Chapter 6: Dark Undercurrent

The morning came…

Gray felt like an entirely new person. The rough hemp clothes? The smell? Even his messy hair? He had taken care of it all. He was now even wearing the Academy's Robes!

As for what identified him as a Teacher, it seemed to be rather subtle. The Golden Crow design? Instead of the regular one spreading its wings, this one was in full flight!

"I see, the Teachers are showing the students how to fly on their own? What a metaphor! As for standing out as a Teacher, I'll have to wait for my own Badge I guess."

But then came furious knocking on his door…

"T-Teacher Gale, teacher Gale! Quick, the Headmaster's calling on you! He said he'll expel us both if we're late!" It was his Jiggly Friend, panicking.

"W-What?! Lead the way. There's no time to lose!"

They both ran in unison, but Gray was instantly left behind.

How the hell was his fat Jiggly Friend so fast?! The distance he covered with every mighty step was only equaled by the jiggle that followed. "Teacher, you coming?!"

"Give me a second, my feet are killing me! Gonna slip into something more conformable." Gray stopped by the side, grabbing an Item from his soul…. The Old Boots!

Sentience? Perfect for those too lazy to move by themselves? He could use this! As he wore them, he felt them wrap around his feet, his entire body shivering in disgust.

— Squirm! Squirm! —

Had it just licked his toes?!

"Tch— Quit it! I'm your new master. Listen to me, or we'll both finish in an incinerator! Now, follow my lead." The Boots trembled under his threats.

Gray got up, resuming running. But as soon as his guide looked at him, he had the shock of his life. What the hell was THIS?!

Running, one would go: step, step, step, right? Instead, Gray went: STEP, nothing, STEP, nothing, STEP! But during the off time, his feet… moved by themselves?!

"T-Teacher Gale, what's this mysterious movement technique called?!"

"Tyrannical Half-Step to Heaven!"

Gray powerfully declared, his Jiggly Friend gasping in awe. Mana? It didn't seem to consume any! Didn't this mean that it could ALWAYS be active?!

What if this unassuming-looking technique was combined with others for exponential growth?! Tyrannical indeed!

As they zoomed through the Academy, countless heads turned toward them, and many couldn't help themselves but comment on this "novel" technique:

"Who's this guy? He looks as steady as a Newborn Deer!"

"Not sure, but if he's with Fatty Zhang, he's definitely up to no good!"

"I support them! Look at the skinny one shaking: he needs to raid a kitchen, too!"

Plenty were laughing, either playfully or straight-up mocking them. Fatty Zhang wanted to protest, but Gray signaled him to focus on leading the way. Thus, they soon arrived.

— Teacher's Faculty! —

It was the Teachers' sanctuary. Students weren't even allowed unless specified otherwise. It was also where all the administrative offices were, the quiet perfect for them to focus.

"This is as far as I can go. I'll wait for you here… you got this!"

"Thanks, Zhang. For this, but also for before too."

Gray quickly entered the Faculty. But as soon as he did, quiet murmurs filled it, the few Teachers here gawking at him as if expecting DRAMA!

— Headmaster's Office! —

The Headmaster awaited him in silence.

He sat behind a floating desk, looking extremely stern. Yet, Gray couldn't help but pause. Why did he look like Santa Claus had decided to run a Mage Academy?! The man spoke up.

"Gray Gale. Unknown. Attended the Teacher test by mistake, and turned it on its head, so much that Old Red used his once-a-decade recommendation. But there's more…"

"Gray Gale. Wanted by the Duke. Known as a petty thief, a slum dweller, a worthless being, yet who somehow ransacked the Royal Capital, evading countless Death Knights…"

Then, mana suddenly exploded out of the Headmaster. Office? What office?! The world was suddenly reduced the the man's inquisitive gaze. Red eyes were all Gray could see!

He even felt a compulsion coming from his very soul. He HAD to tell the truth!

"Gray Gale. What did you do at the Royal Catacombs?!"

