The Genius Professor Wants An Easy Life - Chapter 115
Senin’s claim was half right and half wrong.
‘Proving holy magic is tough, but not impossible.’
Discovering what trick was used might be difficult, but knowing it and not being able to prove it? There’s always a way.
The issue was,
‘Even if proved, it resolves nothing.’
At best, there would be a noncommittal apology and perhaps the closure of this casino.
Compensation for those who lost money is unlikely.
‘As the main instigator, Senin, shielded by his family’s power, will face no real punishment.’
In truth,
I didn’t need to give Senin a ‘proper education’ right now.
He’ll face plenty of hardships down the line.
However, confronting Senin’s audacity firsthand changed my perspective.
‘I need to educate him properly, for the sake of Senin’s future.’
As mentioned before, if the main characters’ keyword is ‘the path of heroes,’ then the four sub-main characters’ keyword is ‘adversity.’
Summed up in one word for each: Joanna faces ‘despair,’ Tern’s ‘wandering,’ and Senin’s ‘hardships.’
‘The sooner he realizes, the shorter his period of hardship will be. After all, the sub-main characters’ adversities are meant to refine them.’
More importantly, there’s a crucial reason not to let this incident slide.
‘I need to acquire the academy shares held by the Pfyssen Corporation.’
The casino’s owner, Pfyssen Corporation, holds 0.4% of Ruby Academy’s shares.
I had to make them lose that shareholding using this casino incident.
How?
‘Force Pfyssen into bankruptcy.’
More precisely, force them into a position where they have to grovel to me.
‘There’s a way.’
After organizing my thoughts, I spoke to Senin one last time.
“Let me ask you one final question. Are you willing to admit your wrongdoing and compensate the victims now?”
“That’s ridiculous. Go ahead and sue. But be prepared for a countersuit.”
Senin’s expected response led me to shake my head calmly.
“No, I won’t sue.”
“Huh. Typical Van the trash. All talk and no substance, as always. Now, if you understand, leave immediately… .”
“Instead, as a professor, I will provide you with an education.”
“What nonsense are you talking about?”
“You’ll find out soon enough. But be warned, it might be a bit rough.”
“!!”
Senin looked incredulously at me.
Regardless, I continued.
Just then, I caught a glimpse of the youthful arrogance in Senin’s eyes.
Malicious.
Yet, still young and naive.
Looking directly into those eyes, I said,
“This lesson might just change your life, and you’ll come to respect me as your teacher.”
* * *
First, I needed to prepare, so I made my way to where Emily was.
“It’s been a while, Van.”
“Have you been well?”
“As you can see, not really.”
Emily’s house was in Zone 1 of the Free City, where the wealthiest lived.
One of the most expensive homes throughout the Free City.
But the interior was bare.
The artworks I had seen during my previous visit were gone, and there were no servants in sight.
“Ah, it’s been decided that I’m to be kicked out from the family.”
“Because of the incident a while back?”
I had enlisted Emily’s help when expelling Chairman Werner.
“Yes, but don’t feel sorry. Knowing such ‘truths,’ it’s better to be homeless in the slums than to cling to that family. Not that I’m actually going to end up on the streets. You know I’m capable, right?”
I nodded in agreement.
“But why are you here? Is it about Senin?”
“You knew.”
“After all, he’s my only brother. Not that he’s particularly endearing. He mocked me so much recently. Before getting expelled from the family, I should have given him a good slap. Why did he turn out so badly?”
Emily ranted about her brother for a while.
I quietly listened before responding,
“You still care about your brother, I see.”
“…Well, yes. He’s family, after all. Even if I hate it, there’s nothing I can do.”
But it’s not always the case.
No matter how thick the blood, there are families who live as if they are worse than enemies.
It must be because Emily is naturally kind-hearted.
“Do people often tell you that you’re too soft?”
“Want some trash-talk? That’s not true. I can be quite sharp. It’s just… Senin never had a chance. A chance to grow up properly. That’s all that’s been bothering me.”
Emily sighed.
“Senin hasn’t stepped into the ‘darkness’ of our family yet, but even if he learns the truth, he won’t care. He grew up seeing a figure no different from our father. Ready to do anything for greed. It’s probably too late to change him now.”
Then, hesitantly, Emily spoke.
“Say, Van. You owe me, don’t you?”
“I suppose that’s fair to say.”
The trouble caused during my ‘Van’ days, not to mention the ongoing support I’ve received.
“Can you give Senin a chance? A chance to change for the better.”
Does Emily realize how difficult what she’s asking for is?
Honestly, while I’ve decided to teach Senin a lesson, the likelihood of him fundamentally changing isn’t high.
‘Normally, Senin is destined to face adversity that leads to his downfall or corruption.’
It’s not just Senin.
All the sub-main characters face similar fates.
Unlike the main characters, left alone, they’re broken by adversity.
‘Especially nurturing Senin successfully is particularly challenging. Given his flawed character, he’s prone to numerous paths of corruption.’
He needs to not only achieve commercial success from rock bottom but also morally reform, eventually becoming the ‘Merchant of Salvation’ who helps humanity during crisis.
It’s a path as narrow as the eye of a needle, honestly daunting, but…
“I understand. I’ll try.”
