The Genius Professor Wants An Easy Life - Chapter 146
There was still time before Erich’s theatrical performance.
I spent the remaining time somewhat at ease.
“Libel, how did you do the magic you used during the circus act?”
“Uh, um… like this…”
“Hey, let’s take a picture with us too.”
“Photo… uh…”
“Why is this guy crying again?”
“Bucket list. Bucket list. How many today? Uhuhu.”
“The more I see this guy, the funnier he gets. Gloomy but funny.”
“This one seems to be a bit similar to Professor Van too. Professor Van is the flashy Cutie, this guy is gloomy and silly.”
“Despite appearances, isn’t he like some dark flame dragon who stood up to both the magic noble lord and the swordsmanship noble lord?”
“Alright, battle cat Libel, click!”
Unexpectedly, the students warmed up to Libel!
‘It’s because of the loyal image Libel showed in the recent duels, he’s been seen more favorably.’
It was a fortunate turn of events.
‘I hope Libel doesn’t end up with ‘The One’ as his nickname this time.’
The One had two meanings.
Incomparable and also standing alone; indicating that Libel would continue to be solitary, a nickname signifying his isolation.
I hoped that this time, surrounded by people, he’d get a cooler nickname, not something like The One.
‘It’s not just about Libel.’
Even if the “main storyline” reaches a happy ending and the world is saved, not all 16 protagonists are happy.
Looking back, many of the protagonists individually faced unhappy outcomes.
Right here, there are three protagonists who meet sad endings.
Not just Libel, but the Massacrist Mage, and the Demon Blade Mikhail too all face grim fates.
“Why did you come to the kitchen, master?”
“I came to see how well you’re doing.”
“Hehe, did you know? I actually mixed poison into the food. The academy is about to turn upside down soon. Ah, I wonder how many will die. Aren’t you excited?”
“The taste was certainly so exquisite that even if two people eat, one might die without the other noticing.”
“Tch. Boring. If you don’t watch out, I might really mix in poison, you know?”
“Got it, now step aside for a moment. I need to use the kitchen.”
“Hmm?”
I casually whipped up a dish.
My versatile skills extended to cooking, producing a plausible finished product.
It was a strawberry cream pancake.
I paid special attention to the design, making it look quite pretty.
“Ho? Who are you planning to give this to? Is there a young lady you’re interested in?”
“You.”
“Me?”
“Didn’t you grumble about being neglected like a caught fish? So, I’m feeding the caught fish. You have worked hard today.”
Sylphin, no, the Massacrist Mage, looked dumbfounded.
Unknown to anyone, Sylphin had a secret hobby.
It was enjoying beautiful desserts.
She secretly disguised herself and visited famous dessert shops incognito.
‘Can Sylphin ever be happy?’
Honestly, I think it’s difficult.
Even if the whole world becomes happy, she is likely to end up in misery and ruin.
So, I hoped she could enjoy this moment, even if it was brief.
Why?
Because today is a festival where the protagonists are students.
And she was one of today’s protagonists.
“…Thank you.”
I expected her to make a fuss as usual, but Sylphin quietly ate the pancake.
She looked contemplative.
Feeling she should be left alone, I stepped outside.
“Ah, Professor Van. Where have you been? Found you.”
“Your Highness Mikhail? Is there something you need?”
“Thank you. I never imagined I could enjoy the festival like this. It’s all thanks to you.”
“How many times are you going to thank me? That’s enough.”
I must have heard it at least five times.
Mikhail smiled awkwardly.
“I really couldn’t imagine myself enjoying a festival. This is like a dream.”
I paused for a moment to look at Mikhail.
He too is destined for unhappiness at the end in the Storyline.
‘The Path of the Imperial’s Blood.’
A destiny to kill all his kin and become the emperor.
Fortunately, he seemed happy for now.
“Is there anything else?”
“Hm?”
“Didn’t I promise when we first met to make your academy life enjoyable? Is there anything else you wanted to do at the academy?”
“…A party?”
“We’ll arrange a date with the other students soon.”
“…Really?”
“Yes, there’s a budget for student guidance dinners anyway, so we have to use it. An occasional dinner party would be nice.”
It’s not because I was jealous of Balas, Kansir, and Amanda having their own dinner party recently.
Not at all.
I too have people to dine with besides you guys! Hmph.
“Thank you. I can’t imagine what my academy life would have been without you. I’m glad to have a friend like you.”
“…Are we friends?”
“Isn’t it obvious? We’re the same age. I’ve always considered us friends.”
“…Yes, friends.”
Mikhail smiled gently.
“I should go take orders now. I’ll look forward to the dinner party!”
Mikhail fluttered away with his bunny ears and butterfly wing ribbon to serve.
I watched his retreating figure for a moment.
‘Friends.’
I didn’t have friends on Earth either.
Due to my family circumstances in my childhood.
And later, just trying to survive each day.
My heart went strangely fluttery.
“Van, I’m off to the capital.”
“Father.”
The Sword King, The Dark Lord, had left a while ago.
Duke Huam had stopped by elsewhere and just returned.
“Travel safely.”
“Yes, today was fun. Take care.”
Duke Huam patted my shoulder as if to encourage me, then turned to leave. But after a few steps, he paused.
“Is something wrong?”
“Your name was on the list for the upcoming royal symposium, wasn’t it?”
