The imperial professors expressed strong opposition to the official appointment of a foundation personnel as a professor.
“This is an outrageous personnel decision! How dare anyone from the Three Great Evils designated by the Empire occupy a position in the world’s best educational institution!”
“Even if the Empire’s intelligence and determination have weakened, that doesn’t give the world’s great evils a reason to flourish even more, Dragon Principal!”
The principal looked at the gathered imperial professors with a face that said, [So what are you going to do about it?]
“I firmly believe that for the sake of justice in the world, it must be done!”
Among the imperial professors, Keynes, an influential figure and instructor of Imperial Economics, raised his voice.
[Have you misunderstood me?] [Do you really think someone like you can overturn my decision?]
The principal was unpredictable. However, that didn’t mean his decisions were light.
Historically, dragons are often referred to as the race of pacts. On the day when the crisis of national extinction arrives, a guardian dragon is said to protect the nation at least once. The legend of the poison dragon states that it can turn any living being that invades its territory into a handful of dust.
All dragons gain their reputation through their unique promises, and a promise once made must be kept. Kingdoms that challenge that authority have crumbled to dust, and the Empire that looked down on the guardian dragon’s legend lost 250,000 troops overnight.
Unlike the other trembling professors, Keynes struggled to suppress the primal fear within him and bravely shouted.
“While the Empire’s status cannot compare to that of dragons, it is a fact that the Empire wields power over the world’s hegemony. The Emperor would strongly condemn anyone taking the place of an imperial professor!”
The imperial faction and the border faction were rampant within the Academy. The number of posts assigned to each regional professor reflected how strong each nation was.
Even if the Empire dispatched over a hundred experts to the Academy, they were not short on talent. The Kingdom of Florence, although lacking in foundation, produced three remarkable talents.
The number of professors thus contained the pride of each nation. However, the Dragon Principal was not swayed by Keynes’ calculations.
[Let me correct one thing.] [Professor Raeb, who taught Imperial Magic Studies, has become a defector who has allied with the foundation of his own volition.] [This is a fact that I can guarantee under the prestige of a dragon!]
“!!”
The guarantee of a dragon. The unwavering golden truth engulfed their sight like a flood of letters.
[If a professor from the foundation has died and their position is vacant, another foundation personnel can undoubtedly take their place.]
A pact and a guarantee. Keynes, realizing that one position of the imperial professor, confirmed by the dragon’s assertion, had slipped from their grasp, lowered his head weakly.
A promising young professor dies in such a major incident—if Professor Raeb were to return alive, he would want to tear him to shreds himself. Reviving the dead falls under the Empire’s taboo, so even if he could acquire the corpse, it was an impossible task.
“Is the foundation finally showing itself to the world after hiding behind the curtain?”
As Keynes left the Dragon Principal’s office, he felt the tremors of his staff as he touched the ground. The other professors’ fears had subsided, but his own was just beginning.
He foresaw a very ominous future.
‘If there are defectors from the foundation hidden among the imperial professors, who can guarantee how much more the positions of imperial professors will dwindle when they emerge!’
The Empire’s grandeur was beginning to shake. It was all due to the leader of the Three Great Evils, the foundation’s Director.
*
Oknodie’s Butler was appointed as a new professor, succeeding Professor Raeb.
Princess Masugaki felt a surge of intense curiosity.
“I want to hear this♡”
“N-No! Your Highness! How can you listen to a lecture taught by a minion of the Three Great Evils designated by the Empire? If it reaches the ears of His Majesty, it will be troublesome!”
“If hearing a lecture would be harmful, the principal wouldn’t have allowed it in the first place♡”
Unknown to the outside world, the royal education included teachings from the Gift Academy.
With the imperial family’s full strength, the restrictions of gag orders that graduates or dropouts had could be somewhat bypassed or broken. Because of that, the royal family possessed more in-depth and precise information about the Academy than others.
Among this was information about the Dragon Principal. Though known to be a quirky principal causing chaos with weekly events to torment students, he does not overlook the abilities of his professors.
“A professor recognized to have world-class skills possesses a sense of professionalism. They do not treat students willing to learn carelessly. Didn’t you know that~? Poor followers♡”
“But Professor Raeb favored our imperial side and oppressed border students!”
“…Is having strong patriotism really a crime?♡”
Anyway. The princess insisted on attending the class, and those who were not in a position to allow her to go alone followed along with long faces.
The common general education classroom had the namesplate displaying the new professor’s name and lecture title.
━━━
Professor – Jonnas Wahyhiemhai
Lecture Title – Mana Refinement Technique Training
━━━
While anyone can enter Mana Flow Technique with a manual, Mana Refinement Technique is a field that cannot be easily entered even if one knows the method.
Unlike Mana Flow Technique, which focuses on gathering and taming mana, Mana Refinement Technique places greater emphasis on enhancing physical capabilities using that mana.