Unable to ignore Emily’s heartfelt request, I nodded.
“Perhaps my brilliant light will inspire a change in Senin’s soul.”
“…I appreciate it, but can you not talk like that?”
“…….”
Regardless, I proceeded with my purpose.
I wasn’t there for a parent-teacher conference, after all.
“You want me to show you my personal collection of antiques? Why?”
“Just show them.”
“Are you upset about my tone? It’s okay. I actually like your pompous tone. It’s kind of cute. Don’t be shy around your sister.”
“…Lead the way.”
It’s worth noting that the Rapalt family was also a major patron of the arts.
Emily too had amassed many artworks.
Her collection included many antiques as well.
“Here it is.”
There was a storage area in the basement of the mansion.
It was a spacious area, but sparsely filled.
“Anything of value has been taken by the family. Only items without monetary value are left.”
“That’s fine. This is enough.”
“What exactly do you plan to use this for? I’m curious, so don’t beat around the bush and just tell me.”
Instead of explaining, I began examining the antiques one by one.
Fitting for Emily’s personal collection, known for her artistic eye, each piece appeared extraordinary.
The reason these impressive-looking antiques were deemed worthless was simple.
‘They’re imbued with cursed energies.’
Not that they actually had the effect of a curse.
If that were the case, they wouldn’t be classified as antiques but as artifacts.
It’s just that negative energies accumulated over time as they passed from hand to hand.
Being a daughter of the empire’s wealthiest Rapalt family, Emily collected even these unwelcome items, which nobody would normally desire.
But,
‘They’re exactly what I need right now.’
“Could you give me some time to examine the antiques?”
“That’s not a problem. But really, what are you trying to do?”
“I’m going to create a disciplinary tool.”
“What?”
I shifted my gaze back to the antiques.
Specifically, to the curses they harbored, or more fundamentally, the negative energies within.
‘Negativity’ is the root of dark magic.
Precisely, the opposite of ‘blessing.’
Yes.
An eye for an eye.
I intended to teach using the same method as Senin.
But with ‘curses.’
‘Let’s do this.’
Flash!
Amidst the various negative energies embedded in the antiques, my eyes deepened.
After a while, a vision was completed.
It was the birth of a dark magic spell unique to me, Van Ecclesia.
* * *
On the top floor of the casino building.
Baron Glenn of the Pfyssen Corporation was carefully watching his surroundings.
It was because Senin, who had been dispatched as the General Manager, was in a foul mood.
“Manager. Yesterday’s revenue also set a new record. All thanks to you… .”
“Company leader.”
“Y-Yes?”
“When did I ask you? Can’t you be a bit quieter? It’s irritating.”
‘This insolent young brat. If he wasn’t the Grand Son of the Rapalt Duchy, I would have smacked him across the face.’
Baron Glenn twitched his eyes.
‘It’s the same with the casino. How dare they pull such tricks. Even if it goes wrong, he can just return to the Rapalt Duchy, but what about me?’
But what power did he have?
He could only bow his head in servility.
Then, a casino employee entered.
“Van Ecclesia has visited again!”
Senin’s eyes sparkled.
“I’ll go see for myself.”
Senin was displeased because of Van.
As a professor, I will provide you with an education.
‘Education my foot. Just a piece of trash pretending to be all that.’
Everything about him was irritating.
It had been like that since they first met.
An innate feeling of incompatibility.
That aversion was further amplified upon seeing Van’s dignified appearance.
“What are you doing here?”
“Can’t you see? Came to play some games.”
“Hah.”
Senin’s eyebrows twitched.
‘I have to trample him properly.’
Perhaps it was his twisted emotions, but he made a childish provocation.
“Looks like you have no friends. Coming to a casino alone.”
“You’re also friendless, aren’t you?”
“W-What did you say?”
“My brother Cal told me, you’re a loner at Amethyst Academy.”
“Thi-This… !!”
He tried to retort, but it was true.
Senin was alone.
“I-I deliberately don’t make friends! Friends are unnecessary!”
“I see. Hang in there.”
“You!!!”
His provocation was a complete loss.
He returned, fuming.
‘Damn it! Damn! I won’t let this slide!’
He spent the time kicking desks and walls aimlessly after Van had left.
After Van left.
“Did that trash Van leave? How much did he lose?”
“That’s… Professor Van hardly played any games. He only played some minor lottery games and left. More importantly, I have something urgent to report. It’s about the revenue.”
“What’s wrong with the revenue?”
“The revenue… it’s decreased.”
“There can be some fluctuations. What’s the big deal about that?”
“It’s not just any fluctuation. We’ve suffered a massive loss.”
“!!”
Senin’s eyes widened.
It was nonsensical to incur losses when the casino’s odds were rigged in its favor.
Then, Van’s face flashed through his mind.
“Could it be?”
The next day, Van visited again, and there was another enormous loss.
And again, the following day when Van visited, Senin approached him, seething.
“Could this be your doing?”
“What are you talking about?”
“Did you use some kind of method to lower the casino’s winning odds?!”
Van let out a snicker.
“Do you have any evidence?”
“!!”
“Remember, baselessly slandering someone without evidence can lead to a defamation charge with significant damages.”
