The Genius Professor Wants An Easy Life - Chapter 47
‘…Why are they like this?’
Feeling shocked, I tried to reassure them.
“I’ve already made up my mind. So, please stop worrying. Even if the number of applicants is low and the class will not run properly, it’s okay.”
“Y-Yes. I’m fine with it. In fact, I prefer spending time quietly with the professor and a small group.”
‘…No, I’m not worried about you guys.’
I grinned.
It seemed like persuasion wouldn’t work.
Moreover, students have the authority to choose their classes. So, technically, the professor couldn’t refuse a student’s choice.
‘…Is this really okay?’
I looked up at the sky.
It felt like my professorial life, filled with dreams and hopes, was getting tangled from the very beginning.
Kkuyu.
It’s as though comforting me on this terrible day, a baby dragon popped out of the magic pouch and rubbed its cheek around mine.
‘…Are you concerned about me too?’
Thinking I sighed, Catherine asked.
“But, are you really okay?”
“What are you talking about?”
“At this rate, you’re in the danger zone of being expelled. Let’s somehow fill up with just six students. I’ll take care of the rest.”
“I-I’ll do my best too. I-I mean, of course, being alone with the professor like this is better, but…”
Watching the two of them worry about me, I couldn’t help but put on a smile.
“Don’t worry. The situation is not as bad as it seems.”
Being a former salesperson wasn’t the only reason for this.
I always tried to see the positive side, even in the worst conditions.
‘It’s rock bottom, but that means there’s a chance for a remarkable turnaround. Depending on how I handle it, it could lead to a big success.’
I thought of a specific plan.
‘I just need to cause an incident.’
A word that would surprise anyone who heard it.
But I meant it.
However, it couldn’t be just any incident.
A major incident was needed.
Fortunately, there was a way that would benefit everyone.
I looked them both in the eye.
“Do you two need money?”
“…Why do you ask all of a sudden?”
“I am asking as your professor.”
“What are you implying? Even if I look like this, I’m still the daughter of a duke,”
“So, how much do you have left for living expenses?”
“…I have enough for a week. If I sell some of the jewelry I stole from my family, I might be able to hold out a little longer.”
As expected, Catherine’s support from the dukedom had been cut off due to the duchess’s schemes.
As for the Libel, well, there was nothing to say.
The sound of his rumbling stomach echoed, raising doubts about whether he was even getting proper meals.
‘There’s a solution. I can solve both their issues and the student applicant problem.’
“I’m fine, really. I’m used to starving, and one meal a day is enough, so you don’t have to worry,”
“Can you not worry about me either? I’ll take care of my own money issue,”.
I wasn’t offering financial support.
Even if I wanted to, I couldn’t. I was as broke as they were.
“Would you two consider getting a part-time job?”
“…A part-time job?” Catherine echoed, surprised.
They both perked up their ears.
Getting a part-time job as a first-year freshman wasn’t easy.
“Yes, as long as you do as I say, it will not be too difficult.”
After they heard my explanation, Catherine suddenly stood up.
“What nonsense is this?! How can we do such a dangerous thing?!”
The part-time job I suggested was clearing out the underground waterways.
Even most adventurers wouldn’t dare attempt it.
But…
“If you do as I say, you can do it. I’m a member of Ecclesia, after all.”
“!!”
“To be scared of something like this, what a disappointment. Catherine, didn’t you enroll in the academy with the determination to bring honor to your family?”
Catherine bit her lip tightly.
I looked straight at her and Libel, speaking sincerely.
“You chose the class of I, Van Ecclesia. Don’t regret your choice as you have trusted me. Even though it’s just a short two-month period, I will lead you to be the best during that time.”
The most effective marketing.
It was viral.
I planned to become the professor everyone hoped to be, showing that those who chose me were the best.
* * *
The next day, a letter arrived at the academy.
Surprisingly, it was a letter of gratitude sent from the city guard.
Catherine and Libel students of the esteemed academy have successfully cleared the underground sewer of monsters, hence this letter of appreciation.
Everyone was astonished.
“Wait, isn’t the underground sewer where Level 3 monsters appear?”
“Even senior students find it challenging there. Though they were the top and second in the Magic Department?”
The reason became clear soon enough.
“That day… someone witnessed Professor Trash V- no, Professor Van, going into the underground sewer with them!”
“So, it’s thanks to Professor Van?”
I simply answered people’s questions.
“They are my mentees. I just gave them special training before starting actual classes.”
“!!”
“Too bad. Only two students have had the privilege of receiving my special teachings. It cannot be helped. Missing out on the teachings of a professor who will become a legend due to some low prejudice is your loss.”
…At the end, the Dark Charisma chimed in with a witty remark, but people’s reactions weren’t bad.
They all looked at me with eyes filled with astonishment and confusion.
‘It’s just the beginning.’
I continued the “training” one after another.
Letter of gratitude for exorcising the ghost monsters at the Municipal Cemetery.
Letter of gratitude for resolving the curse at the abandoned houses in the Indigent District.
After solving more than three issues plaguing the city in just a few days, special commendations were delivered in the name of the Chief of the City Guard.
