The Genius Professor Wants An Easy Life - Chapter 107

I had no notable educational background.

Had it not been for a chance connection and the recommendation of an executive, I would never have been able to join the company.

However, it was only a temporary contract position.

Yet, since it was an opportunity that might never come again, I worked tirelessly, day and night, and was able to produce excellent results.

But, the outcome was not favorable.

Far from being converted to a full-time position, I received notice that my contract would not be extended.

There were several reasons, including my insufficient educational background and the resignation of the executive who recommended me, but the fundamental reason was this:

Because I was a contract worker.

No matter how hard I worked or how high I soared, the transition from a contract to a full-time position was as unreachable as plucking stars from the sky.

That’s just how it is.

‘The situation now is completely different from back then, though.’

I couldn’t help but recall the bitterness of those times, and that was why.

I had made this decision.

‘Should I show them the terror of a contract worker?’

The Rapalt Ducal Family had overlooked something.

How frightening a person with nothing to lose could be, especially a contract worker who had received a termination notice.

‘There’s a reason why companies try to send off their departing employees on good terms.’

Especially since I was no ordinary irregular worker.

I am now a contract worker and a diamond spoon, backed by the empire’s most prestigious family.

‘This isn’t my first rodeo.’

But eventually, I managed to stay at the company.

Thinking I’d never see these people again anyway, I took a “gamble,” and it paid off, leading to my conversion to a full-time position.

At that moment, the door to the laboratory burst open.

It was Rudolph, the former chancellor, and Professor Burnstein.

“Our department professor! I’ve heard the news! A dismissal! Those Rapalt Ducal scoundrels, I’ll!!!”

“Calm yourself, Chancellor. I’ll just submit my resignation and challenge the chairman to a duel.”

Both were visibly enraged.

For your information, Professor Burnstein also had a surprisingly hot-blooded side.

They were not alone.

Peeking behind were Catherine, Libel, Yulia, Wilhelm, and the Third Imperial Prince.

For the record, Libel had recovered well from the aftermath of the rampage incident and was now back to normal.

“I’ll… I’ll just kill them all. How dare they do this to the professor…”

…Hmm.

Perhaps his obsession had deepened a bit.

Seeing Libel’s eyes flaming at the news of my dismissal, I thought.

The other children also showed a similar reaction to Libel, albeit to varying degrees.

“Hey, I said to throw the Black Flame Dragon in, not to kill them. Maybe beating them up in a back alley while wearing a mask, but that’s about it.”

“Ah, they’re all barbaric. At times like this, you need to use your brain. How about digging a trap and burying the chairman of the Rapalt Ducal Family?”

“If the professor gets fired, does that mean I go back to jail?”

“Hmm. I’m not pleased. Maybe I should file a petition to the Department of Education in the name of the imperial family.”

Even the usually quiet Third Imperial Prince said this much.

‘Thank you, everyone.’

It was encouraging.

Not just morally, but practically as well.

‘If I hadn’t had people supporting me on Earth, my gamble wouldn’t have succeeded.’

This is about office politics.

Having supporters is essential.

“Could you do me a favor?”

“What is it? Just say the word!”

“There are things you all need to do.”

But after I finished speaking,

Everyone’s expressions turned strange.

Specifically, they looked baffled.

Rudolph, the former chancellor, spoke up, voicing everyone’s thoughts.

“Our dear professor… have you lost your mind?”

It was understandable.

What I was about to do was not an ordinary ‘gamble.’

More precisely, it was closer to creating a huge mess.

‘I’ll show them the terror of a contract worker on the verge of resignation.’

After this ‘operation’ is over,

The landscape of the academy will have drastically changed.

Because of the bomb I threw.

 

 * * *

 

After that day, a troubling rumor started circulating in the academy.

“Have you heard about Professor Van’s situation?”

“Professor Van the Legend? What about him?”

“Van the Legend my foot. It’s about the magic that Professor Van uses. They say it’s heretical, evil magic.”

“Wasn’t that the baseless rumor that went around several times before?”

Van’s magic was always subject to rumors because it couldn’t be explained by common sense.

Although everyone took it lightly, this time the rumor was different.

“It’s not something to be ignored. Do you know the source?”

“Obviously. Isn’t it from the professors of the Rapalt Ducal Family? I heard they’ve been trying all sorts of tricks to get rid of Professor Van the Legend lately?”

“It’s a source from Chancellor Rudolph.”

“!!”

The person spreading the rumor lowered their voice.

“You know how much Chancellor Rudolph used to cherish Professor Van, right? But, he discovered something suspicious while analyzing Van’s magic.”

“Really?”

“Yes, Chancellor Rudolph isn’t someone who would lie. And there’s even more suspicious evidence.”

“What is it, what is it?”

Everyone leaned in closer.

“The head teacher of the Magic Department, Professor Burnstein, was checking the progress of research assignments for the new temporary professors, and apparently, Van hasn’t made any progress at all.”

“Not at all? Not even a little?”

“Yeah, isn’t that strange? For such a so-called genius, not to have made any progress halfway through the semester.”

“So, it wasn’t Van the Legend, but still Trash Van after all?”

The credibility of the rumor was heightened because it supposedly came from Chancellor Rudolph and Professor Burnstein.

The rumor spread rapidly across the academy.

“Have you heard the rumors about Van, Chairman?”

“…I have.”

Viscount Werner.

A close brother of Duke Volman and a key figure tasked with controlling the Ruby Academy.

“It’s good that someone spread the rumor. It was somewhat burdensome to fire that trash, thankfully.”

Chairman, Viscount Werner, nodded.

