I Became an Unknown Professor at the Academy

…… Kwa-ddeuk.

The interior of the gate, which had been divided into multiple branches, returned to its original state. The only difference was that I had moved the crystal, which served as the core, to a location where no one but me could find it.

“The efficiency isn’t bad.”

It was a bit presumptuous of it to demand magic power from me, but I liked how it recognized the difference in status and obediently complied with my will.

Most importantly, it wasn’t just a one-way communication of instructions but a conveyance of will, so it flawlessly implemented the situation I desired. Thanks to this, I was able to erase traces of my actions without using my Authority, or more accurately, I scattered them.

I had pulverized the place where I had carried out my work, along with Kim Jeong-hyun, and redistributed the remains throughout the gate. I also didn’t forget to manipulate the magic within the gate to counter any psychometry-type abilities.

‘I hope they move quickly.’

If the people from the shadows came here in search of Kim Jeong-hyun and the Devil’s Bomb, they would follow the trail I had planted and become new guides to satisfy my curiosity.

Wooooong.

As I stepped out of the exit, the scenery changed with a slight sense of buoyancy. The gloomy blue ceiling disappeared, replaced by a warm sunset sky.

My gaze naturally shifted to the civil servant guarding the gate, and standing next to her was Lee Yesol, dressed in casual clothes instead of her usual white robes.

I released the magic I had been concealing myself with, revealing my presence, and Lee Yesol, who had been spacing out, turned to face me. Recognizing me, she bowed slightly and greeted me.

“Have you returned?”

“I used the holy water well.”

“If you tell her, she’ll be pleased.”

“I will.”

I passed by the stiff civil servant and headed towards the checkpoint, with Lee Yesol quietly following behind.

“There were no disturbances, and all the students have returned safely to the Academy. Those who were injured have also been healed.”

I nodded at Lee Yesol, who had taken it upon herself to do more than was required of her, and asked, “If you have any requests, speak now. It seems you went through the trouble of changing your attire, so you must have something to say.”

Although not as skilled as Claire, Lee Yesol had provided me with a lot of help, or rather, I had demanded a lot from her. Regardless, she was someone with whom I could ask for small favors.

“Well, I heard that after returning to the Academy, Claire will be staying at the professor’s mansion for a while.”

“I asked her to stay for a few days due to some circumstances.”

“Did the professor himself ask her to?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm.”

Although I couldn’t see her face because she was standing behind me, I could tell from the tone of her voice that she was quite excited.

-Confirmed.

We went through the formal procedures and exited the restricted area, just as we had entered.

“If Claire has any requests, let me know. I’ll send her back as soon as possible.”

“No, it’s fine. For years, all the executor has done is review and approve documents, and that’s all she’ll continue to do, so feel free to use her as you please.”

“That’s a pretty hurtful thing to say to the person involved.”

“Well, I think she’ll have a slightly different reaction to that.”

Lee Yesol smirked and walked ahead of me.

“This way.”

Lee Yesol led me to the parking area, and I got into the car she had brought. I fastened my seatbelt, and the car started.

I looked at Lee Yesol through the window and asked, “So, why did you come back?”

“If it’s not too much trouble, could you spare some time for me today?”

“If it’s today, I have about four hours free.”

“That’s more than enough.”

Lee Yesol covered her mouth and laughed, and the stationary scenery began to move slowly.

**

-Wow, is he an Awakened? He’s huge.

-He’s definitely an Awakened. Why else would he be wearing those weird glasses?

-Must be an artifact or something.

The murmurs of the crowd caught the attention of Lee Yesol, who was wearing recognition-inhibiting glasses, and she glanced at me.

“Did we come to a place with too many people?”

“It’s fine.”

It wasn’t the first time I had experienced this, and I didn’t care about the opinions of strangers anyway. What intrigued me more was why Lee Yesol had brought me to this department store.

We got on the escalator, moving away from the bustling crowd. As we rode smoothly upwards, I casually asked Lee Yesol, who was standing next to me, “Are there any items with special purchase conditions, like those only sold to men or couples?”

“Huh?”

“You know, like those.”

Lee Yesol tilted her head slightly, blinked a couple of times, and then smiled as she raised the corners of her mouth.

“If it were something like that, I would have bothered the other kids instead of troubling you.”

“Then.”

“It’s not that. I asked to accompany you because Executor Claire will be staying at your mansion for a while, and I thought you might need some things.”

“Things she needs? There should be plenty at the temple.”

“That’s true. Ah, this way.”

Lee Yesol led me to a floor filled with women’s clothing stores.

“Executor Claire is too frugal and has no interest in dressing herself up, so she doesn’t have many spare clothes.”

“…… Indeed, her wardrobe is quite limited.”

“That’s right. With that appearance and figure, it’s a waste that she doesn’t make use of them.”

“Would an ability like Claire’s really need to rely on her appearance and figure?”

“Hmm, of course.”

Lee Yesol covered her mouth and laughed. We stopped in front of one of the stores.

The female staff members greeted us politely but kept their distance.

“Which color do you think would suit Executor Claire better?”

The same design but in different colors. I hesitated for a moment between white and blue before opening my mouth.

“Blue―”

“Sky blue?”

Sky blue. What a ridiculous name.

