Chapter 1: Not Racism...(1)

Every office worker had probably imagined it at least once.

A perfect company that paid a jaw-dropping salary, offered top-tier benefits and treatment, and didn't have any scumbags forcing you to join weekend hiking clubs.

Of course, such a dream workplace was as mythical as a unicorn.

Realistically speaking, the chances of encountering something like that in reality were close to zero. Without some kind of miracle, you'd never get the opportunity to work at such a place.

...But then a miracle happened.

Like helping an elderly person who turned out to be a big shot, and that grandfather taking a liking to me and giving me a golden opportunity.

Luckily, I managed to seize that chance. Through an incredible series of coincidences, I finally obtained it.

The dream workplace that should have only existed in fantasy.

Now I don't have to worry about making a living anymore. My salary increased nearly thirtyfold, and my social status skyrocketed.

Maybe it was because all my worries had vanished, but even though the commute should have been painful, my steps felt light as air.

And so, on my way to this dream workplace, I...

"Someone like me could never be a professor! You need to cancel my appointment right now!"

Was submitting my resignation to the HR manager.

And this was less than 30 minutes after arriving.

"...What on earth are you saying? You want to quit? The Academy professor position? On your first day?"

They stared at me in disbelief.

They still seemed to doubt my mental state even after confirming I wasn't under any curses or mind control magic.

Well, thinking about it, it was a natural reaction.

A dream job where you'd be respected by everyone and receive the best treatment. Anyone who wanted to throw that away after one day would seem crazy.

But my resolve was firm.

And for good reason - I had just remembered.

My past life memories. My life as a South Korean office worker who occasionally enjoyed reading web novels.

And my reader's instinct was warning me.

'Fuck, this is definitely an academy novel no matter how you look at it.'

I hadn't reincarnated into a normal fantasy world. This was inside a novel - specifically, an academy web novel.

A school being treated as an unusually important institution wielding immense power, the principal being a polymorph dragon girl...

With this much evidence, there was no denying it.

Though I'd read too many to know which specific work this was, this was definitely an academy novel.

And that created a problem.

A huge problem that I absolutely could not ignore.

'I'll get caught up in it. I'll definitely get caught up in it and die.'

Terrorism?

It would feel weird if an academy novel didn't have it.

Infiltrating Demonkin?

That's just a basic requirement now.

Final boss who's inexplicably obsessed with a school for kids?

A proud tradition since noseless Voldy.

'This isn't a school, it's a death trap.'

What good is great treatment?

It's all pointless if I end up dead. In that sense, this was the worst workplace possible.

Therefore.

"I absolutely cannot take the professor position."

I declared firmly. Expressing my determination to refuse standing at the center of events without any knowledge of the original story.

And hearing my words, the HR manager,

"I understand. Please wait a moment."

Accepted my resignation declaration without any complaints.

My face naturally colored with confusion.

They could have complained that the academic schedule would be completely disrupted because of my inexplicable whim, or that I'd be causing trouble for the Saintess and Second Imperial Princess who were enrolling this year.

In a situation where such complaints would be natural, they were accepting my resignation so matter-of-factly?

Lucky, fortunate.

I could think that and move on, but...

'This is way too strange.'

Looking more carefully at their eyes, there was clear suspicion. They seemed to be manipulating something under the desk as if trying to send an emergency signal.

My mind started racing quickly.

'...Come to think of it.'

What I was wearing now was a custom-made suit provided by the Empire. A high-end artifact-level item with the Empire's unique spell formula engraving technique generously applied.

Additionally, engraved on the back of my left hand was a subspace engraving provided by the Empire. This too was an invaluable item beyond price.

Moreover, two months ago I had received numerous spell formulas from the Empire's court magician through training.

And all those spell formulas were exclusively monopolized by the Imperial family, provided only to Academy professors as a special exception.

And after taking full advantage of those benefits, plus receiving various important Academy information in advance as a professor, I announced on my first day.

Hey, I'm quitting as of today.

...I'm a spy.

Without a doubt, I was a spy from another country. An agent trying to steal the Empire's secret spell formulas and confidential information.

I would definitely lose my head before I could even explain.

Having grasped the situation, my judgment was quick.

I immediately constructed a spell formula. Placing my hand on the HR manager's shoulder, I immediately spoke to cast a suggestion.

[I never came here suddenly making strange statements. I just asked where the entrance exam location was, since the exam is starting soon.]

Not a professor but an ordinary low-level office worker.

Their mind, exhausted from overwork, easily fell to my mediocre spell.

