I Became an Unknown Professor at the Academy

The surprising third day came to an end, and the final fourth day began.

In the audience seats of the auditorium, where the students who had taken the magic sensing and control evaluation had departed.

“Four days have passed in the blink of an eye.”

“The students were amazing, weren’t they?”

“Indeed.”

The observers who had witnessed the students’ evaluations shared their thoughts.

“Well, I just threw my name in to see what would happen, but now that I’m here, I realize the students’ level is too high. I feel like I came for nothing.”

“Same here. I’ve attended observations for specialized school graduates many times, but the gap is more than I expected for just one year.”

“It’s not just one year; these kids were exceptional from the start.”

Everyone nodded in agreement with the speaker’s grumbling.

“Still, the professors must have deemed us qualified to support the students, so I plan to propose to a few students whom I’ve taken an interest in.”

“Me too.”

“Of course. Opportunities like this don’t come often.”

“So, we……”

As the observers compared notes on the students they had their eyes on, one of them spoke up.

“By the way, I overheard the students talking yesterday, and it seems there’s one more evaluation left in the afternoon.”

“In the afternoon?”

“I thought we had to return our access badges at lunchtime.”

“It’s not on the schedule.”

“Don’t stand there like country bumpkins. Just ask. Hey, over here!”

One of the guild leaders descended from the audience seats and approached the professors who were tidying up the stage.

“Umm, may I ask you something?”

“As long as it’s not about the students’ personal information.”

“I’m not that unreasonable.”

“Haha, just kidding.”

It didn’t sound like a joke at all, but the professors of the Magic Department were known for their eccentric personalities, so he quickly got to the point.

“Is there another test in the afternoon?”

“Yes. There’s one more newly added item.”

“New…? Then―”

“Ah.”

The professor shook his head lightly and continued.

“There are no omissions in the guide book. In other words, you won’t be able to observe it.”

“Oh…… Is that so?”

“Don’t be too disappointed. The test in the afternoon is only open to the first-year students and some professors.”

“Oh, I see. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. But please make sure to return your access badges on time. We don’t want to set off any alarms and make things awkward.”

“Of course.”

The professor turned back to his work, and the guild leader quickly climbed back up to the audience seats.

“So, that’s the deal.”

“I wonder what kind of test it is that they’re keeping private.”

“I’m curious too……”

The guild leader who had gone down to ask returned, shaking his head.

“Don’t indulge in unnecessary curiosity if you want to live a long life.”

“I know, I know……”

“Anyway, it’s not like knowing about it will change our choices.”

“Let’s just go and submit the visitation applications.”

The observers nodded and headed towards the checkpoint.

**

First-year dormitory.

“Nayoung, are you almost ready?”

“J-Just a moment… Let me check one more time.”

Baek Hana shook her head as she watched Lee Nayoung rummaging through her bulging bag.

“That’s enough. Let’s go.”

“Waaah……!!”

Baek Hana stuffed the items back into the bag and picked up Lee Nayoung, bag and all, into her arms.

“You’ve checked it like ten times already. It’s not like you to be so cautious.”

“It’s an important test……”

“At this rate, you’ll be late.”

“S-Sorry……”

“If you keep moping, I’ll give you a good massage when we get back.”

“H-Hehe, I’ll do my best!!”

Baek Hana blinked playfully as Lee Nayoung tried to muster some enthusiasm.

“Do you hate my massages that much?”

“N-No! It’s not that… I just don’t want to trouble you… Hehe……”

Lee Nayoung clutched her bag tightly and fidgeted with her fingers. Baek Hana smiled at her roommate’s actions and put her down.

“We’ll be moving around a lot, so let’s loosen up your legs first.”

“O-Okay……!!”

Baek Hana took Lee Nayoung by the hand and walked at a slightly faster pace towards the old alchemy workshop.

“Huff, huff, huff……”

“……”

In front of the workshop, where their classmates had already gathered.

Baek Hana glanced at Lee Nayoung, who was breathing heavily as if she was about to pass out, and scratched her head. She had just realized that Lee Nayoung’s physical fitness was even worse than she had thought.

“Are you okay?”

“Y-Yeah……”

Lee Nayoung clearly wasn’t okay, but to help her recover faster, Baek Hana decided not to say anything further and gently patted her on the back. As Lee Nayoung gradually regained her composure.

-Driing!!
-Wooong!!
-La la la~♪

The bells of smartphones and smart watches started ringing all around them.

-What’s that?

-Is it an announcement?

-I didn’t get anything.

The students checked their devices, and Baek Hana looked at her smart watch while continuing to pat Lee Nayoung’s back. At that moment.

[ (≧∀≦ゞ Hello everyone!! ]

A cute emoticon appeared with the message.

