Ch.22Rael Gideon (3)

# The day I arrived at the Royal Capital, I thought I saw Crow.

So I jumped out of the moving carriage.

There was a possibility it wasn’t him but someone similar, but I didn’t care about that.

No, I couldn’t care about that.

That’s how desperate I was.

But when I came to my senses, he was already gone.

And then some time later, I finally met him at the Academy’s written exam hall.

He had changed considerably.

His complexion had improved beyond recognition, and his once shaggy hair was now neatly groomed.

But I couldn’t mistake him.

Because he was the one I had seen countless times in my dreams, the one I had desperately longed for.

Since that day, I continuously tried to have a conversation with him.

I waited in front of the workshop where he stayed, and even deliberately fought on par with the warrior professor to apply for the Black Magic lecture.

But he was cold-hearted.

I thought it would be better if he cursed at me or got angry.

Because that would mean there were still emotions left.

His indifference set fire to my already collapsing heart, and it was about to turn to ashes.

Still, I didn’t give up.

I thought that if the old tree had burned down, I could use its ashes as nutrients to sprout a new seed.

But he, the one I love, wouldn’t give me that seed.

So I finally picked up a sword.

I thought if I won in the mock battle, I might at least be able to have a conversation with him.

But then…

* * * * *

In the center of the small colosseum where the practical exam was held.

Lael was lying on the ground, breathing heavily.

Her body was covered in numerous wounds.

The mock battle ended with my victory, as expected.

It was ridiculous from the start that she challenged me to a mock battle.

A match between professor and student shouldn’t even be established.

But I accepted it anyway.

With the intention that she should release whatever she had built up against me and focus on her studies.

But I had more built up than she did.

At first, I started with a triple combo of Slow, Blackout, and hallucination.

The mock battle was essentially over right there.

It’s not like I lack the decisiveness to finish things, nor do I need many mediums.

In the end, I completely overwhelmed her.

I approached Lael and splashed a potion on her face. The red liquid seeped into her wounds, and smoke rose.

“Wake up, student Lael.”

She must have known from the beginning that she couldn’t win.

Even when we were in the same party, she never beat me once.

Lael regained consciousness and blinked, looking up at me.

“Professor, did I lose?”

Maybe I shouldn’t have used hallucination.

She still can’t grasp the situation.

“Yes, you lost.”

A tear rolled down from Lael’s eye.

She seems quite upset about losing the mock battle.

You should have prepared better.

Like memorizing spells, or poison arrows.

Honestly, as a mage, I’m vulnerable to surprise attacks too.

“Professor, may I ask for one favor?”

“Go ahead. I’ll grant it if possible.”

“Please have a conversation with me just once.”

“If we’re talking about conversations, I speak with student Lael more than any other Black Magic student.”

Lael avoided my gaze.

As if that wasn’t what she meant.

Seeing her behavior, I realized.

The conversation she wanted wasn’t between professor and student.

But between Crow and Lael.

So before she could speak, I preemptively said:

“If you’re talking about what happened that day, I have no intention of listening.”

Nothing would change now by hearing excuses.

No, rather, I don’t think I could treat her as a normal student like I do now.

Lael responded with silence, as if struck at her core.

“Well, once you’ve recovered, return to the dormitory. I’ll be going now.”

As I began to walk out of the colosseum, Lael started sobbing.

But I didn’t pay attention.

She’s not a child, and I don’t need to comfort her.

I’ve clearly drawn the line, so now it’s her problem to deal with.

Having broken her heart like this, she probably won’t obsess over me anymore.

But her heart seemed to be like a vine.

The next morning, I opened the back door of the workshop with a light heart.

Now I could finally focus solely on my duties as a professor.

And if Lael stopped obsessing over me, Ludmila would naturally stop trying to slander me too.

It was supposed to be the beginning of a happy teaching life.

I was overjoyed thinking about how exhausted I had been every day until now.

It should have been that way, but…

“Good morning, Professor…”

I closed the door. And then I went to find my master.

“Master, you didn’t use hallucination on me, did you?”

“You fool, why would I use Black Magic on a disciple who’s just minding his own business?”

“I see. Then I’ll be going.”

When I opened the door again, there was Lael.

She was holding a sandwich in her hand.

Countless questions began pouring into my mind.

After drawing such a clear line yesterday, she’s acting the same as usual?

