Surviving the Assassin Academy as a Genius Professor - Chapter 7

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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 7
EP3 – Dormant Dragon Academy (3)

‘He’s asking me to become his Guidance Professor.’

To be direct about it.
The answer is no.

The reason is simple.
I’m not yet free from their assassinations. Becoming a Guidance Professor to students I can’t control—that’s just asking someone to dig my own grave with a backhoe.

……

Still, I watched Kaiser with my arms folded. I couldn’t think of what to say.

【 Dormant Dragon Academy First-Year Quan : ‘Huh! Even after such an extraordinary proposal, they’re standing there with that high-handed attitude?’ 】
【 Dormant Dragon Academy First-Year Elise : ‘Please do it.’ 】
【 Dormant Dragon Academy First-Year Grey : ‘Why isn’t the professor saying anything? Say something more, Kaiser.’ 】

Kaiser, aware of the students’ gazes, leaned back against the sofa.

【 Dormant Dragon Academy First-Year Kaiser : ‘This silence… are they trying to probe us?’ 】

I simply had nothing to say.

“Please don’t misunderstand.”
……
“If you’re displeased, I can outline our plan for you. Should we receive your guidance, we intend to form an Assassination Unit in the short term. Our goal is to overturn the entire assassination industry.”

An Assassination Unit.
That’s a story that doesn’t even begin until fourth year, and they’re already planning it.
But what struck me far more intensely was what lay beneath his thoughts.

【 Dormant Dragon Academy First-Year Kaiser : ‘Moreover, in the future, we will assassinate the Empire’s Emperor, who conducts tyranny.’ 】

Assassinate the Emperor?
That was dangerous thinking on multiple levels.
The Imperial Court of the Central Empire is the group that sets the rules of the continent.
And those rules even bind the players.

In other words, it was a story that didn’t exist even in the main narrative.

“You young people carry a lot of tension in your shoulders.”
“…Yes. That would be the case now.”

Young prodigies nursing an audacious dream.
A dream of killing the Emperor of the Central Empire.
Whether they’ll succeed or not, I have no way of knowing.

“For that to happen… we need your help.”

【 Dormant Dragon Academy First-Year Kaiser : ‘There. We’ve revealed our secret. Now you have to give us a meaningful answer.’ 】

This was awkward.
Kaiser had just made refusing them a good deal more uncomfortable. By laying bare their secret.

“Well. Whatever you do or don’t do is none of my concern.”
“Pardon?”
“I have no intention of controlling the activities of my students. My position is not bound by the White Way or the Black Way.”
“……”
“I am merely fulfilling my duties as a professor. I don’t understand why I should become your guidance professor.”

In other words, he was backing out.

【 Dormant Dragon Academy First-Year Kaiser : ‘……A true assassin indeed. Even now, calculating profit and loss.’ 】
【 Dormant Dragon Academy First-Year Kaiser : ‘Propose something of immediate monetary value, is that it?’ 】

Why did he keep misunderstanding?

“If you would just—”
“Enough.”

I cut off Kaiser’s words.

“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear any of this.”

The moment a specific price tag emerges from that mouth,
the refusal becomes far more complicated.
Assassins move in the direction money flows.

“Do you have anything else to say?”

Kaiser and I faced each other directly.

【 Dormant Dragon Academy First-Year Kaiser : ‘A refusal, then.’ 】
【 Dormant Dragon Academy First-Year Kaiser : ‘But why does this person’s expression look so menacing….’ 】

From my perspective, Kaiser—who wore an even more sinister appearance himself—stared at me expressionlessly, tension written across his frame.
Was this the moment?
Just as I began to rise slowly,

“Ah, but I really can’t let this slide.”

Kendraek, the bulkier student, rose to his feet first.

“Kendraek.”
“Captain. Why should we leave so meekly? We don’t even know if this professor has the qualifications to teach us in the first place.”
“He’s more than qualified. What are you saying?”
“What do you mean, qualified!”

