The Genius Professor Wants An Easy Life - Chapter 23

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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 23
Bang!
I gazed with satisfaction at the Body Surrender Deed, now bearing Linden’s seal.
Once I settled Linden’s debt, he would become my servant—or rather, my graduate student.
“But tell me, how did you rack up such a massive debt playing the stock market?”
Linden’s debt came to a staggering hundred thousand Pena.
Since two thousand Pena represented a common family’s annual living expenses, he was essentially indebted to the tune of a billion won back on Earth in Korea.
“Well, I… I touched options on a gift account. I borrowed heavily to trade, and then I just… I ended up on the wrong side of a short position….”
“Why on earth would you push so hard?”
“I wanted to strike it rich all at once, sir.”
Linden stammered his answer, and I sighed again.
The more I learned about him, the more pathetic he became.
‘So Linden the Tenth Sign was a parasite his whole life. Or is it precisely because he was so greedy that he could become the King of Gluttony later?’
Hans ventured a careful question from beside me.
“Young Master, are you certain? You yourself don’t have much money at the moment, do you?”
He had a point.
My pockets held nowhere near a hundred thousand—not even five hundred Pena.
‘I did win some coin betting against Balik back in Daien, but I blew it all on a security deposit when I rented this place. Curse these prices in a free city.’
“It’s fine. I’m not using my own money to pay it back anyway.”
“Wait—your money?! No, that won’t do! Of course my loyalty to you knows no bounds, but that money was meant for your future use…!!”
“I wasn’t after your coin, so calm yourself.”
Hans exhaled in relief.
“Then how do you intend to manage it? Should we request assistance from the Ecclesia Ducal House?”
“No, that’s out of the question.”
If I asked the family for help, they’d give me the money.
But I’d have to repay them.
That cursed family never gave anything away for free.
‘No matter how tempting it might be, I can’t afford to lose on this.’
There was only one method.
“I need to find a ‘benefactor’ willing to pay the debt for free.”
“…Is there any such person?”
“There is.”
Tap.
I set the documents down on the shabby table.
They were the debt documents for everything Linden owed.
The creditor’s name appeared on the papers.
—Arines Guild.
A well-known merchant company.
A subsidiary of the Rafalte Ducal House.
“The Rafalte Ducal House will pay off this fool’s debt instead.”
I would have to turn the Rafalte Ducal House into my ‘benefactor’—or rather, my dupe—once more.
* * *
The Hero Academy contains countless antagonists, hidden masterminds, and villainous organizations.
The Rafalte Ducal House was one of them.
The primary villain in the early stages of the Rubinesu Scenario.
‘It’s better to avoid entanglement if possible.’
I shook my head.
‘Impossible. I’m already ruined anyway.’
Unlike the Headmaster, the other villain in the Rubinesu Scenario, our paths diverged.
I planned to avoid any confrontation with the Headmaster and maintain the most cordial relations possible.
But with the Rafalte Ducal House, that was impossible.
‘Even if I keep my head down, the Rafalte Ducal House won’t leave me alone.’
If that were the case, there was no need for caution.
“You’ve come to see the Guild Master?”
A stern-faced man of no particular renown furrowed his brow.
“If I may ask, what business does the second son of the Ecclesia House have with our Guild Master?”
His demeanor was far from welcoming.
It was only natural.
The Four Great Ducal Houses have never been on good terms with one another.
In particular, the Ecclesia House—which dealt in politics—and the Rafalte House—which dealt in commerce—were bitter rivals.
I had a history of breaking off my engagement with the Rafalte Ducal House, and not long ago, through the Balik incident, I’d even tarnished their family honor.
‘…Besides, the relationship was ruined beyond repair anyway. No need to tread carefully.’
In short, the Rafalte Ducal House and I were like rival companies.
I came in aggressive.
“I’ve come to demand compensation.”
“…What are you suddenly talking about?”
