Chapter 104
Chapter 104
Episode 104
EP25 - Professor Assassination: Why Professor Dante? (1)
The Illusion Magic faculty was in shock.
They shouted. What did it mean that everyone had failed? They had strained themselves for 30 minutes, and yet one assassin had made all the mages fail; their pride was bound to be wounded. At the end of it, one professor asked me.
“What exactly is the problem!?”
What is your problem…….
*
In truth, they had no problem.
That was the problem.
I was a little surprised right after the exam ended.
‘…Why are they so good?’
Ezekiel had said to only pick three.
Personally, I wanted to pick twenty-seven people.
I almost wanted to pick everyone here.
They were all meticulous, skilled, and despite their arrogance, they genuinely thought about [Illusion Magic]. Not a single one was training out of habit, like inertia.
Everyone was genuinely trying!
So, I went to find Head Professor Kain.
“Uh….”
Head Professor Kain scratched his head, then mentioned picking this one, picking that one…. mentioning almost everyone.
This young Head Professor was in the same position as me.
Meanwhile, only one person was different.
Head Professor Kain wanted to pick even the person I didn't want to pick.
“You want to pick Assistant Professor Mate too? Why him? His skills have fallen considerably, and his illusion magic is quite rushed.”
Kain blinked and replied,
“He’s trying hard, so….”
“???”
In any case.
I couldn't understand. How could so many of them be so perfect in my eyes?
I had been evaluating them for three hours, like a mother-in-law scrutinizing her daughter-in-law?
‘Ah.’
Then I realized.
These were all professors who had not resigned after ‘Rebellion and Collapse’ and had remained in their positions.
The assassin professors, of course.
The mage professors had also collectively submitted their resignations.
What remained amidst that was likely because they all had a conviction in researching and teaching Illusion Magic.
Conviction.
Something that has become difficult to find these days.
‘Besides, Hiaka’s Illusion Magic is currently a continental laughingstock.’
It was only because of Kain's Christmas tree that the atmosphere had reversed; Hiaka's Illusion Magic is still predominantly evaluated as pathetic.
To have the field one has invested a lifetime in be ridiculed makes them powerful underdogs.
People want to cheer for a dog that's being stepped on in the arena.
Even if that dog is oneself.
“Hello.”
I immediately contacted Ezekiel.
- You want to increase the number of successful candidates to 30?
“Yes.”
- No.
He was resolute.
- As I said before, the Empire is targeting Head Professor Kain. At this point, external exposure must be minimized.
I didn't see any spies, but I didn't mention that. It would be an incredibly childish remark.
- This must be a consistency granted to Head Professor Kain's actions themselves, to prevent human error.
Ezekiel's words also had merit.
Thus, after much thought, I came up with something good.
As I was observing their [thoughts] in the exam hall earlier, I realized.
There were many thoughts related to ‘pride.’
It was natural, perhaps. They were mages. Yet, they seemed particularly unwilling to lose to the surrounding professors.
So, if I couldn't pass them all, I had to fail them all.
“Then, how about this? We fail everyone, and you and the Department Head become the whip and carrot?”
- Whip and carrot?
In other words, I thought they all did well, but Ezekiel told me to fail them.
It was a method of providing stimulation rather than a choice. It was to touch the mages' driving force of ‘pride.’
Ezekiel objected.
- Why should I be the villain?
“Should I do it? As an assassin, they’ll have strong resentment.”
- You do it. They won't listen to me anyway. They'll think, ‘What does the head of the Magic Defense Department know…’
“Understood.”
At the end of that, I delivered the facts as they were, and
I was slightly hated as I left the exam hall.
It was fine.
Now, Ezekiel would diligently pat me on the back and defend me, and their hearts would change.
That was the end of my first encounter with the Illusion Magic professors.
……Or so I thought.
After recalling (?) Head Professor Kain.
And as I was crossing the hallway with Ran to head to the vehicle.
A person named Assistant Professor Mate blocked the hallway.
A man slightly hunched over, with a poor complexion.
“…I apologize, Professor Dante. There is something I must tell you.”
“I will listen.”
“…Please give me a chance.”
He knelt on the floor.
“Please give me one chance. This time, I was too nervous and couldn't perform proper [Sculpting]. But I cannot give up on Head Professor Kain's class like this.”
“…….”
“If you give me one more chance, I will show you proper sculpting illusion magic. So please….”
“…….”
At this moment, I thought for a moment.
Becoming an important person means experiencing all sorts of things.
I had knelt before others in my life.
But someone kneeling before me, I think this is the first time.
My hands were trembling slightly.
It was painful to watch.
“Please stand up. You will soon receive good news from Dean Ezekiel.”
“…….”
For now, I said that, but
I knew Assistant Professor Mate's skill had declined.
