The Academy is Doomed

Chapter 92

Amon had many strengths, but his greatest strength was ‘adaptability.’

He hadn’t realized it until he left the estate, but his immense physical strength was merely a secondary feature.

Frankly, there weren’t many situations where a history teacher at the academy needed to use brute force.

‘Though I’ve been using it quite a lot recently.’

In any case, Amon’s adaptability was shining brightly even now.

From his initial resolve to completely destroy the academy with its crumbling foundations, to his gradual determination to restore and rejuvenate it as it began to revive.

And considering that he managed to survive among colleagues at a despairing level, he was someone who could probably thrive harmoniously even if dropped into the most remote wilderness.

But adapting and enduring were two different things.

“Sniff…!”

Barely holding back tears, Amon stood with Fiora behind him, leaning to one side with her arms crossed.

As a new recruit, she was observing Amon’s class.

The problem was her constant phlegm throat-clearing from the back.

“Khrrk! Ahem.”

“…So, as I mentioned last time, Hero Gregory…”

“Hack! Krrrk!”

“…drew the holy sword Nukhael, and according to its legend…”

At least she wasn’t spitting the phlegm on the ground, which was a relief.

‘She wouldn’t be saving it up just to spit it in my face later, would she?’

Shuddering at the horrible thought, Amon continued trembling as Fiora’s lips moved wordlessly while her face turned red.

Thanks to her noble upbringing and strict self-discipline, Fiora had never engaged in the vulgar act of spitting phlegm in her life! Well, except during her interview.

In any case, all she was doing now was scratching her throat raw.

‘It must hurt! I’ve read in books that thugs do this all the time, but how are their throats okay?’

As Fiora, who had been pouting, suddenly flinched and contorted her expression into a scowl, Amon glanced back.

“Uh, Ms. Fiora.”

“Khrrk! Yes?”

“We’re in the middle of a class, so could you… tone it down a bit?”

“Khrrrk! Should I just spit it out, then?”

“Uh, no…”

Amon turned his head back.

“Sniff!”

The indignity of dealing with a hooligan who carried the weight of a noble family’s name!

Fiora, too, tightly shut her moistening eyes when Amon turned away.

“Khrrp!”

It was baffling how the esteemed lady of the illustrious Pendorean family had ended up like this.

Amon was sucking on a tea bag filled with chamomile leaves, known for their calming effects on the nerves.

He had half-checked out mentally from the stress.

“Hey, what are you doing? Why are you chewing on a tea bag like that?”

“…Senior Sloth.”

Clearly mid-sword training, Sloth approached, shaking her sweat-soaked hair. Amon’s tear-filled eyes turned to her.

His sudden presence startled Sloth, but Amon mumbled blankly.

“Senior Sloth.”

“Y-Yeah?”

“Only now do I realize that you truly embody the grace befitting the noble Marquis Pid family.”

“What…?”

Sloth tilted her head, puzzled.

‘What’s with this guy all of a sudden?’

Still, compliments were compliments, and praise could make even the laziest person want to dance.

“Heh, finally figured it out, huh?”

“I apologize for my unseeing eyes, which failed to recognize your noble grace and magnanimous heart. No, what am I saying? Unseeing eyes are an understatement—I must’ve been blind altogether.”

“Heh heh! Well, at least you know now.”

“Could you ever forgive someone like me?”

“Sure, I’ll forgive you.”

“As expected of the noble lady Sloth Pid of the esteemed Pid Marquis family…”

Amon lavished her with praises as if possessed, and Sloth began to feel quite pleased.

But it didn’t last long.

‘This guy’s acting like this for a reason… What could it be?’

Pondering the matter, Sloth cautiously said, “If it’s about borrowing money, forget it.”

“…It’s not that.”

“Then why are you acting like this all of a sudden? It’s kind of creepy.”

“Sniff!”

Amon suddenly burst into tears, startling Sloth.

“W-Why are you crying?”

“Senior Sloth…”

“Yeah, what?”

“You know that new recruit who joined yesterday.”

“The new recruit?”

