Chapter 24
Chapter 24
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: He Wants to Cry
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A quick glance.
Until just before class started, Professor McCall had been in a great mood.
Now, though, he was feeling a bit irritated.
'Tardy on the very first day.'
A cadet named Yuha, a name that sounded like it could belong to some human from the East.
He never dreamed such an uncouth person actually existed—one who would be late to the very first class on the Academy's opening day.
He'd never given a good grade to a single tardy cadet, which only soured his mood further.
Struggling to keep up with the lesson was one thing—a matter of individual ability—but showing up late like this was a problem of attitude unbecoming a cadet.
'You'll be getting the lowest score, young man.'
This class was made up of the top students among the freshmen who had just enrolled, yet here was a cadet who could already start negatively influencing the others.
Professor McCall adjusted his glasses and scanned the cadets once more without pausing his lecture.
'Cadet Claire Anastasia—truly befitting a noble lady of a prestigious house.'
He hadn't expected the daughter of the famed swordsmanship house, the Anastasia Duke Family, to diligently follow along in what must be a boring lecture for her, but her earnest note-taking was commendable.
He briefly reflected on his hasty prejudice that a physical powerhouse like her wouldn't be interested in such a class.
'Cadet Jeras Pairan. The heir of a border count, is he?'
There was something intriguing about the boy's gaze.
It looked bored, but not because he couldn't follow the lesson—more like he already knew it all and was simply uninterested.
'Cadet Bella Triana. Tch... and she's supposed to be a genius mage?'
He couldn't see it in a positive light, not with her head blatantly planted on her desk, fast asleep.
A few other standout cadets caught his eye as well.
His irritation eased a bit as he observed them—everyone except Bella Triana—so Professor McCall decided to let loose with his itchy mouth that had been twitching since morning.
It would be published as a paper anyway, but laying the groundwork through the cadets listening to his lecture first couldn't hurt.
"Let me shift topics a little. Learning history usually involves the rise and fall of nations and major events. That's not wrong, of course, but there are many diverse things that can be called 'history' beyond just countries."
He sketched a simple outline of the continent on the blackboard and continued.
"Allow me to give an example."
His finger pointed to the area near the Yagon Great Plains east of Dungeon City.
"As you all know, the Yagon Great Plains are home to the Immovable Catastrophe, Behemoth. Behemoth has existed for centuries independent of any nation's fortunes. In fact, considering the plains themselves were shaped by Behemoth, it could be said to embody history in its own right."
This was groundwork for the topic he really wanted to discuss.
"There are even historians who specialize solely in Behemoth research. Right now, they're probably desperate to investigate its movement after centuries of stillness."
He drew everyone's attention by bringing up the hot topic of Behemoth.
"I used Behemoth as an example, but there's actually an existence that's lived even longer. One that truly deserves to be called a living history."
A few cadets seemed to realize who he meant, their faces lighting up with interest.
Pleased, Professor McCall opened his mouth again.
"Liliss. The legendary primordial vampire, said to still exist somewhere out there. Aside from traditions mentioning her red hair, surprisingly little is known about her."
He was about to ignite the spark that would upend public perception.
"In fact, Liliss is pin—"
Rattle!
"Sorry I'm late!"
"Master... hehe."
The gray-haired man who burst through the back door turned Professor McCall's mind blank.
More precisely, the moment he saw the pink-haired woman in a maid outfit cradled in what was commonly called the princess carry, his brain overloaded and short-circuited.
"Whew. Lost track of time and went at it. Nearly blew the whole first class."
'Pink hair?'
"I should've realized sooner..."
'Liliss?'
"It's not Lili's fault. Or is it? Being so delicious—maybe that's the crime."
"Ehehe..."
"Uh... Professor? Sorry for being late."
Having researched Liliss for years, Professor McCall had some idea of how capricious and cruel she was. Seeing the pink hair shattered his ability to think straight.
Why was she in a man's arms?
Why was Liliss wearing a maid outfit?
Why was her face flushed like that?
He didn't even have the presence of mind for such basic questions.
Fortunately, the gray-haired man's fierce impression and words snapped him back to reality.
Watching the man scan for an empty seat and stop at the desk nearest the back door, Professor McCall frantically thought about what to say to survive this.
"...You're late. Take a seat."
'Damn it! Can't think of anything better!'
Was he arrogant for thinking he'd elegantly cap his paper with flowery rhetoric?
Unable to come up with even one proper word in this heart-pounding situation—like a total fool.
But contrary to Professor McCall's turmoil, Yuha just thought, Oh, that went smoothly.
"Whoa... Professor McCall really docks points for tardiness, no mercy."
"That guy's in trouble. But why'd he bring a maid?"
"No way. He actually did...?"
"Ugh... my head hurts so bad... fuck my life."
"Tch... damn. Spit... wanna sleep more..."
'No, don't!'
Hearing the cadets whispering about the gray-haired man and the woman presumed to be Lili, Professor McCall's heart sank. He cut them off to save his skin.
"Don't be late next time. Now, back to the lesson—quiet down, everyone!"
No, he didn't want to continue the lesson at all. His hidden hands were trembling wildly behind his back.
He couldn't even recall what he'd been talking about. Desperately, Professor McCall spouted something—anything—to resume.
"Yes, understood, Professor. But what was that about Liliss being 'pin-something' earlier? Mind explaining?"
Having clearly heard the name Liliss—so similar to Lili—Yuha voiced his curiosity without hesitation.
'I was about to say Liliss has pink hair.'
His mentality shattered, Professor McCall muttered it thoughtlessly, then realized what he'd nearly done.
'C-crazy! I almost revealed her identity right in front of Liliss.'
Thank goodness the sudden question left his mouth agape in shock.
Thinking of his near-miss, he tried to deflect with nonsense and avert his gaze.
"Li-Liliss clearly has red hair as well! An indisputable fact, so everyone just remember that."
'N-no, that's not what I meant to say...'
The words didn't connect to what he'd said before, tilting a few heads, but the gray-haired man's captivating presence kept the questions unspoken.
As Professor McCall spoke, Liliss's eyes narrowed slightly from the man's lap. He wanted to cry.
Was today the day he died?
"Ah ha! Who's Liliss anyway? Her name's kinda like our Lili."
"...Yeah?"
"Looks like a girl from the name? Whatever, our Lili's prettier anyway."
"Hehe."
He couldn't follow that conversation with normal reasoning.
Trying to comprehend it risked passing out on the spot.
To protect his mental health, his brain shoved simple motor commands into his body.
"Then please take your seat."
The only thought dominating Professor McCall's mind was that pretending not to know was his only path to survival.
Thinking he'd wrapped up the incident, he tried to recall the next lesson topic—but the following scene stopped him cold.
"Alright, Lili. Sit."
"Yes."
Plop.
As Yuha pulled out the chair and sat at the desk, he patted his thigh invitingly. Liliss promptly planted herself there.
Gulps echoed from around the room as people hurriedly swallowed, but the pair showed no sign of stopping—they went further.
"Up we go."
Squeeze.
The man wrapped both arms around Liliss's waist as she sat on his thigh, adjusting her position—a sight that made one question if all common sense in the world was just an illusion.