The Graduate Student Wants to Assassinate the Professor - Chapter 59

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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 59

‘I’ve been discovered!’
Leoryna clicked her tongue and swung her staff in a wide arc. A massive gust erupted, spiraling into a colossal vortex that tore through everything surrounding her, leaving only devastation in its wake.
The Castle, fractured and stained with blood, was no exception—nor were Khalid and Nifra, locked in their standoff. Everything except Leoryna vanished without even fragments remaining.
“Good. Let’s escape before Khalid notices!”
As Leoryna attempted to slip free from the Dream by following the mana thread connected to Pongko, she discovered a small Demon Race child sprawled before her.
She considered ignoring him and pressing on, but something about the small head with its long silver hair loosely tied back nagged at her.
-Leoryna, what are you doing? Get out before we’re discovered!
“No, wait a moment.”
Leoryna crouched down and gently called to the child.
“Khalid?”
The child’s head snapped up. Upon seeing Leoryna, his eyes blinked rapidly before breaking into a bright smile.
He scrambled to his feet, brushed off his clothes, and approached her without hesitation, grasping her hand.
The young Khalid looked up at Leoryna, his eyes gleaming with light.
‘What is this gaze?’
He didn’t seem to regard her as an intruder or view her with suspicion.
While Leoryna tilted her head in confusion, Khalid suddenly began rummaging through his pockets. He withdrew something and held it out to her.
When Leoryna extended her hand, Khalid placed various items into her palm—a worm-eaten acorn, a cicada larva’s shed skin, and small pebbles of pristine white.
Leoryna felt deflated, unsure of what he was doing.
‘Is this a child’s treasure?’
Young Khalid watched her expectantly, awaiting her reaction. Leoryna returned the items to him and spoke.
“Um… I really need to go now…”
Khalid’s face fell immediately. He rummaged through his pockets again, but they were empty.
“If you wait, I’ll give you something better.”
Khalid clung to Leoryna’s sleeve, tugging at it.
“What will you give me?”
Khalid’s eyes rolled as he fell deep in thought, then suddenly clapped his hands and spoke.
“A thesis!”
“What?”
“I’ll give you a thesis. A thesis you’ll love, Leoryna!”
Faced with what seemed to be Khalid’s sincere offer, Leoryna shook her head in exasperation.
“Do I look like I’d enjoy something like that?!”
“But if we help each other with research and prepare lessons together, it’ll be fun. Oh, that’s right! I’ll even share the research funding I received…!”
“Are you trying to torment me?”
Leoryna asked in a detached tone, and Khalid shook his head.
“No… it really is something good…”
“Ugh, forget it. I’m leaving.”
“Wait! Don’t go!”
Khalid stepped in front of Leoryna. But she remained unmoved.
‘Ugh, I can’t even ask outright what his weakness is for fear he’ll discover I’ve entered his dream. What’s the point of staying here? I shouldn’t have said anything.’
“Leoryna, Leoryna.”
Khalid grabbed at her collar.
“Don’t go. Please? I’ll really do better.”
‘Have you ever done anything good for me?’
Though I wanted to ask that, I spoke with resolve instead.
“I’m a busy person. I don’t have time for you.”
“But, but…!”
“I’m really leaving now. Goodbye.”
I waved my hand dismissively at Khalid in farewell.
Khalid tried to snatch at my collar again, but I was already following the flow of mana connected to Pongko, stepping out of the dream.
“Don’t leave me alone!”
I heard Khalid’s voice calling from behind, but I cleanly ignored it.

* * *

“Professor, Professor Khalid.”
Khalid opened his eyes at the sound of his name.
He rose with a sharp intake of breath, his eyes darting about frantically. Upon confirming that it was Leoryna who had awakened him, his face fell.
“Ah… I was having a nightmare. Thanks for waking me.”
Khalid wiped his clammy forehead and sat up groggily.
“Were you dreaming?”
“Yeah. A bad one.”
Leoryna asked just to be sure.
“Do you remember what the dream was about?”
“…Not really.”
Khalid showed no sign of knowing that Leoryna had invaded his dream.
“Make me some coffee. Lots of ice. I need to clear my head.”
He commanded her naturally, his face utterly unsuspecting—the usual Khalid.
Leoryna prepared a cup with more ice than coffee and handed it to him, then backed toward the door of the Professor’s Office.
“Well then, call if you need anything.”
“Leoryna.”
As she turned to leave quietly, Khalid called her back.
“Yes?”
“I’ll make sure you graduate, so don’t run away.”
“What do you mean all of a sudden?”
At Leoryna’s confused question, Khalid laughed lightly.
“Just what I said.”
“Why would I run away?”
“Well, that’s a relief.”
“So… I can go?”
“…Yes.”
I closed the door and spoke to Pongko.
“He really doesn’t know, does he? He genuinely has no idea?”
“No, it seemed like he didn’t know anything.”
“Damn. I thought I was caught for sure.”
I clutched at my still-racing chest and hurried back to the Research Laboratory. After hiding the magical artifact in my Cabinet, I ran my fingers through my hair.
“I just needed a little more time! I must have touched on something too sensitive. I’d love to use it again if I get the chance later… but I’ve run out of the elixir.”
I smacked my lips in frustration.
“But what I saw in that dream bothers me. Khalid killed Nifra 124 years ago, didn’t he? So why did Nifra stab Khalid?”
I tilted my head in confusion.
“And why does Khalid’s autonomous defense system take the form of Nifra? What dream was he searching for that he followed me without waking Khalid?”
The more I thought about it, the more inexplicable everything became.
But Pongko spoke in a bright voice.
“Still, this seems like good news for you!”
“What is?”
“It’s confirmed that Khalid cares for you quite a lot. Your plan is working perfectly—he’s letting his guard down as you gain his trust, and your assassination strategy is succeeding.”
“…?”
I tilted my head, bewildered.
“Don’t you think the dictionary definition of ‘care’ that you’re using and the one I have in mind might be different? I’ve never once thought that man cares for me.”
“But he calls you his precious little treasure.”
“Why are you leaving out the ‘slave’ part?”
“That’s all an expression of affection, affection. And didn’t you see in the dream? He said he’d help with your research.”
“That’s just him saying he’ll dump a pile of work on me and make me do his bidding.”
“No, that’s not it. That’s just how Khalid expresses affection. It might seem like he’s working you to the bone, but for him, those are genuinely fun tasks, and he wants to share them all with you because….”
At Pongko’s words, goosebumps rose across my skin.
“What kind of affection is that? And how would you even know something like that?”
“I’m a herbivore, so I can sense sensitively whether someone is being friendly or hostile toward me. From my instincts, Khalid is quite favorable toward you and is expressing affection.”
I didn’t know whether to be happy or sad about this.
“Just be happy normally, Leoryna. Your plan is progressing steadily toward success.”
Pongko flicked his small tongue.
“I suppose… if what you’re saying is true, it is fortunate… it is fortunate, but… wait! Why is it working out that way?! Goddess Petila! When are we going to that house?!”
Once again, I prayed to Goddess Petila.

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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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