Elite Instructor at a Third-Rate Academy

33 – The Paradox of Desiring What Cannot Be Possessed ☆

She was deceived.

Genoa spent several days tossing and turning in anger and disappointment. It was clear when she saw Ivan stopping Tera and showing off in front of Saint. Tamerlic Steind is a dangerous person like Ebon Dikio. At least he is not someone who has no interest in the students he teaches.

“Regardless, there’s a winner and a loser.”

Today, when Terra confronted him and dominated the conversation, he muttered as if making excuses for himself.

“I won, so I’ll reject the application for Ivan.”

“Are you not ashamed?”

Genuinely, Genoa thought so. He had let it slide during the sparring, but if it had been a real fight, Terra Symond would have been dead. Looking at the results alone, it seemed like a victory, but considering the entire process, it was an obvious defeat.

“Instructor.”

“Even the other students hope you won’t leave.”

“How is that a victory?”

After saying that, Genoa only stared. Disappointment grew as he observed the ever-changing expression of the homeroom teacher.

“So, was it a real win?”

When Terra Symond asked, Genoa remained silent, maintaining a stoic demeanor.

“Genoa, your condition for winning wasn’t a perfect victory.”

Therefore, Ivan finally let his lips part in response to the statement that he couldn’t permit it.

“Can you win if you face him again?”

“Of course.”

However, Terra Symond couldn’t deny it. He knew. Tumelic Stained had clearly communicated his intentions. Don’t resist. What he had been doing in the military was unknown. However, as stated in the memorandum written by the principal, he was a VVIP with skills to match.

“Are you speaking sincerely?”

In response to the impolite question from his disciple, the master remained silent.

“Honestly, I’ve never been satisfied with the education here.”

Genoa decided to lay bare his feelings. There was no other way to transfer to another class.

“I know the instructor cares, but I was better off with private tutoring from my family.”

“I had to match the average of the students, so it was inevitable.”

Even Terra’s response became tense.

“Instructor.”

“Genoa, you are a symbolic figure in our class.”

Terra pointed out that your transfer would not only disrupt the academic atmosphere but also strain the camaraderie among the students. As he did, the already cold eyes became even more icy. They were like the eyes of a winter lake covered in frost. The heart had already left. He stated, resignedly, that he couldn’t hold onto it anymore.

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“Fine. If you really want to go, and if it doesn’t matter even if everyone gets hurt, I’ll allow it.”

Instead, he asked Genoa to send a letter recommending himself to the headmaster.

“Just like you’re not satisfied with the education here, I haven’t felt any growth here either.”

Suddenly, cracks appeared in the icy eyes that had been like frozen lakes.

“Where do you want to go?”

Terra mentioned a few names of top academies. With that, the one-sided confrontation came to an end with Genoa’s agreement. Sitting in the empty classroom left by the departing disciple, the master shivered with an irrepressible sense of defeat and frustration.

“He wasn’t so strong that I couldn’t beat him.”

Even if it meant going against his gut feeling, he had to stick to it properly. After being humiliated in front of his disciple, he had to restore his honor for the sake of his own self-esteem. He had heard that he belonged to the non-combat category, but after facing him in a real duel, he realized it was a blatant lie. He had a unique calmness and nonchalance that he had honed over a long period of time, having sparred with skilled individuals.

“I am the finest instructor in Rhyland.”

He muttered to himself in an attempt to regain his confidence. As Terras Symond himself, he couldn’t bear such a hollow victory. Therefore, he felt that he should meet with Temulic Stand separately and have a rematch to feel satisfied.

“And this is where I’m going to sprout.”

He wanted to leave this pigsty of incompetence and corruption and start anew at an academy where there were people worthy of him. By competing with more talented instructors here, he could rise far higher than he is now and return to his hometown. That would be enough. Just like Genoa, Terra had no lingering attachment to the students of Class A-1.

Well, after all, Rhyland was just a passing place.

[#33 – Love Story]

Kenneth admired Jeffrey’s perseverance. He may not be the sharpest tool in the shed, but he was diligent. It was clear when he called him to his lodgings every day to work on supplementary teaching materials. He would grasp the direction of the writing and, even though it was a struggle, manage to complete each section by reluctantly reading the recommended reference books.

“Jeffrey, this is not the terminology used in administration.”

When he pointed out the mistake and handed it back, he didn’t ask how to fix it and instead opened a glossary.

“You have a good attitude, but no sense.”

At this rate, it would be impossible to complete the supplementary teaching materials within a week.

“If you don’t know, ask.”

“But then it wouldn’t be something I made.”

Kenneth willingly lied for his disciple who lacked knowledge.

“When I was a student, I asked the professor about every single thing and made corrections.”

“You mean instructors?”

“Yeah, no one knows everything from the beginning.”

Eventually, as he explained each term one by one, he became curious about why there were such differences in usage.

“It’s because of the faction culture.”

“But what does it have to do with administration?”

“Combat.”

Both the field workers and office workers are busy with blaming each other when problems arise, even though they are loyal to the royal family. It’s inevitable because field workers and office workers face each other head-on without understanding each other. Those on the front lines always request excessive supplies, while those who manage resources try their best to provide as little as possible.

