Domination (2)
The request left my lips with heavy implication. “I would like you to appoint me to the position of chief assistant.”
Selena froze, staring blankly. The sheer unexpectedness of it seemed to short-circuit her thoughts. Her crimson eyes blinked once, twice, then regained their focus. When she spoke, her voice carried open bewilderment. “You mean… you wish to come directly under me?”
“That would be an accurate way to see it.”
“Hmm.”
Selena let out a low, intrigued hum. She set the liquor bottle she had been clutching onto the desk and straightened her previously slouched posture.
“This is genuinely unexpected.”
“Why?”
“The position of chief assistant exists under many other professors. I was under the impression you received offers from nearly every member of the faculty.”
“I can’t exactly deny it.”
I answered with a soft chuckle. The memory of that chaotic scouting war flashed through my mind. Every instructor and administrator had swarmed me, each dangling increasingly desperate and attractive conditions. It had been exhausting beyond words.
“I heard Professor Cadel Evans has been particularly ardent in his courtship.”
“That is correct.”
Cadel Evans, Professor of Destruction Magic. Currently, he and Professor Raphael stood as the academy’s two dominant powers. Originally the three of them—including Selena—had been called the Three Pillars, but after she was stripped of her chief professor title and forced into effective retirement, Cadel had become the strongest candidate to succeed her.
“To set aside such an excellent choice… I truly cannot fathom why you would insist on coming to me.”
“Who knows.”
From her perspective the question was perfectly natural. It must have looked as though I were kicking away a golden opportunity and deliberately grabbing a rotten rope instead. Naturally, I had no intention of revealing my true motives.
“It’s a secret.”
I simply deflected with a sly smile.
“So, do you intend to refuse?”
“No. I accept.”
“You certainly don’t hesitate.”
“When a genius destined to be recorded in history personally extends their hand, how many people in this world would dare refuse?”
“I’m relieved you think so highly of me.”
She swept her purple hair back in a smooth motion. Those cloudy red eyes studied me carefully. After a brief, loaded silence, the two of us exchanged meaningful smiles and shook hands.
“From now on, I will address you as Master.”
“That’s an awkward title.”
“Please speak comfortably with me as well, Master. I will be your direct disciple for at least three years, after all.”
“That’s quite all right. I prefer a certain degree of distance in my speech.”
“What a shame.”
“I have no intention of nitpicking the way Student Yuda addresses me, so please feel free to overlook it.”
“Of course.”
The snake’s request was granted without complication. My ominous squinted eyes curved with satisfaction as I turned and walked leisurely out of the laboratory.
The very next day, the academy was in an uproar from early morning. Someone must have checked the updated affiliation roster, because the rumor that I had entered Professor Selena’s direct command had already spread like wildfire. As a result, I spent the entire day dragging stares wherever I went.
“Did you all hear the news?”
“If it’s that news… you mean Young Master Snakers, right?”
“The whole school’s been flipped upside down since breakfast.”
“I heard he received the chief assistant position?”
“He turned down every single scouting offer that came his way. I figured he just wasn’t interested in any of it.”
“Who would’ve guessed he’d choose to go directly under Professor Selena of all people…”
The students whispered among themselves. After watching me firmly reject so many offers, my sudden decision had naturally become the center of attention—especially since the one making it was the top freshman hailed as a once-in-a-generation talent.
The class placement test where I had defeated the princess. The duel where I had toyed with the Ice Princess. The written examinations where I had maintained the top spot with overwhelming scores. Because of the dazzling record I had already built, every student was watching my next move with bated breath.
Of course, this particular choice had caught them completely off guard.
“Why would he pick Professor Selena?”
“The chief assistant position is impressive, sure, but… weren’t there professors offering far better conditions?”
“Besides, she isn’t even the chief professor anymore.”
Everyone looked stunned. In a situation where he could choose freely, selecting the one person no one had expected left them bewildered. The faculty’s reactions were no different.
“No matter how I look at it, I simply cannot understand.”
“Tsk tsk… he’s chosen the wrong path.”
“Such a waste of talent. This is exactly when he needs a proper teacher by his side.”
“Is it because he’s still a student? He seems to lack good judgment. Of all people, to choose Professor Selena.”
“She’s hardly the warm, approachable type toward students, either.”
Some of the professors even looked openly disappointed. Many of them already harbored ill will toward Selena; seeing me willingly place myself under her must have left a bitter taste in their mouths. Perhaps this was why people said not to keep too many enemies close.
‘Being year representative really is annoying in so many ways… It would be nice if they would simply leave me to my own devices.’
There were perfectly rational reasons behind my decision. First, Selena was an outstanding illusion mage. Despite her reputation as a drunkard and eccentric, no one could match her in the field of illusion magic. Her guidance would prove theoretically invaluable.
The fact that she served as homeroom professor for Class A also made her conveniently accessible. She wasn’t the type to cling to empty titles or honors, so she wouldn’t attempt to oppress or micromanage me. In fact, she had already given me explicit permission to act as I pleased.
For someone who wanted appropriate authority without the accompanying burden of responsibility, she was, in many ways, the ideal choice.