From the perspective of the Eastern Empire, there exists a significant gap akin to the difference between internal strength and external strength!
Bubbling.
Several large cauldrons were lined up in the lecture hall, emitting boiling sounds.
Surrounding them were likely those personally following the professor, using magic to control the flames or hauling heavy iron bars and armors.
“They really seem dedicated to teaching the proper refinement techniques!”
“I would have regretted not coming, huh?”
“Your Highness’s insight is indeed amazing.”
“Long live the Princess!”
“Long live Princess Masugaki!”
The lower class students of the Second Princess faction quickly changed their attitudes and praised Masugaki’s decision.
“Stop!♡ You’re disturbing the other students~ Don’t interfere with the study atmosphere!♡”
More students flocked to the lecture hall than expected. Almost all upper class students attended, and many lower class students from large organizations came as well.
Adding their number together totaled about 200 people!
Such a large number gathered for a single lecture was rare unless it was an unavoidable compulsory class.
However, the question remained whether the foundation’s personnel would grant leniency in teaching even to the imperial princess.
“If you have come to learn the refinement techniques, please take your seats.”
Fortunately, Jonnas’s teachings were given evenly without separating the borders or the Empire.
“How unfair! Jonnas used to be my very own Jonnas.”
“Please stop whining, Agassi. Regardless, the level at which refinement techniques can be learned varies according to training. It’s a good opportunity, so everyone else should focus as well.”
Soothing Oknodie’s complaint, Jonnas stepped onto the podium to address all the students.
“Mana Refinement Technique is a technique that changes the physical constitution. It’s commonly referred to as a Breakthrough process that increases the limits of ability stats. Exceptional refinement techniques may increase resistance to attributes or speed up growth rates for specific stats and functions.”
“However, such benefits are not easily attained. A healthy body and mental strength to endure the process of altering one’s constitution are required, and replacing lacking physical and mental strength demands immense funds.”
“Today is Health Measurement Day, where you’ll test your levels and identify suitable refinement techniques for each of you.”
Princess Masugaki was the first to raise her hand.
“I’ll go first, it’s a good thing!♡”
“It will proceed simultaneously regardless of order. Please wear the measurement devices.”
When she donned the empty armor, it adjusted to the wearer’s size automatically.
“Hmm~ Oknodie gave armor to the Black Knight, huh? That’s why they underwent this measurement~?”
Princess Masugaki found the foundation’s methods a tad stale. Measuring how much refinement technique one could withstand is common sense.
However, the method of measurement felt too old-fashioned.
‘The royal family would easily do it with full-body magic scanning♡’
As Jonnas used Metal Manipulation, the weight of all the armors slowly rose from within.
10kg. 20kg. 30kg.
Even as the numbers on the scale climbed higher, Princess Masugaki bore it effortlessly.
“From now on, to confirm if each of you succeeded in adapting to the weight, I will present an action to perform. Only those students who succeed with the assigned weight can attempt the next one.”
100kg. 200kg. 300kg.
The weights began to climb, making it challenging to contend with no matter the physique.
The metallic components absorbed into the measurement device began altering in material, rapidly increasing in weight relative to surface area.
The robust upper-class students kept up with the heavy weights until it hit the ton mark, and things changed.
“I’m dying here!!”
“My back’s going to break!!”
Upper-class students like Xenia and Son Ohchun began surrendering one after another.
2 tons. 3 tons. 4 tons.
As the numbers increased, those remaining quickly lost their composure.
“I’m going insane.”
“Where’s this tiny frame hiding that strength…”
Even Hestia and Honor Fried Chicken, who had been holding on, finally gave in, prompting Princess Masugaki to chuckle.
“Can’t even hold on to 10 tons? Pathetic♡ Weakling♡”
“Kuh, that darn Kusogaki…”
Hestia trembled. Honor Fried Chicken sighed in disbelief and looked at Oknodie and the princess before turning away.
“Those who remain until the end will be provided with the highest-grade refinement techniques, so exert yourselves as much as possible.”
The last two standing, aside from Princess Masugaki, were Oknodie and Warrior Ishtar.
In any other lecture, victory and perseverance inevitably would go to Oknodie and Ishtar.
But Princess Masugaki was confident.
‘If achievements in Mana Flow Technique lead to automatic physical enhancement, it’s a given! Hah! A warrior, merely relying on his Holy Sword, is nothing without it. The princess’s acquired flow technique is unbeatable against a mere warrior, right?’
It’s no coincidence that the knight princess appears whenever the Warrior Party is amusing itself.
10 tons.
As expected, the warrior crumbled under the weight of the armor.
The last two were Princess Masugaki and Oknodie.
Though they were granted the qualification for the highest-grade refinement techniques, Princess Masugaki’s willpower still burned bright.
A battle to determine the last one standing!
The Empire and the foundation.
A perfect opportunity to test whose heir has received more thorough training!
