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Chapter 31
“What? Owen has shown talent in Healing Studies?”
Kalon flinched at the words of the Healing Studies professor. The professor crossed her arms and raised her eyebrows.
“Professor Kalon, didn’t you say Owen’s ability would only reach the level of a low-tier hero even if trained?”
Kalon frowned at her aggressive question.
“That was probably just a theory exam. He’s smart, after all.”
“No. The child, who couldn’t even use healing magic before, actually used healing magic.”
Kalon’s frown deepened. Owen couldn’t suddenly be able to use healing magic—he had sealed his abilities himself. But if that seal was broken…
‘So he attended Ruins Wayne’s liberal arts class.’
Could it really be Wayne’s doing? No, even before that… does that mean he had noticed Owen’s ability?
Whatever the case, Kalon couldn’t help but feel irritated. He had noticed that the First Prince had been playing tricks on Ruins, but now Owen’s abilities were developing in that very class.
Kalon’s mood was extremely uncomfortable. In Haven, he was the only one who could discern a student’s abilities and delay the moment of awakening at will. But Ruins Wayne had infringed upon that.
‘Owen is absolutely not supposed to awaken.’
Their abilities overlapped with the First Prince’s.
But what if Ruins Wayne had an eye for talent as sharp as his?
‘This is troublesome.’
If the other professors, the board, or even the entire Union found out, it would be a serious problem.
And that wasn’t all.
“That professor is coveting my classroom!”
The Healing Studies professor was clearly upset.
She had been the one who had gone to the Demon Hunting Studies classroom with Charlie, and the one who had told the princess to investigate Ruin’s face. She had already been frustrated upon hearing that there was no mark on the princess’s face.
“Could it be that man is aiming to become the head of the Healing Department?”
“Well, with the current head of the Healing Department absent, it’s possible.”
In Haven, the head professor is treated as a director by the Union.
“Right now, you’re serving as the acting head of the Healing Department, correct?”
Well, among the Healing Studies professors, he had the most students, so it had been decided that way.
Because of that, the Healing Studies professor was angry. Since he wasn’t the official head, he knew the position could be taken away at any moment.
‘I need to secure it before the other heroes return.’
The chairman, the board, and powerful heroes were all active at the moment. When the chairman returned, Wayne would gain influence. It needed to be handled before then.
“Judging by his interest in the classroom, it seems he’s aiming for the head position. Even though he’s already notorious as irredeemable in academic circles, he’s after the head of Healing Studies?”
Kalon asked.
“Can we just cut him off?”
The Healing Studies professor gave a small laugh.
“Make it so he can’t even step foot in Haven.”
“How many students have gathered for my Healing Studies class?”
Ruins was in high spirits. Perhaps thanks to the teaching assistant’s hard work promoting it, a fair number of students had enrolled.
“Exactly 100. That means we meet the conditions to use the Healing Studies classroom. We can submit a request for the reservation, right?”
Even when he was doing spy work, this moment—the moment just before achieving a goal—always brought him joy. It was like stacking cards and leaving only the last piece to place.
But the teaching assistant looked extremely troubled.
“Ah… well, it’s back to zero.”
What? Why?!
“They said that students who attend other Healing classes would face disadvantages in scores… so everyone just left.”
Disadvantages? Who said that?!
“Professor Linzy of Healing Studies… most students in Haven take that professor’s class too. But when they heard about Professor Wayne’s Healing Studies class, Professor Linzy got upset. So… she pulled this little trick.”
What’s going on? Who’s upset? Is this the same woman who barged into someone else’s classroom, declaring students should distinguish between ‘Healing: Popular Methods’ and ‘Healing: Unpopular Methods’?
“Yes… knowing her temperament, no one wants to face disadvantages.”
“So because of that woman, all the students I gathered just left?”
“Yes… I suppose her intention is to refuse sharing the classroom.”
“Oh, she doesn’t want to share?”
Ruins’s irritation seemed to register with Lily, who cautiously watched.
Since the head of Healing Studies was absent, any professor could use the classroom freely once 100 students gathered. But…
“Professor Linzy will continue to obstruct Professor Ruins.”
Upon hearing that, Ruins’s face darkened. He had intended to handle it peacefully, yet this cursed Union troublemaker…
‘Daring to interfere with a salaried worker’s retirement pay.’
Flames of anger sparked in the eyes of the Firefly.
“Damn you, Ruins Wayne!”
Before the Demon Hunting Studies class, the third-year Goldmoon students grabbed their heads.
“Is this really the end?”
“Are we getting expelled like this?”
Other dorm students clicked their tongues at the reaction. No matter what, it was excessive.
“Are they really going to expel us?”
“Yeah, the parents won’t just sit back.”
The third-year Goldmoon students’ eyes gleamed.
What? Parents? The guy who tried to drop a student from the roof and talked about expulsion cares about that?
“Hey, you idiots! Don’t make fun of our damned professor!”
The other dorm students were dumbfounded. Goldmoon students were supposed to treat professors like doormats. How did he suddenly become ‘our’ professor?
…And can ‘our’ and ‘damned’ even be used together?
Regardless, the third-year Goldmoon students urgently looked at the princess.
“Princess, you’ve seen Professor Ruins’s face, right?”
Princess Carine frowned.
“Yes, I have.”
At her reply, screams erupted from everywhere.
“So, as rumored, was he ugly?”
“Well, yes, but he was handsome too.”
“…Huh?”
How could ugliness and handsomeness coexist on one face?
But that wasn’t what concerned the princess. She was furious at losing to that professor and even more furious at finding him interesting. Not only did he counter her magic, but… what even?
