Chapter 227 – Professor (3)

As soon as the door opened, the first thing I saw were blue eyes.

“…Ryozo, what are you doing here at this hour?”

No, more like, what’s with that expression on her face? It showed no emotion.

‘This is different from Chloe.’

Chloe has a blank face, but in Ryozo’s case, the word that best fit was “empty.”

Ryozo approached with firm steps that echoed on the floor.

She didn’t even glance at me. Or rather, it seemed like she didn’t even register me in her field of vision.

Her gaze was fixed directly on Senior Ha-na, not moving her pupils in the slightest.

I turned my head toward senior as well. She had already dried her tears and had an euphoric smile on her lips.

“Hi, Saki?”

Senior greeted her, waving her hand gently. Ryozo, completely ignoring the greeting, stopped right in front of her.

She stared at her without blinking. Senior crossed her arms and met her gaze. The atmosphere instantly turned tense.

It seemed I needed to explain the situation, and just as I was standing up, Ryozo bowed first to senior. Respectfully and following protocol, she greeted her courteously.

“Pleasure to meet you, Meain Poison of the Strength of Ten Thousand.”

“Oh~! As expected of Saki, you recognized me instantly. If I had someone like you back when I was director, maybe I would’ve lasted longer in the role.”

“I don’t know what to say.”

“To be honest, Saki, I thought you already suspected something. With all the circumstances and what you overheard from the hallway, what’s strange is that you didn’t confirm it sooner. Although, well, barging in so noisily was a very teenager-like reaction of someone who still hasn’t mastered her emotions.”

“……”

Ryozo didn’t respond. Just then, Speedweapon came panting into the library.

“Saki, Saki! What are you…? Huh? What’s all this?”

Speedweapon looked between me and Saki repeatedly until his eyes locked onto senior. His eyes, which had been unfocused at first, widened like saucers.

“Se-senior…? Is it really you?”

The way he spoke was ridiculous. Even senior covered her mouth and let out a giggle.

“I didn’t know not wearing glasses would cause such a stir~ If I’d known your reaction would be this funny, I would’ve kept them hidden even longer. What a shame.”

Speedweapon began mumbling incoherently.

I could understand his reaction. If he had seen her as a beauty from the beginning, he would’ve simply thought “she’s pretty” and that’d be it.

But when someone you’ve been casually dealing with turns out to be a beauty… that’s a classic twist straight out of a drama. A textbook cliché.

And clichés exist for a reason—because they work. In relationships between men and women, they’re practically a trap card.

“I-I… how…?”

It seemed the impact hit Speedweapon harder. His legs gave out and he fell to the floor.

Ryozo looked at him with a pathetic expression, then turned back to senior and spoke in a formal tone.

“I ask your understanding, Lady Meain. He often behaves this way.”

“Saki! Since when do you speak so formally? Talk to me like always, casually, this feels weird.”

“Sorry, but I can’t.”

Ryozo’s expression didn’t change one bit as she nodded with a firm and emotionless voice.

“Former Director Meain Poison, heroine whose strength rivals and even surpasses that of the Sword Master. I couldn’t possibly show such disrespect.”

Senior scolded her playfully with a smile.

“You’re being polite, but it sounds like mockery.”

“That’s not my intention.”

“That sounds like it too!”

“Excuse me, but between you and me there’s nearly half a century of difference. It’s impossible for me to treat you familiarly.”

“Even if I say I don’t mind? And you know well how the Poison family is, right?”

Ryozo shook her head firmly.

“Precisely because I do, I must treat you with respect. Not just you, Meain, but also the current Director Media, and Mr. Victor Poison, pillar of the Hero Association. I cannot tarnish the honor of the Poison lineage.”

Meain, the difference between you and me is enormous. That’s why I can’t treat you casually like before. That was the official excuse. The truth was, I simply didn’t want to.

“Oh, please! If you’re mad, just say it. Talk like a teenager at least! Why do you have to beat around the bush so much?”

“You just said recently that ‘teenagers haven’t mastered their emotions,’ didn’t you?”

“I’m not letting a single word slide!”

Senior pounded her chest in frustration, but she didn’t seem angry at all. On the contrary, her lips curved into a pleasant smile.

Ryozo turned senior’s face toward me and looked at me coldly.

“Can you explain what’s going on?”

A cold rage. I felt my skin crawl. That gaze was familiar. I had seen it before in the eyes of the man Ryozo hated most in this world—her father, Saki Kojima.

Especially that intense, desire-filled gaze.

‘……’

I got lost in my thoughts for a moment and then sighed.

“She’s not just a senior… Meain Poison, former director, has decided to take on the role of professor in charge of the Heavenly Class.”

Ryozo’s brow furrowed. Clearly, she didn’t like the idea.

Suppressing her emotions, she asked again.

“Why?”

“Oh, that’s because.”

“I was the one who proposed it.”

