CICN 35

Chapter 35

In the meantime, Evi had already packed up her books and neatly stowed her notebook into her bag.

Then she asked him a question.

“Professor, is there no homework today?”

It wasn’t a worried tone—it was expectant.

“Of course there is! Of course!”

Malles, who had just opened his book, hesitated for a moment, unwilling to let down that hopeful look in her eyes.

He wanted to give her a mountain of assignments like last time.

‘But if she gets too tired, that wouldn’t be good.’

Her face already showed signs of exhaustion—likely from trying to complete the impossible homework he had previously given her.

What if she got overwhelmed and lost interest?

What if she decided Professor Malles’ class wasn’t worth it and chose another professor instead?

‘That can’t happen!’

Hurriedly flipping through the beginning pages, Malles pointed to a problem he thought was of moderate difficulty.

“Just solve this one here.”

“Only this one?”

“Yes. It’s not good to push too hard from the start. A person should approach things systematically, and step by step.”

Coming from someone who had handed out a ridiculous assignment on the first day, the words were rich with irony. But Malles pretended not to notice and handed her the book.

“Can I take the book home again today?”

“Of course. Didn’t I say the institute doesn’t provide books before the official start of classes? How are you going to solve the problems without reading the book?”

“I memorized it! It’s only one problem.”

The way Evi looked at him, as if it was only natural to do so, filled Malles with a rush of emotion.

Not only was her comprehension excellent, but she also had an incredible memory.

‘Maybe I misjudged this gifted program.’

It was the first year of student admissions after the war, and he’d heard people were scrambling to get their children or relatives into the program to curry favor and earn political points—especially with the emperor’s adopted son in play.

He had expected mediocrity. But here was a student who truly deserved the name of the gifted program.

“No, take it anyway. If you have spare time, read a bit more.”

“Then what about you, Professor?”

“You think I don’t have my own copy? Don’t worry and take it.”

Malles said this in the gentle tone of a kindly old grandfather.

Evi carefully held the book and bowed her head.

“Thank you. I’ll bring even prettier flowers next class.”

“Huh? Flowers?”

Malles’ eyes widened.

“Don’t tell me… those flowers—you brought them?”

Evi nodded as if it were obvious.

On one side of the gifted academy stood a large garden and greenhouse.

If you visited in the morning, staff members would be trimming the flowers grown there to decorate the various parts of the school.

Naturally, some of the trimmed flowers would be slightly damaged.

Evi had learned that those slightly imperfect flowers were free to take. So, before today’s class, she had stopped by and collected the freshest ones she could find.

‘The classroom looked so empty.’

And it also didn’t seem like it had been cleaned properly. So she came early, opened the windows to air the room, found some cleaning tools, swept and wiped everything, and placed the flowers on the professor’s desk, which only had a few books on it.

There hadn’t been any grand purpose behind it. She simply thought that the place she would be studying in should look a little prettier and cleaner.

“Then… the cleaning, too?”

“Yes. I did it.”

Malles was speechless.

“Who told you to clean?”

“No one. I just wanted to. Before I came here, I used to clean at an advanced school. I’m really good at cleaning.”

Evi clenched her small fist confidently.

Even though she wore the school uniform, it didn’t hide her slightly shabby appearance or her extremely polite and quiet manner.

He had suspected she wasn’t a noble child…

Just then, the bell rang to indicate the fifteen-minute break between classes.

“I’ll be off now! I have my next class. Thank you for the book. I’ll do my best on the assignment!”

Evi bowed again and left the classroom.

Malles stood there staring at the closed door for a long while, then walked over to the window.

Outside, Evi was running cheerfully as soon as she left the building.

Then she tripped on something and fell forward with a splat.

“Oh dear!”

Startled, Malles rushed to run out, but Evi sprang up, dusted herself off, adjusted her bag, and ran off again.

She looked just like a little squirrel darting around.

“That child, really…”

At her age, most would cry for their mothers after falling like that. But she just brushed it off and ran on—so brave and yet so pitiful.

Any thoughts of pushing her to drop the class were completely gone from Malles’ mind.

‘How could I even consider something so awful?’

Erasing all memory of what he had planned, Malles clicked his tongue.

A true professor’s duty was to cherish even a single student and teach them well to the end.

‘I must contact her parents right away.’

With that kind of talent, she could accomplish great things in mathematics.

‘I’m sure she excels in other subjects too.’

He couldn’t let the other professors steal such a promising student.

Malles packed his things and hurried toward the main building of the gifted academy.

“Ah, isn’t that Professor Malles?”

Other professors, recognizing him, greeted him politely.

Malles was well-known for being aloof and not particularly friendly with others.

But that was by his own choice.

In truth, other professors were eager to be close to him.

They said he was eccentric and unsociable, but the influence he held in the Empire’s mathematics world was enormous.

He hadn’t taken on a student in decades, but those who once studied under him had become renowned scholars in architecture and accounting.

However, as the academic scene became more corrupt, Malles grew disillusioned.

Then someone had approached him, wanting to learn.

That person didn’t have much talent, but Malles accepted him, moved by his passion.

But it turned out that student had approached his former pupils claiming to be their junior and made unreasonable requests.

Even worse, those who knew about it didn’t stop him—many even tried to use Malles’ fame for their own gain.

Disgusted by it all, Malles declared he would never take another student.

He cut off ties with everyone else too.

As years passed, his name gradually faded from the public.

Because of that, those unfamiliar with the past began to underestimate him.

Even when it was announced he would teach a class personally, only one student enrolled.

The students’ reasoning was understandable.

Why choose a professor who would retire next year and never took on students, when there were younger professors actively participating in academic circles?

‘Still, if he would reconsider and start mentoring students again… With his influence, he could easily dominate the Empire’s academic world.’

As they were thinking that and getting closer to him, the other professors widened their eyes.

The Malles they remembered always wore a stern or indifferent expression.

But today, he was all smiles.

Stunned speechless, the professors stared as Malles said:

“Evi Elden will be my student. So I ask all other math professors not to even think of approaching her. That is all.”

With that, Malles turned and disappeared up toward the dean’s office.

“What… did he just say?”

“No idea.”

The baffled professors could only stare blankly after him.

* * *

“Seraphina! Seraphina Lidham!”

Seraphina frowned the moment she heard the voice calling from outside.

Though she was younger than most professors, she was the official dean.

And in this academy, where one’s rank was determined more by position than by age, only one person would dare call her name so casually.

Professor Malles.

Seraphina sighed deeply and answered.

“Come in, Professor Malles.”

No sooner had she spoken than Malles kicked the door open and strode in energetically.

“‘Professor Malles’? What kind of student calls her teacher that?”

“Oh please. Who was the one who said, ‘You’re not my student unless you only study math, so get lost’?”

“‘Get lost’? Insolent child! That’s why I never accepted you as a student!”

“Just a minute ago, you said I was your student!”

Teacher and pupil stared daggers at each other, arguing like the old days.

Seraphina, about to continue, glanced at the mountain of paperwork in front of her and let out a sigh.

“I don’t have time to argue with you. What brings you here in person?”