I nodded, puzzled.
It’s a well-known event in the academy’s academic circles, but not something the Duke, my father, would typically be interested in.
“Hmm.”
“??”
He seemed troubled.
“Do you really have to attend that?”
“!!”
“You’re not a presenter, just attending as an observer. Maybe reconsider?”
I swallowed hard.
‘This is a warning. Something is going to happen at the royal symposium.’
I racked my brain.
But nothing concrete came to mind.
I could only guess one thing.
‘Father is planning something.’
Duke Huam.
A good father.
Incomparably so compared to my father on Earth.
But what about the person who isn’t just my father, but Duke Huam?
As the Duke. As the head of the Ecclesia family.
‘Neither good nor evil.’
In the storyline, Duke Huam sometimes appears as a good character and at other times as a villain.
That’s how the Ecclesia family is.
Sometimes righteous, at other times more terrible than any villain.
It all changes according to the family’s interests.
“…I’ll consider it. I’d prefer not to go anyway. It would have been bothersome.”
“Alright, think it over. That’s all for now.”
Duke Huam shrugged his shoulders and disappeared.
But why?
Before leaving, Duke Huam’s gaze lingered on a certain place for a moment.
It was towards Mikhail.
“…….”
Was it my imagination?
A bad premonition made my heart feel heavy.
Duke Huam’s gaze at Mikhail was deeply somber.
* * *
For now, I decided to put that issue aside.
‘There’s no way to find out at the moment, and finishing the festival well is the priority.’
It was necessary to deal with Erich and the spies of the Three Evils.
‘It should be about time for Erich’s performance to start.’
It was the festival’s prime time at the end.
After enjoying other booths, people would come to see the performance as a finale.
Arriving at the performance venue, it was already packed with people.
After this performance, there would be a closing speech, so not just the general audience but also academy officials were present.
‘The Sword King isn’t here. She must have left. Did she and Theren resolve their issues afterward?’
May the curse of the specter haunt your family forever!
“That concludes the horror play ‘Curse of the Ten Demons Specter.’ Next up is ‘The Legend of the Eight Heroes,’ guided by Professor Erich.”
“Thank you for coming. I hope everyone enjoys the show.”
Erich made his greetings.
Simple, but somehow it felt impressively put together.
“Wow!!”
“Professor Erich is cool!”
“The Red Dragons, fighting!!”
Clap, clap, clap.
As expected of a professor who had quickly become a favorite, the cheers were enthusiastic.
‘But the cheers for my event booth seem quieter? Could he possibly be the top favorite?’
While I was entertaining this thought for a moment, the play started.
The content wasn’t anything special.
No, it was clichéd.
‘The Legend of the Eight Heroes is a story everyone’s heard to the point that their ears might bleed as they already know of this story in their childhood.’
It was like turning a well-known folk tale like Heungbu and Nolbu or Kongjwi and Patjwi into a play in Korea.
‘Although the actors were excellent.’
Erich looked somehow impressive, and along with some of the academy’s top five freshmen, the Red Five Dragons, all looked fantastic.
But they couldn’t transcend the limitations of the script.
The audience’s reaction was mixed.
“Hmm. Everyone looks cool, but.”
“It’s a bit boring.”
“Do you think we’ll be satisfied just because of those gorgeous actors? Yawn.”
Yawns were heard here and there. Haaaah.
But the odd thing was that no one got up and left.
Despite the event being open for people to come and go as they please during the festival.
Everyone just watched the performance blankly, as if ‘enchanted’ without realizing it.
“That’s all. Thank you.”
“Wow.”
The cheers were significantly quieter than at the beginning.
The play was so dull that not even charm could disguise it.
“Now, before we start the closing ceremony, we will proceed with the popularity vote! Please select the best booth on the computational magic device placed to the side!”
Magic devices were deployed in large numbers for quick tallying.
The results could be known immediately.
Eventually.
“The first place goes to Professor Erich’s play booth.”
“!!”
Everyone looked shocked.
“No way?”
“It’s not Professor Van’s booth?”
“Professor Van’s booth is in second place. The difference in votes is quite significant.”
“Could it be an error?!”
“No, it isn’t. We just rechecked, and the tallies are correct. Congratulations to Professor Erich for taking first place!”
The announcement stirred up noise throughout the venue.
“Isn’t this rigged?”
“Exactly. Professor Erich is part of those Rapalt groups.”
“Who did you vote for?”
“…Me? Professor Erich. And you?”
“…Me too, Professor Erich.”
“Why? I thought you were with Van’s club.”
“…I don’t know. I just found myself voting for Professor Erich without realizing it.”
“Me too. I was going to vote for Professor Cutie but ended up voting for Professor Erich. How did that happen?”
Everyone was confused, especially those who voted for Erich.
Their faces looked as if they were under a spell.
At that moment, Erich stepped onto the stage and smirked at me.
“Professor Van, I trust you haven’t forgotten our wager.”
“!!”
“The one who loses the popularity vote must leave the academy. Please tender your resignation immediately.”
“Ha! Yes, a promise is a promise. Van, start packing and scram to Amethyst right now!”
Duke Volman, gleeful as ever, chimed in support.
But the atmosphere among the students was off.
Everyone was silent as if holding back.
Their faces showed disbelief,
on the verge of erupting.
