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Chapter 31 - Professors in Both Hands (3)
The exclusive dining hall mainly used by professors and their assistants.
The restaurant, which should have been filled with pleasant conversation in a peaceful atmosphere, was instead full of tension so thick it felt like a battlefield.
"What the hell is going on all of a sudden?"
I looked at the two professors, who were in a tense standoff, with a bewildered expression.
"Dale will become my assistant."
"Rubbish. Dale has been my student since his first year. It's only right that he comes under my wing."
The two professors were locked in a battle of nerves over me, each unwilling to back down.
"Hey, I don't even want to be an assistant, you know!"
How on earth did I, a candidate who was barely holding on in the last year, end up receiving such passionate love calls from these two professors?
‘It’s not like anything special happened.’
Let's think this through.
First, Professor Jade.
‘At most, I just helped him secure research funding, solved a few problems that even the specialist professors had trouble with, gathered materials for his research, and cleaned up his lab that was practically a dump….’
Wait a minute.
Come to think of it, I've done quite a lot.
‘Well, fine! It makes sense for Professor Jade!’
Two years ago, Professor Jade was essentially expelled from the school after being dubbed the "Student Killer" due to an incident.
For the past two years, he’s been barred from teaching candidates or conducting personal research, so it's only natural he’d feel a great sense of loss.
Given that, it makes sense that he’d take an interest in someone like "Dale Han," who suddenly appeared out of nowhere.
‘But Professor Lucas is different.’
Professor Lucas has guided me through thick and thin over the past two years.
He’s been through hell trying to bring me up to speed.
He’d rather not even see me as a student, let alone an assistant.
‘The only recent thing that happened with Professor Lucas was... oh.’
It suddenly hit me.
I remembered the time I handed Professor Lucas a bottle of wine and subtly gave him information about Professor Bianca.
‘Damn it.’
The favor I did to repay some past life debt has somehow spiraled into this mess.
"Mr. Dale, what do you think?"
"...You’re not seriously considering working under that crazy professor, are you?"
Professor Jade and Professor Lucas flanked me, each demanding an answer.
It looked like a cheap romantic comedy from the Republic, where the indecisive protagonist is caught between two heroines.
‘Why are my ‘heroines’ professors, though?’
Rubbing my throbbing forehead, I bit my lip.
Both Professor Jade and Professor Lucas were essential assets for the upcoming war against the demons.
‘Professor Jade can research and create various magical items related to stigmas, not to mention the stigma enhancers. Professor Lucas is a hero, not only personally strong but also an outstanding leader.’
It was impossible to choose between them.
For now, I decided to mediate between the two professors, who looked like they were about to throw punches any minute.
"Why don’t we go inside and continue this conversation over a meal?"
"Meal? Hah, like I’d ever eat with someone like him."
"I agree."
"Then do you intend to keep blocking the way in front of the restaurant and bothering people passing by?"
"That..."
"Ugh."
The two professors looked around uncomfortably, swallowing their pride.
It seemed they hadn't lost all sense of social propriety, as they quietly followed me into the dining hall, eyeing each other warily.
"......"
"......"
After ordering today’s special, we sat in awkward silence.
"First of all, let me clarify one thing. I don’t know what’s happened between the two of you, but to me, you’re both professors I deeply respect."
"Hmph. Respect, huh? From the guy who’s always loafing around my office whenever he’s bored?"
"Well, that’s..."
"Whatever. Whether you respect me or not doesn’t concern me."
But.
Professor Lucas glared sharply at Professor Jade.
"I’d prefer it if you stayed away from that guy."
"That’s my line. You don’t suit a savage and ignorant person like him."
"What did you say?"
"Did I say anything wrong?"
"You son of a..."
The atmosphere grew increasingly hostile, as if they were about to explode any moment.
"Enough."
I spoke in a low, calm voice.
"What are two grown men doing acting so disgracefully?"
It was an impolite remark for a candidate to make to professors, but seeing them like this made it impossible to hold back.
"Ugh..."
"Ahem. Sorry about that."
The two professors, realizing how embarrassing their behavior was, remained silent, without any comment on my tone.
Just as the awkward air settled over the table again.
"Hmm? It’s rare to see the two of you together."
A young man with a gentle expression and dark brown hair approached us.
His youthful appearance could easily lead one to mistake him for a candidate.
It was Professor Morpheus, whom I’d seen during the "Mental Discipline" class.
"Oh? You’re the candidate I saw in that class."
Professor Morpheus looked at me with interest, his eyes gleaming.
I stood up and gave a small bow.
