As they entered their second year, Andersen and Seoguyeon’s crew devised a new course registration strategy.
“Last year, we picked classes that were sweet as honey. And we learned the unfortunate lesson that the Gift Academy is full of trap lectures targeting lazy students.”
“Isn’t it just that the Grand Duke has a terrible intuition?”
“Shut up, Yeltsin. Don’t forget whose fault it was that you guys had to take supplementary classes.”
“Ugh. I’m so sorry…”
Feeling sorry for the members of Seoguyeon, who had been tangled up in Andersen’s terrible intuition, they were even given the option of supplementary classes, but Seoguyeon had already become infused with Andersen’s ways!
They had no choice but to bulk up during the special training throughout the vacation.
“Anyway, the wise learn from the past, while the foolish learn from experience. We are the sage.”
“Oooh. Finally.”
“The Grand Duke has cured his hipster disease.”
“Does that mean we’ll attend the same lectures as everyone else?”
Receiving everyone’s admiration, the Grand Duke nodded.
A lecture had appeared above his magic watch.
━━━
[Emergency Response Strategies for Level 5 Alerts]
-Wednesday, 2nd Period, 11 AM – 1 PM
-Professor: Robert Elahim
-Administration Department, General Education
━━━
“Look at that. It clearly doesn’t scream honey; it feels dangerous just by looking at it.”
“Ooooh!”
“There were no records of students hospitalized or treated for severe injuries from the ‘Emergency Response Strategies for Level 5 Alerts’ class in the medical building’s patient records for second-year students.”
“The Grand Duke has really changed. To think he’s done such thorough research!”
“Also, Professor Robert Elahim dined with other professors in the cafeteria. Unlike those trash professors who eat alone and stand out as oddballs, he integrates well with others.”
“…The Grand Duke seems a bit too confident now. Isn’t this a flag?”
They seated the one who spoke ominously in a chair and pulled out a long stick.
“Twist that disrespectful guy’s limbs!”
“Yikes! I’m sorry; it was a mistake!”
The Grand Duke wasn’t a fool.
There was a philosophy behind his course selection.
“We like to take the easy way out. Professors set trap lectures to target that mentality. We got played in our first year, but second year is different.”
“Avoiding trap lectures while attending?”
“Correct. More importantly, even if we fall into a trap, if we have the wisdom to overcome it, it’s no longer a trap lecture. So, even if by some chance we get caught in a trap, we’re taking the class ‘Emergency Response Strategies for Level 5 Alerts’ to simply break through.”
A class aimed at developing the ability to counter trap lectures!
Just the fact that there were many students raised their credibility further.
Considering that the imperial noble youths had avoided dangerous courses like ghosts over the past year, it made them feel more assured.
“Welcome, fledgelings, to the lecture of Robert Elahim.”
The professor was a remarkably average-looking man with a square jaw and a mustache, nearing the extreme of being neither too handsome nor excessively ugly.
The speakers being set up all around by the instructors also seemed like necessary preparation items for a standard lecture.
“The Empire is the largest nation with the most extensive territory in the world. This means that numerous dangers are adjacent, and various emergencies that residents of each region must respond to are frequent.”
That means they’d be able to deal with various emergencies.
Seeing Andersen nodding in satisfaction, the members of Seoguyeon gulped.
Andersen was far too pleased with the lecture.
This was a very strong warning sign.
Wasn’t it just a while ago that they were pleased about the lecture ‘Sleeping Well Anywhere’ which allowed them to doze off during class?
“As for those emergencies, the Empire sends out various alerts. However, due to the variety of alerts, it’s often confusing about what preparations to make. Thus, the Empire’s alerts sound in relation to each emergency.”
“For example, when a colossal monster appears, the earth trembles, and loud noises are heard. To ensure that sirens don’t miss those who might overlook evacuating, the sounds of the ground shaking and the monster’s roar are mixed together.”
“When a Death Field opens and the undead resurrect en masse, a chilling wind sound blending with the strong sound of crushing bones rings as an alert.”
Suddenly, someone at the corner raised their hand and cheered.
“Wow! Emergency alert BGM!”
“Oknodie…?”
The members of Seoguyeon paused for a moment.
It was rare for Oknodie to be in a class like this one.
But there had been one time they had overlapped.
[Picnic Healing]
After experiencing countless emergencies, even they had found the test from the Blood Band during which they pretended to enjoy healing by force was horrifically challenging.
Now they felt like they had come to learn how to survive after stepping on a landmine but instead stepped on a nuclear mine!
