I Possessed a Broken Academy Instructor

Chapter 14

The incident at the training ground ended up being just a minor happening, as Jin Crow had predicted.

Famille, of course, was fine, and Dokgo Ran only received 5 demerits for property damage.

Although the fact that their respective families, upon hearing the news, anonymously donated funds for reconstruction wasn't much of a secret among the instructors.

‘I’m glad no one was hurt.’

Idealle wasn't too concerned about this part either.

She would have been displeased if the donations were made for factionalism or other gains, but they had sent just enough to cover the repair costs—perhaps because they knew her personality, or perhaps to avoid giving other factions a reason to attack.

She wasn't inflexible.

After all, even if it was anonymous, the money came with receipts and couldn't be embezzled by anyone.

If it were a pure donation, there was nothing to be wary of.

Moreover, since Instructor Jin Crow had intervened and no one was injured, looking at the results alone, it was resolved rather smoothly.

“Hoo.”

Idealle pressed on her throbbing eyelids, strained from her work, and took off her glasses, placing them on the table.

The black tea that Assistant Instructor Ginatio had made for her when he stopped by the Headmaster's office hours ago had long since gone cold.

Sip.

She wet her dry lips.

A moderately bitter taste brushed the tip of her tongue, and she rose from her stiff body and walked to the window.

“Hoo.”

Feeling stuffy, she undid the top button of her shirt, which was fastened all the way to her neck, and felt much more comfortable.

“……What on earth is he thinking?”

What slipped past her lips was none other than a question.

The subject, of course, was Jin Crow.

After causing trouble with his extremely insincere attitude, he was now approaching his duties as an instructor with a bafflingly proactive stance.

It was bound to be perplexing.

However, having checked the data Jin Crow had given her before, she could tell.

At first, it was anger.

But what lingered in her mind afterward was a question.

‘There’s something going on.’

Whether it was a scheme by Rosen's side hoping for internal strife in the Kukenhausen family, or a deal made by Jin Crow personally.

It was something she couldn't jump to conclusions about for now.

Because of that, even after seeing the ‘dagger’ he had offered, she planned to watch him for the time being without showing any reaction.

‘Jin Crow.’

The emotion she felt when she first met him again was gladness, and after seeing his changed self, it was disappointment.

But the emotion she felt now was…

‘I will watch you.’

It was something complex, a mixture of anxiety and expectation.

***

A man walked into a massive facility, incomparable to the 7th Training Ground where Lambda had been before.

As he moved, the gazes of the cadets who had arrived early and were waiting all turned to him.

And Ginatio, who was already leading the cadets, nodded at him, trying his best to maintain a neutral expression.

“Everyone’s here.”

His—no, Instructor Jin Crow’s—sensitive yet languid voice echoed through the lobby of the Central Training Ground.

No matter how much they gossiped behind his back, calling him a jerk or saying he was pathetic from being soaked in alcohol and cigarettes, facing him in person was a different feeling altogether.

His murky black pupils were dead, and his pale skin made his already cold-looking impression even darker.

But what struck them the most was the aura he subtly exuded.

“……”

Just his silent gaze sweeping over them felt like an inexplicable stuffiness tightening around their necks.

Of course, it would be fine once they got used to it to some extent, but the fact that they were overwhelmed from the first impression wouldn't change.

“Ooh, he seems even more menacing today, doesn't he?”

“……Haa.”

Meanwhile, Dokgo Ran twitched her shoulders at the sight of Jin Crow, as if she wanted to fight him right then and there, while Famille, sitting beside her, shook her head.

‘How did I end up here?’

It was all because of the gorilla next to her who couldn't control her strength in a spar.

Something useless had been added to the curriculum she had painstakingly and meticulously calculated and planned.

Of course, Jin Crow, who had semi-forcibly made her take this lecture, was just as unwelcome.

It was then.

Jin Crow, who had lightly scanned the cadets standing in the lobby, opened his mouth.

“For the time being, the lectures will be held at the Central Training Ground.”

“Huh?”

For a moment, the cadets tilted their heads at the statement that seemed to be missing a subject, but the sense of unease from Crow's words quickly passed.

“Since it’s the first day, I’ll take questions. Feel free to ask anything.”

His attitude was perfectly at ease.

