The Graduate Student Wants to Assassinate the Professor - Chapter 72

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

Chapter 72

“You’re a psychopath!”
Leoryna jolted awake at the sound of her own sleep-talking.
The moment consciousness returned, she sprang upright in bed, her eyes darting around the darkened room.
Only the soft glow of a desk lamp illuminated the space, and beside her bed, Khalid lay sleeping against the sofa.
“Leoryna! You’re awake!”
Pongko bounded onto the bed from his corner of the room, studying her with concern.
“Are you alright?”
“Yes. I’m just a bit weak, but nothing hurts.”
Leoryna rolled her neck from side to side as she spoke.
“But why is Professor Khalid here…?”
At her question, Khalid’s eyes fluttered open—though from the look of him, he’d been awake for some time despite keeping them closed.
“Why? I needed to make sure you were stable before leaving.”
“I’m fine. Thank you, Professor.”
Leoryna smiled warmly and nodded. Khalid rose from his seat and pressed his hand to her forehead.
“You’re so frail. Perhaps you need some nourishing food…”
“I think reducing my workload would be more nourishing, Professor.”
Khalid continued as if he hadn’t heard her.
“But do you know what happened to me? I nearly died.”
Leoryna’s eyes widened as she looked him over from head to toe.
“What? What do you mean?”
Khalid began recounting in bitter detail how the mysterious Hooded Mage—the one who had helped contain the mana rampage—had attacked him.
“I don’t know why they attacked me, but I’m genuinely furious! What have I done wrong up until now?! I know my reputation isn’t great, but I don’t recall doing anything deserving of death!”
‘Of course you don’t remember. That’s a mistake you haven’t made yet.’
Even as I thought this, I spoke with concern.
“Then shouldn’t you be more careful for a while?”
“Hmm, but there are so many people after my life. I think I’ll just live as I normally do.”
‘So he’s planning to let his guard down.’
Hearing this, I felt relieved that he didn’t seem inclined to become overly cautious. After nearly dying twice recently, it would be natural to start watching his surroundings—which would only make assassination more difficult.
‘I suppose I can’t just continue as before.’
I’d already attempted his assassination multiple times, yet Khalid remained frustratingly alive and well. I needed a breakthrough strategy.
But I had no idea what that could be.
‘Ugh, my head aches. Thinking about work the moment I leave the hospital bed? That’s terrible for my mental health.’
I flopped back onto the bed.
“I’m fine now, so I’ll rest a bit longer. You should return to your room and get some proper sleep too, Professor.”
“No.”
“Pardon?”
“I have something to do.”
“What are you doing now?”
“The more I think about it, the more it irritates me.”
Khalid muttered a crude expression he rarely used, then studied Leoryna’s complexion again. Only after confirming she appeared normal did he withdraw his hand from her forehead.
Yet Leoryna regarded Khalid with suspicion, since he hadn’t properly answered her question.
What is he planning now?
“Professor?”
But Khalid simply waved his hand and turned away.
“It’s nothing. See you tomorrow.”
“Wait, Professor. It really is nothing, right?”
Despite Leoryna’s persistent questioning, Khalid merely nodded without answering. The door closed shortly after, and Leoryna muttered in bewilderment.
“What is he trying to do?”
Hoping she wouldn’t be dragged into whatever this was, Leoryna fell into contemplation with wide, alert eyes.
The more Khalid showed consideration toward me, the stranger my feelings became. I spent all twenty-four hours of every day thinking about killing him, yet the fact that he cherished me in his own way tormented me.
He harbored affection for me, but….
Until now, I had never needed to concern myself with what my assassination targets thought of me. When both parties were strangers meeting for the first time, what did it matter what either thought of the other?
But the greatest problem with this mission was that I had to remain constantly at Khalid’s side.
Because I spent so much time beside him, we inevitably developed an intimate relationship, and this was proven by Khalid’s steadily increasing affection toward me. Wasn’t he calling me his “troublemaker” and treating me with considerable care?
And as I learned more about Khalid, I discovered he possessed many unexpected qualities, and that the Demon Race harbored the same human emotions as ordinary humans.
The only consolation was that Khalid’s actions were far from being those of a tender, affectionate person.
Constant overtime, frequent all-nighters spent researching, endless document organization, forced participation in his eccentric expeditions.
What kind of tenderness is this? All the sweet-talking men are dead to me.
Every time he did such things, my affection for Khalid crumbled away. So I never reached the point of excessive attachment, but….
Separate from that, it was true that Khalid liked me as his graduate student, so I couldn’t help but wonder if this was right.
“Pongko, do you think it’s right for me to kill Khalid?”
“Why would you say such a thing? You received orders to kill Khalid. He’s supposed to become the Demon King in the future.”
Pongko, who had been chewing hay, tilted his head in confusion. Leoryna continued with an awkward expression.
“No, I mean… what I’m saying is, do I really have to be the one to kill Khalid?”
“Your role?”
“I’m certainly better at magic than most, but I’m not skilled enough to face Khalid head-on and win. And….”
“And?”
“And….”
Leoryna trailed off and scratched her head vigorously.
“I’m wondering if I’ve become too close to Khalid. No matter how I think about it, this situation where he likes me this much isn’t right.”
At Leoryna’s murmur, Pongko tilted his head in confusion.
“But Leoryna. Your plan was clearly to get close to Khalid, lower his guard, and assassinate him in that moment. Wouldn’t it be more advantageous for you the more Khalid likes you?”
At Pongko’s question, Leoryna groaned.
“No, that’s true, but… the intimacy I wanted wasn’t like this….”
“Then what was it?”
“If it were just work-related closeness, that would be one thing, but touching his personal side like this… ah, damn it. I don’t know. What do I do? It happened last time too, and today as well—I’ve been shocked by consecutive defeats against Khalid! Why do I keep failing whenever I attempt a direct confrontation?”
No matter how much Leoryna thought about it, she couldn’t find an answer to this problem, and the frustration weighed heavily on her.
That night, I had no choice but to stay awake.

