Shulim welcomed her fourth academic year at the preparatory school, which was also the final year of the school's curriculum.
Under normal circumstances, this would be the year many students began pondering their futures, but this year seemed a bit different...
“A new course? Seriously? What is it? I've never heard of it.”
“How should I know? My family are just ordinary merchants. You'll have to ask someone well-informed about things like that.”
“Ah, then where did you hear it from?”
“Everyone's talking about it, and I even saw someone this morning who looked like a newly arrived teacher.”
...
On the first day of the new school year, classmates were all gossiping about this topic.
Namely, the addition of a new course to the preparatory school starting this year.
“Shulim, you already know about the new course, right?”
Fran happily took the seat next to Shulim. As for the original owner of this desk, they had already been driven away to Fran's own seat.
Putting aside her overly intimate and touchy-feely behavior, Shulim had actually heard about this matter from her father, Rezerian, a few days ago.
“...Apparently, it's an order from the empire's higher-ups. Starting this year, all preparatory schools must establish a practical combat course, and the final grades for this course will be archived and kept by the authorities.”
“Exactly! But that's not actually an order from the empire~!”
Fran's father, Baron Bandun, was a trusted confidant in the faction of Count Leicester—a noble of genuine influence—making him far better-informed than the Hayeral family. Thus, he knew more of the finer details.
And now, the news currently circulating only among the nobility was making its way into Shulim's ears through Fran.
“The order to implement practical combat courses in preparatory schools was jointly issued by the Seven Heavens Church, the Adventurers' Guild, and an alliance of multi-racial nations. They say the main purpose of this course is to prepare for a new wave of Demon King invasions in the near future. By training people early, they can skip the basic military training phase and directly conscript a large force ready for actual combat.”
“...I see. That is indeed an efficient method. Since the Demon King invades roughly once every four hundred years, starting to train young warriors on a large scale now means they will be at their physical peak when the time comes.”
“Exactly! However, according to my father, many people actually proposed introducing practical combat classes as early as ten years ago. But many nations felt that letting the common folk acquire combat skills too early wasn't conducive to maintaining control, so they were unwilling. The two sides just kept bickering and dragging their feet until now.”
“...It's amazing they could bicker over such an important matter for ten years. Aren't they afraid the Demon King might arrive early? No one ever said the Demon King has to show up exactly on the dot at the four-hundred-year mark.”
“Haha~! Just as you'd expect, dragging it out this long has made even the most stubborn conservatives panic. After all, continuing to oppose it would be gambling with their own lives. So, the plan was approved at lightning speed this year~!”
Ring, ring~!
“Class, please return to your seats. Lesson is about to begin!”
With the ringing of the bell and the teacher stepping into the classroom, the noisy room quickly quieted down as students returned to their seats. As for Fran...
She was still sitting right next to Shulim, clearly having no intention of heading back. Or did she plan on sitting here from now on?
...
“Class, I'm sure many of you have already heard about the practical combat course, right~?”
Just like last year, Collette stood at the podium with her red short hair and wand in hand as she spoke.
“Now, I will introduce your practical combat teacher for the future—Mr. Kunon! Everyone, please welcome him~!”
Polite applause rippled through the classroom.
Along with the applause, a robust, black-haired middle-aged man walked in.
He swept his gaze over the classroom, smiled slightly, and introduced himself:
“Hello, everyone. I am Kunon, a retired officer from the Imperial Army with C-Class strength. I will be your practical combat teacher for the coming year.”
“Since this is our first meeting, I am being gentle with you. But—!”
Kunon's tone suddenly grew harsh.
“Open your eyes wide and remember this well: this is the first, and it will be the last, time you see me smile!”
The smile on Kunon's face turned cold as iron. Paired with his sharp, chiseled features, he looked every bit the devil instructor.
“I will make sure you remember what practical combat means through the physical pain of your own bodies! This is no joke, and this isn't some game of house! Anyone who thinks they'll wet their pants and cry for mommy the moment they face a green-skinned goblin in the future can get the hell out of my classroom right now.”
...
A dead silence fell over the classroom. Nearly everyone was dumbfounded with fear, and a few of the more timid students were already tearfully casting pleading glances toward Collette, who was sitting on the side enjoying the show.
Yet Collette maintained her smiling expression throughout, completely ignoring her students' silent pleas for help.
On the surface, Kunon appeared somewhat disappointed by the students' reactions, but in truth, he was highly satisfied. After all, back when he had joined the army, his instructor had done the exact same thing.
This was already a tradition of the Imperial Army; if an instructor didn't scare the recruits senseless when they first entered, then that instructor was considered a failure.
What? These kids weren't soldiers?
Heh~. Do you think the Demon King's army will care whether you are a civilian or a soldier in the future?
In this world blanketed by the shadow of the Demon King, there was no such thing as civilians. Anyone who could still move was a warrior!
Such was Kunon's line of thinking. Although somewhat extreme, it was actually quite common within the military system and among high-ranking adventurers. Only those who faced monsters year-round understood just how precariously this world stood on thin ice...
Well, while these little ones' reactions were mostly satisfactory, there seemed to be a few troublemakers. This might make things a bit tricky for him.
The vast majority of the students in the classroom were thoroughly intimidated by Kunon's display, yet a few of them showed no fear whatsoever.
That little girl with her nose in the air and a face full of defiance. Yes, definitely a noble. Bringing that noble attitude here, was she? Once she fell into his hands, they'd see if she still had any attitude left.
As for that boy... Oh, was that an eager look in his eyes? Not bad, quite a promising young sprout!
The real issue was the last one...
From the moment he stepped through the door until now, her expression, her eyes, and even her breathing had not shifted in the slightest, making her completely unreadable! Most importantly, he actually felt a faint sense of threat radiating from her?!
It felt as though he were looking at his legion commander, who had slain countless monsters...
...
Hahaha! How could that be! He had really been retired for too long; had his senses gone dull? To think he'd compare a harmless little girl to that devil legion commander.
Kunon laughed dryly to himself.
Scanning the classroom once more, seeing that the atmosphere was just right, he continued, “Of course, none of you need to feel terrified of the future. Over the next year, as a retired imperial officer, I will teach you real, practical skills!”
“You might as well imagine yourselves a year from now, gracefully swinging your swords and trampling monsters like goblins under your feet!”
Naturally, Kunon was exaggerating a bit on purpose. After all, it was impossible to turn such young children into battle-hardened veterans in just one year...
Nonetheless, his words were highly effective, immediately causing many students' eyes to light up. They were at the age of dreaming about heroes, but what if someone told you that you could become one too?
Instantly, the bleak future was swept away, and the students grew excited one by one.
Rate on N.U.
