I Became an Unknown Professor at the Academy

“I’m Jayden’s disciple.”

The reason he mentioned his disciple’s name was simple.

He meant to tell her to be careful because he was the disciple of the leader of the top faction in the Academy. But.

“Is that it?”
“…What?”

Sean blinked in surprise at Na Joo-hee’s increased hostility.

“I heard your introduction, so would you mind leaving now? I was talking first.”
“Oh, uh…”

Sean was so taken aback by Na Joo-hee grabbing his shoulder and pulling him back that he just stood there, staring at Na Joo-hee’s back.

In the era he had lived in, power was everything.

Those with power could wield it, and those with connections to the powerful could do the same.

‘The world has changed a lot, hasn’t it…’

Or perhaps his disciple’s parents had more clout than he did.

It had only been three days since he arrived here, but he had seen his disciple’s foolishness more than once, so it made sense.

As Sean stood there, rubbing his chin, Na Joo-hee, fueled by her boiling anger, decided to bring up the matter she had been hesitating to discuss with Baek Hana.

“Um, can we, can we be on the same team for the year-end evaluations…?”
“With me?”
“…Yes.”

-Uuuuugh!!
-Shut up.

Edyn, whose face had turned bright red, tried to say something, but he couldn’t break free from Maria’s hand, and could only flail her arms.

“May I join the conversation as well?”

Everyone’s eyes, including Edyn’s, who was flailing his arms, turned to the boy, especially Na Joo-hee, whose red eyes matched her hair.

“I also came here to team up with the Lady.”

There was one thing he had found out early this morning while nagging Jayden to process the paperwork. It was that the Executor, who was in a relationship with the client, had unilaterally applied for guardianship.

‘So it’s that child.’

It made sense, given her striking appearance, her transformation abilities, and the unusual amount of magic power she carried. Any faction would need power to make their voices heard.

In other words, if he teamed up with the child whom the Executor, the client’s lover, wanted to protect, there was a good chance that the client wouldn’t kick him out during the evaluations.

It was worth calling him for such a small matter.

“Hey.”
“…Me?”

At first, he was taken aback, but then he realized that it wasn’t that strange a reaction.

“Just because you’re Jayden’s disciple doesn’t prove your ability. You know that, right?”

Anyone would be angry if someone with pathetic magic power suddenly butted in.

He would have smashed their head himself.

‘I can use this, intentionally or not.’

The easiest thing to do would be to just release a little more magic power, but it seemed necessary to properly demonstrate his skills to the child in front of him.

“On the other hand, it would be funny to assume that Jayden’s disciple is incompetent.”
“Well, you could be a noble from the Royal Academy, or maybe Jayden sees your potential for the future, given your young age.”
“That’s a possible assumption.”

Baek Hana stroked Nayoung’s head, who was shivering, and watched the two of them argue, looking dazed.

“So, how about we decide according to the rules here?”
“Ha.”

Na Joo-hee crossed her arms under her chest, looking very displeased, and said,

“Don’t expect me to go easy on you just because you’re Jayden’s disciple.”
“Yes, that’s fine. Then, shall we start now?”
“That’s what I want.”

The two of them simultaneously took out their smartphones from their pockets.

“I’ll make the application, so can you call a professor who can come here now?”
“Are you sure it’s okay? Later, he might say something like it’s cheating or something.”
“…That won’t happen.”
“Then.”

Sean shrugged at Na Joo-hee’s piercing gaze and sent an email to Jayden.

[JM: What’s this about a contest? Didn’t you promise me that you would stay quiet?]

[N: So, pick a suitable guy and send him over. Got it?]

[JM: Master, please consider your age. You’re almost the same age as these students.]

[N: So, will you send him or not?]

[JM: This is the last time. I don’t want to retire from my professorship yet, so please cooperate.]

‘Aigh…’

In the old days, his disciple would have thrown himself into a magic power storm if he had asked him to. But now, the disciple dared to talk back, having discovered a bigger world.

-Ding.

Both Sean and Na Joo-hee’s smartwatches made a sound.

Na Joo-hee snorted at the email and said,

“So, you’re not lying about being Jayden’s disciple.”
“I’ll show you that I have the skills to back it up.”

The two of them glanced at each other and then turned to Baek Hana.

“I’ll show you who’s more suitable for you.”
“I’ll prove my skills to you, Lady.”

Then, without waiting for Baek Hana’s answer, they turned their backs and left.

“But, I…”
“Shh!!”

Edyn, who had somehow freed herself from Maria, quickly stood up, putting her index finger to her lips.

“I was just about to take a nap, but this is perfect. Let’s watch and digest our lunch at the same time. Okay?”

Edyn, without waiting for Baek Hana’s answer, hummed a tune and followed the two who had left first.

Maria, after a brief hesitation, smiled softly and asked Baek Hana,

“Should we, go too…?”

