I Became an Unknown Professor at the Academy

August 13th.

The morning of the day the Clergy General Assembly was to be held had arrived.

“Come to think of it, you didn’t make any alterations, did you?”
“Y-Yes…”

Claire, dressed in a pure white clerical robe, looked somewhat embarrassed and uncomfortable as she tugged at her swollen chest with her hand while answering.

“Yesol will probably enjoy this.”
“Ugh…”

As she looked down at her uncomfortable chest, her blue eyes turned towards me, who was sitting on the bed. Then, with a slight pout and very faintly puffed cheeks, she seemed a little dissatisfied.

“We still have about two more hours, right?”
“……”

Noticing the reason I mentioned the time, Claire, who had been looking at me, subtly shifted her gaze away.

“It’s just a joke.”
“I knew it.”

Finally, Claire cautiously turned her head back and met my eyes again.

“What is it?”
“Well… uh…”

But at my next question, her face quickly turned red, and she dropped her head again.

Thus, I spent what might have been the last moment of peace with Claire.

.

.

.

In a room at the freshman dormitory.

“Are you ready?”
“Those two idiots caused some trouble, but it’s fine.”

Park Mi-na, who had willingly become an apostate to survive, whispered to her roommate while pretending to be an ordinary female student.

“Your tone’s weird.”
“…I guess I was too focused on the movie yesterday.”
“You’re something.”

The two girls exchanged glances and smiled at each other.

However, the way they looked at each other was cold.

[Students wishing to move to the auditorium should gather on the first floor.]

The announcement, which neither of the two had spoken during, reached their ears.

“Then, I’ll be off. Take care of yourself.”
“Mm. Make sure you see a lot for me too.”

The two, who had been looking at each other coldly just moments before, now exchanged warm greetings, and Park Mi-na went to the bathroom to collect her smartphone before leaving the room.

‘Fools.’

Park Mi-na’s reflection in the window seemed bright, like someone with good news, but inside, it was nothing like that.

August 13th.

The day of the Clergy General Assembly.

It was also the day when the worshippers, who had long been hiding in the shadows, would once again reveal their presence to the world.

And the foolish ones, who could not recognize the real one, dared to include His domain as one of the places to showcase their presence.

• Hey, Kang Mu-seok. Take it out!
•
• Don’t make noise in the hallway.
•
Park Mi-na, standing at the end of the hallway, quietly watched the backs of the two men and women heading towards the stairs as she thought to herself.

‘Lucky kid.’

.

.

.

First floor of the freshman dormitory.

“You’re not really lost, are you?”
“…No.”

The black spherical artifact that her father had given her.

In order to confirm it, Park Minjeong had no choice but to stand next to Kang Mu-seok. And after warning not to speak in the hallway, now that they were on the first floor, Kang Mu-seok was avoiding her gaze and evading the question.

It was clearly suspicious behavior.

“Then just show it to me.”
“…I have it properly.”
“Then show it──”

Aren’t you going to be quiet?

At the scolding from Kang Hanna, who had been called by Baek Woo-jin, and the nervous Jayden who had been summoned as well, Park Minjeong quickly shut her mouth.

“…You almost got us caught because of you.”
“Why is it my fault? I’ve told you to be quiet several times.”
“This is ridiculous…”
“Here.”
“…?”

Park Minjeong, who had been ready to charge forward, frowned as she looked at Kang Mu-seok’s actions, where he had subtly turned his body to look down.

“…What?”
“It’s here.”
“What’s there…”

Fwoooosh──!!

Park Minjeong’s face turned bright red in an instant as she lowered her head.

In response to her reaction, Kang Mu-seok nonchalantly pointed at his crotch with a stoic expression and spoke.

“I just placed it in a precious spot on my body because it’s a valuable artifact. It could also serve as protection for my vital area, you know──”
“Y-You perverted bastard?!”

Slap!!

With a loud, crisp sound, Kang Mu-seok’s head turned sideways.

“What’s going on? Is there a fight?”
“N-No, uh… it’s just…”

As Kang Hanna hurriedly ran to the scene, Park Minjeong, her face still red, hesitated with her lips quivering.

“I just tripped and made a mistake. I’m sorry for causing a ruckus.”

Kang Mu-seok, with a clear handprint on his left cheek, bowed politely towards Kang Hanna.

“I see? Be careful, the meeting will start soon.”
“Yes.”

Kang Hanna seemed to sense that it was a hastily made excuse, but she silently let it slide, and Kang Mu-seok bowed again.

At such a young age, he had been recognized by Baek Woo-jin, the actual power behind this place, and had become a professor. Thanks to Baek Woo-jin’s recommendation, he had outshone other professors and even accompanied them to a prestigious event held in England. Not only that, but he had also developed a special friendship with Jayden, who was both the head of the Department of Magic and Baek Woo-jin’s right-hand man. Kang Mu-seok thought that if bowing twice would gain him favor, it would be well worth it.

