NOVEL NEXT 5 - You Suit a Sword Better Than a Bow (1)
With the start of the semester right around the corner.
The academic schedule was about to begin in earnest, and incidents would surely increase accordingly. But regardless of that, I was living a happy daily life.
The work dumped on me by the old professor.
The situation where I’ve essentially become the homeroom teacher of the protagonist’s class.
None of it could have any negative influence on my mind now that I had realized the great truth.
Today too, I smiled brightly and recited the magical phrase.
‘Well, it doesn’t matter since I’ll be fired anyway!’
I was a bit shocked and confused when A-class was suddenly dumped on me. But thinking calmly, wasn’t I already marked by the principal and set to be fired?
Whether Scott delegates authority or not, the fact that I won’t be here in a few days remains unchanged.
Therefore, I don’t need to worry about the academy anymore. Rather, it would be more efficient to think about how to live after being fired from here.
‘This is indeed a happy worry to have.’
Since the salary was high from the beginning, the severance pay amount when fired would be substantial. If I don’t overspend, it’s not a dream to live without working for the rest of my life.
If a problem arises, I just need to find Professor Scott.
Scott’s favor, which was only a headache when I wanted to escape the academy, would be an enormous help outside the academy, so I’m safe even in disasters.
With sufficient insurance and the cheat key of modern knowledge, I can surely enjoy a happy life.
-Ding dong!
While I was in the middle of planning my future, the doorbell rings. Opening the door of the faculty quarters, I see a man holding a letter beyond it.
Naturally, the corners of my mouth rise.
It seems today will update the best day of my life.
I took out a cool juice from the refrigerator, served it to the employee, and then preciously cradled the letter to my chest.
‘Finally, the day I’ve been waiting for has come.’
I bring out the champagne I’ve been saving for this day.
While preparing to toast, I break the seal of the letter.
Thump, thump.
With an excited heart, I opened the envelope, and of course, it contained the long-awaited dismissal notice.
It should have been a dismissal notice.
It had to be a dismissal notice.
It’s supposed to be a dismissal notice.
[Promotion Notice]
Is there something wrong with my eyes?
Denying reality, I tried rubbing my eyes diligently, but that didn’t change the content of the document.
[In recognition of your outstanding achievements and dedication, we are pleased to inform you of your promotion to Associate Professor. We look forward to your continued brilliant activities in the future.]
That cruel piece of paper was sentencing me to the terrible punishment of promotion. Whether because of tears of resentment that welled up naturally, my vision began to blur.
Where is there such an injustice?
Even at a normal university, it takes at least 5 years after the first appointment to become an associate professor.
Moreover, this is the famous Imperial Academy.
As the standards required of teachers are high, it’s a unique workplace where most people can’t shed their assistant professor label until retirement because their achievements are insufficient even after fulfilling the years.
But I, who’s only been here for a week, am an associate professor?
Just one more step up and I’m at the same rank as Professor Scott?
That can’t possibly be allowed by regulations. But the dragon who makes the impossible possible has included a memo with the notice.
[Though it’s a trivial compensation compared to the rudeness I committed. Don’t be too disappointed. I’ll kick the old men of the board and soon arrange a position that suits you.
-Sion, Principal of the Imperial Academy]
With the Progenitor Dragon’s seal clearly stamped.
I don’t understand what this nonsense is. I don’t know why she decided to promote such a rude person like me, but once she makes up her mind, there’s no withdrawal.
As of this hour, I have become an associate professor.
Now, my already high salary will jump thirty times again to an astronomical amount, and generous support related to research funds or assistant recruitment will be provided.
Having also gained the opportunity to guide the A-class, it can be said that I’m in the midst of a rising career.
…The problem is that while the probability of career advancement has increased, the survival rate has dropped significantly.
‘This is truly driving me crazy.’
Despite racking my brains diligently for a week, I couldn’t remember anything about the original work.
