I Got a Fake Job at the Academy-Chapter 782

Chapter 782 - Side Story 55: Special Class (1)

When he called out Eric Willow's name, Rudger recalled the conversation he had with Elisa Willow in the chancellor's office.

-There will be one among the special class students. Actually, there's nothing to hide. You can tell who it is just by looking at the name. 

-Eric Willow. Is he your cousin?

-Yes, that's right. To be precise, we're fifth cousins though.

Fifth cousins. So for Eric Willow, Elisa Willow was his father's cousin.

-Even if we're fifth cousins, there's nothing particularly strange about it. But for that child to be in the special class, it's a bit unusual. Is it a characteristic of the Willow family? 

-The Willow family isn't that famous. Ah, there is one thing we're famous for, thanks to me.

It might sound like bragging, but it was a plain fact. In truth, most magic families were like that. One couldn't earn the name of a prestigious family just by having many magicians of adequate level. To carry that name, one exceptional individual was needed—someone that everyone in the world would acknowledge.

The principal of Theon, Elisa, was exactly such an existence. A case where the family received a halo effect in reverse because she herself was outstanding. As a result, the magical abilities of the family members excluding her could not exceed above average, to put it nicely.

However, uniquely, one exceptional case appeared.

-Eric and I are fifth cousins, but we haven't known each other that long. If anything, we're from quite distant factions even within our family.

Eric's grandmother, who was a direct descendant of the Willow family, went to another family and married her husband.

And the daughter born from that marriage married a commoner businessman and had Eric. If anything, Eric should have lived a life with no connection to magic, so why did he enroll in Theon?

-That child is a possessor of magic eyes, just like me.

Magic eyes. Among magicians, there existed special cases where mana accumulated excessively in a part of the body, causing mutation.

Usually this happened in bloodlines born with mana—it occurred when children with magician parents were gradually influenced by mana from the fetal stage.

Usually, children born this way showed no major abnormalities immediately. However, the residual mana in their bodies grew along with the child's growth, and it manifested in full form when the child passed around 7-8 years old.

Magic eyes created by mana settling in the eyes were a representative example of this. At the same time, it was the most commonly encountered case. Of course, even such magic eyes only appeared in a very small portion of magicians.

Elisa Willow was also a possessor of magic eyes. Her golden eyes shook people's minds. Especially effective on the opposite sex, they were close to eyes of fascination, and the unique charm brought by these magic eyes contributed to her popularity.

Of course, Elisa didn't use her magic eyes carelessly. She knew how to properly suppress her own power.

But Eric was different.

-That child's magic eyes are special. Magic eyes themselves are unusual, but that child's are a bit more dangerous. I'm quite formidable when it comes to magic eyes myself, but his are even more so than mine.

Eric wasn't even of pure magician bloodline, and despite that blood being mixed with a commoner, powerful magic eyes manifested in him.

The magician's ability manifested through atavism, and moreover, those magic eyes were said to be practically mutation-grade.

-He's struggling to control them because his magic eyes are too powerful. That child is also continuously avoiding meeting people because of it.

Ordinary magic eyes were already difficult to control, but Eric's magic eyes were said to be quite high-level even among historic magic eyes.

-So, Teacher Rudger, I'm asking for your help. I have faith that you can do it well.

The words Elisa conveyed at the end were somewhat burdensome, but since he had already agreed to take it on, Rudger intended to do his best.

He glanced at Eric. Eric had shaggy hair covering his eyes, and along with that, he wore large glasses with a strong prescription on his face.

Though he gave off a gloomy bookworm feeling, Rudger could tell that appearance was Eric's own effort to suppress his magic eyes.

Magic eyes ultimately had to make eye contact to take effect. So he deliberately grew his hair to cover his eyes, and also wore artifact-shaped glasses.

'Well, well. I already heard they were the special class, but they've gathered only exceptional children without exception.'

Even in Rudger's view, the level of the students gathered here was not just good but excessively high.

He could see why other teachers had given up on being in charge of these children.

Especially in the case of the two who had refused classes, Eric and Mina. They were born with such tremendously powerful abilities that they affected their surroundings.

'One possesses excessively powerful mana, strong enough to burn surrounding people. The other has mutation-grade magic eyes manifested through atavism, impossible to control.'

Of course, even compared to these two, the previous four were not inferior. In Hermoa’s case, she had a special constitution that felt mana with all five senses, and the other three seemed to have hidden cards they just weren't talking about.

Of course, they seemed to be trying to hide and conceal as much as possible, but everything was visible to Rudger's eyes.

If it had been before, he wouldn't have been able to discern it, but he had taken a step into the 8th rank.

There was Grandel's help, and manifesting 8th rank magic was partly a stroke of luck, but crossing the wall of that realm was an undeniable fact.

Because of that, he became able to see the world and people with a broader perspective, and could see things he couldn't have seen before.

In that sense, the special class students were nothing less than raw gems that would become brilliant jewels.

They were emitting beautiful and brilliant light even though they hadn't been properly cut yet.

As an educator, he couldn't help but feel pressure, but at the same time, he felt motivated. Teaching these children and raising them into proper magicians was also the greatest reward an educator could taste.

"You are the special class. You know what that word means. Because you're different from other students, the classes you receive also must be different. Yes. There are no basic educational courses like the ones you know."

Having finished the roll call, Rudger spoke to the students in a calm voice.

"So for the first class, I will test your abilities. To see what level each of you is at." 

