Chapter 67 - Sixty Seven
"Old age and treachery will always beat youth and exuberance."
— David Mamet
———
"Nice to meet you, Zeke Vaughan."
Zeke turned toward the voice. An old man sat across from him—grey beard neatly trimmed, black hair slicked back with a subtle side part. His expression was patient, knowing.
Zeke tilted his head, brow furrowed. Who the hell is this?
"Haha. Should I have said... ’yo’?" The old man raised both hands in an exaggerated wave.
"That’s freaky." Zeke shuddered visibly and walked to the chair across from him, lowering himself into it with deliberate slowness.
He glanced around. Office. Wooden shelves lined with leather-bound books. Awards mounted on the walls—plaques, certificates, gilded frames. A row of portraits hung above them, all men in formal robes. The last frame held the old man’s face.
"So you like keeping pictures of people? Family?"
"Hohoho, no, my boy. Those are past headmasters of this great academy."
"Oh no."
"Oh yes, my boy—"
"Enough with the ’my boy.’" Zeke waved him off sharply.
"Hohoho."
"I know people who’d kill you in a heartbeat for the nonsense you just pulled."
"I’m immortal, old man."
"I know." The man’s smile didn’t falter. "It’s the reason I summoned you. Among many others."
Zeke’s posture shifted—shoulders straightening, eyes sharpening.
"It’s not every day you see an immortal come from outside the Tower. Especially from that place."
"What place?" Zeke kept his tone flat, neutral.
"Hohoho, boy. Nothing can be hidden from me in this world." The old man leaned back, fingers steepled. "I am what you’d call the administrator of this world."
"This world?"
"Anton forgot to mention the Tower’s setup, didn’t he?"
"From your flex, I can tell you heard our discussions a while ago."
"That I did."
"Don’t worry—I’m just an old man. The squabbles of little children interest me not." His eyes gleamed. "But with your aspects—particularly your trait, [Grand Archmage]—you will be of great use to me."
"You want to use me?" Zeke’s aura flared, pressure rippling outward like heat shimmer.
"Hoho. The hubris of pride." The old man raised a single finger. "What do you aspire to accomplish with that gust of wind? The wind sigils are there to cool the room."
Zeke’s aura collapsed. Snuffed out. Gone.
He froze.
"My name is Nox. Last name will not be provided. I am the headmaster of Asterea Academy." Nox stood, extending his hand across the desk. "And I formally invite you to become a professor of this great academy."
"What?"
"Professor."
"Yes. With your trait, you are quite worthy of instructing here. As for your salary—" Nox’s smile widened slightly. "—I’ll state it as your trial. And I’ll give your teammates comfortable trials. Well, as comfortable as a trial in the Tower can be."
Nox’s smile turned knowing.
"You can do that?"
"Of course. Hohoho. Surprised?"
"Think it over with your friends." Nox waved his hand dismissively.
"And, Zeke—" His tone sharpened, just slightly. "—it would be wise not to use your observation ability on everyone you see. You just might go insane."
Zeke blinked.
He was back in his room.
"Boys!" Zeke shouted, bolting toward the living room.
---
After Zeke’s exposition, everyone turned to Anton.
"You forgot to mention some things, boy. Hohoho." Zeke mimicked Nox’s laugh, floating lazily above his chair.
Then he dropped.
His body hit the seat hard. He tried to lift off—nothing. His jaw tightened.
"Bollocks."
"What happened?" Kai asked.
"He was knocked down a peg." Michael snickered.
"Literally." He burst into full-blown laughter.
"Anton. Start talking." Zeke’s voice was tight, strained.
Anton exhaled slowly. "An administrator is the Tower’s will within a particular jurisdiction. Usually a set of ten floors."
"They take on many roles—NPCs, mostly. Most people never meet one in their entire climb."
"We’re lucky. And unlucky."
"They can make life hell for us. Or as comfortable as the Tower allows."
"Hah. So I’m a professor?" Zeke groaned.
"It’s not that bad, if you ask me." Michael shrugged.
"That’s why I didn’t." Zeke shot him a glare.
"Meh."
"As for the Tower’s setup—" Anton continued. "—in most cases, ten floors form a single world. If you’re lucky, you’re inducted into the main storyline. Every trial becomes part of that progression."
"How does that work?" Kai leaned forward.
