Elite Instructor at a Third-Rate Academy

4 – It’s Yourself☆ That Determines Your Destiny

Heilon got out of the car alone at the office of the headmaster. As he leisurely observed the unfolding tea leaves, memories of past events naturally came to mind.

“There shouldn’t be any trouble.”

C-8 was a class filled with problematic students in many ways, which was unfortunate for the newly appointed instructor, Lieutenant Tameulic Stained. It was not like that from the beginning. Among the C-grade students, it was a place where the highest probability of awakening was expected. The reason there were more nobles in this class than in other classes was also due to that.

“Awakening.”

The entire life of all students, except those in A-grade, changed depending on whether or not they awakened. From the moment the Holy Stigmata was manifested, the awakened ones received the status of the Bronze Cross from the Central Division.

―However, it’s unlikely that any awakened individuals will come from Class C-8.

He had waited for a long time, but nobody had shown the potential for awakening. The only exception was Seneth, a saint who had the ability to heal and was promoted from C to A-grade. She was a student who displayed the demeanor of a faithful believer. Despite being able to transfer to a different class, she chose to stay in the problematic Class C-8, which resulted in her getting into trouble.

“I didn’t know Ivon Dicio was that kind of person.”

If he was to take responsibility for that as well, it could lead to harsh consequences, but he couldn’t deny that it was not his fault as the headmaster. What would the new instructor be like? If he only judged him based on appearance and attitude, he seemed to be fine. Above all, what he liked was that he didn’t go around asking other instructors about his own students.

“Headmaster?”

Knock─── Knock─── Knock───

A voice and the sound of a door opening came simultaneously. The only one who urgently requested an audience was the instructor in charge of physical education, Kacen. He had something to do immediately. Recently, a reply from the Royal Information Bureau responsible for the instructors’ identities had arrived.

“Just wait a moment.”

Heilon sat on the sofa and tore open the wax-sealed envelope with a letter opener.

“The Bureau verifies that there are no irregularities in the background and career of Lieutenant Temulic Staind as requested by you, and there are no records of any criminal activity. However, the following sentence was a little strange. ‘Due to the confidential nature of Lieutenant Staind’s operational activities, we are unable to disclose any specific details or incidents experienced. It should be noted that this information is strictly prohibited, and any private investigation may result in punishment.’

“Perhaps it was related to the machinery department.”

If not, it could have been an internal inspection or investigation within the Honor Guard. In any case, there was no doubt that Temulic Staind had carried out important work for the military.

Knock, knock─

“Headmaster!”

Samaren Carsen knocked on the door again. Halon set down the cup of tea he was drinking and pulled the handle. As soon as he opened the door, Carsen reported on the commotion that had occurred in Class C-8.

“There’s been a fight?”

Seeing Carsen standing there with a blank expression due to a slight headache, Halon asked what she could do.

“Pretend you didn’t see anything.”

“But are you alright?”

“If it’s Class C-8, it’s better not to get involved.”

It was best not to intervene immediately. With a hesitant heart, Halon held the handle and suddenly asked Carsen out of curiosity. She rubbed her chin and answered.

“They said they were overwhelmed.”

[#04 – New Recruit]

Kenneth wondered why handshakes were so difficult.

“Out of twenty members, six were absent. Two out of fourteen refused a handshake. One was disobedient, so eleven are my soldiers.”

As he spoke dryly, the two students who refused a handshake looked at him challengingly. Gresnock, who had been stepped on, showed anger but avoided eye contact. If this were a fight, Kenneth had gained the upper hand.

─This isn’t the first impression I wanted to make.

But it had already happened. Out of the two hours allotted to him, he had already spent one, so he had to proceed with the prepared lesson for the remaining time.

“I won’t ask who the instigator is.”

It was a matter that could be postponed for now. Kenneth came here as a instructor, not an investigator.

“But let’s start with the class first.”

Someone snorted. When he subtly glanced around, Galterius, the biggest of them, was the culprit. Come to think of it, those guys hadn’t listened from the beginning, so they had to be excluded. Kenneth pointed to the three who refused the handshake with a stone-faced expression.

“If you don’t have the intention to become a priest with me, then leave.”

But they still didn’t leave. They were still in a confrontation with the instructor, and for some reason, Kenneth felt all of this was foolish.

“If you want to listen, you can stay.”

─There is no time to fight.

He marked nine vertices on the chalkboard. Pointing to the points marked in the shape of a square, he said,

“I will give you one problem.”

If you solve this, you can all leave immediately, he declared.

This was a problem created by Sub-Lieutenant Georg. He often brought these annoying things and tortured his subordinates. Today, Kenneth wanted to send a message to the C-grade students using this puzzle that he made as a pastime.

“Anyone can come forward and give it a try.”

Stepping aside from the desk and placing a piece of chalk, some students continuously connected the lines with their fingers. Oh Chia, who glanced at him from time to time, looked at the chalkboard and made a gesture like counting with her fingers. Eventually, she timidly raised her hand.

“Teacher…no, Commander?”

“Ask your question.”

“Um…if a line falls in the middle, is it invalid?”

He affirmed, and a small girl next to Oh Chia also asked a question.

“Whether it’s a straight line or a diagonal line, does it not matter?”

“It doesn’t matter.”