“During the debt collection process, you caused considerable harm to my disciple, Linden. As compensation, forgive the 100,000 Pena debt that Linden incurred.”
“That’s absurd!”
The man raised his voice in disbelief.
“This is not a matter to discuss with a lowly clerk like you. I’ll speak directly with the Guild Master himself. See that I’m shown up.”
“What?!”
That’s when it happened.
“Enough. I’ll handle this directly. Send them up.”
“Y-yes, Guild Master?”
A frigid voice.
Looking up the stairs, I saw a beauty with an expression as cold as her tone, gazing down at me.
In that instant, I felt a sinking dread.
‘This wasn’t in the plan.’
I knew that face.
“Long time no see, Ban.”
The woman continued, her expression impassive.
“Good to see you. Actually, I had things I wanted to tell you too.”
Emily Rafalte.
Ban’s former fiancée.
* * *
‘Of all people, the Guild Master had to be my ex-fiancée.’
I felt like I’d swallowed something bitter.
I’d hoped never to see her again, but the plan went awry from the start.
Emily offered me tea.
“It’s been a while. Hmm, it feels awkward to talk face to face like this. Have you been well?”
“I’ve managed fine. I’m glad to see you’re doing well too.”
Emily looked slightly taken aback.
“Something’s different from before. I thought, well, that you’d resent me when we met. It was my misunderstanding that led to the broken engagement.”
“Not at all. You’re a victim in this too. There’s no reason to hold it against you.”
I tried my best to respond in a composed manner.
‘Acting cold here would be foolish.’
There’s a saying, isn’t there?
The opposite of love isn’t hatred—it’s indifference.
There was no need to be unpleasant and invite her enmity. And if I raised any flags, that would be a disaster.
“I’m relieved. Actually, I wanted to see you to say something else I’m sorry about.”
“What’s that?”
“I’ll be direct. I don’t want to reconcile with you.”
……
Emily looked straight at me.
“You understand, but I originally intended to live as a single woman for my family’s sake. Then you came along with all your unreasonableness and forced me into an engagement.”
Ban and Emily both graduated from Rubinesu Academy.
Emily was two years his senior.
Ban had fallen head over heels for his senior Emily and, after causing no end of trouble, had managed to secure an engagement.
Perhaps for that reason, Emily’s eyes were filled with an utter weariness directed at Ban.
“Just in case you might want reconciliation, I’m making this clear in advance. I have absolutely no intention of reconciling with you….”
“Neither do I.”
‘What luck!’
I was delighted beyond measure.
It was exactly what I’d hoped to hear.
“Really? You’re not plotting something else?”
Emily furrowed her brow, clearly burned out from dealing with Ban in the past.
“Don’t worry. You have nothing to be concerned about.”
“Remember this. We’re strangers now.”
Emily spoke firmly, as if driving the point home.
I felt a wave of relief wash over me.
If Emily disliked Ban this much, there seemed to be no reason to worry about flags.
More than that.
‘I won’t have any reservations either.’
Just to be safe.
If Emily had tried to reconcile over past grievances and suggested they get along, it would have been troublesome.
Because I’d have felt awkward carrying out the ‘plan’ I had in mind.
‘Since we’re strangers now as far as I’m concerned, I can take what I want without a second thought.’
That’s right.
What I was about to do was strip-mine the person standing right in front of me.
“Enough with the pleasantries. Let’s get to business—forgive Linden’s debt.”
“Why would we do that?”
This was where it mattered.
I deliberately crossed my legs and struck an arrogant pose.
“If you don’t, your guild will suffer massive losses. It could bankrupt you.”
“!!”
Emily’s face went slack with disbelief.
“What nonsense are you spouting?”
“Altran.”
Emily didn’t grasp what I meant.
“Altran? You mean the debt collection agency that handles demanding payment on behalf of others? What does that have to do with anything?”
A guild under the Rafalte Ducal House wouldn’t personally pursue small-time debtors.
