"...Who the hell are
they
?!"
Robin pointed sharply toward the amphitheater, his voice low but laced with fire.
At that moment, within the circular stone coliseum beneath his private quarters, sat a motley gathering of youthsâeach one utterly distinct, as if chosen to represent a different corner of the universe.
A quick, practiced glance from Robin was enough to count them: 27 students, male and female, casually sprawled across the rows of the great structure like fallen leaves scattered by a chaotic wind.
Some had twisting horns of ivory or obsidian curling from their temples.
Others bore skin tones unknown to humanityâmetallic blues, transparent golds, burning reds.
Many displayed strange and inhuman physical traits: tails of fire, luminous eyes, or crystalline limbs that shimmered in the light.
Yet all wore the standard robes of the Grand Academyâthe only thread tying them together.
"Hmm?"
One of the boys lifted his head lazily from the stone bench, rubbing his eyes.
"Whyâre you yelling, brother? This is a chill zone, you know."
"Tch~"
The rest of the students reacted with synchronized disinterestâsome turning away to resume naps, others thumbing through old tomes, a few casting annoyed glances at Robin like a buzzing fly had entered their peace.
The sight made the veins in Robinâs forehead throb with rage.
A storm brewed in his eyes.
"Ha ha..."
Thankfully, Shaddad had already descended into the amphitheater and was laughing heartily.
"What? You never sensed them all these years?"
"Professor Shaddad!"
"Professor Shaddad."
The moment the massive half-bear reached the floor, the students all snapped upright like soldiers.
Backs straight. Hands clasped neatly behind their backs. Chins high.
A synchronized greeting followedâclearly drilled into them. A formality. A mark of discipline.
"Shaddad... What exactly is going on here?"
Robinâs brows tightened.
His sharp eyes flitted sharply from one student to another, filled with suspicion and rising irritation.
"....."
The students exchanged quick glancesâsilent yet loud with meaning.
Who was this human who dared to address Professor Shaddad by nameâbare, informal, and sharp in tone?
Had he no fear? Did he not value his life?
Each of them was a direct heir to planetary monarchs, bearers of ancient bloodlines, or offspring of renowned interstellar clans.
Every student had paid fortunes in wealth and favor just to study within these hallowed hallsâ
yet even they would never dare speak to a professor without the utmost reverence.
And yet...
Contrary to all their expectations, Shaddad kept the same gentle smile on his furry face.
No anger. No surprise.
"Heh heh... Donât worry about them," he said softly.
"If youâre worried they tried entering your quartersâforget it. No student here would be reckless enough to try infiltrating a professorâs chambers.
Everyone in the Academy knows better than to poke that bear."
He gently clapped Robin on the shoulder.
"Come, come. Iâll explain everything. Letâs talk over something warm."
"..."
Robin clenched his jaw, took one last glance toward the students, then turned and exited the amphitheater, his footsteps echoing with restrained fury.
"Hehhh~"
Shaddad exhaled deeply, watching his brother disappear through the gate.
Then he spun on his heel with a far more menacing look on his face and barked:
"What the hell do you think youâre doing, you lazy brats?!
Go train! Practice! Meditate! Fight a wall if you have toâjust stop embarrassing yourselves... and stop embarrassing
your teacher
while youâre at it!!"
Without waiting for a reply, he turned and stomped after Robin.
"Phew~"
Only after Shaddad left did the tension in the amphitheater dissolve like mist in the sun.
"What
was
that all about?"
"Was that really our instructor...?"
"He left again. What a waste."
"Whatever. Not my problem."
Within moments, the reader returned to his book.
The napper resumed snoring.
The circle of indifference closed once more.
"...Professor Robin Burtonâs Building?"
Robin came to a sudden halt the moment he stepped through the outer gate of his tower.
There, on the side wall, hung a large engraved signâbright, clean, and utterly offensive.
Annoyance surged across his features like a rising tide.
His voice tightened.
"Why... is this sign here? Why does it have my
real name
on it?!
Why are the doors wide open like a public inn?!
Why has the façade been cleaned up and remodeled like all the other faculty buildings?!
Did I agree to something I wasnât even aware of?!"
Before beginning his secluded cultivation, Robin had sealed his chamber with a layered sound barrier, extended his spiritual sense to the edges of the apartment, and shut out the entire world.
He didnât care what happened beyond that invisible wall.
His focusâhis entire soulâhad been locked on the study of Balance Patterns and rapid ascension of his cultivation realm.
But now...
It seemed that the world had moved on without asking for his permission.