Kendraek turned to face me.

“Professor. Look at me. Do you even have the qualifications to teach us? In my first semester here, I’ve come to realize that even the senior professors barely have the qualifications to instruct me. If you don’t mind, how about we spar right now?”

He pulled a massive axe from the subspace.
A Battle Axe glowing red with magical force.

“Let’s do an Assassination Combat match, that’s what I’m saying.”

I was in a bind.
I hadn’t yet undergone any growth.
While all the students grew tense and glanced at one another,
I opened my mouth and spoke.

“……How pathetic. You called me here to perform these parlor tricks?”

Not a word more.

【 Dormant Dragon Academy First-Year Quan : ‘……!’ 】
【 Dormant Dragon Academy First-Year Elise : ‘Wow.’ 】
【 Dormant Dragon Academy First-Year Balmung : ‘What kind of atmosphere….’ 】

While the students recoiled at my words.

【 Dormant Dragon Academy First-Year Kendraek : ‘Why are you acting so strong? What’ll happen? Want to go at it?’ 】

The one unimpressed by my bravado begins to ready himself for a charge.

【 Dormant Dragon Academy First-Year Grey : ‘I’m curious too. Might as well poke around a little….’ 】
【 Dormant Dragon Academy First-Year Quan : ‘We will help, Kendraek.’ 】

And the moment a stage for testing me is set, the other students draw weapons from their sides and begin aiming for me.
Damn. This is bad.
Madmen!
On the knife’s edge of the moment.
I found a remarkable script.

【 Dormant Dragon Academy First-Year Kaiser : ‘Damn…! If we fight inside the building, I’ll get caught up in it too….’ 】

Huh. What is this.
This team captain who looks like a shadowy villain. Why does his script feel so weak.

【 Dormant Dragon Academy First-Year Kaiser : ‘Look at my eyes. That’s not a complete serial killer, is it……?’ 】

What could it be? Despite looking more like the villain himself.
Could this fellow be some sort of key?
And so I fixed my gaze upon him.

【 Dormant Dragon Academy First-Year Kaiser : ‘Stop, stop looking…! Damn…!’ 】

I stared a little longer.

【 Dormant Dragon Academy First-Year Kaiser : ‘Khhh……!’ 】

And longer still.

【 Dormant Dragon Academy First-Year Kaiser : ‘Hahhh……! No more, I can’t take it anymore……!!’ 】

Electric current flooded through my mind. On the surface, he remained perfectly composed, but his script was growing increasingly terrified.

【 Dormant Dragon Academy First-Year Kaiser : ‘Damn, this is terrifying…!! How am I supposed to negotiate further with such a monster of a professor……!?’ 】

He turned his relaxed gaze toward Kendraek.
But he was avoiding my eyes.
This. Perhaps…….

“Grey. Quan. Kendraek. Take one more step and you all die by my hand.”

I pinpointed the three who had been trying to move covertly, keeping my gaze fixed forward.
All three flinch and turn to look at each other. They would have felt the bloodlust read perfectly.

“Kaiser.”
“Yes, sir.”

I stared directly at the team captain Kaiser’s face.
A boy with long black hair. Split vertical pupils. A cane and a leg that dragged. No matter who looked, he seemed even more of a shadowy menace and more terrifying than I. In fact, according to the record, four professors have been killed by that creature.

“Was it your judgment to test me?”
“Then so be it.”
“You’re an arrogant child.”

The other students tensed at my words.

【 Dormant Dragon Academy First-Year Quan : ‘Best not to touch that one…! He’s far more savage than Kendraek! It’s no accident he killed three more professors even after securing his diploma. He’s nothing but a monster starved for blood…….’ 】
【 Dormant Dragon Academy First-Year Elise : ‘Are those two about to fight…?’ 】
【 Dormant Dragon Academy First-Year Balmung : ‘Even for a professor, this is reckless. Our team leader isn’t exactly defenseless. But if things go this way, the Dormant Dragon Academy will be reduced to rubble…….’ 】

Even Kendraek spoke with noticeably diminished bravado.

