The Genius Professor Wants An Easy Life - Chapter 214
Every school is the same in this regard, but the second semester is vastly different from the first.
This is the time when the once-naive freshmen begin to mature.
Seniors pass on their roles to the underclassmen.
Especially in Hero Academy, there’s a significant event.
It’s the club recruitment season.
Finally, the freshmen get to join clubs.
“This year’s club activity evaluations will play a crucial role in future professor appointments, so all professors must do their best,”
said Second Prince Renius, who had just been appointed as chairman, in a firm tone at the faculty meeting.
‘He’s trying to dominate the academy with members of the Noble Association.’
The Noble Families Association or the Noble Council.
It’s a group of new aristocrats from New Town.
As mentioned before, Ouroboros aims to bring about the apocalypse.
For Ouroboros to achieve their desired end, they must first dominate or dismantle the Four Prestigious Academies, so Renius has allied with the Noble Council.
‘Indeed, the Noble Council is no pushover. It’s different from dealing with Duke Volman.’
Duke Volman, despite his immense wealth, failed to properly control Ruby due to the incompetence of his subordinate professors.
The Noble Council was different.
‘They’re just as greedy but not incompetent.’
To be part of the Noble Council, one must be the best in their respective field.
‘They’re not just competent.’
I narrowed my eyes, recalling the trouble the Noble Council would cause at the academy in the future.
This time, I wouldn’t wait.
I planned to strike before they could cause any chaos.
But the Noble Council wasn’t the only thing I had to worry about.
“Hohoho, Professor Van, did you have a good break? I heard about your accomplishments. As a superior, this Chancellor Karak is very proud.”
Chancellor Karak, still duke-like in his demeanor, greeted me warmly.
‘Don’t be fooled by his appearance. Soon, Chancellor Karak will reveal his true intentions.’
“You flatter me. Why did you call me here?”
“Hoho, I called you to introduce someone. A new professor I’ve specially invited. Come in.”
Creak, the door opened, and my eyes widened.
“I’ve heard of your reputation. I look forward to working with you.”
‘What the hell?’
A young man with a blank expression.
There was an unsettling chill about him.
I knew who he was.
‘He’s a demon.’
Count Kashien.
A high-ranking noble demon of the Demonic Realm had appeared as a professor.
* * *
‘Why is a high-ranking noble from the Demonic Realm here as a professor?’
It couldn’t be a coincidence.
They definitely invited him knowing he’s a demon.
The problem was his intentions.
‘He’s part of Duke Roshran’s group.’
The Demonic Realm is practically a large country, with countless noble demons.
I knew him because of his background.
‘Duke Roshran is an extremist. Every incident caused by demons is because of his group.’
By the way, Rune, the former temporary professor, was also part of Duke Roshran’s faction.
‘He didn’t come here just to cause trouble. He has some specific purpose.’
I frowned.
Walking through the campus, I needed time to gather my thoughts.
The atmosphere on campus was bright.
All the students were laughing and enjoying the start of the new semester.
“Professor Van! Please be the advisor for our club!”
“No, Professor Van will be in our club!”
“We’re thinking of creating a club with the theme of ‘Following Professor Van’s Example,’ what do you think?”
Having become a popular professor, the students wouldn’t leave me alone, so I retreated to a secluded spot.
I wanted to be alone, but unfortunately, there was a girl already there.
She had a sickly appearance, with pale skin that looked like it had never seen sunlight.
“What are you doing here? It’s time for class to start. Go to your classroom. Are you feeling unwell? If so, you should go to the infirmary.”
However, the girl’s reaction was odd.
She looked at me and frowned deeply.
Recently, most students had looked at me with respect, so this was a rare reaction.
‘A new student? Have I seen her somewhere before?’
She felt strangely familiar.
But I had never seen her face before.
Neither in the scenario nor at the academy had I encountered her.
Then it hit me.
‘Could it be?’
I widened my eyes.
“Ha. Why are you here?”
A familiar tone reached my ears.
It was then I realized where I had met this girl and why the demon from the Demonic Realm had come to Ruby.
“Don’t pretend not to know me again. I’ll kill you.”
It was the Demon King.
* * *
‘That demon of the Demonic Realm is here to find the Demon King.’
Duke Roshran, having reached the level of a Lv. 8 Seeker, probably divined the celestial energies or something similar.
However, they weren’t searching for the Demon King with good intentions.
‘Duke Roshran opposes the Demon King.’
Though the Demon King was a Lv. 10 Heavenly Being, politically, she was a moderate who avoided unnecessary conflicts with humans.
To be precise, her attitude was, ‘Why bother conquering humans?’ But to the extremists dreaming of a world ‘by demons, for demons,’ she seemed like a traitor.
‘The reason the Demon King couldn’t return to the Demonic Realm after getting injured and went into hiding was because of Duke Roshran’s group.’
I roughly assessed the Demon King’s condition.
I sensed around Lv. 5 strength.
To have recovered to Lv. 5 in just a few months was terrifyingly fast, but at that level, she would be no match for Duke Roshran’s faction and would likely lose her life if discovered.
“It’s best if you leave the academy immediately.”
