The Return of the Iron-blood Sword Hound

Chapter 134: Skill Test (2)

Professor Banshee Morg, with his oily black hair, corpse-like pale skin, thick eyebrows, and sharp, piercing eyes, looked like a shadow. His all-black attire added to his sinister and strict appearance. He hailed from the Morg family, one of the seven great families, specifically from the dark faction.

Entering the academy at a young age, Banshee didn’t return to his family after graduating. Instead, he pursued further education in graduate school and eventually became a professor at the academy. For decades, he had been teaching various specialized courses in the Hot Department and occasionally took on theory-based mandatory courses like this one.

Professor Banshee was known for his stern personality, and except for a few exceptional geniuses and top-performing students, he didn’t particularly favor students, especially those who were lazy or dim-witted.

So, when he noticed someone dozing off during his lecture, especially on the first day of class, he couldn’t hide his displeasure and disdain.

“…Maybe it’s not that the Hot Department is exceptional, but the Cold Department is pitiful. Looking at that sorry sight…”

Professor Banshee had a strong sense of pride in his teaching. The cold anger and open contempt in his voice were palpable, and it left the students of both the Hot and Cold Departments in a state of confusion and concern.

“Senior students from the Hot Department gave us ‘Non-melting Ice’ they created with magic for a reason. Holding it against your neck will keep you awake.”

“Wow, that’s envy-worthy. The senior students from the Cold Department shared small ice picks with us. They said to stab our thighs if we get sleepy.”

“Anyway, that guy Vikir is in big trouble. He’s already on Professor Banshee’s radar from the first day.”

“Ugh, this is bad. I heard that the professor always gives a collective score, regardless of individual performance.”

“Earlier, Sinclaire received a 10-point boost to her attitude score, and the entire Warfare Department got 1 point each added to their attitude score.”

“It must be nice to be the top student; the Hot Department is in a good position.”

“On the other hand, the Cold Department is off to a bad start, all because of that dumb troll.”

“How can someone fall asleep during the first class? Even if they’re not the sharpest tool in the shed…”

Students exchanged hushed comments while glancing nervously at Professor Banshee, who appeared increasingly displeased.

…Except for one person.

Vikir, the one at the center of the controversy, remained lost in thought, seemingly oblivious to the attention directed at him.

“Come to think of it, something was off about all those guys I killed last night.”

Before attending the OT, Vikir had sneaked out of the academy and assassinated twenty-nine faces. Every one of them had a distinct characteristic: a pungent demonic odor and faces that melted upon death. It was the most relevant clue to the Ninth Demon, the target he was currently pursuing.

“I’m quite sure that ‘guy’ must be involved somehow. I should ask CindiWindy to focus her investigation on that area…”

As Vikir began to formulate his plans for the next demon hunt, he was suddenly interrupted.

“…Vikir. Vikir!”

Figgy poked his side and whispered urgently. When Vikir opened his eyes, he first saw Figgy’s worried expression and then the fierce glares from his Cold Department peers. Beyond them, he noticed Professor Banshee’s angry face.

Without realizing the situation, Vikir found himself in hot water.

“…Mr. Vikir from the Cold Department, according to your disciplinary record, your attitude is already a mess. How did you even manage to get into this academy? You’re dozing off on the first day of class. A complete fool.”

Professor Banshee, who took immense pride in his teaching, spoke with cold anger in his voice. The students of both the Warfare and Cold Warfare Departments held their breath, unsure of what would happen next.

At that moment, something astonishing occurred that left all the students in shock.

“I wasn’t sleeping.”

Vikir responded defiantly.

“……?”

Professor Banshee momentarily doubted his own ears. He had not encountered a new student who would answer him back in the 20 years since he had become a professor.

He had seen many students cry or tremble in response to his intellectual comments. But there had never been a new student who dared to contradict him, especially someone who could confront his gloomy aura and the ominous presence of the Morg’s Dark side lineage.

Even fourth-year undergraduates, graduate students, and fellow professors found it challenging to question him. So, when Professor Banshee asked Vikir again, he was both checking if his ears were working properly and trying to understand Vikir’s response.

“You weren’t sleeping?”

“No.”

“Even though everyone saw you with your eyes closed, you still dare to make such an excuse?”

