Ch.39A Moment of Leisure (1)

As I opened my eyes in the morning as usual, I couldn’t easily get out of bed.

I don’t want to go to work.

While I truly enjoy giving lectures and watching students grow, the stress from work was overwhelming.

Nevertheless, responsibility comes with position.

I sighed deeply and got up.

“If you’re that tired, why don’t you take a break?”

That was what my master said as he put down his teacup when I emerged from my room.

“I still need to go to work.”

People say being an Academy professor is an honorary position, but that’s because all the professors are nobles.

Since I’m actually earning as much as I did when I was active in an adventurer party, it’s an amazing job that brings both honor and money to a commoner like me.

Of course, they wouldn’t fire a tenured professor for taking a day off…

But that’s separate from my standing as a professor.

Just because I won’t get fired from the Academy doesn’t mean I’m a respected professor.

I can’t afford to narrow my already limited standing, let alone expand it.

“Well, do as you please. Just don’t collapse.”

“Yes, thank you for your concern.”

I bowed slightly to my master and began preparing for work.

I washed my face lightly and changed into my work attire.

Then I finished my preparations by neatly tying back my long hair with a hair tie.

“I’m heading out.”

“Alright, take care.”

After briefly greeting my master at the back door, I stepped outside to find an unexpected person.

“Crow, g-good morning.”

I thought her spirits would have been quite crushed yesterday, but surprisingly, she hasn’t given up.

“Derin, what brings you here so early?”

“You’re heading to the Academy, right? I was wondering if we could walk together to the entrance…”

I almost blurted out “Why bother?…” but managed to hold it back.

She must like me, and directly rejecting her would surely hurt her deeply.

I wonder if love really makes people act this way.

Even though it’s quite early now, I can tell from Derin’s appearance that she woke up and prepared long ago.

…Though her face is still quite puffy.

“Sure, let’s go together.”

I should at least give her this much in return for all her effort.

When I agreed, Derin smiled brightly and stood beside me, and we began walking through the streets of the Royal Capital.

“Derin, aren’t you really cold?”

“No, I’m fine?”

As always, the morning air in the Royal Capital is cool.

I’m wearing a robe so I can manage well enough.

But Derin is wearing thin clothes and a skirt just like yesterday, only with a different design, making me feel cold just looking at her.

Well, if she says she’s fine, then she must be fine.

Just then, Derin turned her head sideways and extended her hand toward me.

“M-my hands are a bit cold though…”

Faced with this clear gesture asking me to hold her hand, I started to worry.

Small children might hold hands, but grown adults don’t unless they’re lovers or spouses.

If I hold Derin’s hand now, it would be like indirectly expressing that I like her.

So naturally, I wasn’t planning to take it, but…

I couldn’t think of an appropriate way to refuse.

What could I say to end this situation perfectly without hurting Derin?

Actually, is there even such a thing?

As I was struggling with this unsolvable knot, a helping hand appeared.

“Oh? Professor, good morning.”

Lael appeared from somewhere and squeezed between Derin and me, pushing Derin outward and allowing her embarrassed hand to return to its original position.

“Ah, student Lael. Good morning.”

Thanks to her help, the problem seemed resolved, but…

Why do I feel like an even bigger problem has emerged?

“Lael, what are you doing? I almost fell.”

“Oh my, were you there? I didn’t know. I’m sorry.”

“Formal speech…? Are you looking for a fight?”

When Derin growled, Lael hid behind me as if scared.

“Professor, I’m scared.”

I don’t intend to stop them from fighting, but I wish they wouldn’t drag me into it.

“Resolve this yourselves. This has nothing to do with me.”

As I tried to distance myself…

“Professor, that’s not right.”

“Crow, that doesn’t seem right.”

Like true party members, they’re united at times like this.

“Anyway, stop bothering me so early in the morning.”

I’m already dreading going to work, and now I have to deal with you two?

I shook my head and quickened my pace, leaving them behind.

When we arrived at the Academy entrance, Derin waved at me with a look of disappointment.

