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Chapter 29 - The Professor in Both Hands (1)
"What do you think a hero is?"
The question was posed during the practical combat training class, held every Monday.
As soon as Professor Lucas entered the classroom, he threw the unexpected question at the cadets.
"...Huh?"
"A hero?"
The cadets were puzzled, their expressions blank.
"A hero is someone who receives the blessing of the Seven Gods and can wield a stigma, right?"
"But demons can also wield stigmas."
"That’s..."
"What I want to ask is why we started calling humans with stigmas 'heroes' in the first place."
Professor Lucas wrote the word "hero" in large letters on the blackboard and waited for a response.
An awkward silence descended over the classroom.
The ticking of the clock echoed like thunder in the quiet room.
"Is the question really that difficult?"
"......"
Even though Professor Lucas pressed for an answer, none of the cadets dared to respond.
The third-year cadets attending the 'Practical Combat Training' class had already learned from experience that there was no good outcome to be gained from standing out—especially when it came to catching the eye of the "Bloodthirsty Hound."
"I guess I have no choice."
Professor Lucas scanned the cadets and pointed to one of them.
"Cadet Albert."
"Why is it always me? Huh? Why is it always me!"
When his name was called, Albert jumped out of his seat as if triggered, vehemently shaking his head in defiance.
"I don't know!"
"You don't?"
"Yes, I don't know! And even if I did, I wouldn’t answer!"
"Oh. Is that so?"
Professor Lucas nodded as if intrigued, then pulled out a large juice bottle from his pocket.
He had shown off the special "health juice" during a previous mental discipline class.
"Did you know, Cadet Albert? This health juice has a brain-clearing effect too—"
"The reason humans with stigmas are called 'heroes' is related to the 'Five Great Heroes' who sealed the Demon God 500 years ago. The term 'hero' was used to honor those who sacrificed their lives to protect humanity, and since then, those with stigmas have been given the title 'hero.'"
"Yes, yes. That's exactly what I expected from you."
Professor Lucas grinned and patted Albert on the shoulder.
Albert glanced at the juice bottle on the lectern with terrified eyes.
"But that's not what I wanted to hear. I'm not asking about some historical background."
"...Excuse me?"
Returning to the lectern, Professor Lucas surveyed the cadets with deep, sunken eyes.
"In two years, you’ll graduate from here, receive your official certification, and people will start calling you heroes."
However...
"Just because people call you heroes doesn’t mean you’re real heroes."
It was only because, for the past 500 years, those with stigmas were called heroes that you would be called one too.
But that didn’t mean you’d truly become a "hero" in the genuine sense.
"So I'll ask again. What do you think a hero is?"
"......"
"Is there no one who can answer this time either?"
As Professor Lucas glanced around at the cadets.
Clatter.
One cadet stood up.
With a straight posture and a determined voice, he answered.
"A hero is someone who protects the weak who cannot bear stigmas and defends humanity from demons and beasts."
"Someone who protects the weak and defends humanity, huh?"
A twisted smile crept onto Professor Lucas's face.
"Do you really think so?"
"Excuse me?"
"Would you really be willing to sacrifice your life to protect humanity and the world against the remnants of the hateful Demon God?"
"Of course!"
The cadet nodded confidently.
"Hah."
Professor Lucas shook his head with a bitter smile.
Then.
Boom!
Professor Lucas's body disappeared instantly, and in the blink of an eye, he was in front of the cadet, his fist flying at him with enough force to shatter metal.
"Aaaaah!"
The cadet screamed as he fell backward, crashing to the ground.
Professor Lucas looked down at the cadet and clicked his tongue.
"If you’re terrified by this, how will you sacrifice your life for humanity?"
"Ugh... I-I was just startled..."
"No need to make excuses. I'm sure the others are just like you."
With a deep sigh, Professor Lucas walked back up to the podium.
"It's easy to talk about protecting humanity and defending the world."
However.
Very few are truly willing to sacrifice their lives to be a hero.
"I don’t expect you to protect humanity or the world. In fact, I don't expect that from any of the idiots wandering around outside who are being called heroes."
Among all those who are called heroes.
There are only a handful who are true "heroes."
"But."
Even so.
"If you want to be called a 'hero,' there's one thing you must remember."
For the first time, Professor Lucas's expression turned serious.
"Even if you can't protect everyone, make sure you protect those by your side."
It doesn't matter if it's family, a lover, or a friend.
What matters is not who you protect.
"Raise your sword not for others, but for yourself."
Don't sacrifice yourself for some stranger or for a world you don't even understand.
Not for "others," but for "yourself."
Even if you can't protect the whole world, shouldn't you at least protect the people who are important to you?
"That's what it means to be a hero."
A heavy silence fell over the classroom when Professor Lucas finished his speech.
"Ahem."
Even though he experienced this every year, the awkward silence still felt unfamiliar.
Professor Lucas cleared his throat unnecessarily and spoke up.
"Well, that’s enough rambling for now. Today, we have an outdoor class! Since next week’s class is canceled due to the sealing ritual, I will work you all to the point of foaming at the mouth today!"
Ignoring the groans coming from all around, Professor Lucas marched out of the classroom.
* * *
After the unusually intense "Practical Combat Training" class had ended.
"Your speech was pretty impressive today."
"...What are you doing here?"
