Chapter 1: First Day of Academy (1)

The First Day at the Academy

Standing at the lectern, I smiled leisurely as I looked at the students.  

“Hello. My name is Allen Zest, and starting today, I will be the assistant homeroom teacher for Class A. Though I have no prior experience as a teacher, I will share the knowledge and experience I’ve gained to help you all grow.”  

Even pretending to be kind wasn’t easy.  

The students, who had been indifferent at first, turned their attention toward me.  

“Allen Zest? As in the founder of the famous Allen Trading Company? Why would someone like that come to the academy as a new teacher…?”  

“I thought someone who succeeded at such a young age would be incredibly arrogant, but for someone so accomplished, he seems friendly and nice.”  

“Still, his face is just average.”  

At my introduction, the students who recognized me buzzed with whispers.  

As expected, fame makes people curious.  

And that kid who called my face “just average”? I’ll remember him. Just wait.  

Oops. I shouldn’t think like that. Image-making. Image-making.  

“Please take care of me. Thank you.”  

“Now, everyone. As you all know, despite his young age, Teacher Allen is an extraordinary person whose name is widely known throughout Hyphnia. Such a remarkable person has chosen to become a teacher for the sake of the academy’s students. So, for the next year, I expect all of you to follow Teacher Allen’s guidance.”  

Lydia, the homeroom teacher of my assigned class, finished introducing me with those words.  

Was she uncomfortable around me?

She avoided making eye contact and quickly wrapped up the morning assembly.  

She seemed like the timid type.  

I’m a bit worried she might get pushed around by the students later.  

As the assistant homeroom teacher, I’d like to avoid a situation where the homeroom teacher loses control of the class.  

While the students had to constantly move between classes, I wasn’t here as a student but as a teacher.  

I didn’t need to rush around like them.  

This was one perk of being a teacher.  

Following Lydia’s guidance, I headed to the faculty office, sat down, and slowly organized my thoughts about my current situation and future plans.  

Everlight Academy.

The name of the academy where I had been assigned—and the setting of this story.  

The students here all seemed ordinary, but like any academy in fiction, they were actually exceptional talents gathered from all over the world.  

I had been appointed as the assistant homeroom teacher of Class 1-A.  

My subject was “Gifts.”  

But teaching wasn’t what interested me.  

Frankly, across both my past and current lives, I had never once imagined becoming a teacher.  

The only reason I took this position was simple:  

This academy was the center of this world.  

It might sound like the ramblings of a madman, but I had my reasons.  

I was a reincarnator.  

Someone granted a second life while retaining memories of their past one.  

The moment I saw the invitation to teach at this academy, I realized:  

This world was one of the countless manga or web novels I had read in my past life—and the genre was academy life.  

I didn’t remember the exact title.  

There were far too many academy-themed stories to count.  

Besides, decades had passed since my reincarnation.  

But the moment I received the invitation and saw the academy’s name, an intense sense of déjà vu surged through my veins, sending a shiver down my spine.  

This was definitely one of the stories I had read.  

Driven by that overwhelming intuition, I immediately accepted the teaching position, packed my things, and headed straight for Everlight Academy.  

The finer details of this world would come back to me as I worked at the academy.  

The important thing was: What happens here? 

In any academy story, anything could happen—from messy, scandalous love triangles among the elite to the resurrection of an ancient demon king threatening humanity, or even duels that decide the fate of the world.  

If it were just a simple drama, that’d be fine.

But if a world-shaking event were to unfold, how could I pretend not to know and live an ordinary life?  

Now that I’d successfully become a teacher, the next step was figuring out how to align myself with the main storyline…  

“Um, Teacher Allen, may I ask why you came to Everlight Academy?”  

“You can speak comfortably. You’re the homeroom teacher, after all.”  

“N-No, I prefer this.”  

Perhaps unable to bear the silence after I entered the faculty office, Lydia cautiously struck up a conversation.  

Did she think I was struggling to adjust to the unfamiliar atmosphere?  

“My reason for coming to the academy? Well, to teach students, of course. Students are the future of Hyphnia—its budding sprouts. Helping them grow into outstanding adults is the most valuable thing I can do for this world, don’t you think?”  

“Wow… That’s truly amazing. As expected of Allen Zest. Even after achieving so much, you chose to become a teacher here. You’re incredible.”  

Her eyes shone with genuine admiration.  

“Please don’t say that. Being a teacher is a noble and remarkable profession in its own right. It’s because of people like you, Teacher Lydia, who share precious knowledge and experience with students, that this world’s future is bright.”  

“Teacher Allen…”  

I smiled warmly and praised her, and she looked visibly moved.  

I had only said what sounded good for my image, but she didn’t doubt my words at all.  

Seems like I successfully made a good impression on the homeroom teacher.  

Though, isn’t it a bit odd for a mentor to openly admire their mentee?  

If I kept chatting with Lydia, I wouldn’t have time to leisurely plan my schedule at the academy, so I stood up.  

As I did, I noticed that not just Lydia but other teachers had been listening intently to our conversation.  

The way they averted their eyes the moment I looked at them…  

Seems like it wasn’t just the students who were curious about me. Adults weren’t much different.  

Their reactions only strengthened my resolve to leave the faculty office.  

“Would it be alright if I took a quick look around the academy? Since I’ll be staying here, I’d like to familiarize myself with the layout.”  

