The Academy is Doomed

Chapter 93

Fiora’s face was filled with despair.

‘The fact that even Viscount Rumdom thinks I’m a delinquent…’

Yesterday, when interacting with her, Marion treated Fiora as nothing more than a new instructor, nothing less and nothing more.

The only words Marion had spoken to her were, “Are you observing the lessons well?” and “Work hard in the future!”

He even seemed to hold back on his drinking in front of the newcomer.

But today, everything was different.

“Hahaha! Come, come. Sit over here!”

“Eh? What? Me?”

“Sit down now!”

Drunken Marion insisted she sit, leaving Fiora unable to hide her bewilderment.

Fiora quickly realized that, much like her swordsmanship class, her magic class was not going to be peaceful.

“So, I hear you’re from the Pendorean family? Nice to meet you! How’s your head of the family doing?”

“He… he’s doing well.”

Fiora’s face turned pale.

‘Could it be… he knows my father?’

“Hahaha, I saw him a few times during the Great War!”

‘Wait, he doesn’t know him that well, then? He acted so friendly I thought he had a close relationship with my father…’

Why was he acting like they were close?

Did he perhaps think associating with her would lead to some kind of success?

As these thoughts raced through her mind, Marion suddenly pushed a glass of alcohol toward her, startling her.

“Now, have a refreshing drink!”

“What? D-drink?”

“Yes! It’s good alcohol. You’ll like it!”

“But why suddenly alcohol…?”

As someone raised as the daughter of a prestigious family, Fiora had lived a proper and disciplined life. Her only experience with alcohol was a single glass of wine her father had offered her at a family banquet.

With an awkward smile, she gently pushed the glass away.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t drink.”

Marion’s eyes widened in surprise.

“You don’t drink? A delinquent who doesn’t drink?”

“What?”

Marion looked as if he had just witnessed an impossible sight.

A delinquent who didn’t drink? While there might be drunkards who weren’t delinquents, there was no such thing as a delinquent who wasn’t a drunkard—at least in Marion’s biased worldview.

Though it was only his assumption, Fiora froze in shock at his seemingly profound observation.

‘Right! All the delinquents in the books I’ve read were heavy drinkers!’

Her idea of a delinquent had been shaped entirely by books.

Almost as if hypnotized, Fiora reached out for the glass before pausing mid-movement.

‘Wait, why should I drink this?’

She wasn’t a real delinquent; she was only pretending to be one. And the more other teachers disliked her, the more likely she would be expelled from this academy, which was a living hell for her.

‘Wouldn’t it be better to avoid drinking and let him be disappointed in me?’

With a polite smile, Fiora again pushed the glass away.

“I’m sorry, I really can’t drink.”

“You can’t drink? Hah! Can you believe this?”

As Marion smacked his lips in disbelief, Fiora’s eyes lit up.

‘Yes! He’s disappointed…’

“Hahaha! A delinquent who doesn’t drink? That’s rare!”

‘What?’

“Yes, yes! It’s time we break away from such overused character tropes! How refreshing! Welcome aboard!”

Marion’s reaction was one of genuine excitement.

Fiora’s face twisted into a mix of confusion and horror.

‘This crazy drunkard…’

Desperate, Fiora grabbed the glass and downed its contents in one go, hoping to shatter Marion’s newfound admiration.

The strong taste of cheap alcohol hit her like a brick wall.

‘What is this? So strong!’

Unlike the mild wine her father had once offered, Marion’s drink was practically a concoction of undiluted spirits.

Despite the burning pain, Fiora forced a smile.

“Ahh! So good!”

Surely, Marion’s illusions would crumble now, right?

But when Fiora looked up at him, he was clapping his hands like a seal, thrilled.

“Now, that’s what I’m talking about! That’s the spirit of a true delinquent!”

“Hiccup?”

“Drink up! There’s plenty more where that came from!”

“Ugh…”

The fake delinquent was on the verge of tears.

‘Why is this happening to me? What did I ever do to deserve this?’

She glared at Marion, wondering if he had some ulterior motive.

But Marion had none!

‘Hahaha! A great drinking buddy has joined the ranks.’

‘Do you… hold a grudge against my family or something?’

‘Amon likes to drink, but he’s no drunkard. But a delinquent and a drunkard? Those go hand in hand! We’ll have to drink together from now on!’