“I had my eyes closed, but I wasn’t sleeping.”

As Vikir responded confidently, Professor Banshee’s expression gradually hardened. Simultaneously, the expressions of all the students grew increasingly pale.

Professor Banshee let out a chilling sound as he clenched his teeth. It sent shivers down the spines of students sitting in the front rows, and the temperature in the entire classroom seemed to drop by a degree.

Then, with a sharp tone and a sinister smile, Professor Banshee continued to question Vikir about the previous problem.

“If you have indeed memorized and understood everything I’ve taught you so far, you should be able to answer this question easily. Tell me about the locations where the savage Ballak hunters engaged in battles with the Empire’s army and speculate on the location of their headquarters based on these places. Now, give me your answer.”

As Professor Banshee walked purposefully towards Vikir’s desk, he alternated his gaze between Sinclaire, who was sitting at the front, and Tudor, who was next to her.

With a piercing look, he turned to Vikir once again and said, “Earlier, even your classmates provided decent answers. Even students who can come up with their own answers at their level have their eyes wide open during my lectures. Do you really expect me to believe that you, who can’t even reach that level, listened to my lecture with your eyes closed? Now, give me your answer.”

Professor Banshee seemed determined to make an example out of this troublesome student, who would inevitably face expulsion. However, Vikir remained unfazed, which was a source of wonderment for everyone present.

At that moment, Professor Banshee abruptly closed his mouth, and a terrifying sound emanated from it. The sound of teeth grinding sent shivers down the spines of the students in the front rows.

The sounds that came from the mouths of dark-side mages were always particularly ominous, but this was a different problem altogether. The entire classroom seemed to be enveloped in an atmosphere that was at least a degree colder than before.

Professor Banshee, with a wicked smile still on his face, directed his question with a sharp tone at Vikir.

“Very well. If you indeed were not sleeping, you should be able to answer my question. I’ll kindly remind you of the problem I presented earlier. The places where the savage Ballak hunters engaged in battles with the Empire’s army. Now, try to speculate on the location of their headquarters based on those places. I expect your answer now.”

Professor Banshee deliberately approached Vikir’s desk as if he intended to make a strong impression on the entire class by dealing with this one problem student. However, what he didn’t realize was that this kind of problem was far easier for Vikir than tying his shoelaces.

For a seasoned war veteran like Vikir, who had spent decades on the battlefield, these answers were etched into his bones and flesh. But Vikir was unaware that Professor Banshee had deliberately given a question so difficult that most students would not be able to solve it. Therefore, Vikir began to answer without hesitation.

“The places where battles between Balak and the Empire took place are the Western Front’s First, Fourth, Fifth, Seventh, Eighth, Fourteenth, Twenty-Seventh, Thirtieth, Seventy-Fifth, Two Hundred Seventh, and Three Hundred Sixth plateaus. Many of these locations are incorrectly known for their valley and ridge terrain, but in reality, most of the battles took place in winter, causing the entire area to have a terraced landscape after the ice and snow melted. Ballak’s warriors primarily engaged in long-range sniping and guerrilla warfare. They could easily navigate long distances and high terrain, and they tamed wolves to secure mobility on the plains, suggesting that their residence follows the typical characteristics of nomads. Considering their routes, they are likely located in the high plateaus deep within the flood-prone areas. If we examine the map, the area between Point A and Point B, west of the Salt River and adjacent to the western coast with waterfalls, seems likely.”

Vikir’s response was not only accurate but also included undisclosed military information and details not yet reported in academia.

“Anyway, after the Aheuman incident, the Ballak people moved their residence to a completely different location. So, it doesn’t matter.”

Moreover, even if he shared this information, no one could reach that location. Fierce predators, poisonous insects, various dangerous plants, harsh terrain, and endemic diseases effectively barred Imperial entry.

That’s why Vikir provided a suitable answer that didn’t give away too much of the Ballak’s.

However, despite Vikir answering Professor Banshee’s question, the silence in the classroom remained unbroken.

Vikir finally turned his head, puzzled.

He then witnessed an unusual sight.

Everyone in the classroom, from Figgy sitting next to him to Tudor, Bianca, Sinclaire, and even Professor Banshee himself stared at him with their mouths wide open.