"It’s weird. I never fully understood it." Anton’s tone turned defensive. "I was hardly ever part of the main storyline. And even when you are, you might just be a grunt. Not the center of attention."
He pouted slightly as the group stared at him.
"By your logic," Jude said slowly, "Zeke working at the academy would make him part of the main storyline. Right?"
"Yes."
"Cool. What about us?"
"That’s where I come in."
The group jumped. In the corner of the room, seated in a chair that hadn’t been there before, was Nox. He held a delicate teacup, steam curling upward.
"Why do all overpowered characters like tea?" Kai asked, exasperated.
"I’m getting myself a teacup," Zeke muttered.
"Hoho." Nox’s chair slid closer without moving. Space folded around it.
"I have a set of trials tailored to each of you. Well—I made the blueprint. The Tower will refine them. It knows you best."
"Do you wish to see your trials?"
"Do we have a choice?" Zeke rolled his eyes.
"Hohoho. You actually do not."
Nox smiled wider.
"You see, lads—I only influenced the Tower a little. Think of it as a side quest. The main quest simply changed to fit the side quest. Or perhaps the main quest was the side quest all along."
"In essence, without my intervention, you’d have ended up at the academy anyway. I just... helped you along."
"And it’s not as though all of you will be going to the academy."
"What?" Kai blinked.
"Do you think All of you’re worthy to teach in my school?"
Nox pointed at Aaron.
"First—you weaklings will be sent to my academy to learn. Especially you."
Aaron stiffened.
"At my academy, there are class ranks. D to S. And, unsurprisingly, you boys might be separated. Drama and all."
"Your ultimate goal is to reach S-Class—one such class is where our resident immortal will be teaching."
"Unlike Zeke, your trial starts with gaining admission. I don’t favor nepotism."
"As for the two outliers—" Nox glanced at Anton. "—you’ll be tasked as an adventurer. Details will be sharpened by the Tower."
His gaze shifted to Michael.
"And you. The Tower will find a suitable trial."
He vanished.
"That was not creepy at all," Zeke muttered.
A glowing screen materialized in front of each of them.
---
[Third Floor Trial]
Zeke Vaughan: You have been granted the position of teacher at Asterea Academy.
You are to ensure that, by session’s end, at least five of your students pass with an evaluation of A-Rank or above.
---
[Third Floor Trial]
Jude Wren: You have been elected a candidate for Asterea Academy.
Pass the entrance exams. Reach S-Rank class in your chosen field.
---
[Third Floor Trial]
Aaron Kessler: You have been elected a candidate for Asterea Academy.
Pass the entrance exams. Reach at least B-Rank class in your chosen field.
---
[Third Floor Trial]
Kai Min: You have been elected a candidate for Asterea Academy.
Pass the entrance exams. Reach at least A-Rank class in your chosen field.
---
[Third Floor Trial]
Anton Vega: Become a high-ranking adventurer within three years.
---
[Third Floor Trial]
Michael: Become a high-ranking merchant within one year.
---
Haikyuu — "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." — Coach Ukai.
———
"I have to get random children’s grades up." Zeke groaned, head in his hands.
"At least they’re geniuses," Jude offered.
"These guys have it the easiest." Aaron gestured at Anton and Michael. "An adventurer? He has all the means—he’s a fucking regressor. A merchant? You’re the crown prince of Althelgard and whatnot."
"Well," Michael said smoothly, "I don’t think using my father’s influence would be wise. It could affect my completion rate."
He shrugged.
"It still is easy."
"This bastard—"
"But how do your trials relate to the main storyline?" Jude asked.
"Use your head." Zeke slapped the back of Jude’s head. "If the storyline involves war, adventurers and merchants are valuable assets."
"What if it doesn’t?"
"It’s an academy trope. Definitely involves war. Demon king, baby." Zeke mimicked a gun with his fingers, walking toward his room.
"I’m going to sleep. You boys go get information or something."
"Lazy bastard."
"Are you sure he’s even sleeping in there?" Michael asked.
"Who cares? He still won’t leave his room either way." Kai grinned.
"Well—except he gets news from a powerhouse again." Anton smirked.
"Don’t jinx it!" the group shouted in unison.
———
"It is a truth universally acknowledged that a young man in possession of great power must be in want of a teacher."
————
It is then a case of Zeke Vaughn being the one in need of a teacher, or the teacher the young man or young persons in need of a teacher finds.
We’ll have to wait and find out.