The Academy is Doomed

Chapter 36

The old man burst into laughter.

“Ha, hahahaha!”

The imperial messenger brought shocking news.

Amonis Academy has requested an exchange match with the Vestric Academy, the best and strongest academy on the continent.

The old man, the headmaster of Vestric Academy, laughed out loud.

“Well, that’s pretty funny news. Isn’t it, Jericho?”

Jericho, the imperial messenger, smirked.

“I think so, too.”

“Fufufufu. An exchange match with the Amonis Academy.”

He glanced at the newspaper on his desk.

He’d already read that the cease-and-desist letter issued to Amonis Academy had been rescinded.

In other words, Amonis Academy is officially back.

“I was thinking of stepping on Amonis Academy, but I was worried about the publicity and wondering when to make a move, but they took the initiative first……I can’t thank them enough!”

The two academies have a long history of enmity.

Vestric Academy was a venerable and prestigious institution, but it paled in comparison to Amonis Academy, which was founded by the first Emperor of the Empire.

‘Aye, but our Vestric Academy has surpassed Amonis Academy. It’s just a bunch of stupid pompous people talking about nothing.’

So Vestric watched for an opportunity to dethrone Amonis.

Then one day Amonis Academy failed.

‘No big event, just a bad investment by the headmaster, and the academy was gone in one fell swoop…….’

I wanted a good cleanse, not this hollow victory but then this opportunity came along!

“Hoo hoo hoo, fine, I’ll accept the exchange. Please organize it as soon as possible.”

“Yes, sir, I will report to the imperial court as such.”

After the messenger left, the headmaster of Vestric was lost in thought.

‘But what is she thinking?’

A dying Amonis against Vestric in an exchange?

Even a three-year-old knows it’s a losing proposition.

‘I don’t know what you’re thinking, but I don’t care.’

No matter how good Amonis was, they were no match for Vestric.

‘It’s like a mouse pouncing on a still cat. All a cat can do is have fun with it.’

The Headmaster chuckled grimly and rose to his feet.

‘It’s time to settle an old score between the academies, and……my own personal grudge.’

The Headmaster’s eyes flashed and he burst into laughter.

* * *

Amon frowned.

“The……exchange is in three days?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Anar’el, whose eyes were shining over her clasped hands, said in a serious voice.

“By the way, how are your preparations for the exchange coming along?”

Shifting her weight, Anar’el hastily assumed a defensive stance.

She expected Amon to attack as soon as she spoke but instead, Amon just stroked his chin, lost in thought.

“……?”

“Hmm……it’s going well…….”

Muttering to himself, Amon clicked his tongue.

“Well, it’s going well, for now.”

“What? For now?”

Amon nodded.

“It’s just a matter of when it’s going to blow up.”

“Blow up?”

“Mmm, would you like to take a look?”

“……Uh, do you think so?”

After a moment, looking at the students, Anar’el said.

“By exploding, did you mean their head would explode?”

The students had their heads buried in piles of papers, unable to breathe!

Amon cracked his whip at the relaxed students.

“Hurry up and read your papers!”

“Hee hee!”

Anar’el yelped and lunged at Amon.

“Teacher Amon, what kind of whip are you using on your students!”

“It’s okay! It’s just a paddle! It doesn’t hurt!”

“Uh, a paddle.”

“Hurry up and read your papers!”

“Gaaaaaah!”

The problem was, it was Amon who was wielding the paddle.

As the students groaned in terror at the sight of the cord tearing through the air, Anar’el felt a familiar tingle of dread.

‘Man, this reminds me of something I experienced as a graduate student at the Academy……!’

Her ears began to twitch as the painful memories of the past came flooding back.

And just as she was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, Boris, buried in his papers, howled.

Amon heard his plaintive cry and shouted back.

“Boris, if you suffer now, riches and honor will follow!”

“Wealth, wealth and honor……!”

“Yes, all you have to do is win against Vestric, and you’ll be on solid ground!”

Boris, dazed, began to read the paper with a gasp.

And then.

“Chloe, are you reading the papers well?”

“The technique of the Bastrode family…the center of power…….”

“You’re doing great!”

Amon glared at Raymond.

He was reading a history book with dark circles under his eyes.

“Raymond!”

“I’m reading hard!”

“No, you can take it easy.”

“Yes……?”

Seeing Raymond’s confusion, Anar’el clapped her hands in understanding.

