The Academy is Doomed

Chapter 91

Fiora was trembling, her face flushed red.

‘How did it come to this?’

The memory of what had happened not long ago began to resurface in her mind.

‘Fiora, Fiora dear, would you listen to me for a moment?’

‘Hmph! No. I don’t like you, Grandmother.’

‘Oh, goodness! Please, just calm down and hear me out this once.’

In the end, Fiora had no choice but to listen to Diana’s long, drawn-out story.

The extraordinary talent of a young man named Amon!
Diana’s earnest wish to take him as her disciple!
But the despair of being unable to do so because of the Emperor’s hostility!

Even after hearing the tale, Fiora’s expression didn’t soften. If anything, it grew colder, resembling a biting northern wind.

‘…So, are you telling me to sacrifice myself?’

‘It’s not a matter of sacrifice, dear. It’s a hopeful possibility—that perhaps, while working at Amonis Academy, you might form a good relationship with that young man.’

‘It’s not hopeful for me at all.’

Faced with Fiora’s complaints, Diana resorted to appealing emotionally.

‘How many more years do you think this old woman has left to live?’

‘You’re a Grand Swordmaster, so probably another hundred years.’

‘And yet, you won’t grant me my last wish! I’ve lived my life in vain! Oh, the tragedy!’

‘…Sigh.’

Faced with Diana’s tearful pleas, Fiora eventually surrendered.

‘Fine. But I’m just going to go for the interview and come right back.’

‘Yes, yes. Thank you so much, my dear granddaughter.’

And thus, Fiora ended up going to Amonis Academy.

Her true intention was simply to attend the interview and return home. But life rarely goes according to plan.

‘L-Lord Reinbelt?’

‘Ah, you must be Diana’s granddaughter…’

‘I’m Fiora Pendorean. But why are you here, Lord Reinbelt…?’

Why was Reinbelt, one of the Empire’s Four Knights and a renowned Grand Swordmaster like Diana, sweeping the courtyard with a broom?

‘Haha, I’ve taken a job here.’

‘A-a job?’

‘Yes, there’s a reason for it. But what brings you here?’

Fiora gave a brief answer, leaving out the details.

Unbeknownst to her, she made a mistake at that moment.

‘I’m here for an interview.’

‘I see. I’ll guide you to the Headmaster’s office.’

If she had explained her purpose in detail, Reinbelt might have found a way to interfere with Diana’s plans and chase Fiora away!

Reinbelt still secretly harbored the dream of making Amon his disciple.

In any case, a short time later…

The news that a young lady of the illustrious Pendorean family had come in person for an interview caused Headmaster Anar’el to come rushing out as if rolling down a hill.

‘Lady Fiora Pendorean! Thank you so much for coming!!’

‘W-what!?’

The unexpected, enthusiastic welcome!

It was understandable. For Anar’el, this was a golden opportunity.

Recruiting the young lady of a prestigious noble family as a teacher? The benefits for the academy would be immeasurable.

Especially in terms of reputation and prestige, Anar’el, who prided himself on being more human than humans, couldn’t afford to let Fiora slip away.

‘Vice Headmaster Brestle! Hurry and prepare to welcome Lady Pendorean!’

Anar’el even dragged the previously idle Brestle out to assist in the reception.

The problem was that Brestle was well aware of the Pendorean family’s prestige.

‘L-Lady Pendorean, you say?’

‘Yes! The young lady of the Pendorean family is here in person!’

‘Ah! The Pendorean Ducal House!’

At that moment, seeing the sudden flood of fervent hospitality, Fiora instinctively realized she wouldn’t just be attending an interview and going back home.

‘What do I do? If this keeps up, I might actually end up working here…’

She was aware of her status as a member of a prestigious family.

Walking away after deciding to attend the interview and being offered the position would undoubtedly tarnish the family’s honor if rumors spread.

‘In that case… there’s only one way.’

The only solution was to make the academy reject her.

With that in mind, Fiora decided to act like a “scoundrel.”

And now, the present.

“Hack! Ptui! Ugh, gross, it splattered.”

“P-please don’t spit…”

“My apologies.”

The effect was remarkable.

‘Perfect! Even the welcoming headmaster is looking at me like I’m a cockroach!’

Anar’el, trembling with her ears drooping, leaned her upper body far back.

It seemed she wanted to put as much physical distance as possible between them, just like the psychological distance she felt.

‘This should be enough for them to reject me, right? Flawless!’

Of course, there was one small, adorable problem.

Acting like this might actually tarnish her family’s honor far more than simply walking away from the job.

But who in their right mind would believe the ridiculous rumor that the noble young lady of the illustrious Pendorean family had turned into a crazy delinquent?

‘They’ll definitely believe the part where I rudely refused the job I was offered. But me spitting indoors and puffing on cigarettes like a thug? Who would buy such nonsense?’

Given Fiora’s normally impeccable behavior, such rumors would be dismissed as baseless.

Even the Pendorean family, hearing such tales, would likely respond with, ‘Who on earth would spread such ludicrous lies?’ followed by laughter.

‘Or maybe the absurdity of it all would keep the rumors from spreading entirely. It’s so outlandish no one would dare repeat it.’

Fiora feigned annoyance and spoke up.

“Ugh, I really want a cigarette right now…”

Muttering to herself, Fiora was trembling, her face flushed red.

It looked as though she was desperately suppressing her desires like a true delinquent but in reality, she was dying of embarrassment!

‘This is getting unbearable. Can’t they just reject me already…?’

Perhaps her wish had reached them.

‘So, that person was just putting on an act in front of Lady Diana, huh.’

Amon, who had been silently observing, finally spoke.

“I’m sorry, but we cannot accept you.”

