The Genius Professor Wants An Easy Life - Chapter 98
There are various types of energies in the world.
Mana is one of the most well-known.
The power of humans.
There’s also something called malevolent energy.
The power of demons.
‘The demonic energy used by demon beings is different from malevolent energy.’
Many get confused, but demons and demonic beings from the demon race are entirely different entities.
Demons are the personification of the world’s evil.
In contrast, demonic beings are a race born under the essence of darkness and the moon.
The power they use, derived from darkness and the moon, is called demonic energy or Black Moon Energy, which grows stronger at night, especially during the full moon.
‘The Lunar Gate is about bringing the moon’s energy directly down to the earth. Demonic beings who possess a Moonstone completed through the Lunar Gate gain power akin to miracles.’
This actually happened in the story.
One of the archdukes, originally Lv. 8, obtained a Moonstone and ascended to the realm of a Lv. 9 Ascendant.
‘Just by receiving the moon’s energy when the Lunar Gate opened, their energy was amplified to such an extent.’
I swallowed hard, feeling the energy emanating from Rune.
It had to be blocked.
Fortunately, there was one method I had prepared for just such an occasion.
“Lindon, Hans, Yulia, Wilhelm. Have you done what I asked?”
I had given these four a special task.
“Yes, Master! We did exactly as you instructed and raided the security room!”
“Ha, saying we raided it makes it sound like we committed a crime. We just borrowed something for a while.”
“Heh, bribing the security room staff was my part.”
“W-We’re not going to jail, right? I don’t want to see those cuties again!”
Rune’s expression hardened as he saw the item the four brought out.
“Could it be?”
“Yes, it’s the key to activate the seal of the sealed area.”
The sealed area is a place laden with various dangers and potential disasters.
Thus, a large-scale barrier has been installed to prevent any unforeseen calamities.
‘Activating the security barrier will also nullify the Lunar Gate.’
However, there was a problem; recently, the barrier had been effectively abandoned and left unattended.
‘Maintaining such a massive barrier costs a fortune. It’s a strain on the academy’s finances.’
Yet, the barrier’s functionality hadn’t completely failed. It activated partially.
“There is a device to activate the barrier in the Emerald Garden to the southeast of here. You all will go there and activate the barrier. Catherine, Mari, you two go as well.”
There might be monsters on the way, but with Catherine, Yulia, Lindon, and the others, they should be able to handle it.
However, there was a critical problem with this plan,
“Hehe, do you think I’ll just stand by and watch?”
Rune sneered.
At Lv. 7. No, now possessing the power reaching Lv. 8, if he made a move, the children would be massacred in an instant.
But,
“I’ll stop him.”
As I stepped forward to protect the students, Rune looked dumbfounded.
Of course, the most surprised were the children.
“What, Professor?!”
“Don’t worry about me, just do what I’ve asked you to. This is an order.”
I spoke firmly, and they all clenched their fists.
“Master, urgh…! To sacrifice yourself for everyone…!”
“Senior, are you crazy…!”
Pa…! Ppa!!
“There’s no time. Go.”
I cut them off before they could get noisy again.
They all turned away with solemn faces.
“If you get hurt or die, I’ll beat you up.”
“Professor Van won’t die. He’s someone Yulia respects. So, don’t you dare die or get injured and disappoint me.”
They all seemed to think I was sacrificing my life for everyone.
It was expected.
<Chance to stop the doping demon>
0%
It was clear.
But as everyone knows, I’m not the type to play the sacrificial character.
“Lost your mind? Even you must know that it’s impossible to stop me alone.”
“When did I say I was alone?”
“…What did you say?”
That was the moment.
Swoosh!
A flash of light streaked through the darkness.
“!!”
He startled and retreated.
The shadow wings, the Black Winged Shadows, were slightly torn, scattering energy.
“Angel, I shall deal with this filthy demonic being.”
It was Black Bird Amanda!
She had been dealing with ghosts in the city and rushed here upon hearing my call for help.
<Chance to stop the doping demon>
When joining forces with the clueless assassin colleague professor: 3.7%
And that wasn’t all.
“What are you doing all alone, Van? This time, I, Kansir, will show my greatness.”
“The same goes for me. I find it displeasing. I won’t let you show off by yourself.”
Kansir and Balas had arrived too!
…Actually, I hadn’t called them, but it seemed they came on their own.
‘Since we’re still in the middle of employment competition, I deliberately didn’t call them because I’d have to share the credit for saving the academy with them.’
Regardless, they were reinforcements that could help.
<Chance to stop the doping demon>
When joining forces with three clueless colleague professors: 5.7%
So, just a speck.
The chance had increased by 2%.
Not bad.
I had my own strategy in mind, after all.
Indeed, that was the moment.
“Are you alright, our Professor Van? You demon!! Daring to come to Ruby Academy!!”
A thunderous shout!
A figure with a billowing white beard appeared from the sky, emanating a powerful energy.
It was Rudolph, the former principal.
Professor Burnstein was with him too.
<Chance to stop the doping demon>
When joining forces with the hot-blooded old man and the prickly tsundere professor: 33.5%
The odds had significantly jumped!
However, contrary to expectations, even with the arrival of former Principal Rudolph and Professor Burnstein, the absolute value did not increase significantly.
‘I thought that even if old man Rudolph had lost the strength of his prime, the success rate would be at least 50%.’
It means the power of the one who received the moon’s energy was much stronger than expected.
‘Someone else needs to lend their strength. At least a strong person of Lv. 7 or above.’
Then, an entirely unexpected voice was heard.
“Ohoho. It seems the time has come for me to demonstrate my skills after a long while.”
“!!”
I was startled.
