Boarding the Same Boat with an Unreliable Professor

Through the translucent quest window I had been staring at in a daze, lost in bewilderment, Emilia’s worried face came into view.

“Arwen, are you okay?”

“Huh? I was just lost in thought for a second…”

“Really? If the smell made you dizzy, we should check for side effects—no, first we run the tests and then administer treatment…”

Emilia’s voice grew urgent as her fingers danced over the instruments on her desk. If I left her alone any longer, she would definitely shove that long hook up my nose under the pretext of an examination. I decided to calm her down, even if it meant lying.

“Wait! I’m really fine, so put down that stick in your hand. I was just thinking about our plans going forward.”

Emilia set the skewer down and tilted her head.

“Plans?”

“Even if we have the product, we still need to sell it to make money. And selling underworld goods without the empire’s permission isn’t child’s play.”

“Of course I know that… hehe…”

Emilia gave an awkward little laugh. I wasn’t entirely convinced she truly understood.

“Have you given any thought at all to how we’re going to sell it?”

“W-well…”

“Don’t tell me you started this whole thing with no preparation whatsoever, thinking that simply making a better aphrodisiac would earn us a fortune.”

“…”

Emilia avoided my eyes like a puppy caught misbehaving and couldn’t utter a single word. Damn it. Looked like I’d hit the bull’s-eye.

Fuck. That means we’re starting from absolute rock bottom.

Selling unlicensed goods was, by nature, an invitation to danger. If you were going to risk your life in this business, thorough preparation was non-negotiable. Manufacture the product. Transport the product. Sell the product. Finally, launder the dirty money so it could be used in the open. If even one of those four steps went wrong, neither Emilia nor I could count on a bright future. I had no idea how strict the empire’s laws were, but we certainly wouldn’t be treated kindly.

Working in the underworld was like laboring inside a warehouse filled with gasoline—one tiny spark and the whole place could go up in flames.

How did I know all this so well? It wasn’t because I’d ever dabbled in that world myself. I’d simply watched it in a certain famous mid about a student and teacher that began with magic and ended with drugs—just like the relationship between Emilia and me. The people who recklessly dove into the underworld in that show never met good ends.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Yet our naïve Professor Emilia seemed to have focused solely on creating the product and given zero thought to how to actually sell it. I couldn’t decide whether she was stupid or brave. The former seemed far more likely.

“Professor, people are supposed to use the thing between their ears to make plans and then act on them.”

I tapped my temple with my index finger. I knew my attitude was arrogant, but I couldn’t settle down without saying something.

“Hic…”

Even after hearing such an insolent remark from a student younger than herself, Emilia offered no rebuttal. It seemed she was well aware of how reckless she had been.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry! I’m sorry for always rushing into things without thinking like an idiot!”

In the end she poured out apologies and kept bowing her head like a reed swaying in the wind. Watching an older woman apologize so frantically to someone younger only made my feelings more complicated. Aside from her talent with magic potions, I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠couldn’t find a single trustworthy aspect in this partner of mine.

But what was I supposed to do about it now? The quest had already been accepted. The reward for the quest with the cheap, porn-parody title Break Bad was none other than an “Unknown Trait.” The success condition was earning the enormous sum of ten thousand gold—enough to buy out an entire Wolfgang shop. That alone showed how difficult it would be. And a difficult condition meant the reward would be equally valuable.

Still, I couldn’t afford to be purely optimistic. The penalty for failure was another “Unknown Trait” with the exact same name. Obviously the effect would be the complete opposite.

If the developer decided to be funny and slapped something insane like impotence or erectile dysfunction on me as the penalty, I’m completely screwed.

My only real asset was my ridiculous stamina. Losing even that would be a death sentence. Just imagining it sent a cold drop of sweat sliding down my spine. To avoid the worst-case scenario, I had to earn ten thousand gold by any means necessary. And for that to happen, this woman still vigorously shaking her head needed to get her act together.

I calmed Emilia, whose neck-bobbing had become so extreme I worried about her cervical vertebrae.

“Professor, I understand, so please stop shaking your head. You’re going to faint at this rate.”

“Y-yes? Understood.”

Emilia finally stopped the headbanging that would exhaust any onlooker and poked her two index fingers together while sneaking glances at me. I apologized first for my earlier harsh words.

