The Genius Professor Wants An Easy Life - Chapter 87

I frowned slightly.

There was a reason.

‘Soon, the erased night episode will begin.’

That meant the academy was no longer a safe haven.

All sorts of threats would approach.

‘I can no longer just rely on luck. I need to become stronger.’

Of course, compared to before, I had become much stronger by obtaining things like the Cold Shadow Blade and the power of Chaos.

However, the strength I spoke of wasn’t that kind of ‘shortcut’.

‘Now, I must also reach the 2nd star level.’

The 2nd star level.

The realm of a ‘beginner’.

As the name ‘beginner’ suggests, it’s a level that even students or commoners can easily reach without being recognized as a formal mage, but for me, it was an unattainable height.

I could never reach the 2nd star level through normal means.

‘But here, it’s different.’

I turned my gaze.

A massive Whirlwind enveloped the entire island.

Within that vortex were the ‘ingredients’ to reach the 2nd star level, which I had to obtain.

While I was at it, I would also awaken Catherine.

“Don’t worry and trust me. Let’s go.”

Catherine bit her lip, pondering, but unexpectedly nodded obediently.

“Okay.”

“Hm?”

Catherine swiftly turned her head away, averting her gaze.

“You told me to trust you. You must have some plan. Despite your appearance, you keep your word no matter what.”

“Do I not seem trustworthy on the outside?”

“That petulant look makes you seem more like a con artist instead? Anyway, let’s go!”

As we moved into the island, a strange phenomenon unfolded.

Even as we neared the whirlwind, there was only loud noise but no pressure felt.

“Why is that?”

“It hasn’t recognized us as foes yet. This isn’t a simple whirlwind. Just wait.”

The moment those words left my mouth:

Welcome, guests!

Verifying qualifications! Qualifications confirmed! You may challenge the relic of the Swift Sword!

“What are these qualifications?”

“It’s the Lv. The combined Lv of the challenging party must not exceed 2, or this relic cannot be challenged. Since we are both below Lv 1, we qualify to challenge together.”

Catherine looked exasperated.

“Lv 2 is too low, isn’t it?”

“That’s why this is an absolutely deadly relic. Only kids can challenge it.”

“But with the professor here, it should be fine. Professor, to be honest, you may be Lv 1 in words only, but you’re stronger than most high levels, right?”

“No, I won’t be using my power this time.”

“What do you mean?”

I glanced at the whirlwind.

“I’ll be focused on obtaining the ‘ingredients’ to raise my own achievement level. It’s an extremely complex process, so I’ll be defenseless. In the meantime, you’ll have to protect me.”

“You want me to overcome the challenges of the relic alone? While also protecting you?”

“You understood correctly. Yes.”

Catherine gaped, looking dumbfounded.

“It is all fine. You can do it.”

“No, what a ridiculous thing to say! There’s no way I can!”

“I believe you can.”

Catherine gritted her teeth.

“Ugh, I don’t know! Since I’m following the professor’s words, if anything happens, it’s all your responsibility!”

Challenge begins!

Entering the relic of the Swift Sword!

Paaaaat!

With a flash of light, the two of us moved into the center of the vortex.

The clear condition is to escape!

Escape from within the whirlwind within 5 days!

Failure to escape within 5 days will cause the whirlwind to turn into blades, shredding the challengers’ bodies!

If cleared successfully, the Eight Heroic Swift Swords will descend and bestow blessings!

Catherine urged impatiently,

“Now that we’re in, tell me. What should I do now?”

“I don’t know. From now on, you’ll have to figure it out yourself.”

“No way!!”

“I said I’d help you, but I didn’t say I’d spoon-feed you everything.”

“!!”

Catherine tightly shut her mouth.

She had realized her own mistake.

Her current appearance was unbecoming of the main heroine.

“The only thing I know is that you can certainly overcome this challenge without my help.”

“……”

Catherine’s fist clenched tightly.

It seemed she was deep in thought.

I left her be and turned my gaze away.

‘In fact, it’s a lie.’

It’s impossible for Catherine to solve the challenges of this Swift Sword relic.

A message like this popped up:

   

Not 0.1%, but a clean 0%.

However,

   

I had a way to neutralize this whirlwind.

But I shook my head.

‘This time, I can’t take action. I have to let Catherine find a way to resolve it herself. So that she can create a miracle.’

It won’t be easy.

If she fails, I’ll die too.

Even when my life hangs by a thread, can I continue to believe in her?

‘I have to. This isn’t just for Catherine, but for me as well.’

I looked at the whirlwind swirling around the island.

Of course, it wasn’t a natural whirlwind.

But it also wasn’t magic.

It was a trace left behind in this world by the power of a Level 9 Ascendants.

‘To reach the 2nd star level, I need more than just mana. I need to form a core.’

Meaning a vessel to contain the mana.

‘Up to the 1st star level, no special core formation is needed. The mana is just a speck after all.’

But from the 2nd star level onwards, it’s different.

The problem, as always, is my damn mana insensitivity.

