310 – The Golden Generation and the Mad Magician

The Academy has a history, a pretty deep one at that.

Up until now, there’ve been some seriously fucked-up incidents – dark mage invasions, enemy spy infiltrations, external attacks, internal betrayals, even an enhanced moon bear that was being held for experiments escaping its cage and going on a rampage. But…

The Academy has stubbornly held on, through all the chaos, for over 20 years.

It’s been backed by an unshakeable empire, an ideal nation, and boosted by a catchphrase promising guaranteed, unconditional growth.

So what if they get attacked a little, people die a little? What’s the big deal? As long as you survive, they say, your magical power grows. People die everywhere, anyway. If it’s dangerous both inside and out, you might as well go somewhere that pumps up your magic.

Also, since graduates are making a name for themselves in various fields, the value of an Academy diploma keeps getting higher, so the number of applicants just keeps trending upwards.

And so, this current class has finally reached a turning point.

Not just commoners or weak nobles dreaming of turning their lives around, but the big power families like Baekryeom and Redburn have started sending their kids to the Academy.

Does this mean the Academy’s education is so good that even the big families acknowledge it and entrust their kids to them?!

(Of course, Redburn’s case was closer to neglect and abandonment, and Baekryeom’s attitude was more of a ‘go have fun’ kind of vibe, but at least that’s how it looked to the rest of the world.)

So, this year’s Academy class was in the spotlight even before the semester started.

The Redburn’s kid, the jewel of the blue magic tower who had already achieved transcendence, the only daughter of Duke Baekryeom, the top disciple of the gold tower master, the Saintess of the Goddess Church – just hearing their names makes them sound formidable. How could they not draw attention?

Some started calling them the “Golden Generation” from that point on.

But that was just an expectation placed on a tiny group of talented, well-blooded, and high-born students.

Of course. No matter how much you filter through the entrance exams, there are always some gems among the rest. It’s not possible for an entire generation to experience such a freakish power-up.

Even when news spread of some random magician being parachuted into a professor position.

Even when a weird rumor started circulating that a young guy named Bennett achieved transcendence after taking some professor’s class.

Even when it’s usually about time for the Academy to get attacked and people to die, but strangely, everything’s been fine and normal.

There weren’t many expectations for the average student. The general consensus was that they were merely stepping stones for the talented, decorations to make the stars shine brighter.

But during the Academy team competition… that’s when the true nature of this year’s cohort was revealed.

“Yo, ‘Lancelot’s Apple Slicing’ is a piece of cake. Just chop up apples in mid-air and it’s one point.”

“Dude, one point? That’s nothing… There’s this 4v1 match against some professor, and they seem like they need a little warming up. The condition is to cut off a piece of their clothing, so if we initiate with a surprise attack, we might have a shot.”

“I know a guy in a swordsmanship crew, wanna call him?”

“Sure. I’ll start with sensory disruption, then you go in with the paint…”

The students, huddling together like construction workers heading to a job site, formed a plan without even exchanging many words.

“Students, are you ready? As stated on the sign, I will only use a shield and will not move from this spot. Nor will I use any metaphors. I’ll give you 10 seconds to land a valid hit. Now, let the battle be…”

“Earthquake!”

“Drawing Sword: Interval!”

“Sleeve cut!”

“Uh, uh…”

They sliced off the knight professor’s sleeve in an instant, scoring their points and calmly disappearing. The professor had set up several handicaps to maintain balance, yet they were abnormally fast.

Their actions and communication were devoid of any excess. It was as if they had worked together countless times to defeat stronger opponents.

The onlookers quickly ordered their attendants to record the students’ names, but the list soon became meaningless.

“This corner is supposed to be easy points, right?”

“Gun Kata user looking for a party.”

It wasn’t just that one particular group stood out. Everyone who took specific classes and enjoyed specific content was like this. They’d gather in small groups, tear up a professor’s outfit to score points, and then move on.

“Pants hem targeted. Let’s head to the ‘Poison Mushroom’ corner.”

“Professor, can our party go in next?”

“Alright, just a moment now… Students, wouldn’t you give me a moment to change? I’m in a terribly tattered state…”

The newly appointed knight professor’s uniform was instantaneously reduced to rags, and she hunched over, clutching at the fabric that now hung from her arms.

