The Graduate Student Wants to Assassinate the Professor - Chapter 54

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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 54

“Are you truly certain about this? No matter how I consider it, the contract seems to carry far too much risk….”
As Khalid expressed his concern, Zigzagel shrugged his shoulders.
“If you think about it, Pongko’s very existence is already a risk. If we’ve decided to preserve that, shouldn’t we manage it as carefully as possible? I believe a Familiar contract is not such a poor choice.”
“That’s right, Professor. I really do have confidence that I’ll take good care of him.”
As Zigzagel reassured him and Leoryna persuaded him once more, Khalid reluctantly nodded his head.
“Very well. Then we should proceed with the contract now? How does the procedure work?”
“Well, it’s not terribly complicated.”
Leoryna drew blood from her own finger using magic, then traced two magical circles on the ground and connected them with a line.
Afterward, she drew a single drop of blood from Pongko’s ear and let it fall upon one of the two magical circles. She then positioned Pongko within one circle while standing herself in the opposite one.
“You just need to stay still.”
She reassured the blinking Pongko and began to chant a magical incantation. The magical circles shone with golden light, and threads of luminescence rose up, connecting Pongko and Leoryna together.
The Familiar contract magic unfolded gradually, and the two began to feel many things connecting. And at the moment when they would share mana, Pongko’s eyes blinked rapidly.
“Leoryna, you…!”
-Be quiet.
Leoryna’s voice echoed within Pongko’s mind.
-I’ll explain the situation later. For now, pretend you don’t know.
At Leoryna’s warning, Pongko closed his mouth and waited quietly, his nose twitching obediently, for the contract magic to complete.
In silence, the magic ended, and both Leoryna and Pongko felt a new sensation tingling near their hearts.
“Are you alright?”
As Khalid fidgeted nervously, Leoryna spoke in a light tone.
“Nothing seems to have changed dramatically. The flow of mana feels the same as usual, and I don’t feel Pongko’s mana particularly strongly either. I think everything will be fine.”
Leoryna shrugged, genuinely believing nothing significant had occurred. Pongko, too, noticed no distinct changes in himself, so he sniffed curiously and asked.
“Do I live with you now, Leoryna?”
“That’s right. Though we’ll share our states with each other around the clock, you don’t necessarily have to stay glued to my side. You’re free to move about as you wish.”
“I see. I look forward to working with you from now on, Leoryna.”
As Pongko and Leoryna laughed together, Khalid watched them with displeasure, though Zigzagel maintained his usual demeanor.
“I, well… would like to have an open conversation with Pongko now that he’s become my new Familiar. Would it be alright if I left work now?”
“Shall I accompany you?”
“No, I’d like to talk with him alone.”
At Leoryna’s firm refusal, Khalid smacked his lips and stepped back.
Leoryna picked up Pongko, bowed respectfully to the two men, and hurried toward her home.

