◈ Chapter 344: Objection (1)
Rudger looked at the student standing in front of him.
It was Martin Kandak, who came from a relatively well-known noble family among the first-year students.
Rudger glanced around.
Several noble students were sending encouraging looks towards Martin's confident behavior.
Looks like someone has stepped forward as a representative.
Rudger lightly flicked his finger.
A barrier of sound insulation formed around Rudger and Martin.
Now, any conversation taking place here would not reach anyone's ears.
Martin seemed unaware, but Rudger thought it necessary.
Rudger looked at the student in front of him.
As Rudger stared in silence, Martin's pupils trembled noticeably.
It seemed like he was slightly regretting what he had said, but since the words had already been spoken, it appeared that he intended to push forward until the end.
"Well then, Martin Candark. Are you giving up on the class?"
"...Yes."
"The reason is?"
Do I really need to ask for the reason?
Martin answered the question honestly, although he held his dissatisfaction internally.
"It's because I feel it's a waste of time to engage in such meaningless actions."
"Meaningless actions?"
"I am a student of Seron, and I am even a noble. So why should someone like me have to sweat and endure this hardship?"
Martin had grown up being treated well in his family.
After coming to Seron and experiencing the wider world, he realized that the commoners here were not to be underestimated.
He could tolerate that.
However, this mindless physical training was simply unbearable.
He had managed to endure because Rudger was the instructor for the special lecture, but when there were no tangible results, impatience and frustration had reached their limit.
"Even if we don't go through such difficult training, we will eventually be able to summon magical beasts..."
"Martin, let me ask you something. Did you feel the threat to your life during this field study?"
Martin couldn't answer that question with a 'yes'.
There had been a terrorist incident during the field study.
Many students were involved and injured.
Martin was relatively lucky.
He wasn't injured in the terrorist attack and was able to quickly evacuate to a safe place.
However, he had heard the news.
Chimeras attacking and a black storm raging.
That's why there were many students lying in hospital beds.
But Martin thought it had nothing to do with him.
After all, it was someone else's business, and he was perfectly fine. The fact that there were no deaths also greatly contributed to his sense of relief.
"...Why are you asking me that?"
However, openly admitting it would hurt his pride.
"If it was someone who truly experienced a dangerous situation, they wouldn't quit the class."
"That's..."
"However, I understand your reaction."
Martin stared at Rudger with surprise in his eyes.
He thought he would receive a lot of criticism for saying such things.
He had made up his mind to quit despite everything, but Rudger was saying he understood instead.
"It must be frustrating. The intense physical pain that you've never experienced before. And on top of that, an sluggish process. You must have felt left behind when other students in the same class were moving ahead one by one."
Martin involuntarily trembled his shoulders.
Rudger's words were so precise, as if peering directly into his inner thoughts.
Since Martin didn't want to admit that fact, he resisted even more strongly.
"I simply expressed my belief that this class is pointless."
"Why do you think it has no meaning?"
"If not, then why am I still running around here, drenched in sweat?"
"If I couldn't do it, then it's the fault of the class. Is that what you think?"
Rudger wasn't showing anger yet.
Although Martin found it surprising, he expressed the thoughts he had kept in his heart.
"I have received education in magic from a young age in my family. Although my talent may not be the best in Seron, I take pride in the learning process and time I have invested, which is no less than others."
Martin's gaze turned to some students who were sitting and meditating.
Not noble like himself.
Commoner students.
The unease and inferiority he harbored inside himself stemmed from this.
Why should he, who had learned more and for a longer time, fall behind?
If the other person were a noble, he could understand. They would have received early education, just like him.
But commoners were different.
Weren't they the ones barely attending classes, relying on Seron's financial aid?
He couldn't accept in his mind that he was falling behind those guys.
"So, you want to give up? You've put in your effort in your own way, but you're discouraged because there are no visible results?"
Rudger's icy voice weighed heavily on his shoulders.
Martin swallowed hard and reluctantly nodded.
Even this simple gesture required him to tighten his fists and summon his courage.
After all, the person standing before him was Rudger Chelsea.
The recently appointed teacher at Seron.
But no one saw him as a newcomer.
He is currently trusted by the principal and reportedly made significant contributions during the recent terrorist incident.
The incident when Rudger rescued students from the Chimera Legion was famous among the students.
As a result, many noble students who did not look down on Rudger formed a favorable impression of him.
His cold and distant behavior has now become his distinctive character trait.
Nevertheless, Martin had to speak to Rudger.
"Yes, I will give up. And professor's teaching method is wrong."
Not only did he express his decision to give up, but he also criticized the professor's teaching approach.
It was clear that his statement had crossed a line.
Martin was well aware of the consequences. Once he uttered those words, there would be no turning back, and he would face the wrath of Rudger.
Despite being aware of the consequences, he had no other option but to proceed.
Rudger silently fixed his gaze upon Martin.
The inside of Martin's tightly clenched fist was damp with cold sweat.
What would Rudger do now?
Would he chase him away? Or would he humiliate him in front of everyone? Maybe he would forcefully assert himself even more.
All sorts of negative thoughts swirled in Martin's mind.
Martin's gaze naturally lowered to the ground.
Then Rudger spoke.
"Alright."
"Yes?"
Martin raised his head abruptly.
He didn't understand what Rudger just said.
