Chapter 56: First ss


    After Ethans shocking deration, time quickly passed, and a new semester arrived.


    A new semester meant the biggest concern for both new and returning students: choosing their sses.


    The sses at Ivecar were not rigidly structured. Students could enroll in the sses they desired.


    Some sses had grade restrictions, but most sses were open to all students.


    It was an educational policy that embodied the desires of the first principal, who hoped for students to learn freely and grow freely.


    However, there were certain required subjects for each department.


    In the Department of Swordsmanship, there were three mandatory courses, usually taught by seasoned veterans.


    The subjects assigned to rookie teachers were usually elective courses that students didnt have to take.


    But some of these elective courses were just as popr as the required ones, and one of them was [Understanding the Sword Paths].


    Is udie going to teach Understanding the Sword Paths this year?


    I only managed to take half of itst year because the teacher changed midway. I should retake it.


    Im excited. The second-year seniors who took Understanding the Sword Pathsst year insisted that we should definitely take it.


    Currently, udie Hyde was in charge of several sses, starting with the required courses, but Understanding the Sword Paths was a subject that he had shared with new teachersst year.


    However, all of those new teachers had fled, and udie took over again midway through.


    As a result, many students naturally assumed that udie would teach Understanding the Sword Paths this year as well.


    They thought that since new teachers had run awayst year, there wouldnt be another new teaching it.


    With great anticipation, everyone gathered in the ssroom, waiting for the teacher to arrive.


    <i>Kwang-!</i>


    With only a few minutes left until ss, someone brought interesting news.


    Guess what interesting news I have.


    Interesting news? What is it? Is udie going to teach it?


    No, I heard that a new teacher will be teaching Understanding the Sword Paths this time.


    Upon hearing the word new, the students had the same thought. Understanding the Sword Paths was a challenging course.


    Assigning such a course to a new teacher meant that the new teachers abilities must be exceptional.


    And if that was the case, there was only one person who fit the description.


    Is it Ciron?


    To receive lessons from the grandson of the Sword Saint. Its truly an honor, I suppose.


    Among the current students who excelled in their skills, they didnt particrly warm up to Ciron.


    They acknowledged his talent but didnt think he was on a level where he could teach them.


    He was a student at the Ivecar Academy until recently.


    He wont be much different from us. Can he teach properly?


    Hell probably just teach us what we already know.


    Normally, teachers from the Ivecar Academy would be weed at Ivecar.


    But that was for other departments, not for the Department of Swordsmanship, which didnt warmly wee teachers based solely on their alma mater.


    Since talented individuals gathered in the Department of Swordsmanship, unless they possessed skillsparable to udie or the department head, they wouldnt feel a significant difference.


    And until recently, Ciron was someone who had felt the atmosphere of the Department of Swordsmanship firsthand.


    Im looking forward to it. How will he teach?


    As soon as it was time for ss, someone entered through the front door.


    Huh?


    It was someone they hadnt expected.


    Moreover, their appearance waspletely different.


    During the congrattory party, there was a sense of elegance, but now the person before them appeared sharp and intense.


    Greetings.


    It was Ethan Whiskers, the newly hired teacher who had been appointed as the top-ranked teacher.


    * * *


    As soon as the semester began, Ethan received a notification pop-up.


    -Achievement Unlocked!


    -[Im a Teacher, and Youre] You have earned Likes as a result of achieving the achievement.


    -You have gained 1 Like!


    -You have be a teacher at Ivecar Academy. Your reputation has slightly increased!


    Along with officially bing a teacher at the academy, an achievement was also unlocked.


    Nice, my reputation has increased as well.


    Ivecar Academy was a field of achievements.


    This is why I chose this ce.


    While collecting the Likes, Ethan thought about the events that had taken ce a few days ago.


    It was great to receive the top rank, but he never expected to be entrusted with this ss.


    I naturally thought Ciron would be assigned to it.


    After the congrattory party, Ethan diligently searched for a house in the Marquis Rond territory to settle down.


    He needed a ce to live with his two escorts.


    The house in the Marquis territory was much more expensive than other territories, but it wasnt a big problem for Ethan at the moment.


    It was because the money he earned through weight reduction magic at Whiskers County was tremendous.


    Every time he thought yesterdays earnings were the highest, it would be surpassed by todays sales.


    This process happened every day, and it was like money flowing in like the tide.


    Of course, Ethan knew that this would decrease over time, so he nned to contact David Guild when he had the time.


    With that, he obtained a house and prepared for the new semester. Until the new semester began, there wasnt much to prepare, so he spent his days training.


    Then he received a summon from the principal.


    <i>-I want to entrust you with the Understanding of Sword Paths ss.</i>


    The Understanding of Sword Paths ss was a popr general education subject.


    In fact, it was not just a mandatory subject in name; many students applied for it as if it were a required course.


    <i>-Isnt Ciron a better choice? Haha! Shouldnt the top rank handle something like this? Did we give you the top rank just to show off? What nonsense! We assigned it based on ability. Besides, if I had pushed for Ciron, it would have caused conflicts with the Sword Saint.</i>


    The principal smiled and assigned the Understanding of Sword Paths ss to Ethan.


    Of course, that smile didnt look purely pleasant.


    -Please.


    As expected of the crazy principal.


    Ethan knew the true identity of the principal very well.


    He was the Ghost Sword.


    Thanks to the mana-made sword that had cut down countless enemies, he had lived the life of an undercover agent like Ethan.


    He was neither a noble nor had he received proper swordsmanship education until he became an adult.


