How to Survive at the Academy

Chapter 11: Face-to-Face With The Dean (2)

As large as Silvenia’s campus was, the administrative chart was equally as complicated.

Even though it may look like a spider web, these kinds of charts would usually become quite simple towards the top.

Dean McDowell of Silvenia’s Magic Department had the highest authority among the three deans of the academy. He was also part of that simple section of the administrative chart.

From the top, his name stems from the second branch, right after the Assistant Headmaster.

“The Academic Affairs staff didn’t go through with your expulsion process. Well, I guess they figured there wasn’t a need for it.”

At first glance, he seemed like an easy-going person, with his bushy beard and worn-out glasses. But his attitude towards me was anything but.

I didn't touch the tea his secretary served me, knowing I wasn't in a friendly atmosphere.

“Do you want us to have to go through the academic regulations and invoke the disciplinary committee to sentence you to leave the academy?”

Dean McDowell said with a firm face as he sat across from me.

Even though it was an unexpected truth spoken with power and attitude that held weight, this was just a superficial appearance from the dean.

An act to cover up his compassionate and weak-hearted personality.

It was a fact only revealed through completing the sub-quests. So as someone who had gone through the hardships of completing every story branch of Silvenia’s Failed Swordmaster, this wasn't surprising.

After all, in order to serve as the dean in a place full of strong characters like the Magic Department, it was inevitable for him to take on a rather coercive attitude.

That's just the nature of academic politics, to take advantage of pushovers. It's why it was admirable that he was able to maintain his true character.

“If it’s too difficult to go through all that process, the Academic Affairs will just expel you.”

This was why I couldn't help but be puzzled for two reasons.

First, just as I mentioned, Dean McDowell was not the kind of person to confront his students. So to act in such a threatening manner didn’t suit him.

Second was his position as the dean. Not only was he a dean, he also held the highest authority over the other deans. He was in a position where he didn't have to be involved in expelling a student. Rather, he was someone who reviewed and approved implementation plans.

His position didn't match this kind of grunt work.

Calling a student over and sitting him down to discuss whether to expel them or not… It was strange. It would be similar to going to the district office to get a copy of a document only to see the head of the office was the one reviewing complaints.

“Do you have any excuse for this?”

If I were a regular student, I wouldn't have been able to think this far. I probably would've panicked that a high-ranking noble called me to declare I was expelled from the academy.

After giving it this much thought, I saw his true intention.

He was only trying to get me flustered.

“That is a reasonable thing to say.”

I decided to respond with something simple to allow me more time to think.

I was in a luxurious and elegant reception room, put in the unusual situation of suddenly having to leave such a public event like the opening ceremony. Having dressed up well, I was now in a private meeting with someone of high authority, his intense and threatening attitude compounded with the gloomy possibility of being expelled right before my eyes.

The higher your rank was, the better you were at creating these kinds of situational pressures.

He was just trying to see my reaction to this situation.

But then, the question followed…

Just why?

Ed Rothstaylor was just an ordinary student from a noble family. He didn't have any prominent magical talent, nor did he stand out in terms of writing.

And one's nobility was nothing more than a business card in Silvenia. There were so many students from either noble or rich families. Even the princess herself was a student.

So how was Ed Rothstaylor considered important enough for a private conversation, taking up the dean’s precious time?

There were only a few possibilities.

I sighed deeply.

“I’d like to thank Princess Penia for looking over the people, even in the academy. She always paid careful attention, no matter how insignificant.”

I said without obvious reason.

Suddenly mentioning the princess while talking about my possible expulsion… it would be ridiculous to say something unrelated to the conversation.

What are you talking about?

Why are we talking about that now?

These reactions should follow.

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But–

“What did you say?”

And in that short moment, I saw the dean's forehead narrow. It was very brief, but I caught his reaction.

“Just what are you talking about now?”

Nevertheless, he was able to maintain his position as Chief Dean for over five years. It took him less than a second to school his face back into a poker face.

But that brief moment was enough for me to realize the truth.

Just as I thought.

There were only three people in the academy who were of higher authority than Dean McDowell: Headmaster Obel, Assistant Headmaster Reina and Princess Penia.

Since I didn't have any connection to either the headmaster nor the assistant headmaster, there was no reason for them to care about me. This made the possibility of it being the princess much higher.

No matter how the virtue of learning takes precedence over nobility in the academy, it wouldn't have been possible to just ignore the princess's words.

