"Move it! You lot, don't you dare slack off! Keep those hands moving!"
"Y-Yes, sir..."
"I can't hear you! Do I need to give you a little motivation?! Huh!?"
"Y-Yes!! We’ll work with everything we’ve got!"
"...Just what in the world is happening here?"
Professor Castle, having come to the Fifth Dormitory after receiving reports from Marcos and the others about yesterday's disturbance, stood frozen in bewilderment at the scene unfolding before him.
Jima, the notorious problem child, and the rest of the Fifth Dormitory students were clutching brooms and rags, scrubbing the dormitory's interior with desperate intensity. While the sight of a clean dorm was gratifying, it was undeniably surreal.
More than anything, Professor Castle found the sight of Hugo—standing there with his arms crossed while equipped in his Blaster, barking orders to ensure no one loafed around—to be the most bizarre part of all. Upon noticing the teacher's arrival, Hugo deactivated his Blaster and bowed deeply in greeting.
"Good morning, Professor Castle! You lot! The professor is here—greet him properly!"
"Good morning, sir!!"
"Right, yes... Don't mind me. Please, carry on with your work."
The greeting from the dormitory students was so thunderous it made the walls of the Fifth Dormitory—which were hardly known for their soundproofing—vibrate. Professor Castle wore a look of utter confusion.
As the students returned to their cleaning, he turned to Hugo, the one directing this operation, and asked how things had come to this.
"Hugo Clay, what is the meaning of this? I came to check on the situation after hearing from Borg and the others that you were the victim of a Magic Item theft, but..."
"Yes, well, one thing led to another, and this was the result. I've whipped them all into shape for now, so they won't be doing anything as stupid as stealing someone's Magic Item ever again. Or rather, I won't let them."
"I-I see... I see."
Castle didn't know the full details, but he gathered enough to understand that Hugo had been furious and had somehow ascended to the top of the Fifth Dormitory's hierarchy.
Still, he was baffled as to how Hugo had managed to bring the Fifth Dormitory—a place infamous for its high concentration of delinquent students—under his complete control in a single day. Sensing his confusion, Hugo spoke up.
"Professor, you said you came here because you heard I was the victim of a theft, right? Did you come to conduct a formal inquiry?"
"Y-Yes... It is the responsibility of the faculty to assess the situation and deliver appropriate punishment to any student who breaks the rules. The theft of a Magic Item, which is essentially the lifeblood of a Magic Knight, is a very grave matter. Depending on the specifics, I was prepared to consider expulsion, but..."
"Regarding that, could you leave this matter to me? Don't worry, I won't go overboard or do anything untoward."
"Hm, hmmm...?"
To be honest, looking at the battered state of Jima after his discipline at the training grounds, Professor Castle couldn't shake the feeling that Hugo had already gone a bit overboard.
However, Hugo continued to explain his reasoning to the bewildered teacher.
"If we just expel a guy whose heart is so rotten that he’d steal a Magic Item and then mock it, he’ll just end up holding a grudge. Eventually, he’ll turn into a Magic Armor Beast and come back to attack the academy. I've seen that exact pattern play out way too many times."
"U-Uh? Pattern...?"
"Even if that doesn't happen, leaving someone with a personality like his unchecked would only lead to a massive disaster that would tarnish the academy's reputation. To prevent that, I’m going to thoroughly beat some sense into his soul and reform him. And I’m going to make sure Jima’s former lackeys in the Fifth Dormitory get the same treatment."
"I-I see..."
Professor Castle finally understood the reasoning behind the boy’s supervision and the Beautification Activities, and he found himself tentatively accepting Hugo's methods.
Though his confusion lingered, he decided that there was some truth to what the boy said. After giving a firm nod, Professor Castle addressed him.
"Understood. You are the primary victim of this incident. If you are asking to handle the matter yourself, I shall allow it and simply watch over the progress. Fortunately, you aren't imposing any cruel or unusual punishments... and your guidance seems to fall well within the bounds of common sense."
"Thank you very much! I'll work with all my heart to make sure I don't let you down, Professor! ...Alright, you lot! You heard the professor! Keep those hands moving! Once the dorm is spotless, we’re moving to the outside! After that, we’re weeding the flowerbeds and tending to the flowers! When that’s finished, it’ll be time for a lecture on the Hero's Heart! I’m going to forge the 'Spirit' part, the most vital aspect of Spirit, Technique, and Body, so you better be ready!!"
"Hieee!!"
As Jima, Avad, and the others cried out in despair at Hugo’s words, Professor Castle felt himself getting swept away by the dizzying pace of events.
Yesterday, when he had informed Hugo of his assignment to the Fifth Dormitory, he never could have imagined it would end up like this. However, he decided to trust the outcome, concluding that things were moving in a positive direction.
Sometimes, a student can teach their peers far more effectively than any teacher can... Perhaps this was one of those times.
Though he realized it wasn't quite that simple, Professor Castle chose to place his Trust in Hugo. He stood by the boy, watching over the Fifth Dormitory students as they threw themselves into their Beautification Activities, all while mentally preparing for any surprises that might follow.
Hugo Clay... on his Second Day in the Dormitory, he was officially recognized by the faculty as the Fifth Dormitory Supervisor.
Having demonstrated his overwhelming might, he now stood at the pinnacle of the Fifth Dormitory in every sense of the word. (Though, to the students who didn't know the full story, it simply appeared that the "scum" was on another violent rampage.)