Ch.5050 – The Professors’ Story

<50 – Professors’ Conversation>

Monk Myungho, who wanted to monitor Oknodie’s every move, faced an unavoidable trial.

“During lecture hours, I must teach, so I cannot continue my surveillance!”

He was anxious about what classes Oknodie would take and what trouble she might cause.

He felt as nervous as if he’d left a child unattended by the water.

If she were a young novice monk, he could at least scold her firmly, but Oknodie was no novice.

He could only pray she wouldn’t go astray.

As soon as his lecture ended, Monk Myungho immediately checked the course registration records linked to his professor’s magic watch.

<Oknodie’s Course Registration>

<①Monday, 2nd Period – Developing an Eye (Adventure Department, Bronze De Estra)>

“Oh my.”

This had become quite a situation.

Oknodie, already firmly branded as a thief, was now taking a class from the Empire’s greatest thief.

Could this be what they call a fated meeting?

It was like attaching a booster to a child who was already flying around.

With Professor Estra’s divinely inspired techniques added to the mix, he worried about how much closer to becoming a thief Oknodie would get.

“I must go speak with her directly.”

For Oknodie’s future, this had to be stopped.

‘Professor Estra isn’t particularly eager for students, so if I explain well, she’ll understand.’

It was obvious where she would be after finishing her lecture.

A professor from the Empire who was closely watched by other Imperial professors wouldn’t be socializing with colleagues.

She would most likely be holed up in her assigned personal research office.

“Professor Estra. Are you there?”

Unlike the Imperial female professors who wafted around distinctive perfumes, Professor Estra’s research office had no trace of the perfume scent typical of female professors.

Colorless and odorless.

True to her reputation as an elusive noble thief who left no traces, there was so little presence that one might wonder if anyone was there at all.

“The door was open, wasn’t it? I know you’re inside, so please spare me a moment. I’ve come to request a consultation about a student.”

“How bothersome. I’m only seeing you because you’re not a central professor.”

Click.

Drrrrrr.

Boom!

The sound of mechanical devices turning echoed loudly from the walls, floor, and ceiling of the research office.

…This person.

What had she done to her office?

Just as the saying goes not to argue in a wizard’s workshop, perhaps there should be a saying about not carelessly entering a noble thief’s research office.

“Did you install these mechanisms to prevent theft?”

“That’s not incorrect. It’s an anti-Imperial professor interception device installed to keep out those thieving professors from the Empire who receive Imperial stipends.”

“…Aren’t your relations too hostile?”

The floor split open sideways, revealing underground stairs.

“Has the busy Eastern professor come to worry about my social relationships?”

“That’s not it. As I said earlier, I’ve come for a student consultation.”

“Is there a student with bad habits? I should warn you, I have no interest in common pickpockets or petty criminals.”

Though she was clearly climbing the stairs, not a single footstep could be heard.

Something in her hand disappeared with a swoosh.

‘…A concealed weapon?’

Because of her assertively voluminous chest visible even through her white shirt, he noticed it late.

Perhaps having an attractive chest is an essential condition for becoming an excellent noble thief.

‘Ah. What inappropriate thoughts for a monk.’

As he blushed at his unmonklike indecency, Professor Estra, having climbed all the stairs, stood before him with a slanted posture, looking at him.

“As expected of a monk, you recover from enchantment quickly. You’re different from those common fake monks.”

“Did you do such things to fellow professors?”

“I was curious about the effects of your <Basics of Mana Training Through Meditation> lecture. The effects are certainly evident.”

Her smiling face made him feel great compassion, like the saying that a beautiful woman’s smile can dissolve any anger in the world.

Indeed, beautiful appearance is an essential condition for a noble thief.

Thinking that prolonging the conversation would only make him look more unsightly, Monk Myungho got to the point.

“Do you remember Oknodie, who registered for your morning lecture?”

“She was an honor student.”

“Oknodie is a scholarship student dispatched by the Foundation. However, the Foundation, which has kept the identity of scholarship students strictly secret until now, has openly revealed their support this time.”

“That’s strange.”

No professor was unaware of the Foundation.

Too many professors had fallen victim to their notoriety.

Bronze De Estra, the legendary noble thief who had turned the Holy Central Empire upside down, evaluated them like this:

“Student-stealing thieves openly revealing their trap card.”