And above all—
‘She is an important figure in my future plans.’
There were circumstances only I knew. She would play a role in upcoming episodes, so I intended to keep her close and observe. After weighing every factor, this was the conclusion I had reached. The suspicions of those who knew nothing could not touch me. I simply needed to focus on what I had to do.
“Yuda Snakers.”
Yes. I had certainly thought so.
“I cannot fathom what kind of thinking led you to choose that side. So you really were nothing special after all.”
An amusing provocation had arrived.
Over the past several months, I had received countless scouting offers, but none had been more persistent than those from Professor Cadel Evans. He currently held the third-greatest influence among the faculty and was the leading candidate for the next chief professor position. In the original story he had been Class A’s homeroom instructor. Even though the plot had twisted and Selena had taken that seat, his solid standing remained completely undamaged. In short, he was one of the most powerful figures in the academy.
Cadel had visited me almost daily in his attempt to recruit me. He had even offered the extraordinary condition of the chief assistant position, yet each time I firmly refused, he could only withdraw. Even so, he never showed any sign of displeasure. Although he possessed a somewhat sinister side, his ironclad principle was to treat students with kindness.
The problem was the assistant who followed him around.
—How long do you plan to keep postponing your answer?
—A mere first-year daring to test a professor’s patience?
Ian Ternado. The current chief assistant serving Cadel, and the undisputed top student of the second-year class. Every time he saw me, he would scowl.
—Tch… I have no idea what the professor sees in a guy like this.
Perhaps it was because his own position was under threat. Ian’s gaze toward me had always been hostile. Whether that hostility stemmed from simple anxiety or from the arrogance of a senior looking down on his junior, one thing was certain: he was far from friendly.
And now, several weeks later.
“Yuda Snakers.”
“It’s been a while. Have you been well, Senior Ian?”
“Yes. Unlike certain other people.”
He had come looking for me again. Judging by his timing, he must have already heard the news.
“I hear you’ve gone under Professor Selena.”
“That is correct.”
“What a truly ridiculous sight.”
“I’m afraid I don’t follow.”
“Pfft… After acting so high and mighty, putting on every possible air of superiority, the choice you ultimately made looks utterly pathetic.”
Ian laughed openly, his mockery unconcealed. Perhaps because I had chosen Selena, his tone was especially venomous.
“Instead of any of the other professors, you chose her… How exactly am I supposed to interpret that?”
“You’ve been speaking nonsense since you arrived.”
“You can’t possibly be unaware of the relationship between those two, can you?”
“Who knows.”
Selena and Cadel. The two professors were on terrible terms—frankly, the worst possible. Cadel had always coveted the chief professor position. As a result, he constantly checked and disparaged the drunkard, while Selena found him nothing but annoying.
In that situation, a student who had ignored every recruitment offer from both sides had suddenly chosen the one who might as well be his sworn enemy. From the perspective of Cadel’s chief assistant, it was only natural to feel the urge to pick a fight. He clearly meant to crush me here and now.
Ian continued, the sneer never leaving his lips.
“What do you hope to accomplish by learning mere illusion magic? She doesn’t even look like a particularly impressive teacher. Wouldn’t it be better to come to our side even now?”
“She is now my master. I would appreciate it if you refrained from crossing the line with your remarks.”
“If that’s how you want to play it.”
“……”
He was walking a dangerous tightrope—prodding and poking while carefully avoiding anything that could be considered an official offense. I stared at Ian in silence.
“……”
“You should have chosen more wisely.”
“Hmm.”
Under normal circumstances I would have ignored such cheap provocation, but other students were watching us. If I backed down meekly here, it would reflect poorly on Selena. Her direct disciple—the chief assistant—would be seen tucking his tail when his master was insulted. That was something I wished to avoid.
‘How troublesome.’
How should I deal with this golden idiot?
While I pondered, Ian kept sneering.
“Acting all arrogant when you were going to fold so easily. Consider yourself lucky I’m your senior. If we were in the same year, I would have already sent multiple duel challenges your way.”
“Ah.”
A good idea suddenly occurred to me.
That’s it.
Such a simple solution had been right in front of me all along. I smiled—an ominous, unsettling smile—and immediately put the thought into action. I removed the glove from my right hand.
“What an excellent suggestion.”
“What…?”
“A duel, of course.”
Thud!
I threw the glove straight at his broad chest. The moment the light impact sounded, Ian’s slouched posture stiffened, his pupils dilating in shock. I declared in a clear, ringing voice.
“I, Yuda Snakers, hereby challenge Ian Ternado to a duel in the name of honor and order.”
The bomb dropped among the students who had been watching. The corners of my mouth twitched upward. All I had to do was crush him. All I needed was an overwhelming demonstration that would overturn every drop of suspicion.
“I trust you won’t run away.”
My lips curved in a meaningful taunt. My squinted eyes smiled gently. It was a smile that somehow left an eerie chill in its wake. As I watched my prey stand frozen in stupefaction, I savored the dopamine surging through me. Inside, I muttered.
‘Ah, shit. My mouth won’t stop smiling.’
It had been a long time since I last stirred up such delightful chaos.