Chapter 4
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 004
Chapter Title: The Research Lab
-----------------------------------------------------------------
About ten minutes after Charlotte started roasting me, even without saying a word, I was already mentally and physically drained.
“I can’t believe you actually puked over that. Sigh…”
“…”
“And you’ll have to give lectures in that auditorium later. What are you gonna do then?”
Anything more would make my stomach churn again, so I pretended to look around and changed the subject.
“So this is my research lab.”
Charlotte’s eyes narrowed. Though I ignored it, her sharp gaze stabbed into my back like needles, making me break out in cold sweat.
I had to apply a different perspective to Aiden—one unlike that of ordinary people.
Yeah, this wasn’t my little sister scolding me. It was a chitinous insect glaring at me.
Nothing else but a cockroach… no, a chitinous insect. The size of a person…
My stomach churned.
No, actually, it was scary.
“Yeah, this is your research lab.”
Charlotte crossed her arms and snorted, as if letting it slide just this once.
I patted my chest in relief and examined the interior.
It was still sparse, but once I filled it with equipment, it’d shape up nicely.
“Oh, by the way, there’s a student from the department I recommend. I’ll go bring her.”
“An assistant?”
“Could be an assistant, or… maybe someone to look after you, since you’ve never experienced college life.”
“I don’t need a babysitter.”
“Sure you don’t.”
Her last words sounded like a jab, laced with irritation.
She was clearly referencing my bathroom blunder, but that was unfair!
“Anyway, think about how you’re gonna set up the lab. I’ll be in the dorms, so I’ll be back soon.”
“Do that.”
I was already reclining in the leather chair.
Haa… A deep sigh rose from the depths of my lungs.
As I ran my hand over the antique-finished solid wood desk.
Finally, I’d found some peace of mind.
If only Charlotte would leave, I could rest easy…
“Why do you have to be so damn unlucky-looking?”
Charlotte tilted her head as she looked at me.
An astonishing impression that I looked unlucky for no reason at all.
“It’s a reflection of your usual mindset. Don’t associate with people superficially—embrace them broadly.”
“Says the one who holed up in the mansion for half a year.”
I countered with genuine disbelief, but it was futile against Aiden’s specialty.
Letting such remarks slide was par for the course with Aiden, who only heard what he wanted… No one could control my emotions.
As I stuck firmly to the leather chair, Charlotte’s face twisted like she’d bitten into shit.
But with no retort ready, she silently left the lab.
Just as I thought I was finally alone, I half-opened my eyes and scanned the room.
Assigning a research lab to a Visiting Professor—or rather, Temporary Professor—was overly generous.
They wouldn’t waste one on someone who could be fired anytime, so this meant the university wanted to hire me full-time.
Even among Visiting Professors, non-tenured ones lived on borrowed time like flies, but tenured ones received treatment equal to full professors.
“…Not bad.”
To survive, I needed to maintain a good impression and renew my professorship.
There might be other ways, but sticking to the setting as a professor was safest.
‘Any deviation could trigger a butterfly effect and kill me.’
I had no intention of experimenting with my one and only life.
More than that…
“I’m not skilled at controlling my power.”
Aiden was no different from a walking strategic weapon.
One of the empire’s three Masters.
A one-man army who swept battlefields alone, a superhuman.
It was impossible to even imagine his life being threatened.
Death only came from something like an Archdemon—anything less was laughable.
If anything, the opponent would die first.
But that was the original Aiden. Right now, inside was me.
“When have I ever wielded a rapier?”
Sure, if I grabbed one, it’d move unconsciously somehow, but relying on instinct didn’t seem proper.
So, all I’d gained from possessing Aiden was a superhuman’s sturdy body and…
‘This damn cockroach blessing—or rather, curse that makes people look like chitinous insects.’
I let out a sigh.
No matter how I thought about it, this was a loss.
If Aiden’s ego hadn’t been so strong, any normal person seeing everyone as cockroaches… chitinous insects would’ve gone mad already.
For reference, per the original work, even beauties looked like nothing but cockroaches.
Just slightly prettier cockroaches than average.
You might ask what a pretty cockroach is, but after seeing hundreds daily, some start looking plausibly pretty cock—
Recalling the classroom incident made bile rise again.
Half-dead, I slumped in the chair.
If there were eyes on me, I wouldn’t be this relaxed, but alone? Who cares.
Maintaining dignity was beyond my worn-out mind and body.
“I need to play it safe.”
Mix in just enough game knowledge from my director days to renew my professorship.
And slowly learn to handle the rapier…
“But not too well—just enough to stay mediocre.”
In the original, after Aiden finished as Visiting Professor and returned home, the academy hired a new one to fill his spot.
That person greatly helped the protagonists.
“Just renew as Temporary Professor moderately.”
Can’t get fired for poor reviews, nor kill off the new hire with stellar ones.
They needed to feel a bit lacking.
Not terrible, but somehow boring and disappointing! That vibe.
“Aiming to do well should land me in that sweet spot. I’ve never taught anyone anyway.”
The Pure Magic Theory professor’s classes were a good reference for that feel.
‘I wondered where I’d seen it… oh, right.’
I squinted and pulled up the magic circle floating in the professor’s mind.
