Chapter 105: The Vote
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 105: The Vote
"It seems we've stayed in these sunless depths for too long; our information on the outside world has fallen behind."
the majestic-looking elder sighed. "Something major must have happened out there that we aren't aware of."
"That old fossil Prang seems to know something, but he won't tell me. It’s likely because of that Covenant of Silence again," Professor Glen said, shrugging.
"Since Prang knows, then it doesn't matter. He has a sense of propriety. As for us old folks with one foot in the grave, there isn't much we could do even if we did know."
"How carefree of you." Professor Glen gave a habitual whistle.
"Hmph, I have no desire to add more trouble to my plate just before I kick the bucket."
The elder let out a cold snort and looked at Professor Glen. "So, you dragged us all out of bed. Surely it wasn't just to reminisce with a bunch of geezers who are practically soil already?"
"I’d love to catch up, but now doesn't seem to be the time."
Professor Glen turned uncharacteristically solemn.
"I called you all here for one reason, and one reason only.
—Should we wake that person up now?"
"..."
As Professor Glen’s words fell, the dim room plunged into a sudden silence, broken only by the sound of one elder’s breathing, which rattled like a broken bellows.
It seemed everyone was seriously weighing the heavy implications behind those four light words: "wake that person up."
After a long silence, the majestic elder finally broke the stillness with a sigh. "Has the Academy truly come to this point?"
"Hasn't it?"
Professor Glen looked out the window. At that moment, the twelve towers had just risen, pinning the entire Academy back to the earth.
"With the protection of the Second Layer Grand Ritual and Prang’s own strength, one could say he is invincible unless His Holiness the Pope himself arrived with scepter in hand.
But the opponent, after all, is not human."
Professor Glen couldn't help but sigh as well. "Two entire Evil Gods joining forces to attack the Academy, with one even partially manifesting its true body... such a thing is unheard of in the Academy’s thousand-year history. So, regardless of whether Prang can win, we must prepare a backup plan—or rather, prepare for the worst."
"What about requesting reinforcements?"
Someone suddenly spoke up. "This is Belland, after all. There are plenty of experts here, and the Imperial Palace can't just sit idly by."
"Good thinking."
Professor Glen snapped his fingers. "But, my dear Professor, have you noticed a problem?"
"What?"
"It’s too slow. If there were reinforcements, they’re taking far too long."
Professor Glen continued:
"How far is this place from the heart of Belland? How far from the Palace? And how fast can a Crown Bearer travel? Or do you think that with a disturbance this massive, those experts are all blind? I’ve done the math. It should take a top-tier expert in Belland no more than three to five minutes to notice the anomaly and come to investigate. How much time has passed now?
The fact that there’s no movement at all means..."
Professor Glen looked up, gazing at the brilliant blue moon slowly approaching in the sky.
"The entire Academy has likely been sealed off by that one.
In other words, calling for help was never an option to begin with."
"It sounds like a desperate situation."
After a brief silence, the majestic elder lowered his eyelids, seemingly reaching a decision. "Then there is nothing to hesitate about. Old rules: let’s put it to a vote. Those in favor of waking that person... raise your hands."
The majestic elder was the first to raise his hand.
Then Professor Glen.
Then, one by one, withered arms were raised sporadically.
"Then, the number of those in favor... sixteen in total."
Professor Glen took a quick glance and saw that everyone except the professor who had asked the question had raised their hand.
"I still feel this is inappropriate," that professor sighed. "It’s too cruel for her."
"But if we don't wake her now, she’ll definitely be furious if she wakes up later only to find the Academy in ruins," the majestic elder said with a bitter smile, as if recalling unpleasant memories from the distant past. "I have no desire to be scolded into the ground by her again."
"In that case, it’s settled. No need to dwell on it."
Professor Glen clapped his hands to get everyone’s attention. "Now for the second question—who is going to wake her?"
"..."
The moment Professor Glen finished speaking, the room returned to silence.
But this time was different. While everyone remained silent, Professor Glen felt over a dozen pairs of eyes land on him simultaneously.
"...You guys aren't thinking of making me go, are you?" Professor Glen’s cheek twitched.
"Who else?"
The majestic elder raised an eyebrow. "You’re the only one among us whose legs still work properly."
"There’s an elevator that goes straight to that room, you bastards! Asking you to go wake someone up isn't the same as running a marathon!"
Professor Glen roared, "I just finished busy-bodying around to evacuate all the students, and I even risked my life to save some perverted naked guy! Now you want me to do something that dangerous? Where is your conscience?"
"Ah, well, about that... cough, cough..."
The majestic elder’s eyes darted around as he let out a dry cough, then he suddenly clutched his leg and started groaning.
"Oh no, my rheumatism is acting up. I can't move."
"But hasn't your rheumatism always been in your left leg? Why are you holding your right one?"
"...It... it spread recently?"
"Rheumatism isn't toenail fungus, you bastard!"
Professor Glen turned to the others. "What about you? Is your rheumatism acting up too?"
"...Ow, I threw out my back."
"My hemorrhoids are flaring up..."
"Herniated disc..."
"My granddaughter is being too naughty, I have to go discipline her..."
Under Professor Glen’s shocked gaze, a group of old professors who usually couldn't even walk straight began shouting about various ailments and scattered like startled birds.
Professor Glen had never even heard of some of these "ailments." Especially the one about the naughty granddaughter—your granddaughter is over sixty years old, for heaven's sake!
The professors vanished at lightning speed.
A few professors who truly couldn't move much silently pulled coffins out of their storage spaces, climbed inside, and, under Professor Glen’s speechless gaze, silently pulled the lids shut.
"..."
Finally, in the cold and quiet room, Professor Glen stood alone, filled with grief and indignation.
"So, just because Prang isn't here, I’m the unlucky bastard who has to do everything?"
"No way. I’m not being the fall guy. With her morning temper, god knows what she’ll do to whoever wakes her. I need to find another poor bastard to take my place."
"Wait... speaking of poor bastards..."
Professor Glen rubbed his chin as if remembering something, his expression gradually turning gleeful.
"I think I have a perfect candidate."