Chapter 25
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: The Professor Handled It, So Rest Easy!
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After barely recovering from the daughters' gentle petting, I resumed my 1:1 chat with the Professor.
You're a really bad person, Professor.
Nooo;; I'm sorry;;;
If I weren't the father of two kids, I might've ended up as some clown-dressed villain by now.
Do you want me to become a bad person, Professor?
I'm really sorry;; I'll be careful from now on;;;
(This time only. [relieved])
(Professor wiping cold sweat in relief [emote])
Anyway, I've got a question.
Why are you the dad of two kids? Weren't you supposed to have just one homunculus?
Oh, that? Well, see...
(Photo taken with Lulu and Arin)
Actually, I succeeded in making a homunculus with that scale fragment last time.
Adorable, right? My little daughters? Their names are Lulu and Arin.
?????
Aah, he's surprised, as expected.
But there was no helping it.
"I knew I'd have to tell him eventually."
In that sense, I figured now was the perfect time to bring it up.
Since I'd decided to fully bring the Professor into my corner, the secret about Arin was bound to come out sooner or later.
So, at least to keep his trust in me intact, it felt right to disclose the secret myself first.
And the Professor's reaction to my surprise bombshell was...
Okay, the cat in the photo makes sense, but the kid isn't human???
She's got a shark tail.
That could just be a Climber who awakened an animal-type skill or trait.
There are a few Climbers in the country with animal bodies, even if they're rare.
Is that so? But Arin really is a homunculus made from the [Censored]'s Scale Fragment.
I made her myself, so I guarantee it.
Then, did you... try to make a human?
Professor. Do you think I have the guts to do something that insane?
Well... no. Hm. Yeah, you're just a total loser mentie jobless villain....
"What am I gonna do with this Professor?"
I was relieved that he'd accepted I didn't have that kind of guts.
But it kinda pissed me off that he believed it because I'm a 'total loser mentie.'
A desire to get revenge on this cheeky Professor later started bubbling up.
Just you wait until I catch something on you.
I'll cling to it relentlessly and give you a proper schooling.
"I'll remember this, Professor."
Anyway. I never planned to make a humanoid homunculus.
It was less me doing it and more the [Censored]'s Scale Fragment doing its thing.
Oh, and for reference, I have no idea why it did that either, so don't ask.
I figured it wasn't an ordinary item... but I didn't expect it to be that level.
Got it for now. Don't tell absolutely anyone else about this.
If anyone asks, just say it's a mid-tier spirit.
A mid-tier spirit?
Yeah. Mid-tier spirits and above can take on humanoid forms, so people will buy it.
It's half-true since it's basically a real spirit anyway, right?
Oh? So mid-tier spirits can do that?
Does that mean my cute firstborn Lulu could eventually transform into a human form as she grows?
"Lulu. Just grow up healthy."
"Nya? Got it, Daddy-nya! Lulu will grow up healthy-nya!"
"Daddy. What about me?"
"Of course our Arin too! Both of you, just grow up healthy!"
So, for that to happen...
Gurgle~!
Gurgle~!
"...Are you both hungry by any chance?"
"I'm hungry-nya!"
"I'm hungry!"
Since they're both in their growth spurts,
I needed to feed them lots of tasty food.
In the end, that day I left a chat saying I'd go prepare food because of my daughters' tummy growls.
Then I'll go do something too.
It'll take a while, so we can continue tomorrow?
Sure. See you tomorrow then.
Yeah. Get some rest.
The Professor said he had business to attend to and left the chat room, planning to talk again tomorrow.
That day, after a fun dinner with my daughters,
we all fell asleep in bed while watching a movie called Shark Family Story.
The next day,
just as the sun was rising in the early morning.
'Tower Knowledge PhD has requested a 1:1 chat.'
You up?
Nuuuuhhh....
Not up yet, huh.
I've got something important to say, so wake up, wash your face, and come back.
Okaaaay....
Woken by the Professor's early morning 1:1 chat,
I carefully slipped out so as not to wake Lulu and Arin sleeping on either side of me and went to the bathroom to wash my face.
"Ugh... sleepy..."
So...? What's up this early in the morning...?
You haven't checked the Gallery yet?
I stopped using the Gallery after you told me to cut back...?
Ever since that aggro troll Patriot Warrior stalker posted his crap,
I'd minimized Gallery use outside of 1:1 chats with the Professor and exchange dealings to avoid pinpointing my location, even if it felt stifling.
