The Genius Professor Wants An Easy Life - Chapter 93
Imperial Prince Renius’s gaze darkened.
‘Because of that Van, I haven’t been able to achieve anything good so far. I absolutely cannot miss this opportunity.’
Apart from Renius, there are other Apostles within Ouroboros.
He had to win the competition against them.
‘Not long ago, I received a message from the Fourth Apostle. The preparations for the Grand Plan have been completed.’
The Grand Plan.
The task assigned to the Fourth Apostle.
‘The Grand Plan, of all things, targets the Ruby Academy. If the Grand Plan proceeds as scheduled, the Fourth Apostle will achieve the highest merit.’
As mentioned before, Ruby Academy is the most important place for Ouroboros among the four prestigious institutions.
Something that must be acquired at all costs.
‘Damn it, if it weren’t for Van Ecclesia, I wouldn’t be lagging behind like this.’
This was why Renius was pushing himself this time.
‘Killing Van Ecclesia is impossible. It would turn the eyes of the Ecclesia Ducal family against us. They would dig into it to the very end. And the Demon Blade cannot be recklessly touched either.’
The rest of the students were different.
They could be killed without issue.
‘Especially Catherine of the Sun and Libel of the Moon are potential archenemies of our Ouroboros. Killing them would be a great achievement.’
The plan was to earn merit by killing Catherine and Libel, and use the failure to protect the class students as an excuse to expel Van Ecclesia from the academy.
‘This time, it ends.’
Renius thought chillingly.
* * *
It wasn’t just that.
A spark of another problem was igniting in a place Van hadn’t anticipated at all.
“Ugh, it feels especially creepy today. Ah, there’s another ghost!”
“What, isn’t it nothing to worry about? The upperclassmen will handle it, as usual.”
Even though Phantom Break had erupted, the city and the academy weren’t paralyzed.
Since ghosts only appeared at night, people conducted their business as usual during the day and locked themselves in their homes or dormitories as soon as the sun set.
“There again!”
“No, that’s not a ghost. Isn’t that Libel?”
“Ah, that unpleasant guy? I find him more disagreeable than the ghosts.”
“He’s even gloomier than a ghost. Even ghosts would avoid him because they’d feel unpleasant.”
“But where is he going? Isn’t it forbidden to leave the dormitory after sunset?”
Libel was walking with a vacant look in his eyes.
‘Where am I going?’
He didn’t know.
His mind was hazy, and he just moved his feet aimlessly.
‘I’m a monster.’
This wasn’t a recent thought.
In fact, Libel had always thought this way.
‘People dislike me because, instinctively, they feel I’m a monster. No one likes me.’
Suddenly, he thought of someone.
It was Van.
The only person who had always genuinely looked out for him from the beginning.
‘No. Even Professor Van will end up disliking me. It’s certain. It wasn’t as if he treated me specially in the first place.’
Van was the same to everyone.
Although he pretended to be prickly, he always cared for others.
Would Van remain unchanged even if he knew Libel was a monster?
Libel wasn’t sure.
‘Maybe the professor dislikes me, and that’s why he didn’t assign me any task this time.’
He knew.
This was just his persecution complex.
But deep-seated self-loathing kept leading him to such negative thoughts.
“Ah.”
Libel suddenly came to his senses.
Walking mindlessly, he had gone too far.
Eeeiiikk
Ooooo
The ghosts bared their teeth.
It was Phase 2, so these were Level 2 ghosts.
For Libel, a ‘1st Star,’ these opponents were too much to handle.
There were even Level 3 ghosts.
It was a crisis, but Libel just blankly stared at the ghosts.
“I… I… have something to ask you. Do you also think I-I am a monster?”
Whooo. What nonsense is this?
A mad child?
“I-I’ll show you.”
A streak of energy flashed from Libel’s body.
The ghosts, recognizing the ‘identity’ of the energy, cried out in astonishment.
Wait… What is this energy? How can a human…?!
Monster?!
Libel’s face hardened at the word ‘monster’ someone exclaimed.
“I-I’m not a monster!”
At that moment.
Whoosh!!
The spectral bodies of the ghosts burst into flames.
Nearly ten entities of ghosts vanished without even screaming.
Having accomplished the unbelievable, Libel bowed his head.
“I’m really not a monster.”
That was when it happened.
No, you are indeed a monster.
“!!”
Libel’s eyes widened as if they were about to split.
It was a familiar voice.
“Te, Teacher?”
Not referring to Van.
Yes, that’s right. How have you been? I’ve missed you, my child.
It was the teacher who had taught him in the ‘home’ Libel originally came from.
Do you understand now? The only place that will accept you is ‘home.’
A serpent-like whisper slithered into Libel’s ear.
Let’s go back to ‘home.’
“Home….”
Yes, your ‘family’ doesn’t mind even if you’re a monster.
“I hate it.”
Hmm?
Libel clenched his teeth.
“I want to live like a human now.”
Like a human.
Someone liking him as a human. Liking someone else as a human.
How ridiculous. You, being the most terrible monster of all. Do you think you deserve that?
“……”
Well, it doesn’t matter. Your wishes are not important anyway.
“!!”
At those words, an immense headache surged through Libel’s head.
As his consciousness faded, a terrible command echoed.
