Chapter 434 – Advancement Classes

“They want me to take part in the Advancement classes?!”

“It does seem that way but my friend, it might be better if you didn’t raise your voice, I think you scared some of the students…”

Roland glanced around at the numerous other people seated in the Institute cafeteria. He found himself there out of necessity as his home rations had run out, two weeks after his arrival. His initial plan to leave within this timeframe had clearly failed. It would be another two or three weeks until he could depart, considering the time it would take for the Spiritualist to arrive.

Usually, each professor had their peculiar method of obtaining food, but as a new member, the cafeteria was the best option for Roland. It was a sizable space open to both faculty members and students. Following the two recent incidents, involving Viola and the count’s son, people were starting to fear him. Particularly the ones from the nobility side, whom he had primarily clashed with.

While there were a lot of uneasy glances and quiet conversations there, Roland focused on the person across from him. It was a surreal sight to witness Arion, who resembled an ordinary black house cat eating while keeping this feline form. He was using runic utensils and floated a silvery fork and knife to cut through a piece of medium-rare steak. It was quite distracting but eventually, he managed to pose a question, and this time in a more hushed tone.

“Going back to what you mentioned… They want me to join the students during the next Advancement Classes?”

“Indeed! It seems that the other professors are expecting more from you! Isn’t it grand?”

“Grand huh?”

Arion was quite happy about this turn of events but Roland just wanted to be left alone. His recent actions were driven by a dormant protective instinct for his sister, something that he himself didn’t quite expect and it wasn’t something that he wished to prolong. He was familiar with the concept of advancement classes and if he agreed, he would have to leave the institute. Despite the likelihood of it taking less than a week, it would certainly disrupt and prolong his ongoing research.

“I’ve carried out my duties, I should be able to decline the order, right?”

“You wish to decline?”

When Arion heard about Roland’s intentions he stopped eating. While it wasn’t that simple to describe the emotions a cat was showing, it seemed that he was slightly concerned.

“You disagree?”

As Roland asked, his feline friend just nodded.

“Surely you will reconsider, think about all the benefits!”

“Benefits huh?”

“Indeed, you’re still under a trial period and not considered a true member of the Institute but this would be probably enough!”

Roland nodded as he was aware of the merit point system that was so popular in this academy. This system extended beyond students to also include teachers, a category he was now under. His recent enforcement duties had earned him some merit points and successfully safeguarding students during a formal expedition would likely secure him additional privileges. Becoming a permanent member of the Institute would grant him more privileges, one of which he was interested in. He would be able to use the teleportation gates as a means of travel and use them to travel home in a matter of moments.

‘It would be great if I could do that and if I witness a teleportation gate opening, it will make it easier for me to recreate the technology later… but this sounds suspicious…’

The entire proposition seemed like a scheme to Roland. It gave off the impression that people were attempting to usher him out of the Institute, and he had a suspicion as to why. Given the numerous enemies he had made among higher-ranking individuals, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Castellane nobles pursued him once he was outside the Institute’s protective walls. Roland deemed it much safer to wait out these weeks for the Spiritualist, as he believed no harm could befall him within the Institute.

“Before I give you an answer, which one of the advancement classes is this? Is it for the Freshmen or the Seniors?”

“Oh, it’s for the Freshmen, so it will be much simpler.”

“Of course, it’s for the Freshmen…”

The advancement class was a special catchup method for anyone who fell behind in levels. There were only two of them, one for the Freshmen who were around the age of fifteen and the Seniors at the age of eighteen. The class was in place to help people reach either the second tier 1 class or their first tier 2 class. Considering that his sister was still behind in that regard, it was probable that she would be forced to take it.

‘Do they know that we are related?’

Now his suspicions were growing, it was one thing if people were trying to get to him but another when his sister was involved. The expedition seemed almost tailor-made to remove both him and Lucienne from the Institute. Despite this, he doubted anyone was aware of his true identity. As an assistant professor, he still had some rights and could decline this mission if he wished but it would set him back by some weeks or even months. Perhaps this was what his enemies were expecting him to be, someone who was trying to quickly move up in the rankings, someone who would not decline an opportunity to earn more credit points.

The advancement classes promised a great number of merit points as when something went awry, they would need to shoulder all of the blame. If any nobles were injured or killed during their watch it would be disastrous and the teacher could end up in jail or on the gallows. On the other hand, the freshman class was regarded as relatively easy and involved encounters with monsters ranging from levels twenty-five to fifty. Considering that he was a tier 3 class holder, this would be a cakewalk.

“If I recall correctly, those classes take place at the nearby dungeon, correct?”

While there was a training facility with monsters on campus grounds it was not used by students for leveling up purposes, or at least not the lesser nobles or the commoners. Instead, they needed to do it at a more dangerous location which was the nearby dungeon.

“That’s right, it won’t take that long with the Institute airship so you’ll be able to continue your research and lecture the young minds in no time! There hasn’t been that much work for my department in years, how wonderful.”

“Sure wonderful…”

“Oh, now speaking of your research, there might be a way to hasten the process!”

“Hasten the process? Do tell?”

While discussing the advancement classes it seemed that Arion had recalled another issue, something that would make the trip a bit more advantageous.

“Remember that Spiritualist you wanted to see?”

“Yes?”

“Well, they actually live there.”

“They live close to the dungeon?”

“Not quite, they actually live inside of it~”

“They live inside of a dungeon?”

“Indeed, I told you that they were a peculiar case! Are you going to go?”

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“Give me a moment, I have to think it through…”

“Sure thing, but don’t take too long, other assistant professors would probably love to go too.”
Arion chuckled while finishing up the rest of his steak. Roland, when given this information, just remained silent. There were things that he didn’t like about this situation as from his perspective this was an obvious trap. It wouldn’t be strange to assume that sometime along the trip he would be ambushed by someone. Either people hired from outside or perhaps members from this very magical school, it was impossible for him to trust anyone.

Then there was also his sister, who could potentially be in the same boat as him. Given the notoriety of the Viola incident, there was a possibility that some students might attempt something against Lucienne. However, it would make the Castellane noble house look guilty if something befell her. Roland’s father was a powerful military man, someone that even this house had to contend with.

At this point, he was uncertain of how Wentworth and the Castellane patriarch would address this delicate issue. Even if the Arden estate was one a Knight family under them, now they were nobles with their own rights. His old man had been gaining more accolades and would not take such things while lying down.

‘I don’t think they would do anything too drastic but the danger still remains… Then there is that Spiritualist…’

He knew that there was a chance that this Spiritualist would not even come to the mage meeting as Arion had informed him that they occasionally missed it. Although there were alternative methods of researching spiritual energy, seizing the opportunity to consult with the Spiritualist appeared to be the fastest route. If all things went according to plan, then he would have an answer to his phantom mana question. It would allow him to transition from the theory phase to practical tests, something that he was slowly building up to.

“Ugh…”