In a way, this was very much like Princess Penia.

Why didn't she just gather up her soldiers to tie me up and blackmail me to reveal all my secrets in detail to want to get expelled?

Did she not think that would've made me confess everything?

Or were such barbaric and coercive means not her style? Or perhaps she found them meaningless?

It was probably both.

But looking at the results, it was a correct judgment.

Even if they tied me up and blackmailed me, I wouldn’t have been able to confess that I merely possessed this body, and that Ed Rothstaylor was a separate person from me.

There was no way they would've believed it. I would've been treated like a mad man.

That's why she came up with something else.

“Nothing, it was just something I blurted out. I apologize. Haha… What am I talking about… Must be because I’m nervous… Hahahahaha…”

I mumbled and scratched the back of my head, as if I was embarrassed.

I laughed like an idiot, but Dean McDowell’s eyes sharply looked at me.

He was already used to these kinds of situations.

I already figured that out a while ago.

But this…. push and pull had gone too far.

“I was just… thinking about what the ‘correct answer’ might be.”

I decided to go with confidence.

“I was just wondering what could be the reason for calling me out to sit here while you measure my potential… and what I should say to get the ‘correct answer’.”

I knew that sentencing someone with an expulsion was just to make an example for others.

That was just a fact based on the natural circumstances. ‘I am trying to figure you out, to some extent,’ was what he really meant.

If this was someone overbearing and oppressive, this kind of approach would've been counterproductive, since they might view it as me trying to be on par with them, hurting their ego.

But I already knew that Dean McDowell was surprisingly not authoritative like that.

“I know what I did was wrong… But I don’t think it was a mistake deserving of expulsion.”

“If you look through the academy's bylaws, there is enough reason to expel you.”

“Weren’t bylaws and regulations always vague and ambiguous? There’s a lot of room for interpretation. That’s why there's a disciplinary committee, giving students the chance to speak.”

I decided to go with a basic answer.

“That said, I think I have no choice but to take advantage of all the opportunities available to me–persuading the disciplinary committee members as much as possible, putting up posters on the academic affairs wall, and persuading my classmates. I’m going to file an appeal that I was treated unfairly.”

It would become troublesome for the academy.

“Are you threatening me?”

“Not at all. This is just what I believe.”

I said with confidence.

It wasn't like I was in a position to give out threats. What kind of threat could a student on the verge of expulsion give against the head dean?

If they really wanted to expel me, they could simply ignore such trivial words. It might've been annoying and irritating for a bit, but it would've just ended there. After all, there was no way the other students would sympathize with Ed Rothstaylor.

“I’m just doing everything that I can. If I get expelled… There's nothing I can do. But I think I will regret it later if I just leave the academy without doing anything.”

I took a sip of the tea they gave me.

“Is this much… good enough for a ‘correct answer’?”

I feel like I was talking to him while wearing a mask. I’m sure it was the very same for him.

For a while, there was silence.

McDowell looked at me for a long time, his hand resting on his chin. After a moment, he finally said something.

“Princess Penia said there was something a bit difficult about you. At this point, I kind of agree with what she said.”

The blessing of Insightful Eyes that judges humans, and the dean’s secret conversation with the princess who was born with it.

The fact that Princess Penia was destined to always pay attention to me… without any mention, we already both knew.

“You are cunning like a fox, but I don’t feel any ill intent inside of you.”

“If you say that, wouldn't it seem like I’m trying to trick you?”

“You are calmer than the other students who tremble just by sitting in this office.”

Did I act too calmly? That's what I thought. But there was nothing I could do about it now.

“Anyways, let's end it here. I’ll hold off on answering whether you gave the correct answer or not.”

“Then about my expulsion… what will happen to it?”

Dean McDowell laughed out loud, smiling widely. It was my first time seeing the dean like this.

“You’re also quite sly.”

Didn't you already know I had no intention to expel you? Didn't you already notice from the very beginning?

To say that in such a roundabout but sophisticated way… now that was the Dean McDowell that I knew.

* * *

Translator - Plumper

Proofreader - kianianian

* * *

I almost got fucked…!

I threw firewood into the campfire and sighed in relief.

I didn't know what it was, but it felt like a very important turning point for my future plans.

Even though I said all that, I knew I might’ve lost everything had I answered wrong.

I took a peek at McDowell when I closed the door and left, but his relaxed and laughing face had gone. He looked agonized and serious once again.

He was seriously evaluating me.

