Chapter 52
Chapter 52
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 052
Chapter Title: Naturally, I Don't Believe It
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"Professor Sylvia?"
"Yes."
A neat black bob with not a single stray hair out of place. She was undoubtedly a beauty, but the impression she gave was stronger that she probably had a prickly personality.
Even though he'd clearly told her yesterday to drop the matter, the dean couldn't help but gaze wistfully at Professor Sylvia, who had ultimately been unable to hold back.
The dean was well aware of Professor Sylvia's grievances—in fact, he shared her opinion to some extent.
However, Professor McCall, who never spoke idly, had unusually taken the initiative to say they should just leave it alone, so he'd stayed silent until now.
Later, when he'd pulled her aside and asked what the problem was, she'd given him that vague response about how there were too many things in the world where it was better not to know. He'd felt it best not to pry further.
"Conveniently, temporary Professor Gloria is here as well, so I have something to say."
And even after he'd informed her yesterday that Professor McCall had said as much, Professor Sylvia was showing no intention of letting this slide, leaving the dean in a bind.
The others, curious about what Professor Sylvia would say, realized what she meant the moment she mentioned Gloria.
Even Professor McCall furrowed his brow slightly, trying to dissuade her, but it was already too late by then.
"I believe it's not right to turn a blind eye to Cadet Yuha's improper conduct any longer."
Several professors who had actually taught classes Yuha attended nodded in agreement with Professor Sylvia's words.
"He's not disrupting the classes themselves, though."
"And you think that doesn't count as disruption?"
"Ahem..."
Professor McCall, desperate to say something, anything, averted his gaze under Professor Sylvia's venomous glare.
"Even if she's a slave, keeping her on your lap the entire class—surely that distracts the instructor!"
"That's certainly a bit..."
"Can't argue with that."
Professor Sylvia thought that if seeing that right in front of you didn't stir any thoughts, you lacked even the basic human decency to read the room—though they weren't actually chattering.
It wasn't that she was particularly irritated because she herself was past her prime and spent lonely nights; definitely not.
At any rate, as even some professors began chiming in with agreement, Professor Sylvia grew even more convinced of her stance.
"Temporary Professor Gloria, weren't you dissatisfied with Cadet Yuha's behavior too? I hear you're quite intense about it."
"..."
Even under Professor Sylvia's sharp words, Gloria kept her lips firmly sealed, listening silently.
The complete absence of even empty platitudes made Professor Sylvia's eye twitch, as if she were being dismissed.
Professor McCall, caught between Professor Sylvia and Gloria, felt a light dizziness from the stifling situation and pinched the bridge of his nose.
"You called him your disciple—why don't you say something?"
But Gloria still just stared with an expressionless face, saying nothing.
At that inscrutable expression, Professor Sylvia nearly ground her teeth from clenching her jaw too hard.
If Yuha had seen Gloria, he might have said Ria was wearing her worried face, but no one else could catch the subtle shift in Gloria's expression.
As emotions began to escalate, Professor McCall hurriedly spoke up.
He didn't know exactly what their relationship was, but recalling the vulgar noises from Gloria's office that day, he feared leaving things like this could lead to disaster.
Primarily, something like Professor Sylvia suddenly vanishing without a trace. Considering the opponent's strength, he couldn't afford to relax just because they were in the Academy.
"He's still attending classes diligently, isn't he?"
At his words, several professors who recalled Yuha in class simultaneously gave Professor McCall puzzled looks.
"Ahem."
In truth, Professor McCall had never thought Yuha was diligent, but he had his reasons for trying to speak positively of him, so he ignored the stares.
However, in turning to avoid their gazes, Professor McCall's eyes happened to land on Gloria.
Seeing this, everyone suspected he might be sucking up to Gloria.
"Attending diligently? If Professor McCall had heard what happened in my last class, you wouldn't say that."
Professor Sylvia, sharing the same suspicion, fully turned toward him and spoke in an even graver tone.
"I asked about the Demon God's subordinates who fought Liliss during the ancient Demon God War. You surely know who they were, Professor McCall? Everyone here knows your keen interest in Liliss's past exploits."
"Wh-what? When did I ever say I was keenly interested?"
"Pardon?"
It wasn't much of a secret that Professor McCall had come to the Academy to easily gather information on Liliss, so Professor Sylvia let out a disbelieving scoff.
Professor McCall was aware of it too, but with Gloria right beside him, he desperately wanted to hide his investigation into Liliss.
"..."
Under Gloria's gaze—head slightly tilted, staring straight at him—Professor McCall felt chills run down his spine.
It felt like she was asking why he was investigating Liliss.
"S-so, what did Cadet Yuha say that has you so worked up? They're famous, sure, but it's not a problem if he doesn't know. The Academy exists to impart knowledge to the ignorant."
Professor McCall hurriedly turned toward Professor Sylvia, who was glaring daggers at him, to escape Gloria's eyes.
Though her gaze held no goodwill whatsoever, it actually put Professor McCall at ease.
'You can't kill with a look alone. Better this than the alternative.'
"Right, those three. Cadet Yuha seemed clueless about who they were. But then that pink-haired slave— the one who looks unlucky just to behold—whispered something to him. Know what he said after that?"
"Er... Superstitions are just superstitions."
'This woman. Talking like that so carelessly, she might vanish without a trace.'
But hearing that the pink-haired slave had directly told him something piqued Professor McCall's genuine curiosity about the rest. After all, she was Liliss herself—the living witness to history.
Professor Sylvia shot Professor McCall another glare for interrupting and continued.
"He said there was a lanky guy with a man-sized scythe, a guy made of filthier-than-sewer fog, a guy flapping needlessly huge wings, and a wrinkly old grandma witch."
"Th-that's... remarkably straightforward."
To make the Silent Deathside, Mist of Repose, and Demon Lord of Destruction sound like back-alley thugs in one breath.
As he marveled that even the Four Heavenly Kings were seen that way by Liliss, one thing struck him as odd.
"Hm? A witch?"
"Yeah. I pointed out there was no such witch no matter where he got that nonsense from, but he insisted he was right. What, is my word less reliable than his slave's...?"
If he'd heard this before the semester started, Professor McCall might have sided with Professor Sylvia.
No, beyond siding, he might have been indignant, demanding who spread such absurd claims and if they had solid proof.
Especially since he was deep into writing a paper on Liliss at the time.
However.
"A witch...? Who could that be?"
Having learned an uncomfortable truth, Professor McCall was genuinely curious about this witch Yuha mentioned. A scholar's thirst for new knowledge was an inescapable instinct.
"Mm?"
It was just a muffled grunt, like something was in his mouth, but even the hitherto silent Gloria reacted, filling Professor McCall's mind with questions about the witch's identity.
Professor McCall closed his eyes, racking his brain through history books to discredited legends, pondering any being that might be called a witch.
"Ha?"
Watching him, Professor Sylvia gaped and let out a rather rude scoff.
His serious contemplation meant even Professor McCall wasn't dismissing the slave's words as nonsense— no different from Yuha's behavior—leaving her utterly exasperated.
Realizing his blunder as he sank into his own world, Professor McCall gave an awkward smile.
"Ah... well."
"Are you saying you believe that slave too, Professor McCall? Right now?"
Of course I believe it. She's the one involved.
Unable to say that, Professor McCall racked his brain for how to calm the fuming Professor Sylvia.