I Became an Unknown Professor at the Academy

I’ll be back soon~”
“I’ll be back!”
“I’ll bring them back by dinner time.”
Starting with Baek Hana, the children bid farewell, their faces beaming with excitement as they left the mansion. After they all left…
“I think I should go with them.”
“That’s overprotective.”
“It’s not overprotective…”
As I headed towards the study, Claire followed me, pouting slightly and protesting quietly.
“The barrier has been restored, but the inside and outside are both in a state of chaos due to the long period of vacancy.”
“I told you that yesterday.”
“Yes, you told me yesterday.”
Claire quickened her steps and caught up to me, standing by my side.
“If even the upperclassmen are sent out, these children will inevitably attract attention if they suddenly leave the Academy. And each of them has such strong personalities…”
Swoosh—
My left sleeve was tugged. I looked down and saw Claire holding onto my sleeve.
“If I can’t go, how about sending a High Priest or another Holy Knight with them?”
“I heard from Yesol that they’re all on vacation.”
“My orders take precedence.”
“You’re a bad boss.”
“If you allow it, I…”
I merely moved my hand that she was holding and caressed her cheek, causing her to flinch and move away from me. I watched as she quickly retreated a few steps, then turned back towards the study. I called out to her as she hesitated.
“Make me a cup of coffee.”
“Yes…”
I sent Claire to the kitchen and returned to the study alone, leaning back in the chair behind the desk.
“I have an assignment, so is it okay if I go out this weekend?”
On Friday afternoon, after our training session, Baek Hana came to me and asked.
“I need to capture and dismantle a low-level monster for a video. Is that okay?”
She stood at a distance from me, in front of the desk, with a straight posture, asking for permission. Although it wasn’t planned, I allowed Baek Hana to go out.
It was something that could have easily been solved using the crystals in the bedroom, but I didn’t do that. I didn’t want to interfere with her efforts to maintain a distance from me.
Moreover, it was time to start organizing things, little by little.
‘Eight years is enough.’
I had already received more than enough.
Anything more would be greed or self-satisfaction.
Swoosh.
The study door opened smoothly, and Claire entered, placing a cup of tea in front of me, using the desk as a barrier between us, just as Baek Hana had done the day before.
She seemed quite unhappy that I had prevented her from going with the children.
“You’ll be attending the faculty meeting at 10 o’clock.”
“Me too?”
I nodded, setting down my half-empty teacup. Claire’s eyes, which had been filled with discontent, calmed down.
“Do you have any other tasks for me?”
“No.”
“…”
Claire, who had gathered her energy, slowly blinked her round eyes.
“Then…?”
“Does a professor need a reason to bring his associate professor?”
“No, I suppose…”
Every time she made such an expression, I understood why Yesol liked to tease her superior.
“Then… what about her?”
Claire’s gaze briefly shifted towards the bedroom. Unlike the children who had left the mansion early in the morning, the fairy was still sleeping soundly in the bedroom.
“I’ve called for Yesol.”
“I’m her superior…”
When did she start caring about such things?
I stared at her silently, and Claire averted her eyes first. As the distance between us narrowed, she began to express herself more.
I set down my empty teacup.
“And you’re mine.”
“…”
Her face gradually turned red.
“I’ll change and be right out…”
In the end, she gave up protesting and fled to the bedroom as usual.
Alone, I leaned back in the chair and closed my eyes.
The faculty members were arriving at the Academy one by one for the meeting that would take place soon.
‘Seven of them.’
The number of those whose physical waves were different from those embedded in their ID cards. I wondered if the information I sought would be found among these trash.
I could only hope that they would prove to be worth letting inside.
Or perhaps a bigger fish would take the bait I had thrown outside.
‘I wish it could end with me, but that’s unlikely.’
Given that they were already planning to infiltrate the Academy, a few of them must have attached themselves to the children who had just left.
They had eyes and ears, and their target could only be Lee Nayoung. Anything else would be a disaster.
But they wouldn’t even attempt it unless my and Claire’s presence was confirmed. That’s why I was bringing Claire to the meeting.
To reveal our whereabouts to them.
Swoosh.
I opened my eyes at the sound of the door opening.
I turned my head slightly and saw Claire, whom I hadn’t seen in a while, dressed in a black suit.