Fiora’s cheek twitched.

‘It worked! I can finally go home!’

She was so delighted she almost felt grateful to Amon for rejecting her outright.

With her goal achieved, Fiora began to rise discreetly but at that moment.

“Excuse me, Mr. Amon?”

“Yes?”

Anar’el hesitated before continuing.

“If we could hire her as a teacher, we could officially distribute promotional materials for the academy…”

“We still can’t.”

“But Lady Pendorean herself came here. How can we say no?”

“I said no. It’s bad for the students’ education.”

“But…”

Although Anar’el was still terrified of Fiora, her proximity to Amon gave her just enough courage to entertain her ambitions.

“She’s from the Pendorean family…”

Still clinging to her hopes, Anar’el fiddled with her fingers and ears while Amon sighed deeply.

“Headmaster.”

“Yes?”

“Lend me your ear.”

As Anareel leaned in, Amon growled.

“She’s just a crazy delinquent!”

“Eek! That tickles.”

“You want to hire someone like her? Are you serious? Our faculty is already in shambles, and you’re thinking of adding someone so unfit?”

Anar’el thought to herself.

‘Mr. Amon, why are you excluding yourself from that statement?’

But she couldn’t voice her thoughts. Unable to refute Amon, Anar’el merely swallowed her frustration in silence.

True to her lineage as the granddaughter of a Grand Swordmaster, Fiora overheard every word of Amon’s whispered critique.

‘Did he just call me a crazy delinquent?’

She felt wronged and angry but in the end, Amon was actually helping her, so she had no choice but to support his argument.

“Whew! What are you two whispering about? You look cute together!”

“See that? She’s not just rude—she’s completely unhinged!”

“Grrr!”

“Oh my! Look at her go! Truly shameless!”

Amon was desperate.

‘The academy is already in dire straits. Adding another disaster is out of the question.’

As Amon passionately denounced Fiora, Vice Headmaster Brestle, who had been quietly watching, suddenly raised his hand.

“I support hiring Lady Fiora.”

Brestle’s shocking statement made Amon shriek.

“Where did that come from?!”

In the Bog Mountains, ogres really do farm!

Anyway, as Amon’s eyes demanded an explanation, Brestle crossed her arms and smirked.

“I find her quite appealing.”

“What… what exactly is appealing…?”

“That bold personality. I’m very fond of talents like that.”

“What did you say?”

Brestle gently closed her eyes, her eyelashes and ears trembling slightly as she spoke.

“And hmm…this cigarette smell. It’s so delightful.”

As she said this, Brestle opened one eye and shot a sidelong glance at Amon.

Seeing the menacing glint in her eye, Amon’s mouth dropped open.

‘This crazy dark elf… is she doing this on purpose, knowing I don’t want that brat hired…?’

It wasn’t just baseless suspicion. Brestle had pulled this kind of stunt before.

When Amon was recommended for dismissal, Brestle had realized that Amon himself wanted to resign, and, out of pure contrariness, she opposed it!

Amon slammed the table and shouted.

“Don’t talk nonsense! You don’t even smoke in the first place!”

“That’s not true! That’s not true! What do you know?”

“Argh, seriously!”

Amon clutched his head in despair and let out a scream!

Witnessing this spectacle, Fiora’s face also stiffened.

‘Does that dark elf actually like my behavior?’

Fiora hastily spoke up.

“I don’t actually smoke—”

But before she could finish, Amon and Anar’el turned to look at her.

Under their gaze, Fiora realized something critical.

‘Wait, if that’s the case, they’ll actually try to hire me!’

In a panic, Fiora spat on the ground.

“Cough! Spit!”

“Stop spitting!”

As Amon raised his voice in frustration, Fiora decided to drive the nail in completely and lit a cigarette.

The cigarette she placed in her mouth was a premium one she had bought in the commercial city of Amur as a gift for her father.

“Inhale… Cough, hack, wheeze…Ah, what a fine cigarette!”

“Smoking indoors is prohibited! Put it out!”

Amon shrieked in dismay!

But Fiora, too, was silently lamenting over the acrid smell of the smoke.

‘But it’s fine. This makes it two-to-one against me. Amon is definitely going to refuse to hire me. And the headmaster won’t want me either!’

With that, her rejection seemed certain!

However, nothing in this world is truly certain.

“Amon.”

Hearing Anar’el’s resolute tone, Amon crumpled to his knees.

“Wait. Please, headmaster, I’m begging you. I’m really begging you.”

“……”

“Please, I’m getting on my hands and knees here.”

Anar’el quietly closed her eyes.

“The name of the Pendorean Duchy is not one to be taken lightly.”

“Headmaster! Headmaster!”

“Hiring her as a teacher would be an unparalleled blessing for the academy.”

“Headmaster… No, hey! Anar’el! You deranged elf!”

“Though she may have her rough edges, it’s the duty of a senior and an educator to guide juniors and correct their flaws. I have absolute faith in you, teacher Amon.”

At some point, Anar’el had covered her left ear with her left hand.

Her right ear was covered by Brestle, meaning Amon’s words didn’t reach her at all.

“That’s why… this is the path for the academy’s future.”

As she spoke, she held up a contract that already bore her seal of approval!

It turned out she had stamped it long ago while Amon and Brestle were quarreling!

As Amon exited the Headmaster’s office, he staggered down the hallway.

After walking for a while, he collapsed.

Slumping against the wall, Amon began to sob.

On the other side of the wall he was leaning against, Fiora, too, had sunk to the ground in the reception room and was sobbing.

After crying for what felt like ages, both of them spoke at the same time.

And they uttered the exact same words.

“I… I want to go home…”

But that was a wish they could not fulfill, bound as they were by the contract.