“Zeke Wolftail, it seems like we need an explanation of the situation. The reason our students, who possess stigmas, train rigorously at this Pantheon Academy is solely to protect the weak who are tormented by demons. So why did you resort to violence against one of your own comrades?”
“Ah, Lady Iris, I think there’s some misunderstanding. I was simply giving a little wake-up call to a friend who was slacking off. I wouldn’t exactly call it violence… H-Hiiik! When did this bastard pass out?! This is a setup! All I did was mix in a tiny bit of howling while we were talking, and if he fainted because of that, then it’s just because this guy has the mental fortitude of a goldfish!”
“So in the end, regardless of the reason, you did indeed intimidate your comrade. Follow me. I’ll be giving you a full day of discipline.”
“W-Wait a second! I wasn’t going to say this, but Lady Iris, are you really in any position to be lecturing others? From what I hear, you’ve been dozing off in class or skipping entirely quite often lately. Is it okay for the top student to be doing that? And there are even rumors that the reason for this is because your patron celestial is draining your mana and life force. If even the celestials are exploiting their contractors, does the claim that Pantheon Academy exists to protect the weak really hold any weight?”
“…Don’t you dare insult my celestial!”
First Form of the Moonlit Wolf Fang Style: Crescent Kick
Baaaam!
Iris, who had been listening silently to Zeke Wolftail’s words, suddenly moved with the grace of a figure skater and unleashed a merciless kick straight into his solar plexus.
Her leg strength was so immense that even Zeke, a martial artist student who had inherited the blood of a werewolf, was sent flying like a broken puppet, crashing into the outer wall of a nearby lecture hall.
As someone who had been lying unconscious right beneath him just moments ago, I felt my legs go weak from witnessing such a powerful front kick.
At least Zeke could regenerate even if his ribs were shattered, thanks to his werewolf heritage.
But if that kick had landed on me, I’d probably have died on the spot.
It made me realize just how absurd it was that I had managed to survive in Yongdam Tiger’s Den with my below-average, trash-tier body.
Regardless, since a violent incident and property damage had occurred right in the middle of the academy, even if Iris was a highly promising prodigy, there was no way this was going to be overlooked.
Iris was summoned by Instructor Atrox, the academy’s disciplinarian, while Zeke and I were taken to the infirmary for treatment before following right behind her.
“Now then, does this mean all parties involved in this little brawl are present? To think you’d dare have a fight in broad daylight within the sacred grounds of the Order. This year’s batch of students is brimming with youthful energy. If you can’t control that overflowing energy, you should come find me. I, Atrox of the Violent Tiger Fist, don’t go easy on students—ah, I mean, I am always willing to provide fair and just training duels.”
“Instructor Atrox, this is unfair! You called it a violent incident, but I didn’t even throw a single punch at anyone. In fact, I was the one who got attacked… Urgh! My ribs haven’t fully healed yet…”
“Zeke is telling the truth. In reality, I was the only one who caused the violence and the property damage. I will accept whatever punishment you see fit, but please let the others go. And Zeke, though it’s a bit late, I apologize for what happened earlier. As you said, I wasn’t in a position to be lecturing anyone. If anything, I’m just a hypocrite.”
“Hssss…! No, Lady Iris! I was the one who ran my mouth without knowing the full situation. I… I’m sorry.”
“What the hell is this? Before I even get to investigate, they’re already making up and settling things all nice and neat. This is so boring. At least one of you should be flaring up in anger and resisting so I can enjoy breaking you in—uh, I mean, so I can correct your behavior properly. Hey, you. The one who’s been zoning out without saying a word. Your name is Kim Seonghoon, right? Don’t you have anything to say?”
Instructor Atrox, the kind of teacher every school has—the terrifying ‘Tiger Teacher’—turned his sharp gaze towards me, and for a brief moment, I felt like confessing to crimes I hadn’t even committed.
And when I say ‘Tiger Teacher,’ I mean it literally—Atrox was a beastman of the were-tiger bloodline.
Unlike Zeke, he remained in a permanently transformed state, so standing in front of him felt like being prey caught in the sights of a real tiger.
My heart shrank instinctively.
“…No, I have nothing to say.”
“Then… you will now engage in a staring contest with me.”
“Huh? A staring contest, out of nowhere?”
“Yes. You just have to hold out for three seconds. If you endure, I’ll let you go. But if you look away, you’ll be cleaning the bathrooms for a month.”
