Apocalypse Forecast

Chapter 598: Chapter 498 Lesson 1_2

It seemed that the Ivory Tower had refurbished and adjusted every single classroom—certain courses taught here in Alchemy could easily lead to devastating explosions. If one were not careful, the entire school would have probably gone sky-high by now.

But one must realize that this was just a temporary classroom.

Just a few days ago, Huai Shi had casually picked a spot on the form, and a week later, he would probably rotate to another classroom. That so much effort and resources had been invested within a mere week made Huai Shi marvel at the Ivory Tower’s considerable wealth.

The interior was spotless, requiring no cleaning from Huai Shi. Not a scrap of paper lay on the floor, let alone the anticipated cobwebs. He had even thought they might deliberately make things difficult by not fully equipping the room with tables and chairs, but contrary to his expectations, it was perfectly furnished.

But this didn’t frighten him.

What nearly made him leap up was the sight of a swarming crowd in the silent classroom.

Everywhere he looked, almost every spot was already occupied. Even the pathways between desks and chairs and the back of the classroom—all available spaces were essentially taken.

Before Huai Shi arrived, everyone had been orderly, with no fighting or arguing.

But once Huai Shi pushed open the door, those pairs of long-waiting eyes suddenly lit up, startling him so much he almost leaped up himself.

”What the hell?”

He gaped at the excessively large number of people in the classroom, stunned. ”Why are there so many people?”

Filling up this large, tiered classroom, by any account, there had to be at least three to four hundred people. If not for the sign on the door indicating ’Classical Music Appreciation’ as the subject, Huai Shi would have thought he had entered the wrong room.

”Uh...”

Huai Shi hesitated for a long moment. ”Have you guys gotten the wrong classroom? The law class is across the hall, and electrical engineering is next door—”

The students below were also perplexed, not understanding why the teacher, having just stepped onto the stage, was already trying to send them away.

It didn’t take long for Lin Nineteen to understand the situation from the students’ perspective. He then led a group up to the stage.

”Good day, Teacher Huai Shi.”

The seemingly delicate and gentle boy in the front bowed respectfully and handed over a form. ”This is our Ivory Tower Orchestra’s application—Teacher Lee reminded us before he left that we could approach you about becoming the new term’s guidance teacher. We hope you don’t mind us taking the initiative.”

Teacher Lee?

Huai Shi paused for a moment before realizing they were referring to the Disastrous Musician, the master pianist Robin Lee, who had descended to Hell for inspiration before his own arrival.

He hadn’t expected Lee to leave him such a parting gift before his departure?

Looking at the densely packed classroom, Huai Shi began to understand. ”Are all these people yours?”

”No, in fact, there are only sixty main members in our orchestra, all seated over there,” the flutist named Samuel pointed to the first two rows in front.

”And the rest?” asked Huai Shi.

”I know about the rest. Many are Professor Anton’s students, and quite a few, like me, came from Teacher Andrea’s Thermodynamics Classroom,” reported Samuel the flutist. ”We were surprised when we got here too, so we asked around. Many heard about it through promotions among the Dongxia Genealogy Societies. Of course, many also learned of it during the opening ceremony when the headmaster made a recommendation. I heard that for the next few classes, members of your fan club want to participate as well—”

Huai Shi didn’t catch the rest of the words.

Staring blankly at the overcrowded classroom, he suddenly felt an unrealistic sense of absurdity. It wasn’t that he doubted the reality before him, but... his previous worries and doubts now seemed somewhat laughable.

He and Lin Nineteen, who had approached him with a full range of strategies not long ago, exchanged glances. They couldn’t help but smile, thinking their prior preparations had been an overreaction.

How could he not understand by now? He wasn’t just an Inspector from the Astronomical Society, nor merely a new teacher.

There was not only the trust placed in him by Professor Anton and Teacher Andrea, but also the expectations of the Ivory Tower Orchestra for Huai Shi, the natural goodwill from the Dongxia Genealogy, and even the terrifying appeal of his identity as the Disastrous Musician—

Along the way, unknowingly, he was no longer the youth who had to face everything alone.

The popularity before him was an undeniable testament.

His abilities, talent, and achievements had been noticed by many and had earned the recognition of numerous students.

By now, a steady stream of new students was still entering through the back door of the classroom.

And there were still more than twenty minutes left until class officially began.

This was only the first class of the new semester.

Since so many people had such confidence in him, what did he have left to worry about?

His only fear now was that his own talent might be insufficient, that he might fail to fulfill his responsibility as a teacher.

With this in mind, he patted Samuel’s shoulder and, after thanking the students for their support, unfolded a folding stool, sat down in front of the lectern, and took his teaching plan out of his bag to place it on the stand.

When he looked up and surveyed the students, any unease or bewilderment in his heart vanished. He smiled confidently at these young faces, whom he might see often in the future.

”Thank you for waiting so long. Before class officially starts, how about we chat for a little bit?”

Leaning back in his chair, he said to the students below, ”I had originally planned, if nobody came to this class, to go out and grab a few students to talk to them about the history of classical music, its development, specific stages, and classifications. But since so many of you are here today, could those with a background in music please raise your hand?”

Excitement suddenly buzzed through the classroom.

However, fewer than a third raised their hands. The majority were clearly just there for the spectacle.

”Not too many.”

Huai Shi glanced at the time. ”We still have about twenty minutes until class officially starts. I’ll do my best to make you all fall in love with classical music before then.”

He waved his hand, and a heavy cello emerged from the Bracelet. Source Substance condensed, forming a bow that extended from his fingertips.

He casually drew a few clear notes from the strings.

The simple four or five notes spread out. Strangely, they caused the classroom’s faint murmurs and low hubbub to dissipate, and tranquility returned.

Huai Shi tilted his head to recall the score and couldn’t help but smile. ”Classical music is inseparable from Bach, and the same goes for its appreciation. As he will be one of your research subjects, I hope you’ll grow to like him in these next twenty minutes or so.”

Bach, Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major.

The timing was just right.

At the lectern, Huai Shi bowed his head.

In that instant, it was as if the gates of the Heavenly Kingdom had cracked open.

A miraculously merciful melody flowed from beneath the bow, its deep resonance echoing in everyone’s ears.

A profound serenity descended.

Even the sounds of breathing and heartbeats quickly faded away.

The tangible sound of the cello transformed into a babbling brook, immersing everyone in its gentle flow. Only the fluttering dust danced in the afternoon sunlight, like tiny stars blinking on and off.

Everything became so tranquil and gentle.

The occasional distant explosion, the restless voices and din from outside the window, even the young people rushing through the corridors—at this moment, all instinctively slowed their pace. Everything sank into a peaceful silence, immersed in melodies both light and deep, as time trickled by, moment by moment.

Until, with the gradual fading of the cello music, a bell rang in the distance.

Huai Shi finally lifted his head, lowered his bow, and gazed at the students, who, without realizing it, wore faint smiles on their faces.

Just like that, his class officially began.