The Genius Professor Wants An Easy Life - Chapter 64
Hurry! We have no time.
…I swear.
I swear it!
They both spoke hesitantly, but I shook my head.
Such false oaths won’t do. It must be with all sincerity.
The power of the Moonlight Waltz varies depending on how much the other person trusts and entrusts themselves to you.
Both looked troubled.
‘Trust doesn’t just spring up out of nowhere.’
It’s not something that can be forced.
It had to be a ‘sincere’ emotion that naturally arises from the heart.
Especially Yulia, who bit her lip hard.
Having never trusted anyone in her life, and even doubting her master, the Mad Dragon, it was a natural reaction.
You are my disciples. I promise to ensure not even a hair on your heads is harmed.
Motivated by my fervent assurance, they swore again.
…I swear to entrust everything to you.
Me too! Just spare my life! I swear, I will give everything, including my soul and all the wealth of my house!
Whoosh!
Wilhelm’s oath was sincere.
However, the problem continued to be Yulia.
Contrary to her words, she did not trust me at all.
Yulia, I’m trying to save you. Trust me…
Shut up! How am I supposed to trust anything?!
Yulia shouted angrily.
Whoosh!
Yulia’s sword, guided by an impulse, grazed past me.
Had I not possessed the versatile skills of a knight, thanks to one of my skills, that sharp sword would have beheaded me on the spot.
Tears streamed down Yulia’s face.
Even my mother abandoned me, so why should I trust someone like you?! You’re just pretending to care about us for the sake of your teacher evaluation scores! You’ll abandon us once we’re no longer needed!
It was a cry I had heard before.
The same cry Yulia would make in the future, after becoming a perfect villain and being destroyed by the protagonists.
The people’s reactions were mostly sympathetic, but
…Stop throwing a tantrum.
What?
Don’t act like a spoiled child.
!!
I clicked my tongue upon hearing Yulia’s outcry.
‘To think there’s anyone who can be fully trusted in the first place.’
I too grew up without warmth.
It was a world full of people ready to backstab at any moment, and from a young age, I realized that even blood-related families could easily abandon and betray one another.
Of course, I could abandon you too. If you, as a student, commit an unforgivable mistake, I will certainly cast you out. No, even now, if it seems like I’m about to die, I might abandon you. That’s what humans do.
Ha! And you tell me to trust…!
So, are you going to live like a coward for the rest of your life?
!!
Yulia’s eyes hardened.
Whoosh!
Dodging her sword, tapping my feet, I continued.
It’s comfortable not to trust, isn’t it? You won’t get hurt.
Truthfully, I also had difficulty trusting people.
That’s why I know.
How hard it is to trust someone.
But do you know what? Trusting someone actually requires tremendous courage.
!!
To give one’s heart to another, despite the risk of betrayal. That’s what trust is, that’s faith.
Yes.
Faith is something that can only be given when one’s heart is strong.
‘…It’s funny thinking I’m any different from Yulia while acting all superior.’
In reality, it wasn’t necessary to live trusting others.
‘Trusting others or not is a matter of personal disposition, but Yulia’s case is different. In the end, her distrust consumes her as well.’
The choice is yours. Whether to remain curled up as you are now, or to muster the courage, foolish as it may seem. Do as you wish.
Yulia bit her lip hard.
Had my words sparked a change in her feelings?
She then asked,
So, you’re saying I should trust you? Based on what?
Ah, I forgot to mention something crucial. Besides courage, there’s something very important for trusting others.
In fact, it’s more important.
Much more.
It’s the ability to judge character.
!!
How about it? Am I worthy of your trust? If your eyesight is normal, you should be able to tell, right?
Yulia looked incredulous.
Whoosh!
Her sword came at me again, its attack slightly blunted.
This indicated that Yulia’s resolve was wavering, causing cracks in her puppetry technique driven by disbelief.
Didn’t you say you would abandon me earlier?
Yes, that’s right. I firmly believe that students, no matter who they are, shouldn’t be treated as less than human if they embody something truly vile. Seeing your twisted character, there’s a possibility you could end up that way. Let me be clear, if you do, I will be the first to cast you out. But.
I continued, earnestly.
I will also choose to trust you. That you won’t become that way. Even if my trust is betrayed.
!!
Yulia’s eyes shimmered with a different meaning than before.
And then.
…Professor Van, I… I swear I trust you.
With that oath, Yulia’s sincerity directed towards me.
Creak, crack!!
Cracks appeared in the puppet’s shackles that bound her.
“How dare you?!”
Puppet hissed, pulling up its energy in anger.
Though the dark mana of the sorcerer swirled around,
“It’s futile. The solid bond of trust, connected by the brilliant oath of moonlight, cannot be severed by any wickedness.”
A boast from the Black Flame Dragon, not missing the opportunity.
But it was true.
‘The Moonlight Waltz may be merely a 1-star puppetry technique, but depending on how it’s used, it can exert a power stronger than any other puppetry technique.’
The puppetry that comes to life through mutual trust is as beautiful and solid as a waltz in the moonlight.
