The Genius Professor Wants An Easy Life - Chapter 196
The citizens of the republic were also aware of the name Van the Legend.
It was the most famous name in the empire recently.
However, it was merely a rumor from a distant foreign land, and since they had not experienced or seen his greatness directly, they were skeptical.
So much so that some people thought this way:
Van the Legend? Why such a childish nickname?
Is he some weirdo? Why would someone sane have such an embarrassing nickname?
To the citizens of the republic, the impression of Van was ‘Oh, that famous guy from the empire with the weird nickname?’
But at this moment, those gathered in the square realized that the rumors about Van were not false, and they understood why the nickname ‘Legend’ was attached to him.
If sacrificing for the weak is the mission entrusted to me, I will gladly accept it.
While it might sound cringe-worthy when said in a normal state, no one thought so at this moment.
Because Van was truly ready to sacrifice his life.
And for the people of a foreign country, the republic at that.
Especially, the charisma of the Black Flame Dragon, conveyed unfiltered through the video, further amplified the sincerity (?) of Van.
“The nickname ‘Legend’ was not an exaggeration.”
“Such a noble person doesn’t suit such a childish nickname.”
Someone said this.
“Van the Saint. He’s practically a saint.”
Van the Saint.
Shortened to VanSaint.
It was the moment a new title was bestowed to Van.
…Whether Van would like it, however, was questionable.
* * *
The citizens of the republic are moved by your sacrifice!
Many support you! The causality of ‘good’ accumulates!
‘Great!’
I clenched my fist.
Under normal circumstances, such an act would mean nothing.
But this time, it was different.
Causality.
It’s a very complex concept.
To put it simply, it can be thought of as ‘justification.’
The justification to intervene in the laws, the destinies of the world.
This Great Demon used the ‘sins’ accumulated in the republic as ‘justification’ to break the laws and descend to the surface.
Therefore, by accumulating the causality of ‘good’, we could weaken his justification and strike back.
The effectiveness was such that:
Miracle-induced re-evaluation of repelling probability!
: 3.4%
…It increased by just a speck.
‘No. It’s a huge change from an absolute impossibility of 0% to a slim, but possible, chance of success.’
Having constantly faced dreadful situations, I felt my mindset becoming increasingly positive.
Then, the Sword King approached me.
“Professor, do you have a way to defeat this demon?”
“I do.”
Of course, I chose not to mention the very slim 3.4% probability of success.
The Sword King did not inquire further and simply nodded.
“I will try to hold him off as best as I can. Meanwhile, please find a way, Professor.”
“Mother.”
Theren stepped forward.
I was slightly worried.
‘He wouldn’t start an argument in this situation, would he?’
They had stopped their estrangement, but they hadn’t reconciled yet. Even on the way here, things had been chilly between them.
But then.
“I will never forgive you if you become like father.”
“!!”
I took a deep breath.
Tern’s father. He was the tragic hero of a renowned fencing family that no one spoke of.
The Sword King’s expression stiffened briefly, then relaxed.
“Thank you for your concern. Stay by Professor Van’s side and protect him.”
It was a directive given under the assumption that staying by my side would be the safest option.
Teenage Theren, who dislikes such treatment from his mother, seemed anxious again, but fortunately, he showed no particular signs.
‘This isn’t what’s important right now.’
I took a deep breath.
Now, I had to create a miracle with a 3.4% chance.
“Princess Juliet. There is something you must do.”
“Ughhh. I’m scared. Juliet isn’t here. Juliet is gone. Here is garlic. Demons, be gone!”
“…Are you okay?”
“Sorry, I am actually a very dashing person, but I just got a little scared.”
The fact that the greatest star Juliet was actually an awkward klutz was a well-known secret known to everyone in the Empire, so I’ll gloss over that.
Incidentally, it’s often said that her unexpected charm makes her even more appealing.
Of course, she couldn’t have become a top star if she were merely clumsy.
“We will begin the ‘purification’ of the erosion. Your Highness, please proceed with the performance you were originally planning to do.”
A performance, suddenly? Anyone hearing this might find it strange.
But it was necessary.
“Alright. I will give it a try.”
“Are you sure you can do it?”
“Of course. This is the coolest Juliet in the world.”
Juliet stood up resolutely.
Gone was her earlier trembling demeanor, now replaced with a bold bearing.
“Though it may not seem like it, I’ve performed several times on battlefields dodging bullets and arrows. I’ve even performed when I was kidnapped by the demonic beings of the Demon Realm.”
This is the true essence of Juliet.
Normally, she might seem klutzy, but once she’s on stage, she turns a complete 180.
…Of course, she didn’t look particularly dashing at the moment, jangling with a garlic necklace and garlic bracelets she had prepared for the Erosion Fixation of Gehenna.
“Then, I shall begin.”
Juliet cleared her throat and placed her hands on the guitar she had brought.
An explosive singing voice erupted forth.
Powerful yet clear, a brilliant voice that seemed to disperse the heavy dark clouds, it spread through the speakers installed throughout the Erosion Fixation.
Even the Great Demon seemed taken aback.
[Oho? A sacred song? You put on quite an entertaining little act.]
Indeed.
Juliet possessed sacred power.
She was not a saint, however.
Her level was so meager that even manifesting it as ‘sacred magic’ had negligible effect.
But when that meager sacred power combined with her exceptional musical talent, it underwent a complete transformation.
Enough to shake the very Erosion Fixation with its force.
Kurrrruruuurururung!!!
