Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 24: Combat Class
“Stop, stop, stop—don’t do that! Hey, you over there, where exactly do you think you’re touching?!” Merlin was surrounded by a throng of people, squeezed so tightly he could hardly breathe.
At his shout, a few young girls in the crowd instantly flushed red and stumbled backward. One of them even clutched her hand with a goofy grin spreading across her face.
“I actually touched his abs!”
“Merlin, oh Merlin, we can’t live without you—just like the Aize Continent can’t live without the Arcane Academy!”
“Uuuuuuh—waaahhh—”
No one knew who started crying first, but soon the wailing grew louder and louder. Merlin’s lips twitched at the sound, and he raised his fist, roaring: “Quit your crying! I’m not dead yet! Still alive, damn it!”
“Merlin, even if you die, it doesn’t matter—just make sure to pass down the secret recipe for lotus-leaf beggar’s chicken!”
The familiar voice made Merlin leap forward, and with one punch he slammed his fist into Fitt’s face. “Sounds like you’re tired of living!”
“Don’t fight, don’t fight!” Kris quickly grabbed Merlin, shouting to hold him back.
Fitt’s eyes glistened with tears as he looked at Kris. “Kris, I didn’t know you cared so much about me!”
“Beating you will just dirty Merlin’s hands. What if he gets a scratch and can’t make beggar’s chicken anymore? If he really wants to hit you, let me do it instead!”
“That’s right, that’s right! We’ll help too!”
“Fitt, hand over your life!”
Gah—
Fitt rolled his eyes. You guys really are the best of friends.
Merlin looked around at the gathering crowd. More and more curious students had surrounded them, eager to see what the commotion was about.
“Alright, that’s enough. Stop crowding around here. Making lotus-leaf beggar’s chicken takes time. But don’t worry—by tomorrow, I’ll have it ready for sale. And not just that, I’ll be offering other kinds of food as well.”
At this, the students exchanged glances. Fitt and Kris both looked a little miserable upon hearing they had to wait a whole day.
“Can’t you make it faster?”
“Yeah! After tasting your chicken, we can’t go back to the cafeteria’s pig slop!”
“That’s right, the cafeteria food is disgusting!”
“Forget the cafeteria—even at home, I’ve never eaten anything that delicious.”
Fitt snorted disdainfully. “That’s nothing! Even in the royal palace, I’ve never tasted anything as divine as lotus-leaf beggar’s chicken!”
“Ah! If it’s that good, can’t you let us have it sooner? We’ll pay extra!”
“Yeah! Just name your price!”
“Money’s the one thing we’ve got plenty of!”
Merlin’s heart gave a sharp pang at their words. Such shiny, premium leeks… ripe for harvesting! But damn it, I just don’t have the strength to reap them yet.
He coughed lightly. “I know you’re all impatient, but don’t be. The beggar’s chicken I made yesterday was only a rushed version—it can’t compare at all to one properly marinated with spices. Good food needs time to settle. Rest assured, by tomorrow, I’ll definitely provide the real deal.”
As he spoke, he unfastened a certificate from the owl beside him, which was happily munching on frosted blueberries. Raising it high, he declared:
“Take a look, everyone! This is the purchasing permit I paid dearly to acquire from the Academy itself—an official license from the Beast Taming Institute! Give me one day, and tomorrow I guarantee you’ll all be eating lotus-leaf beggar’s chicken with a smile!”
The surrounding students immediately pressed closer, their faces filled with astonishment as they saw the certificate in Merlin’s hand.
A Beast Taming Institute purchasing permit wasn’t something just anyone could have. With it, one could buy contracted magical beasts from the institute—each one carefully tamed and incredibly precious. Whether for guarding estates or protecting young heirs, such beasts were invaluable.
And yet Merlin wanted to use such a rare permit… just to buy ordinary chickens?
Some students couldn’t help wondering how he had even gotten hold of it. Wasn’t the Leo family already bankrupt? What strings had he pulled? Was there some secret behind this?
“Merlin, could you use that permit to buy me a contracted beast instead? Nothing too strong—just a regular one. I’ll pay you.” A student from the Alchemy Department stepped forward with the request.
“Oh? You want a contracted beast?” Merlin blinked. “What for?”
The student scratched his head, embarrassed. “Well, the final exams are coming up. I haven’t attended a single combat class… I figured a beast could protect me.”
Final exams? Combat class? Merlin froze. Combat class? What combat class? Isn’t there only the Alchemy lecture?
Then, a wave of memory surged into his mind, and his expression darkened.
So that was it. At the Arcane Academy, aside from their chosen majors, all students had to attend a special course designed to raise their combat ability. In truth, this was the Academy’s main curriculum—no one could escape it.
But why had Merlin never heard of it, much less attended? Naturally, because while the course existed, it wasn’t mandatory to show up.
Most nobles never chose to attend. Only the direct heirs of noble houses—those aiming to inherit titles and make their mark—would endure the grueling lessons.
After all, why would pampered nobles need to fight for themselves? They had retainers for that. So the idle wastrels, the second and third sons with no claim to inheritance, and lone heirs like Merlin—none of them ever went.
The combat classes were exhausting, painful, and often dangerous. No pampered noble would willingly subject themselves to that.
But classes could be skipped. Exams could not. And failing them was unacceptable. Scores that fell too low could even get a student expelled from the Academy.
For the Academy’s goal was to train well-rounded mages. And with the great nations secretly preparing for war—though peace reigned on the surface—combat readiness was essential. The beast tribes on the steppes were already watching, waiting to invade at any moment.
The greatest threat to the Aize Continent , however, came from the otherworldly demon clans. The interdimensional rifts were still suppressed by the churches and imperial armies, so nothing catastrophic had happened yet. But the rifts were growing, and one day, the Continent would face all-out war with the Demon Realm.
That was why combat training was necessary.
Merlin, thinking of his meager magical ability and abysmal combat skills, felt his head spin. This combat course I’ve never even attended once… my level is disastrous. A walking calamity.