The Genius Professor Wants An Easy Life - Chapter 51
“I know. A disgusting trash that prattles without discernment, relying solely on his sister’s status.”
“…Ha. It’s not that I rely on my sister. But you truly dare sputter such nonsense? Young Duke Van, I have no desire to speak harshly to you as well, so cease this at once. If you stop here, I’ll let this all pass.”
Despite their exposed guilt, they maintained an audacious demeanor.
It showcased how high the duchess they were backed by stood,
“Never knew the duchess’s influence could surpass that of His Majesty the Emperor.”
“…What?”
“Here are the numbers of the citizens who died because of your illegal actions.”
Van revealed another document.
The data Emily provided showed the number of citizens who died from drinking water in the capital for unknown reasons in recent years.
Over 100 people had died.
“You have killed more than 100 of His Majesty the Emperor’s subjects.”
“That’s preposterous… Even if we dumped illegal by-products into the water supply, to say that those deaths are our responsibility is…”
It was a valid protest, but,
“Do you have evidence that it wasn’t your fault?”
“!!”
“You could appeal to His Majesty the Emperor if you wish, but I doubt His Majesty would take your side over that of his loyal Ecclesia, instead of yours.”
Viscount Conrad’s face turned deathly pale.
Van’s intention became clear to them.
Now, Van was paying back exactly as Libel had suffered.
“You’re doing this because of Libel, that wretched student? It seems like my son made a mistake, I’ll have him apologize.”
“No, an apology is unnecessary. If you fall into ruin, your children will also be properly punished for the wrongs they committed this time. They’ll likely receive at least indefinite suspension or expulsion.”
Their complexions now turned as pale as a corpse’s.
I quietly observed them and then said,
“There’s only one way for you to avoid the death penalty.”
“…What?”
“Testify that everything you did was under the orders of the duchess.”
“!!”
‘You tried to insinuate Libel to insult me.’
It wasn’t exactly planned revenge, but it seems I was quite angry too. This feeling of satisfaction told me so.
“W-What nonsense are you talking about?”
“If you refuse, it doesn’t matter. You just have to bear all the sins.”
They hesitated.
They couldn’t possibly betray the duchess.
“If you dislike it, then let it be. Your devotion to your sister is admirable. Though, whether the duchess cherishes you as much is questionable.”
Viscount Conrad clenched his fists tightly.
He knew better than anyone that Duchess Beth wouldn’t protect him to the end.
Instead, in the worst-case scenario, it was highly likely she would send an assassin to cut off loose ends.
“Well then, I’ll be taking my leave. Our next meeting will likely be in court. Still, I’ll show some mercy and petition for you to be hanged with the softest rope possible.”
“Wait a moment!!”
Viscount Conrad spoke through clenched teeth.
“…Professor Van, I’ll speak as you wish.”
Van’s true goal.
It was the moment a noose was thrown around Duchess Beth’s neck.
* * *
At that moment, Duchess Beth was elegantly drinking tea in the mansion of a magical noble family.
Her face still peaceful, having not yet heard the news.
However, as the sound of knocking reached her ears, her atmosphere turned chillingly cold.
“…Mother, may I come in?”
The only person in the world who could call her mother.
Her daughter, Joanna, whom she bore with pain.
Yet, despite being such a beloved daughter, not a trace of warmth was to be found in Duchess Beth’s eyes.
Joanna’s demeanor was off as well.
The arrogant attitude she had shown to Van was nowhere to be seen, replaced by a demeanor filled with trepidation.
“Joanna, my beloved only daughter. You do know how much your mother loves you, don’t you?”
“…Yes.”
“Do you know why I’ve called you?”
“…Yes.”
“What is this grade?”
Her voice was so cold it was chilling.
“Your first exam after enrollment, and you only managed to tie for first place.”
“T-That’s because… I wasn’t feeling well that day…”
Snap!
A slap turned Joanna’s face to the side.
Her face flushed red, but, as if accustomed to it, Joanna didn’t show surprise and merely bowed her head quietly.
“Are such pathetic words your excuse? How much do you intend to tear at your mother’s heart? Lift your skirt.”
Joanna’s complexion turned pale with fear.
But, as if resigned, she lifted her hem, and a dreadful sight was revealed.
Both her calves and thighs were covered in hideous scars.
Overlapping scars upon burst wounds created a layered appearance.
It was evidence of countless beatings endured over many years.
“All of this, Joanna, you know it’s because I love you, right?”
“…Yes, Mother.”
The duchess picked up a cane, magically treated to be harder than steel.
The moment was near when Joanna’s skin would tear apart from the pain, and she closed her eyes shut tightly.
“Milady, there is a serious issue!”
“What is it? Haven’t I told you not to enter when Joanna and I are alone?”
“It’s… it’s because of Professor Van.”
Joanna looked startled from the side.
‘Professor Van? Trashy Van?’
He was the very cause of her recent slump.
It’s okay to lose and fail.
Van’s last words continued to disturb her peace of mind.
‘What do you know? About how I’ve lived.’
Joanna bit her lip hard.
“Why Professor Van? Didn’t I leave my brother, Viscount Conrad, to handle it?”
