I Became a Munchkin Professor in a Romance Fantasy World
After spending sweet, intimate time with Marie inside the carriage, we finally arrived at Kehnstadt, the capital and heart of the Cardis Empire.
Looking down from the sky, a dazzling palace immediately caught the eye.
Holy moly shit! This was supposed to be a medieval fantasy land—why the hell has only this place hit the Renaissance already?!
The place where the emperor of the capital resided was clearly no mere castle; it was a full-blown palace. No matter where you looked, everything around it sat a full generation ahead in civilization.
We slowly brought the carriage down in front of the palace. Knights approached at once, drawing their swords and raising their guard.
"A carriage flying through the sky?! Reveal your identity at once!"
A middle-aged knight who looked like he had some years under his belt stepped forward and demanded we identify ourselves. I stepped out of the carriage and introduced myself.
"I am Grand Master Lucien. Sheathe your swords. I draw mine."
My Cardis was still a bit rough, but they seemed to understand well enough.
"All units! Sheathe blades! Stand down and return to your posts!"
The man who appeared to be their commander dismissed the knights and approached us.
"My apologies, Grand Master. If it is not too bold, may I ask the purpose of your visit to the imperial palace?"
"Hold on a second. Marie, can you take over for me? My Cardis is still pretty clumsy."
"Huh? You spoke so fluently to me just now."
"I only studied the love-confession vocabulary really hard."
"Oh, Lucian, you tease~ Fine, leave it to me!"
Marie stepped confidently in front of me and explained our purpose with perfect fluency.
"The Grand Master has been invited by the Cardis Imperial Family to serve as a special professor at Erngard Academy. He has come in answer to His Majesty the Emperor's summons."
"I see. Understood. If it is not an imposition, could you also tell us about that flying carriage?"
"Lucian, he's asking if we can explain the carriage."
"Just say it's a regular carriage that happens to have no wheels, and the flying part is my power."
"Yes. The carriage we arrived in is an ordinary one that simply lacks wheels; it flew here by the Grand Master's arts."
When Marie finished, the knight's mouth fell open in awe.
"Hah! Incredible! So the Grand Master, already a knight of such renown, has also reached the level of Master as a mage?!"
I only half understood him, but Marie puffed out her chest as if the praise were for her.
"That is precisely why he is the Grand Master. Youngest on the continent, and the first ever to hold the title."
"That such a person would take a professorship at Erngard... it is truly an honor."
"Then would you kindly escort us to His Majesty?"
"At once. Please, follow me."
The conversation finally ended and we set off after the knight.
"Lucian, could you maybe watch your tongue a little in front of the emperor?"
"Why should I? I'm the one who got invited."
"I love that confident side of you, but I'm worried people who don't know you yet will think you're rude."
"And if I'm rude, what are they gonna do about it?"
"For my sake at least... just while you're in front of the emperor?"
Since when does she care about this kind of thing?
"You some kind of imperial spy? Why are you telling me to suck up to the emperor who invaded us?"
"Of course not. This is completely separate. We're not at war right now, so if you look discourteous in front of another nation's sovereign, people will sneer that you're just an uneducated commoner."
"Let them. They'd better be ready to lose their heads for it."
"But... if anyone badmouths you, Lucian, it would make me sad. You promised you wouldn't make me sad."
What the hell? We only just confirmed our feelings and she's already playing the perfect wife? You little minx.
The third wife I thought was an ice wall turned out to be a full-blown megadere?
"How many tails do you have?"
"Pardon? What are you talking about? I don't have any tails."
"Fine, I'll try to be careful."
"Thank you."
Talking with Marie made the walk fly by; we were already at the destination.
"I shall take my leave here."
"Yeah, go ahead."
The knight who had guided us departed. Marie and I were about to enter the emperor's audience chamber when—
"Halt. The maid at your side may not enter with you."
One of the guards at the entrance stopped Marie and reached out to put a hand on her. The moment I saw that, I merely set my hand on my sword and fired an electromagnetic wave that severed his arm.
"Gyaaaaaah!!"
"Don't touch my woman."
"Lucian!"
The other knight rushed out, dropped to one knee, and offered a formal apology in fluent Arno.