I paused for a moment and looked at him.
“Assistant Professor Mate.”
“…Yes.”
“I know what your skills are.”
“…Th-this time, I was nervous….”
“Regardless of nervousness, I have accurately grasped the height of what lies within. You must try harder, Assistant Professor. And prove that you have tried next time.”
“…….”
“Mere earnestness will not change anything.”
He was given one more chance.
Proving himself was his responsibility.
* * *
The peaceful days of vacation continued.
- Adele: Do you need a gift from me, Professor?
- Me: Buy me some snacks or something.
- Adele: Should I buy something for Ran unnie too?
- Adele: We're still awkward with each other~
“…….”
- Me: That would be good.
- Me: It would be more awkward if only I received something.
- Adele: ㅋㅋ That's right.
- Adele: See you the day after tomorrow~
The peaceful days of vacation continued.
For now.
During this time, I communicated with the department several times.
With Shaman Dean's assistant, 'Boogie Boogie.'
- Professor Dante!
Like the ranker 'Gyulgyul,' the repetition of the same word in the name made it easy to tell he was from the Kingdom of Hitahita. (By the same principle, 'Kang Kang' from the Discipline Department is likely also from Hitahita.)
I indirectly informed them that a monster of 'Jinxite' level was coming to Hiaka, and
Boogie Boogie relayed to me that 'the Nibelung Family was very angry.' Because of that, the Nibelung Family severed their sponsorship of the Academy.
Fortunately, Gray's 157,000 copies provided a lifeline for the department, and support from the royal family is being discussed.
This much was as expected, which was fortunate.
However, this was unexpected.
- An envoy from the Grandmother came and said, 'Isn't this a betrayal?' But do you know what the Department Head said?
“What did he say?”
Boogie Boogie paused for a beat and said.
- He said, 'I'm good at that.'
He said it with a cautious laugh.
Wow, that's spicy.
Shaman.
He is usually a plump old man who could eat five donuts in one bite.
But he is undeniably a member of the Kreutz royal family.
The fact that he made his past a joke meant that the Academy's position was stronger than I thought.
How this will unfold in the future remains to be seen, but for now, I like it.
“Understood.”
- Yes, I'll contact you again!
After ending the call with Boogie Boogie, I checked my schedule.
In a few days, Dante's Assassination Squad would be deployed on their first mission, and the Star Gazing Mountain conquest would begin next week. That meant there was still some leeway.
I had recovered after resting for a day. (But this reminded me once again that this was a game; in reality, resting for a day wouldn't lead to recovery….)
Although there was leisure due to vacation, I couldn't just do nothing. I decided to go out for personal training.
* * *
“My name is Joaquin Hillavan.”
Joaquin muttered.
“I will never give up.”
He would not give up.
He would not crumble.
After the proxy assassination plan failed, he was severely criticized in the Black Path, slapped by his supervising professor, Ludenbach, called a 'worm' by Marina, whom he had a crush on, and scolded by his father…
He absolutely, absolutely! could not back down like this.
‘Seven tries, eight falls, Joaquin.’
He would definitely assassinate Professor Dante.
……Living with such a mindset for several months.
As Dante's fame soared higher and higher each day, Joaquin began to suffer more and more.
‘Does this make sense?’
It was absurd. Dante solved major incidents wherever he went and was active.
Later, he became a senior professor less than half a year after being hired.
Before and after that, tales of Dante's heroism were frequently heard.
At some point, it reached an unbelievable level.
‘What? Professor Dante undertook Gray's escort, and thanks to that, it was a huge success, leading Hiaka to open the Academy gates?’
As the Empire's opening was imminent, Dante's stories were pouring out everywhere.
“They say there are 4 Hidden Dragon Society members in Professor Dante's Assassination Squad…”
“Wow, I'm jealous. I want to join too…”
The Moon Shadow Scholar Students whispered.
CRUNCH!
The can in his hand crumpled.
If it was just a pang of bitterness at first, by this time, Joaquin was suffering from stomachaches and insomnia. He had to do jumping jacks endlessly every night because he couldn't sleep.
Then, when he finally fell asleep from exhaustion, he would dream of having a one-on-one meeting with the Head of the Assassination Department.
And that Head of the Assassination Department was Dante.
- It's already been 20 years.
- Student, withdraw from your life.
His eyes snapped open!
“……Haaah!”
Gasp, gasp….
Joaquin gasped for breath.
He must not succeed any further.
You must be ruined!
Because it hurts my stomach when you, who insulted me, succeed!
Based on such anger, Joaquin worked hard. He needed money to get revenge.
He attended classes only until the brink of failing, barely getting an F. He copied reports from a lackey. During the day, he worked at a gas station. In the afternoon, at a bar. At night, he used his Main Force [Stealth] to take on Black Path spy requests as a part-time job.
