I Became a Professor at the Academy chapter 8

8 – long way to go

In the car on the way back to the academy.

At the wheel, Claire glanced in the rearview mirror in the same quiet atmosphere as on the way to the auction house.

A girl who looked a bit fierce from the first time she went on stage.

How he was treated at the facility through his sloppy appearance and smaller body than his peers. I was able to understand it enough without having to find out.

Is that why?

Is it because the effect of a tired body is bigger than worry about the future, or is it originally blind.

The child was dozing in the man’s arms, holding tightly to his large hand.

The man just stared at the child’s face.

‘I should have kept him alive and locked up.’

No matter how you look at it, the man’s attitude towards the child in his arms was unusual. It’s like dealing with a really precious treasure. The man’s movements were careful with the child, to the extent that each action showed a prudence that had not been felt yesterday or today.

‘It’ll be fine.’

Claire thought, if he had thought of that, he would have given the order before leaving the auction house.

‘Without showing any signs of abuse.’

There is no reason to do anything to reduce the value of an item to be put up for auction, no matter what its purpose is in the first place.

Claire took her eyes off the rearview mirror and looked straight ahead again.

An academy no different from a small city.

A wall, the boundary separating the academy from the outside, appeared.

30m high. A wall that can be easily overcome by strengthened Awakeners who have reached a certain level.

But don’t worry.

Because that high wall that is exposed on the outside is literally just a simple wall.

What actually protects Arena Academy is the one that stretches behind the visible wall. It is a thin dome-shaped membrane.

One of the symbols of Arena Academy, which never lets anyone inside and repels all magic.

what kind of magic it is. Was it magic?

Something unknown that even the famous and naive wizards of the Clock Tower could not figure out the structure of.

Some say it is the power of an ancient artifact, while others say it is one of the Chairman’s unique abilities.

Only the chairman who founded Arena Academy knows what is true, but he himself has no intention of talking about it.

Claire slowly slowed down and looked in the rearview mirror.

The child was drooling and fell asleep completely, and the man didn’t care about that and was still staring at the child’s face.

The checkpoint is gradually approaching.

Since the vehicle they were riding in was registered as a member of the temple, they could have passed by without stopping and entered the academy. The driver himself and the man are already registered.

However, the current vehicle has a new guest on board. The guest is not registered with the academy. In other words, it was said that a pass was required.

‘A apprentice priest would be enough.’

It was while Claire was creating a temporary identity for the girl in her head.

“Just go in.”

I heard the soft voice of a man who hadn’t opened his mouth until now.

“I will.”

Claire did as the man wished without asking any questions.

The vehicle arrived at the checkpoint, and the door opened as soon as the scanner recognized the license plate of the vehicle.

The stopped car slowly picked up speed again and crossed the open door.

There was no problem.

No alarm went off, no child was thrown out.

‘… … I wonder if he’s acquainted with the chairman.’

black ring.

A mysterious man wearing an eye-catching ring that seems to have moved the night sky.

God called the man a disaster, but the figure of the man holding the child in his arms only looked like a slightly special adult.

Watching the man, Claire entered the temple’s allotted parking area, parked the car smoothly, and unfastened her belt.

she said looking in the rearview mirror.

“How can I prepare the child’s documents?”

“custodian.”

Claire nodded.

“Preparing the documents takes an hour. Meanwhile in our temple… .”

“no. Tomorrow I will visit the temple.”

“All right.”

The man wiped the child’s drool with his hand and raised his head.

“Do you get your meals at the temple?”

“Yes. Everyone, including me, will solve it within the temple.”

“then. I hope you can prepare enough for tomorrow morning with the food you enjoy.”

“I… … enjoy eating… That’s it.”

“Is it difficult for a child to eat?”

“no. no. enough kids… Rather, it will be easier to eat and taste better.”

“Then do me a favor.”

The man got out of the car with the child in his arms.

Claire, who was briefly taken aback by the man’s unexpected request, quickly came to her senses and followed the man out of the car.

“Where can I bring it?”

“Infinite Labyrinth.”

Claire was once again taken aback by the man’s answer.

It was a place where she, too, had tried and failed in the past.

“You sleep well.”

Do you know what kind of person I am and sleep with such a comfortable face?

I closed the door and hung the child’s coat on a hanger. And lightly shook the body of the child who was sleeping comfortably in the world.

“… … ?”

The eyelids, which had been gently closed, came up.

The clear, transparent eyes between the long bangs flickered, then moved and looked up at me.

“Now walk on your own.”

“… … yes.”

The child answered briefly in a half-drowned voice.

When I got down from his arms, I stood proudly on my own two feet. If there’s one thing that bothers me a little, is it that you won’t let go of my hand?

