Syria’s face changed into an expression of surprise.
“What are you so shocked about? Isn’t it obvious?”
“Are you saying it’s stuck again?”
“Yeah. But I’ll take you on a date later.”
“Got it.”
This should be a fair deal.
And soon, the battle nuns will arrive.
‘If I use about a week’s worth of Havel’s hourglass, wouldn’t it be easy to wipe out the anti-imperialists?’
“Wait. How will the training proceed?”
“For the training, just look this way for now.”
***
‘Is there any need to set up a separate training ground?’
It’s simple.
The accommodation also has a training area, so it’s pretty spacious.
“Oops. What a mistake!”
Bang!
I slammed Syria’s head into the wall of the training ground.
Then, I tapped the joint where the mana had stuck together.
This time, Syria seems to be prepared and has no complaints.
“Alright. Everyone? There’s an unfortunate magician stuck in this wall. So, how should we save this magician in distress?”
“Uh… we should save him?”
Kruas knows a little.
Not all nobles are trash, after all.
Wait, no. In fact, they should be saving face, so usually, they would save him.
“Alright, we should save him. But oh my goodness, what should we do? By sheer coincidence, the well-refined mana is evenly distributed where it got stuck. Should we melt this part first?”
I think they will understand with just this much.
I glanced at the students, and about half of them had contorted faces.
They must understand what I’m saying.
“Wait, do we have to do that too?”
“Of course. What kind of practice course are you attending if you can’t even do this?”
I blatantly ignored them, and the students’ faces twisted.
‘If I want to move the nobles, I need to poke at their pride.’
“Ah. I understand.”
“Isn’t it just about mana control?”
“Yes. Exactly.”
There are quite a few students in magic and related fields who are thoughtful.
“Alright, your task is to get this magician out.”
“Task? What is this? You want us to waste energy before the exam?”
One of the students grumbled.
Yeah, wasting energy.
That can happen.
I’m well aware of that point.
It’s not good to waste energy before an exam.
“Don’t worry.”
I took out the hourglass.
There’s no need to say more.
It’s Havel’s hourglass.
“Oh, goddess, no.”
“It can’t be. You’re not talking about that hourglass, are you?”
“It’s Havel’s hourglass.”
‘Should I use it for about a week?’
‘If I minimize breaks and train during that time, they should be able to reach knight-level skills.’
They just need to repeat 24 hours seven times.
“Wait. Are you asking us to do the same thing again?”
“We did this last time, right?”
“Of course not. The students who did it last time, please gather here.”
I have something separate for them to do.
Since the accommodation is spacious, I cleared out anything unnecessary from the training ground.
This way, it will look like they’re playing.
“If possible, I’d prefer that no one sees what’s happening here.”
“So, what now?”
“It’s exactly halfway done. Ah, just in time, they’re here.”
“You called for us, Saintess?”
Casey, Mari, and Eri arrived.
Now, these nuns will beat up the students.
“These are the battle nuns our church is proud of.”
“Battle nuns?”
“Yes.”
They’ll probably be hearing about this for the first time.
The battle nuns are practically something I created myself.
“Why does the church have such chaotic figures?”
“For now, about three of the magic students will help Syria with her selection. The rest will fight the nuns here.”
It’s better for the students to learn archery or swordsmanship from the nuns.
As for the magic students, I’ll have them help with Syria’s first-stage exam and let them study mana control.
“Why do we have to fight?”
“To raise your combat ability. Or do you want to die at the hands of the anti-imperialists?”
“It’s better to train until you’re willing to die than to actually die at the hands of the anti-imperialists, right?”
“Aren’t those nuns more dangerous?”
“If you fight the nuns, at least you won’t die.”
They need to raise their combat ability.
I don’t plan on killing anyone.
I’ll just make them take a beating until they can survive and then heal them.
I brought nuns who learned miracles for this kind of situation.
“Alright, let’s start right away. Close the door.”
“Yes.”
***
The nuns closed the training ground door.
Now, they can’t leave the training ground until they improve their skills.
“Wait, are you telling us to fight without any rules?”
“Yes. In real combat, there are no rules. Don’t worry about your status and just fight the nuns.”
They’ll figure it out as they fight.
By getting hit, they’ll naturally build up their endurance, learn how to dodge, and overcome their fear.
Even if they can’t fight at first, they’ll eventually be able to land a hit.
They’ll learn how to fight back, one way or another.
This is necessary for the dozens of students in front of me.
“Still, this is too much.”
Whether they’re male or female, they all look unhappy.
‘Can’t they remember what happened just a few months ago?’
“Still? Just a little while ago, it was the succubi who did this to Atlerina. You think you’re in a position to be picky now?”
“Well, you don’t have to put it that bluntly…”
‘Are they asking for face-saving?’
“Anyway, there are no rules. This is how I grew up. If you can’t fight, then get beaten. You’ll learn from it. Or do you want to die by my hands?”
“Ah. Yes.”
And so, the battle began.
Actually, it was one-sided violence from the nuns.
“Hey, Princess Ashtar, what is this?”
The professor appeared.
“Professor Galedo, please leave this to me this time.”
