[That concludes the orientation. Lastly, we have the oath from the representative cadet. Cadet Yuri Grace.]“Yes.”
As the silver-haired beauty stepped onto the podium, all eyes turned to her. Unfazed by the attention, Yuri began reciting the oath lightly, just as she had during rehearsal.
“We, the new students, firmly pledge to be exemplary cadets of the prestigious Diaros Academy. Representative Cadet, Yuri Grace.”
Yuri Grace and 330 other cadets took the oath simultaneously. The grandeur of hundreds of people speaking in unison is always impressive.
Once the oath was over, the cadets gathered at their respective departments.
Knight Department, Magic Department, Arts Department, Military Department, and Administrative Department.
Kail followed the Knight Department instructor to the classroom. From afar, Yuri’s sharp gaze that failed to meet him flew and stabbed into him.
‘Why is she like that?’
Could it be—she saw him talking with Ariah and misunderstood something? Kail tried hard to ignore the ominous feeling and headed to the classroom.
The instructor guiding them to the classroom stood in front of the podium, smiling incessantly.
“New students of the Knight Department, please wait a moment. The professor will be here soon.”
The instructor’s tone was surprisingly gentle, making Kail feel something was off compared to what he expected, reminiscent of Korean physical education schools.
However, he soon realized why the instructor had to be so kind—several noble-looking cadets were seated in the classroom.
‘After all—even though everyone’s equal within the academy, it’s not that simple…’
Unless you’re someone with both a good family background and superior skills, proclaiming equality inside the academy isn’t feasible.
If that instructor gets fired from the academy and can’t become a professor, they might need to join some noble’s household—if they annoy the nobles by being unnecessarily strict?
Not only would their career advancement be blocked, but their employment path too. If one is an Expert, they might find use somewhere, but Experts wouldn’t get fired from the academy in the first place.
“Why isn’t the professor here yet…?”
First day of school. Some new students who hadn’t shed their noble airs started complaining about the professor keeping them waiting.
However, they soon fell silent as heavy footsteps approached from outside the door.
Bam—! The door opened, and a frail old man entered the classroom. Everyone present recognized his face, whether noble or commoner.
“Why so quiet?”
When Gawein, the Knight Department professor, spoke, the cadets finally realized this was real and gasped in admiration.
The Empire’s hero, a living legend, one of the few Masters in the Empire.
Though injuries prevented him from returning to the battlefield in his youth, he now devoted himself to nurturing future generations.
“You look like you’ve seen a ghost. Want me to replace me with another professor?”
“A, no sir!”
“Huh? My hearing isn’t great in my old age…”
“We want Professor Gawein!”
Gawein forced out some half-hearted responses, then chuckled as he began explaining why he was here.
“Some of you know, others don’t—but the academy values freedom. Whether you take classes or not, as long as you earn the necessary credits to graduate, we don’t care.”
“O, oh…”
“But—give that freedom to newly minted academy brats and they’ll clutch their heads, not knowing what to do. Hence, first-years can’t choose their subjects.”
The cadets who initially rejoiced at the mention of freedom despaired at the follow-up, while those without plans felt relieved.
Observing each reaction, Gawein had the instructor distribute timetables to the cadets.
“This is your Knight Department timetable. It’s filled with boring, rigid courses like basic swordsmanship, aura training, and stamina drills.”
Of course, there were also some liberal arts courses offered by other departments. One could call it substantial, or think they came to the academy to learn useless things again.
Perhaps reading the cadets’ thoughts, Gawein smirked as he looked at them.
“There’s a way to skip all these boring classes.”
“What is it…?”
“It’s simple. Beat me in a match.”
Gawein glared at Kail as he said this. Meeting Gawein’s gaze, Kail realized this system was made specifically for him.
Advice to show his strength and skip class if bored. Kail smirked back at Gawein.
Other cadets thought Gawein was joking and sighed deeply. Challenging a Master was beyond harsh—it was impossible for any mere cadet.
“That concludes the orientation. And Kail Meyer.”
“Yes, old man.”
“Follow me.”
Kail rose and stepped forward to the front of the classroom. Mixed gazes of envy and curiosity flew toward him, personally called out by Gawein.
Looks asking ‘what makes you special to be called by him’—Kail ignored them and left the classroom with Gawein.
As soon as they stepped into the hallway, Kail spoke to Gawein’s back.