“What?”
“Roshran is after you. You know what will happen if you’re caught, right?”
“Are you telling me to run away from those scum? Are you insulting me?”
The Demon King fiercely resisted.
“Is there any point in being stubborn? Why did you come to the academy in the first place? You could have hidden out somewhere safer.”
I asked, unable to understand her reasoning.
There was no reason for the Demon King to attend the academy, even aside from the problem with Duke Roshran’s faction. The Demon King wasn’t some obedient child.
“Hah! What do you know!!”
At that moment.
“Iris! Where are you?”
I was shocked to see who appeared.
Marquis Maxim.
He was the Minister of Education, one of the highest positions in the empire.
‘He’s affiliated with the Noble Council, but he’s different from the other noble council members.’
The Marquis recognized me belatedly and greeted me.
“Professor Van?”
“Greetings, Marquis.”
“Hmm, I’ve heard a lot about you recently. Professor Van, you are indeed a pride of the empire’s education sector.”
Marquis Maxim greeted me awkwardly.
Even though he was different from the other members of the Noble Council, we weren’t exactly on friendly terms.
The Marquis then turned his gaze towards the Demon King.
The Demon King, with a slightly apprehensive look, was stepping back.
“F-Father?”
Huh?
I widened my eyes as an unimaginable scene unfolded before me.
“Today is your first day at school. How are you feeling?!”
“…I’m fine.”
“Oh, Iris, sending you to the academy tore my heart apart. I can’t tell you how many times I wiped away tears.”
“…Thank you for your concern.”
“Absolutely, absolutely! Don’t overexert yourself! Do you understand?”
“…Yes, I won’t overdo it.”
Marquis Maxim fussed over the Demon King for a while longer before finally leaving.
Watching this scene with my mouth agape, I finally understood why the Demon King had come to the academy.
‘It’s because of Marquis Maxim.’
The Demon King, born as the protagonist of legends, had never felt genuine affection in her life.
Is it any wonder she didn’t even have a name?
Receiving affection for the first time, she couldn’t bring herself to coldly ignore it.
Even if it wasn’t directed at her ‘true’ self.
“Don’t look at me like that. I am merely fulfilling the responsibilities of this body. Even if it’s a trivial matter, it’s unthinkable for someone as great as I am to neglect my duties.”
“I see. I understand.”
“You understand?”
“Yes. It seems reasonable to tolerate it for a while since it’s not something I need to worry about for long.”
“…What do you mean by that?”
“Marquis Maxim, your father, will be executed for treason in the near future.”
“!!”
The Demon King’s eyes hardened.
“What nonsense is this? Treason? That man may be petty, but he’s not someone who would commit such an act.”
“You don’t have to commit a crime personally to be punished for it, especially with charges like treason.”
“……”
“Marquis Maxim chose his friends poorly.”
Those friends referred to the Noble Council.
Why was the Noble Council so intent on seizing control of Ruby?
The public reason was for prestige.
Controlling Ruby, one of the Four Prestigious Academies, is a significant honor for any noble.
But that was just the surface reason.
Even most of the nobles within the Noble Council didn’t know the real reason.
‘For most of the lesser nobles in the Noble Council, this will come as a bolt from the blue. They’ll get caught up in the accusations while doing nothing.’
That’s why I aimed to deal with the Noble Council quickly.
I had to handle it by the club evaluation at the latest.
‘The problem is how.’
Suddenly, a plan came to mind. It involved using the Demon King and the demons from Duke Roshran’s faction.
“There is one way for Marquis Maxim to stay safe.”
“…What is it?”
“Join the club where I will be the advisor.”
“What club? What are you talking about?”
From the second semester, new professors were required to become advisors to at least one club.
I had already decided on one.
“This one.”
I handed over a flyer that read “New Member Recruitment!”
“…You want me to join this?”
“What’s the problem?”
The Demon King frowned.
“Isn’t the club’s theme strange?!”
At the top of the flyer, it read:
<Let’s Explore the World of Taste and Happiness.>
Yes.
The club I chose to advise was a gourmet club with a focus on food exploration.
* * *
When word got out that I would be advising the gourmet club, students flocked to join… or rather, they didn’t.
‘The gourmet club is extremely niche.’
Clubs at the Four Prestigious Academies aren’t just about hobby activities.
They significantly impact skill improvement, networking, and future career paths.
Since only one club per student is allowed, they carefully choose clubs related to their majors.
Thus, the gourmet club only attracts those who seem to have given up on their future, like slackers.
So, these kinds of students showed up.
“Haha, nice to see you. Did you have a good break?”
“A-After the camp… I missed you, Professor.”
“I didn’t join because of you, Professor! I just have an interest in food exploration.”
Mikhail, Libel, and Catherine.
Three outsiders… no, the main protagonists gathered.
“I’m rejecting your membership applications.”
“?!”
“I recommend you join a different club that will be more beneficial for you.”
“What club?”
To deal with the Noble Council, these three needed to operate separately.
There was a perfect club for that.
I looked at the three of them and said,
“The Student Council.”
“…What?”
“You three should run for the first-year representative election.”