"Maybe... Her Majesty the Monarch forgot to mention you were officially appointed as a professor, big brother Robin."
Shaddad finally caught up, his tone light and nonchalant.
"Everything youâre seeing now? Itâs been this way for
thirty years
.
The building, the sign, the renovations, the open doors... all of it.
Oh, and the students you just saw in the amphitheater?
Those are yours."
"Mine?
Like my students?!"
Robinâs tone was equal parts shock and disbelief."How can I possibly have students when Iâve never even announced the intention to give a single lecture?! I havenât held a single classânot even once!"He ran a hand through his hair in frustration."I havenât even picked a specialization! No subject, no focus area, nothing!So why are there twenty-seven fully sane, living individuals who willingly chose
me
as their teacher... even though I havenât shown my face in thirty entire years?!And why are they all packed together in an empty amphitheater like abandoned relics?!Ughhh..."
"Ha ha!"Shaddad let out his signature thunderous laugh, the kind that shook the air around him and turned heads even during festivals.With a smile tugging at his thick fur-covered face, he stepped forward and waved Robin along with a casual flick of his massive hand."Come on, come with me. Iâll explain everything to youâproperly."
"..."Robin gave the amphitheater one last sharp look.The studentsâthose supposed âdisciplesâ of hisâwere already dozing off again, as if nothing had happened.He scoffed under his breath."Tch."Then turned and followed Shaddad, his steps heavy and irritated.
Swoooosh
Crack! Crack!
Up above, the skies of the Academy exploded in dazzling fireworks, cascading in waves of light and sound.So many were fired off that the vibrant colors and thunderous echoes
drowned out even the view of the stars and nearby celestial rings
.It was hard to tell whether one was still on a planetâor floating in a celebration between worlds.
The massive garden adjacent to the teaching halls had been completely transformed.It now bustled with the energy of a true festival: vibrant stalls selling food, trinkets, potions, and games.And manning every one of these stalls were students in festival garb, shouting and smiling, hustling to attract customers.
Shaddad led Robin toward one stall in particular, one with a neat setup and several wooden chairs out front.He gestured politely for Robin to sit down, then leaned forward and shouted cheerfully:"Ten family-sized sandwiches and two hot drinksâright here!"
"On the way, Professor Shaddad!"A young girl inside the stall gave a sharp salute with her free hand before quickly returning to her cooking.
"Heh heh, good kids..."Shaddad dropped into the chair beside Robin, a wide, honest grin stretching across his face."Thereâs something noble about the ones who run these stalls," he said, voice softening."Theyâre usually from modest householdsâless prestigious, less wealthy.They take these festival shifts to earn extra credit, or more often, just enough to help cover their own expenses."
He glanced toward the back of the stall as the smells of roasting bread and sizzling meat drifted through the air."They organize events, clean the dorms, assist staff... anything to keep going.Thatâs why we professors try to help however we canâby supporting their work, giving them chances like these... and tipping generously whenever possible."
"Thatâs... actually kind of touching,"Robin admitted as he looked around.The atmosphere of the place, the spirit in the airâit
did
feel like a true festival."But thereâs no way Iâm eating five of those. Iâll just pay for them and let her keep the rest."
"Oh, donât worry about that,"Shaddad waved his hand dismissively, a slight blush on his cheeks."I ordered nine for myself and just one for you, heh heh."Then he leaned forward again, eyes glinting with amusement."So, what do you think of the Academy now?"
"Think of what?!"Robin leaned in slightly, raising a brow."Iâve only stepped outside for the first time
today
!"He crossed his arms."Now, answer me properlyâwhatâs going on with those misfits camped beneath my room?"
"Itâs really not complicated, big brother,"Shaddad replied, settling more comfortably in his chair."Thirty years ago, your academic building was officially cleaned and opened for use.They put your name on itâyour full nameâand left the doors open for enrollment."
Robin raised an eyebrow but didnât interrupt.
"For the first ten years, it remained completely empty.Every day, students and professors passed by, glanced at the building from a distance, and walked away, wondering whether the legendary Professor Robin would
ever
appear.
But after a full decade of silenceâwhen it became clear you truly never showed your faceâsome of the students started enrolling under your name.They signed up because they thought... well, if the professor is always absent, theyâd have absolute freedom. No rules. No lectures. No pressure."
"They enrolled
because I was absent
?!"Robin stared at him, stunned.His voice pitched up with a mixture of outrage and disbelief."Is that even allowed?! What kind of logic is that?!"