The Genius Professor Wants An Easy Life - 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
Why was it?
Why did hearing that voice fill him with an inexplicable sense of relief?
“Open your eyes wide and watch.”
Ban raised his hand.
“I’ll show you a new horizon.”
At the same moment, with a brilliant flash—whoooosh!—a colossal star blazed into being.
‘A Magical Formation?’
It was the Sealing Formation that had been binding the Lord of Evil Spirits!
‘How? Could it be Formation Interference?’
Kal’s expression shifted to disbelief.
A Magical Formation worked by physically anchoring the stars of Mana and then activating them through an internal power source.
It was stable, but interfering with it from outside was extraordinarily difficult.
Especially with a high-level Magical Formation powerful enough to bind the Lord of Evil Spirits.
Yet Ban was accomplishing that impossible feat with perfect composure.
That wasn’t all.
“Vanish. Wretched phantom.”
With that arrogant command.
A low rumble echoed—gooooo.
The stars of the Magical Formation trembled.
The character of the stars transformed.
From mere ‘binding’ into ‘destruction.’
‘Formation Transformation!!’
Kal’s eyes widened as if they might tear open.
Going beyond merely interfering with the formation—actually transforming it.
The difficulty level needed no explanation.
‘What? Am I seeing things?’
But it was no illusion.
The Magical Formation, now bent toward destruction, began tearing the Lord of Evil Spirits apart.
-Screeeeeeee!!!
The Lord of Evil Spirits shrieked, but it was futile.
Like severing the breath of a beast caught in a trap, the Magical Formation shattered the core of the Lord of Evil Spirits.
‘This… this can’t be real.’
Through vision blurring with Mana exhaustion, he stared at Ban.
Ban remained unchanged.
Not the slightest tremor crossed his face—impossible to imagine he had just wrought an unbelievable miracle.
Yet that very composure seemed to declare that all of this was indeed reality.
-You’re going to admire me, little brother.
As those words brushed past him one last time, Kal lost consciousness.
* * *
‘I almost got screwed.’
My heart pounded—thump-thump, thump-thump.
‘What do you mean 90.3% win rate? I almost failed!’
There were two strategies for defeating the Lord of Evil Spirits.
First, through sheer force.
That was nearly impossible.
The more conventional method—what I’d just done—was to manipulate and transform the Magical Formation to destroy its core.
‘After all, this Magical Formation was originally created to destroy the Lord of Evil Spirits’ core but failed, which is why it became a Sealing Formation.’
That was why it normally required at least three Mage-class protagonists working together to defeat it.
I’d thought the Grand Master of Magic skill would be enough, but I’d hit a wall immediately.
‘I couldn’t figure out a single bit of what incantations were being used.’
That made sense.
The magical knowledge I’d accumulated amounted to barely 3 Star Rank at this point.
Meanwhile, this Magical Formation had been created by 8 Star Rank arch-mages pooling their power, so there was no way I could have known what techniques were involved.
‘Damn it. What now? Should I run?’
But I shook my head.
‘No. I can’t give up.’
If I fled, there’d be no way to obtain Mana.
I couldn’t win against the Duke in a duel, and I’d likely be forced into the military or bureaucracy.
‘I’m going to win—for my sweet honey-sucking future!’
What worked in my favor was the sword.
As I was using it as a shield and trying to figure out some way forward, it happened.
A change began to occur.
‘…The structure of the Magical Formation is becoming clear to me.’
I still had no idea what magical incantation was being used.
It was a matter of ‘knowledge.’
And yet.
‘…I think I’m starting to understand what role each star is playing.’
-Pierce Through the Essence of Magic!
I realized once again just how broken the Grand Master of Magic trait was.
‘But how do I convert it into a destructive incantation?’
I didn’t know.
But.
‘I think this might work.’
It wasn’t a matter of knowledge.
It was more like animal instinct.
‘…Will it really work?’
I had no certainty whatsoever.
But I had to try.
