I Became a Demon Professor at the Academy

138 – Festival – 3

I examined their terror-stricken face impassively. Fear was etched deeply into their expression.

“……”

Silence lingered for a moment. Displeased by the quiet, I pressed down on their chest with my boot.

“Kugh!”

They groaned in pain, crying out loudly. They struggled to escape, but I was not generous enough to allow it.

“Please, save me.”

The Ulphen looked up at me with wide eyes, begging as they glared at me. I spoke quietly.

“What’s your name.”

“Please, save me…”

“Tell me your name.”

I aimed a mana-made bullet at their forehead. Soon, their face turned pale, and they moved their lips hastily.

“Doberman…”

“What a pathetic name.”

As I gave her a cue, she quickly released the barrier. With that, everyone inside was freed from the threat and became safe.

In the chaos that had returned to normal, I slowly looked down at them.

“There’s no particular reason for you to live.”

“Eek!”

At that moment, they showed an expression of shock like never before. But without mercy, I pierced their brow with my bullet.

Aaagh!

The other Ulphens panicked and started to flee the scene rapidly. I didn’t bother to catch them one by one.

After all, we would meet again someday.

***

Charlotte quietly observed the situation from outside the building. She thought she should save the people inside, but it felt impossible, so all she could do was watch.

“Uh…? What? The barrier is lifting!”

Someone exclaimed.

And their words were not false. Not long after, the barriers that had been encircling the building in red began to dissolve, vanishing from sight.

The building was unbelievably tidy. As if it had not just been under attack, but rather as though it had been cleaned.

The magicians in charge of security arrived belatedly. They immediately prepared to enter the building.

“…Wait! Something’s coming out!”

But everyone halted their advance, hesitating. They felt a presence from within.

“……”

Adrian.

That one professor was slowly walking out from the building where the barrier had been lifted.

Behind him, the trapped people followed like chicks. It was such a relief for those who had been anxiously waiting outside.

“Professor…? Is everyone safe?”

The security magicians asked, and Adrian nodded once in response, a silent affirmation. The rescued individuals were naturally handed over.

“I shall take my leave now.”

With just that, Adrian was about to turn away when he suddenly felt the gazes pouring in from all around.

Adrian took a moment to look around at them.

Seeing their dumbfounded faces, simply standing in awe, words naturally spilled from him.

“Has everyone just been standing around, gawking? Ignoring those in danger.”

The gazes were more on the professor than the students. And there was no one here who could meet his sharp gaze head-on.

“Pathetic.”

With that, Adrian left the scene. Charlotte quickly approached him.

“Professor, Professor!”

She asked with a serious face.

“Are you alright…?”

“I’m fine.”

And so, from atop a distant tree, watching over the chaotic scene, two members of the Ulphen tribe conversed.

“…Just how strong is he?”

One Ulphen asked. The other, chewing gum, replied.

“He’s much stronger than we anticipated. Took out a Doberman with a single blow.”

“…So his power is still intact? That’s hard to believe.”

Far from being the same, I feel they might have grown even stronger. I thought being a professor in the human world might have dulled their skills, but that doesn’t seem to be the case.”

The faces of the two Ulpen clansmen exchanging these words were full of discontent. And no wonder, for Doberman had been a comrade of some importance to them.

“We must seek revenge. But what should we be wary of when facing that guy?”

“Everything, it seems. Literally everything.”

“Hmm. That seems best.”

The goal of the two conversing Ulpen was ‘weapons.’ The Ulpen had recently taken an interest in formidable powers, and the quickest initiative they took was to acquire ‘quality weapons.’

“What about the weapons? I thought Ezekiel would be a good lead.”

“Well, we’ll have to look into it while dealing with other matters, won’t we?”

Muttering Ezekiel’s name, the Ulpen quickly left the place.

***

The next day.

I was lost in thought in my office. The appearance of the Ulpen clearly meant that troublesome times lay ahead.

Indeed, hadn’t they declared war? This time we were lucky; only one building was involved, but it’s hard to guess how far the next incident will reach.

‘I must not neglect my training.’

Such unfortunate events can occur without warning, so I must never neglect my training.

I immediately began practicing magic.

I closed my eyes and concentrated. I gathered the mana and refined what I could from my body.

It requires immense concentration and is difficult, but it’s an important task. If done well, it can lead to great results in physical training later on.

As I was finishing my training, I began to ponder what I should tackle next.

“Should I… go there myself?”

Honestly, I had been defensive and passive in dealing with everything. I did my best from where I was, cleaning up as things happened.

But each time, the Academy and the humans around me were put in danger. In that case, it might be a good strategy to go there first and take care of things.

Just as I was contemplating this.

“Professor~ Someone’s here to see you~”

I heard my assistant’s voice. I got up and opened the door to greet the visitor.

“Who is it?”

A stranger. A plump man was looking at me with a suspicious expression.

“Ah, I’m from the Security Bureau. I was wondering if you knew anything about the disappearance that happened last night.”

At that, I couldn’t help but tilt my head. If he was referring to the building trapped in the barrier, there was no one I hadn’t saved.

“Everyone should have returned home safely.”

“We were certainly under that impression as well.”

Their ongoing story was disturbing. It was about people who were thought to have returned home safely, only to vanish like ghosts the next day.

But what’s really bothering me now.

Is the suspicious look in this guy’s eyes as he stares at me. I really didn’t like it.

“What’s your name? I don’t quite appreciate being misunderstood.”

“Oh, it’s not that we suspect you, Professor Adrian. It’s just that as a witness, we’re hoping to glean some clues from you.”

Though he explained it in a roundabout way, it was clear they suspected me. That realization soured my mood. After all, I was only trying to help.

“Just go away. I’ve done nothing but my duty.”

“Ah, yes. Well. Thank you for your cooperation.”

After a few curt responses, the agent from the Security Bureau nodded his head and walked away into the distance.

I quietly watched his rude and arrogant retreating figure. If this were back in my days in the demon realm, such an attitude would never have been tolerated.

“Sigh…”

I pressed my hand against my forehead.

It’s certain that the Ulpen clan has become more audacious.

“This won’t do.”

It was time to make a decision.

I began to look for a way to return to the demon realm. Considering what I’ve done so far, there should be quite a few places where I could seek cooperation.

Firstly, there’s Christine, and if necessary, I could also ask for Vivian’s help.

One thing was for sure: I would never let the Ulpen clan off the hook.