“…… I think white would be better.”

“Really?”

“Any color would suit her, but I think white goes better with Claire’s atmosphere. Clean and pure.”

“Oh my…”

Lee Yesol widened her eyes and nodded. She then quietly called over one of the staff members and asked them to pack the top I had chosen.

“How about this one?”

“What about this?”

“By the way, why doesn’t Executor Claire wear a smartwatch? Is there a particular reason?”

Lee Yesol led me around the store as I asked questions, and we ended up buying seasonal clothes for Claire, as well as some understated earrings and necklaces.

“I’m sorry, but I only have two hands.”

Lee Yesol smiled as she looked at the floating bags behind me.

“Now, there’s just one more thing to buy, so could you wait here for a bit, Professor?”

“…… I will.”

Lee Yesol left me at the resting area and hurried off on her own.

“Haa.”

I wasn’t physically tired, but I felt mentally exhausted.

It had only been about an hour, but accompanying Lee Yesol as she chose clothes that would suit Claire’s style was more draining than I had expected.

-Haa……

-Ugh, I’d rather be working.

-Where are the restrooms here…?

‘……’

Men with luggage bags similar to mine were sitting around, looking exhausted. Seeing them, I suddenly felt a bit sorry for Claire.

‘…… I should get my license.’

Every time we went out, I had to rely on Claire for transportation, especially when we went to the mart or department store to buy things for Baek Hana when she was younger. But now, having experienced being on the other side, I realized how tiring it was.

“Professor.”

Lee Yesol kept her promise and returned shortly with a box in her hand, exuding an antique charm with its black base. She placed the box, which was slightly larger than my palm, into one of the floating bags and said, “Shall we go?”

“…… I will.”

I was the last to join the resting area, and as I left, I received envious glances from the tired men.

**

-I’ll let Executor Claire know.

After returning to the Academy, Lee Yesol said she would inform Claire, and I was left with a large number of bags.

‘This is tiring…’

Just accompanying Lee Yesol on her shopping trip had left me with a level of mental fatigue similar to when I manipulated the crystal.

-If I can just make it through tomorrow, it’s the weekend…!!

-There’s a movie theater in the Center, let’s go watch a movie.

-But the students who went out for their practical today came back looking like rags.

As evening approached, the streets filled with students who had finished their classes for the day. However, none of them seemed to notice me as I passed by, my presence concealed.

Click.

I opened the door and stepped into the house, greeted by the brightly lit hallway and a faint aroma.

I took off my shoes and changed into slippers, hanging my coat next to Claire’s.

Piiia!

A small but distinct chick sound came from the end of the hallway, followed by…

-Piiang!

An angry little troublemaker flew towards me, its face scrunched up.

-Piiia! Piiii!

From its tone, I could tell it was angry, but the problem was why it was angry at me.

‘…… I want to kick it out.’

The little brat was stomping on my shoulder with its two feet.

I ignored it and called out to Claire, who was standing like a statue in front of the sink, her shoulders hunched.

“Claire.”

“……”

There was no response, but I could see her shoulders move slightly.

‘I knew she couldn’t cook, but this is disastrous.’

I wasn’t sure what she had been trying to make, but the presence of honey and sugar suggested she had been attempting to make something for the little rascal on my shoulder, who was now causing a ruckus.

It seemed everything had failed.

I manipulated the magic in the chaotic kitchen, and it responded to my will, wrapping around the dishes and ingredients, cleaning up the mess.

-Pii?

The rascal, surprised by the floating objects, stopped stomping and calmed down, watching curiously.

As the cleanup neared completion, I called out to Claire again.

“Claire.”

“…… Yes.”

“You can’t get everything right the first time. I’ll teach you later, so for now, take your luggage and unpack it.”

“…… Luggage, you say……?”

Claire, who had been hiding behind the wall, turned and saw the floating bags behind me. Her eyes widened as she asked, “Is that…?”

“Your luggage. Lee Yesol said she’d explain, so for now, take it and unpack it.”

“Uh… Yes, yes, I will…”

Claire quickly approached me and began collecting the floating bags, one by one, into her arms.

“Then… I’ll be excused for a moment.”

And with that, she fled the kitchen as if she were running away.

Chak chak.

-Piiia!

The rascal, who had been pestering me, now demanded my attention by tapping my cheek. I ignored it and opened Baek Hana’s cabinet, taking out a few pieces of children’s chocolate and unwrapping them.

“Just stay quiet until you finish eating these.”

-Piiia?

I offered the chocolate to the rascal.

Odok!

-Ptaeang?!

It snatched the chocolate from me and settled on the table, nibbling on it. I took the opportunity to prepare Claire’s dinner.

Kwa-dang!

-Piiia?!

“……?”

A loud noise came from the hallway, and both the rascal and I turned our heads. Soon after, Claire returned, her face flushed a deep red. She hid behind the wall and said, “Uh, Professor…?”

“What is it?”

“Uh, well, it’s just that… everything you picked out… was chosen by you, Professor…?”

“If there’s anything you don’t like, tell Lee Yesol.”

“No, it’s not that… I mean, did you really choose ‘everything’ yourself…?”

“I did.”

“Augh……”

Pshuii!

Steam rose from Claire’s head, an unusual phenomenon for a human.