Chapter 10

◈ Chapter 10: Undercover Employment (2)

The man was like a tranquil lake at dawn, where mist rises from the water.

He was cold, icy, and still.

Like the unshaken surface of a calm lake, his every action was restrained, quiet, and without excess.

Even when the classroom door closed.

Even when his footsteps in dress shoes ascended the podium.

Even when he placed documents on the desk.

There was no sound.

That stillness enveloped the entire classroom like ripples on the water.

“Eh...”

Even the noble students who had been chatting nonstop were swept away by the atmosphere and tightly closed their mouths.

The students who had been sitting quietly shone with curiosity as they turned their gaze to the protagonist standing on the podium.

His suit, fitting his tall stature, had not a single wrinkle. A perfectly fitting black frock coat was added on top.

A sophisticated, yet not overly elaborate, outfit.

When the man removed the silk hat from his head and tossed it lightly, it softly flew and landed on the coat rack in the corner of the podium.

Amidst the natural flow of these actions, his appearance, hidden by the hat, was revealed.

Sharp jawline, straight nose, and unwavering eyes.

His strong, charismatic gaze was so sharp that it was hard to believe he was a new teacher.

His long hair, for a man, was neatly tied at the nape of his neck.

Swallow.

Some of the noble students who had been whispering behind his back were so overwhelmed by his presence that they unconsciously swallowed.

“Pleased to meet you. I am Ludger Chelisi, the new teacher at Seorin Academy.”

The moment he opened his mouth and spoke,

it was as if water was added to a watercolor painting scattered in a dreamlike manner.

The atmosphere of the classroom, which had been immersed in silence, returned to reality.

* * *

“I won’t start the class immediately since it’s the first day of the semester. However, I will make an announcement beforehand.”

I slowly hung the frock coat I had taken off on the coat rack.

Continuing the conversation was not difficult. I just had to recite the words I had already thought of at the right time.

This is a kind of performance.

I am the actor on the stage, and the students are the audience.

I just need to naturally continue my monologue in sync with the rhythm and flow.

The script is all in my head.

“My class is in the manifestation series. However, I won’t just teach pure manifestation. Instead, I will focus more on practical application, going beyond theory and applying it to real life.”

As I scanned the room, I saw a few students flinch.

Good reaction.

Given my past as a soldier, maintaining this tone and intense gaze doesn’t seem strange to the students.

“And the class is open not only to second-year students but also to first-year students. In other words, it will be a joint class for first and second years.”

Murmurs began to spread throughout the room.

All the students gathered here are second-year students, so it’s understandable that they are confused.

However, there is no rule that classes must be divided by grade, so it’s not impossible.

As the noise gradually subsided, I spoke at the most appropriate moment.

“Enough.”

Suddenly.

The noise in the classroom disappeared instantly.

Everyone’s gaze returned to me.

“It’s natural for second-year students to have complaints about having to take classes with first-year students. But don’t worry. I won’t teach the basics that beginners would learn just to be considerate of the first-year students.”

Relieved reactions spread throughout the room.

The teaching style at Seorin Academy is closer to a university than a high school on Earth.

However, it’s not exactly like a university, so it’s a bit ambiguous. The shop and demerit point system is a typical example.

Seorin students choose lectures that match their specialties, complete the subjects, and earn credits.

These students are prodigies wherever they go.

Even though they are first-year students, they are not much behind the second-year students. I decided to conduct joint classes for first and second years based on this.

Why?

When second-year students gather, they inevitably talk about the teacher.

After knowing each other for a year, the second-year students’ curiosity and main focus are not on their peers but on the new teacher, me.

But if there are first-year students who just entered the same classroom?

The second-year students’ attention will be diverted to the first-year juniors.

Then, the chances of talk about me will significantly decrease.

Even if they have complaints, they won’t dig deeper.

The existence of the first-year students is a kind of smokescreen and a breakwater to prevent any doubts about my qualifications as a teacher.

“Why are you letting first-year students take the class too?”

