The Genius Professor Wants An Easy Life - Chapter 170

I remained silent.

Truthfully, I hadn’t always held Chancellor Rudolph in high regard.

He was someone whose actions, driven by his own desires, had significantly impacted me.

Yet, seeing him in such a state, I couldn’t help but feel my resolve wavering.

“Our pride… Professor Van. It’s… truly fortunate… that you are here.”

“……”

“I, too… can close my eyes in peace. I will… trust in you.”

I swallowed a sigh.

It was a heavy burden, but I couldn’t say anything.

I knew the kind of life Chancellor Rudolph had lived.

Professor Burnstein looked at Chancellor Rudolph, who had fallen back into a light sleep, and shook his head.

“Sorry for making you feel burdened. Understand this. The Chancellor dedicated his life solely for the sake of Ruby.”

“I am aware.”

“The Chancellor’s past attempt at ascension, even though it was reckless, was also for the sake of saving Ruby. There was a risk of one of the sealing sites going berserk.”

I was aware of this.

Chancellor Rudolph truly spent his life for Ruby, and in the end, he even sacrificed his life.

To me, this was something difficult to comprehend fully.

The idea of dedicating everything to a cause.

In my life on Earth, and even now, I’ve lived for my own happiness.

‘How much longer can he hold on?’

I don’t know.

Chancellor Rudolph’s death will be determined by a variable.

The downfall of Ruby Academy.

‘Chancellor Rudolph is clinging to the last thread of his life with a heart directed solely towards Ruby. Thus, as Ruby falls, so too does Chancellor Rudolph’s spirit, accelerating his approach to death.’

There’s just one thing.

A way to create a miracle.

If we can perfectly overcome the crisis brought on by Duke Volman this semester and the impending crisis in the second semester.

And if Ruby stands tall, unbroken even amidst the roughest storms,

then Chancellor Rudolph could maintain his life until the end of the first year.

‘If we can just hold on until then, there’s a hidden piece that could save Chancellor Rudolph.’

But it won’t be easy.

‘The second semester will be far more challenging than what we’re facing now.’

Thinking of the individual who will play ‘the adversary’ role for Ruby in the second semester, my expression grew grave.

Duke Volman would be the lesser of two evils.

Then there’s Chancellor Karak, who will gradually reveal his true power as the final villain of the second semester.

The crises that will make the first semester seem peaceful are looming.

However,

“Trust me and don’t worry about Ruby.”

It’s not that I’ve decided to follow Chancellor Rudolph’s wishes.

Being fundamentally selfish, it’s hard for me to sympathize with his dedication.

Yet, the reason I say this is,

“I won’t let the Chancellor close his eyes to this world just yet.”

I will ensure that Chancellor Rudolph doesn’t die,

and I’ll take on the role of Ruby’ protector, facing the increasingly fierce turmoil ahead.

 

*    *    *

 

The day of the Academy Battle finally arrived.

The venue was set at the spacious grounds of Ruby Academy.

Debates, exhibitions, and death matches, three events, would take place in different locations.

For your information, another event, the achievement evaluation, has already been decided as a loss for Ruby.

The death match, a competition between the swordsmanship and Magic departments, is likely to determine the final outcome, attracting the most spectators.

“Who’s representing Shangri-La Academy in the matches?”

“I don’t know. It’s supposed to be a secret for strategic reasons. But whoever it is, can they really be better than us?”

“How did first-year students end up representing the academy?”

“If we lose, it’s going to be really embarrassing. It’s like giving away our position among the top four prestigious academies.”

Reporters have also flocked to the scene.

Articles like these have been published everywhere:

   

Perhaps due to the miracle recently performed in the capital, the tone of the journalists was not harsh.

Nonetheless, the unconventional selection of representatives had attracted a lot of attention.

‘Are they feeling the pressure? Are they alright?’

I looked at the students in the waiting area with concern, but then I smiled.

Pressure? Not a chance.

All three were burning with intense willpower.

“Hoho, Professor Van, how do you do? The sunshine is particularly pleasant today.”

“Chancellor.”

Chancellor Karak approached, spreading his parasol wide.

Despite the day being pivotal for the academy’s fate, Chancellor Karak appeared nonchalantly detached, as if it were someone else’s concern.

‘Considering Chancellor Karak’s “true purpose,” the outcome might not matter to him at all.’

But then,

“Are you confident of winning? Maybe I should place all my trust in Professor Van?”

I was taken aback by the question.

It wasn’t just a formal inquiry.

There was a sharp gleam behind his smiling facade.

“Hoho, even so, it would be quite displeasing for ‘our Ruby’ to lose to the likes of Shangri-La.”

I had felt it before, but now it was clear that something about Chancellor Karak had indeed changed.

The phrase our Ruby wasn’t something the original Chancellor Karak would have ever used.

“My answer is simple.”

I looked towards the students in the waiting area, making their final preparations.

“I trust my students.”

Yes.

No matter who the opponent might be.

I trust in them.

That’s the best I, as their professor, can do for my students here.

But then, the next moment came.

“The death match will now begin! Will the first representative from each academy please step forward!”

Our first participant was Yulia.

