Protect Professor Ryan (3)
Narsha looked at Leonard in dismay.
A face that I hated, hated, hated so much.
A man who revealed an ugly inside that was different from his gentle appearance.
Trash that has trampled on all the remaining sociality.
But why… why on earth… do I feel a sense of relief when I see him?
Leonard threw Ryan’s hand away.
“If you have something to say, let me know.”
It was different from the old image of always respecting superiors. I didn’t feel the unique pretentious aspect. At his hostile behavior, Ryan stiffened as if he had made a mistake.
Silence hovering around the quiet back door.
Just as the cool night wind blew through my hair, a car approached from behind.
Fast pace for a school.
Soon after, he honked at Narsha, who was out of the driveway.
baaaang-!!
At the same time, the arms wrapped around her waist pulled Narsha. Narsha, who was dragged by strong muscle strength, was embraced in a wide and distant arms.
“oh-!”
A familiar scent lingered in my nose.
“Fragrant body odor” that recalls a certain beautiful past.
As I slowly raised my head, Leonard was looking at me with a nonchalant expression.
It’s still cold, but with a completely different look than before.
“·······”
Leonard said nothing.
However, it was only to tidy up the tousled hair with one gesture.
And then let go – before I could even say it, I walked away.
“Let’s go. It’s time to turn off the classroom lights soon.”
After that, Leonard quietly moved on. As if attracted by a magnet, Ryan followed suit.
“Yeah, that must be it. Let this go for a while-”
“It’s late.”
“All right. I’ll walk on my own, so stop…”
It’s like forcibly walking a dog.
After the two left, only a desolate void lingered.
However, the same scene was repeated in Narsha’s head.
The rough arm that pulled him.
Compared to the cold face, the kind hand.
In the past, you pretended to be a worldly sweet loving wife, but now you have a cool ex-boyfriend concept?
“… that’s not even funny.”
Narsha built arsenic.
Thank you for helping me, but I didn’t keep today’s work in mind.
It would be another unseemly pretense.
＊＊＊
As I walked through the dark academy, I fell into agony.
A variable that deviated from the original work, that is, Professor Ryan, who should have been arrested 8 hours ago, approached Narsha.
The cost was too great for a measure to keep away from Jeniel.
But I can’t give up on Ryan.
While protecting him, I have to make sure he doesn’t do anything wrong…
“·······”
I stopped and looked back. Ryan slowly lowered his eyes.
“It is a misunderstanding. Just to recommend a good meeting…”
Like a thief tripping his feet, he lined up his excuses without asking.
I was sweating profusely, but my eyes were not on Ryan.
Narsha walks from afar.
No matter how much time is left, you can’t monitor Ryan’s every move like today. Not only would there be a textbook lecture tomorrow, but there were many things to prepare, such as quests and magic research.
Crucially, he was not the kind of person who would invest that much time.
But if it’s Narsha, if it’s a healing mage to keep by my side, it’s worth it. Since there was karma, it was enough to be kind to me as an apology.
It’s a relationship that needs to be sorted out anyway.
So instead of watching over Ryan, I go in the direction of protecting Narsha.
I gazed at Narsha gently.
Narsha met my eyes, stopped walking and averted my gaze.
“·······”
By the way, he doesn’t even have a word to say thank you. In the aftermath of “fox behavior,” he treated me kindly.
I stepped back After a while, we arrived at the Zenith Pavilion. I stood in front of the door and thought about it, then I told Ryan.
“Go up first. I have some business to do.”
“Ah, I see.”
Perhaps it was inconvenient to accompany me, Ryan entered Janice’s coffin without asking for condensed milk.
Dark and lonely near the front door.
I waited for Narsha under the lamppost. After a while, Narsha appeared.
“…!”
Spotted me and stopped.
Judging by the look on his face, he seemed to be thinking about going back to the other side. After hesitating for a moment, Narsha continued on her way.
Our distance grew closer, before she completely passed.
“Narsha.”
said in a meaningful voice. Narsha stopped walking and looked at me blankly.