"I have a question."

Carlo, still rough but improved from before, asked.

"Go ahead, Carlo. What are you curious about?" 

"What method will you use for this test?" 

"Real combat."

Since all the students gathered here were freshmen, the first start would normally have to go lightly.

But that was just the educational process implemented for ordinary magicians. Special students needed special policies suitable for them.

That was why the special class was created, and why Rudger was assigned to that special class. Because Principal Elisa Willow fully sympathized with this aspect.

"Real combat, you say?"

The timid Robert's voice trembled. For him, the mention of such a brutal word—something war mages would do—in this peaceful place called Theon was quite unsettling.

"Of course, we'll also conduct theoretical classes intermittently. However, testing through real combat before those classes is to assess each of your levels."

Although grouped as the special class, the six people gathered here were also vastly different from each other. Rather than binding them as one in the educational process, individual educational policies suited to each person's tendencies seemed more necessary.

In other words, it was the crazy idea of handling six individuals called geniuses one by one.

Carlo, who caught the meaning, snorted whether it was really possible. But that was just bravado to avoid feeling intimidated. He too was inwardly sensing what a tremendous magician Rudger was.

"I've received permission from the chancellor to use the special magic training ground. We'll move there right now."

At the mention of moving, Mina and Eric showed slightly reluctant reactions. But before that, Rudger narrowed his eyes and spoke in a low, warning tone.

"Let me tell you, I hate not participating in class the most. If you run away, I'll chase after you and catch you. Even if that place is on the opposite side of the continent."

The last words might have felt like a metaphor or exaggeration to the students, but if the Owens members had heard it, they would know it was the literal truth.

"We move immediately."

The students gauged each other's reactions. Then Hermoa jumped up from her seat.

"Yes, teacher!"

When Hermoa actively came forward, the other students who had been gauging the situation also stood up one by one.

Theon had several magic training grounds. This special magic training ground that Rudger borrowed was one of them.

Ordinary students couldn't use this place. As the name suggested, it was made for special purposes, so it wasn't even open normally.

But now, for the sake of six students, the chancellor personally stamped approval to open this place.

Rudger stood at the center of the training ground, looking at the special class students standing in disarray.

"The test will proceed immediately." 

"Teacher! I have a question!" 

"Go ahead. What are you curious about, Hermoa?" 

"What's the format of this test? You said real combat, but we haven't experienced real combat yet!"

No matter how much they were geniuses, they were freshmen who had just enrolled in Theon. There was no way they had experienced situations like the real combat Rudger was talking about.

"You know how to use magic. Whether you received education before coming here, or you figured it out on your own."

No student denied those words. All the students gathered here were special.

"You said you haven't experienced real combat? But you'll vaguely know what actions you should take if such a situation arises."

Rudger's voice held a certain conviction. Because all these students he had assessed were geniuses.

And the geniuses Rudger thought of were those who pioneered their own path even without someone properly teaching them.

"It doesn't matter if you don't consciously think with your head, or if you don't voice it out loud. Once it starts, you'll know."

This wasn't something that could be conveyed through verbal explanation. At those words, some made expressions asking what he was talking about, but Rudger didn't care.

"You need to use the magic you know to inflict damage on me. Don't discriminate between means and methods."

At the words not to discriminate between means and methods, Carlo grinned. It was a smile asking if it was really okay.

Hermoa raised her hand and asked.

"If we succeed, what reward do we get?!" 

"If you inflict even a little damage on me, you won't have to attend this special class. I promise I won't interfere with whatever you do at Theon."

At those words, the eyes of some students changed. It meant if they did well just this once, they wouldn't have to attend this bothersome special class.

As each showed motivation, Rudger asked.

"So, who will go first?" 

"I'll do it!"

The one who came forward this time was also Hermoa. Then Carlo stepped ahead of Hermoa and stood before Rudger.

"Teacher. Please teach me a lesson."

Though Carlo maintained his slovenly attitude with his hands in his pockets, his eyes were burning hot with fighting spirit toward Rudger.

"Hey Carlo! I said I'd go first!" 

"What? What's the point of just saying that? First come, first served. Don't be annoying and just watch over there. I'm going to graduate right here."

Hermoa bit her lip in frustration, then cleared her throat, conscious of Rudger's gaze.

"Ahem. Fine then. I'm generous, so I'll let it slide just this once."

When Hermoa, who would normally charge like she wanted to kill him, came out docile, Carlo's expression changed strangely.

"What's with you, did you eat something wrong?" 

"This guy really. Even when I try to treat him nicely, he has to say it like that... Anyway! I'm letting you go first!"

As the bothersome Hermoa backed down, finally only Rudger and Carlo stood on the training ground.

Carlo pulled his hands from his pockets, then banged both fists together. The mana gathered in his fists collided with each other, creating an intense shockwave.

"Well then, let's have at it!"

Carlo crouched his body, then shot toward Rudger like a cannonball using leg strength. His speed was lightning-fast, to a degree impossible for a freshman to show.

Even the other students watching lost track of Carlo's movement for that instant. The moment Carlo's mana-laden fist was about to touch Rudger's body.

Rudger was already not there.

"Huh?" 

"Your speed is fast, but your attack is too linear. And your ability to respond to situations is too lacking."

Along with a voice that came from the side at some point, with a tap, Rudger's staff hooked Carlo's leg and tripped him.

Rudger pointed his staff at the fallen Carlo.

"Will you try more?"