The Genius Professor Wants An Easy Life - Chapter 95
I’ve said it time and again, but the highlight of this episode is not the Phantom Break.
It’s the disaster unfolding at the academy amidst the chaos of the city.
‘Normally, it’s something the protagonists should handle on their own, but I’m worried. We must prepare for any eventuality.’
“Understood. I can trust you to handle it. Then, I’ll go deal with the ghosts. We’re short on hands.”
I nodded and mounted my horse.
Impelled by urgency, I spurred my horse forward.
Young Master Van, there’s trouble!!
It was a message from Hans and Lindon, whom I had stationed at the academy in case of an emergency.
An enemy called the Abyssal bones have appeared at the academy!
“!!”
My face went pale.
It was a Level 7 villain.
On the same level as the Puppeteer.
No, considering the Puppeteer’s unstable condition, it was a much more formidable enemy.
‘Damn it, that’s too much! Even if the kids are protagonists, they can’t possibly stand a chance! They’ll be slaughtered. I need to hurry!’
Of course, other professors would have heard the news and would be returning to the academy, but I couldn’t just leave it to them.
The power of a Level 7 was truly a calamity.
Even with the professors returning, the safety of the students couldn’t be guaranteed.
I had to ensure that Catherine, Libel, and others weren’t caught up in any misfortune.
But before I could reach the academy.
Someone blocked my hurried steps.
Flash!
A blade of darkness leaped out of thin air.
“Where are you hurrying off to?”
A white suit.
As tidy in appearance as his attire was elegant.
I recognized this face as well.
A chill ran down my spine.
“Gentleman.”
“Huhu, correct.”
A Level 7 powerhouse, on par with the Abyssal bones that appeared at the academy.
“Why is the Dark Tower meddling in this matter?”
I couldn’t understand and asked.
The Order could be considered madmen who don’t think ahead, participating to increase their followers.
But the Dark Tower is a rational group.
They generally maintain a line of ethics.
Engaging in such madness was unusual.
“There’s something we desire.”
“What would that be?”
“You, Van.”
“…What?”
“As a messenger of the Dark Tower, I have a proposal for you.”
The gentleman spread one arm wide and then bowed deeply, making an exaggerated show of respect.
“How about joining our Dark Tower?”
“!!”
“With your capabilities, becoming the Tower Master, and even the Dark Lord, would be within reach.”
He referred to reaching the pinnacle of dark magic, a Level 9 mage.
I let out a scoff.
“Do you think I’d entertain such nonsense? I refuse.”
“Ah, that’s a pity. A sincere invitation, yet rejected. What to do now?”
The gentleman smiled darkly.
“I’m so saddened, I might cause some mishap. Maybe even bathe the Free City in blood?”
I hardened my expression upon understanding his words.
“Is that a threat?”
“Huhu, please understand it as our earnest desire for you. Now, watch.”
With a snap of the gentleman’s fingers,
Boom!!
An explosion erupted in one corner of the city.
“This time it was an empty square, but will it be different next time? The bombs I use have legs, so they can go anywhere.”
Bombs with legs.
He was referring to human suicide bombers.
Infiltrating low-level dark mages into the city and then commanding them to explode.
It was impossible to counter.
‘Damn it, what do I do?’
It was also impossible to take him down.
This gentleman was different from the Knight of the Dead, who relied on undead.
Moreover, a Level 7 Master.
A true powerhouse.
The same tricks as before wouldn’t work on him.
‘I could call for senior professors like Professor Burnstein to confront him, but everyone’s stretched thin. Acting rashly could provoke him to detonate bombs immediately.’
The gentleman smirked with a sly smile.
“Huhu, do you now understand how desperately our Dark Tower wants you? Come, let’s go to the Dark Tower together.”
“No, I refuse.”
“Hmm? Do you not understand the situation? So, where shall we explode next? Perhaps we start with the slums?”
I clenched my fists tightly.
A desperate situation.
I needed a brilliant move.
I drew on my experience from my days as a sales king to find an answer.
“Shut up. You’re not even on my level, how dare you think you can take me?”
“!!”
Provocation.
In such an unfavorable situation, I needed to reset the board to play by my terms.
The gentleman frowned.
“Not on your level? Are you belittling dark magic?”
“No, dark magic is a branch of magic. There’s no reason to belittle it. The problem is the Dark Tower, you people.”
With the arrogance lent by the Black Flame Dragon, I wore a supremely haughty expression.
“Those who don’t even grasp the basics of dark magic claiming to be the Dark Tower. It’s not even laughable.”
“Haha. Interesting.”
Contrary to his words, the gentleman’s face turned icy.
My heart skipped a beat.
Like the gentleman suit he wore, he had immense pride in the Dark Tower.
Before he could lash out in anger, I hastily continued.
“If you don’t believe me, teach me the Level 2 dark magic spell, Dark Bolt. I’ll use it to bring you to your knees.”
“What did you say?”
“In return, if I win, you vow never to bother me again, swearing on the name of the demon you’re contracted with. Conversely, if I lose, I’ll willingly follow you.”
“Haha! You really are as the rumors say.”
He burst into laughter, as if amused by the absurdity of my challenge.
“Very well. Just don’t regret it. You seem to not know your place, boasting about your victories over the Witch of Tyranny and the Magic Gunner in battle. Just so you know, I’m nothing like those caged fools.”
He was right.
My one victory over the Witch of Tyranny, Duchess Beth, was entirely because she was caught off guard.
Despite the Duchess Bess and this man being of comparable skill, the chance of a similar miracle happening was nonexistent.
However,
“Stop your babbling. You look like a frightened dog.”
“!!”
“Hurry up and teach me the spell. My time is more precious than jewels, too valuable to waste on the likes of you.”
