The Genius Professor Wants An Easy Life - Chapter 156
Moments later.
“Hoo hoo. Sniff.”
Lindon was sitting next to me, sobbing.
“Why are you crying?”
“Do I look like I’m not crying?! I thought this was finally my chance to become rich! Hoo hoo.”
“I’ve steered you away from the wrong path, you should be thankful.”
“You don’t know! Hoo hoo!”
“Lindon, you! Not recognizing the professor’s grace as vast as the sea! When we return to the lab, prepare for a major cleanup! Do you have any idea how much dust has accumulated because you didn’t clean?!”
“Argh! Why do I have to do the cleaning?! Am I your errand boy? Let’s settle this, baldy!”
“You! Violence is bad! Exceptionally, this time, I’ll do the cleaning for you!”
I sighed in relief at Lindon’s fussing.
‘Good save.’
Look at him today.
If he had been left to run rampant, he would have definitely ended up contracting with a demon to become an evil dark mage.
It’s not just a self-justification for being sad about a graduate student running away. Really, truly.
‘I have to make him go through the doctoral program. If taught properly by my side, by the time he graduates from graduate school, he might be able to achieve great things in Dark Magic without falling into evil ways.’
I reflected on the duel just now.
Honestly, I was surprised.
Just a little provocation, and he immediately stepped into his Path of Magic.
He’s not completely Level 5 yet, but it won’t be long.
“Hoo hoo. I was planning to make a name for myself in the Dark Colosseum and earn money, but it’s all ruined because of you, professor.”
“You’ll be in graduate school for a while anyway, doesn’t it not matter?”
“I was planning to work part-time! Do you know how expensive the bounty is for a renowned Dark Mage? But now that I’ve lost so disgracefully, who would want to hire me? Sob sob.”
Hmm.
Perhaps I did win too one-sidedly.
Especially since the audience is murmuring about it.
“What happened? Why did the Lich King lose?”
“Something flashed, and all of Lich King’s magic was dismantled.”
“I saw it. It was a basic Dark Bolt.”
“Just by a Dark Bolt?”
“Was the Lich King all bluff then?”
The duel ended so quickly that few could understand what had happened.
Thanks to that, instead of marveling at my greatness, the prevailing opinion formed was that Lindon wasn’t all that special. However, not everyone felt this way. A foreboding aura emanated from those who remained silent.
‘Level 6 Dark Mages, on par with Mages level of Master.’
Although the recent frequent appearances of Level 7 super-strong figures have somewhat diminished their spotlight, Level 6 mages are still formidable opponents.
They were on a completely different level compared to other participants.
However, these mages didn’t readily step forward, wary of me.
Dark Mages, even those who walk the path of righteousness, are cunning and don’t make moves rashly.
Even if I challenged them, they wouldn’t accept.
‘I need to defeat someone famous to cause a big stir.’
Yes.
My goal was to create as much chaos as possible at this Dark Symposium.
Then, I spotted the perfect target.
An opponent effective for causing chaos and with whom I had a personal ‘grudge.’
“The House of Darkness is said to be formidable. Yet, I’m still not convinced. Perhaps someone from the bloodline of the House of Darkness could enlighten me?”
“!!”
I looked directly at ‘the opponent’ and spoke.
“Young Master Bern.”
He was the villainous Dark Mage protagonist.
The one who had caused me great trouble during the previous Amethyst practice by summoning the magic dragon.
It was time for him to pay.
* * *
“Are you insane? Challenging Young Master Bern?”
“Do you know how formidable Young Master Bern is?”
Shock spread throughout the venue.
A monster genius from the House of Darkness, the leading family in Dark Magic.
“M-Me? I’m too scared to duel…?”
Bern, whom I had called out, widened his eyes in surprise.
For reference, all 16 protagonists were generally quite attractive.
The male protagonists were no exception; Libel had a somewhat lonely (actually eerie) handsome look, Mikhail was a stunningly handsome man, and Johan had the gentle demeanor of a deer.
Bern was cute.
Especially small in stature, and his timid appearance especially triggered maternal instincts.
“I seek to learn from the depth of your Dark Magic knowledge.”
“Still…”
“I earnestly wish to learn the advanced Dark Magic of the House of Darkness, so please teach me.”
“If you insist that much… Ah, okay.”
Bern nodded reluctantly as if he had no other choice.
But I saw it.
A fleeting, sinister gleam in the subdued Bern’s eyes.
‘It’s the other personality, Beril.’
The kind part of the personality is Bern.
The malicious part is Beril.
Beril would be itching to cause trouble right now.
“I am Bern from the House of Darkness. My level is 5, and I have no particular specialty.”
For someone just at the age of a new academy student to be Level 5 is an enormous achievement.
What’s even more astonishing is the lack of a specific specialty.
Meaning he’s proficient in various Dark Magic disciplines.
No wonder he’s called the monster.
‘His Level isn’t really 5.’
I also introduced myself before the duel.
“I am the Dark Destroyer. My Level is 2. My specialty is ‘Dark Bolt.'”
“Da-Dark Bolt? Isn’t that a basic Dark Magic spell?”
“Yes, it’s the only Dark Magic spell I can properly cast.”
“!!”
The audience became even more uproarious.
“How dare such a person challenge Young Master Bern?!”
“Let him learn his place, Young Master!”
“If his skills are that low, it could cause problems. The aftermath of the duel could leave serious consequences, are you sure you’re okay with this?”
