The Genius Professor Wants An Easy Life - Chapter 200
The four prestigious academies hold several joint events every summer vacation.
The grandest of these events is the Summer Camp.
A gathering of the freshmen from the Prestigious Four Academies, where they share the heat of sweat, passion, and hope – a stage of unity.
Though it is not quite a place of budding romances, as one might assume.
“……”
Tense.
The students had gathered separately by their academies, and their gazes toward each other were frosty.
Gazes that seemed to behold rivals, nay, enemies.
Indeed.
Let’s all share the dreams, hopes, and love of our youth together!
That initial purpose was complete nonsense.
Like the other joint events, it had long since degenerated into a venue of competition.
The performance of the students at the Summer Camp held immense sway over the reputation of their respective academies.
So much so that each academy offered substantial benefits to students who achieved outstanding results at the Summer Camp.
The primary point of interest was who would emerge as the ‘top student’ of the camp.
The reporters who had gathered in droves conversed with each other.
“Which academy do you think will produce the top student this year?”
“As is usually the case, it will likely be from either Amethyst or Sapphire. Those two academies possess the greatest capabilities.”
“I’ve heard that there’s also an exceptional prodigy from Peridot.”
“As a reporter for the Gossip Daily, I think the winner will come from Ruby!”
“!!”
The other reporters were taken aback by the statement from the sensationalist reporter.
“Indeed, the students from Ruby are not to be taken lightly this time.”
“Was it the ‘Red Dragon’ they were called?”
Theren, Catherine, Libel, Yulia, Wilhelm.
The Red Five Dragons, they were.
Originally, Catherine and Libel were excluded as friendless loners, but recently, after accomplishing several feats, they were added to the list.
“Especially that student Libel is said to be remarkable. Not long ago, he had a major incident with Professor Van the Legend in the Republic.”
“That gloomy youth over there must be ‘The Ashen Mage’ Libel.”
“He had already made a name for himself. That dark aura suits him well.”
“Alright, let’s get some shots!”
Click! Click!
It wasn’t just the reporters.
All the students gathered there kept sneaking glances at Libel.
Some even openly glared at him.
Meanwhile, Libel…
‘Don’t look, don’t look.’
He gulped down his nervousness.
Libel could only be confident within the virtual space of the Mirror Board.
Due to his deep-rooted self-loathing, having people look at him felt like they were mocking him.
‘Wh-Where is the Professor?’
He inadvertently tried to look for Van before stopping himself.
He remembered what he had recently heard from a despicable duke:
It’s not wrong to rely on others.
But if you only rely on others, you’ll eventually crumble.
As a mage, you must first learn to stand on your own.
Unexpectedly, the Duke’s teachings made sense.
Libel reflected on his excessive dependence on Van and tried to stand alone, but it wasn’t easy.
He kept shrinking back.
Libel bit his lip and recalled Van’s voice.
I’ve got you back.
Yes, it was different from before.
Van was always watching over him.
‘S-So I can do this too.’
But at that moment…
“Hey there, Libel?”
“!!”
Libel’s body froze stiff.
It was a familiar voice, one he could never forget.
“Long time no see.”
“You…you’re…?”
“Yes, it’s me. Kalvel. Or perhaps ‘5’ is more familiar to you?”
The youth with an aura somehow similar to Libel’s gave a dangerous smile.
“Been doing well, 1?”
He was a ‘home’ friend.
* * *
The long-awaited opening ceremony began.
“With that, I conclude my speech, hoping this will be a meaningful exchange between students of the four prestigious academies.”
“Wooooaaahhhh!!!!!”
As the speech ended, a fervent roar erupted.
An excessively enthusiastic cheer, even for the grand Summer Camp event.
It was because of the figure who stood as the representative.
“No way, is that the legendary Chancellor Schneizer of Sapphire Academy representing us?”
“I, I actually tried to get into Sapphire because of Chancellor Schneizer. Didn’t make it though.”
“Think he’ll give us a special lecture? He’s one of the few Ex-Fessors in the Empire.”
“To see a living legend of academia with my own eyes.”
Schneizer.
He displayed an astonishing genius by reaching Lv.8 before even turning thirty. Upon becoming a professor, he accomplished countless feats to become the youngest ever chancellor.
Even Professor Van the Legend, the current star of the Imperial academia, was considered lacking compared to the brilliance Schneizer showed in his prime.
‘They have no idea who that bastard really is.’
I clicked my tongue inwardly.
‘Why the hell is a Celestial Demon here representing the kids’ Summer Camp?’
I, of course, knew the true identity of this young chancellor.
The Lord of the Abyss, of the Three Evils.
Considered among the most dangerous of the Ten Demons, alongside the King of Contrary Heaven.
In terms of personal power alone, he was even a notch above the Dark Tower Master and the Patriarch of the Order.
‘Could he have come because of me?’
The Monocle’s predictions came to mind.
Passionate courtship from a mysterious transcendent being.
It seemed a possibility!
As he descended from the stage, he briefly glanced at me.
‘This doesn’t bode well.’
I frowned.
He won’t make a move against me right away.
Bizarrely, he clearly separates his persona as the Chancellor from his true self as the Lord of Abyss.
Still, it wasn’t a good sign.
‘I need to stay vigilant.’
For now, there was a more important matter at hand.
I shifted my steps away.
