I Became an Unknown Professor at the Academy

Srrruk.

The soft touch of the fabric against my face.

As I opened my eyes, I saw her dazzling golden hair, her white nape, and her sky-blue pajamas with cloud patterns.

“Claire.”

She flinched slightly, her shoulders trembling as she tried to get up from my embrace.

“Are you awake… Hmm…?!”

I held her waist and pulled her back into my arms, whispering softly as I breathed on her forehead.

“It’s still dawn.”
“I was going to prepare breakfast.”

The warmth of Claire, who was in my arms, gradually increased.

“The children will be fine eating breakfast alone.”
“I’ll make breakfast for… for Woo-jin.”

I looked at the top of her head for a while, her face buried in my chest.

I knew better than anyone that I rarely ate anything other than coffee unless Baek Hana insisted.

Claire wouldn’t know that.

-…I’ll try harder.

She had fled the scene then, so I didn’t bring it up again. It was easy to infer what her vow from yesterday meant.

“Claire.”
“Yes.”

I still didn’t show my face, but I whispered to the top of her head.

“Breakfast is enough with coffee, so let’s stay like this a little longer.”
“…”

No response.

But.

Sseuwik.

Her hands, which were under her belly, slowly hugged my waist.

I savored her warmth until the sun fully rose.

.

.

.

“I think I’ll be back before lunch.”
“Yes.”

Claire, wearing an apron and standing awkwardly in front of the door.

“I’ll let you know if I’m late.”
“I understand.”

I was supposed to go to the main building for a meeting with the Temple of Benevolence, as the chairman was absent.

“…”
“…”

But I didn’t turn around, instead quietly looking down at Claire standing in front of me, with the meaning of asking her to wait.

I looked down at her face for a few seconds.

Claire’s clear eyes avoided my gaze and slowly lowered to a certain point.

And our faces drew closer.

“Be careful and come back.”

She took a step back, her face flushed, and glanced up at me.

“I’ll be back.”

Leaving the mansion and heading towards the main building.

‘Be careful…?’

I had certainly weakened by giving a piece of my soul to the scales, but I wasn’t so weak that I needed to be worried about.

Claire probably didn’t mean it in that sense, but it was clear that I was welcoming her concern.

‘…Not good.’

I consciously put the incident at the door out of my mind and quickly headed to the main building.

“Hello.”
“Hello, Professor.”
“You’re working hard from the first day of vacation.”

As I entered the main building, the zombies—the professors and assistants—who were always wandering around the lobby with their drooping faces, greeted me as usual.

After the rumor spread that I hated noise, they tried to greet me as quietly as possible. I nodded at them and took the elevator, pressing the button for the fifth floor.

Ting.

As the elevator door opened, I saw the tightly closed door of the chairman’s office and a woman standing in front of it.

Among the white-clad priests, she was the only one in black.

Known as the Great Mother, she was Beroth’s most beloved daughter.

Her sky-blue hair peeking out from under her veil, which covered her eyes.

“Ah…”

A beat late, Diana’s small lips slightly parted as she realized my presence.

“It’s… an honor to meet you…”

She clutched the hem of her black priestly robe and bowed slightly.

“Come in.”
“Yes.”

Her voice was weak and lacked confidence.

I opened the door to the chairman’s office and entered, leaving her behind.

“Please sit down.”
“…”

Diana quietly followed me, glanced up at me once, and leaned against the sofa across from me.

“I’m Baek Woo-jin, the acting chairman.”
“I am Diana Lograin, the daughter of the Goddess of Mercy.”
“I’d like to discuss the donation.”
“Yes, you are…”

Her voice trembled slightly, and her words dragged.

‘She’s in the same boat as Claire.’

Either she had never lied before or was born with a personality that couldn’t lie.

I knew that the donation was just an excuse for this meeting, but I didn’t sense any desire or malice from her, so I closed my mouth and leaned back in my chair.

“That…”

Her hands, neatly placed on her knees, twitched.

“…”
“…”

And silence filled the room.

There was plenty of time before lunch, so I quietly waited for Beroth’s daughter to speak first.

