I Became the Academy’s Weakest Strategist

Hans Gorpin, the eldest son of the Viscount Gorpin family.
He was able to enter Montegro Academy through his father’s connections, the head of the Viscount Gorpin family.
The Viscount Gorpin family, located on the outskirts of the imperial capital, was known as a long-standing fixture of the capital despite lacking any territory, sustaining their presence through their unique political maneuvering.
Hans’s father, a fixture of the capital, despite holding the relatively low rank of viscount among nobles, maintained close relationships with higher-ranking nobles in the capital and was a member of the powerful aristocratic cliques residing there.
They were counts, barons, viscounts.
Comprised of nobles who had long resided in the capital regardless of rank, they banded together for mutual convenience and self-interest.
Due to these characteristics, the nobles residing in the capital.
These powerful aristocratic cliques looked down on noble families outside the capital and showed the heights of corruption by sticking tightly together.
In such an environment, Hans had been mingling with the children of capital nobles since childhood, becoming steeped in the ideology of these powerful cliques.
The delusion that they, living in the capital, were superior.
The delusion that even a duke from outside the capital couldn’t treat them carelessly.
Such delusions accumulated to shape the Hans of today.
Taller than his peers, sturdy muscles gained without particular effort.
Without any special effort, Hans was able to stay a step ahead of his peers by utilizing his physique.
Swordsmanship?
There was no need to hone techniques when brute force could overwhelm opponents.
Honor?
As a noble living in the capital, he was the very embodiment of honor; old-fashioned notions of honor had long been forgotten.
Thus, Hans behaved arrogantly within the academy alongside his friends from the capital.
Even professors were wary of him, and his peers gradually began avoiding him.
This only made him more conceited.
Despite his poor conduct, he could get good grades just by attending practical classes, and thanks to the backgrounds of his friends, he received no interference from anyone.
If someone caught his eye, he would use his fists and intimidation.
The confidence that allowed him to continue such behavior came from his father.
“I told you to stop.”
“Don’t tell me you’re scared of those remedial class losers?”
“That’s not it, but…”
Today, Hans Gorpin found himself in a very awkward situation.
The reins of this reckless, unrestrained colt had been pulled tight just recently.
While trying to teach an arrogant brat a lesson, he was beaten to a pulp by Senior Edinburar Rose, the idol of the knight faculty.
Since then, Hans hadn’t encountered Rommel even once.
If he retaliated and word got back to Senior Rose, he would have to duel that terrifying Senior Rose in the practice arena.
Having heard rumors about Rose, Hans wanted to avoid a duel with her at all costs.
He didn’t want to be beaten to a pulp again.
His pride as a top-ranking first-year wouldn’t allow it.
He had to remain a predator at all costs.
To maintain the pride of a lion, Hans had promised not to mess with Rommel.
Of course, seeing that arrogant face made him want to beat him to a pulp, but he had managed to hold back.
But today, on his way to knight faculty classes, he encountered him.
It was unfortunate, but what could he do?
He should just pass by quietly.
He did mutter a curse or two as it was too irritating to simply walk by, but he didn’t expect it to escalate like this.
So he tried to stop his friend from approaching him, but.
“Get a grip, Hans. You’re a noble of the great capital.”
“..I know that.”
“Do you think it makes sense for a noble of the great capital to be scared of some provincial noble? We need to show our dignity.”
The guy was already wearing a mischievous smile.
The confidence and sense of superiority that they were better than others was already controlling their bodies.
Hans sensed that he could no longer stop this situation.
“Look at this bastard’s eyes, so damn arrogant.”
“Hey hey, that’s how remedial class kids are. Losers who cling to their pride despite having no skill.”
‘Shit… we’re fucked…’
As Rommel’s expression began to change ominously, Hans instinctively sensed that they were in deep trouble.