"I am truly sorry. We did not realize she was the Grand Master's lady. Please, could you find it in your heart to forgive this knight?"
"I cut it clean. Reattach it if you can."
"Th-thank you... hngh."
The one-armed knight clutched his severed arm and fled as if his life depended on it.
"Thank you for granting him that chance. However, His Majesty has ordered that only the Grand Master be admitted."
"It's all right, Lucian. I'll wait here."
"I swear I will protect her so thoroughly that no one will dare lay a hand on her."
"You'd better. I'll be right back."
After making the knight swear it, I walked alone into the audience chamber of the imperial palace.
Business concluded, we were once again flying in the carriage toward Lichtenburg, home of Erngard Academy.
"What did you talk about with the emperor of the empire? You kept your promise to me, right?"
"Uh... yeah. Nothing special."
I had definitely been as careful as possible for Marie's sake. But the flies buzzing around the emperor had apparently been grumbling that I wouldn't kneel.
How is that my fault? I just stood there.
"Actually, some of the guys around him seemed to be complaining that I wouldn't kneel."
"What? That's outrageous! You're not even a citizen of the empire!"
"Right? Other than that, nothing happened. I kept my language as polite as I could."
"So cool! I like the gentlemanly Lucian even more than the just-strong Lucian! Thank you for keeping our promise."
This crazy woman, this crazy woman—where did the ice wall from earlier go and why has she turned into a fox spirit completely obsessed with me?
I didn't have much experience with this kind of affection either, so her full-on love assault actually hit me pretty hard.
"Isn't that switch a little too fast? Before we even got in the carriage you weren't looking at me as a man at all."
"Well I'm looking now! You're the one who seduced me first!"
"I'm saying it was too fast."
"Says you?! The second my heart wavered a little you suddenly started touching me and hugging me! You wolf!"
"Hey, I'd liked you the whole time."
Hearing it out loud, though, I had to admit I'd gone a bit full throttle. I was engaged to Perrone and Emilie, but those were long-term futures. Right now I had no girlfriend and was so starved for romance I'd gone a little wild. I should have considered her feelings more carefully, and next time I'd be careful and reflect—yeah, right. Absolutely not.
Why put on the brakes when the results are this good? From now on, no brakes needed.
I'm going to be a pure testosterone chad with zero female energy.
"I've decided I like you now too, after all."
"Fair enough. I'm happy about it, but... with the Simon and Rohan houses already in the picture, is it okay if we get married first?"
"As long as it's clear that I'm the third."
"Then we'll swing by the academy and head straight for Valencia. Your daughter keeps seducing me and I can't hold back anymore."
You might as well leave a fish with a cat. Hand a lifelong virgin of over fifty subjective years a megadere blonde maid who likes him and expect him to restrain himself? Impossible.
"Huh? When did I seduce you? And what do you mean you can't hold back? Hold back from what?"
"To put it very gentlemanly: the act of making a child."
"Hweh?! Th-that can't happen! We're not even married yet!"
"Exactly my point. So we'll drop by the academy real quick, then go straight to your family."
Loaded with desire, the carriage accelerated even faster toward the academy.
We arrived at Erngard Academy and began a slow descent. Students immediately began gathering around us.
"Look at that! A carriage is coming down from the sky!"
"It must be a messenger sent by the gods!"
"Who could be riding in it?"
"It can't be His Majesty the Emperor, right?"
I opened the door, stepped out, and asked them to clear a path.
"I am Grand Master Lucien, come from Arno. I must meet the president of this academy. Kindly make way."
They parted for us, but the noise only grew louder.
"No way! It's the Grand Master!!"
"So the rumors were true?!"
"He might become our professor!!"
"He's so handsome! Should I confess?"
Hey! You over there! Go for it!
"But I'm scared..."
"He killed all the empire's Masters, you know."
"Watch what you say. Who knows what could happen."
"What? No way! I'm sure he'll treat us warmly!"
That's right, that's right. I'm always kind to women.
For someone who loved attention, this situation was pure dopamine festival. As I walked I managed my gaze, carefully filing away the pretty female students and the ones sending me affection in my mental storage.
