I Became an Unknown Professor at the Academy

Upon returning to the mansion.

‘It’s the first time I’ve felt like coming home.’

Although I had rested for 12 hours, my body still felt sluggish.

The sluggishness I felt now was not due to the burden on my soul.

Originally, the price I should have paid for this incident was supposed to be borne by Nothingness, which had awakened within me, so the damage I suffered was negligible.

However, the reason I still felt sluggish was because his energy had spread throughout my body as it awakened.

‘Is this also thanks to Greed?’

If another lifeform had been consumed by Nothingness to the same degree as I was, they would have been overwhelmed by lethargy and forgotten by those around them, eventually dying.

If I wanted to, it wouldn’t be difficult to solve this problem, but this time, I would carry this sluggishness for a long time. To maintain the balance of the scales as much as possible.

‘I’ll have to reduce my sleep as well.’

In the past, I hadn’t known about the side effects of Greed, so I had focused on recovery, but now that I had experienced the fatal side effects, I couldn’t prioritize recovery alone.

It was bothersome, but I had no choice but to adjust my body’s balance according to my plan.

-Beep, beep…

“That’s unusual.”

The guy who usually climbed on top of me as soon as I lay down on the bed was now curled up in her own nest.

‘It should be done by next summer.’

The faint presence was gradually diminishing.

I left the bedroom, leaving behind the guy who would serve as fertilizer for my plan.

I could feel Claire’s magic power in the kitchen.

I walked towards the kitchen and found Claire asleep, lying on the table.

‘She must have been affected by Nothingness as well.’

Unlike the past, where only his eyes had cracks, now the remnants of Nothingness had spread throughout his body, affecting her.

If that wasn’t the case, there was no reason for Claire, who didn’t get tired even after a month of not eating or sleeping, to be sleeping like this.

“Claire.”

I called out to her, standing right next to her, but she didn’t respond.

Hmm, hmm…

She continued to breathe evenly, deep in sleep.

I checked the time on the clock hanging on the wall and picked up Claire, still sleeping peacefully.

“It’s the same as it was then.”

Five years ago, in the summer, I had once held her like this in the pool in the backyard. She hadn’t changed at all since then.

I returned to my bedroom and laid Claire down on my bed.

“It seems the balance has been restored.”

The peaceful face of Claire, asleep.

In the past, the old me would have wanted to monopolize this sight, but now I only felt that it was beautiful.

Finally, I covered her with a blanket and left the mansion, heading towards the old alchemy workshop.

Upon arriving at the alchemy workshop, I climbed the stairs and took out my smartphone, sending two emails.

One was to Claire, who was still asleep.

The other was to Baek Hana, who had just woken up.

After sending both emails, I walked into the gate.

“Bring them.”

The guy, who had been floating in the same spot as yesterday, began to emit a brilliant blue light as soon as he received my command.

Tweee-

Along with a sound like someone spitting, Yoon Do-sik and Jayden fell from the ceiling.

Kwoong-!!

“Ouch?!”

Yoon Do-sik landed on his buttocks, groaning in pain, while Jayden skillfully used his magic power to land safely.

“I didn’t resist because I thought you might be calling us, Professor.”

At Jayden’s question, I nodded and flipped through the notebooks in their hands.

“How’s the work going?”
“We’ve finished figuring out the overall structure.”

Just as the boy said, the first page of the notebook contained a drawing of the terrain, viewed from above, with minimal errors.

“We’ve finished selecting the first-year-level monsters and are discussing their placement and traps. In terms of numbers, we’ve progressed about 20%.”
“Not bad.”

If they could finish figuring out the terrain in just 12 hours and achieve a 20% work rate, they would be able to finish the task within the given time, even without my interference.

“The rest will continue this afternoon.”
“Yes.”

“What?!”

Unlike Jayden, who obediently answered, Yoon Do-sik, rubbing his buttocks, stood up and glared at me as he asked,

“This afternoon? What do you mean by that?”
“Is the clock just for show?”

Although the scenery here only repeated what I had designated, as long as there was electricity, the electronic devices they brought in would still work.

In other words, if they had smartphones and smartwatches, they could check the time whenever they wanted.

‘This space seems quite interesting.’

Yoon Do-sik frowned and manipulated the smartwatch on his wrist.

“…?”

He blinked as if he had seen something wrong, then grabbed Jayden’s wrist and checked the time on his smartwatch. And.

“What the hell?! This is crazy?!”

Yoon Do-sik’s eyes widened in surprise as he approached me and shouted,

“Where’s the exit?! Where’s the exit?!”

At his urging, I commanded the crystal to create an exit leading outside right next to us.

“Damn…!! I haven’t even finished taking notes yet?!”

Yoon Do-sik rushed towards the exit.

Jayden watched him for a moment, then checked the time again and approached me.

“I also have a joint lecture for third and fourth graders, so I’ll be leaving now.”
“You two are free to come and go as you please, so there’s no need to ask for my permission.”
“…Thank you!!”

