I Became an Unknown Professor at the Academy

“Not a single team passed.”

“…… You’re insane.”

At Baek Woo-jin’s muttering, Yoon Do Sik, who had been listening nearby, glanced at him as if he were a monster.

As soon as they entered the gate, Yoon Do Sik was momentarily startled by the absence of the expected exit, but he quickly regained his composure and turned towards the straight path ahead.

At that moment, the blocked wall seemed to melt away like a mirage, and an unknown Holy Knight appeared, leading them to the crystal and this location.

In fact, it was almost embarrassing to call it ‘leading’ because the wall had simply collapsed, revealing a straight path ahead.

The structure was so simple that even a kindergarten student could have drawn it, and it looked something like this:

┃  ↑  ┃
━╋ ━ ╋━
●┃ ┃ ┃
━╋ ━ ╋━

It was too simple, to the point of absurdity, and that made it even more baffling and embarrassing.

“A slightly crazy professor is better than an incompetent one.”

“……”

Yoon Do Sik closed his mouth. The reason was simple: he knew that what Baek Woo-jin had said was true.

It was only natural for students seeking knowledge to choose a professor who might be a bit eccentric but could offer them something substantial, rather than wasting time with an incompetent one.

Not just students, but anyone seeking knowledge would think the same. The only problem was…

-Did you get stung by a bee?

-Look at yourself before you talk, asshole.

-… Could you just shut up? You’re giving me a headache.

He was crazy, no doubt about it.

Who would have imagined that the hired Holy Knight would attack the students? Moreover, he had even used moss turtles, whose poison was dangerous enough to rival mid-level monsters, purely for his own purposes.

Click.

Baek Woo-jin put away his pen and closed his notebook, tucking it into his chest. Not long after, the last team, the tenth one, entered through the pupil, led by the Holy Knight.

-Wow… Did they get struck by lightning or something?

-They might as well shave their heads at this point.

Their hair was completely frizzled, and their eyes were painted with thick, dark circles, making them look like pandas.

Except for one person—Baek Hana.

“Everyone’s here.”

As the last team, including Baek Hana, took their seats, Baek Woo-jin addressed the students, “Then, I’ll take questions first. If you have something to say, raise your hand.”

Most of the students stared blankly at Baek Woo-jin, confused by his decision to take questions without any prior explanation. A few students, with a hint of resentment in their eyes, raised their hands.

Baek Woo-jin called on the closest girl, Jang Nara.

“Jang Nara.”

“…… Yes.”

Jang Nara, with dark circles under her eyes, lowered her hand and asked, “I’d like to ask if it was really necessary for us to be chased by the moss turtles.”

“If you’re asking if it was necessary, the answer is no.”

“Then—”

Baek Woo-jin interrupted her and scanned the faces of the students before returning his gaze to Jang Nara, “Let me ask you something. Why did you take my class?”

“To learn more about the gates we’ll be entering directly.”

“I see.”

Baek Woo-jin nodded.

“I thought you were an enhancement class, but you turned out to be an ability class.”

“…… What?”

“Don’t worry, I’ll contact the administration to correct it.”

“No, I… I’m an enhancement type Awakened, Professor.”

“You’re an enhancement type.”

“Yes… I’m an enhancement type Awakened.”

At Jang Nara’s answer, Baek Woo-jin stroked his chin and asked, “Then that’s even more puzzling.”

“…… I don’t understand what you mean.”

“Didn’t you just say it yourself? You took my class to learn more about the gates.”

“…… Yes.”

“As far as I remember, Jang Nara, you fell asleep 3 minutes and 29 seconds after the Tuesday lecture began, and you didn’t wake up until I left the classroom.”

“……”

Jang Nara’s face turned bright red.

Baek Woo-jin continued, “If I’m mistaken, feel free to correct me. Mistakes should be rectified.”

“……”

Baek Woo-jin turned his gaze away from Jang Nara, whose face was still flushed, and looked around at the other students. Those who had initially defiantly met his gaze now averted their eyes, lowering their heads.

Baek Woo-jin spoke again, this time addressing not just Jang Nara but all the students, “Was it necessary to be chased by the moss turtles? I’ll answer that again. No, it wasn’t necessary. Just like you took my class even though you didn’t think it was necessary.”

