I've come to see you again, Professor
I've come to see you again, Professor
"Today's class ends here."
"Thank you, Professor!"
Silver hair swaying, Scarlet Queen Blood exited the lecture hall. She stopped when she saw the man standing by the door.
"You still haven't left?"
"I had something to say, so I was waiting."
"Then tell me as we walk to my office."
She coldly passed by Ja-geun and walked on. Seeing that, Park Ja-geun walked alongside her.
"How was the class?"
"It was alright."
"Do you like teaching students?"
"I merely guide them on the right path, hoping they won't suffer tragedies like mine."
"So you became a professor for the sake of others."
"That might be one way to see it."
"I think I understand a little why you value teaching so much."
"Instead of leaving, what scheme are you up to?"
"I just want to be with you longer, Professor."
"Your flattery is all too obvious."
"As expected, I can't escape the Professor's eyes, can I?"
"If you stare so blatantly, any woman would feel the same."
As befitting a professor, she hit the nail on the head. Even another man would have noticed how Ja-geun was wagging his tail, glued to the professor like that.
"Excuse me, Professor. Don't you eat meals or something? It's dinner time, so I'm starting to get hungry."
"I'm immortal. I won't die even if I don't eat things like food."
"But you can enjoy the act of eating itself, can't you? Like listening to music on my phone."
"...Are you saying you want to have a meal with me?"
"Yes, let's have a meal. I'm hungry."
"Very well. I'll tell Alfredo to prepare dinner."
"Not the butler-nim. Can't we just eat together, just the two of us? I think there's a campus cafeteria here."
"The campus cafeteria... That's a place for students, not for us to use."
"What's the matter? You're a professor. If there is one, let's go. You can see the students growing properly and check if the food is tasty."
"...You keep making troublesome things."
The professor spoke as if annoyed, but she seemed inwardly curious, pausing for a moment and glancing outside the window at a building.
"You'll go, right?"
Let's tug once more. She glanced at Ja-geun's face then turned and started walking. Though expressionless, Ja-geun, who had shared blood with the professor, could subtly sense her reaction. She was secretly delighted by his words.
'Thank you, Master.'
King-God-Butler-nim. His eyes, having served for decades, were accurate. The butler knew where the professor's gaze mainly lingered.
There was no one in this world who knew the professor as well as the butler. Thinking of him as an ally brought a different kind of reassurance.
"So Alfredo told you. I'll let it slide just this once."
"Haha... So you already knew."
"Didn't I say your little scheme was obvious?"
Of course, the professor was not an easy opponent. Like butler, like master. It made one wonder if their battle of wits had been a war for years.
"P-Professor Scarlet. What brings you here?"
When they arrived at the door to the campus cafeteria, a man, seemingly a guide or guard of the academy, was surprised and straightened up respectfully.
"My disciple hasn't had lunch, so I'd like to use the cafeteria. Is that possible?"
"Of course. Considering everything Professor Scarlet has contributed to the academy, a single meal is far from enough. Please, come right in."
They followed the man who politely opened the door and entered.
Should it be called the same fear from the first day? A hush fell over the room along with everyone's gaze fixed on the professor.
But the professor walked in naturally. I followed, maintaining the gait I had learned from my master as much as possible.
"I will have the professor's meal specially prepared."
"No, I'd like to taste exactly what the students eat."
"Ah... I understand the professor's intention."
The man bowed his head to the professor's words and then disappeared from sight.
The professor walked straight ahead and took a seat at an empty spot by the window.
"Sit."
They sat facing each other, similar to when they were in the carriage. At that moment, the professor sensed a presence and turned her head.
"Hello! Professor."
Female students in academy uniforms approached. Whether one of the professor's students, they came with sparkling eyes, showing interest.
"Have you come to eat?"
"Yes, Luka-yang. What business brings you to me?"
"W-well, that man sitting across from you... Isn't he the professor's summoned being?"
"Yes, that's right."
"By chance... Are you dining together?"
"He helped me a lot today, so I'm treating him. Is that all you were curious about, Luka?"
"Ah... No, it's not that... I-I also! Want to dine with you, Professor!"
"With me?"
"Yes! Just being able to share a meal with the professor is an honor for my family!"
The female student named Luka appeared to be around the same age as the professor, judging by her height and skin.