However, there was something unsettling.

‘Who spread this rumor?’

It wasn’t from the Rapalt Ducal Family.

Nor would it likely be from Chancellor Karak, who seemed to have grown closer to Van recently.

‘Really from Chancellor Rudolph’s side? But why? What reason would there be?’

It seemed necessary to check.

“Call Professor Burnstein, the head.”

Soon, a man with a prickly demeanor, Burnstein, appeared.

“Haha. It’s been a while. Seeing Professor Burnstein, a renowned figure in the academic world like this… .”

“Just state your business.”

A rude response, regardless of whether the other party was the chairman.

“Ahem. I’ve heard a strange rumor recently. About Professor Van from the Magic Department… .”

“You seem to have a lot of time on your hands, Chairman.”

“…What did you say?”

“To see you paying attention to such gossip nonsense.”

“Professor Burnstein! How could you say that to the Chairman?”

The secretary was outraged, but Viscount Werner raised his hand to stop him.

“Is it really just a rumor?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm. I see. Sorry to take your time when you’re busy. You may leave now.”

Bang! Professor Burnstein roughly closed the door and left.

“It was just a rumor after all.”

“No, I think it seems more real now.”

“What?”

“Didn’t Professor Burnstein just seem a bit uneasy? As if his feet were getting cold.”

Viscount Werner tapped the desk.

As evident from his role as chairman, Viscount Werner is not someone to be underestimated.

He is a seasoned veteran of commerce, having negotiated countless deals.

‘Usually, when someone reacts like that, there’s something shady going on.’

“…Could the rumor about Van the Trash actually be true?”

 

* * *

 

Meanwhile, outside the chairman’s office.

Professor Burnstein smirked.

“Just as Van said.”

Professor Burnstein recalled the expression Van used to describe Chairman Werner.

A fool who’s smart enough to be easily outplayed.

“The one who jumps carelessly is bound to be preyed upon by the one flying above.”

Burnstein knew.

Van’s weapon was not just his magical talent.

If it were only for his magical talent, Van would have achieved less than a quarter of what he has done.

The ability to manipulate situations to his advantage.

That was just as terrifying a weapon as his magical talent.

“So, an Ecclesia is an Ecclesia, huh?”

… In reality, it was just Burnstein’s cunning from his experience, but he misunderstood it as such.

“Anyway, I’m looking forward to it. What, another fortnight?”

A fortnight.

The time left until Van’s dismissal.

When Van sought cooperation from former Chancellor Rudolph and Professor Burnstein, he said this:

In a fortnight, the one to be stripped of their position would not be him.

A storm was about to sweep through the academy.

People beyond imagination will be stripped of their positions.

‘I don’t know what he’s planning, but.’

Van’s operation had just begun.

 

* * *

 

‘Good. Everything is going smoothly.’

I wore a pleased expression as I listened to the rampant rumors about me spreading through the campus.

For your information, Yulia was the one who first spread the rumor.

Originally in the scenario, she had the skill of a villain, a master of spreading rumors.

Then, the students came to me from time to time to report on the progress.

“Professor Malon from the Swordsmanship Faculty criticized you during class, saying you’re all about the money and have no real talent.”

“I-I listened more carefully. P-Professor Orchard from the Magic Class also criticized you. Should, should we kill him?”

They were professors from the Rapalt Ducal Family.

They always saw me as a thorn in their side, but now they seemed delighted to join in on bad-mouthing me, riding the wave of the atmosphere.

For your information, Catherine was double majoring in both the Swordsmanship Department and the Magic Department, attending classes in both.

“Hmm. Isn’t it insufficient? I understand what you’re aiming for, Professor, but this seems too weak.”

Yulia showed a worried reaction.

She was right.

Just this would not be enough to strike a blow against the Rapalt Ducal Family.

‘It’s okay. This is just the preparation.’

I moved on to the next step of the plan.

It was towards Chancellor Karak.

“Ah, Professor Van. I’ve heard about your situation. Hmm, this is quite the predicament.”

“Please, grant me one request.”

“Hmm?”

“Assign me a position.”

Chancellor Karak looked surprised.

“Professor Van? Positions are usually taken by senior professors.”

There was a clause in the reasons for my dismissal stating that I had not taken on ‘administrative duties.’

‘Normally, junior and temporary professors are supposed to handle various miscellaneous tasks. But I, being Van the Trash, was an exception.’

However, the duties taken on by junior professors were limited to simple administrative tasks.

Holding a position means becoming the ‘leader’ of a particular area of work.

“Assigning positions is within the exclusive rights of the Chancellor. With only a fortnight left until my dismissal, wouldn’t that be alright?

“That still seems impractical… .”

“Anyway, in this situation, it would be difficult for you, Chancellor, to preserve your position as well, wouldn’t it?”

“!!”

It was true.

The fire was not only under my feet.

‘Of course, Chancellor Karak won’t just sit down and take it, but it’s true he’s in a tough spot.’

I provocatively said to Chancellor Karak.

“After all, wasn’t it the Rapalt Ducal Family who started the unreasonable actions first? Are you, Chancellor, going to just stand by like a coward?”

Chancellor Karak’s eyebrows twitched.

However, I didn’t feel the suffocating pressure as before.

Perhaps it was because the distance between Chancellor Karak and me had narrowed a bit.

“You’re not wrong. I can’t just stand by. Since Professor Van is directly under me, Karak. So, what position do you want?”

I looked at Chancellor Karak and said.

“I want to be the head of counseling.”

It was a position in the academy’s counseling center, where one consults on various matters.