The Genius Professor Wants An Easy Life - Chapter 112
Viscount Stefan Grossman.
A fake name.
His identity as a foreign noble was also a lie.
Even being Level 7 was false.
A con artist of historical proportions, with everything about him being a fabrication.
‘How did he manage to deceive everyone about his magical prowess? Truly a remarkable scammer.’
I clicked my tongue in disbelief.
‘That Duke Volman would choose such a person of all people.’
I understood, though.
At this point, the con artist’s reputation was at its peak.
Nobody in the magical community could have imagined that such a hot star was a fraud.
‘Normally, he’d be an incredibly difficult villain to deal with. But this works out better for me. It’s actually a good thing.’
As I’ve said time and time again, my goal is to be a professor living an easy life.
However, that seemed to be getting further away.
Especially with Duke Volman regrouping, there was no way he was going to leave me alone.
‘I’ll use this scammer to my advantage.’
That was a problem for later, though.
Even if the new professors were fast-tracked, it would still take some time for them to take up their positions.
‘I should rest in the meantime!’
Except, that wasn’t the case.
A new concern arose.
‘Is there a way to reduce the Rapalt Duchy’s share in the Academy, even just a little?’
The Rapalt Duchy authority was too strong.
There was no guarantee that another tyranny like this dismissal fiasco wouldn’t happen again.
‘I don’t need much. Just shaving off 0.4% would do.’
To be precise, the Rapalt faction currently held a 50.3% share.
Reducing it to just below the majority could prevent them from engaging in such unjust tyranny again.
‘It won’t be easy. Unless I somehow manage to bankrupt one of their subordinates.’
I shook my head, then paused.
‘…Is it really impossible? Isn’t there a branch that could be bankrupted?’
The Rapalt Ducal family, much like a corporation in Korea with numerous subordinates, owned a plethora of businesses.
The shares in the Academy were also held by these subordinates..
‘If I look closely, there might be a problem with one of those subordinates.’
Just then, a voice interrupted my thoughts.
“May I have a moment, Professor Van?”
It was Investigator Sienna.
* * *
“I appreciate your efforts in this matter, Professor Van. Your contribution was significant.”
“Not at all. I should be the one thanking you.”
“……”
“……”
After the formalities, a brief silence followed.
‘I have a bad feeling about this.’
I wore an uneasy expression.
It didn’t seem like she was here for something good.
More precisely, it seemed like it would be a hassle.
Sure enough,
“I’m not one to beat around the bush, so I’ll get straight to the point. How would you like to join our Mage Tower?”
It was a scout offer!
I felt a bit surprised.
‘For me? Even though I’m a great genius, I’m still just 2nd ranked?’
The Mage Tower.
It was entirely different in nature from other magical organizations.
‘It encompasses all mages.’
As mentioned before, there are numerous magical organizations in the world.
The magical family, the academic magical community of the academy, etc.
The Mage Tower oversaw and coordinated all these places from above.
‘If comparing it to Earth, it’s like the UN for mages, with individual organizations below it.’
In fact, the number of ‘Tower mages’ who were purely affiliated with the Mage Tower alone was small.
Typically, mages were primarily affiliated with some group, like a magical noble house, and were only nominally enrolled in the Mage Tower.
In the case of academy professors, they were primarily affiliated with the academic magical community of the academy.
‘However, those purely affiliated with the Mage Tower are all elite. Only those recognized as the best can enter.’
Thus, being scouted by the Mage Tower was a great honor.
Of course, it was none of my business.
“I decline.”
“…You decline?”
“Yes, I decline.”
“…May I ask why?”
“I’m not interested.”
‘Why should I bother with that?’
The main job of the Mage Tower was to mediate and resolve the rivalries and conflicts that arose among mages.
It was a prestigious but inherently difficult position, and with the upcoming turmoil, it promised to be a needless task.
However, Sienna’s reaction was unexpected.
“…You’re not interested?”
“Yes.”
“…Really?”
“Yes.”
“……”
“……”
‘What’s with her?’
She looked as if she had lost her country, bewildered.
“I thought you were a kindred spirit, Professor Van.”
“Kindred spirit?”
“I believed you were a lone warrior who couldn’t stand idly by in the face of evil in the world.”
Why would she entertain such a ludicrous fantasy?
I was about to retort but then held back.
‘It’s because of what I’ve accomplished so far.’
Unintentionally, I had indeed vanquished many evils.
“I’ve heard about all the deeds you’ve done. You’ve struggled against evil alone, walking a bloody path even when no one acknowledged your efforts. Knowing that, I felt deeply moved. I realized I wasn’t alone. There are people like you, Professor Van.”
‘No, I’m not? Could you not lump me in with weirdos like you?’
I realized a troubling fact.
Dame Sienna, she’s surprisingly naïve!
‘This kind needs a clear line drawn so they don’t get clingy.’
I steeled my heart and was about to express disinterest in the most dismissive way possible.
But then.
“Please, don’t misunderstand. I’ve merely shone my noble light from where I stand, that’s all.”
I ended up sounding like a bragging Black Flame Dragon!
“Ah, I see! So, you intend to continue your solitary fight within the academic community?”
“…One could say that.”