“Catch that guy!”
“Aargh!”
He was caught and almost died a few times while working as a spy, but who was he?
‘My name is Joaquin Hillavan.’
I will never give up.
After such arduous efforts, he managed to get his hands on a considerable sum of money again, and Joaquin began to ponder how he would assassinate Professor Dante with this.
‘I need to find a weakness.’
There is no invincible being in the world.
The anecdote of the world's 5th ranked 'Grand Duke of the North, Riwodan,' being killed by a surprise attack from 5 Challenger-class assassins is famous.
Professor Dante would also have a chance if a weakness were found.
Thus, Joaquin visited the shrine of the System Society⧉.
A group of the White Path who worship Systematicity.
They were known as the best among information organizations.
He couldn't use the Black Path organizations (because Joaquin's public image was bad), so he had to use this place.
“But aren't you from the Black Path?”
“Yes, yes…. For now, I am…”
“Get lost.”
“…….”
However, he was driven away with cold contempt.
It was fine.
Long periods of humiliation and persecution.
He could endure them all.
It had been a month since he first visited the System Society⧉. Since then, Joaquin had visited every day. He had been hit with salt for being annoying, or had water poured on him.
Even as his clothes froze in the dead of winter, Joaquin bowed his head.
“Please help me just once!!”
If sincerity reaches heaven.
Perhaps his will to assassinate Professor Dante, even if he died, reached the heavens.
“…Tsk tsk.”
Professor Villemon, the administrator of the System Society⧉ shrine and a member of the White Path, clicked his tongue. He thought, ‘What kind of person is this?’
He had never seen a Black Path member bow his head for a whole month while being cursed at.
“What is it you want to know?”
“Ah…!”
Joaquin said with a bright face.
“Th-that is…. Uh…. Ev-every….”
“Every?”
“Every……”
But now, he couldn't gauge whether he should say it. The White Path were friends with Dante, weren't they? Of course, the Black Path were also friends with Dante…
“…………I want to know Professor Dante’s weakness.”
He managed to speak somehow.
Professor Villemon smiled broadly.
“Get lost.”
BANG!
The door slammed shut.
“…….”
Joaquin bowed his head to the floor.
Damn it. Another frustration like this.
However, he couldn't give up like this.
Joaquin knew.
The moment one gives up, they stop in their tracks and can never move forward.
Humans are beings who live by willpower alone. Even someone who was afraid to leave their room will climb mountains ten thousand meters high if they possess the will.
And he did not want to stop.
So, Joaquin prayed with his head bowed.
Please help me.
I want to assassinate Professor Dante…….
But.
Did that earnest will finally reach the heavens this time…?
A ray of light shone down on Joaquin's head as he lay prostrate.
< A 'Star of Unfathomable Identity (?)' wishes to provide you with one piece of information. >
‘Ah!!!’
The text filled his retinas.
It wasn't [Stigmata], but [Revelation]. A brief attempt at conversation directly from a star.
But he didn't know what kind of star it was.
Who suddenly…?
No, this wasn't the time to be wondering. It said it would provide information.
‘Please tell me Professor Dante's weakness…!’
< Star of Unfathomable Identity (?) : Confirmed information regarding Professor Dante's weakness exists. [As of Imperial Calendar January 1st] >
< Would you like to view it? >
January 1st?
That was almost a month ago.
But it was fine.
‘Yes!!’
Through this process.
Joaquin learned Professor Dante's weakness.
A very shocking weakness.
‘What… Pure physical strength is the weakness…?’
Surprisingly, Dante's combat prowess was pathetic.
In other words, he was weak in a pure fistfight.
It was unbelievable, but it seemed true.
Come to think of it, I had never seen Dante engage in physical combat, and as far as Joaquin knew, he had never displayed physical strength with his fists.
‘…So, all those great achievements he occasionally showed were all [Illusion Magic]?’
Of course, the mysterious star said the information was from ‘a month ago’…
It was only ‘a month.’
How much stronger could a person get in that time?
He considered telling someone but decided against it, judging that such high-level information shouldn't be revealed. For Joaquin, assassination was becoming increasingly sacred, approaching the status of a life's achievement he had to complete.
‘……Professor Dante. You are finished now.’
Joaquin closed his eyes for a moment and imagined.
—Professor Dante, hit by his own fist, kneels.
—Lying on the ground, he exclaims in shock, “How can this be…” “You didn't need my lessons after all…”
—At that moment, Marina appears from somewhere and looks at him with admiration. And she says, ‘Joaquin, I didn’t know you were such a strong man….’, weeping and regretting.
‘Marina. Just wait….’
Joaquin spent almost all his savings, earned by working triple jobs every day for half a year, to purchase ‘equipment.’