The Genius Professor Wants An Easy Life - Chapter 197
In an instant, the world slowed down.
Mari’s eyes, always bright and sparkling, dimmed, and I watched in slow motion as she slumped and fell into my arms.
I heard nothing, and I could think of nothing.
‘Dying? Mari is dying? No, that cannot be.’
I remembered the first time I met Mari.
Tricked by Ashtat into taking care of the egg, I was imprinted as her father against my will.
At first, I did not want it.
But it didn’t take long for Mari to become my precious one.
Mmeat! Haa!
Wait… Quietly… Be careful!
Mari… Papa… careful!
She made me feel a sense of family I had never felt in my previous life.
Mari was my daughter.
That’s why,
When Mari, cradled in my arms, trembled, convulsing and glanced at me as if it was for the last time, she lowered her head, that was when my rationality snapped.
What was she trying to say just now?
It doesn’t matter.
I can wake her up and ask her.
I placed my hand on Mari’s forehead.
Groooo.
The malevolent energy within Mari stirred.
Suddenly realizing what I was about to do, the children exclaimed.
“Professor?! It’s dangerous!!”
“Are you crazy? Do you want to die? You’ll both die!”
“N-No, this can’t be happening…!”
What I was about to do was transfer the curse embedded in Mari to myself.
Though imperfect, I could mimic this miracle magic, so it was possible.
But then, a problem arose.
No…! Don’t…!! [This… is mine…!!] No, you can’t die!
Mari resisted.
Using ‘Dragon Speech.’
‘When did she learn this? Was her recent lack of energy actually growing pains?’
Of course, it was basic Dragon Speech of a tiny baby dragon, but my miraculous magic was also quite basic, so I couldn’t easily overpower it.
This won’t do. If I delay further, Mari will die.
Then, I suddenly thought of a method from the fact that Mari had been suffering growing pains recently.
Perhaps we could both survive.
“Alright, Mari. But follow my instructions. Devour and digest the malevolent energy embedded in your body.”
!!
Dragons need food for their growth.
Gold dragons need gold, blue dragons need sapphires, red dragons need rubies.
It’s no wonder dragons covet treasures.
The Great Elder Dragon, the supreme among all dragons, especially needed a particular kind of food.
It was the evil ‘malevolent energy.’
In other words, Mari’s body was essentially filled with food right now.
But, as always, too much of anything can cause problems.
‘The amount is enough to burst her stomach.’
It was okay.
Because I was there.
“I will help you with your meal. It’s this father’s duty to prevent his daughter from having indigestion.”
Fwoooosh!
I took some of the malevolent energy embedded in Mari to myself.
No?! Don’t!!
As Mari tried to resist again, I spoke firmly.
“I know you have a big appetite, but don’t be greedy. If there’s food, whether it’s good or bad, we share it because we are family. I can handle this much energy.”
Contrary to my words, it was actually a perilous attempt.
Unlike Mari, who has a dragon heart, my core is patched together haphazardly.
Even if it’s just a part, taking in such malevolent energy might crumble my body like a sandcastle.
‘But I have to do it. And this is something I must eventually challenge myself with to reach the third ranked star.’
Third rank.
A realm far beyond my reach.
As always, the core was the issue.
From the third rank spells onward, the amount of mana handled increases sharply, requiring a larger and more robust core.
I had to go through three stages in my case.
The ‘Refinement’ stage to strengthen the core.
The ‘Expansion’ stage to enlarge the core.
The ‘Filling’ stage to saturate the enlarged and hardened core with mana.
‘…Ordinary people achieve this naturally through diligent practice without making much effort. But I need a special method.’
Incidentally, my reason for amassing a great deal of money was due to the second, ‘Expansion’ stage.
I was wondering how to handle the first ‘Refinement’ stage, but it seemed I could manage it through this opportunity.
‘It’s risky, but I have two secret weapons.’
The first is the attribute of All Demons Bow. It will control the malevolent energy that enters my body.
The second is.
Master… you haven’t forgotten me… I thought you had forgotten about me because you put me in the magic pouch and didn’t take me out.
I drew the Demon King’s Sword.
In fact, I had completely forgotten until it just popped into my head.
It should help control the malevolent energy.
‘Let’s try this. Argh.’
Even with the help of the All Demons Bow attribute and the Demon King Sword, it wasn’t easy.
My stomach started to rumble immediately.
Ppa?!
Seeing Mari’s worried look, I forced a smile.
I didn’t want to be a dad who worries his daughter.
Help me, Black Flame Dragon.
“It doesn’t even tickle. Tonight, in celebration, I’ll slice up your favorite sirloin steak for dinner, so look forward to it.”
Fwoooosh!
After that, I don’t know how time passed.
I was relieved to see Mari’s condition improve.
“Professor!! Snap out of it! My mafia debt is…!”
“Ha! If you die like this…!”
“Sob, argh, sob. I-I’ve become stronger for you, Professor.”
Amidst the children’s cries, my consciousness faded away.
Lastly,
You have performed the impossible miracle! Kudos to you!
The entire world is astonished by your achievement!
Your fame resounds across the continent!! Van the Legend evolves into VanSaint!
You have successfully refined your mana core! Your ‘ragged’ core has been strengthened into an ‘ordinary’ core!