Baek Woo-jin’s gaze lingered briefly on Baek Hana before moving to Jang Nara, who was still looking down.

“Gates are full of unknowns. You may encounter unexpected situations or come across unfamiliar monsters. The terrain may not match what you’ve been told, and…”

“So, you’re saying today was just a special case because it was your prepared scenario?”

“If you have complaints or grumbles, you can voice them today. Well, that is, if you’re still alive to do so.”

Baek Woo-jin glanced at the students who were still keeping their heads down, then called out to the first girl who had lowered her head, “Jang Nara.”

“…… Yes.”

Jang Nara, who had lost her earlier confidence, replied in a voice so soft that one had to strain to hear it.

“Look up and find the hidden exit.”

“……”

Still flustered by the heat on her face, Jang Nara slowly looked around, just as she had when they first entered the gate. She pointed to the wall where no moss was growing, just as before.

“There… it is.”

“Correct.”

Click.

Baek Woo-jin snapped his fingers, and the wall Jang Nara had indicated melted away like a mirage, revealing a shimmering blue exit beyond.

“Yoon Do Sik.”

“What?”

“Escort them out and return to the Academy immediately.”

“What about you?”

“None of your business.”

“…… You’re a real piece of work.”

Yoon Do Sik frowned and began to move, leading the students towards the exit. As he passed by Baek Woo-jin, he muttered, “We’ll talk later.”

He wanted to ask how Baek Woo-jin had manipulated the crystal to alter the gate’s environment.

Baek Woo-jin didn’t respond, and Yoon Do Sik didn’t press the issue, focusing on leading the students towards the exit. At that moment, one of the students timidly raised his hand.

“What now?”

“…… Um, how do we… prove it?”

At the boy’s question, Baek Woo-jin reached out towards the crystal floating behind him.

Kwa-ddeuk!

“Wow?! What’s that?!”

“What the…?!”

The floor beneath the students’ feet bulged, and…

-Roar.

A few small moss turtles emerged. They looked at the students for a moment before slowly walking towards Baek Woo-jin on their short legs.

“That’s it.”

“…… Ah, yes, yes…”

The boy nodded, looking a bit dazed, as if he had seen something unbelievable. Yoon Do Sik cleared his throat and said, “Alright, everyone, exit in the order you arrived. Wait outside!”

The students, who had been sitting, stood up, and under the supervision of Yoon Do Sik and the Holy Knights, they slowly made their way towards the exit.

“Baek Hana.”

Baek Hana, who was about to exit as the last in line, suddenly stopped in her tracks.

Baek Woo-jin, who had been watching her back, turned to Yoon Do Sik, who was still in the room, and said, “I’ll send her out with the Holy Knights, so you can go ahead.”

“Understood.”

As Yoon Do Sik left through the exit, Baek Hana quickly turned around and pounced on Baek Woo-jin.

Piak!

“Kyaa?!”

Baek Hana crouched on the floor, her hands covering her head. Baek Woo-jin looked down at her and said, “I told you to understand the content, not just take notes.”

“Uuuu…”

Baek Hana, with tears in her eyes, looked up at Baek Woo-jin.

“Stop exaggerating and get up.”

“…… Tch.”

Baek Hana clicked her tongue and stood up, pouting.

“Haa.”

“I’m sorry.”

Baek Woo-jin sighed and rubbed his fingers together, apologizing.

“You’re a mess.”

“It’s because of Seo-hee… I mean, she did this.”

At Baek Woo-jin’s words, Baek Hana suddenly became aware of her disheveled appearance. She tried to smooth down her frizzled hair and fidgeted, and Baek Woo-jin watched her for a moment before gently placing his hand on her cheek.

“Uh, uh…”

“Stay still.”

“Uh, yes, yes…”

As Baek Woo-jin’s hand slowly moved, Baek Hana’s neck and ears, which had been white, began to turn a bright red.

Ssssweeet!

“Ah, uh, uh…”

Baek Woo-jin’s hand moved from her cheek down to her thigh and then to her foot.

“Uh, Woo-jin…?”

