The Graduate Student Wants to Assassinate the Professor - Chapter 78

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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 78

Khalid selected several combatants to escort the Masuyeon personnel. Among them was Philiamone.
“What a perfect opportunity to observe Huaderica’s prowess up close!”
Philiamone had been seeking a chance for revenge against Khalid ever since her embarrassing defeat at his hands during the previous Demon Day event. So she clung to his side, insisting she needed to analyze his combat techniques.
The expedition to observe Hirakos consisted of three Masuyeon personnel, four combatants including Philiamone, Leoryna, and Khalid—nine people in total.
As they walked after parting from the main force, the Masuyeon personnel rattled off descriptions of what Hirakos was and how magnificent it supposedly was.
“Hirakos resembles an enormous deer, you see. It’s said to be so beautiful that people long ago mistook it for a divine beast and approached it without hesitation.”
“But despite its beautiful appearance, it’s actually savage and cruel by nature.”
“There are even rumors it collects the eyes of beasts.”
It was Philiamone who burst their bubble of fascination.
“It’s intriguing, sure, but it’s a demon beast that uses sixth-circle magic, so it’s quite dangerous. Let’s just take a quick look and get out of here.”
“What do you mean get out?! We should observe it in as much detail as possible!”
“After coming all this way, you want us to just take a commemorative photo and leave?!”
“This is all foundational research to prevent casualties…!”
Regardless of their complaints, Khalid scratched his ear and reinforced Philiamone’s warning.
“Yes, yes. I understand. Philiamone’s right, so if I say it’s dangerous, don’t even look back—just run. That’s why you’re part of this Subjugation Force, isn’t it?”
The Masuyeon personnel’s lips jutted out in various directions of displeasure.

* * *

After that, they continued walking.
Demon Beasts occasionally emerged from the undergrowth, but Philiamone and the combat personnel dispatched them with practiced efficiency. Thanks to their skill, everyone reached the Mountain Peak without a single injury.
“Wow… so that’s…”
Leoryna gazed at the vista spreading before her from the summit and marveled aloud.
It was not admiration born of beauty. Quite the opposite, in fact.
The Huaderica Territory, vast as it was, had once possessed the proper form of a true city. That land, which had flourished with the Demon Race one hundred twenty-four years prior, had left behind countless structures—residences as a foundation, government buildings, a magnificent temple, and ornate mansions.
All these artificial constructs now lay abandoned, entangled in creeping vines, while roads that had once been meticulously maintained were cracked and fissured. The weathered buildings only deepened the desolation.
As this bleak landscape stretched endlessly before them, the group found themselves overwhelmed by the oppressive weight of ruin.
Unlike the others who glanced about uncertainly, Khalid walked forward in silence, his gaze fixed ahead. Since it was Khalid himself who had brought the city to this state, no one dared speak to him carelessly.
Leoryna found herself wondering what thoughts occupied Khalid’s mind now.
Was he consumed by regret? Or did guilt weigh upon him? Or perhaps he felt no responsibility whatsoever for what he had done?
As Leoryna, standing at the rear, fixed her gaze on the back of Khalid’s head, Philiamone leaned close and whispered to her.
“It was a beautiful city, I’m told.”
Philiamone surveyed her surroundings with a bitter expression.
“I was born after its fall, but my uncle was from this Territory. He still speaks of those days—how there was no place more pleasant for the Demon Race to live than here.”
After hearing Philiamone’s account, Leoryna paused in thought before asking.
“I… did your uncle perhaps ever say that Khalid should be made into a Demon King, or… something like that?”
“What? My uncle absolutely despised Huaderica.”
“Why?”
“He said that everyone was living perfectly fine, but because of a family dispute, Huaderica destroyed an entire city and scattered all its inhabitants. He’d say, ‘What crime did the Territory’s people commit?’ and whenever Huaderica’s name was mentioned, he’d jump out of bed even in his sleep.”
At Philiamone’s sharp words, Leoryna blinked in surprise.
“In any case, what Huaderica did was…”
Philiamone began to continue but glanced briefly at Khalid and then pressed her lips together. It was not a conversation to be had in Khalid’s presence.
At that moment, Khalid, who had been walking at the front, spoke.
“Hirakos lives in a Pasture on the outskirts of the city. Let’s descend quickly. There’s a Mountain Lodge along the way down—we’ll spend the night there.”
If they delayed and allowed daylight to fade, the situation would become dire. No one was ignorant of the fact that descending a mountain teeming with Demon Beasts in the dead of night would be tantamount to suicide.
The group quickened their pace in accordance with Khalid’s instructions.

