The Genius Professor Wants An Easy Life - Chapter 102
The Disaster of the Golden Spirit.
As the name suggests, it involved the Rapalt Ducal Family causing trouble at the Ruby Academy.
‘I tried to stay as hidden and quiet as possible.’
But the atmosphere suggested it was already too late.
Even more disconcerting was the veiled threat made by Duke Volman.
Thump.
He presented me with a heavy stack of papers.
“Take a look at these documents.”
“What are these?”
“The shareholding percentages of Ruby Academy.”
As I looked through the documents, my eyes widened.
The Rapalt Ducal Family owned over 50% of the shares.
‘When did this happen?’
In the original scenario, the Rapalt Ducal Family’s share in the academy was about 35%.
Even that made them the single largest shareholder, but it was difficult to say they had complete control of the academy. But over 50%?
‘They’ve essentially become the owners of Ruby Academy.’
A sinister smile appeared on Duke Volman’s lips.
“Remember, I have the authority to dismiss you right this moment.”
It was no bluff.
Owning over 50% meant he could make any decision regarding the academy at his discretion.
“Then, from now on, to me… .”
“I refuse.”
Duke Volman’s face hardened.
“Are you in your right mind? Do these documents appear false to you? Or, perhaps, you wish to leave Ruby Academy this instant?”
A chilling threat.
Yet, I shook my head again.
“Even so, I cannot comply with your request. I apologize.”
‘I have no choice.’
On the surface, it seemed like a not-so-bad offer.
I would gain a strong protector and generous support, more than anyone.
However,
‘If I join hands with Duke Volman now, we will fall together.’
The Disaster of the Golden Spirit is a double entendre.
The Rapalt Ducal Family faces a great disaster at the end of this episode.
‘The problem is that Duke Volman has gained the authority to dismiss me.’
The Disaster of the Golden Spirit is a long episode.
It’s so lengthy it includes several sub-episodes.
The disaster striking the Rapalt Ducal Family was to be at the climax of the episode, so there was still plenty of time left.
They could fire me numerous times over before then.
‘I must survive the blade of dismissal.’
There was only one way.
“Go ahead and try to dismiss me. If you wish the Rapalt Ducal Family to lose all the hard-earned influence in the academic world.”
“!!”
“The academy is a place for education and scholarship. Remember, it is not your kingdom above. Tyranny without justification will not prevail.”
Yes.
They might be able to fire me.
But what if they did it without a just cause?
They would be pointed at by everyone.
For the Rapalt Ducal Family, who wishes to have the academy under their control, that would be troublesome.
However, Duke Volman showed an unexpected reaction.
He burst into laughter.
“Haha! How amusing. For garbage like you. Are you confident?”
Duke Volman’s eyes gleamed coldly.
“Justification can be packaged as needed. Are you confident you won’t give even a slight reason for fault?”
Chills ran down my spine.
I realized I had made a mistake.
‘Any slight mistake I make, they’ll use it as a pretext to dismiss me.’
There’s an adage that nobody is without faults when shaken.
It’s not an easy task.
Especially when they are keenly looking for my mistakes.
I would have to be ‘the perfect professor’ to avoid the blade of dismissal.
‘Damn, why does he hate me so much? Can’t we just get along nicely?’
But who am I?
The former king of sales.
I racked my brain.
‘I may not be on your side, but I’m not your enemy either; I need to soften his heart with this approach.’
Fortunately, there is still a chance. I haven’t crossed an irreversible line yet.
But then,
“Tsk. Why are you being so stubborn? That’s why you only end up with baseless, poor students.”
I stood frozen.
“…What do you mean by that?”
“Are not all the students you’re mentoring from humble beginnings? Though they are not the Third Imperial Prince or the offspring of the Northern Sea Margrave, they, too, have their flaws.”
It’s not a provocation.
He truly believes it.
And it’s not entirely incorrect.
‘After all, they all came from lowly origins. Catherine, Yulia included.’
Even the Third Imperial Prince was of mixed birth, quietly scorned by some.
‘It’s less about malice and more that Duke Volman inherently looks down on those of humble beginnings.’
It’s akin to the inferiority complex of a social climber.
Having been disdained himself, he’s even more disdainful towards others.
It’s best to wisely overlook such nonsense like a mature adult.
“It’s a shame for someone like you to be associated with such students. Come under me, and I’ll match you with students of stature befitting you.”
“It does seem like I’m too valuable.”
“Yes, now we’re speaking the same language. So… .”
“I believe your stature is far too lacking to contain my value.”
“!!”
Oops.
The Black Flame Dragon was being defiant.
Or rather, it was unclear whether this was the defiance of the Black Flame Dragon or not.
‘I don’t really want to hold back.’
I may have been a salesman, the most subordinate of subordinates, but.
I knew one thing.
Sometimes, it’s necessary not to hold back.
“You asked me if I was confident earlier. Let me return the question.”
I lifted the corners of my mouth.
“Do you truly believe you have the confidence to contend with my stature?”
“!!”
Duke Volman, his face turning red, stood up abruptly.
Before he could shout something, Hans intervened.
“That’s enough. The meeting is over. Please leave.”
“You wretch! Do you know who I am? I am Duke Volman!”
“And I am the greatest assistant professor’s graduate student in the world! Please leave!”
Hans, not in his right mind due to the level-up high phenomenon, was invincible.
Duke Volman was dragged out by Hans.
Realizing too late the mess I’d made, I sighed.
