The Academy is Doomed

Chapter 117

Why does betrayal occur?

If we look for the fundamental reason, it’s because we trust the other person.

In other words, if you don’t trust someone, you can’t be betrayed.

‘How could someone like me forget such an important fact?’

The price of trusting Fiora and not going to Marion’s classroom was steep.

Still hoping against hope, when Amon visited the training ground during Sloth’s class time, he found Fiora dead drunk and sleeping.

Moreover, Sloth had surrendered her leather, that is, her sleeping bag, to Fiora and was shivering.

Enraged at this sight, Amon kicked the sleeping drunk Fiora like a ball.

“Heeek! Wh-what is this!”

“It’s your senior! You rascal! What do you think you’re doing!”

“Why, why! Why are you hitting me!”

“Sleeping drunk during precious class time! Is this proper behavior for a teacher! Have you completely forgotten the senior-junior oath we made under yesterday’s sunset!”

“You told me to live freely, senior!”

“Damn it! You should be free within reason!”

Having tasted true freedom, Fiora didn’t back down an inch even against Amon.

In the end, Amon and Fiora fought it out.

As a result, Amon ended up lying down defeated.

‘As expected of a Pendorean family member. That Fiora, she hits hard. But I definitely didn’t lose. The current me is lying down due to the feeling of betrayal.’

Amon, who was consoling himself, slowly got up.

“Ah, geez. My nose is bleeding again.”

Amon quickly plugged his nose and sighed.

‘I completely forgot that this academy is a den of demons. Of course, there couldn’t be humans in a demon’s den. Fiora was one of the demons too.’

Fiora’s true form was a monster combining Marion’s drinking habits and Sloth’s laziness!

Having realized this fact, Amon suddenly frowned and muttered.

“But that’s just a delinquent.”

She said she wasn’t a delinquent.

“…That Fiora, she must have deceived me.”

Amon trembled at Fiora’s deception tactics of reassuring him and then stabbing him in the back.

‘Sigh, whatever. She’ll live her life as she sees fit. If she keeps this up after the observation period ends and she officially takes charge of classes…I’ll kill her then.’

Amon carefully cultivated murderous intent towards Fiora as he got up.

It was almost time to start class.

* * *

Entering the classroom, Amon discovered an unexpected person.

Even though there was quite some time until class started, Fiora had arrived first and was organizing teaching materials.

Although she had never been late during her observation period, she had never come this early either.

Yet here she was, having arrived before him and preparing for class!

“What’s this? The delinquent is pretending to be diligent?”

At Amon’s sarcasm, Fiora responded in her usual blunt voice.

“Are you starting again? Stop picking fights.”

“Then stop giving me reasons to. I heard from Senior Marion that you were dancing while waving a liquor bottle this morning?”

“…!”

“I heard everything, you drunkard.”

Perhaps even delinquents feel shame, as Fiora blushed and grumbled.

“It was just for today.”

“No, keep living like that~. It was nice seeing you sleeping drunk~.”

“…Really?”

When Amon glared at her, Fiora quickly turned her head away.

“Sigh, what’s become of my life?”

While grumbling in despair, the classroom door opened.

“Hm? Chloe, why are you here so early?”

At Amon’s question, Chloe glanced at Fiora and smiled sweetly.

“Just because.”

“Hm? I see. Have a seat.”

While Amon didn’t think much of it, Fiora, who had caught Chloe’s glance, narrowed her eyes and looked sideways at Chloe.

‘That kid has been looking at me with those eyes recently.’

Suspicion? It was a gaze containing something similar to that emotion.

However, knowing how much Amon cherished his students, Fiora couldn’t point this out.

‘Fiora! How dare someone like you harass the students!’

Head goes boom!

It wasn’t hard to imagine the scene.

Besides, while her gaze was like that, she was normal when talking, so Fiora decided to dismiss it as just the way the child’s eyes naturally looked.

As time passed, all the good and diligent students were seated early despite there being quite some time until class.

