How to Teach a Hero at the Academy

Chapter 3: Sword Saint of the Academy (2)

“Please come to my office by 9 a.m. tomorrow.”

Konstanze said, walking through the school grounds.

“You'll have to take the final test. If you don't have a place to stay nearby, you're welcome to use the faculty dormitory.”

Abel looked around. A crest shaped like a fruit stalk wrapped around a blade was engraved everywhere. The sunset hue colored the vast grounds, which were nearly the size of a small city, while route airships that circulated within the capital melted into the clouds.

Cia-Harphe Academy was in the sky.

Cia meant sky. Harphe was an ancient word for blessing.

The name was given with the intention of it being built on a Floating Island from the very beginning.

“Isn't it pretty?”

Konstanze asked, tilting her head toward Abel.

“Cia-Harphe Academy……, no, since the interview is over, shall I just call it CIAR? CIAR is not only famous as a prestigious academy but is also utilized as a tourist resource for the capital. We allow the general public to enter once a month. There aren't many floating islands in as good a condition as this one, you see.”

A floating island referred to a landmass that had been made to float in the air by the Ancients.

Using sky stones as a power source, they used magnetic force to repel each other and the ground surface. It was known that the landmass at the time of its creation had a perfect circular shape, but due to the long passage of time, floating islands with their original form were rare.

“I think it's inefficient.”

Abel said indifferently.

“If a war breaks out, supplies will become difficult. Fortunately, the barrier seems sturdy, but all fortresses are built with the possibility of being destroyed.”

“That may be true, but……”

“Below CIAR lies the capital. If another country decides to conquer the capital, they will first try to occupy the floating island where CIAR is located.”

“You're joking too much.”

Konstanze covered her mouth and laughed.

“Another country trying to conquer the capital. The Holy Numeros Empire has reigned as the strongest nation in Epezeria for over a thousand years. The capital is by no means an easy target.”

Not much time had passed since the end of the civil war. That must be why. Because a slight crisis has been resolved, they blindly believe in a firm peace. Enjoying a brief period of peace must be an important respite for the era. They may as well enjoy the last rest given before the Demon King appears. Abel thought so.

‘She must be somewhere here.’

Of course, he was an exception.

He had to find the one who would become the Hero as quickly as possible.

Abel opened his journal.

‘Accessing the records of Monika Lohengrin.’

As Abel murmured in his heart, the oracle began to be written.

『──I, the God of Oblivion ‘Fichte’, look upon the world,』

『And you shall reach beneath the waters of memory.』

Following that, the records on Monika Lohengrin were attached.

『 Table of Contents for ‘Monika Lohengrin’ 』

─ Values

─ Traits

─ Secret Arts

─ Story

The information possessed by the Pantheon was only the records from after she became the Hero. Even though they were gods, they were ultimately beings bound by causality. There were only five main gods, and they couldn't possibly keep an eye on all the creatures living in all the various worlds.

Abel examined the Portrait of Monika Lohengrin that was beginning to be drawn in the journal.

An impression as if stained by the night sky.

Amber eyes shone from between dark, sunken hair. The emotions that should have been present in her gaze seemed worn away, and her skin was also lifelessly pale. Only a mechanical smile was present on her expressionless lips.

‘This must be her appearance after becoming the Hero, so she'll be different now.’

At the time she was chosen by the Holy Sword, Monika Lohengrin was staying at CIAR. It was recorded that she left to subjugate the Demon King at the same time she came of age, so Abel assumed that Monika Lohengrin was living as a student.

“Vice President.”

Abel said, looking back at Konstanze.

“I have a question about the student I mentioned during the interview, Monika Lohengrin.”

“Ah, that……”

Konstanze tilted her head.

“I'm sorry, but there is no student named Monika Lohengrin at CIAR. You know that well, don't you?”

It was a lie from the start, anyway.

Thinking so, Konstanze pouted.

Unconcerned, Abel spoke.

“She is a girl with black hair and amber eyes. She likely has a thin frame, as if she has lived on nothing but herbs her entire life. Do you not know of her?”

What on earth is he trying to do.

Konstanze let out a sigh.

“Abel Argento, I am familiar with the information on every student enrolled at CIAR. I've had a memory-loss prevention spell injected into my head. There is no student named Monika Lohengrin at CIAR. Do you understand? Enough with that ridiculous story……”

Konstanze cleared her throat.

“It would certainly be an honor if a Sword Saint were to become a professor at CIAR. But procedures are procedures. You must prepare for the final test process starting tomorrow.”

“There's another test?”

“I just said there was! Were you not listening?”

“I thought it was more important to find the one who will become the Hero.”

“Enough with that story! Just answer my question.”

Konstanze's index finger was pointed at Abel.

“Abel Argento, what is the most necessary virtue for a professor?”

“To train the students in a way that makes them feel it would be better to die, without actually killing them.”

“In a sense, that's correct, but……”

Konstanze laughed in dismay.

“The most important thing is the eye to recognize a student's talent. You will be free to explore the campus for a week. Students are staying on campus ahead of the start of the fall semester. Please observe the students closely. And choose the student who seems the most talented.”

Looking at Konstanze, who was speaking spiritedly with her hands on her hips, Abel turned his gaze away.

Abel's eyes trembled slightly.

“The final test will be a process of grading your discerning eye for discovering a student's talent……, Abel?”

Konstanze furrowed her brow.

“Could you please focus? I'm begging you.”

“I was listening, Vice President.”

Abel said with his back turned to Konstanze.

“There will be no need to give me a week.”

Abel moved forward without hesitation. Konstanze followed Abel's retreating back with her mouth agape.

How could there be such a self-centered person.

‘Then again…….’

He has a temperament suitable enough to be a professor at CIAR.

