49 Teaching 24/7!

That day, there was a change to the Hellrand sky… 

A certain star high up twinkled a little differently than usual. Had the Magister's star been human, it would have definitely been chuckling even. 

The Human had finally accepted its gift wholeheartedly… 

[Ding! New Mission: Bless the Classroom!]

[Teach for 24 Hours Straight! Good luck!] 

All the human had to do was Teach 24 hours in that one classroom, and he would gain access to its power. Yet, the star wasn't worried one bit, for teaching in that classroom wasn't so simple. 

He would fail, just like all the others before him. As soon as he did, the "Teacher System" would uninstall, and all this sweet power would come back to it. It really couldn't wait! 

Meanwhile, downstairs… 

"Teach for 24 hours, eh? Bring it on!" Gray was ready!

Still, this sure was BRUTAL! What kind of lesson from hell would that be?! Heck, even listening to a 24-hour lesson would be draining, much less giving it! But so what?! 

"Students! Gather in our new Classroom! It. Is. Time! Today, I'll teach you how to scheme like true masterminds! It goes like this…"

[Ding! 23:59 Left to Mission's End!] 

The counter had already started! As for what Gray chose to teach? Well, he was actually having… a strategy meeting?! 

"Listen up. The first rule of planning is efficiency. Let us take a random example: the hypothetical situation of a very handsome Teacher preparing for the Academy's Welcome Ceremony…" 

Pfft— Hypothetical? There was nothing hypothetical about it: he was totally describing himself! But as if that wasn't enough, his tone was also weird, extremely magistral! 

Any Action → It changed to him "teaching" something instead, and the more it went on, the more perplexed his students became. 

"T-Teacher Gale, why are you talking like that? So weird!" 

"I'll ONLY be teaching for the next 24 hours!" 

"B-But why?! Can't we just—"

"A Teacher teaches…" 

That was the only comment he made, and then he resumed as if nothing was out of the ordinary. Thus, in a VERY roundabout way, he told them they'd have to train the next day. 

At first, they were excited, but when Fatty Zhang learned of the training locations… 

"T-Teacher, you can't! This isn't training but downright torture!" 

"Perhaps, but if it isn't torture, then is it really training?" 

"….I-I understand, Teacher." 

But handsome hypothetical Gale was far from done! Afterward, he made sure that his students all had Daphne's name list, as he explained in detail. 

"Now, remember today's lesson? It's about efficiency! Ever heard of killing ten birds with one stone? Now, let's see how it's possible here…" 

Training? Carefully chosen by their Teacher!

Recruiting? They would do it even while training!

As for teaching? He'd keep doing it even remotely via Badge! 

Training X Recruiting X Teaching? All would be done at once! 

"That concludes our small lesson on efficiency. Now, let's talk about loyalty. Say you have bunnies that were lost in the forest, but you were busy teaching. What would you do?" 

"I know, Teacher! I'd hypothetically send a student to retrieve them, perhaps one very fat so he could hide them in his clothes!" 

"Y-You too?! Can't you just directly ask me to go?!" 

It didn't take long for Zhang to leave for his new quest, Gray and Lizzy remaining behind. Her vivacious eyes were already burning with curiosity. What was up with her teacher?! 

Yet, no matter what it was, she believed in him. He seemed to have a clear goal. Perhaps this was some crazy teacher-only Mana Gathering method?! 

In fact, he did look in a trance, only one thing on his mind. 

Teaching

Teaching

Teaching

Teaching

Teaching

He wouldn't stop no matter what. After all, he could already see the glowing Teaching System beckoning him. All he had to do was hold on! 

[Ding! 22:47 Left to Mission's End!] 

He kept teaching as Zhang returned with the bunnies, the little critters happily jumping around him. Somehow, he even got them to settle down and listen to the lesson. 

[Ding! 20:35 Left to Mission's End!] 

He kept teaching even as Teacher Mei showed up, followed by an aggrieved BLT trio.

The whole "kidnapping" incident? He explained it as tough love, Teacher Gale having asked him to motivate his lazy students, even from jail. 

Gray's face? → Still bandaged and hidden

Teacher Gale? → Renown for giving orders from jail

Lizzy and Zhang? → Nodding by the side, inspiring confidence

"I-I see… I guess that makes sense. Still, do you even have the qualifications to teach in the first place? Who are you even?" Teacher Mei suspiciously asked. 

"Anyone can teach, from the most powerful of kings to the humblest of farmers. It's only when one thinks otherwise that they become complacent. Remember this…" 

He was even lecturing Teacher Mei?! With this, he actually got them to sit by the bunnies, the fluffy creatures almost giving them a heart attack! — Not that Gray cared.

[Ding! 17:12 Left to Mission's End!] 

He kept teaching even as Zhang's not-yet-girlfriend barged in, making a fuss about Ajax being wanted for kidnapping and being on the run!

Teacher Mei just couldn't believe her ears. 

"Ajax?! It can't be! What happened?! He's such a sweet boy too…" 

Gray kept teaching even as he organized for his class to rescue their colleague. For that one, he used so many damn "hypotheticals" that it became ridiculous! 

[Ding! 15:07 Left to Mission's End!] 

He kept teaching as silence returned, only the bunnies and Teddy left. The latter was already falling asleep, escaping the forest having taken a huge toll on its body and spirit. 

Even as the bear started snoring loudly, Gray kept going… 

[Ding! 13:03 Left to Mission's End!] 

He kept teaching even as IT happened. Out of nowhere, scholar-like ghosts appeared all over the goddamn place. Where the hell had they even come from?! 

But seeing this, Gray instantly realized what was happening. 

'It's this damn System! No way this classroom's haunted, we literally just built it. No, it's all a trick to get me to fail. But since they all seem like powerful scholars, let's switch it up a bit.'

First, he figured out their goals. As far as he could guess, they were: 

1. Find fallacies in his words

2. Encourage students to leave 

3. Overall, ruin his lecture entirely

Then, he grinned as he changed his lesson style completely.

They had chosen the wrong teacher to mess with...