The History of the Academy Runs Deep
The Academy has faced invasions from dark mages, infiltration by spies from enemy nations, external assaults, internal betrayal, and even the escape of an enhanced moon bear used for experiments, among many other severe incidents... Yet, the Academy has persevered through all the turmoil and continued on for over 20 years.
This resilience was due not only to the support of an idealistic nation, the Empire, but also to its motto promising "guaranteed growth."
Who cares about a few invasions or even a few deaths? Surviving here means an increase in one's magical power. People die everywhere, inside or outside the Academy. If there’s danger everywhere, it’s better to be in a place that boosts magic.
Furthermore, the Academy's graduates are distinguished in various fields, so the value of an Academy diploma continues to rise, and with it, the number of applicants keeps growing.
This year, a remarkable change occurred.
For the first time, even powerful families, like Baekryeom and Redburn, sent their children to the Academy, alongside commoners and lesser nobles hoping for a life-changing opportunity.
Does this mean that even noble families recognize the quality of the Academy’s education?
(Of course, in Redburn’s case, it was more like abandonment, and Baekryeom had the mindset of "go, have fun, and come back," but at least in the public’s eyes, it looked impressive.)
Thus, this year's class garnered attention even before enrollment.
The son of the Redburn family, the blue-tower prodigy who had already Awakened, the only daughter of Duke Baekryeom, the top disciple of the Gold Mage Tower, and a saintess from the Goddess Church—just hearing these names was awe-inspiring. How could such a group not attract attention?
Some began to call them the "Golden Generation."
However, this expectation was only placed on the select few students of exceptional talent, noble lineage, and prestigious status.
This is understandable. No matter how rigorous the entrance exams, there will always be standouts. It's impossible for an entire class to experience the same level of extraordinary growth.
When they heard that some unknown mage had parachuted into a professor’s position...
When rumors circulated that a young man named Bennett had Awakened after taking a professor’s class...
When word spread that the Academy, which usually had incidents and deaths by now, was oddly calm and unscathed...
No one expected much from the average students. It was widely assumed that they would serve as stepping stones for the truly talented, decorations to make the stars shine brighter.
However, in the Academy’s team competition, the true nature of this year's intake was revealed.
"Hey, 'Slicing Lancelot's Apple into Pieces' is super easy. Just slice an apple in midair and get 1 point."
"Come on, what's 1 point worth? Over there, there’s a 4-on-1 duel with a professor who needs warming up. The requirement is to cut a piece of fabric, and a surprise attack might just do the trick."
"I know someone skilled in iaido. Should I call them?"
"Great idea. I’ll start with sensory interference, and you throw in a feint..."
The students gathered, chatting like men preparing for labor, barely needing to speak before syncing up.
"Students, are you ready? As the sign indicates, I will only use a shield, not move a single step, nor use my Awakened Form. I’ll give you 10 seconds to score a hit. Now let the battle begi—"
"‘Ground Tremor!’"
"‘Iaido: Gap!’"
"Sleeve slice!"
"Wha—what...?"
In an instant, they sliced off the knight professor’s sleeve, earned their points, and disappeared. Even though the professor had multiple handicaps for balance, their speed was abnormal.
Their movements and communication were flawless, as if they had faced and defeated powerful opponents many times before.
Spectators quickly sent servants to write down the students' names, but soon found the list meaningless.
"This spot’s a total jackpot, huh?"
"Looking for a Gun Kata user for the party."
It wasn’t just a single group that stood out. Every team that had taken specific classes and participated in certain events displayed the same incredible skill. They gathered, dismantled the professors’ clothes for points, and moved on.
"Pants leg mission complete. Now let’s head to the ‘Poison Mushroom’ corner."
"Professor, can our party enter right away?"
"W-wait... students, could you give me time to change? My clothes are quite tattered right now..."
The new knight professor quickly found her uniform in tatters, holding the torn ends and shrinking back.
It was truly admirable that she didn’t retract her self-imposed limitations, as a model knight should. But unfortunately, the students showed no mercy.
When spectators glimpsed her unexpectedly cute underwear, they realized:
This year’s intake, not just a few but all of them, was... different!
Each student seemed like a battle-hardened veteran, unshaken by ordinary events, with an unusually high level of adaptability in unforeseen situations.
When it came to the top students, their feats elicited more than awe—they were outright bewildering.
"How is that student... performing a double jump in mid-air?"
"That’s called a double jump."
"What did that student just do?"
"That’s Bennett. What he did is beyond me."
They displayed impressive skills, but it was a set of peculiar techniques that wouldn’t necessarily be required in standard combat situations.
What kind of classes did they take to develop such skills? Was the Academy secretly feeding them elixirs, or had an Imperial Swordmaster been dispatched to instruct them?
—"The Labyrinth is coming! The Labyrinth is coming!"
—"That insane professor is really going to throw us into hell!"
—"Find someone with an area attack! We’ll need at least one, so let’s party up before entering!"
—"Enbus, you broke our deal. So I came to find you. I’m going to kill you."
With the activation of the Great Labyrinth, the spectators were about to witness the secret behind their growth.
Meanwhile, Duke Baekryeom Felt a Mixture of Pride and Worry.
At first, he felt pride—his daughter managed people so well!
He also felt admiration and emotion. She shone as she fought powerful enemies and commanded her fellow students.
Of course, she was still lacking in strength and judgment.
