I Became an Unknown Professor at the Academy

“I plan to proceed with the following.”

Dean Choi Min-sik lowered the documents in his hand and looked towards me.

“Proceed as you suggested.”

“Ah… yes, I will proceed.”

The guy who had been standing with a tense face breathed a sigh of relief and sat down.

“Are there any other matters to discuss?”

“This was the last one.”

Kim Sung-won, sitting next to Choi Min-sik, replied cautiously.

“Any department with suggestions?”

“…”

The faculty members remained silent, their backs straight.

No one seemed to be looking for clues, indicating that there were no particular issues. If there were any, Kim Sung-won would have taken care of them.

“Let’s end the meeting.”

“Thank you for your hard work.”

As I stood up, Kim Sung-won bowed slightly, not overly so.

I left the conference room with a wave of my hand, without saying a word.

‘Claire’s existence is beyond my imagination.’

The number of applicants for this year’s entrance exam has increased by about 30% compared to last year, which is a significant difference for Arena Academy, which has tens of thousands of applicants.

Despite the fact that the barrier was inactive for about a month, students evacuated, and the atmosphere remained ominous, the number of applicants has increased, which shows the value of Claire’s presence.

‘… I wish her cooking skills had improved a little.’

A small smile appeared on my face as I briefly recalled her clumsy cooking, except for stews.

Ding.

I took out my smartphone as I stepped into the arriving elevator.

Pm 2:27

It was before lunch when the meeting started, but now it’s way past lunchtime.

-Haaah, haaah, haaah…!!

I focused my mind and checked Baek Hana’s condition through the ring.

She was exhausted, but she was still skillfully dodging Crystal’s relentless attacks.

Ding.

I opened my eyes as the elevator dinged.

The first floor of the main building was quieter than usual, probably because lunch break was over.

I waved lightly at the guys who greeted me with unnecessarily loud voices and stepped outside.

‘It’s better to take some time and go there.’

If I hadn’t had a light breakfast, I would have bought a quick meal and gone back, but I needed a proper meal to train diligently in the afternoon.

‘I wonder if there are any ingredients left.’

Since Claire had been taking care of the kitchen since she started staying here, it was hard to know what food ingredients were currently available.

‘There should be meat, at least.’

Even if there were no vegetables, meat was one of the ingredients Claire always kept stocked for Baek Hana and the other kids.

“Hmm.”

I thought about contacting Claire for a moment, but it was probably the time when she was watching over the enhanced kids.

‘… I should buy some chocolate, too.’

I turned my steps towards the central area where the market was located.

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.

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Thump-thump! Thump-thump!

Kang Seok-ho tried to calm his racing heart as he focused on the scene before him.

-Don’t tense your waist.

-Yes, yes!!

On the other side of the large screen, a senior student held a shield and received guidance from a beautiful woman with a cold impression.

-You can’t utilize your mobility, so you have to endure and hold your ground, even if it means dying.

-I understand!!

-I’ll come back, so hold on.

As the dry voice finished, a loud noise, like an explosion of flame magic, burst from the speakers on the ceiling.

-You’re a little better than before, but the distribution of the impact is still uneven.

-Haaah, haaah…

The senior student’s large shield dented with a light kick.

‘Is it really the same level of power being used…?’

It was hard not to doubt what I saw on the screen, even though she said she adjusted her power to match the student’s level.

It wasn’t a full-power kick, and it wasn’t a kick delivered after a running start.

It was just a light kick, like a leisurely stroll, and yet the large shield made of super alloy dented.

Conversely, this meant that the senior student being guided was theoretically capable of doing the same.

-You’re putting too much force on your leg as you back away to avoid being pushed back. If you don’t want to regret it later, from now on, be as conscious as possible and distribute the impact evenly between both legs.

-Ah, I understand!!

After a few more pieces of advice, the precious time that couldn’t be bought with all the gold in the world came to an end.

“Huff, huff… huff…!!!”

The senior student who had just received guidance wiped the sweat from his face with his sleeve and trudged out.

-Kang Seok-ho.

“Yes!!”

Finally, it was Kang Seok-ho’s turn, and he quickly stood up and entered the training room.

“Kang Seok-ho.”

