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Chapter 14.
Usually, professors who came to teach Demon Hunting Studies fell into two categories.
One type tried to curry favor with the students at all costs, hoping to land the position of chief professor.
The other type tried to crush the students’ spirit from the outset.
Of course, most were the former. They would typically make the students do nothing, just sit there until class ended—or at most have them check junior students’ records. Most couldn’t endure that humiliation and ended up leaving on their own.
This time, however, the newly appointed professor seemed to be the latter—the kind who wanted to break the students’ spirit. And so Noah, the head of the year, found it absurd.
Does that professor not understand his own position right now?
The year head had no intention whatsoever of losing this battle of nerves. The upperclassmen had already been entrusted to them, after all.
“Teach him this—don’t let any professors set foot in Demon Hunting Studies.”
“Trash with no real skill.”
The third-years, centered around Noah, were essentially the gatekeepers. That was why they smiled calmly. Snickering mockery came as a bonus.
“You’re Professor Wayne, newly appointed, right? We’ll take good care of the lowerclassmen, so if you want to save face, you should just leave.”
“You’re a new professor—getting fired right after appointment wouldn’t be good, would it? Whew, Professor, you must’ve worked hard to get hired.”
“You probably don’t know yet since you’re new, but in Demon Hunting Studies, the students are better than the professors.”
At that, Wayne let out a hollow laugh.
“Well, the only thing you’re better than me at seems to be having nothing but empty heads.”
W-what?
At the students’ flustered reactions, Ruin let out a long, tired sigh.
Damn it. Maybe it was because of Wayne’s innate laziness trait, but his originally planned “kind professor” act wasn’t coming out right. He couldn’t tell whether this creeping contempt was Wayne’s nature or Ruin’s true feelings.
In truth, the reason they were so confident wasn’t complicated.
“So. You say you’ve developed a spell?”
“!”
“And you’ve been doing that ‘retarded idiot crap’ of trapping professors with it, huh?”
“R-retarded?”
“Id-idiot?”
Damn. More words that were miles away from anything a teacher should say.
「Why is the spy revealing his true nature……」
My mistake.
This time, Ruin smiled and properly played the part of the kind professor.
“Got it? When I see thick-skulled idiots like you who don’t know their place, it makes my blood boil.”
「…Just give up already.」
…Damn it.
Meanwhile, the students were confused. No professor had ever attacked them this openly before. Most had only tried to avoid them.
Is he really different from the others so far?
After exchanging glances, the students let out dry laughs.
“If you already know, this’ll be quick to talk through.”
Flash!
A magic circuit appeared above the year head’s palm.
“No professor has ever been able to decipher it.”
“!”
“For professors to fail at breaking a spell made by mere students—who do you think is lacking here? We choose who teaches us.”
Ruin’s cold eyes narrowed as he looked at it.
That’s it.
A few years ago, unprecedented geniuses had entered Haven. All of them were called gold, dubbed the greatest Golden Generation in history.
This was the barrier spell they had created. A simple barrier made only of walls, yet not a single professor had been able to break it.
The third-years grinned.
“We actually made it to catch Fire Moths, but when most professors got trapped in it, they ended up begging us to let them out.”
“Did you know? You only feel like learning when someone is worth respecting.”
“We’ll catch the Fire Moths you professors are obsessed with. After all, we’re a step ahead even in how to hunt them.”
Attacking a professor should naturally have led to demerits, suspension, or expulsion—but the students weren’t afraid at all.
Why? Because something had happened after a student who actually trapped a professor was expelled.
The humiliation of Haven’s professors.
Haven gathered students from all walks of life, and naturally, that included the children of press agencies.
The incident was reported, and people mocked the professors for expelling a student just because they couldn’t break a spell the student had created.
That incident sparked a power struggle between professors and students. Until the spell was deciphered, the professors didn’t dare act rashly.
Even expulsion as a weapon couldn’t solve the fundamental problem. Without a way to restore their fallen authority, students would continue to look down on professors.
And all of this had suddenly started a year ago, after a student died… so what?
What a hassle.
Utterly ridiculous.
But I’m only temporarily employed right now.
If he didn’t want to get fired, he had to act like a professor……
“Professor! Tell us about your first love!”
“Like you’d have one, with that face.”
Come to think of it, why should he care about these brats’ circumstances?
I just need to loot the vault anyway.
If they didn’t attend class, couldn’t he just tie them up and teach that way? Just enforce absolute obedience.
At Ruin’s chilling gaze, Ginseng went into a panic.
「Hey, you’re not a spy right now! You’re a professor—a professor!」
But Ruin ignored him. He didn’t know why the headmaster wasn’t stepping in, but it was ridiculous.
And now he understood why the professors couldn’t decipher that thing. They’d even made it to catch Fire Moths—absurd. Just how lightly did they think of them?
No—Ruin rubbed his brow.
Endure it. Endure it. I’m a spy who must remain cold and rational anywhere, anytime……
“Pfft, scared?”
“He totally chickened out.”
…Screw that.
…I’ll postpone the severance pay.
Teaching, whatever—who cares? As long as he got a research office, wasn’t that all that mattered?
