The Genius Professor Wants An Easy Life - Chapter 41

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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 41
‘They say that after becoming an Evil Dragon, it lost the qualifications for Ascension.’
If Ashtat starts to glow, no one will survive.
‘The one silver lining is that the Seal hasn’t been completely released yet.’
I recalled the Hidden Episode: “The Great Dragon’s Savior.”
There was still plenty of time to escape.
The problem was,
‘…if I run from here, it’ll eventually lead to a Game Over.’
Running now would save my skin in the short term.
But the major storyline would twist entirely out of shape, making it impossible to Clear under any circumstances.
‘Ugh. And yet, challenging this Hidden Episode is also insane.’
Most players of Heroic Academy actually skip this episode.
Since it’s literally “hidden,” you can just pretend not to see it and move on without stirring up trouble.
‘But once an episode triggers like this, you can’t skip it. You have to Clear it, no exceptions.’
Just then, Aktor gave me a peculiar look.
“What troubles you, sir? Are you perhaps concerned about our Rebellion’s settlers?”
“??”
“You’re hesitating because if we flee alone, the settlers left behind will be sacrificed, aren’t you?”
I blinked rapidly.
While I was deliberating, the black Evil Dragon struck some ostentatious pose, and the Rebellion’s Guardians completely misread the situation, shouting:
“Yes! Just as we heard! The image of a hero who cannot turn a blind eye to the suffering!”
Yohen’s reaction beside me made me even more alarmed.
“Professor, you are truly remarkable. I’m ashamed to admit, I was too afraid of the Evil Dragon to summon the courage.”
Yohen cried out with firm resolve.
“I too shall follow Professor Ban’s example and stand against the Evil Dragon!”
‘No, I don’t want this. Do you know how difficult this episode is….’
That was the moment my thoughts reached that point.
I fell silent for a moment.
‘…Wait, if it’s like this, isn’t it actually doable?’
Clearing this episode with my strength alone was impossible.
But.
‘…I have plenty of tools to work with.’
I studied the Guardians quietly.
There was Aktor, a Level 6 knight, and the rest were quite skilled as well.
‘If I use the Guardians as a shield wall, I can raise the odds of success considerably.’
Indeed, a message appeared:
<Probability of Breaking Through the Great Dragon’s Nest>
-When exploiting the pathetic Rebellion: 33.7%
Success on one attempt out of every three tries.
It was low, but not so impossible as to be dismissed outright.
‘Moreover, there’s also the Demon Saint who can serve as a trump-card shield in case of emergency.’
Still green, but he’ll have his uses.
I finally opened my mouth.
“Very well. I will stop that Evil Dragon.”
“Yes, just as expected!”
“But on one condition: your Guardians are to assist me completely.”
“Of course, sir! We shall follow any order you give!”
Aktor and the other Guardians bowed their heads.
“And one more thing. Yohen, was it? Your Rebellion’s Saint must not step forward without my explicit command.”
“…You’re worried about me?”
…No, it was simply that I wanted to save him for the most critical moment.
‘Yohen’s Holy Power is still at a pathetic level, so I need to use it as sparingly as possible.’
But for some reason, Yohen spoke in a deflated tone.
“I don’t want to receive such special treatment.”
I caught myself.
‘Yohen finds being treated as a Saint burdensome. He thinks he’s not qualified for it.’
The remedy was simple.
I spoke in the coldest tone I could manage.
“Don’t misunderstand. It’s not because you’re some special Saint. It’s simply because you fall short.”
!!”
Yohen’s eyes widened slightly.
“…You’re saying I’m insufficient?”
“That’s right. Saint or whatever they call you, but to me you’re nothing but a greenhorn. You haven’t even enrolled at the Academy yet.”
I looked down at Yohen coolly.
“Of course, you’re not my student, but no professor worth his salt would stand by watching some wet-behind-the-ears kid court danger without knowing his place.”
……
“So you’ve decided to enroll at Amethyst Academy? If you don’t want to be protected, then go and train. If you ever develop the qualifications, I’ll gladly trust you at my side. But that day isn’t here yet.”
Fortunately, the persuasion seemed to work—Yohen nodded slowly.
‘Good. I spoke as coldly as possible, so his affection should have dropped.’
But then an incomprehensible message appeared.
-The Demonic Saint marvels at your noble concern for others! Affection has increased!
‘……??’
Where the hell did that come from?
As I stood there bewildered, I heard Yohen mutter quietly, his head bowed.
“…Even though you’d be in danger too, you step forward in my stead like that. That’s amazing. You’re so much better than someone like me.”
…That’s not what I meant at all.
Cold sweat dripped down my back, but I forced myself to ignore it.
“…We’re running out of time. Let’s move.”
Right now, stopping that cursed Evil Dragon was the priority.
* * *
‘I have to breach the Nest before Ashtat fully awakens.’
The problem was the odds.
33.7% was far too low no matter how I looked at it.
‘That means a 66.3% chance of death. Ugh, how am I supposed to work with this?’
I felt a twinge of regret.
If Professor Bernstein had been here, I could have raised the odds considerably, but unfortunately he’d left after his academic training ended yesterday.
‘Even if not Bernstein specifically, it’d be nice to have someone else to exploit—especially a mage.’