But considering the difference in status and the years lived, the professor held an overwhelming advantage.
Anyway, that wasn't important. The female student was sending such an intense gaze that it was burdening, as if she really wanted to eat with the professor.
The professor looked at me. As if asking for my opinion, so I smiled and nodded.
Kind professor. She could do as she pleased, yet she was still caring about me.
"Sit."
"Thank you, Professor! Thank you, Professor!"
The female student expressed her gratitude several times and took the seat next to the professor.
"I'm truly happy to be able to dine with you, Professor."
"Why you're so fond of me, I don't quite understand."
"You may not know, Professor, but the Ryuk Family is a family situated on the borderlands. It's land that always feels the threat of the rival empire."
"Borderlands with the empire... I remember. It was a family that took care of me during the war."
"Taken care of, you say. It's because the professor stayed in the borderlands that I was born safely and could attend the academy. I wanted to meet you and express my gratitude. Professor."
"Ryuk... I didn't realize you were that little one's daughter."
"It's an honor just that you remembered our family name. Professor Scarlet, who protected our family, is a hero. Truly, thank you."
The female student named Luka was chatty. Like a fan who had been moved by meeting a legendary celebrity, she clung close. It was so burdensome that even I, sitting beside, felt pressured.
But the professor didn't dislike it. She accepted it naturally, as if she were someone who had always enjoyed such attention and affection. I felt like I understood why the professor was so popular at the academy.
By the time the food came out, there were more people at our table.
"Professor, you're so beautiful."
"Your outfit suits you so well!"
As she allowed them one by one, people gathered. Most of them liked the professor. It was a crowd desperate to be called by name and receive attention somehow.
The professor had clearly been so annoyed in the hallway, but once she arrived on the scene, her attitude changed a lot.
Could it be that the cold-hearted vampire had actually been longing for people's affection? She appeared to enjoy kindly greeting and answering each one.
Just sitting in the cafeteria, she was like a total superstar.
As I watched while eating slowly, I felt proud for no reason because the professor was so popular.
"Excuse me."
"Nom nom... Yes?"
"You're the professor's summoned being, right?"
"That's correct."
"As expected... You're the person I saw in class last time."
It seems to be a female student who was in the lecture hall on the day I was first summoned.
"Wow! The professor's summoned being... You look amazing!"
She was a female student who had been eyeing me with suspicion just moments before, then suddenly grabbed my hand and marveled.
Just as expected, because of the professor's popularity, I was naturally benefiting as well!
A smile automatically formed on my face.
The female student holding my hand, unlike the professor, exuded a well-developed mature beauty as she approached, so I couldn't help but feel good! The professor is the best!
The marveling female student returned to a blank expression. Then she gripped my hand tightly once more, hard enough to hurt, and left my side.
'Huh?'
As the female student left, something was left in my hand. It was a neatly folded piece of paper.
It felt like something to be examined secretly. For now, I put the folded paper into my pants pocket and continued eating.
After finishing the beautiful meal with the students, we headed to the professor's office.
"That was an enjoyable mealtime."
When it was just the two of us again, I subtly spoke first. The professor nodded slightly, as if agreeing.
"If the professor enjoyed it too, then I'm glad as well."
"By the way, aren't you going to return to your world?"
"Me? Actually, I plan to have sex with you one more time, Professor, before I go."
"As expected, that was your goal."
"Hahaha..."
"Without any change at all, you only want that. You're a true pervert."
"If I wanted something else, I would have gone home long ago. Sex with the professor is only possible with you, so I have no choice."
"Must I really indulge this bothersome matter with you?"
"Yes, I beg you to show me mercy with a generous heart."
"You've only learned bad things from Alfredo. No."
Leaving only those words, the professor expressionlessly slipped into her office.
'Did my plan fail...'
I had followed everything Master taught me, but it seemed to end with 'Unfortunately, the professor's heart was not given...'
I wanted to barge into the office and pounce on her right away... but the Summoning App's reward had already ended. Unless the professor permitted it first, I could risk losing her trust.
'Should I just go back?'
While I was pondering returning, the door opened again.
-Kkiik.
"What are you doing? You're not coming in..."
"As expected, I only have you, Professor."
At the professor's expressionless face, a smile automatically formed on mine. I went straight into the office and slammed the door shut.