Chapter 41
Nothing in life is more important than peace of mind.
Even if you obtain all the gold and silver treasures in the world, it means nothing if your heart isn't enriched.
I let out a deep sigh as I deeply contemplate this truth.
Before my eyes lie numerous fortuitous opportunities.
These were items that my swordsmanship lecture students had stuffed into my sleeves, claiming they were achievements from their latest adventure.
Those students who went and formed a club without permission.
Having set the impossible goal of making me a Swordmaster, they were still continuing their dungeon raids with the Mercenary King as their club advisor.
"I never lost my power in the first place. Stop wasting effort and just focus on your studies at the Academy."
I tried saying that, but it was completely useless.
Despite looking strong enough to easily bench press 500 pounds, they all had surprisingly weak tear ducts. They started bawling, saying Professor was even lying for their sake.
"Huh? You really never lost your power?"
Among them, only one person.
The pure-hearted Director Karin took my words at face value, but she was quickly suppressed.
Everyone gave her incredulous looks, asking how she couldn't see through such an obvious lie. The Administrative Head following her around begged her to be quiet since it was embarrassing.
The girl's face turned bright red.
She insisted that she actually knew all along and was just joking around.
Karin's expression was so desperate as she claimed everyone else lacked the wit to understand her joke that they had no choice but to play along.
In the process, my statement "I was originally so weak I could barely swing a toothpick" was treated as a joke meant to spare Karin's feelings.
The atmosphere became cheerful and harmonious once again.
In the end, they went off to raid another dungeon.
The only proof they had visited my quarters were the dungeon treasures left scattered on the floor.
'Well, I appreciate the thought of trying to help me at least.'
But as they say, pearls before swine. No matter how good the equipment, what matters is whether the user can make proper use of it.
A staff that reduces spell casting time by tenfold.
While certainly an innovative artifact, I can already cast magic instantly without it. To me, this staff is nothing more than a fancy decoration.
A cloak that increases the user's speed fivefold.
Another overpowered artifact, but even wearing this I couldn't win a race against old man Scott.
The elixirs were somewhat more useful, but...
'To be honest, these are more trouble than they're worth too.'
My once frail body that looked ready to collapse at the slightest touch.
The physique that used to struggle climbing a single flight of stairs was now comparable to someone who's been hitting the gym for 3 years.
Thanks to that, I've been able to practice martial arts I couldn't even dream of before and build up strength in various ways, but I wonder if anything would really change by becoming a late-blooming swordsman now.
My body had gotten considerably stronger.
My chances of dying like a sunfish decreased.
Along with that, my quality of life improved due to better health.
That's about the extent of the practical benefits I've gained.
If asked whether this is good or bad, it's certainly on the good side, but I can't shake this ambiguous feeling.
'Why do I only get such half-baked fortuitous opportunities?'
Come to think of it, it's been that way since the Primordial Dragon's engraving.
What she engraved on me was something straight out of the founding myth.
A supreme blessing that increases luck and magical power, and could even allow evolution into a dragon species after 10 years if the wavelengths match, but there are no practical benefits.
Even doubled, my magical power was still miniscule.
My luck should have improved, but lately nothing but terrible misfortunes have been befalling me.
The last hope of evolving into a dragon species.
By connecting and sharing souls, it has the power to raise the other's spiritual rank if the wavelengths match well, but...
That being 10 years away makes it meaningless.
'My forehead has been strangely hurting lately though.'
It's probably not horns trying to sprout.
Just a headache from all the mounting stress.
That should be obvious if you think about it logically.
The notion that evolution might be accelerating bit by bit because my wavelength happened to match with the Primordial Dragon's and there might have been something strange mixed in with the elixirs I took before.
Even impossibilities have their limits.
A hypothesis that reeked of desperate wishful thinking.
In the end, the engraving had to be considered a dud.
'And even more useless than that is the Elixir of Immortality.'
A divine substance that grants eternal life by halting aging.
While certainly a treasure that would have all the wealthy rushing in with burning eyes, it was useless to me.
What good is not aging?
When I'm set to die in an accident rather than old age.
I'm essentially terminal right now.
If I can't escape from here before the final boss appears, death is certain, and with bad luck I could die as soon as tomorrow.
Just look at what happened a few days ago.
'If Jagan had attacked me then...'
I would have died instantly.
If he hadn't made assumptions about me and given up resisting, I would have been a cold corpse long ago.
Just imagining it makes me feel miserable.
...What did I do wrong to deserve going through all this? Even unfairness has its limits.
'I really didn't make any mistakes this time!'
I put genuine effort into preparing for the swordsmanship lecture.
To prove myself an incompetent teacher, I even swallowed my shame and called that suspicious place called the Fluffy Club or whatever, so that should say it all.
I was thorough in executing the embezzlement plan too.
There was a possibility the employee would cover it up believing I wouldn't commit embezzlement. I caught and prevented that possibility by going to stop them myself.
But terrible bad luck ruined everything.
Now I have no idea what I need to do to get fired. Things are so dark I can't see anything ahead of me.
For the first time in a while, I feel like having a drink.
But I forcefully suppressed that urge. Didn't I cause a huge mess during the Chrome incident by drinking and posting notices?
I had zero intention of repeating the same mistake.
Besides, I didn't exactly have good drinking habits. If I drank too much again, I might mess things up by acting wild like last time...
'...Wait a minute.'
Isn't that exactly the situation I've been hoping for?
Getting drunk and acting crazy, making a spectacle of myself.
From any angle, this would be highly inappropriate behavior for a teacher. Even the Academy would have no excuse not to fire me for lack of professionalism.
With a grave expression, I pulled out all the alcohol the Imperial Family had gifted me and gulped nervously.
...Perhaps things would work out more easily than expected.
*****
Class A's classroom was more chaotic than ever.
The reason was quite simple.
The mandatory class period had finally arrived. While the professor in charge should have been conducting the lesson by now, Professor Ryan was nowhere to be seen.
Over 10 minutes had passed since the class bell rang.
But there's no way he would be late.
He might be fighting enemies targeting the Academy even now. As students were discussing whether they should go look for him or wait, debating such things.
The front door creaked open.
The familiar white-haired man entered through the door.
But something about his state was strange.
An unsteady gait. A peculiarly flushed face.
The professor looked over everyone before suddenly declaring:
"I hate all of you."
A bolt from the blue declaration. Everyone present was instantly thrown into confusion and bewilderment.
Was this because of that embezzlement incident before? Was he feeling betrayed by students who didn't trust him at all? If so, how should they apologize?
While everyone was flustered thinking such things, Professor Ryan calmly spoke more strange words:
"Of course, I don't mean I hate you personally. I'm human too, so I don't dislike people who care about me. I've even grown somewhat fond of you all."
These inconsistent statements.
Before the confused crowd, he raised his voice:
"But I hate your attitude. Blessed with talent yet not even realizing how fortunate you are, I cannot tolerate seeing you waste that talent."
Therefore, I will fix your mindset.
The white-haired man brushed back his hair.
Before everyone, the professor proudly declared:
"Listen carefully. I will personally engrave in your minds what true magic really is."