Battle Qi Enlightenment Class

Chapter Twenty-Nine: Battle Qi Enlightenment Class

Lorist took the Molent Daily and the Magic Hill Merchant Gazette from the mailbox by the door and found a letter inside as well. When he opened it, he discovered it was a notice from the academy.

In essence, it informed him that the Battle Qi Enlightenment Class for the new term would begin tomorrow. As the Gold Instructor in charge of the class, Lorist was requested to arrive on time. The address and class schedule followed.

Gold Instructor in charge? What kind of ridiculous position is that? They aren't even paying me extra.

It was probably much like last time: they would assign a few instructors as his assistants and leave him responsible for everything. Lorist shook his head and did not take the notice to heart.

He decided to return to his room and check the calendar. There were still several days until next month. The academy duel was the most important thing now.

Although he was confident, he could not afford to be careless. He had to adjust and maintain himself in peak condition.

Tomorrow was February 15, leaving twenty days until next month. He should try to arrange everything for the Battle Qi Enlightenment Class within ten days and hand it over to his assistants.

That would leave him ten days to get plenty of rest... Lorist stared at the exquisite copperplate calendar hanging on the wall and sank into thought.

After first transmigrating to Galintea, the thing Lorist had found hardest to get used to was calculating dates.

Like Earth, Galintea had twelve months in a year and twenty-four hours in a day. The difference was that each month in Galintea had thirty-five days, making a year last 423 days.

Back then, Lorist had still been studying accounting, and he constantly made mistakes when solving date-related problems. He kept instinctively calculating according to Earth's calendar.

Once, his accounting tutor had even waved Lorist's answer around furiously and cursed him in front of the entire class. "There are still five days left! Where did those five days go? Did a dog eat them?"

What Lorist found most infuriating was that Galintea used two calendars. The first was the Elven Calendar, supposedly created by the elven race more than ten thousand years ago.

It was simple: every month had thirty-five days, while the three additional days were all holidays. The first was the day between the end of December and the first of January, called Rest Day and commonly known as December Thirty-Sixth.

The second was May Thirty-Sixth, also called Bathing Day, when everyone had to bathe. The third was September Thirty-Sixth, Harvest Day. These three days were universally recognized holidays in Galintea.

The naturally romantic elves did not use numbers to calculate the months. Instead, they named each month after the flowers that bloomed during it.

January was Thornbush Flower Month, February was Camellia Flower Month, March was Begonia Flower Month, April was Jade Lotus Flower Month, May was Peony Flower Month, and June was White Orchid Flower Month.

July was Jasmine Flower Month, August was Fragrant Osmanthus Flower Month, September was Phoenix-tail Flower Month, October was Hibiscus Flower Month, November was Golden Chrysanthemum Flower Month, and December was Red Plum Flower Month.

The elves' preferences had made Lorist hate them at the time. He was always getting his date calculations wrong, and then these flowers had to come along and make things even more confusing. It was outrageous.

It was not until one day, while lying in bed, that Lorist suddenly realized something using his pitiful astronomical knowledge from his previous life.

Earth took 365 days to orbit the sun once, making one year. So what was strange about Galintea taking 423 days to orbit the sun once? Its orbit was merely a little larger than Earth's.

From that day onward, Lorist never again confused the dates in Galintea.

The second calendar was the Magic Calendar, the most precise calendar created by the great mages of the Magic Civilization era. It consisted entirely of cold, emotionless numbers.

The months from one to twelve were simple enough to remember, but the dates were troublesome because most months had different lengths. January had thirty-four days, February had the fewest with thirty-one, March had thirty-six, and September had the most, with thirty-nine days.

The humans of Galintea were not romantic elves, and there were no mages left in the present age. Such a precise calendar was useless to ordinary people.

Thus, they combined the Elven Calendar and the Magic Calendar, using the Magic Calendar's months and the Elven Calendar's dates. The three Elven Calendar holidays without corresponding dates were all assigned the number thirty-six.

That became the common Galintean calendar hanging on Lorist's wall.

According to his memories, the original owner of this body, Little Locke, had left the Northlands on June 21 ten years ago and arrived in Molent City on August 8, after which he enrolled in the academy.

The carriage had traveled for more than fifty days. It really was far away. In other words, when August 8 arrived this year, Little Locke—now Lorist—would have been exiled by the Northland family for ten years.

He had also been out of contact with them for nearly seven years. Who knew how things were there? Perhaps he should visit during this year's vacation.

He remembered that there was a Black Mud Swamp near his hometown, where a magical beast called the Iron Ridge Bay Crocodile lived. Its hide was in high demand for leather armor.

Perhaps he could conceal his name, organize a mercenary group, and return to take a look?

A powerful longing for home suddenly surged through Lorist. Sigh, I'll think about it after August 8.

