Although there was some commotion with the angels, day and night continue to repeat every day, and time flows endlessly.
It is now morning, in the second week of March.
In the early stages of academic life, such as the first week or month, various events tend to happen frequently. By the second or fifth week, things usually settle into a routine.
Unless something extraordinary happens, the academic part of life at the Academy will likely proceed according to the curriculum, excluding weekends.
This applies to both the Academy and the Old School Building. From morning to afternoon, we attended classes in the Old School Building with Esta and Kadisha, following the designated curriculum.
In the afternoon training session, we practiced controlling and releasing non-attribute mana.
Since the education in the Old School Building was proceeding smoothly without any issues, I thought everything was going well at the main Academy building as well.
But then, I thought so.
“All four of you, listen calmly. It seems like more and more people want to enter the Old School Building as time goes on.”
“What?”
At the end of the second week of March, Instructor Esta dropped a bombshell just before wrapping up the day’s curriculum.
“We need to discuss the order of things. Over the past week, three students have expressed their desire to transfer to the Old School Building.”
“Yes, we were already talking among ourselves about whether we need to clean or prepare new rooms.”
“Not to mention the maintenance of other areas in the Old School Building, and the portion of the Golden Carriage.”
“We’ve only been here for a week, but it was originally better to stay in the Academy dormitory than in the Old School Building, wasn’t it?”
Yunia, Ludmila, and Evangeline took turns expressing what I wanted to say. Even if I didn’t add anything, it seemed that our Vermilion Bird Phoenix group had formed a strong bond through the experiences of the past week.
“Yes, there was a perception that the Old School Building wasn’t a good place to stay.”
Instructor Esta nodded, understanding. Judging by her demeanor, it seemed that, as the instructor in charge of the Old School Building, she had encountered some difficulty in refusing students.
“Excuse me, Instructor.”
Yunia raised her hand.
“Is it because of the Angel?”
She asked cautiously, but Ludmila flinched and started tapping her desk with her finger.
“Yunia, even if it’s because of the Angel, the Academy wouldn’t be sending more students to the Old School Building because ‘we’ lack the capability to handle Angels or need to reinforce our strength.”
At my words, Ludmila perked up her ears.
“With Miss Yunia here, we already subdued the Angel, and we also have the [Cutting Wind]. I may just be a support from the back, but with Ludmila here, why would they need to send new students to reinforce us?”
“That’s right.”
Ludmila nodded vigorously, agreeing with my words.
With her pride as the [Cutting Wind], if the situation suggested that reinforcements were needed due to her inadequacy, Ludmila’s pride would have been deeply hurt.
“What do you think, Instructor Esta?”
“I think the same.”
And it wasn’t just us; Instructor Esta was of the same mindset.
“If anyone wants to enter the Old School Building for such reasons, it would be like challenging those of us here.”
“Yes. The three students who wanted to transfer to the Old School Building last week didn’t want to join because of the Angel incident. One wanted a private room after hearing about the space available, and another said they wanted to join because they were a fan of [Cutting Wind].”
“Oh, I see.”
“If it’s for a private room, then…”
Ludmila nodded in understanding, and Evangeline seemed to deeply relate to the idea of a private room.
‘After all, the Academy’s main dormitories are typically shared by two students per room.’
There are single rooms, but they are generally assigned based on merit at the Academy, and for new students, it’s usually two per room.
Unless a particularly prominent figure among the new students wanted a single room, or unless their family made a massive donation to the Academy to “incidentally” secure a single room.
The Old School Building simply has enough space to accommodate single rooms. However, if more students started transferring to the Old School Building, we might have to convert some classrooms into two-person rooms unless we make significant changes.
“What about the last person?”
“They said the classes weren’t being conducted properly, so they felt it was better to attend the ones in the Old School Building.”
“Classes?”
“Yes. …While we have our own curriculum, we are still operating ‘normally’ compared to the Academy’s main building.”
Instructor Esta let out a long sigh. It wasn’t a sigh of her own frustration but rather sympathy and—perhaps even—
‘Disdain?’
It was the kind of sigh that conveyed a sense of disappointment, something you wouldn’t expect from Instructor Esta.
“Instructor, is something going on?”
And I wasn’t the only one who felt that sense of discomfort.
“Is there something dangerous happening at the Academy…?”
“If you’re asking if it’s more dangerous than the Angel, the answer is no. But something… ‘unfortunate’ has happened at the Academy.”
Instructor Esta scratched her cheek, looking as though she was unsure whether to say more.
“If I tell you, it might make you think, ‘Well, that’s understandable,’ regarding why some students want to transfer to the Old School Building for classes. Are you sure you want to hear it?”
“Are you saying it’s better not to know?”
“Considering the Old School Building’s principle of ‘elite, small-group instruction,’ it might be better not to concern yourselves with what’s happening in the main building.”
Live selfishly.
