The Genius Professor Wants An Easy Life - Chapter 11.1
When I decided to become a professor at the academy, I had one concern.
While academies were considered more comfortable and secure than the military or bureaucracy positions, there were absolute bombs that should never be approached at the academy.
The protagonists.
‘Especially, I hoped not to encounter the four main protagonists under any circumstances.’
The protagonists of the “Hero Academy” were a total of 16.
There were four academies in the background.
In other words, four protagonists were assigned to each academy.
The peculiar thing was that there was a random placement.
The advantage of the Hero Academy was that the placement of protagonists in each academy was different each time, allowing for a unique gameplay experience.
‘I was hoping that relatively safe(?) protagonists would be assigned to the Ruby Academy, not knowing which protagonist would be placed in which academy.’
The 16 protagonists had different roles and significance in the scenario.
Among the four main protagonists, there were two top-tier characters.
Catherine was the ‘True Protagonist,’ even among those top two.
Encountering the most dangerous bomb just like that.
‘Damn it, should I pretend I didn’t see her?’
But, our eyes had already met accurately.
Catherine’s eyes widened.
“Van? The crazy noble bastard? Why are you here?”
A nice reaction recognizing ‘Van.’
Given Catherine’s status, it made sense.
She was the beloved child of the prestigious Klein Duchy, a magical noble lineage.
Being members of the same four major duchies, they must have been familiar with each other from before.
‘Not that they have a particularly good relationship.’
But it’s a good thing for me.
The protagonist, Catherine, looked at me with eyes full of disdain.
Catherine, with her originally haughty and nervous demeanor, could make you feel like you were being pricked by thorns with just her gaze.
‘Catherine isn’t exactly the epitome of a good-natured protagonist.’
She was the epitome of sharpness.
In the early days of the first year, she was truly a ‘cancerous character,’ and many people disliked her.
She only started showing a proper protagonist-like appearance after the scenario had progressed to some extent.
‘Let’s just exchange greetings and not get too involved.’
I came up with an appropriate greeting.
Judging by her expression, it seemed like she had faced setbacks while attempting the Cave of Lamentations.
So,
“Did you happen to challenge the Cave of Lamentations? Admirable courage, but with your lacking talent, it must have been futile. It would be nice if you step aside. Stop dragging your feet.”
Oops.
Reacting to Catherine’s resentment, the charisma of the Dark Flame Dragon stirred up a commotion again.
‘Darn it. What did I just say!? Backpedaling…?’
I blinked.
‘…No, there’s really no need for backpedaling, right?’
I’ll say it again.
I shouldn’t get close to the protagonists.
Among them, Catherine was the top priority to avoid.
It wouldn’t be so bad if, during this opportunity, we became distant enough that I wouldn’t want to look at her again.
‘Even if we end up in the same academy, it might sting a bit, but anyway, Catherine, being a student, won’t dare to mess with me, a professor.’
And there was another reason to provoke Catherine.
“Have you finished talking about your garbage topic, Young Van?”
Despite her fierce gaze making my heart skip a beat, I didn’t stop.
“No, I haven’t finished. I don’t know what you were trying to achieve in the Cave of Lamentations, but give it up. Actually, in my opinion, you might as well give up the path of a mage. There’s nothing more painful than clinging to something hopeless.”
Even to me, it was a harsh statement that I wanted to smack someone for saying.
“!!”
Indeed, Catherine’s face turned white.
“You…”
Her anger now was incomparable to before.
I was the reason I had stepped on her landmine.
I quietly recalled her background.
‘The filthy, ugly child of the prestigious magical lineage.’
Catherine had a complicated past, fitting for a main character.
She was born as the illegitimate child of a prestigious magical family.
Not only that, but she also possessed the worst talent as a mage.
‘Persecuted by the entire family for being a lowly child with the worst talent in magic.’
Her sharp personality was also a result of that.
Attempting the Cave of Lamentations was likely an effort to overcome her shortcomings in any way possible.
Failing in that attempt led to her frustration and disappointment.
If I were a person with normal empathy, comforting someone like her would be typical.
‘But offering comfort to Catherine now won’t help.’
She is the type of hero who overcomes adversity and grows.
All these trials and anger serve as stepping stones for her growth.
Above all,
“Ha! Don’t make me laugh! You don’t know anything, trash! I’ll conquer the Cave of Lamentations right now to prove you wrong! Be prepared to kneel and apologize to me!”
She swiftly turned and entered the Cave of Lamentations.
Beside her, a message popped up.
<Clearing the Cave of Lamentations Probability>
If taking advantage of the stubborn novice mage : 70%
The win rate had increased significantly.
It went just as intended.
* * *
She’s not my child.
Catherine was born after a nobleman of the magical lineage indulged in a night of pleasure with a street prostitute.
The nobleman discarded Catherine by giving a few coins to the prostitute.
Catherine’s mother also abandoned her.
When she was left to fend for herself in the back alleys, once again, ‘father’ appeared.
I was mistaken. Call me father now. From now on, you are my daughter.
A prophecy had been given to the magical lineage.
Catherine would become the ‘great star’ that would illuminate this world.
You will be the blessing of our Klein Duchy.
However, was the prophecy wrong?