“Kids, you all came early.”

Amon looked over the students with a pleased face and said while opening the textbook.

“Then let’s start class!”

“Ahhh! Teacher!”

“I should come back when it’s class time.”

As the kids hurriedly tried to escape, Amon chuckled and closed the textbook.

“I’m joking, you kids. Well, since we have some time left, this is perfect. I had something to ask you all.”

“What is it?”

The moment Amon wrote ‘Cultural Festival’ on the blackboard, Raymond jumped up.

“Finally, it’s time for me to shine! Right, Raymond!”

‘That’s right, Raymond.’

“Your thoughts are the same as mine!”

The two Raymonds were dancing with joy.

‘That’s scary.’

However, this time there was no reason to stop Raymond.

The current situation was that we had significantly fewer students.

In other words, it was a situation where we needed to compete with quality rather than quantity, and Raymond’s dolls boasted considerable quality.

In the end, this might become an important element of this cultural festival.

‘Still, we can’t fill the exhibition hall with his dolls like last time.’

Amon cleared his throat and said.

“Ahem, Raymond. As you say, your role will be important this time.”

“I knew you thought so too, teacher!”

“But you know, how about doing things a bit differently from last time?”

“Huh? Differently?”

Amon said with a warm face.

“Last time there was an exhibition, right? So it was natural for your works to be the star. But this time it’s a cultural festival, right? All students should be the stars, and guests should be able to enjoy it too.”

“That means…”

“You already proved your skills wonderfully at the last exhibition, right? So this time, how about an event where you use your excellent skills to make dolls on the spot for guests, so everyone can enjoy it?”

This would be better to hear and easier to persuade than directly saying ‘No house of horrors.’

Raymond was nodding with a face that seemed to find it reasonable.

“Indeed…you’re saying we should target mass appeal this time, right?”

“Oh? Y-yes, that’s right.”

“I understand. That does sound good too.”

As Raymond’s persuasion ended simply, Amon clenched his fist.

Indeed, talking with kind-hearted students was more comfortable than dealing with demons (teachers).

“Thanks for understanding, Raymond!”

“Hehe, it’s nothing.”

Amon wrote new words on the blackboard.

[Raymond – On-the-spot Custom Doll Making]

Just with this alone, people would have something to enjoy at the cultural festival.

Who wouldn’t be tempted by dolls quickly made on the spot by Raymond, who possessed the dexterity of a Sword Master!

‘Once spectators see the making process, they’ll come running over in fascination.’

Amon smiled warmly and said.

“Now then, do any of you have something you’d like to do?”

Chloe raised her hand quickly.

“Yes, what would you like to do, Chloe? Sword dance? Sword demonstration?”

With Chloe’s skills having reached the realm of Sword Expert, she was more than qualified.

But Chloe said in a confident voice.

“Animal experience!”

“…Huh? Animal experience?”

Chloe seemed to think an explanation was needed and continued.

“I’m confident in taming animals. My homeland, the Kingdom of Aran, is in a mountainous region where livestock is rare, right? So we place great importance on bonding with livestock. We treat them practically like children. As a result, livestock training goes well, and children often play and ride them. Wouldn’t it be perfect for an animal experience?”

Chloe said with a bright smile.

“A sword demonstration or sword dance would be nice, but there are many nobles in this city. Sword Experts level swordsmen would be common. There wouldn’t be any differentiation.”

“Hmm…”

“Besides, guests will likely bring many children, and animals can attract children’s attention. Horses, goats, cows, pigs, and so on. The more variety, the better, right?”

“Hooo…”

Amon’s face became serious.

Now that he heard it, it was quite reasonable.

Numerous nobles stay in Amur, a commercial city.

However, there are tens or hundreds of times more commoners who reside here and work for their living than nobles.

Moreover, being a commercial city, there aren’t many opportunities to see proper animals.

