Chapter 26
Chapter 26
26
EP10 - Popular Professor (2)
“I don’t know anything about it.”
It was the 17th time I’d said that in the Discipline Department.
I really didn’t know, so I said it.
“That’s right. There’s no way Professor Dante would know where Professor Hakon is!”
“How could the professor know about assassination tools that haven’t even been released yet?”
“The body’s location probably isn’t even in this world. Haha.”
The Discipline Department vigilantes were all convinced I did it, but they still passed the investigation on due to insufficient evidence.
“No, I really don’t know.”
“Yes, yes, of course. Why would we doubt you?”
“We don’t know either! Hehe!”
“……”
This is absurd…
I came out of the Discipline Management Bureau dumbfounded. Adele was carrying a huge bouquet of flowers and letters.
“What’s that?”
“Ah, Professor. Look at this.”
What letters?
“The White Path Association of the department left these gifts. They said they’d like to meet you separately!”
“……”
That was absurd.
Sure enough, two White Path professors were waving at me from afar, starting to approach.
“Ah, Professor! You’re acquainted, right?”
“Are you alright? I’m sorry. We should have properly greeted you during the Elise incident last time…”
I was flustered.
“What’s going on?”
“Ah, it’s nothing much. We’ll be escorting you while you’re in the department for the next few days.”
I think I understood.
Since the Black Path might send assassins, the White Path would protect me.
…Or so they claimed, while secretly trying to put me in their debt.
“It’s fine. What could happen in broad daylight?”
“Oh, it’s alright! We should have greeted you sooner!”
“Just think of us as bodyguards. We’re research professors, so we don’t have any classes!”
I left the Assassin Hall with Adele for now.
The professors really did follow us like bodyguards until we got into the car.
‘I didn’t kill him, though.’
My guess was that someone else killed him.
The Assassination Studies department is a place obsessed with grudges, where everyone is each other’s enemy.
So, after looking into it, Hakon had quite a few bad relationships here and there.
‘I don’t know either…’
Until then, I just let it be.
Hakon’s death.
For me, it was nothing more or less than the disappearance of a threat.
But a few minutes later, the situation flipped completely.
【 Black Path Professor Venom: <Let’s go to 32nd Street.> 】
【 Black Path Professor Curten: <Confirmed.> 】
【 Black Path Professor Vaiper: <Confirmed.> 】
As I was leaving the Discipline Department, the names of the Black Path professors popped up on the 【Script】 in a row, and they were all seen running somewhere on the [Minimap].
Feeling uneasy, I followed them just in case, and an unpleasant sight unfolded.
“Haa…. Keuk….”
A White Path Association professor, covered in blood against a wall, was gasping for breath, pierced by a sword.
“Professor. Are you alright?”
“Ugh……. Ah, aren’t you Professor Dante…?”
“The wound is severe. A Potion?”
“I drank it, I drank it….”
The White Path Association professor ‘Hilan’ waved his hand with a smile.
“I’m fine. I’m fine…. I reported it, and the medical team is coming now…. It’s not a fatal wound.”
He was saying such things while bleeding from the mouth.
“I’ll pour some Potion on you.”
He seemed unable to move, probably due to [Poison].
I started pouring the half-remaining Elixir on his wound.
But it really wasn’t a fatal wound. It would have been impossible to speak like that if his lungs had been properly pierced.
In other words, he was stabbed exquisitely in the abdomen.
On purpose.
So he wouldn’t die.
‘…Is this a warning?’
The one who stabbed the White Path Association professor was probably one of the Black Blade Society professors from earlier.
【 White Path Professor Hilan: ‘Ah…. Damn it…. Why did Professor Dante have to come and find me first…?’ 】
【 White Path Professor Hilan: ‘I shouldn’t give this person a bad impression….’ 】
I found his thoughts strange, but he smiled awkwardly and said.
“Thank you. Professor Dante. I feel much better. And I’m really fine right now….”
“If this is fine, then corpses can be hospitalized and come back to life. Please keep your mouth shut, Professor.”
“No…. I’m really fine. Really…. But I’m a professor, and it’s a little embarrassing to be like this in front of a respected professor…. If it’s okay, could you leave me alone…?”
Even in this situation, he was trying to look good to me.
