The Genius Professor Wants An Easy Life - Chapter 91

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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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Chapter 91
‘Something bigger is going to happen. I’m sure of it.’
Wasn’t I being too pessimistic?
Look at everything that’s occurred so far.
How could anyone remain optimistic through all this?
More than anything, these recent events had driven home a single, troubling fact.
‘This isn’t Hard Difficulty anymore, is it?’
An unsettling thought.
The Warrior Academy, it turned out, harbored another difficulty setting entirely.
Hell Difficulty.
‘Though honestly, I don’t know what Hell Difficulty even entails.’
It wasn’t part of the standard route—a hidden difficulty altogether.
No one on the community forums claimed to have played it, so opinion remained divided on whether Hell Difficulty actually existed.
‘If this were Hell Difficulty, it would explain every impossible anomaly we’ve faced so far.’
But I shook my head immediately.
‘It can’t be. Please, no.’
A desperate prayer.
If it were Hell Difficulty, we were done for.
The scenario notes had described Hell Difficulty in exactly one line.
-Absolutely impossible to clear.
Setting that thought aside for now, I turned my attention to what was coming: the Deleted Night Episode.
‘In principle, the main characters should handle it themselves, but I need to prepare for any contingency.’
That was when a voice reached me.
“Professor Ban, how do you intend to contribute to the security efforts?”
Currently, we were in the middle of a faculty assembly.
Professors from every department had gathered to discuss countermeasures against the Phantom Break.
Shwoosh.
Every eye turned toward me at once.
“There’s been a rumor calling you the sacred light of Rubinesse. I confess, we’re all curious to see what remarkable feats you’ll accomplish this time.”
It was barbed.
By solving several recent crises and distinguishing myself, I’d apparently incurred the jealousy of the other professors.
‘They figure that since I suffer from Mana Insensitivity, I’m useless in practical combat anyway.’
Yet not all the gazes cast my way were hostile. A fair number of eyes held something quite different.
-Ban, we’re counting on you again this time.
Mostly from the faction aligned with the former Rector Randolph.
What both camps shared, however, was something simple.
The entire academy was watching to see what role I would play in this crisis.
“Professor Ban, please outline your security strategy.”
I deliberated for a moment.
‘What do I do? Actually, preventing whatever catastrophe comes next is far more crucial than merely standing guard.’
Not to mention it was inefficient.
‘If I try to capture ghosts myself, I won’t bag more than a handful before I become a laughingstock.’
Though I’d gained some insight from Maelstrom Island, my absolute mana reserves remained pathetically low.
In certain situations I could perform miracles beyond my limits, but against swarms of ordinary enemies, my abilities hit a hard ceiling—that was my fundamental weakness.
‘There’s also a practical concern. Whatever glory I claim during this Phantom Break will weigh heavily on the decision of my permanent professorship.’
In other words, I needed to secure the greatest possible credit.
Engaging the ghosts myself? Absolutely impossible.
‘I need to earn credit another way.’
Having decided, I opened my mouth.
“I don’t intend to participate in the security perimeter.”
!!
Everyone’s face went slack with shock.
“What are you saying? You won’t stop the ghosts?”
A natural reaction.
I had no ready excuse.
Worse yet,
‘What I’m planning can’t reach anyone’s ears.’
A catastrophe will definitely unfold.
My instincts were screaming a warning—something dire was coming.
‘I can already sense roughly what kind of disaster it will be.’
I swallowed hard.
‘Something terrible is about to happen—something that makes everything that’s come before look trivial.’
The kind of story that would shock anyone who heard it.
All the disasters so far have been horrifying, but for this to exceed them all?
Yet it was true.
‘If my suspicion is correct, I need to deceive our own people first.’
That’s how I catch the ‘enemy’ off guard.
It was the only strategy that could work.
For the sake of the ‘operation,’ I put on a completely shameless expression.
“Of course, it’s beneath someone of my standing to deal with a mere low-grade spirit.”
“Ha! Responding to a disaster of this magnitude is a professor’s duty.”
“In that case, I’ll take a leave of absence.”
“Professor Ban!”
Whether the other professors were angry or not, I rose from my seat.
Like the original ‘Ban Legia’ would.
“Don’t bother me with such trivial matters. I find them tiresome.”
That was how.
The operation to prevent the destruction of Rubinesse Academy began.
* * *
People’s reactions were predictably poor.
“So Ban Legia ran away in fear of the spirit.”
“Figures. I thought he’d actually changed for a moment there.”
“A professor who can’t handle a single low-grade spirit? A disgrace to the Magic Faculty.”
His recently improved reputation plummeted again.
I had no choice but to let it be and move forward.
There was much to do.
“What is it? I’m busy.”
The voice was sharp.
The face was youthful.
It was Mariam, Ban’s sister and the city mayor.
“I came to speak with you about something.”
“What? If you took a leave, shouldn’t you be out enjoying yourself?”
I let out a quiet laugh.
“Thank you.”
“Thank me for what?”
“For not being upset that people curse me.”
“Upset? Why would I care what people say about you?”
“You’ve come to understand, haven’t you? That I wouldn’t act this way without reason.”
Mariam’s brow furrowed suddenly.
“Fine, then tell me. What exactly are you thinking? Why call Emily and Gordon here too?”
There were more than just the two of us in the room now.