“Yes!!”

“You don’t have to answer so loudly.”

“Ah, yes.”

Kang Seok-ho swallowed his dry saliva as he clenched his fists, his heart chilled by her cold gaze.

“Before we start, I want to ask you something. What exactly do you want to become?”

“What… do you mean?” ”

Your ability can be suitable for a tank, depending on how you use it. And from what I’ve seen of how you’ve been using your ability so far, you seem more suited to be a tank than a damage dealer.”

“That, that is…”

Kang Seok-ho had a rough idea of what Claire was seeing through the smartwatch, and his face turned even redder.

“I, I want to be a damage dealer… a swordsman!”

“I understand.”

Claire drew the wooden sword from her waist.

“I’ll give you all the time you need. Strike with all your might.”

“Yes…”

Kang Seok-ho drew his sword from his waist.

“Huff…”

Excessive tension is not good. Kang Seok-ho took a few deep breaths to relax his body.

Whoosh!!

The magical power rotating in his body flowed through the circuits, enhancing his entire body.

Whoosh!!!

“Haaaaaah!!!”

Kang Seok-ho let out a loud battle cry as he swung his sword down vertically.

Thud.

However, the sword he had swung down with all his might was blocked by the tip of the wooden sword standing at an angle.

“……?!”

Kang Seok-ho’s eyes widened at the unbelievable sight before him.

“You.”

“Yes, yes?”

Kang Seok-ho, whose mind was half-blown by the unmoving sword, snapped back to attention at the cold voice.

“Didn’t you receive any special training at home?”

“No, I didn’t…”

“Then why…”

Claire shook her head and stopped mid-sentence.

“Huff, watch closely.”

“Yes, yes!!”

Hooooo.

Claire’s wooden sword and the arm holding it began to glow faintly.

“This light represents the magical power I’m using.”

The faint light spread out and covered her entire body.

“And this is the state your body is in right now.”

“How… how did you…”

Kang Seok-ho quietly retracted the magical power he had spread throughout his body.

“In a duel or a real battle, the way you did it would be correct. But I said I’d give you all the time you need. In that case, you should concentrate your magical power on the necessary parts of your body, like I just showed you, instead of your entire body.”

“Umm…”

“Also, when using a cold weapon instead of your body, you must surround the weapon with magical power to protect it from damage.”

“That, umm…”

I know.

But even though he had tried to relax, he was still more tense than usual, and his head wasn’t functioning properly.

“If you say you knew, it’s even more of a problem. I said I’d give you all the time you need. You had plenty of time to check your condition, but you didn’t even take care of your own body.” “…”

His heart, which had been pounding with excitement and anticipation, now began to pound for a different reason.

“Finally, your ability.”

Claire lowered the wooden sword.

“I told you to use all your power, yet you didn’t manifest your ability. Or do you not know how to use your ability in an attack?”

“When I manifest my ability, my body becomes sluggish, and I can’t put enough power into my attacks.”

“Huff…”

Claire let out a short sigh, feeling frustrated.

“That’s because you’re covering your entire body with steel. With a little effort, you should be able to manifest your ability only in the parts you want.”

“My magical power control speed is too slow, so it’s hard to apply it in actual combat…”

Crack!

“Hick?!”

The wooden sword in Claire’s hand snapped at the neck.

“Explaining to you is a waste of time.”

“Yes, yes…?”

“So, feel it with your body and make up for your shortcomings.”

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.

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-Gak!

Kang Seok-ho rolled on the floor after being punched by Claire.

“This guy is crazy.”

Kang Hanna, who had nothing to do, sat with the students who had come out to rest and watched as Kang Seok-ho got beaten up.

How dare he say it’s hard in front of her?

It’s not impossible, but what does he mean by hard?

‘Well, this is the problem with those who grew up pampered.’

They only have innate abilities and the support of the elixir, but they fundamentally lack hard work.

Click.

“……!”

Kang Hanna, who had been watching the screen with a nonchalant expression, stood up at the sound of the clicking heels.

Then she bowed deeply towards the source of the sound.

“Have you finished?”

“Yes.”

The deep voice, always pleasant to hear, brushed past Kang Hanna’s ears.