What respect.
We’ve never even met before.
Meanwhile, I wondered, why was this professor trying to look good to me, whom he was meeting for the first time?
It wasn’t hard to guess.
‘Orders must have been given.’
It seemed that it wasn’t just one or two people who came to seduce me earlier, but orders had probably been issued to the entire branch.
To bring Professor Dante to the White Path.
Well, it was natural since I was being mistaken for easily killing a Black Path monster like Hakon.
As I watched over the White Path professor, the medical team soon rushed over and transported him to the hospital.
“Medical team! We’ll take you to the hospital right away!”
“Ah, thank you…. Hoo….”
I hesitated for a moment and said.
“I’ll ride along too.”
“Ah, I understand.”
In fact, Professor Hilan was someone I was meeting for the first time, but I felt sorry for him. I didn’t kill Hakon, but he was in this state because the rumor was that I did.
So, I got in the car to protect him.
On the other hand, I was puzzled by the Black Path’s attitude.
If they were unhappy that I killed Hakon, wouldn’t they come to kill me?
But they left me alone and attacked the White Path Association professor as a warning.
Why?
* * *
I had a bad feeling. I was reminded of a very dangerous Bad Ending event.
"Bad Ending: Hiaka Assassination War"
Assassination War refers to a collective war between assassins.
And the "Hiaka Assassination War" was the worst event that sometimes occurred when the aggro management of the Black and White factions was done terribly.
An emotional assassination situation that occurs because of deep-rooted conflicts. About two hundred professors from the Black and White Paths completely split and kill each other, destroying the academy.
Every time that incident broke out in [Hard Difficulty], which only supports automatic saves, I tore my hair out because [GAME OVER] popped up if the academy collapsed.
And perhaps, I might be facing that 「Assassination War」 right now.
Professor Hilan, wrapped in bandages and asleep. I was sitting in the nurse’s seat next to him, thinking about this and that.
“Thank you. Professor Dante.”
Some professors from the White Path came to visit.
“I heard you took care of the fallen Hilan and applied a Potion. Thanks to you, the injury isn’t as severe as we feared.”
I didn’t exactly reduce the injury, and the assassination itself was originally done in a way that wouldn’t cause major injuries, but there seemed to be no need to correct the facts.
“Then, I’ll be going.”
“Wait a moment. Could you spare me a little time?”
It was a man who resembled a lion. The professor, who introduced himself as Leo Bardo, a senior professor of Assassination Defense Studies at the White Path Association, called me to the hallway and carefully brought up the topic.
“This isn’t the time to bring this up, but I’d like to make a suggestion.”
“A suggestion, you say.”
“That’s right. It’s a recruitment offer.”
I narrowed my eyes.
I thought, here it comes.
“This assassination of Professor Hakon… Our White Path Association is very impressed. That man was a monster who killed many White Path assassins, starting with my younger brother.”
“……”
“Therefore, there are strong voices within. They say it would be good to bring Professor Dante into the White Path Association.”
Professor Leo gave a friendly smile.
“We offer 50 million Hica for 4 years as a recruitment fee.”
It was truly an unprecedented amount.
Wasn’t the assassination fee I received for catching proxy assassins about 500,000 Hica?
But 50 million Hica for 4 years was an enormous sum to offer just as a recruitment fee.
【 White Path Professor Leo: ‘How about it? Surprising, isn’t it, Professor Dante? This is the 3rd highest recruitment offer amount in history.’ 】
Indeed, it was surprising.
“That’s not all. You know that there are quite a few opportunities that come through us, such as research and assassination requests. We will prioritize you above all others in front of all those opportunities.”
Sweetness is added to sweetness.
Of course, it’s not free money. From the moment you join the association, you must fulfill your duties as a member.
But with an advance payment of 50 million Hica, those duties are worth bearing. I could greatly increase my overall combat power right away.
“Will you join us?”
But, I can’t accept the offer.
That’s why I remained silent.
“Would you like some time to think about it?”
“……”
Even so, I didn’t answer and just sat there for a moment.
It was night, and all the staff had left work, so Professor Leo and I were the only ones talking in the hospital’s reception area.
I know how many people are in this space right now. Exactly 21 people.
