Chapter 104: The Melancholy of a Certain Teacher
“I can’t take it anymore…!”
“Help me… I don’t want to die…”
Two female students were sprinting across the Plain. They were third-year students from the Department of Knights, participants in the Monster Hunting Festival. Initially, they had entered the festival with three other close friends, but suddenly, they were ambushed by a powerful monster and had become separated from their companions, fleeing for their lives.
“I shouldn’t have participated in this festival…”
While desperately holding hands and running, one of them muttered tearfully. They were indeed close friends, but their decision to join the festival had been a mere whim. After graduating from the academy, each was set to marry their respective fiancés. They weren’t aiming for a career in the knight order, so there was no need to perform well in the festival to make an impression. Being in their final year, they simply wanted to create memories with their friends, which was why they had signed up for the event.
The consequences of their naivety were now painfully clear. They were currently running for their lives, desperately heading toward the entrance of the Plain.
“I can’t stand this anymore… Why did it come to this…?”
“What about Nia? York? Jan? What happened to everyone…?”
Calling out the names of their absent friends, they continued to move their heavy legs, but worrying about others was the least of their concerns. From a nearby thicket, a wolf monster emerged.
“GRAAAAHHHHH!”
““Kyaaaaaah!””
The two let out shrill screams that pierced the air. The creature that appeared was a wolf monster covered in scales. Among the monsters in the Plain, it was neither particularly strong nor weak. Normally, the two of them would have been able to fend it off without issue, but they were exhausted from running and had dropped their weapons. At that moment, they were nothing more than easy prey for the wolf.
“GRAAAAHHHHH!”
The wolf lunged at them, kicking off the ground. However, a large shadow suddenly leaped between them and the wolf.
“NUUUN!”
“GYAN!”
A powerful boost surged as a great sword swung down. The dull blade sliced through the wolf, cleaving it in two along with its scales.
“Haah… Haah… Are you two alright?”
““Mr. Oddman!””
The two girls shouted the name of the man before them. The one who had saved them from their dire situation was Beick Oddman, a teacher from the Department of Knights. A former knight with a large build, he taught Swordsmanship and was known as one of the academy’s most notorious “haters of magicians.”
“Can you stand? I’ll get you to the edge of the Plain. Just a little longer, so hang in there.”
“Mr. Oddman…!”
The two girls’ eyes glistened with tears of relief.
To be honest, they didn’t particularly like Oddman. He was scruffy, overly intense, and constantly spouted his stubborn philosophies. Moreover, he had a tendency to ogle the girls’ chests and waists, making him a lecherous figure in their eyes. While he somehow garnered a decent amount of support from the male students, he was loathed by the female students like a venomous snake.
“Thank you, Mr. Oddman…!”
“Thanks to you, we’re safe…!”
However, given the life-saving situation, their perspectives naturally shifted. The two girls felt ashamed of their previous disdain and looked at Oddman with newfound respect.
(They’re looking at me with such admiration… This feels amazing!)
Meanwhile, Oddman struggled to suppress the grin that threatened to spread across his face. He was well aware that the female students didn’t think highly of him. Yet now, they were looking at him with respect, and that was an exhilarating feeling.
(These glistening eyes… They must be in love with me! Perhaps there’s a chance for “Please hold me as a memory before graduation” to happen!?)
Beick Oddman, forty-one years old and single. He had once been part of the knight order but was discharged due to troubles with women—specifically, stalking a female knight colleague. Although he was hired back at the academy for his swordsmanship skills, he still had unresolved issues. Incidentally, his disdain for magicians stemmed from the fact that the lover of a colleague he had once admired was a court magician.
(I don’t know why the monsters have gone berserk, but I can’t let this delicious opportunity slip away! I’ll show them just how strong and impressive a man I am!)
It was an incredibly inappropriate thought given the circumstances, but in a way, it showed just how oblivious he was.
“Alright… You two, follow me! Stay close!”
Oddman declared, breathing heavily as he gripped his sword, ready to lead the two girls. However, they were soon surrounded by a pack of wolves that leaped out from the thickets.
“What!? ”
““Kyaah!””
Oddman’s eyes widened as the two girls clung to each other in fear. The creatures surrounding them were the same wolf monsters as before, but now there were nearly ten of them.
“This is… a bit troublesome…?”
Oddman muttered, feeling a wave of anxiety wash over him. He could easily defeat them on his own, being a teacher from the Department of Knights. He was confident he could win without taking any damage. However, protecting the two girls while fighting would complicate matters.
(This is bad… I finally managed to impress the girls, and if I let them die here, it’ll all be for nothing…!)
“GRRRRR…”
Faced with the growling pack of wolves, Oddman began to sweat from the pressure.
(I have to do something… Worst case, I could abandon one of them and save the other…)
He glanced at the two girls, trying to decide whom to save based on their appearances. However, before he could make a decision, a hand of salvation reached out.
“[Earth Thorn]”
“Gau!?”
Suddenly, sharp spikes of earth shot up from the ground, impaling one of the wolves. Following that, a barrage of earth thorns emerged, exterminating the remaining wolves.
“What is this…?”
“Are you alright, Mr. Oddman?”
“Who are you…!?”
Oddman’s eyes widened as he recognized the face of the boy who had appeared. It was Rest, a first-year student from the Magic Department, who had sprinted over at incredible speed. He had left a strong impression on Oddman after defeating Danyla Betras, the second-ranked first-year student from the Department of Knights, in their first class.
“What are you doing here…!”
“I’m currently on Student Council Executive Committee duties. More importantly… you need to retreat to the entrance of the Plain immediately!”
“What? I have no obligation to take orders from you…”
“It seems a truly dangerous creature has begun to move… You must inform the administration to evacuate the students to the Royal Capital!”
Without waiting for Oddman’s response, Rest dashed away at a speed that even Oddman could barely follow with his eyes.
“A dangerous creature… What on earth is he talking about…?”
“That wolf was taken down in an instant… So impressive…”
“What refined power. It’s wonderful…”
“What!?”
Oddman’s voice cracked in disbelief. The two girls, who had been looking at him with admiration just moments ago, now gazed at Rest with starry eyes as he disappeared into the distance.
“Ugh, I really hate magicians after all…!”
Oddman gritted his teeth, clenching his fists in frustration.