Don't Feed the Professor! - Chapter 15

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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A crisp sound—inside the envelope was another envelope, this one translucent enough to see through.
What lay inside was, surprisingly, a Talisman. Something had been hastily scrawled in red ink across thin paper.
The fact that they’d torn it from their body in such an urgent situation meant… well, regardless, it had to be something quite valuable. I stored the envelope in my desk drawer.
“Right then.”
My immediate hunger was satisfied. I had a weapon now.
But what about tomorrow? And the day after that? Could I actually survive here?
Worrying wouldn’t bring me answers, but I couldn’t help it.
* * *
The undergraduates who’d been tiptoeing around me the previous evening suddenly came flocking toward me the next morning, as if nothing had happened, smiling and jostling.
But now I had the Infant Diet Encyclopedia.
When I’d run into Bibi at the Student Lounge yesterday evening, I’d gotten an explanation about the Central Library’s system.
The “Overdue Fee” Bibi had paid to the librarian wasn’t payment for the Stun Gun. It was literally a kind of rental fee for all the borrowed items he’d checked out so far—equipment that could only be obtained at the Fortress.
Of course, if you returned the borrowed items on time, you wouldn’t have to pay anything, but he said that would mean a steeper price the next time you summoned the librarian.
He’d said a fingernail was practically free. If prices kept rising the way Bibi mentioned, what would they have to pull out with those Pliers next time?
Come to think of it, those Pliers were a bit large for just pulling out nails. I shook my head, trying to push away the gruesome image that came to mind.
In any case, the Stun Gun I’d received was standard Agency Operative equipment. It had a short range, but it was light and easy to use—perfectly adequate for self-defense.
“But where exactly is the Back Gate?”
I’d decided to search for Goldilocks today. A weapon was good, but people can’t survive without eating.
The hotline had definitely said it was a hamburger place at the Back Gate of Gwangnyon University.
I was still broke, but in the meantime I’d obtained valuable items—couldn’t I use those as collateral?
Thinking back on the transaction Bibi had made at the Central Library, it didn’t seem like only cash was accepted as currency in the Fortress.
I pulled out the Business Card Mallo had given me and examined it. “Goldilocks,” and a baby bear stamp. No address, no phone number.
But Mallo wouldn’t have given me something like this without reason.
“Haha…”
At the creepy laugh, I jerked my head up. An undergraduate standing beneath the trees across the street was contorting his body as he stared at me.
“Ugh…”
I quickly turned on my heel to leave, when—whsssh—a wheel sound scraped across the pavement, whisking past my back.
“Professor?”
“Hmm?”
The large figure receded, then wheeled around and stopped. Mallo, now visible, stood on a Skateboard and smiled at me with a warm gaze.
“You’re my one and only student, after all.”
“I’m not sure where to even start objecting to that.”
I’d been lost in my murmuring for a moment and hadn’t noticed a student approaching from behind.
“Heh.”
A hand suddenly grabbed my shoulder. The student had been so focused on me that they hadn’t noticed Mallo either.
I was just reaching for my Stun Gun in disgust.
When—whrrr—Mallo glided down the street, and whoosh, hooked me around the waist. My body lifted lightly off the ground, and the next moment both my feet were on the Skateboard.
“Huh?”
I looked up in bewilderment. A large, cool body was at my back. Still supporting me with one arm, Mallo looked down at me.
“Surprised?”
“Oh… no. Thank you for helping me.”
The distance did seem uncomfortably close, but Mallo appeared entirely unbothered. They simply kept their arm firm, preventing me from falling.
I didn’t dare shift my position for fear of tumbling off the board, so I kept my eyes carefully still.
‘I’ve been thinking about this since before… there’s really no sense of personal space, is there?’
Was it intentional? Or was Mallo just clumsy at mimicking humans? Of course, I didn’t have the courage to actually ask.
With a smooth spin, Mallo turned direction and did a full rotation before setting me down gently on the pavement. All the students had vanished without a trace.
Mallo looked at me and smiled widely.
“Let’s get breakfast.”
Why has Mallo been so eager to feed me lately? Still, my stomach was growling in agreement.
Mallo walked ahead, and I hurried after them.
Their outfit is really peculiar, I thought, catching a glimpse of Mallo as I slowed to walk beside them.
Black turtleneck, wool trousers with crisp pleats, polished dress shoes. And that ever-present white coat.
They were carrying a Skateboard that clashed with everything, clearly unbothered that dust was transferring onto it.
‘Wait… is that a hair tie?’
Their striking appearance was distracting, but Mallo had loosely gathered their tousled hair and tied it back.
What was holding it, though, wasn’t a hair tie but something like a thin bracelet—a crude little thing made by stringing together small, glinting beads.
Noticing my gaze, Mallo turned back and smiled. They seemed to be in an especially good mood today.
“You know, humans like sweet things, don’t they?”
What kind of question is that?
“Well… wouldn’t there be individual differences?”
Aha, Mallo laughed.
“You speak like quite the observer.”
“That’s what I should be saying. But why are you asking?”
“Because you keep looking hungry. You didn’t even touch the Candy I gave you.”
“Oh…”
There was no accusation in their tone. Mallo genuinely seemed curious about why I hadn’t eaten the Candy they’d offered.
Setting aside how they even knew that, I couldn’t tell them I’d avoided it because it seemed suspicious.
“Well… sweet things don’t really satisfy hunger. You know how people say there’s always room for dessert?”
“I see.”
I understand, Mallo hummed, turning their gaze away from me.
“…”
I watched the undergraduates quietly avoiding us. I knew Mallo wasn’t human.
But it still struck me, fresh as surprise, how completely different things became just by being with them.
As long as I was walking with Mallo, I wouldn’t need something like the Infant Diet Encyclopedia. Of course, I couldn’t forget that Mallo was likely far more dangerous than any undergraduate or creature I’d encountered.
“But what… is that?”
I gestured at the Skateboard. It was a truly out-of-place object.
“Oh, this? Gwon Tae-hyeon gave it to me. Pretty interesting, right?”
‘Interesting?’
“What’s… interesting about it?”
“Look at this.”
Mallo flipped the board over to show me its four wheels, speaking like someone proudly displaying a new toy.
“The principle is really simple when you think about it. It’s just a wheeled plank.”
“Right…?”
“But humanity didn’t invent something like this until the twentieth century.”
What was… the point of that? Without waiting for me to ask, Mallo continued.
“With soft wheels like these, you can only ride on smooth pavement. The fact that something like this became widely commercialized is symbolic of how much humans have expanded their territory and become more sophisticated.”
“I see…”
“Besides, if humans had simply needed an efficient personal transport with wheels, there were always far better options. A bicycle alone would be several times faster and more stable than this.”
“Then…”
“They invented it just for fun. What kind of foolish creature would go to all that trouble just because it seemed fun?”
Why did Mallo say “foolish” with such admiration in their voice?
But hearing it, I had to admit it wasn’t entirely wrong. Fun is something only people who don’t have to worry about survival can afford to pursue.
“Yeah, you just keep living pathetically like that. I was a fool to worry.” The voice echoed in my memory.
“Don’t you think we all look pathetic to you? I can see every scheming thought crossing your mind.”
“Complete money-hungry wretch, honestly. I get chills just looking at her now.”
Voices suddenly surfacing from memory made me shudder involuntarily. Was my spirit weakening? Why am I like this lately?
“Say, student.”
At the gentle voice, I looked up to find Mallo smiling down at me.
“Yes… yes, Professor?”
“What happened to your knees?”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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