“I’m sorry, Professor Emilia. I went too far just now. Please forgive me.”

I bowed my head once—politely, not like Emilia’s frantic nodding.

“No, you were right, Arwen. I got so caught up in making the aphrodisiac that I acted rashly. Running an underworld business with no background is ridiculous. If you want to quit, I won’t stop you.”

Emilia looked genuinely remorseful for dragging me into this. As grateful as I was for her warm heart, I was already past the point of backing out. Helping her earn ten thousand gold was no longer a choice—it was mandatory.

“Thank you for the consideration, but I’ve already decided to work with you. After seeing how incredible your results are, I can’t possibly quit now.”

“Really? Or… is it because you’re also in financial trouble? Even though you’re a northern grand duke?”

“It’s not that I’m desperate for money, and I’m not a grand duke yet. But more money is always better, isn’t it? Besides, I’ve taken a personal interest in you, Professor.”

“Interest…? No way! I-I don’t like that!”

At the word “interest,” Emilia clutched the very breasts I had used as masturbation material earlier. Even after I had seen her completely naked, she was still overflowing with shame. I spoke to her calmly.

“I’m sorry, but I was referring to my interest in your ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠skill with magic potions.”

“Hic?! S-sorry. I misunderstood again on my own…”

Emilia let out another strange noise and apologized once more. She really did love apologizing.

“It’s fine. There’s no need to apologize.”

Though it’s also true that I’m interested in your voluptuous body, Professor.

One day I would definitely drag Emilia into the bed of my mansion and savor every inch of her. Raibel would probably tense up at the arrival of a new rival.

At that moment—ding, ding, ding, ding—the giant bell rang four times. According to the dormitory staff who had brought breakfast, it came from the clock tower, one of the academy’s symbolic buildings. Even though the Reinhardt Palace of the Magic Department was quite far from the tower, the sound was so massive I could feel a faint vibration. The four rings announced that it was four in the afternoon and simultaneously signaled the end of all classes.

From now on, students were free to pursue personal training or rest as they wished. For new students on their first day, it also marked the deadline for course registration.

God damn it, has it already gotten this late?

It couldn’t have been past two when I met Emilia, yet between jerking off, dealing with the aphrodisiac, and losing track of time, I had completely missed the deadline. To keep my promise with Aries I needed to run to her immediately. That left only one option—begging the teaching assistant for mercy.

I spoke to Emilia in a hurry.

“I’m sorry, but I have to leave now. I completely forgot to register for Professor Betelgeuse’s class.”

“Professor Betelgeuse? You mean The Standard of Mana Projectiles?”

“Yes. How did you know?”

“I may not look it, but I am a professor. I at least know the names of my colleagues’ popular lectures. Unfortunately, that class is already full.”

“Full? ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠What do you mean?”

Emilia delivered the devastating news.

“Professor Betelgeuse’s class is so popular that registration usually closes within ten minutes after the observation period ends.”

“T-that means…”

“Yes. Sadly, you’ll have to give up on it. Wait… is this my fault too?”

It seemed she had realized she was the reason I failed to register. Her eyes immediately began to glisten with tears again. Sorry, but the one who feels like crying is me.

Aries, I’m sorry. Looks like I won’t be able to keep my promise to take classes together.

Even in this possessed world I couldn’t set up a single flag with my childhood friend whose favorability was already maxed out. Fuck. Was I doomed to never have an opposite-sex childhood friend in my entire life?

While I was drowning in despair, Emilia cautiously spoke up.

“I know it’s shameless of me, but if you don’t have any other classes in mind, would you consider registering for mine?”

“Your class, Professor? You’re right—it is shameless.”

“It is shameless… No, that’s not what I meant! I have a proper reason! I’m not just trying to lure in one more student!”

“Then let’s hear it. This reason of yours.”

“Ahem. From my observations, Arwen, your overall mana quantity—excluding your genitalia—is lower than average. Especially the magic power in your heart, which acts as the pathway for mana inside the body, is nearly zero.”

It seemed she had accurately gauged that my magic power stat was abysmal even without knowing the exact numbers.

“…And?”

“That means even if you had registered for the class you wanted, you wouldn’t have gained much from it. A single spell would drain your heart’s mana dry. Magic potions, however, are different. Even if you lack innate magic power, skill alone can produce the best results.”