Her hands, which were on her knees, clenched into fists.

“Professor Baek Woo-jin, the donation was just a means to meet you.”
“I see.”

Perhaps she had received some advice from Claire.

Or maybe she was just honest.

“The donation… no, you don’t have to continue giving the offering. Even if you don’t, the priests and paladins will continue to support you as they have been. And if you’re offended… I’ll leave.”

Maybe I was being too nice.

“I’ll continue the offering as I have been.”
“What?”

I couldn’t see her eyes due to the veil and bangs, but I could imagine her expression from her slightly parted lips.

“Priests and Paladins are both skilled personnel. I don’t plan to use them for free.”

Anyway, it’s not coming out of my pocket.

“So let’s stop talking about money.”
“I understand.”

She nodded, moving her shoulders stiffly from tension.

“…”
“…”

The heavy silence returned.

“Are you offended…?”
“It depends on what you say from now on.”

Gulping, she spoke.

The chairman’s office was so quiet that even the smallest sounds were clear.

“Actually…”

And so, the story began.

Or rather, a confession close to tattling.

“That’s how it is.”

From her conversation with Beroth to her conversation with Claire after arriving here yesterday.

Hearing all this, I looked at Diana’s face, red as a bomb about to explode, and thought.

If she had known about Baek Hana, she might have been a little less interested.

“You’re interested in me.”
“Yes.”

I asked the girl, who was looking down.

“Is there a special reason for covering your eyes?”
“What?”

Her head, which had been looking at the table, slowly rose, and she looked back at me.

It was indeed a bit of an odd question.

“I asked if there was a special reason for covering your eyes.”
“No, no!! No, I…”

Srrruk.

A beat late, she moved her hands, which were on her knees, and lifted the black veil and sky-blue hair that covered her eyes, just as I had expected.

“After my ability awakened, my eyes changed a little…”

Her eyes were the same sky-blue as her hair.

But instead of a round pupil, a white diamond-like pupil sat in her eyes.

‘Is this Diana Lograin’s face…?’

I memorized her face.

This was new information about the characters that I couldn’t get from the other side, only here.

The only thing that has piqued my interest since I opened my eyes here, except for Baek Hana.

“Can I put it back now…?”

As I nodded, she lowered her bangs and veil, hiding her eyes again.

“I don’t like being the center of attention, so I cover them like this.”
“I see.”

Indeed, the gaze of humans filled with various emotions is quite annoying.

“What’s the effect of your ability?”
“It’s, it’s not that great… I can read the physical information of the target I’m looking at…”

She dragged her words a bit, then closed her mouth for a moment and refined her words before explaining to me again.

She can see detailed problems in places that are not easily visible to the eye, such as organs, muscles, and bones, and if the target has been afflicted by a disease, curse, or poison, she can understand its effects and find a cure or a way to remove it.

The name of her ability is ‘Star Library.’

This information clearly explained why she was a specialized healer.

“Can you fight monsters or other awakened individuals?”
“I, I can.”

This was truly the first time I had heard this information.

In my memory, Diana Lograin had never fought a monster or an awakened individual, so it was only natural.

“Claire personally teaches some children. I’d like you to have a light spar with them.”
“I, I need a weapon to fight… is that okay…?”
“It doesn’t matter.”

Not only is she sturdy, but as long as she’s alive, she can heal any injury without leaving any after-effects, so there’s no need to worry about any broken bones.

“If it goes well, I’d like you to visit the mansion occasionally and look after the children.”
“I, I…”

She had only been responding to my questions, fidgeting with her fingers, but now she raised her head.

“I’ll do my best…!!!”

It was the loudest voice I had heard all day.

“The children will need preparation, so please contact me again tomorrow.”
“I’ll gladly respond whenever you call.”

Realizing that her voice had been loud a moment ago, she now spoke too softly.

“Finally, one last thing.”

Before ending the conversation, I asked her.

“What weapon do you use?”
Ah…”

She slightly parted her small lips and hesitated for a moment, then lowered her head again, which she had just raised, and mumbled.

“I use a mace.”