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From the very first class, rumors spread through the academy that I had knocked out all the students.

I found it a bit unjust. After all, Marian and Elizabeth walked out perfectly fine.

I had been careful to ensure no one got hurt, and the healing priest I later called only used a simple magic to awaken them and left, claiming there was nothing more to do.

No one was injured, and everyone gained a lesson from it.

I thought I had done quite well for a first class.

However, as rumors go, I had become perceived among the first-year students as some kind of demon instructor who beat up students from the very start.

Could it be that since Marian and Elizabeth were the last two standing, the students who fainted before must have thought the same about them?

Instructor Rilya exclaimed, “You can’t just beat students and knock them out!” and then chastised me, while Headmaster Heinkel, subtly pulling me into his office, insisted with a look that said, ‘Even if there’s no standard for education, this is a bit…,’ as he offered me tea, urging restraint.

I wasn’t even a senior yet, just a first-year, and if students kept fainting in every class, no one would want to participate. Apparently, more than half had already expressed a desire to cancel their classes.

Since classes already registered cannot be canceled during the term except under very special circumstances, those requests were all denied.

However, if students continued to refuse classes, it would benefit no one, so Headmaster Heinkel urged restraint multiple times, and I reluctantly nodded.

Can’t they hold up better than this? Are today’s kids just lacking in spirit…?

Anyway, I had expected Instructor Acheron to be the biggest nuisance in the Teacher’s Office, but surprisingly, he didn’t even make eye contact with me.

I thought he’d still harbor resentment, given that he was still trying to charm his own students, but perhaps he changed his mind after hearing the rumors about me possibly taking down the Imperial Princess if provoked.

It was a clear misunderstanding, but I figured it was better than initiating unnecessary conflicts, so I let it be.

Returning to my seat, I pondered the direction my classes should take moving forward.

I had learned the lesson that knocking out students in class should be avoided. I still had some habits from my military days lingering on which led me to be a bit excessive.

As Instructor Rilya suggested, let’s refrain from knocking out students. Having a healing priest shuffle back and forth every class to wake them up would be quite a hassle.

That just meant as long as I didn’t knock them out, it would be fine.

Ultimately, the content of the classes wouldn’t change much.

*

Philion Imperial Academy is a cradle for talented students.

The Empire and the royal family spare no support for Philion Academy in their efforts to provide the best education to the most outstanding talents gathered from across the Empire, or rather, the entire continent, aiming to cultivate them into essential human resources that will contribute to the Empire in the future.

Students receive elite education tailored to their respective aptitudes, allowing them to blossom their talents, and after graduation, diverse talents spread throughout the Empire’s Knight Order, military, magic tower, and beyond.

Even if they do not contribute to the Empire after graduation, it doesn’t really matter. The fact remains that they were educated in the Empire while eating food paid for by Empire funds, and even talents from other nations receiving education on Imperial soil ultimately serves the Empire.

Thanks to such educational policies, there is no place on this continent untouched by the influence of the Empire, except for the eastern continent.

Naturally, the Empire hopes that such unbelievable talents, having received substantial support, will interact with various people, experience diverse cultures, and learn about the world, growing into responsible individuals, rather than becoming ruthless killing machines solely wielding weapons within the academy.

Therefore, Philion Academy actively encourages students to engage in club activities.

I was aware of this, but when Instructor Rilya brought up the subject of clubs after all the classes had ended, I couldn’t hide my surprise.

“…Club advisor, you say?”

“Yes! I think it’s about time for Instructor Graham to decide as well.”

Suddenly being asked to be a club advisor took me aback, and honestly, I wasn’t keen on the idea.

I was someone distanced from such cultural activities.

“Isn’t it possible to decline?”

Instructor Rilya crossed her arms and leaned her chin on one hand, looking as if it was difficult to answer.

“Well, there are occasionally cases where those in charge of graduating classes or special majors don’t have time at all. But you’re not in either category, so… wouldn’t it be better if you could?”

“Hmm…”

It’s not mandatory. But it’s apparent that most academy instructors take on at least one club advisory role. It wouldn’t look good for me to be the only one declining without a special reason.

Just like in the military, there’s a group dynamic in these matters. If one person opts out simply because it’s a bother, others might not want to join in either, and as a result, eventually nobody will want to take on the advisory role. That would go against the academy’s purpose of promoting club activities.