“Hey. No matter how much, this…”
“If catching the anti-imperialists is the exam, isn’t this a good way?”
Rather, the academy’s standards will improve thanks to me.
I can’t just let this go.
“Hoh, really? Is that the method?”
“Yes. I don’t think it’s bad.”
“It could backfire and hurt us, you know?”
That’s not my problem.
Even if one or two nobles die, it’s not like I’ll die too.
Besides, there’s no way anyone will die.
“But aren’t you curious, Professor? Don’t you want to try it?”
“Well, it’s interesting…”
“Doesn’t the adventurer spirit just rise up in you?”
Professor Galedo is probably the type of aristocrat who doesn’t care about face-saving and is ready to act, much like me.
If he were a noble, he would usually try to avoid this kind of situation.
But adventurers, like Galedo, tend to be more aggressive.
“Isn’t time the issue? Of course, considering the Lily incident from last time. We can negotiate with the headmaster and change the time slot, but still.”
There’s no need to adjust the time.
After all, I have Havel’s Hourglass.
Besides, if the time is adjusted poorly, the nobles will throw a fit.
“That wouldn’t work, right? Nobles really love their vacations. Especially at this age, during the break, the engaged couples should be spending time together, bonding and having fun.”
At Atlerina, especially the high school students, during their break, they go to balls and engage in noble society activities.
The students themselves aren’t the problem, but the noble families’ heads are.
Even though Ashtar is a well-off family, if the heads of other families cause a scene and ostracize the Ashtar family, it would be troublesome.
“Right, that’s true.”
“Let’s try it.”
‘So, I just need to convince this guy.’
“No, seriously? Hey, I can’t handle this! I gave up being an adventurer to become a professor. It’ll be a problem if I’m kicked out, you know?”
Yeah, that would be problematic.
But that’s something to worry about when I’m not around.
‘Who am I? The highest family in this country. Recently, I avenged my ancestors after 40 years, succeeded in a demon world expedition, and expanded the family’s influence—I’m the young lady of the Ashtar family.’
‘Even if I lose the title of Saint, I could still live off of that.’
So, I ask Galedo, “Who am I?”
“I’m the Saint and the Grand Priest.”
That’s right.
“I’m the Saint and the Grand Priest.”
‘But is that all?’
“Where is my family from?”
“Ashtar.”
‘Is there really a need for further explanation?’
I smile, and Galedo nods his head.
“Do you really think it’s dangerous with me backing you up?”
“What have you been doing until now?”
“I’ve been having fun.”
“Hey, Saint.”
“Why, what about it?”
“Just kidding. For now, I don’t think there will be any major problems in the Plant family’s territory. The Plant family has prepared well and cooperated, so everything should be fine.”
Since there were traces of teleportation inside the dungeon, we can filter out the bad ones inside.
“Hmm, really?”
“How about Stage 3?”
I’m currently raising the kids and roughly planning up to Stage 3. Stage 1 is mana control. Stage 2 is fighting nuns.” And…
I glance at Galedo.
“You’re Professor Galedo, right?”
“Hmm. That doesn’t sound bad.”
“We’ll expand Havel’s Hourglass and have it run here for a week.”
I plan to place the students’ dormitory, the old knight academy, entirely under Havel’s Hourglass’ influence.
“So, the time won’t move outside, right?”
“It can be adjusted. From the outside, it will feel like the kids’ atmosphere suddenly changed!”
Anyway, time isn’t a problem.
On the contrary, this is a perfect opportunity to mess with the kids’ minds.
“You’re something else.”
“I hear that a lot.”
Judging by Galedo’s reaction, it looks like it might work.
He has to approve for anything to happen.
“Hmm. It’s not bad. Let’s try it.”
“Thank you in advance.”
I still need to keep the Hourglass to maintain it.
I could leave, but it would make it hard for me to adjust the time.
It’s a bit inconvenient.
“Stop! Do you even know who I am!?”
“I’ll tell my father and have him scold you all!”
“Ah! My face!”
I knew they would react like this.
Commoners just take a beating, but these people are trying to avoid it by all means.
They’re trying to avoid being hit so badly, but it’s pathetic how they use their status to do so.
“We only listen to the Saint’s orders.”
Yeah, just keep hitting them like that.
‘But how come they can’t fight back properly?’ They just get beaten every time someone swings at them.
***
Some time passed.
These idiots got beaten.
I looked at the students sprawled on the ground, stunned.
Sitting in the chair and watching all of this, I was incredibly dumbfounded.
“I can’t believe this. How can they just take a beating like that?”
I just can’t understand it.
‘How are these supposed ‘practice’ students getting beaten by nuns?’
They fought well in the dungeon before.
But now, against nuns, they’re getting completely wrecked? ‘How does that make sense?’
“Isn’t this a bit too much?”
“Yeah, that’s right, Lady Olivia! This is going too far!”
‘Oh? Looks like they have the nerve to raise their heads now. Are they telling me this is too much?’
They still don’t get it.
I guess I need to say something harsh to snap them out of it.
“This is too much? Those are my words, you idiots.”
“What? I-Iidiots?”
They glare at me, raising their eyes.
These guys are really something.