Chapter 27
Chapter 27
27
EP10 - Popular Professor (3)
In the end, I rejected the offer last night. What good is 100 million or 1 billion Hica if a war could break out because of me?
So, with tears in my eyes, I had no choice but to say,
"I'm sorry."
However, when I expressed my curiosity about how such a huge amount was possible, Professor Leo explained his position.
"Actually, the amount I was authorized to offer is only 80 million Hica, but I really want to recruit you, even if I have to dip into my own pocket a little. As I mentioned earlier, that bastard Hakon is the one who killed my younger brother about 15 years ago."
In short. Professor Leo seemed to be clinging a little more out of gratitude because I killed the thorn in their side that they couldn't kill for all sorts of reasons. (Of course, I didn't kill him.)
Anyway, I rejected them.
But the White Path didn't seem to have any intention of giving up on me.
"Professor, good morning~"
"Professor, do you like golf or hiking?"
As I walked around the academy, people came up to me from all directions, pretending to be friendly.
"Oh, you're eating. May I join you?"
"Our teaching assistant really wanted to see Professor Dante. Say hello."
"Ah, hello..."
The meals that were always just Adele and me were now filled with White Path professors at one table.
"Would you like to have a drink after the faculty meeting today?"
"Yeah. We know all the famous places here...!"
After the meeting, they sat around trying to build rapport. It wasn't just one or two people doing this; they took turns showing praise and favor toward me.
Of course, I pretended not to notice any of it.
'Professor...! Please smile a little...!'
Adele, unable to watch any longer, hoped that I would show some social reaction, but I betrayed her expectations.
Just like a stone. Like a rusty statue in a flower garden. I had to spend my time with such a dazed look.
Even after the faculty meeting ended, I was trapped in the conference room, trying to figure out how to escape.
Suddenly, someone sneered.
"This is ridiculous."
A snake-like impression. Narrow, slit eyes. One of the Black Path professors who had been in Stealth.
To be precise, it was a middle-aged professor who was their senior.
● Black Path Professor Vaiper
Why did that guy suddenly come out alone?
"Professor Vaiper. Why are you sneering?"
Then Leo, a White Alliance professor who resembled a lion, retorted.
"Isn't that rudeness crossing the line?"
"What is."
"Even if the Black and White Paths are in conflict. You should show respect for at least three days when a fellow professor passes away. What's with you guys flocking around like a pack of dogs without any dignity?"
The expressions of the White Alliance professors hardened.
"Haha. You must be acting sensitively because Hakon was your friend?"
Professor Leo continued with a smile.
"For us, it's a celebration. It's the funeral of the guy who killed my brother? Ah. Instead of being here, I should be setting off fireworks in front of Professor Hakon's portrait."
Then, a murderous aura began to fill Vaiper's eyes.
The situation was strange.
Why did Vaiper come here? He must have clearly seen that I rejected the White Path.
"Watch your mouth. Professor Leo Bardo."
"You should get lost instead of ruining the festive mood."
Vaiper was menacing, but Leo didn't back down either.
A sense of tension filled the air between them.
Then, Vaiper glanced at me.
Soon, his eyes narrowed with a start.
【 Black Path Professor Vaiper: 'This guy. What's with those eyes….' 】
I guess I look fierce. He looks much fiercer to me...
"What are you doing? Professor Vaiper. Get out of here. Or should I kick you out?"
"It seems the Bardo bloodline all have dim eyes. Starting with your brother, who had such dim eyes that he dug into the ground."
"......"
The smile disappeared from Professor Leo's face.
"What the hell did you just say...? Hey. Are you done talking?"
A curse word came out of the mouth of the middle-aged Professor Leo in his 40s.
The atmosphere immediately turned hostile. Just as the White Alliance professors were subtly backing away, Vaiper thought.
【 Black Path Professor Vaiper: 'The atmosphere must be heated up by now.' 】
【 Black Path Professor Vaiper: 'I'm still wondering. Could that guy Dante really have killed Hakon without external help...? I should test him out this time.' 】
Oh no. This situation is taking a turn for the worse.
Vaiper came here to test me.
【 Black Path Professor Vaiper: 'While pretending to hit the lion... Yeah, I should poke those pink eyes.' 】
It was then. Professor Leo threw a mug.
Crash!!
The mug shattered on the wall next to Vaiper's head.
"...Vaiper, you snake-headed bastard. I've never liked you."
The lion kindly threw out bait.
The air dropped sharply.
"Then, one of us has to die today."
Then, the snake quickly bit the bait and approached. Taking out a blue blade from his palm, piercing through his skin. Towards Professor Leo.
【 Black Path Professor Vaiper: 'Now's the chance.' 】
No. Actually, towards me... Damn it.
* * *
Leo Bardo drew his cherished weapon, the Sooah Sword. A viciously shaped dagger. It was a human slaughter weapon made by carving the fangs of a beast spirit.
At the same time, he deeply controlled his breathing.
Hunting Concentration
Blood boiled. The heart beat faster. Nerves accelerated, and the time of the world slowed down.
At the same time, Professor Vaiper also used Mana. Half a dozen poisonous snakes protruded from his clothes, flicking their tongues. At the same time, a mass of purple mist formed and rotated around him.
Poisonous Snake Summon Deadly Poison Cloud
In addition, the Poisonous Fang that came out of his palm was also a threatening weapon.
