I Became an Unknown Professor at the Academy - Chapter 15

Time is a relative concept.

For some, a given amount of time may feel terribly short and insufficient, while for others, it may feel abundant and even tedious.

In that sense, a year is but a fleeting moment to me, an immortal being. However, it seemed to be enough time for a child to grow.

[I’ll be back.]

[Did you forgot something-]

[Don’t worry, I’ll be back before dinner].

Since the new year, Baek Hana had stopped acting spoiled towards me.

She no longer tried to sit on my lap or asked me to do things for her.

I didn’t know what had caused this change of heart, but initially, it wasn’t a bad thing. However, surprisingly, I felt a slight pang of disappointment at Baek Hana’s change.

The small white lump.

Thanks to good food, play, and rest, the once scrawny child had grown remarkably with each changing season.

Her frail body filled out, and her height, which had been shorter than her peers’, shot up like a beanstalk. Moreover, thanks to her innate memorization ability, she quickly learned to read and expanded her vocabulary, showing signs of being a genius.

If I exaggerated a little, Baek Hana would be slightly better at arguing than Claire.

‘…They’re not interchangeable.’

The cold beauty.

The perfect secretary who can do anything.

That was my initial impression of Claire. But as the seasons changed, the cracks in that perfect image began to show, and now she’s a quirky and amusing beauty.

Baek Hana said that when she’s in a good mood, she hums a strange tune. Of course, I’ve heard that tune before.

‘It’ll be quite funny when she find out later.’

The tune Claire hums is the same one Baek Hana hums when she’s in a good mood. So, when she pointed it out, it was like spitting on her own face.

Well, the once expressionless child has learned to make sullen faces within a year, and on the other hand, the icy woman has learned to smile warmly at times.

And because of these two changes, some people might think that Baek Hana has had a positive influence on Claire, and conversely, Claire has had a negative influence on Baek Hana.

“Hmm…”

I paused for a moment, pen in hand, as I recorded my thoughts in the notebook.

A diary that I had written without fail every day since I began living with Baek Hana.

I have no need to leave such old-fashioned records, as this body has the ability to remember everything it sees. Nonetheless, I continue to write because it is a habit of ‘Baek Woo-jin’.

I have become so assimilated with the original owner of this body that it is pointless to distinguish between us.

My resolve from the moment I read the letter remains unchanged. Even if my personality fades, I will do whatever it takes for Baek Hana’s happiness.

So, this is my small desire.

To experience the ending of this story as ‘Baek Woo-jin’.

I considered giving in to this trivial desire today and skipping the diary entry.

A diary that records Baek Hana’s every move and my perspective of watching over her.

‘……I can’t leave a blank.’

The hesitation didn’t last long. After all, no one else will read it, and even if they do, they won’t be able to understand it.

I moved the pen again.

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『 Baek Hana, who had left early in the morning, returned home only after the sun had set. When Claire, who usually reported even the smallest details, remained quiet, I knew something was up.

As expected.

[Excuse me, Professor.]

The cold-looking beauty quietly opened the door to the study and greeted me.

[She, Hana wanted me to join her…]

I didn’t say anything.

I wasn’t curious about why she was here.

What I was curious about was Baek Hana, who was busy in the kitchen.

[Have you eaten dinner?]

[Not yet.]

[Is that so?]

The countless texts that had been displayed on the screen.

However, not once in those texts did Claire express confusion or surprise. No matter what variables arise, she always maintains a stoic expression and responds optimally.

The executor of the god, who is always so perfect, shows a wide range of expressions only in front of me.

Right now, she’s glancing at me with her blue eyes, trying to gauge my reaction.

From her reaction, I could easily guess what Baek Hana was doing in the kitchen. She was probably preparing dinner.

I don’t need to eat, but sometimes, at Baek Hana’s insistence, I would taste a small amount.

The sound of approaching footsteps.

I closed the book and stood up from my seat. Claire, who had been standing guard at the door, also stepped aside.

A few seconds later, Baek Hana poked her head around the corner of the study door.

[Let’s eat.]

[Okay.]

Baek Hana ran back to the kitchen.

Claire and I left the study, and the lights in the hallway were all turned off.

The only place with a soft glow was the kitchen.

I quietly walked towards the corner and turned it.