“Grand Duke, it’s not too late to run away now.”
“Impossible. Even if this class is dangerous, I can’t pull my feet back now. Just look at those faces.”
Those imperial nobles chuckled, treating the alerts as nothing, which provoked Andersen.
They didn’t even bother to look back at themselves.
Most of the gazes were directed toward a proud woman leaning against one wall of the classroom, her holy sword stabbed into the ground, confidently staring down at the professor through hands placed upon the sword’s hilt: the warrior, Ishtar.
If they withdrew now, it would mean acknowledging that they deserved to be looked down upon by the imperial noble youths.
“…Whenever such alerts ring, you will carry out evacuations according to their types. However, as evident from the lecture title, ‘Emergency Response Strategies for Level 5 Alerts’ does not always correspond with correctly issued alerts.”
“Situations may arise where two or more disasters occur or a disaster masquerades as another disaster, where there may be mistakes made by the alert officer, or in worse cases, imperial enemies may storm the alert station and issue false warnings.”
“Thus, you must swiftly distinguish between the truth and falsehood of each alert, and demonstrate how to respond to incorrect alerts. The quicker and more accurately you can do this, and the more helpful it is for survival or resolving the situation, the higher your score will be.”
As expected for a second-year class, the level of the lecture was higher and more practical than in the first year.
Just as Andersen’s delighted reaction peaked simmering anxiety in Seoguyeon, Professor Robert dropped a bomb with an indifferent voice.
“By the way, this lecture was originally meant for third-year students, but due to a lack of participants, second-year students were accepted.”
“?”
“Excuse me?”
“What did the professor just say?”
“…Please tell me that’s not true. Someone say no.”
Among those already trembling from familiar trauma, the most composed of Seoguyeon’s four members, Yeltsin Brownie, raised their hand.
“Yeltsin student. Permission to ask a question.”
“If there are no third-year students, usually the class is canceled, isn’t it?”
“Normally, yes.”
“But if they’ve decided to lower the grade level to begin the class, then naturally the difficulty should be lowered to that of second-year standards, right?”
“Sounds about right.”
With the professor’s firm acknowledgment, the tense atmosphere relaxed a bit.
It seemed that unlike some conscience-less professors, wise and educated individuals were now teaching from the second year onwards.
However, that relief was mercilessly shattered with the professor’s next response.
“So starting this year, instructors will be used.”
“…Excuse me? That suggests the difficulty is at the same level as the third year without the instructors, doesn’t it?”
“Must I inform you of everything? Dangers do not lower themselves before you. To truly prepare for Level 5 alerts, you must face the same level of danger.”
“……”
“Rest assured. While third-year students were taught to survive on their own, second-year students will be rescued in life-threatening circumstances by instructors to send them to the medical building.”
This sounded extremely hopeless.
Yeltsin Brownie broke out in a cold sweat and began to back away.
Naturally, he turned to grasp the doorknob behind him, but it wouldn’t turn.
[Locking Magic]
[Sealing Magic]
[Grand Magical Barrier]
[Phantom Inhibition Technique]
[Dimensional Invasion Defense Technique]
[Isolation Dimension Retention Technique]
“Also, the principle of this examination is survival and response during the level 5 alert. Therefore, exiting the classroom is not permitted, and escape outside is forbidden.”
“What about the, the bathroom?!”
“Too bad.”
“…There are female students and children here!! You’re ignoring the rights of children, professor!?”
“Me? Huh?”
Oknodie, who was humming the emergency alert background music, looked dumbfounded and met Yeltsin’s eyes.
“It’s fine! I can decompose and purify all toxins with the Mana Flow Technique, so I won’t be affected!”
“It’s okay to be a little affected right now!!”
Realizing, too late, that he had worded himself poorly and sounded like trash, Yeltsin Brownie held his mouth shut and trembled in dismay while one corner of Professor Robert’s mouth curled up into a smirk.
That was a clear sign of mockery.
‘That guy. I thought he looked average, and the course plan seemed decent, so I felt at ease, but could it be…?’
Professor Robert Elahim.
Perhaps hidden beneath his ordinary appearance was a sadistic cruelty.
The nature of a cruel professor who derives satisfaction and joy from the suffering of students in his harsh classes.
‘I’ve been had!’
It was a realization far too late.
“Now then, let’s begin the first lecture.”
With the loud siren sounding, the booming steps of a large bell rang out.
From the relaxed noble youths to Grand Duke Andersen, everyone’s faces went pale at once.
