Chapter 17
Chapter 17
17th Episode
EP7 - Bonehead!(4)
The rumor that Elise and Marina's gang had a bloody fight
spread like wildfire among the Students.
"Oh, really?"
The Students were always interested in the power dynamics between the Moon Shadow Scholar and the Hidden Dragon Society.
They were also curious about the level of the Hidden Dragon Society's genius.
"Who won?"
"Elise had her leg smashed and was bleeding from the nose."
"Ah, so 3:1 is impossible after all?"
"No, Marina's kids had their arms and legs cut off... My friend saw them in the infirmary, getting stitches."
"Crazy."
"They lost even though it was 3:1 with Totems? So being a genius is different after all..."
Then, at some point, the next question arose.
"But how did Marina survive?"
There was only the story of the fight.
Just as they were wondering about the story afterwards,
one Student said.
"The new professor stopped them, I heard?"
"Who?"
His name was, Dan, something. Dan….
Ah.
"Professor Dante!"
"Who's that?"
"You know, the professor who skipped class on his first day of work last time."
"Ah!"
That crazy guy?
*
Slap!
Marina's cheek turns.
Vaiper, a senior professor of the Black Path, slapped her.
"Are you really crazy?"
"……."
Marina closed her mouth with her head bowed.
She was being scolded by the professors of the Black Path in turn.
The reason was simple. Conflict with the White Path could lead to a hellish situation the moment it erupted.
It was a very small probability, but there was a precedent.
"Marina. Raise your head."
"……."
"Not only did you do something unnecessary... If you were going to do it, you should have killed them and come back, but you lost. Huh?"
If she had actually killed them, it would have been a disaster.
But that doesn't mean that the fact that she lost is okay.
The White Path must be laughing right now.
Because they won anyway.
"If that new professor hadn't controlled the situation, you would have died. And we wouldn't have had such an embarrassment."
"……."
Vaiper was sincerely grateful to the unknown new professor.
That person prevented the worst-case scenario.
That doesn't mean he's going to go and thank him in this atmosphere, but anyway.
An unexpected natural disaster.
Stopped by the hand of an unexpected person.
"Curten! Aren't you coming quickly!?"
Around that time, the Moon Shadow Scholar's supervising professor, who had been on vacation for the first time in a while, urgently returned. Vaiper burst into anger.
"Hey, Professor Curten! How are you managing your kids? Huh!?"
"...I'm sorry, Professor Vaiper."
After the scuffle, Vaiper left.
Senior Professor Curten approached Marina.
"Marina. You finally did it. I told you to kill your inferiority complex from the beginning of the semester."
"……."
"Were you waiting for me to leave?"
"...No, I wasn't."
"No, you weren't. Shit. Do you know that I was playing with my boyfriend on the other side of the continent until 3 hours ago?"
"……."
Professor Curten loosened his belt.
Then he pulled it out and grabbed it like a whip.
"The professors don't hate you. But I think you need to be hit a little. That way, you won't do this kind of sudden outburst in the future, right?"
"……."
After that, eerie sounds and shallow groans continued.
It was a common sight in the Black Path.
*
In the midst of this, the Students began to wonder.
They became curious about how strong the new professor Dante was.
"I heard the 『Dark Barrier』 blocked it so they couldn't see?"
But no one knew how he stopped the fight.
Even the professors who saw the situation.
Then one Student smirked.
"But, Professor Dante might not be that strong?"
"Huh? Why?"
"You know my dad is in the Systematic Society⧉."
"Your dad? Professor Villemon?"
Systematic Society⧉.
An organization of the White Path that worships 「Systematicity⧉」, the most knowledgeable group among all forces.
"That's right. I secretly looked it up without my dad knowing, but there's no assassination record for that professor? No Assassination Squad activity record either."
"Hmm. Maybe he was active in some secret White Path Assassination Squad?"
"No. Then they usually create fabricated records."
"Ah, that's right."
"But that professor's assassination record and academic degree were completely empty. He didn't belong to any Assassination Squad."
The Student stroked his chin.
So that's what it meant to be a professor with no past?
"But, can such a person be strong...?"
* * *
This news naturally reached the Hidden Dragon Hall.
When they went to visit Elise, she was more okay than they thought. They had a strong sense of being Hidden Dragon Society, rather than being bound by the Black Path and White Path, so there was no particular conflict.
However, the question of whether Dante was strong or not was interesting. Everyone remembered his arrogant attitude openly displayed in the Hidden Dragon Hall.
And so, now.
"Does Professor Dante still refuse to spar?"
Hidden Dragon Hall, 1st floor. Men's sauna.
Balmung nodded at the question of the white-haired blabbermouth 'Quan'.
"Yeah."
The towel-rolled sheep's head wobbled.
"Hehe…. Could it be that he's scared?"
"Scared?"
"Isn't that right? There are rumors these days that Professor Dante is weak."
"……That's wrong, Quan. It's true that he's strong. There's no room for doubt."
"Well? If it were me, like this―"
Crackle-!
