Chapter 17

◈ Chapter 17: Suspicion (2)

‘There’s no particular memory that comes to mind right now.’

I decided to put aside my thoughts about Eidan for the moment, as nothing specific came to mind. I had already stored all the information about the other students in my head.

A total of 54 students in the first year. 26 in the second year.

Roughly a 2:1 ratio between the first and second years. I thought the first years would outnumber the second years by more than this, but it’s surprising.

‘There are some first-year students I need to be cautious about. A newcomer pushed by the Magic Tower and the Alchemy School, and a child advertised as a prodigy by the Magic Tower?’

Even a student with average grades in Seorun would be called a genius outside.

And they say geniuses are always a bit off.

Given that this place is filled with such people, it’s no wonder it’s far from ordinary.

‘For now, I’ll act as a teacher and try to avoid suspicion from the secret society. I can just say it’s to clear any doubts the Academy might have.’

I can delegate the tedious tasks to the students below me, so as a First Order, I only need to focus on solidifying my position.

I probably won’t have to worry for a while.

However, the real problem will arise when the secret society starts to act openly.

The fact that they planted a high-ranking member as a teacher clearly indicates they intend to overthrow Seorun in some way.

‘Complicated.’

Seorun doesn’t seem easy to topple, but it’s not an impregnable fortress either.

No matter how powerful an empire is, it will inevitably fall.

History has proven this.

Especially in times of transition like now, the possibility becomes more real.

Even the slightest chance that the secret society could overthrow Seorun can’t be ignored.

‘In that case, maybe it’s better to leave Seorun and join the secret society.’

No, that’s not an option.

I might have to do it to survive, but it won’t last long.

For now, acting as a newly appointed teacher named Rudger Chelisi should be fine.

But will the other First Orders, who have worked with me, not notice the subtle changes in Rudger?

‘They will definitely notice.’

If I’m found out as a traitor, I don’t know what will happen. The worst-case scenario is the secret society winning over Seorun.

It’s better to maintain this position as a teacher and deliberately interfere with their plans to maximize my chances of survival.

But if I openly side with Seorun, the organization will immediately realize my betrayal.

‘I need to walk a tightrope.’

Without knowing the secret society’s true purpose, I can’t make any immediate plans.

I picked up a pen and wrote down my thoughts on a blank piece of paper.

- Be wary of the secret society’s First Order. Need to identify who they are quickly and avoid contact as much as possible afterward.

- Maintain my position as a teacher. Stay alert and don’t slack off in class.

- Focus on acting as a teacher to avoid suspicion from the Academy.

These are the three main points.

I wasn’t worried about anyone reading this.

Written in Korean, no one in this world would understand it even if they tried.

‘Hmm. For now, the only thing I can do is to do my best as a teacher.’

Tap tap.

I tapped the wooden desk with my fingertips.

If the secret society pressures me to act and I don’t, I can always say it’s to clear any doubts the Academy might have.

I took out a new piece of paper and picked up a pen to write a letter.

I had a friend I was supposed to meet elsewhere, and I needed to tell them I couldn’t make it.

‘I have a lot to do.’

Actually, I should have taken care of this on the first day, but I had so many things to think about that I forgot.

Well, there’s nothing to regret, so they probably won’t say anything.

Considering the possibility that someone might read this letter, I wrote it as indirectly as possible, using a code phrase like the one in Rudger Chelisi’s letter.

I added one more line at the end, which I had forgotten to write.

[Bring my luggage on your way.]

* * *

The reply to my letter came the next day.

The letter stated that we were to meet at the industrial zone of Leathervik next weekend.

I wanted to meet a bit earlier, but they said they were busy, so I decided to understand.

Rustle.

After confirming the letter, I immediately burned it to prevent any unforeseen issues.

I left the staff room and headed to my dormitory in casual attire.

“Excuse me…!”

Just then, someone hurriedly approached and stopped me.

They looked like a servant of Seorun, and their neat attire suggested they were a messenger.

“Are you Professor Rudger Chelisi?”

“Yes, that’s me. What is it?”

When I asked, the messenger trembled slightly and looked a bit frightened.

Just as I thought they might be avoiding me, they seemed to calm down and handed me a document.

“What is this?”

“It’s the patrol duty roster.”

