Chapter 10
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: Not That Rotten a Professor
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Fundamentally laissez-faire.
A classroom attitude no better than that of a delinquent student.
Even with someone beside her, she made no secret of how annoying it was—Cigarette Lindelhart was, surprisingly, not that rotten of a professor.
"Well, I do have my own plans, after all."
The kingdom had gathered Blessed Ones from across the continent to unearth heroes.
The problem was the lack of suitable 'teachers' to train them, but the moment that came to light, the kingdom scoured the continent once more.
And the ones they found became the current faculty, including Patrick and Cigarette.
Among them, Cigarette had been unanimously chosen by the entire royal family to oversee 1st Grade.
A Cleave poured straight toward Laila.
Cigarette moved on reflex, blocking the student's path.
She swung the sword gripped in one hand with all her might.
The Cleave, brimming with momentum that seemed ready to devour anything in its path, scattered in an instant.
All that remained was a cloud of dust.
"......"
The reason Cigarette had been assigned to 1st Grade.
It was simply because she was strong.
Including the newly arrived Roel, there were fifteen 1st Grade cadets in total.
No ordinary skill could teach or protect them.
And Cigarette was the most suitable person for that job.
"Cadet Roel, have you lost your mind...?"
Even Cigarette thought so.
This had gone too far.
Even if everyone here was a monster who'd received a 1st Grade rating, an attack of this level would definitely injure them.
To pull something like this during the time given to bond?
Conducting a spar was fine. Bonds were often forged in the heat of actual combat.
But using a Cleave in a wooden-sword duel was an entirely different matter.
"If I hadn't blocked it, Cadet Laila would have been seriously hurt."
"Th-that's..."
"Cadet Roel, answer me straight."
Roel's talent was truly astonishing.
A Cleave belonged to first-rate swordsmen only. Among the countless swordsmen overflowing the continent, those who reached that level were exceedingly rare.
Normally, this would warrant pure admiration and praise, but directing that talent at a comrade was utterly unforgivable.
"I-I..."
"......?"
She needed to be scolded.
No, beyond that, disciplined properly.
And yet.
What is this reaction?
Cigarette had seen it clearly.
Roel had sneakily unleashed the Cleave mid-spar.
Even though she'd witnessed the despicable act with her own eyes, something felt off.
It was almost as if...
This didn't feel like Cadet Roel's doing.
An absurd assumption.
Barring hallucinations, Cigarette couldn't have been mistaken.
A mistake? Even more ridiculous.
Cigarette was a first-rate swordswoman who could wield Cleave just like Roel.
She knew full well the complex process required to unleash one.
So it wasn't a mistake.
Then how to explain this sensation?
Acting? An illusion? Neither...
Suddenly, Patrick's words came to mind.
"......"
She extended a hand to Laila, still slumped on the ground.
"Sorry for shoving you. Had to secure some space."
"Ah... Y-yeah."
Once Laila stood and Cigarette confirmed she was unharmed,
she approached Roel.
"Cadet Roel."
Let's think this through.
The shift in atmosphere.
The contradiction in the situation itself.
Destructive power beyond visible capability.
Combining this information, Cigarette's scholarly mind arrived at one conclusion.
"I'll ask."
This was a topic long studied in the kingdom, with records of individuals harboring 'multiple personalities' in one body.
Speech, personality, even the skills they displayed—all belonging to another soul entirely.
Of course, it was just a hypothesis.
But Roel's response would serve as evidence.
"Who is inside you?"
Roel's expression hardened.
Sometimes, a person's very role serves as an 'explanation' in itself.
Cigarette Lindelhart was that for me.
Hero Academy. A professor teaching the top cadets there had to be strong, I figured.
That's why I'd unleashed the Cleave without worry. I was certain Cigarette would handle it somehow.
However.
"Didn't know you were smart, too."
I was confident this had been pretty thorough.
I'd adjusted the Cleave's output. Even if Laila took the hit, it wouldn't kill her or sever limbs.
The timing was after confirming Cigarette was watching the spar.
Yet there was one thing I hadn't anticipated.
"Who is inside you?"
Cigarette had noticed me.
I've directly influenced the outside world only twice so far.
With so few instances, some telltale signs were acceptable, I thought.
But Cigarette had guessed it in one go.
How?
Intelligence alone doesn't explain it.
"......Any similar cases before?"
Either way.
My existence being exposed right now wouldn't do us any good.
It could drag in nuisances like summoning the church.
What we needed was to seal Roel's lips.
The longer the silence, the worse it got.
I spoke to the panicking Roel.
"Roel. Don't answer. Deny the question outright right now."
