Chapter 41: Alcohol and cigarettes are completely harmful and offer no benefits Part 3

There’s nothing as important in life as having peace of mind.

Even if one gains all kinds of gold, silver, and countless treasures, it’s meaningless without a sense of contentment.

I sigh, deeply feeling that truth.

What lies before me now are countless fortunes.

These are the rewards from this adventure, given by the swordsmanship students who pushed these items into my sleeve.

Students who formed a club on their own whim.

They set an impossible goal—to make me a Sword Master, and, with the Mercenary King as their club advisor, they continue their dungeon explorations to this day.

“I’ve never lost my strength. Stop wasting your efforts and just focus on your studies at the academy.”

I tried saying that, but it was all in vain.

Everyone, who looked like they could easily lift three times their own weight, had the weakest tear glands and cried, saying the professor was even lying to protect them.

“Wait… you really didn’t lose your strength?”

Among them, one stood out—Director Karin, who took my words at face value and asked that question, though it didn’t take long for her to be subdued.

Karin, who received baffled looks from everyone for not recognizing the lie, eventually had to listen to the administration director beside her, who asked her to quiet down because he was embarrassed on my behalf.

Her face turned a bright shade of red.

Feigning ignorance, she insisted that she had known all along and was just playing a joke.

Karin’s desperate expression, claiming everyone else was missing her joke, left them with no choice but to play along with her.

The remark I made—”I’ve always been a weakling who can barely wave a toothpick”—was ultimately treated as a joke to save her from embarrassment.

The atmosphere quickly returned to cheerful laughter.

Eventually, they went off to challenge yet another dungeon.

All that remains as proof of their visit to my quarters are the treasures they left scattered on the floor.

***

‘Well, I do appreciate their thoughtfulness, I suppose.’

Like pearls on a pig’s neck, no matter how good the equipment, its effectiveness depends on the user.

A staff that shortens spell-casting time by ten times.

It’s undoubtedly an innovative artifact, but I already cast magic instantly without it.

For me, this staff is nothing more than a fancy decoration.

A cloak that increases the user’s speed fivefold.

While it’s certainly a powerful artifact, even if I wore it, it wouldn’t help me outrun old man Scott.

At least the elixirs were somewhat more useful.

‘Though, honestly, even these are close to being useless.’

My frail, scrawny body, which once seemed likely to collapse with a simple push, has now improved to a level that looks like I’ve been going to the gym for about three years.

Thanks to this, I’ve been able to practice martial arts, something I could never dream of before, and I’ve gradually built up my strength.

But at this point, I can’t help but wonder if becoming a late-blooming swordsman will really make a difference.

My body has grown sturdier.

My chances of dying like a delicate glassfish have decreased.

Along with the health benefits, my quality of life has improved.

That’s probably the extent of my tangible gains.

If asked whether it’s good or bad, it’s certainly on the good side, but I couldn’t shake a lingering feeling of ambiguity.

‘Why do I keep receiving such half-baked fortunes?’

Thinking back, it’s been like this since I received the First Dragon’s Mark.

What she engraved upon me was an item from a founding myth.

Enhanced luck, increased magical power, and even the possibility of evolving into a dragon species in about ten years if the wavelengths align—but there’s no practical benefit.

Even if my magic capacity has doubled, it’s still as small as a mouse’s tail.

With increased luck, I should be experiencing good fortune, but instead, dreadful misfortune keeps striking me.

The last hope of evolving into a dragon species.

By connecting and sharing our souls, we could elevate each other’s spiritual resonance if the wavelengths align… but that’s a benefit only after ten years, so it’s meaningless.

‘I’ve been feeling a strange pain on my forehead lately.’

Surely, it’s not because a horn is trying to sprout.

Most likely, it’s just a headache caused by mounting stress.

Logically speaking, that’s the only explanation.

There’s a chance that the resonance between me and the First Dragon is aligning by coincidence, or maybe some peculiar elixir I ingested last time is slightly accelerating my evolution.

