Chapter 337 - The Somewhat Hard Daily Life of a Temporary Instructor
The day after visiting the bustling downtown area, I woke up to my second morning at Belrizan. I got up without lingering in the shallow sleep of an unfamiliar dorm room. This is my routine to settle my mind and body. Even though the training menu has changed due to the new environment, I don’t neglect my training. The daily accumulation of these routines is a crucial support for me.
I stepped outside before the sun fully rose, loaded myself with as much weight as possible, and then deployed multiple layers of magic, combining high-intensity running with visualization training.
The academy atop the hill has plenty of open spaces and is mostly deserted, making it a pretty good environment. I ignored any gazes I felt from somewhere. This level of attention is nothing new to me; it doesn’t bother me at all.
I met up with Valeria and the others halfway through, and after sweating it out together, I returned to the dormitory to finish my preparations. It’s time to start my work as an instructor again today.
My first task for today is to memorize the student roster. Given the large number of students at the academy, just remembering faces and names is a challenge.
I wouldn’t usually bother to remember the names and faces of ordinary students, but since it’s necessary for my job, I have no choice. I’ll put my studious skills to good use.
While I’m at it, I’ll memorize a bit more about the upper nobility and students who catch my interest. The confidential materials provided by the headmistress are especially loaded with information about delinquent students. There’s a wealth of useful information, so I’ll memorize this with particular care.
My primary role is to patrol the campus and act as a deterrent by embodying the spirit of the Demon Instructor.
I’ll ‘guide’ students who engage in problematic behavior and strictly enforce campus discipline. My immediate goal is to tighten up the lax atmosphere and make it sharp and strict.
After school, I’ll oversee the Magic Doll Club and plan my next steps. This is still a long and uncertain road.
Of course, my top priority is protecting the young miss. To do that, I need to keep an eye on Anastasia Union’s movements. While direct protection is handled by the students, it’s reassuring to have them take care of it.
It’s a bit stressful to wait for the other side to make a move, but I have no choice. I can’t just move and crush them.
Ideally, I should also have a secondary role as an assistant in Foundational Magic Theory, but it seems I’m not needed for that. Since I’m busy elsewhere, that’s fine. However, if I have some free time, I should come up with a plan just in case.
I focused during the morning classes and completed memorizing the relevant personnel roster. Thanks to Valeria and the others visiting during the breaks, I was able to refresh and memorize everything quite well.
"Phew, I’m exhausted."
I stretched to relieve the tension in my lower back and neck, loosened up my body, and then stood up to soothe my tired brain and empty stomach.
As I walked down the hallway and moved to the cafeteria, no students spoke to me. Yesterday, they were talking to me at the beginning, but now, just wearing a tracksuit, sunglasses, and an iron rod keeps people from approaching. Even the staff seems to be the same. Perhaps the students don’t recognize me as the same person who was dressed more modestly yesterday.
But this is how it should be.
Be afraid. If I’m seen as someone scary, at least no students will misbehave near me. I’ll make a point of demonstrating that a single staff member like me can improve the situation.
To maintain discipline, strict rules must be enforced, and there must be a presence that firmly enforces those rules.
Until now, the academy has been overly lenient with students whose parents hold power. The logic of the noble class has prevailed over the academy’s rules, and often in a bad way. This has fully proven that spoiling children leads to nothing good. Changing this situation is an order from the powerful, so it’s nice to be able to act without reservations.
During lunch, I patrolled casually and then headed to the rooftop garden, which I visited yesterday.
When I saw one person still lingering, I thought it might be someone being bullied, but it turned out to be different. The student with the distinctive curly hair was Edith Ribbonstrat. Yesterday, she was surrounded by her entourage, but today she was alone. Perhaps she’s usually alone, or perhaps she just wanted to be alone today. Either way, it’s almost time for class.
"What are you doing? Go back to your classroom."
The curly-haired girl stood idly in a corner of the garden, either looking at the distant scenery or lost in thought. She didn’t react to my call.
She seemed deeply troubled. After a few seconds of silence, I wondered what to do when the curly-haired girl suddenly turned her hazy eyes toward me.
"Do you know the Ribbonstrat family?"
It seems she had noticed me all along.
Still, she’s a bold one. She’s unresponsive to my Demon Instructor look and recognized me as the same person from yesterday, even with the drastic change in style. Maybe she recognized me by my voice, but I wish she would have shown some surprise at the extreme style change.
But her question is confusing.
She’s asking if I know her family. I doubt she’s asking about widely known, public information. At least as of now, I don’t know what she wants me to know. I don’t recall anything relevant in the headmistress’s confidential materials.
Misinterpreting my silence as ignorance, the curly-haired girl gave a thin smile.
"Remember this, even a minor noble should know. They are a terrifying family, truly."
Does she think she’s intimidating me? It’s pointless.
However, her family is a marquess family of the great nation of Belrizan. I can’t tell what darkness they might be hiding. While the girl herself is of no concern, it might be wise to be overly cautious about the family’s power.
"Thank you for the warning. But it’s time for class."
I brushed off her ominous words, and the curly-haired girl turned her face away and left the rooftop garden. I wonder if she’ll return to her classroom willingly. If she’s going to skip, I hope she does it in a way that won’t get caught.
Even after the scene on the rooftop, I continued patrolling in the afternoon.
There are still students skipping class all over the place. They are especially numerous in the blind spots of buildings and in the club buildings. They think they’re hiding, but I can’t be fooled.
Whether they’re outside or inside the building, I approach them openly. If they’re going to run, that’s fine. But if they try to hide, I’ll drag them out and lecture them.