Coming here was the right call. This place is heaven.
Before long we reached the president's office. I knocked.
Knock knock—
"Grand Master Lucien."
A fluent reply in Arno came from inside.
"Please, come in."
Creeeak—
The moment I opened the door I saw a huge desk buried under stacks of documents... and the elderly president half-buried among them.
"A pleasure to meet you. It is an honor to meet the Grand Master. I am Dietrich von Waldstein, appointed president of Erngard Academy by His Majesty the Emperor."
"Yeah. I'm a commoner, so no family name—just Lucian. Feel free to call me Lucien."
"The pronunciation is still unfamiliar, so I shall call you Lucien. And the lady beside you is...?"
"Ah! I am Marie of the Valencia family, the Grand Master Lucien's personal maid and future third wife."
President Dietrich rose from his work desk, came forward, and offered his hand for a handshake.
"Thank you for coming to Erngard. The two of you make a wonderful couple. I look forward to working with you."
"Yeah, same here."
He shook my hand, then politely shook Marie's as well.
"Oh, yes. Looking forward to it."
He then guided us to a reception table.
"I have heard that Master Lucien is not only a knight but a Master mage as well."
"That's right. I'm too outstanding to settle for just one."
"Haha, quite so. With ability like that, it is only natural you became the continent's first Grand Master. Please, have a seat."
Snacks prepared for guests sat on the reception table. The moment Marie saw them she picked one up and fed it to me.
"Here, Lucian—say aah~"
"Aah~ mmm-nom-nom-nom."
"The two of you make a truly lovely picture."
"Mmm-mm. So when do I start the professor job?"
"Originally we hoped you would join the Knight Department, but would you perhaps be willing to take both?"
That's a no-brainer!!
More students—meaning more female students!! I could meet both the athletic pure knight-type girls and the dark sexy mage-type college girls!!
"I've never taught anyone before, but it seems worth trying."
"I am grateful you feel that way. In that case, we shall establish a new Integrated Tactics Department, and Master Lucien, would you serve as its dean?"
"What's different about being a dean versus a regular professor?"
"If Master Lucien becomes dean, you will first gain the authority to appoint advanced-course students within the Tactics Department as instructors."
So basically I can hand out TA positions?
"Additionally, you will have the authority to transfer professors from the existing Knight and Mage Departments into the Tactics Department."
Whoa~ So a parachute drops in, creates a brand-new team, and I get full HR authority over it? Perfect!
"Understood. I'll take the deanship of the Tactics Department."
"An excellent decision."
"Oh, and one more thing. Since we can't take everyone anyway, the condition for enrollment will be the ability to speak Arno."
"That spares me one headache. That should be more than sufficient. Finally, regarding the compensation you will receive as dean..."
"I don't need money. Handle it however you like."
Old man, I'm rich. Charles and I share a vault.
Plus war reparations and aid money were flowing in from the empire. Beating those guys up and taking their cash had tasted delicious!
"Very well. Establishing the Tactics Department will take approximately two weeks of procedure, so please rest at ease until then."
"Two weeks sounds perfect. Is there somewhere we can stay?"
"Fortunately, the former dean of the Mage Department left a residence inside the academy grounds."
Ah, could it be that guy from back then?
Among the four Masters in the war against Cardis, one had looked like a mage.
I cut his head off, so of course the position is vacant.
"Was the former dean a Master?"
"He was. A tragic loss."
"Can't be helped. It was war."
We finished our conversation and left to find the house where the former dean had lived.
"Marie, do you know the way around here?"
"This is my first time too."
We got lost almost immediately. Wandering without knowing the destination—
"Is it that one?"
"Even if you ask me..."
"Excuse me! If you need directions, I can guide you!"
Suddenly a female student cheerfully raised her hand and walked over, offering to show us the way. The moment I saw her I nearly exploded.
Holy shit!! Are you kidding me!!
The first thing that hit my eyes was her enormous chest, followed by an appearance that looked like pure male desire distilled into human form. But the biggest shock was—
There's a pink-haired person in this world?! Don't tell me this isn't medieval fantasy at all—it's a romance fantasy world?!!