The Graduate Student Wants to Assassinate the Professor - Chapter 103

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 103

“Ah, there you are! Why were you hiding over there? Come on, introduce yourself to my department students.”
At Khalid’s words, the Demon Clan students bowed their heads toward the Demon Theory Department students. The Demon Theory Department students, their expressions awkward, returned the greeting.
That was right—it was Khalid’s doing that the Demon Clan students had come along.
He claimed they might feel something profound upon seeing the Demon Clan’s ancient ruins, or some such reasoning.
Of course, since they didn’t belong to the Demon Theory Department, their attendance was voluntary. Yet a considerable number had come regardless.
Isikabel from the Magical Engineering Department and Zargen from the Physical Education Department, naturally, along with Nelpi from the Astronomy Department, Aisen from the Magical Environmental Research Department, Deporta from the Magical Pharmacy Department, and even Dolores from the Fashion Design Department. A total of six students had attended.
And since Isikabel was attending, Zigzagel naturally joined as well, citing the need to oversee his own department’s students.
Leoryna could only tear at her hair.
‘My workload just keeps growing! It just keeps multiplying!’
Since this was a new location, it was as though she had to prepare everything from scratch.
Getting departmental approval for the trip, arranging the schedule, looking after the students, gathering supplies, obtaining consent from the other departments to which the Demon Clan students belonged, and countless other tasks.
‘Such is my fate… Oh, what a fate mine is…’
Even as Leoryna wept silently to herself, she confirmed that all the students had boarded the Flying Airship, then boarded herself and took her seat.
“All right, is everything ready? Then, let’s depart!”
“Hooray!”
As the Flying Airship lifted off, the delighted Khalid and students chattered merrily and unpacked their entertainment for the journey ahead. Only Leoryna, who had spent the previous day preparing for the expedition, collapsed into sleep as though unconscious.
No one paid her any attention.

* * *

Upon arriving at the Laimdel Ruins, I found Seleya already waiting there. A middle-aged human man stood beside her.
“Good day. I am Nelda, the excavation director of these ruins.”
As the man introduced himself, Khalid nodded in acknowledgment.
“Thank you for allowing the students to observe.”
Khalid cleared his throat before the students.
“Since the ruins are still under excavation, there are many uncertain areas. There may be dangers. So don’t touch anything carelessly.”
“Yes.”
The students responded lightly.
“Well then, follow me as we tour the ruins.”
“Yes!”
The students began trotting after Nelda.
“This ruin was partially exposed above ground when heavy rains several months ago washed away the soil.”
As Nelda explained, the students peered around at collapsed stone blocks, building facades, and well-worn roads.
“Um, I have a question!”
Zargen, who had been staring at a landscape indistinguishable between rock and artifact, raised his hand eagerly.
“I heard this was an ancient Demon Race city. Are there distinctive architectural styles?”
At Zargen’s words, Nelda chuckled and tilted his head.
“Whether this is a Demon Race city or not remains unknown. The architectural styles of the Demon Clan are crude and not yet systematized. Since excavation is still ongoing, we haven’t fully determined the purpose of each building. So that aspect requires further investigation. It could even be an undiscovered ancient human clan.”
At his words, the eyes of the Demon Race students rose almost simultaneously.
They were students who learned by viewing illustrations and records of architectural styles from when the Demon Race built and inhabited nations. Even with an objective perspective comparing them to other races, the culture of the ancient Demon Race was undeniably brilliant and progressive.
But what? Crude? Crude?
Nelda’s words reached Khalid, Leoryna, and Seleya as well. As Khalid furrowed his brow, Seleya leaned close to his ear and spoke through gritted teeth in a low voice.
“That bastard is a human dispatched by the Langgrion Government, yet he dares deny Demon Race civilization like this? But how could I trust him with the excavation? That’s why I called you. There’s no way that human will conduct a proper excavation! Look into something for me.”
Khalid smacked his lips.
“Understood. Then I’ll investigate separately. I’m counting on you with the students. Don’t cause any strange problems.”
“Just trust me. I trust you too!”
Khalid walked off casually, and Zigzagel followed behind him, glancing around.
“So what’s your plan? Shouldn’t the magic detection be handled by their side? There seemed to be traces of magical formulas in the excavated areas too.”
“Well, there’s only minor magic there. Our goal is to clearly prove that these ruins are Demon Race civilization, right? Then do you know what the most certain evidence would be?”
“What?”
“Finding Halgrok’s Temple.”
“Ah.”
Only the Demon Race worshipped Halgrok on this land, so if Halgrok’s Temple existed, we could claim this land was Demon Race territory.
“So I thought I’d search for a place where Halgrok’s Temple might be….”
At those words, Leoryna tilted her head.
“But Professor….”
“Hmm?”
Leoryna wanted to ask Khalid what his relationship was with Halgrok, but she couldn’t.
She was curious why Halgrok’s remnant was sealed in Khalid’s horns, why he had once been in conflict with Halgrok—but bringing up such matters at this moment would look quite suspicious, wouldn’t it?
Instead, Leoryna asked differently.
“Are all Demon Clan members devout believers who serve Halgrok with utmost reverence? In my case, I’m actually a devoted follower of Petila.”
At those words, Khalid shook his head slightly.
“Not all of them. Especially not since Halgrok’s fall.”
“Is that so?”
“Of course, there are still many Demon Clan members who serve Halgrok and await his return.”
At the mention of Halgrok’s return, Leoryna felt a sharp, instinctive dread pierce through her heart. Yet Khalid continued speaking without concern.
“Well, it’s been over three thousand years, so faith has grown considerably muddled by now. To be honest, Halgrok made mistakes, didn’t he? Since Demon Beasts are hostile even to the Demon Clan, they can’t shake the feeling of having been abandoned by Halgrok.”
Khalid clicked his tongue once, then continued.
“But it’s also Halgrok who grants them greater magical power. The Demon Clan has no choice but to instinctively obey him. Their faith has weakened only because Halgrok has fallen—if he were to return, they would worship him again.”
After finishing his explanation, he narrowed his eyes and murmured.
“That’s the problem…”
At his meaningful words, Leoryna tilted her head in confusion.
“Then, Professor, do you believe in Halgrok?”
“I do not believe in Halgrok.”
A look of perplexity crossed Khalid’s face. Leoryna was at a loss for words.
“But you’re a Demon Clan member, aren’t you?”
“Not all Demon Clan members believe in Halgrok.”
Leoryna recalled from Khalid’s past how he had regarded Halgrok.
‘I’m not sure what Halgrok was trying to do, but Khalid tried to resist him.’
As Leoryna nodded thoughtfully, she watched Khalid place and remove his hand from the stone tablet, then asked.
“Why don’t you believe in Halgrok, Professor?”
“Halgrok is a dangerous existence in this world right now. That god must not gain power. That’s why I don’t believe in him.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“What I’m saying is…”
Khalid deliberated for a long moment, then spoke with some hesitation.
“Halgrok is wrong. The other gods were right to confine him so he could not descend upon the Land of Seraphinum. How could I possibly believe in such a god?”

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————