I Got a Fake Job at the Academy-Chapter 779

Chapter 779 – Side Story 52: Back to the Original Place (2)

At Elisa's question, Rudger asked back. It wasn't because he didn't know the meaning of the word "special class."

As far as he remembered, the system of a special class itself didn't exist at Theon. That meant it must have been newly created during the three years he was gone.

Elisa let her shoulders droop exaggeratedly, as if to say what was the point of telling him.

"I'm actually not that fond of it either. It's creating a hierarchy among students who should be receiving education. Whether it's good or bad, I think it goes against my educational philosophy." 

"Yet there must be a reason why you approved this special class system." 

"Because it's necessary."

Chancellor Elisa stated firmly.

"It's far from my beliefs, but realistically, classes don't flow exactly as I wish. As you know, Teacher Rudger, the level of students entering Theon varies greatly each time."

Rudger nodded in agreement on that point. Theon is a special academy that teaches magic, but that doesn't mean everyone who enters Theon is completely ignorant of magic.

In the case of noble students, they have received systematic private magic education from a young age. Their starting point was different from commoner students who had almost no such opportunity.

Building a foundation several years ahead makes a much bigger difference than one might think. As the grade level increases, the gap that initially existed quickly narrows, but this doesn't apply to freshmen who have just enrolled.

"Naturally, we're already separating basic education classes and advanced classes accordingly, but there's something more important than that." 

"You're referring to the difference in talent."

Rudger already knew what Elisa was going to say. In fact, this was something he had vaguely been thinking about as an educator himself.

"As expected, you knew, Teacher Rudger." 

"I too have vaguely felt it while teaching students."

Even if noble students built their foundation through several more years of advanced learning than commoners, that doesn't become a reason to operate a system called a special class.

This is because measures to deal with such situations have already been prepared in Theon's history spanning several decades.

However, the difference in talent possessed by individual students makes the system built up over decades of history meaningless.

"Even when receiving the same teaching, what they absorb is clearly different. The presence or absence of effort exists, but there are too many cases where even that is meaningless."

Rudger fully sympathized with that point. Even if 10 units of time are invested, if someone digests teachings equal to those 10 units of time, someone else can only obtain a level of 1 during those 10 units of time.

For such a student to produce equal results to others, they must pour in more time and effort.

Conversely, someone only uses 1 unit of time, yet produces results several times greater.

Those commonly called geniuses belonged to this category.

"The biggest problem is children with excessively outstanding talent." 

"You're referring to geniuses who allow no comparison and quickly master even the educator's teachings as their own." 

"I believe everyone should receive equal education. I have no disagreement with that idea. However, I also think this. Isn't insisting only on uniform education without considering students' levels actually constraining the wings of children who could soar?"

Just from what she was saying, one could tell how much Elisa had agonized over this matter.

"The level of new students entering each year is rising. And naturally, the number of children born with overwhelming talent among those many new students is also increasing."

Elisa organized statistics on the ratio of particularly unusual students among them while examining the personal information of new students each year.

Surprisingly, starting from three years ago, the overall level of new students newly entering Theon had been continuously increasing.

And in proportion to the ratio of enrolled students, the number of students with very special talent was also increasing.

"As Chancellor, I must treat all students fairly, but at the same time, as an educator, I think I should at least provide each student with clothes that fit them."

The equality of teaching is a good phrase. However, in the end, that equality of teaching could only reside in the average located in the middle of the standard distribution curve when looking at all students.

Rather, precisely because of that, a few outstanding students suppressed by the average inevitably emerge.

Born as brilliant raw gems. Watching such raw gems lose their luster under the pretext of being for everyone is a regrettable thing as an educator.

"I believe every person has their own role. And educators help students do their best in their roles."

Elisa had no choice but to create a special class even if it meant creating educational differentiation among students.

"The problem is that this special class is literally for special students, right? So the students' talents are so outstanding that there aren't many people who can properly teach them."

The teachers at Theon are treated as considerable elites, as they are composed only of people who teach magic.

However, teaching geniuses is a distinctly separate matter. This is because they cannot be taught at all through ordinary methods.

"I've somehow been teaching them while dividing up my time, but as you know, the position of Chancellor isn't that leisurely." 

"I understand."

Elisa must have become even busier after the Holy War. Theon was experiencing unprecedented prosperity, and all sorts of external figures must have requested meetings with her to collaborate with such a Theon.

Meeting sponsors, improving systems, checking on the condition of students and teachers every year. On top of that, if you add all sorts of miscellaneous paperwork, the work was truly mountainous.

Although Rudger had been the Planning Director, he knew that the position of Chancellor was more, not less, demanding.

It was because Elisa Willow was sitting in this position right now; if it hadn't been her, the position of Chancellor would have kept changing once a month.

Even the greedy Hugo Burtag had wanted to gain the upper hand against Elisa, but had never attempted to sit in the Chancellor's seat. That's how much the Chancellor was a position that had to bear a heavy crown.

"But now it's different. A mage even better than me has finally returned, hasn't he?" 

"You're too kind."

At Rudger's humble words, Elisa pouted with a sullen face.