    But now he stood at the top of the academy.


    He must have remembered the old days. Of course, its not just because of the old memories. Theres probably a reason why he didnt want to push the Sword Saints grandson forward.


    The Ghost Sword was once a formidable figure,parable to the Sword Saint.


    Pushing forward the Sword Saints grandson? Then, in the end, it meant he had received a favor from the Sword Saint, and to grant that favor, the Ghost Sword had to admit that he was below the Swordmasters.


    If I look at it in aplicated way, its like this.


    Of course, he couldnt be certain, but there was a reasonable possibility.


    Thanks to multiple ythroughs, he knew a lot about the Ghost Sword.


    And even if it was not the case, it didnt matter.


    If hes pushing me like this.


    He should take advantage of this opportunity and make significant progress. Besides, he caused a mess during the congrattory party.


    I said I would be a master.


    Bing a master was not an easy task, but achieving it through words and deeds would contribute more to his rise in reputation.


    First and foremost, he had to focus on the assigned course.


    The principal probably didnt have high expectations for him.


    If he can seed with just half of the students and continue teaching until the end of the semester, it would be considered a sess.


    The reason he was given the position of the top rank was because of his excellent skills, but teaching these rough students of Ivecar was a different challenge.


    That alone wont be enough.


    He intended to capture the attention of all the students who came expecting Ciron and lead them until the end.


    Ill take charge of the mandatory major course in the shortest possible time. That should be enough for the next semester.


    As Ethan entered the ssroom, the students expressions froze.


    It seems everyone is surprised. You were probably expecting Ciron.


    Some students openly disyed their disappointment.


    Ethan noticed a group of students dressed elegantly, adorned with artifacts.


    They must be the upper-ss students.


    To put it bluntly, it was a gathering of aces in the field of swordsmanship.


    The disdainful look in their eyes was not that of students looking at a teacher.


    With that look, all the newly appointed teachers fromst year abandoned the Swordmaster department.


    Its as if theyre holding all the power in their hands.


    In reality, that was exactly how things were happening. The background behind them made it possible.


    Ethan closely observed them.


    Theyre all from well-known families.


    Each of their clothing had the embroidered emblem of their respective families. It was a tant disy that served as proof of their statusa visible appeal.


    Its like a form of rank insignia. By openly disying such things, regr teachers wouldnt dare to treat them lightly.


    However, Ethan didnt let it bother him.


    If he were to sumb to such things, he wouldnt havee here in the first ce.


    Since its the first ss, Ill let you know how the ss will proceed. The name of the subject is probably Understanding the Sword Paths. What is it that you want to gain from this ss?


    Ethans question was met with silence.


    Then, one student raised their hand.


    I want to understand the path of the sword and further develop my existing swordsmanship.


    Most of you will probably have simr goals. While each of you may be learning different swordsmanship techniques, the essence of the path of the sword is the same.


    Teacher.


    At that moment, a hand was raised among the upper-ss students.


    Even among the upper-ss students, there was a separate hierarchy. The one raising their hand then was the leader among them.


    Chen Garcia.


    Oh, well, sorry. But you said you want to be a master, right? Is that true?


    Upon hearing those words, the people next to Chen started snickering.


    Even udie-sensei said that you need to put in more effort to be a master. Trying to be a master in just one year, isnt that too ambitious? We understand that you have enthusiasm, but


    A challenge to the authority of the teacher.


    A disrespectful tone, bordering on insolence.


    Although it was an insult, Ethan remainedpletely unaffected and casually looked at him.


    With his emotionless gaze, Chen Garcia momentarily hesitated, but soon regained hisposure under the prodding touch of the noble beside him.


    Only questions rted to the ss are allowed, Chen Garcia.


    Chen nced at the student next to him at that moment. Mason was the center of attention among these upper-ss students.


    When Mason nodded, Chen confidently opened his mouth again.


    We came here expecting Ciron-sensei to teach the ss. Ill just leave then. Thats fine, right? We wouldnt want to waste our time. If you dont like that, then maybe


    Chen Garcias, step forward.


    At those words, Chen slightly lowered his head.


    <i>Sssshh.</i>


    Just as he wished.


    His expression must have shown his anger.


    Since its the first ss, I was going to exin how well proceed, but its better to show you through action.


    The expressions of the students, excluding the upper-ss students, were not pleasant as they watched Chen step forward.


    They had witnessed firsthand what happened to the new teachersst year.


    Only the neers couldnt fully grasp what was going on.


    The clever ones knew that this was a way to train the new teachers, but they never expected them to directly confront the teachers like this.


    The air was heavy. In the midst of it, Chen stepped forward, looking at Ethan as if asking, So what are you going to do?


    Ethan calmly opened his mouth with aposed expression.


    Im here to teach you the understanding of the Sword Paths, Chen Garcias. Show me your Garcias-style swordsmanship instead of the Revinade swordsmanship. The rest of you, pay close attention. I will teach you what the understanding of Sword Paths is throughout this semester.


    Teacher, students these days like this. They cant control their strength properly. But since youre the teacher, you can handle it, right?


    Chen chuckled and said.


    Ethan nodded his head.


    -The Eye of Horus is activated.


    The Eye of Horus was a passive skill that was always active, but it could also be activated at will. By focusing and putting power into his eyes, Ethan could see every movement of his opponent.


    At the same time, Chen, who had finished speaking, unleashed his swordsmanship with all his might.


    Ethan looked at him and inwardly sneered.


    Kids these days think theyre something, huh, this punk.