A deafening noise rang out in the Erosion Fixation as the malevolent energy thrashed about, screaming.
But that’s as far as it goes.
If simply using holy power could purify the Erosion Fixation, other saints would have done it long ago.
‘All Juliet can do is create a crack. The rest is up to me.’
Flash!
A magic circle appeared beneath me.
It was a spell I had prepared in advance to break down the erosion.
As the master of magic, I surveyed the Erosion Fixation.
The melody of the music was variable.
The cracks created by the hymn also changed moment by moment.
It was the moment to find the most vulnerable point and unleash the magic of the magic circle.
I was breathless.
‘This won’t work. It’s going to fail.’
I had prepared magic powerful enough to break down the erosion.
But with the Great Demon’s arrival, the power of the erosion had intensified, making my preparations insufficient.
‘I need to enhance the power of the magic circle.’
However, it was too much.
Even I have limits.
Then, Eckmann, noticing my difficulty, urgently spoke.
“We will help you! Lieutenant Colonel, please take charge of the apex of the magic circle!”
“Understood.”
Among the troops that came to assist, there were mages.
A powerful Level 6 Lieutenant Colonel mage entered the circle to assist me.
But
“What is this? How is this magic circle so complicated?!”
‘My magic circle isn’t something an ordinary mage can intervene in.’
The level of the spell itself wasn’t high.
It was only a Level 2 spell.
However, I had created a magic circle that surpassed the level of the spell through profound metaphors, abstraction, and complexity.
“How can someone devise such magic…!”
“Lieutenant Colonel, please step aside. Let me try.”
A young man with an expression that might as well have said ‘I’m trash,’ Lindon, stepped forward.
Lindon glanced at me pointedly and then stood at the apex of the magic circle.
“If you’re a professor, you should know how to delegate, not always try to do everything alone. You have me, a trustworthy graduate student.”
“Are you asking me to settle your debts with the mafia?”
“Hehe, loyalty, loyalty, loyalty!”
Flash!
I was shocked.
With Lindon joining, the power of the magic circle greatly increased.
‘Lindon, this guy, has grown even more in the short time I haven’t seen him.’
Indeed, a future Ten Devil.
Despite his trashy character, Lindon’s talent was exceptional.
A despised disciple has lent a hand in the miracle you are about to perform. The strength of the miracle is enhanced, and the probability of success increases!
: 7.3%
From Lindon’s words and the recent message, I realized one thing.
There was no need to create a miracle alone.
Miracles grow stronger when forces are combined.
‘Still, it’s not enough. If only someone else could lend a hand.’
It was a far-fetched hope.
It was possible because of Lindon’s talent, not something just anyone could do.
But then.
“Why did you go alone and leave me behind?”
“!!”
An unexpected voice.
Joanna was glaring at me fiercely.
She seemed to have run here in a hurry, her appearance disheveled and her complexion pale.
“Why did you go alone?”
“Weren’t you busy preparing for the fair?”
“You lie. You thought I wouldn’t be of help and went alone.”
“!!”
I was at a loss for words.
I really left Joanna behind because she was busy with her exhibition preparations and I didn’t want to disturb her.
However, that doesn’t mean I thought she could be of help.
It wasn’t out of malice.
It was simply the truth.
Joanna doesn’t have the genius of Lindon or Libel.
“I’m really annoyed. This is so frustrating.”
With a fierce face, she stepped forward and stood beside me.
At another apex of the Three ray Star magic circle.
“You?”
“Don’t get it wrong. I’m not here to help you. I’m just here to show that this thing is nothing to me.”
Surprisingly, this message appeared:
The sassy disciple’s assistance strengthens the miracle!
: 13.3%
Seeing Joanna’s desperate face, I realized the reason.
Though lacking in creativity and genius, Joanna had worked terribly hard behind the scenes more than anyone else.
Thanks to this, she had perfectly mastered the basics, allowing her to grasp my magic circle, which was composed of Level 2 spells.
Then another unexpected voice was heard.
“I-I have come too, Professor.”
It was Libel!!
He had just finished his education under Duke Alfonso.
But something had changed.
Not only had he grown stronger, but his aura was oddly different.
“N-Now, I can be of help to you, Professor.”
His eyes ignited with fervor.
‘What kind of training did he receive?’
The help of the somewhat changed (?) professor’s boy strengthens the miracle!
: 25.3%
Anyway, that’s enough.
It’s sufficient.
With the students doing this much, the rest was up to me, the professor.
“Collapse.”
I elevated my ascendant level and cast the spell.
Though it was only a Level 2 spell, it was imbued with a ‘miracle.’
The erosion began to crumble.
It was a success!
However, an unexpected complication occurred.
[Indeed, a true star destined to change the fate of the world. But I will not comply. By the name of the 66 Great Demons, be cursed.]
‘Ah.’
Seeing the black energy flying towards me, my mind went blank.
It was a curse gathered from all the residual causality left by the disappearance of the Great Demon.
‘A speech curse is impossible to dodge. Using the attributes of the All Demons Bow to absorb this evil energy within the curse? No, that can’t be possible.’
There was no way out.
That’s when I was blankly staring at the impending death coming towards me.
Ppa! No…!!
Mari suddenly sprang from the magical pouch in her embrace and blocked in front of me.
Curse…! [Come at me!]
Incredibly, Mari countered the Great Demon’s speech curse with her own, ‘Dragon speech.’
And then.
The curse blasted onto Mari.