I want them to realize that there’s no place on campus where they can skip class casually. If they’re going to do it, I hope they manage to do it in a way that impresses me. If they do, I might let it slide.
However, some fools are not just skipping class but causing further trouble. They’re always a handful.
"Even fools have their limits. This isn’t something to play with."
"Give it back!"
What I took from the foolish delinquent was a small amount of drugs. I burned it in the palm of my hand.
"Either take your classes seriously or go home."
I threaten the hopeless fool bluntly, grabbing her by the collar and glaring at her through my sunglasses.
I don’t expect my words to get through to a delinquent who’s riding high on her arrogance. Explaining the dangers of drugs would be a waste of time; they won’t listen to anyone. While I know a proper, gentle conversation is needed, I’ll leave that to the kinder staff. As a Demon Instructor, I just need to be a scary presence and enforce strict discipline.
"Your father won’t let this go!"
"I believe you’re the daughter of Viscount Coenton, right? I compile all these attitudes and actions into a report. I might send yours to Count Harris as well. Your father might believe you entirely, but what will others think?"
"B-But that’s not possible—"
"Really impossible? I’ll just send it normally. As an official document from the academy."
According to the confidential materials, Count Harris is the family of her fiancé.
I don’t intend to reform delinquents. If they don’t listen to simple intimidation, I’ll exploit their weaknesses. Other staff might be considerate of their families and factions, but it doesn’t matter to me.
I won’t let them call it abuse of power. The student suggested using power first. If you’re a noble, you should learn from this as well.
"Understand this. Your future here will change significantly based on how you behave. Try not to upset me."
Real threats are different from jokes or empty words. I won’t rat you out as long as you do as I say.
The pale noble girl will likely improve her behavior from now on. After all, she’s just a minor figure, not a hardened delinquent, and she doesn’t seem to be addicted yet.
Nobles and rich kids who are just mediocre often have some weakness because of their mediocrity. Saint Emeralda Girls' Academy has many such students, so having information is very useful.
Intimidation is just part of my routine. In fact, using rough methods to stop drugs and mischief is something they should be grateful for.
After repeating similar warnings a few times, it was after-school time.
However, what’s going on with this academy? I noticed more foolish students with drugs than I did yesterday. Maybe it would be more efficient to cut off the drug supply source instead of warning them individually. They’re quite a handful.
After the life guidance session, it was time to fulfill my role as the advisor to the club.
I returned to my office to summarize today’s work, then headed to the Magic Doll Club’s room.
Thanks to yesterday’s successful practical training, the members were almost done with their basic practice. They’re more diligent than I thought.
The sudden change from the lax atmosphere of the past few days is a bit odd, but perhaps many of the members genuinely wanted to do club activities seriously. Even if they’re still mediocre, their serious approach is commendable.
"Mr. Evilbanshee, please guide us today!"
"Thank you!"
When I entered the room, the club president greeted me first, and everyone followed. The impact of yesterday must have been significant.
Yes, I’ll praise their initiative and understanding of their roles.
"We’ll start with a review of yesterday’s session. I’ll guide each of you individually, so keep practicing the basics until I get to you. Let’s start with the president."
"Yes!"
Using second-generation dolls for basic training in magic sensing and manipulation might have some unexpected benefits. Since it’s harder for magic to flow through them, it requires a stronger output, which can help strengthen one’s magic.
Even if the old doll can only move awkwardly, once you get it moving a bit better, you’ll be able to handle the new models much more smoothly.
The problem is what to do about replacing the dolls. I need to come up with a plan... I remember the student council, which controls the budget and doesn’t allow personal purchases.
"Mr. Evilbanshee, do you have any tips for distributing magic evenly?"
"There are no simple tricks. As you improve in magic sensing and manipulation, you’ll be able to do it as you wish. Look for the small points of magic I’ve infused. You can barely sense them now. By the way, there are five of them."
"Hm, where are they...?"
Good, once I’ve checked everyone’s practice, I’ll head to the student council building. I can’t think of a plan without a starting point.
After going through everyone’s practice, I dismissed them for independent training and left the club room.
The only building I haven’t entered yet is the Student Council Building. As its name suggests, it’s a building exclusively used by the student council.
The Student Council Building is a special building that only members of the student council and those with permission can enter. Even staff members can’t enter without permission.
It seems like an excessive privilege for children of the powerful.
It’s far from the club building, past the main building and through a small forest.
It’s a modern, low-rise building unlike the Romanesque architecture of the main building and club buildings. It doesn’t seem to belong in the academy at all.
It’s also too large and grand for a place used by only a few students. I heard it was recently rebuilt.
"It’s too expensive for a building used by students."
It’s not just a room, but an entire building. The student council isn’t that large, so such a big building is unnecessary.
Moreover, two students stand guard in front, standing at attention.
Wearing rimless teardrop sunglasses, a shiny purple tracksuit, sandals, and carrying an iron rod, I stand out. They were on guard even as I walked through the forest. They glare at me as I approach.
"Who do you think you are to stand here!"
"Go away! This is no place for someone of your low status!"
They act as if they’re guarding a castle or something. It’s ridiculous.
I almost want to laugh at their pointless claims. Of course, I ignore them.
"We have the authority to remove you! If you come any closer, we’ll cut you down!"
That’s a bit much, isn’t it?
It seems they’re serious, as they reach for the swords at their waists. They’re confident in their skills, but they’re nothing compared to me. It would be easy to neutralize them. But their vigilance is so abnormal that it hardly feels like I’m on school grounds. Perhaps I should investigate before making a move. Who knows what might happen.
Layla might have learned something already. I’ll back off for now and regroup.