That was what was written in the spellbook.
“My Moonlight Waltz is not something a puppeteer, who lacks even self-confidence, like you can contend with.”
“!!”
Puppet’s eyes widened as if they were about to tear apart.
It was a shot in the dark about the Puppet’s puppetry having an issue, but it seems I hit the mark precisely.
‘For a puppeteer who controls others through hypnosis, self-confidence is more important than anything.’
“Van, you bastard! How did I end up like this?! If it weren’t for your trickery last time! I’ll kill you!!”
Flames roared as if a fire of vengeance blazed fiercely.
However, losing its composure only made it more vulnerable.
I opened my magic pouch.
“Mari, can you do it? That’s the target.”
Kyu! Papah!
Mari is a Great Elder Dragon, the highest order of the dragon lineage, embodying the essence of righteousness, the reversed malevolent energy.
Still a newborn, its righteousness was but a speck, yet combined with my power, even a speck could bring down a mountain.
With a burp, the adorable burst of righteousness, guided by my magical direction, exploded precisely in its vulnerability.
“Kuh?!”
Crash!
Already weakened by cracks, his puppetry completely destabilized.
“Now’s the time!! Hans, Linden!”
The two who had been on standby sprang forth and snatched Yulia and Wilhelm.
“I’ll activate the escape scroll! This time, Puppet, I’ll show mercy, but next time be prepared! I’ll shave your head clean!”
“…Sir, this is strange? It’s not working? What? Is it defective? But it was expensive?”
The reason became apparent soon enough.
“You fools… Did you really think such a scroll would work in my presence?”
Puppet stretched out his hand towards us with a face full of rage.
Incredibly, he had forcibly stopped the activation of the scroll with his power!
“Puppet sir? I’ve actually admired you! Would you take me, Hans, as your footwipe? My head is so shiny; it’s perfect for polishing feet, hehe.”
“Ah, just shut up and run! Aaah! We’re already surrounded by the puppet army?! I knew about a stock that was going to skyrocket!!”
Dozens of puppets summoned seemingly out of nowhere were encircling us in a tight formation.
Their imposing presence made the previous skirmish seem like mere child’s play.
“Hans, Linden, try to activate the escape scroll again.”
“But, young master? What if Puppet sir doesn’t allow it?”
“It’s okay. This time, even he won’t be able to stop it.”
Fwwuuuuu.
A crystal, shaped like a small sword, formed in front of me.
A crystal combined with the energy of the Heartstone of the Frozen Sea and the Shadow Blade.
It was my secret weapon, the Cold Shadow Blade.
But that wasn’t all.
Whoosh.
The Cold Shadow Blade was enveloped in chaotic energy.
It was a critical strike, made with all my strength.
“Puppet, you must know the nature of this energy. And you know, if it hits, you won’t escape unscathed.”
“!!”
“Are you going to keep focusing on that scroll? If you want to die, be my guest.”
Puppet ground his teeth.
At Puppet’s level, no matter how threatening my strike, there would have been a way to dodge or neutralize it.
But while distracted by the scroll? And against me? Especially in his flawed state? It was impossible.
“Let them go. Let’s you and I have a showdown.”
“…What?”
“Isn’t it me you’re after, after all? I’m asking you to let those unrelated go.”
Silence followed for a moment.
Soon there was an outcry of disbelief.
But unexpectedly, the most vehement reaction came from someone else.
“What nonsense are you spouting? You’re going to die! How can you make such a sacrifice?! Are you insane?”
It was Yulia!
For some reason, her voice was filled with indignation.
‘I have no choice. Having others around would only be a hindrance right now.’
“What help do you think you could possibly provide by being here?”
“!!”
“This is my battlefield. Don’t think about needlessly interfering, and just go back.”
I spoke as forcefully as I could, but the reaction was peculiar.
“…Master.”
“…Van senior.”
Everyone looked at me with choked-up eyes.
Their gaze was burdensome, but I had no mind to pay attention to it.
“It’s an order. Go back now.”
“But…!! That’s not possible…!”
That was the moment.
The escape scroll that Hans and Linden were holding began to emit light.
“No, why is this activating automatically? Could it be, Master, you’ve forced it?!”
“Ah, Van senior! Are you crazy?! If you die, I will go back to stock trading!! Stop it right…!”
Kyu?! Papah!
Whoosh!
Everyone disappeared, and I turned my head with a slightly surprised expression.
Contrary to Hans and Linden’s misunderstanding, it wasn’t my doing.
Puppet withdrew the power that was interfering with the scroll, causing it to activate automatically.
“So, just as you wanted, it’s just the two of us now. Well, how do you wish to die?”
“It seems you’re misunderstanding something. I didn’t stay to make a sacrifice.”
I snapped my fingers.
Arrogantly.
“I stayed to kill you.”
“!!”
It wasn’t just bravado.
There was a way.
‘I have one last card to play. Of course, I can’t guarantee success.’
But I had to do it.
‘The feud with Puppet ends here.’
“Are you prepared to die?”
Puppet’s face hardened.