It was Principal Karak!
‘Why? Principal Karak never gets involved in such matters.’
Even if the academy suffers, Principal Karak does not care.
After all, his ‘goal’ is not for the welfare of the academy.
But then,
“After hearing Professor Van’s words, I felt something too. It seems this can’t go on as it is.”
Chang!
Principal Karak pointed his sword at Rune.
“By beheading this demon, I will step closer to my ‘goal’.”
I was taken aback.
There had been a change within Principal Karak.
Of course, this doesn’t mean the essence of Principal Karak had changed.
His heart is still likely filled with dark intentions.
Yet, this was still a remarkable sight.
<Chance to stop the doping demon>
When joining forces with the dark lord principal: 48.5%
The odds had skyrocketed.
Still, it was not quite half.
That was alright.
This was enough.
Whoosh!
Two stars rose in front of me.
“!!”
“Now you will understand what the word ‘fear’ truly means. Behold the marvel unfolding from the fingertips of I, Van Ecclesia.”
…As embarrassing as the Black Flame Dragon’s bluster might be.
It wasn’t a lie.
<Chance to stop a doping demon>
When your miracle joins the fight: 70.3%
All preparations were complete.
Now, it was up to the children.
‘No matter how much we hold him off, if the Lunar Gate is completed, it’s over.’
Indeed, the success rate reader had this clue written on it.
If exceeded 15 minutes, you lose regardless of the battle’s outcome.
‘We need to activate the barrier before that.’
So, this was a battle against time.
Especially, the role of Hans, a 5-star ranked mage, in activating the barrier was crucial.
‘I trust you, Hans.’
But then, I momentarily kept quiet.
The image of Hans’s foolish behavior suddenly came to mind.
‘…Can I really trust him?’
* * *
At that time, in the Emerald Garden to the southeast, the sealed area.
Van’s class had arrived at the device to activate the barrier.
“We’ll keep watch, teacher assistants.”
“Yeah, you guys are really exceptional. Aren’t you interested in the graduate research lab? Lower grades can join too, so if you come, I shall treat you all well….”
Swoosh, everyone ignored Lindon’s nonsense.
Lindon scratched his head and scolded Hans.
“What are you doing, old man? Why haven’t you activated it yet?”
“I’m on it!”
“Why is it taking so long? Can’t you do it?”
“What nonsense are you talking about?! Activating a barrier like this is nothing for this Hans. Just give me a little more time…!!”
Lindon saw the cold sweat on Hans’s bald head and was horrified.
Despite his bold claims, he was struggling.
“What, old man? You’re a 5-star Supreme Mage. And you can’t activate a barrier with a key?”
“You brat! Do you know how old this barrier is?! Do you think it’s still in perfect condition?!”
“But still… as a Magical Tools major?”
Maintaining and repairing such barriers is a specialty of those majoring in Magical Tools, like Hans.
Especially for a five-star, someone who would be considered a peer among the academy’s professors, dealing with just an old barrier should not be difficult, right?
“Didn’t I say I’m on it?! You’re annoying, so buzz off!!”
Lindon clamped his mouth shut at the unusually sharp shout, sensing the mood.
Hans glared at the activation device with red eyes.
‘Damn it, damn it. This kind of thing is too much for a failure like me. I should’ve just leached off the Ecclesia Ducal Family.’
A personal mage position in a noble family was not a sought-after job among mages.
Seen as errand runners for trivial noble tasks.
Of course, the Ecclesia Ducal Family is a great house, and its members are all respectable, but it was the same.
Perhaps if it were a position as a combat mage in a knight order, but a personal mage was avoided by any mage with ambition.
Yet, Hans became a personal mage for the Ecclesia Ducal Family.
Because he knew his limits.
‘There was a time I thought I was something special. All delusions.’
Hans was well aware that being a five-star was his limit.
Honestly, he sometimes wondered how he even got this far.
‘I promised myself I’d achieve something by meeting the young master, but it’s too much for me.’
No, it’s questionable if he ever had the determination.
Perhaps he just wanted to live comfortably under the wing of a genius like Van, different from himself.
‘There’s no way I can handle this.’
Hans looked at the magic circle of the activation device with a sense of dread.
He didn’t dare to start.
“Old man, you have to try! We’re running out of time! Something feels like it’s about to happen!”
“Ah, forget it! Why don’t you do it?!”
As he clenched his eyes shut,
Is there a problem?
Van’s message came through the communicator.
“It’s impossible for me, young master.”
What’s the issue? There’s no time, so explain only the most crucial problem.
“The axes forming the polygon of the magic circle are… and then…”
After hearing the explanation, Van fell silent for a moment.
It would indeed be too difficult for you to handle.
“…I’m sorry.”
Just as Hans was about to bow his head in apology.
It’s fine.
“…What do you mean?”
Who are you, Hans?
“…Servant of the young master…”
You’re my graduate student.
What was he talking about?
Why does that matter now?
Graduate students are different from undergraduates. They have the capacity to handle tasks independently, but they aren’t perfect. They need the professor’s ‘guidance’.
Van continued.
I will give you an assignment. You have 3 minutes to complete it.
t/n – If you’re confused about the energies of these demons or something, here is the explanation.
Normal human mage – mana
Demons – malevolent energy
Demonic Beings – demonic energy
These are the respective terms for each being. However, the thing is demonic beings are also called demons. So, if a demon’s energy is demonic energy, then it is a demonic being. On the other hand, if a demon’s energy is malevolent energy, then it is a ‘demon.’
Now, the demon king, she is from the demonic realm, so she must be a demonic being.
And info about some ‘demons’? I think most of them come from Gehenna, the hell of their world, I think.
