The Genius Professor Wants An Easy Life - Chapter 173
We lost.
An enormous shock settled over Ruby Academy.
After all, no one thought that they, being one of the top four prestigious academies, could really lose.
‘It was an inevitable defeat with both Alpha Zero and Muse Juliet being brought in.’
The sixteen protagonists each have different growth cycles.
Main protagonists grow exponentially stronger as they progress through the grades, but are relatively at a disadvantage in the beginning.
Those who are strong in the early stages are the villainous protagonists.
Muse Juliet, too, is one of the protagonists who shine the brightest early on.
‘As befits a sub-main protagonist, she will face terrible trials later, but for now, she is a radiant being beyond compare.’
In other words, we lost, but we fought well.
Exceptionally well.
“Everyone did well.”
“…….”
“…….”
No one responded.
The Massacrist Mage had vanished somewhere in shock, and Catherine, Libel, Yulia, all looked dazed and lost in defeat.
I frowned.
I didn’t like seeing them hanging their heads like defeated soldiers.
“You all did your best. You showed excellence. So, cheer up.”
“But we lost. If things continue like this, Professor, you’ll…!”
“Enough.”
I cut off the children filled with frustration.
“The political matters of the academy are for the adults to worry about, not for you students to concern yourselves with.”
“…….”
Yes, the children did everything they could.
From here on, it’s up to the adults, including me.
“As your mentor, I am proud of you.”
“!!”
The children showed intense reactions. Catherine clenched her fists tightly, Libel began to choke up, and Yulia scrunched up her face.
It was as if they had heard some final farewell.
‘Do they really think I’m going to be fired? I don’t plan on getting dismissed, though?’
Plan B was still an option.
It was a rough method I’d prefer not to use unless necessary.
‘Since it’s confidential, I can’t reassure them by explaining it’s all going to be okay.’
I decided to soothe them in a different way.
“After all that hard work, let’s go eat something.”
“Is this really the time to be eating?”
“Ugh, I-I can’t live without the professor.”
“Sigh.”
“Everyone, quiet. This is an order from your professor. I’ll treat you to something expensive, so follow me. I need to use up the remaining limit on the corporate card.”
Oops.
It was meant to imply the need to spend the remaining card balance before the end of the semester, but the kids seemed to misinterpret it again.
Like I had to spend it before leaving the academy or something.
“Anyway, let’s go.”
I took the mournful group of kids to an expensive fine dining restaurant.
* * *
The meal was over.
The atmosphere had improved significantly.
Thanks in part to Hans and Lindon joining us late and making a fuss, all three began to think this:
This might be the last meal with Professor Van.
They all forcibly brushed aside their sadness and enjoyed the meal.
Van left, relieved to see them somewhat cheered up.
And then.
“…….”
“…….”
“…….”
After Van had left, the faces of the three hardened.
“Enjoying the food, idiot! We lost, still chattering and laughing?”
“D-Do you want to die? Isn’t it because of you we lost! If only you had done a bit better at the end!”
“Sigh-. Both of you are so dumb. It’s annoying, so could you both shut up?”
“What did you say? Yulia, you wanna get hit first!”
“Both of you, come at me. It’s because of you two that Professor Van is getting fired.”
The atmosphere among the three became tense, as if they were about to start throwing punches any moment.
That’s when it happened.
“Fighting isn’t good. Wouldn’t it be better for everyone to calm down?”
“!!”
A boy with a face that seemed to say ‘I’m a perfect child,’ Theren.
However, his expression was different from usual.
Not the face of a student everyone likes, but one with a cold sneer.
“I don’t know why you three, who couldn’t even win, are fighting.”
“You!!”
“Shouldn’t finding a way to prevent Professor Van’s dismissal be your guys’ priority rather than brawling?”
The three of them stopped in their tracks.
He was right.
The problem was.
“You think we don’t know that? There’s no way!”
“A-Ah, maybe if we… assassinate Duke Volman. I-I could do it… I can…”
“That’s ridiculous. And Theren, are you spouting all this because you think you have a better idea?”
They were just students.
How could they stop something decided by those above?
But then.
“Everyone, think about it. Doesn’t this merger seem strange to you? It’s too sudden and forced.”
“…….”
“Even though undercover transfers are quietly allowed, it’s another thing to mainly use mercenaries as student representatives.”
“Are you suggesting there’s something going on behind the scenes?”
Yulia, who specialized in plots and slander as a villain protagonist, asked.
“I don’t know the specifics. But something is definitely off. If we can uncover it, maybe we can stop the merger.”
Everyone fell silent.
There was indeed a possibility.
The problem was still how.
How could they expose Duke Volman’s conspiracy?
Catherine spoke firmly.
“Whether it works or not, I’ll give it a try. If I don’t see Professor Van’s cringeyness; it would suck the joy out of attending the academy.”
“S-Same for me…!”
“Yawn. Should I help?”
“!!”
Everyone turned in surprise.