“It’s… there’s been a problem.”
The butler whispered, and Duchess Beth’s eyes widened.
Crack!
The wooden cane, harder than steel, snapped in an instant.
“How dare!! A mere mutt thinks to defy me!”
But then, something even more disturbing occurred.
“Milady, you have a visitor.”
“Send them away immediately!”
“But, it is the Young Duke Van.”
“…What did you say?”
Upon hearing the follow-up, Duchess Beth’s face became distorted with rage.
“He has come to accuse you, my lady, as the mastermind behind the illegal magic stone incident in the free city.”
* * *
I looked around the extravagantly luxurious reception room.
‘How much do all these decorations cost? Selling just one could set me up for life.’
Such frivolous thoughts were a sign of how nervous I was.
‘Ugh. I’ve actually come this far. This was the last place I wanted to be. Especially, I had no intention of even brushing past Duchess Beth’s hem.’
The Witch of Tyranny.
A super-named villain who not only held the title of duchess but also proudly occupied a seat among the abyssal lords.
‘But, I must settle this once and for all. Otherwise, I’ll continue to be entangled with her.’
Meanwhile, Sir Gordon, who came with me, unaware of my anxious inner turmoil, expressed his admiration.
“Wow! It’s impressive. To enter the tiger’s den and yet remain so calm. I, Sir Gordon is impressed by you once again.”
“Senior Van, you’re so dependable. But, could I perhaps go back? I still have graduate school assignments to complete.”
“Like Assistant Lindon said, maybe we should just go back? The lady… no, the Duchess is truly frightening.”
“I… I think it might be best for me to return as well.”
The group caused a bit of a commotion each with their own concerns.
For the record, this time I brought not only Captain Gordon and Lindon but also Catherine and Libel with me.
‘They’re the stakeholders in this matter, after all.’
That’s when it happened.
Bang!
The door to the reception room was flung open violently.
“Who do we have here? Isn’t this the Ecclesia family’s little puppy? Have you come here wishing for death?”
Duchess Beth appeared, her eyes gleaming fiercely.
Due to her rage, or perhaps showing her power without any restraint.
‘An intensity not inferior to a perfect storm.’
My body stiffened as if a mouse facing a snake, but the Black Flame Dragon aided me.
The Black Flame Dragon rages against the wrongful persecution!
It manifests an even more formidable aura of intimidation!
Whoosh!
Even the Duchess momentarily showed a surprised expression under the fierce presence of the intense Flaming Charisma, more intense than usual.
I lifted my chin.
“To kill me, you say. Try it if you will. If you wish to see the magical noble house reduced to ashes, then by all means.”
“…What did you say?”
“I am here as an emissary representing His Majesty the Emperor. Duchess, even if you are a member of the abyss unable to discern right from wrong, I trust you understand how grave a crime it is to murder the Emperor’s emissary.”
The duchess made a face as if she heard something absurd, but Sir Gordon stepped forward.
“Professor Van has been fully entrusted by Mayor Mariam of the Free City to resolve this incident. Since the Free City is under the Emperor’s domain, Professor Van currently holds a status equivalent to that of the Emperor’s emissary.”
The duchess’s hands trembled slightly.
It seemed she was itching to tear me apart right then and there but couldn’t make her move.
However, she was no ordinary figure and soon regained her composure.
“…It seems I’ve underestimated you, Young Duke Van. Impressive. So, what do you want? Surely, you don’t actually believe you can do anything to me.”
An arrogant voice.
Indeed, unlike the petty Viscount Conrad, it was impossible to bring the duchess to ruin over such a trivial matter.
“I’ve come to make a deal. We do not wish to dishonor Duke Alfonso, the head of a magical noble house. If you agree to my conditions, this incident will be concluded as an act solely committed by Viscount Conrad.”
He would be sentenced to hanging.
Even though it meant her brother would die, the duchess didn’t blink an eye.
“And what are these conditions?”
“I am aware that the harm done to my students was at your behest. Swear never to repeat such actions, and since the victims are here, I require you to apologize to them directly.”
“To apologize? How dare you!!”
The duchess’s face blazed with anger.
However, my real demand was something else.
“And from now on, do not interfere with the education of my student, Catherine.”
“…What?”
“Meaning, relinquish your educational rights over Catherine.”
It’s a concept that arose from too many cases of parents ruining their children with misguided education.
When stripped of educational rights, the child’s education must be entirely entrusted to academies or public institutions.
‘I have to prevent her from using her educational rights as a pretext to hinder Catherine’s growth. It must be stopped in advance.’
“I am Catherine’s class professor. You may not be aware, but stripping educational rights when parents are deemed unfit is a unique authority of academy professors.”
Of course, she wasn’t going to accept it easily.
“What a ludicrous statement. Me, unfit? A master-level magician of the Seventh Star, and you’re challenging me, Van the trash?”
“Shall we make a bet?”
“…What?”
“I will cast a spell for you.”
I smirked annoyingly, laying down my challenge.
“If you can block my magic, then we’ll pretend this conversation never happened. Of course, there’s no way you could block my magic.”
“!!”
“I shall teach you what truly great magic is.”