In strategy, she couldn't match a student named Gordius, and in strength, she couldn’t surpass the walls of Baekseol and Selvier... But that’s fine. For a leader, the ability to delegate is crucial. The authority of a duke can make up for any shortcomings in power.
If she could command and plan even while isolated at the Academy, she would undoubtedly manage well when she returned to inherit the dukedom.
Duke Baekryeom dabbed his eyes with a handkerchief, feeling touched, but he also tilted his head in concern.
"But something feels off... My daughter is soft-hearted, like me, yet she remained calm when magic flew at her face. She even reacted quickly."
"Perhaps the Academy experience has strengthened the Lady, Your Grace?"
"People’s true nature doesn’t change. Even I still struggle to give orders; it twists my stomach with anxiety. I just hide it well."
But the journey to hide it was long and painful. It’s not a state one can reach in a year.
Duke Baekryeom himself had gone through years of fumbling and worry during crises, often making things worse before he could hide his fright and give cool-headed commands.
What has she gone through at the Academy?
—"Tentacles incoming. Keep moving!"
—"Wow, now the floor’s falling, the ceiling’s dropping—what a complete package. Thanks, Professor!! Grinding us to death!!"
—"Hey, how about we use the captured terrorist as a shield for the second floor? If this is the class compilation, the undead wave is bound to come soon, right?"
So, that’s what they’ve been through.
"......"
"......"
Watching the students navigate the maze, which could make even the most depraved dark mage shudder, Duke Baekryeom turned to his attendant.
"Should I make her drop out? She’s gone through this, and she’ll face more of it."
"...It’s hard to give an opinion, Your Grace."
"Surviving such extreme situations is bound to lead to growth. But the human heart wears down. I sent her to the Academy to broaden her perspective, but I might have made a mistake..."
He expected some hardship. Dorm life with peers inevitably leads to trouble. But he hadn’t worried about the difficulty level of the classes.
Based on the Academy’s past curriculum, he had thought it was manageable. But what changed in just a year?
It was as if he had sent her on a school trip only to find out it was a Marine boot camp. He’d sent her off to make good memories, but it turned out to be a war zone.
"Hmm..."
He didn’t want to become an overprotective parent.
He didn’t want to be the sort of tacky noble shouting, "How dare they treat a child of such noble blood like this!" or "Consider the dignity of our family and grant her special treatment."
Such concern would harm her in the long run. So, though he’d sent letters checking on her monthly, he never demanded special treatment or lowered difficulty.
But now... could he file a complaint?
Duke Baekryeom propped his forehead on his hand, pushing down his fatherly instincts and thinking calmly.
"No... this requires her own input. Call her here after the tournament ends."
"Yes, Your Grace."
Shortly after...
"Father!"
"Come here, my dear."
The Baekryeom lady hugged her father tightly after a long separation. After sharing a happy reunion, she noticed the other attendants and adjusted her manner, raising her poise.
"Father, you must be busy with state affairs..."
"Don’t say that. Meeting my daughter comes first. I saw your performance. You’ve... grown so much."
"I’m still lacking."
"When compared to the sun, one will always feel lacking. But remember, striving is good, but so is finding joy in your accomplishments."
"Then... yes. I learned a lot. I’ve grown a lot."
Duke Baekryeom patted her head affectionately. After chatting for a while, he subtly brought up the main topic.
"I saw the Great Labyrinth. I worry that the professor is being too harsh in his pursuit of achievement."
"Ah..."
"I heard his class was mandatory. Trials should be for those who choose them, so I’m considering writing to the Emperor to make it optional. What do you think?"
"Hmm..."
The Baekryeom lady thought deeply.
This could be the one chance to remove the shadow of that insane professor from the Academy. If she said, "I think that’s a good idea," his course would become optional...
Then.
The remaining two years of Academy life would be so much more comfortable. No tentacles. No trials. No more hopping at night to learn double-jumping.
And next year’s freshmen would be free from the mandatory horrors, able to enjoy a safe and peaceful Academy life.
Only those who voluntarily chose hardship would suffer under the mad mage’s clutches.
That was, somehow, really—
"A bit unfair..."
"Hmm?"
"Oh, I mean, it would be unfair if only our generation benefited from this privilege. I think the Academy is good as it is, Father."
"Very well, if that’s your view..."
Duke Baekryeom didn’t bother pointing out the logical flaws, as it would misunderstand her intent.
I can’t be the only one to suffer.
You must experience what I did, all of you!
He could see this determination in her eyes.
"...Heh."
She looked just like her. Duke Baekryeom recalled his late wife and spent ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) a joyful time with his daughter.
Found it.
The hooded boy gazed up at the screen, thinking. The horrific layout of the maze, the sadistic glee in drawing out people’s suffering, and his identity as the mage of the Purple Tower...
It all fits perfectly. It’s him. After long wandering and waiting, I’ve finally found him.
That fiend was said to have died at the hands of the current Purple Tower Lord... but the boy didn’t believe it. He couldn’t imagine such a vile creature perishing so easily.
Even if the former Tower Lord died, he was sure that cunning scoundrel escaped somehow.
He must have changed his appearance, his identity, his age, and shamelessly survived somewhere.
And his guess was right. The mad mage is him—the former Purple Tower Lord’s prized disciple and the boy’s mortal enemy.
“⋯⋯I'm going to kill you soon, Mad Wizard⋯⋯No, I mean, Mountain Goat!”
Of course, it was a misunderstanding.