“Um…. Professor. You want to fight me?”

Separate from the gasps around us, Team Leader Kaiser answered with perfect composure.

“How else can one reach greatness while imprisoned in another’s framework?”

Serene.
Unhurried.
Still radiating that unfathomable atmosphere.
But the script told a different story.

【 Dormant Dragon Academy First-Year Kaiser : ‘Damn it…. Please don’t stare at me so directly……. I’m terrified.’ 】
【 Dormant Dragon Academy First-Year Kaiser : ‘Please, just fight Kendraek!!!’ 】

Now I was certain. This bastard was cut from the same cloth as me.
He’d become team leader despite being weak!

“So you killed four professors?”
“Is that strange? It’s the tradition of the Assassination Department.”

【 Dormant Dragon Academy First-Year Kaiser : ‘The truth is I didn’t kill any of them…! I’m crippled and can’t even perform assassinations, but somehow they just ended up dead…!’ 】

“No. That’s not it.”
“What do you mean, sir?”
“Kaiser. You can’t fool me. How long do you think ‘that trick’ will work in front of me?”
“…….”
“You need a proper scolding.”

Then the bastard let out a hollow laugh.

“A scolding, you say. From you. To me?”

【 Dormant Dragon Academy First-Year Quan : ‘That trick? Is it the Formless Lethal Poison again?’ 】

My words carried double meaning.
The other students interpreted it as the Formless Lethal Poison.

【 Dormant Dragon Academy First-Year Kaiser : ‘Oh!! I’m done for. He’s figured out that I’m weak……!’ 】

Only Kaiser understood my true intent.
Now I was absolutely certain.
That bastard was my perfect mirror.
Regardless of what history had brought him here or why he was doing this now, it was unmistakable that he was weak just like me.

【 Dormant Dragon Academy First-Year Quan : ‘My god…. Kaiser, our strongest, is being overwhelmed…!’ 】
【 Dormant Dragon Academy First-Year Grey : ‘What, what’s happening??’ 】

The students gasped in horror.
I’d found him.
The only escape route lay right here.

“Everyone except Kaiser, leave the Dormant Dragon Academy at once.”

But Kaiser was far from ordinary.
He picked up his cane at once and leaned it against his shoulder as he spoke.

“I don’t believe you have the authority to command us.”

He was digging in his heels.

【 Dormant Dragon Academy, First Year, Kaiser: ‘Guys, you can’t leave!!! I’m totally screwed!!!’ 】

But now that his true feelings were laid bare, exploiting them was simple.

“As team leader, if you won’t send everyone out, Kaiser, then you’ll face the very ending you most fear.”

【 Dormant Dragon Academy, First Year, Kaiser: ‘!!! No way…….’ 】

I had to marvel at this moment.

【 Dormant Dragon Academy, First Year, Kaiser: ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ 】

Despite being cornered, Kaiser maintained his composure. Even as his heart drowned in despair, he never wavered.

“…… Would you all wait outside for a moment?”

But as the students rose one by one and filed out,
his internal script began to explode.

【 Dormant Dragon Academy, First Year, Kaiser: ‘I’m done for.’ 】
【 Dormant Dragon Academy, First Year, Kaiser: ‘I’m done for, I tell you……!’ 】
【 Dormant Dragon Academy, First Year, Kaiser: ‘I’ve managed to hide it all this time…… and now it ends today……!’ 】
【 Dormant Dragon Academy, First Year, Kaiser: ‘How did my life turn into this? I just wanted a quiet, ordinary life…….’ 】
【 Dormant Dragon Academy, First Year, Kaiser: ‘Not too flashy. Not a complete loner either. Just decent friends, playing games, doing some stable job like a civil servant…… was that too much?’ 】
【 Dormant Dragon Academy, First Year, Kaiser: ‘I wanted to marry an ordinary girl, raise just one child properly, and someday slip away peacefully in my sleep……!’ 】
【 Dormant Dragon Academy, First Year, Kaiser: ‘Assassination? Assassination can go to hell! I haven’t stepped on a single earthworm in my entire life!’ 】
【 Dormant Dragon Academy, First Year, Kaiser: ‘Heavens…… why must you be so cruel to me? And today is my birthday, and now my birthday will become my death day……!!’ 】

Soon all the students had filed outside.
Once I confirmed it through the Minimap,
I spoke gently to Kaiser, left alone.