He agrees with this? So easily?
He felt foolish for worrying needlessly.
"I'm not so heartless as to impose difficult tasks on someone who dislikes them. If this approach isn't effective, then it must be my fault."
However, after saying that, Rudger stopped speaking and stared at Martin.
His eyes were so clear that it seemed like he could see right through Martin's inner thoughts.
"If that's your sincere intention, I will admit that I was wrong."
"Sincere intention?"
"I don't consider words forcibly uttered under someone else's coercion to be sincere."
"...!"
Martin's breath caught in his throat.
"Oh, well, it's just..."
Martin pondered in his mind.
Rudger already knew everything.
As Rudger said, Martin's courageous stand against him wasn't because this class was truly meaningless.
The method of physically exhausting oneself? At first, he didn't like it, but as he continued, he realized something.
Commoners surpassing him?
That does indeed touch his pride.
However, Martin was aware that when it came to magical beasts, talent and intuition played a significant role.
In contrast, he had a stronger inclination towards the theoretical aspects of magic, and he was actually achieving commendable grades in that area.
He was still a student, but he knew at least how to differentiate what he was good at and what he wasn't.
Nevertheless, he took a stand against Rudger.
It was due to external pressure.
'Ruin the lesson?'
Hugo Burtag, who called him separately.
Among Seron's teachers, he is the keader of the noble faction and the one of the senior teachers with considerable authority.
He said such words to him.
Drop out of Rudger's class.
'Martin, it's not that difficult. Just say you're giving up and instigate some students.'
'What about the consequences of leaving Mr.Rudger class?'
'I'll help you with that. Besides, I will officially complain to the principal about this special lecture. It's too much to subject the students to such extreme measures.'
Martin knew what Hugo wanted.
He wasn't criticizing the principal's behavior of subjecting the students to extreme measures.
He was trying to manipulate the situation to restrict the principal, who was trying to wield her authority too much with this incident.
However, Martin couldn't easily dismiss Hugo's proposal.
It was because he had a connection with his father.
'Martin, how is your father doing?'
'...He's fine.'
'Yeah, he better be. Thanks to our Burtag family's support, he was able to grow considerably.'
'...'
As Hugo said, thanks to Hugo's care, Martin's family, the Kandak family, was able to secure a decent position in noble society.
In other words, it meant that the moment they fell out of Hugo's favor, they could return to the past.
Of course, a family that has established its position and roots would not be easily shaken by such a trivial reason.
Martin's father must have prepared for this kind of situation.
If he thought rationally for a moment, there were flaws in this threat.
However, Martin was still young and not in a position to make such a judgment.
'Martin, if you do well in this matter, I can recommend you as a special privileged student. How does that sound? You will be treated well wherever you go after graduation.'
'Well...'
'It's not a difficult task, is it? Just act your age and walk away. These kinds of classes are meaningless.'
Martin couldn't give a proper answer.
He wanted to say that this was not right, but the words didn't come out of his mouth.
Hugo looked at Martin disapprovingly and touched his mustache while sticking out his tongue.
'Huh, Mr.Hugo, sir. I...'
'You're not reacting well at all. Tsk. Even though I tried to give you an opportunity, you're saying you don't want it.'
'Well...'
'There are plenty of others who can do this besides you. But I called you first because I have a connection with the Kandak family. But if the child turns out like this, the Kandak family will be quite disappointed too.'
Martin closed his eyes tightly.
'...Yes, I'll do it.'
He had no choice but to say that.
Martin woke up from his recollection and returned to reality.
"What on earth..."
"A student who has been quietly attending classes suddenly says he wants to quit, and there is someone who readily accepts it? Where can you find such a person?"
"But... I'm just one out of 80 students..."
"Just one is enough. Out of the 80 students who attend MY class."
Martin couldn't control his trembling.
Being in such a state in front of someone who knew everything wasn't just an ordinary embarrassment.
How pitiful must Rudger have viewed him?
Following someone's instructions from behind, how insignificant must he have felt, mimicking their words like a parrot?
Even thinking about it himself, he found himself repulsive, and if he thought from the perspective of a teacher, it would only magnify that repulsiveness.
To Martin, who couldn't continue speaking due to pale discomfort, Rudger spoke with a softer voice.
"Martin Kandak. I consider you an excellent student. So I don't blame you or reprimand you in this situation. However, there is one thing I want you to answer clearly."
"What... What is it?"
"Do you really want to quit this class?"
Rudger asked with a penetrating gaze.
"Do you really think that's for the best?"
Martin wanted to say that he had already given a sufficient answer to that question, but he held back.
Rudger wasn't looking for a formal answer.
He wanted to hear his true feelings.
"...I just thought that it didn't matter if I continued this class. But my opinion is meaningless. Even if it's not me, someone will question this class."
"That's right. The person who made you do this doesn't expect good results from me in this class. If it can't be you, they will make someone else do the same thing. You thought it would be better if it was you."
Martin nodded, feeling ashamed.
Rudger didn't blame Martin for his behavior.
"If my class hasn't shown its effect yet, that might be true. But unfortunately, that is no longer necessary."
"What do you mean?"
"Look over there."
Martin looked in the direction Rudger pointed.
And Martin widened his eyes in disbelief.
"A magical beast?"
A magical beast had appeared from among the students who were gathered for meditation.