Marion, laughing heartily, poured another drink for her.

“Come on! Let’s drink till we drop!”

“Hiccup…”

“After class, let’s go out for a proper drink!”

Fiora, after just one drink, already had a flushed face.

Meanwhile, Amon, who peeked into the classroom on his way past, nodded as if his suspicions were confirmed.

‘Look at her! Her face is beet red from drinking so much. A true delinquent through and through.’

The misunderstanding deepened.

“Sniff…I can’t live like this.”

In the end, Fiora made a big decision.

‘Let’s just reveal everything and clear the air.’

She decided to reveal the truth: she was not the delinquent everyone thought she was.

‘Besides, I can’t keep working in a place like this. There’s a penalty fee for breaching the contract, but I can easily pay that.’

Of course, she didn’t have the money on hand, but contacting her family would resolve that issue.

‘Father and Grandmother will understand if I explain the situation…’

Wait. Her situation?

If she revealed it all, she was sure to get scolded severely.

‘Fiora! I must have failed as your parent! How could you, no matter the circumstances, pretend to be a delinquent? Was tarnishing the family name your goal?’

‘Oh no! Oh no! My poor granddaughter has gone mad!’

She could almost hear her father and grandmother’s voices.

‘No, I’ll soften it a bit. I’ll just say teaching isn’t a good fit for me.’

Resolving herself, Fiora dashed straight to the principal’s office.

“Oh, oh, you’re here?”

“Principal.”

“Yes, yes?”

Seeing the stern look on Fiora’s face, Anar’el gulped and leaned as far back as she could, increasing the physical distance to match the psychological one.

“W-what’s the matter?”

“I have something to confess.”

“Confess, as in…?”

Anar’el’s ears twitched nervously.

“Ah, no, I can’t. I already have someone in my heart…”

“What? What are you talking about?”

“Huh? Oh.”

Seeing Fiora’s baffled reaction, Anar’el cleared her throat and subtly pushed aside the romance novel on her desk, one she had recently taken a liking to.

“Ahem, just kidding.”

“…”

“So, what is it you wanted to say?”

In the end, Fiora confessed everything to Anar’el.

“I am not a delinquent! My family sent me here to get a job, but I had no intention of accepting, so I pretended to be one to get my application rejected!”

Anar’el was so shocked at this unexpected truth that her ears practically jumped.

“Is that true?”

“Yes, it is.”

“Oh, what a relief!”

“Pardon?”

“That makes me even more eager to have you at our academy!”

Anar’el sprang to her feet and bowed respectfully.

“Please, take care of us moving forward, Lady Fiora Pendorean.”

“Wait, hold on a moment.”

“Yes?”

Clearing her throat, Fiora got to the main point.

“As I mentioned, I only came for the interview due to certain circumstances. I’d like to terminate my contract as a teacher.”

“T-terminate…?”

Anar’el’s long ears drooped so low they nearly touched the ground.

“B-but Lady Pendorean, please reconsider…”

“My decision won’t change.”

Her resolve was as firm as it had been when facing Diana.

After hesitating and mumbling, Anar’el’s eyes sparkled as she remembered something.

“That’s right! A breach of contract! There’s a penalty fee…”

“I’ll pay it.”

“Ugh…”

Tears streaming down her face, Anar’el extended her hand.

“Fine, the penalty fee is…”

Hearing the amount, Fiora smiled brightly.

‘Oh, that’s not much.’

Feeling relieved, Fiora nodded and said, “May I use the communication crystal for a moment?”

“Yes…”

Fiora contacted her family. Her father picked up immediately.

“Ah, Father!?”

-Hmm? Fiora, is that you? What’s the matter?

“W-why are you personally answering the communication crystal?”

-Haha, the empire’s been rather noisy lately, hasn’t it? I thought it best to handle important calls myself in case something urgent came up.

“I-I see.”

-So, how’s work going? I heard you got a job at Amonis Academy.

Fiora’s face twisted into a grimace.

“Uh, sort of…”

-Haha, really? Keep at it. Amonis Academy is a prestigious institution. The experience you gain there will surely benefit you in the future.

“…Father.”

-Go ahead, I’m listening.

Taking a deep breath, Fiora spoke up.