If this is part of my responsibilities as an instructor, I suppose I’d better just go along with it, even if it’s bothersome.

“Then which club am I assigned to?”

“Well, the previous advisor left due to either graduating or retiring, so there are a few vacant spots. I brought a list; would you like to take a look?”

I checked the list of clubs offered by Instructor Rilya.

Swimming Club, Drama Club, Travel Club, Newspaper Club, Tennis Club… Occult Club? What’s that?

There were many more club names written below the list.

“If there’s a club you’d like to choose from, you’re welcome to pick from this list, or you can also be the advisor for a newly forming club. Of course, outside of you, other instructors are also there who haven’t taken on a club advisory role yet, so you’ll need to consult with the club heads.”

“I understand. By the way, which club does Instructor Rilya handle?”

“Eh? Uh, me? I’m in the Literary Club…”

Instructor Rilya appeared visibly flustered by my entirely ordinary question and rambled on as if defending herself.

“They’re all good kids. They are nice kids, but let’s say they’re a bit unique, or rather, quirky… frankly, they can be a bit scary… They always talk about things that I can’t comprehend, so it’s a bit hard to approach them, but if you get to know them, they’re not bad kids…”

“…I’m not quite sure what you mean.”

“Nothing! The Literary Club is a perfectly normal club?!”

Instructor Rilya concluded with a stiff and awkward smile, as if sensing it was a bad idea to press further.

Feeling a strange vibe in the air, I forcibly ignored my curiosity about the Literary Club and continued the conversation as if I hadn’t heard anything.

“So, I just need to visit each club listed, correct?”

“Yes, yes! That seems like the best course of action!”

Instructor Rilya took a deep breath as if trying to compose herself before settling down. It seemed like simply bringing up the Literary Club had inflicted serious psychological damage.

What kind of club could it be?

“Phew… You don’t have to visit every club; it’d be enough just to check out a few. The swimming club or drama club is quite popular here.”

“If it’s a popular club, I think I’d get turned away even if I tried to go.”

Instructor Rilya smiled knowingly at my words.

“That’s impossible. If it’s Instructor Graham, you’ll definitely be welcomed!”

*

Philion Academy, as wide as it is, naturally has a designated club area, and most club buildings are all set up in that area.

I took the tram around the campus and got off at the station before heading towards the only indoor swimming pool in the club area.

According to what I heard from Instructor Rilya, there is only one swimming club on campus, and it operates the entire building solely for club activities. Truly, Philion Academy, which spares no support for talented individuals, had a club activity of considerable scale.

“Hmm…”

I did come, but…

Is it okay to just go in?

The students crossing by the swimming pool were giving me intense stares. In fact, if my eyes weren’t deceiving me, there were only female students around here. Oddly, not a single male student in sight.

It felt like I had wandered into a place I wasn’t supposed to be.

As I lingered at the entrance, unsure if it was truly alright to enter, I noticed a female student in uniform looking at me with a wary expression from inside the swimming pool entrance.

Her uniform was adorned with a red emblem signifying Garnet Red, with the number 3 displayed.

“Excuse me! No male entry is allowed here…! Huh?”

The girl, who had approached with a somewhat threatening stride as if to warn me, checked my face and attire and looked startled, gradually slowing down her pace and cautiously asking me, “Um… if you don’t mind me asking, who might you be?”

Her voice was a mix of curiosity and caution.

To prove I wasn’t a suspicious person, I calmly showed her my instructor badge and said, “I’m Ion Graham, the instructor in charge of the Opal Black Class. Is this the swimming club building?”

“Oh wow.”

Her pupils widened dramatically.

“Are you… here to take on the swimming club advisor role?”

I slowly shook my head.

I haven’t yet decided whether I would take on the swimming club.

It felt rather hasty to choose a field without even knowing what being a club advisor entails.

I thought it best to first observe how the club operates and then make my decision.

“Well, not exactly. I’m here to observe; is that alright? I haven’t decided on a club to advise yet.”

“Oh, oh my, oh my, oh my… oh my.”

The girl covered her mouth demurely while staring at me for a long time, then, with a burst of affixed focus, quickly scanned my body from bottom to top.

Her gaze was so quick it made me wonder if I had momentarily misperceived it due to my heightened sensitivity.

Before I could even think about what meaning might be behind that look, the girl opened her mouth with a dazed look.

“…Accepted.”

What did you just say?

 

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