With dreamy eyes, they told me the exam location. Even adding kind advice that I should hurry or I'd be late.

'This is driving me crazy.'

I don't want to go. I want to throw away everything - the entrance exam, the interviewer role, all of it - and run away.

That was my honest feeling, but actually running away here would be the perfect behavior to be branded as a spy.

In the end, I only had one choice left.

...I trudged toward the exam location.

*****

As I sat there as an interviewer for the Imperial Academy's final entrance exam, after much deliberation, I came to a conclusion.

Getting fired.

Perhaps that might be the optimal solution.

Me directly kicking away this great position was too suspicious. But if the Academy found fault with me and kicked me out?

They might take various measures to prevent information leaks, but they wouldn't go as far as taking my life.

I could just peacefully enjoy the rest of my life.

But the problem was...

'I just can't figure out what kind of act would naturally get me fired.'

Speaking bluntly, I could get fired immediately if I started a knife fight right now, but that was definitely NG.

Trying to get fired through such unnatural methods would only raise suspicions. Wouldn't it be too obvious that I was deliberately trying to mess things up?

Cause a problem big enough to get fired, while making the process natural enough to avoid suspicion.

Having to satisfy those two conditions simultaneously wasn't easy at all. Even being incompetent wasn't something to take lightly.

'...Maybe I should think of another method.'

As my head spun from the growing worries, I felt a sharp gaze from beside me.

"Ahem."

An elderly professor glared at me while clearing his throat.

A look that harshly criticized how a teacher could be lost in random thoughts instead of focusing during the final interview.

I wanted to say it was strange to expect me to be calm when I only recovered my past life memories after falling down stairs 30 minutes ago, but.

Saying that would only get me labeled as crazy. I eventually swallowed my sigh and decided to play along with him.

"Candidate number 12, please enter."

Though I doubted I could fully focus on the interview in this situation. I should at least be able to ask some reasonable-sounding questions.

With such thoughts, I looked at the entering student and...

For a moment I was speechless.

I could feel my pupils naturally dilating.

Not because the student was some big shot like an Imperial Princess or Saintess, nor because they were a character from a work I knew.

Because I realized.

The one perfect strategy to achieve my goal.

No need to hesitate. I wasn't foolish enough to worry about conscience when my life was at stake.

I immediately stood up from my seat.

Naturally, everyone's attention turned to me.

But completely disregarding such gazes, I frowned. With an expression full of disgust as if I couldn't believe the current situation, I spoke:

"A cotton-picking black bastard dares to apply to our Academy without knowing their place?"

An extremely despicable statement.

Everyone's faces instantly filled with shock.

Of course - in the Imperial Academy where equality was the motto, I was probably the only professor in imperial history to make such a statement.

"Have you lost your mind? What nonsense are you..."

The elderly professor from earlier scolded me, but I wasn't one to be intimidated here. Instead, I brazenly scolded him back.

"If anyone's lost their mind, it's you people. Are you really going to let such an unsightly thing into the Academy?"

At those words, the elf professor emanated killing intent.

Though they threatened that they'd shut my mouth themselves if I didn't stop immediately.

I didn't stop.

The newly hired professor turned out to be an extreme racist. So they fired him.

What scenario could be more perfect than this?

Surely I can naturally escape this place without raising any spy suspicions.

"I'm disappointed. I had some expectations since this was the prestigious Imperial Academy's faculty, but in the end you're all just low-class people."

I spouted another statement full of supremacist sentiment. This should have maxed out the dislike stack I could build with the professors.

Now for the finale.

Pointing at that black boy, I shouted.

"Get out of here right now, you hideous thing! Did you really think you could hide your vile nature before me?"

My voice rang out loud enough to be heard outside the interview room. This much should definitely confirm my firing.

Drip drip. Though I feel a bit guilty hearing what sounds like tears falling to the floor, since I was being too harsh on a child.

But this is something I have to do to survive.

He had high scores anyway so he'd pass regardless of the interview results. After I got fired, I'd use my modern knowledge cheat to rake in gold coins and set some aside for him too.

With such thoughts, I looked at the boy.

But... something was strange.

The boy wasn't crying at all. What had fallen to the floor wasn't tears but cold sweat from the boy.

The clearly disturbed black boy.

Suddenly a pair of horns sprouted from his head.

His reverse eyes clearly revealed themselves. Wings of ominous black flames emerged, tearing through his back.

The boy, no, the Demonkin cried out with a shocked face:

[How did you see through my identity!]

So...

Something had gone very, very wrong.