The Genius Professor Wants An Easy Life - Chapter 11.2
Catherine has yet to show any remarkable qualities.
She was not only far less talented than the geniuses of the magical lineage but also achieved much less than an average person.
Well, that’s because of her humble bloodline.
Why did the family accept someone like her?
Clearly, the previous family head misjudged the cause and effect.
Expectations turned into contempt.
From that moment, Catherine had to endure hellish times.
How many days had passed since she last slept without crying?
She gradually harbored venom.
‘I will make everyone acknowledge me.’
This year, she will enter the academy.
She will prove herself in front of everyone.
She asserted that she was not a filthy, ugly child.
‘I have to create a miracle in the Cave of Lamentations.’
Those who walk the path of magic. If you overcome the trial of lamentations, you will gain ‘mystery.’
It was a story passed down like a legend.
Although it was unclear what ‘mystery’ exactly meant, it was undoubtedly a power that would greatly help a mage.
However, in the midst of powerless failure and frustration, Van appeared.
You might as well give up the path of a mage.
‘You don’t know anything, trash.’
Catherine gritted her teeth.
In reality, her anger wasn’t directed at Van.
She had heard such remarks countless times before.
Her anger stemmed from her own inadequacies.
‘This kind of cave. I will definitely conquer it!’
However, as she confidently moved forward, Catherine wore a puzzled expression.
‘Why is it okay to hear ‘lamentations’?’
The Cave of Lamentations was, as the name suggested, a cave where lamentations echoed.
It was mentally draining.
Even now, lamentations could still be heard.
“Ma-Master…!! I can’t take it anymore…!! Ugh!”
A middle-aged mage who had followed Van was seen fainting with a groan.
It was the same sight Catherine experienced when she first attempted the challenge.
‘Why am I okay now?’
It was still tormenting.
But could she endure it?
‘…Is it because I’m angry at that trash?’
She was too infuriated to care about the lamentations!
‘Ugh.’
As her anger subsided a bit, the lamentations once again penetrated her mind.
‘Oh no, it can’t be. If this continues, I’ll fail again….’
That’s when it happened.
“Only this much? How pathetic.”
“!!”
It was Van!
He looked just as imposing and unfortunate as before, as if the lamentations didn’t bother him at all.
“Go back. And don’t ever dare to glance at magic again. This is advice I’m giving you, considering your well-being.”
“I told you to shut up!!!”
She made a stomping sound and moved forward.
Because of Van, her anger flared up again, making her not care about the lamentations.
‘…Could it be that he’s intentionally doing this now?’
For a moment, such a doubt crossed her mind.
‘…That garbage? Impossible.’
Catherine defiantly raised her head.
That couldn’t be true.
Just look at him still blabbering.
“Tsk. Always causing a fuss. Do you think it’s challenging for me to showcase my greatness because of you?”
‘Shut up!’
Absolutely not.
However, by some stroke of luck?
Whenever Catherine wavered, Van’s annoying nonsense intensified, and thanks to that, Catherine ventured deeper into the cave.
* * *
‘Ugh. Why is this wailing so spine-chilling?’
It felt like listening to the horror sound effects in a haunted house.
‘If it weren’t for the charisma of the Dark Flame Dragon, my face would have turned blue.’
‘At least my mana is as thick as a pancake.’
The Cave of Lamentation held a secret.
The stronger the mana, the more significant negative effects it experienced.
Conversely, if the mana level was below a certain threshold, it was just scary without substantial adverse effects.
‘Even at a first-level, it has a considerable impact.’
My mana was barely above a fraction of a first-level, enough to endure.
‘Catherine is impressive. Even if she’s a bit of a dimwit, her mana level is probably much higher than mine.’
It meant her willpower was equally strong.
‘Especially with Catherine having the ‘Berserker’ latent ability. When she gets angry, her determination becomes even stronger.’
In between, there were some minor monsters blocking the way, but there was no problem.
“Those monsters might be too much for you, so step back.”
“What do you mean too much?! Just watch and learn as my magic handles them perfectly!”
With such provocation, Catherine got excited and fought harder than anyone else.
‘Thank god. If it weren’t for Catherine, I would have been in big trouble.’
With my mana being so low, facing several minor monsters would have been difficult.
‘True Protagonist, fighting! Keep fighting hard to save the world!’
However,
Soon I encountered a hurdle.
We reached the end of the cave.
“Wh-What is this?”
Catherine’s voice trembled.
It was obvious.
Because an unreasonable being was present.
A skeleton wearing a mage’s robe.
A ‘Lich’
A level 7 undead monster.
‘This is the reason why this dungeon is unbeatable.’
High-level mages are vulnerable to the lamentations, and they can’t approach this far.
Someone like me, with low mana, can’t endure a Lich even after reaching this point.
“Th-This….”
Catherine clenched her fists.
“Now that we’ve come this far, we can’t just give up…”
I was startled by her determination.
‘Catherine must not take the lead!’
I had a way to deal with the Lich.
It wasn’t foolproof, but even if it failed, at least I could escape without dying.
‘But if Catherine takes the lead, the problem will escalate.’
In the worst-case scenario, Catherine could die.
‘No! If you die, who will fight against the forces of evil in your place?!’
“Let me handle the Lich.”
“…What?”
I was determined to prevent Catherine from taking the lead.
I expressed my concerns.
“I’m a forgiving person. No matter how unruly you are, I don’t want to see you die like a dog. Stand here quietly and receive my protection.”
