Chapter 25
Chapter 25
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: He Wants to Cry Too
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‘Heavenly God... please watch over this foolish soul of mine.’
A scene so dizzying it made his mind reel—he couldn’t help but avert his gaze.
In fact, he wondered if his eyes had gone bad, if that woman’s hair wasn’t actually pink, and sneaked another peek. But no matter how he looked, it was unmistakably pink.
The shade was so distinctive it was impossible to mistake.
‘Why is Liliss here, and why in that getup?’
In his not-so-short life, had his mind ever spun this fast? Still, pondering a question with no answer wouldn’t magically produce one.
“Whoa... what the hell is that?”
“Isn’t that the girl from the entrance exam? The one who called her slave ‘merchandise’...”
“So that woman’s her slave? But putting everything else aside, why bring her here?”
“And if she’s dressed like that... Professor McKal’s gonna...”
“That guy’s unbelievable...!”
“Ah... my head hurts...”
Professor McKal realized every cadet except the parties involved was staring at him intently, but there was nothing he could do.
He didn’t want to die.
Still, staying silent in this situation felt awkwardly conspicuous.
Ignoring it entirely would be as good as tipping off Liliss that he knew her true identity.
Desperately holding back the tears threatening to spill, Professor McKal steadied his trembling voice and addressed the gray-haired young man.
“Uh... Cadet Yuha?”
Professor McKal never imagined that presenting his thesis before crowds of scholars would come in handy here.
The experience of facing their ravenous, hyena-like scrutiny had trained him well—his voice didn’t quiver like a goat’s bleat.
“Yes! Professor.”
“Who is that woman?”
“My slave, Lili.”
“I see. A slave...”
His mind knew he couldn’t let on, but his body was honest—Professor McKal squeezed his eyes shut.
‘A slave...’
The sharp-witted professor judged that further questions were pointless.
With that realization came sudden enlightenment.
All things in this world were ultimately futile.
This moment was just a swift current in life’s river, flowing silently onward—everything would pass.
That’s all it was. Brainwashing himself with the thought, Professor McKal turned back to the blackboard.
‘Yeah. No clue. Let’s just get on with class.’
“Then, continuing the lesson...”
Ignoring the heated stares questioning his lack of reprimand, Professor McKal turned his back and proceeded with class in a far calmer state of mind.
And he resolved himself.
The moment class ended, he’d scrap the thesis waiting so patiently in his office.
Saving his remaining decades outweighed years of past effort.
Ah! And right after, he’d warn the other professors too.
He didn’t want the sparks flying his way.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ “This is the place-nya! Master’s scent is super strong from over here-nya!”
“Is it? Looks like he’s definitely inside the Academy.”
“The lingering smell means he hasn’t been gone long-nya.”
Mimi and Gloria had finally reached the Academy and now stared at its massive front gate.
The thought that their long-awaited master was inside made them want to rush in, but they held back.
On the way here, Gloria had pointed out that barging in suddenly might scare him off again, so Mimi had agreed.
She had no intention of causing a scene, just in case.
In Mimi’s eyes, Gloria was incredibly smart, so following her lead couldn’t possibly be wrong.
That’s why, even after arriving, they stood there clueless on what to do next.
“But Ria, your hair color’s completely changed now-nya!”
During the battle with Behemoth, Gloria had sustained repeated injuries, each time healed by Yuha’s regeneration—which gradually turned her curses into blessings. Now, every curse on her was lifted.
Her once ashen hair had returned to its platinum sheen, gleaming brilliantly in the sunlight.
With such a striking face to match, passersby often paused, staring blankly before snapping out of it and continuing on.
“...Not sure if he’ll like it.”
Were it not for the massive greatsword strapped to her back, plenty of men would’ve tried their luck approaching her.
Of course, that wasn’t the only reason.
In an empire already prejudiced against beastkin, the presence of Mimi—a fox beastkin with seven tails swishing away—kept others at bay.
“Mimi, your tail count went up by one too.”
“Yeah-nya! Feels like I got even stronger-nya.”
“Can it grow more?”
“Hmm... not sure-nya!”
Well, nothing to be done about that, Gloria thought.
All that mattered was whether Master would like the extra tail.
“So, what do we do now-nya?”
Mimi’s eyes sparkled with utter faith that Gloria would have a plan, but no solution would magically appear.
That’s when it happened.
“Aaaah! Chairman! What are you thinking, dragging Professor Carlton off like that?!”
[What choice do I have! That massive brute’s heading for the Academy. It’s that Sword Saint and Beast stirring up trouble. Why yell at me?]
“No! Even Heavenly God Church is stepping in—did you have to take Professor Carlton too? You’re going yourself!”
[You gonna trust those lanky simpletons with the Academy’s safety? By the time it’s overrun and under Behemoth’s turf, it’ll be too late to bitch. No one handles giant monsters like Carlton.]
“Still, his practical combat class starts tomorrow! What are we supposed to do? And it’s hands-on training! If some fill-in screws up...”
[Quit exaggerating. We’re not that short-staffed. The Academic Dean’ll handle... Uh, uh? The comm orb’s acting weird?]
“Don’t pull that crap!”
[Can’t hear you. I’ll call later~ I trust our capable Academic Dean to sort it out?]
“Hello? Hello?! Aaaah! That’s our Chairman for you!! Being an archmage doesn’t make you invincible?!”
The black-haired, neatly uniformed middle-aged man flinched as the woman’s voice cut off from the magic communication orb. He’d nearly slammed it to the ground in rage.
It was pricey enough to make smashing it in anger a poor choice, but his trembling hesitation spoke volumes of the Academic Dean’s fury.
“Sword Saint, Beast, whatever—why poke the beast that’s been quiet for centuries!”
Even as he grumbled, he knew rousing a centuries-dormant monster with just two people was no small feat. The Academic Dean let out a earth-shaking sigh.
Those two might already be dead anyway.
Judging further complaints pointless, he shoved the orb into his pocket and started walking.
As the Chairman said, they had substitutes even without Professor Carlton.
Whether they could avert disasters was another story.
Watching the grumbling Dean head inside the Academy sparked an idea for Gloria.
“Excuse me.”
Thinking this might be a smooth way in, she approached and spoke to him.
“Hm?”
Turning at the voice calling him, the Academic Dean frowned upon seeing a stunningly beautiful woman eyeing him.
Beautiful women around here were rarely sane, so he instinctively distrusted the overly pretty ones.
The massive greatsword on her back screamed she wasn’t ordinary.
And beside her stood a fox beastkin with a striking seven tails.
‘Seven?’
Something tugged at his memory, but Gloria’s words cut it short.
“I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but may we discuss the practical combat class you mentioned?”
“...And who are you to talk shop with me?”
Her sudden approach and mention of classes deepened his suspicion. As the Academic Dean eyed her warily, Gloria pulled a thin stack of papers from her pocket.