“Ah, then I can come with you and show you around—”  

“It’s fine. Don’t you have your first class today, Teacher Lydia? I wouldn’t want to disrupt your preparations. I’ll take a leisurely look around on my own.”  

At my words, Lydia seemed to remember she had a class to prepare for and made an “Oh!” expression.  

Technically, I should’ve been preparing for my own classes too, but no one in the faculty office pointed that out—not Lydia, nor any other teacher.  

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.

. 

At first, I had only needed an excuse to quietly plan my time at the academy, but once I stepped outside, I began to think that touring the academy wasn’t a bad idea.  

Knowing the building layout would help with my plans.  

True to its nature as a fictional academy, Everlight Academy boasted an absurdly vast campus.  

The main buildings alone were divided by year—the first-years used the First Main Building, the second-years the Second, and the third-years the Third.  

And that was just the beginning.  

Beyond the educational facilities, there were administrative offices, dormitories, sports fields, swimming pools, libraries, botanical gardens, an observatory, an art gallery, and countless other amenities.  

All combined, it was far larger than any university from my past life.  

Just touring the First Main Building today would be more than enough.  

My assigned class, Class A, was at the far left end.  

Next to it were Classes B, C, and so on, with the faculty office in the center.  

Beyond that were more classrooms.  

The first floor was mostly student and faculty spaces, while the second and third floors were filled with empty lecture halls.  

Everlight Academy had homeroom teachers and class divisions like a high school, but the classes themselves followed a university-style free enrollment system.  

Kinda gave off a Western vibe.  

No, not just a vibe—it was Western.  

So the homerooms on the first floor felt more like club rooms than actual classrooms.  

Today was the first day, so everyone gathered in the homeroom, but normally, there’d be little reason for the whole class to meet there.  

The fourth and fifth floors had multi-purpose rooms—lounges, study rooms, club rooms, storage spaces, and more.  

He said.

After touring the First Main Building, my impression was disappointing.

Even if it’s bigger, an educational facility is still just an educational facility.  

Disappointing, considering this was supposed to be a fantasy academy.  

Though maybe the other buildings would be different…  

Ding-dong-dang-dong—

The bell signaling the end of class rang, and students began trickling out of the lecture halls.  

“Ah, hello.”  

“Hello.”  

“…So I heard the bread at the snack bar is amazing. Wanna go together?”  

A student who recognized me bowed slightly in greeting before walking past, chatting with a friend.  

First period had just ended.  

Around 10 a.m., maybe?  

With students now milling about, it’d be awkward to wander around aimlessly. Maybe I’ll stop exploring for today.  

Lunch was still a while away, but since I had time, I might as well grab a snack from the snack bar.  

I was curious what they sold there anyway.  

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.

.

As I walked toward the snack bar outside the First Main Building, something caught my eye.  

A girl climbing over the fence.  

Climbing over the fence?  

But it was class time.  

For a moment, I hesitated.  

Honestly, as a teacher, I wasn’t the type to passionately scold students for skipping class. This was my first day on the job, after all.  

Sigh…

But in fiction, people who stand out like this are usually key characters.  

I should at least introduce myself.  

Suppressing a sigh, I approached the girl struggling to climb the fence.  

“Hey, you there.”  

“Eek!!”  

Startled, she slipped and fell from the fence.  

I quickly rushed forward and caught her in my arms like a princess.  

Ah, she’s from Class A.  

Her name was…  

“Hahaha. What’s a grown girl doing climbing fences? You should be more careful, Elaine.”  

“Kyaaaah!!”  

I had smiled warmly, hoping to make a strong first impression, but all I got in return was a sharp scream.  

The emotion in her eyes was unmistakable: **fear.**  

Fear?  

“Calm down. I’m not suspicious. I’m a teacher here. I introduced myself this morning during assembly, remember? I just called out because I saw you trying to climb the fence dangerously.”  

“…Ah. My apologies.”  

But just as quickly as it appeared, the fear vanished, replaced by a composed expression as she bowed politely.  

Weird. Was I imagining things?  

“Shouldn’t you be in class right now? What are you doing here?”  

“It’s fine. I don’t have any lectures right now.”  

“Ah, I see.”  

I thought she was skipping, but then I remembered the curriculum here was free enrollment.  

Having attended a Korean-style high school in my past life and never receiving higher education in this one, I’d forgotten for a moment.  

I’d just stopped someone innocent for no reason.  

“But why were you going outside?”  

“I forgot something important in my dorm this morning. I was just going to retrieve it. Of course, I’ll come right back after getting it.”  

Her reason was flawless.  

Ugh. Why did I assume she was skipping?  

“Haha. My mistake. I won’t keep you. Go ahead and get your things.”  

“Yes. Thank you.”  

Elaine bowed once before turning and walking toward the dormitory through the main gate.  

…  

…Ah.  

Right.  

The reason I thought she was skipping when I first saw her.  

Why did she try to climb the tall fence when there was a perfectly good gate?  

Was she trying to avoid being seen?  

By the time I realized, she was long gone.  

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At the snack bar, I bought a lemon madeleine.  

The refreshing lemon scent was quite nice.  

And so, the first day at the academy ended without any major incidents.  

I returned to the faculty dormitory and went to sleep.  

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The First Day at the Academy.

Standing at the lectern, I smiled leisurely as I looked at the students.  

“Hello. My name is Allen Zest, and starting today, I will be the assistant homeroom teacher for Class A. Though I have no prior experience as a teacher, I will share the knowledge and experience I’ve gained to help you all grow.”