Gray hair that glistened in the light of the street lamp. Underneath, the softened features were more beautiful than usual.
It’s incomparable to the time a few days ago when I was misunderstood.
As soon as I looked at it, Narsha spoke first.
“What····? If you call me, tell me.”
A rather gentle accent.
He must have been embarrassed himself, so he soon pushed back with a harsh tone.
“Are you deaf? Don’t hold onto people, talk to them. why? Why didn’t you say thank you?”
“·······”
He was conscious too.
Well, because gratitude and hatred are separate emotions.
I asked plaintively.
“You hate me.”
“…you call that a horse?”
Narsha’s eyes grew fierce. As if his blood pressure rose, blood vessels stood in his temples.
“I like a kid like you best-”
Because I didn’t know the past history of the two, I couldn’t accurately determine the depth of the hatred.
But as of today, it has become clear.
That it is not a relationship that will be restored in the near future.
“It’s disgusting every time I see it, and I get angry all the way-”
“I live by expressing only half of that.”
“What······?”
“Just like you are doing with me now, if you don’t like it, show your displeasure and clearly refuse. Guys like you couldn’t say no.”
“·······”
That’s why it was more important to move slowly than to find an immediate solution.
1 stack for today.
It was clear that going further than this would only have the opposite effect. So, I have no choice but to ask and leave.
Leaving the dumb Narsha behind, I entered the Zenith coffin.
In the aftermath of the fox behavior, kind words like ‘carefully go in’ and ‘would you like to take me?’ came out, but I managed to hold it in.
“uh? Professor Leonard.”
Ryan, who was standing in the hallway on the first floor, came up to me and said.
“There is something like a barrier here.”
Just as Ryan said, a translucent magic field was blocking the stairs and elevator.
This is a trick designed to minimize the confrontation between Raina and Ryan. I calmly canceled the magic field.
“I forgot to care about security.”
“… you are thorough as expected.”
After that, we headed to Z401. Fortunately, we arrived before lights out.
Ryan’s 9th hour alive.
Looking around, nothing has changed.
Elia was well, the other students were safe, and there were no significant changes.
belt ring-
「Foxing」-【Passive Unlocked】
Exactly 24 hours later, the character trait 「Fox Act」 was canceled. I immediately activated “foxing”.
This is because today, while excluding Ryan, he has to attract Raina’s attention.
＊＊＊
the next morning.
After the second sentry, I exchanged greetings with Reina.
“Thank you for your hard work, Professor Reina.”
“Professor Leonard did a good job too~ Thanks to you, I wasn’t bored last night either.”
Reina looked up at her with an unchanging face. Then he twisted his body.
“It’s too bad that tomorrow is already the last…”
“I’m going crazy too. See you tonight.”
After a brief nod, I left the classroom.
Today is the day when there is a textbook lecture.
However, since there are 6 hours left until the lecture, I plan to do magic research in the office. I was taking Hot Eight, so I wasn’t in a condition that required rest.
I came out of the Zenith building.
Unlike the rising morning sun, the faces of the students were dead.
“Ah… you should listen to your seniors. The first period lecture is completely hell.”
“Then why is it so hard to wake up in the morning? How did you take morning classes at the Royal Academy?”
“I guess we’re old too.”
I smiled involuntarily.
My 20-year-old college life was like that too, but it’s no different than being a student in a fantasy world.
okay. When you’re together, grumble about what’s in your heart.
When you get older, the friends who will listen to you will disappear.
I headed for the office with such a foolish thought. When I got on the elevator and got off on the 7th floor, soldiers in uniform were guarding the front of the office.
One of them, who seemed to be a senior, approached and said.
“Are you Professor Leonard?”
“That’s right.”
“This is Patrick from the imperial family.”
Patrick was handed the scroll by a subordinate.
“This is a letter from Emperor Peha. Please set an example.”
I got down on one knee and received it. After a brief ostentation, the soldiers went out of the hectare coffin.
“It’s a letter from the emperor…”
I went straight to the office and checked the contents.
