The Genius Professor Wants An Easy Life - Chapter 56
Chancellor Karak’s demeanor shifted dramatically.
The ridiculous fuss vanished, and the air around him became sharply tense.
‘Indeed, the ultimate boss of the first-year section.’
It was nerve-wracking, but to negotiate with a tiger, one must face the tiger.
“I don’t think this is the time for complacency. At this rate, Ruby Academy will fall into the hands of the Rapalt Duchy or the former Chancellor Rudolph and his cronies. And you, Chancellor, will be ousted, achieving nothing.”
Ousted.
It was a word that touched Chancellor Karak’s ‘raw nerve.’
The atmosphere became even more fierce.
“How presumptuous. Do you think you’ve become someone special just because you’ve cleaned up the likes of Conrad Viscount and his lot?”
“It’s not a misconception. I am indeed someone special because I can be your wings, Chancellor.”
“!!”
Chancellor Karak flinched, and I looked straight into his eyes, continuing.
“I’ve said several times that I want to stand with you, Chancellor. It’s time for you to choose. Will you take my hand?”
‘I also can’t afford to hesitate any longer. I must clearly define my stance.’
Being targeted by the former Chancellor Rudolph was a painful experience.
If I just hum and haw, I’ll be mistakenly associated with Rudolph’s faction against my intentions.
‘Taking the side of the minority means unavoidable hardship. But I can’t align myself with the Rapalt Duke’s either. For now, hiding in the shadow of Chancellor Karak is the best option.’
The plan was to betray Chancellor Karak and make my escape right before his downfall.
It was the perfect tactic for navigating social situations.
I delivered the decisive blow.
“If you continue to doubt me, then there’s nothing I can do. It seems you lack the capacity to embrace me, Chancellor, so I’ll seek out others.”
“Haha!!!”
Chancellor Karak suddenly burst into laughter.
It was a fierce, storm-like laugh that could dry one’s blood.
And then.
“Ohoho, I’ll admit it. I’ve misjudged Sir Van all this time. Professor Alif, would you come in, please?”
He was the dean of students, a key figure in the Chancellor’s faction.
“What is the matter, Chancellor?”
“Could you prepare for the establishment of a solo lecture course for Professor Van?”
“Me? But? Such a privilege for Professor Van, of all people?”
Professor Alif was flustered, making a slip of the tongue right in front of himself.
There had never been a temporary professor who was granted a solo lecture.
It was a privilege not even Balas had received.
“Ohoho, this time Professor Van has claimed to make a contribution to the academy by reforming ‘special problem students’—three of them, no less. You really can do it, right, Professor Van? If you fail, this heart of Karak will be deeply disappointed.”
Still not fully accepting, doubting eyes.
It can’t be helped. Doubting and not trusting is in Chancellor Karak’s nature.
Since I’m only planning to use him as well, it didn’t matter to me.
“Save your unnecessary worries and just clear the best date and time for me. It will be a lecture that goes down in the history of Ruby Academy.”
* * *
I decided to seek out the students first.
‘Susan, why doesn’t she have a registered address? She’s not living in the dormitory either?’
I felt a chill down my spine, a sense of foreboding I couldn’t shake.
Left with no choice, I decided to look for the others first.
The reaction was, perhaps as expected, not good.
“Oh, who do we have here? The original trash, Lord Van, isn’t it? Have you come looking for Trash the Second? He’s in such a drunken stupor he wouldn’t recognize his own parents. Come back next time. Though, whether he’ll be sober then is another matter, haha!”
The disciple of the Bright Dragon reacted similarly.
“Lady Yulia is currently in the midst of important training and cannot be met.”
“Even when her professor is here to see her?”
“Yes, there are no exceptions.”
Both were a resounding rejection at the door.
I simply nodded and stepped away.
I didn’t even attempt to visit the Third Prince Demon Blade.
‘I somewhat expected it to be like this.’
The reason for the futile attempts was to give the students a chance.
‘It seems a more forceful approach is necessary.’
For that, I needed the consent of their guardians.
Haha! Who do we have here if not Lord Van? It’s been a while. How have you been? How is His Grace the Duke?
Through the communication device, a middle-aged man with a generous demeanor appeared.
It was the Marquis Leming, from the North Sea Border.
“I’ve become the class professor for your son and wanted to get in touch.”
Ah, I’ve heard. It sounds like a tough job. Just thinking about my son gives me a headache.
“Yes, at this rate, he’s on the verge of being expelled, which must be worrisome for you.”
…What did you just say? Expelled? The son of the North Sea Marquis?
“Yes, the number of school rules he’s broken is countless, enough to warrant expulsion several times over.”
No, that’s… Surely, breaking a few rules is part of academy life! You must have made similar mistakes during your days at the academy, no?
“Of course. However, the Leming family is not the Ecclesia Ducal family, is it? With all due respect, the influence of a rural Marquis house might not be sufficient to prevent your son’s expulsion.”
Across the communication device, the complexion of Marquis Leming of the Northern Borderlands flared red enough to be noticeable.
Just as the Marquis was about to raise his voice,
“How long do you intend to coddle him?”
…What?
“While a substantial donation to the academy might avert expulsion, what good would that do? Your son is nearly an adult. It’s time he took responsibility for his actions.”
Seventeen may be young, but it’s not so young that one can shirk responsibility.
But, Wilhelm… He’s not going to change.
A statement of no confidence in his son.
Given Wilhelm’s track record in the scenario, it was a valid concern.
