Chapter 64
"I would like you to place me in the head teaching assistant position."
A single meaningful request was made.
Selena froze blankly.
Perhaps it was due to the completely unexpected content.
Her red eyes that had been blinking for a moment soon regained their light and she spoke.
It was a questioning tone.
"Do you mean... you want to come under my direct supervision?"
"That could be said, yes."
"Hmm."
Selena let out a hum as if interested.
The woman put down the liquor bottle she had been holding, then fixed her disheveled posture.
"Honestly, it's beyond my expectations."
"Why is that?"
"If it's just the head teaching assistant position, there would have been many other places. I understand you received offers from almost all professors."
"I can't deny that."
I answered with a slight smile.
I remembered the hectic recruitment battle that had gone on for a while.
Really, all the faculty members had clung to me with fierce conditions to recruit me.
It was an exhausting memory.
"I heard Professor Cardel was especially ardently courting you."
"That's correct."
Annihilation Magic Professor, Cardel Evans.
He was a figure who had established himself as a power player along with Professor Raphael currently.
Originally the three of them including Selena were called the triumvirate, but now she had retired after being stripped of her chief professor position.
Amidst that, the one most mentioned as the next chief professor was none other than Cardel.
"I don't understand why you're coming to me... putting aside such good options."
"Well."
It was understandable for Selena to be curious.
It would have looked like kicking away a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and grabbing a rotten rope.
Of course, I had no intention of revealing my inner thoughts.
"It's a secret."
I simply glossed over it slickly.
"So, are you thinking of refusing?"
"No. I'll accept."
"You're quite decisive."
"How many people in the world would refuse when a genius who will go down in history extends their hand?"
"I'm glad you think highly of me."
Purple hair brushed aside slightly.
The woman stared with cloudy eyes.
The two who had been exchanging gazes for a moment soon shook hands while each smiling meaningfully.
"From now on, I'll call you Master."
"It's an awkward title."
"Please speak comfortably too, Master. I'll be your direct disciple for at least 3 years, won't I?"
"It's fine. I prefer somewhat distant speech."
"That's regrettable."
"I don't intend to nitpick the title Young Yuda uses, so please be generous and let it pass."
"Of course."
The snake's request was simply granted.
The ominous slit eyes smiled as if satisfied, and leisurely turned steps out of the research room.
***
The very next day.
The academy was in an uproar from early morning with shocking news.
Someone must have checked the updated affiliation list, as rumors that I had entered under Selena's direct supervision had already spread widely.
Thanks to that, I had to bear gazes all day long.
"Did you all hear that news?"
"By that news... you mean about Young Lord Snakers?"
"It's been turned upside down since morning because of it."
"They say he received the head teaching assistant position?"
"I thought he had no interest in this direction at all, since he was postponing all incoming recruitment offers..."
"To think he would enter under Professor Selena's direct supervision......"
The students whispered among themselves.
As I had firmly refused every time despite receiving numerous recruitment offers so far, this decision inevitably drew attention.
Moreover, the subject was the top admitted student evaluated as having generational talent.
The class assignment test where he won victory against the Imperial Princess.
The duel where he toyed with the Ice Princess.
The written exam where he maintained top rank with overwhelming grades.
Perhaps because of the achievements left so brilliantly, the students were all focusing on my moves.
Of course, this decision would have been very unexpected for them.
"Why did he choose Professor Selena?"
"Though the head teaching assistant position is great... weren't there many other professors who offered even better conditions?"
"Besides, Professor Selena is no longer the chief professor."
Everyone seemed surprised.
In a situation where I could choose my affiliation as I pleased, they seemed flustered that I picked someone completely unexpected.
This reaction was no different for the faculty members.
"No matter how I think about it, I can't understand."
"Tsk tsk... He's going down the wrong path."
"What a waste of talent. It's a time when he should have a good teacher by his side."
"Is it because he's still a student after all? He seems to have an irrational side. Of all people, Professor Selena."
"She's not particularly affectionate towards students."
Some faculty members even looked disappointed.
They were professors who usually held antipathy towards Selena, so they seemed displeased that I had entered under her.
Is this why they say not to keep people with many enemies by your side?
'Being the top student of the year is troublesome in many ways... It would be good if they just left me alone to do as I please.'
There was a reason for the choice I made.
First, Selena was an excellent illusion magician.
Though she had an image of being a drunkard and eccentric, there was no one who could match her in the field of illusion magic.
It seemed she would be helpful on the theoretical side.
The fact that she was the homeroom professor of Class A and thus easily accessible also played a part.
As she wasn't the type to stake her life on petty honor, she wouldn't try to oppress or teach me.
Rather, I had even received permission to act as I pleased.
For me who needed some power but didn't want much responsibility, it was perhaps the best option.
Moreover,
'She's an important person for future plans.'
There were my own circumstances too.
