The Genius Professor Wants An Easy Life - Chapter 168
Oh
I realized my mistake.
I had neglected Yulia while focusing on Catherine and Libel.
‘The chances of Yulia being helpful in this Academy Battle are slim.’
In terms of skills, Yulia is among the top students of all first-years across departments.
However, this time we needed a miracle that goes beyond mere skills.
A miracle granted only to protagonists.
That was the reason, but causing Yulia to feel excluded was my mistake.
I sincerely apologized.
“I’m sorry. I was so preoccupied that I didn’t consider anything else.”
“Hmph, keep favoring Catherine and Libel like that, and I might just hold a grudge. Who knows, I might even turn to the dark side?”
Turning to the dark side.
Recalling how wicked a villain Yulia was in the original storyline, I broke out a slight sweat.
Fortunately, it seemed my apology somewhat mollified her, as her eyes softened slightly.
“I’ll become your hitman.”
“What do you mean?”
“You have plans that involve getting Catherine and Libel selected, right? But isn’t Theren targeting them, making things difficult? I’ll take care of Theren for you.”
The proposal was tempting.
In the worst case, Theren could eliminate both Catherine and Libel.
‘But can Yulia really beat Theren?’
Noticing my concern, Yulia’s eyes sharpened again.
“You still don’t trust me, do you?”
“It’s not that…”
“Well, I understand. Honestly, it’s true that Theren is more powerful than me. That’s why I need your help.”
“What kind of help do you need?”
“Well…”
Yulia hesitated for a moment before speaking up, and my eyes widened.
“Are you serious?”
“Why? Is it too difficult?”
“It’s not that. But this is…”
I trailed off.
Yulia has her own traumas.
The fear of being abandoned by her master, the Mad Dragon, at any moment.
What Yulia is proposing to do is something the Mad Dragon would not appreciate.
“I can’t be abandoned just for something like this. I’m going to trust in it.”
“!!”
“Just like some foolish professor taught me before.”
Ah.
I recalled my first encounter with Yulia.
Trusting someone actually requires tremendous courage.
Just as I had spoken, Yulia also mustered her courage.
‘She’s reached the level of a Level 2 Apprentice. With her strengthened resolve, her presence has also grown stronger compared to before. ’
It seemed there could be a chance of winning!
“Alright. Yulia, I’ll entrust you with facing Theren.”
“I don’t want to do it for free, though.”
“Hmm?”
“I felt neglected this time. If you ask me politely, I might just consider it.”
“Then, I respectfully request the assistance of the elegant, wise, and swordsmanship prodigy, Miss Yulia, to take care of Theren on my behalf, would thee?”
“Ah, what the heck!”
Seeing Yulia blush and get angry, I chuckled.
“But I can provide assistance, though I can’t be your trainer”
“Oh, I have someone to spar with.”
A short while later.
“Aaaaaah!! Why me?! I don’t have to worry about going to jail anymore, save me!”
Wilhelm, another of my guidance students, screamed after a long absence, and time passed.
The day of the selection duel arrived.
* * *
The selection duel took place in the academy’s swordsmanship department training ground.
“Who will be chosen?”
“It’s obvious. It’ll be the student council president, the vice president, and representatives of the big clubs.”
The freshmen had yet to have the opportunity to engage with the student council or clubs.
The four prestigious academies allow freshmen to join student councils and clubs starting from the second semester, once they’ve adapted to school life.
Notably, the early second semester is also called the “Club Semester.” All academies focus on the freshmen joining clubs.
“First-year Theren won’t be easy to beat. He’s a direct descendant of a prestigious swordsmanship family. I heard that a top third-year student challenged him to a spar recently and was utterly humiliated.”
“What about the students under Professor Van Legend’s guidance?”
Silence ensued for a moment.
Among the first-years, aside from Theren, only Van’s students had stepped forward for the selection duel.
“Honestly, it’s unlikely.”
“What were they thinking, first-years daring to participate in the selection duel?”
“We all know Professor Van is great, but that’s about him, not his students.”
The upperclassmen had never directly interacted with Van.
They knew of his greatness through rumors, but had never personally experienced it.
“Well, they’ll see. Oh, it’s starting. Is that tiny guy there the top troll on the Mirror Board, Libel?”
“Kant! Win this one!”
“Avenge me!! That guy treated me like trash!”
The towering student facing Libel stretched out his body.
He was a third-year from the swordsmanship department.
His level was an advanced Lv. 3.
“You’re just a first-year kid, barely made it to Lv. 2, right?”
“Ye-Yes.”
“And you think you can beat your seniors? Got something up your sleeve? Was the special training from Professor Van that remarkable?”
Kant, the towering student, was genuinely curious.
“T-The special training was a failure.”
“What?”
“I wasn’t sufficient to comprehend the teachings bestowed by the professor.”
An unexpected admission.
Indeed,
Libel had failed to accomplish the task given by Van.
Which is why he looked so downcast.
“Really? Then why are you here?”
“Be-Because Professor Van told me to come.”
“Are you lacking or just insane? And why have you been so toxic with your seniors?”
“You’re not my senior; you’re an enemy I must trample.”
“…What?”
“Professor Van said to trample over anyone who faces me. No need for respect.”
“Ha! This little troll! I’ll teach you some manners!”
Whoosh!
Kant swung his sword with a fierce momentum.
The crowd stirred at the mana-imbued strike.
“It’s dangerous!”
“How could a first-year possibly block that attack?!”
Meanwhile, Libel just stood there, seemingly frozen.
But he wasn’t.