‘It’s ruined. How do I fix this?’
Fixing it was impossible.
Now, there was only one way.
To show the image of the ‘perfect professor’ as I had boldly claimed to Duke Volman.
To give him no foothold.
‘Ugh, just when I thought I could relax! When will I ever get a break?!’
Feeling frustrated, I stepped out of my office to get some air.
But as I opened the door, I bumped into something!
Someone was standing in front of the door.
It was a student.
“Are you okay? Have you gotten hurt? Why are you standing in front of the door… .”
I stopped mid-sentence.
Because of who it was.
‘Why is he here all of a sudden?’
Tall and handsome with the air of a nobleman.
The aura of someone born into privilege, as if his whole being was saying, ‘Look at me, I’m superior.’
It was Theren.
The sub-main character of the Ruby Academy.
A true knight, a Sword Knight class.
‘That’s right. He was at the academy. I forgot he was even here.’
“What’s the matter?”
“Ah.”
But the reaction was odd.
He looked flustered upon seeing me, then shook his head.
“No, it’s nothing!”
“Nothing? Then why were you standing in front of the door?”
“That, that’s… .”
Theren’s handsome eyes rolled around.
True to his character as a model student and a perfect son, Theren was bad at lying.
And it showed.
Like this.
“Just! I got lost!”
“Lost? This is the professors’ building?”
“Ah! That, I was on my way to see my academic advisor!”
“Isn’t your advisor in the Swordsmanship Faculty? This is the professors’ building in the Magical Department?”
“…….”
Theren’s eyes rolled around again.
“T-The truth is I’m really bad with directions.”
‘Don’t lie. You’re incredibly good at finding your way.’
Theren was an all-rounder, good at everything except what he claimed he couldn’t do.
He wasn’t called a boring protagonist for nothing.
“That, that’s… Ah! I’m late! I must go now! Sorry!”
Theren ran off in a hurry.
‘…What?’
I was left dumbfounded by Theren’s abrupt appearance and disappearance.
‘Should I just let him go? Should I catch him and hear him out?’
But, I couldn’t do that.
Lindon had suddenly grabbed me.
“S-Senior! There’s big trouble!”
“…Now what?”
“The imperial family has summoned you! For the deed of saving the Free City recently, they want to award you a medal!”
“!!”
I frowned.
‘I don’t want to.’
It was bothersome, and I was worried it might draw unwanted attention.
‘I can’t refuse. Since His Majesty the Emperor is bedridden, I won’t meet him directly. Let’s go and return as quietly as possible.’
However, I stiffened upon opening the invitation brought by the royal knight.
Because of the person who sent the invitation.
‘…Why is this name written here?’
Usually, such invitations are sent by the palace’s chief steward, who oversees the royal family’s major and minor affairs.
But, a completely different title was written.
I thought I saw it wrong, but I didn’t.
Even after rubbing my eyes three times, it was still the same.
The Guardian.
The ascendant of the imperial family had invited me.
* * *
I wasn’t the only one who received an invitation.
Mariam and others who had made significant contributions were also invited.
‘I don’t know why they were invited.’
Kansir and Balas were also part of the medal recipients.
It was thanks to them stepping in to help me at the last moment.
‘They were nothing but noisy, they didn’t actually do anything.’
I rolled my eyes.
But then, they said something unexpected to me.
“…Thank you.”
“??”
“…For the medal we will receive. We know it’s all thanks to you. It allowed our families to save face. We’ve always been nothing but trouble.”
I was taken aback.
Kansir was uncharacteristically showing a bashful expression.
“Ha, but remember. This doesn’t mean I acknowledge you! The competition for the appointment isn’t over yet, the final victor will be me!”
“…I second that.”
Seeing the two gruff men shyly avoiding my gaze made me feel awkward, so I changed the subject.
“I want to see your invitation from the imperial family.”
“Why?”
“Just show it.”
I swallowed nervously.
The invitations for the two of them bore the signature of the palace’s chief steward.
‘Why me only?’
There was no denying it anymore.
I had been marked by an Ascendant!
‘Of all things, the Guardian.’
While all Ascendants are special, the Guardian is a being of extraordinary significance.
Typically mentioned alongside the strongest Ascendants, second only to the Demon King among heavenly beings.
‘But that’s not all. The Guardian is entirely in a class of its own, almost beyond what could be considered human.’
Then, someone’s clearing of the throat interrupted my thoughts.
It was Rudolph, the former chancellor.
“Our Professor Van, why stand there idly? Come here. I have something to ask.”
I was startled.
The eyes of former Chancellor Rudolph were blazing as they fixed on me.
‘I swear I’m innocent(?)?’
Even though I denied being an Ascendant, former Chancellor Rudolph did not seem to let go of his suspicion.
I looked away, searching for an escape.
“May I stand behind you, Chancellor Karak?”
“Hoho, why would you? There’s plenty of space.”
Chancellor Karak was drawing a line with me, just as before.
As if his previous attempt to protect me was a lie.
But,
“I just want to stand behind the chancellor.”
“Hmm, well, if that’s what you want. Do as you please.”
‘Something subtly changed.’
I couldn’t tell what impact this difference would bring in the future.
After all, Chancellor Karak being the final villain of the freshman year story wouldn’t change.
“Let’s activate the portal!!”
The royal mage who came to meet us exclaimed.
ZZzzipp!!
Light enveloped us, and after passing through subspace, magnificent and splendid buildings came into view.
It was the imperial palace.
