The Genius Professor Wants An Easy Life - Chapter 128

I pondered over the task I had to accomplish with Joanna.

‘I need to ensure Joanna plays her part during this episode.’

No, that alone wasn’t enough.

I was still staring at the purple 60% mortality rate shining through the monocle.

Assuming an even greater challenge arises compared to the original episode.

‘Joanna needs to reach at least a 3-star rank.’

A 3-star rank in just a few days.

It sounded impossible.

Especially with Joanna.

Despite feeling overwhelmed, I had to accomplish it.

“Show me the magic you know.”

“Huh? Why should I?”

“Because I’m your disciplinary guidance professor. Chancellor Karl Gritton personally appointed me.”

It was an authority I had acquired after requesting it following our meeting last night.

Normally, students under disciplinary action receive special guidance, but due to Joanna’s status and troublesome nature, no one had taken responsibility for her.

“If you don’t follow my guidance, you’ll accumulate demerit points and be expelled.”

“Really annoying. So unlucky.”

Joanna started casting magic with a snort.

Contrary to her prickly attitude, she put considerable effort into her magic.

‘Not bad at all. Actually, quite excellent.’

Joanna isn’t talentless.

But why was she once called a genius?

Because of her ‘magical intelligence’ necessary for magic computation, like memorization and calculation skills, she excelled.

As levels increase, ‘insightful’ talent becomes important, but early achievements are absolutely determined by this magical intelligence.

‘Joanna’s currently known achievement is 2nd ranked star. But no, she’s already reached the end of Lv. 2, the ‘Apprentice’ level, Advanced.’

However, Joanna herself didn’t know she had reached the Apprentice level.

The reason was simple.

‘Joanna’s magic is much weaker compared to others at the same 2nd-tier. That’s why her academic grades have also dropped.’

It was incomprehensible.

Usually, those who reach the end of a level exhibit much stronger power compared to their peers at the same level.

This applies even to little apprentices level at the 2nd star Beginner rank.

The fact that Joanna had advanced to Apprentice level but her magical power was lacking was paradoxical.

‘I have a guess as to why.’

I made a troubled face.

‘How do I solve this?’

It’s not that I didn’t know the solution.

The problem was that I knew it all too well.

It was a method I was reluctant to use.

“What are you looking at? It’s over, right? Don’t bother me anymore.”

I sighed as I looked at the still prickly Joanna.

It seemed there was no other choice.

“Fine. Go. You don’t need to come to the academy anymore.”

“…What did you say?”

“You’re expelled.”

“!!”

Joanna’s face changed.

“Ha! Are you joking? By whose authority?!”

“Do you not know who I am? I’m the fearless Van the Legend. And you think I can’t expel you?”

“……”

For the record, the return from suspension and expulsion of a student under disciplinary action is decided by the responsible professor.

It’s a rule at Amethyst.

“If you don’t want to be expelled, follow my guidance.”

“What do you want me to do?”

“Copy the first semester’s basic textbook 100 times.”

“Why the hell should I do that?! I finished that content before I was even 10 years old!”

“Then why are your grades like that?”

“……”

The first semester’s range covers 1st ranked content.

For Joanna, who has reached the end of 2nd ranked, it should be laughable, but she’s currently ranked outside the top ten.

“That’s because… everyone else came prepared. Unlike Ruby, where the level of students is lower, Amethyst has many students who are already at Level 2 upon entering…”

“Regardless, the fact that you’re lagging behind them in basics is true. Even in beginner 1st ranked content.”

“……”

“If you understand, go and start copying.”

Joanna clenched her teeth and glared at me before turning away sharply.

The reaction I had anticipated.

Shaking my head slightly, Johan spoke up from beside me.

“Professor, you truly are a noble educator.”

“What nonsense are you talking about?”

“Are you not deliberately playing the villain for Lady Joanna’s sake?”

I kept silent.

It was true.

‘What Joanna currently lacks isn’t really the basics.’

Of course, reinforcing the basics wouldn’t hurt, but that wasn’t her fundamental problem.

More urgent.

There was a critical issue that would decide whether Joanna would fall behind here or move forward.

“Johan, why did your holy power sever? Don’t you have any troubles?”

“Not at all? Actually, I’ve been really happy these days. Every day is fulfilling. It’s all thanks to you, professor.”

Johan wore a peacefully content smile.

No matter how much more I talked and looked around, not a trace of darkness seemed to peek through.

It seemed unlikely to find an answer this way, so I sent him back and stood up.

The students in need of guidance weren’t just the two of them.

“Phew! Haha! I’m diligently following your instructions, Professor Van!”

It was Theren.

What training had I assigned?

Nothing much.

Running.

But, unlike ordinary physical training,

“Professor Van. Theren has already run 103 laps. Should I make him run more?”

“How much weight is he carrying now on his arms, legs, and waist?”

“30kg.”

“Increase it by 10kg.”

“What?”

“After he runs another 100 laps, increase the weight by another 10kg. Then, continue to vary the weight.”

“Professor?”

Theren shook his head as if it was nothing.

“This is easy for me. It feels good to be earnestly building up my physical strength after a while. Besides, Professor Van wouldn’t have me do this training without a reason.”

