Surviving the Assassin Academy as a Genius Professor - Chapter 22

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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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Episode 22
EP8 – Professor Assassination: Proxy Assassination (4)

The next day, the Disciplinary Committee for Joaquin Hilaban was convened.
The charges were Proxy Assassination and Illegal Collective Action.
The hearing included myself as the party involved, two professors each from the White Path, Black Path, and neutral factions, plus the Moon Shadow Academy’s faculty advisor—eight professors in total deliberating on the disciplinary action.

“Professor Dante, what is your view?”
“Expulsion, naturally.”

There was nothing more to discuss. The kid was too arrogant.
But the Moon Shadow Academy’s faculty advisor happened to be from the Black Path Order.

“He’s still a young student, and his grades are excellent. Why not give him another chance? The aggression bred into an assassin can be gradually managed through instances like these.”

The two White Path Guild professors and I argued for expulsion.
The two Black Path Order professors and the Moon Shadow Academy’s advisor pushed for leniency.
The neutrals split one to one as well.

“Hmm. So the expulsion vote stands at four to four.”

Shaman, the Assassination Department chair, stroked his heavy jowls and reached a conclusion.

“I hereby deliver the final ruling on Joaquin Hilaban. The student, having orchestrated Illegal Collective Action and Proxy Assassination, has compromised the core values of the Assassination Department. I impose Disciplinary Punishment No. 9.”

Disciplinary Punishment No. 9.
The maximum sanction short of execution or expulsion.

“I hereby sentence Joaquin Hilaban to 2.9 penalty points, a fine of 500,000 Ħ, repeating this academic year, full responsibility for the Proxy Assassination, and 400 hours of mandatory service to the academy.”

That’s harsh.
The worst part is the 500,000 Ħ fine.
For a student, it’s a fortune gone in an instant.

“Assassins, above all else, must be tools. The Assassination Department is a workshop where such tools are forged. Student Joaquin—if you truly came here to learn from us, never again indulge in such presumption.”

Joaquin remained on his knees, his head bowed.

“I apologize. I will reflect on my actions.”

At that, the professors began to murmur among themselves.

“For someone so proud to bow like this—perhaps we should end it here.”
“He does seem to be showing genuine reflection.”
“The matter was severe, but Punishment No. 9 strikes me as sufficient.”

Professors from both the White Path and Black Path reached a compromise at a reasonable midpoint.
Joaquin was still a young student, after all.
And he appeared to be showing remorse.
But I knew the truth. It was all an act.

【 Moon Shadow Scholar 1st Year Joaquin: ‘Survived, damn it.’ 】
【 Moon Shadow Scholar 1st Year Joaquin: ‘Damn old fossils. They think one little bow means I’m actually sorry.’ 】
【 Moon Shadow Scholar 1st Year Joaquin: ‘But 500,000 Ħ? That’s brutal. What kind of damn school extorts students like this? I’m bleeding money…’ 】

Look at that. Look at those rotten thoughts bleeding through the Script.
There’s an old saying: Mind Readers die young.
Though I made that one up myself.
I suspect that’s probably the case.
If I had to keep watching thoughts like that, I’d end up with high blood pressure.

“……!”

The moment our eyes met, Joaquin Hilaban looked away, his face turning a sickly shade of blue.
He was utterly fed up with me. From a survival standpoint, that was fortunate.
I’d deliberately made my World Alteration broadcast loud and clear. Some of it would have transmitted to Joaquin as imagery.

【 Moon Shadow Academy 1st Year, Joaquin Hilaban: ‘I need to ignore that damn professor for a while. Let’s see what happens….’ 】
【 Moon Shadow Academy 1st Year, Joaquin Hilaban: ‘For now, I’ll just stay out of it, gather my strength slowly, and kill him in one strike….’ 】

I couldn’t help but laugh.
Who did he think he was, deciding to stay out of it?
Sorry, but you’re going to have to stay tangled up with me a little longer. To be precise, you won’t be free of me until I decide to let you go.
You attempted to assassinate me outside of class, after all.

“The Disciplinary Committee is adjourned.”

