The Genius Professor Wants An Easy Life - Chapter 201
“I will become the top instructor, so you must also be among the top students. You need to be in the top ten to attend the final lesson.”
As if it weren’t a fiercely competitive academy joint event, the summer camp operated on a survival system.
Scores were compiled at each stage of the class, and those in the lower ranks were sent home.
Being included in the final ten who attended the last lesson was considered a sort of badge of honor, and the competition was beyond imagination.
“Yes. I will do my best.”
Johan nodded firmly.
His face lit brighter than before, as if he had gained hope.
Then, tears welled up again in his deer-like, large eyes.
“Thank you, Professor,”
he sobbed.
His tears were a mix of relief and the emotional turmoil he had endured.
‘Hmm, what should I say to comfort him?’
After pondering, I spoke.
“Rest assured now. Your life from here on will be different. The wings and radiance of this Van the Legend will envelop you.”
…I knew the Black Flame Dragon would say something like this. Truly majestic.
Although the sentiment might cool a century’s worth of emotion, Johan’s tears burst forth even more.
“Thank you, Professor, really. If it weren’t for you, I couldn’t have… Please, don’t ever leave .”
In the end, I simply stayed by Johan’s side.
Johan’s weeping continued for a long time.
* * *
After soothing Johan and returning to the campsite, it was already late evening.
Numerous tents were laid out under the starlit beach, and the youthful students were supposedly sharing romantic moments… no, far from it.
The air was charged with sharp tension.
‘Everyone is on edge.’
It was the same for both students and professors.
No, the professors were even more driven by their competitive spirit.
‘It’s a chance to become a star professor.’
For the record, most of the instructors attending the summer camp are fresh professors within their first three years.
It is said that the aim is to give these young professors a chance to shine.
The competitive spirit among these new professors seemed even more intense.
Suddenly, I felt worried.
‘…Can I really win?’
If it were simply a contest of magical prowess, there would be no need to worry.
But it was an evaluation of instructors.
The winner would be decided based on who provided the best guidance.
Honestly, your lectures are terrible. They’re too difficult to understand.
Hmm, I don’t know much about magic, so I can’t really judge your lectures. But I still like you as a professor. A professor doesn’t always need to be great at lecturing, right?
I remembered Catherine’s blunt criticism.
And the troubled look on Yulia’s face as she trailed off.
The reviews of my lectures weren’t all positive.
Innovative, but too complex.
Still, I love Professor Cutie.
At Ruby, I had many students who viewed me favorably, so I did not receive poor evaluations, but this summer camp is different.
I will be harshly judged.
‘…Not only am I not going to win, but am I going to drop out all of a sudden? If the midterm grades are bad, professors are expelled just the same.’
The reason I initially participated in this summer camp was due to a lack of teaching days needed for my full professorship exam.
Aside from Johan’s case, if I backed out half way through this event, I’ll lose my qualification for full professorship.
‘Let’s not be faint-hearted. I must become the top instructor. That way, I can naturally enter the merfolk’s territory under the pretext of the final lesson and achieve that hidden piece.’
It was when I was steeling my resolve.
“Professor Van, is that you? It’s an honor to meet you.”
“!!”
I was startled.
It was a familiar face.
‘Professor Repel!’
A renowned professor from Peridot Academy, one of the top four prestigious institutions.
He was a super rookie professor who had earned the qualification of an A-fessor within less than a year of his appointment.
‘He’s the strongest competitor in this summer camp.’
He seemed to regard me similarly, his eyes blazing as he spoke.
“I’ve heard much about your reputation, Professor Van. Though I am lacking, I will not fall behind. May we have the best competition for the students.”
I made a troubled face Internally .
As I said before, if it were a magical duel, my victory would be unquestionable.
His level was only at the 5th rank, Lindon would beat him in a fight.
But think about it the other way.
If he received the title of A-fessor in less than a year with such modest magical skills, how extraordinary must his lecturing abilities be?
‘It’s going to be incomparable to the former A-fessor of Ruby, Aiden.’
For the record, Aiden was someone who, under the patronage of Duke Volman, competed with me and met his downfall by resorting to demonic powers.
It’s clear there’s a significant difference in level between Aiden and him.
In fact, Repel here is expected to advance beyond an A-fessor to an S-fessor in a few years.
‘The harder part is that he’s not a villain.’
Comparatively, he was in a similar position to Professor Burnstein of Ruby.
A true mentor who aids the protagonists at Peridot Academy.
‘It would be easier if he were a villain. I could use his scheming against him, or even set a trap for him first.’
He must be… no, he intends to compete fairly and squarely on skills alone, which is troublesome.
Moreover, he brought up even more astonishing news.
“I have prepared a special class for this summer camp. It’s ‘Mental Strengthening Training.'”
‘That’s the educational method that significantly advances the protagonists at Peridot! Why would he introduce such a formidable class at a summer camp?’
Then, Lindon whispered from behind.
“Professor, are you sure this is okay? The lecture you prepared is almost at a recreational level.”
