Chapter 298
Roke Island.
While all first-year students were out for their dispatch evaluations, an order was issued for professors to assemble.
Professors who taught first-year classes were gathering in the central banquet hall.
"Ah, I told you, I hate wearing clothes like this."
And from the entrance of the banquet hall, the Toxicology professor, Belya, was loudly expressing her irritation.
On top of her usual bandage fashion, she now had a black suit jacket draped over her shoulders, and was even wearing proper pants.
"You're embarrassing yourself, so keep your mouth shut, please."
Next to her was Hongpeng, the Magical Combat professor.
"Are you planning to meet Lady Neftis in that strange, half-naked outfit?"
"Tch."
Belya snorted.
"I heard you had the whole city talking about you as the freak of Keyzen, but I guess the freak is dead, huh, all settled into city life now?"
"Don't get cheeky."
Hongpeng's voice was serious.
"I told you before, didn't I? This place is even more survival-of-the-fittest than the grasslands we used to live in. Show even the slightest opening and they'll pounce on you like a pack of jackals, biting you to shreds. How long do you think anyone's going to cut you slack just because you're from another culture..."
Click.
At that moment, the door opened, and a middle-aged man with a dignified appearance entered the building.
"Ah, ladies, good evening."
It was Eric Aura, the professor who taught Darkness Dynamics. Spotting the Belya–Hongpeng sisters, he removed his hat and gave a polite greeting.
Just as Belya was about to respond with another rude remark, Hongpeng darted forward like lightning, pressing an acupuncture point on Belya's neck so she couldn't speak.
"Good evening, Professor Eric!"
Then, with a practiced warm smile, she clasped both of his hands.
"It's been so hard to see fellow professors lately!"
"Haha! Well, everyone's busy preparing for classes. Between BMAT and everything else, the older I get, the harder it is to keep up with all the changes."
Eric's gaze shifted to Belya.
"I've heard much of Professor Belya's recent achievements. I look forward to your continued guidance for the students."
Belya could only make strangled sounds like "Ugh!" and "Ghk!" while Hongpeng and Eric exchanged a few more pleasantries before parting naturally.
Thump! Thump!
Belya pounded Hongpeng's back with her fist, glaring fiercely while pointing at her neck.
With a small sigh, Hongpeng released the blocked point with a touch of her index finger.
"Ah! Ah!"
Her voice finally returned, and Belya glared at Hongpeng with raised eyebrows.
"You've really lost it, haven't you? I'll melt you from head to toe and—"
"Let's just get inside, Lady Neftis will be here soon."
Pushing the fuming Belya forward, Hongpeng guided her into the banquet hall.
The interior was extremely luxurious. Round tables offered wine and light refreshments, and various professors were seated around them, engaged in conversation.
At the two female professors' entrance, several professors stood and politely invited them to join, but Hongpeng, with a smile, declined and instead headed for the most secluded spot, seating what was essentially a ticking toxic bomb there.
"Please, just behave yourself, I'm begging you."
"Tch."
With a displeased face, Belya tried to put both feet on the table, but Hongpeng stopped her at once.
No to this, no to that.
Ignoring her sister's nagging, Belya ordered her underlings to bring her some alcohol. Already, the pants Hongpeng had made her wear were riddled with holes from the poison, turning them into something like a distressed fashion statement.
"Lady Neftis is entering!"
Right on cue, the host appeared.
All the professors rose from their seats.
Accompanied by vice-chancellor Jane, a small silver-haired girl came into the hall, swinging her arms with gusto.
Upon seeing the professors, she beamed and waved vigorously.
"Hi everyone! How've you been?"
The professors responded with courteous bows.
In the center of the banquet hall's podium was a large, plush chair. Jane, as if used to it, slipped an arm under Neftis' armpit, lifted her up, and set her down on the chair. Then she stepped back, folding her hands neatly behind her.
"Looks like all the first-year professors are present."
Jane said as she looked around. Her gaze briefly lingered on the Hongpeng–Belya pair seated at the end, before returning to the center.
"We've gathered here to discuss matters concerning BMAT. I'd like to hear your candid opinions."
