The Genius Professor Wants An Easy Life - Chapter 206
I swallowed hard.
The room fell into a hushed stillness.
Schneizer did not raise any particular momentum, yet I felt a fear more terrible than any I had ever experienced.
Had it not been for the Black Flame Dragon, I would have collapsed, but I managed to pretend to keep my composure, and Schneizer’s eyes showed a slight glint of interest at my demeanor.
“Did Duke Huam tell you?”
Schneizer did not deny it.
It meant my words were true.
I shook my head.
“It wasn’t something I heard from my father.”
“Then how did you know?”
“Because there’s no one else in the world as abnormal as you.”
Achievement and age do not necessarily correlate.
Up to Lv. 4 is the realm of ‘proficiency,’ but from Lv. 5 onwards, it is the realm of ‘enlightenment.’
Anyone can reach Lv. 4 with enough effort, regardless of talent. Of course, the speed of attainment varies with talent, but even those of average ability can make it with perseverance.
The realm of Lv. 5, characterized by intuition and enlightenment, is different.
Without the permission of talent, one can never reach it.
Moreover, even after reaching Lv. 5, the speed at which one gains further achievements varies greatly.
Some take 10 or 20 years to overcome a single barrier, while others leap over multiple walls of enlightenment effortlessly, reaching Lv. 6 or Lv. 7 in an instant. Young high-level individuals are all such geniuses.
However, there are limits.
Even though the speed of enlightenment varies with talent, Schneizer was excessive.
Schneizer, the Celestial Demon, was barely in his early thirties.
Not just in appearance, but in actual age.
Yet, he had reached the state of Lv. 8, a seeker of truth.
‘Of course, there are protagonists who become ascendants in just four years, but their circumstances are different. They were in situations that warranted it.’
Protagonists, beyond their talents, face and overcome numerous adversities, enabling such rapid growth.
As with Johan, who was born with the seed of a demon, hardships often lead to growth.
Protagonists endure in four years what others might not experience in a lifetime of trials and tribulations.
For someone to grow abnormally fast without such extreme circumstances, there is only one possibility.
They weren’t ordinary from the start.
Like me, with the Master of Magic trait, or the Demon King, who was the protagonist of prophecy.
“Most nobles know the story. That the First Prince didn’t die in an accident, but was purged by the Emperor after the demon’s seed sprouted in him.”
“……”
Indeed.
Schneizer, the Celestial Demon, was a bearer of the demon’s seed, just like Johan.
No one knew how he survived, or how he became the Lord of the Abyss.
‘What’s important is, what schemes he harbors within.’
Schneizer, the Celestial Demon, is not a simple villain.
He is one of the true ‘players’ who control this world from behind the scenes, like Duke Huam, the King of Contrary Heaven, the Guardian, the Fairy King, and the Demon Archduke Roshran.
“Haha, impressive. I knew you were remarkable, but you have far exceeded my expectations. However, isn’t this a bit too bold?”
Schneizer said with a smile.
“Have you considered that I could kill you right here?”
“I know you won’t.”
“Hmm?”
“I know you’re already in cahoots with my father. You have an agreement to coexist.”
“!!”
Exactly.
There’s no way Duke Huam would be unaware of this fact.
Duke Huam and Schneizer have a secret pact.
Schneizer controls the overly inflated Abyss from crossing the line, and in return, Ecclesia does not antagonize Schneizer.
‘Given the current state of the empire, it’s burdensome to subdue the Abyss. It’s a fragile truce, teetering on the edge, always at risk of collapsing.’
A moment of silence passed.
Schneizer quietly looked at me.
The pure malevolent energy flickering deep in his eyes told me he was no longer human.
And then.
“You, I find you even more intriguing.”
“…What?”
“I was interested before meeting you, but now, I must say, I don’t want to let you go.”
“……”
It was a perplexing statement.
But it wasn’t a joke.
Schneizer’s eyes flickered with a dangerous light.
“How about this? You don’t have to join the Abyss, but how about coming to Sapphire Academy as a professor? Surely Sapphire is a more prestigious institution than Ruby?”
It wasn’t worth listening to.
Leaving aside the fact that the Celestial Demon is the chancellor, the professors of Sapphire Academy are often sent as reinforcements to the battlefront with the Seven Kingdoms.
Most professors are also officers.
I was about to decline.
“Sapphire, on the battlefield, would be far more peaceful than the chaos that will soon engulf Ruby.”
“!!”
I frowned.
This was not something to be taken lightly.
“What do you mean something will happen in Ruby?”
“Why should I tell you?”
“……”
“I’ll give you one hint. Be wary of the freshmen club recruitment.”
…For the Celestial Demon to issue such a warning about club recruitment.
I had no idea what it meant, but in this world, academies are places where anything beyond imagination can happen without it being strange.