"Really now. If the first human to use 8th-circle magic acts so humble, what are we supposed to do? Anyway, if Teacher Rudger takes charge of that special class, I would be truly grateful."

A special class. This was something only Rudger could do, but at the same time, it was also Elisa's own consideration.

Rudger had a blank period of three years. So even if he returned, if he conspicuously took a regular teacher position, he couldn't avoid suspicions of preferential treatment.

In that case, maintaining an external invited instructor position under the pretext of being in charge of the special class was the optimal way to avoid external criticism.

"You can do it, right?" 

"Of course, when you've given me the opportunity to come back here, how could I not do such a thing?" 

"I like how straightforward you are. I have high expectations for you, Teacher Rudger. To be honest, I've been finding it a bit difficult to teach those children lately." 

"I understand. You're such a busy person after all." 

"That's one reason, but it's because the children's personalities are no joke."

Elisa shook her head as if fed up. Rudger inwardly realized that her facial expressions had become much more varied compared to before.

In the past, she had been someone whose inner thoughts were unknowable as if wearing a mask, but now she knew how to be honest with her emotions.

Whether she had changed over the years, or whether she only acted that way in front of him, he didn't know.

"I always want to face students with a smiling face, but today's new students have no respect for adults. Should I say they're a bit lacking in manners? Ah, I'm sorry. Without realizing it, such harsh words."

Elisa smiled gently and covered her mouth with her hand, but anyone could see that was deliberate. It seemed she had accumulated a lot inside while teaching those children.

'More than that, seeing her talk about "kids these days," is it because the generation has changed? I feel strangely familiar with this.'

Even on Earth in his previous life, there was talk about MZ generation and whatnot. In fact, that wasn't limited to just 21st century Earth.

Weren't there even records of grumbling inscriptions left on ancient stone tablets saying young people these days are arrogant?

Different countries, different races, different eras, but in the end, where people live is always the same.

"But you said they're children with outstanding talent, yet from what you're saying, their personalities seem far from ordinary." 

"It can't be helped. They're children who possess magic talent superior to anyone else despite their young age. Naturally their pride rises, and a mindset of looking down on others becomes their foundation. So situations arise where they even disrespect teachers."

Rudger suddenly recalled a few similar people among the students he had taught.

Representatively, the two people who had taken first place in the first and second years. Now they were also nostalgic memories.

"Since you call it a special class, it seems the connotation isn't entirely positive." 

"In fact, there are problems in that aspect too that can't be denied. Their talent is so outstanding that teaching them isn't easy either. They themselves feel no interest at all in other regular classes."

In a way, it was a classroom where children who floated around within Theon due to excessive genius had gathered.

He could understand why other teachers were reluctant. It was literally taking on a time bomb that could explode at any moment, so who would want to do it?

The only ones who could do it would be people who would be fine even if not a time bomb but a nuclear warhead exploded.

And in Elisa's thinking, the only person capable of that was sitting facing her right now.

"I'm not sure if I can teach them well." 

"If it's difficult, you can honestly say it's difficult. Or, you can recommend someone else that Teacher Rudger knows."

Rudger suddenly thought of two people. One was naturally Clinton Rothschild. But he was already an imperial court mage, so it was impossible.

As for free status, the only remaining option was Grandel, his teacher and foster mother.

"......I'll do it."

Other things aside, Grandel trying to teach those so-called genius children? No matter how he thought about it, it didn't seem like it would end well at all.

At Rudger's words, Elisa's expression brightened immediately.

"Really? I knew you would!"

Elisa immediately presented the contract documents. And she handed over the list of children belonging to the special class as well.

"Take a look. The number will be much smaller than when you taught first-year classes before." 

"This seems to be this year's first year."

The number was six. It wasn't that large a number, but thinking that they possessed talent so exceptional that even teachers found them difficult to teach, it was more than expected.

Rudger discovered a familiar face among the personal information.

"Oh. This child." 

"Oh my. Do you know that child?" 

"I ran into her on the way here. She was making such a bored and sullen expression all by herself that I felt she wasn't ordinary, but to think she was part of the special class."

A girl with deep pink hair falling below her shoulders tied in twin tails. Here and there, perhaps due to traces of magic power, her hair was two-toned with a deep navy blue color.

Probably the original hair color was this navy blue side, and the pink had changed due to the influence of strong magic power.

Even the color photograph taken with the latest camera showed an expression full of dissatisfaction with the world, which was quite amusing.

Hermoa Entiro. Looking at her reminded him of Flora Lumos who had taken his class in the first year.

Her constitution of feeling magic power synesthetically was also similar to hers.

"When are you thinking of starting classes? Since it's a special class with no fixed curriculum, it's all up to your discretion, Teacher Rudger."

This was also a kind of privilege given only to special class teachers. Since genius children wouldn't follow a rigidly set schedule anyway, it was natural to leave it to the educator's discretion.

However, since it was the momentous first class, Elisa's calculation was that about a week would be needed considering the time to prepare immediately.

"Right away tomorrow."

But Rudger's answer was simple.

"I'll start the classes."