[Imperial Guard Corps joining test. ]
“Leonard Adonis, a high-ranking wizard who applied for special recruitment for the Imperial Household Guard, is to take the second entrance test two months later, on May 30th, according to the order of the emperor. If this is refused, special……”
An essential virtue of the archmage, ‘Experience in each affiliated institution.’
The deepening organization of the defense system is the Imperial Family Guard.
As befits an institution that protects the emperor from his closest aide, the difficulty of the test is close to atrocious, and even Leonard, already the best defense wizard in the empire, cannot avoid it.
21 years old. 26 years old. 30 years old.
Leonard’s abilities were tested a total of three times, and this was the second test.
This is an important episode included in the original story. It is also related to the academy’s worst massacre.
belt ring-
[Main Quest – Joining the Imperial Family Guard]
Category: Required
Clear Condition: Pass the Imperial Guard Corps entrance test.
Reward: 1000 points
Status: Incomplete
Gradually, the required quests increased. It’s nice to have a lot of reward points, but it wasn’t something to be happy about.
Because “Eternal Wizard World” is a mass-market novel that deals with serious incidents.
In order to cope with them, at least not to fall behind the original Leonard, he had to constantly polish his magic. Not only in theory, but also in practical use.
“Is Expedium the answer after all?”
Even in Daglania, Expedium was very active. If it hadn’t been for constant practice, disaster would have happened like in other areas. The problem is that it is still too immature.
So I had to start practicing from today.
To keep an eye on Ryan, I manifested expedium in the space under the chair.
First, from his office.
sss-
“…?”
none. There were only a few flying flies in the messy office.
Assassin, are you in the bathroom again?
sss-
Thankfully, I wasn’t even in the bathroom.
After that, I looked around the place where I was picked up.
sss
Ryan was nowhere to be seen. I was anxious. Could it be that this goddamn fat guy is messing around with Narsha again?
I know I shouldn’t be like this, but I know it’s a big disrespect, but I manifested [Expedium] into Narsha’s lab.
sss-
My whole body faded. At the same time, the blurred son-in-law led my body into a new space.
The first thing that reacted was the sense of smell. A faint scent of perfume lingered in his nostrils. Then there was the sound of a ballpoint pen squeaking.
After the senses of smell and hearing arrived, finally sight was opened.
The lab is as tidy as the rough personality. Next to the neatly arranged experimental equipment, Narsha’s back was visible.
Narsha was working on a magic formula, and Ryan was nowhere to be seen in the lab.
The moment I was about to cancel Expedium after checking my safety.
“Kyaaak-!”
A scream echoed through the laboratory.
It was my reflection in the window. Narsha found me with it. I also looked at Narsha’s face.
Two huge eyes.
gaping mouth.
Surprised, Narsha slowly turned her head.
She quickly canceled Expedium before her head completely turned.
sss-
I quickly returned to my office.
Unlike apparition, it was fortunate that there was no delay in cancellation.
“after······”
I almost got caught.
It was unreasonable to express expedium to the academy beyond this point. If rumors circulate that ‘Leonard in a chair’ has been spotted here and there, it will be difficult in many ways.
Therefore, I visited places where people were rare. For example, the jungle or the sky…
sss-
It was almost 1:00 when I went around the remote area by Expedium.
Time to head to the classroom.
I took my textbook and went outside.
A large crowd gathered on the campus under the warm noon sun.
Booths were set up here and there, and solicitation took place everywhere.
“Come to the 20-year-old chess club! The garden is running out!”
“I am a microbe who studies microbes! We ask for your support!”
“This is a club that explores patience and pain, Hwasaengbang!”
Maybe it was club season soon, so the promotion took a while.
Just in time, it was on the way to the Lohas Hall, so I looked around as I passed by.
As I approached the end, someone called me from the front booth.
“Professor Leonard!”
It was the student council president, Selina. I approached it
“It’s been a while, Selina. What kind of club is this?”
“We are a safe return club!”
“A safe return?”
“Yes Yes. Dangerous like these days…”
To recap, it was this.