Vaiper was a Deadly Poison-type assassin. Apart from not liking him, he was an incredibly strong person. It could be fatal if he made a mistake.
Professor Leo thought while taking a breath.
'If I drag it out, I'll be at a disadvantage because of the Poison. Kill him in one shot.'
He built up the tension to the fullest.
One step, just as he was about to take a big step.
"......!"
"......!"
Everyone there froze.
Twelve swords were extending from the floor, walls, and ceiling.
⋮
World Fabrication: Space Fabrication Energy Sword Control
⋮
Swords that moved on their own without sound, murderous intent, or even connected Mana.
The swords were aimed at Vaiper and his summoned snakes.
Wasn't that the ultimate level, an 8-level Combat Type Superpower? Energy Sword Control?
Twelve swords surrounded him, dominating the space. In the frozen air, a man's rough voice flowed out.
"Professor Vaiper."
Everyone's eyes turned to one man. It was Dante Hiacapo. He sat casually with his hands in his pockets, crossing his legs. But the moment his head was raised and he met his pink eyes. Vaiper froze. It was because his body reacted without him even realizing it.
Dante said in a soft, slow voice.
"I'd like you to leave."
Vaiper chuckled inwardly.
"......"
There is a word called 'presence'.
The atmosphere that emanates from a person. Dignity. Feeling. This is something that a being is born with and cannot be obtained through effort.
This is why you can't dare to ignore a warrior who has already been stabbed by a sword and is about to die.
This is why a politician who has obtained excessive power gets the feeling that he is just loud.
Then, what is the presence of an assassin?
This is different from violent aggression.
A great warrior will exude a stronger and more solid presence.
A great magician will exude a presence that has mastered the principles and truths of the world.
However, there is a presence that even those people can't help but be nervous about.
A presence that instills a fundamental sense of fear that the opponent can kill them at any time, whether it is dangerous right now or not.
Murderous intent.
There was an amazing fact.
Professor Dante possessed such murderous intent.
'...No way.'
I thought his expression was hazy compared to his sharp impression.
It was somehow lacking for assassins who were sharply honed and only thought about assassination all day long.
However, Professor Vaiper's thoughts were overturned when he properly exuded murderous intent.
Vaiper couldn't believe his own emotions. Was he being suppressed by presence?
"A third party should stay out of this."
He barely overcame the pressure and uttered a word. In the meantime, he decided to continue pretending to aim for Professor Leo.
However, the conflict in this space was already out of his hands.
As Professor Dante slowly gestured, the swords in the air approached Professor Vaiper a little closer.
"Please listen when I tell you."
Professor Dante's eyes narrowed.
"Leave."
At the same time, one of the Energy Sword Control's long swords came a little closer to his forehead.
Vaiper frowned and revealed his fierce fangs. Was this going to be a bloody battle? Or...
Soon, he closed his eyes and sighed.
"Tsk... Vulgar bugs."
Vaiper turned around and left. He pretended not to lose his composure until the end, but the White Alliance professors realized. That the arrogant Professor Vaiper had just been completely crushed.
'...Hmm.'
Meanwhile, Vaiper was walking out.
He became certain of something in his heart.
'Hakon was definitely assassinated by Dante...'
Vaiper had lived as an assassin for 20 years and as a professor for 10 years, and he realized.
Among the assassins who exuded such presence, there was no one who was inferior to Hakon.
They were all assassins of Grandmaster level or higher. They were all monsters whose mental worlds could not be understood.
For example, like Betelgeuse, a former executive of the Black Blade Society on the continent and the head of the Hiaka branch.
'Hakon, you stupid bastard.'
Anger towards his dead colleague surged.
That idiot was too emotional.
As an assassin, he was easily agitated. He was often swept up in unnecessary anger and caused problems.
'He should have been able to read the situation and know when to attack.'
But Hakon wasn't stupid either. He would have already figured it out before attempting the assassination.
That the opponent was an assassin of such a high caliber, and that he could handle Energy Sword Control at that level.
He must have known that and still attacked.
'...So, he just killed himself for nothing.'
As Vaiper was making that conviction.
The Black Path professors who had been in Stealth in the darkness approached.
And then, even though they were right next to him, they sent a Communication.
< How was it? >
Vaiper sighed.
< Confirmation complete. >
< Professor Dante Hiacapo had sufficient ability to kill Professor Hakon without assistance. >
< Since he rejected the White Path's offer despite that, the attitude we should have towards that professor is... >
* * *
The second floor of the mansion. My room. I was sitting blankly, carving a new modeling of Illusion Magic. It was one of the training sessions I did every night.
< World Fabrication Proficiency: 87.11% (▲0.05%) >
But as I was looking at the Minimap, someone was suddenly getting closer. So, I stopped training and looked outside with tension.
Tap tap.
Surprisingly, it was a crow that knocked on the window. A crow from the Black Path professor's side, summoned with a Summon-Taming Superpower.
Judging from its cute eyes, the breed seemed to be a 'Communication Crow' that was in charge of communication, like a carrier pigeon. The letters written on the necklace were Betelgeuse... It meant that the Black Path branch manager sent it.
What should I do?
Tap tap.
The crow knocked on the window again as I hesitated.
I carefully opened the window.
Then, it fluttered in and said its purpose.
"200 million."
I'm going crazy.
EP10
Popular Professor
END