A part of the sauna room's wooden wall changed, becoming a spear and placed in front of Balmung's Adam's apple. A high-level Superpower of [Alchemy].
"―Like this, I'd roughly chase away the guy who keeps bothering me with sparring requests."
Quan stopped smiling like a total weeb, 'Hehet….'
Because Balmung was serious.
'Quan-chacha!'
This guy, he's stubborn and hates this kind of thing, right??
"Get rid of it."
An annoyed voice.
"Yes, yes…. Sorry…."
"Professor Dante is strong. There's no need to say the obvious twice.
Then someone laughed next to him.
"Do you have any basis? That Professor Dante is strong?"
It was Kendrake.
Balmung frowned.
"I don't have a basis, but I'm sure of it."
"How can you be sure without a basis? Are you an idiot?"
"...I have a feeling."
An assassin must hide 30% of their ability. So there's a fact that he doesn't reveal.
Balmung remembers Dante's 'smell'.
That unique smell that only comes from someone who has reached an overwhelming level.
'It wasn't there on the first day, but it was definitely there last time.'
Balmung grew up among the strong of the Cartel from the time he took his first steps. He had been to dozens of Assassination Squads and met countless strong people.
Among them, the only warrior who had the same smell as Dante was his mother. Nibelung, the Dark Star Constellation⚉ Great Mother, one of the strongest people on the entire continent.
He doesn't think Dante is at a similar level to his mother. Constellations are national strategic weapons. Nevertheless, he would be more overwhelming than ordinary professors.
In fact, it was because Dante had invested all of his Star Fragment in [Illusion Magic]……. Balmung couldn't know that.
"Tsk. A feeling, he says."
Kendrake sneered.
"I asked that professor to fight a few times before. He just ran away."
"Is that true?"
"Hey. Would I lie about something like this? Professor Dante is a bubble."
"Hmm…. Still, a bubble is…."
"It's a bubble. Everyone's being fooled, but he's actually weak."
Balmung frowned.
He doesn't like Professor Dante that much.
But, even so, when a professor he liked was being unreasonably disparaged, he started to feel a little bad.
"Don't talk nonsense, Kendrake."
Kendrake also frowned.
"...What, you bastard?"
"He probably avoided you because you're disgusting to deal with."
"Then what about you? Did he avoid you because you're disgusting to deal with too?"
"...I don't know about that. But he's a busy person."
"Hmph, look at this coward. Look at him being scared in advance."
Balmung thought that guy was scared instead. Isn't that how he ended up gritting his teeth and vehemently claiming that he was weak every time Professor Dante's story came up?
"You guys are stupid, so you're being fooled by that, but I'm different. Professor Dante is nothing special, he's just putting on a show."
"Hmm……. Still, isn't it amazing that he saw through Elise's [Stealth]?"
"Then I guess she's a bubble too. Isn't it possible that the great Shadowless Star○ actually died because his [Stealth] was exposed?"
He was starting to get annoyed listening.
Balmung stood up first.
Then he spat out a word.
"Kendrake. Be careful with your words from now on."
"What?"
"Choose your words carefully. Unless you want a hole in your head."
"……."
A sneer appeared on the giant's face.
A sudden fight.
Quan was startled and started to tremble.
"...Heh, this little bastard, where did you…."
They were both from the Black Path, but they were originally in conflict.
Because they were from Cartels with similar backgrounds.
"...Get out. Quickly. Before I kill you."
"I was going to leave anyway. You blockhead."
What a pathetic bastard…. Balmung muttered.
As he left the sauna, he became curious.
Professor Dante is definitely strong. But how strong is he?
'I need to check.'
Balmung decided to go to Marina and ask how Professor Dante stopped the fight.
Until he was caught by Rebecca.
"Balmung."
"Yes, Princess."
"It's a mission. Let's go."
"I'll prepare."
He grabbed his sniper rifle.
I'll have to ask after I get back.
* * *
"Hello. Professor."
Someone from the Academy's police, the 'Discipline Department', came to visit. Then he bowed several times, thanking me.
"It's all thanks to you, Professor, that none of the four people involved died or were injured... But if anyone had died, ugh. It's terrible."
In the battles of martial artists, whether they died or not is important.
Treatment technology is good, so there are usually no lasting disabilities, but it is difficult to revive the dead.
Presumably, the White Path and the Black Path seemed to have agreed to avoid saying unpleasant things to each other.
"But, Professor. Is that true?"
"What is."
"Marina's friend Bianca said that Professor Dante was an incredibly strong person……."
The Discipline Department worker's eyes lit up.
Even if he didn't go to class, the Students' 【Scripts】 were full of that story.
"Everyone's curious about what happened inside the 『Black Barrier』. But the people involved are avoiding mentioning Professor Dante, so curiosity is growing."
Why are those guys avoiding mentioning me?
I thought about it carefully and realized.
'It's because of their value.'
The three delinquent girls all mainly dealt with the [Totem System], one of the 12 Superpower systems.
But I used [Illusion Magic] to twist and neutralize it.
Within the realm of [Totem].
