The Retired Supporting Character Wants to Live Quietly

[Translator – Peptobismol]

Chapter 11 – I Like This Professor

We recruited Maya, the Holy Priestess, and assigned her to the infirmary. The previous doctor was immediately dismissed, and for now, Maya will manage on her own.

Unless it is something serious, divine healing can be done on the spot, and Maya, being a Divine Oracle Priestess, possesses exceptional holy power. She should be more than capable on her own.

Now, let’s begin the project to improve the Combat Department’s education in full force.

The first thing I did was review the latest training plans for each subject assigned to the professors.

Most professors, being professionals, adapted well to my intentions. The issue lay with the assassination and abduction course.

This course is handled not by a regular professor but by Headmaster Kirrin herself, as no one can match a Dark Elf in assassination and abduction.

Will the headmaster properly update the training plan, or will I have to step in?

At that moment, something dark entered the professor’s office with a knock. It was Kirrin, with chocolate-like smooth skin and ruby-colored eyes.

“Headmaster, what brings you here?”

“I’m here to show you the new training plan.”

She held a clipboard with papers. This was unexpected. I thought she would resist to the end.

“Have a seat. I’ll take a look.”

I offered my chair and brought over a folding chair to sit beside her.

As I opened the clipboard, I was surprised. Not only was the format perfectly followed, but the handwriting was incredibly neat. The charts were excellent too.

How did she manage to do this without using a computer? Did she have a ghostwriter?

“Um, headmaster, who wrote this?”

“Don’t judge by appearances… Just look at the content.”

“Did you write this yourself?”

“Ha, don’t nitpick. Even though I’m like this, I’m still the headmaster, so treat me with some respect.”

As I stared at Kirrin, her face darkened.

“No, I just asked because it was so well written that I wondered if it was really you.”

“Eh? No, of course I wrote it! Who else would I have write it?”

Interesting. Dark Elves live in tribal societies, so such advanced paperwork isn’t typically their norm. That’s why I’m surprised.

“That’s a stereotype. After the war, I studied at a public academy with the support of the Emperor. That was also a courtesy from His Majesty.”

“Really? You graduated from an academy? A Dark Elf? Oh, sorry.”

“You’re really…! Do you think I got here solely through connections? I have the minimum qualifications!”

“Ah, yes. I understand. I apologize. Haha.”

I laughed off Kirrin’s anger while reviewing the documents.

“Headmaster, let’s make this part a bit more rigorous. Abduction is harder than assassination, after all.”

“What? More rigorous? But the students might get hurt…”

“Didn’t I tell you? Safety first means what?”

“That is…”

Looking at Kirrin, she hesitated before speaking softly.

“Headmaster dismissal…”

“Good. Change this part, and I’ll continue reviewing.”

“Okay…”

After reviewing Kirrin’s assassination and abduction course, I finished updating the training plans for all subjects. Now, the real work begins.

“Um, I have something to say…”

“Then I will go first. I need to oversee today’s armed combat practice.”

Leaving Kirrin behind, I quickly left the professor’s office.

# # # # #

“What’s this about?”

Graduating academy students were buzzing in front of the department bulletin board. They were looking at a notice about today’s armed combat class.

The usual gathering place, Lecture Room 4, had suddenly been changed to the outdoor training ground. Moreover, they were instructed to wear the academy’s standard armor.

So far, they had only worn the armor at the beginning of the semester to measure for educational purposes, and all classes had been theoretical since then. They hadn’t worn it even once after that.

“Class President, what’s going on?”

All eyes turned to Knightley, the senior class president, who stood with arms crossed at the back.

Knightley coolly examined the notice with her arrogant golden eyes and spoke coldly.

“Can’t you read? It means they’re going to start training us properly.”

At her words, the students looked at each other with anxious eyes.

“Could it be that Head Professor?”

“Stop standing around stupidly and get your armor. Surely you know what the standard armor is?”

As Knightley turned and left, a few students hurriedly followed her.

“Lady Knightley, should I get your armor?”

One of her followers fawned as they entered the dormitory. Despite being a peer, they acted like a servant to a noble.

“Get lost. I’ll do it myself.”

“Alright, see you later. I’ll be waiting outside.”

As Knightley entered her room, her followers bowed obsequiously.

After a moment, their faces twisted with hatred and disdain as they straightened up.

“What a nasty bitch.”

“Does she think she’s the Duke herself, not the Duke daughter?”

“Hmph, running away to the academy to avoid an arranged marriage.”

“Quiet. She might hear us. Let’s get ready too.”

After they left, Knightley slowly moved away from the door. They’re like insects.

With an expressionless face, she opened the wardrobe and took out her armor.

Coming from one of the most influential noble families, Duke Toulouse, which once dominated the Empire, but after the four-year war, their power had weakened considerably.

Her father, the Duke, who had fought in the war as a commander, failed to achieve any significant achievements and even lost more than half of the private troops he brought with him. As is always the case with noble-born commanders.

As a result, their political influence had significantly waned compared to the post-war powerhouses, the Second Princess, and the common-born commanders who achieved great results from the four-year war.

Despite this, the saying “a rich man’s wealth lasts for three generations” still held, and the Duke Family remained powerful enough that lower nobility could not even dare to converse with them.

[Translator – Peptobismol]

Knightley, the third daughter of the Duke Toulouse family, couldn’t inherit the title. Nor was it easy to follow her brothers in using family wealth for business or other ventures.