Someone raised their hand and asked.

Looking closely, it was a female student with long, wavy blonde hair down to her waist.

Her unwavering gaze toward me had a somewhat pedantic feel.

The students around her were talking to each other, recognizing her. What is it? Is she a popular student?

Looking closely, her face was somewhat familiar.

That face... I’ve seen it many times before.

‘Someone who makes me feel uneasy when I think about it...’

Since I received a question, I decided to answer.

“Because I believe they need opportunities too.”

“What kind of opportunities are you talking about?”

“I think it’s a very regrettable thing to limit my class to only a specific grade. That’s not the right attitude as an educator. Teaching everyone equally without being bound by grades is my belief.”

Well, if someone asks why I don’t mention grades after the second year,

Of course, they can take my class if they want to. However, third-year students are already struggling with their required subjects.

In reality, only up to the second year have the time.

“Of course, this means that my class is not bound by grades. I am confident that it is clearly different from the existing ones.”

Well, I’m not just spouting off without thinking.

I have definitely prepared for the class.

I can share a few tips that I have for a peaceful future.

“It’s hard to understand without a detailed explanation of what the class is about.”

“If you’re curious, come to my class. It’s no fun to tell you beforehand.”

I intentionally spoke in a way that would irritate, and a small wrinkle appeared on the forehead of the blonde girl.

I’m sorry, but I have no intention of telling you what I will teach right away.

I want to make you even more curious and anxious.

There’s nothing that students at the academy are more wary of than an unknown class whose content is unknown.

“However, I have one warning. If there’s someone who thinks they can easily earn credits because I’m a new teacher and wants to take my class, they should think again.”

I deliberately took a deep breath and paused.

Then, I strongly delivered the final line.

“At that time, I will personally engrave what real education is in their bones.”

In other words, the final line means this.

Please don’t take my class.

For second-year students, having to take a class with first-year students will be quite a blow to their pride.

Especially since I’ve openly warned that the class won’t be easy, the proud students might think, “I won’t take that class!”

If I openly plant a landmine and someone steps on it, it’s their fault.

Of course, if I just spout this off, I would be disqualified as a teacher.

I created a loophole by packaging this process with plausible reasons.

There’s a reason for everything. You’ll understand when you take the class.

It’s like issuing irresponsible promissory notes, but what can I do?

Since I haven’t lived a straightforward life, this is the only method I can use.

“That’s all. Any questions?”

I asked, prepared to be questioned as the students raised their hands one by one.

* * *

The classroom was quiet.

When Ludger asked if there were any questions, no one raised their hand.

Everyone was just rolling their eyes and gauging the situation.

It’s not that there were no questions. Questions about the format of assignments, the exact curriculum, or even minor questions about what he taught before would have been fine.

But no one was willing to speak up.

Everyone was overwhelmed by Ludger Chelisi’s presence.

‘Is he really a new teacher?’

‘They say he’s a former soldier, and the atmosphere is intense.’

‘They say he’s at least a 4th rank. Is it true?’

An unbelievable pressure that you wouldn’t expect from a young person. Just making eye contact makes it hard to breathe, and it’s definitely not just a feeling.

Even the noble students who had been ignoring him as a fallen noble were now avoiding his gaze and swallowing dry.

Given the upper class, it’s impossible for other students to step forward.

Everyone felt, while listening to Ludger, that he didn’t say anything lightly.

His gaze, tone, and confident voice.

It’s impossible to show such a reaction unless he genuinely has pride in his class.

What is he trying to teach? If it’s not bound by theory, is it practical? If so, what kind of practical approach?

Complex thoughts bubbled up and disappeared in everyone’s mind.

But one thing was certain.

The class taught by Ludger Chelisi will not be easy.

“Any questions?”

His voice, asking again.

It seemed to want someone to ask a question, but the students weren’t fooled.

The moment someone raises their hand and speaks, they will be marked by Ludger.

Look at that devouring gaze. It clearly conveys that he won’t allow any questions.