If I, with mana insensitivity, try to form a core, all I’ll end up with is a leaky basket full of holes.

‘I need another ‘ingredient’ to plug those holes in the basket.’

But what ingredient is that?

It would be easier to repair the damaged core through some heavenly medicine, but no divine elixir can reinforce a leaky core.

‘This is why I came to the Whirlwind Island.’

I gazed at the whirlwind swirling around the island.

That whirlwind is a kind of ‘vessel’.

A ‘vessel’ created by a ‘Mirage’.

‘I must analyze the mirage’s power dwelling within that vortex, formulize it magically, and utilize it to reinforce my core.’

Even for me, it’s an overwhelmingly difficult task with no guarantee of success.

I couldn’t lend a hand to Catherine with my own nose being three feet long.

‘There is only one chance to challenge the Whirlwind Island. If I squander this opportunity, I’ll lose the possibility of reaching the 2nd star level.’

Therefore, Catherine had to create a miracle all by herself without my help.

“Let’s begin.”

I closed my eyes.

The die has been cast.

 

* * *

 

“Professor? Professor?”

Van did not respond.

It seemed he was doing something extremely important, though exactly what was unclear.

Disturbing him carelessly at such times could severely hurt him, so she couldn’t keep calling out.

“Does he really mean for me to do it alone? Is he insane?”

Gooooooh.

The dreadful prowess of the vortex made her look intimidated.

‘How can I break through that and escape?’

It was absolutely impossible with her pitiful magic.

“Should I use the sword?”

Catherine gazed absentmindedly at the sword on her waist.

The sword Van had gifted her on the way here.

“But I haven’t even decided to become a knight yet.”

She was still hesitating due to her reluctance.

However, for now, it seemed she had to somehow try using the sword.

‘But what exactly should I do with the sword? I don’t even know basic swordsmanship.’

If her magic was at the 1st star level, her swordsmanship was that of a complete novice.

‘Will it get cut if I do this?’

Catherine tried slashing at the vortex winds with her sword but panicked.

Kwajijijijick!!!

As if she had thrust her sword into a gear, the blade instantly became dented and chipped.

‘I need another approach.’

Catherine frowned.

‘Dammit, I’m not talented at coming up with brilliant ideas. My forte is doggedly doing assigned tasks.’

Sighing, she wrote ‘Vortex’ in large letters on the ground. Beside it, she wrote ‘wind’.

It was a mind map technique she often used while studying.

‘The vortex is wind. To overcome wind, I need the power of earth.’

Typical thinking process of an aspiring mage.

Then, Catherine recalled something Van had said.

I’ll make you a Level 3 Knight within a week.

“!!”

The answer struck her like lightning.

‘I have to imbue earth magic into the sword to cut through that vortex!’

There are two types of knights:

Sword Knights who solely wield swords.

Dual Knights who combine magic with swordsmanship.

Imbuing magic into the sword was the realm of Level 3 Dual Knights.

‘But how do I imbue magic into the sword?’

Catherine blinked blankly.

She had no idea.

‘I don’t know. Let me just try it.’

Doing things instinctively was her forte.

Paaaat!

Swinging her sword, she began casting earth magic.

Relentlessly.

 

* * *

 

‘She seems to be on the right track for now.’

I opened my eyes a bit to peek at what Catherine was doing.

‘She’ll manage to imbue magic into her sword within a week. She’s put in the effort.’

For Dual Knights, perseverance and hard work were paramount, surprisingly.

Mastering the sword and magic to ‘perfection’ was more important than simply being ‘skilled’.

‘The problem is, that alone won’t be enough.’

This was the relic of the Eight Heroic Swords, after all.

It couldn’t be that easy.

An additional ‘miracle’ had to be achieved.

‘That’s not all.’

I gulped hard.

While analyzing the vortex, I discovered an unexpected additional problem.

‘…What is that apparition?’

Deep within the vortex.

A faint ghostly apparition could be seen.

It was a specter, but with a familiar face.

‘That’s one of the Eight Heroic Swords, Swift Sword! Why is it remaining as a ghost?! Does it mean the ‘descent to bestow blessings’ is appearing as a spirit?’

But that wasn’t the problem.

‘…Why does it keep looking at me?’

The one currently challenging the relic’s trials is Catherine, not me.

Yet, the ghostly Swift Sword showed no interest in Catherine, fixating its gaze solely on me.

Cold sweat trickled down profusely.

‘I have an ominous feeling about this.’

A sense of dread washed over me.

‘Let me think about that later. I’ll deal with it after overcoming this trial.’

If Catherine failed to create a miracle, it is all over.

As I peeked at Catherine’s progress again, I was startled.

Another unexpected problem had arisen.

“Haha, struggling desperately like a bug, aren’t you?”

“!!”

A mocking voice.

Catherine’s face drained of color upon seeing the sudden appearance.

“Wh-Why are you here?”

“Ah, I didn’t come because of you. I have no interest in you. My business is with Van over there.”

Duke Alfonso appeared with a smile.

“Come to think of it, this seems like a good opportunity to kill Van, so I came to find him.”