The Professor I Chose (4)
Kirrin quietly opened her eyes to a warm sensation.
The first thing she saw was an unfamiliar ceiling and a woman gazing down at her with a completely blank expression. What...?
"Move your eyes for me."
Maya, the holy priestess dispatched from the Church, said this in a flat tone while gently touching Kirrin's body with her golden hand.
Kirrin stared blankly at the girl for a moment, then suddenly recalled the holy priestess from the academy infirmary that Dian had brought. Ah, right. This girl is the priestess of our academy's infirmary.
Then where am I? Why am I here? I clearly went to see off Duke Toulouse... and after that...
"Move your eyes for me."
"Ah, yes..."
Kirrin rolled her eyes around, trying to recall the broken memories while memorizing the infirmary's scenery. But she failed.
"Um, Priestess. Why am I here...?"
"You fainted from excessive tension. Chief Professor Dian brought you here."
"Chief Professor Dian...? Where is he now...?"
"There are no special abnormalities in your body. Then, rest."
Before Maya could finish her sentence, the priestess stood up after saying what she needed to. Unlike her cute appearance, her personality was incredibly blunt. Unlike her cold demeanor, she was completely the opposite of me, who makes the worst judgments every time.
While Maya returned to her seat and made a scratching sound with her pen, Kirrin thought about the meeting with the Duke.
Duke Toulouse had come to the academy to protest because his daughter Knightly had been beaten by Professor Dian. And the moment he jumped out of the carriage, he started cursing at Kirrin.
From the moment the carriage was in sight, Kirrin had been so terrified that she was on the verge of fainting. Because she had expected this matter to snowball and ultimately lead to her dismissal.
If I get fired like this, I have to go back to my father. I might be punished according to the tribe's rules. Rather than entering the dragon's maw, I don't want to return to my father empty-handed!!
"Commander, it's been a while!"
At that moment, Dian suddenly blocked Kirrin's front and greeted the Duke as if he knew him. And a miracle happened.
The Duke, recognizing Dian, laughed boisterously and pulled him into a hug, creating a warm atmosphere in the principal's office that wasn't just "haha ho ho"!
Just when it seemed like it would end well, suddenly Chief Theory Professor Ismera brought up Knightly's story.
Then, the Duke, who had realized his original purpose, turned red again, causing chaos. Ah, it's really over now....
No matter how much Dian is, he wouldn't boldly say in front of his father 'I hit your daughter'...
But it wasn't that.
"That was me."
Second salvation. Dian perfectly redirected the Duke's attention from Kirrin to himself and explained the situation at that time.
The Duke, who listened silently, said it was good, asked Dian to take care of Knightly, and shook his hand vigorously.
Even though Kirrin saw everything with her own eyes, she couldn't believe it. Really... is it really going to end like this...?
While watching the carriage carrying the shaking Duke leave, Kirrin was bewildered. Only after the carriage disappeared from sight did she finally feel it.
It ended.... It ended. The Duke didn't demolish the academy, didn't blame Kirrin, and instead left in high spirits.
I was able to keep my principal position, and I won't be in the worst situation of returning to my father. I lived!
After that, there was no memory, probably because she fainted at that time.
Previously, Dian had boldly declared while completely changing the combat department's curriculum. He said he would take responsibility.
He had said that if anything happened, he would protect Kirrin. Today, he really kept that promise.
Dian... protected me from the Duke's anger....
"Kyaaak!"
"Please be quiet."
"I'm sorry, Priestess..."
Kirrin, who picked up the fallen blanket, buried her face in it to hide the constant urge to laugh.
Maya, seeing this, moved her pen in the patient log with a scratching sound.
[Principal Kirrin Nemera. Fainted due to excessive tension and then screamed or laughed for no reason. Subsequent mental health evaluations required.]
The rumor that the Duke of Toulouse and Chief Combat Professor Dian knew each other well and the Duke was extremely happy spread in an instant.
The combat department professors who saw it with their own eyes were in a festive mood. Just when they thought it was a crisis for the department's existence, it wasn't.
"I never thought a human who could make the Duke of Toulouse wear such an expression existed."
"Yeah. Do you remember when he threw a tantrum demanding to hand over Knightly before? It was no joke."