A small cake on the dining table, which I had seen countless times.

A single lit candle on top of the cake.

A small white lump, standing in front of it with her head bowed, as if she had done something wrong…

I hesitated for a moment. This situation was something I hadn’t anticipated at all.

[……It seems a bit small for the three of us to share.]

It’s a stupid line no matter how I think about it.

[Blow out the candle…]

[……]

For some reason, Baek Hana kept glancing at me, her eyes filled with anxiety. Lately, she’s been acting sullen, as if she’s going through puberty.

I walked past the small white lump and gently blew out the candle on the cake.

The kitchen was instantly plunged into darkness.

Click—

The lights came back on, illuminating the room.

I looked down at Baek Hana quietly and waited for her answer. I wanted to know what this situation was about.

[……This.]

The small lump, now back to her usual self, held out a colorful package towards me.

The wrapping paper was wrinkled and uneven, revealing the amateurish wrapping skills.

[Open it…]

The lump’s eyes widened with anxiety, as if the contents were a problem.

I unwrapped the clumsy wrapping and found a small box inside. When I opened it, I saw a white lens cloth.

[A gift…]

[A gift.]

A white lens cloth.

A color that doesn’t suit a gift, as it will soon be stained.

[Today is… the day you saved me… so… a reward.]

The day I saved her.

A reward.

“Still a child, though.”

I put down the pen and opened the drawer.

A simple white ring with no patterns or decorations appeared.

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.

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February 3, 22.

The day the girl known as the Wolf gained the name Baek Hana.

And today, the girl had expressed her gratitude for being saved a year ago, but I also had a gift prepared for her.

‘……I was going to tell her it’s her birthday.’

I missed the opportunity because of the unexpected party.

‘Well… technically, her birthday is tomorrow according to the paperwork.’

I quietly closed the drawer and looked up.

The study door slowly opened, and a tuft of white hair poked out from the gap.

**

After brushing her teeth, Baek Hana hurried back to her room as if escaping.

Baek Hana flopped onto her soft bed and began scribbling in a notebook spread out in front of her.

“I’m glad Woo-jin liked the gift.”

Ever since she came to this house, Baek Hana had seen Baek Woo-jin writing in a notebook, and it had become a habit for her to do the same.

She had already filled ten notebooks, as she hadn’t missed a day of journaling since learning to write.

-I think Woo-jin doesn’t know, but I saw him smile slightly.

-The nuns at the temple told me that holding back my spoiled behavior and acting cold towards him would work, and they were right.

-It was so hard to hold back, but it’s worth it to see Woo-jin smile.

-Woo-jin always wears those weird glasses and has a -_- expression.

“I wonder what he looks like without the glasses.”

He’s probably handsome.

Baek Hana tapped her buttocks with her legs and continued writing in her diary. Then, she put down the pen.

One hug.

One time sitting on his lap.

“I still have one more left…”

Baek Hana quietly got off the bed and turned off the lights in her room. She tiptoed out into the hallway.

In the past, Baek Woo-jin used to leave the study door slightly open for her.

However, ever since she started holding back her spoiled behavior, he no longer left the door open.

Baek Hana sneaked down the hallway like a fox and gently opened the study door, poking her head inside.

There, just like the first time she woke up in this house, Baek Woo-jin was sitting in his chair, staring at her.

And he said,

“Did you wake up because you’re hungry?”

“No…”

“Then.”

Baek Woo-jin’s indifferent question.

Baek Hana quietly stepped into the study and said, “I wanted to sleep with you.”

“……”

Baek Woo-jin stared at her for a moment, then closed his notebook and stood up. Baek Hana beamed and jumped onto the large bed.

“Don’t jump.”

“Okay~”

Baek Woo-jin turned off the lights and got into bed.

Baek Hana immediately snuggled into his arms.

The warmth and comfort of being with him.

Baek Woo-jin stroked her hair, knowing that it would help her fall asleep faster.

Baek Hana felt the large, warm hand on her head and closed her eyes, saying, “Woo-jin.”

“Go to sleep.”

He had said this before.

Baek Hana smiled faintly and whispered again, “I love you. And thank you for saving me.”

“……Go to sleep.”

“Yes. Good night.”

Baek Hana fell asleep, feeling the warmth of Baek Woo-jin.