Then, a familiar voice reached me.
“What have you been doing all this time? Didn’t you hear the evacuation order?”
“Honestly, it’s just like you. Slacking off even at a time like this.”
It was Kansir and Balas!
It seemed the other professors had already evacuated through portals.
“Are you two running away as well?”
“It’s not running away—we’re falling back to formulate a strategy. If an Evil Dragon truly is awakening, we’d be woefully inadequate alone.”
“A coward’s excuse.”
!!
Both their faces hardened.
“What did you two say earlier? Didn’t you claim you’d show me your prowess? And now a problem arises and you immediately tuck tail and run without even attempting to handle it? Truly impressive.”
“But… our strength isn’t sufficient….”
“Have you tried?”
I let out a mocking laugh.
…Truth be told, I’ll admit it.
I’m rather good at provocation. It was my specialty back in my Earth days as a sales king.
“The Evil Dragon hasn’t even fully awakened yet, and it’s just some stray evil aura leaking out—and you’re already acting like this? Truly remarkable.”
……
“Enough. I’m wasting breath on cowards like you. Get out of my sight now. I don’t have time for this conversation.”
Kansir and Balas clenched their teeth.
“…Shut your mouth, you bastard. Who are you calling a coward? We’re staying.”
“…This won’t do. This time, Professor Aktor, I will show you just how remarkable I am.”
Just as simple as expected.
The bait worked!
<Probability of breaching the Great Dragon’s Nest>
-If exploiting the naive new professors: 50.5%
The odds had climbed slightly.
‘…Still not ideal, but at least breaking fifty percent is something.’
Everything else would have to come down to performance on the ground.
I led the two of them to join the Rebellion’s guardians.
“These people are…?”
“Wandering knights who happened to be passing through the area. We’ve agreed to join forces.”
For the Rebellion, whose concealment was second nature, such simple deception was always manageable.
“Half-blood master, fighting spirit! Tsk, I wanted to stand beside you with my life on the line, but wouldn’t you know it—I’m a non-combat mage! Instead, I’m sending Linden. You’ll do, won’t you?”
“Wait, old man? Why me? I don’t want to go either!”
“Enough noise. Linden, you’re coming with me. Hans, don’t you dare slack off—protect the village from the beasts that have grown agitated. I set up a Magical Formation earlier, so you can manage it.”
Linden and Hans’s faces went ashen at the same moment, but I paid them no mind.
‘This is the Nest of an Evil Dragon.’
As I ventured deeper into the Highland, a massive cavern loomed before us.
It resembled the gaping maw of hell itself.
‘Will I succeed?’
I recalled the strategy posts I’d seen on the community board.
-‘Savior of the Great Dragon’ episode? That’s insane to attempt.
-The rewards are tremendous, but you’re better off skipping it anyway.
Still, I shook my head.
‘I’ve cleared this before. Luck was on my side, but still.’
Based on that memory, success was entirely possible.
“Knights, deploy your Sword Energy at full strength and hold back the Evil Aura from the front. And Kansir, Balas, Linden—the three of you will dismantle the magical traps according to my instructions.”
“Don’t give me orders!”
“Who are you to say such things?”
“Professor, I’m useless trash—I doubt I’ll be any help at all. Can’t I just go home?”
The three protested, but ultimately they had no choice but to follow my lead.
A barrage of fiendishly complex magical traps activated—traps far beyond what the three of them could handle alone.
“Balas, activate a third-rank Prism Shield. No, not like that. Angle the vector more toward the upper left.”
“Kansir, cut through the trap on the left with your Flame Sword. Wait—don’t slash it with the blade. You need to disrupt the trap’s Formula with the heat of the flames.”
“Linden, use Manipulation Twisting Magic to disturb the trap’s activation. Apply the Formula Conversion technique I taught you during last graduation exam training.”
Thanks to my exceptional command, the three managed to dismantle the magical traps and push forward.
“Ekin, why are you just standing there?!”
“Huff, huff—this isn’t right… Ekin, I’ll teach you a lesson for—”
“No! I’ll pay back a hundred thousand pena, I swear! One lucky stock trade and I’m cleared!”
Then, an obstacle appeared.
“What is this?”
“A door?”
A pitch-black door, as though sealing the very entrance to hell, blocked our passage.
An ominous darkness rippled around its frame.
“My blade cannot break through it.”
Aktor shook his head grimly.
If even he—a knight of the Sixth Sword Rank—deemed it impossible, then no one else in this party could manage it.
‘To force it open, you’d need to be at least Level Eight.’
An impossible feat.
But not for me.
“Everyone, step back. This time, I’ll handle it.”
It was then—
A chilling whisper brushed against my ear.
-You who lack qualification, withdraw.
Though I’d never heard that voice before, I knew its owner at once.
It was Ashtat—the master of this Nest!
The Dragon’s Pressure of his presence bore down on my soul, and dread welled up unbidden.
Yet I did not retreat.
Instead, I spoke back.
-Why should I lack qualification?
-…What?
-I am Ekin Ecclesia.
I let the corners of my mouth rise.
-I am the one who will save you. Sit tight, you most foolish of dragons in this world.
I raised my hand, pointing toward the pitch-black darkness that engulfed the door.
In that instant.
Rip.
The door tore like paper.

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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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