"Mm! Mm!"
Neftis nodded her head enthusiastically, adding her own little exclamations.
Jane turned her head.
"Then first, let's hear from Professor Duncan, who requested this meeting. Please speak."
Duncan, who taught Toxicology to the other half of the first-year students, rose from his seat.
Lately, he had been quite displeased because some of his own students were auditing Belya's classes instead.
"Ahem, ahem! Let me get straight to the point."
The man with the thick brown beard looked around the room before speaking.
"Holding the BMAT five times is simply too much."
A few professors quietly nodded. This was a sentiment already shared by some of the faculty.
"I'm sure you've all noticed when you go into your first-year classes these days,"
Duncan's face flushed as he spoke with spittle flying.
"'Is this on BMAT?', 'Will this be on BMAT?'—this is all the students ever say! As an educator, it's frustrating to no end!"
His gaze flickered briefly, passing over Belya, who was sitting with legs crossed in a haughty manner.
"In fact, the difference in concentration between BMAT-related classes and those that aren't is enormous. This is a problem! The focus has completely flipped!"
This time, his eyes turned to Neftis, who sat in her chair, swinging her legs and humming softly, looking in good spirits.
"I understand why Lady Neftis revived BMAT, which had previously only been held for second-years and above, and extended it to first-years. The intent was good, it weakened the influence of the Keyzen faction, and it has had some positive effects on the students. But!"
Duncan's voice rose, spittle flying.
"We're now seeing the side effects. The most important parts of the curriculum are being neglected! Students focus only on black magic they can use in BMAT, while ignoring the black magic and knowledge taught in the textbooks! Such lopsided thinking will only have a negative effect on the still-developing minds of our young students!"
"Indeed."
Another professor interjected, a tall, gaunt woman.
"While Professor Duncan may be exaggerating a bit, it's true that BMAT is all the students think about. Isn't it? It's thrilling, entertaining, and a stage where they can elevate their honor in front of countless people. Of course they'll care more about BMAT. Never has Keyzen's curriculum been treated as so secondary."
"Exactly, that's why I think BMAT should be discontinued, for the sake of raising the students' true capabilities."
"BMAT itself was a measure to correct public opinion after the Saint incident! Now that the sentiment has stabilized, I see no reason to keep it going!"
Several professors voiced opposition to BMAT. Most of them were the ones who taught primarily textbook-based classes, or valued solid theoretical and academic achievement.
Of course, there were those who opposed them.
"This year's first-year BMAT is Keyzen's big hit. Cancelling such an important event for a trivial reason will provoke a strong backlash."
"If we treat BMAT not as a test but as part of the class, it can be quite beneficial."
"Student focus has improved too. As Keyzen professors, isn't mixing textbook learning into the BMAT framework a basic skill?"
Professors who valued BMAT were certainly present, most of them were like Belya, who had achieved notable success through BMAT-tailored lectures.
Then, a hand went up.
"May I say a few words?"
The lively hall immediately fell silent.
The Katarology professor, Bahil, dressed in a pure white suit, slowly rose to his feet.
Neftis smiled brightly.
"Mm, go ahead!"
"Before that, just a moment."
Bahil approached Neftis, reaching into his suit jacket.
Then, with the air of a gentleman offering a lady a flower—
"Ice cream!!"
He held out an ice cream flower.
In this world, the only person who kept ice cream in a subspace permanently enchanted with freezing magic, just in case he met Neftis, was Bahil.
"Haa."
While Jane let out a long sigh with a displeased expression, Neftis' eyes sparkled brightly.
Just as she grabbed the ice cream and opened her small mouth as wide as she could to take a bite—
Snap.
Jane, standing behind her, snatched it away.
"You promised to eat only five a day. I will confiscate this one."
Deprived of her ice cream, Neftis bit the air with an "Ahn" sound, but of course, there was no taste to be had.
The radiant smile on her face slowly stiffened. Her lips trembled in disbelief, and her large, blue eyes rapidly filled with sorrow.
"My ice cream!"
Neftis protested fiercely, throwing a tantrum. But Jane didn't budge, raising the ice cream high above her head.
