The Genius Professor Wants An Easy Life - Chapter 3.1
‘According to the rules of the family, I must become a professor at one of the four prestigious academies.’
It seemed as if the Empire was truly a country of academies, perhaps to emphasize the setting of the ‘academy.’
There were numerous academies throughout the Empire, and not only the nobles but also those commoners with a certain degree of flexibility had entered.
Among them, the place where especially talented ‘geniuses’ entered was the four prestigious academies.
‘Even the place where the 16 protagonists of the game enroll is one of these four prestigious academies.’
In the Hero Academy, there are a total of 16 playable protagonists.
For each of the four prestigious academies, there is a system in which four playable protagonists are assigned.
Each academy has its own characteristics, and the advantage of the ‘Hero Academy’ is that you can choose to play according to your preferences.
‘…In truth, I would rather go to an academy on the verge of collapse, where no one enrolls, rather than a prestigious place like the four great academies.’
But there was no other choice.
The academy recognized by the Ecclesia Dukedom was none other than the four prestigious academies.
‘Still, being a professor is a hundred, a thousand times better than being in the military or holding an official position.’
First and foremost, the difficulty of the profession.
Being a soldier or a bureaucrat was a hundred times more challenging.
Moreover, soldiers and bureaucrats would soon find themselves confronting the forces of evil head-on.
Oddly enough, the academy was a relatively safe zone.
‘Well, the forces of evil might extend their reach to the academy, but the protagonists will handle it themselves. I can quietly mind my own business.’
As a ‘scholar,’ there was no need for me to get involved in fights.
‘For now, let’s think about that later. Let’s focus on studying.’
Thanks to the recent transmigration, my knowledge of magic’s a blank slate.
No matter how qualified I was as a mage, I still had to study and fill in the content.
However, there was a problem.
“You want to study magic, Master? Are you serious about that?”
A bald middle-aged man wrinkled his forehead with a skeptical expression.
He was a mage employed by the Duke.
An advanced mage who was in the 5th star rank.
‘Even though I have the bloodline of the Duke, I can’t casually handle such a formidable opponent.’
All the magical books and items in the Dukedom were managed by this mage.
It would be best to maintain a smooth relationship, but the mage already seemed filled with hostility towards me.
“Are you flaunting such antics, claiming to brush off magic with mana insensitivity? And what’s with this mysterious behavior? Are you planning to steal and sell magical artifacts again, like last time? When do you plan to show some restraint, Master?”
He growled at me like a dog seeing a cat, and it seemed like a lot had piled up on his mind.
‘Isn’t he a bit too harsh? After all, I am still his master.’
Despite that, I chose to hide my true feelings and spoke gently.
“How presumptuous.”
“!!”
Oops.
Another weird translation came up.
‘Fury of the Dark Flame Dragon’ is triggered!
When the opponent harbors hostility towards you, your demeanor becomes even more imposing!
‘This is like a complete lack of social skills curse! It should know when to yield!’
For a moment, I hesitated.
‘…But do I really need to bow and scrape like I used to?’
Yes, I am no longer an ‘Eul’. I am the cream of the crop, the top among diamond spoons!
‘I didn’t live my life groveling just because I wanted to grovel!’
Even I, in a situation where I was the cream of the crop, could become the top of the top.
“Whose property is this Dukedom estate?”
“…It belongs to the Duke.”
“Precisely, but why are you, no matter what it is, so arrogant?”
“That, that is…”
A chilly voice followed.
“If someone saw this, they might think you’re the master of the Dukedom.”
“Oh, no, not at all!”
The mage Hans bowed his head awkwardly.
No matter how well-performing a mage of the 5th star rank he was, it was not comparable to the authority of the Dukedom.
“I’d advise you to be careful with your words. If you want to keep your head intact, that is.”
“I-I apologize.”
“Lead the way inside.”
Hans hurriedly led me inside.
“This is my research lab. Feel free to look at the magical books as you wish. You can also use the potions as needed; they are mass-produced consumables.”
Though he arrogantly tilted his head, it wasn’t like he sincerely bowed to me.
Arrogant brat. You think you can study, but what a load of crap. Let’s see how you do it.
His thoughts were quite apparent.
It was something I could easily dismiss, but was it the influence of being the top?
The malicious Dark Flame Dragon wriggling within me left a single sentence.
“Pity for you too.”
“…What?”
“Not realizing how tremendous an opportunity is right in front of you.”
“…What are you talking about?”
I smirked, mocking the mage.
“Keep a close eye. Just watching me study will bring you an unprecedented chance you’ve never had in your lifetime.”
* * *
I confidently opened the magical books.
‘With the characteristics of being a Master of Magic, or Grand Practitioner, accumulating magic knowledge should be simple.’
However, there was a fatal flaw for a ‘Van’ as a mage.
Mana insensitivity.
‘It’s not impossible to accumulate mana, but the speed of mana absorption is incredibly slow.’
In this world, everyone can feel and accumulate mana.
However, depending on one’s aptitude, the speed of mana absorption varies greatly.
If an ordinary person has a speed of 10, someone with the aptitude to become a mage has a minimum speed of 100.
On the other hand, mana insensitivity only reaches a speed of 1.
It’s at a level of 1/10 compared to an ordinary person.
In reality, it could be said that becoming a proper mage was impossible.
‘It doesn’t matter. After all, what I want to become is a ‘magic scholar.”
Even if I were to become a stronger mage, I would only be forced to suffer when conscripted during a crisis.
‘A magic scholar has the best compatibility with the characteristics of a Grand Practitioner.’
Innately sees through the essence of magic!
Accumulating magical knowledge is a piece of cake.
However, I soon realized a significant problem.
‘…What is this?’