They outsourced collection work to professional agencies.
“Are you managing things properly?”
“Yes, of course.”
“There’s nothing wrong with the Altran Guild, the collection agency your guild contracted with?”
“That’s right.”
“Really? Are you truly certain?”
“!!”
Emily’s brow furrowed.
“Yes, don’t underestimate our guild. My direct subordinates thoroughly vetted them before signing the contract.”
I drove the wedge deeper.
“Then if the collection agency did something wrong, that’s your guild’s responsibility.”
“…That is—”
“You claimed you were confident, yet you can’t give a straight answer. Balik does the same thing. The Rafalte Ducal House really does have a gift for flowery talk.”
“!!”
Emily’s face hardened.
“Take that back.”
“If you truly stand by your words, I will. Can you guarantee the Altran Guild has no problems by staking your own guild’s reputation on it?”
“…Yes.”
Perfect.
At my signal, a short, stocky man who had been trailing silently like a shadow suddenly stepped into view.
He’d been following as if he were a servant, so no one had paid him any attention.
“Guild Master Emily, you just said you’d take responsibility if the collection agency, Altran Guild, committed illegal acts, correct?!”
“…Who are you?”
“Heh-heh, I’m a reporter for the Gossip Daily! Young Master Ban said if I followed along, he’d give me an exclusive! Everything you just said has been perfectly recorded on my Recording Magic Tool!”
Emily’s eyes narrowed.
Her expression screamed: what game are you playing?
“What are you scheming?”
“Don’t get the wrong idea. I’m just trying to bring the truth to light.”
Before I left.
The Black Flame Dragon dropped one parting remark.
“Unpleasant news will reach your ears soon enough… but don’t take it the wrong way. We’re strangers now, after all—just as you said.”
* * *
That insufferable bastard.
That was the feeling Emily harbored toward Ban.
Since their reunion just now, one word had been added to the list.
That insane bastard.
‘What? Unpleasant news? There’s no way Altran Guild could have problems…’
In that moment, Emily’s chest tightened.
‘…Could there really be?’
—Can you be certain of that?
Balik’s appearance had changed from before.
A nagging unease crept up her spine.
That was when it happened.
“Guild Master, terrible news! Young Master Balik has gone to the Altran Guild and is causing a disturbance!”
“What?”
Emily’s brow furrowed sharply.
‘Of course. Why would he change?’
Memories of Balik’s past behavior—petulant, childish—surfaced in her mind.
No doubt he’d gone to the Altran Guild again to pick a fight and throw a tantrum over nothing.
“I’ll go myself.”
When she entered the guild building, the scene before her was not what she’d expected.
Guard knights had been deployed.
And they were of considerable rank.
“Guard knights—what’s happened here?”
“Well, it seems Young Master Balik filed a report that there’s a Black Magic practitioner at this guild.”
“…Excuse me?”
Emily’s face went blank with disbelief.
A Black Magic practitioner? When he had nothing else to accuse them of?
Even for worthless Balik, this crossed a line that couldn’t be forgiven.
“Balik, have you lost your mind?!”
She shouted, her fury barely contained.
But Balik, far from showing remorse, escalated his madness further.
“It’s him.”
“…What?”
He raised a finger and pointed at a figure.
The owner of the Altran Guild himself.
“He’s the Black Magic practitioner.”
!!
Everyone let out hollow, disbelieving laughter.
The kindly-looking, middle-aged Guild Master was as far removed from being a practitioner of Black Magic as the heavens were from the earth.
“E-Emily, miss? What is that worthless young master saying? Calling me a Black Magic practitioner?”
Emily’s eye twitched.
She’d thought there was nothing left to be disappointed about, but she was wrong.
Balik’s pathetic nature seemed to have no bottom to it.
“Balik, how much longer are you going to live like an idiot? How much more contemptible can you make yourself in my eyes?”

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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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