Chapter 10
The words the girl uttered while patting my back vigorously.
My vision goes dark at this statement that utterly defies common sense.
An image of myself as Director flashed through my mind.
A promotion from new professor to Director. My name would undoubtedly become widely known throughout the Empire due to this unprecedented meteoric rise. While I could easily gain fame...
What good would that even do me?
Countless duties and responsibilities. Not only would it become even harder to escape from the Academy, but on top of deviating from the original plot, there's the added risk factor of death by overwork.
Plus there's the issue that the ousted Director and his faction would surely seek revenge against me.
"I apologize, but I'll have to decline that offer."
Success only has meaning if you're alive to enjoy it.
My salary is already more than enough - I had no desire to risk my precious life by getting greedy.
"Isn't the current Director already fulfilling his duties admirably? I have no wish to steal the position from such a person just to advance my career."
The old man who had rushed over and mixed into the crowd.
While it's somewhat concerning to see the old man who had been trembling alone at the Primordial Dragon's statement about making me Director now collapsed on the ground sobbing...
This is already a troublesome enough situation.
Let's put aside for later the issue of my constitution that seems suspiciously good at charming old men.
"Are you speaking sincerely? This is a rare opportunity to leave your name in Imperial Academy history."
"For me, even the title of professor is too much to handle, let alone Director. If the Primordial Dragon would allow it, I'd like to quit teaching immediately."
That's how I answer when the Primordial Dragon asks if I'm serious.
100% pure honesty.
I dearly hope she understands my feelings, but the Primordial Dragon uncharacteristically puffs her cheeks and grumbles.
"Fine, fine. I'll respect your wishes, so don't make such cruel jokes again."
The girl openly shows her dejected mood.
She rummaged around in her robes with her tail before finding and handing me a golden key.
"Take as much gold as you want. If it's too much to carry alone, I'll assign people to help transport it."
But I shook my head at this too.
It's not that I lack greed. Rather, I'm doing this precisely because I'm full of greed.
"I don't desire such things. How could I dare covet the wealth that the Primordial Dragon has accumulated?"
I already have more gold than I know what to do with.
An associate professor's salary is beyond imagination - I'm not sure I could spend it all even if I lived until I died.
So here, it's advantageous to clear away any debt of gratitude.
It would definitely be helpful to use her as a personal bodyguard in emergencies. If I subtly emphasize how weak I am, she might even give me an artifact for self-defense.
"It's a professor's natural duty to protect their students. I only did what I was supposed to do. I'm not shameless enough to expect rewards for such things."
I smile wickedly while pushing forward this suitably fabricated justification.
With this, I've completely avoided all death flags. Plus I've built up another insurance policy for emergencies. This is a fairly satisfactory conclusion.
Now that the attack incident is wrapped up, I should be able to get back on the path toward getting fired...
Professor Scott beside me.
A single tear rolled down his cheek.
His eyes suddenly became moist. Looking ready to bite down on his own fist and wail if left alone, he grabbed my hand.
"To meet a professor like you as a colleague in my twilight years. I, I... am truly a blessed man."
A choked sob of "uhuhuuk."
I'm taken aback, wondering if he ate something wrong, but somehow everyone else's reactions weren't much different from the old man's.
Gazes that make me think even a god descending to the podium wouldn't receive this much. Everyone was staring intently at me with eyes overflowing with respect.
My complexion naturally turned pale.
I hurriedly reviewed the actions I had taken.
The image of humbly declining when an opportunity for advancement appeared, saying I wasn't suited for such a position.
Even when offered massive amounts of gold as a reward, smiling benevolently while saying there's no need for compensation since it's only natural for a teacher to dedicate themselves to their students.
'This isn't how a failing professor acts!'
The mental energy spent stealing Charon's formula.
I can barely even stand right now. Between that and the Primordial Dragon's sudden declaration, I completely forgot about the most important act of playing the role of a failing professor.
An unforgivable blunder. I tried to somehow make up for it, but it was already far too late.
"...You never cease to amaze me. Don't worry about the rewards anymore. Even if you refuse, I'll force a suitable prize upon you."
The Primordial Dragon placed her hand on my shoulder.
Her eyes were sparkling enthusiastically as if she had discovered the most precious jewel in the world.
"Actually, that earlier thing was just something I said. I'll take the gold after all, so please return the key right now."
I said that as a final struggle, but people laughed thinking I'm just joking to lighten the mood.
Even professors who had avoided approaching me since the entrance exam were now heartily patting my back, saying they never knew I had this side to me when I always seemed so rigid.
Practical benefits and reputation.
Having accidentally secured both, I laughed through my tears.
'B-but I still have Class A left.'
I can still get fired.
People can't always succeed at everything. This is just one step back to take two steps forward.
I decided to believe in my precious students.
*****
I was betrayed by my precious students.
After the attack incident was resolved and the children gathered back in the classroom, somehow not a single one had transferred to Class B.
"Why are you all still here?"
A genuinely bewildered question.
But the children's reactions were utterly nonchalant.
Everyone wearing bright smiles.
Moreover, looking closely, they were all clearly holding their primary weapons that I should have forcibly confiscated.
"Who gave you permission to take back your weapons? I clearly said they'd be confiscated until you developed proper skills."
I frowned severely and got angry.
The tone came out harsh naturally because I was so dumbfounded by how brazenly they ignored my instructions. But not a trace of guilt could be seen on the students' faces.
The 2nd Imperial Princess stood up as the student representative.
She opened her mouth while grinning like she'd done something right.
"We all noticed it was a test long ago and passed. You can stop the act now."
Nonsensical gibberish that makes absolutely no sense.
My hand stopped as I was about to confiscate their primary weapons again while angrily asking if they'd lost their minds.
A bigshot among bigshots, being Imperial royalty. Can I just carelessly upset someone like that? If that child develops hostility toward me, could I handle it?
'You cunning little devils...'
So that's why they're so confident. They found their own solution to counter my outrageous actions.
Certainly if they come at me like this, I have no way to deal with it. Defying and earning the hatred of royalty would just be an innovative form of suicide.
I have no choice but to play along with this pathetic act.
"...You pass. To grasp my intentions so quickly. It seems teaching you all will be worthwhile."
The demons who finally forced my surrender cheer.
I can't help but shudder at their inhuman behavior - threatening people with royal authority yet wearing pure innocent smiles while applauding and celebrating.
"Looking forward to working with you more, Professor Ryan! I'll work hard to stay in Class A next year too so I can keep taking your classes!!"
A female student grinned while saying something horrifying.
Until they finished checking for injuries and returned to the dormitory, the children endlessly threw awful statements at me.
Telling me to stay in this hell until next year too. They would have hurt my feelings less if they had just insulted my parents.
Left alone, I ground my teeth and thought.
That I couldn't let this situation continue. That I had to find some way to escape from here quickly.
...My feet moved before my thoughts. I suddenly found myself running through the hallway after bursting out of the classroom.
The flow of fate leading me to an unavoidable promotion. Because that terror was fiercely chasing behind me, I couldn't stop running no matter how out of breath I became.
Zion's office.
I threw open that door and shouted loudly.
"Please let me open a new lecture!"
A lecture that would be recorded as the worst in Imperial history.
That was my only strategy for preserving my life.