The Genius Professor Wants An Easy Life - Chapter 119

I contacted Cal to inquire about the details.

   

“Okay, thank you.”

After hanging up, I was silent.

‘Ugh! How did it come to this! It’s about time for Joanna to face some real setbacks, but cheating? Did going to Amethyst backfire?’

The 16 protagonists are randomly placed in each of the four academies’ departments.

However, each protagonist had academies where they were more or less compatible.

‘For the Massacrist Mage, Ruby is perfect. Being close to the Free City means there are plenty of targets for crime.’

The Massacrist Mage would have been terribly bored in a peaceful place like Peridot or Amethyst.

Joanna was most compatible with Ruby.

‘Ruby’ students are the lowest level, so she’d face the least painful setbacks here.’

The worst for Joanna was Amethyst.

Fitting its image as ‘elite’, it had the highest quality of students, and she would face a huge wall there.

‘Maybe my influence played a part too. One way or another, I’ve had an impact. But who knows.’

I sighed.

Regardless of the cause, the conclusion was clear.

‘I have to go and help Joanna return from her suspension.’

But that wasn’t all.

I had to snap her out of it and make her fulfill her role.

For the upcoming branch episode “The Tragedy of the Lower Crescent” at Amethyst to be cleared, the protagonists’ actions were essential.

‘Johan is a main protagonist, so he’ll manage to perform well on his own, but what about the swordsmanship department protagonist?’

The humanities department could be reluctantly skipped.

As seen with Demon Blade, the third prince, the humanities department lacked direct combat power and focused on individual character episodes rather than playing a significant role in academy storyline episodes.

‘This episode particularly requires the swordsmanship department protagonist. The success of the episode could very well depend on their capabilities.’

And there wasn’t even a knight protagonist at Amethyst.

‘What to do?’

As I pondered, there was a knock. A boy entered my office.

He had a face that seemed to announce his own excellence, handsome in a way that stood out.

It was Theren.

“What brings you here?”

“I… I came to express my gratitude. Thanks to you, I was able to avoid disappointing my family’s elders. I really appreciate it, Professor!”

I had arranged for those who suffered losses due to the manipulated outcomes at the Pfyssen Company to be compensated.

By the way, Lindon didn’t receive compensation.

The reason was that Lindon lost his money in a different casino.

Lindon’s loss wasn’t due to manipulation or fraud; he simply lost money because he was foolish.

I’m the only one not getting compensated? How is this fair! I can’t accept this! If this is the case, nobody should get compensated!

He whined like the good-for-nothing trash he was, to the very end.

“Don’t worry about it too much. I was just doing my job as a professor.”

“Not at all! If it weren’t for you, Professor, things could have really gone south. You could say you’re my savior!”

‘Overdoing it. He could’ve sorted it out with his family’s help anyway.’

I scoffed inwardly.

‘Theren, why can’t I feel any affection for this guy?’

It was a curious thing.

Others felt the same way.

The uninteresting, unpopular protagonist.

Theren was often compared to Joanna.

Both were sub-main protagonists and direct descendants of a ducal family.

But they were completely different in every way.

Joanna lacked talent, while Theren was a genius.

Joanna lacked initiative, whereas Theren was commendable even in character.

Their family environments are also complete opposites.

Unlike the twisted Prestigious Magical Family, the Swordsmanship Family is practically a model of excellence.

They are honorable as nobles and harmonious as a family.

He was born with everything.

‘Perhaps that’s why I feel no affection towards him.’

Especially since Theren’s keyword is ‘wandering.’

Thinking about the trouble he would cause later only intensified my dislike for him.

Since we’re at the same academy, there’s a high chance I’ll get dragged into the ‘trouble’ Theren causes.

‘They say a quiet person becomes scarier once they go astray. He’ll probably cause all sorts of trouble. It’s no wonder he’ll eventually earn the nickname “Sword Devil”.’

Perhaps my displeasure was evident in my gaze?

Theren seemed taken aback.

Still, he soon smiled brightly, his unique confidence that he had never truly been disliked by others shining through.

“If there’s anything you’d like me to do, please let me know! I’m willing to do anything to repay you for this favor!”

“Anything?”

“Yes, of course!”

“And what do you think I might ask you to do?”

“I’m sure Professor Van, known for looking out for his students, wouldn’t ask me to do anything strange.”

Such a fearless, noble response.

This works out well.

“I plan to go to Amethyst for a special lecture soon, and you’ll come as my accompanying student.”

Professors can take students with them for various external assignments.

‘I’ll assign the role of the swordsmanship department protagonist at Amethyst to Theren.’

“Me, professor?”

“Didn’t you say you’d do anything?”

“Yes, of course! It’s just unexpected. To think you would offer such a great opportunity to a mere freshman like me?”

Opportunity.

That’s one way to put it.

Although it’s called accompanying, the intention is to broaden his horizons.

Normally, it’s the high-achieving upperclassmen who are taken along.

“Choosing the accompanying student is up to me. Don’t make a fuss.”

“Understood! Thank you! Then, I’ll go prepare!”

He vanished quickly.

He looked excited, but does Theren know what he’s getting into?

‘They say to give an extra rice cake to the one you dislike. As a professor, I should impart my teachings to Theren, especially in preparation for the ‘wandering’ he’ll eventually undertake.’