“Crow, you look really tired. Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine. I’ll be going now.”

It’s disappointing, but it can’t be helped.

We only met briefly on my way to work anyway.

Leaving Derin behind and passing through the Academy’s main gate, Lael smiled mischievously as if she had won.

At times like this, she’s no different from a child.

But is this really something for Lael to be happy about?

Of course, it’s true that she spends much more time with me.

Since I spend about half the day at the Academy, she can be with me during that time if she wants, being a student.

The problem is that her status as a student could actually be a disadvantage.

As I told her before, we can’t be seen alone together by others.

And it’s not like I’m going to hide somewhere for secret meetings.

Lael glanced at the retreating Derin from the corner of her eye and hummed a tune.

“Professor, you’ll be at the Academy until late today, right?”

“I’m not sure about that. The urgent matters should be mostly wrapped up today.”

With Derin agreeing to take the escort request, we’ve overcome the biggest obstacle.

Now I just need to adjust some details, so there’s not much left to do.

“That’s a shame. I thought we’d be together longer.”

“If you’re disappointed, how about writing that plan quickly?”

The homework I assigned her.

The meeting plan.

Once I finish my current work, I could help her think about it, but…

I’m curious about what kind of plan she’ll come up with, so I won’t help her.

“It’s harder than I thought…”

“Well, do your best.”

Of course it’s difficult.

That’s why I passed it on to you.

If she keeps hesitating like this, I wonder if my meetings with Derin will increase.

At least with Derin, we have a relationship that doesn’t matter if others see.

“Professor, I’ll see you later then.”

“Yes, pay attention in your lectures.”

Lael bowed her head to me and headed toward the basic theory lecture hall.

Leaving her behind, I arrived at the professors’ office, made some tea, and sat down.

My first lecture today is scheduled two hours from now, so I have that much free time.

I sorted the messy pile of documents on my desk according to purpose and picked up the evaluation plan I was working on yesterday.

‘First, Derin…’

I began filling in Derin’s information in the escort adventurer section.

Affiliated party: A-rank Black Crow. Name: Derin.

Next, her specialties…

*Sigh*

If I write “acting and lying,” the dean will surely call me in separately?

Those are definitely her two best skills, but I don’t want to create unnecessary trouble.

‘Information gathering, combat using poison and hidden weapons.’

This should work.

It highlights Derin’s strengths while sounding professional.

Feeling quite satisfied with myself, I smiled and sipped my tea.

…The tea is well-brewed today too.

With one task completed, all that remains is fine-tuning the plan.

I put down my teacup and began reviewing the already written plan from the beginning.

Estimated duration: 16 days. Adventure plan: bypassing the Great Forest southwest of the Royal Capital… Required budget: 20 gold.

After careful examination, I couldn’t find anything that needed correction.

Of course, since I’m checking my own work.

I think it should be fine to submit as is. If there’s a problem, the dean will call me in.

I gathered the documents containing the plan and Derin’s information together and picked up my teacup again.

I finally feel like I have some breathing room.

After that, I spent time researching materials, and before I knew it, two hours had passed, and it was time for my lecture.

If you’re wondering why I was researching when I finally had some free time…

I couldn’t calm down.

Perhaps because I’ve been too busy lately, sitting still made me feel anxious.

I wondered if this was that occupational disease I’d only heard about.

When I opened the door to the lecture hall, the students were huddled together as if something was happening.

“Is something wrong?”

At the sound of my voice, they all jumped as if caught doing something wrong and looked at me.

Did something happen at the party yesterday?

All six seem to be present, so it doesn’t seem too serious.

“Please take your seats…”

“Professor! Just a moment!”

As I was about to start the lecture, Ludmila stopped me.

“Flan, stop hesitating and give it to him!”

“Yeah, it’s better to give it quickly!”

“B-but it’s embarrassing.”

Flan was shaking her head vigorously in refusal, but the other students didn’t seem to care.

What’s this, are they trying to give me a gift?