“It’s all right.”
“…….”

【 Dormant Dragon Academy, First Year, Kaiser: ‘??????????’ 】

Remarkably, there was no sign of surprise.
Kaiser still regarded me with that arrogant gaze.

“I still don’t understand what you mean, sir.”
“You needn’t strain yourself with an act. Though the whole world may not see it, I can see your situation clearly.”
“…….”
“There is no need for concern. As a Guidance Professor, I respect you as you are. I have no intention of destroying your life.”

【 Dormant Dragon Academy, First Year, Kaiser: ‘??? He knows my situation completely? And yet he pretends not to……??’ 】

A script struck by revelation.
I already knew what I must do.
Despite his weak appearance, if that man holds true power, it deserves respect.

“Let me speak plainly. I have no intention of teaching you. There are two reasons for this. First, I lack the time to dedicate myself to guiding anyone.”
…….
“Moreover, if you were to receive my instruction, one of you would certainly die at my hands. The higher the standard of education, the more one must stake their life.”
“Why would you be concerned about such a thing, Professor….”

Kaiser, who had been saying something, closed his mouth.
Then his expression darkened.

“Surely you’re not saying that you….”

【 Dormant Dragon Academy First-Year Kaiser: ‘…Worried about me?’ 】

Just empty words, yet he interpreted it that way?
But it works rather well.

“As one who has become a professor, I wish my students not to be harmed.”
……!!

Eyes trembling with agitation.
It’s working. One more step.

“I repeat: I respect you. So long as you do not cross the line in whatever you do.”
“If I do….”
“I will refuse. However, I would like to be of help to you personally. I will give you my Crystal Ball number. Feel free to contact me anytime you need counsel.”
“……Ah, yes. Then I….”
“Stay there, you with the bad legs.”

I rose from my seat and approached him. His eyes widened in real time.
I bent down before him, knelt, and pressed the Crystal Ball on my wrist against his.

He kept his expression blank even now.
But his script had cut off abruptly, as if in shock.

【 Dormant Dragon Academy First-Year Kaiser: ‘…….’ 】

“But there is one thing you must explain.”
“What is it?”
“What poison was in the Five-Color Black Tea?”
“……I added a poison diluted to harmlessness, to make it appear as though I were poisoning it in front of my peers.”

He drew the black tea closer with his cane and took a sip to demonstrate his point.
This is a blind spot in the system. Even a poison diluted to such a degree still carries the intent of poison, so the system recognized it as such.

“I apologize…. But to think you could detect it….”

He’s mistaking me for something remarkable.
Truth is, I was just playing a show to save myself, but wouldn’t it be good if we both survived together, in the same position?
So I got his number. One last thing.

“Happy birthday.”
…….

His expression cracked, just slightly.

That was all.
I left the Dormant Dragon Academy without a word.
Kaiser dismissed the students trying to grab me with a wave of his hand. “Let them go.”

I returned to the manor and
slid down to sit with my back against my door.

“I made it……”

That was one hell of a long day.

┃ Main Quest [First Day of Appointment]
┃ Reward: Star Fragment × 1,000 (DLC Purchase Special Reward)

At last, the thousand-fold reward appeared.
That same evening, a message arrived in the Crystal Ball.

– Kaiser: Professor, thank you so much……
– Kaiser: I’ll be in touch often from now on. We are still weak and have much to learn. If we ever stray from the path, please set us right.

EP3

Dormant Dragon Academy

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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