“Ah! Well, Raymond’s going to be competing in the swordsmanship event, so he won’t have to study too hard!”

“Isn’t that right?”

“Exactly.”

“Raymond will be competing in another event.”

“What? What’s that…….?”

Where else would you use a sure-win card that guarantees you an unconditional victory in a swordsmanship event?

“Uh-huh, Principal!”

“What?”

Amon thumped his chest.

“Just trust me! Didn’t you leave this exchange to me?”

“Well, yeah…….”

“You can rest assured that I will win this exchange!”

Amon’s enthusiastic words relaxed Anar’el’s expression a bit.

“That’s right…….”

And there was a good reason for Amon’s enthusiasm.

‘It’s not like I’m the one who’s suffering…….’

Only the students were pitiful.

* * *

The three days went by too quickly.

But like a long-awaited picnic day, Benjamin, the headmaster of Vestric Academy, had been waiting for this day for what seemed like weeks.

‘Hoo hoo hoo, this day has finally arrived, the day I will finally end Amonis Academy with my own hands…….’

Benjamin turned his head with a wicked smile.

Behind him, the students who would be participating in the exchange and the teachers who taught them stood smugly.

“Now, are you all ready?”

“Yes, Headmaster!”

Benjamin strutted away as the thunderous response fell.

He walked through the front gates of Amonis Academy.

Benjamin glanced at the old gatekeeper who opened the gate for him and scratched his head.

‘Who is he? I recognize him from somewhere……’

The question was in his mind, but today was the long-awaited day of the destruction of Amonis Academy!

Benjamin quickly put the old gatekeeper out of his mind and started walking towards the main building of Amonis Academy.

Once there, he spotted a familiar face and burst out laughing.

“Hahahaha, look who it is!”

“Huh?”

“Headmaster Anar’el, it’s been a long time!”

The two academies had a long history of enmity, so of course they were old faces.

Benjamin’s laugh made Anar’el grin from ear to ear.

“It’s been a long time, I thought you were dead of old age.”

“Well, you’re pretty laid back.”

Benjamin chuckled and looked around at Anar’el.

‘……But what is this?’

He knew that the number of students and teachers was significantly smaller.

He’d expected the students to be fairly sophisticated for such a small number, but they were in terrible shape.

“Ugh, uh, uh…….”

“I’m tired…….”

The fact that all three students were standing there at all seemed surprisingly sketchy.

Eventually, Benjamin burst out laughing.

“Hahahaha! Headmaster Anar’el, are those the students who will be participating in the exchange?”

“…….”

“And what the heck!”

The teachers were even worse.

A woman with scattered hair, wearing an eye patch and dozing off!

A middle-aged woman reeking of alcohol, clutching her aching stomach while groaning in discomfort!

And a young man who is laughing hysterically at what’s so good about his hopeless situation!

“Hahaha, Amonis Academy has so many talented people, I envy you!”

At Benjamin’s sarcasm, the students and teachers of the academy who had followed him also began to giggle and laugh.

Clearly, in their eyes, Amonis Academy was not normal.

Anar’el, who had heard Benjamin’s mockery through one ear and let it pass through his long ears, spoke.

“Now that both sides are here, shall we begin?”

“Hahaha, good.”

As soon as the two principals reached an agreement, several men and women who had been waiting on one side of the headmaster approached.

They were the imperial overseers who would be joining the exchange.

One of the overseers spoke up.

“I am Aspatal, the overseer of this tournament. Today’s competition between the two academies will feature swordsmanship, magic, history, math, and science. Five disciplines in total, is that correct?”

“That is correct.”

“No objection.”

“Very well, then, please decide which disciplines will be contested first.”

The order will be determined by agreement of both academies.

Anar’el glanced at Benjamin, but he merely shrugged, his face relaxed, as if to say, “You decide.”

“The first event will be the theory of magic and the construction of magic circles.”

“Hmm. What does Vestric have to say?”

Benjamin frowned suddenly at the overseer’s question.

“Theories of magic and the construction of magic circles? Doesn’t that seem intuitive for a magical contest?”

At that, Anar’el spoke up.

“I’m sorry, but all of our students are still first years, and we’re not at the stage where we can hold magic competitions yet.”

“……Hmm.”

“Please consider the circumstances of this academy.”

Benjamin’s lips twitched up at the corners as if to say, “What the hell.”

“Well, it is what it is. I understand.”

“I’m glad you understand, Benjamin.”

“You have nothing to thank me for…….”