Perhaps because of that.

Just as a few cadets, who seemed much more relaxed, were cautiously about to raise their hands, Dokgo Ran, who was already squirming with a competitive spirit, shot her hand up and shouted.

“Me!”

“State your name and rank. Next.”

“Cadet Dokgo Ran! I have a questioooon!”

Only then did Jin Crow nod, and Dokgo Ran, her characteristic dark red eyes sparkling, shouted.

“Will you spar with us, Instructor?!”

“Denied. Next.”

“Huh? But— Mph? Mmmph?”

Dokgo Ran tried to hastily add something at the word "denied," but when Famille, who was watching beside her, snapped her fingers, no sound came out.

Famille gave a slight glance, and Jin Crow, receiving her look, calmly pointed to the next cadet as if Dokgo Ran wasn't even there.

“Cadet, Beatus.”

“Ask.”

“Yes. Then what exactly will we be learning?”

The cadets also agreed with his question, which came from someone who was clearly from the Martial Arts Division but, unlike Dokgo Ran, was quite serious.

“As you all know, the newly established 「Understanding Space Monsters」 is a linked course that includes both theory and combat.”

The answer to that was concise.

Because of that, just as a few cadets whose questions were still unanswered were about to ask again, he furrowed his brow as if he wasn't finished speaking and added.

“Don’t be hasty. You’ll find out in due time. Next.”

“Cadet Wooten.”

The questions that followed from the cadets were all expected.

Because of that, Jin Crow only answered the appropriately meaningful questions and was about to wrap things up.

“Cadet Baek Hwi-young.”

He raises his hand, blinking his ash-gray eyes.

Jin Crow’s gaze falls on the words he uttered like a murmur.

He nods.

At the silent permission, Baek Hwi-young opened his mouth.

“This may be rude of me, Instructor, but there is a point I would like to address. Would that be alright?”

It was different from the questions the cadets had asked before.

Because of that, they too were expectant of what Baek Hwi-young would say, while Miel, standing beside him, could only look at him as if afraid of what he might say next.

“You may ask.”

Finally, his permission was granted.

At that, Baek Hwi-young asked him as if he had been waiting.

“Are you qualified to teach us, Instructor?”

At that extremely provocative question, cadets, whether they knew Baek Hwi-young or not, turned their heads towards him.

However, they couldn't help but inwardly nod at his next words.

“Theory is one thing, but practical combat would be different.”

Naturally, a strange silence hung in the spacious lobby of the Central Training Ground.

In any other lecture, it would have looked like a cadet daring to doubt an instructor, but at least when it came to Creatures, Baek Hwi-young's words had a point.

‘Tsk, a checkmate.’

It was to the point that even Assistant Instructor Ginatio, who held no fond feelings for Jin Crow, glanced at him and clicked his tongue.

At the same time, he even felt pleased watching Baek Hwi-young steadfastly meeting Jin Crow's gaze.

‘He hit the nail on the head. I don’t remember him being a cadet who stood out that much…’

Baek Hwi-young. It was then that he engraved those three syllables into his mind.

Slowly, Jin Crow’s mouth opened.

Naturally, Assistant Instructor Ginatio, as well as the other cadets, did not expect anything pleasant to come from his mouth, and Miel already squeezed her eyes shut, her shoulders trembling in anticipation of the scolding that would follow.

“A valid question.”

“Huh?”

But at the words that flowed from his mouth, everyone’s eyes widened in disbelief.

Only Baek Hwi-young stared straight at him as if he had expected it, waiting for the answer that would follow.

“The cadets of the Central Special Mission Military Academy are all talents recognized by the Synthetic Nation's military. Therefore, you are entitled to a lecture befitting your status.”

In fact, as Jin Crow gave his answer, a faint smile even brushed his lips, albeit for a fleeting moment.

Was it because of that?

Baek Hwi-young, satisfied, opened his mouth to reply to his words.

But he too couldn't help but be bewildered by the words that were added.

“However, doubting an instructor means a subordinate has arbitrarily judged the capabilities of a superior officer. In extreme terms, it borders on insubordination. Therefore, you get 5 demerits.”

“……Pardon?”

One could say it was an over-interpretation, but this was actually closer to the Jin Crow the cadets knew, so they were rather convinced by it.