Why?

“Good morning, Professor. Have a sandwich.”

Instantly, my light heart became heavy, and I ignored her as usual, heading toward the Academy.

And I noticed.

Lael’s behavior wasn’t the same as usual.

But not in a good way—in a bad way.

“Professor, have a sandwich. I made it myself.”

Until yesterday, she used to follow me from about five steps away, but now she was sticking right next to me.

And she was pushing the sandwich right up to my mouth, which was maddening.

“Have a sandwich.”

I ignored her.

I thought she would give up after being ignored twice.

But she didn’t.

“Have a sandwich.”

I endured once more.

After three times, she should give up…

“Have a sandwich.”

“Ah! I don’t want it! Yesterday it was sandwiches for breakfast, lunch, and dinner!”

“Ah, you finally answered me. Hehehe.”

Lael took a bite of the sandwich she was holding, smiling broadly.

I was about to explode with irritation, but the perpetrator was smiling, which made something inside me feel like it was about to burst.

Lael was like that all day.

During lectures:

“Professor! I’ll answer! In Black Magic, a medium is…”

During lunch:

“I prepared something other than sandwiches this time. I’m sorry. You must have been tired of sandwiches, right?”

Even after lectures ended, when I was preparing materials for tomorrow’s lecture in the professor’s office:

“Professor, should I put this material here? Oh, no. It goes here. I’m sorry.”

Honestly, at this point, I couldn’t hold back anymore.

“Student Lael. What exactly are you doing? Didn’t we finish our conversation yesterday?”

“Yes, we did. That we can’t go back to our previous relationship.”

Lael raised one corner of her mouth slightly.

At that ominous smile, I gulped.

What on earth is she trying to say?

“But you know what? I figured it out.”

“…Figured what out?”

Lael approached me and whispered softly in my ear.

“That as long as you remain a professor, you can’t escape from me.”

“I’m a temporary hire. The contract clearly states that during the temporary employment period, I can leave whenever I want.”

Hearing my words, Lael put her index finger to her chin.

She seemed to be thinking about something.

“Then, what about a regular professor?”

“Regular professors cannot resign during their contract period…”

“Hmm. Thanks for the information.”

With those words, Lael left the professor’s office.

This is ominous.

I had a feeling that somehow I might find myself converted to a regular professor without my knowledge.

Of course, that shouldn’t happen, but everyone knows there’s no business before power.

If the Duchy really exerted its influence…

No way, she’s a daughter they dislike enough to mistreat, would they really grant such an unreasonable request?

But that “no way” ended up catching me.

The next morning, as soon as I arrived at work, I was called to the dean’s office.

And there I heard shocking news.

“Professor Crow, from today you are a regular professor. Congratulations.”

“What?! Where did my opinion go?! What about the contract period?!”

“Ahem, that’s a trade secret.”

Come on, you don’t even do business, what trade secret?

“Did the Duchy of Gideon pressure you?”

“Ahem!”

After clearing his throat, the dean raised his index finger and pointed upward.

Wondering if something was stuck to the ceiling, I looked up, and the dean shook his head from side to side.

At that moment, I realized the meaning behind the dean’s action.

The highest rank in the country is Duke.

If there’s anything above that, there’s only one.

The royal family.

The highest authority ruling the country.

“Perhaps the royal family…”

The dean nodded.

I let out a deep sigh.

Honestly, even with just the Duchy, it was already a situation beyond my control.

But the royal family is on a completely different level.

It’s not that I can’t do anything; it’s like my hands and feet are completely tied up.

“Did you at least try to refuse once?”

“Yes, I did think about it. Thank you.”

With those words, I left the dean’s office.

Since the royal family had given their word, there was nothing the dean could do.

Rather, it’s impressive that he even tried to refuse once.

Sighing, I headed toward the professor’s office.

No matter what, I still had to work as a professor.

The students would probably congratulate me, thinking it’s a good thing.

When I arrived at the professor’s office, the mastermind behind this incident was waiting in front.

“Ah, Professor, you’re not a temporary hire anymore, right? Congratulations.”

“What did you do?”

“The Duchy of Gideon is quite an impressive place.”

“Pro.fes.sor?”

The Lael I saw before my eyes had already transformed into a villainous noble lady.

That day, for the first time, I used the spoon my master had given me as a gift.

Snap!

“Ow?!”