Even in that condition, she didn’t relax the self-imposed limitations, truly a model of knighthood, but unfortunately, the students were not holding back.

When the knight professor’s surprisingly cute taste in undergarments was revealed for all to see, the onlookers intuited it.

This class, not just a few, but all of them, was… different!

Each student was like a veteran who’d seen it all. They weren’t easily surprised, and their response to unexpected situations was abnormally high.

And when you turned your gaze to the top students, it was less surprise and admiration, and more a sense of wonder that filled you.

“That, that student… how do they do a double jump in mid-air?”

“That’s called a double jump.”

“What did that student just do?”

“That’s a Bennet. I’m not really sure what they did.”

It was as if, while certainly useful, you were witnessing a variety of skills that weren’t strictly necessary in a normal battle scenario.

What kind of lessons did they have to grow this much? Did the academy brew up some kind of miracle elixir, or did they dispatch the Empire’s Sword Saint to train them?

-The Great Labyrinth! The Great Labyrinth is coming!

-That mad professor is finally trying to throw us into that hell!

-Find someone with an AoE first! We definitely need one before we go in, so get your party together!

-Envers, you broke your promise. That’s why I came for you. I’m going to kill you.

As the 『Great Labyrinth』 began to move, the spectators would soon witness the secret behind their rapid growth.

–

The White Lotus Duke’s first feeling was pride. My daughter handles people this well!

And he also felt a sense of pride and emotion. The way she fought against a powerful enemy, commanding the students, was clearly radiant.

Of course, her martial prowess was lacking and her judgment was questionable.

In strategy, she couldn’t match a student named Gordius, and in power, she couldn’t surpass the walls of Baeksul and Selvier… but it was okay. What was important for one in a position of authority was the art of using people. Her insufficient strength would be compensated by the power of the Duchy.

If one possessed individuals more capable than oneself, then their talents and power would soon become the possessor’s own.

If she could manage people and propel plans forward even while isolated at the Academy, she would certainly be able to do well after returning to the family and inheriting the Duchy.

Duke Baekryeom, filled with emotion, wiped his eyes with a handkerchief, but then tilted his head worriedly, feeling a sense of unease.

“But it’s strange… our child is a fragile person like me, yet she maintained her composure even with magic flying right at her face. Her judgment was also quick.”

“Perhaps the experience at the Academy has helped the Princess grow, Your Grace?”

“One’s nature doesn’t change. Even I can’t get used to giving orders to people. I get heartburn from the pressure. I just skillfully hide it.”

But the journey to hiding it was incredibly long and painful. It’s not something one could achieve in at least a year.

Duke Baekryeom himself, in the past when incidents occurred, would often be clumsy, fretful, and end up escalating matters by failing to handle them properly, before he could learn to hide his jumpy heart and give cold, calculated orders.

What had she experienced at the Academy?

-Tendrils incoming. Move so you don’t get caught!

-Wow, now the floor’s collapsing and the ceiling’s coming down, a real comprehensive gift set. Thanks, Professor!! For rolling us so hard, we could burst!!

-How about we grab that caught terrorist and use him as a shield to the second floor? If this is a compilation of lessons, then surely the undead wave is going to appear later?

She had gone through such things.

“………”

“………”

Looking at the students navigating a labyrinth of a structure that would make even the most evil sorcerer cringe, Duke Baekryeom asked his attendant.

“Should we have her withdraw right now? Our child must have experienced things like that. And will continue to in the future.”

“⋯⋯It’s difficult to offer an opinion rashly.”

“Of course, surviving such extreme situations will lead to growth. But a person’s spirit wears down. I wanted to gift her with a broader perspective, which is why I sent our child to the academy, but maybe that was a mistake after all⋯⋯.”

I expected there would be some hardship. Living in a dorm while interacting with peers, it’s inevitable that there would be some trouble. But I wasn’t worried about the difficulty of the classes.

Based on the information about the academy curriculum up to now, I thought it would be manageable. But what happened in just one year? When did it change this much?

It felt like I sent her on a field trip but belatedly realized it was actually a marine training camp. I sent her to make good memories, but it’s practically a war zone.