“Anyway, I can show it if you ask, but I’d appreciate it if you could refrain from slapping me.”
“…You perverted bastard.”

Park Minjeong couldn’t bring herself to say that she wanted to check if the black sphere was really inside, due to Kang Mu-seok’s calm and nonchalant attitude.

“It seems like everyone who’s supposed to be here is here, so let me go over the rules,”

With an intense glare aimed at Kang Mu-seok, Park Minjeong sighed and turned her focus to Kang Hanna.

“The meeting will proceed without any breaks until the afternoon. Once we enter the auditorium, no one can leave until the meeting is over, for any reason.”

Smirk

With a serious tone, Kang Hanna delivered the instructions, then raised the corner of her mouth slightly before continuing.

“Obviously, you’re not allowed to leave for the bathroom during the meeting. If you think you can’t hold it in, I recommend you go back to your room now.”

Some students flinched for a moment, but no one turned around to leave.

“I’ll say it again: this opportunity was made possible by Professor Baek Woo-jin. So, make sure you keep your mouth shut and stay quietly in your seat until the meeting ends.”

Thud thud thud──!!

With a sharp and threatening sound from her clenched fists, Kang Hanna gave a firm warning.

“After the meeting is over, stay in your seats until everyone else leaves. Don’t even think about trying to strike up a conversation or take a picture. If you’ve decided to be expelled, I’ll let you off easy.”

Once she finished speaking, Kang Hanna clapped her hands to lighten the mood.

“By the way, there will be a security check before you enter, so make sure to submit your smartwatches, smartphones, and any electronic devices before you come in and quietly follow along. Little chicks.”

““Yes!!””

With a loud response, Kang Hanna frowned and turned her head slightly.

“No, I told you to be quiet, you idiots.”

““……””

“Alright. Now, follow me.”

Park Minjeong, too embarrassed to make a move, stayed beside Kang Mu-seok and followed the other students behind Kang Hanna out of the dormitory.

“Walk forward.”
“Don’t talk to me, you perverted bastard.”
“……”

With just one word, Park Minjeong made Kang Mu-seok shut his mouth, while her eyes remained fixed on her smartphone screen.

‘Damn… Dad said he’d call, but there’s still no word from him.’

She had woken up early this morning, anticipating something like this, and had already sent an email, but there was still no indication that it had been read.

She had been worried for a while due to recent occurrences of cracks, and she was starting to get more anxious about whether something had happened to her father.

Just as she was walking nervously, waiting for any contact from her father, the moment came.

Vrrrr──!!

As the auditorium came into view, her phone rang—just like she had hoped—her father was calling.

“…Dad!!”

Park Minjeong lowered her voice and glanced over at Kang Mu-seok to make sure he wasn’t paying attention.

[Heh heh, I’ve been busy this morning. I just saw your email a bit late.]

Considering it was only 10 AM, it wasn’t particularly late.

“…You’re about to turn off the phones, right? So hurry up and tell me what’s going on.”

[Did that friend hold onto the artifact properly?]

“…Yeah. I checked it just now.”

Although she hadn’t seen the actual item, given Kang Mu-seok’s bold response, Park Minjeong had no choice but to believe that the black sphere was indeed in his possession.

[Of course, that friend will be attending the meeting with our daughter, right?]

“…He’s right next to me. He’s probably listening to everything now.”

Swish.

At that moment, Kang Mu-seok subtly turned his head to the side.

[Hmm… I see. He’s right there, huh. Heh heh, it seems like you two are closer than I thought.]

“…!!”

For a brief moment, Park Minjeong was flustered, but she quickly lowered her voice and gritted her teeth as she responded.

“…That’s not it. Anyway, I really have to hang up now.”

[Hmm… I see… Well, if he’s right there, I guess there’s no choice.]

“…What’s the ‘no choice’ about?”

[Heh heh, never mind. Anyway, I love you, my daughter. You know that, right?]

“Ugh… Just send that kind of stuff in an email…”

Feeling self-conscious with Kang Mu-seok listening in, Park Minjeong deliberately responded in a curt manner.

[Heh, of course. I really love you.]

“…Why are you suddenly saying that?”

[Heh, who knows. Alright, take care during the meeting.]

“…Is that really all?”

[Actually, I just wanted to hear you say it back to me. So, would you say it once?]

“…I don’t care. Just hang up.”

Park Minjeong’s neck flushed red as she ended the call and turned off her phone.

“…A true fire attribute dutiful daughter—”

“Shut up.”

“…Right.”

Feeling awkward, Kang Mu-seok scratched his cheek and turned off his phone, following Park Minjeong.