Thankfully, Roel snapped out of it quickly.
"Wh-what do you mean, someone inside me? There's no such thing."
"Cadet Roel, most people wouldn't even comprehend a question like that."
"Ah, oh."
Damn, this idiot.
Should've explained it simpler.
"Something's definitely there. Good answer."
Professor Cigarette stepped away from Roel again.
"Class ends here for today. Free time from now on. Cadet Roel? A word."
This is a headache.
"......"
"Sit comfortably. I'm not here to punish you."
The cadets dispersed, and Roel was in Cigarette's private lounge.
Cigarette sat across from her, pouring warm tea.
"I trust you have some idea why I called you."
"......Yeah, I do."
"Then I'll ask without holding back."
"W-wait!"
Roel cut Cigarette off with a trembling voice.
For her timid personality, it was astonishing.
"I know what you're curious about. I do, but I can't give a proper answer."
"May I ask why?"
"That's... I don't know this entity well myself."
That was both a lie and the truth.
Roel couldn't answer because she didn't know me—that much was true.
But the reason she wouldn't answer was different.
'If my answer harms Demon...'
'Can't let that happen.'
I didn't get it.
I haven't been with Roel that long.
Hell, I'd even interfered this time, so I'd braced for some dislike.
Yet she wouldn't answer to protect me?
'I need Demon.'
Another inner thought popped up, making it even more baffling.
Didn't she just refuse my help earlier?
......Women's hearts are too damn complicated.
Fortune or misfortune, no more inner thoughts appeared.
"I see."
Honestly, it was touching.
Defying even a professor's questions to protect me—what other host would do that for an Inner Evil?
The problem was that Professor Cigarette wasn't so easily fooled.
"Then even minimal info is fine. Anything trivial, suspicious, or even uncertain guesses—tell me."
"Th-that's a bit..."
"Cadet Roel? I'm your professor. I have a duty to know my students' conditions."
She's coming on strong, as expected.
No choice now.
"Roel."
Roel flinched.
"Hand over your body."
She flinched again.
"Don't worry. Remember our deal? I won't do anything weird with your body."
Roel looked anxious.
A reaction like she couldn't decide.
I quickly added,
"I just want to talk."
A moment later.
"......Okay."
Roel consented.
.
.
.
Shoooo...
You have performed 'Full Possession' on the target.
Soul stability is currently low. 'Full Possession' release is advised as soon as possible.
"Hm."
The world felt through a living body was exhilarating.
"Didn't expect you'd grace us in person."
Unfortunately, now wasn't the time for such sentiments.
"......I get what Patrick meant now. Gives me chills."
Professor Cigarette sat before me.
Different from viewing her through a screen.
Something felt off, but one thing was clear: she was hostile.
After glaring at me for a while, Professor Cigarette sighed.
"No reaction to pressure either... You're starting to feel more and more off-spec."
Pressure?
So that's why it felt weird—she was probing me.
"What should I call you?"
"No name. Call me whatever if you want to distinguish from Roel."
"Then no special title it is."
I nodded curtly in response.
Cigarette resumed the conversation.
"So, which side are you on?"
A decent question from my perspective, too.
This possession was to prevent Roel's slip-ups, but I couldn't just say nothing.
"Which side?"
"Exactly. Good or evil."
"Neither."
You are the Inner Evil.
Well, if I had to pick, evil.
"Dodging on purpose?"
Damn, sharp.
"Why would I?"
"......This isn't productive."
"No, really. I'm asking why I'd dodge. Any reason to?"
Cigarette fell silent.
Her face gauging my intent.
"Confidence or arrogance..."
She spoke as if resigned.
"You say neither good nor evil, so I'll define you my way. You're 'evil'."
"And? What now?"
"Hmm. I'd like to erase you."
"Erase me?"
"Yes."
Tough, holding back laughter.
Not mockery, mind you.
"Looks like control defaults to Cadet Roel. From today, I'll help her utilize your power as much as possible."
"......Ha."
Still, a relief.
Looks like you've got a good teacher, Roel.
One burden lighter.
Roel's growth could be left to Cigarette.
I prepared to release possession.
For her new mentor, I'd exit with a parting shot.
"Overstepping. As if a wretch like you could—"
"Your presence is fading. Reaching your limit, I see."
"......"
Releasing Full Possession.
"Do your best."
With an out-of-body sensation, I returned to familiar space.
A truly satisfying possession.
Didn't overtax Roel's body, got everything I needed.
Probably won't need Full Possession for a while.
"Great job, let's keep it up!"
But that's always how it goes.
Good things never last.
No matter how much you shout 'keep it going,' reality doesn't comply.
I didn't know that yet.