“Ha! That insane mouth of yours needs to be taught a lesson someday. Here’s the spell formula for Dark Bolt!”
Woong!
Two stars appeared in front of him.
Stars of a completely different style than the ones I had seen before.
‘But it’s the same. After all, it’s based on the Stellar Hierarchy system.’
The difference was one.
What kind of energy the stars of the Stellar Hierarchy manipulate.
Dark magic deals with the world’s negativities.
Malice, murderous intent, jealousy, sin, greed, pain, etc.
Ultimately, it’s a form of magic.
It couldn’t escape my Grand Practitioner’s abilities.
Flash!
A star identical to the one he had drawn appeared in front of me.
“Oh? The rumors are true, then. Despite your mana insensitivity, you’re said to be a once-in-a-millennium talent. You might be an even better ‘material’ than expected.”
Material.
A chilling word.
‘They never planned to welcome me into the Dark Tower; they wanted to use me as a sacrificial offering for dark magic from the start.’
For a moment, I thought of the ‘incident’ the Dark Tower would cause later, but I shook my head.
That wasn’t the matter to think about right now.
“But that’s as far as it goes. You shouldn’t mistake me for a caged fool like the Witch of Tyranny. Your trump card, the power of chaos, won’t work on me.”
Kiiiiiiiiii.
With a terrible sound, six stars appeared in front of him.
Barrier of Woe.
A defensive wall that accumulates the pain of others to protect oneself, a Level 6 spell.
‘It seems he doesn’t have the energy to use a Level 7 Master Spell after casting that spell to enrage the ghosts across the entire Free City.’
But that didn’t mean it was easy to breach.
At my current level, it was an impenetrable barrier that I couldn’t possibly break through.
“That’s a decent level of defense.”
“Haha. What an arrogantly gracious compliment. If you kneel now…”
“But do you know what? You’re an even bigger fool than Duchess Beth.”
“What nonsense are you spouting now?”
“Just wait and see.”
I turned my gaze away.
“Come out.”
“Yap, Sylphie’s making her entrance♥”
The future Massacrist Mage, the mad alchemist Sylphin, emerged from the fog with a giggle.
“A Gem race? What are you doing here?”
“Shut your trap before I rip it open. Dirty vermin♥ Sylphie, got to check the homework for the master, right?”
“!!”
Sylphin approached me, wearing an expression that didn’t suit her usual demeanor.
She looked defeated.
“Here’s the assignment you gave me… but it’s not of high quality.”
I quietly observed the ‘item’ Sylphin handed over.
“A failed attempt.”
“…If this fails, that’s trouble for the master, right? Should I just melt that perverted tuxedo and kill him?”
Sylphin smiled brightly.
“I want to see that white suit soaked in blood.”
“Have we not agreed not to use that power?”
“Che, doesn’t seem like the time to be holding back, right? Without Sylphie’s help, the master can’t handle it, you know?”
I caught on to her underlying motive as she clicked her tongue.
‘She deliberately botched the completion of the item.’
Why?
For a prank.
She wanted to see me in trouble.
And to test me at the same time.
Well, it didn’t matter.
“You’ve underestimated the professor too much. Sylphin, you’re getting points deducted for that attitude.”
Flash.
I looked at the ‘item’ Sylphin had given me.
Noticed its flaws and quickly repaired them with the Grand Practitioner’s abilities.
“Could it be, that is?”
The gentleman recognized the item’s true nature and let out a startled noise.
Too late.
“There was no condition in our wager against using magical tools, was there?”
“!!”
“Do you now see why I called you a fool?”
Kyyaak
The ‘device’ shimmered in a murky ash-gray light.
This device was named ‘Negativity Accumulator.’
A forbidden alchemical magical device that converts surrounding negative energy into power.
‘With the Phantom Break, negative energies intensify. Especially since that man’s spell to enrage the ghosts made it even stronger.’
The accumulator swelled as if it was about to burst.
At the same time, I executed ‘Dark Bolt,’ the spell he had taught me.
Incidentally, the reason I specifically chose Dark Bolt from many dark magic spells was simple.
While its formula was straightforward, it could condense an unlimited amount of negative energy.
In essence, this bet was rigged.
It was destined to be my victory from the start.
“Let me give you some advice, seeing as you don’t seem to understand how the world works: make sure to check the terms of an agreement next time.”
Whoosh!
A dark arrow shot out with a sound as if tearing the sky apart.
Its power was astonishing.
It ripped through his barrier.
“Kuh!!”
However, it didn’t kill him.
After all, a Level 7 Master.
He seemed to have sustained severe injuries but survived.
“You!!! Van Ecclesia!! I won’t let this go.”
It appeared he had no intention of keeping the promise.
But it didn’t matter.
I swiftly mounted my horse again.
“Where do you think you’re going?! You think I’d let you go?!”
“Look behind you.”
“What? Huh!!”
The gentleman gasped.
Sylphin was there, shaking a beaker of poison with a grotesque smile.
“Now you’ll play with me. Oh, could you also tell me where your subordinate dark mages are hiding? I need to catch and kill them all. It’ll be fun♥”
Hmm.
Watching this, I thought.
Maybe Sylphin really is the dark hero.
She guards the back alleys of the Free City.
* * *
Anyway, I hurried on my horse.
I had wasted too much time.
I urgently contacted Hans and Lindon.
“How’s the damage at the academy? Have the other professors returned? Are any of the kids in my class hurt?”
An unexpected answer came back.
All the children are safe.
“Is that so? Thank goodness…!”
But, there’s another problem.
The next words I heard sent a chill down my spine.
Libel… that gloomy one has suddenly gone mad!
The ‘bomb’ had exploded.