* * *

The mountain lodge where they decided to spend the night was cleaner than I had expected.
After eating the evening meal with food I had prepared and brought from Base Camp, the exhausted party members fell asleep early.
I kept watch with Philiamone, staring into the dark forest, while Pongko nestled against my side, breathing softly as he slept.
And Khalid, quite naturally, had excused himself from the night watch.
“Non-combatants don’t need to stand watch, you know.”
Philiamone urged me to retire, but I shook my head firmly.
“I simply wanted to have some conversation with another woman. Every day I’m surrounded by Professor Khalid and Professor Zigzagel… and Pongko here is male too.”
Philiamone let out a small laugh. I broached the subject naturally.
“Philiamone, I heard something from other Demon Race students before… they seemed quite afraid of Professor Khalid.”
“Other Demon Race students? Who?”
“Zargen and Nelpira, for instance… They said that Demon Race instinctively follow those with strong magical power? So when Professor Khalid gives them orders, they said they can’t help but be bound by them.”
“Ah. Those two might feel that way. It’s because they don’t know the Huaderica Family well. If you don’t understand what Professor Huaderica is like, you can only be cautious.”
“Do you know Professor Khalid well, Philiamone?”
“I don’t know him that well either. I’ve just picked up bits and pieces from what my uncle told me.”
“What did he say?”
“The Huaderica Family were good leaders. At least to the Demon Race. When Professor Huaderica inherited the territory, I heard the treatment of the fiefdom’s people wasn’t poor.”
“Wait. Professor Khalid inherited territory?”
I interrupted, furrowing my brow. Philiamone tilted her head in response.
“Yes. Professor Huaderica inherited and governed the fiefdom.”
“From what I understand, his uncle was the family head. Wouldn’t that mean the family head governed the fiefdom?”
“Ah, well, the thing is… the professor did actually inherit the fiefdom, but regarding family matters, his uncle Zeckno Saibal Huaderica held decision-making power as the family head.”
“What kind of power structure is that?”
“Because it was such a mess, the professor killed them all in a power struggle.”
At Philiamone’s blunt words, my jaw dropped.
“After the previous family head died, Professor Huaderica was the legitimate successor, but he was too young, so Zeckno became family head. Still, with a legitimate successor right there, they couldn’t give him the fiefdom too, so they gave him ownership of the territory while he only controlled the family matters.”
“So the professor killed them all to seize the family head position?”
“I don’t know that much.”
Philiamone shrugged.
“I heard the professor never explained his reasons for that tragedy to anyone. Well, Professor Zigzagel would know. But he’s not the type to open his mouth when someone asks about it either.”
“Fascinating. So you’re not afraid of Professor Khalid like the other Demon Race students?”
“How could I not be afraid? His magical power is… there are even rumors he’s reached the 10th Circle.”
“T-tenth Circle…?!”
I found myself choking on my words involuntarily.
“It’s just a rumor, after all. Anyway, even though Professor Khalid killed his own clan, he didn’t kill others. He simply abandoned the fiefdom’s people and left. That’s why my uncle grinds his teeth about it.”
Philiamone sighed softly.
“After finally becoming family head, why did he abandon his people? Why did he ignore the family head’s duties? That’s what angers him—not that Professor Khalid is frightening… Well, I don’t think he’s that dangerous of a person myself.”
I recalled the Khalid I knew from daily life.
Always with dark circles under his eyes, eyes that gleamed only when he did something strange, a gentleman in a single suit I doubted he ever changed, and a disposition that loved foisting everything except research onto others.
The Khalid I had experienced so far was certainly…
‘Not a frightening person, really.’

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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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