Konstanze shrugged. The professors at CIAR were all individuals who had achieved sufficient accomplishments in their respective fields. That's why they all tended to harbor stubborn ideas, and sometimes they even caused major incidents.

Six months ago, it was revealed that a professor from the Department of Elemental Studies, on the verge of retirement, had been consuming living spirits. Recently, it was also revealed that a professor from the Department of Theology had organized a cult. It was a daily occurrence to hear explosions from various places due to the professors' failed experiments.

Konstanze was always having a headache managing them.

It was a situation where even a hundred bodies wouldn't be enough.

‘……But.’

A faint smile spread across Konstanze's lips.

‘It seems he didn't reach the level of a Sword Saint for nothing.’

And rightly so, for where Abel's steps were headed was the rising star of the Department of Theology.

‘Fleur de Saint-Pierre.’

The young lady of the Saint-Pierre Marquisate.

Fleur was famous for having contracted with the God of the Underworld, ‘Aries’, even before enrolling at CIAR.

Divine magic was an achievement born from connecting the soul to the Pantheon, but it was rare to directly contract with a main god and be granted their power. Fleur had made a contract with the God of the Underworld at the age of 13, which was an exceptionally early start.

Such a rising star of the Department of Theology,

was sitting on the edge of a fountain, adjusting her flower crown,

‘……He passed her?’

Abel passed by without even glancing at Fleur.

Then who is he walking towards?

‘Lizer Leinhart.’

The prince of a fallen kingdom.

Lizer was a top student in the Department of Elemental Studies who had contracted with a wondrously large number of spirits.

A single spirit summoner usually contracts with at most five or so spirits. The number of spirits Lizer had contracted with already exceeded twenty, and he had earned the admiration of the professors for the fact that all the spirits had manifested on their own and requested a contract.

Such a top student of the Department of Elemental Studies,

was in the midst of playing with spirits among his fellow students,

‘……He passed him again?’

Abel glanced at Lizer and then passed by him as well.

Who on earth is he walking towards so determinedly?

‘Kroni Dungrave.’

The heir to a family of executioners.

Kroni was the top student of the Department of Academics, whom the professors had affirmed would gain insight into a new era.

Though she had ordinary aptitude for martial arts and magic, she was a student with immeasurable talent latent in the art of discourse. The art of discourse was a field of study that had only recently been discovered. As little had been clarified about the magical phenomena manifested through the power of language, the talent that Kroni possessed was special.

Such a hope of the Department of Academics,

was sitting on a bench in the central garden, reading an old book,

‘……He'll just pass by anyway.’

Konstanze's prediction was spot on.

Abel stared at Kroni for a moment, then quickened his pace.

“Hey, Abel! Stop right there!”

Unable to hold back, Konstanze started running towards Abel. Despite hearing her shout, Abel did not react.

He had no time to react.

For Abel's steps were headed toward the girl he had so desperately sought.

There was Monika Lohengrin.

Her face was younger than in the form recorded in the oracle. Her long hair was cut neatly around her shoulders, but the gaze in her amber eyes was as sharp as it would be in the future.

“Wait.”

Abel said to Monika's back.

“You are Monika Lohengrin.”

At the same moment Abel called her name, Monika's shoulders flinched.

‘……Who?’

Monika turned around. She took a good look at the man who had suddenly pronounced her name.

From beyond his swaying silver hair, lifeless blackish-blue eyes gleamed. The bastard sword hanging at his waist, apart from its antique pattern, was as squalid as if it were a relic pulled from a mire. The neat formal attire and the filthy weapon created a strange sense of dissonance.

“As you said, I am Monika Lohengrin.”

Monika said in a monotone voice.

“Do you have some business with me?”

“Of course.”

Abel knelt on one knee.

Meeting Monika's eye level, he captured her features in his eyes.

‘Did a dog he grew up with since childhood die or something?’

Monika thought, observing Abel's expression. A face that looked sad somehow. Since she couldn't very well ask if his dog had died, Monika decided to ask a different question.

“You have a very bad first impression. Are you aware of that?”

“This is the first I've heard of it.”

“That's a shame. In that case, would you please state your business.”

“Receive my teachings.”

Abel answered before the question was even finished.

“From now on, you will be my personal disciple. Learn by my side all day long. I will pass on everything I know to you.”

Monika stuck out her lower lip and tilted her head.

‘What is he talking about now.’

Mumbling such a question, she looked at Konstanze running up from behind Abel.

It's the first time I've seen the Vice President's expression in such a mess. She's supposed to be one of the few merciful people among the higher-ups at CIAR. The man standing before her must be a professor who caused a major incident. Thinking so, Monika let out a sigh.

“What on earth do you mean to teach me?”

“How to protect this world.”

Abel's lips parted heavily.

A voice so serious that it even felt reverent.

“You will support the world with your flesh, and fill the space between heaven and earth with your soul. Let us temper your small body like a sword. You will wield the wishes of all people in your two hands.”

A faint smile spread across Abel's face.

“Monika Lohengrin, let's save the world together.”

“……Aha.”

Monika also smiled faintly.

“It seems you've eaten a poisonous mushroom that causes hallucinations. I don't know how you knew my name, but……, what you just said cannot come true. There are two unsolvable problems.”

Monika turned her body towards Abel.

And then she held out her left arm.

“First, I am nothing more than a janitor at CIAR.”

The thing held in Monika's left hand.

It was an old, worn-out broom.

“Second, that whole ‘wishes of all people’ or whatever……, I cannot wield it in two hands.”

Monika then held out her right arm.

The thing held in Monika's right hand.

It was nothing.

It could be nothing.

“Because I don't have a right hand.”

A sleeve tied in a knot at elbow height.

That was what hung before Abel's eyes.