From my perspective, it was just a matter of delegating my work, but the space itself seemed to inspire a strong desire for exploration, as the guy who had just been given a task to do was grateful and bowed to me.

“Hoo, I checked the time and suddenly felt tired… I guess I’m getting old, haha.”
“Jayden.”
“Yes?”

I put a little more emphasis on my words as I stopped in front of the exit, where the guy was standing.

“Tell your master what I said, word for word.”
“……Yes.”

I nodded, and the guy swallowed his saliva as he prepared to deliver my message. Then, he disappeared through the exit, probably to go and find his master.

‘This guy seems to have a big impact on his surroundings.’

“Viche.”

【Yes, Master.】

Viche, who had been hiding in my ring, appeared before me. She had been with me since I regained consciousness, and she greeted me with the same polite attitude as yesterday.

“How are you?”

【I am well, Master.】

“Good. Go back in.”

She bowed her head and disappeared back into my ring. I’m pretty sure that her existence is closely tied to my unique magic power, which is why she can maintain her form and stay with me.

I placed the two notebooks I was holding on the table and left the room through the exit, which was still open.

-Beep.

The notification set by Baek Hana rang from my pocket. I didn’t bother to take out my phone and just walked downstairs.

“Ah…”

The door, which had been locked, opened, and Baek Hana, who had been standing in front of it, widened her eyes and quickly scanned her surroundings.

“It’s just me.”

“Woo-jin!!!”

Baek Hana, who had been waiting for me, ran towards me with a big smile on her face.

“Get away from me.”

“I don’t want to.”

Baek Hana wrapped her arms and legs around me like a sloth, refusing to let go. I gently pushed her hair away from her face and moved her towards the windowless side of the room, away from the glass.

“You shouldn’t have come so suddenly. I told you to wait until I contacted you.”

“I, I didn’t come suddenly… I mean, I did come suddenly, but…”

Baek Hana’s hair was still wet, indicating that she had just taken a shower. Her lie was obvious, and it made me chuckle.

‘It’s been a while since I felt this way.’

The only thing that could stimulate my dry emotions was Baek Hana’s presence.

“It feels like it’s been a while since I felt this way.”

Baek Hana, who had been hiding her face in my neck, lifted her head and looked at me straight in the eye.

“It feels nice… I mean, it’s always nice, but it feels even better now.”

“Stop babbling and get down.”

“I don’t want to.”

Baek Hana tightened her grip on me as she slid down my chest. I gently pushed her away and held her left hand.

“……Why?”

“Just stay still.”

Baek Hana’s fingers twitched as if she wanted to do something, but I ignored her and focused on Viche, who was hiding in my ring.

Sssss-

Viche, who had been hiding in my ring, emerged and took the form of a silver ring, which I then placed on Baek Hana’s left hand.

I let go of Baek Hana’s hand and said,

“Go back now.”

“……Already?”

“It’s almost 7 o’clock.”

“But I haven’t had breakfast yet…”

Baek Hana wrapped her arms around my waist and buried her face in my chest. I gently pushed her away and said,

“Stop whining and go back.”

“I don’t want to!”

Baek Hana pouted and stomped her feet, looking like a spoiled child. I gently tapped her on the forehead and said,

“You promised to behave when you’re at home.”

“I, I know… but…”

Baek Hana’s eyes widened as she realized what she had done wrong, and she quickly looked away, avoiding my gaze. Then, she started fiddling with her fingers and lowered her head, looking like a guilty child.

I placed my hand on Baek Hana’s white hair and said,

“Write a reflection essay before you come back.”

“……A reflection essay?”

Baek Hana looked up at me with a confused expression.

“A whole volume.”

“……A whole volume?!”

Baek Hana’s eyes widened in surprise as she looked up at me. I gently lifted her up and surrounded her with my magic power, lifting her off the ground.

“Yes, a whole volume. Don’t come back until you’ve finished writing it.”

“But that’s impossible!!!”

Baek Hana struggled and shouted, but I ignored her and pushed her out of the room, closing the door behind her.

I watched Viche, who was pouting and grumbling in my ring, for a moment before slowly walking downstairs.

‘If I consider the impact of Nothingness on my surroundings, it should take about a month.’

I had asked Baek Hana to write a reflection essay as a way to buy myself some time. I needed to see how Nothingness would affect my surroundings, and I figured that keeping Baek Hana busy with a task would give me the time I needed.

The email I sent to Claire was also related to this. I had told her that I would be away for a while due to the year-end evaluations, so she shouldn’t worry too much.

“It should take about three weeks.”

If Jayden and Yoon Do-sik could achieve a 20% work rate in just 12 hours, then with the addition of Nothingness’ influence, they should be able to complete the task in three weeks.

I waited for Jayden and Yoon Do-sik to return, intending to use them as test subjects to see how Nothingness would affect them.