Chapter 5
Chapter 5
Episode 5
--
EP3 - Hidden Dragon Society (1)
Professor Dante Hiacapo exited.
Silence descended upon the scolded lecture hall.
No one had imagined that the new professor would leave without even holding his first class on his first day.
“······.”
“······.”
Incompetent professors try to be liked by the Students.
Because they want to become close to the Students, build good relationships, and avoid assassination.
Did they come here with a sense of duty to nurture Students as professors?
No.
The goal of everyone who comes to Assassination Studies is money.
The huge sum paid for surviving four years, and the money paid for research grants. Most came here for that.
Therefore, most of the new professors in Assassination Studies try not to make enemies of the Students.
They smile.
They are kind.
Some even act obsequiously towards the Students.
But Dante was different.
‘Crazy······. We just got scolded…….’
Dominic, the fat Student of the Forte trio, adjusted his glasses.
There had been more assassination attempts compared to other professors.
Usually, they don't come on so strong from the first day of their appointment.
But even considering that, 'scolding for insincere assassination' was something other professors couldn't imagine.
‘That professor is serious about assassination······.’
That was the only way to see it.
The reason why sincere assassination is needed.
Is because he regards 'assassination' as sublime.
And he was angry because the Students failed to meet that standard of sublimity.
‘Come to think of it, we really were taking assassination lightly.’
The other Students also felt dazed.
Are we taking assassination too easily now?
But then.
“Idiot.”
Forte, with his brown hair, sneered. It was a word directed at Joaquin, who had been trembling since the professor left.
Joaquin turned his head.
“······What did you say just now?”
“I didn’t say anything.”
“······Shut your mouth. I can kill all three of you for real.”
Joaquin looked at the throwing star in his hand.
He had lived since he was five years old, learning Stealth and throwing star techniques from his assassin father.
Now, he was confident that he could hit a fly's wing at 8m. That was the distance between him and the professor.
Usually, there would be accessories to avoid or protect.
‘He deflected the side of the throwing star by hitting it with the back of his hand. Without even looking.’
“Damn······.”
Just how high was Professor Dante's level?
In the end, the words he said while scolding were still shocking.
‘The Student should withdraw from the course.’
It was humiliating.
Words that made his pride hurt and his eyes roll.
“······Why do I have to listen to such nonsense?”
Joaquin jumped up.
“Fine. I quit.”
Then he turned around.
“But, I’ll kill this bastard!!”
Thwack!
A foot flew in and kicked Forte in the face.
“Ugh! You son of a bitch!”
Crash! Forte, who had tumbled with the desk and chair, pulled out a pistol.
Just as the fight was about to turn into a mess.
“Stop it.”
Assistant Adele came in and calmed the fight.
“If you cause a disturbance, I will give both of you demerits.”
Joaquin, who had been growling, turned around.
Especially in Forte's case, he had already received one demerit that morning. Two more and he would be expelled.
“···Um, Assistant. But are we really not having class today?”
“Yes. It seems the professor won't be teaching. But I will acknowledge your attendance instead.”
“Okay···.”
“Students, please either try to understand the new professor's style, or apply for course withdrawal. And from the next class onwards, please be a little more careful with your assassinations. Frankly, even I thought your assassinations were too much like a joke. That's all~”
Only then did the Students relax and get up.
Meanwhile, Elise of the Hidden Dragon Society, who had been blankly staring at the door the professor had left through from a corner seat, sent a message to someone through the crystal ball on her wrist.
── Hidden Dragon Society Group Message [7 people] ──
- Elise: Hey guys
- Elise: The new professor
- Elise: Awesome
───
* * *
I locked myself in the faculty restroom.
Then I grabbed my pounding heart.
‘I almost died···.’
I almost died several times.
I was lucky to survive.
There was even a crazy bastard who tried to assassinate me twice in the middle of all this.
If I live like this for just a few days, I'll have a nervous breakdown.
‘Why is it so dangerous?’
Even if it's [Hard Difficulty], the first crisis is in the second week.
Of course, that's for Students, and this is [Hell Difficulty] for professors, but even considering that, four professor assassinations from the morning is too much.
‘Let's just be satisfied with surviving today for now.’
Thanks to that, I got 1,000 Star Fragments.
But it hasn't been paid out yet.
‘I have to go home······.’
That's because the quest name is [First Day of Appointment].
I have to go home for the first day of appointment to end and the reward to be given.
Fortunately, there is only one class today.
‘Let's go home quickly. Home······.’
So I sent a message to Assistant Adele through the crystal ball.
- Dante: Where are you?
- Adele: Ah, just a moment. I'll submit the documents you entrusted to me and return.
Let's go out.
First, I'll stop by the research lab and write the class log······.
But from the other side of the hallway, a female Student with a delinquent impression started approaching me head-on.
Gray hair and yellow eyes. Heavy makeup and colorful tattoos visible everywhere on her body. A short skirt and a Student uniform reduced to the point of bursting.
