Chapter 22: True Survival Training (1)

No one can succeed all the time.

Everyone experiences failure at some point - what matters is how you get back up afterwards.

Two days after the employment scandal incident.

Rather than dwelling on what had happened, I focused my efforts on planning my next attempt to get fired.

'Looking back now, going too extreme every time is what ended up backfiring.'

Getting fired for extreme racism.

Making students climb mountains out of nowhere and abandoning my duties.

Even trying to get demoted by supporting the wrong candidate Hwang-seon.

I had taken radical actions in my rush to get fired, but that might have been a mistake.

So this time, instead of coming up with some bizarre plan, I'll follow an existing, tried-and-true development.

A classic academy genre episode.

You know, one of those irresponsible ideas perfect for getting cursed at and fired when problems arise.

"I would like to propose a large-scale mock survival training exercise for all grades."

During the faculty meeting.

I made my declaration while receiving everyone's attention.

My sudden outburst after staying quiet until now. Naturally, confusion spread across the faces of all the professors gathered in the meeting room.

Expressions that couldn't comprehend why I brought up something completely unrelated to the meeting topic.

After a while, one professor cautiously spoke up.

"What exactly do you mean by survival training...?"

"Exactly what it sounds like. We throw the kids into the wilderness and test their survival abilities. We'll even release some demon beasts to add tension."

An immediate suffocating silence followed.

Everyone looked at each other uncertainly, doubting if they had heard me correctly.

However, paying no mind to such an atmosphere, I quickly continued my explanation. Taking care to appear as thoughtless and irresponsible as possible.

"They need to sleep on the ground, experience hunger when there's no food - our students won't become stronger unless they taste the bitterness of life."

The worst Korean saying about how youth should seek out hardship.

Quoting it shamelessly earned me looks like I was insane.

"Ah, so you want to train them to handle crisis situations beforehand. Just like you."

Only one person - the old man who suspiciously adored me - voiced agreement.

But even his expression clearly showed he wasn't happy with my proposal. It was pitiful seeing him break into a cold sweat, not knowing what to do.

'Law of the Jungle was definitely the right answer.'

A wilderness survival training takes place.

The protagonist knows about it beforehand, packs lots of camping supplies and food, and is the only one who benefits greatly.

While it's a cliché you'd expect in an academy story, looking at it carefully reveals numerous problems.

"What if someone gets injured? Even if we try our best, it'll be difficult to look after the entire student body..."

When you release a crowd of students into the wilderness, you never know what accidents might occur. Beyond the risk of injury, there's potential for psychological trauma.

"There will definitely be complaints. Most of our students are from noble families - no one will welcome being told to live like a beggar."

Plus the students will surely hate this.

Having to live in squalor for days without proper bathing, sleeping, or bathroom facilities. It would be stranger if they didn't curse at it.

"Above all, I don't understand the purpose of the training. Why go outside when we have good facilities here?"

Moreover, if it's about teaching wilderness survival, we could just invite an expert for a special lecture. If we called Karin, she'd surely come right away to share her mercenary experience.

Since Imperial Academy students are all capable, they'd probably learn well just from being taught, without needing actual field experience.

However, despite all this, precisely because there were so many problems. I refused to back down from my decision.

What a perfect opportunity to get cursed at by both the Academy faculty for being irresponsible, and by the Academy students for putting them through such hardship.

How could I possibly pass this up?

'I expected there would be complaints.'

True professors who cherish their students. I had anticipated everyone would oppose my plan, so I prepared a solution.

I looked at the Primordial Dragon.

With eyes showing no hesitation, filled with the message to trust that I would somehow handle this well.

Sure enough, she immediately smiled.

"Of course we should grant our professor's request. I'll prepare safety measures in advance, so in a week..."

"I apologize, but a week won't work."

But I cut off her words. If the Primordial Dragon prepared too thoroughly and properly, the survival training would turn into a wilderness experience.

"We must conduct the training today, no matter what."

Since there's no worry about deaths with the Primordial Dragon present, the more rushed the timing, the better.

The more poorly prepared and sloppy the training is, the more severely I'll get cursed at for pushing it through - that's only natural, right?

Of course, there's a chance such sudden unreasonableness won't work, but here's where I rely on my cheat key again.

Sparkle sparkle. I appeal to the Primordial Dragon with a desperate look in my eyes. Zion wavers at my uncharacteristic behavior. After brief consideration...

"Since it's your suggestion. I'm sure there must be some profound meaning behind this proposal. Though it's a bit rushed, let's proceed with the survival training right away!"

She finally declared with a bright smile.

Her eyes shone dazzlingly, seemingly excited to see what I was planning this time.

While everyone except Zion and Professor Scott opposed my proposal, that didn't matter.

Because when the Primordial Dragon says we'll do it, we do it.

The Imperial Academy professors really have it tough, always having to accommodate a dragon's curiosity-driven whims.

'Well, thanks to that things worked out well this time.'

For things to progress so smoothly according to plan. I don't think things have ever fallen into place this well before.

Perhaps this time could be the opportunity.

I prepared for the training with a wide grin.

*****

The rain fell steadily. While I usually prefer clear weather, today was an exception.

'Even the weather is helping me.'

A hastily prepared survival training.

The ground had turned to mud from the sudden rain.

Mud seeps into shoes with every step taken. Socks get wet and damp, plus the humidity adds to the stress levels reaching maximum.

Naturally, complaints erupted from here and there.

"If there was going to be training like this, you should have notified us in advance!"

"With the downpour making it hard to see ahead, you're saying we have to survive by building shelters and hunting here?"

This alone was already quite satisfying. But the situation kept developing more and more in my favor.

Problems started arising before the survival training had even officially begun, when I had only led the students to the deserted island.

From a child crying after getting bitten by a snake to students who nearly became lost.

Fortunately, both incidents were somehow resolved through quick action, but with each problem that arose, the other professors' expressions grew more severe.

True professors who cherish their students dearly.

There's no way they could stand by while their precious children suffer from one madman's inexplicable antics.

Finally, one professor stepped up to confront me.

"Professor Ryan! What exactly are you trying to do here?!"

At last it came. The perfect opportunity to drop my abnormally high favorability that had shot up like a bug.

I desperately held back a smile as I turned around. What I put on was a shameless expression of not understanding why I was suddenly being called out.

Seeing my face showing not even a hint of guilt, the angry professor's expression twisted further.

"Given your past achievements, I thought you must have had some plan. But at this point, you should admit your judgment was wrong!"

"What do you mean I was wrong?"

A sudden commotion.

Naturally everyone's attention turned this way, but I maintained my shameless attitude without any concern.

"Students who should be honing themselves at the Academy are rolling around in muddy water looking like beggars! Will you still deny your mistake?!"

The young female professor demanded while practically spitting.

Everyone gathered here tensed at the heated atmosphere.

This was the moment to deliver the finishing blow I had prepared.

"I'm simply taking the best action for the students."

A calm recitation without any hesitation.

Here is where I should continue with irresponsible statements about how I was sick of noble brats living easy lives and wanted to properly make them suffer to teach them a lesson.

The students' faces would immediately sour at those outrageous words, and I would get beaten up by everyone and fired.

Such a future should surely arrive, but...

Before I could continue speaking, panting sounds came from somewhere. It was the Academy's head of security running towards us with a pale face.

He shouted with his most urgent voice yet.

"The Academy has exploded from an enemy attack!!!"