The Genius Professor Wants An Easy Life - Chapter 154
“Are you asking me to attend the symposium and create a favorable public opinion for Prince Mikhail? Understood.”
Leona nodded happily.
“Is that okay with you?”
“What do you mean? Attending the symposium isn’t bad for me at all. Even though I’m a student, the papers I’ve published so far more than qualify me to attend.”
Leona had published papers that far exceeded the level of ordinary professors even before she enrolled.
The academy even debated whether it would be more appropriate to invite Leona as a professor instead.
However, it fell through because Duke Huam insisted she should have an ordinary school life while she was young.
“Any other requests?”
“…No, that’s all. That should be sufficient.”
“That’s nothing much. Alright, then. If we’re done here, I’ll be going. See you next time.”
After Leona left her seat, I was plunged into thought.
‘Did I do the right thing?’
To execute the plan I had in mind, it was first necessary to reverse public opinion at the royal symposium.
All attendees would advocate for Mikhail’s punishment, and only ‘The Sage’ Leona could possibly overturn them.
‘This has nothing to do with Demon Brain’s own interests.’
But then, I recalled the smile I had seen on Leona’s face.
As if genuinely pleased.
A chilling smile.
‘…I’m not sure.’
However, I had one intuition.
That it was inevitable to end up in catastrophe with Leona.
Different from the other siblings.
‘It’s no coincidence that Demon Brain is considered one of the worst villain-type protagonists alongside the Massacrist Mage.’
Compared to Leona, villain protagonists like the dual-personality dark wizard ‘Bern-Beril,’ or the swordsmanship department villain ‘070 Alpha Zero,’ seemed almost cute.
‘Let’s just see how things go for now. Whatever Demon Brain is up to can’t be bad for me.’
Duke Volman’s soon-to-be-launched ‘Shangri-La Academy Project.’
The real mastermind behind it is Leona.
In the end, it would serve as the catalyst for the complete downfall of the Rapalt duke’s family, thanks to the protagonists’ efforts, so there was no harm in it.
‘Let’s move on to the next pawn.’
* * *
Then, after parting with Van, Leona entered another cafe.
“Hello, Leona~ Hihi.”
A girl greeted Leona with a bright smile.
She appeared to be around 17, just like Leona, and also a freshman at the academy.
Her aura was the complete opposite.
Bright and radiant, like a doll.
“I greet Your Highness Esmeralda.”
It was a remarkable name.
The name of the body possessed by the Guardian of the Reinhardt royal family… and also the girl who was Van’s childhood friend.
“Ah, just call me Emel like before. I’m practically locked up in the palace all the time anyway, nobody knows my face so it doesn’t matter, right?”
“What did Your Highness call me here for?”
“Don’t be so formal. Don’t you remember how we used to play together with Brother Van, the three of us?”
“Aren’t Your Highness no longer our childhood friend?”
Esmeralda continued with a smile still on her face.
“What are you talking about? My memories, personality, and self are all the same. I’m still Emel.”
Leona frowned slightly.
Normally, a sacrifice offered to a Guardian loses their soul and dies, but strangely, Esmeralda retained her original soul.
Even Leona, known as the ‘The Sage,’ ‘Demon Brain,’ who devoured all kinds of knowledge in the world, couldn’t understand this phenomenon.
One thing was clear.
The current state of ‘Esmeralda’ was definitely intended by the Guardian.
The reasons for the Guardian to make Esmeralda like this were unknown, but they couldn’t be good.
The Guardian, contrary to popular belief, is not inherently noble and a benevolent being.
“May I ask you one thing?”
“Hmm?”
“Why did the Guardian give such a prophecy to Prince Mikhail?”
It was a question asked on behalf of Van.
“Emel isn’t the Guardian, so I don’t know? But, you know, that prophecy might be fake.”
A surprising revelation.
Esmeralda chuckled.
“I’m the ‘vessel’ of the Guardian, right? So, there are things I can know. That’s definitely a fake prophecy. I don’t know why the Guardian would tell such a lie… Hmm. If smart Emel had to guess!”
Esmeralda opened her mouth with an expression of revealing a big secret.
“For fun?”
“…….”
“It’s hilarious. The entire empire is in chaos over a single lie. It’s fun. I wish it would all just fall apart like this.”
Esmeralda still wore a lovely smile.
It was hard to believe she had just uttered such dreadful words.
Her tone might have seemed playful, but Leona knew.
That those words were sincere.
‘Esmeralda’ is no longer the bright-eyed girl from Van’s childhood.
She has become a monster.
‘But so have I.’
Leona suddenly remembered the distant past.
Leona, don’t be a stick in the mud~ Don’t just read books. And stop calling your brother stupid!
Right, Leona. You shouldn’t say such things to Brother Van. Let’s go to the picnic.
Van, Leona, and Esmeralda used to play together often.
It’s a past they can’t return to.
Because both Leona and the Esmeralda before her have changed.
“But really, why did you call me?”
“Ah, right. How’s your club activity going?”
“Club activity?”
“You know… Cerberus or something?”
“Ouroboros.”
“Yeah, that’s it! What was it you were planning again?”
“…The Shangri-La Academy Project.”
“Wow, the project name is so cheesy.”
“It’s not cheesy.”
Leona had named the project herself.
In truth, naming was not Leona’s forte, though she would never admit it.
“Should I help with that?”
“Are you offering, Your Highness?”
“Yeah, it sounds like it could be fun.”
Her face lit up with the anticipation of a child at a party.
Leona briefly ran some calculations in her head.
She could guess the intention.
From Leona’s standpoint, it wasn’t a bad deal.
“If you wish, you may do so.”
“Yay! Thank you!”