There’s a limit to how absurd things can get.

Just the thought of it burning my circuits of hope to ashes.

In the end, it’s best to consider the mark a dud.

***

‘And even more useless than that is the elixir of immortality.’

The miraculous herb that halts aging and grants eternal life.

It’s a treasure that would surely make any billionaire go wild, but it’s useless to me.

‘What’s the point of not aging?’

I’m more likely to die from an accident than old age.

I’m effectively living on borrowed time.

Unless I escape before the final boss appears, death is certain, and with bad luck, I might even die tomorrow.

‘Isn’t that evident, just from what happened a few days ago?’

‘If that Jagan guy had attacked me back then…’

I was practically as good as dead.

If he hadn’t mistaken something about me and given up resisting, I would’ve been a cold corpse by now.

Just imagining it brings an overwhelming wave of bitterness.

…Why do I have to go through things like this when I haven’t done anything wrong? Even unfairness has its limits.

‘I didn’t even make a single mistake this time!’

I genuinely put effort into preparing the swordsmanship lecture.

To emphasize what a regretful teacher I am, I even went as far as to swallow my pride and call that suspicious group called “Fluffy Club” or whatever.

If that doesn’t say enough, nothing will.

I was thorough when carrying out the embezzlement plan, too.

Not wanting to leave anything to chance, I went in person to prevent an employee from covering up the issue, fearing they might believe I couldn’t possibly have committed embezzlement.

But a dreadful misfortune ruined everything.

At this point, what on earth would I have to do to get myself fired? My vision grew so dark I could hardly see anything.

For the first time in a while, I suddenly felt like drinking.

But I forced myself to suppress the urge.

‘Wasn’t there a huge uproar when I put up a notice while drunk during the Chrome incident?’

I had no intention of making the same mistake again.

Besides, I’m not known for having good drinking habits.

If I overdo it again, I might cause trouble and ruin everything, just like last time…

‘…Wait a second.’

‘Isn’t that the situation I’ve been hoping for?’

Getting drunk and making a mess by doing reckless things.

No matter how you look at it, that’s extremely inappropriate behavior for a teacher.

If the academy decided to fire me for lack of professionalism, I wouldn’t have any defense.

With a determined face, I swallowed hard as I pulled out all the liquor that the royal family had gifted me.

…Maybe this will go smoother than I thought.

***

The A-Class classroom was noisier than ever.

And the reason was quite simple.

It was finally time for a mandatory class.

By now, Professor Riyan should have started his lesson, yet no one could see him anywhere.

The class bell had already rung, and over ten minutes had passed.

But there’s no way he’d ever be late.

Some students speculated that he might be fighting off enemies targeting the academy even now, while others debated whether they should go look for him or wait.

Then, with a creak, the front door of the classroom opened.

In walked a familiar white-haired man.

However, something about his appearance was strange.

An awkward gait, his face slightly flushed.

The professor scanned the room, then suddenly made an announcement.

“I don’t like any of you.”

Like thunder out of the blue, his abrupt declaration sent everyone into confusion and shock.

‘Could this be because of that embezzlement incident? If he feels betrayed by students who didn’t believe in him at all, how could we possibly apologize?’

As everyone panicked, Professor Riyan, with an untroubled expression, uttered more strange words.

“Of course, that doesn’t mean I dislike you all as individuals. I’m a person too, after all. I don’t hate people who care about me, even a little. I’ve grown somewhat fond of you all.”

A confusing mix of sentiments, back and forth.

While everyone stared in bewilderment, he raised his voice.

“But I can’t stand your attitude. Blessed with talent, yet unaware of the immense fortune you were born with, you waste that talent, and that’s something I can’t overlook.”

Therefore, I will fix your mindset.

The white-haired man ran a hand through his hair.

In front of everyone, the professor declared with pride.

“Listen up, and listen well. I’m going to engrave into your minds what true magic really is.”