“This is clearly unprecedented.”

“Their scholarship students only reveal their identities when their growth potential is blocked. Does the Foundation not recognize that child’s true value?”

“The Foundation’s policy may have changed. Oknodie’s excellence as a freshman is quite extraordinary.”

“So you’ve been specially supervising her.”

“That’s right.”

“And this consultation you mentioned?”

“If the child’s future becomes unstable, the Foundation’s influence strengthens. The Principal and I intend to guide the child firmly so she doesn’t return to the Foundation’s embrace.”

“What does that have to do with me?”

“Please cancel Oknodie’s course registration.”

Professor Estra crossed her arms below her chest, looking amused.

Her breasts gathered as she crossed her arms, asserting themselves even under her white shirt, but Monk Myungho, having already fortified his mind, didn’t even glance at them.

“Are you uncomfortable with that child taking my class on being a noble thief?”

“She’s already a high-risk child. During her admission preparation period, she moved through the security post, dormitory supervisor’s room, and dormitory outer walls as if they were her own home. No one noticed except me, who was secretly watching.”

“Hooh.”

“If a child who can do that much without learning any techniques learns professional skills from your lecture, she’ll grow rapidly.”

“Indeed. She already set an unprecedented record in the first lecture.”

“That’s the problem.”

Monk Myungho was worried about the future.

“If a child who has perfectly mastered the skills of a noble thief and becomes a second noble thief enters places she shouldn’t, what will happen to her social reputation?”

“That she’s cool? ‘Sister, I’m dying’?”

“…She’ll become an enemy of the Empire. Just like you, Professor. Do you intend to make an innocent child walk the same path as you?”

“Your words are disappointing.”

“Please understand. If the Foundation extends a hand to a child who has nowhere to go, how could she refuse? Instability in reputation is fatal to the child’s future.”

I understand what you’re trying to say.

What an upright person.

Professor Estra thought that Eastern professors were indeed different from the corrupt professors of the Empire.

It would leave a bad taste to deceive and send away such a person.

She said:

“The security post and dormitory supervisor’s room have mana detectors to prevent unauthorized intrusions. If she wasn’t caught, she instinctively avoided them.”

“?”

“Will a child with such talent stop stealing just because she doesn’t receive my education?”

“I can strictly educate her on that part…”

“Lectures. You’re busy, aren’t you?”

“…Well.”

“You can’t monitor that child’s every move 24 hours a day. It’s not appropriate behavior for an Academy professor either. The Principal wouldn’t expect that much.”

She removed her silk hat and swept her flowing hair back with a grand gesture.

Beyond that confident movement, a playful smile like the hunting instinct of a feline predator thinking “how shall I devour this” formed in her amber eyes.

Her charm captivated Monk Myungho’s gaze without any need for enchantment.

“I also have a promise with the Principal.”

“A promise…you say?”

“If a vessel for a great thief who could steal from the Empire appears, he would let me take that student as my apprentice. Regardless of the student’s background or status. As long as I get the person’s consent.”

“My. The Principal has made quite an outrageous promise. Is it a covenant?”

“Of course.”

A covenant is a vow that must be kept.

The moment the promise is broken, one’s rank of existence falls.

The dragon, a transcendent species, made a covenant that <I will erase from the map any country that interferes with my role as Academy Principal>, and nine hundred years ago, a country actually disappeared.

This was an extension of the dragon’s play.

It was why many institutions and organizations on the continent dealt with the Academy in a lukewarm manner.

“If she cannot escape the fate of becoming a thief, at least receiving the teachings of a noble thief is the path for the child’s future. Being a noble thief isn’t such a bad profession.”

“Is it because she’ll learn benevolence and righteousness from a noble thief rather than being an ordinary thief?”

“The annual income is good.”

“……”

“She won’t have to worry about making a living in the future.”

“Professor.”

“Do you think I’m joking? I’m being serious. Most problems in the world arise from lack of money. If she has money, that child won’t need to rely on the Foundation.”

Monk Myungho hoped this woman was joking, but no matter how he looked at it, she seemed completely serious.

“I’ll take responsibility for Oknodie and raise her to be the continent’s greatest noble thief.”

Like someone who came to remove a lump only to get another one, he had come to cancel the course registration but only ended up fueling the enthusiasm of the Empire’s greatest noble thief, Professor Estra.