Chapter : Prologue

Chapter : Prologue

What if you heard news that a game you used to play and devote your life to is receiving a large-scale update after several years?

What if there was an announcement stating that special benefits would be given to players who have completed all the challenges?

How many people would be able to resist that temptation?

The man trembled with excitement as he read the notice posted on the website.

“Well, I’m already stressed out because of the kids. This couldn’t have come at a better time.”

The man, who taught Korean at a prestigious academy, was exhausted and worn out with life.

“Who are you anyway? You’re just someone who gets paid by our mother, right? Then I’m also a customer, aren’t I? If you want to lecture me, go take the national exam first.”

There were students who didn’t even consider the academy teacher as a teacher, let alone a superior. And there were students who lied and deceived him, saying they couldn’t come to the academy because of a stomach ache, while in reality, they were busy hanging out elsewhere. However, the biggest problem was the parents.

“Why are my child’s grades like this? We pay so much money, isn’t it the teacher’s fault if the grades don’t improve?”

“If the child doesn’t listen, it must be because the teacher can’t control their behavior properly. So now you’re saying there might be a problem with our home education?”

Parents expected their children’s grades to improve automatically like a game’s auto-hunting feature once they sent them to the academy.

The man was exhausted by all of these things.

“Sigh....”

The man sighed and launched the game.

‘Academy Heroes.’

The game depicted the story of a protagonist who entered the academy and matured through various incidents.

The man loved the untainted innocence of the children in the game.

Their efforts to become stronger, their interaction with friends, their passion and competitive spirit, and their budding affection with someone they like—those aspects were deeply missed by the man.

But reality was always cruel. Between wicked children and irresponsible parents, the man gradually lost his enthusiasm.

That was why he started playing that game, thinking that maybe he could find solace in it.

“Let’s see, what’s new?”

He soon discovered a new feature.

“You can play as an instructor?”

‘Academy Heroes’ was a game that was thoroughly played from the perspective of the protagonist, a student.

It involved attending classes, growing stronger, going on adventures, forming bonds, and experiencing the oncoming hardships and challenges, be it in friendship or love.

But what if the protagonist were an instructor?

“How can I resist this? I definitely can’t resist it.”

The man was a lecturer by profession. He had confidence that he would immerse himself in this new content more than anyone else.

“I’ll start right away.”

Beep! Beep!

The old computer made a loud noise as it started running.

“... Huh?”

And his vision began to spin around.

“Huh...? What?”

—

“Well, fuck.”

Phillip closed his eyes for a moment and opened them again.

However, the scenery before his eyes remained unchanged. It had already been a few days, but instead of any change, the sense of reality had been growing stronger.

“If this isn’t a real dream...? Then is all of this reality?”

Of course, in the position of a Martial Arts Instructor.

As Philip’s thoughts reached that point, he trembled with fear and apprehension.

“How am I supposed to teach these kids? I’ve never even set foot in a sword training hall.”

And indeed, he was a complete novice who didn’t know how to handle a sword at all.

“Why couldn’t I possess a student instead? Why did it have to be an instructor?”

It was unfair and frustrating, but there was nothing he could do. The reality had already unfolded before his eyes.

“Well, even that idiot Philip must have prepared to teach the kids since he’s also a human being.”

Philip didn’t lose hope. Even for a reckless rascal like him, having at least a minimal plan was necessary. He picked up a bundle of papers placed in a corner of his room.

Surely, there must be some valid plan written on them, he thought.

[Marlene. Twenty-three years old, affiliated with the ‘Well-Behaved Cat Brothel.’ Likes perfumes and rare gem-like gifts. Difficulty level: Intermediate?]

“What the hell is this?”

However, the contents seemed strange.

[Narsha. Nineteen years old, affiliated with the ‘Elegant Swan Brothel.’ Likes handsome men. Difficulty level: Low.]

The next page, and the next, only had female names and their preferences written down. Putting the information together, Philip quickly reached a conclusion.

“What the hell, this is information about brothel girls.”

The belated realization only awakened a blazing anger.

“Philip... that damn bastard, he’s really...”

Philip Oswald.

The extra villain in the simulation game “Academy Heroes.”

He was truly an irredeemable rascal.

—

Calming his head which was about to explode with rage, Philip assessed his situation.

“So, I have to become an academy martial arts instructor and teach these kids a skill I know nothing about.”

“... Can I do it?”

From a logical standpoint, it seemed absurd. However, it was also something he had to accomplish.

“What if I fail?”

He would be thrown into the battlefield at the northernmost edge of the continent by the hands of Viscount Oswald, his father.

“What if I run away?”

In an unknown world, he would have to survive on his own strength. Philip knew that the possibility of success was very low.

“The outside world is hell. The battlefield might be safer.”

The continent of Etoonda, which served as the setting for the game “Academy Heroes,” was a land ravaged by an endless war against the demons.

The safe inland regions were territories of the nobles and religious organizations, and it was impossible to escape their watchful eyes. Sooner or later, his true identity would be exposed, leading to being dragged into the battlefield.

With his knowledge of the internal affairs of the academy, Philip had no means to hide from them.

If there was a place where Philip could conceal his identity and escape, it would only be in the chaos of battle, where the term “bloodshed and carnage” would be fitting.

In a place where human lives were worth less than insects, how long could he endure?

Philip feared those places associated with the battlefield more than the actual war itself, as he knew several episodes related to them.

Philip looked at the calendar.

March 4th.

It was the early days of spring.

The semester at Privia Academy was scheduled to begin on March 10th, so there was only a week left, including today. Within that time, he had to find a way, no matter what, to teach swordsmanship despite knowing nothing about it.