The Genius Professor Wants An Easy Life - Chapter 68
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
Chapter 68
“Yes, that’s correct. I went to great lengths to remove the original professor, but that bastard has taken his place instead.”
“Understanding of Magic Basics—isn’t there supposed to be two course sections?”
“Yes, exactly. It’s a foundational course for all freshmen, so due to enrollment, it’s split into Class 1 and Class 2. He’s been assigned to Class 2.”
“Replace the Class 1 professor with Aiden.”
“!!”
The Butler’s face went rigid with surprise.
“Aiden? But he’s one of Rubinesse’s most celebrated professors—isn’t he an A-fessor certified by the Ministry of Education?”
Each year, the Ministry of Education conducts performance evaluations on all professors.
They assess multiple dimensions: mastery of subject matter, research output, contribution to society, and more, with a separate grading category.
That category was teaching ability.
An A-fessor was a celebrated professor recognized for A-grade teaching ability.
For reference, there was also an S-fessor grade above A-fessor, but Rubinesse Academy had not a single professor at that level.
“So you’re comparing his lectures against Aiden, the greatest celebrated professor?”
Teaching the same course as an A-fessor would expose the class’s deficiencies mercilessly.
Volmen’s scheming didn’t end there.
“Call a board meeting and have his Understanding of Magic Basics course designated as a subject for Quality Management review.”
Under Ministry of Education guidelines, each academy must designate certain courses for Quality Management review and conduct self-inspections.
Should a professor’s course be selected, some choose to take leave rather than face such intense scrutiny.
‘Quality Management audits are practically considered a legitimate means of demotion.’
The Butler clicked his tongue.
Should the slightest flaw emerge in his teaching, the man would suffer endless disadvantages.
‘After this course, he’ll be forced out.’
Yet the Butler felt a sudden flutter of concern.
“…What if the bastard delivers a flawless lecture?”
“What do you mean?”
“…It’s unlikely, but if he were to surpass even Aiden, the A-fessor himself….”
The Butler trailed off.
The Duke’s measures would instead give wings to his enemy.
Just as they had, time and again, until now.
“…You make a fair point. Best we cast another net. Have someone contact Senin.”
An unexpected name surfaced.
The protagonist of that business class idea from not long ago.
“Senin—isn’t he currently a first-year at Amethyst Academy? Surely you don’t mean…?”
“Yes. The student council there is already under control, I presume? Have Amethyst’s Student Council send an audit team to his course.”
The four major academies’ student councils maintain close interchange.
One such mechanism was the “Dispatch Audit Team” system.
Technically, the student council represents students’ interests.
But student council members are also academy students, and self-reporting risks their own disadvantage.
So when a problem arises at one academy, the student council from another is dispatched as an audit team to report on their behalf.
“With Senin’s abilities, we can trust him.”
“Indeed. Senin is the one who will succeed me.”
This time, the Butler dismissed his concern and nodded as though satisfied.
Senin was a prodigy whose talents belied his youth.
‘His sister, Emily, is excellent too, but she’s not a patch on Senin.’
Senin would stop at nothing to achieve his aims.
Destroying this bastard through accusation would be child’s play.
* * *
Competitive star professor assignment.
Quality Management course designation.
Student audit team dispatch.
Thus Volmen deployed three separate schemes to drive him out, and those given their orders began to move against him.
“You’re telling me to take on a freshman course? Just to deal with some mediocre nobody?”
Aiden was a young professor.
With his polished, urbane image, he bore a similar style to Balas, the brilliant prodigy of the Magic Houses.
“You shouldn’t underestimate this professor. Even Balas, who is expected to succeed you, couldn’t match him.”
“Don’t compare some upstart like Balas to me. I’m an A-fessor—officially certified by the Ministry of Education.”
“…My apologies.”
Aiden’s displeasure was plain.
That he should refuse to be mentioned in the same breath as Balas, the prodigy of magical circles, and now be asked to contend with some mediocre teacher.
His pride was deeply wounded.
“I have my honor to consider, so I cannot simply accept this.”
“Of course, the Duke will see that you are properly compensated for your trouble.”
“I’m not speaking of money. Grant me the right to participate in the Imperial Symposium.”
!!
The Butler stiffened.
Quite literally, it was a symposium hosted by the Empire for professors of the four great academies.
Merely attending was considered a tremendous honor.
“If the Board of Trustees were to recommend me, would that not make it possible?”
“However, I cannot simply grant you a place. The Chancellor’s faction will oppose it.”
“Then why not wager on this course? Whichever instructor receives the higher evaluation score shall attend the next Imperial Symposium.”
It was a reasonable proposal.
Half the board currently leaned toward the Chancellor’s faction.
A fair wager meant the Chancellor’s side would have no grounds to object if they lost.
“I understand. I shall propose to the Board that whichever of the two instructors receives the higher evaluation score shall attend the next Imperial Symposium.”
And so it was.
A prize was now at stake—one Ban had never sought.
But that was not the only difficulty facing Ban.
Far to the southeast of the Free City.
In a harsh environment where desert and canyon pressed against one another.
A city rose incongruously from the surrounding terrain.
