The Graduate Student Wants to Assassinate the Professor - Chapter 117
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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 117
Whether Leoryna struck her familiar’s rear or not, Khalid merely shrugged his shoulders.
“They offer a service, don’t they? Asking if you’re a couple at a place like this is usually because they give couples something extra. In those cases, you just pretend to be a couple convincingly enough.”
“You’ve been lying about being a couple with Leoryna since last time. Are you enjoying it? And the way you say it so skillfully makes me think you’ve been to places like this with women quite often.”
Pongko, who had barely managed to stop laughing, spoke thus, and Khalid shook his head.
“No, this is something you can figure out just by observing other people—as long as you have some basic perception. Besides, this is actually my first time receiving a couple’s service. You’d need a reason to come to a place like this with a woman.”
Khalid wiped beneath his nose as if he were quite proud of himself.
‘Oh, how he boasts.’
Leoryna regarded him with a cold gaze, but Khalid paid no mind whatsoever and continued speaking.
“Since I’m already pretending to be your lover, wouldn’t it be nice if you played along a bit more? I even gave you a wish token.”
“That wish token is still valid, correct?”
“Of course, of course. Use it whenever you need to. I’ll do anything for you.”
Leoryna was contemplating how best to use it so that word would spread of her wise spending, when Khalid continued.
“Happy birthday, Leoryna.”
His voice carried a certain tenderness.
Leoryna, feeling oddly flustered, scratched her head.
“Oh, um. Thank you. But how did you know it was my birthday?”
“It was written in the personal information section of your Graduate School application.”
“That’s true, but…”
Leoryna had not expected Khalid to remember such details.
Just as Leoryna was about to be genuinely moved, Khalid rummaged through his pocket and produced a golden rod adorned with a ribbon.
“This is your birthday gift.”
It was about the length of a palm, and Leoryna hesitated for a moment, uncertain what it was.
“You didn’t need to prepare something like this… but what is this anyway?”
When Leoryna casually swung it, the rod suddenly extended. At its end, a head formed with several iron plates attached to it.
“Is this… a mace?”
A mace. Known by another name as a morning star. Its primary purpose was as a tool for striking people.
Leoryna’s eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at Khalid. For some reason, he seemed rather pleased with himself.
“Yes. Carry it with you for self-defense. You’re always getting caught up in strange situations. Just in case, keep it with you always. If some weirdo bothers you, crack their skull with it.”
“Thank… you. I’ll use it well.”
Leoryna sighed at Khalid’s gift-selection sensibilities and converted it back into its compact rod form, then carelessly tossed it into the bag she always carried.
Afterward, the two selected their meals appropriately and completed their order. The issue lay in the time it would take for the food to be prepared.
Normally when Leoryna dined alone with Khalid, he was always too busy discussing research for her to get a word in. But today, for some reason, he remained silent.
He sat with his chin resting on his hand, his gaze slightly downcast, and appeared to be lost in thought about something.
It was at this moment that Leoryna and Pongko exchanged glances with each other, their eyes darting back and forth.
“What do you like?”
Khalid suddenly broached an unexpected topic.
“Pardon?”
“Today is your birthday, after all. So I thought I should do something you’d enjoy, but when I think about it, I realize I don’t really know what you like.”
“What I… like?”
Leoryna’s expression grew awkward.
Her hobby was none other than athletics. She enjoyed various sports, and she loved training to strengthen her body. But she couldn’t possibly tell Khalid such things straightforwardly.
In front of Khalid, she had to remain nothing more than a delicate flower—the kind that would shatter if you so much as poked it.
“So I suppose I like… watching sports.”
“Oh, that’s unexpected! I thought you’d prefer something more refined. Wait, now that I think about it, you were quite enthusiastic during the Sports Competition Venue.”
“Ha ha, yes.”
Leoryna laughed sheepishly. Khalid fell silent for a moment before speaking.
“There are quite a few pubs in this area that broadcast sports. Would you like to go to one and watch?”
At the unexpected suggestion, Leoryna tilted her head slightly to the side.
“Professor, aren’t you finishing your research today?”
Khalid muttered with vacant eyes.
“My head hurts… I want to stop thinking today. I want to drink.”
“Is something wrong?”
“No. It’s nothing serious. My head just literally aches, that’s all.”
Leoryna recalled how Khalid had been groaning and cursing under his breath earlier, and she couldn’t help but let out a quiet laugh.
“Your head hurts, but drinking is okay?”
“It’s not a physical problem causing the headache—it’s more of a mental thing. So if I soothe my mind with alcohol, it should get better.”
At Khalid’s sophistry, Leoryna stopped arguing. Instead, she spoke in a firm voice.
“Then don’t call Professor Zigzagel.”
Leoryna had never drunk alone with Khalid before. Zigzagel was Khalid’s long-time drinking companion, so he’d always join whenever there was a drinking occasion, and he’d quite naturally mooch drinks off Khalid.
“Why?”
When Khalid, who had been planning to call Zigzagel again, expressed his confusion, Leoryna’s face showed clear irritation.
“When Professor Zigzagel is there, you both go on a rampage and pour drinks on me. I’m not confident I can keep up with your pace.”
“Alcohol given by a professor is a measure of affection.”
“Today you don’t even have a hangover cure on hand.”
“Why would you want to sober up when the whole point of drinking is to get drunk?”
When Leoryna shot Khalid a glare, he cleared his throat awkwardly.
“Of course, I do drink for the taste as well.”
Just then, the food was served. But it wasn’t just food that arrived. A band from outside came to their table and began playing a sweet melody while singing.
“Happy birthday to you~ Happy birthday to you~”
Leoryna, who thought she’d only receive a birthday cake and be done with it, felt like she might die of embarrassment. Thanks to the band’s commotion, everyone in the Restaurant was congratulating Leoryna on her birthday and clapping their hands.
‘Do I really have to acknowledge this? I don’t like standing out like this! Moving in the shadows is an assassin’s virtue!’
Still, she couldn’t ignore their goodwill, so Leoryna stood up and waved her hand in return.
Khalid’s face beamed with satisfaction.
“See? Getting a birthday celebration by pretending to be a couple feels great, doesn’t it?”
Leoryna laughed with an expressionless face, while Pongko beside her, unable to hold back any longer, burst into loud laughter.
As Leoryna, growing uncomfortable with staying in the Restaurant any longer, began eating her food with surprising aggression, Khalid spoke.
“Save room in your stomach for drinks.”
How much alcohol did he plan to consume that he needed to reserve space in his stomach for it?
Leoryna’s expression turned weary.
‘It hasn’t been long since I drank in front of Khalid and made a scene while completely drunk, Leoryna. Today, I won’t get intoxicated!’
After making that resolve and finishing her meal, Leoryna followed Khalid toward the Pub.
The Pub was already crowded with patrons, and glancing at the screen, Leoryna understood why. Today was the day of a soccer match between the two most popular teams.
Khalid spoke with evident delight.
“Oh, we can watch that match? How fortunate.”
As Khalid and Leoryna were about to enter, Pongko shook his head with visible displeasure.
“Would it be possible for me to return?”
“Why?”
“A place teeming with drunk people is far too stimulating for me.”
When Pongko covered his ears with his hands in a gesture of distress, Leoryna shot him a sharp look.
“Abandoning your familiar spirit…”
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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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