The boy with a cold demeanor.
Alpha Zero had appeared out of nowhere!
“Y-You’re?”
“Ah. That man, Professor Van. Turns out, I owe him another favor. I didn’t know, but he was a benefactor to my sister. I thought my sister was dead, but today, by chance, I saw she was alive. Turns out, it was Professor Van who saved her.”
It was a baffling story.
Who was his sister?
“A troublesome sister who tried to kill me, but a favor is a favor. I can’t ignore it. That’s Alpha Zero’s principle number 7.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I’ll tell you about Duke Volman’s conspiracy that you’re curious about.”
“!!”
“But, is it really okay?”
The languidness disappeared from Alpha Zero’s eyes.
Everyone flinched at his cold, emotionless gaze.
“Knowing this, you all could end up dead.”
* * *
A cataclysmic change had struck.
Shangri-La Academy starts a merger with Ruby Academy! Battle results shock! Ruby confirmed as a branch! Shangri-La used mercenaries disguised as transfer students during the battle. Is this acceptable? The Ministry of Education says, ‘Legally, there’s no issue.’ Suspicion of a secret connection between the Rapalt Ducal family and the Ministry! Major overhaul of Ruby Academy’s faculty!
I put down the newspaper.
A major overhaul.
It meant mass dismissal of professors who weren’t to their liking.
Naturally, I was among those to be dismissed.
‘At least there’s a grace period, thankfully.’
As mentioned during the ‘contract termination’ incident, there’s a mandatory fifteen-day notice period before dismissing temporary workers.
This is stipulated by the empire’s laws, which the Duke of Volman must follow regardless of his shareholding percentage.
‘I should be able to make it just in time.’
For now, all I could do was wait.
Silently.
The most important thing was not to arouse suspicion.
I quietly prepared to leave the academy as if nothing was amiss.
“No, this is unacceptable! Who does Volman think he is? How dare he dismiss the professor!”
“It’s okay. I can go to Amethyst Academy.”
“Sob, if the professor leaves, I don’t know how I can stay at Ruby by myself! I’ll follow you!”
“Don’t make empty promises when you’ve already eagerly stamped your contract.”
A surprising fact.
Hans had received an offer for a professorship at Ruby.
And not just as a temporary professor, but as a full professor!
‘It’s not that surprising. Lv. 6 is roughly the level of a senior advanced professor.’
Normally, one would need to go through a temporary period before being appointed as a full professor if they hadn’t taught before, but Hans didn’t have that issue.
Before coming to the Ecclesia family, he briefly held a professor role at some obscure third-rate academy.
“Sob, I wanted to stand by the professor! If I had known it would come to this, I would have never stamped that contract.”
“After trying to poach Lindon, you should just keep quiet. I’ll take Lindon with me to Amethyst.”
Then, a loud bang resounded.
Lindon, filled with frustration, had slammed the desk.
“I cannot accept this. Why does Professor Van have to be ousted?! Shouldn’t we file an appeal against the dismissal? Or, isn’t the professor a diamond spoon?! Ask the Ecclesia family to exert their influence!”
Hmm.
Lindon was getting heated up probably because he didn’t want to be dragged to boring Amethyst with me.
I wanted to tell them that my departure was all an act and that I planned to stay at Ruby to the end, but to deceive the enemy, I had to deceive my allies first.
‘The time will come soon. Until then, I need to lay low.’
Meanwhile, my “dismissal” was causing an ever greater stir.
I’ve heard you’re coming to Amethyst! Hmph! Don’t flatter yourself! It’s absolutely not the case that we’ve been eagerly awaiting your arrival! I’ve already finished cleaning up the promising lab space for you, so feel free to contact your designated secretary, or not!
That was a message from Karl Gritton, the chancellor of Amethyst.
We invite Professor Van. Please grace our academy with your achievements…. We’ll offer double your current salary….
Invitations for professorial positions were sent from various academies!
Although they were not from the top four prestigious academies but rather from lesser-known ones, it was still surprising.
It was a realization that my reputation had indeed grown.
‘Honestly, it’s tempting. Going to a rural academy seems more comfortable than now. Should I just accept? Hmph, I have plenty of options too.’
Then, the door to the research office burst open suddenly.
Two unexpected figures stormed in.
“What’s with this office? Preparing to move?”
“Looks like a rat’s nest.”
It was Kansir and Balas!
Unlike me, both had been confirmed to continue as temporary professors for the next semester.
They would likely be promoted to full professors after smoothly passing the ‘Qualification Exam’ hosted by the Ministry of Education in the second semester.
“Why are you here?”
“Why? Ha!”
Kansir approached menacingly.
“Are you planning to run away like this? If so, I’ll give your face a goodbye punch right now.”
Balas also looked at me with disdain.
“I had somewhat considered you a worthy opponent. If you leave like this, I won’t forgive you.”
I quietly observed the two.
‘I was just thinking I needed some help.’
Two volunteers had walked right into my trap.