* * *

“So, to summarize the situation: Leoryna is a 7th Circle mage.”
“Yes.”
“And she’s actually an assassin sent by Yorken.”
“Mm-hmm.”
“Khalid is destined to become the Demon King in the future and wage war against this world… something like that, right?”
“That’s correct.”
As Leoryna explained her true identity and everything that had transpired, Pongko, who had been listening intently, suddenly burst into laughter.
“Pfahahaha! Khalid’s the Demon King…! Khalid’s going to become the Demon King! Pfahahaha!”
“It’s ridiculous, isn’t it? I find it amusing too. But apparently His Holiness doesn’t find it funny.”
Despite Leoryna’s sardonic remark, Pongko continued laughing for quite some time.
“Ah, so that’s what I’ve been misunderstanding all this time…!”
“Exactly! I don’t actually like Khalid! I was just hiding my true identity in front of him!”
“Pfahahaha!”
Pongko found everything so amusing that he burst into laughter with each word Leoryna spoke. After his laughter finally subsided, he asked.
“So what should I do now?”
“What do you mean, what should you do?”
“Killing Khalid! Is there anything I can help you with?”
“Not particularly at the moment.”
As Leoryna tilted her head, Pongko mimicked her gesture.
“But a Familiar is supposed to stand by their mage’s side, right? Your mission is my mission too, so shouldn’t I be participating in killing Khalid as well?”
“Well… to be honest, I don’t think you’re capable of doing anything that actively.”
“Ugh. Then why did you make a Familiar contract with me in the first place?”
Leoryna counted off on her fingers as she spoke.
“First, your existence was incredibly bothersome to my mission. I need to operate without being observed, but you’re constantly stationed in the Research Laboratory. Do you have any idea how troublesome it was to do everything behind your back? That said, I couldn’t just kill you either, so…”
“Kyaaaah!”
“…it felt wrong. So by making you my Familiar, I could escape those constraints. And second, I do need collaborators. Having someone who can assist me, even in minor ways, is beneficial. You may not be of great help, but you can certainly handle trivial matters, can’t you? Consider it a form of insurance.”
“I see.”
“Anyway, you understand everything now, right?”
“Yes. I have a rough grasp of the situation.”
“Good. First, I need to report your existence to the Papal Church…”
Leoryna retrieved her sparrow automaton and sent it flying out the window. Not long after, Zeles’s image appeared in the Mirror.
“Zeles, hello?”
“You formed a Familiar contract? What’s the occasion?”
“Well, it’s like this.”
Leoryna scooped up Pongko and held him before the Mirror.
“Hello?”
Zeles was startled by Pongko’s greeting.
“Isn’t this the rabbit I saw on Campus the other day? And it can talk?”
“Well, this rabbit is rather unusual…”
Leoryna explained everything that had happened up to that point. While she had written in her report to the Papal Church that she was conducting experiments on rabbit tails, she hadn’t disclosed the specific details, so Zeles listened to her account with evident curiosity.
“How fascinating.”
“Right?”
The two of us tilted our heads in unison, gazing at Pongko.
“But what if Pongko transforms into a Demonic Beast again while you’re not paying attention?”
At Zeles’s words, I rolled my eyes and answered.
“Since I’ve already figured out how to revert him, couldn’t I just use the same method again?”
“But you said this rabbit had a Third Circle circuit when he transformed into a Demonic Beast. If he suddenly transforms in a crowded place, it could lead to a major disaster.”
“I suppose that’s true, but….”
I scratched my head.
“If something goes wrong, I’ll notice it immediately, so dealing with it shouldn’t be that difficult.”
“That’s right. I’ll be careful too.”
Pongko chimed in to support my words, but Zeles scratched his temple and spoke.
“That’s exactly what I’ve been saying repeatedly. If there’s an element that interferes with the mission, you should just eliminate it.”
“Eliminate? How?”
“What do you mean how? You need to kill it cleanly….”
“Kyaaaah!”
Pongko shrieked, and I jolted in surprise, waving my hand frantically.
“But killing him is just too much! Pope Beronas would have told us to show mercy. The Holy Maiden would think the same way! And now that we’ve made a Familiar contract, we can’t just kill him so carelessly.”
Zeles let out another heavy sigh.
“I have a feeling this will only create more problems.”
“That won’t happen. Thank you, Zeles.”
“Don’t grow too attached to just a rabbit.”
“It’s not like that.”
“Excuse me, but that rabbit is right here in front of you. Isn’t that rather rude?”
When Pongko protested, Zeles stared at him intently. Since he was wearing a mask, I couldn’t see his expression, but I was certain he was narrowing his eyes and furrowing the bridge of his nose.
“Fine, I understand. If anything happens, send an automaton immediately. This communication ends now!”
As Zeles vanished from the Mirror, I splashed water on my face.
Zeles was right—killing Pongko would be convenient in many ways. It was true that with such an uncertain element, an accident could happen at any moment, and by Khalid’s logic, killing him might even be the merciful choice, but….
‘I’m sorry, Zeles. I think I’ve already grown attached to him.’
I pulled Pongko into a tight embrace.

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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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