Chapter 31: Academy without Choi Juwon [Regret] (2)

Yang Han-gil looked at the group of students gathered in front of him with a frustrated expression. He was visibly annoyed.

The previous day, NPS had conducted a raid at Helmunt Academy.

— “The investigation shows no unusual findings. We apologize for any inconvenience. However, there is one issue.”

— “Ha, you still have more to say? If you found nothing, then you should leave. What’s the issue now?”

— “Mr. Yang Han-gil, this matter concerns you. We reviewed the evaluation records of the students attending your class and found that, since you became the instructor, all their stats and overall abilities have been showing a clear decline. Helmunt Academy receives comprehensive support from the state, so you must demonstrate meaningful educational outcomes for your students. The reason Helmunt Academy earned the prestigious title is that the Practical Magic Class, which you now lead, has consistently achieved exceptional results nationwide for several years. If this continues, the state may soon revoke Helmunt Academy’s [prestigious] title.”

— “Wh-what are you saying? How can you just take back a prestigious title after giving it?!”

— “It’s not just about the title. Working as an instructor at an academy with the state-designated [prestigious] title and receiving a high salary means you have the duty to effectively train your students. Failing to do so is a clear violation. The state may impose disciplinary measures against you as well.”

— “This is unreasonable! Do you think you can treat me like this? I’m one of the few wizards in the Baal Guild. Our guild leader won’t stand for this.”

— “Mr. Yang Han-gil, are you underestimating us? We know more than you think. After all the time we’ve spent on the field, do you really believe that Choi Seung-hyun, who shows clear favoritism toward the inspectors, would mobilize forces for a wizard like you? I’m not sure why he accepted you into the guild, but based on what I’ve seen of him in action, he won’t lift a finger for you.”

The [prestigious] title is granted by the state to academies that excel in training wizards.

With the title comes numerous benefits, including additional state support, dungeon entry permits, and various other privileges.

Naturally, earning the [prestigious] title elevates the academy’s status and increases student enrollment.

Yang Han-gil was now at a critical juncture. The Helmunt Academy he had fought so hard to join was on the verge of losing its [prestigious] title. Worse yet, he himself was being evaluated for dereliction of duty.

Of course, what mattered even more to him was the bet he had made with Choi Juwon.

— “The condition is as follows: since Yang Han-gil took the position as the Practical Magic Class instructor, he must increase his students’ overall abilities by more than 3% and achieve at least a B-grade satisfaction score from their academic performance assessments. This must be accomplished within six months. If he fulfills this condition even once, it will be considered met.”

— “If he fails to meet the conditions, then all of Yang Han-gil’s sperm will be eradicated, one of his testicles will be removed, and he will go bald.”

The most crucial part of Choi Juwon’s condition was increasing the overall abilities of the students in the Practical Magic Class by more than 3% since Yang Han-gil’s appointment.

If the students’ abilities were at 100 when Yang Han-gil became the instructor, he would need to raise them to at least 103. However, the stats had dropped to about 90. Yang Han-gil now had to raise it by 13, not just 3.

‘D*mn it, why are their stats dropping like this? It’s not as if there’s a curse or anything.’

Initially, Yang Han-gil suspected Choi Juwon might have cursed the students, so he cast spells to examine every one of them, but there were no curses.

Of course, it was simply that Yang Han-gil’s skill level wasn’t high enough to detect SSS-grade magic.

‘If things continue like this, I’m screwed. If their stats drop any further, it’ll be impossible to increase them within six months.’

When Yang Han-gil first made the bet, he was certain he would win. He believed raising the students’ abilities by 3% wouldn’t even take a month. But now, it felt like trying to fill a bottomless pit.

‘Fck. I’m a capable instructor, so why are the students’ stats lower than when that bstard Choi Juwon was teaching? It’s all because these students aren’t talented enough to keep up with my teachings. It’s their incompetence, their laziness!’

Yang Han-gil rejected reality and blamed the students for the problem.

He shouted at the students gathered in front of him.

“Why on earth can’t you absorb my teachings? You idiots! The reason you’re not improving is because of your weak attitude. You just sit there like baby birds waiting to be fed, opening your mouths without making any effort on your own!”

Yang Han-gil lifted his staff artifact and spoke to them.

“Starting today, I won’t be teaching you any more theory. It seems like you need to experience magic directly to learn.”

At that moment, Kim Si-yeon stepped forward.

“What do you mean by that?…”

“This is what I mean.”

[Lightning]

— Crackle!

In an instant, lightning surrounded Kim Si-yeon.

“Ahhhh!”

— Crack!