Wilhelm was even worse than the notorious troublemakers.
“Leave that to me.”
…To you?
“Didn’t I say I am responsible for your son’s class? Correcting a student’s misconduct is my duty as a professor. However, there is a condition.”
Are you suggesting we use harsh methods? Beat him up, whatever it takes?
“No, I dislike barbaric methods and do not prefer violence. Instead, cut off your ties with your son.”
!!
A silence ensued.
He seemed to not fully grasp my words.
…What did you say?
“Cutting ties means not merely stopping support. I’m asking you to disown your son from the family.”
!!
The Marquis’s eyes widened, but I continued in an even more serious tone.
“There is no other way to bring about change in your son. You must choose. Will you let your son continue to deteriorate under your care, or will you use tough love to transform him?”
* * *
Marquis Leming, after much deliberation, accepted my proposal.
News would soon reach Wilhelm directly.
‘I also need the consent of the Bright Dragon. Ugh. Damn it.’
He was a being of a completely different dimension compared to Marquis Leming.
After all, his nickname was ‘the Mad Dragon.’
Above all, the Bright Dragon’s disciple, Yulia, was a far more challenging subject compared to Wilhelm.
She wasn’t a problem child to begin with.
Instead, she was problematic because she was too much of a prodigy.
‘She’s a genius who overshadows the main characters of the Swordsmanship department. At least for the current moment.’
For instance, based on ‘the present,’ Yulia’s skills surpassed those of Theren, the direct descendant of a renowned swordsmanship family and the sub-main character of the knight department.
‘But what is Theren doing? Being a righteous protagonist, he must be doing well on his own? It’s hard enough managing my own affairs; let’s not worry about others.’
The Bright Dragon was famously proud of his disciple, Yulia.
So, there was no way he would agree to what I intended to do.
‘I have to do it. It’s do or die.’
I wrote a letter and sent it to the Bright Dragon.
It was a letter that would turn the Bright Dragon upside down.
“Van senior, did you just write ‘dueling ground’ in that letter?”
“…You saw it wrong.”
“No, I didn’t. It clearly said ‘dueling ground’.”
“This idiot, Lindon! This foolish one! No matter how arrogant Master Van might be, would he really send a dueling ground challenge to the Bright Dragon?!”
“Well… That does make sense. No matter how daring Van senior is, he wouldn’t do something so insane.”
“…….”
Ignoring their fuss, I sighed.
‘…It will take a few days for the Bright Dragon to fly here in a rage. Let’s settle Wilhelm’s matter by then.’
I stopped by a few places to take care of necessary business.
“You seem to be visiting me quite often these days?”
“It’s purely for business. Don’t worry. Emily, I swear I have no intention of getting any closer than business partners with you.”
“…….”
Leaving Emily with her seemingly dissatisfied expression,
“Van, don’t get the wrong idea. It’s not because you’re my brother, but because I think it will benefit the Free City that I’m agreeing to your request.”
“…You didn’t hastily shove something into the drawer just now, did you? It wasn’t my picture, was it?”
“No, of course not! What are you talking about…?! Am I supposed to get angry now?!”
“…It was a joke, but you’re making it sound serious.”
“Get lost!”
After negotiating with Mariam, I headed to the entertainment district of the Free City where Wilhelm was said to frequent.
‘This guy, even when he’s out playing, it’s in such a low place.’
The Free City, true to its size, had several pleasure districts.
This one was of the worst quality.
It wasn’t so much dangerous as it was outright low in quality.
Dirty and unclean, a place where the more affluent nobility would never set foot.
As I made my way to where Wilhelm was said to be, I entered a small bar filled with cigarette smoke and scattered gambling cards everywhere.
“Ah, look who it is? The original trash lord! Really, you’re back?”
“Trash the Second, young master, come over here! Show your face to your father!”
Soon, a boy with a flushed face from too much alcohol appeared, his face reddening even more.
“Even though at 17, drinking isn’t illegal under imperial law, you’ve certainly had a lot.”
Wilhelm, the so-called Van the second, sneered and pointed at me.
“Hic, greetings! My homeroom professor? To think, you actually told my father to cut ties with me? Do you think I care about that?!”
“……”
“I don’t need a father! Look, see how many friends I have.”
Wilhelm gestured grandly towards the scum of the pleasure district as if to show off.
Everyone seemed to think the severance from his family was merely a temporary incident.
‘Surely, given Marquis Leming’s soft nature, he’ll likely take him back eventually.’
Of course, I won’t let it end that way.
“Get lost! I have no interest in talking with you. Hic.”
“I’m sorry, but I didn’t come here as a professor.”
“Hic, then why are you here?”
“I’m here as a collector for the debts you owe and as an enforcer for the criminal charges against you.”
“…Hic?”
Wilhelm looked confused, as if he couldn’t comprehend what I’d said.
“You’ve borrowed a significant sum of money from the Rapalt family, in addition to the allowance you received from the Marquis.”
“That, that was legally borrowed with my own credit?!”
“The moment you were disowned by your family, your credit vanished. As of now, including interest, you owe exactly 75,272 phenas. Pay it back immediately.”
Wilhelm’s mouth hung open.
Due to the alcohol not yet worn off, he seemed unable to grasp the gravity of the situation.
“There’s also a long list of illegal activities.”
“Just because I gambled a bit, what’s the big deal?!”
“Illegal gambling is the least of it. Here are the criminal charges you’re implicated in.”
Wilhelm’s face drained of color as he looked over the document I handed him.