“Keep your eyes wide open and watch. I’ll show you a new horizon.”
With the sheer swagger of Black Flame Dragon’s Charisma backing me, I barely managed to vanquish the Lord of Evil Spirits!
‘…It’s over, right?’
It seemed so.
Then a message appeared.
-Hidden Piece ‘Vanquishing the Lord of Evil Spirits’ achieved!
-Rewards granted!
-Scattered ‘Mana’ acquired!
‘Done!’
I exulted inwardly.
The Lord of Evil Spirits had no physical form—it was made entirely of Mana, an Astral Body.
Vanquishing it yielded Mana equivalent to what most spirit-stones could provide.
It was roughly the amount of Mana a sorcerer would need ten years to accumulate.
‘But with my Mana Insensitivity, I can’t expect such benefits.’
As I explained before, my absorption rate was about one-hundredth that of normal mages.
The Mana I’d gained this time amounted to slightly more than a month’s worth, not ten years.
‘Even so, it’s an enormous amount for me.’
It was roughly a quarter of what a typical apprentice mage at the Star Rank level would have.
Some might call it ‘merely that,’ but for me it held tremendous significance.
-Acquired Title: ‘Vanquisher of the Lord of Evil Spirits’!
-Black Flame Dragon’s Charisma grows even more formidable!
I made a face of displeasure.
Charisma was already overflowing; this reward was unnecessary.
‘Ugh. Time to get inside and rest. Good work.’
But there was something I’d forgotten.
“You wretch… what on earth have you done?”
A voice thick with cold fury.
A middle-aged man with eyes like blade-edges appeared, glaring at me as if he might kill me on the spot.
It was the Duke!
“You’re here. It’s as you see, Father. The sword destroyed the Sealing Formation of the Lord of Evil Spirits, and I merely—”
Midway through, a sinking feeling struck me.
‘Will the Duke believe me?’
The only witness who could corroborate my story was unconscious—the sword itself.
Due to Mana depletion, he’d be out cold for at least two or three days.
Just as I’d feared.
“Shut your mouth!! You vanquished the Lord of Evil Spirits?! At least lie about something believable! What is wrong with you that you’re this hopeless?!”
The Duke flushed scarlet and bellowed.
He seemed to believe I’d caused the chaos and the sword had cleaned up after me.
It was an understandable interpretation.
‘It would be better to let this slide.’
Once the sword woke, the matter would resolve itself, but I shook my head.
A way to gain an advantage occurred to me.
And conveniently, the Black Flame Dragon’s Charisma awakened within me in response to the Duke’s pressure.
“Father, I have told you plainly—I defeated the Lord of Evil Spirits.”
“What…!!”
“If my words are true, what will you do?”
“!!”
The Duke flinched.
“The House of Ecclesia stands for justice and honor. Surely, even as my father, if you have made unjust accusations, you must bear the responsibility that follows—must you not?”
The Duke’s face darkened with anger.
He looked as though he couldn’t fathom what had gotten into me.
“If I win the duel, I ask not only that you apologize for the misunderstanding you have harbored all this time, but also that you grant me one request of my choosing.”
“Ha!!”
The Duke let out a hollow laugh, as if the proposal were utterly absurd.
“Very well. I shall humor you. But mark my words—the duel will take place tomorrow without delay. If you fail to prove what you claim, you will be stripped of your place in this house on that very spot.”
I nodded.
“Might I offer one more word, Father? A counsel for your honor.”
“What?”
“I would advise that the number of observers at the duel be kept to a minimum. The fewer witnesses to the shame you will endure, the better for you.”
“!!”
The Duke’s teeth ground together audibly.
I swallowed hard under the weight of his murderous glare.
Fear coiled in my chest, but I did not look away.
‘The duel has already begun. If I falter here, I lose before we ever draw blades.’
I recalled the power games I’d played with clients during my sales career.
Sales is a brutal discipline.
You must always maintain the posture of subordinate, yet you cannot grovel endlessly.