Esmeralda wasn’t the Guardian, but she could borrow some of the Guardian’s powers.
With her help, the Shangri-La Academy Project would be perfect.
“Then I’ll be going, this Emel is leaving! See you next time.”
“Before you go, may I ask one last thing?”
“Sure, what?”
“Is Brother Van really the original Brother Van?”
A question that would have made Van flinch if he heard it.
In this world, possession is not an impossibility.
Even the Guardian continues to live by possessing the bodies of others.
Of course, it’s a rare occurrence.
Conversely, it means that only being at the level of the Guardian is capable of doing so.
It’s possible for the Guardian because they are proficient in abilities related to souls, but it’s impossible for other Ascendants.
“Are you asking if someone has possessed Van’s body?”
“Yes, as a scholar, my principle is to verify all possibilities.”
“I did suspect it, but no, there hasn’t been any possession.”
Esmeralda tilted her head and said,
“Van’s soul has never changed.”
* * *
The next recruits were Professor Burnstein and Dame Sienna.
‘Hmm.’
I paused for a moment in front of the city’s top fine dining restaurant.
‘I wonder if Professor Burnstein is doing okay? I’m worried.’
Once inside, as expected, Professor Burnstein’s complexion wasn’t great.
Things didn’t seem to be going well.
‘…Was he rejected?’
I decided not to act and secretly listened in from the next table, thankfully, it didn’t seem like that was the case.
“When I caught those guys that time, oh, you should have seen the scene, senior!”
“Yes, Sienna. I have something to tell you.”
“What is it?”
“…Never mind. How did you deal with the three villain brothers from the Ran Republic?”
“Oh, so, I acted as bait and went directly into their hideout. But what was the real thing you wanted to tell me?”
“…Well… uh. Actually… uh. I forgot.”
This frustrating professor!
He couldn’t bring himself to say it.
‘Why can’t he just say what he feels?’
But then again, I suppose I wouldn’t have been able to do it in that situation either.
There’s a reason why I’m perpetually single.
“Actually, I have something to tell you too.”
“W-What is it? I’m all prepared…!”
“I might die soon.”
“……”
Chill
The atmosphere turned icy.
“Do you know about the Ten Demons?”
“…Why do you ask?”
“I don’t know if you’re aware, but those demons are extremely terrifying beings.”
“…Don’t tell me. You?”
“Yes, I’m currently pursuing one. But, I have a bad feeling. Somehow, I sense that this time I’m really walking into death’s palm. Yet, I can’t stop.”
Dame Sienna laughed weakly.
“That’s why I wanted to see you. Thinking it might be the last time, I just found myself thinking of you.”
Professor Burnstein clamped his mouth shut then opened it.
“I will protect you.”
“You, professor?”
“Yes.”
“Thank you, but…”
Just as Dame Sienna was about to weakly shake her head, I intervened.
“I will help as well.”
“Professor Van?”
“How did you get here?”
“Both of you, please follow me.”
They followed me, bewildered.
“Here? A dungeon? There’s such a place near the capital?”
“Yes, I only found out about it recently.”
It was a hidden piece location.
Not something I particularly needed.
“Dame Sienna, could you lend me your investigator’s license?”
“Why?”
“There’s something I need to check. It will only take a moment.”
“Normally, I wouldn’t allow this, but since it’s Professor Van, then I shall give you my trust.”
“Please wait here for a moment. I’ll be right back.”
They complied without question.
‘Hmm. I feel a bit guilty for them trusting me too much.’
And then.
“Hans, activate it.”
“Yes, Professor!”
Hans, who had been waiting nearby upon my earlier instructions, activated the magic.
Pooff
The entrance to the cave closed!
They were trapped in the dungeon.
“What are you doing, Professor Van?!”
From across the sealed door, I spoke.
“This seal door was created by graduate student Hans with all his effort. Unless one reaches Level 7, it cannot be opened.”
“!!”
“To protect Dame Sienna, you must first reach Level 7.”
Obtaining the hidden piece inside the dungeon wouldn’t be difficult for Professor Burnstein to reach Level 7.
This time, I waved the investigator’s license towards Dame Sienna.
“I’ll take over the investigation of the Ten Demons.”
“No!!”
“I am different from Dame Sienna. I will not die chasing after one of those demons. Please, rest assured and take it easy.”
The only way to save Dame Sienna is to forcefully confine her.
Being together for a long time might even lead to the progression of their relationship.
‘…No, given Professor Burnstein’s personality, even if given time, he might not confess.’
Anyway, I left them behind and headed to another destination.
The groundwork is now complete.
It’s time to start the operation.
However, Hans followed me.
“Why are you following?”
“I’m hurt! I am like the wings of Professor Van! Of course, I should follow!”
“…You just tapdance backwards when things get dangerous.”
“That’s for tactical reasons…!!”
While I was tuning out Hans’s fussing, suddenly, he went silent.
“Professor, the carriage stopped in a strange place?”
“Did we not arrive correctly?”
“Correctly, you say?”
“What’s the problem?”
Hans yelled as if asking that was ridiculous.
“This is the House of Darkness, isn’t it?!”
Yes.
My destination was the House of Darkness, the foremost family in dark magic.
The reason for coming here is…
Hans explained instead.
“Especially since it’s the middle of the Dark Symposium, isn’t it?! Filled with wicked dark mages! There are also rumors that the mysterious epidemic spreading in the capital recently is because of these people! But Professor, don’t tell me, are you attending the Dark Symposium?”
I nodded, confirming.
Yes.
My plan is to conquer the festival of dark mages, the Dark Symposium, as the first step of the operation.
It’s time to showcase the power I’ve gained as a Level 2 Advanced.