"I came to eat because the dining hall was too crowded."
I shrugged as I placed the sandwich and coffee I bought at the store on the table.
Originally, I had promised to have lunch with Iris every Monday, but today's class was so hard that she was half-unconscious, so we postponed our meal until tomorrow.
"I bought something for you too, Professor. Want to eat together?"
"You really are... Hah. Never mind."
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Professor Lucas sighed deeply, shaking his head in disbelief.
"What kind of sandwich did you bring?"
"Ham and egg sandwich."
"You've got good taste, kid."
The professor grinned as he sat across the table and picked up the sandwich.
Though it was an ordinary-sized sandwich, it looked like a child’s toy in the professor's large hands.
"Your skills have improved noticeably lately."
"You mentioned that last time we sparred, didn’t you?"
"No, you've improved even more since then."
The professor took a huge bite of the sandwich and continued speaking.
"Before, your techniques were good, but your basic physical strength and mana capacity were severely lacking. But today, I saw that you've made great strides quickly, especially in your magic capacity."
"That’s all thanks to you, Professor."
"Nonsense."
Professor Lucas snorted and shook his head.
"I've been struggling for the past two years to turn you into someone decent, but you remained the same."
"......"
As he said, Professor Lucas was the one who worked the hardest to teach me when everyone else gave up on me during my first and second years, dismissing me as hopeless.
'I think he said something like, 'I can't tolerate having such an idiot under my supervision.''
Though his words were harsh, it was clear that Professor Lucas wanted to help me catch up somehow.
He must have known that if even he gave up on me, no one would be left at this school to support me.
'Wield the sword not for others but for yourself, huh?'
I chuckled softly and spoke.
In that sense, Professor Lucas deserved to be called a 'hero.'
"No, it really is thanks to you, Professor."
"You..."
Professor Lucas seemed about to say something, but he sighed deeply and shook his head again.
"So, why did you come here?"
"I told you earlier, didn’t I? The cafeteria was too crowded, so I came..."
"Stop spouting nonsense."
The professor clicked his tongue and glared at me with fierce eyes.
"All your classes are over for the day, so what do you really want, barging into my office?"
"Well... It’s not that I have any special reason for coming here."
Just as he hadn’t given up on me in my previous life, guiding me, I should do the same for him in this one, even if just a little.
"The Sealing Festival is next week, isn’t it?"
"And?"
"I heard from a friend in the magic department that Professor Bianca might not be able to attend due to other commitments."
"What?"
Professor Lucas's eyes widened in surprise, clearly hearing this for the first time.
'Well, of course, he wouldn’t know.'
Professor Bianca wouldn’t be attending the festival because a magic department cadet had caused a significant accident during a research experiment.
Not wanting to tarnish the cadet’s reputation, Professor Bianca quietly handled the aftermath by herself.
"I see... Well... That doesn’t really concern me."
The professor's shoulders slumped as he spoke in a despondent tone.
'Not concerned? What are you talking about, old man?'
He was probably excited to ask Professor Bianca out during the Sealing Festival next week.
"In that case, why don’t you step up and ensure that Professor Bianca doesn’t have to spend the festival alone?"
"Me?"
"Yes."
"But I don’t know anything about magic..."
"Who said you should help her with her work? I’m sure Professor Bianca wouldn’t want to be cooped up in her lab on a festival day. Just go and keep her company."
"That’s..."
Professor Lucas trailed off, glancing away awkwardly.
"Even so, she’s going to be busy with work, and if I go, it might be a bit..."
"A guy who looks like he could eat someone alive shouldn’t be so shy."
"What did you just say, you little...?"
"Here, take this. Professor Bianca won’t turn you away if you bring it, so don’t worry."
I handed the professor a paper bag I had prepared in advance.
"What’s this...?"
"It’s wine that Professor Bianca enjoys."
I had bought it when I visited Valhalla City with Iris last weekend.
"Since it’s work, she probably wouldn’t drink during the day, so drop by in the evening."
"You... you..."
"Oh, and I heard she likes salads made with imperial salmon as a snack. You can handle that, right?"
"You little rascal!"
Professor Lucas shot to his feet, grasping my hand tightly with a fiery look in his eyes.
Seeing tears welling up in his eyes, it seemed he was even more touched than I expected.
'Well, I guess this repays some of the debt I owe him.'
With that thought, I stood up to leave.
"Well then, I’ll be on my way."
"Yes, thank you."
With the professor seeing me off, I headed back to the dormitory.
* * *
After Dale left, Professor Lucas was alone in his office.
Hugging the bottle of wine like it was a treasure, he smiled contentedly.
"That rascal."
Thinking about Dale, the professor grinned.
Though Dale had caused him the most headaches over the past two years, recently, he had become so impressive that the struggles of the past were all but forgotten.
"He’s skilled with a sword, proficient in martial arts..."
Though his magic capacity had always been a concern, even that had significantly improved recently.
"He may be a bit arrogant, but if he can think to prepare something like this, he’s got a good heart."
Professor Lucas grinned as he looked over Dale’s cadet file.
"Let’s see... orphanage background, sponsored by the Republic’s government... no personal sponsors... Hmm."
As he continued to examine the file, the hound’s eyes turned sharp.
"Maybe I should recommend this kid to be my assistant?"
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