"Nothing. I've never been there in my life."

That's when the Headmaster frowned, his gaze intensifying as if a sun about to extinguish his very existence. Yet, Gray gazed back, not faltering. This WAS the truth!

Pensively nodding, the Headmaster finally stopped, Gray falling to the ground as if a marionette without strings. But before he could recover, the man was upon him.

He even grabbed his arm, seemingly inspecting him as he mumbled.

"You, you're crippled… and cursed?! The Royal Curse, but there's also something even darker. Kid, you better get tested, and soon! Still, none of it makes sense…"

But just as he pondered, a melodic voice came from a magic circle on the wall.

[Sir, the Duke's Advisor is asking whether you've made a decision!]

"Alright, patch him through. I do have his answer."

That's when a large glowing screen appeared, which looked very much like a TV. Then, on it appeared a man who oozed calculative coldness.

Dark-suit, aristocratic-looking, long dark hair, and the eyes of a snake. Those eyes quickly locked unto Gray in the background as he gave a vicious smile. He could see him?!

[Gray Gale, you really are a slippery one, aren't you? Now, Headmaster, what will it be? Surely you won't offend the Duke merely for a newly admitted Student, right?]

"You're right, I definitely won't! That's especially true if said student has committed many crimes. I'll even deliver them gift-wrapped!"

[Hehe, perfect! I knew you to be a sensible man, Headmaster. As for you, little twerp, how does it feel to know you're doomed? I can't wait to have you in my hands and toy with you as—]

He evilly glanced at Gray, the latter finally reacting.

"Hell no! Advisor, I don't swing that way! If you're looking for a toy, might I suggest a Skeletal Horse? I heard they can REALLY take a pounding— or give one if you prefer!"

[Y-You… I can't wait to break you and—]

"Teacher Gale, please watch your language. This is a prestigious school, not a massage parlor. Besides, you should take him being so smitten by you as a compliment!"

"You're right, Headmaster. I'll strive to be a teacher you can be proud of!"

[T-TEACHER?! T-This can't be! He's merely a useless—]

"Is he now? I suggest you get better informants."

On that note, the Headmaster happily closed the screen. Gray couldn't help but grin, imagining the man's face on the other side. He had to be FUMING!

That's when the Headmaster rested his hand on his shoulder:

"Should you be so relaxed? In two days you'll have your first class… You do know Teachers will attend it, right? If your Teachings are lacking, then you'll be kicked."

Kicked?! Two days?! How the hell was he supposed to make it in time?! Wasn't this too fucking fast?! But before he could even place a word, the Headmaster added.

"Ah, also, you should accept some students as personal disciples. Let's see. Ten will do for now. Let's give you a week for that one, alright? Work hard, youngster!"

Suddenly, Gray didn't feel as good. As he left the Teacher's Faculty, he even seemed rather soulless. He had been saved, but his life was still hanging by a thread!

But just as he thought it couldn't be worse, fatty Zhang came running, even more panicked than earlier. "Teacher Gale, it's bad! There's been a HUGE mistake! Come look!"

He hurriedly brought him to the central Plaza. There, a huge crowd was gathered around a large board that seemed to be made of obsidian. As Gray saw it, he understood.

It was filled with faces he recognized: it was the new Teachers! Or rather, the two new teachers and all the Assistant Teachers, each with a short description.

At the very top stood two portraits, prominently displayed.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

Teacher Aldor Heinrich

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

Pride of Hellrand

Genius Since Birth

Thunder Clan's Heir

Youngest Teacher Ever

Highest Test Score (94)

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

Teacher Gray Gale

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

Family: None

Origin: Unknown

Lowest Test Score (33)

Mistakenly Saved Old Red's Sakura

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

"See? What did I tell you, Teacher Gale?! They're really slandering you! Whoever put that board here clearly hates you! We should tell the Headmaster about it!"

That's when the entire crowd turned toward them….