As there would be uses for her in later episodes, I intended to keep her close and watch over her.
A choice made after calculating everything one by one like that.
The doubts of those who knew nothing didn't have much impact.
I just thought I should focus on my own business.
"Yuda Snakers."
Right.
I certainly thought that, but.
"I don't know what you were thinking about choosing that side. Were you really nothing special after all?"
An interesting provocation was thrown.
***
Though there had been really many recruitment offers over the past few months, the most active among them was none other than Professor Cardel.
The third most influential figure among the current faculty members.
At the same time, a strong candidate for the next chief professor.
He was also originally the character who would be in charge of Class A's homeroom.
Though he had lost his position to Selena as the original work went awry, there wasn't even a scratch on his solid standing.
In short, he was one of the top figures in the academy.
Cardel had come looking for me every day to recruit me.
He had even put forward the shocking condition of giving me the head teaching assistant position, but had to turn back each time due to my firm refusal.
That didn't mean he showed signs of being in a bad mood.
Though he had somewhat of a lewd side, it was his principle to treat students kindly.
However, the teaching assistant he brought along was the problem.
-How long are you going to keep postponing your answer?
-Just a first year... You seem to be trying to test the professor?
Ian Ternado.
Currently Cardel's assistant head teaching assistant and the top student reigning over the second year.
He would frown every time he encountered me.
-Tch... What does the professor like about this bastard?
Perhaps because his position was in danger of being taken?
Ian had an unpleasant look in his eyes.
Whether it was simple crisis consciousness or some kind of prejudice looking down on a junior, it was clear he wasn't very friendly towards me.
And now, several weeks later.
"Yuda Snakers."
"It's been a while. Have you been well, Senior Ian?"
"Yes. Unlike someone."
He came looking for me again.
Judging by the timing of his appearance, it seemed he had heard news about me.
"I hear you entered under Professor Selena."
"That's correct."
"It's truly a ridiculous sight."
"I don't know what you mean."
"Pfft... After putting on all kinds of airs and acting so great, the choice you ultimately made looks quite shabby."
Ian sneered blatantly.
It was undoubtedly mockery.
Perhaps because the person I chose was Selena, the sarcastic atmosphere was especially severe.
"To think you attached yourself to her of all professors... How should I interpret this?"
"You've been saying incomprehensible things since earlier."
"Surely you can't say you didn't know about the relationship between those two?"
"I wonder."
Selena, and Cardel.
The two professors didn't get along well.
Rather, it could be said they were the worst.
Cardel had always coveted the chief professor position.
Therefore, he always checked and slandered the drunkard, and Selena found Cardel annoying.
In such a situation.
A student who hadn't even answered their recruitment offers suddenly attached himself to someone who was practically an enemy, so from the head teaching assistant's position, it seemed he wanted to pick a fight.
It seemed he wanted to suppress me while he was at it.
Ian continued speaking with a sneer on his lips.
"What are you going to do learning mere illusion magic? She doesn't seem like such a great teacher, wouldn't it be better to come to our side even now?"
"She's my master now. I'd appreciate it if you refrained from excessive remarks."
"If that's how you want it."
"......"
A figure walking a tightrope precariously.
Though he poked at me rudely, he subtly avoided it when it seemed it would become a problem.
I quietly stared at Ian.
"......"
"You should have made a better choice."
"Hmm."
Normally it would have been provocation I wouldn't particularly mind, but other students were watching us too.
If I retreated obediently here, it would impact Selena too.
It would look like the head teaching assistant was tucking his tail in at the part where his master was being disrespected.
I wanted to avoid such a situation.
'This is troublesome.'
How should I deal with this precious child?
While pondering for a moment.
"Acting so arrogant when you'll end up being so docile."
"......"
"Be thankful you're a junior. If we were in the same year, duel requests would have flown several times already."
"Ah."
Suddenly a good idea came to mind.
That's it.
To think there was such a simple method.
I held an ominous smile and immediately put into action what had come to mind.
I took off the glove I was wearing.
"That's a good idea indeed."
"What...?"
"A duel, I mean."
Thud-!
I immediately threw the removed glove towards his broad chest.
Right after the light impact sound rang out, Ian's pupils who had been standing crookedly widened.
I recited.
"I, Yuda Snakers, challenge Ian Ternado to a duel in the name of honor and order."
A bombshell statement dropping among the students watching the situation.
The corners of my mouth twitched involuntarily.
I just had to crush him.
I just had to show overwhelming proof enough to overturn all the doubts pouring down.
"I trust you won't run away."
Lips provoking meaningfully.
The slit eyes smiled brightly.
It was a smile that couldn't erase a somewhat chilling feeling.
Looking at the sacrifice frozen with a dumbfounded expression, I chewed over the dopamine bursting excitedly.
I muttered inwardly.
'Ah shit, the corners of my mouth won't go down.'
It was a time of chaos that had returned after a long while.