The Demon Saint is Missing, so I Ran to Another World

No Free Lunch (Part 1)

***The office of the Lord Head Scholar of the Conclave***

"You say that these tests were answered by the Special Scholar in a short time?" the Discipline Prefect, Lord Scholar Gracchio, couldn't believe the story of Lady Scholar Irene Capaldi. While he acknowledged that the Special Scholar was an 'intelligent human', he believed that the probability of finding someone capable of answering two 150-item test questionnaires meant for juniors within the first 'line' of the test candle was impossible.

And, as far as the Lord Scholar Gracchio was also concerned, the only 'ultimate' genius in their recorded history is the hero Cassandra David. The only human he looked up to; who founded the educational institution they were benefitting from nowadays, and the subject of innumerable researches and biographies from scholars of old and new.

Even her—according to the chronicles—took some time to finish a Math test of that level.

Yet...

"Are you sure you're not playing tricks on us, Scholar Capaldi?" he asked, noting the 'test candle' she used in timing the Special Scholar. It was barely exhausted—one could easily pass it off as new, if not for the partially-burnt wick and the missing lower half, cut by the Special Scholar himself.

"Why would I do that?" the Lady Scholar Capaldi was incensed, throwing the answer sheets before the Discipline Prefect. "Are you accusing me of tampering evidences? Why don't you check those papers yourself?"

"No...but this is..." the Lord Scholar Gracchio re-examined the answers of the Special Scholar, just to make sure that their machine wasn't in error. And no matter how much he tried to find other reasons for the feat, he couldn't deny the truth that their newest faculty member finished those tests with perfect scores.

"Scholar Capaldi's words are true," the Lord Head Scholar, Emile Biorno, finally decided to intervene. "Please stop your doubts, Lord Scholar Gracchio."

"But, that human..." Lord Gracchio was shaking his head in disbelief, "...he looks so unassuming! He didn't even appear to be a 'true scholar'!"

"Looks never mattered in education, Lord Scholar. What's important is that you have this," Emile Biorno replied, pointing to his temple. "And, based from the observations of the other teachers and students, the Special Scholar teaches in an 'unorthodox', yet effective and entertaining way...something that we haven't thought possible before!"

"And the students love him for it," Lady Scholar Capaldi added. "See, I was curious of how he conducts classes, too, after hearing the rumors among the students. I did my own observation of his teaching style, and I'd say...while most of our fellow scholars would find it strange—even the possibility of hating it—I can't deny that the Special Scholar's techniques are helpful in retaining information from his lectures."

"Can you give us an example, Lady Scholar?"

"Well, one of the things I remember from his class is that, he claimed that the Lady Cassandra David is a mix of an introvert and extrovert person. The Special Scholar explained this with jokes and personal reminisces, and while we enjoyed his lecture, we're unaware that his information had already sunk in our heads. What I'm saying is that, whenever I see your magnificent beard after his class, Lord Scholar Gracchio, I can't help but remember that story about our revered hero playing stupid jokes by wearing fake mustaches."

"Oh...that's an unknown facet of our hero's personality!" the Lord Head Scholar quipped. "I must write it down!"

"So..." the Lord Scholar Gracchio had difficulty in saying what he had in mind. "You're meaning to say that he is a better teacher than the rest of us combined, Lady Scholar?"