Third person perspective
The name of the teacher who forced Idhir to drop out was Sargeista.
He was the head teacher for the senior class at the Knight Academy.
He had big ambitions, and anything that got in the way of achieving them was the reason he expelled Idhir. It was only a small hindrance though.
"Hmmm, perfection feels good." (Sargeista)
The teacher Sargeista was humming as he walked down the school corridor.
To see with his own eyes the "perfect classroom" that he had achieved.
The grade he was in charge of also had a special meaning at the Knight Academy.
They were known as the "Golden 139th Class."
This year's senior class... the sixth-year students of the Knight Academy, were chock full of exceptionally talented children, even more so than their peers.
With the fourth prince, Mashharde, at the head; a duke's daughter and the top-ranking female student, Arlessa; the son of the Grand Commander of the Knight Order, Brooks; and a nicknamed "Jet Black Lightning," Gills.
Although they were still students, they already possess the skills equivalent to those of high-ranking knights. After graduating the following year, all of them were sure to join the Royal Knight Order. They were a group of talented prodigies who were said to be sure to rise to executive ranks in no time.
Among them all, the only blemish on the "Golden 139th Class" was Idhir. Although his only notable attribute was being the brother of the genius Knight Captain Zectwalris, he was actually a simpleton who bore no resemblance.
He had a tendency to be lazy, rarely attended classes and his grades were the lowest. That Idhir was also a senior this year. It was a small but unsightly blemish that rendered the "Golden 139th Class" incomplete.
That's why he was dropped out from the Academy.
For the teacher, Sargeista, it was unacceptable to have a poor student like that mixed in with the group of talented students under his guidance.
The talented people he sent out joined the Royal Capital Knight Order and achieved various feats, earning him praise and attention. As the mentor to such elites, Sargeista earned a reputation as a master teacher. Many boys and girls flocked through the gates of the Royal Knight Academy to seek instruction from Sargeista.
That was the ambition of the teacher, Sargeista.
"That's why it was necessary to expel that dropout...!" (Sargeista)
The teacher Sargeista headed to the classroom in a cheerful mood. The classroom for the top students, without Idhir, would surely look even more perfect and beautiful... he thought.
"We have great news for everyone today!" (Sargeista)
As soon as he sat down at his desk, Sargeista said that. It was floating just as it looked.
"Idhir Zirahar has been expelled! Not only is he untalented, but he also lacks the will to train himself and has been deemed unfit for the Royal Knight Academy! It was rather a long time coming, but I am pleased to inform you that the decision has finally been made!" (Sargeista)
Sargeista's announcement was meant to be a way to share his joy with his proud students, but the response was not as overwhelming as he had hoped. Therefore, he said a bit more.
"It must have been quite an eyesore to have such a dropout beside you, but from now on your vision will be clear and you will be able to concentrate on your training without any worries. It is the teacher's duty to provide the best possible environment for you all! Under my kind consideration, I hope you will work harder and become fine knights!" (Sargeista)
"I know"
A voice so cold it could make even ice freeze and shiver rang out. Even Sargeista flinched at the voice.
"I know about your foolish actions. It's already been five days since Idhir left. Did you think the information wouldn't get around?"
"P-Prince Mashharde...?!" (Sargeista)
The owner of the frosty voice was Mashharde, the most senior student.
His grades were the best in his class. He was the polar opposite of Idhir, not only in ability but also in his noble origins as the son of the current king—a prince—making him an elite among elites.
Everyone in the Knight Academy knew him and respected him. Even the teachers bowed down in order not to upset him.
"Well, as expected of Your Highness! With you even being aware of the future of scum like that, it seems that you are already fully prepared to shoulder the future of the country! This Sargeista is proud to be under your guidance!" (Sargeista)
"It's unfortunate for me to be placed under the care of an incompetent teacher like you." (Mashharde)
Sargeista flinched at the sharp words from the prince.
"How rude...! Even if you are a prince, you are still a student at the Knight Academy! Rebelling against a teacher will lead to lower grades!" (Sargeista)
"What's wrong with calling someone incompetent? Of all people, you expelled Idhir. The fact that you couldn't see his hidden talent is proof of your incompetence." (Mashharde)
What on earth was Prince Mashharde so angry about? It seemed he was angry about expelling Idhir, but the homeroom teacher didn't understand what connection there was between the elite student in front of him and an underachiever who was no longer there.