Moreover, Knightley had no interest in such things from the beginning. She had a secret ambition that she had never told anyone.

She wanted to become a special agent, one of those who served in the Empire’s intelligence and espionage departments.

As a child, she heard stories from her second brother, who had returned from the war, about the special forces’ exploits.

Her favorite stories were about the secret special force unit formed solely to kill the Demon King.

The stories of a special force shrouded in mystery whose existence itself was not certain, were thrilling tales for a noble lady trapped in a gilded cage.

However, she had no way to become a special agent, and before even reaching adulthood, she was already set to marry for political reasons.

Upon hearing about the establishment of the Imperial Special Mission Academy, she immediately fled her mansion and enrolled in the academy.

Knightley planned to join the Imperial Intelligence Bureau or the Espionage Department after graduation. She hoped to avoid an arranged marriage until she was past the prime marrying age, thinking her father would give up eventually.

However, there was one unexpected variable, Headmaster Kirrin.

For some reason, the headmaster had drastically reduced the combat courses, which were essential for becoming a special agent. This put a serious dent in Knightley’s plan to evade an arranged marriage by becoming a special agent.

If she graduated with only mediocre skills, she would be in big trouble. There were rumors that the new Head Combat Professor was making changes, but how effective would they be…

Being summoned to the outdoor training ground in full armor was undoubtedly related to the new Head Combat Professor. They had caused a stir by summoning a mage professor to the Comprehensive Combat Training Ground, so it wouldn’t be surprising if the armed combat class saw some changes too.

However, if this new professor was just a bookish scholar without real combat experience, it would be of no help to Knightley.

For now, she decided to go and see for herself. She was very curious about what kind of changes would be implemented.

Knightley, now fully armored, picked up her practice sword.

Unlike the others, her sword was covered in scratches. It was her second standard-issue sword, as her first had broken.

Ignoring her followers who were waiting for her, she left the dormitory with her characteristic haughty expression.

# # # # #

The academy students gathered at the outdoor training ground screamed in unison.

“An unlimited sparring match?!”

“How can you spring this on us, Professor?!”

Ignoring the students’ protests, Professor Geneb calmly read out the matchups.

The content of today’s armed combat class was ‘unlimited sparring.’ In reality, it was a tournament-style competition.

The last person standing would receive 50 bonus points and a chance to spar with the professor, with additional points awarded based on their performance.

Fifty bonus points was a huge reward, but to introduce this after only theoretical classes until now was shocking.

Clearly, this was the idea of the new Head Combat Professor, who was smiling leisurely behind Professor Geneb.

But who was that girl next to him? Judging by her attire, she seemed to be a priestess. Could she be the new priestess in the infirmary? Isn’t she too young!

While the students speculated, Professor Geneb continued reading the matchups in a monotone voice, and the sparring began immediately.

The matches were a mess. The students had barely wielded swords or hit anyone since enrolling, so it looked like a kindergarten sports day.

Still, there was one student who stood out. A blonde-haired, golden-eyed girl mercilessly knocked down her opponents with an emotionless expression.

Her opponents were of low skill, but her swordsmanship was noteworthy. She had a solid foundation.

“Geneb, who is she?”

“She’s the senior class president.”

Let’s see. Her name is Knightley Toulouse? Toulouse, as in the Duke of Toulouse?

“Yes. She often trains alone here against dummies.”

“I see. Interesting for a noble girl.”

While talking with Geneb, Knightley had already defeated three opponents in quick succession and turned to face us.

“Professor, I’m done.”

It was clear that Knightley was the last one standing. Professor Geneb stepped forward with a practice sword.

“Knightley, I award you 50 bonus points. Now, for the sparring match with me…”

“No, not you, professor.”

Knightley pointed her practice sword at me, standing behind Geneb.

“I want to spar with him.”

“Huh? You want to spar with me? Why?”

“I’m curious about kind of a person you are”

Knightley replied.

“It’s clear that the sudden change in class structure is due to you, the Head Professor. I want to know if you’re doing this with real knowledge or just the enthusiasm of a new appointment.”

Her bold attitude left Professor Geneb speechless, and I stepped forward with a smile.

“Head Professor. She’s the daughter of Duke Toulouse.”

“I know, I know. But how can I refuse such a challenge?”

“Don’t kill her.”

“Got it. I won’t.”

Taking the practice sword, I stood in front of Knightley and asked.

“So, you want me to prove I’m qualified to make these changes? Is that right?”

“Exactly.”

“Then come at me with everything you have. If you last one exchange, you’ll get 300 bonus points. Last two, and you’ll get 500.”

Gasps erupted from the students. That many points would mean a perfect score without even taking the exam, even if they skipped half the classes.

“What are you waiting for? Come on.”

As I twirled the practice sword and held it upside down, Knightley shouted and charged at me.

# # # # #

Lying on the ground, bleeding from her nose, Knightley stared at her broken practice sword some distance away.

Keuk, ugh, argh.

The duel with the Head Combat Professor could be summarized like this:

He looked like a pale, bookish scholar. His strange grip on the practice sword made me think he had no real experience, just a desk-bound professor.

But in the moment when the sky and ground flipped, and my vision blacked out temporarily, I realized this professor was beyond human.

He might not be as mysterious as the special task force that my second brother spoke about, the ones who killed the Demon King, but he was definitely a madman.

I like this professor.

[Note: See pinned comment for Knightley character illustration.]

[Translator – Peptobismol]