He had transmigrated into Little Locke, and even this homesickness etched into his bones had been inherited. Forget it. It had nearly been ten years.

Once he had some free time in the latter half of the year, he could request leave and combine it with the vacation. That should be enough time for a round trip.

Lorist stood before the calendar, repeatedly stroking the engraved date of August 8 with his finger. At last, he made a decision in his heart.

"Good morning, Instructor Anfia. I'm truly glad we can work together again. With your help, I'm sure this Battle Qi Enlightenment Class will be much easier."

The next day, Lorist arrived a full ten minutes early at the instructors' office behind the former Yellow Ribbon Academy's grand auditorium, which would serve as the classroom for this Battle Qi Enlightenment Class.

The moment he entered, he saw Anfia, the famous beauty instructor of Dawnlight Academy, sitting behind a desk and reading through a thick stack of documents.

Silver Instructor Anfia was thirty-seven years old, but thanks to her excellent upkeep, she looked only twenty-five or twenty-six. She was the dream goddess of many male students at the academy.

She was married, and her husband was none other than Gold Instructor Krudd. The year before last, Anfia had been assigned by the academy to serve as Lorist's assistant and help him teach the Battle Qi Enlightenment Class. The two of them had worked together quite happily.

"Hey, Locke, did you only notice the beauty? You didn't see your old buddy here?"

Lorist looked up and froze for a moment. "Big Brother Marlin, why are you here too?"

The burly man standing before Lorist was Instructor Marlin, who lived in Villa Number Thirty-Four in the Golden Instructor Residential District. Since moving into his new home, Lorist had visited him only once.

"And me, Instructor Locke. It's good to see you again."

A deep voice interrupted them.

Lorist turned around and hurriedly bowed. "Greetings, Senior Hughes. Why are you here too?"

Another Gold Instructor had arrived, and he was also one of Dawnlight Academy's veteran Gold Instructors: Hughes Bordemiki, a Gold Two-star. He had taught at the academy for more than thirty years.

He was fair without being rigid and was very popular with the students.

Instructor Hughes nodded. "Instructor Locke, Instructor Marlin and I were both assigned by the academy to become deputy chief instructors for this Battle Qi Enlightenment Class and serve as your assistants. Just give us your orders."

"Instructor Anfia will serve as your administrative assistant."

Lorist suddenly sensed that something was wrong. He turned back to Anfia and asked, "Can you tell me how many people are in this Battle Qi Enlightenment Class?"

Instructor Anfia gave him a bitter smile and pointed. "There is a small door over there that leads to the auditorium's front stage. Chief Instructor Locke, you can go take a look."

Damn it, that old bastard Principal Levens tricked me again. This is what he called 'slightly more students'? This isn't a Battle Qi Enlightenment Class. This is a full assembly!

Looking at the endless stream of densely packed students entering the auditorium, Lorist immediately understood why the academy had assigned two Gold Instructors as his assistants.

They were there to keep the situation under control.

Lorist returned to the office covered in sweat and asked with an ugly expression, "How many are there in total?"

Instructor Anfia handed over the stack of documents in her hands. "Eight hundred and seventy-nine in total. This is the roster."

Waving the roster in his hand, Lorist gave Gold Instructors Hughes and Marlin a bitter smile. "Is the academy going too far? Eight hundred and seventy-nine people. At the normal rate of forty students per Battle Qi Enlightenment Class, that would make twenty-two classes."

"Each class would require two instructors, meaning forty-four instructors in total. Now they've left all of them to me. Even with the three of you, I still can't manage this."

"This is completely unfair. They're asking the impossible. Perhaps I should just resign."

Instructor Marlin and Instructor Anfia immediately went dumbfounded upon hearing that Lorist wanted to resign.

If Instructor Locke simply walks away, who will clean up this mess? If something goes wrong and word gets out, the academy's reputation will be ruined.

They were about to persuade him when Instructor Hughes calmly took out a document. "Instructor Locke, the principal asked me to give you this."

"The first document is the guarantee you signed yourself. It says that if you refuse the academy's assignment, you will compensate the academy for twice its losses."

"If you resign and the students outside start causing trouble, the academy will lose at least tens of thousands of gold coins. You would be responsible for that..."

Damn it! That unfair agreement I made with the old bastard last year in exchange for going to the Ruins Archipelago to train was waiting for me here!

Lorist flew into a rage, but Instructor Hughes handed over the guarantee bearing Lorist's signature. "The principal said he was only joking at the time. You can take this guarantee back."

Instructor Marlin and Instructor Anfia grew anxious. If the guarantee was taken back, Instructor Locke could still leave. What would they do then?

Lorist, on the other hand, stared blankly after accepting the guarantee. What does that old bastard mean? Is he letting me off so easily?

Instructor Hughes handed him another sheet of parchment. "This is the roster of the academy's Silver and Iron Instructors."