「Minion? What are you planning?」
The Shadow God cried out in bewilderment, but Ruin no longer heard him. On top of already being pissed that the Hero had extorted his money, these half-boiled-egg warm idiots—
Ruin placed one hand on his hip, his eyes flashing.
“So that pile of horse shit is your weapon?”
“H-horse shit?”
“Ah, I misspoke. Dog shit. Go on, use it.”
“Pardon?”
“I said, use it. Let’s see.”
At Ruin’s ferocious gaze, the students flinched.
Use it? Was he out of his mind?
Has he seriously not heard the rumors?
Quite a few professors had already been driven out of Demon Hunting Studies. Once the number passed into double digits, no one even thought of fighting the students anymore.
Not to mention fighting—
“Hey, kids. How about actually attending today’s class?”
“What, you’re still here? If you’ve got nothing better to do, why don’t you clean the classroom?”
“But……”
“Then leave.”
“…Alright.”
They were too busy watching the students’ reactions.
Of course, the students knew the professors who ruled like gods were grinding their teeth in resentment.
Still, the students were confident because of the magic they possessed. Professors might curse inwardly, but they’d never want to beg students to let them out after being trapped.
Some professors were genuinely skilled, but they avoided dealing with this group altogether.
Those stiff-necked professors don’t want to ruin their careers either.
In that sense, the opportunists were smarter.
Which meant the recent professors were talentless nobodies who still coveted the chief professor’s seat. They thought Ruins Wayne was one of them too.
…But he seems serious?
He really wants us to use it?
They hadn’t used it recently, had they?
The third-years exchanged wary glances.
Seeing that, Ruin clicked his tongue in disgust.
“You were so full of swagger, but turns out you’re just a bunch of spineless shrimp.”
W-what did he say?
“You can only hide like crabs, and in the end, you’re nothing.”
“!”
“What? Afraid now that it’s time to actually use it?”
Golden eyes traced a cold crescent, like a black panther sneering at pathetic mice.
Gritting their teeth, the students bristled.
From what we’ve heard, he’s obviously a parachute hire.
Is he relying on his family? Thinking no one would dare harm someone from House Wayne?
Or could he really be confident he can break it……
They hesitated for a moment—but that couldn’t be.
“Hey, just do it. He won’t be able to break it anyway.”
“Yeah. He’s obviously a parachute hire who couldn’t even get backing, so the professors shoved him in to get rid of him.”
Right. Exactly.
There’s no way those greedy professors would bring in someone who could really break it.
Why would they risk losing the chief professor’s seat?
In other words, it was just bluster. Well, the bandages did make him look scary, but still……
At least bluff in moderation!
Finally, the third-years pulled out their wands and swung them. A lightning-like light surged toward Ruin.
Flash!
As if a thunderbird had descended, the first- and second-years squeezed their eyes shut, while the third-years sneered.
The spell succeeded. A blue barrier snapped shut around Ruin from all sides. The space was so narrow that one person could barely stand, let alone sit.
Snickering laughter drew closer.
“I wonder how long Professor Wayne will last in there.”
“The record was five hours—”
“Not even dog-shit level.”
…What?
“With this pathetic thing, you thought you could sit on professors’ heads?”
At the icy voice, the students froze.
Maybe it would’ve been better if it really had been a bluff. Because the barrier—supposedly immovable—began to twist, cracks forming.
Cracks?!
And not just hairline cracks.
Crack, craaack!
‘!’
Like the overwhelming force of nature prying apart a fragile human body, the barrier was torn open brutally. The color drained from the students’ faces. There wasn’t even time to shout for them to stop.
Then—
A massive explosion erupted.
“Aaah!”
“Kyaaah!”
The blast hurled classroom objects into the walls. The third-years tumbled like paper dolls.
All of this happened the moment Ruin placed his hand on the barrier wall. The students couldn’t close their mouths.
What… just happened?
They had no time to process it.
Tap!
At the sharp sound, the students froze. The crisp echo of a man’s shoes on marble.
“So.”
Tap!
“!”
Tap!
The approaching footsteps filled them with terror.
Ruin was already standing right in front of them.
“This is Demon Hunting Studies magic meant to catch Fire Moths?”
“……!”
The third-years, finally grasping the situation, couldn’t lift their heads.
“P-Professor……”
We’re screwed.
That was the only thought in their minds.
“Y-you— ngh!”
Ruin pressed a finger down on the head of the third-years’ leader. A cold smile curved his lips.
“With this, even a Fire Moth would laugh itself unconscious.”
“……!”
No joke—he was so angry he might actually pass out.
Just how weak did you think Fire Moths were?
Did they really look that easy?
“Well, fine. Still, trapping someone in a space so narrow they can’t even sit—good job.”
Standing torture was something even trained spies found hard to endure. No way professors could handle it. Whoever came up with it, he liked that part.
But at those words, the students trembled.
This… he’s deliberately mocking us, right?
“It’s not mockery.”
If not, that’s a problem too.
“But it’s far too soft.”
…What?
At that moment, a familiar magic circuit appeared beneath the third-years’ feet. At the same time, an identical barrier to the one that had trapped Ruin surged upward.
Trapped inside the same barrier, the students froze solid.
“W-wait, why is this happening?!”
“How can that professor use this spell?!”