A smirking Benjamin shook his head.

‘This is ridiculous.’

The student from Vestric’s side who would be competing in the magical event was from the ‘Tower’ and was slated to be hired as an apprentice imperial mage after graduating from the academy.

‘That means he’s perfect in theory as well as practice. Do you really think you might have a chance if it’s just theory?’

Benjamin nodded, thinking it was a shallow calculation.

“Very well, then, let’s get started.”

“Okay.”

As the two principals spoke, one of the overseers stepped forward.

He was the one who would decide the outcome of the magical contest.

“Students of both sides, forward.”

Vestric’s student stepped forward confidently.

“Hmm, I’ve never met anyone my age who’s better at magic than me.

The sight of the Amonis student stepping forward further boosted Vestric’s confidence.

‘What’s this wiry little fellow, learning magic like this?’

Magic has a lot to do with talent and bloodline.

‘But this kid in front of me is nothing more than a commoner!’

The proctor looked at the student and said.

“Mutual courtesy.”

“I am Meyer Delmond of……Vestric Academy.”

“Boris of Amonis Academy.”

Meyer frowned at the name.

‘No last name? You’re really a commoner, aren’t you?’

He wasn’t expecting anything spectacular, but he should at least be decent.

‘Well, that’s pathetic. Let’s get this over with and get some rest.’

The overseer spoke up.

“This match will be a debate, asking for each other’s opinions on theories after the construction of the magic circle, and the judgment of victory or defeat will be decided by this proctor.”

“Yes!”

“Very well, then who goes first?”

“I’ll go first.”

Meyer quickly stepped forward.

As he drew a magic circle in the air, the proctor’s mouth twitched.

‘Wow, a magic circle at such a young age, and without a medium? Meyer Delmond…….’

The proctor turned his head, recognizing the student as one to watch.

“Amonis Academy, then. Identify the magic circle.”

“……Ah, yes.”

The dazed boy from Amonis Academy looked at the magic circle.

“Uh……um…….”

Meyer smirked at the drooling, stuttering boy.

‘Hmph, this isn’t your kind of magic.’

A ‘blind’ magic circle that could only be used by a mage of four circles or higher!

So Meyer waited for his opponent to admit defeat, but what he heard next was unexpected.

“Blind?”

“……?”

A quick glance at that?

The next words were even more shocking.

“But your magic circle is so ineffective.”

“What, what……?”

The boy scribbled on the paper he was holding.

“Look, this is the magic circle that Mr. Meyer drew, but if you take out the two outer lines, here and here, the flow of mana will be more active.”

“…….”

“And why do you need the bottom reinforcement line? I thought the theory that reinforcement lines were necessary for mana reinforcement was abandoned years ago thanks to Archmage Gilliam thesis…….”

Meyer’s eyes widened in disbelief.

‘What is he talking about?’

It was all unintelligible.

Meyer looked at the supervisor in confusion and realized that the supervisor was listening to the boy with a serious face.

After a moment, the supervisor spoke up.

“… … That’s true. If we remove two outer lines, the duration of Blind will at least double.”

“……!”

Meyer’s mouth dropped open, and the supervisor continued.

“Besides, you know the theory of Mr. Gilliam, who belongs to a non-mainstream school…….”

Scratching his head, the supervisor looked at the boy.

“A student of Amonis.”

“What?”

“May I ask the student’s name again, what did you say it was?”

To that question, the boy who had been forcibly indoctrinated with the ‘basic magic theory of Amon’s common sense’ without sleep answered in a half-sane voice.

“Boris.”

“……Oh, yes, Boris. I’ll remember that.”

The supervisor glanced at Meyer.

Judging by the way his mouth was hanging open and he was trembling, he didn’t have the energy to counter at Boris’s suggestion.

“Then, student Boris, present your magic circle.”

“Yes.”

Boris scribbled on a fresh sheet of paper and held it out.

Meyer looked at the magic circle on the paper and scratched his head.

‘What’s that magic circle……?’

Seeing Meyer’s mouth hanging open in a dumbfounded expression, the supervisor looked at Boris’s magic circle.

And then.

“Kuluk!”

The overseer coughed and covered his mouth, but before he could stop himself, he muttered the magic name.

“Seven, seventh circle firestorm……?”

Boris, who had been forcibly injected with the ‘magic circle, which is basic to Amon’s common sense’ without being able to sleep, spoke in a half-sane voice.

“Yep. It’s Firestorm.”