Ch.113113. I Became a Professor at the Academy (3)

It wasn’t killing intent. But there was a gaze staring intently at me. I couldn’t pretend not to know who was sending such a gaze even if I tried. The child who had been shooting the same look at me consistently from the lecture hall earlier to here in the cafeteria now.

Judging by how accurately she could pinpoint my location despite somewhat concealing her presence, she was definitely different. The two students beside me hadn’t even noticed I was sitting here.

“Hero.”

Without even getting food on her tray, Natalie approached slowly and called out to me. I slightly lifted my head to acknowledge her, and when our eyes met, Natalie blinked her black eyes several times. That innocent and clear gaze was difficult to face. Natalie looked like an ordinary student to anyone who saw her.

How on earth is this child connected to the evil god worshippers?

“[She’s deliberately hiding such immense power. She seems to be using some technique to prevent proper detection. That makes me all the more certain she’s connected to those damned people.]”

At the Holy Sword’s words, I slightly furrowed my brow. What circumstances could this girl, barely an adult, be in? Is she also one of those who hate and despise me?

“C-can we join you for lunch?”

At that moment, the female student standing beside Natalie asked cautiously. Her name was Cora Poison, wasn’t it? A child of the Poison family. Her uncle was currently making a name for himself in the royal knights, and her grandfather was a great man who had served as the head of the knights. The other one, Eugene Grayson, was also from a prestigious family that had produced many distinguished mages. These two had taken second and third place.

Well, is there any need to think deeply about it right now? I smiled slightly and nodded. If anything, making a natural connection with Natalie this early could be considered fortunate for my mission.

“Please sit. Natalie, you should get your food first.”

Natalie flinched when her name was called. Then she quickly turned away from me after staring for a long time and walked to get her food. Eugene and Cora, who sat across from me, looked surprised.

“You… remember our names.”

“Yes, Cora. You achieved high scores in the placement test. The same goes for Eugene beside you.”

Cora looked overjoyed when her name was called, while Eugene showed a surprised expression. These reactions revealed their age-appropriate student-like qualities. Even their attempts to control their reactions by trying to act mature.

“I truly admire you, Hero…! You are the true role model for knights.”

“Thank you for saying so, but I’m not that admirable.”

It would be terrible if aspiring knights tried to follow my example. A knight should look only to their master and serve with blind loyalty. If ordered to jump into fire, a knight should do so without question. That’s the virtue of being a knight. It doesn’t suit a rogue who acts as impulsively as I do.

“Such modesty… I really want to be like you.”

Well, Cora and Eugene seemed to take my words as mere humility. I watched their reactions with an awkward smile.

“[That’s called humility, Ilroy. Who would sincerely belittle themselves when being modest? They’re just being polite and trying to increase their value.]”

The Holy Sword’s caustic response came through. Somehow our thinking seems to be becoming more similar. Is it because we’ve been together for quite a while? Though for the Holy Sword, it might just be a fleeting moment.

“[What are you saying? The time I’ve spent with you…]”

The Holy Sword spoke as if hurt, then stopped mid-sentence. Then, in what seemed like a flustered voice, it quickly changed the subject.

“[Anyway, here comes that child. I don’t know what those evil god worshippers have done, but… be careful, Ilroy. Even if she isn’t an evil god worshipper, she’s certainly not just a child with ordinary talent.]”

As the Holy Sword finished speaking, Natalie sat down directly across from me, placing her tray on the table. Despite her tiny frame, her tray was piled high with food. Cora and Eugene showed surprised expressions again at the quantity. Ignoring their gazes, Natalie calmly began eating her food one by one.

“The lecture was excellent.”

That’s what Natalie said. Since I had never expected those to be her first words, I slightly furrowed my brow as I looked at her. Natalie raised her head to meet my gaze, and we exchanged subtle glances in silence for a moment.

“Natalie, you also surprised me with your performance in the placement test.”

I could recall it clearly. The flames that enveloped both her hands. The terrifying power that melted monsters on contact. And above all, her movements that were very adept in combat. No, rather than adept…

“To have surprised the Hero. I’ll consider that an honor.”

Natalie replied in a voice that suggested it wasn’t an honor at all. I had to restrain myself from immediately asking what her purpose was and if she was indeed sent by the evil god worshippers.

“I’m curious where you learned both magic and combat skills.”

“Then I’d like to ask you the same question. Where did you learn such formidable strength, Hero?”

Natalie slipped away from the question like a loach. Silence again. I looked into Natalie’s eyes, and she gave me an expression as if wondering why I was looking at her that way. Her eyes were black and clear like looking into a mirror. She didn’t seem inclined to look away first.

“Hmm. Looking at the syllabus, there seems to be a lot of practical training. How will that be conducted?”