"The principal said that Chief Instructor Locke may select twenty-four instructors from this list to form the instructor team for the Battle Qi Enlightenment Class. You will be responsible for assigning their duties, and the academy will immediately dismiss anyone who refuses to obey."

"Furthermore, because the academy does not have enough instructors, Chief Instructor Locke may select twenty-four outstanding senior students to become instructor assistants and help manage the students in this Battle Qi Enlightenment Class."

Instructor Marlin and Instructor Anfia secretly clicked their tongues. The principal was handing all personnel authority to Instructor Locke.

Just those twenty-four instructor-assistant positions alone were enough to make countless students strive for them. Although the monthly living allowance was only one Gold Fude, it was more than enough to live comfortably.

If they performed well and were formally hired as instructors by the academy after two years, even an Iron Instructor would receive three Gold Fude a month. It was a stable, well-paid position.

It was obvious that once Instructor Locke possessed the right to choose those twenty-four instructors and the twenty-four instructor-assistant positions, he would quickly form a faction centered around himself in the academy.

From then on, his opinions and proposals would carry considerable weight within the academy.

The principal truly values Instructor Locke, Anfia thought.

Could the principal and Instructor Locke be related somehow? Or is Instructor Locke the principal's... That was Marlin's guess.

"This is more like it..." Lorist's anger turned to delight, and he stopped making a fuss. He took the roster and immediately began making marks with a pen.

"There is one more thing..." Hughes handed him another document. "Because the number of students in this Battle Qi Enlightenment Class exceeded the academy's estimate and caused the chief instructor and instructor team considerable difficulty, the principal has specially authorized the academy's finance department to allocate funds as additional welfare subsidies for the instructors."

"The monthly amount is 150 gold coins, to be controlled by Chief Instructor Locke. It will take effect once you sign here."

"Heh heh..." Lorist was extremely satisfied. He took the document with a smile and began signing it.

He still sighed. "How rare. The academy is actually being so generous this time..."

Instructor Anfia quietly said, "I may know why. After word spread that all the students in the three Battle Qi Enlightenment Classes taught by Instructor Locke had awakened their Battle Qi, this year's enrollment exceeded previous years severalfold."

"Every one of them specifically requested Instructor Locke as their teacher. The principal said that any Battle Qi Enlightenment Class taught by Instructor Locke would charge double tuition, with a guarantee that the students would awaken their Battle Qi."

"That is why all the students in the auditorium paid double tuition."

"Uh..." Lorist was speechless.

No wonder the old bastard principal was being so considerate and generous. He had charged these students double tuition and even made a guarantee. He was afraid Lorist would not give it his all, so he had handed both the personnel and financial authority over to him.

One student's tuition was five gold coins, or ten after doubling it. With 879 students, the principal had collected an extra 4,395 Gold Fude.

Even if this Battle Qi Enlightenment Class lasted six months, the additional welfare subsidy paid to the instructor team would amount to only 900 gold coins. The academy would still earn more than 3,000.

Damn, that old bastard really has everything calculated down to the last detail...

Lorist handed the instructor roster to Instructor Hughes. "I've chosen nine instructors. The three of you can each choose five as well."

"Handle the instructor-assistant positions the same way and leave nine places for me. Instructor Anfia, try to choose female instructors and outstanding female students as assistants."

"I took a look at the auditorium just now, and there are many female students this time. It will be more convenient if female instructors are responsible for them."

"As for the additional welfare subsidy, Instructor Hughes, Instructor Marlin, and I will each receive five gold coins per month."

"Instructor Anfia and the other instructors in charge will receive three per month. The assisting instructors will receive two, and the instructor assistants will receive one."

"Any gold coins left over will be kept until the Battle Qi Enlightenment Class ends, then distributed to everyone as bonuses."

Instructors Hughes, Marlin, and Anfia were all moved. None of them had expected Lorist to give up his authority so easily.

Instructor Hughes quietly muttered, "The principal was right. Instructor Locke has always been fair to the matter rather than the person. He has no selfish motives..."

Lorist clapped his hands. "Once the time comes, we'll go to the auditorium and meet these new students."

"Instructor Anfia, explain the rules of our Battle Qi Enlightenment Class. Just like last year, the official classes will begin in three days."

"From then on, the students' food, lodging, travel, and sleep must all follow our regulations. Anyone unwilling to comply should withdraw from the academy and reclaim their tuition as soon as possible."

"Once classes begin, it will be too late for regrets."

"For the next two days, Instructor Marlin, I'm sorry to trouble you with assisting Instructor Anfia in inspecting the new students' lodgings and preparing the training grounds."

"Instructor Hughes, the personnel adjustments and assembly of the instructors and assistants will be your responsibility."

"Classes will officially begin in three days. I want to examine the physical condition of these new students, then divide them into several classes."

"After that, we'll discuss how to assign the instructors. That's settled. Let's go out front."