With graceful lightness, she ascended to the duel platform.

Her intense presence, undeniable even by upperclassmen, drew admiring glances from all around.

But then,

“Who is the representative from Shangri-La Academy? Hmm?”

Everyone looked perplexed.

A figure who seemed utterly harmless and without any sense of aura had appeared.

“Swordsmanship department? Magic department? With no sword, a mage, perhaps?”

“Seems like neither? I can’t feel any mana at all.”

Just a person.

Only I was shocked enough to widen my eyes in astonishment.

‘What the hell.’

Our eyes met precisely at that moment.

The doll-like beautiful face smiled as if delighted.

“I am Emel.”

It was Esmeralda, who had become one with the guardian!

‘This is absurd! How is this even possible?!’

Using an external student as a mercenary through disguised transfer isn’t against the rules.

Usually, it’s the lesser-known, lower-ranked academies that need mercenaries, but top students from prestigious academies almost never take the risk of staining their records with a disguised transfer.

Even a brief enrollment record at a lesser-known academy would be problematic.

‘This is crossing the line.’

Of course, the person standing there is ‘Esmeralda,’ not the ‘guardian.’

I don’t know how much of the power she can use.

But even if she can harness just a speck of the guardian’s power, it’s not something mere students can contend with.

‘We can’t forfeit a match.’

The rules of the death match dictate that it doesn’t end until one has been defeated, allowing the victor to continue to the next match.

Esmeralda alone could overpower everyone.

‘We need to protest this somehow to get it invalidated.’

But then,

Another twist occurred.

I widened my eyes in disbelief.

 

*    *    *

 

“Hello? My name is Emel.”

“I didn’t ask.”

“Haha, sorry. It’s my first time competing like this, so I’m quite excited. I don’t have any friends.”

“Didn’t ask that either.”

“Ah, I guess I do have a friend. Though it seems I’m the only one who considers it so.”

Yulia’s gaze turned icy.

She took it as if her opponent was mocking her.

“Cut the pointless talk.”

“Sorry, sorry. I’ve been talking too much.”

“Draw your sword. Or are you a mage? Either way, get ready for the duel.”

“I’m ready.”

“What?”

“I’m prepared for the duel.”

She hadn’t drawn a sword, nor had she stirred mana to cast magic.

Her appearance was utterly defenseless.

Yulia frowned.

“Don’t regret this.”

A sharp slash was unleashed.

An attack so powerful it naturally drew admiration.

But Esmeralda’s face remained utterly calm,

as if she didn’t care about the sword flying towards her.

And then,

Sswiiish

 

*    *    *

 

Moments later, in a corner outside the dueling area.

“Ouch. Ouch. Heeheehee.”

I sighed deeply.

An unimaginable scene was unfolding before me.

“Emel is hurt. This is the first time I’ve been hit like this since I was born.”

Esmeralda.

The being who had become one with the guardian was now sporting a large bump on her forehead, looking utterly distressed.

‘What in the world is happening here?’

The duel had ended in Yulia’s victory.

Esmeralda, seemingly dazed, had taken a hit and was knocked out.

A baffling outcome.

“Why did you participate in the duel, Your Highness?”

“Your Highness prohibitedd.”

“What?”

“Can’t you just call me Emel, just like before? We’re friends, right?”

Esmeralda smiled.

“Or are we not friends anymore?”

At that moment, I had a gut feeling.

It wouldn’t be right to deny it.

And there was no reason to deny it.

We were indeed friends.

“We are friends.”

“Hehe. I joined the duel for you, Brother Van.”

“What do you mean?”

“It would be troublesome if you lost, right? So, I acted as a spy. Ahem.”

It was a lie.

There was clearly some other motive, but I couldn’t dare to press further.

“I’m going to explore around here then! See you later!”

Before I could say anything, she disappeared like a mirage.

This was beyond magic; it was ‘the power of miracles.’

I couldn’t be sure of the extent, but it was a demonstration that Esmeralda could wield the guardian’s power.

‘I have a bad feeling about this.’

I had no choice but to return to the dueling arena.

The second duel was about to begin.

This time, it was Libel’s turn.

The issue was the opposing player.

“Ah, the head of the Dark Noble House?”

“Wasn’t he the top student of the Sapphire Academy’s Magic Department? How could such a genius transfer under disguise?”

“I heard ‘The Sage,’ the top student of Sapphire Academy’s Humanities Department, is wreaking havoc in the debate battle.”

I swallowed hard.

‘This is seriously crossing the line.’

Although not as extreme as Esmeralda’s case, Bern was also not someone the first-year protagonists could contend with.

“Please, take care. My name is Bern of the Dark Noble House.”

‘Bern’ offered a timid but polite greeting.

But then,

“Bern? As in the idiot of the Dark Noble House who got humiliated by Professor Van at the recent Dark Symposium?”

“!!”

“Daring to challenge Professor Van without knowing your place. Seems like your parents failed to teach you to recognize your standing. Today, I’ll teach you. Kneel down and apologize for your disrespect towards Professor Van.”

Bern’s eyes flipped.

The lid on ‘Bern’ was about to blow off.