The Genius Professor Wants An Easy Life - Chapter 207
Merfolk.
They were similar to, yet different from, the mermaids commonly imagined by people on Earth.
They had the lower bodies of fish and the upper bodies of humans, but they were not the peace-loving creatures from fairy tales.
“From now on, follow our command.”
A burly, muscular male merfolk who resembled a Viking appeared, speaking in a rough tone.
“Understood. Lead the way.”
Splash!
The merfolk surrounded our ship in the sea, leading us forward.
They wielded menacing tridents, ready to pierce the ship’s hull at the slightest provocation.
“Why do they talk like that on the first meeting? It’s irritating.”
“They can’t help it. It’s the merfolk’s destiny to be hostile towards humans.”
“What do you mean?”
“How ignorant. Catherine, don’t you even know the origin of the merfolk?”
Yulia scolded from the side.
“How would I know that? They’re a race we’d never encounter if not for this situation.”
“Honestly. Being ignorant is not something to be proud of. Learn some basic knowledge.”
“Want a smack?”
“Shall I carve up your face?”
Watching their bickering, it was clear that the two had grown much closer compared to before.
“It’s important to know the origins of the merfolk, so listen up. The merfolk are different from other demi-human races. They were originally human.”
“They were human?”
“Yes, during the era of the Eight Heroes, they were cursed as ‘half-human, half-demon’ by entities from another world. They were cast into the sea to live separately, and their descendants became the merfolk.”
“So, if the curse is lifted, can they become human again?”
“No, that’s impossible. The ‘species evolution’ was completed many generations ago, making it irreversible.”
Just as it’s impossible to revert a fully transformed vampire, the same applies to the merfolk.
“Since they were originally humans who became half-demons, merfolk possess both human and beastly traits, making them instinctively hostile towards humans.”
“Ah, I see.”
The children nodded but didn’t seem particularly interested.
As Catherine said, the merfolk were a tiny fraction of the continent’s diverse races, making it seem like an unimportant story.
In normal circumstances, that is.
‘Considering the chaos the merfolk will cause in the second year, it’s a different story.’
From the second year, all sorts of turmoil will erupt in the empire, and the merfolk will play a significant role in it.
‘Perhaps this visit might help prevent those future events.’
The turmoil caused by the merfolk will create a significant impact on the empire, contrary to expectations.
This is because the empire is already stretched thin.
The ripple effect could also negatively impact the Ecclesia family, so it’s best to prevent it if possible.
‘Resolving Johan’s situation well might make it possible.’
“Professor.”
Johan approached me, his deer-like eyes glistening with moisture.
“…Th-Thank you. For doing all this for me.”
Johan would come to me whenever he could, expressing his gratitude.
I crossed my arms.
“There’s no need to thank me. I’m using you as well.”
“Pardon?”
“You know what you need to accomplish, don’t you? What you do benefits me too, which is why I’m helping you.”
This wasn’t entirely an empty statement.
As I just considered, resolving Johan’s issue might help prevent the chaos the merfolk will cause, ultimately benefiting me as well.
“Y-You’re saying that to ease my burden. You truly are… Vincent. Professor, you are a genuine saint. I-I will strive to become a saint just like you.”
His tearful eyes looked like they might overflow with tears again.
As I pondered how to calm his impending tears, a voice of assistance came.
“Ge-Get lost, you pretentious jerk. If you keep bothering Professor Van, I won’t let you off easily.”
…It wasn’t help, but rather Libel picking a fight with Johan.
The tears in Johan’s deer-like eyes vanished instantly.
“Sorry, I’ve been bothering the professor too much, haven’t I? Shall we talk somewhere else?”
“F-Fine… I’ll teach you proper manners in dealing with the professor.”
I watched their retreating figures with concern.
But then.
“Do you think they’ll be alright?”
“Right? Libel is…”
“Johan, that pretentious jerk, he isn’t ordinary.”
…Huh?
“What do you mean?”
“That damn guy, all that innocence in front of you is an act. You have no idea how rude he is when it’s just us.”
“Isn’t it because you two were mean to him first?”
I asked, skeptical.
The quarrelsome Catherine, the troublemaker Libel, and the seemingly gentle Johan.
If there was conflict among these three, it was naturally Catherine and Libel’s fault, right?
“Ha! This is driving me crazy! Professor, you need to see that guy’s true colors!”
Just then.
Everyone fell silent.
A large island began to appear in the distance.
A beautiful city in the midst of the coral-colored sea.
It was ‘Mermaid Island,’ the stronghold of the merfolk.
* * *
The roots of the merfolk are human.
Thus, they possess many human traits, one of which is living in cities built on islands.
‘Once they reach a certain level of ability, they can transform into human form. Though they need to enter the water periodically.’
Therefore, the merfolk are divided into two classes.
The lower class lives in the sea.
The upper class transforms into human form and lives in the city on the island.
As a result, Mermaid Island looked very much like any other city.