Libel was actually ‘distracted’.
‘I’m worthless. The professor cared so much, and I failed to complete the task. I Couldn’t even prepare a birthday gift.’
He remembered Catherine teasing him for achieving what he couldn’t.
He was angry.
“I must win in the duel. Overwhelmingly. So that everyone looks up to Professor Van.”
Libel’s gaze settled into a chilling calm.
A deeply sunken murderous intent.
Kant, who was swinging his sword, flinched.
‘I was told not to kill.’
Libel raised his hand.
Honestly.
He didn’t understand why Professor Van was worried.
These types of people were nothing compared to the ‘family’ Libel had killed and been killed by back ‘home’—merely as fragile as rabbits.
The level didn’t matter. A rabbit is just a rabbit. And Libel was a predator without needing to resort to forbidden powers.
‘Perhaps Professor Van’s concern was all due to his warm-hearted care for his students. Yes, Professor Van, I’m always grateful. The grace of a mentor.’
Libel resolved.
This was the chance to repay the kindness he had received from Van.
…For Libel’s opponent, Kant, it was an unfortunate resolve.
And then.
Swoooush
An unexpected turn of events occurred.
* * *
The event wasn’t a one-time thing.
Libel continued to win, and so did Catherine.
Catherine greatly benefited from the newly mastered killer technique, the Wave Sword.
‘Did she learn that from Professor Van? How is she executing such intricate swordsmanship?’
Theren narrowed his eyes.
It was a spectral sword combined with water magic.
The depth of the swordsmanship itself was shallow.
However, the variation was extremely drastic.
A seasoned knight might be able to respond, but at the student level, it was difficult to counter.
‘Still, such spectral swords, I’ve faced them countless times.’
Theren scoffed.
‘I will win. Both Catherine and Libel.’
Theren didn’t understand why he was so fixated on Van.
It just felt like something within him had changed since the ordeal at Amethyst.
He wanted to ditch the role of the model student.
Perhaps, acting this way towards Van was also due to some kind of ‘rebelliousness.’
“Theren, it’s your turn. Fighting!”
“Yeah, thanks. I’ll do my best.”
Of course, he maintained the facade of the model student on the outside.
He wasn’t some childish kid, after all.
“Theren, win this!”
“Theren, you’re so handsome!!”
Amidst the fervent support befitting the most popular freshman, Theren kindly waved his hand.
However, an unexpected opponent was standing in the duel arena.
“Yulia?”
“Why? Disappointed because I’m your opponent?”
“Not at all. It’s an honor to face the disciple of Knight of the Dread, Dame Carla. I look forward to learning from your swordsmanship.”
“Don’t bother with pleasantries when you don’t mean them. You’re still as pretentious as ever. So annoying.”
“!!”
Theren’s face stiffened slightly.
But soon, he smiled again.
“Pretentious, huh. Yulia, that’s not something I wanted to hear from you.”
The two were peer swordsmanship geniuses and had a deep connection from before.
However, only Yulia regarded the other as a rival.
Theren did not consider Yulia a worthy opponent.
“You say that while you can only wield a sword meant for swordplay.”
Yulia was hit right in a sore spot with that remark.
But then.
“Really? Is that so?”
“What?”
It was at that moment.
Whoosh!
“!!”
A chill ran down Theren’s spine.
A thin throwing weapon had whizzed past his face!
“You?”
“Be accurate with your words. I wasn’t just showcasing my swordsmanship; I simply did not hesitate to use any means necessary to win.”
Yulia twisted her lips.
“But, upon reflection, I realized there’s no reason for me not to be forthright. Winning is what matters most, no matter the method used, right?”
The swordsmanship genius Yulia.
In fact, she had secretly used throwing weapons and other means to defeat monsters stronger than her level and gain fame.
She had hidden this for fear of being shunned by her master, the Mad Dragon, but using such methods wasn’t wrong.
After all, there existed a class called Shadow Knights, adept at both sword and shadow weapons.
‘I worry about what my master would say if she knew.’
Trusting someone actually requires tremendous courage.
Following Van’s advice, she decided to muster her courage.
Shrrk.
Yulia drew her concealed weapons.
Boldly.
“Come on. I’ll show you, pampered young master, the fears of the world.”
Theren’s face hardened.
And then.
Whoosh!
The sword flashed brilliantly.
* * *
In the luxurious estate of the Rapalt Duchy in New Royal Town, the atmosphere in the duke’s office was oppressively heavy.
“Did Van’s disciples actually get selected?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
Catherine, Libel, and Yulia were the ones chosen!
Duke Rapalt’s face contorted in frustration.
“Damn it, Van, again…”
Having been bested by Van before, a wave of unease washed over him.
That’s when it happened.
“Keke, why so anxious? Don’t tell me you don’t trust me?”
It was the dual-personality villain protagonist, the dark wizard Bern!
Surprisingly, Duke Rapalt had enlisted the help of the descendant of the dark noble house for the academy battle.
Bern, or rather, Beril, let a sinister gleam flash in his eyes.
“For me to go so far as to transfer undercover to Shangri-La Academy as a student representative, yet to be doubted… How displeasing. I will utterly crush those mere disciples of Van.”
Beril’s reason for accepting Duke Rapalt’s proposition was clear.
He sought revenge for being humiliated by Van not long ago.
But Beril wasn’t the only card up Duke Rapalt’s sleeve.
“I’m here as well.”
A girl shining radiant, looking like a porcelain doll.
The Great Guardian.
No, Princess Esmeralda, flashed a charming smile.