I nodded to Emily and Gordon before getting to the point.
“What is the city’s defensive posture?”
“You needn’t worry about that. Phase 2 will proceed soon enough, but our preparations are already complete.”
“That’s right. Our Security Forces and Rubinesse Academy are working together to ensure the city suffers no damage.”
Gordon answered with unwavering confidence.
‘Knowing Mariam’s nature, she’s certainly prepared flawlessly with no gaps in her defense.’
“It’s insufficient. Prepare for Phase 4 at minimum.”
!!
Everyone’s eyes went wide.
Phase.
The term that measures the intensity of a Phantom Break.
In Phase 1, monsters averaging Level 1 appear; in Phase 2, those averaging Level 2; and so on.
That is to say, Phase 4 means spirits averaging Level 4 will manifest.
‘If the average is Level 4, then higher-tier spirits will appear as well.’
It was catastrophic.
But that wasn’t even the worst part.
‘While all the professors and senior students are occupied with Phase 4 of the Phantom Break, something else will unfold at the Academy.’
“What? In the past fifty years, no Phantom Break has ever reached Phase 4.”
“This time will be different.”
“What’s your evidence?”
“Evidence? Do I need evidence? I am Ban Ecclesia. I will become a great star of the magical world.”
It was my way of saying: believe me without question.
Everyone fell silent.
Mariam swept her hair back with obvious exasperation.
“Right. Gordon, if we proceed at full strength with Phase 4, what are we looking at in terms of casualties?”
“We can contain it, but we’re looking at thirty percent or more of the Security Forces taken down. Civilian losses would be incalculable.”
Mariam shot to her feet.
“I’ll request reinforcements from the military.”
“Wait. The military alone won’t be enough.”
“What do you mean?”
“Do you think this crisis ends once we’ve eliminated the spirits?”
Mariam understood my implication and snapped her mouth shut.
“You’re saying someone will use the chaos to strike at the Free City?”
I nodded.
‘In the original scenario, villains would stage a terror attack on the academy during the chaos, nothing more.’
But my instincts were sounding an alarm.
That something worse was coming.
A far more terrible catastrophe.
‘Especially now—Ouroboros will be venomous, primed. There’s no way he’d pass up an opportunity like this.’
Mariam’s expression darkened.
“There is a way. We set a trap.”
“A trap?”
“Yes, hear me out.”
And so I laid out the ‘operation,’ and everyone’s eyes went wide again.
“What? Such a thing couldn’t possibly—”
“Why would it be difficult? Isn’t it more than possible for you?”
“If, as you say, it goes wrong? Then I face an enormous political backlash.”
“But if it succeeds, you become the hero who saved the Free City. Exactly as you’ve always wanted.”
“…….”
“Didn’t I tell you before? That I’d help you break into central politics. This will give you wings.”
Mariam bit her lip hard.
Unable to decide, she drummed her fingers on the desk with visible anxiety, and
“Trust your brother’s word on this.”
“!!”
Mariam’s face twisted.
“Ugh, that’s repulsive. You were so much cuter before. Not anymore.”
“…I think I’m getting too old to be called cute anyway.”
“No, forget it! I liked you better the old way. Cocky!”
“But you don’t dislike me now, do you?”
“I certainly do!”
Bang!
She slammed the door and left.
Yet despite all her bluster, she was going off to attempt the operation I’d proposed.
‘Maybe I laid it on too thick. I’ve always wanted an older sister like that.’
I turned my attention elsewhere.
Emily stood rigid, her expression severe.
“How have you been?”
“…Getting by. Can I ask you something first?”
“Go ahead.”
“What was that about House Rapelt falling?”
Ah.
The warning I’d given her before.
“It’s the truth.”
“That’s insane. Do you know how much wealth House Rapelt has accumulated?”
“Normally, you wouldn’t fall. Normally, that is.”
I thought ahead to what was coming.
‘The events that unfold after this Deleted Night Episode involve House Rapelt overreaching in their attempt to seize control of the academy—and everything falling apart.’
“Greed brings ruin. Your father, Volmen, wants too much.”
“…….”
Emily, realizing I was serious, clenched her fists tight.
“Don’t worry too much. I called you here partly because it relates to that matter.”
“What do you mean?”
“The fall of your house isn’t necessarily a bad thing for you, is it? You never had a real chance of inheriting House Rapelt anyway.”
Emily’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Wait—are you saying what I think you’re saying?”
“Yes. When House Rapelt collapses, I’ll help you siphon off the family assets. Enough to establish a new house from scratch.”
!!
“In exchange, you’ll cooperate with me fully on this matter.”
“Cooperate?”
“I need certain items. They’re rather expensive—I’ll need you to procure them with your money.”
“How expensive are we talking?”
“A bit.”
“…A bit?”
“…Yes, a bit.”
I recited the list of items, and Emily’s eyes nearly bulged out of her head.
“Are you insane?”
It was a price that would bankrupt even the second-generation heiress of the Empire’s largest conglomerate.
* * *
I left the city hall and made my way elsewhere.
Creak.
As I opened the door, the reek of blood washed over me.
“Ohoho, Master! It’s been so long. I’ve missed you so much. Sylphin was keeping herself entertained with a little hobby♥”
Sylphin, who had been torturing Free City’s criminals, greeted me with a bright smile.

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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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