“Supply Material Usage and Support Request Statement.”

It is the most handled document for the commander in charge of the border.

Like the war hero, Roteron, if there is a soldier kicking up a fuss, the supplies are immediately given. However, for the ordinary corps, it takes three or four times the effort to finally get the budget reviewed and executed. This delays work and leads to unclear responsibility for problems caused by goods and personnel that didn’t arrive on time. The fierce faction culture of the Empire originated from this.

“Does that mean words are even written differently?”

“Bad habits become conventions after several years, and traditions after several decades.”

“It’s inefficient.”

“If you want to succeed, let go of such thoughts.”

“If you keep saying what’s right in a condescending way, you’ll only be rejected.”

Kennis didn’t want to unnecessarily disturb his disciple’s mind, so he flipped through a casebook related to the subjects Jeffrey was taking. Eventually, when both of them were silently focused on their work, an unpleasant, nasal voice was heard.

“Hey there, I’m here!”

“If only it weren’t a woman.”

He would have chased her away with a punch long ago, but since she was shamelessly following him around, he couldn’t treat her recklessly. As long as he was working with Jeffrey, it was impossible to close the door of their lodging.

Kennis had learned from a young age to leave the space open when being with others. This was a strict etiquette that had to be followed even in the military, as not doing so could lead to being misunderstood as an admirer.

“Jeffrey.”

“I’ll call Commander Vendelin!”

As Jeffrey quietly left, Selnah rushed in as if attacking unexpectedly.

“Why are you here?”

“You’ve become another Danagun.”

“Selnah, I’m in the middle of work.”

“That’s why I brought snacks.”

“I didn’t ask for any.”

“But I’m the one who’s going to eat it.”

As Selnah pouted, Kennis put down his pencil and looked at her. She seemed to have come up with something absurd. She had loosely tied her rough and numerous blond hair with an unknown cloth. It was regrettable that the woman didn’t care about her appearance like this. It was something that wouldn’t cross Kennis’ mind if it wasn’t for Sella. She was a celestial girl who would brush and braid her own hair.

-She must not be serious.

Just like Fanatier, Selnah probably just wanted to shake a man who didn’t go along with her. However, that was just a guess. As a homeroom teacher, he had to chase her away, as an adult he had to send her back, and as a man, he had to firmly reject her. What was the way to push away a woman’s heart without insulting her?

“Why are you staring at me like that?”

“I was just thinking about what material your hairband is.”

“Oh, this?”

Selnah approached him gracefully like a cat. It smelled like perfume, but the scent was too strong, whether it was cheap or not.

“I’ll let you know in a whisper.”

Then she raised her hands together and whispered into his ear.

“The underwear you wore yesterday.”

Kennis meekly shook his head. Selnah roughly untied the cloth that tied her hair and showed it to him.

“Am I right?”

-It’s a handkerchief.

“If we were dating, I could give it to you as a gift?”

“Turn around.”

“Huh?”

“It means to turn towards me and show your back.”

In response to Kenneth’s command, Selena blinked her eyes and obediently turned towards the painting of Panatier, taking small steps towards it.

“It makes me feel uncomfortable when someone sees me like this.”

As Selena stood silently, she flipped the painting without permission and took a step back.

“What are you going to do with me now?”

Kenneth took out a leather strap from the drawer.

“Just stay still.”

“Are you going to devour me?”

Just like when he had groomed his younger sister’s hair, Kenneth ran his hand through the disciple’s unkempt hair. The state of his hair was so rough and unsightly compared to Bissalae that a sigh escaped involuntarily.

-Raphazardi.

Having served in the operations department, he must have managed places that were moderately well-maintained, so how could he not have heard of a place as famous as Raphazardi? Raphazardi was either a count family appointed by the royal family or a recently

“Sure.”

“But that doesn’t mean you’re going to marry your younger sister, right?”

─ I can’t.

“Now that Geoffrey and Vendelin are coming, go back.”

“I can do things that Miss Yosul can’t.”

Kennis grabbed Selena’s side hair and pulled it hard, then took two steps back. As he quietly grasped the doorknob and opened it wide, a familiar figure running from afar came into view.

“Selena.”

“Call me again.”

“Selena Laphisardi.”

“Yes.”

“If you really want to seduce a man, you can’t do it like this.”

Kennis sincerely spoke for Selena’s future. There’s no problem with acting like this in this closed-off place, the Academy, but if she continues to act so carelessly even when it comes time to get married, it will raise suspicions about her virtue. The Laphisardi family will marry a foreigner, so Kennis even tried to give some excessive advice on how to have a good marriage and raise a noble offspring.

“Even if you can’t become a chaste woman, you should pretend to be one.”

“Like that woman?”

Kennis remained silent so as not to offend anyone.

“Do you also like that kind of girl, Teacher?”

Kennis tied up his disciple’s hair again before Jeffrey and Friede arrived. Very quietly, he scolded Selena, telling her not to tie her underwear like a joke.

“If Teacher doesn’t like it, I won’t do it.”

Understanding the contradiction of desiring something that can’t possibly be obtained, she is still too young to understand.