“I respect that determination. However, what if you consider this? Becoming an external advisor for the Mage Tower.”
This meant still being affiliated externally but occasionally assisting the Mage Tower upon request.
‘Why should I do that? Obviously, I should refuse…’
I hesitated for a moment.
‘But, is there really a need to outright refuse?’
Being an advisor wasn’t exactly a binding position.
If I didn’t feel like responding to a request for help, I could just ignore it.
‘On the other hand, it does come with certain privileges.’
Depending on the type of advisor, one might receive privileges similar to those of a Mage Tower mage.
In my case, as a ‘Magical Crime Advisory Consultant,’
‘I would have the authority to apprehend mages who commit crimes against the Mage Tower’s regulations.’
Additionally, there was a consultancy fee each month.
Indeed, it paid more than the modest salary of a temporary professor.
‘It seems quite reasonable, doesn’t it?’
“Okay. However, as I have my primary duties, I hope you’ll understand if I can’t offer much assistance.”
“Of course. Thank you! I’m delighted to be working with Professor Van!”
Sienna smiled brightly,
A stark contrast to the fierce demeanor she had when arresting the Head and others.
Such innocence, I thought, must be what allows her to be so steadfast.
“……”
Involuntarily, an uncomfortable future thought crossed my mind.
Sienna dies.
And soon, tragically so.
It wasn’t something I could prevent.
More precisely, it was beyond my reach.
I can’t be involved in everything that happens in this world.
A warning? It would be pointless. It would likely push her further into danger, given her nature.
“Then, good luck with your lone battle, Professor Van!”
After seeing Sienna out of the faculty building, I encountered an unexpected figure.
It was Professor Burnstein.
He was smoking.
“Did Sienna leave okay?”
“You knew each other?”
“She was my junior. I was a grad student when she first entered.”
I felt a bit surprised.
That meant they were relatively close in age.
‘But why does Professor Burnstein look like a man with a story? It doesn’t suit him.’
Even though I’m a novice in matters of love, I’m not oblivious.
I could tell at a glance that the relationship between Professor Burnstein and Sienna was not just that of an ordinary senior and junior.
Such baseless imagination came to mind.
‘Could it be that Professor Burnstein’s bachelorhood has something to do with Sienna?’
It’s unknown.
Not something I could easily ask about.
But it seemed worth looking into.
“It seems you two were close.”
“No, just passed by a few times. We weren’t close at all.”
‘Please, don’t lie with those sorrowful eyes.’
I sighed.
Sienna is destined to die in the not-too-distant future.
It’s not something within my reach.
But,
‘…If it’s out of reach, I could just move closer and extend my hand. Even if it’s difficult and challenging.’
Right.
As I’ve said before, I can’t involve myself in everything in this world.
But it’s not impossible if I push myself.
‘I don’t want to draw unnecessary attention from the Mage Tower.’
I looked at Professor Burnstein.
Hearing about Sienna’s death, this stoic man would probably cry silently in some corner, unable to properly mourn.
I didn’t want to see such a pitiful scene.
“Could you pass a message to Dame Sienna for me?”
“??”
“When she faces a dead end, with no way forward, tell her to contact me.”
I sighed, digging my own grave.
“This Van Ecclesia, as a professor, will showcase his brilliant greatness.”
* * *
Then, a brief moment of peace arrived… which didn’t last.
Unexpected storm clouds gathered over my office.
Surprisingly, it was because of Lindon.
“Sniff, sob. Uggh. Waaah.”
Lindon was crying like a child.
‘What’s with him? Wasn’t he all proud of making a fortune just a while ago?’
Lindon had received a hefty guarantee for acknowledging his share in the patent for the mana engine membrane.
He talked about becoming rich and soon quitting grad school?
‘Could it be?’
“Did you invest in stocks?”
But Lindon shook his head and cried even more miserably.
“I didn’t invest in stocks, okay? Waaah. I’d be less miserable if I had.”
“…Do you know why he’s like this, Hans?”
Hans wore a face full of disdain.
Mari, too, looked at Lindon with a look reserved for the dregs of the world on her small and cute face.
It was clear Lindon had gotten himself into a major mess.
“He went to a casino and lost everything.”
“A casino? All that money?”
“Yes, all of it. In just one night.”
My face automatically mirrored Hans’s.
There was trash, and then there was this level of trash!
“Waaah!! It was just a casual outing with some academy graduation mates! They said casinos were trendy these days. I didn’t plan on losing all my money!”
“…You didn’t go wild betting, did you?”
“Well, I did, but! Waaah!! I don’t know!! Professor, is there any way to get a refund?! Waaah!”
I shook my head.
This was too pitiful to even garner sympathy.
But then, I realized this incident wasn’t as simple as it appeared.
“Professor, you have a visitor.”
“Who is it?”
“A student. The…ren, I believe?”
“!!”
A protagonist of the Swordsmanship Department!
‘Why?’
I vaguely remembered that Theren had sought me out before.
“Let him in. Did you say Theren?”
“…Yes.”
He had a handsome face and imposing figure that screamed confidence.
But something was off.
He seemed extremely subdued.
Uncharacteristically demure for the always confident golden boy, Theren.
I felt an ominous chill.
“What brings you here?”