* * *

Day two of the Conference.
As if the commotion from the previous day had never happened, the mages obsessed with research were busy showcasing their brilliant findings.
And amid all this, Yoprim encountered Chairman Jordiо with an anxious expression.
“Ah, Dr. Undrelake! Yesterday’s incident left me in such disarray that I wasn’t able to greet you properly. I heard you performed quite remarkably yesterday….”
At Jordiо’s words, Yoprim brightened and spoke.
“Indeed! Isn’t it difficult to manage a Dragon’s mana rampage? Only someone of my caliber could handle it….”
“So, could you introduce me to Professor Huaderica, who took charge of the cleanup? Yesterday, you two seemed quite close.”
At Jordiо’s words, Yoprim’s face hardened.
“That… Why are you looking for him?”
“Ah, I’m scheduled to hear about his research findings today, and it seems quite innovative, so I’ve become interested.”
“Well, um, then what about my research….”
“Ah, it’s time for Professor Huaderica’s presentation. I should be going now.”
Watching Jordiо disappear into the distance, Yoprim could only grind his teeth.
Following the path Jordiо had taken into the Lecture Hall, Khalid’s presentation was just beginning. Like Khalid had done the day before, Yoprim reluctantly squeezed into a seat to listen to his presentation.
“Now then, let us begin!”
Khalid stood at the Podium and captured everyone’s attention with a resonant voice.
“I will present a new approach to semi-permanent extension of magical duration, supplementing Dr. Yoprim Undrelake’s report! Please be seated, everyone!”
Unlike the bewildered Yoprim, Khalid calmly displayed his research materials on the screen. Yoprim’s eyes darted frantically in all directions as he shouted.
“You never planned to present something like that! Don’t fabricate theories that don’t exist!”
At those words, Khalid’s eyes rolled back, the whites streaked with blood vessels, as he spoke.
“I’ve been conducting separate research in this field, you bastard!”
“The research isn’t organized enough to present…!”
“I prepared it all night!”
That was true. Khalid and I had been conducting more advanced research that surpassed Yoprim’s theories. However, because our research was more complex than his, we had planned to complete it while accepting that we would be his followers. But then….
“I had Zigzagel and Meryl send me all my research materials, organized them overnight, and finished preparing the presentation! Though it’s not a completed study, it has far more merit than your pathetic drivel, so listen carefully with both ears!”
Yoprim’s face turned pale as a blank sheet of paper.
“Why, why all of a sudden…!”
“Thinking about how you made me suffer yesterday kept me so frustrated I couldn’t sleep!”
“What?”
So Khalid had genuinely prepared this presentation purely to humiliate Yoprim. As revenge for making him suffer yesterday.
‘What a ruthless person… truly ruthless….’
I distributed printed copies of the research materials to the audience while shaking my head.
Even the expression “petty and narrow-minded” fell short for describing someone with such a small heart. What was I supposed to do with him?
Regardless of whether Yoprim’s blood pressure rose or not, Khalid began his research presentation, and it made Jordiо’s eyes gleam. The longer the presentation continued, the greater the audience’s curiosity about Khalid’s research became, and when he finished, thunderous applause erupted.
“Magnificent, Professor Huaderica! I’ve truly never seen such an approach!”
An excited Jordiо handed Khalid his business card and spoke.
“Ah, well, I’m someone like this, but… would you perhaps need an investor for follow-up research?”
Khalid chuckled and shook hands with Jordiо. Watching this unfold, Yoprim tore at his own hair.
“Argh! Aaargh!”
He clung desperately to Jordiо.
“Chairman Jordiо? Could I perhaps ask… what’s happening with the funding plan for my research?”
“Ah… I’ll discuss that with the relevant parties and then decide.”
Jordiо laughed awkwardly and gestured politely toward Khalid.
“Shall we go over there and continue our conversation?”
“Chairman! Chairman!”
Yoprim called out desperately, but Jordi’s Secretary came and gently led him away.
“Doctor, why don’t you speak with me instead?”
“Argh! Chairman!”
I heard Yoprim’s despair echoing through the Lecture Hall and laughed openly.
“Haha, this is like watching children squabble…”
But the nagging feeling from yesterday still weighed uncomfortably on my mind.
I followed Khalid with heavy steps.
The more he treated me with care… though admittedly his methods were utterly at odds with how others behaved… the more I found myself unable to understand what I truly felt standing beside him.
‘I should have killed him yesterday after all.’
Then I wouldn’t have to wrestle with these thoughts!
But like a Tram that had already departed, the opportunity was gone. I tried to focus on planning the next assassination method.
Yet still, I couldn’t prevent useless fragments of doubt from creeping in between my thoughts.

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