Sloth thought back, trying to recall.

Come to think of it, a woman had come to her class, introducing herself as the new recruit.

‘Khrrp! I’m Fiora, the new recruit.’
‘Oh. Right.’
‘…W-What should I do?’
‘If you’re new, just watch the class.’
‘Y-Yes.’

Reflecting on the memory, Sloth tilted her head.

“She didn’t seem all that weird. She just sat quietly and observed.”

The reason was simple!

Sloth’s indifferent attitude had made Fiora think, “I guess I can keep it low-key?” So she had toned down her theatrics.

Sloth’s innate laziness had inadvertently shielded Fiora’s intentions.

But Amon was indignant at Sloth’s response.

“She didn’t seem weird to you?! She kept clearing her throat non-stop like she wanted to spit phlegm, muttering all through the class about wanting to smoke, and complaining about why she even had to do this job!”

“What? Really?”

“Yes! How can someone like that be a teacher…!”

Amon took pride in his role as an educator, but that pride was crumbling under the weight of Fiora’s antics.

“And yet, with your personality, you just let her be? Didn’t even smack her once?”

At that remark, tears streamed down Amon’s face.

“She’s from the Pendorean family.”

“…Pendorean? As in that Pendorean ducal family?”

“Yes. The great Pendorean.”

Sloth’s face stiffened.

Although the Pid Marquis family was prestigious, it didn’t compare to the Pendorean ducal family.

The Pendoreans had served the Amonis imperial family since the time of the empire’s seventh emperor.

The Pid Marquis family had served for a respectable period as well, but it was only a fraction of the Pendoreans legacy.

‘And our family only gained its current prominence after my father was named one of the empire’s Four Knights.’

In other words, the Pendoreans were on another level entirely.

Sloth sighed awkwardly and said, “So, you’re scared to mess with someone from the Pendorean family.”

“…I only have one life, you see.”

“But you mess with me just fine.”

“Well, that’s different…”

Amon muttered something unintelligible, then added, “I’ve met her grandmother before.”

“You mean Diana Pendorean?”

“Yes. I’ve met her, and it seemed like she doted on that hooligan granddaughter of hers. If I were to cross the line, I’m pretty sure Diana would come dancing with a sword and turn me into Amon tartar.”

“…Yeah, that sounds likely.”

If Sloth’s father, Batista, ever found out about the disrespect Amon often showed her, the Pid family’s dinner menu that evening would probably feature roasted Amon.

“Tch, she acts so demure in front of Diana, but… Wait, you don’t know her? You’re both from noble families. Don’t noble families constantly throw parties and mingle at social gatherings? Oh, right. You’re Sloth.”

There was no way someone as lazy as Sloth would attend such events!

Though Amon’s self-talk irritated her, it was annoyingly true, leaving Sloth unable to retort.

“Sigh, whining, mumbling… That hooligan, this is all about her upbringing, grumble, grumble!”

“…”

As she watched Amon grumble endlessly, Sloth thought to herself.

‘Hmm. Is that so…?’

A determined glint appeared in her eyes.

The next day, at swordsmanship class Fiora sighed in relief, patting her chest.

‘Whew, I’m starting to calm down.’

After observing all the classes yesterday, she realized that the only teacher aware of her acting like a delinquent was Amon.

Fortunately, it seemed Amon hadn’t spread the word to the other teachers.

‘I just need to be careful around him.’

Would “being careful” mean making a point to mimic delinquent behavior meticulously?

In any case, Fiora headed toward the training grounds where the swordsmanship class was held.

‘Sloth from the Marquis House of Pid. She seems indifferent to everything, like someone from a swordsmanship family who’s detached from worldly matters and uninterested in others. I can probably loosen up a bit around her, right?’

Thinking this, Fiora entered the training grounds, only to freeze in her tracks.

Unlike the Sloth she saw yesterday, this version had entirely shed her lethargy and was staring straight at her.

Sloth was in full “serious mode.”

“…Uh, uh?”

“Sloth Pid here. We met yesterday, didn’t we?”