Twisted lizard-like script: Ignite.
I remembered from the setting bible.
Yeah, how did it read again?
Forgot how to pronounce it? Don’t know the meaning? Ridiculous.
The lore said so, so I didn’t overthink it… but saying it’s not serious somehow sparks the urge to challenge it.
‘I knew the pronunciation…’
Covering my eyes with my hand, I mumbled like sleep-talking.
“Erte. Yeah, that’s how it was pronounced.”
One of the planners was a setting nerd.
A weirdo who detailed even unused game lore, and I memorized it because it was fascinating back then.
‘The runes were his idea too.’
Runes in name, fake fantasy knockoffs in truth.
Pronunciation and writing bore no resemblance to the real thing.
‘Most got rejected pre-approval, he whined.’
Yet somehow, the fake runes made it in.
I memorized them purely because he was my drinking buddy, drilling them into my ears when drunk.
Always ranting that in his stupor. Not that I wanted to—huh? It’s getting hot…
Flames erupted before my eyes.
“…?”
Vibrant multicolored blaze roaring.
Sparks popping like fireworks—strangely beautiful.
Oh…
“No it’s not, you idiot.”
Extinguisher, extinguisher, extinguisher—where is it?
No extinguisher? Water then. No water?!
I ripped down the curtain and stomped it out.
“Whew, huff.”
Exhaustion hit hard post-fire; I wiped my face.
Why is life like this?
“I’m beat.”
No energy to remove the charred curtain, I slumped in the chair.
With the curtain gone, morning sun poured through the closed window.
The warmth oddly soothed me, tension easing into drowsiness.
Just as I was about to sprawl out, urgent knocks sounded.
“What the hell? That commotion earlier. Open the door, quick!”
‘Ah…!’
I straightened my clothes, shoved the singed curtain under the desk.
Then flashed an innocent smile.
I didn’t do anything.
“Hey, what did you do?”
Not buying it.
As Charlotte leaned in, I flinched and rubbed my eyes.
Aiden reflexively scrutinized people up close.
A habit from years as an inspector, to vividly remember them.
Useful only when they looked human, though—for now, etching insect mouthparts into my brain… impossible.
Mental shock hit; guest or not, I collapsed into the chair.
“I’m resting. You should go.”
“Don’t talk nonsense. I went all the way to fetch someone to introduce you.”
Fair point, so I turned away.
Hard to distinguish by looks anyway—voice and such would do.
“Hello. I’m Isel Trudy. I serve at the Pisvolt Ducal Family’s capital annex. Currently a second-year in the Knight Department.”
“Know the Trudy name? Liseff Trudy, the Next Head Maid at your mansion—that’s her daughter. Treat her well.”
With no reply from me, Charlotte glared fiercely.
“…Yeah, nice to meet you. I’m Aiden.”
I glanced as if to ask if that was all; Charlotte clutched her forehead and sighed.
That personality never changes, huh.
Always complicating things for herself.
“Got it. No more to say, so leave? Sigh, that guy’s temperament… Isel, let’s grab a meal just us first.”
“No. Um…”
Isel shot me a quick glance, then turned away.
Before leaving, Charlotte fired one last shot.
“I’ll grill you later on what you did. Be ready.”
“Really did nothing.”
Yeah, yeah, sure you didn’t. I let the sarcasm slide as usual.
Only then did silence settle, letting me fully recline my weary body.
* * *
Isel watched Charlotte, who kept giving apologetic looks nonstop.
“I should just beat the crap out of that guy for real.”
“He seemed really tired.”
“That’s no excuse. He holed up in his room for half a year because things didn’t go his way, and that’s supposed to be a superhuman?”
“Haha…”
Bored, dark expression, yet serene sapphire eyes burning quietly.
That piercing gaze—as if he saw right through her thoughts—made her shrink instinctively.
But it passed quickly; Charlotte’s attitude toward Aiden erased the intimidation.
Left was a brother helplessly pushed by his sister’s nagging.
“And that’s the Master knights idolize? Pathetic.”
Isel had no reply.
Setting aside her Knight Department status, Masters were the pinnacle even among geniuses—a scant few grains reaching that realm.
Denying it crushed everyone’s ideal; affirming it choked her with the grudges of the talentless masses forever walled off.
As Isel dodged with an awkward smile, Charlotte clicked her tongue roughly.
Words flew out, incredulous.
“More importantly, why’d he rip the curtain? It was fine.”
“Oh, was it attached before?”
“Yeah.”
Charlotte unleashed wild guesses beside her.
No way he tore it trying to take it down; didn’t like it? Buy a new one later. Why tear it…
“I can’t read that guy’s mind.”
She looked at Isel pityingly.
“Sorry for the request, but take good care of him.”
“Not… confident.”
“He’s mediocre, but not rotten at heart, so don’t stress. Or tell me—I’ll beat him myself.”
Beat? Him?
Who beats whom?
Isel stared at Charlotte, as if mishearing.
As a mage, Charlotte had a frail build even to a Knight Department student like her.
If Aiden dodged, not even his hem would touch—he’d subdue her effortlessly.
Yet she says she’ll beat him…
‘He lets himself get hit.’
Might not be so bad after all.