‘Of course, horses, cows, and pigs are everywhere in Amur too. But cows are valuable assets that need to be treasured as reliable burden bearers, and horses are the exclusive property of nobles. Commoners don’t get chances to ride them.’

While they might see them being sold at trading companies, they rarely interact with them in daily life.

In other words, Chloe meant to target such commoners.

But suddenly a question arose.

“But can you ride pigs too?”

“We rode them a lot back home. Though adults can’t ride them because of their size.”

“So kids can ride pigs too…”

As Amon stroked his chin enviously, Chloe said.

“Right, it would be good to have dogs and cats too. They perform tricks well when tamed.”

“But can you tame them by the cultural festival? We only have about a month left.”

Chloe gave a somewhat creepy smile.

“Don’t worry. I’m confident.”

While everyone except Amon felt a chill from that smile, Amon, who completely trusted Chloe, simply thought ‘Must be a skilled technique of Aran Kingdom’s secret arts’ and didn’t think much of it.

“Alright. Then I’ll put it on the list for now.”

[Chloe – Animal Experience]

Amon tapped the blackboard and said.

“Then next student. Boris, is there anything you’d like to do?”

After hesitating for a moment, Boris said.

“I’d like to do a magic demonstration.”

“Magic demonstration! Yes, basics are the best. You can do it together with Senior Marion.”

Magic is also the exclusive property of nobles.

Since most guests are expected to be commoners, magic would surely be a good spectacle for them.

[Boris – Magic Demonstration]

Amon looked at Ami.

“Ami? Any good ideas?”

“Umm…let me think about it a bit more.”

And Amon looked at the last remaining student.

“Rustianel?”

Rustianel, who had been deep in thought, opened her mouth.

“Gold eating.”

Amon let out a deep sigh at the hope that was dripping with self-interest.

“What do you mean you’ll do gold eating at a cultural festival?”

“Why do you think it won’t work?”

“…Why would you think it would?”

Rustianel shook her head and said.

“Teacher, have you ever seen someone eat gold?”

“Huh? Um…no?”

“It would be fascinating, right?”

“It would be…fascinating?”

Even Amon had almost fainted in shock when he first saw it.

Rustianel continued explaining.

“Teacher, nobles will come to the cultural festival too, right?”

“Hm? Well, they would. It is Amonis Academy after all.”

“The cultural festival is a place of entertainment. A place to spend money. Do you think nobles would hesitate to spend just one or two gold coins to see a fascinating sight?”

Amon shuddered and looked at Rustianel.

He hadn’t thought that far.

“Teacher, can’t you smell the money?”

“…Rustianel.”

“Yes?”

“Eat half and leave half. We need to show people it’s real gold coins. Let’s consider that remaining half as the viewing fee. I’ll give you half of that viewing fee.”

Rustianel smiled brightly.

“As expected of Teacher Amon. The viewing fee is important.”

“You…will become someone great.”

Amon wrote additional words on the blackboard.

[Rustianel – Gold Eating]

“Then only Ami is left, take your time to think about it and tell me…”

“Me! Me! No, I mean, I thought of something!”

“Really? What would you like to do?”

Ami said proudly.

“I want to be the barker for Rustianel’s gold eating!”

“…”

“Oh whyyy. I can do it well.”

Amon sighed and said.

“While you’re at it, do some fire hoop jumping too.”

Chloe quickly added.

“You can jump through it with the dogs and cats I tame!”

“…Was I being treated as a dog or cat?”

Sighing, Amon wrote Ami’s hope on the blackboard while saying.

“We’ll need to ask other teachers’ opinions first, so this isn’t definitely how it will go. Understand?”

“Yes! Teacher.”

As Amon looked over the list while hearing the students’ responses, he froze.

[Raymond – On-the-spot Custom Doll Making]

[Chloe – Animal Experience]

[Boris – Magic Demonstration]

[Rustianel – Gold Eating]

[Ami – Barker (Tentative)]

Looking at it all written down, it wasn’t a cultural festival but a circus.