The recent raid had made the students nervous, so Selina founded the Safe Return Club.
“okay. How’s the recruitment going?”
“There are many applicants for the service, but there are not enough members. To be recognized as an official club, 10 members are required, but only 9 were gathered…”
Selina’s complexion darkened.
The reason for the club’s establishment must be the feeling of guilt toward Ketrick. This time, the intention was to take responsibility for the safety of the students, but it was difficult to recruit members.
“Oops.”
I lowered my gaze in pity.
While listening to the story in silence, the list of service applicants placed on the desk caught my eye. It had an interesting name written on it.
“Honestly, it might be possible to maintain the safe return club-”
“Selina.”
“Yes, Professor.”
“Then I will do it.”
“yes??”
Selina was startled. I was so shocked that I couldn’t speak for a while.
“… school, professor?”
“Why aren’t professors accepted as members?”
“No, it’s not like that…”
“There is no clause in school policy that prohibits professors from participating as members.”
I said emphatically. It wasn’t a pity or a joke.
“Where can I sign?”
“Are you sure? Hey, thank you so much, but why are you suddenly like that…?”
“It’s for the safety of the students.”
＊＊＊
1 hour before.
Narsha was immersed in healing research.
I was looking for a way to efficiently extract the resilience of the ‘Wonder Shark Scales’ among the materials I bought yesterday.
“It’s not even this…”
It was impossible with a one-sided formula. So should I mix it with the potion extraction formula?
I struggled with various hypotheses.
I was concentrating for a while, but I felt a scent somewhere.
sniff-
Narsha’s nostrils flared.
It was definitely not the perfume I wore today. However, Wonder Shark’s scales were not even more so.
‘It’s a familiar scent…? what?’
Is it the smell outside the window?
Narsha, who had her head down on her notebook, looked at the window. Outside the window sat a translucent person.
······This is the 29th floor
“Kyaaak-!”
Narsha screamed. The monstrous creature was still floating outside the window. However, when I looked closely, it was not a monster, but Leonard.
I wondered if it was newly polished flying magic, but when I looked again, it was the reflection in the window. That is, inside the laboratory.
Narsha’s head slowly turned.
“…?”
There was no one behind. I turned my head out the window again. Only cumulus clouds floated in the blue sky.
Narsha let out a meaningless sigh.
“Ha… did you see it wrong…?”
I haven’t been feeling well since yesterday.
He was threatened by Professor Ryan, helped by Leonard, and even nagged by Catherine, the owner of the Mage Tower, when he went to work in the morning.
I felt like I was missing something because of the sudden stress. There is a saying that you can see ghosts when your qi is weak.
“…why is it that bastard?”
Leonard is a ghost. Did you even get behind? I haven’t seen you for a while, so why do you keep showing up?
When I thought of Leonard, my blood pressure rose. I could feel the stress building up in my body.
“Really annoying.”
At this rate, I won’t be caught doing research or anything. Narsha went outside. I took a walk around the academy to refresh my mood.
Tumble- Tumble-
I was walking blankly, and I saw a booth.
[Safe Return Club]
“What kind of clubs are there?”
He said so, but his body went back to the safe club.
As I looked around, Selina greeted me with a smile.
“hello! Join the safe return club! Uh- you’re a Magic Tower researcher?”
“yes.”
“Then apply for the safe return service! If you live within 2km before midnight, we will accompany you for free! Why is the world dangerous, like the fortress raid?”
Selina handed over the pamphlet.
[Safe Return Service]
1. Reliable companion service
2. Talking companion service
3. Tailing Service
“Following service…?”
“yes! It is a service that follows mice without even knowing it for those who are burdened with accompanying. If you are shy, I recommend it!”
“Hmm······”
Narsha pondered deeply.
I definitely liked the tailing service. He didn’t want anyone to follow him, but he needed to be extra careful these days, when warlocks were on the rise.
Crucially, the same situation as yesterday could happen again.
“How much?”
“It’s free!”
“It’s free…”
After thinking for a while, Narsha wrote her name on the list of applicants .