People here and there recognized me with surprised reactions, but I paid them no mind.
I headed out of the opening ceremony venue towards the towering cliffs by the seaside.
The sound of crashing waves echoed up from the steep cliffs below.
A view that could come straight out of a tragic movie’s ending credits.
A lone youth stood there blankly gazing down the cliff’s edge.
It was Johan!
‘What is he trying to do now?’
My eyes widened in alarm.
Johan bit his lip and took a step forward.
Towards the cliff’s edge!
I hastily deployed my magic.
Fwash!
“Kugh?!”
“Just what do you think you’re doing?”
“Professor Van?”
“I asked what you’re trying to pull. Or did I misjudge your actions as foolish behavior?”
Unusually, I raised my voice in anger.
Johan stared at me dazed for a moment, before reacting in an unexpected way.
He angrily lashed out at me.
“Didn’t you hear me?! At this rate, I’m bound to become a horrific demon! It’s better if I just die now!!”
I swallowed my retort.
Tears streamed down Johan’s face.
“I-I did try. I attempted to keep an upright heart so that the demon seed would not sprout, and I strived to emulate your noble example, Professor. But for someone as wretched as me, it’s impossible.”
Being born with a demon seed is random.
It does not happen because one did anything particularly wrong. It can be considered a sort of kindred affliction.
However, people did not see it that way.
They pointed fingers and conducted some kind of purge or a witch hunt, claiming the demon seed took root because of an ugly inner nature.
“Or, Professor, is there a way for you to cure the demon seed?”
“Even I cannot do that.”
If the demon seed was of a lower variety, there were rare cases where removal was possible. But unfortunately, the seed growing within Johan was of the highest grade.
Ultimately, Johan was fated to become a demon.
It was why the Oracle once described death as a salvation for him.
“But then why are you stopping me?”
“Because I do not wish for your death.”
“!!”
“It matters not that the demon seed is incurable. I will save you, somehow.”
In truth, there was a reason Johan carried the demon seed.
As the main protagonist, it was essential for his growth.
‘One’s sacred power grows stronger through trials and hardship. Even if he becomes a demon, as long as Johan does not lose his noble heart and overcomes it, he will be reborn as a great saint who saves humanity.’
In other words, for the sake of the world, I had to let Johan become a demon and suffer.
But
‘I do not wish that.’
I frowned, seeing Johan wailing in despair.
Why must all sixteen protagonists endure such tragic fates?
They are just children.
“Didn’t you also hope for my help? That’s why you came to the Summer Camp, isn’t it? To ask me to save you.”
Johan blankly stared at me before bursting into a different kind of crying.
“Hic, huhh. I-I don’t want to die. Please, save me, Professor.”
I nodded.
There was one method I could try.
‘From the perspective of saving the world, it may not be the right choice.’
As I mentioned before, for the sake of the world’s salvation, Johan’s trials as a demon were essential.
But
‘If that’s the kind of horrific ordeal this child must endure to save the world, then it’s better if the world perishes instead.’
If this choice impedes Johan’s growth, then I’ll take responsibility and accomplish the portion he was meant to fulfill.
That is the duty of an adult.
And
‘I’ll have Johan grow in a different way.’
It was possible.
Because I am Van the Legend.
“But, how will you save me?”
“At best, I can only delay it. Preventing your demonization is impossible. Instead, there is another way.”
“What is it?”
“You’ll have to suppress the demonic nature with immense sacred power.”
“!!”
The method Johan used after overcoming all his trials to become the ‘Demon Saint.’
“B-But that’s impossible? I lack sacred power.”
Johan’s sacred power was still meager.
He was never particularly exceptional even as a saint candidate.
Of course, having any sacred power at all made him extraordinarily special on the continent. But he was not at the caliber of a ‘great saint.’
“That is precisely the answer.”
“Huh?”
“You need to improve that lacking sacred power.”
“!!”
An outrageous proposition.
Sacred power was different from mana that could be rapidly increased through elixirs and the like.
Nurturing one’s innate sacred power took much longer and was far more arduous, only achievable through personal growth and cultivated virtues over a lifetime.
It was no trivial matter that Johan had to undergo the ordeal of demonization just to grow into the saint that would save humanity.
But
‘There is a Hidden Piece. Fittingly, one I can challenge right now.’
A Hidden Piece I originally intended to ignore.
As was typical of Hidden Pieces, the difficulty was unfathomable.
Moreover…
“Are…Are you serious?”
“Why? Is there a problem?”
“Doing that could start a war with the merfolk!”
Johan cried out, confirming this Hidden Piece involved the merfolk.
The problem was that the merfolk were sworn, perpetual enemies of humans.
“It’ll be fine. We’re in the middle of Summer Camp right now.”
“Huh?”
“Do you know the one privilege granted to the top-rated professor? The right to determine the final training subject.”
“No…?”
Johan’s face drained of color as I nodded in affirmation.
“I’ll become the top instructor and issue a challenge of friendly competition to the merfolk – to determine whether human or merfolk students are superior. You can seize that opportunity to work a miracle.”
And so.
The ‘Summer Legend’ I had jokingly mentioned to Mari was officially set into motion.
The first step was to win the instructor evaluation at the Summer Camp.
t/n – Merfolks, Mercreatures, Mermen or Merpeople are legendary water-dwelling human-like beings.