“Y-Yes, we did.”

“I heard you’re from the Pendorean family.”

At those words, Fiora flinched.

‘What? I deliberately didn’t mention it yesterday. How did she find out?’

Fiora had purposely avoided revealing her surname, thinking it would buy her some time. After all, sooner or later, the truth would come out. But how had it been uncovered within a day?

The mystery was soon resolved.

“Amon mentioned it…”

‘That wretched man told her!’

“He also said your personality is rather…rough.”

‘He even tattled about me being a delinquent!’

Fiora internally grimaced, but she quickly refocused on her “role.”

Since her cover was blown, there was no need for restraint.

Moreover, solidifying her image as unfit for teaching—making herself a nuisance to other teachers—might increase her chances of getting expelled.

“Kaaargh! Spit! So, what’s the problem?”

“Hmm.”

“Cough! Spit! Is there an issue?”

“Hm.”

Fiora strained to hawk up nonexistent phlegm and spat exaggeratedly.

‘At this rate, she’s got to tell me to stop spitting, right?’

But this was the dirt floor of the training grounds!

Nobody cared whether one spat or coughed up a lung here!

Realizing this fact and standing there frozen, Fiora watched Sloth, who had been observing her exaggerated swagger, nod approvingly.

“You’ve caught my attention.”

‘What!?’

What on earth had caught her attention?

Out of defiance, Fiora doubled down on her delinquent persona and pulled the nastiest face she could muster.

But even after seeing Fiora’s determinedly “intimidating expression,” Sloth didn’t flinch.

‘She’s like a Chihuahua.’

After all, Sloth had seen the face of her sixth older brother—whom her older sibling Lancelot described as “less civilized than ogres.” Compared to that, this was nothing.

Seeing Sloth remain unfazed, Fiora’s face flushed red, and Sloth, still gazing at her, spoke.

“Well, nice to meet you. Let’s work hard together.”

“W-Work hard, my f—”

“Yes, yes.”

As Sloth returned to sit on the bench, Fiora began to sweat profusely.

‘This is bad. She thinks I’m a delinquent too.’

Meanwhile, Sloth smiled in satisfaction.

‘Well, she’s a delinquent, but since she’s from the Pendorean family, it’s probably best to stay on her good side. Besides, I should keep an eye on her for now.’

‘Am I going to have to keep this act up even in swordsmanship classes now?’

‘Still, I must’ve made a good first impression, right? My first impression isn’t bad, after all! And she even buttered me up, saying I caught her attention.’

‘Amon and Sloth… I’ll remember those two.’

Fiora internally wept, while Sloth felt pleased at the prospect of expanding her social network.

Fiora was quietly sobbing to herself.

‘What a mess my life is…’

Sloth approached her repeatedly, rubbing her hands together in a fawning manner.

‘As expected of Miss Fiora Pendorean. That rough demeanor suits you so well.’

‘Cough, cough! Spit! Ack!’

‘I heard you smoke too. Care for a cigarette? Though you’d have to go to that corner during class. Here’s a light!’

‘T-Thank… cough! hack!’

Having studied Amon’s sycophantic ways, Sloth was applying them meticulously to ingratiate herself with Fiora, hoping to build a connection with someone from the illustrious Pendorean family.

‘Phew. At least swordsmanship class is over. Now it’s time for magic class…’

The teacher for magic was Marion Rumdom.

A war hero, known by the moniker “Fiery Demon,” Marion’s reputation was well-known even to Fiora.

Of course, they weren’t acquainted, and when she introduced herself yesterday, Marion simply responded with, “Ah, nice to meet you!” and didn’t seem aware that Fiora was from the Pendorean family.

‘I don’t know why someone like that ended up a drunkard, but… at least he probably won’t care much about me, right?’

Thinking this, Fiora entered the classroom for magic lessons, only to have Marion, mid-drink, raise a hand and shout.

“Well, if it isn’t the delinquent of the Pendorean family!”

Fiora collapsed on the spot.

It was then she realized: Amon had spread the word everywhere.