"Scroll Dragon from afar, what is your name?" Muria asked, looking at the calm dragon before him.
"Helmut Gutierrez."
"Are you interested in being a teacher at the academy?" Muria cut straight to the point. He had already inquired and learned that after touring the Dragon Academy, this dragon spent most of his time giving lectures. Clearly, this was a Scroll Dragon eager to teach.
"Yes!" The composed Scroll Dragon was momentarily taken aback by Muria's directness, but he quickly recovered and nodded earnestly. "I'm interested!"
"Good. From now on, you are the professor of enchantments at the Dragon Academy." Muria raised his hand and drafted a contract on a crystal slate, which he placed in front of the Scroll Dragon.
"You're so sure I'll sign this contract?"
"Of course. Your previous actions made it clear you want to teach at our academy."
"But is that why you're offering me a monthly salary of only ten elemental crystals?" Helmut Gutierrez glanced at the contract.
"Do you find it too low?"
"From what I know, ancient dragons serving as professors here earn one hundred elemental crystals a month. So why are you offering me only one-tenth of that? Do you think I'm worth only a tenth of what they are?"
"Of course not. As a Scroll Dragon, I'm certain your knowledge far exceeds that of ordinary ancient dragons. I would be thrilled to have you as a teacher at our academy. While I don't know you well personally, I do understand your kind. You are dragons who thirst for knowledge, which is why I've reduced your salary for a very reasonable reason."
"What reason?" Helmut stared at Muria, who was trying to exploit him.
"I can share some advance news with you: the academy's library will soon expand, and its collection will exceed one billion volumes."
"Where will you get so many books?"
"Recently, five Dragon Kings promised to donate part of their personal collections to the academy. So don't doubt my words. Because our library will suddenly receive an influx of books, many of which are not suitable for young dragons, I plan to implement a tiered access system.
"Generally, the library will be divided into twelve levels based on the twelve dragon age groups. However, because dragons differ greatly, an additional level will be added on top of these twelve.
"Most dragon students will only have access up to level six. Ancient dragon professors will have access to level ten. But since you are an ancient Scroll Dragon, I'll grant you level eleven access. And because you are a dragon driven by an intense thirst for knowledge and have voluntarily stayed to teach, I've decided to raise your access level by one more. You will have level twelve access, second only to me. However, in exchange, your monthly salary will be reduced. Do you have any other questions?"
"Yes."
"What is it?"
"If I forgo all compensation, can I gain access to the entire library?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"That's one of my privileges as headmaster. Only I can have level thirteen access. No other dragon qualifies."
"What's the difference between level twelve and level thirteen?"
"I haven't decided yet. But there will be a difference. For example, as someone with level thirteen access, I can decide which books you, with level twelve access, are allowed to read."
"What if I refuse to sign this contract?"
"If you don't become a teacher, you're too old to be a student, so you'd be considered an outsider. You'd have to leave immediately and not disrupt the normal educational order. If you refuse, I won't hesitate to use force."
Muria eyed the scholarly Scroll Dragon across from him. He had to be thrifty. Although he had already paid off his loans to the Deep Blue Merchant Guild, he was still struggling financially, largely because he was equipping the five million giants under his command. Just outfitting them was a massive money pit.
"So, this is the deal. Will you sign or not? If not, please leave."
"I'll sign." Helmut gritted his teeth.
Muria smiled as he watched the Scroll Dragon sign the contract with a look of indignation. He extended his hand. "Welcome to the Dragon Academy."
"Yeah." Helmut reluctantly shook Muria's hand. "By the way, is the academy still looking for more teachers?"
"Of course. The academy will continue to expand. In the future, there will be more and more dragon students, so we'll naturally need more teachers."
"I have some acquaintances among Scroll Dragons..."
"Invite them! I won't mind having more," Muria said grandly.
"Understood. And about their compensation?"
"Same as yours—ten elemental crystals per month, plus an additional access level beyond what their strength would normally warrant." Muria smiled.
"You're like those human merchants who'll do anything for profit," Helmut muttered.
"Ahem, I'm just trying to control costs. After all, these salaries mean little to you dragons. They're more like collectibles than anything else."
"Fine, I'll go invite my friends."
"Of course." Muria watched the Scroll Dragon leave, his expression amused. "Such a dutiful descendant, already thinking ahead for his ancestor."
Muria had long sensed the Scroll Dragon's true identity—he wasn't just any ordinary Scroll Dragon, but a direct descendant of a Dragon King. Clearly, his ancestor wasn't currently in the world, which was why he hadn't participated in the alliance of the three great races.
But this descendant knew, and he had rushed to the Dragon Academy. Seeing that the other five Dragon Kings intended to involve themselves in the academy, he took a proactive step on his ancestor's behalf.
"The influence of a sixth Dragon King, how interesting," Muria mused. "It seems the academy will become very lively in the future. But if anyone dares disrupt the teaching order, I won't hesitate to act. I don't care if they're Dragon King descendants. No one is stronger than me."
...
"Let's begin our mourning society's activity. Feel free to start cursing," said young silver dragon Luffy, standing solemnly in a dark chamber. She had grown from a hatchling into a juvenile dragon. Her size had tripled since she first enrolled, and her power had increased more than thirtyfold.
Under the guidance of ancient dragons, her strength had surpassed that of ordinary dragons her age. However, her magical talents had become somewhat skewed. Though she should have been proficient in cold-related spells, a serendipitous event in the library during her youth had led her to specialize in curses instead.
Not only that, but after becoming a senior dragon, Luffy had founded a club called the "Mourners," centered on learning and practicing curses.
However, such a club naturally wasn't very popular in the Dragon Academy. For a long time, Luffy had been its sole member, which was quite pitiful.
But after a casual chat with the spirit of the Mourner's Book, Luffy had learned something important. With a bold idea in mind, she put it into action. Afterward, the number of dragons joining the Mourners skyrocketed, bringing the club to its current size.
With Luffy's command, the dragons in the dark chamber began their daily curse practice. Their target? A statue on the wall, which was the very reason they had all joined the Mourners.
"He gives us so much homework every day. I stay up until midnight finishing it! I curse his hand to cramp!"
"Constant meditation! I want to sleep! I curse him to choke on cold water!"
"So many classes every day, and only three days off per month! I curse him to trip when he walks!"
Hearing the strong resentment from the senior dragons around them, a few newly joined hatchlings huddled together, trembling.
"Wow, no wonder this club is infamous at the academy. They're actually cursing the headmaster," one hatchling whispered in awe, staring at the statue before them.
"Aren't they afraid the headmaster will find out and punish them?"
"Are you stupid? This club has grown to this size. If the ancient dragon professors didn't know, that'd be a joke. And if they know, then the headmaster definitely knows."
"Then why does this club still exist?"
"Listen to what they're cursing him with!"
A small brass dragon listened closely to the curses being muttered around him. He was speechless. What kind of curses were these? Choking while eating, tripping while walking, choking on water... all harmless little curses.
"They're a bunch of cowards."
"But they're still actually cursing him!" Although it sounded like casual complaints, the dragons were truly casting spells. A dark, ominous light rose as each dragon muttered their curses. And despite the playful tone, every curse was successfully cast.
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