— Crack!

Kim Si-yeon screamed in pain as the spell struck her directly. The students around her were horrified, but none of them dared to step forward; they could only watch silently.

Yang Hangil approached Kim Siyeon with heavy footsteps and coldly said,

“Just now, I used Lightning. Why didn’t you cast a defensive spell? If you couldn’t, at least you should have gathered your mana to protect your body. You idiot. This is why you aren’t growing. It’s not just you, Kim Siyeon; don’t expect the others to learn kindly just by talking sweetly. If you can’t grow, think of it as dying.”

“100”

Leaving Kim Siyeon, who was collapsed on the ground in pain, behind, Yang Hangil turned to the other students and said,

“You’re all adults, so you need to take responsibility if something goes wrong. Your lack of growth is your responsibility. So think of it as correcting your mistakes and follow my teaching style exactly. If you can’t grow, you die. Especially you from the beginner class.”

With a mix of annoyance and impatience, Yang Hangil turned around, holding his staff, and said,

“Today’s class will be in the magic training ground. Beginners, come on time. If anyone tries to run away, I’ll make sure you can never set foot in this industry again, so don’t even think about it.”

• Thud thud

Watching Yang Hangil’s retreating figure, Lee Haru and Yoon Seulgi hurriedly approached Kim Siyeon.

“000”

“Are you… okay, Siyeon-nim?….”

“Siyeon, get a grip!”

Yoon Seulgi shouted in a frantic voice.

“Is there anyone who can use recovery magic? Anyone, come and help!”

At that moment, Baek Hyunseo hesitantly stepped forward, took out her necklace, and infused it with mana.

• Whooosh

In an instant, Kim Siyeon’s wounds healed.

“Ugh… that crazy guy, Yang Hangil….”

Struggling to get up, Kim Siyeon spoke to Baek Hyunseo.

“Baek Hyunseo… thank you. I doubted you earlier, yet you helped me. I won’t doubt you unnecessarily again. By the way, where did you get that recovery artifact?”

Baek Hyunseo fumbled before quietly replying,

“On my birthday… Instructor Choi Juwon gave it to me as a congratulations gift… Since I tend to get hurt a lot, he thought this would help….”

The atmosphere instantly became quiet.

Kim Siyeon spoke with a trembling voice.

“Right… come to think of it, Instructor Choi Juwon remembered all his students’ birthdays and gave them one artifact each year… I received one too….”

Choi Juwon always gave out rare and mysterious artifacts on his students’ birthdays, and there were even jokes about him being a black market dealer. Kim Siyeon looked at the bracelet on her wrist.

Suddenly, she remembered the conversation she had with Choi Juwon on her birthday.

• “Kim Siyeon, it’s your birthday today? Here, take this.”

• Wow, this bracelet is really pretty!
• It’s called a Survival Bracelet. It disappears after one use, but you might find a time when you need it while living.
• Huh? Something this pretty disappears when used?! Then I won’t use it!
• It activates automatically in certain situations, so it’ll be hard not to use it on purpose.
• No way… it’s so pretty… I think I’d be upset if it disappears….
• If you pay attention in class, I’ll give you something similar for your birthday next year. Don’t worry.
• Awesome! You’re the best, Instructor! But where on earth do you find these artifacts?
• Hmm… that? It’s just a hobby of mine to collect artifacts, so I gather them whenever I can.
• But it looks like it would be hard to buy these with money! You seem to take care of all the students, but where do you get so many of them? Did you collect them directly from dungeons? I heard you were a hunter for a short while!
• That’s true, but I was only an A-rank hunter. I didn’t collect them myself; a friend of mine is in a high-ranking guild, so I buy them from him. Anyway, I don’t have much to spend my money on.
• Hmm… that sounds suspicious. Anyway, really thank you! Instructor!

Kim Siyeon, trembling slightly, managed to stand up and muttered,

“What are we supposed to do from now on… I could never imagine something like this happening when Instructor Choi Juwon was around….”

Yoon Seulgi patted Kim Siyeon on the back and said,

“First, let’s hurry to the magic training ground for the beginner class… we don’t know what will happen if we’re late….”

“Yeah… let’s do that….”

At that moment, Seo Yerin, another member of the beginner class, spoke up from behind, sniffling.

“I don’t want to go… I’m scared….”

Lee Haru comforted Seo Yerin, and when her sniffling stopped, they all started to walk together.

Yoon Seulgi, Baek Hyunseo, Kim Siyeon, Lee Haru, Seo Yerin, and the other students from the practical magic beginner class walked heavily toward the magic training ground where Yang Hangil was.