[ ヽ(•̀ω•́ )ゝ I’m Bwiar, in charge of filming and broadcasting your evaluation today~!! ]

Bwiar.

The students froze as they read the message from someone who referred to themselves as a god.

Even though gods were friendly towards humans, they were still gods.

A slight misstep could bring unforeseen divine retribution, so everyone remained silent.

[ (⇀‸↼‶) What’s with this stiff reaction? I’m not the type of god who gets upset over a little cursing! ]

Usually, the more someone claimed they weren’t that type of god, the more likely they were to be that type of god.

The students knew this, so they wisely kept their mouths shut.

[ ┐(ˇヘˇ)┌ Fine, be that way. Anyway, something fun is about to happen soon, so stay tuned!! ]

Fssshhhuuuwook-!!

The tightly closed door of the alchemy workshop opened by itself.

[ (★≧▽^))★☆ Before we begin the test, I’ll give you some simple rules and tips! ]

【Virtual gate Conquest Rulebook!】

In case of disagreement, always decide by majority vote!!

If a non-combatant in your team gets injured, your team is disqualified!!

If you think the conquest is impossible, shout ‘Give up!’

In case of item 3, the remaining members can continue the conquest.

Never attack non-combatants from other teams!!

Everything else is allowed except for the above five rules!!

Tip: (｀▽´) There’s no such thing as rules in real combat!!

The students, who had been reading the message seriously, rolled their eyes.

[ {*≧∀≦} Kya~! Ahhahaha!! ]

The students felt their heads spinning as if the message was somehow making noise inside their heads.

[ (* ￣︿￣) Enough with the jokes. I’ll give you some real important information now. ]

[ ᕙ(⇀‸↼‵‵)ᕗ You’ll earn points for hunting monsters!! Of course, the points earned will vary depending on the monster! ]

[ (•̀ᴗ•́)و ̑̑ Don’t worry about the point calculations; I’ll be in charge of that! ]

[ (๑•̀ㅂ•́)و✧ And if you find hidden collectibles, you’ll also earn points based on their value! ]

[ (｀∇´ゞ Depending on the points you accumulate, you’ll receive special benefits, so work hard! And remember, your every action is being transmitted to the professors somewhere, so don’t do anything stupid!! ]

Hunting monsters, acquiring collectibles.

These two things were firmly imprinted in the students’ minds.

[ Finally, I’ll play an audio message from the professor in charge of this test. ]

Baek Hana’s eyes widened and she quickly put her ear close to her smartwatch.

-I’m not sure if it was a proper explanation, but it was probably close enough not to raise suspicions.

The dignified voice, contrasting the lively message, calmed the confused students instantly.

-I’m at the heart of the gate you’re about to enter. Regardless of the points you earn, if you reach me, I’ll grant you a wish separate from the top rank benefits, on behalf of the Academy.

That was the extent of the message.

[ ( ´ ▽ ` )ﾉ Now, let’s begin team formation. Once your team is formed, enter the building and follow the arrows to enter the rift! ]

[ ᕕ( ᐛ )ᕗ First, I’ll call out the teams that have already formed a group of four! ]

-Park Sungmin, Kwon Younghoon, Ji Yuri, Ha Minseong. Enter.
-Seol Jihyuk, Yoon Mirae, Kim Minho, Park Seongtae. Enter.

Students’ names were called out through their devices, and those who had formed teams of four in advance began to enter the building one by one.

[ (✧∀✧)/ Now, we’ll randomly mix and match those who have incomplete teams or haven’t formed any teams at all! Don’t grumble, just enter when your name is called! ]

Students’ names started being called again, and soon, Baek Hana and Lee Nayoung’s names were announced.

-Baek Hana, Lee Nayoung, Im Gyeongsu, Na Joo-hee. Enter.

“Let’s go, Nayoung.”

“Umm, okay……”

Lee Nayoung stuck close to Baek Hana as they walked towards the two other students who had been called with them.

One was a girl with bright red hair, and the other was a very average-looking boy.

“Well, well, we meet again.”

Im Gyeongsu scratched his head as he approached Baek Hana. However, Baek Hana didn’t even spare him a glance and said, “This time, don’t use your body as a shield.”

“……Okay.”

Im Gyeongsu flinched at Baek Hana’s cold warning. Na Joo-hee, who had been watching, glared at him with disdain and then quietly stood next to Baek Hana.

“Hello.”

“……Yeah.”

Unlike with Im Gyeongsu, Baek Hana acknowledged Na Joo-hee’s greeting, which satisfied her. There was no need for conversation during this test anyway.

“Wow……”

“I, is this a real gate?”