The atmosphere of the streets was composed and serene.
Intellectual people reading books while sipping tea.
It was Amethyst, the Scholarly City.
As its name suggested, it had grown up around the Amethyst Academy.
For reference, each of the four great academies possessed its own distinctive city.
Rubinesse had the Free City, Amethyst had the Scholarly City, Sapphire had the Fortress City, and Peridot had the Sacred City.
“Fine weather again today.”
“All thanks to the Amethyst Academy protecting us from Mana Distortion. There’s nowhere as pleasant to live as this place.”
“And every student here is outstanding, too.”
The citizens of the Scholarly City took great pride in the Amethyst Academy.
Such pride naturally extended to contempt for the other academies.
In particular, Rubinesse—the weakest of the four great institutions—came up frequently in conversation.
“I hear the students at Rubinesse are so dissolute. And their faculty is far inferior as well.”
“It’s all the more galling that such a place is sister academy to our Amethyst Academy.”
“Do you know who just became a professor at Rubinesse Academy? A complete novice, no less!”
“What? Is that really true? Even accounting for Rubinesse’s decline, that’s rather shocking.”
“And I hear he’s teaching a mandatory course. What sort of corruption must be at work.”
“The poor students at Rubinesse.”
The Scholarly City was far removed from the Empire’s center, so rumors spread slowly here.
Few people knew of Ban’s recent accomplishments.
Yet there was a reason why such damaging gossip about him spread so readily in this place.
“As a violation of student rights has occurred at Rubinesse Academy, I propose that a Dispatch Audit Team be sent.”
The Student Council chambers at Amethyst.
A young boy was speaking boldly, his voice raised.
It was Senin!
Heir to House Rapelt, the star of the Commercial Class.
Every bit of malicious gossip about Ban circulating through the Scholarly City had come from Senin.
……
The Student Council chamber fell silent.
Remarkably, all the upperclassmen were watching Senin carefully.
Surprising, given that Senin had only just been admitted as a first-year student.
He had bribed or gathered leverage on the council officers before even enrolling.
Ruthless competence far beyond his years.
Yet not everyone had fallen under Senin’s influence.
“That’s merely rumor. Without clear evidence, should we really dispatch an audit team?”
!!
A third-year student had spoken.
But the face seemed oddly familiar somehow.
Senin identified the person.
“How disappointing, Vice President. Are you protecting him because he’s your brother?”
Kale Ecclesia.
The fourth of five siblings in the Ecclesia Family!
Kale was the Vice President of the Student Council here at Amethyst Academy.
“It’s not about personal feelings—it’s about procedure.”
“The Rubinesse Student Council has already submitted a request for cooperation. Ignoring it would constitute a dereliction of duty, wouldn’t it?”
‘…Damn him.’
Kale ground his teeth behind closed lips.
It wasn’t simply that Senin had touched his older brother.
Senin had seized control of the Student Council, and now Kale was half a puppet.
‘I can’t even handle someone like this. What’s wrong with me?’
His oldest brother Lon was remarkable, his second-oldest sister Mariam was remarkable, his youngest sibling was remarkable.
Even Ban, once called a half-breed, had proven dazzling once you looked beneath the surface.
Only Kale was ordinary.
‘It’s all right. Not everyone needs to be a star. But that bastard—I want to land one good blow on him.’
His anger today was burning hotter than usual, though it wasn’t truly because Senin had undermined his older brother.
—Whenever you need my help, reach out your hand.
Then, suddenly, Ban’s voice came back to him.
—I’m your older brother.
A memory surfaced: Ban facing down the Lord of Malice in his stead.
That was the first time Kale had truly relied on him.
Though he didn’t want to admit it, Ban had been the most dependable back he’d ever known.
Kale made an impulsive decision on the spot.
“Fine. I’ll dispatch an audit team to Rubinesse. But if your claims prove false, you’ll bear the consequences—resign from the Student Council.”
“!!”
Senin flinched, then smiled faintly.
“Understood. In return, should I prove correct, I would ask that you accept responsibility and step down from your position as Vice President.”
Kale nodded.
In that moment, he chose to trust the Ban he had known.
Trusting an older brother was a younger brother’s privilege, after all.
‘You told me to trust you, so if you embarrass yourself, I’m going to hit you, Ban.’
After that, the specifics of the procedure were discussed.
As they were determining who would be sent on the audit team, someone unexpected volunteered.
“I’m going too.”
Everyone turned to look at the person who had raised their hand, confusion written on their faces.
Even Senin, someone not easy to intimidate, voiced careful objections.
“That’s not necessary. There’s no need to…”
“Why? Is there a problem with me going?”
“No, it’s just… I was worried it might be too much trouble for you.”
“Don’t pretend to care when you don’t mean it. It’s annoying.”
“!!”
Speaking so bluntly to the heir of a ducal house?
But everyone seemed accustomed to it, no one showing surprise.
There was good reason for that.
“Whether I go or not is my decision, so mind your own business.”
Snap!
A girl with a brilliant appearance.
Joanna, the young lady of a renowned magical house, spoke in a low, steady voice.
“I have a debt to repay to Professor Ban as well.”
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————