The Genius Professor Wants An Easy Life - Chapter 167
Let’s delve into the “Academy Battle.”
Thinking in terms of Earth’s common sense, the existence of such duels might seem absurd, but in the empire, known as the nation of academies, it’s a relatively common occurrence.
The reasons for battles varied, including mergers like this one, disputes over academy rights, and simple pride battles.
Given its deep-rooted tradition, there were generally accepted rules, with ‘students’ being the protagonists of the battle.
Since academies are educational institutions, it was believed that the capabilities of an academy should be proven through the achievements of its students.
‘Having professors fight would escalate things too much. Plus, there’s the issue with mercenary professors brought in from outside.’
There were four categories.
First was the evaluation of the academy’s research and achievements over the past year.
Since professors couldn’t be entirely excluded from the battle, their accumulated achievements were compared.
Ruby was at an overwhelming disadvantage.
It wasn’t for nothing that Ruby was considered the least of the four prestigious academies.
‘Just comparing the number of MCI-grade papers shows a difference of more than double the score.’
The second was “academic debate.”
A battle of wits among students from the humanities departments.
Considering the usual behavior of Ruby’ humanities students, the chances of winning this seemed slim.
The third was “exhibition.”
Support Department students showcase their honed skills in front of an audience.
Thanks to the Massacrist Mage, there seemed to be a chance of winning this.
The last, fourth category was,
‘Death Match. A competition between the swordsmanship and magic departments.’
This was the highlight of the Academy Battle.
It also carried the highest score.
‘Students are selected from the knight and magic departments to duel.’
The specific format varied depending on the agreement between the two academies.
It could involve dozens of participants, or it could be a duel between the strongest students from each academy.
This time, the competition was to select the strongest three students from both the swordsmanship and magic departments, regardless of grade, to duel.
“So, Theren, you’re saying you’ll defeat Catherine and Libel?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“Why? Why not go out there together in harmony?”
“…….”
Indeed.
Since there are three slots for selection, Catherine, Libel, and Theren could all participate side by side. Why the need for internal conflict?
Yet, Theren’s reaction was peculiar.
“Ha. Are you really asking because you don’t know?”
“??”
Genuinely confused, I tilted my head, prompting Theren to furrow his brow even more.
“…As expected, you don’t care about someone like me. Fine. A knight speaks with their sword. On the selection day, I will defeat your students with my sword and prove my worth to you.”
“??”
But why?
It made even less sense, but before I could probe further, Theren had already turned and disappeared.
“Tell Catherine and Libel to prepare for their defeat.”
Leaving behind such a villainous warning.
‘This is problematic.’
Despite being a first-year, Theren was a Level 3 User-grade knight.
Moreover, with secret techniques honed by his prestigious swordsmanship lineage, he possessed strength far surpassing a regular Level 3.
He was comparable to a Level 4 Expert.
‘The upperclassmen are also a concern.’
Despite Ruby being the most underperforming among the prestigious academies, dubbed “Failed Ruby,” it wasn’t devoid of exceptional talents.
There were a few Level 4 experts.
Honestly, the odds of Catherine and Libel being selected were slim.
“Do they really have to be the ones to go? Why not let Theren, that pretentious annoying guy, and some other upperclassmen handle it? It’s safer to go with proven stocks than speculative ones.”
Lindon, back to his usual self, commented while flipping through a stock market book.
“No, they must be the ones to go.”
“Why?”
“For the same reason you always aim for a windfall by picking risky stocks.”
“No, what I pick are not risky, but hidden gems in the mud!”
Catherine and Libel were also hidden gems.
Because they were protagonists.
‘The real power of protagonists is their ability to create miracles, no matter how desperate the situation.’
Admittedly, their abilities, when viewed objectively, were below those of other upperclassmen.
Would the upperclassmen Level 4s guarantee a victory in the battle?
‘They’d definitely lose. Shangri-La Academy will mobilize far superior opponents. The only hope lies in the miracles that protagonists can bring about.’
In fact, if in this episode the protagonists representing Ruby fail to be selected, it inevitably leads to a game over.
There was only one way.
“I have no choice. I didn’t want to resort to this method.”
“What kind of trouble are you planning to cause now?”
“It’s not about causing trouble.”
“How is it not? You have that look of plotting something weird again!”
I shook my head and left the lab.
Truth be told, I was indeed planning to cause a bit of a stir.
‘I wonder if they’ll comply. It could be considered student abuse in a way.’
If Catherine and Libel both refused, I’d have to find another method.
But then.
“You want me to do that? Fine, if you say so, I’ll do it.”
“I’ll follow whatever you say, Professor.”
“…Are you sure about this?”
“I’m not so sure. Honestly, I thought, ‘Are you crazy?’ But, you know, you’re the professor.”