After that, I headed to the Disciplinary Management Bureau and met with the students who had attempted the Proxy Assassination.
They’d already been thoroughly beaten down by the Disciplinary Bureau agents and looked completely defeated.

“We apologize, Professor.”
“We’re sorry….”

The students bowed their heads in contrition.

They were pitiful creatures, in their own way.
In the Assassination Department, power determines all rights, and these ones had none.
They’d lived miserably their whole lives, and this incident was just one unfortunate slip.

‘Regardless, it’s not really my concern….’

I felt no sympathy. I was struggling just to stay alive myself.
Still, to weaken Joaquin’s position and give these wretches a small taste of revenge, I decided to offer them a little opportunity.

‘Joaquin’s subordinates are being held separately, I see.’

Which meant the ones here were pure victims.
I stepped forward to face them.

“Listen up.”

The defeated eyes turned toward me.

“All ten of you received orders for Proxy Assassination and attempted to assassinate me. And Joaquin, who ordered the proxy assassination, has now received severe disciplinary punishment under Disciplinary Punishment No. 9. By contrast, you will receive only a reprimand with no major sanctions.”

Their expressions hardened into grim masks.
Helplessness. Defeat. Fear mingled together.
Forte Asimov in the back felt the same way.

They thought I was scolding them.
I wasn’t.

“……But when I was being assassinated, I was in such chaos that my memory is hazy.”

At these words, the students looked up.
As if suddenly confused by what I meant.

“If you attempted an assassination outside of class time, we would naturally have to confiscate the tools used in the assassination. ……It’s quite unfortunate. I was so frazzled at the time that I can’t remember at all ‘what tools’ you used for the assassination.”

One by one, I watch understanding dawn on their faces.
Yet some still hesitate, caught off guard.

“Whoever orchestrated this assassination must confess what tools were used. And Joaquin will bear full financial responsibility for all of it. That’s the substance of Disciplinary Punishment No. 9.”

“……!”
“……!!”

Only now does genuine shock wash across the students’ faces.
They’ve grasped my true intention.

If Joaquin ordered the assassination by proxy,
then he must bear the responsibility by proxy as well.

Still, some of them waver. Hopelessly dense, the lot of them. So I decide to spell it out a bit more plainly.

“You destroyed a vehicle protected by Mana, and attempted my assassination. I am a Professor-ranked Assassin, yet your attempt posed a genuine threat. The equipment used in such a dangerous plot could hardly be cheap.”

I turn to the quickest mind among them for a little help.

“How did you manage, Forte Asimov?”

Forte, suddenly the center of every gaze,
slowly widens his eyes and mouth
before blurting out an “Ah!”

“Ah, yes! That is, to do my utmost in assassinating you, Professor, I brought out my most expensive rifle—the TTI-13!—”

He stops mid-sentence, hesitating.
So I check the Script.

【 Moon Shadow Academy First-Year Forte: ‘……Wait. If my equipment doesn’t get confiscated and Joaquin pays instead anyway…… do I really need to mention just one weapon?’ 】

That’s it. Exactly right. He’s understood perfectly.

“……And furthermore, I borrowed twelve throwing shuriken and two daggers from my classmate Harru, and eight varieties of Paralysis Potion from Dominic, all of which I used!”

Remarkable. Absolutely mad.
He borrowed all of that?

“You’re saying all these items were used directly in the assassination attempt.”
“Yes…!”
“Then I have no choice but to confiscate them.”

From Joaquin, naturally.
Exclamation marks bloomed above the students’ heads like fireworks.
They’ve all grasped what this farce truly means.

“Oh! Ah! Professor, I’m terribly sorry…!”
“Yes? And you are?”
“I also borrowed a Longsword of Magic grade from my elder brother to do my best in the assassination!”
“Naughty child. I’m afraid I’ll have to confiscate that as well.”
“Ah, Professor, I too…!”

Once the dam breaks, confessions come pouring out.

