I Became an Unknown Professor at the Academy - Chapter 41

Beep-beep… Beep-beep…

In the study, soft, tiny breaths can be heard. Through the window, the dawn’s light begins to seep in, replacing the long night’s darkness.

Beep-beep-beep……

On the desk, the tiny creature, no bigger than a fist, frowns in its sleep, curled up on top of my notebook. It covers its face with its tiny hands and turns away.

Just half an hour ago, it was flying around the house energetically, but now it’s settled down, and I lean back in my chair, eyes closed.

-Ah……

Late at night, Claire suddenly appeared.

Our noses almost touching, so close that I could feel her warm breath. Our gazes locked, and she blurted out a few words, her eyes widening in surprise.

-Th, th, th, this……

She stuttered, then held out a box of her favorite cereal that she always ate and ran off.

Her magic, usually as clear and pure as Baek Hana’s, was gone.

I hadn’t sensed her presence at all, not even for a moment. It must have been Bwair’s doing.

Beep……

I open my eyes at the sound of a chick chirping. The fairy, bathed in sunlight, squirms as if something is bothering it.

I told you several times to go back to your nest.

“Tsk.”

I pick up the notebook the fairy is curled up on and head to the bedroom.

“You’re even more mischievous than Baek Hana……”

When Baek Hana was a child, she was very active and curious, and she caused me some trouble a few times. But this fairy is no less mischievous than she was then.

I prop the notebook up on the bed at an angle.

Swish.

The tiny fairy slides down and lands on the bed. It grabs the bedsheet with its tiny hands and wraps itself up, finally settling down.

“……I don’t want to go through parenting twice.”

I slightly open the bedroom door and the study window, signaling to the fairy to return to its nest when it wakes up, so it doesn’t make a ruckus.

After dealing with the troublesome fairy, I head to the kitchen. I make a simple sandwich for myself and pour some cereal into a bowl for the fairy, using the box Claire had left behind yesterday. I place them on the table.

Now, I wait for Claire to arrive, preparing the materials I need for today’s lecture in the study.

“……”

But as the short hand of the clock passes six and approaches seven, Claire still hasn’t shown up.

She’s usually punctual, separating her personal life from work. She wouldn’t be late without any contact unless something unexpected happened.

However, due to my involvement, I couldn’t predict how the incidents might have been altered, so I take out my smartphone to check the news.

• • Ding!

The screen of the smartphone in my hand lights up on its own, and I frown.

[ (ᗒᗣᗕ)՞ You’re a bad person!!]

“I’ll break it.”

[ (；⌣̀_⌣́) I’m sorry.]

“……”

One of the few beings that can provoke my emotions.

Especially good at stirring up my anger. I ask, “What’s the matter?”

[ (⇀‸↼‶) That’s what I’m talking about. Claire is a little sick. I’m contacting you on her behalf.]

“……What’s her condition?”

[ (¬‿¬ )]

“I’ll be there soon. Wait for me.”

[ (,,#ﾟДﾟ) I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I won’t do it again!!]

I sit back down.

I never intended to go in the first place. I was just annoyed by its behavior and wanted to threaten it a little.

“So, how is she doing?”

[ (ง •̀_•́)ง She’s not seriously ill. She’s just mentally and physically exhausted, so I forced her to rest.]

……Mentally and physically exhausted.

Naturally, I think of what happened yesterday.

“She’s not the type to be weakened by something like that.”

[Do you really think so?]

The playful tone in the email disappears.

[If you really think so, I’ll take Claire back. Your cleanup doesn’t have to be done by Claire. Anyone else will do.]

It’s just a simple sentence made up of common words on a regular machine.
However, I could feel a faint anger in the letters that appeared on the screen.

It was an unexpected change, but I wasn’t surprised.

I just thought that the creature valued Claire that much.

The light on the screen goes out.

.

.

.

I look up from my phone. Nothing should be there, but on the desk, I see Bwiar, a child enveloped in a soft light, sitting and looking at me.

Unlike before, there’s no mischievous smile on her face. Instead, her expression is cold, something a child shouldn’t be able to convey.

In her eyes, reflecting mine, a golden light flickers ominously.

【Let’s redefine our relationship right here.】

Open hostility towards me.

Yet, the voice of a child, so pure.

It made me feel a sense of dissonance.

“That’s right.”

Our relationship.

It’s just a relationship where we both have our own interests and cooperate for them. We can part ways anytime our interests diverge.

【I have one request for you. Be honest with Claire about your feelings. You already know, don’t you?】

“Thanks to you, too.”

In the past, when Baek Hana came to have her ability appraised, the creature asked me a question as a condition for granting my request. It asked if I was interested in Claire.