“Hmm⋯⋯.”

I didn’t want to be an overbearing parent.

I didn’t want to act like a tasteless, shabby noble, whining about how could they possibly treat my child like this, with such a noble lineage, or tell them to consider my family’s prestige and give my kid special treatment.

That kind of attention would ultimately ruin my child in the long run. So even though I sent my daughter letters of reassurance every month, I never asked the academy for special favors or to lower the difficulty.

But even so…wouldn’t this be grounds for a complaint?

Duke Baekryeom pressed his fingers to his forehead. He suppressed his paternal instincts and made a calm judgment.

“No, this issue…it’s best to hear her side before deciding. Bring the Duchess here after the competition.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

And a moment later.

“Papa!”

“There you are, my dear.”

Duchess Baekryeom buried herself in her father’s embrace after so long. After fully enjoying the family reunion, the Duchess realized there was another attendant present, and she increased her politeness by two levels.

“Father, you must have been busy with so much official business⋯⋯.”

“Don’t say such a disappointing thing, meeting my daughter comes first. I saw your performance. You’ve truly⋯⋯ grown so much.”

“I am still lacking.”

“Compared to that sun, we’re always lacking, you know. But chasing that too much just blinds you. Ambition is good, but you also have to take joy in what you’ve accomplished.”

“……Then, yes. I’ve learned a lot. I’ve grown a lot.”

Duke Baekryeom smiled warmly and patted his daughter’s crown. After chatting for a while, he subtly broached his main point.

“I’ve heard about this Great Dungeon thing, and it worries me that the students are being pushed too hard in the name of achievement.”

“Ah….”

“I understand that professor’s class is mandatory. Hardship should be for those who choose it, so I was thinking of sending a letter to His Majesty the Emperor to make that class an elective. I wanted to hear your opinion on that.”

“Hmm….”

Lady Baekryeom sank into thought.

This might be the one and only chance to clear away the shadow of that insane professor that’s fallen over the academy. The moment I say ‘That sounds good,’ that mad wizard’s class will no longer be mandatory, but an elective….

Then.

My academy life, with two years still left to go, will become incredibly pleasant. No tentacles, no trials. I wouldn’t have to jump around at night trying to learn that damn double jump.

And, the new students coming in next year will be freed from the shackles of that mandatory class…. Everyone will be able to enjoy a safe and peaceful academy life.

Only a few who choose the path of hardship will fall into the clutches of that mad wizard and suffer.

That’s, well, like… really—

“Isn’t it a little unfair…?”

“Huh?”

“Ah, no, I mean. The fact that only our generation would get to enjoy this kind of opportunity, it feels unfair. I think the academy is good the way it is, Father.”

“I see, if that’s what you wish…”

Duke Baekryeom didn’t bother pointing out the contradiction of how changing a required class to an elective had anything to do with opportunity deprivation. That would have been a misinterpretation of the speaker’s intention.

I can’t be the only one to suffer.

You all need to suffer this good thing I’ve suffered. You must!

One could read that resolution in the princess’s eyes.

“…Heh heh.”

She was so like him, this form of hers. Duke Baekryeon reminisced about his long-dead partner, enjoying this pleasant time with his daughter.

–

Found him.

The boy, his hood pulled low, looked up at the screen, thinking. That atrocious layout of the labyrinth, the vicious sadism designed to extract human suffering, and his identity as a mage of the Purple Magic Tower.

The puzzle pieces fit perfectly. It’s him. After a long wandering and waiting, he’d finally found him. No mistake.

It was widely known that the b*stard had died at the hands of the current Purple Magic Tower Master…but the boy didn’t believe it. There was no way that wretched fiend could have died so easily.

Even if the previous Tower Master was dead, that cunning, sly b*stard had somehow gotten away, he thought.

Changing his appearance, changing his identity, changing his age, he was probably living shamelessly somewhere.

And his hunch was right. Circumstantially, it was certain. The mad mage was him. The previous Purple Magic Tower Master’s top disciple, and the boy’s sworn enemy.

“…I’ll be coming to kill you soon. Mad mage… No, 『Goat』!”

Of course, it was a misunderstanding.