Im Gyeongsu and Lee Nayoung were amazed by the flickering blue light, and Na Joo-hee, though she didn’t show it outwardly, was equally impressed by the light that resembled a real gate.

“Hand.”

“Huh? Oh, okay.”

Na Joo-hee took Baek Hana’s outstretched hand.

“You too.”

“Umm, isn’t it rude if I……”

“Hick……”

“……If you react like that, you’re really hurting my feelings.”

Im Gyeongsu was so depressed that he almost whimpered when Lee Nayoung merely touched his sleeve, not even his hand.

However, no one paid any attention to his feelings.

“Let’s go.”

At Baek Hana’s signal, the four of them stepped into the gate.

They briefly felt a sense of floating before their vision changed drastically.

“Wow, this is no joke……”

Im Gyeongsu was genuinely impressed by the medieval-themed room, which looked like something out of a movie.

-Kuguguguung!!

“Kyaaak?!”

Lee Nayoung jumped into Baek Hana’s arms at the flash of lightning outside the dimly lit window.

Baek Hana patted Lee Nayoung’s back and turned to Na Joo-hee.

“Light up the surroundings.”

“Okay.”

Na Joo-hee created a weak flame in the air to illuminate the area.

With the room lit up, Baek Hana could confirm her suspicion.

The room they were in resembled Baek Woojin’s study.

“There are two doors.”

Im Gyeongsu pointed to the two doors on opposite sides of the room.

Baek Hana didn’t respond to his observation and instead walked towards the desk with Lee Nayoung. She opened one of the drawers.

“A, a map……?”

Lee Nayoung carefully took out a slightly worn parchment from the drawer. Na Joo-hee brought the flame closer to illuminate the parchment.

“It seems to be a map of the gate we’re in. This is where we are now……”

“I know.”

Im Gyeongsu quietly approached and joined them in examining the map. After a moment, he spoke up again.

“Shouldn’t we go left?”

If they took the right door, they would have to take a long roundabout route to reach what seemed to be the heart of the rift. However, taking the left door would cut the distance by more than half, so it seemed like an obvious choice.

“I think so too.”

Na Joo-hee agreed with Im Gyeongsu.

Unlike Im Gyeongsu, she was confident that with Baek Hana, who had defeated her, by her side, they could handle any situation that arose.

“What do you think, Nayoung?”

“M-Me?”

“Don’t worry about what others think.”

“Umm, I, I think we should go right.”

“Why?”

“Look here……”

Everyone followed Lee Nayoung’s finger as she pointed to the map.

“Even though this way is shorter, there are multiple branching paths along the route. And depending on which path we choose, the distance will keep shrinking and expanding.”

“That’s just a trap―”

“Shut up.”

“……Yes.”

Im Gyeongsu clamped his mouth shut at Baek Hana’s threat.

“Continue.”

“Umm, well, it might seem like a trap, but if you look closely, there are room-like markings at each point where the distance shortens.”

As Lee Nayoung had pointed out, there were square markings similar to the room they were currently in at each point where the distance shortened.

“There must be something there, I think.”

“……Makes sense.”

Na Joo-hee nodded in agreement.

“Still, my opinion remains the same. Whatever is there, I’m confident that Baek Hana and I can handle it.”

“……I also think we should go left. Sorry.”

Baek Hana apologized, and Lee Nayoung was so surprised that she fumbled with her hands.

“N-No, it’s fine! It’s okay! Umm, then, should I, should I take this……?”

“Please.”

Lee Nayoung carefully put the parchment into her bag.

“Im Gyeongsu.”

“Yes.”

“Go ahead and open the door.”

“……Yes.”

Im Gyeongsu, with his shield in hand, approached the door. Baek Hana and Na Joo-hee stood on either side of Lee Nayoung, and the four of them faced the door.

“S-Should I open it?”

“Open it.”

Kiiiiik-

The door opened with a spine-chilling sound.

Unlike the starting room, which had some light, the space beyond the door was pitch-black.

Hwaruruk-!!

Na Joo-hee created a flame, and Im Gyeongsu stepped forward.

Kwuung―!!

“Hiiik?!”

The door they had left ajar closed by itself.

“Im Gyeongsu, step back.”

“Umm, okay.”

Im Gyeongsu slowly backed away and rejoined the three girls. Suddenly, the pitch-black space was illuminated by a bright light.

Chaararararak-!!

The four of them turned towards the source of the sound.

An empty, desolate space.

A figure in jet-black armor was moving within it.

Cheolkkeok.

The armored figure stopped moving and lifted the visor of its helmet.

“Kang, Hanna…… Professor?”

At the mention of his name, Kang Hanna smiled and moved her lips.

“Welcome, my bonuses.”