“……”

Ignoring Baek Hana’s call, Baek Woo-jin knelt on one knee and lifted her foot. The shoes that had been damaged by the moss turtles’ poison returned to their original state as if by magic.

Not only the shoes, but every part of her body that Baek Woo-jin touched had been restored to its pre-damaged state.

Baek Woo-jin stood up and…

Taak!

“Ouch?!”

Baek Woo-jin slapped Baek Hana on the forehead.

“Next time, channel your magic into your shoes, not your gloves.”

“…… Yes.”

Baek Hana, her face still flushed, nodded and cautiously took a step closer to Baek Woo-jin, asking, “Aren’t you going to touch my head?”

Baek Hana tilted her blue eyes cutely and subtly pressed her body against his, and Baek Woo-jin’s hand moved again.

“Kyaa?!”

Baek Hana’s legs were suddenly lifted from the ground, and she disappeared into the shimmering exit, carried by Baek Woo-jin.

“Kkum, kkum. Then we’ll take our leave as well.”

The two Holy Knights, their uniforms in tatters, quickly turned and leaped into the exit.

The pupil, which had been bustling with activity, returned to its former tranquility.

I placed my hand on the crystal again.

Kugugu-gung!

With a sound like the entire pupil was collapsing, moss and debris rained down from the ceiling. Soon after, a new shadow appeared, one that wasn’t mine.

Ppeok!

“Cough?!

The owner of the shadow fell to the floor and writhed in pain, gasping for breath.

Black hair, a plain appearance, an ordinary young man.

After altering the gate and leaving with Claire, I had set up a small trap in case someone else entered. If anyone other than me entered, they would be summoned to an independent space, separate from the exit.

I knew the identity of the culprit, but without any information, I couldn’t know when they would enter the gate, so it was a necessary precaution.

“Kkeuuuuhhh…”

The young man writhed in pain as my magic restrained his freedom.

-Roar.

I sat on the back of one of the moss turtles and manipulated its magic, causing the magic around the young man to respond to my will. The small bag tied to his waist floated into my hand.

Click.

I opened the bag, which had a lock unlike any ordinary bag, and examined its contents.

There were several spheres, larger than a wristwatch but smaller than a fist. Despite their metallic appearance, they were surprisingly light, and I could sense a minuscule amount of magic and an alien energy, different from divinity, emanating from within.

‘Devil’s Bomb.’

A smile curled my lips.

Learning something unknown to me was more enjoyable than I had expected.

The Devil’s Bomb was a weapon used by Awakened who operated in the shadows, harnessing the warped magic of the calamity gods they served. Although I had heard of them, this was the first time I had seen them, and the alien energy within confirmed that they were indeed Devil’s Bombs.

I put the Devil’s Bomb back into the bag and locked it.

“Kkeuuuuhhhh!!!”

The young man, his eyes now bloodshot, glared at me.

I patted the back of the moss turtle next to me.

-Roar.

The turtle slowly moved in front of the young man and stopped, and I manipulated its magic to fix its gaze upward, ensuring it wouldn’t blink so that its eyes remained open. The interrogation was about to begin, and I stood next to the turtle, lowering my head to be at eye level with the young man.

The young man glared at me with his bloodshot eyes.

I lightly patted the moss turtle’s back.

-Uweok.

Purple liquid flowed from its mouth, and…

“Kkeuuuuhhhh?!”

The liquid fell into the young man’s eyes, causing an unpleasant sound and smell. If he had been able to manipulate magic, he could have protected himself, but that would have reduced the efficiency of the interrogation, so…

“Kkeuuuuhhhh?!?”

After that he poured holy water on him.

Another wave of smoke and moans escaped the young man’s mouth, and soon his eyes returned to their original state.

Tears or holy water, I couldn’t tell which, pooled in his eyes, and a faint hint of fear now lurked within them.

He was already faltering at this point.

‘As expected, he’s just a low-level member.’

Although I had suspected as much, it was still a bit disappointing.

“Uuuuuhhhh…!”

The young man’s resistance weakened, and I looked straight into his eyes as I placed my hand on the moss turtle’s back.

‘You know where I’m going with this.’