The Genius Professor Wants An Easy Life - Chapter 229
The appearance of an Ascendant!
It was the first time since the Guardian and the Demon King.
‘The Guardian and the Demon King often showed themselves to people.’
Most ‘ordinary’ Ascendants rarely appeared in the world.
Especially the Hermit, who was so secretive that no one in the Demon Realm had seen them directly, yet here they were?
‘Why have they come? It doesn’t seem like they’re here to harm me.’
I didn’t sense any hostility.
Even so, the overwhelming power they radiated made my body tremble.
‘…I’ve reached the status of an Ascendant, yet it feels like nothing has changed. Why don’t I feel any different?’
To be precise, there was some difference.
Before, facing such a being would have caused not just ‘physical’ fear, but my ‘soul’ would have been terrified to the point of breaking.
Now, my soul was calm.
Only my body was instinctively reacting.
Then, suddenly, the fear dissipated.
The Hermit had withdrawn their aura.
I apologize if I made you uncomfortable. I was curious and acted rudely to confirm something.
I frowned.
“Testing me right after we meet. How unpleasant. What were you trying to confirm?”
As expected from the Black Flame Dragon.
I’m an Ascendant, and you’re an Ascendant.
Perhaps that’s the judgment being made, boldly.
I wanted to see if you were ‘complete.’
“I know I’m lacking. You can see that at a glance, can’t you?”
As I’ve said many times, while my soul’s status has ascended, my mana insensitivity remains.
But then.
No, that’s not the case. You are perfect.
“…What do you mean?”
Do you feel any changes after reaching the heavens?
“Not particularly.”
Honestly, it was confusing.
I seemed a bit stronger, as shown when I fought Rochran earlier, but that was it.
‘I thought becoming an Ascendant would bring significant changes.’
Your ascension is incomplete.
“Are you saying there was a problem with my ascension?”
No, as I said earlier, your ascension is perfect.
“Then what do you mean by incomplete?”
In ascension, incompleteness is not a bad thing. It means the conclusion isn’t closed. It means you can ascend even higher in the future.
“!!”
The Hermit looked towards the Demon King.
Like that child.
I fell silent, realizing what the Hermit meant.
“…So, you’re saying?”
Yes, that’s correct.
The Hermit nodded.
You have the potential to not only be an Ascendant but to become a Celestial Being. You are the hope of the world.
* * *
Flash!
The Hermit led us to their abode.
Surprisingly, it wasn’t a secluded cave deep in the mountains.
It was a mansion in a small town in the Demon Realm.
‘…So, they weren’t really hiding?’
“The Master lives among the common demons, concealing their identity.”
When an Ascendant hides their identity, no one can recognize them. You should also suppress your soul’s presence. It influences those around you, knowingly or unknowingly.
At these words, I looked at Mari.
As a top-tier dragon, Mari was sensitive to spiritual energy, and she looked pale.
‘Spiritual pressure is a unique trait of Ascendants. So, I have truly become an Ascendant.’
“How do I suppress my soul’s presence?”
By suppressing your aura.
“…….”
Aura.
Another characteristic of an Ascendant.
The force emanated by the soul.
‘…So, how do I control that?’
However, the Hermit didn’t seem inclined to provide a detailed explanation.
‘How unhelpful.’
I grumbled inwardly.
The surprising thing was, I felt like I could do it without needing an explanation.
It just seemed possible.
Like moving my hands and feet.
Flash!
A faint light emanated from my body.
‘Is this my aura?’
It was so weak that it was hard to notice unless you looked closely, but it was indeed my aura!
By suppressing the aura, I diminished the presence of my soul.
Mari’s complexion improved significantly.
‘Did I do it?’
Then, I heard clapping.
Impressive indeed. It’s not easy for a newly ascended ‘Newcomer’ to control their aura. You managed it already.
I frowned.
So, they were testing if I could manage it?
‘That’s kinda rude huh.’
“What is this Newcomer title?”
Ascendants are divided into levels internally.
The explanation was as follows:
A Newcomer, who has just touched the heavens.
A Supreme Ascendant, who has ascended to the highest heights of the heavens.
A Heaven Reacher, who communicates with the heavens.
These were concepts not mentioned in the scenario.
An Ascendant was simply an Ascendant.
In reality, these titles don’t mean much. Whether a Newcomer or a Heaven Reacher, they are all ‘failures’ who haven’t reached the celestial status.
A bitter tone.
“Does it mean that I can become one of the Celestial Positions?”
As I mentioned earlier, it’s because your ascension is incomplete.
“You mean because I haven’t lost my humanity?”
That’s a characteristic of the Demon King.
Ascendants lose most of their human emotions upon touching the heavens.