The situation where the [Totem]'s ability was futilely neutralized. And that too, by a mere new professor.
If this becomes known, all three of them will suffer a huge blow to their value as assassins. It would be embarrassing.
"Please understand that the battles of assassins are kept secret."
"Ah, yes. I'm sorry."
I sent off the Discipline Department member who was so disappointed.
Now it was time to meet Elise.
According to the doctor, Elise's own magic control was clumsy, causing damage to various organs. But there were no serious injuries.
I headed to the infirmary.
As I entered the private room, Elise smiled and waved her hand.
"Professor!"
As if she hadn't been a crazy person who flew people's arms and legs off, she had such a bright expression.
"Are you okay?"
"I'm in pain."
Then she shows her white legs wrapped in bandages. Her expression is still bright.
I checked her 【Script】 just in case, but Elise hardly had any 【Thoughts】 in the first place.
"Eat this. I bought it on the way to visit."
"Wow, what is it?"
The get-well gift was a strawberry shortcake. For some reason, maybe because her hair color is pink, I thought of that for no reason.
"Thank you, Professor. I should be buying you something to thank you…."
"It's okay."
"But I don't really like strawberry cake."
"What?"
"Hehe. I'm sorry. But I like blueberries more than strawberries!"
A minute later, Elise was shoving the cake into her mouth. She was eating it so voraciously that I wondered if she was even chewing, and when she ate the strawberries, her expression was filled with joy. She said, 'Eung….' I felt like she was really enjoying it, as I had felt when I saw her in the Student cafeteria before.
I was always told that I looked like I had already eaten when I ate, so it was amazing.
"You said you didn't like it."
"Did I?"
"You did."
"Hmm. Why did I say that…? It's delicious. Would you like some too, Professor?"
I looked at the horribly ruined cake and shook my head.
"I'm glad you weren't seriously hurt."
"Maoo."
"...You can answer after you swallow. Anyway, I hope you recover well. You can contact me if you need my help."
And so, as I was about to get up.
After a gulping sound.
Elise hurriedly opened her mouth.
"...Ah, that."
I looked back.
Her face with less laughter.
"Thank you…."
"I said it's okay."
"No. That, earlier…. I got scolded a lot. The Discipline Department told me I was almost expelled."
"That's right. If you're an assassin, you should have killed them where people can't see."
"Yes…?"
"Why."
Elise blinked her eyes.
"Murder is bad, Professor."
That's right.
But you're telling me that…?
I was about to get a little angry.
"But. Um…."
After some hesitation.
Elise carefully asked.
"Why…. Did you help me…?"
Why is that? A small echo resonates in the hospital room.
"What kind of question is that."
"…?
"What reason would there be for helping."
"Um. But, the other White Path professors asked me. Why Professor Dante helped me. But I don't know either…."
I thought for a moment. Leaving aside Elise's intentions, it was a question that contained a lot for me to hear.
He's not even from the White Path. The other neutral professors are all standing by. There was a risk factor. Even so, what was the reason for helping?
Of course, it's to increase the [Relationship Stat].
I still think so and came here. Even buying the most expensive cake. To get Star Fragment.
"Well."
But I can't say that base intention. It would be good to package it plausibly.
Because you're a Student taking my class….
Because that's a professor's duty…. Something like that.
Even though such hypocrisy was prepared, for some reason, the language rolled around on my tongue.
I also became curious.
Why did I step in?
The situation only turned out the way it did because there was no crisis. Looking back, it was threatening enough. I knew that even at the time. Yet I stepped in.
Because of simple annoyance? No.
Then a thought suddenly occurred to me. Perhaps this [Relationship Stat] system added in the [DLC] might be slightly different from the [Affection] that we know….
Relationships aren't something you build alone.
After such reasoning, my thoughts reach a point.
"...You have to help each other."
"Yes?"
Elise tilted her head, but I was starting to become more and more certain inside.
Having silly conversations.
Making boneheads.
Watching her like it.
The moment Elise's [Relationship Stat] towards me rose by 5.
That, perhaps, my [Relationship Stat] towards Elise also rose by 5.
"You have to help each other. Between people without fathers."
A faint smile was added as I spoke.
Because it was absurd.
"……."
Perhaps because she didn't understand it all at once, her mouth was closed.
Then, very slowly―
Elise's eyes widen.
"Ah."
As if reminiscing about the conversation a few days ago.
And so, her focus drifted away.
"Ah, that's right."
A cotton candy-like voice flowed out blankly.
The corners of her mouth, smeared with whipped cream, began to curve like a bow.
"...That's right, we're…. Fatherless…."
It was slightly different from her usual smiling expression.
An unknown satisfaction was contained within it.
"……."
Then Elise said brightly.
"Ah, then."
"Uh."
"We should make a fatherless club or something."
"Uh?"
"Let's call Balmung and Gray too. And Kendrake, who has a father but it's like he doesn't…."
"……."
I think she's a little out of her mind sometimes.
Still, it wasn't bad.
┃ Relationship Stat increased: Elise [20] (▲15)
┃ Reward: Star Fragment × 15
This too.