And even playful buck teeth.
She brought two other Students behind her. When she found me, the female Student approached alone.
Soon, her pace quickened. It didn't feel good.
● Gray, 1st year of Hidden Dragon Society
She was a Student of the Hidden Dragon Society.
An elite first-rank Student given to only seven people among the first-year Assassination Studies Students.
Also, the children I need to be most wary of in [Hell Difficulty].
As she walked, she put her hand somewhere on her back.
＊ Dagger of Swiftness [Rare]
My heart sank as the status window popped up.
Wasn't this a situation where a strange person was holding a knife?
And even with a [Rare] grade, incredibly dangerous knife.
I hurriedly checked the script.
【 Gray, 1st year of Hidden Dragon Society: ‘Shall we check the rumors?’ 】
Rumors? No, what kind of rumors have already spread···.
But there's nothing I can do here.
There's no way to stop her even if I try.
I can't run away either.
Finally, the Student came right up to me.
Her long-lashed, heavily made-up eyes narrowed.
── .
The next moment, something passed by.
What was that.
Could it be······.
【 Gray, 1st year of Hidden Dragon Society: ‘Wow. This professor doesn't even blink?’ 】
Then a strand of my bangs fell off.
I realized belatedly. She had swung a knife. Just now.
Right in front of my eyes.
【 Gray used Swift Slash. 】
As expected. The ability details appeared in the script.
······My heart dropped to my pelvis.
“Wow, Professor, you’re pretty good.”
“······.”
“Your sense of distance is great? I aimed for your hair at this close range. How did you know it wouldn't touch?”
Calm compliments popped out.
What the hell are you talking about? I didn't even know it was coming.
I couldn't see the ability's pre-delay, casting motion, swing motion, or post-delay. Gray was still standing there, but my hair was cut.
Rather, it seemed like I had fooled Gray thanks to that.
“······.”
The Students behind her were also saying, ‘Wow···.’
My heart was pounding. I felt like my lifespan was being shaved off in real time.
First, I recalled the name I had looked up in the research lab in advance.
“Gray Habanero.”
Among the monster assassins in this [Hell Difficulty], she was a genius counted on one hand.
“Huh? You know me?”
“······It shouldn't be class time right now.”
Gray smiled faintly and lowered her head.
“Hello. I'm Gray Habanero of the first-year Hidden Dragon Society. I'm taking other lectures, but I heard rumors about you today, Professor.”
“······.”
“Rumors are circulating within the Hidden Dragon Society. They say that the professors here are usually all low-level, but the new professor seems a bit different? If it's okay, would you spare some time? I have a proposal I'd like to make regarding the Hidden Dragon Society.”
The buck teeth in her red lips playfully protruded.
She licked her lower lip with her tongue, as if a cat was lapping.
“What proposal.”
“I'll tell you if you come with me. Let's go.”
Then she suddenly came over and grabbed my hand.
I was a little surprised. Why so suddenly?
First, I pulled my hand away.
“······?”
Gray looked back, smiling.
I'm going crazy. I have to go home. Where is she trying to take me and what is she going to do?
Logically, it's something I shouldn't refuse. Since the game's setting is a place where Students kill professors, the 'Hidden Dragon Society,' the strongest group of Students, must be one of the main stories.
But······. I know what's most important to me.
I'm nothing special right now and I'm scared inside.
But I shouldn't become a professor who listens to a child who orders me around without prior notice or courtesy, just because I believe in one superior ability.
If I'm swayed, I'll definitely be assassinated in the future.
So, the most important thing for me at this point is just one thing.
“I refuse.”
Authority.
“···Huh?”
“If you have a request, please formally submit an interview request through Assistant Adele in the research lab.”
Then Gray's subtle smile slowly faded.
One eye narrowed as if she didn't understand.
“······Why? Could it be because I was trying to test you just now, Professor?”
“It has nothing to do with that.”
“I'll apologize if I made you feel bad. But can't you come with me anyway? I'm saying let's have a nice business talk with each other.”
“You make me repeat the same words.”
“······.”
Thoughts appeared in the script.
【 Gray, 1st year of Hidden Dragon Society: ‘What···? Why is he refusing?’ 】
【 Gray, 1st year of Hidden Dragon Society: ‘I don't quite understand. This professor···.’ 】
Gray swept her bangs back with her tattooed hand. With a slightly hardened expression.
“······Okay. Do as you please.”
She turned around.
“Wait.”
I refused, so now it was time to do what I had to do.
Gray, who didn't know my heart, regained her composure with a 'I knew it' look.
“Ung?”
Her fair brow furrowed at my next words.
“A penalty is given to a child who violates the school rules.”
“······Pardon?”
“You attempted assassination when it was not class time. Then, you must be punished.”
The relaxed look disappeared from Gray's eyes, leaving only a bewildered emotion. As if asking why I was telling her that.
But I don't make exceptions.
“You will be given 0.5 demerit points.”
I held out my palm.
“I will confiscate the dagger.”