However, the Demon King, as can be seen, doesn’t seem much different emotionally from an ordinary human.
‘It’s the same for the protagonists who ascended.’
I don’t particularly feel any change in my human emotions right now.
Humanity? Haha. You could see it that way. Preserving humanity is a characteristic of incomplete ascension.
“Speak precisely.”
The Hermit paused for a moment.
Then they spoke about something else.
Do you know why we Ascendants don’t interfere in worldly affairs?
“Because they lose their humanity and interest, right?”
Haha, that’s part of it, but there’s a bigger reason. We are constrained by the heavens.
“!!”
Ascension means that your fate belongs to the heavens. Without the permission of causality, you cannot interfere in the affairs of the world.
I looked surprised.
‘So, the reason Ascendants didn’t appear in the scenario?’
In the scenario, Ascendants seldom showed themselves.
Even when the world was in chaos and on the brink of destruction.
But I still didn’t understand, so I asked.
“There are Ascendants who interfere in worldly affairs. The Guardian, for instance?”
Haha, the Guardian is no exception. The Guardian is just using a loophole.
I briefly thought of ‘Esmeralda.’
‘Could the Guardian preserving Esmeralda’s soul be related to this?’
I mentioned another counterexample.
“The head of the previous generation of the magical family was an Ascendant, yet he interfered in worldly affairs.”
And that’s not all.
The protagonists, after becoming Ascendants, continue to fight for the world.
The head of the previous magical family was not a proper Ascendant. We call such cases ‘Failed Ascendants’ because they haven’t completely reached the heavens. It’s different from your ‘incomplete’ state.
“So, what exactly is the characteristic of being incomplete? Stop dodging the question.”
You are not bound by the constraints of the heavens.
“!!”
The Hermit continued, almost as if in jealousy.
No, it wasn’t a misconception.
The Hermit genuinely envied me.
As I said before, being incomplete means you are not fully bound. Since you are not bound by the heavens, you cannot perform omnipotent miracles like other Ascendants. In some ways, there isn’t much difference from before.
“…….”
Instead, you can ascend even higher, and since you are not bound to the heavens, you are not constrained.
“…….”
But remember, if you fail to have the Celestial Position (Lv 10) and your ascension is finalized, you will be in the same situation as us.
It was a warning that I must become one of the Lv 10s no matter what.
“Is that all you wanted to say? Get to the point.”
Are you aware that the apocalypse is approaching?
“I am.”
Do you know that it is accelerating?
“Yes, I heard it from the ghost of the Red Sorcerer recently.”
But then, the Hermit said something unexpected.
The Red Sorcerer? You met the wraith of one of the Eight Heroes? You shouldn’t trust their words.
“What do you mean?”
It’s true that the apocalypse is accelerating. The time schedule is speeding up every moment. However, the Eight Heroes’ warning to you might not have been with pure intent.
“!!”
The Hermit spoke gravely.
After all, can those who have been wandering as wraiths in the world be considered righteous beings?
I swallowed hard.
‘Yeah. It did feel a bit unsettling.’
I recalled the last words of the Red Sorcerer.
If you face a calamity you cannot handle, come to us. The preparations we made will bless you.
Was there some hidden sinister intent behind these words?
It was impossible to know for now.
Most importantly.
“I agree that the Eight Heroes are suspicious. But why should I trust you?”
!!
“From my perspective, you’re just as suspicious.”
Yes.
This side was also monstrous.
Just like the Guardian, who knows what dark horrors might be hidden inside?
However, the Hermit responded to my suspicion calmly.
Haha. That’s right. We cannot be trusted either. Seeing your cautious nature reassures me. Trust no one easily.
I nodded.
On the surface, there didn’t seem to be any sinister motives.
But who knows what lies beneath?
I was worried about whether to trust you, but meeting you in person reassures me. As expected, you are Van the Legend. By the way, among us Ascendants, your name is quite famous. Ah, is it alright to call you Van the Legend?
“No, don’t call me that.”
Are you embarrassed? Well, you’ve become an Ascendant, and Van the Legend might sound a bit…
“Call me Vangre instead.”
…Vangre?
“Yes, ‘Van the Great Legend.’ My greatness has ascended to a higher level, so it’s fitting that my title does too.”
…….
Oh, come on.
Be serious when having a conversation, Black Flame Dragon.
…Alright, I understand. Vangre.
The Hermit muttered Vangre, Vangre, finding the sound a bit odd, then continued in a serious tone.
Anyway, only you, the incomplete Ascendant, Vangre, can prevent the world’s destruction. Rise beyond Vangre to become Van the Great Legend Hero.
T/N: These cringey ahh names of Van needs to stop
