicinal herb quest even once!"

Royal Palace------

"Gahahaha! Even I was curious after hearing the rumor that a 12-year-old kid soundly defeated you in an argument... So that's the full story, huh?... He’s really an interesting kid."

"Give me a break. it's not interesting to me. It just means I still haven't completely changed my mentality as a member of the knight order. It's really pathetic that I only realized it when a child pointed it out. And while I was taking it easy, that fellow had already taken care of nurturing the talents in people. He has thoroughly defeated me in this for sure."

"I see. But, I must say, that kid holds quite an unusual viewpoint. A rigorous and challenging education policy should have been an obvious answer to raise not just a knight, but a fine talent overall, no? Is this the influence of that rumored private tutor…? Or perhaps, that kid just holds a peculiar viewpoint that others lack…? Very well, I’ll write to Knight Commander Orina then. However, hearing so much about him has certainly made me want to meet him... Allen Rovenne, was it?"

The king of the kingdom had firmly remembered Allen’s name at that moment.

Knight Order Central Garrison in the Royal Capital—

"Oh, look who it is! Old Godorfun! Pfft. I heard that you were preached at by that crooked brat until you cried?! That's why I said to straighten his crooked personality first! Gyahaha!"

Dew burst into loud laughter while pointing at Godorfun.

"It's not that interesting... Besides, I had promised him to introduce you as a mentor if he managed to pass the assignment, that's why I didn't plan to accept a half-hearted attempt since I knew how busy you usually were. Though, I seemed to have been completely outmaneuvered by that brat. Sorry, and take care of him for me."

Godorfun put up an extremely amicable smile as he informed Dew. After hearing that, Dew’s high-pitched laughter instantly came to a halt.

"......Do-don't mess around, old man! Do you even know how much work I’ve been buried in!? And you want me to babysit (mentor) that damned brat?! It's not funny even as a joke! I refuse!"

Godorfun pulled a surprised expression upon hearing that.

"Hey hey hey! Looks like I jumped the gun on this... I thought you'd be delighted. I received a royal decree addressed to the Commander from the King, and I just had it delivered a moment ago..."

Godorfun had just finished his words when a knight ran to where Dew was.

"You have received an assignment, Legion Commander Dew!"

"T-that's not fair, you geezeeeeeeeer!!!!!"