I smirked.
That statement seemed to come from Beril.
Not a concern, but a prelude to causing trouble.
“You don’t need to worry.”
“But still.”
“Enough. This is dragging on too long. Let’s begin.”
Bern hesitated, then cast his Dark Magic.
Dark flames unfolded.
Level 4 Dark Flame.
A fierce display.
But that’s not all.
‘He mixed in a Level 5 curse, and a particularly sinister one at that. This is the real deal.’
This is the symposium hall.
Direct attacks causing significant harm would be frowned upon, so he’s stealthily mixing in a curse to inflict a fatal wound.
‘This is a good opportunity.’
What opportunity, you might ask?
You’ll see.
My hand was raised.
Flash.
“!!”
Whoosh! Swish!
The dark flames scattered, accompanied by a sound akin to breaking glass.
The curse within was shattered.
Bern’s face turned pale.
But that wasn’t all.
Darkness flashed from my hand again, and something astonishing happened.
Thump!
“Urgh?!”
Bern kneeled on one knee and slumped down.
“……”
For a moment, his face showed he was unaware of what had just happened to him.
And it wasn’t just Bern.
The entire hall went silent.
Everyone looked in disbelief.
“How disappointing.”
“!!”
Then, a gust of wind blew my hood off.
Perfect timing.
People recognized my face and showed shocked expressions.
“Van the Legend!!”
I now looked directly into the malicious eyes of ‘Beril’ and curled my lips into a smile.
I also lowered my voice.
“It seems you’re the one who needs to be taught, not me. I, who will become the legendary L-fessor, will personally instruct you. Stand up.”
“!!”
Yes.
I planned to use this opportunity to impart lessons to Bern, to Beril.
Teachings of the baton.
After all, for those who are most resistant, the baton proves to be the greatest teacher.
* * *
The hall was engulfed in silence.
Sounds echoed loudly
Flash! Swish! Ugh!!
The sound of Bern being overwhelmingly defeated… no, being ‘thrashed.’
‘Bern, Beril needs to be beaten with a stick whenever the opportunity arises.’
Don’t get me wrong.
I am a peace-loving common man.
I absolutely oppose violence.
However, to reform him, there was no other choice.
‘It’s a proven strategy.’
As mentioned before, the four villainous protagonists are divided into two types.
The more dreadful Demon Brain, and the Massacrist Mage.
The less dreadful Jester, and 070 Alpha Zero.
To clarify, ‘Jester’ refers to Bern-Beril.
The latter two are categorized as “better” because of their potential for reform.
Following the strategy, he can be transformed smoothly.
‘The way to conquer Bern involves “love’s discipline.”‘
More precisely, it’s described as “beat every time you see him.”
So, you could say, this is for his own good.
Thump!
I’ll kill you! I swear I’ll kill you!!!
A voice filled with rage echoed in my ears.
It was a message from ‘Beril.’
“It seems my teachings are still insufficient.”
Thump!
If it seems emotional, that’s a misunderstanding.
I’m a pacifist! It’s all love’s discipline.
Again, Thump!
“Young Master Bern is being overpowered like that? Even against Van the Legend?”
“He’s only using Dark Bolt.”
“The rumors about Van the Legend were true?”
“But isn’t this too much? To our Young Master Bern.”
“Ooouu!!”
Bern has been thoroughly hiding his dual personality.
It might seem like I’m the wicked professor oppressing the good-natured Bern, but in reality.
I’ll kill you. I’ll kill you. I’ll kill you. I’ll kill you. I’ll kill you. I’ll kill you. I’ll kill you. I’ll kill you. I’ll kill you. I’ll kill you. I’ll kill you. I’ll kill you. I’ll kill you. I’ll kill you. I’ll kill you.
I will definitely kill you!!
A chilling intent to kill was conveyed.
His eyes flickered menacingly.
He was so enraged he lost the ability to act with restraint.
‘A Success.’
Bern-Beril’s rehabilitation phase 1.
Make him reveal his true colors.
“What’s that energy?!”
“It’s one of the ‘Holder’ Spell! Young Master Bern has reached Level 6?”
Revealing Beril’s true nature temporarily allows him to access Level 6 abilities.
Beril was ‘an ego specialized in negativity.’
A powerful curse energy gathered.
A clear Level 6 Holder Spell.
However, unlike before, I felt no fear.
‘I’ve also become stronger as a Level 2 apprentice.’
I raised my hand.
Rehabilitation phase 2.
Show overwhelming prowess.
Dark Bolt flashed.
Crack!!
A Level 6 curse was shattered.
“Urgh!!”
Beril collapsed, vomiting black blood.
A breathless silence followed.
While everyone was speechless,
Clap. Clap. Clap.
Applause was heard.
“Van, my nephew. Impressive. My eyes did not deceive me.”
It was Duke Byron, the Dark Lord.
However, his demeanor was completely different from before.
Gone was the groveling posture before the dukes, replaced by a cold gleam in his eyes.
A true embodiment of a leading figure in the Dark Magic community.
“How about it? Entering the grand world of Dark Magic like this. With such passion from you, even Duke Huam couldn’t object.”
“Yes, I will proceed as such.”
“If you refuse, you’ll have to face the consequences I dictate… Hmm, what did you say?”
“I said I would enter the world of Dark Magic.”
“…Hmm? Eh? If you do that, won’t I get scolded by Duke Huam?”
“Please, do take care of me.”