“Was the rumor about Professor Van true?”
“So, Professor Van really debunked Professor Balas’ theory during the seminar?”
“There are also stories about Professor Van being a legendary genius. Of course, those were just gossip magazine stories.”
“…Did we rush too quickly in choosing our mentor?”
The students murmured.
Everything was going according to plan.
‘I haven’t made final decisions yet, but I’m receiving inquiries from one or two applicants. If we keep up this momentum, it’ll work out.’
And there was another incidental benefit.
Receiving additional rewards along with the commendations unexpectedly increased my funds.
‘I’d love to splurge, but…’
I decided to “invest” for the future.
“Professor, why are we here? Do I really need these clothes?”
“I don’t need new clothes either,”
We were at a clothing store.
Seeing the new clothes, they recoiled as if they had developed an allergy.
“Don’t misunderstand. This is for me, not for you.”
“…For you, Professor?”
“Yes. It’s just that I can’t tolerate my mentees looking shabby and tarnishing my reputation.”
It wasn’t just empty words.
Wouldn’t it be effective for promotion if they both looked presentable?
‘Libel needs it, and Catherine looks a bit shabby too. Why discriminate against them so blatantly, even if they are orphans?’
But then, it hit me.
“…I said I don’t need it. But do whatever you want.”
“…I’ll never forget this kindness.”
Just buying them a simple outfit each seemed to have deeply touched them both.
‘They must be receiving gifts like this for the first time.’
I cleared my throat.
It felt like I was digging my own grave, but it was already done.
‘After all, this fuss will only last for the two-month period of the freshmen adaptation.’
Still, I tried to draw a line and spoke coolly, especially because I was more concerned about Libel than Catherine.
“Libel, you need to pay attention to your appearance. No matter how good of a person you are, if you look shabby on the outside, people will ignore you and treat you disrespectfully.”
In reality, Libel was bound to face many such situations in the future.
‘The problem is, Libel isn’t just a sweet person.’
No, in fact, his personality was more hazardous than anyone else’s.
He seemed calm, but he would never know when or how he would explode and cause a major incident.
“You’re a commoner. There’s no one lower than you in this academy. If there’s ever a conflict, don’t bother getting involved. Just come to me instead.”
“Th-Thank you.”
“I’m not doing it for you; it’s just because it’ll be troublesome for me if you get into trouble.”
“T-Thank you very much.”
He understood the professor’s sincerity all too well, and with his expression, I frowned.
Anyway, despite the side effects of getting closer to them, the selection of mentor students proceeded smoothly.
‘Now, all I need to do is make one decisive move.’
I anticipated that either Kansir or Balas would provoke me.
At that moment, if I crushed them, it would be the completion of a perfect plan.
‘But both of them are surprisingly quiet. Should I deliberately provoke them?’
I pondered over this when an unexpected problem arose.
A single invitation arrived.
Invitation to Tea Time.
The problem lay with the sender of the invitation.
Sent by the Mayor of the City.
I stiffened my face firmly.
‘Why this person?’
It wasn’t merely because this figure held a high position.
The Mayor of the Free City had a deep connection with “Van.”
And not a favorable one.
‘Van’s archenemy.’
That was the nickname of the Mayor of the Free City.
* * *
Meanwhile, at the house of the prestigious magical lineage,
Pakk!
The sound of a resounding slap echoed.
Surprisingly, the one who received the slap was none other than Balas, the esteemed professor of magic at Ruby.
In front of him stood the matriarch of the magical lineage, Lady Beth, sending him a frosty glare.
Balas hastily dropped to his knees.
“I’m sorry, my lady! Even though I fell short of expectations during the training, I promise to deal with that brat in the future…”
“Silence.”
Lady Beth’s icy tone drained the color from Balas’s face.
“You have only one chance left. If you disappoint me further, there will be no place for you in the magical realm. I’ll make sure you never set foot in the South again.”
It wasn’t just an empty threat.
The lady before him had a history of following through with such warnings.
Indeed, many who incurred her displeasure ended up as outcasts or faced ruin in their lives.
“…I will keep it in mind.”
After Balas left with a heavy countenance, happened a loud crash!
“Argh! Damn it all! That Catherine girl and Van!”
Rumors of Catherine making waves at Ruby right after her enrollment deeply unsettled her.
And to make matters worse, her daughter Joanna, born with much difficulty, seemed to be in a slump since starting school, failing to impress.
‘It’s all because of Van, that wretch.’
It was at this moment that Duchess Beth was grinding her teeth in frustration.
“Oh, dear, dear. Wouldn’t it be a shame if your delicate skin were to wrinkle from stress, milady?”
A meddling middle-aged man appeared.
“Is it about Catherine again, my dear? Didn’t I offer to take care of her for you? Shall I handle it now?”
The man smirked.
It was a smile filled with dangerous intent.
“If killing is what’s needed, shall I pluck out that insolent child’s arrogant eyeballs for you? Just like you used to do back in the days when you were known as the ‘Witch of Tyranny’ in the Abyss?”