Indeed.
I never intended to stand out at this summer camp.
I just wanted to avoid dropping out midway and fulfill the required teaching days.
[Mana Control Alongside Water Activities.]
This is the name of my course.
Since we’re at the beach, my own desire to play in the water heavily influenced it.
There’s no way it can compete with his ace lecture…
‘Wait a minute.’
I blinked and quickly looked around.
As I mentioned before, Repel isn’t the only one steeling himself with a desperate resolve.
I was the only one who came relaxed; it seemed like the other professors had also prepared their secret ultimate lectures.
‘…Could this be turned to my advantage?’
A crafty plan… no, a ‘brilliant strategy’ popped into my head.
‘First, I need to use Repel.’
After all, a star needs a backdrop to truly shine.
I decided to use Repel as the stepping stone to my victory.
“Mental Strengthening Training, you say? I haven’t exactly prepared for such a grandiose class.”
“That’s disappointing.”
“I do not want to be the worst professor.”
“What do you mean all of a sudden?”
“Do you know what the worst kind of professor is? One who is incompetent yet brimming with passion.”
“!!”
“I wonder if your Mental Strengthening Training isn’t just tormenting the kids.”
Hmm.
It wasn’t entirely incorrect criticism.
His ‘Mental Strengthening Training’ was indeed tremendously grueling.
Of course, he showed an angry response.
“How dare you say such things. That is rude. I’ll show you what it truly means to care for students.”
With that, he abruptly turned his back and stormed off.
Now, they will move according to my plan.
‘Just one person isn’t enough for a stepping stone.’
I muttered to the other professors who were looking at me warily.
Loud enough for them to hear on purpose.
“Everyone’s effort is in vain. No matter how much you struggle, it will all be meaningless. Everything is trivial.”
Ttrivial! Trivial!
Hmm. Mari, you don’t need to say that.
Nevertheless, the provocation was effective.
The professors all gritted their teeth with fire in their eyes, ready to tackle their lectures with a do-or-die attitude.
Everything was going according to my plan.
* * *
The scandal (?) I caused was immediately reported in the news.
“What have you done as soon as you arrived? Van Saint, my foot. Always fighting. As if you weren’t known as Van Fight Dragon.”
I smiled slyly.
There was a familiar face.
It was Catherine!
‘I haven’t seen her in a while, a welcome sight indeed.’
It’s strange how the world works.
To think that I had tried to avoid Catherine, yet now I was pleased to see her.
‘You’ve become stronger. Truly a pearl protagonist.’
She was already advancing toward Level 3 Senior.
Her progress was remarkable.
She must have undergone incredible training during the break as a warrior.
There was another welcome face.
“What’s with that attitude? Haven’t seen you in a while, how have you been, Professor Van?”
It was Yulia!
Yulia had also grown stronger.
‘She’s growing at a pace similar to Catherine’s, unlike the original storyline.’
At this point in time, Yulia usually starts to feel inferior and truly becomes a villain.
Of course, she still exuded a dangerous aura, but it seemed her villainous tendencies had disappeared.
“Hehe, calling us here must mean you have a task for us, right? Should we bury someone? Maybe slander Professor Repel who dared to disrespect our dear Professor Van?”
Scratch that.
Yulia was still full of villainous tendencies.
“No need for that. Instead, there’s something else you need to do for me.”
“Me, too?”
Wilhelm hiccuped.
Surprisingly, the one who had become the most useful was Wilhelm, once called Trash Van the Second. He had made remarkable progress after snapping out of it, thanks to me.
Though he was still a coward.
“Yes. But why isn’t Libel here?”
“He said he wasn’t feeling well and went to bed early.”
“Not feeling well?”
“Oh? Normally, he’d crawl here on his deathbed if you called, Professor. It’s strange for him today.”
I frowned.
‘Was there an incident?’
Something didn’t feel right.
It seemed necessary to check.
“So what exactly do you need us to do?”
“It’s nothing major.”
The faces of the students became curious after hearing the explanation.
“…You’re really going to do that?”
“What’s the problem? It actually fits the spirit of the camp.”
“Well, yes, but…”
Catherine shrieked.
“It’s too cruel to the other professors! You evil mastermind professor!”
* * *
The summer camp finally kicked off in full swing.
A-fessor Repel clenched his fist tightly.
‘Disappointing, Professor Van.’
Initially, Repel had been thrilled to hear about Van, believing he was the new professor who is dedicated to the academy and its students.
But it seems that wasn’t the case.
‘He may be an exceptional mage, but he is certainly not a great professor.’
He intended to show him.
What a true professor really is.
That was when.
“It’s incredible! Professor Van’s lecture!”
“Run, hurry! We need to scoop this news!”
“Classic Van Legend!!”
It was the reporters.
“??”
Repel furrowed his brow.
Since it was on his way to his own lecture hall, he decided to stop by and see.
And then.
‘…What is he doing now?’
Van was shirtless, slicing through the sea.
On a surfboard.
The summer sun glistened off his bare chest.