Atrox’s method of determining guilt through a staring contest was about as absurd as a grade school teacher deciding that both students were at fault just because they both got into a fight—regardless of who started it.
But his true goal wasn’t really to determine guilt or innocence.
Atrox’s staring contest event was actually a secret test to identify potential disciples—or, more accurately, to search for the next celestial’s successor.
In the game, how long you could withstand it depended on your mental resistance roll.
No, setting everything else aside, I really don’t want to clean the school bathrooms—I have trauma from that.
How the hell am I supposed to endure this?
“Alright then, Iris, you go first. I’m sure you can last at least three seconds. Let’s see how long you can endure. Grrr!”
As Instructor Atrox fully unleashed his predatory gaze, I realized just how human he had seemed up until now, despite his tiger-like appearance.
Even though I wasn’t even the one staring directly at him, my fingers were trembling.
Yet, Iris, who was standing face-to-face with him, met his gaze firmly.
About ten seconds later, she lowered her head and spoke.
“Instructor Atrox, I’m sorry, but I don’t deserve forgiveness. As I said earlier, I was the root cause of everything. I will make sure to thoroughly clean the girls’ restroom on the first floor of the main building, as well as participate in repairing the collapsed exterior wall.”
“Hmph. Well, if that’s what you feel is right, then do as you wish. Next up—Zeke Wolftail. Hmm?”
“Ugh! I-I’m sorry! It may sound like an excuse, but since I share beastkin blood, it’s even harder for me to withstand your gaze, Instructor Atrox. I’ll clean the first-floor boys’ restroom.”
“Tsk, tsk! Not even lasting a single second before lowering your head? Kids these days have no grit, I swear. Alright, now let’s see how long our friend Kim Seonghoon can endure.”
“Uh, wait a second, I need to mentally prepare—”
Since Zeke’s turn ended so quickly, I was suddenly thrown into a staring contest with Instructor Atrox before I could even process what was happening.
A strange sense of déjà vu washed over me.
I was staring at Instructor Atrox, yet I felt as if something far greater, something transcendent, was scrutinizing my entire being.
And then it hit me—this was the same feeling I had during the induction ceremony at the Pantheon Temple.
That’s when I realized—it wasn’t just Instructor Atrox looking at me.
His celestial, Baekho Geumgang (White Tiger Vajra), was evaluating me.
Unlike other celestials under the Pantheon Alliance, Baekho Geumgang was an independent celestial.
It seemed he was using this opportunity to search for a potential contractor.
The fact that I could sense his presence probably had to do with my unique status as both a human and a celestial myself.
Of course, just because a high-ranking celestial was observing me didn’t mean my utterly garbage talents would suddenly be deemed valuable.
But at least for this moment, knowing that Baekho Geumgang was watching made Instructor Atrox seem much less intimidating in comparison.
It was an optical illusion, but one that worked in my favor.
Thanks to that, I managed to endure for the full three seconds.
Holding onto my trembling body, I finally lowered my head.
“Okay. Looks like you’re just a regular human, but you still lasted three seconds. You’re exempt from bathroom cleaning duty. The rest of you, take your cleaning supplies and don’t skip a single day for the next month.”
Once Iris, Zeke, and I left the room, Instructor Atrox, now alone in his office, finally indulged in his long-restrained craving for a smoke.
He pulled out an old-fashioned pipe from his drawer—so old, in fact, that it looked like an antique.
After lighting it and taking a slow drag, he exhaled into the air and spoke.
“So, Lord of the Mountains, what do you think of those students?”
A deep, resonant voice responded.
Hmm…
That girl, Iris, truly lives up to her reputation.
The way the Pantheon Alliance celestials keep fussing over her always annoyed me, but after seeing her for myself, even I find her tempting.
However, she’s already contracted with some unknown celestial, and to top it off, she’s far too versatile.
Ironically, that makes her a poor match for me.
I prefer those who dedicate themselves to a single pursuit—like you, who, even after a hundred years, never mastered Taoist arts and only knows how to punch things.
“…Is that supposed to be a compliment or an insult? Well, Iris doesn’t have any beastkin blood in her, so I guess that’s just sour grapes for you. What about Zeke Wolftail? He comes from a pretty prestigious werewolf lineage.”
Not even worth considering.
The guy already has an ingrained sense of defeat, believing deep down that he could never surpass a tiger beastkin.
If you weren’t his instructor but just another student, he would’ve tucked his tail and run away.
“And the last one—Kim Seonghoon?”
That one… Hmm.