Whether I dropped it after just the prologue, or it was a work I never saw in the first place. Either way, there’s no proper method to figure out the original plot.
‘I also tried the option of building power to avoid getting caught up in the original plot. But it was indeed impossible.’
It’s a common cliché that there’s an elixir hidden in the academy’s backyard. I tried to aim for growth using coincidence, but what I found wasn’t medicine but an old professor.
-Professor Lian? To meet you in a place like this. Could it be that you, like me, are patrolling the forbidden forest, worried that students might encounter monsters?
As expected of the young man I’ve noticed.
Your mindset itself is truly respectable.
Since we’ve met like this by fate, let’s go for a meal.
Being caught up in such a flow and treated to a meal at a luxurious restaurant was what happened on the third day of work.
Being treated to a meal worth dozens of gold coins, and additionally learning about a restaurant that sells meat dishes that melt in your mouth might be considered a gain, but.
In terms of strengthening my power, I gained nothing.
I can continue to try in the future, but I’d like to avoid risking my life on such uncertain plans as much as possible.
If I go to the final battle with mediocre skills, when the Demon King or Evil Dragon appears and burns down the school, I too will become a pile of ashes.
‘I still need to get fired somehow.’
I quickly collected my thoughts.
It’s true that the difficulty has sharply increased. But the path hasn’t been completely blocked yet.
If my desperate unlikable acts didn’t work on the principal or the professors, then this time I just need to target the students.
‘No matter how much Sion and Scott shield me, if all the students unanimously shout to fire me, there’s no way around it.’
This isn’t an ordinary school but the Imperial Academy.
As the empire’s best talents gather here, the background of each child is not to be taken lightly. Naturally, the influence they wield is also considerable.
If I can properly get on the bad side of the students, dismissal will surely proceed smoothly.
And I had just the method in mind.
-You suit a sword better than a bow.
Recognizing another’s hidden talent and recommending a path that suits them better. A clichéd episode in academy stories where people connect and build friendships.
…Let’s completely reverse that.
Forcibly take away the weapons the students are using well and give them useless trash weapons.
And if I add that they can’t attend my class if they refuse?
I guarantee our entire class will go on strike. Even the Holy Maiden who’s said to have enrolled this time might curse at me, asking if I’m out of my mind.
“…Hehehe.”
I smiled wickedly, imagining a future where I’m expelled from teaching. There’s no way there could be a flaw in this perfect plan.
Tomorrow, I shall be reborn as the worst teacher in the empire’s history.
Inside the luxurious office.
The academy’s principal, Sion, was processing the documents in front of her while savoring tea and snacks as usual.
Items that professors requested as necessary for their classes.
A simple task of checking and approving them.
But Sion’s hand, which was quickly flipping through the documents, suddenly stops. She couldn’t help but stop.
Among the ordinary items, one unusual item was requested under the name of an unusual professor.
“A gun…? Why on earth such a weapon?”
A niche among niches.
It might be understandable for an ordinary person to use it for self-defense, but it’s not a weapon suitable for academy cadets.
But for some reason, Professor Lian was requesting as many guns as the number of students he’s in charge of.
A situation that’s impossible to understand.
Normally, she would have thought there was some mistake. But this document and plan were written by none other than Lian himself.
There must surely be some hidden intention.
Sion rubbed her chin and carefully examined the document, finally understanding his true intention when she saw the phrase ‘the worst quality possible’ guns.
“…Indeed! I hadn’t thought of such a use.”
Using guns not as weapons but as puzzles.
It’s far beyond common sense, but it certainly makes sense.
If executed well, it could be used as a new training method. She’s curious enough about what’s inside his head to think of such a novel method.
“Well, I can’t just sit still either.”
The professor might see it as interference, but once her interest is piqued, there’s nothing she can do. A curious character was a chronic disease that couldn’t be fixed even after investing hundreds of years.
Sion playfully smiled while constructing the shape of a gun with her magical power.
“Shall I lend a hand, just a little?”