I Became an Unknown Professor at the Academy

The pressure from all sides was strange, and Baek Hana’s eyelids began to tremble.

“Ugh…”

Her limbs were still, but the weight on her stomach felt like a small rock, and she groaned, waking up from her sleep.

Baek Hana opened her eyes, and the first thing she saw was the top of Lee Nayoung’s head. They had been sleeping side by side, but now Nayoung was on top of her.

Baek Hana turned her head slightly towards the other side of the bed, which was still occupied despite Lee Nayoung moving.

Snore… Snore…

Baek Hana couldn’t help but smile at the sight of Na Yeon-ju, who was sleeping soundly with her arm as a pillow, her small lips pouting.

‘What about the other side…?’

Baek Hana sighed softly as she saw Nam Seo-hee, who was sleeping with her legs wrapped around her own, hugging her like a doll.

Baek Hana had expected this, which was why she had given her bed to Edyn.

Indeed, Nam Seo-hee had asked to sleep with Edyn, but when Baek Hana woke up, she found Seo-hee in her usual spot, snuggled up next to her.

‘It’s not that I dislike it…’

To be honest, compared to the petite Lee Nayoung and Na Yeon-ju, Nam Seo-hee’s size was a bit overwhelming.

Until last year, it wasn’t like this, but after the festival, the range of skinship…? Anyway, the frequency of her cuddling was gradually increasing.

“Umm…”

The faint blue light filtering through the curtains indicated that it was still early morning.

Baek Hana tried to fall back asleep, but once awake, the warm breaths from both sides tickled her neck and cheeks, making it difficult to fall back asleep.

‘Sigh… Why do they all have such bad sleeping habits?’

Baek Hana swallowed the words that would have made Baek Woo-jin chuckle if he heard them and instead enjoyed the warm embrace, patiently waiting for morning.

.

.

.

“Haaaww~”

Edyn woke up feeling more refreshed than usual and stretched her arms wide, yawning.

She quickly realized why she felt so refreshed.

Baek Hana was surrounded by everyone except Maria, who was sleeping soundly on the bed below.

“What are you doing?”
“Meditating?”

Baek Hana, who was lying as straight as a mummy and staring blankly at the ceiling, answered with a sigh.

Edyn looked down at Baek Hana with a disapproving gaze and clicked her tongue.

“You’ve been too indulgent, so now you have to deal with the consequences.”

“Help me…”

Baek Hana’s eyes pleaded for help, and Edyn chuckled, getting off the bed. She picked up Lee Nayoung, who was using Baek Hana’s stomach as a pillow, and placed her on the bed.

“Umm…”

The feel of the pillow was worse than Baek Hana’s stomach, and Lee Nayoung frowned for a moment, but she soon calmed down when Edyn covered her with a blanket.

“Take care of the rest.”
“Ugh…”

Edyn stepped back, slightly startled by Baek Hana’s reaction.

Clatter.

The sound of dishes could be heard in the quiet hallway.

“Good morning.”
“Good morning.”

Edyn smiled at the familiar figure of Claire wearing an apron and bowed her head.

“I’ll go for a walk.”
“Don’t forget to wash your hands when you come back.”

If anyone else had treated her like a child, Edyn would have been offended, but it was different when it was Claire.

“Yes.”

If Maria had heard this, she would have teased Edyn for days about how shy she sounded. Edyn quickly left the kitchen and hurried out of the mansion.

“Phew.”

It was still early, and the weather outside was pleasantly cool, even though summer was approaching.

“Kkkk~ Ta-ha…”

Edyn stretched again and walked lightly into the Infinite Labyrinth.

“Hmm~”

The air was refreshing, and the white flowers were always in full bloom.

As Edyn reached the end of the labyrinth, she thought,

‘Should I have changed my clothes before coming out?’

After a brief hesitation, Edyn shrugged and continued walking.

There were a few staff and students lingering around the Infinite Labyrinth, but after the Ben Stiller incident, they had all disappeared, so Edyn felt comfortable running around a bit.

‘Those monsters…’

In truth, Edyn wanted to laze around in the comfortable mansion, but after the festival, she had felt the gap between herself and Nam Seo-hee widening.

She couldn’t afford to relax during the break, especially since she didn’t want to lose to Nam Seo-hee.

‘That spoiled brat…’

Edyn swallowed the words that Maria and Yesol would have laughed at and continued walking out of the labyrinth.

“Ahh?!”
“Eek!”

Edyn was startled by a dark object right next to the entrance, and her scream startled the person standing there, who also let out a cry.

“Great Mother…?”

Edyn quickly composed herself and asked Diana, who was wearing a black veil, despite feeling embarrassed.

“Ah… Good morning.”

Diana nodded, responding with an inappropriate greeting.

“What brings you here…?”

After the initial shock and embarrassment, Edyn’s gaze turned suspicious.

Diana didn’t seem offended by the blatant gaze and instead looked down at the floor, where a hideous mace had emerged from her wide sleeves.

“An… attack?!”

Edyn screamed and ran into the labyrinth, not having received a proper explanation the day before.

.

.

.

“…”

The kitchen was quieter than usual, with one more person present.