Of course, that was only on the surface.
Cha-aang!
As soon as we set foot on the island, sharp gazes bore into us.
A group of merfolk approached.
They wore sturdy armor.
They were the knights of the merfolk, the ‘Mermaid Knights.’
“Are you Professor Van and the students here for the friendly class?”
“Yes, we are.”
The Mermaid Knights’ eyes gleamed with scorn.
“All greenhorns, I see.”
t/n: The meaning of GREENHORN is an inexperienced or naive person.
“!!”
The kids bristled at the comment.
‘Well, it’s not entirely wrong.’
As their agreement to the friendly class suggested, the merfolk also had students.
Having students meant there was an academy.
But it wasn’t just an academy for merfolk.
Interracial United Academy
It was an academy where different races from across the continent gathered.
‘In fact, the level of their students is much higher.’
It wasn’t a matter of the students’ individual abilities but rather the difference in curriculum.
While the Big Four academies feel like a blend of high school and university, the Interracial United Academy feels more like the last year of university or graduate school.
This is because they only accept individuals who have been thoroughly vetted by their respective races or nations, and their entry age is much higher than that of the Big Four.
‘Well, since there’s no significant scenario involving them, there’s no need to pay much attention.’
Regardless, it was natural that our first-year students would be lacking compared to the graduate-level students of the Interracial Academy.
“Greenhorns, huh? Just don’t come crying to us when our students beat yours up and can’t handle the pain.”
“!!”
Well done, Black Flame Dragon.
There was no reason for me to endure their mockery of my students.
The mermaid knights gritted their teeth and turned away.
“Follow us. Her Majesty the Queen awaits!”
After meeting the queen, I was slightly surprised.
I had expected a woman resembling a Viking, but instead, she was a beautiful woman with the image of a fairy tale princess.
Not only that.
“Welcome. I’m pleased to have the opportunity for friendly exchanges with humans.”
Her voice was unexpectedly non-hostile.
“In fact, I believe in fostering peace with humans. There’s no benefit in fighting each other. So, I was delighted when you proposed the friendly class, Professor.”
“Are you sincere? With all due respect, don’t the merfolk hate humans?”
“You’re right. We do hate humans. To the point where I would like to kill you right now.”
“!!”
The mermaid queen spoke bitterly.
“But that’s because of the curse of the merfolk, not my true feelings. I believe we must overcome this to move forward as a race.”
“……”
“I hope this friendly class can be the first step toward that goal.”
Thus, the meeting with the mermaid queen ended on a positive note.
We were then guided to our accommodations.
The accommodations were nice.
I had been worried it might be a room straight out of a fairy tale, but it was perfectly clean and tidy.
However, I felt uneasy.
‘This is strange. Things are going too smoothly.’
The message I saw through the monocle kept bothering me.
Super Lucky! Great fortune is approaching!
It felt like this luck might be something very different from what I knew.
Above all else.
“When did the current monarch ascend to the throne?”
I asked the mermaid knight guiding us.
He was a formidable knight.
A Lv. 7, at the advanced ‘Master’ level.
An extremely important figure among the merfolk.
‘No, it’s beyond that.’
I narrowed my eyes.
His face seemed familiar.
If his face was familiar to me, it meant this mermaid knight played an important role in the storyline.
“Her Majesty ascended to the throne not long ago.”
I swallowed hard.
‘The queen we met isn’t the merfolk monarch I know.’
The merfolk are a minor race.
So, my knowledge about them is limited.
All I know is that they will cause turmoil in the second year and who will initiate that chaos.
“Quite impressive for her age. Her Majesty is the pride of our merfolk.”
“…If you don’t mind, may I ask your name?”
“Me? My name is Bezard.”
My expression darkened.
I wasn’t mistaken.
The mermaid knight smiling like a snake before me.
He was the very figure who would later be known as the Sea Serpent King and the main instigator of the merfolk’s future turmoil.
* * *
The friendly class was scheduled for the next day.
Today, we were to rest at our accommodations.
Despite the mermaid queen’s hospitality, we were under tight surveillance.
‘This doesn’t feel right.’
The monocle remained silent with no danger warnings, but I felt a chill down my spine.
‘Especially that Sea Serpent King is troubling me.’
The merfolk monarch I knew was the very one who introduced himself as Bezard.
This could only mean one thing.
The current monarch will step down for some reason.
The cause was most likely the Sea Serpent King I had met earlier.
‘I should at least give a warning.’
Given her previously friendly attitude, there was a good chance she would listen.
Silently, I used magic to slip out of the accommodations. The merfolk’s surveillance was no match for my magical skills.
An ominous feeling continued to swell within me.
I hurried towards the mermaid queen’s quarters, sensing something was wrong.
Despite it being the queen’s residence, there was no one around.
A faint smell of blood lingered in the air.
I entered and bit my lip hard.
‘…This is too sudden.’
Thunk!
The Sea Serpent King’s sword pierced the mermaid queen’s chest.