“B-Besides, I haven’t prepared your birthday gift yet. I can’t figure out what gift would be worthy of your greatness…”
“Hey, can you stop obsessing over that darn birthday gift? How many nights are you going to stay up thinking about it?”
“Professor Van’s birthday is the most important day in the cosmic calendar.”
“Shut up, you crazy troll.”
I blinked momentarily.
Were they not understanding me properly? That’s what I wondered.
“Let me explain again.”
“Oh, come on. We get it. Basically, we have to work ourselves to death. Why keep going on about it? If that’s what it takes, then let’s do it. You wouldn’t make us do such things without a reason.”
“I-I’m such a terrible person… to be a student and not have prepared a birthday gift yet.”
I felt a surge of emotion.
Honestly, even by my own standards, the directive I was considering was absurd, yet they were ready to follow it out of trust in me.
“Alright, then let’s not waste any time and get started right away. Let’s go.”
“Yes, but where are we heading? To the nearby Stormy Lake? Or are we using a portal to go to a distant sea?”
“Why would we go there?”
“Aren’t we supposed to train in rough waters?”
“There’s no need to go far. There’s a perfect place in the Free City.”
“??”
They were puzzled.
And then.
“I’m not doing it! You didn’t say anything about this!”
“Didn’t I explain everything?”
“You never said it would be in a place like this, you scamming professor!!”
This place.
I looked around.
Dark, with a putrid smell.
Water so sinister it seemed it could be hiding corpses.
Monsters lurking around.
And even some cute little creatures.
We were in the Free City’s underground waterways.
A dungeon of inaccessible grade.
“Why do we have to train techniques in such a deadly place?!”
“Because it’s only possible here.”
Indeed.
There was a reason for bringing them to such a place.
“Catherine, the Wave Sword technique you need to master is more quickly learned in turbid underwater conditions. The same goes for Libel’s advanced mana control. And don’t worry about skin diseases; I’ll lend you protective magical devices.”
Notably, ‘turbid’ was akin to ‘dirtiness.’
“If you understand, then dive in.”
“D-Dive in.”
Splash!
Libel was the first to jump in.
Catherine gritted her teeth.
“Ah, really!! If there’s no effect, you won’t get away with this!!”
Splash!
I quietly nodded at their actions.
The extent of their trust in me was slightly touching.
‘I definitely wouldn’t have done it myself.’
Ksksks.
As if agreeing, a cutie nodded its antennae.
* * *
The preparation for the selection competition wasn’t just for Catherine and Libel.
Leave the humanities department debate battle to me. I promise I’ll win.
Mikhail spoke with newfound determination.
I was grateful, but it was likely a tall order.
‘The Demon Brain from Shangri-La Academy will probably participate as a transfer student in disguise.’
However, it seemed we could breathe a little easier regarding the support department side.
The Massacrist Mage was focusing on her research, trying to fulfill the promise she made to me.
Given that her alchemical magic was already beyond the level of an undergraduate, she was expected to secure a victory without much issue.
‘So, with a guaranteed defeat in the academy’s research and achievements category, it’s basically a situation of 1 win and 2 losses out of the 4 categories.’
The decisive factor would be the Death Match in the swordsmanship and magic departments.
With double the scoring, the side that wins the Death Match would likely emerge as the overall victor.
Of course, it was no easy task.
Firstly, internal adversaries within the academy were problematic.
“Professor Van is giving Catherine and Libel special tutoring?”
Clench!
“That Professor Van! We can’t lose this time. Are you ready, students?”
“Yes, Professor!”
“We will show that troll, Libel, what we’re made of!!”
There was an atmosphere of ‘Down with Van, Catherine, and Libel.’
This was more their karma than mine.
Both were known for their lack of social skills, disrespecting seniors, which seemed to have unwittingly earned them quite the reputation.
“Who are you to talk? Always fighting like a Fight Dragon with other professors. I’ve heard the other professors are grinding their teeth, saying they’ll finally bring down Professor Van this time.”
I ignored Lindon’s tsking.
The upperclassmen were a problem, but Theren was the biggest challenge.
‘Theren is also undergoing secret special training.’
Theren, too, was a protagonist.
Even if Catherine and Libel were undergoing hellish training, there was no guarantee of victory against Theren, another protagonist.
‘It would be ideal if all three could compete together.’
If Theren chooses Catherine and Libel as his duel opponents during the selection, the loser would be eliminated.
It was an undeniable case of team killing.
‘How to persuade him?’
That’s when I hesitated.
Walking across the campus, I noticed a student glaring furiously at me from the opposite direction.
“Yulia?”
Her expression was as venomous as when she was portrayed as a villain in the original storyline.
‘What happened?’
Just as I was about to ask out of concern, Yulia said something unexpected.
“Why are you excluding me?”
“!!”
“Aren’t I your student too?”
Yulia crossed her arms, looking displeased.
“I can do much better than Catherine and Libel, you know? Honestly, I’m the only one among your students who can beat Theren.”
