The Adopted Princess Hopes to Escape the Genre - Chapter 34
With both hands, I slammed the desk.
Bang.
Hias stopped mid-sentence at the sound, his gaze snapping toward me.
“Sir, why are you suddenly trying to take me on as your disciple? I don’t know anything about calculus.”
A strange glint flickered in Hias’ eyes. Then, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world, he responded.
“You read the book title, didn’t you?”
“What does that have to do with anything?”
“You mean… you read it without even knowing what it meant?”
His face twisted in pure shock. His unexpected reaction left me blinking in confusion, my eyes darting about.
“This is absurd… I have to report this to the academy immediately…”
Muttering to himself, Hias began pacing back and forth, completely lost in his own world. Only after slapping his own cheek did he finally seem to come back to his senses, his eyes sparkling as he turned back to me.
“Lady, have you ever studied theology?”
“Theology?”
“Yes.”
‘Theology… is that something they teach at the temple?’
“No.”
“H-How is this possible? Were you simply born a genius?”
This was… the classic genius by breathing cliché…?
As I continued tilting my head in confusion, Hias finally began explaining why he was so shocked.
“You just read divine script, my lady.”
‘Why is divine script coming up here…!’
It seemed Hias wasn’t astonished because I recognized calculus, but rather because I had read a passage written in divine script.
“Of course, not just anyone can read it. Only geniuses like myself.”
Hias paused dramatically before pointing a finger at me. His gleaming eyes, paired with his exaggerated gesture, were beyond overwhelming.
“And geniuses like you, my lady! Among ordinary people, that is.”
At first, I had assumed he was the cold, self-absorbed type—someone with no regard for social etiquette, trapped in his own world of logic. But now, I was starting to see him for what he truly was: a hyperactive, eccentric oddball.
My expression grew increasingly indifferent. Though, admittedly, being called a genius made my shoulders rise a little, and my cheeks subtly twitch upwards.
Hias, completely oblivious to my reaction, continued his fervent explanation.
“They call it divine script because only those with divine power can read it. Typically, only someone at the level of a cardinal or higher can decipher it.”
“So, does that mean you possess divine power, sir?”
At my question, Hias shook his head.
“No. I simply couldn’t stand the thought of there being a language I couldn’t read, so I analyzed, deconstructed, and memorized every pattern of divine script.”
“T-That’s even possible?”
“It’s impossible. It’s just that I made it possible.”
He’s absolutely insane… Completely immersed in his “genius” persona.
As Hias marveled to himself in disbelief, his eyes suddenly narrowed.
“In that case, my lady, you must either have divine power equivalent to a cardinal or be a naturally gifted genius. Whether you’re a saint or a prodigy, either works for me.”
A saint? Why is that coming up all of a sudden…?
A 24-year-old university student drowning in assignments—now a saint in this world?
‘What kind of ridiculous plot twist is this?’
If I really had divine power, I would’ve noticed it by now. Or so I thought. But despite my skepticism, the corners of my lips lifted of their own accord, stretching into an unmistakable grin.
I was supposed to visit the temple in three days, right? Maybe I should talk to the duke and request a divine power assessment while I’m there.
If my possession buff turns me into a saint, that’s my ticket out of this whole “regretful family” genre. An adoptive daughter coincidentally revealed to be a saint? That’s the expressway straight into the “precious heroine” genre.
Even if I can’t escape the genre entirely, at the very least, I should be able to walk out of the duke’s estate.
‘And on top of that, an overpowered setting? I love it.’
As I grinned to myself, Hias’s voice echoed above me once more.
“My lady, have you already found teachers for your other subjects?”
“Yes. They’ve all been arranged.”
“I’ll handle those as well.”
“…I just told you, they’re already assigned.”
“I can teach anything that doesn’t require physical labor.”
Just listen for once…
“You really… don’t listen to people at all, do you….”
I uttered each word in a voice of complete resignation.
“My lady, I think it would be quite entertaining to take you as my disciple. I don’t know why, but something inside me is urging me to do so.”
“Have you considered seeking treatment at the temple? It sounds like you might be possessed by a demon.”
“Oh, could this be the prophecy or divine revelation I’ve only heard about?”
“……”
Hias, completely unaware of the nonsense coming out of his own mouth, suddenly lit up as if he had discovered something profound.
He even clasped his hands together in a prayerful gesture before taking it a step further.
“To be honest, I never really believed in the gods, but as of today, I think I might start.”
“…Isn’t that blasphemy?”
“Would the temple certify it if I inquired?”
“Do you think that would actually work?!”