“Patrol duty?”

Isn’t that usually done by servants or security guards? Why would a teacher do it?

Seeing my puzzled look, the messenger broke into a cold sweat and explained.

“T, this time, the Chancellor gave an order. Now that new students have enrolled, it’s the time when Seorun students become the most lax, so the idea is to prevent any problems.”

“Why me, a teacher?”

“The Chancellor believes that teachers are the most effective. And the contract states that teachers must also prevent any issues within Seorun.”

I remembered there was such a clause.

I thought it meant to act according to the discretion of the staff here.

I didn’t expect them to be so proactive.

“Hmm.”

Perhaps my sigh was interpreted differently.

The servant, breaking into a cold sweat, hastily added more details.

“Y, you don’t have to stay up all night. Just check from after school until the dormitory curfew.”

“And today is my turn?”

“Yes, yes.”

I silently took the duty roster from the messenger.

My name, Rudger Chelisi, was listed for today.

Since there are many teachers at Seorun, it seems we only do this patrol duty once a week.

It’s a bit annoying if it falls on the weekend.

“W, well, I’ll be going now.”

After delivering the message, the servant fled from me as if someone were about to eat them.

I ignored the servant and examined the list on the duty roster.

‘Since Seorun is so vast, it seems each teacher is assigned to patrol a specific area.’

Today, three other teachers, including me, were on duty. Among them was Selina, the new spirit magic teacher who was appointed with me.

We’re in different areas, so we probably won’t run into each other, but if we do, I’ll at least greet her.

‘But the fact that this wasn’t done before and is suddenly implemented by the Chancellor’s order suggests that the Chancellor suspects there are spies among the teachers.’

If you’re a spy, you wouldn’t act rashly unless you’re a fool, but the Chancellor’s policy isn’t meaningless.

The Chancellor’s direct order itself serves as a deterrent, instilling a sense of caution and preventing any suspicious actions.

This is a kind of warning.

From the Chancellor’s perspective, it’s a win-win: if a suspicious person is caught, it’s good, and if not, it still serves as a warning.

‘Since it’s to prevent any trouble from the excited students after the start of the semester, there’s no room for argument.’

These aren’t ordinary students but geniuses who can cast magic, so the scale of any trouble they might cause is naturally different.

If I need to stop it, I must.

As a new teacher appointed this year, I have no right to refuse the Chancellor’s order.

Even in an academy, there’s a hierarchy. If told to do something, I must comply.

By the way, my assigned patrol area is the <Magic Training Ground>.

“…This is great.”

The training ground is a place where students often go to show off their magic skills, making it a challenging area to patrol without any issues.

Could they have deliberately sent me here?

I hoped not and headed to the training ground.

* * *

The Magic Training Ground was not far from the main building.

It’s a short 10-minute walk along a well-paved path.

Beyond the neatly maintained garden trees, a large building can be seen.

The overall design resembles a giant greenhouse.

‘It’s incredibly large.’

The size is so impressive that even a decent-sized sports field on Earth would pale in comparison.

There are three such buildings.

They are called the First Training Ground, Second Training Ground, and Third Training Ground. The largest, the Third Training Ground, is also the main stage for the Academy’s annual event, the “Magic Festival.”

I first checked the nearest Third Training Ground, but there were no issues, so I moved on.

The Second Training Ground also had few people, and most were finishing their training and heading back to the dormitories.

Just as I was about to check the last remaining First Training Ground, a problem erupted.

“How dare a lowly commoner like you!”

A high-pitched scream, as if being torn apart in octaves, and a surge of magical power from inside the training ground.

Sensing that my fears were becoming reality, I immediately ran inside.

As I reached the railing of the spectator stands after running down the corridor, I saw a female student about to cast a spell at another female student.

The spell she was using was──a 2nd Tier mental magic [Burning Brain].

Even a 2nd Tier spell can cause fatal injuries if the target is defenseless.

‘I can’t be late.’

I immediately activated the spell formula.

The student’s spell formula was almost complete, but with the source code, I can cast any 3rd Tier or lower spell faster than anyone else.

I used a 1st Tier emission spell [Shining Stone], made of magical power, and threw it to shatter the almost complete spell formula.

“Who are you!”

The student whose spell was destroyed glared at me with a furious expression.