"I've had my eye on Idhir for quite some time now." (Mashharde)
"Hah?" (Sargeista)
"He pretends to be an underachiever, but he's a bundle of rare talent. I know he's called the 'Golden 139th Class' and other grandiose nicknames, but he really is worthy of the golden metaphor. At least, that's what I thought." (Mashharde)
"That's impossible! He's a hopeless underachiever! He has no motivation, and his grades are the lowest! He can't compare to the talented students here with excellent grades...!?" (Sargeista)
"He was also an excellent student until halfway through, you know? From his first year to his third year, he was always second only to me in terms of grades." (Mashharde)
"...!?" (Sargeista)
When Sargeista heard this, he could not believe his ears. Because it was the first time he had ever heard of it. Every year, as he had always been in charge of the senior students, he had no knowledge of the grades below.
"Something must have happened in his fourth year, but he lost all motivation and his grades started to drop. But I wanted to somehow get him motivated again, and turn him into a fine knight worthy of his talent. Do you know why?" (Mashharde)
"……n-no……?" (Sargeista)
"That's because I'm the fourth prince of this country. As a member of the royal family who shoulders the burden of the country, isn't it natural to seek out talented people for the country? Idhir is without a doubt a man who could become the strongest knight supporting this country. But you just expelled Idhir from school, your incompetence is always a nuisance to others." (Mashharde)
"Incompetent?! I'm incompetent...?!" (Sargeista)
The words that Prince Mashharde spoke pierced Sargeista time and again like a knife.
For a proud teacher, being called incompetent was the ultimate insult. Naturally he would rebel. He said that it wasn't him who was incompetent, but rather Idhir, who had been expelled.
"...I'm afraid Your Highness, you are overestimating Idhir, the guy who was expelled. I don't know about his past grades, but it's true that he currently has the worst grades. Visible evaluations are everything, you know?" (Sargeista)
"The ability to grasp even the invisible is proof of competence. Conversely, if you can't grasp it, you're incompetent. If you say so, then you probably know too, right? Where was Idhir and what were you doing while he was skipping class?" (Mashharde)
"Hah?" (Sargeista)
"Apparently, he developed an interest in adventurers and started hanging out at the guild. I had a spy look into it, so that's for sure." (Mashharde)
"A spy?!" (Sargeista)
The royal family did everything in an exaggerated way.
"Idhir has successfully completed many quests and is considered a B-rank adventurer by the guild. However, because he is a student, he has not yet obtained an official rank. Recently, he formed a party and apparently defeated a wyvern." (Mashharde)
"Defeat... a wyvern...?!" (Sargeista)
"Even among the Royal Capital Knights, how many talented knights are there who are capable of defeating a wyvern...?" (Mashharde)
The teacher, Sargeista, could not believe every word that reached his ears, so much so that he could no longer believe his own ears.
If what Prince Mashharde said was true, then why had Idhir been hiding his true abilities until now? If he had the strength to hunt a wyvern, it would be easy to get a ranking within the top ten even in the Knight Academy.
If he had done so, he would have been able to give him fair evaluation and generous guidance...
"Students also have the right to give up on their teachers, just like you gave up on Idhir." (Mashharde)
"But... that's...!?" (Sargeista)
"Idhir's only flaw is that he gave up on his own, giving up on his path as a knight. As a knight who serves his country, it is the country that has the right to give him a failing grade. And that is me, a member of the royal family." (Mashharde)
As long as he, the prince, was not disappointed, Idhir would not give up on it. Mashharde said this with a thoroughness that could be interpreted as arrogance.
"I asked my father to make Idhir my personal knight after he graduated from the Knight Academy, regardless of his grades. And I was going to personally train him... But you ruined that with your foolish actions!" (Mashharde)
"The prince's father... that means His Majesty...!?" (Sargeista)
"You have obstructed the royal family's plans and will be charged with treason. You should know that your time playing teacher in this Knight Academy is numbered. From next month onwards, you will be a foot soldier guarding the frontier fortress!!" (Mashharde)
"Th-That such thing...!?" (Sargeista)
A soldier guarding a frontier fort. Being a teacher at the Royal Knight Academy was an elite job that could only be obtained by those with the best connections and achievements. To be demoted from such a high position to the countryside was the same as being reduced from noble to slavery. This was particularly unacceptable to the proud Sargeista.
However, since it was a royal order, he couldn't refuse.
"Me... a foot soldier...? A frontier... foot soldier...? The career I've built up until now...!?" (Sargeista)
The Knight Academy teacher Sargeista's glorious future crumbled in that moment. The honor of being a renowned teacher who had produced the most outstanding students in the school's history was no longer within his reach.
How did this happen? He thought he had wiped away that one stigmata and created a perfect classroom.
His collapsed body lost all strength. The teachers, who were now waiting to be demoted, had no choice but to sink into despair.
And Prince Mashharde had no intention of giving up on talented people.
Even now, as a prince, he was using all the spies he could mobilize to track down Idhir.
"I won't allow you to despair, Idhir. I will definitely use your strength for the good of this country." (Mashharde)
Translation Note
Proof-reader: Otaku Hikikomori