Besides, it wasn't as if it was logically unsound.

“Understood.”

In the end, Baek Hwi-young had no choice but to accept it with a slightly hollow smile.

He himself was aware that he had just crossed a line.

Just as Baek Hwi-young fell silent and the atmosphere was about to settle down.

“But it was a good question. Lambda.”

“Ah, yes! Instructor!”

Jin Crow called out to Lambda, the blue-haired android standing in a corner of the Central Training Ground's lobby. Answering his call, Lambda walked over with a slightly nervous expression and stood beside Jin Crow.

Naturally, the cadets’ gazes gathered on her, and when Jin Crow nodded, Lambda cleared her throat with a short ‘ahem’ and began to speak.

“A pleasure to meet you, cadets. I am the android Lambda, in charge of the academy’s 7th Training Ground.”

She introduced herself briefly and gave a silent bow, and Jin Crow added.

“She has been dispatched here because the Central Training Ground’s usual management staff is on vacation. You may see her often from now on, so treat her with the same respect you would an instructor.”

He said that and gestured to her with his eyes, and Lambda nodded and walked towards the external control room of the nearest training ground, A1.

“Instructor, what is this?”

Assistant Instructor Ginatio quietly approached and asked about his sudden, unagreed-upon action, but what he got back was not an answer, but a single phrase that was closer to a command.

“Assistant Instructor, lead all cadets to Training Ground A1.”

“……Hmph, understood.”

In the end, all Ginatio could do was follow his words and lead the cadets.

He also had an inkling of what Jin Crow intended to show them.

‘It’s the most definitive way, I suppose.’

Well. Creatures aren't exactly familiar enemies even for the instructors.

No matter how overwhelming the power gap is, will simply crushing it with that power gap serve as a meaningful demonstration?

Contrary to his concerns, the cadets obediently followed the lead and entered Training Ground A1.

〔Are you ready?〕

A moment later, Lambda's voice, sounding much more relaxed, echoed through the training ground's internal speakers.

Jin Crow, who had entered the training ground first, readily nodded and murmured lowly.

“Difficulty: low. Assumed enemy: Creature. Background: urban warfare.”

〔Then, activating.〕

The cadets’ vision turned black.

And when they opened their eyes again not long after, what entered their vision was not the white walls of the training ground, but.

“H-help me!”

“Gyaaaaaaaaargh!”

The middle of a battlefield where desperate screams echoed.

“……Urban warfare?”

“There was a Creature option?”

Any cadet would have experienced training in a simulation, so there was no agitation.

But in that moment.

A scream close to a shriek brushed past the ears of the murmuring cadets.

“G-get away!”

The shout of an officer cowering in a collapsed building. It was merely a virtual construct realized in the simulation, but its desperation was indistinguishable from the real thing.

Was it because of that?

The gazes of the cadets and Assistant Instructor Ginatio followed the danger the officer had shouted about, and they soon realized that the target of his warning was none other than Jin Crow.

-Kyaaaaaaaak!

A monster, easily 3 meters tall and a mix of purple and red, stomped on the asphalt and leaped into the air.

It extended the long, spear-shaped exoskeleton that replaced one of its arms towards Jin Crow.

“Wh-what speed!”

“Insane.”

At its overwhelming size and speed, the cadets, without exception, held their breath.

It was only natural.

Which of them had ever seen a Creature right before their eyes?

‘……It’s over.’

Even Assistant Instructor Ginatio narrowed his eyes and swallowed a groan.

The Creature’s movements were faster than expected, and it was already face-to-face with Jin Crow.

Gulp-.

But in that very moment, the cadets witnessed a fleeting flash of light, along with the sound of liquid being swallowed.

-Kii?

The Creature, having landed on the ground in front of Jin Crow, blinked its characteristic red eyes.

“This beast is a Pawn. It’s a mass-produced type, but an individual specialized in anti-personnel combat.”

But right after, a thin line appeared, splitting its body vertically, and its flesh slid apart to the left and right.

Click-.

Jin Crow sheathed the sword he had drawn at some unknown point and added to the cadets who were staring at him with blank expressions.

“Take notes.”

And only then did they realize.

That the sound of liquid they had heard moments ago was not from anything else, but from the hip flask in Jin Crow’s hand.