‘Owen’s energy… what? Recover his energy?’
She didn’t know the principle, but the important thing was that Owen was now using power beyond his original ability. He called it ‘healing’.
So does that mean the story about ‘Transformed Skin Syndrome’ is true? Could he really cure that incurable disease?
‘If true… he’s someone who could bring revolution to the Union.’
Besides, it was rare for someone like Ruins to excel in both healing and offensive magic—opposite types of magic. Even the princes were looking for exceptional teachers, dangling the lure of the Wishing Stone.
So now was not the time for pride. Recognition was necessary.
‘Ruins is superior to me.’
Thinking this, she bit her lip.
“…Shall I attend the class?”
Then the students suddenly realized something and spoke up.
“Wait!”
“You’re Goldmoon too, Princess! Seeing his face counts, right? You said helping is fine!”
“Yeah! We saw that bastard even once, so no expulsion…”
“That won’t happen.”
“?!”
The icy tone froze the students.
“…Guhk.”
Their throats tightened.
They turned to see Ruins standing behind a student. Black shirt, black coat, even a cravat. Except for the bandages, he was entirely black, exuding a chilling aura like a grim reaper.
“You’re spouting amusing nonsense.”
…Is this man a ghost?
How could he have gotten in without anyone noticing?
“P-Professor, that is—”
Snap!
The student who dared to say ‘bastard’ was grabbed by the head and slammed into his desk. He suffered an injury that would take a week to recover from, foaming at the mouth.
Meanwhile, the princess sat politely. Seeing him constantly invite her to the Healing class, she assumed Ruins must be interested in her.
However, Ruins walked past her and said:
“Today is a third-year class. Fourth-years who don’t even know the timetable, please leave.”
“…!”
Scolded, the princess flushed red, jumped up, and rushed to the door, biting her lips and glancing at Ruins, then slammed the classroom door.
Regardless, Ruins strode to the podium and placed his materials down.
Bang!
His low voice echoed through the classroom.
“Curious about my face?”
The students’ eyes widened.
“Yes!”
“Want to avoid expulsion?”
Is he really going to let them off?
“Of course!”
Was it a test exemption?
The Goldmoon students obediently sat down. Good, this professor wasn’t entirely a demon.
‘The face-viewing exam was actually personalized education for the students!’
Like showing his face to the princess, he was doing the same for them…
“Then come to my Healing Studies class.”
…What?
“If you enter ‘Healing: Unpopular Methods,’ I’ll show my face.”
“……”
“……”
…Isn’t this coercion?
But Ruins’s gaze was serious.
“Why hesitate? It’s far easier than trying to catch me with your pathetic skills. You can sit and pass the midterm, you know?”
The Goldmoon students panicked.
…This professor! Was all that suffering intentional?
‘Damn, isn’t this worse than just telling us to buy his book?!’
‘Even if it’s only one credit? A demon?’
‘Just tell us to buy the book!’
At their resentful glances, Ruins’s eyes grew even sterner.
“So, are you not coming to my class?”
…No. We have to go.
“What? Students are increasing in Professor Wayne’s ‘Unpopular Healing Methods’?”
“Yes. If it goes on, the acting head position might even be taken. It’s becoming similar to our ‘Popular Methods.’”
“Becoming similar? Why?”
“Well… for some reason, the princess and all the Demon Hunting students started attending…”
What? The princess and Demon Hunting students?
“Especially since the princess went, the numbers on that side have exploded.”
Professor Linzy’s anger boiled.
‘Ruins Wayne. I roughly know his aim.’
Indeed, today he had come to her classroom and lingered.
“The classroom is nice.”
She could feel his satisfaction as he touched the desk lightly.
“Clearly, he’s after this classroom.”
His gaze was not for borrowing, but for taking. Linzy had no choice but to bite her lips.
‘Damn him. Could he really be upset I blocked his students?’
“Anyway, ignore Professor Wayne’s side.”
Yet the teaching assistant hesitated.
“That’s difficult. The Goldmoon students are protesting, demanding the Healing Studies classroom be open.”
Linzy frowned. The Goldmoon students were aristocrats whose professors would usually yield.
“Why are they protesting for Wayne?”
“Well… Wayne said, ‘Professor Linzy won’t lend the classroom, so we’ll hold the class on the field,’ and they don’t want to sit on dirt.”
Linzy held the back of her neck.
Ruins Wayne, that bastard?
“As you know, Goldmoon… even Haven’s basic shirts are remade as luxury items. They’d never sit on dirt.”
Damn bourgeois brats! They side with Wayne for such a trivial reason?
Yet she couldn’t give up the classroom. Pride aside, she had her belongings hidden there.
Though well-hidden, if discovered, they would put her in serious trouble as a professor:
[Drug-based Memory Enhancer (Exam Use)]
[Drug-based Physical Awakener (Exam/Player Use)]
[Drug-based Exam Aid]
Linzy had been producing illegal substances for backdoor transactions. That’s why she forbade access.
‘No one interfered for two years.’
Other Healing professors were elderly and didn’t care about the classroom.
‘So why only Ruins Wayne?’
At the same time, she realized something.
‘Could it be… Wayne noticed something?’
Yes. That man had smiled strangely while inspecting the classroom.
“The classroom is nice.”
“What did you say?”
“Quiet, no one watching. Feels like I can do things ‘secretly.’”
The Healing Studies professor gritted her teeth.
Come to think of it, the Wayne family oversees Union security! Could he have noticed and targeted this place?!