【Back then, you told me you were interested. You said you had a positive interest in her.】

“That’s right.”

If asked again now, I would still give the same answer.

But the meaning has changed a little since then.

Back then, my answer meant that I wanted to know more about the character, Claire.
But now…… it’s probably closer to romantic interest. No, it’s definitely romantic interest.

Sometimes, I catch myself stealing glances at her, which is proof of that.

Well…… it’s also because she reminds me of Baek Hana sometimes.

The fact that she reminds me of Baek Hana means that she has already become a special presence in my life, just like Baek Hana.

【She already tried to express her feelings to you once. You blocked her. Honestly, I really didn’t like what you did then. You blocked her confession but left room for interpretation. It felt like you were testing my child, and I found it very unpleasant. Of course, you have the right to do so. And I also have the right to protect and interfere with my child.】

The creature glares at me with eyes emitting light, its gaze intense.

【So, give her a proper answer. It’s fine if you reject her. She’ll be sad, but that will also help her grow. Just don’t leave room for interpretation like last time. If you don’t want that, I’ll take Claire back. There’s no other choice.】

Bwiar spreads her tiny hands.

【Make your choice. Continue our relationship with Claire by your side, or end it here.】

It wasn’t a difficult choice.

I admit I left room for interpretation, but Bwiar misunderstood one thing. That room was left for myself, not for Claire, something Bwiar didn’t know.

I calmly respond to Bwiar, who is waiting for my answer.

“……I’ll give a proper answer. But I need time.”

【Why?】

Bwiar demands an answer with an intense gaze, and I reply with a truth that isn’t quite the truth.

“I’m emotionally numb. I need time to confirm what I’m feeling.”

【……You get angry at me just fine. And you dote on our cute wolf girl.】

Bwiar gives me a suspicious look.

Wolf girl…… what a ridiculous nickname.

I continue, finding the nickname inappropriate.

“Baek Hana is an exception. You keep getting on my nerves, so that’s why I react to you.”

【Hmm…… So, you don’t feel any other emotions towards me besides annoyance?】

“If you didn’t play pointless pranks, I wouldn’t even feel annoyed. I’d just find you a little bothersome.”

【Hmph! So many children are looking for me right now! I can’t accept that! I have to test it myself. Now, close your eyes.】

Bwiar demands that I close my eyes, her expression sulky, but unlike her annoyed look, her golden eyes, now free of the ominous light, reflect the innocence of a child eager to play a prank.

I warn her first.

“If you do anything stupid, I’ll really break your statue this time.”

【Whatever. Just close your eyes.】

“……”

I narrow my eyes at her sparkling eyes for a moment, then close them.

【Are your eyes closed?】

“……They’re closed.”

【Can I take off your glasses?】

“……Don’t touch them.”

I want to get rid of this annoying creature as soon as possible, so I take off my glasses myself.

“Get it over with quickly.”

【It’ll be done in a moment, so keep your eyes closed and stay still.】

After that, Bwiar remains silent.

Finally, a moment of quiet.

Within that silence, Bwiar’s presence gradually becomes clearer.

The magnitude of her power hasn’t changed since the first time we met.

What has changed is her presence.

It used to be so faint and unstable that it seemed like she might disappear at any moment, but now it’s becoming clearer, gradually approaching me――

Swish.

Something wraps around my neck and pulls me forward, and something soft and fluffy presses against my cheek.

It would have let go of my neck on its own, but I push it away and take my hand off my cheek.

The distinct impression left on my cheek.

I wipe my cheek with the back of my hand and open my eyes.
The desk is empty.

I can’t shake off the unpleasant feeling, so I put my glasses back on and――

– Ding!

The smartphone in my hand suddenly turns on, and I flip it over.

A new email pops up on the large screen.

[ (≧∀≦) Kyaa ( Photo ) ]

It’s a photo of a pure and innocent woman hugging me and kissing my cheek.

– Ding!

Another email arrives.

[ (¬◡¬)✧ Behave yourself. I don’t want to spread this everywhere… ]

Crack――!!

The shattered pieces of the smartphone fall to the floor.

I put the broken smartphone in my pocket, finish packing, and look at the watch Baek Hana gave me, placed on the desk.

Am 07:17

One hour and forty-three minutes until the lecture begins.

Plenty of time.

-Beep… Beep-beep….

The mischievous fairy, who had been flying around until dawn, is fortunately still asleep.

I turn on the lights in the hallway so it won’t be too dark, put on a coat hanging on the rack, and quietly open the front door, stepping outside.

I head west, towards the Street of Light, not the north where the annex is located.