Have you ever encountered local thugs while walking down the street?
In my case, I had the experience of being extorted for money while playing games at the local arcade.
During elementary school, when I was naive and my weekly allowance was just 1,000 won.
I had put in my precious 200 won and was playing a game when high school boys swarmed in and extorted my remaining 800 won.
After that, I vowed never to submit to injustice again.
I decided that even if I faced a similar situation of being extorted, I would stand and fight.
Of course, that resolve was shattered mercilessly during my graduate school years, but that’s beside the point.
While Hans was sweating nervously, his double chin wobbling.
The two guys beside Hans approached Louis and me, spewing all sorts of things.
As they continued to hurl insults, I began to respond to their words, imagining myself as that young boy from back then.
“Such an arrogant provincial noble.”
“The training grounds are starting to stink just from a remedial class kid entering.”
“That’s your own stench, you know.”
Birds of a feather flock together, indeed. That Hans guy.
He was hanging out with guys who had the exact same mindset as him.
Capital nobles, the so-called powerful aristocratic cliques.
A pathetic power group that believed they were the center of the world and looked down on provincial nobles.
Though insignificant as individuals, they walked around with their chests puffed out because they were united in numbers.
They were one of the many harmful elements plaguing the empire.
Just as one must apply pesticide to eliminate bugs before they kill a tree.
Today, I will correct their behavior.
“Hahaha! Do you know who we are to be acting like this?”
“How could a mere provincial noble look down on us? We, with our great magnanimity, should understand.”
“That’s right, that’s right!”
Well, well.
Now they’re playing their own tune, patting each other on the back.
“I will formally protest this!”
At that moment, Louis, who had been behind me, rushed forward.
He raised his finger and shouted at the two guys.
This was only possible because Louis also had an extraordinary personality.
Seeing him fearlessly confronting men with swords at their waists and muscular bodies, it was clear that Louis was also born a merchant.
“Protest?”
“He says he’ll protest, hey. The remedial class trash says they’ll protest? What do you think?”
“I bet they’ll be stopped at the knight faculty office, no, at the entrance.”
“Is that so?”
“You…!”
I put my hand on Louis’s shoulder as he trembled with clenched fists.
“Sir Rommel…?”
Louis turned his head to look up at me.
He was so upset that tears were welling up in his eyes.
I pulled Louis back and slowly stepped forward towards those guys.
Respect for people should only be given to people.
For animals that run their mouths so carelessly, one must show respect befitting their nature.
“You bunch of cockroaches, swarming together.”
So, I decided to say what they hated hearing the most.
If you hurt others, you should be prepared to be hurt in return.
That’s the law of the world and karma.
And my provocation…
“What did you say?”
Effectively got under their skin.
“Seems your ears are clogged. I said it’s pitiful to see cockroaches who only know how to swarm together acting like they own the world.”
“You crazy bastard!”
“You’re calling us cockroaches?”
These guys.
As individuals, they were really nothing special.
It was only because they swarmed together like cockroaches that they were a bit troublesome to deal with.
They were the type who couldn’t do anything in the face of real power.
In fact, didn’t Hans himself cower before the name of Edinburar?
Nobles who banded together to survive and enjoy a bit more power.
I was calling them cockroaches.
Because they really were cockroaches.
“That’s right, those who band together for their own benefit and bully the weak just because they’re a bit stronger are cockroaches. What else would they be?”
Grab.
“Say that again. We’re cockroaches?”
Finally losing his temper, one of them grabbed my collar.
Unable to remember the insults they had thrown, only thinking of the offense they received – these were real idiots.
They were the typical selfish type who enjoyed bullying others but couldn’t stand being bullied themselves.
But why is your repertoire always the same?
Just like Hans before, when they get excited, they always go for the collar first.
No different from street thugs.
“Ah, sorry. Comparing you to cockroaches was a bit much. I apologize, cockroaches.”
“You son of a bitch!”
“Let’s kill him!”
“Hey, you crazy bastards! Stop…”
Ah, déjà vu.
Watching the guy who had lost his cool raise his fist, I let out a sardonic smile.
Knowing what was about to happen, I couldn’t hide my smile of joy.
Belatedly, Hans tried to stop these guys, but there was no way to stop the raised fist.
Thwack!!
My vision blurs.
As the impact that traveled across my cheek reaches my brain, my brain loses its function and starts spinning.
And the pain slowly starts to register.
“Sir Rommel!!!”
The metallic taste of blood is felt in my mouth, and Louis’s scream is faintly heard.
Thud.
And my body starts to fall.
A hard sensation is felt on my back, and I start to see the faces of those guys smiling down at me.
I’ve just been hit by one of them.
And that too, inside Montegro Academy.
“Puhah.”
Laughter bursts out.
These guys had done what even Hans couldn’t do.
A knight faculty student bullied and assaulted a weaker remedial class student.
What would happen if I reported this incident to Professor Anderze?
When a knight faculty student is involved in a violent incident, it’s a minimum of suspension, maximum expulsion.
And beyond that.

A strong person bullying and assaulting a weaker one?
That’s at least a month’s suspension.
As I imagined the future awaiting these guys, a smile naturally started to bloom on my face.
Your lives are ruined, you bastards.
Life is the real deal, you idiots.