The Genius Professor Wants An Easy Life - Chapter 135
The Demon King waved away the dust.
“Even the decent ones can’t recognize my state, what are you exactly? Perhaps?”
Before the Demon King could unfold her unnecessary suspicions, I hastily interrupted.
“As I said before, I’m a professor.”
“A laughable claim. A regular professor couldn’t possibly recognize my condition.”
“Of course, I’m not a regular professor. I’m a legendary professor.”
“…What?”
“Van the Legend. An entity that will become the greatest mage on the continent someday, so recognizing your state is simple for me.”
Ah, I don’t know.
My words were mixed with the cringe lines of the Black Flame Dragon, and I even didn’t understand what I was talking about.
“…Anyway, you can cure me? What kind of treatment do you have?”
“I don’t know the treatment method yet.”
“Ha. Are you mocking me?”
“Not knowing the treatment doesn’t mean I can’t do it.”
“Seeing you continue to spout nonsense, it seems you wish to die.”
I turned my gaze away.
Towards the library filled with ultimate magic books.
“Your treatment method, I’ll just have to research it. It won’t take long to figure out. Because I’m a legend.“
* * *
Flip. Swish
In the silence, the sound of pages turning could be heard.
It would seem like a picturesque scene to anyone watching.
A handsome professor reading a book with a stylish air, and a little girl gazing at him with eyes full of admiration.
…Of course, that’s nonsense.
The little girl Demon King was a monster who wanted to see her rabbit perform tricks, and I, the handsome professor, was desperately diving into the book, feeling the terror of death.
‘Damn it, I don’t understand. Is it even possible in the first place?’
The Demon King’s state can be simply put as follows.
Already dead.
‘Dead, but the soul is forcibly clinging to the body without departing.’
It was possible because the Demon King was at Lv. 10.
Celestial Position (Heavenly Position).
Not merely ascending above the heavens, but becoming the heavens themselves.
Thus, even the decree of death could be defied.
However, even such a Demon King could not reverse a life that had already met death.
‘I’m the same. No matter how much of a Master of Magic I am, reviving a dead life is impossible.’
I looked towards the library.
As befitting a national secrets archive, it housed all kinds of forbidden texts, many of which related to taboos.
Among all taboos, the creation and resurrection of life were considered the ultimate.
An absolutely forbidden realm.
No matter how much I examined the books, I came to realize one fact.
Reviving the Demon King was impossible.
The fact that I possessed the abilities of a Master of Magic made this all the more clear.
“What’s this? All that arrogance and now you say you can’t do it? The price for your foolish talk…”
“Shut up.”
“What?”
“Do you have no conscience? All this hardship I’m enduring is for you. Instead of feeling grateful, you show temper? Even the demonic beasts of the darkest realm know how to be thankful, be ashamed.”
Gasp.
The anger management disorder ‘Black Flame Dragon’s Fury’ that lashes out regardless of the opponent, was triggered.
‘In fact, I’m a bit annoyed too. So what if you’re the Demon King? Huh? Want to eat this fist?’
Of course, I’m just an ordinary citizen.
I glanced around subtly and tried to smooth things over.
“Remember this clearly. My actions are all out of concern for you, my student.”
Despite the Demon King having partially revealed her identity, I steadfastly maintained the position that you are a student, and I am a professor.
So please, spare me, Your Majesty, the Demon King.
“…You’re concerned about me.”
However, the Demon King’s reaction was peculiar.
“…That’s a strange thing to say.”
Oops!
I flinched.
It felt like I had just stepped on something again.
Indeed.
“…It’s the first time I’ve heard such a thing.”
The Demon King.
Born as the protagonist of a prophecy passed down in the demonic realm, she became the Demon Crown Princess immediately upon birth and reached the realm of Ascendant at the mere age of twenty.
It was the fastest achievement in the history of the continent.
To illustrate how inhuman the Demon King was, she didn’t even have a name.
From birth, she was simply referred to as a great being, and no one dared to bestow a name upon her.
Thus, it was the first time someone like the Demon King had received concern from anyone.
‘What? You’re not the sentimental type. Where’s your charisma gone?’
“Do not think it’s something special. It’s natural for a professor to worry about their student.”
“None of the professors I’ve met ever worried about me.”
‘That’s because you were already beyond a Lv. 8 transcendental being when you enrolled in the demon academy as a kid. And you became an Ascendant while still a student.’
“No. Not everyone, perhaps, but surely someone was worried about you. They just didn’t show it.”
My concern is nothing special!
I evaded the issue, but the Demon King gave me an even more peculiar look.
“Are you saying that to make me feel like someone really cared for me?”
“…….”
I just kept my mouth shut.
The Demon King smirked.
Fortunately, the strange look in her eyes disappeared.
However, it seemed that our recent conversation had some sort of impact.
The Demon King turned her gaze away, then suddenly wore a bitter expression!
Having encountered the Demon King countless times while progressing through storylines on Earth, it was an expression I had never seen before.
“Interesting. Still, I’m fortunate to have met someone like you… no, the professor.”