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"I’m having a meal with the two professors to discuss a few things."
"Ah, I see. By the way, do you mind if I join you?"
Without waiting for an answer, Professor Morpheus naturally sat down between Professor Jade and Professor Lucas.
"I’ve been wanting to have a chat with you."
"With me?"
"Yes. I'm curious how you broke through my illusion magic so easily."
Professor Morpheus observed me with a polite smile, but his sharp eyes seemed to pierce right through me.
I shrugged and opened my mouth.
"Well, isn't it because you used just the right amount of power when casting the spell?"
"Hmm. Even so, it's not a spell one can escape from so easily. Especially... for someone like Cadet Dale, who has a very low amount of mana."
Professor Morpheus narrowed his eyes suspiciously as he looked at me.
I was internally panicking, thinking that if this continued, the secret of the 'Primordial Flame' might be revealed.
"Didn't you hear that Dale is in the middle of a meeting with us right now?"
"I don't know what's going on, but it's not a good look to interrogate Cadet Dale as if he's committed some crime."
Professors Lucas and Jade both glared at Professor Morpheus simultaneously.
With an awkward smile, Professor Morpheus shifted his gaze away from me.
"Haha. Calm down, both of you. I didn't mean to reprimand Cadet Dale."
Professor Morpheus shrugged playfully as he continued.
"By the way, I'm curious about the content of this meeting."
"That's none of your business."
"Oh, come on, just tell me. I helped with your mental training class before, didn’t I?"
"Hmm."
Professor Lucas fell silent and pondered for a moment.
Even though they were both professors, Professor Morpheus had far less experience than him, so he could have easily shot back, telling him not to boast about helping with a class.
But instead...
"Tch."
He clicked his tongue lightly and spoke up, as if deciding against it.
"Professor Jade and I were discussing which one of us he'd become an assistant to."
"Oh. This is turning out to be more interesting than I thought."
Professor Morpheus smirked as he looked at me, caught between the two professors.
"Cadet Dale, which one are you more interested in?"
"I'm not interested in either, actually."
"Hmm. You heard him, didn’t you?"
"Well, that's only because we just brought up the idea. There are still two years until graduation, so you can take your time thinking about it."
No.
Even if I think it over slowly, I'm not interested, you guys.
"Hahaha! Since both of you, who are known for being picky, are interested in him... now I'm intrigued too. Though, of course, I was interested from the beginning."
Professor Morpheus smiled brightly and turned back to me.
'Seriously, give it a rest, will you?'
As if Professors Lucas and Jade weren't enough, now Professor Morpheus too.
Why am I suddenly getting assistant offers from everywhere, something I've never experienced in my previous life?
"Professor Morpheus."
"Did you not hear what we just said?"
"Haha. It was just a joke, a joke. How could I covet a cadet you two esteemed professors have already chosen?"
Perhaps it was a small blessing in disguise.
Professor Morpheus quickly raised the white flag thanks to the territorial tendencies of the two professors who had already staked their claim on me.
'Well, it figures.'
Professors Lucas and Jade had both been in their positions for 10 years now.
Even though Professor Morpheus was also a professor, having been in the role for less than three years, he couldn't compare in experience.
"Anyway, I'm too busy preparing for the Sealing Festival these days to worry about anything else."
"Oh, right. You were in charge of running this year's Sealing Festival."
"Yes. From issuing permits to merchants for their stalls to organizing the event schedule... It's exhausting."
Professor Morpheus shook his head as he complained.
"This is the perfect opportunity to showcase the skills of a young professor like yourself. Didn’t you volunteer to take charge of the festival preparations?"
"I didn't realize it would be this hectic."
Professor Morpheus sighed and smiled faintly.
"Still, I've been working hard on the preparations, so I hope both the professors and the cadets can enjoy the festival."
"Hmph. It's the same thing every year, so what's there to enjoy?"
"Haha. That may be true, but I've prepared some surprise events this time, so it should be a lot more fun than usual."
With a confident expression, Professor Morpheus thumped his chest.
"It'll be an unforgettable festival for everyone, so look forward to it."
At the young professor's bold declaration, faint smiles appeared on the faces of Professors Lucas and Jade.
"Haha... youth is a wonderful thing."
"Well, I’ll be looking forward to it."
"Then, I’ll take my leave now so as not to interrupt the meeting any further."
With a polite bow, Professor Morpheus stood up from his seat.
"Now, Dale, let’s continue our conversation from earlier... Huh?"
"What? Where’d that rascal go?"
After Professor Morpheus left, only the two professors were left sitting at the table, looking around in bewilderment.
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