Maria was also a follower of the God of Amusement, no matter what.

**

The dueling arena, deserted by students preparing for the upcoming year-end evaluations.

A male and a female stepped onto a section of the arena that hadn’t been touched by anyone for several days.

-I’ll start in 10 seconds.

The third-year professor, acting as the supervisor at Jayden’s request, operated the switch. Then, the speaker installed on the stage began to count down.

‘A moderate back-and-forth exchange would be fine.’

Sometimes, too much power invites suspicion.

Especially if it’s an outsider.

Sean stroked his chin, receiving hostility from Na Joo-hee as the countdown continued. He wanted to see what the young people these days were capable of.

-Start.

As soon as the countdown ended, Na Joo-hee’s body burst into flames.

“Ho ho.”

A rare ability to transmute one’s body into the desired elemental substance using magic power. In the Awakened world, where abilities are half the battle, transmutation was indeed a powerful ability.

‘This kid has been spoiled rotten.’

No matter how agitated one’s emotions are, a magic user must always maintain a cool head.

Humans tend to narrow their focus and simplify their thoughts when they get excited. This is a fatal change for a magic user who needs to think flexibly and cast complex spells in a dynamically changing environment.

With transmutation, one doesn’t need to cast spells, and in the confined space of the stage, the drawbacks of this ability wouldn’t be immediately apparent. But it was only a matter of time.

【Die!!】

“Heh heh heh.”

Sean thought as he looked at the fireball that was shot at him with genuine murderous intent.

‘This kid has no manners.’

It reminded him of his disciple when he was young, and he couldn’t help but feel annoyed.

From their first meeting, when his disciple had acted arrogantly, relying on his parents, Sean had molded him into a somewhat decent magician. But now…

‘You’re switching sides after all I’ve done for you?’

It was a natural choice for a magician from the Clock Tower, who prioritized exploration above all else. But he couldn’t deny the resentment he felt.

Sean moved the magic power he had spread out earlier as the fireball approached him.

Since the fireball was a lump of magic power without a spell, it was impossible to interfere and change its nature. So.

Boom!!

With a loud explosion, the fireball burst, scattering large and small fragments along with white steam.

【Trickery!!】

Hwaah-ah-ah-!!

Na Joo-hee unleashed a wall of fire towards the ice fragments that were flying towards her face.

Sssss-!!

The ice fragments instantly evaporated.

【Ha!! An ice magic user, a disciple of Jayden, against me who specializes in fire magic!!】

“Hmm, that’s true.”

Sean nodded in agreement with Na Joo-hee’s taunt and honestly admitted his mistake. Instead,

“But it’s better than blocking my vision during a fight.”

Sean looked at Na Joo-hee with a disdainful gaze and slightly moved his right hand.

Boom!!

With a dull sound, the flaming head of Na Joo-hee wobbled violently.

Thud.

Na Joo-hee’s knees touched the ground, and her body returned to its original form before collapsing.

A large bump appeared on the back of her head, and behind her, a staff covered in white frost appeared.

It was the old wooden staff that Sean had sent flying to the side when Na Joo-hee had erected a wall of fire. He had adjusted the speed so that she could discover it if she widened her field of vision a little, but Na Joo-hee hadn’t noticed the staff until it was completely out of her sight.

Paka-chak!!

The frost on the staff shattered, and the staff returned to its original form and flew into Sean’s hand.

Sean tapped the stage lightly with the staff and clicked his tongue.

“If you had learned from your previous defeat, you wouldn’t have made the same mistake again.”

If they were truly invulnerable, the Awakened with transmutation abilities would have already occupied the top spots.

Even if they transmute their bodies into elements, they are still susceptible to stronger magic power or opposing attributes.

It was disappointing to see that she hadn’t improved despite experiencing the bitterness of defeat and even going into a rampage.

“Hmm.”

He had intended to have a moderate exchange, but her every action was so rude that he forgot his original intention and ended up teaching her a lesson.

Feeling embarrassed, Sean hid the staff and slowly descended from the stage. Then, he approached Baek Hana, who was watching him with her friends, and asked,

“What do you think, Lady? Isn’t this enough to qualify as your teammate?”

Baek Hana finally opened her mouth to the boy, who still wore an age-inappropriate smile.

“First of all, please stop calling me ‘Lady’.”
“Then, by name…”
“No.”

Baek Hana stood up, looking very serious.

“If possible, I’d prefer it if you didn’t talk to me at all.”

Baek Hana glanced at the unconscious Na Joo-hee on the stage for a moment, then turned away.

“Hmm.”

Sean watched Baek Hana and her friends leave the dueling arena and realized one thing.

The duel had taken place without any regard for Baek Hana’s wishes.

‘I’m screwed.’

For the first time, Sean felt what it was like to be young again.