"What kind of person is the chief professor that he has connections with the Duke?"
Combat Horsemanship Professor Anna cautiously offered her guess from the corner.
"Is it... the secret imperial prince...?"
"What?"
All the professors' gazes turned to Anna because of the absurd guess.
"Why... there have been rumors like that before.... He's such a troublemaker... because of the imperial palace's dignity, he hid that he's a commoner..."
"Hmm, it's not entirely baseless."
Magic Countermeasure Professor Orendi stroked his chin and nodded.
"Our chief professor may not be a troublemaker, but is he diligent and hardworking? No, not at all. The atmosphere is completely different when compared to the 2nd princess or other imperial princesses."
"Nonsense."
General Combat Professor Morton dismissed Orendi's opinion in one blow.
"Imperial royalty have silver hair for generations. However, the chief professor's hair is brown."
"Well, changing hair with magic is no big deal. What do you think, Professor Waver?"
"I agree with your opinion, Orendi. Now that it's come to this, shall we properly line up in front of the chief professor?"
Waver and Orendi laughed "haha", and the other professors joined in laughing, saying don't talk nonsense.
Only Psychological Warfare Professor Pelemiya remained silent, adjusting her glasses.
On the other hand, the theory department had a depressed atmosphere as if they had been hit with the entire budget cut.
Actually, the theory department professors didn't care much whether Dian was close to the Duke or not. The reason they had heavy expressions was because of Ismera sitting at the top seat.
Throughout the morning meeting, Ismera didn't say a single word and maintained silence. Even after the meeting ended, she remained as stiff as a stone.
So, the professors were all watching her and couldn't leave.
Dian suddenly became the chief combat professor like something fell from the sky. His past is veiled, and from the outside, he looks like a laid-back man carrying his backpack and strolling around the academy.
However, within a month of taking office, he persuaded Principal Kirrin to completely reverse the combat department curriculum and even beat Knightly, the prideful daughter of the prestigious Toulouse family, with a stick.
Not only that, he sent off the Duke of Toulouse who came running in a rage to the very end of his hair, in a state of hugging and smiling.
Clearly, there is no doubt that he is a great person. There is no mistake.... but—
"Ppaduk-!"
The sound of grinding teeth made the professors flinch and check Ismera's eyes.
If only a little more... I could have replaced that incompetent dark elf and become the principal....
Recently, the news that the continent's hero Linus was appointed as the successor principal made Ismera want to give up everything.
But suddenly, a different human came instead of Linus. And that person was not even the principal but a professor. Ismera had high expectations for this....
Kirrin, who received special treatment just because she was a member of the tribe that blocked the emperor's assassination, even though she participated in the assassination but betrayed midway. Moreover, you weren't even there, and everything was done by your father.
I lost the forest to the demon king's army and barely survived, and after ten years of bloody effort, I reached this position. But you....
"Ppaduk- Ppaduk-!"
Ismera was grinding her teeth without even using her usual gentle and benevolent mask, as a cold shadow descended.
The rumors about her father eventually reached Knightly's ears.
"Knightly. What is your relationship with the chief combat professor?"
"Is it possible that Professor Dian is also a noble? Your father is an amazing person, right? If you're acquainted with such a person..."
"I don't know. Stop asking."
In response to her followers' questions, Knightly answered coldly with a contemptuous gaze.
"And why are you curious about that? Are you trying to line up in front of that professor?"
"No, it's not like that... I was just curious..."
Knightly didn't even listen to the rest and turned her body and walked away to the other side of the corridor.
Those who liked what happened to me when I was with the chief combat professor are now trying to dig into Dian's back through me, thinking they can get something.
Although they are from the same noble background, they are disgusting and vile, and I can't stand it.
By the way... Does that mean my father has given up on dismissing me and arranging a political marriage because of this incident? If that's the case, good.
With this, the professor who barely knew me became my protector. That professor, I really like him.
Capable, wide connections, handsome. I want to get closer to Professor Dian. Is there any way...?
Knightly, who stood there for a moment pondering, recalled some thought and headed to the main building where the principal's office was.
While the academy was noisy after the Duke's visit.
I received a call and went to the principal's office and unexpectedly heard words like a bolt from the blue.
"You want me to take charge of Knightly right now?!"