The Genius Professor Wants An Easy Life - Chapter 188
“…….”
The room fell silent.
The quiet was so profound that even the sound of breathing seemed like thunder.
No one could even twitch a finger.
‘Joanna standing up to Duke Alfonso?’
It was an unimaginable sight.
No scenario in the storyline had ever included such an ‘incident.’
‘Joanna’s situation is different from Catherine’s.’
Catherine’s most hated person is her father, Duke Alfonso.
He treated her like an insect.
Although he didn’t abuse her with his own hands, Catherine’s hellish time in the magical family was ultimately because Duke Alfonso despised her, his daughter.
However, Duke Alfonso never showed such contempt towards Joanna.
Instead, he offered her a certain level of respect as his direct descendant.
‘But that doesn’t mean it was better than the way he looked at Catherine.’
Respect.
That was all there was.
Beyond that, there was complete indifference.
Contempt and hatred require having some special feeling for the other party.
Duke Alfonso’s treatment of Catherine as an insect indicated the great expectations he once had for her.
In contrast, Joanna…
“It’s the first time you’ve spoken to me in such a manner.”
Duke Alfonso spoke in a strange tone.
And then he expressed his thoughts about Joanna.
Without any filter.
“You’re nothing but a pathetic loser who can’t do anything under your mother’s watch.”
“!!”
Joanna’s complexion turned pale.
Indeed.
Unlike Catherine, who had at least been subject to expectations, Joanna hadn’t even been that.
The reason Duchess Beth’s harsh discipline, bordering on abuse, never sparked much comment was due to his lack of interest.
Anyway, a failure.
No matter what, he believed nothing would change.
“The union between your mother and me was born of mutual desires. Beth had something she wanted, and I coveted the seed of Beth. Though she is nothing but a witch now, in her youth, Beth was truly remarkable.”
Duke Alfonso continued in an unenthusiastic tone.
“But the child she bore, you, turned out to be nothing noteworthy. Just a failure, nothing more, nothing less.”
“!!”
“Anyway, it’s fine. I can find a successor from a collateral line, or if it comes to it, take in a son-in-law. But since you’re my daughter, I will respect what you say. I will not speak so carelessly about Professor Van anymore.”
Duke Alfonso looked at me with calm eyes, the madness subsided.
“Let’s hear it again. Why should I grant your request?”
Instead of answering, I glanced at Joanna.
Her face was ashen.
Understandably.
Unlike Catherine, Joanna didn’t just fear her father; she didn’t hate him.
No, she even respected him.
After hearing such words from him.
“All fine now. I’ve changed my mind. I do not need your help.”
“Even though you will be in trouble?”
Duke Alfonso sneered.
Certainly, without leveraging his influence, things wouldn’t be easy.
The mafia doesn’t fear the name of Ecclesia.
But
“Do you know why I specifically asked for your help?”
“Hmm?”
“Because you proclaim yourself to be the king of mages.”
“!!”
“Protecting those who have been wronged and fighting on their behalf is both a right and a sacred duty of a king.”
I sent a cold look his way.
“But I see no qualification of a king in you. Consumed by greed, you neglect not just your sacred duties but even fail to fulfill your responsibilities to your own bloodline.”
Greed isn’t just about desiring wealth and power.
Being obsessed with ascension is also a form of greed.
“……”
Duke Alfonso’s gaze grew heavy.
It was different from the madness he had shown before.
My words had genuinely angered him.
‘This will truly make Duke Alfonso my enemy.’
So be it.
I have no regrets.
Joanna had stepped forward for me.
Just a young student taking such a stand.
So, as her professor, isn’t it natural for me to speak up for my student like this?
“Let’s go. Joanna, come with me. There’s no need to stay here any longer.”
I turned to leave, but then I stopped dead in my tracks.
I couldn’t leave just yet, not feeling like this.
I was angry.
At this character called Alfonso.
Because of his lacking character, Catherine and Joanna have suffered endless pain and will continue to do so.
Of course, I know arguing here any further won’t be of any advantage.
So, let’s consider this the Black Flame Dragon’s final jab.
“One last piece of advice for you, Your Grace. Reflect on why you have not reached the heavens.”
“!!”
“As a genius in magic, let me say this. With the current path you’re on, Your Grace, you will never achieve your dreams. Not even by the time Catherine or Joanna, whom you’ve disregarded, ascend to the heavens.”
A statement that would have sent Hans into a panic had he been here.
Even I felt a bit audacious after saying it.
“Well then, I shall be going.”
I was about to make a quick exit before an enraged Duke Alfonso could attempt to kill me without a second thought.
But an unexpected response came.
“If I fulfill my duties as a king, are you suggesting there’s a chance I could ascend?”
I was taken aback.
‘Is he really focusing on my words amid all this? How obsessed with ascension is he?’
I responded somewhat curtly.
“How could I guarantee that? But as I said earlier, continuing as you are now will surely get you nowhere.”
Duke Alfonso fell silent.
He seemed to be seriously contemplating my words.
“Fine. I will take your word for it. Use my name as you see fit. If necessary, you may even use the name of the King of the Contrary Heaven directly.”
“No…”
“But, I have a condition.”
