The Genius Professor Wants An Easy Life - Chapter 5.1
“…Haven’t truly understood? What misunderstanding are you talking about?”
“Small beings cannot fathom the depths of a vast vessel.”
It was an imperial proverb.
Suggesting that ordinary humans find geniuses hard to comprehend.
Why suddenly talk about such a thing?
“…Have you eaten something wrong? Is it too much stress because of the training? Seems like you’ve lost a bit more hair.”
“I never had hair to begin with, Your Grace. This baldness is my pride.”
“…R-Right.”
Hans beamed with his bald head, full of pride, sending an intense gaze.
“I heard you agreed to a duel with Master Van.”
“That’s right. I plan to give him proper education on that day.”
Hans let out a smirk.
An inexplicable smile, hard to decipher.
“Indeed…? Your Grace, it might be good for you to be on edge as well.”
“…What?”
“There might be a significant change coming, perhaps.”
Hans swiftly turned and left, leaving the duke bewildered.
‘What’s this? Is he really going crazy from being tormented by Van?’
At that moment, Van’s voice passed by again.
On that day, I will present a shock to you, my father.
* * *
Time flew by in a flash.
The day of the duel with the duke was fast approaching.
I had been diligently studying magic during this time.
‘Have I acquired knowledge somewhat similar to the advanced classes at the academy?’
I had grasped magical knowledge up to the 3rd star rank.
It was a tremendous achievement in less than a month.
Thanks to Hans, who served as a great mentor with his grand abilities and excellent human instructional role.
‘The problem is, this level is far from enough to be appointed as a professor.’
The imminent duel with the duke was also a problem.
‘At this point, there’s absolutely no chance.’
I never had intentions of winning from the start.
My aim was to land a blow on the duke.
It was still quite daunting.
<Judgment of the Gambler of the Match is activated!>
Current Probability of Landing a Blow on the Duke: 0%
I remained silent.
‘Should I apologize now and beg for forgiveness? I’m pretty good at losing, after all.’
However, it seemed too early to give up.
Then, another message came to mind.
Probability of Landing a Blow on the Duke after Successful Training: 100%
It might be impossible now, but it will be possible after the training ends.
‘It’s been almost a month already, right? I’ve studied enough, what more can I do?’
It wouldn’t be about practicing magic.
The mana I possessed was barely enough for a few spells with 1st-tier magic. After that, my mana would be depleted, making further practice impossible.
At that moment, I heard Hans’s voice.
“Is there anything you need? I am here to serve Master Van; just command me, and I’ll do it.”
It wasn’t sarcastic.
Hans’s eyes were filled with loyalty.
A sight I hadn’t imagined when we first met.
‘Has this character changed too much?’
Following my orders, he gained a great realization and found new hope?
Since then, he had been sending me such burdensome looks.
“You don’t have to serve me anymore. Anyway, our studies together are coming to an end.”
Hans was no longer needed for acquiring magic knowledge beyond my current level; it was impossible to learn it in the same manner.
“…Are you thinking of abandoning me now?”
“…Huh?”
“I still want to serve you in the future. I can continue as your servant. Please don’t cast me aside!”
Hans clung to me with an earnest gaze.
Receiving the intense desire-filled look from the middle-aged balding mage made me feel uneasy, but Hans didn’t stop.
“I know! It’s because of your excessive genius that you’ve gone astray! The world doesn’t recognize you, Master! That’s why you’ve deviated! Damn this world!!”
“…No, it’s not like that.”
“If Master had even half… no, one-tenth of the mana that other mages possess… you would already be surpassing the world!!”
At that moment, a sudden realization struck me.
I understood what was lacking in me right now.
‘I need mana.’
Since becoming ‘Van’, I hadn’t made any attempts to gather mana.
At a rate of only one-hundredth of an average mage’s speed.
It meant that even if I struggled for a hundred years to accumulate mana, I wouldn’t achieve what another mage could in just a year of effort.
‘The difference would widen even more when compared to those so-called genius mages.’
However, it wasn’t entirely without a solution.
‘I can use unconventional means.’
Referring to potions.
Of course, even when consuming potions, mana insensitivity would still take effect.
While other mages could gain ten years’ worth of mana by taking a high-grade potion, I’d probably gain just one month’s worth, at a mere one-hundredth of their efficiency.
‘Still, even that much would mean a lot to me.’
After all, my goal wasn’t to become a powerful mage .
Getting stronger would only lead to trouble and suffering in the future upheavals.
Having just enough mana for what’s necessary was sufficient for me.
‘But where could I get these potions?’
Potions are extremely expensive and rare.
It’s what every mage covets and desires.
‘Perhaps the duke’s wealth could get them, but he wouldn’t offer any to trash like me. It would take too long to find a hidden piece where these potions might be.’
Then, a thought flashed across my mind.
‘Even here in the duke’s estate, there’s one hidden piece.’
I swallowed hard.
It wasn’t a hidden piece containing potions.
Instead, it offered a different way to obtain mana.
The problem was…