I put down my teacup and looked at Edyn, who was sitting with a small bump on her head.

“Claire.”
“…”

Edyn had been scolded for waking me up early in the morning, so she kept her hands on top of her head, keeping an eye on Claire.

“You can put your hands down.”
“Thank you…”

Although she looked like she was being punished, Edyn couldn’t go against my will.

The situation was more or less under control, so I shifted my gaze to Diana, who was sitting more tensely than Edyn.

“You’ve come quite early; there’s still about an hour until the appointment.”
“I was afraid I might be late…”
“I think two hours is too early to worry about being late.”
“…”

The silence from her conveyed only one emotion.

Embarrassment.

‘It’s hard to tell just by looking…’

Claire, who had once been the perfect sword of the Bwiar, now looked nothing like an executor.

“From now on, come on time.”
“I’m sorry.”

Her cheeks, visible under the veil, turned bright red, and she nodded up and down.

I checked the clock on the wall and said, “Let’s postpone the meal for now.”

It’s better to eat after a good workout than to throw up what you’ve already eaten.

I stood up, and Claire followed suit. The children also stood up one by one.

“Follow me.”
“Yes, yes.”

I led everyone except the fairy, who was sleeping soundly in Baek Hana’s room, out to the garden.

“Claire.”
“Yes, Professor.”

Claire walked forward and gestured towards Diana, who was standing at the end.

Understanding her meaning, Diana stepped forward and stood face to face with Claire.

Swick.

Claire extended her left hand towards Diana.

“Hit me.”
“What?”

Diana didn’t understand at first, but Claire explained, “This is your first spar. You won’t be able to control your strength properly, so I’ll set the intensity.”
“Yes, thank you. But…”

She looked at Claire and me, then reached into her wide sleeves and pulled out a hideous mace.

“My mother told me to use my fists, but… what should I do?”

Whoosh!!

Before Diana and Claire could look at me, Baek Hana and the children turned their heads so quickly that it made a sound, and they stared at me with intense gazes.

“Today, you’ll fight without weapons.”
“Yes.”

She nodded and placed the mace she was holding nearby, then returned to her original position.

“Then, hit me.”

Diana clenched her fist lightly.

Hwaaaak.

At the same time, a faint light began to emanate from Diana.

Paaang──!!

“Eek?!”
“Hic!”

In an instant, Diana’s fist struck Claire’s palm, and a strong wind blew around Claire, startling Lee Nayoung and Na Yeon-ju, who screamed and hugged each other.

“Do it again at this level.”

Unlike the stiff children, Claire, who was standing in the same spot, extended her arm and spoke to Diana.

“Yes, yes!”

Bang!!

The power was significantly reduced.

But it was still a bit too much for the children to handle.

“Reduce it by another thirty percent.”

Bang-

“Is this enough?”
“Yes.”

Claire quietly lowered her hand and returned to my side.

“Go and stand there.”

“…”

Baek Hana and the other two, with tense faces, walked forward and stood in front of Diana.

“Diana Lograin.”
“Yes, Professor.”
“You can’t move more than two steps from that spot, and if you get hit ten times, you lose.”
“I understand.”

“…”

The children, who were facing Diana, turned their heads and sent me a look that meant, ‘Can we win against her?’

In her spar with Claire, even one effective hit would result in Claire’s defeat, so it was natural for them to send me such a look.

“Begin.”

But I didn’t intend to explain the reason.

“Let’s start as usual.”
“Ugh…”
“I understand.”

At Baek Hana’s words, Edyn and Nam Seo-hee slowly moved away.

The children formed a perfect triangle around Diana.

Paat──!!

The three of them exchanged glances and charged at Diana without any signal.

Baek Hana’s fist aimed directly at Diana’s face.

Edyn’s and Nam Seo-hee’s swords targeted Diana’s left shoulder and right hip.

Pweok──!!

With a heavy sound, a fist and two swords struck Diana’s body.

“…”

Surprised by the effective attack, the three hesitated for a moment.

Swick.

Diana, who had taken Baek Hana’s fist to her face, looked directly at Edyn.

Pwang-

“Eek?!”

In an instant, Diana’s fist struck Edyn’s jaw.

Dook!!

And before her posture could collapse, her fist struck Edyn’s shoulders again.

Edyn’s jaw dislocated, and both her shoulders were dislocated, rendering her powerless.

Baek Hana and Nam Seo-hee tried to move away, but it was too late.

“Ugh!!

Unfortunately, Diana’s fist was faster, and Nam Seo-hee went through the same process as Edyn.

“…”
“…”

Edyn and Nam Seo-hee could walk, but that was all they could do.

-I heard that Diana doesn’t dodge attacks.
-I heard that she endures all attacks, purifying evil worshippers.

-I also heard that if her target tries to escape, she ignores any other attacks and prioritizes chasing her target.

She’s like a tenacious beast that doesn’t let go once she has bitten.

Removing their jaw was probably a habitual measure to prevent her from biting her tongue or chanting spells.

Through Edyn, who was staring blankly at Diana with her mouth open, I learned new information about Diana Lograin.

‘She’s quite a reserved person.’