Regardless of my frown, Duke Alfonso continued at his own pace.
“That child, Libal, was it?”
“It’s Libel.”
“Whatever the name, leave that child with me for a while. I won’t need him for long.”
“What are you intending?”
‘Is he planning to use him as a test subject?’
I sent a wary look his way.
It was possible he coveted the dreadful aura Libel harbored.
However,
“Do you really think I’d desire such filthy energy? I’m trying to act as a king, just as you suggested.”
“??”
“Providing guidance to a child with potential could also be considered a king’s duty.”
Libel growled.
“W-Why would I accept your teaching…”
“Child, don’t you want to become stronger?”
“!!”
“Regardless of what you think of Van, his teachings aren’t suited for you. It’s clear, given your talent, that remaining at Lv. 2 even after a semester shows you need something different. I can make you stronger, quickly.”
I kept silent.
It wasn’t a bad combination.
‘Indeed, in the storyline, there’s a route where Libel becomes Duke Alfonso’s apprentice.’
Maybe because they both lack social skills and are eccentric?
Surprisingly, they might be a good match.
The problem was, I didn’t expect Libel to accept…
“A-Alright, I’ll accept your teaching.”
“!!”
An unexpected response.
Libel glanced at me then spoke in a subdued voice.
“I… I want to become stronger. As quickly as possible…”
‘It should be fine.’
As I had thought earlier, this wouldn’t be bad for Libel.
It might even positively affect his self-esteem issues.
“And Joanna, I have something to say to you as well.”
“…What is it, Father?”
Joanna looked tense.
“I heard you submitted a work to the magitech expo. You were eliminated in the preliminaries?”
“…Yes.”
“There’s a week left until the expo ends. Resubmit your work and ensure it ranks highly. If you fail, you’ll enroll in the Monastery of Magic in the Sea of Annihilation.”
“!!”
My face stiffened.
‘Merciless.’
The Monastery of Magic is akin to a prison.
It enforces an ascetic lifestyle akin to abuse, compelling inmates to immerse themselves in magic study all day long.
Indeed, when noble offspring commit crimes, they are often sent to a monastery instead of prison.
Particularly, the Monastery of Magic in the Sea of Annihilation is infamous for being the most dreadful among such institutions.
Above all,
‘Among Joanna’s frustrations is her ordeal at the Monastery of Magic in the Sea of Annihilation.’
Joanna is to suffer greatly at that place.
To the point of nearly breaking.
Yet,
“Are you saying this because you believe I can achieve it?”
Joanna bit her lip tightly.
“I will do it. Definitely. Since it’s the first time Father has placed expectations on me.”
I sighed.
I wanted to dissuade her, but Joanna was actually happy.
Whether that’s ‘expectation’ is debatable, but it’s attention she’s receiving for the first time, nonetheless.
“…Let’s go back.”
Flash!
Libel stayed behind, and Joanna and I used the portal to return to Steam City.
Hans greeted us with an uproar.
“Huhu, you left me behind! Do you have any idea how much I missed you, Professor?”
“Wipe that tomato sauce off your mouth before you talk. And the ice cream stains on your clothes. What have you been eating?”
It seems Hans went on a gourmet exploration in my absence.
“Did you take care of everything I asked?”
“Oh, yes.”
“Any problems?”
“It was unprecedented, so the expo organizers raised some objections, but thanks to the Meister authority you obtained, Professor, we were able to push through.”
“Yes, well done.”
“But really, what kind of scheme are you planning?”
“It’s not a scheme. I’m planning to submit works to the expo.”
“…100 works?”
“Yes. 100 works.”
“Not just a bluff or boasting, but really?”
“Yes, any problem with that?”
“Isn’t submitting 100 works impossible?!”
To note, the reason I obtained Meister rights was precisely for this.
A Meister can submit works to the expo without any limitations. There’s no need to pass through a selection process.
“Why would it be impossible?”
“Even someone as great as you, Professor, has limits in creativity, don’t they?!”
He’s not wrong.
Inventing magical devices isn’t just about having superior magical knowledge.
It’s more about ideas and creativity.
With just a week left, creating 100 works seemed like an insurmountable task.
“I don’t plan on creating them.”
“What?”
“Calm down, Professor Hans. Long time no see, Van. I’ve arrived.”
A familiar voice.
Emily appeared!
But she wasn’t alone.
Hans looked surprised.
“Miss Emily, no, Countess? And who are these people with you? From our Empire’s magitech community?”
Yes.
These were magitech engineers from our Empire, not the Ran Republic.
Their sudden appearance had a reason.
“It’s a gathering of victims.”
“Excuse me?”
“People who have had their technologies stolen by the folks of the Ran Republic until now.”
“!!”
An elderly figure from behind Emily stepped forward and took my hand.
“That’s right. We’ve come in haste because Professor Van the Legend has offered to address the injustices we’ve faced.”
Hans’s mouth fell open slightly.
He had caught on to my grand plan.
“Then, could it be what you’re planning to do now is?”
I lifted the corners of my mouth in affirmation.
“An eye for an eye. This time, we’re going to plagiarize all the works submitted by those from the republic and claim them as our own.”
Using the name of Duke Alfonso, who’s more fearsome than any mafia villain.