It was advice that reflected the realistic and bitter perspective of an adult who doesn’t want promising students to face unnecessary losses when they become adults themselves.
“Hmm… wouldn’t it be better to know?”
However, this Bread Academy exists to nurture ‘heroes’ who overcome crises even in the harsh and cold reality.
“I agree. To make an accurate judgment, we need to know the full context.”
“We understand your concerns, Instructor, but as students of the Academy, we believe it’s important to be informed about the situation.”
The heroines were, after all, those with heroic qualities. Particularly, the early heroines tend to lean toward good alignment if we categorize them into good, neutral, and evil.
“I feel the same way.”
And I’m the type of person who says things that sound good to those around me.
“Are they wanting to come to the Old School Building because they want to hear lectures from Instructor Esta and Instructor Kadisha? If that’s the case, I can understand.”
“My ears are burning. I’ll pass that along to Instructor Kadisha.”
“Thank you.”
And that sentiment wasn’t limited to the student heroines.
“If it’s simply that they want to attend our lectures, we could take turns going to the main building in the evenings to give lectures. But that’s not the case.”
“You mentioned something ‘unfortunate.’ What exactly happened?”
“…Hah.”
Instructor Esta hung her head low.
“The incident involved an ‘adult’ male student. He’s in his third year and is 20 years old.”
“Does that mean he enrolled a year late?”
“Yes. Due to family circumstances, he had to delay his enrollment by a year. He… was attacked.”
“Attacked?”
“Mana Drain.”
“Oh.”
The three members of our group all gasped in unison.
“And it happened during class.”
“…Yes?”
“He was drained by an adult female student from the same graduating class in an empty classroom.”
“…That’s…”
Ludmila cautiously raised her hand.
“Isn’t that… just a straightforward case of s*xual assault?”
“…”
“What on earth is going on in the Academy’s main building?”
“The male students…”
Instructor Esta continued in a voice that sounded as if her spirit had been sapped.
“They’ve begun to organize. It seems they are even willing to consider a strike if necessary.”
“…”
“They’re refusing to attend classes as a group until a safe learning environment is created. Only the male students.”
A week had passed.
The dissatisfaction that had built up due to the Angel incident and other unresolved issues finally exploded, triggered by this event.
* * *
[At that moment, in front of the Academy’s male dormitory.]
Clang, Clang, Clang!
In the open area in front of the male dormitory, a group of male students who had removed their uniforms were sparring with weapons, fighting each other.
To an outsider, it might look like they were engaging in voluntary training, something to be proud of, but the fact that these students were skipping the second week of classes to engage in self-training was a troubling sign for the Academy.
“Student Council President Keyarnim. Weren’t we on the same side just this morning?”
“I stand with the students, Dean Ederson.”
The Student Council President Keyarnim stood at the entrance of the dormitory as if guarding it, while Dean Ederson and several other instructors looked on in distress.
“I understand your concerns. The Academy is doing everything it can…”
“There has already been a victim. In a classroom. Are you sure only one person was involved?”
“President Keyarnim.”
“Only one person has been caught, but who’s to say that others weren’t taking turns draining mana?”
“Hmm.”
Dean Ederson let out a heavy sigh. As a fellow man, he deeply sympathized with the situation, but he was, after all, an instructor.
“Whether it’s dividing the lectures or sending instructors to the male dormitory to teach directly, ensure that the male students can attend classes in an environment where they can protect their mana.”
“That is…”
“If you cannot guarantee that—”
Beep, Beep!
“Excuse me. Hm? Instructor Esta, what did you say?”
[There is a way.]
“A way?”
[A method for male students to protect their… well, their mana, and attend classes without worrying about having it drained.]
“What is it?”
[I’ll explain it.]
A new voice interrupted Instructor Esta, causing the commotion among the male students at the dormitory to momentarily quiet down.
“Student Phoenix?”
[What if we simply set up a protective barrier to prevent the mana from being drained?]
“…What are you saying?”
[There’s a theory, and it should work. A secure barrier that only the ‘individual’ can deactivate. Think of it like wearing a special mana under-armor.]
“…”
Everyone briefly thought the same thing.
Isn’t that basically a chastity belt?
[There’s just one side effect, though it’s hard to explain… It’s really good for men, but I’m struggling to find the right words to describe it.]
As Phoenix continued, a playful smile tugged at his lips, and the male students perked up, intrigued.
“Forget about the magic for a moment. What’s this side effect?”
[It gets bigger.]
“…What?”
Silence descended for a moment.
“What gets bigger?”
[If you wear the mana under-armor for an extended period, it permanently enlarges.]
“So… what exactly are you saying?”
[Hehehehe…]
That low chuckle made it clear to everyone.
“No way… that?”
[Yes, that.]
Nod. Nod.
“…Let’s pause the protest for now, shall we?”
The male students all stopped what they were doing and gathered behind the Student Council President.