Senior jumped into the conversation, answering for me.

“Saki, you know Kang Geom-Ma is neck-deep in responsibilities, right? I thought if I took on the role of professor, I could help lighten his load a bit.”

“If anything, I think his burden will only grow.”

Ryozo countered. She stared into Meain’s eyes.

“It would be an honor for you to take the position, Lady Meain. But consider this—the media will talk about it for days. And not just the media, but all the attention from the academy, the association, and the nobility will focus on the Heavenly Class.”

Senior listened calmly. Ryozo looked at me briefly, then returned her gaze to Meain.

“If all that attention were directed solely at you, I’d have no objections. But that attention will inevitably affect Kang Geom-Ma as well.”

“So you’re saying that even if I lighten his load, the cost will be higher?”

“Yes.”

A firm response. Senior smiled softly, like a teacher hearing a good question from a student.

“That’s why I’m telling you, Saki—you’re the one I most want to support.”

“……!”

Ryozo flinched slightly.

Only then did Senior Ha-na uncross her arms. Then, walking lightly, she moved to stand right next to her.

“I’ve been observing you for almost a year, and Saki, your worries always revolve around protecting Kang Geom-Ma.”

“…….”

“I know very well what’s troubling you. Even so, I was a director. Not as good as the current one, sure, but at least I’m not the kind to cause trouble for students, so stop worrying so much.”

Meain patted Saki on the shoulder and then walked toward the door.

Only then did Speedweapon seem to come to his senses, scooting out of the way as he crawled on the floor.

Once in front of the door, Senior Ha-na turned halfway and spoke in a low voice.

“The class launches in three days, right? See you then.”

And with just that, she exited the library. The room, which had been tense just moments before, fell silent once more.

A moment later, Ryozo and Speedweapon suddenly turned toward me. Their eyes were full of questions. Looks like I won’t be sleeping tonight either.

***

After leaving Kang Geom-Ma’s library, Meain wandered through the academy campus.

It was a cold night, between late autumn and early winter. Maybe that’s why the place was completely deserted.

Thus, Meain reached a small hill.

The Joaquin Academy is larger than many cities. In just three years, it’s impossible to uncover all its secrets. The same applies to professors and instructors.

There are countless hidden secrets within the academy. This simple hill was also one of those places.

Deep within this back mountain lies a well that suppresses the “Blessing Awakening.” Its origin dates back to ancient history.

The seven disciples of Balor Joaquin, known as the Seven Braves, all awakened at different times.

‘Yes… “awakened” isn’t the right word. They were forced to awaken.’

The awakening happens regardless of the subject’s will. Even if one resists, they end up mentally consumed and are forced to release their power.

Sure, thanks to those seven, humanity survived. Those who witnessed their divinity recorded it like this.

『The awakened are blessed heroes, chosen by the gods.』

But this record contains a contradiction. Why, if they were chosen by the gods, did they all die young?

With each awakening, their health deteriorated, and their lives were shortened. Was that really a blessing?

No, it wasn’t. The blessed were the ones who didn’t awaken. Because they were the ones who were sacrificed in their place.

The awakened were destined to offer their lives to that so-called deity. Balor Joaquin, master of the seven, felt great indignation at that injustice and sought a solution.

He thought “If the chosen ones die young, what happens if I do the opposite?” And so, he went to the Demon Realm. He brought all sorts of objects and built special facilities, many hidden within the academy.

The “Well of Corruption” Meain was heading toward was one of those places.

“The awakened are the ones who must fight to be hated by the gods.”

As she stepped onto the slope, Meain let out a bitter laugh and muttered.

“Is it okay for a country’s Prime Minister to disappear this often?”

Step, step.

From the bushes, a man appeared.

He wore the formal uniform with impeccable order, Saki Kojima.

He bowed respectfully to Meain.

“I’m glad to see you, Master.”

“You don’t seem glad at all, but you speak nicely.”

Meain’s sharp gaze pierced Kojima. Then she spoke.

“I didn’t want to see you. So get to the point.”

“You knew I was here from the moment I arrived, didn’t you?”

“Hah… I told you decades ago. Awakening isn’t a good thing. And you know it well.”

“I know. But it also gives power. Power with which I can contribute to humanity.”

“You’ve always been good with words. Well, if you want to die early, that’s your business. But it’s already too late. You’re old, you can’t awaken.”

“Not me, my daughter.”

At those words, Meain’s expression hardened.

A suffocating pressure crushed the surroundings. Even so, Kojima raised his head with eyes wide open.

“My daughter is still young.”

Meain let out a dry laugh.

“Kojima.”

“Yes.”

“You need a beating.”

“I’m willing to be knocked unconscious if needed.”

“Yes, I can see that. But you got it wrong. You’re not going to be unconscious.”

BOOOM…!

A tremor shook the entire earth. No, the sky trembled.

“You’ll probably die.”