“Kang Hanna.”

“Yes, yes?”

Kang Hanna, who had been slacking off for almost half a day, tensed up, wondering if she was about to be scolded.

“……?”

Then she blinked at the sight of the box filled with chocolates.

“Share these with the students who are taking a break.”

“Ahh!! Thank you!!!”

Kang Hanna jumped at the unexpected gift and quickly took the box.

Click, click.

The sound of the heels gradually faded into the distance.

Kang Hanna looked at Baek Woo-jin’s back as he headed towards the last training room.

‘Is he going to eat all of that?’

A lunch box and a paper bag with the market’s logo were floating behind Baek Woo-jin.

“Professor! Give me one!”

“Hey, I’m the adult, so I get to eat first!”

While Kang Hanna bickered with the students, the sound of the heels had disappeared.

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.

.

“Kyaaah…!!”

Dodge the branches and vines flying towards me.

I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve done this.

My body feels heavy, and my mind is foggy, as if I’m about to collapse at any moment.

The remaining magical power is truly minuscule, like a speck of dust. Yet, my legs continue to push off the ground and move.

‘It’s never-ending…’

I don’t know how much time has passed.

But it’s clear that I’ve spent a significant amount of time here.

“Haaah…!!”

My lungs feel like they’re about to burst.

Every joint in my body creaks.

My muscles, which have expanded and contracted countless times, twitch painfully.

Most of all, the tiny bit of magical power left keeps my mind alert.

I’m constantly consuming magical power, yet this tiny bit doesn’t seem to disappear.

Thud!

“Ah…”

Baek Hana let out a breath as she felt the sticky sensation around her ankle.

Her reaction was a bit slow due to her wandering thoughts.

Baek Hana closed her eyes tightly as her vision began to tilt downward.

Thud.

“……?”

She had expected her face to slam into the dirt.

But instead of the rough feel of dirt, her face touched the soft fabric of a cloth.

Baek Hana opened her tightly shut eyes.

She saw a black shirt and a red tie.

“Woo-jin…”

Baek Hana pouted as she looked up at his face, which was wearing large glasses.

She had so much she wanted to say.

Yet, her lips wouldn’t move.

Swoosh.

“Umm…”

A large hand stroked her head.

Just that one action made her resentment melt away.

“It’s a bit late, but have some lunch.”

“Feed me.”

“Be quiet.”

Baek Hana’s forehead was gently pushed away by his hand.

Then she realized that the bushes and dirt floor around her had disappeared.

The floor and walls were now spotlessly white.

“Sit down.”

“Hmph.”

Although her resentment had already dissipated, Baek Hana sat down with a pout.

Baek Woo-jin placed the food he had made and the snacks he had bought from the market in front of her.

“Wow… Did you make all of this, Woo-jin?”

“Yes.”

“R-really? Hehehe…”

Baek Hana’s pout seemed to have faded as she smiled like a flower in bloom and started eating the lunch box.

Swish, swish.

Her white tail, which had grown on her buttocks, swayed from side to side happily.

“Eat while you listen.”

“Hmm?”

Baek Hana puffed out her cheeks and looked up.

“Come.”

Whoosh.

A blue light flickered in the empty air, revealing its form.

“Khee-ta?”

“Don’t speak, just listen.”

“Umm-hmm.”

Baek Hana nodded with wide eyes.

“I have something to do, so I have to leave soon.”

“Huh?”

Baek Hana, who was about to eat the egg roll, jumped in surprise and looked up.

“This guy will create various environments to help you in my place.”

“Ggeuuuuuurrrppp!!!”

Baek Woo-jin used his magical power to cover Baek Hana’s mouth.

“I’ll keep supplying the minimum amount of magical power to prevent this guy from losing consciousness. So, when you’re truly exhausted, say ‘give up,’ and he’ll stop. On the other hand, if you say ‘start,’ he’ll create the environment again.”

Baek Hana seemed to have a lot to say.

Baek Woo-jin released her mouth.

“I want a lesson from you, Woo-jin.”

“I’ll see you at dinner.”

“Uuu…”

Baek Hana’s ears and tail drooped.

What was the point of running so hard?

The resentment that had melted away began to resurface once again.