At Amethyst, Theren will learn that life isn’t always smooth sailing.

 

* * *

 

However, after Theren left the faculty building, his expression changed.

The obliging brightness disappeared, replaced by a blank expression.

Anyone familiar with the usual Theren would be taken aback by such a change.

It didn’t last long.

Upon encountering other students, he quickly reverted to his original demeanor.

Bright and amiable.

“Theren, are you coming to the club meeting tonight?”

“Haha, I’m too busy today, I’ll have to pass. Got another appointment.”

“Always the popular one, huh? Just show your face for a bit. Everyone’s waiting for you to show up.”

“Yeah, thanks. I won’t forget and I’ll make sure to drop by.”

Walking through the campus, similar interactions occurred repeatedly.

Everyone knew Theren, and everyone liked him.

It was something Theren was accustomed to.

‘It’s tedious.’

While receiving yet another greeting with a smile, he thought.

‘It’s boring.’

Somewhat.

He felt a sense of boredom.

The world seemed too easy.

‘I’ll probably lead a successful life just like this.’

It wasn’t that he was dissatisfied.

He just wished there was something a bit more interesting?

‘I even intentionally lost money at the casino.’

Contrary to what Theren had told Van, he hadn’t made reckless bets because he was drunk.

It was just for fun.

Losing that bit of money wasn’t a problem at all.

His family, his parents wouldn’t be disappointed over such a trivial matter.

‘Going to Professor Van was just a formal gesture to appeal my unfairness. I never actually expected him to solve it.’

He was actually a bit curious.

How his parents reacted when they heard about his recent misbehavior.

Predictable.

They probably just laughed it off.

They might even have felt proud, thinking their son had finally grown up.

Dull.

‘I wish they’d at least show some anger.’

Then, he spotted some familiar faces in his line of sight.

“Hello, Catherine? And that’s Libel, right? Hi.”

The top students of the magic department.

Catherine and he were acquaintances from being of similar age within the four great ducal families.

Recently, since Catherine chose to double major in the swordsmanship department, they saw each other more frequently.

But their response was odd.

Despite hearing his greeting, they didn’t reply.

Their disdainful looks suggested it wasn’t that they hadn’t heard him.

He greeted them again.

“Hello?”

“Don’t bother greeting me. You’re just annoying.”

“What?”

“You act all nice on the surface, but deep down, you look down on everyone, don’t you think I don’t know?”

Theren made an awkward face.

Catherine had always disliked him.

She was one of the few people in the world who openly opposed him.

‘Well, Catherine is naturally prickly towards everyone anyway.’

He brushed it off and turned to greet Libel.

“Hello? You’re Libel, right?”

“I-I don’t like you either. You’re the annoying popular guy. I-I don’t have even one friend. The world is unfair.”

“……”

Perhaps starting with changing that manner of speaking might help in making friends?

Regardless, he found it refreshing to encounter two individuals who also disliked him.

Thinking they followed Professor Van, he broached a subject.

“Do you know what Professor Van likes?”

“Why do you ask?”

“I’m going to accompany him as a student for his external lecture.”

“You? Why?”

“Uh?”

“Why are you going as Professor Van’s accompanying student?”

“Well, because Professor Van asked me to?”

Both Catherine and Libel’s faces scrunched up simultaneously.

“Ha! Why would he choose someone like you? Not that I want to go with him!”

“I-I’m angry. Why not me but that blockhead?”

“Going to protest! Not that I’m asking to be taken as the accompanying student, of course!”

“Y-You, just go away. I’ll talk to the professor myself.”

The two vanished like a gust of wind.

Theren watched their retreating figures and tilted his head in wonder.

‘Why do those rude kids follow Professor Van like that?’

Theren’s impression of Professor Van was as follows:

On the surface, he seemed indifferent, but he appeared to be a good professor who cares for his students?

From Theren’s perspective, that meant he was just average.

He wasn’t particularly interested.

‘Does Professor Van have sides to him that I’m not aware of?’

Theren yawned again.

‘Whatever it is, it can’t be that interesting. Boring.’

Unaware of what he would soon experience because of Van, Theren let his thoughts wander so casually.

 

* * *

 

However, there were others talking about Van besides Theren.

In a café in the capital.

A place famous for being a meeting spot for the highest nobility, an unexpected individual was present.

It was Prince Renius, the second prince.

“Demon Brain, it seems you’re also having trouble with that Van fellow.”

A surprising conversation.

The person he was talking to was Demon Brain?

This meant the meeting was among the apostles of Ouroboros!

And to think such a secretive gathering was happening so boldly in a café?

Even though it was in a room isolated from the outside, where high nobility could talk freely, it was quite daring.

There was a reason for it.

Demon Brain, too, was a being entirely fitting for this café where the highest nobility gathered.

A girl with an indifferent demeanor calmly sipped her coffee and replied.

“Trouble? I’m not sure what you’re talking about. Everything is proceeding according to plan.”

Demon Brain.

An apostle of Ouroboros and one of the 16 protagonists.

Leona Ecclesia, the youngest of the Ecclesia Ducal Family, spoke.

“You’re aware of what my ‘real mission’ is, aren’t you?”