Even the blonde girl who raised her hand first is now silent.

“None. Then, I will end the orientation here.”

On the first day of the semester.

The suffocating orientation ended like that.

* * *

As the orientation ended, the students slowly got up from their seats and left the classroom.

I watched the scene from the podium.

I’ve said everything I wanted to say, so they should have understood, right?

But it was honestly shocking that no one raised their hand when I asked for questions.

I had prepared answers to all sorts of questions I expected to receive the night before, but they all became useless.

Don’t these academies usually gather students with strong egos?

I thought they would mock me and bombard me with questions, but maybe I overestimated them.

‘No. Wait a moment.’

It could be the opposite.

What if they were intentionally ignoring my words?

I’ve heard of this. In 21st-century Korea, it’s quite common.

When a new student teacher comes, students deliberately show no interest and ignore them.

Especially common with female teachers.

It’s a method used by delinquents to take control of the class from the teacher.

They subtly mutter, “Oh, it’s so noisy,” and when the teacher gets angry, they respond, “I wasn’t talking to you, teacher.”

Maybe the reason no one answered my questions is similar to this.

‘Hmm.’

I tried to speak as seriously as possible to appear intimidating, but maybe it had the opposite effect.

Perhaps this authoritative tone and behavior offended the pride of students who consider themselves geniuses.

‘If that’s the case, it’s a big problem.’

In the military, juniors ignore seniors; in the workplace, subordinates ignore superiors; in school, students ignore teachers.

This is often described as being “eaten.”

If I lose control of the atmosphere at the beginning, it will inevitably cause problems in future classes.

Should I try a more gentle approach?

‘No. If I suddenly change now, it will seem even stranger. I should stick with this approach until the end.’

Smiling and being friendly doesn’t suit my nature.

My personality is like this, and the identity I’ve been playing so far is mostly this type.

Besides, it’s been three weeks since I arrived here.

People who know Ludger already know what kind of person he is. It would be ridiculous to pretend to be different now, especially with my military background clearly listed.

I put on the frock coat hanging on the coat rack and wore the hat.

Even as I did this, the students who remained in the classroom didn’t approach me.

They weren’t uninterested; I could feel their analyzing gazes.

I thought they would at least ask some typical questions like my age or if I have a girlfriend, but they didn’t even open their mouths.

They’re scary. Kids these days.

* * *

Thud. Thud.

I walked out of the classroom with a leisurely pace and slowly strolled down the hallway.

Since it’s the first day of the semester, my work for today is done.

The course registration period hasn’t ended yet, so those who want to change their classes can do so, and those who don’t can stay as they are.

The first real class starts in three days.

Until then, I need to seriously think about how to gain control of the class from the students.

At least, I need to avoid being called unqualified as a teacher.

As I thought about this and checked the front, I saw that the students walking in the hallway all avoided me and made way.

Whether male or female, they all jumped in surprise when they saw me coming and stuck to the walls or windows.

What’s going on? Why are they doing this?

Could it be that the rumor of the new teacher being easy to handle has already spread throughout the academy?

I heard there’s a community within the academy where students can exchange opinions, similar to the university community “Everytime.” Could it be because of that?

Just as I was thinking that the upcoming classes would be quite challenging, someone spoke to me.

“Hello.”

I stopped and looked at the woman who smiled and spoke to me.

“Are you Ludger Chelisi, the new teacher at Seorin Academy?”

“Yes, that’s me.”

She had pink hair with a slight wave at the ends and a warm, sheep-like smile that was very charming.

She wasn’t wearing a uniform, so she’s probably not a student.

Could it be?

Before I could ask, she excitedly said,

“Oh, as I thought! Nice to meet you. I’m Selina. I’m also a new teacher at Seorin Academy. You could say we’re colleagues.”

“Nice to meet you.”

I sent a look asking what she was here for, and Selina, looking a bit flustered, checked the situation and quietly said,

“Um... Have you had dinner yet?”