When the moment demands it, you must show strength.
Even if you’re trembling with nerves.
The Black Flame Dragon supported me in this.
I met the Duke’s gaze with an arrogant, unyielding stare, and in the end, it was he who looked away first.
“Be prepared for tomorrow.”
With a flourish, the Duke swept from the room, his sword in hand.
As I stepped outside, Hans greeted me with the eager face of a chick waiting for its mother.
“Young Master!! You truly did defeat the Lord of Evil Spirits, didn’t you? Of course! I always believed in you! Loyalty! Loyalty! Loyalty! But… why does the Duke look so furious?”
Hans shot a sharp glance after the Duke’s departing figure.
“Did he perhaps misunderstand and misjudge you? I will go clarify the matter for him at once!!”
I shook my head.
“Never mind. Stay calm. Everything will come to light tomorrow anyway.”
There was a reason I’d been radiating confidence this entire time.
<As you face the duel tomorrow, Gambler’s Judgment manifests!>
-Probability of landing a decisive blow on the Duke: 100%
It was an absolute victory rate.
* * *
“Father, do you truly intend to duel Ban?”
A young man with composed, refined features.
Ron, the eldest son of the House of Ecclesia, posed the question to the Duke.
“I do.”
“…But surely a duel between you and Ban cannot be legitimate, can it? Ban must have acted foolishly again. Perhaps you might show understanding toward him…?”
“I have already shown more than enough understanding. For over twenty years, I have waited.”
At the Duke’s cold response, Ron’s mouth fell silent.
‘Good grief. Ban, you foolish wretch. What manner of catastrophe have you brought upon yourself?’
Ron lamented inwardly.
He harbored sympathy for his younger brother.
“Then perhaps the duel should be held in private? For Ban’s sake.”
The Duke’s brow furrowed.
Ban’s words returned to him.
-The fewer observers, the better. The fewer who witness the shame you will endure, the better for you.
‘This madman.’
His teeth clenched as he spoke.
“The duel will be held at the Training Ground. I will have the White Eagle Knights serve as observers.”
“Father?”
“This time, I think it’s best to make him thoroughly understand his place.”
The Duke had decided to cast Ban out after tomorrow.
As a father, then, it was only right to offer one final lesson.
Perhaps it would be his last chance to come to his senses.
‘…Ban, what on earth are you trying to do?’
Lon watched his brother with a dark expression, consumed by worry.
And so the news of the duel between Ban and the Duke spread through the Ducal House.
“Have you heard? They say young master Ban has challenged the Duke to a duel.”
“A duel? What manner of insanity is this? Has that reckless bastard lost his mind and grown tired of living?”
“From what I gather, this duel will be the last—after it, they’re casting young master Ban out of the family.”
“Finally? Thank the heavens. How such refuse could ever be born into the great Ecclesia Ducal House is beyond me. They should have driven him out long ago.”
“Still, lately he hasn’t caused much trouble, has he?”
“If anything, he’s grown worse in other ways. Delusional. Suffering from grandiose fantasies.”
“True enough. How mad must one be to actually challenge the Duke to a duel?”
Everyone in the Ducal House jeered at Ban.
In particular, the White Eagle Knights, who answered to the Ducal House, went beyond mockery—their reactions burned with fury.
‘How dare he challenge the Duke?’
‘Doesn’t he know his place?’
There was not a single knight in their order who didn’t revere the Duke.
They had already been grinding their teeth at Ban, and now he had the audacity to challenge the Duke without understanding his own station.
The knights waited for Ban in the Training Ground with a murderous atmosphere.
‘The Duke won’t even need to lift a finger.’
‘We’ll make him soil himself before he even sets foot on the duel platform.’
The knights exchanged glances in silence.
Once Ban appeared, they would focus their aura upon him and fill him with dread.
There was no way a wretch like Ban could endure it.
And then.
‘He’s here!’
A beautiful young man whose very appearance drew gasps of admiration.
Ban had arrived.

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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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