“I, I also have a family heirloom—an Explosive Throwing Shuriken—and I attempted to use it in the assassination! For some reason it didn’t detonate, but…in any case, it was used…!”
“I’m sorry! I set up a Mana Trap for your assassination, but I can’t remember where I put it! By now it’s probably been disarmed and disappeared….”
“Um, I drank thirty-two Potions, but after drinking them I have no way to prove the evidence…!”

Well done. Well done.
No, wait!
That’s not enough.
Who among you used gold bars to assassinate someone?
Who tried to kill me with a space station, I’m asking!

“Ah, yes! I used a Legendary-tier consumable, but I’ve already used it up, so there’s no way to prove it…!”
“That’s excessive.”
“I apologize…….”

But you can’t overdo it. Anything beyond reason will be filtered out by the Disciplinary Management Bureau anyway.
The fortunate part is that the Bureau favors the faculty.
The self-defense corps member beside me was grinning from ear to ear, clearly enjoying the spectacle of someone getting crushed.

“Member.”
“Yes, Professor.”
“Stop grinning and come write down the assassination tools used. We’ll submit an invoice. Make sure it’s anonymous.”
“Yes. Of course, Professor. I’ll handle it without any issues.”
“How long will the confiscation procedure take?”
“Not very long—a day should do it. The faculty has agreed to cooperate.”

That was unexpected. Even calculating the value of the tools used and going through the confiscation procedure via the department office, it would happen quickly.
By rough calculation, this alone came to at least tens of thousands of Hika. At least.
I looked back at the students. The gloomy expressions had vanished without a trace.

“You all. From now on, don’t conduct such terrifying assassinations. Understood?”
“Yes! We understand!”
“We’re sorry! We won’t do it again…!”

There’s a certain pleasure to it. The way townspeople swarm and beat a criminal, throwing stones at them.
These students too were all united in crushing one person, smiling from the joy of it.
It poses no real threat. After all, Joaquin Hilaban has lost most of his power now and must remain in self-imposed restraint for a long time.

“Well then, I should be on my way.”

I stood up from my seat. I wanted to rest for a while now.

“Please go, Professor.”
“Please go!”

Meanwhile, on the way out.
Forte Asimov stares at me, then averts his gaze.

【 Moon Shadow Scholar 1st Year, Forte Asimov: ‘Professor Dante…. You’ve helped us this far…. Who exactly are you….’ 】

Forte’s emotions swell up.
In truth, I was only looking out for my own interests, yet somehow he sees me as righteous.
His misunderstanding didn’t end there.

【 Moon Shadow Scholar 1st Year, Forte Asimov: ‘In the end, I didn’t even sense Professor Dante approaching me…. The gap between us is truly vast….’ 】

In reality, he’s probably stronger than me, but if that’s what he wishes to believe, I have no complaints.

‘Oh, that reminds me.’

A fact I discovered while rummaging through research materials in my office.
That boy is from the Asimov Family, isn’t he?

‘The Asimov Family, you say…….’

One of the White Path’s most renowned families in marksmanship. Particularly, they are the house that assassinated the royal family of an enemy nation during the 2nd Assassination War.
So, is that wretch the son of Saimo Asimov? For that pedigree, his abilities were pitiful.
Lackluster grades. Vision, Mana reserves, application of his gifts—all of it was abysmal. That’s why, despite bearing the Moon Shadow Scholar title, he remained a repeat student.
That’s also why he was coerced into a Proxy Assassination by another Moon Shadow Scholar.

‘……There was no reason to concern myself further with his affairs.’

I had no interest in the circumstances of others.
However, in the wake of this incident, upon examining the Script carefully, I realized that it was Kendrayk who set Joaquin Hilaban in motion.
He must have moved Joaquin to assassinate me.

“…I’ll have to settle accounts with him eventually.”

.
.
.

In any case, the next day.

▷ Confiscated Assassination Equipment Fund from Joaquin Hilaban
– 464,120 Ħ

The assassination fee had been deposited.
Along with it, I received this as well.

┃ Mission Accomplishment: [Proxy Assassination Thwarted]
┃ Reward: Star Fragment × 5

I was satisfied.

EP8

Professor Assassination: Proxy Assassination

END

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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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