The Demon King resumed the professor-student role-play, matching my pace.
“You said you’re a professor, right? Do professors also counsel?”
“…Yes. Go ahead and speak.”
“It’s not about me. It’s about someone I know…”
The Demon King furrowed her brow.
“He was in a dire situation, with no one to turn to. The whole world wished for her death. So, the only place she found was next to the sword she wielded. Funny, isn’t it?”
Shiver.
The Demon King’s sword vibrated like it was sad.
Thinking about it, there was no need for the Demon King to be by the side of her sword.
After all, the wound was beyond healing.
She merely wanted to face her end next to the sword she cherished most.
“It must be lonely.”
“Not at all?”
“Hmm.”
The Demon King sneered.
“The one I spoke of… is such a great and magnificent being that she wouldn’t feel such trivial emotions.”
Indeed, loneliness and the Demon King seemed utterly incongruous.
But,
“No matter how great the entity you spoke of is, at its core, is still human. So, it’s not strange to feel loneliness.”
“!!”
Yes.
No matter how lofty, at the core is humanity.
Of course, the majority of Ascendants, upon reaching Lv. 9, almost completely lose their human traits and become ‘monsters.’
‘But not the Demon King. Not for a moment did she forget that she was human… no, that being a Demon King, she was a mortal demon.’
That was the secret behind the Demon King’s ascension to Heavenly Position.
“Ha! You’re talking nonsense. So, have you found a way to cure me?”
“No, I haven’t found it.”
“As expected, it was all nonsense. I wasn’t expecting much.”
“You seem to misunderstand. While I haven’t found the method, it doesn’t mean curing you is impossible.”
“…What nonsense are you spouting now?”
I know my words seem contradictory.
There’s no cure.
Yet, saying it’s not impossible to cure.
But that was the accurate expression.
‘Should I say it?’
I cautiously looked around.
Though it seemed we had developed some kind of rapport (?), speaking my mind now might provoke her into killing me on the spot.
It was that preposterous of a suggestion.
“If there’s no way to cure, why not just die and be reborn?”
“!!”
It wasn’t about resurrection.
A new birth.
In other words, it meant reincarnation.
‘Given the Demon King’s abilities, she should regain all her powers 2-3 years after reincarnation. Anyway, the Demon King’s role becomes crucial starting from the scenario of the third year’s The Resurgence of the Dreamfall.’
“Nonsense…”
“Why is it nonsense? Why not just perform the art of reincarnation?”
“Ha! That’s a Lv. 9 miracle magic, a forbidden art at that. The guardian of the empire’s royal family is extending that life with similar tricks, but apart from that, it’s impossible for anyone else.”
It’s not for no reason that Ascendants don’t extend their lives in the same manner as the guardian.
Defying death and continuing life anew was a method only the guardian could achieve.
“I can do it.”
“What?”
“Didn’t I say? I’m Van the Legend. Creating miracles is my specialty.”
‘Precisely, it’s possible because she’s the Demon King.’
If only I can free her from the ‘Shackles of the Dead’ that one faces after death, she can reincarnate with her own abilities as the Demon King.
Of course, freeing her from those shackles is a monumental miracle in itself.
“All this conversation has been a waste. You are insane…”
Suddenly, the Demon King clammed up.
It seemed she had realized something.
“Don’t tell me? Are you that guy? The arrogant new Ascendant who was lecturing me?”
“I’m not an Ascendant, but if it’s about giving you guidance, then yes. As a professor, it’s my duty to impart knowledge to anyone in need of learning, no matter who they are. You should be grateful for the lessons received.”
“!!”
At this point, I no longer kept secrets.
The Demon King gritted her teeth.
But only for a moment.
“Fine. I’ll follow what you said.”
An unexpected response.
“Do you trust me?”
If I were employing deception, the Demon King would end up dead.
“Are you mad? I trust no one. However.”
The Demon King laughed as if finding her own thoughts absurd.
“The arrogance of you lecturing me, the concern you showed, all came uniquely from you. So, it wouldn’t be so bad if you were the one to take my life.”
My heart sank.
To take a life.
It wasn’t merely about dying due to betrayal or failure.
To perform the art of reincarnation, I had to personally take the life of the Demon King.
At the Demon King’s gesture, the Demon King’s sword came smoothly into my hand.
“Now, kill me. Just pierce my heart.”
“……”
“What are you hesitating for now?”
“…I don’t know the spell for the art of reincarnation.”
“What?”
“You might have a rough idea of what the spell might be, right? Start with that. I’ll complete it based on your input. Ah, and you’ll need to provide the power needed for the spell.”
t/n – To clarify some confusing thing (idk if i’m right here tho), the gender of the Demon King is female. In Chapter 89 when fighting the Great Ones, the Demon King was seen by Van and described her as a woman. Since the Demon King was fighting some celestial beings, the Demon King perhaps wouldn’t use a guise since it’s useless in battle and might affect her performance.
I don’t know why the title for her is ‘Demon KING’ though…
Although there are other novels and mangas out there with a demon king title for some cute anime girl idk
