The Graduate Student Wants to Assassinate the Professor - Chapter 77

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

Chapter 77

I wanted to refuse because it felt burdensome, but the prospect of working alongside others seemed better than standing around like a sack of grain I’d borrowed. I nodded in agreement.
“Then I’m truly grateful. I was at a loss about where even to begin my investigation.”
The three faces brightened at my words.
After exchanging names with them, I privately assigned nicknames—Mulde, Fatty, and Freckles would do nicely.
“So the basic biological structure of demons is…”
The three of them settled beside me, and as we peeled potatoes together, their chatter began in earnest.
“You’re quite fortunate, Leoryna. Opportunities to study living demons are extremely rare.”
“That’s right. Normally, when we conduct demon subjugation, we kill all the demons and that’s the end of it, but this time we’ve received permission to capture a high-ranking demon alive!”
“Ah, to actually see a living Hirakos with my own eyes!”
The three demon enthusiasts flushed with excitement.
I narrowed my eyes.
‘Since standard demon subjugation doesn’t allow outsiders due to liability concerns, the Academy is really squeezing every benefit out of this by attaching educational and research purposes to the subjugation training.’
As I finished preparing the ingredients and began cooking in earnest, Khalid appeared beside me at some point, casually snatching up the finished dishes and eating them.
I restrained the urge to hit him with a ladle and asked instead.
“Professor, you’re really not doing anything?”
“What work could I possibly have? The Beast Response Department students will handle the demon subjugation, and the relevant departments will conduct the research. I’m merely a professor of the Department of Magic Theory—I have nothing to do with demons.”
“Sigh, fine. Do as you please.”
I let Khalid loaf about on his own. Besides, I figured he must have his own troubles as well.

* * *

The first day of the subjugation was spent establishing the Base Camp and organizing our preparations.
So we entered the Huaderica Territory the following morning. Everyone, having completed their preparations, moved forward with their gear secured.
The Demon Research Department members and I were assigned to the rear. As I was about to depart with the others, Khalid approached and thrust his belongings into my arms.
“Professor? Why are you giving this to me?”
I protested indignantly, but Khalid merely yawned in response.
“You’re my graduate student. My burden is your burden.”
As he headed toward the front, I glared at the back of his head, grinding my teeth.
‘I’ll kill him. I absolutely will.’
“Now then, everyone focus as we depart.”
At Oratora’s signal, the group began walking. Khalid took the lead, serving as our guide.
Since the Huaderica Territory was a basin, the only way to reach its interior was to climb the mountain.
The terrain wasn’t particularly treacherous, but this was demon territory. As we climbed with natural tension, the research staff—those from the Demon Research Department and Magical Weapon Development Department who had no combat roles—were soon gasping for breath despite having barely started.
I alone glided effortlessly through the air among them.
The researchers watched me with envious eyes as I maneuvered my flight boots with ease. Their poor athletic coordination rendered the boots useless in their hands.
‘I can use flight boots because I’m at this level, but normally someone like Shebril would be the standard.’
I clicked my tongue mockingly at them.
After some distance, Oratora at the front raised his hand—a signal to halt.
“Demons!”
As someone shouted, the combat personnel formed a protective circle around the non-combatants and took battle positions.
“Demons? Where?”
Fatty fearlessly craned his neck, turning his head in all directions searching.
“Kee-eek!”
“Kee-ik. Kee-eek.”
“Keek-keek. Kee-ik.”
With sounds like discordant string instruments, beasts with crimson eyes emerged from the shadows.
At first glance, they resembled monkeys. But their arms dragged along the ground, unnaturally elongated, while their hind legs were disproportionately short. These were Moringas—creatures known to dig up graves and devour the livers of the dead.
Though Moringas were low-rank demons, no larger than ten-year-old children, they remained dangerous nonetheless.
Led by Philiamone, the Beast Response Department students charged at the Moringas. Oratora hovered in the air above, issuing real-time instructions to the students.
“The left flank is exposed! Right side, deploy faster!”
While the others fought, Zigzagel interlaced his fingers behind his head and strolled toward the safe zone where I stood.
“Man, he really drives them hard. I told him that since there’s nothing around here to damage anyway, they could just use large-scale spells like Meteor Fall.”
“But if they use something like Meteor Fall, the surrounding area gets chaotic and attracts more demons.”
At Mulde’s words, Khalid—who had already abandoned the front lines—appeared with a shrug.
“Then you just cast it again.”
“In actual combat, you can’t do that. Since this subjugation is ultimately a practical exercise, we should act as close to real conditions as possible.”
Fatty chimed in as well, acting knowledgeable.
I watched Khalid observing the others pummeling the demons with cold eyes, then asked him a question.
“Professor, aren’t you joining in? Why are you here?”
“Why would I? I’m the guide here, and I’m a non-combatant. So I’m in a position that needs protection.”
Khalid yawned widely again with that carefree expression. I regarded him with contempt.
The confrontation with the demon beasts didn’t last long. The Subjugation Force, having dispatched the Moringa with ease, conducted a quick headcount before preparing to depart.
Then Khalid surveyed the surroundings and posed a question to the Masuyeon members.
“You wanted to see a living Hirakos, didn’t you?”
“Yes. As I mentioned yesterday, we’ve received reports that Hirakos habitats are expanding, so we’d like to observe their ecology.”
“If you want to find Hirakos, you’ll need to head that way. We need to split up here.”
“What? We’re not all going together?”
Leoryna glanced between Khalid and the others before asking, and Fatty answered.
“That direction is meant for encountering as many different demon beasts as possible, but this way is planned for detailed observation of Hirakos alone, so we can’t go together.”
“Oh, so I should…”
Leoryna found herself torn, her eyes darting between Khalid and the Masuyeon members.
“Which way should I go?”
“If you want to see more demon beasts, it’s better to go with the Subjugation Force.”
At Zigzagel’s words, Mulde shook his head.
“But Leoryna, if you go with them, you’ll only see dead demon beasts. If you want to understand demon beasts better, you should come with us!”
There was merit to that argument.
Leoryna’s purpose was to accumulate knowledge about demon beasts. She hadn’t come here just to watch them being slaughtered.
―Leoryna, I think it would be better to go with the Masuyeon people. That way, we’ll probably encounter less terrifying demon beasts.
After considering even Pongko’s opinion, which reached her mind discreetly, Leoryna moved toward the Masuyeon members.
“I’ll go with you all.”
“Then do that.”
As Leoryna tossed Khalid’s luggage back to its owner, Khalid handed it right back to her. Confused, Leoryna stared at him as he yawned and positioned himself near the Masuyeon members.
“Professor, why aren’t you going with the Subjugation Force? Why are you here?”
“The path to see Hirakos is in a rather remote location, so we need someone who knows the way well. Zigzagel knows this terrain somewhat, but not as thoroughly as I do. So Zigzagel will guide the Subjugation Force, and I’ll guide you all. Therefore, you’ll continue carrying my luggage.”
‘Tch. I should have just gone with the Subjugation Force.’
Leoryna would have preferred to wade through demon beasts rather than deal with Khalid. But recalling her original purpose, she bit her tongue and endured.

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