Crash! Clatter!
Just then, a loud noise came from the corner seat.
Belya shot up from her seat, her face filled with terror, and shouted.
"W–What do you think you're doing! Vice-chancellor! Do you really want to die?!"
"...What?"
"Put it back, now! Can't you see that monster getting angry?"
Belya stared at Neftis as though she were looking at some kind of terrifying beast.
'...What is this woman even talking about now.'
Jane sighed and pressed her forehead with her hand.
What were the chances that all these idiots would end up in the same room?
And this was supposed to be the gathering of the world's greatest necromancers. Even some small-town hobby club would have more discipline than this.
With no other choice, Jane handed the ice cream back. Neftis calmed down as she began to eat, and Belya sat back down, clutching her chest.
"Then, let's continue where we left off."
Bahil, looking entirely unfazed by the commotion, returned to his seat as though it were routine.
"I believe both sides have valid points. BMAT has certainly improved students' motivation and practical skills, but concerns about weakening textbook knowledge, theory, and the priority of professors' instruction being overshadowed by BMAT are also valid. Yes, you're all correct."
Bahil shrugged.
"On the flip side, continuing to hold five BMATs, or outright ending BMAT, are both too extreme. We need to compromise to some extent."
At those words, the room fell silent. Bahil made eye contact with Neftis and continued.
"So, I propose the following."
Bahil suggested merging the 4th and 5th BMAT.
In exchange, the number of eliminations would be one hundred, and the exam duration would be significantly extended to five days and four nights.
"Hmm."
Jane spoke up.
"After the 5th BMAT, there's also the second-year advancement exam. Two major exams back-to-back would place far too much strain on the students."
Even Duncan, who was anti-BMAT, spoke cautiously while glancing at Bahil.
"If we merge the two exams, won't that only increase the importance of BMAT in the end?"
Just then, another hand was raised.
"May I have a moment to speak."
It was Walter, the new Haematology professor filling in for Sillage.
Jane nodded.
"Go ahead, Professor Walter."
"Thank you."
Walter bowed his head slightly, then began to explain.
"While continuing the current BMAT, let's run it in parallel with the performance evaluation season."
Listening to his detailed explanation, the professors found themselves nodding unconsciously.
"Hmm!"
"Not bad."
Walter's proposal was adopted with overwhelming support, including Bahil's.
A new wind of change began to blow in Keyzen.
* * *
"Alright!"
"You've packed everything, right?"
It was the final day of the Vengeance dispatch they had grown attached to.
Simon and his teammates were packing up their things from the room they'd been using as lodging, and were coming down the stairs.
"...Snf, right. So you're all going back to Keyzen now."
In front of the Vengeance lobby, Agent Blark and his secretary were waiting.
Blark was sniffling, wiping his eyes with a handkerchief.
"Ah, why are you crying, Agent!"
Maelyn approached with a smile, teasing him. Blark blew his nose loudly into the handkerchief.
"Having such good kids come down here was a blessing. I'll never forget this past week."
"We feel the same, Agent!"
While Blark was too choked up to speak, his secretary sighed and explained in his stead.
"A Keyzen underling has prepared a teleportation magic circle in the front yard. It's time to return to Roke Island."
"You've worked hard too, Secretary!"
The secretary shook hands lightly with Simon and Dick, and shared a boisterous hug with Maelyn. The two had gotten along so well they were like real sisters.
"Secretary!"
This time, Kamibarez ran into the secretary's arms. Perhaps catching Blark's tears, she too was tearing up.
The secretary gently stroked Kamibarez's hair.
"Surviving in Keyzen is important, but I hope you don't lose yourself."
"Yes! Thank you, Secretary!"
Kamibarez smiled warmly.
"Please take good care of Sasha!"
"Of course. The Agent and I will look after her."
Blark had agreed to become Sasha's guardian as her godfather. Once she recovered, they would surely see her again soon.
While everyone was exchanging farewells—
"Oh."
Maelyn's gaze shifted.
"Isn't that Agent Seiyur over there?"
Seiyur, who had been trying to slip out the back door carrying office supplies, flinched like a petty thief caught in the act.