I shouldn’t let my guard down around him.

Anyway, since the dice had already been rolled, I would just do what I had to do.

[Newly Crafted Product]

Simple Drying Rack

A simple wooden dryer capable of drying laundry, food, and other things.

The support is not strong enough to bear a lot of weight.

Production Difficulty Level: ●○○○○

《 Production completed. Production skills have increased. 》

Wiping my sweat off, I was delighted by the good news of my simple drying rack.

I felt like checking my daily life production skills.

Since I had been so busy, I hadn't had the time to check my skills in detail.

[Life Skills Details]

Grade: Beginner Craftsmen

Specialized Fields: Woodworking

܀ Handicraft Level 10

܀ Design Level 2

܀ Gathering Level 3

܀ Woodworking Level 7

܀ Fishing Level 3

܀ Cooking Level 4

My Handicraft skill had already reached 10.

It was a skill that served as the foundation for the other skills. It was also the skill directly connected to my Dexterity stat.

In other words, as my proficiency level for this skill rises, so will my proficiency with my other skills.

In addition to that, there was a huge significance for having reached the level 10 of a skill. It meant I had fully learned the basics of that skill.

After reaching this level, the required experience for each subsequent level rises significantly. This meant that a proper investment needed to be made.

I flopped down on the flat rock, staying near the heat of the campfire.

Compared to the sofa in the dean’s office, this was too hard and cold. But ever since coming into this world, I had been indebted to this rock, so much so that it felt like it was now perfectly molded into the shape of my butt.

Sitting in my camp that had truly become like my own home, I opened and closed the palms of my hands in front of my eyes.

“As expected… this guy shouldn't have been born a noble.”

My daily life production skills are leveling dramatically faster than my combat or magic skills.

Even with natural-born talent, no one could thrive unless there was support from the environment. Since Ed grew up as a pampered noble, he lived his life ruining his talents in production.

He probably thought cooking and fixing things were acts too lowly for his status. Well, it couldn’t be helped. He was a noble, after all.

“Nevertheless, I was able to create a somewhat livable space for myself through my hard work.”

My living circumstances might make me seem like a homeless person when compared to that of Ophelis Hall, Silvenia's dormitory which had the best facilities on campus. But I have already grown attached to this camp which I built with my own hands.

And because I indulged in the feast at the opening ceremony, I didn't feel the slightest bit of hunger at all. I might just fall asleep like this…

“But I can’t fall asleep quite yet.”

I had a lot of spare time because today was only the opening ceremony. And because I still didn't have any classes to be late to, there was no need to rush this morning. This enabled me to take a leisurely walk to school, leaving me with a lot of energy.

I picked up a few books I had on the grass. I didn't want to sleep just yet as I was planning to read before it got any darker. I borrowed a book from the library about various edible plants and wild herbs.

Knowledge was a survival skill. I could expand my diet if I were able to distinguish the edible plant life in the forest.

“Maybe I should try making a workbench or a reading table. I could give it a try over the weekend.”

With that in mind, I laid down in my simple wooden shelter and opened the book.

And fell asleep within seconds.

Like I had fainted.

Well, honestly, I was a bit tired…

* * *

Tucked in a corner of the academic district was the dean of the Magic Department's office

Dean McDowell was sitting on the couch, holding his chin, thinking. It had been a while since Ed Rothstaylor left.

“Hmm…”

He was still sitting there despite having a lot of work left, deep in thought without moving an inch.

The dean's secretary sighed at the sight as she organized documents.

It had been a while since the dean would become so deeply immersed in his thoughts, that he would end up doing nothing.

This caused his work to get delayed, which meant the secretary also couldn't leave on time.

So she decided to clean her desk as it looked like she wouldn't be able to go home on time anyway. She had been putting it off for a while, after all.

“It seems like he might be out of it for a while… I wonder what he's thinking about so deeply like that…”

The secretary looked at Dean McDowell, who looked like a statue lost in thought, and then looked out the window full of stars.

The starry sky was very beautiful today, thanks to the clear sky. She opened the window to let some air in.

“Secretary Agnus.”

Dean McDowell suddenly called her.

“Was my acting that obvious?”

“Excuse me?”

The dean was usually so perfect that sometimes, Agnus herself wonders if he had a dual personality. At the very least, as the dean's secretary, she should know as she was always there.

Agnus stuttered that wasn't the case to answer the dean’s strange question.

And just like that, the night over the academic district grew darker.