【 White Path Professor Eugene: ‘…….’ 】
【 White Path Professor Londran: ‘…….’ 】
【 White Path Professor Hodrigu: ‘…….’ 】
White Path professors [Stealthed] near one wall and the ceiling.
【 Black Path Professor Vaiper: ‘…….’ 】
【 Black Path Professor Venom: ‘…….’ 】
【 Black Path Professor Curten: ‘…….’ 】
Black Path professors on the outer walls and ceilings of the building far away outside the window, and on the 2nd floor hallway.
The funny thing is, these guys are all masters at hiding, but they need equipment or resources to find each other (detection is difficult while stealthed), so they don’t know each other’s existence even though they’re hiding in the same place.
Only I know.
How absurd the situation is here right now.
【 Black Path Professor Ludenbach: <We’ve arrived too, Professor.> 】
Now there are 25 people.
【 Black Path Professor Vaiper: <Hide well after arriving.> 】
【 Black Path Professor Ludenbach: <Why did you tell me to come?> 】
【 Black Path Professor Vaiper: <Ah, it seems the news was late. I’ll broadcast it again.> 】
【 Black Path Professor Vaiper: <We currently presume that Professor Dante killed Hakon with the help of the White Path. This means it wasn’t just a solo assassination. Therefore, we will confirm Professor Dante’s affiliation, and proceed to the next step as soon as it is confirmed.> 】
Then another professor asked.
【 Black Path Professor Venom: <This conversation doesn’t seem like a conversation with an ally.> 】
【 Black Path Professor Vaiper: <How can we believe what we see? The White Path side will know that we’re watching, so they might be trying to cut off the tail. The important thing is the result. Whether Professor Dante is affiliated with the White Path or not, that’s all we need to watch.> 】
As I expected.
50 million Hica was a poisoned chalice. A story route that goes beyond killing me and destroys the Assassination Studies department.
The next step is probably the path to the 「Assassination War」.
Even though there was a slight leap in logic, I accepted it because Hakon was such an outstanding professor, and the atmosphere in the 0th District has been chaotic lately…
‘…No.’
No.
‘This is a situation forcibly created to kill me.’
If it was so easy to light the fuse, anyone could have done it.
The fact that it’s been quiet until now and suddenly erupting now.
My existence is the reason.
I think this is the malice of [Hell Difficulty].
As I thought that far, Professor Leo asked me again.
“Professor? Do you need time to think about it? If so…”
“It’s alright. My answer is already decided.”
【 White Path Professor Eugene: ‘…….’ 】
【 Black Path Professor Vaiper: ‘…….’ 】
At that moment, both sides focused on my words.
“I’m sorry, but I refuse.”
At the same time, the joy and sorrow of the observers were mixed.
“Ah……. May I ask why?”
“My natural personality doesn’t really like belonging to a group.”
I dismissed it with a short sentence.
What can they do if I say it’s a personality issue?
Then the White Path was all disappointed, and the Black Path’s thoughts were divided in half.
Half thought, ‘I didn’t want to fight, so that’s good.’ and the other half thought, ‘That’s a shame.’
Until Leo’s next words came out.
“If the amount is the problem, I’ll offer 65 million.”
Huh.
What is this.
Does my value jump so easily?
“No. It’s not a matter of the amount. I know that 65 million is an enormous sum, but this is a matter of preference.”
Professor Leo smiled.
“You know how to negotiate? Then I’ll offer 80 million. This is the last offer.”
Thump. My heart dropped.
80 million?
At this point, reality began to fade slightly. 50 million was already absurdly large, but 80 million?
I wasn’t the only one surprised by this amount.
【 Black Path Professor Vaiper: ‘Hmph! 80 million would be the highest recruitment offer amount in the White Path.’ 】
The Black Path’s senior professor Vaiper was also surprised.
【 Black Path Professor Ludenbach: ‘……Should I go to the White Path too?’ 】
There was even a Black Path professor who was thinking such a thing.
But I know. The road to hell is paved with good intentions.
No matter how big the amount is. No matter how many opportunities there are. It’s like a drug, a trap that has opened its mouth to kill me.
The moment I accept the offer, a catastrophe will surely begin.
“I’m sorry. Professor Leo. I―”
“100 million.”
At that moment, everyone was shocked.