‘I’ll have to wash it first.’

It’s not good for hygiene aside from being tangled.

There is also a way to use magic, but magic is not omnipotent. The feeling itself is different from washing with water directly.

“Tell me as soon as possible.”

“yes.”

Perhaps waking up from sleep, the child looked at me with bright eyes and nodded his head.

‘glasses… … Is it because?’

I don’t know why, but I’m glad they seem to accept me friendly.

I grabbed my little hand and headed straight to the bathroom.

The house is not big, but it has everything you need.

shah ah-

A stream of water pouring out of the shower head.

Water vapor soon begins to rise from the stream.

“Wow.”

The child, dressed in rags, followed me to the bathroom and watched the hot water spouting out of the shower and pulled my hand slightly.

“The water is warm.”

“Right.”

“The place I was before always had cold water.”

“… … Is that why you didn’t wash?”

“yes. I hate winter because it’s cold. I like summer because it’s cold.”

For a very simple reason.

Of course, the fundamental problem is the facility that provided such an environment for children in this weather.

“You know how to wash.”

“Know.”

“Then wash up and come out.”

“yes.”

He immediately threw the rags he was wearing on the bathroom floor and went into the bathtub. I picked up the rags that had fallen on the floor and came out.

‘This… Should I keep it for now?’

You can always throw it away, but once you throw it away, it’s difficult to get it back.

‘If I bring something to eat, I’ll have to ask for clothes.’

The only thing suitable for a child to wear was a shirt, so I took it and returned to the bathroom.

-I washed everything!!

“Clean up and come out.”

-yes~

“… … .”

Something. I felt strange.

The warm water seemed to be good, and the child opened the bathroom door and came out in a good mood. And I frowned.

The hair was still clumped together and the smell was still there.

“Why?”

“… … Go back in.”

I took him back to the bathroom. And he taught me how to wash it step by step. What to use to wash your hair and what to apply to your body. More than anything.

“Aww!! It stings my eyes!!”

“… … Sigh.”

He told me what would happen if I didn’t close my eyes properly.

After taking a shower again, he put on my shirt and sat down on a chair.

“Uhhhhh~”

And I rock my legs back and forth, enjoying the wind and my touch drying my hair.

– growl.

I don’t feel hungry. So, of course, this sound came from the stomach of the child sitting in the seat.

However, this little guy showed a little unexpected appearance.

He calmly dozed off in his arms, talked comfortably and said what he had to say, so of course he knew how to ask for something to eat if he was hungry.

“Yes… … .”

But the guy just stopped shaking his legs. Didn’t ask me to eat.

My chest feels stuffy.

I sighed in a different way and said.

“It’s okay to say you’re hungry if you’re hungry.”

“… … really?”

“yes.”

The guy sitting behind me turned his head and looked up at me, then shook his head and said.

“Nope. are you okay. They said eating is expensive. I know.”

“… … .”

What does a guy who doesn’t even know how to wash his hair know?

The moment I tried to put my hand on my untidy white hair.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

– This is Claire. I have brought you what you asked for.

Claire, clad in my magical power, passed through the infinite labyrinth.

“Please wait patiently.”

“yes.”

I left him behind for a moment and headed for the front door.

Claire was waiting for me there with the door already open.

As I approached, she held out a slightly larger paper bag and said,

“That’s what you asked for.”

I handed over the envelope and inspected the contents inside.

A box of colorful cereal and two cartons of milk.

“… … You seem to enjoy light things.”

“I ask that it not be known to others.”

I had nothing to say, so I nodded my head.

“I’ll ask for a pair of clothes tomorrow.”

“I’ll prepare a few suits for a decent girl.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Yes. Have a good night.”

Claire left a polite greeting and went back.

‘what. It’s definitely something a child would prefer.’

I didn’t ask for this with this intention, but I was satisfied with the current situation as it was, so I took the envelope and headed to the kitchen.

Then I prepared the cereal in an adult bowl and took it to the child.

“gulp… … .”

As soon as he sees what I have in my hand, he gently shakes his legs dangling under the chair and swallows.

I put the cereal in front of the guy who couldn’t keep his eyes off the bowl and held the spoon in his small hand.

He drooled, holding the cereal between his two clenched fists. Then, with a glance, he moves his blue eyes to look at me.

【really… Are you giving me?]

【thanks. I’ll eat well.]

【… … bread at that time. It was delicious.]

I only gave up a piece of bread, but the wolf and the girl saved their lives with it. by sacrificing yourself

‘never… … .’

I said, letting go of the memories that came to my mind.

“Don’t notice and eat.”