“Haha, but is there really a need to worry so much? Even if Ruby falls, Professor Van can just move elsewhere. Like to Sapphire, or perhaps Sapphire, or somewhere like Sapphire.”
It’s not wrong, but if Ruby falls, the world falls with it.
The same goes for any of the four prestigious academies.
That’s why Ouroboros is so determined to bring down the Big Four.
‘I need to prepare once the summer camp ends. Such is my fate.’
“We will proceed with the friendly class with the merfolk as planned.”
“What if I oppose it?”
I swallowed a sigh and said.
“There is a student carrying the seed of a demon.”
“……”
Schneizer fell silent.
It was a different kind of silence than before.
“This is to treat that student. Please cooperate.”
* * *
The summer camp was nearing its end.
As expected, our team won the group competition, ‘Battle Football.’
The strength of villains equipped with teamwork was astonishing.
And then there was Theren’s team.
‘…Why is he glaring at me? It’s not my fault he got eliminated.’
He had shouted, “Overthrow Van!” but ended up losing to the team of Catherine, Libel, Yulia, and Wilhelm (a bench candidate), not ours.
Catherine’s team ended up with Professor Repel, who displayed extraordinary leadership.
Professor Van, you are my special. My role model! As much as I respect you, I will never lose!
…Somehow, without my knowledge, I had become Professor Repel’s role model.
Despite the occasional sharp glares from Theren, things proceeded smoothly.
Best Instructor, Professor Van Ecclesia of Ruby selected!!
“Woohoo!!!!”
“Long live the legendary Van!!”
“You’re so handsome!!”
“Your serious expression is adorable!”
“Take off your shirt and give us a look of disgust!”
“I’m a Van-fan now!”
In the end, Chancellor Schneizer accepted my proposal.
Bringing up Johan’s story worked.
‘The demon’s seed is his achilles heel.’
Although he has become such a demon now, Schneizer wasn’t always like this.
Before the demon’s seed sprouted, Schneizer was just an ordinary boy.
At that time, didn’t he also feel fear and pain?
That’s why he couldn’t overlook Johan’s situation.
‘Or perhaps, he just wants to leave me with a debt of gratitude.’
Anyway, that’s why I am currently on a ship.
A ship heading towards the merfolk’s domain.
‘Fortunately, the merfolk readily accepted the proposal for a friendly class.’
As expected.
From their perspective, it was a proposal they welcomed with open arms.
‘They’re grinding their teeth, eager to strike back at us humans, so there’s no way they’d miss this opportunity.’
What if the merfolk hold a grudge and cause trouble?
They can’t.
Lv. 8 Chancellor Schneizer is backing us up, and the merfolk never initiate harm against humans.
It’s not because the merfolk love peace.
In a large-scale conflict, the ones to bleed would be the merfolk.
It will end with them trying to boost their pride by winning the friendly class.
‘Well, the outcome of the friendly class doesn’t matter. Whether the merfolk win or we do.’
I had to seize the opportunity to achieve the hidden piece.
‘I need to infiltrate the merfolk’s sacred site with Johan.’
Fortunately, Johan was also among the top 10, so he was on the ship with me.
Catherine, Libel, Yulia, and Wilhelm were also in the top 10.
However, there was an unexpected twist.
“Do you have a death wish?”
“Eek!”
As Beril growled fiercely, the cowardly Wilhelm flinched in fear.
Beside him, Alpha Zero yawned as if he was bored, and Kalvel glared at Libel as if he wanted to kill him.
That’s right.
The troublesome villain trio from my team also made it into the final top 10.
‘…Isn’t this going to cause problems?’
They were growling at each other, looking like they could break into a fight any moment.
But that wasn’t all.
“Professor Van, it’s Repel. It’s an honor to accompany you as an assistant instructor. Respect, respect, respect.”
…Repel had taken the position of assistant and followed along.
‘Could you not talk like Hans with that deep voice?’
“Aren’t you the one who got beaten up by me last time? Want another round?”
“Heh, you Ruby people were already annoying me. Bring it on.”
“Libel, you detestable jerk.”
“Shut up. I’ll teach you a lesson for being disrespectful to Professor Van.”
“As expected of Professor Van’s students. Everyone is so full of spirit. Respect, respect, respect.”
And there was Theren, glaring at me from a distance like a cat, and Johan, circling around with bright, admiring eyes like a deer.
It was a chaotic party.
‘…Is this really going to be okay?’
The monocle’s death probability remained at 0%.
Still, I wasn’t reassured, so I used the monocle’s ‘foresight’ function again.
Super Lucky! Great fortune is approaching!
The probability of becoming the protagonist of ‘Hold Sword Legend’ has increased!
“……”
I looked up at the sky silently.
I wanted to give it all up and just go surfing.