“Old man, isn’t this too much? How am I supposed to handle school life with all this attention?”
“—You don’t seem like someone who’d care about such things.”
“There’s still decency.”
Kail retorted curtly, and Gawein looked at him curiously, surprised that Kail cared about such matters.
Masters are usually somewhat detached from worldly concepts. They possess the power to wipe out groups or armies single-handedly.
But Kail wasn’t like that. He became a Master and still mingled with ordinary people. Was it because he became a Master too young and didn’t know the ways of the world, or did he have such a disposition that allowed him to become a Master at that age…?
“If you have complaints, challenge me right here.”
“Do you want to make me an elder abuser? Tell me what this is about quickly.”
“—The principal called for you.”
“The principal?”
Hearing he was summoned by the principal, Kail tilted his head quizzically. The only time he met the principal was during the entrance ceremony, and he barely remembered the orientation speech.
He had never met the principal beforehand or received any prior notice. Why was he being summoned now?
“What’s this about?”
“I don’t know. He didn’t tell me either. Most likely, it’s about your identity.”
“I’m trying to keep it hidden.”
“Why?”
“My master told me to.”
“Hmm… That’s significant.”
Gawein pitied himself, seeing his future self dragged into the grave by his in-laws. Kail passed him and arrived at the principal’s office.
Knock knock—Gawein knocked, and the principal’s voice, heard during the orientation, responded from inside. Opening the door, a bearded principal greeted Kail.
“Hehe, welcome. Ah, Sir Gawein. Thank you. You may leave now.”
“Then I’ll take my leave.”
Gawein, who escorted Kail to the principal’s office, swiftly departed. Left alone with the principal, Kail quickly took a seat on the sofa and looked at the principal.
The principal stroked his beard, chuckling as he settled down in front of Kail.
“Cadet Kail Meyer. I heard everything from His Grace the Duke.”
“What?”
“That you’re a Master and hiding it.”
“Oh, that was supposed to be a secret.”
Kail questioned with a tone implying why the principal knew, and the principal chuckled, replying that it wasn’t just him—others knew too.
“Not just me, but His Imperial Majesty the Emperor has likely heard this news.”
“Wow—our Duke is spreading rumors everywhere.”
“They’re people who need to know. His Imperial Majesty the Emperor prepares to welcome a new Master, and as the academy’s chief administrator, I have the duty and right to know and manage everything.”
The principal’s eyes sparkled as he spoke. Inside his pupils, a deep blue magic power surged.
Upon locking eyes, Kail instinctively raised his aura, feeling the flow of magic probing his body.
The two gazes, filled with aura and magic, clashed in mid-air and vanished like melting snow.
“…You have the skills worthy of a principal.”
“I wish it were a joke—but dumping this burden on an old man nearing retirement.”
“Burdensome, huh…”
Kail gave a bitter smile, seeing the principal treating him like a burden dumped by the Duke. The principal stopped stroking his beard and addressed Kail.
“—If a Master causes trouble, only another Master can stop them. So yes, you’re a burden.”
“I don’t plan to cause trouble.”
“Hoo—understand, will you? When you’re old, worries pile up.”
Saying this, the principal locked eyes with Kail once more, issuing a warning.
“I’d prefer you not reveal that you’re a Master to others.”
“And if I do?”
“Then obviously—I’ll have no choice but to expel you.”
The principal muttered threateningly with a stern gaze. Kail responded incredulously to the threat of expulsion.
“No, how can you expel a cadet who wants to attend the academy?”
“Realistically—what can we teach a Master? Having a Master as a cadet is like having a professor enroll as a student.”
“…You put it that way, and I have nothing to say.”
Still, as the principal said—if he got expelled, he truly had no grounds to argue. Rumors of a Master posing as a cadet would cause quite a stir.
‘Even I’d ask what nonsense this is.’
Probably, nobles nationwide would try every means to win him over. This would lead to endless hassle, disrupting his academy life.
In essence, it would amount to expulsion. Despite the principal’s harsh words, he ultimately meant well for Kail.
“I understand. I’ll try to keep my status as a Master hidden.”
“I appreciate it.”
Kail resolved to keep his promise to the principal and left the office.
No matter what, he vowed to keep the secret.
*
Or so he thought at one point.
“M, this can’t be happening…”
Looking at the trembling officer cadet before me, I realized my mistake. Game pieces for war games were scattered in front of him.
‘Ah… I should have gone easy…’