Your Imperfect Ascendant rank rises slightly due to your miracle!
Numerous transcendent beings take further notice of you!
Some Ascended beings newly recognize your existence!
Again, kudos for saving the citizens of the Ran Republic! You are a hero!
* * *
Like the clamorous messages suggested, the actions of Van had caused enormous ripples.
“Look at the color of the river!! It’s clear!!”
“It’s all thanks to Van the Saint!!”
“He performed a miracle!”
“Hurray for Van the Legend!”
“Hurray for VanSaint!!”
“Down with the Empire! He is now the honorary first citizen of our Republic!”
“VanSaint for president!!”
It was no coincidence that the message expressed ‘salvation.’
The suffering endured by the citizens of the Republic due to the contaminated river water was unimaginable.
There were analyses suggesting that the mafia could grow so explosively because they monopolized the drinking water business.
There was a reason why the citizens of the Republic were so ecstatic.
“Did you see the video at the square that time?”
“Of course, I did. I even spent my hidden funds to buy the recording.”
“Oh? You too? Same for me.”
“Ah, the thrill when VanSaint said, ‘Collapse.’ He is truly a legend.”
The video released at that time had exploded in popularity.
Especially the ‘story’ had many people enthralled.
“The student heroes were cool too.”
“I almost cried seeing the baby dragon and VanSaint caring for each other.”
“It was so touching.”
The collective effort to perform a miracle had touched the hearts of many.
People naturally cheer for touching stories.
Sensitive to trends, the Republic’s minstrels were quick to turn the story into songs and perform them, spreading the word even further.
However, it wasn’t all good news.
The faces of people suddenly turned dark.
“He needs to recover soon.”
“He will surely wake up! It’s VanSaint after all!!”
“The heavens will perform a miracle!”
Van had not regained consciousness.
For an entire week.
People looked towards the hospital where Van lay, praying fervently for his recovery.
* * *
I had a strange dream.
A dream where I became ‘Van.’
It wasn’t surprising.
I had dreamt of becoming ‘Van’ before.
But this time, the content was peculiar.
In a vast darkness, ‘Van,’ or rather, ‘my’ soul, was floating.
Sixteen stars shone in the darkness.
No, including ‘my’ soul, there were seventeen stars in total.
I looked at the other sixteen stars and thought, I was curious.
Some seemed to be in pain, some looked defeated, and some were dark.
However, I realized that all sixteen stars harbored brilliant potential.
They just haven’t sprouted yet.
The most unique thing was the light of ‘my’ own star.
‘My’ star was at the forefront.
Its light was expansive.
As if it was leading and embracing the other sixteen stars.
Then, someone’s voice was heard.
The true star’s light leads the sixteen stars.
Only if the sixteen stars brilliantly sprout in the sky’s trajectory can the impending doom be averted.
The axis of time is accelerating… Our only hope remains in the true star…
With these incomprehensible words, I suddenly opened my eyes wide.
“!!”
‘What kind of dream was that?’
I frowned, feeling it was an important dream, but I couldn’t quite remember it.
Just then, I unexpectedly locked eyes with an unexpected figure.
“Joanna?”
“!!”
Joanna looked at me, her eyes widening.
After glaring at me with her expanded eyes for a long while, she suddenly huffed, scowled, and left the room.
“??”
I couldn’t understand the situation.
“Kuku, while you were unconscious, she was constantly worried. When you regained consciousness, she was relieved and left. Not just her, everyone was incredibly worried. If I hadn’t forcibly sent them out, they would still be here by your side.”
“You are…?”
I was startled.
It was an old woman with a familiar face.
‘Why is this person here?’
I cautiously mentioned her name.
“Are you the Medicine Sage?”
“Hehe, yes. That’s one of the names I go by.”
“!!”
She was a healer who had reached the realm of a Level 8 Seeker.
Undoubtedly the continent’s greatest healer.
“How come you are here?”
“Why? I was asked to come. Both the Republic’s Presidency and the Ecclesia family were insistent on saving you. How could I refuse?”
“…….”
“But remember this. If you engage in such reckless acts again, you will die. If it weren’t for me this time, you wouldn’t have survived.”
It seems my condition was more serious than I had thought.
“Thank you. I am deeply grateful.”
“That’s fine. It’s natural for a healer to treat patients. But I also have a request for you. I need your help with something.”
I looked puzzled.
The Medicine Sage is one of the top figures on the continent, and she needs my help?
Her next words only added to my confusion.
“Aren’t you an instructor at the upcoming summer camp?”
“Yes, that’s right. Why do you ask?”
“Can you take care of one of the students?”
“…Pardon?”
My face hardened.
A murder request.
It was hard to imagine such words coming from the Medicine Sage.
While the Medicine Sage might seem wholly benevolent, she is not averse to spilling blood if she deems it necessary.
Even so?
‘Is some terrible villain planning to infiltrate?’
It didn’t seem to be that kind of situation.
With a voice full of regret, the Medicine Sage said,
“There’s a child for whom dying would be a mercy. In fact, the child asked me personally to kill him. They asked me to end his life.”
“What…”
“You know the child.”
Her following words made my face stiff.
“Johan. The seed of a demon planted within that child is about to hatch. I have failed in my treatment. Now, the child will turn into a terrible monster.”