“Isn’t this a bit excessive?”
“No.”
The meeting itself would start and end with the Chairman’s pointless talk, so there was no need to wear such formal attire. But I didn’t bother telling Claire that.
It was a sight too good for these trash to see.
.
.
.
[Seoul – Restricted Areas 1~3]
“Be careful on your way back~”
“You girls be careful too.”
Maria stepped out of the taxi with a gentle smile.
“I should’ve eaten breakfast before coming…”
“I’m a little hungry too.”
Edyn and Baek Hana stood in front of the checkpoint, rubbing their stomachs. Maria smiled softly at them.
“I know a good restaurant, so let’s finish up quickly and go.”
“We were going to do that anyway… Hey, Lee Nayoung, do you have anything to eat?”
“Po, potion, ouch?!”
Lee Nayoung, who had been rummaging through the small bag on her waist, suddenly jumped. Baek Hana, who was hugging her from behind, had gently bitten her cheek.
“Baek Hana…”
“Ah, ouch, ouch, Hana, ouch?!”
Lee Nayoung jumped again, startled.
Edyn, who had been standing next to Maria, had come over and bitten the other cheek.
-Haha, you two look cute.
-I’m glad I came early.
-Who are these students?
The awakened ones in line at the checkpoint laughed quietly and took secret photos, while the guards on the wall, who should have been keeping a sharp eye out, chuckled.
This was because, in the case of low-level rifts, the area became a gathering place for awakened ones with mediocre skills during the vacation season, so only gloomy men came and went every day.
So when the girls, whose very presence brightened the surroundings, appeared, it was impossible not to draw attention.
Crack!
“Huh?!”
With a crisp sound, Edyn jumped, and the awakened ones, who had been laughing, flinched.
“Stop bothering Lee Nayoung and go stand in line. You’re being a nuisance to the others.”
Most of the awakened ones wanted to shout that it wasn’t a nuisance at all, but none of them had the courage to say it out loud.
“Why are you hitting me? Baek Hana did it first!”
Slap!
Maria lightly tapped Baek Hana’s white forearm.
“Is that enough?”
“Ouch, ouch!”
Edyn sighed and joined the long line, pounding her chest.
“Stop it, Baek Hana.”
“Ugh…”
Only after Maria prodded her side did Baek Hana release Lee Nayoung’s soft cheek from her mouth.
“Let’s go stand in line quickly. The people behind us can’t even get in line because of us.”
“Okay…”
Baek Hana walked towards Edyn with her chin resting on Lee Nayoung’s head.
“Seo-hee?”
“Yeah.”
Seo-hee, who had been watching them with narrowed eyes, nodded and stood next to Baek Hana.
.
.
.
“You’re students from Arena Academy. Are you here for an assignment?”
“Yes, we are. It shouldn’t take more than 30 minutes.”
“Confirmed. If you need any help, feel free to ask the guardians. There are plenty of them around.”
“We will.”
Maria smiled softly and passed through the gate, holding her student ID.
“Let’s go to the nearest one.”
“Yeah… Let’s go quickly. Even the time it takes to call a taxi and return is over an hour, so we should finish this quickly.”
Baek Hana took the lead, and Edyn followed with a slumped posture.
“Why have you been acting like this since earlier?”
“I can feel the stares…”
“Wouldn’t it be strange if you didn’t feel the stares?”
The people on the wall, the awakened ones who had just passed through the gate, and the guardians sitting in front of the rift were all glancing at them.
“It’s not that kind of stare…”
Seo-hee stopped talking and closed her mouth.
“I guess I’m a little sensitive because I haven’t been out in a while.”
The reason Seo-hee thought this was simple. Baek Hana, who was several times more sensitive than her, showed no reaction.
“Yeah, it looks like you’re hungry too, Seo-hee.”
“It’s not that…”
Growl!
A loud noise, similar to an excited Edyn, came from Seo-hee’s stomach.
“Let’s go quickly.”
“Huh, huh? Seo-hee?!”
Seo-hee chased after Baek Hana and Edyn, who had run off with Lee Nayoung on her back.
“…”
Maria quietly followed her friends and took out her smartphone. She seemed to make a call, then quietly put it in her front pocket, with the front camera clearly visible.