The Graduate Student Wants to Assassinate the Professor - Chapter 41

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

Chapter 41

Leoryna grew up as an orphan. Because of that, I was too busy fending for myself to properly enjoy my childhood. And after Middle Academy, I was occupied learning magic under my mentor with Yorken’s support.
During that time, I received a proposal to join the Papal Church’s Special Mission Unit immediately after graduating from High Academy. So I spent my youth studying at the Academy during the day and undergoing basic training to join the Special Mission Unit in the evening—there was no time to enjoy being young.
After joining the Special Mission Unit, I had no leisure to do anything else while carrying out missions.
“Damn it, I only have memories of working.”
I had lived quite satisfied with my profession, but thinking about it this way made me worry that I’d lived like a complete workaholic. Wasn’t it a waste to spend these beautiful years without even knowing what youth truly meant?
Of course, I had more days ahead to live. Still, experiencing the same thing now versus experiencing it when I’m older might feel different, so it seemed better to enjoy youth while I was at an age to truly savor it.
As Leoryna brushed off my hands and stood up, Pongko looked at me with a puzzled expression.
“Are you going to enjoy your youth?”
“Hmm….”
Leoryna, who had sprung up with such momentum, slowly sank back down at Pongko’s question.
“I really don’t know how to enjoy youth.”
“Can’t you just play however your heart desires? I mean, by doing the kinds of things young people do.”
“Play? What do young people do when they play?”
“How would I know? I’m a rabbit. Don’t humans understand human culture better than anyone?”
“Ah… I guess I’m not human after all.”
Should I have spent this time planning Khalid’s assassination instead? I fled saying I’d take a break today because it felt like another pile of work was about to be dumped on me—but isn’t that dereliction of duty?
I’m an assassin. And my assassination target is still very much alive.
“No, I’m thinking about work again?!”
Leoryna grumbled irritably and slapped both my cheeks repeatedly. Then, popping the dried apple I’d been giving to Pongko into my own mouth, I observed what other people were actually doing.
There were mad groups drinking since morning, couples clinging together like a pair of slimes, and a flashy dragon adorned with ornate accessories shaking maracas on stage….
Hmm, among the dragons I know, there’s only one who wears accessories so extravagantly!
Leoryna stared at Zigzagel with an expression of utter disbelief. On stage, various instruments played in ensemble, and Zigzagel was shaking maracas while bobbing his shoulders along with them.
“Now that’s youth.”
“Indeed. That’s youth.”
I took a mental blow from the fact that I was falling behind a 433-year-old dragon.
As the ensemble continued in full swing, Zigzagel descended into the audience seating and encouraged people to dance and respond. He enthusiastically shook his maracas among the people dancing merrily.
Shaka-shaka.
Shaka-shaka.
When the ensemble ended, applause erupted from the crowd. Zigzagel bowed gracefully, exchanged a few words with the musicians, handed them the maracas, and descended from the stage with a flourish.
As I stared at it all with unfocused eyes, Zigzagel recognized me from far away and approached with a cheerful wave.
“Oh, what brings you here instead of being in Khalid’s Research Office?”
“I came to enjoy my youth. But I don’t know how to enjoy it.”
As Leoryna shrugged, Zigzagel tilted his head curiously.
“Enjoy your youth? That’s easy. Just play like you did back when you were an undergraduate, like I do.”
So that’s why the professor is playing like an undergraduate….
Leoryna pushed the question back down that had risen to the tip of my tongue and laughed awkwardly.
“Back when I was an undergraduate… I only studied.”
“Ah, you don’t know how to enjoy a festival. But there’s no need to overthink it.”
Zigzagel wagged his index finger left and right.
“A festival is about alcohol, music, and romance! Any one of these is enough to have a good time.”
Leoryna twitched one corner of her eye. At that utterly unamused expression that screamed absolute disagreement, Zigzagel clicked his tongue.
“You don’t understand.”
“Then what will you do now, Professor? You’ve enjoyed the music, so will you have a drink?”
“I’d like to.”
Zigzagel spoke plainly.
“If I head to the tavern, the students will obviously cling to me asking me to buy them drinks, so I’d rather not go there.”
‘This shameless bastard.’
“Then what about romance?”
“Romance for someone who fled to avoid marriage?”
With that, he slipped his hands under both of Leoryna’s armpits and hoisted her up effortlessly.
“But the alcohol problem can be solved right now. Since you’re here, go over there and buy me some drinks.”
“With my own money?”
Surely a professor wouldn’t expect to mooch off a graduate student.
When Leoryna gave him a suspicious look, Zigzagel seemed to have the same thought, as he turned his pockets inside out searching for money. But all that emerged from his pockets were a few coins—barely enough to buy a single beer.
“I’ll buy it for you.”
“No! No! Wait a moment, I’ll go get some money!”
Zigzagel forced Leoryna to sit back down, then bolted toward the Magic Theory Research Building. Leoryna watched his retreating figure with utter exasperation.
‘He’s going to borrow from Khalid.’
At 433 years old, I couldn’t fathom why he still lived like this.
As Leoryna pondered what age even meant, someone approached her.
“Um…”
Leoryna looked up at the person speaking to her cautiously.
He wasn’t quite as strikingly handsome as Khalid or Zigzagel, but he was reasonably good-looking, standing with a friendly smile. He had reddish-brown hair.
“Are you alone?”
Leoryna gestured with her eyes toward Pongko sitting beside her and answered.
“Not entirely alone—I’m traveling with a rabbit.”
“Ah, is it your familiar? How cute.”
“Thank you.”
Leoryna tilted her head to the side.
“But what brings you here…?”
Just then, Pongko kicked Leoryna with his hind legs.
“Ow! Why?”
When Leoryna lowered her head toward Pongko, he looked at her with utter disdain.
“Can’t you tell? It’s a pickup attempt, a pickup attempt.”
For reference, Pongko’s voice was disguised through the collar around his neck, so to others it sounded like this:
“Squeak squeak! Chirp chirp chirp!”
“A pickup attempt? On me?”
Leoryna’s eyes widened as she stared at the man.
“I’m Las from the History Department. It’s such a perfect day—would you mind spending a little time with me?”
At Las’s words, Leoryna made no sound but silently mouthed a question, her lips moving slightly.
‘Zeles?’
At Leoryna’s signal, Las—or rather, Zeles—broke into a grin.
The phrase about it being a perfect day was a secret code between Leoryna and Zeles for identity verification.
Leoryna glanced sideways at Pongko. She was hesitant to acknowledge knowing Zeles here with Pongko watching. So she decided to play along as if she didn’t know him, but she had no idea how she was supposed to react when being hit on.
She scratched her head and spoke awkwardly.
“Sure, why not?”
Leoryna stood up to follow Zeles, then whispered discreetly to Pongko.
“Pongko, you’ll be fine on your own, right?”
“Huh? Just me?”
“Yeah. I’m going to hang out with Las here—I’m being hit on, after all. If this is supposed to be romantic, your presence would just get in the way.”
At Leoryna’s words, Pongko’s eyes narrowed.
“So what you’re saying is that the cute and lovable rabbit is now a nuisance because of some guy, is that it?”
“You understand perfectly.”
Leoryna’s response seemed to pout Pongko slightly.
“Fine then, enjoy yourselves without the third wheel.”
He turned his head away with a huff and hopped away, disappearing into the crowd. Zeles tilted his head, watching Pongko go.
“Is it okay to leave the rabbit alone like that?”
“He’s one we keep in the Research Laboratory. I sent him off because he’s annoying. He’s smart enough to find his way home, so I won’t lose him.”
“I see.”
“But why are you here? And in disguise, no less.”

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