There’s no need for useless affection for a monster. Before returning ‘home,’ kill all those dear to you.
* * *
And even that wasn’t the end.
Atop the spire of Ruby Academy, under the faint moonlight, a figure was humming a tune.
“Wow. It’s more chaotic than I thought. Phantom Break, the three evils, ‘home’, and those madmen.”
It was Rune!
A demon from the demon realm, disguised as a temporary professor.
“I’m looking forward to it. Whether Van Ecclesia will pull off a miracle this time too. Of course, it seems utterly impossible this time.”
Rune smiled, stretching his lips from side to side.
“Sorry to Van, but this time, I won’t just stand by. The time is ripe.”
Chilling words.
Rune, as evident from the reaction shown by The Puppeteer earlier, is no ordinary demon.
But now, he hints at causing trouble.
No ordinary matter, indeed.
“All for the glory of the demon realm.”
Poof!
Rune’s figure vanished, leaving only the wandering ghosts in the deep darkness.
Thus,
Ouroboros.
The three evils.
‘Home’.
Rune of the demon realm.
Terrible dangers began to approach.
That night, the phase progressed to 3.
* * *
The city was in chaos.
“Phase 3? Hasn’t this been unprecedented recently?”
“Is this okay? Even if the professors of Ruby Academy are protecting the city?”
“It means that Level 3 ghosts will start appearing, right?”
Level 3 was a highly symbolic rating.
Level 1 represents a runner, someone who has just started.
Level 2 is a beginner, similarly to an apprentice level. A somewhat more skilled apprentice.
On the other hand, Level 3 is referred to as a ‘user’.
Whether a swordsman, a mage, a healer, or an artist, starting from Level 3, one sheds the apprentice status.
It acknowledges one as a formal knight, a formal mage, and so on.
Therefore, from Phase 3 onwards, it means that ghosts equivalent to formal knights and mages will appear.
“Wouldn’t higher-level demons appear frequently as well?”
“I heard that in the worst-case scenario of Phase 3, even Level 5 or Level 6 demons and monsters could emerge.”
“That sounds insane.”
“Ah, look there. The professors from the academy.”
A middle-aged man with a notable mustache stepped up to the square.
It was Viscount Werner, the chairman.
“Ladies and gentlemen of the city, do not worry. Our Rapalt Ducal Family, in collaboration with the academy’s professors, will protect you.”
His voice was cheerful.
In fact, Count Werner was gleefully taking advantage of the situation.
‘After being continuously embarrassed recently, this has turned out well. I’ll use this opportunity to overpower the other factions and take control of the academy.’
Surprisingly, the biggest contributor to this situation wasn’t the faction of the former chancellor Rudolph.
It was the Rapalt Duchy.
Because they had the most members.
While high-level demons might be a different story, defeating these low-level ghosts was most advantageous for the group with the most members.
‘Though progressing to Phase 3 is a bit concerning, well, it shouldn’t matter. It surely won’t progress to Phase 4.’
If it reaches Phase 4, the story changes.
The professors of the Rapalt Duchy, although numerous, are qualitatively inferior not only to Rudolph’s former chancellor faction but also to Chancellor Karak’s faction.
“Unlike a certain professor who makes all the noise on regular days but runs away when the city faces a crisis.”
This was referring to Van.
As the situation progressed to Phase 3, Van’s reputation plummeted even further.
“Van was always a failure. Disappointing.”
“Disappointing my foot. I didn’t even expect anything. I knew it was all bluff.”
“Were all the things Van supposedly accomplished also lies?”
Originally, many had scorned Van’s recent activities.
Now, with the added anxiety over Phase 3, everyone spent their time disparaging Van.
Burnstein and the former chancellor Randolph also spoke about Van.
“Chancellor, why do you look so troubled? Is it because of Van?”
“Ha, Van, that trash, he hasn’t really run away, has he?”
“Whenever you see Van, you fuss over him, and now you doubt him? Or, perhaps, are you upset because Van used the gift you gave him for his house purchase as collateral for a loan at the bank?”
“Upset, me!? Watch your words!”
“Well, Van did wrong, indeed. The Chancellor took great care and was excited to pick out that gift, and to think it was just left for a loan.”
“Don’t even talk about that! Ah, Van that guy, and you too, shut up.”
Rudolph grumbled.
“I just have a bad feeling about this.”
“Don’t worry too much. Our Ruby Academy isn’t weak.”
“It’s not that I don’t trust you all. It just feels ominous.”
That was the moment.
Suddenly, the view darkened.
It was broad daylight, but it became impossible to see even an inch ahead as if thick fog had descended.
“…The Chancellor’s worry was justified. It’s Phase 4.”
GHOOOO
Cries of ghosts were heard from everywhere.
Ghosts appeared even when the sun was up. It was a phenomenon said to occur in Phase 4.
“Even Level 6 ghosts. I must step forward.”
“No, wait a moment.”
“Chancellor?”
“This isn’t the end.”
Former Chancellor Rudolph’s face turned pale.
“Could it be, this is?”
That was the moment.
A resonating laughter echoed throughout the Free City.
Ahahaha. Greetings to the citizens of the Free City. I am known as the ‘gentleman’ from the Dark Tower. Seeing you all doing so well makes me feel spiteful. So, I’ve prepared a special ‘gift’ for you.
