Chapter 25: The Master was Scolded

Primus Academy’s Headmaster’s Office.

Ainel sat alone in the room, which provided a full view of every corner of the Trial Grounds.

She let out a brief sigh at the sight of the students, their exhausted faces telling the story of their struggles.

“This was expected… but still.”

It was clear now—her past concerns had not been unfounded.

Some students had managed to work through Letter’s assignments in their own way, but the rest couldn’t even muster the courage to ascend to the next floor.

Of course, disparities among students were not unusual.

The innate talents each of them possessed varied greatly.

And in the end, practical experience revealed their true abilities far more than theoretical knowledge ever could.

Even so…

‘Are we expecting too much from students who’ve barely had any real training?’

There was no denying that the challenge was exceptionally difficult.

Compared to last year’s Trial Grounds, it might as well have been a completely different exam.

‘There will be an outcry, no doubt.’

Imagining the aftermath of the trial, Ainel exhaled a faint sigh.

And yet, she couldn’t bring herself to close her eyes.

As the headmaster, she had a duty to observe the students.

The assignments were completely different from last year.

The challenge shattered the notion that mana construction was a basic subject.

She had to witness how the students coped with this unexpected trial.

At the same time, she needed to confirm that Letter’s words had not been mere delusions.

***

“The basics are the foundation. A tree that fails to take root is nothing more than a fragile figure.”

“Did it seem fragile in your eyes… or have I simply failed to see what you did?”

“The advanced class students will leave Primus in just a few years. It’s time we prepare them for that.”

“I have no intention of letting mana construction remain an easy subject—especially not for the exceptional students of the advanced class.”

“Are you being passionate… or just anxious?”

***

“My mana construction course is new, so the assignments should be as well.”

“Even if they aren’t graduating right away, time is something to be saved whenever possible.”

“There’s no greater lesson than firsthand experience, Headmaster.”

“You speak as if you’re preparing for a disaster… as if you already know what’s coming. And yet, you’re still just a child, not even halfway through life.”

Murmuring to the Letter in her memories, Ainel finally shifted her gaze.

Before her were the students who had just reached the highest floor of the tower.

And then—

—Whoosh!

[Welcome, fledglings.]

The Lord of Infernal Flames.

The Spirit King, Ifrit.

Even through the screen, his overwhelming presence was undeniable.

Ainel let out another sigh.

She had been informed beforehand that safeguards were in place against the raging inferno.

She also knew that clues for overcoming Ifrit had been scattered throughout the lower floors.

And yet, despite all that—

No matter how many hints had been given, no matter how much practice the students had gotten with the creatures below—

“Wasn’t this challenge too much for them, Professor Letter?”

The weight of those three words—Spirit King—was far too heavy for students to bear.

For the average, it was an opponent they wouldn’t even dare to face.

And now, it was unleashing its searing breath upon them.

Yet, even this was something Letter had once spoken of.

***

“What do you do when faced with a wall you cannot possibly overcome? If you go into battle without that knowledge, you’ll only meet a meaningless death.”

“These students are the finest raw gems from across the continent. Without trials like these, how could they ever hope to grow?”

“Growth…”

Ainel could not tear her eyes away from the students on the screen.

The same was true for the external spectators—parents, family heads, and nobles who had come to watch their heirs.

The revelation that the Spirit King guarded the tower’s highest floor had shocked not only the students but the entire audience.

By now, they had already been stunned into silence by the relentless creatures on the lower floors.

But Ifrit’s appearance—

[Ahahahaha! Too weak! You’re all too weak, little ones!]

It left them utterly speechless.

Rumors began spreading.

That the new professor was insane.

That the headmaster had lost her mind for approving such a challenge.

“S-Sweet heavens…”

Isabelle instinctively covered her mouth as the final floor was revealed.

Countless questions filled her mind by the second.

One way or another, she was destined to challenge Letter’s tower as a student of Primus.

In other words, in just a few hours, she too would have to face the Spirit King.

That was why she turned to Dreven, standing beside her, and anxiously asked what they should do.

Confusion and fear surged within her, making her seek refuge in her father’s embrace.

“You… You never said something like that was up there…”

“Miss Letter wouldn’t have told you beforehand. That wouldn’t be fair.”

“That’s… true, but still…”

Her eyes wavered.

Each time Ifrit and the students clashed on screen, she let out small gasps.

For a girl still so young, the presence of the Spirit King was simply too overwhelming.

She desperately didn’t want to disappoint her father or her godfather, but this… this seemed impossible.

Orphion, at least in part, understood how she felt.

However, to an ancient dragon, watching students challenge the Spirit King was less a cause for concern and more a source of amusement.

—Crunch, crunch.

“Glad I came.”

Munching on various snacks he had secretly brought without Letter’s knowledge, Orphion leisurely enjoyed both the show and the reactions of those watching.

Then, at one point—

—Rustle.

[Godfather.]

Letter appeared out of thin air.

Unexpectedly, she was holding a student nearly twice her size in her small arms.

“Take a look with your dragon sight. I did what I could, but just in case…”

“Who is this?”

“Isn’t it obvious? A student.”

Orphion’s expression practically said, And what does that have to do with me?

But the serious look on Letter’s face made him pause.

“…Fine, I’ll do it.”

“Honestly, how many times are you going to ask me for favors…”

At last, his eyes glowed.

The crimson gaze pierced beyond the physical, examining not only the student’s body but the very depths of their soul.

“I don’t see any real issues… But why did you mess with their memories?”

“They don’t need to remember. It would only bring them pain.”

“Tch. If they don’t remember, they’ll just fall for the same trick again.”

After a moment, Orphion withdrew his gaze and confirmed that there were no lingering abnormalities.

Only then did Letter disappear into the air, taking Iris with her.

***

Upon reappearing in Primus’s infirmary, Letter gently laid Iris onto a bed.

Then, she turned to Miriel Belmore, the professor in charge of healing magic.

“I’ll be back after the event. Please keep an eye on her until then.”

“Ah… Alright.”

Miriel was visibly startled.

It was only natural—Letter had suddenly appeared carrying an unconscious student, and that alone was cause for concern.

But what truly shocked Miriel was the identity of the student.

Iris was from the healing department—her student.

“What happened to her?” Miriel asked, unable to hide her alarm.

But all she received in response was a vague promise.

“I’ll explain everything at the next faculty meeting. There are still too many uncertainties right now.”

With those words, Letter turned to leave, heading back to the Trial Grounds.

She didn’t get far.

Less than ten seconds later, Miriel grabbed her wrist, stopping her in her tracks.

“Wait, Professor Letter.”

“?”

A series of translucent screens appeared.

They displayed the students—battered from head to toe.

Miriel’s expression twisted as she took in the sight.

“Thanks to you, we’re about to run out of beds. What in the world were you thinking? Did it ever cross your mind that these students might suffer from trauma?”

A storm of reprimands followed.

Letter, who had never been scolded by anyone before, found herself bowing repeatedly, mumbling apologies.

“I don’t care if you have a dragon backing you. There are limits, Professor Letter. Do you have any idea what the worst pain in the world is? It’s burning pain! So why, of all things, did you flood the trial with fire-based monsters?! Look at them—completely covered in burns!”

‘S-So scary…’

Logically speaking, Miriel wasn’t wrong.

As the professor responsible for healing these students, she had every right to be furious.

That was why Letter couldn’t argue.

Instead, she hurriedly promised to take Miriel’s concerns to heart in the future.

***

She left the infirmary almost as if she had been chased out.

Scratching her head awkwardly, Letter resumed her walk back toward the tower.

“…How am I supposed to explain this to Evan?”