Indeed, the perfect student Theren.

A commendable attitude in stark contrast to the problematic Joanna.

“This training is to compensate for the lack of basic physical strength I have, right? In preparation for participating in Amethyst’s practical sessions.”

“Yes, but are you really planning to participate? If you don’t want to, you can return to Ruby right now.”

“Eh, when would I get another chance like this? It’s a famous practical session; I should participate before leaving.”

I nodded.

“Right, it will be beneficial for you. Significantly.”

I emphasized the word “significantly.”

No matter what Theren imagines, he will experience more than that.

I’ll make sure of it.

Thinking it’s too harsh for such a good, model student?

‘The issue with Theren is the opposite of Joanna’s. Theren has never experienced frustration.’

Well, it’s not necessarily a problem to label as such.

As long as it doesn’t harm others.

‘This guy is destined to become a nuisance.’

It’s not just about being a minor inconvenience.

If left alone, Theren would fall into endless corruption and even become a Demon, known as the ‘Demon Sword’ or ‘Sword Demon,’ flooding this world in blood.

‘Preventing a student’s wayward path is a professor’s duty. I need to let him experience the bitterness of life here.’

He’ll suffer tremendously because he’s tangled in my plan.

Not because he’s annoyingly perfect without reason.

It’s all for Theren.

Really. Truly.

 

* * *

 

Afterward, I spent a busy time.

Firstly, I stayed close to Johan, trying to pinpoint the problem.

But an easy answer didn’t come.

‘This might not be something I can intervene in.’

Johan is a main character born with the fate of a hero.

Usually, he overcomes adversities on his own.

This problem was likely the same.

‘But still, I feel uneasy.’

Then, Johan smiled gently.

“Don’t worry too much. My power will gradually return. And even if it doesn’t, it doesn’t matter. What’s important is the heart to care for others.”

A phrase Johan kept repeating.

But then, I had a realization.

‘Johan really thinks he’s okay.’

More precisely,

‘He might even prefer his hly power not to return.’

This was Johan’s internal struggle!

Originally, he had a significant burden being a saint.

A complicated issue.

‘This isn’t something I can just fix.’

It was a problem that Johan himself had to find the right answer to.

‘For this episode, I should consider Johan as outside of my main strategy. With this kind of internal struggle, it’ll take a long time to overcome.’

I decided to lay the groundwork subtly with my concerns.

“If you had to risk your life to save someone in danger, what would you do?”

“Well…”

Johan hesitated.

“To be honest, I don’t know. I’m human, after all.”

“That’s the right answer.”

“Really?”

“Even if you’re a saint born with holy power, you’re still human. Don’t overestimate yourself.”

Johan looked puzzled.

Wondering why I suddenly brought this up.

I didn’t elaborate further.

I just hoped the hint I dropped would help Johan make the right choice.

Then, I focused on Joanna, who required the most attention.

“Wrong. Do it again.”

“Huh? Isn’t that the correct answer?”

“The star’s stroke isn’t done properly.”

“Just because of that?”

“If you don’t understand how small mistakes can lead to big differences, then you don’t deserve to be a mage. Draw it 10 times more.”

Grinding her teeth, Joanna complied.

But I didn’t stop my “tyranny.”

“Again.”

“Again.”

“How did you even get admitted? Again.”

Eventually, Joanna exploded.

“I won’t do it! Are you just trying to annoy me on purpose?”

“If you don’t like it, then quit. I’ll process your expulsion.”

“You’re always!!”

“With that attitude, your limits are clear anyway. It might be better for you to give up your path of magic now.”

Joanna glared at me as if she could kill.

“Take that back.”

“If you desire to have me swallow my words, then prove it yourself. If you come first in the upcoming practical evaluation, then I’ll apologize for everything I said to you.”

“Fine! Just watch. I won’t lose to you, of all people.”

Thud!

After Joanna stormed off, I sighed deeply.

‘Is making her this angry enough?’

Yes.

From the start, my goal was to provoke Joanna.

Why?

‘Because Joanna’s problem is a lack of self-esteem.’

The recent slump Joanna experienced was more of a psychological issue than a lack of talent.

The abuse from Duchess Beth had devastated her self-esteem, affecting her magical manifestations.

‘Comforting her would be ineffective. Given Joanna’s personality, it might only deepen her sense of worthlessness.’

There was only one way.

‘I had to use her anger towards me as fuel to push her forward.’

That’s why I was deliberately harsh with Joanna.

Anger is, psychologically speaking, an instinctual defense mechanism.

I needed Joanna not to be mired in self-blame but to resent someone else instead.

Fortunately, it seemed to be working.

‘The purple has lightened to lavender. The mortality rate has decreased.’

It meant Joanna was improving.

But then, at that moment, an incomprehensible message popped up.

   

“……??”

I tilted my head, wondering if I had seen it wrong.

Why would her affinity increase after I was so harsh?

‘Is this some kind of glitch?’

 

* * *

 

Meanwhile, outside Van’s office.

Joanna clenched her fists tightly.

“Does he think I’m an idiot? So blatantly provoking me, and he thinks I wouldn’t notice. This stupid professor.”