He made it clear that diagonal lines are also straight lines.

“No one knows?”

Despite an entire hour passing, no one got the answer. With no more time to waste, Kenneth picked up the piece of chalk. It didn’t matter where he started from; the answer was the same.

“Just a moment!”

Someone objected, drawing a diagonal line as the first segment and then drawing a horizontal line as the next segment.

“Why?”

“You crossed the vertex!”

“Right, that way would be cheating.”

“Even I…if it were like that, I could have solved it right away.”

Even Oh Chia added hesitantly, and Kenneth bent the lines from outside the vertices to draw the remaining two. This completed the shape of a diagonal arrow.

“Did I not put the condition of not crossing the vertex?”

“Well, that’s not it, but…anyway, this method seems a bit…fatal.”

The expressions of the other students were definitely not positive, so Kenneth angrily flicked the chalk on the desk and continued speaking.

“No matter what you do, don’t limit your thinking.”

Amidst everyone’s gloomy mood, only Oh Chia perked up at his words.

“To the frog in the well, the well is the whole world.”

He told them that the moon they see in the well is not the moon, but another sun that fills the well with yellow light. Those trapped in the well cannot think or imagine anything about the world outside the well. That’s why it is impossible for them to perceive all phenomena occurring outside their world.

“But there is something more important than that.”

Ochia’s waist gradually bent forward.

“The limit you can imagine is the extreme of the world you can reach.”

If you perceive and define yourself as a C-grade, naturally all your abilities will be aligned with the C-grade. Indeed, it is so. Kannis knows well how education can ruin an individual. When dividing success and failure based on the existing system, so to speak, when determining grades from A to D, they cannot become anything greater than themselves.

“Only you can define yourself. Dare not to let others define you, to let the world classify you. It’s still the same now. Even though there were no clues or conditions to think only within the vertex, you’re all stuck thinking within the vertex and unable to find an answer. There wasn’t a condition like ‘draw lines only within the vertex’ from the beginning. You are the same now.”

Kannis kicked the desk hard and raised his voice.

“When you were born, there were no humans classified as C-grade. Only after this system categorizes, C-grade is born.”

This time, the female student next to Ochia also bent her waist and raised her head.

“It’s not our fault that we became C-grade.”

But.

“If you are less capable than A or B just because you are C-grade, then it is your responsibility.”

It was inevitable to be classified into a lower category due to lack of talent, but it was their own fault to accept that and only put effort suitable for the C-grade. That was what Kannis wanted to say. By defining oneself, he wanted to drive out the mentality that sees laziness as natural. There was no grade for embracing oneself in the work that required self-discipline.

“Commander.”

It was the female student who refused the handshake. Judging by her tied hair, she seemed to be from the combat department.

“Speak.”

“But that doesn’t mean we can become A.”

She spoke with a sharp tone.

“What does grade mean to you?”

Kannis asked the question again without waiting for an answer.

“Let’s say there is a soldier stationed in the erosion zone. As commanders, you don’t know his grade. Until the battle ends, this soldier fought bravely and raised his expertise more than anyone else, eliminated more contamination, and saved many people in the erosion zone. Alright, what grade should this person be considered?”

Thinking it was a joke, the female student smirked.

“Why does the commander have to decide that?”

“Don’t say foolish things!”

Kannis pointed out with anger.

“If you are not a commander who handles your own troops, then who determines the real grade?”

Indeed. The act of simply receiving the A, B, C labels, deploying soldiers, and executing operations was as foolish as it could get. Everything that happened on the field, especially in the erosion zone, was the responsibility of the commander. Evaluating the abilities of subordinates through documents was practically abandoning one’s duties.

“How can someone who can’t classify their own subordinates’ grades command?”

Kannis declared that there should be grades determined by commanders rather than the ones set by the academy.

“In real battle, grades differ depending on the difficulty of the operation and how well it is performed. You may call yourselves C-grade now, but competent commanders will not simply follow this academy’s system. They will re-evaluate and reclassify your abilities based on their own experience and intuition. Alright. For now, let’s say you receive the C-grade and use this old classroom and dormitory. Then, your defeat as losers should end here. Do you want to hear such words from your comrades and superiors in future battles?”

Kannis spoke with contempt.

“Kids worse than D-rank losers.”

It’s a common phrase in practical scenarios. Beyond pride, he couldn’t tolerate his students hearing such words after all he’d taught them. It wasn’t just about pride; it was a matter of acceptance or rejection.

“Aren’t you tired of losing? Using your rank as an excuse for your own laziness is a disgusting act.”

Moreover, when he mentioned that even a rigid D-ranker might outsmart those with frozen minds later, everyone fell silent. It was an insult. They all felt exposed, puzzled about their shattered pride.

“I’ve shown you how to solve the problem.”

Standing in front of the classroom door, Kenneth stared at the locked back door.

“From now on, I’ll guard this door. Those who want to leave, whether by convincing me or finding another way, figure it out.”

The message was delivered. Now it was time to see how they would use it. If they were willing to let go of their pride, they’d break a window if they had to escape. That was thinking outside the box.

However, if they still couldn’t break free from the square, they’d painfully realize why they were C-rank. Their sparring partner, Kenneth Rada, a lieutenant in the strategy division, was a war hero, Rotelon Aibar.