“It sounds plausible, but you’re not just recommending this so you can collect my semen more easily, right?”

“No! Please believe me.”

“Hmm…”

Damn it. What should I do?

My original plan had been to register for an offensive magic class, learn skills, and also sleep with Aries. But registration was long gone, and Emilia’s reasoning made sense.

Yeah. Since my protagonist trait changed to [Protagonist of an Adult Game], expecting meaningful growth in magic power is probably hopeless anyway.

After a short deliberation, I made my decision.

“All right. I’ll register for your class. I didn’t get to observe it, but that’s fine, right?”

“O-of course! You absolutely won’t regret it. I’ll even share the recipes for my secret vision potions with you, Arwen.”

“I didn’t register hoping for special treatment, but here’s the form.”

Professor Emilia accepted the registration form I handed over with a bright smile. And so I ended up registering for the magic potion class I had never even considered—a bottom-tier elective that didn’t even exist as a choice when I played Elysia Story before possession.

“Hehe, the eighth student. A new record in five years.”

While Emilia stamped her seal on the form bearing my name, I said my goodbyes for now. With registration finished, I wanted to return to my room and organize my thoughts about the vanished Aries quest window. I wasn’t sure I’d reach any clear answers, though.

“I’ll head back to the dormitory now. Let’s discuss how to sell the aphrodisiac slowly when we meet tomorrow.”

“Do you already have a good idea? Maybe someone in the underworld who serves the Reinhardt family?”

“Unfortunately I don’t have such a convenient subordinate, but I do know one person who might be able to help.”

Emilia’s eyes sparkled at my answer.

“Ooooh! As expected! Mustering the courage to speak to you really was the greatest stroke of luck in my entire life.”

Greatest stroke of luck? Isn’t that a bit much?

“Then I’ll be going, Professor. See you in class tomorrow.”

“Good. My class starts at one thirty in the afternoon, so let’s meet then.”

And so my full-fledged academy life began by boarding the same boat as an unreliable professor—a boat whose insane purpose was selling an aphrodisiac made from pure stamina, no less.

Leaving behind Emilia, who was still seeing me off without a bra or panties, I made my way toward Astrea Hall where I was staying. Since the distance was considerable, I couldn’t exactly walk; I took an academy carriage. So perhaps it would be more accurate to say I planted my butt on a carriage seat rather than “made my way.”

The long years spent dreaming of reunion with Arwen.

Yet how many years had passed didn’t matter. What mattered was that Arwen and I now stood in the same space and time once more. In the world God had created, our meeting felt inevitable. Now that I had met him at this academy, we would be together forever.

“Arwen, there you are.”

It was certain that Arwen and I were bound by fate. The moment I pictured him in my mind, he appeared in the distance. He looked exactly like the prince from the fairy tales I had read as a child. The prince always appeared before the princess the moment she called him—just as Arwen did now.

Arwen walked up to me and spoke in that wonderful voice.

“Classes haven’t started yet?”

I answered with the smile that naturally bloomed whenever I saw him.

“Yes, it’ll start soon. I was waiting so we could go in together.”

Everything had been perfect until now. Just like in every memory, Arwen would enter the classroom with me.

But.

“I’m sorry, Aries. Actually, I didn’t come for class—I came to apologize to you.”

“Apol…ogy? Why are you suddenly apologizing?”

“Something came up yesterday and I couldn’t register for Professor Betelgeuse’s class.”

“…And?”

“So I had no choice but to register for the magic potion class instead. I’m sorry I couldn’t keep my promise to take classes together.”

“H-how could that be…”

Having said his piece, Arwen glanced at the clock on the wall. He seemed completely focused on leaving immediately, utterly unaware of how deeply he had wounded me. This wasn’t the kind, gentle Arwen I remembered.

“Sorry, Aries. My own class is about to start too. Let’s talk next time. Have a good class.”

“W-wait…”

My Arwen walked away with those parting words. I watched him leave with eyes full of despair, but he never once looked back in my direction before disappearing from sight.

“…You filthy insect.”

I stomped down with all my strength on the bug that had been arrogantly circling my feet and crushed it. My mood had gone beyond despair and turned utterly foul—just like that worthless bug. It felt as if the world had ended overnight.