Good call.
Did something happen?
Nothing big. Remember that post giving you three days?
Yeah?
Well, now that three days are up, there's a post saying the Management Agency is starting a full search for you.
Ah, I see, Professor.
Unless I'm mistaken, that sounds like a pretty big deal. Am I weird for thinking that?
"Ugh, damn. Now I'm wide awake."
What the hell? The Management Agency is starting a full-on hunt for me?
That had to mean something huge was going down.
So why was the Professor so nonchalant about it?
I got the answer from his next messages.
Don't worry too much. It's already over.
Huh? Already over?
Yep. Remember what I said I was going to do yesterday? That was it.
Benefactor. Age 23. Lives in Nowon-gu XX Villa. No family or relatives; raised in XX Orphanage. Graduated high school, bounced between part-time jobs while job hunting, failed 87 interviews total.
This you, right?
Yes???
"...Fuck."
Chills ran down my spine in an instant.
The Professor casually rattled off my name, age, that I was an orphan with no parents or relatives,
how many interviews I'd failed, and even the exact location of my studio apartment. My mind went blank.
Professor... no way, right...? You're the only person I've ever trusted this much in my whole life. Right???
Your reaction like I'm the only one is kinda cute lol.
It's not like that, so don't freak out.
I dug into your background to help, not to screw you over.
Help...? How...?
Hm... First off, sorry in advance before I explain.
Why? What is it? Please don't apologize.
I really trust you, Professor? Keep this up and I'm gonna snap???
Just say it already! Why add that and make me anxious!
What the hell did he do that he's apologizing in advance like that!
But that thought didn't last long.
After seeing the Professor's next messages, I nodded in understanding
why he'd added that preface.
As of today, all your personal info has changed except your name and age.
For starters, your family relations now list me as a distant relative.
Me? With you? Professor?
It's easier to help you that way all around.
It's like ninth cousins or something super distant, practically strangers. Don't worry.
I also moved your registered address to the apartment next to mine, so live here from now on.
Huh? Me? Next to you, Professor?
Yeah. This building is full of my acquaintances. It's warded with location-tracking prevention magic and all sorts of protective spells.
You can browse the Gallery worry-free here. The place is spacious too, perfect for living with homunculi.
Ooh... I like the sound of that.
And most importantly, I handled your Climber registration.
Registered you as a Summoner with the Management Agency instead of Alchemist, so just bring your homunculi for verification when you get your license later.
"...He really did everything...?"
From his reactions, it seemed he'd pulled an all-nighter handling this.
Unless I deliberately revealed myself, the odds of the Management Agency finding me were now practically zero.
Sorry again.
The Agency moved faster than I expected, so no time to explain and get your okay.
Really sorry for changing your info without asking.
No, it's fine. I was startled, but I didn't lose anything.
The bad guys are the Agency, not you, Professor.
Just give me a heads-up next time so I can prepare mentally.
Yeah. I'll be careful next time.
"Hm... I'm really grateful, but also sorry."
Rather than just helplessly receiving help like this, I wanted to help him somehow too.
But I'm still too weak and insignificant to do anything.
So, my top priority from now on...
"Tower. Time to climb the Tower."
Climb the Tower to get stronger. Make and consume all sorts of potions to get stronger.
Once I reach a position where no one can touch me easily,
I won't be tossed around helplessly like this, nor rely solely on the Professor's one-way aid.
"I, Benefactor, am a man who always repays his debts."
Repay favors twofold, grudges a thousandfold.
That's my motto in life.
Thanks for the help, Professor. I'll definitely repay this favor.
Yeah. So? When are you moving in?
It's got basic furniture and appliances already.
Really? Then I don't need to pack much; I could head over today.
Then I'll send the address. Take a taxi; I'll come pick you up.
Got it. I'll feed the kids when they wake and head out this afternoon.
Yeah. I need to chug the Vitality Tonic you gave me and crash.
Pulled an all-nighter; I'm beat.
The Professor sent the address, said he was going to nap, and left the chat.
While Lulu and Arin slept, I quickly prepared for the move as best I could.
But then,
"...Huh?"
A thought suddenly struck me.
My current situation felt like freeloading off a capable girlfriend,
like a good-looking but useless deadbeat househusband...
"...Nah, must be my imagination?"
Yeah. Of course it is.
Me, on the same level as some trashy deadbeat househusband?
No way in hell.