Had we been staring at each other too long? Cora cleared her throat slightly and interjected. The way Cora looked at me, or more precisely, at Natalie and me, carried a suspicious air.

“It will be conducted like the placement test. I plan to make extensive use of barriers. It’s a much more efficient method than taking you all to an actual battlefield.”

However, not the kind that disturbs the mind and causes hallucinations, but on a scale that actually distorts space, combined with practicing the magic Daphne is conceptualizing. When Cora and Eugene’s expressions became subtle at my words, I grinned and added:

“For reference, my class will be kinder than the placement test, but thinking it will be easier would be a big mistake. I meant what I said in the classroom.”

Eugene looked confused after hearing my words.

“What did you mean when you said we might have to fight monsters before the year ends?”

“Always be vigilant of every situation. Keep your ears open, but don’t be deceived.”

Even though I wanted to tell them everything I knew, this was the limit for now. I didn’t want to speak in riddles, but I understood how people who spoke to me in puzzles felt. Eugene didn’t ask for further explanation and quietly picked up her spoon.

“Well then, I’ll see you in the next class.”

I said as I casually got up from my seat. It wasn’t the time to approach Natalie rashly. The risk of charging in headfirst was too great.

“[You’re being cautious. Especially this time.]”

Evil god worshippers are the kind who can retreat at any moment. They never show themselves all at once. When one side reveals itself and moves, the other side watches silently. Just like not all of them were exposed during the Barktins incident.

“The opportunity will come someday. They can’t just watch the calamities disappear in vain forever.”

The evil god worshippers must be feeling impatient too. The side that acts first will be at a disadvantage. I sighed as I looked around the cafeteria. The approaching comet. And the evil god worshippers operating in secret. What do they hope to gain by destroying this world?

“…My head hurts.”

I need to teach those chicks to avoid being swept up in the aftermath of the calamity, catch the hidden minions of the evil god worshippers, and stop the comet that’s hurtling toward this planet with enough force to split it in real-time. At this point, I miss my peaceful vacation.

“I just hope all of this doesn’t happen at once.”

Somehow, I feel like I shouldn’t have said that out loud. Feeling a chill from the words I had just blurted out, I headed to the research lab where Daphne would be waiting.

==

Midnight. Student dormitory.

“I’ve made contact.”

Natalie’s voice was flat. Her hair, darker than the night, cast shadows on the side of her face like a curtain. A figure hidden in darkness was watching Natalie, who sat rigidly. The person receiving the report nodded very slowly and then spoke.

“So, how was the Hero when you first met him?”

“I’m not sure.”

Not sure. That was Natalie’s assessment. To her eyes, the Hero was strange. She couldn’t properly gauge how strong he was. It seemed like she could kill him right there if ordered to, but conversely, she felt her head might fly off in an instant. Since the target in her mind had been set as the Hero, Natalie had been watching him constantly. She had even traveled around the world following his activities.

“What do you mean by ‘not sure’? We don’t remember ‘making’ you that way.”

Natalie shook her head. Not being sure meant exactly that—she wasn’t sure.

“I really don’t know. I think it’s nearly impossible to gauge his full power.”

“If you’re not sure, then you need to find out more. Still, we have some information already, so there’s no need to rush.”

A quiet voice echoed in Natalie’s ear.

“Let me tell you one good thing. If you truly act as the Hero’s student and approach him, the Hero will never be able to kill you. No, forget killing—he’ll hesitate even to harm you. Even if he notices that you’re a spy sent by us. He’ll even try to save you.”

The voice wasn’t mocking the Hero, just stating a plain fact.

“He’s probably half-suspicious of you already. The Hero isn’t stupid enough not to recognize his enemies, though he is foolish enough not to kill them.”

The person in the shadows accepted the Hero’s suspicion as perfectly natural.

“You’re saying he won’t try to kill me.”

The shadow nodded.

“And you were designed to be able to fight on somewhat equal terms even if the Hero uses his full power. You must. Don’t make us regret creating you.”

It was practically a threat, but Natalie’s expression didn’t change at all. To her, following those words was only natural. The only principle of action given to Natalie was to die if that voice commanded death, and to live if it commanded life. Therefore, she didn’t even feel resentment.

“You decide the timing. Of course, the most appropriate time will come soon. Until then, prioritize imprinting your existence on the Hero. Dig into his compassion. Make him recognize that you are someone who needs to be saved. Use everything you can. We didn’t make you flimsy enough to fall for the Hero’s petty compassion.”

And the shadow lowered its head to meet Natalie’s eyes.

“Then kill the Hero. You can do it. And become the milestone toward our most grand objective.”

The shadow spoke with a voice full of pride. The evil god worshippers’ greatest “masterpiece,” which he had participated in creating, nodded and replied to the shadow’s words.

“Understood.”