“I, um, I’m planning to quit.”

-…What?

“The work is too hard.”

-You’ve only been there for two days.

“…I’m sorry.”

A long silence followed.

After a moment, Duke Pendorean spoke again, his voice carefully composed.

-Very well. I understand.

“I-I’m sorry. So, about the penalty fee for breaking the contract…”

-What? You already signed the contract?

“Yes…”

Another long silence ensued.

During that silence, Fiora barely dared to breathe. Finally, the Duke spoke again.

-…Is there anyone from the academy nearby? Perhaps the principal?

“T-the principal is here.”

-Principal Anar’el, how have you been?

Anar’el straightened up in shock, her body stiff with surprise.

Duke Pendorean knew her name!

“Yes, yes! I’ve been well, Your Grace!”

-I apologize for this informal conversation. I have something to say regarding my daughter.

“Yes? What would that be…?”

The Duke’s tone turned grave.

-I fear I have failed in raising my daughter properly. For a noble, promises and contracts are sacred. A single word, a single syllable, can affect one’s honor. I believed I had instilled this firmly, but clearly, I have not.

“Pardon…?”

-Despite her shortcomings, I ask that Amonis Academy guide her to cultivate both wisdom and virtue. I must go now, as work beckons. Farewell.

“Yes! Yes, Your Grace!”

When the call ended, Anar’el turned to look at Fiora.

Her face was ashen.

“L-Lady Fiora?”

“…”

“His Grace said…”

Before Anar’el could finish, Fiora slumped sideways and fainted, overwhelmed by the mental shock.

Fiora’s collapse prompted a gathering of the academy staff.

As a distinguished noblewoman of the Pendorean family had fainted, Anar’el insisted they remain present out of respect.

Anar’el also explained the situation to the assembled teachers (although Brestle didn’t come, claiming it was lunchtime).

“…So, Lady Fiora isn’t actually a delinquent!”

Marion looked disappointed.

“Ugh, I thought I’d found a good drinking buddy.”

Sloth remained indifferent.

“Well, it doesn’t really matter.”

Kai nodded knowingly, as if everything made sense now.

“Yeah, someone from the Pendorean family wouldn’t act like that.”

Kai’s self-assured response prompted Amon to grumble.

“You’re just defending her because she’s your junior.”

“No, that’s not it, senior.”

“Forget it.”

Amon sighed and scratched his head.

‘Well, I’m not sure what exactly is going on, but it’s good she’s not actually a delinquent.’

With that thought, Fiora’s likability in his mind rose slightly from rock bottom.

Moreover, the revelation that Fiora wasn’t a delinquent was encouraging.

‘Five teachers. Now everything’s set.’

It was the first step toward the academy’s revival.

Just as he was thinking this…

“Ahhh! Because of you!”

“What!?”

Fiora suddenly screamed and sprang to her feet, startling everyone.

Still half-asleep, she blinked and looked around in surprise.

“This is…Amonis Academy?”

“Yes! This is Amonis Academy!”

“It wasn’t a dream…?”

As if in a trance, she scanned the room until her eyes landed on Amon.

‘Amon Drake?’

Amon. Amon? Amon!

Grandmother Diana’s cherished Amon!

She had been sent here by her grandmother to get close to him, making him the cause of all her troubles!

Like a bolt of lightning, Fiora lunged at Amon and kicked him.

“Because of you!”

“Argh!”

Sent flying, Amon rolled across the ground, and Fiora climbed on top of him, grabbing his collar and shaking him furiously.

“It’s all your fault! Yours! You wretched scoundrel!”

“Ugh! Ack! Wh-why all of a sudden…!”

As he was shaken mercilessly, Amon suddenly shouted with an enlightened expression.

“So you’re finally showing your true colors! You really are a delinquent!”

“Shut up!”

“Principal! She’s not pretending to be a delinquent—she’s a full-blown one!”

Meanwhile, Anar’el had retreated into a corner, trembling.

“Eek! She really is a delinquent…”

Marion was delighted.

“My drinking buddy is back!”

Sloth remained indifferent.

“Well, it doesn’t really matter.”

Kai shook his head in disbelief.

‘The Pendorean family must be going through a tough time…’

At the same time, Brestle was enjoying her meal.

“Yum! This pilaf is delicious!”