NOVEL WEB chapter 80
Chapter 4, just him? Mu En Campbell?
“Hey, no wonder it’s Professor Prang, so strict.”
Professor Gran marveled, then as if suddenly realizing something, he let out a soft sound of surprise.
“Hey, look at that one. Isn’t she the girl who was highly discussed in the first year—oh no, I should say second year now—who’s said to be the illegitimate child of someone from a prominent family?”
“Our college doesn’t judge students by their backgrounds, and she should have taken your class, right? You didn’t even remember her name!” Professor Prang said sternly.
“Hehe, with so many students, who can remember them all?” Gran scratched his head, pretending to be clueless.
“Her name is Ariel, and she is indeed an outstanding student.”
Professor Prang had also noticed Ariel, who had just gotten off the carriage. He unconsciously scanned her face, and his mood immediately calmed down significantly, unable to help but smile:
“Not bad, looks like she had a fulfilling holiday.”
“You’re really quite fond of her, aren’t you?” Gran said.
“Of course. To elevate her magical level to the second-tier golden standard within a year is quite rare in my decades of teaching. It’s not an exaggeration to call her a genius,” Professor Plang replied, a hint of satisfaction in his tone.
If it weren’t for the fact that Ariel’s use of magic clearly bore the influence of other excellent teachers, he would have been unable to resist taking her as a true disciple.
“I see.”
Gran expressed his admiration, then quickly lost interest.
He had seen too many geniuses, most of whom were rather unremarkable.
“Speaking of which, there should be another student in the second year who has been quite the topic of conversation. What was his name again? I think he’s the son of a duke.”
Gran asked offhandedly:
“Professor Plang, do you know… eh?”
“Mu’en! Campbell!”
Professor Plang gritted his teeth, like a volcano on the verge of eruption.
Of course, he knew that name, for it was almost etched into his bones!
Deeply ingrained.
Not because of his identity as a duke’s son, nor the ridiculous things he had done.
But because of the shame!
That’s right, it was a tremendous shame for him, Plang Ronin, after fifty years of teaching!
One year!
A whole year!
Three hundred sixty-five days!
Eight thousand seven hundred sixty hours!
Ariel had already stepped into the golden tier, capable of standing on her own.
Even those ordinary students could at least grasp the basics and cast a few attack spells without issue.
But Mu’en Campbell, he had only managed to learn a single illumination spell in an entire year!
An illumination spell!
The kind of magic my cat could learn in three days!
He took a whole year!
Because of this, during the holiday, when he attended those top-tier educator gatherings as usual, the moment he walked in, someone pointed at him and laughed:
“Professor Plang, I heard you produced another oddity, learning just one spell in a year.”
And he, as a towering figure in the field of magical education, could only respond with a flushed face, trembling slightly:
“Hu… nonsense, how can this illumination technique be called a magic?
Illumination technique… illumination technique, practical and effortless, it barely counts as one and a half, right?”
Suddenly, the atmosphere around was filled with a lively spirit.
Lively my foot, I feel like I could just smash my head against a wall!
Originally, when he attended such gatherings, he went to bask in the respectful gazes of other educators.
Along the way, he would put on airs and guide the young ones.
But ever since Mu En Campbell emerged with the outstanding achievement of mastering an illumination technique in just a year, he felt like everywhere he went, people were whispering and pointing at his back!
For someone like him, who prided himself on perfection, this was intolerable!
Yet, he found himself utterly helpless against this Mu En Campbell.
After all, poor performance didn’t violate any school rules.
And the Campbell family was one of the major shareholders of the academy, making it even less likely for him to deliberately pick on a student.
“It seems you really dislike that Mu En Campbell,” said Gran, shrinking his neck. He rarely saw Professor Plang this angry, and just being near him gave him the feeling of being devoured alive.
So he quickly changed the subject, “Oh, look, your proud student seems to be stopped by someone.”
Gran pointed towards the school gate.
“Oh? That seems to be Emon from the fourth year. I have a bit of an impression of him; he has decent talent.”
Professor Plang was indeed drawn in, his mood calming down considerably.
“What are they up to? Are they about to brawl?”
“It seems like… a challenge?”
Professor Plang squinted. Although it was quite far away, he could vaguely see Emon throwing his gloves at Ariel’s feet.
This action, among the nobility, signified the initiation of a challenge.
“Wow, a fourth-year challenging a second-year in front of so many people—what a sight to behold,” Professor Gran whistled, clearly enjoying the spectacle.
“Strange, why would Emon inexplicably challenge Ariel? Did they have some prior conflict?”
Professor Plang was puzzled.
He pondered.
Then he recalled that the conflict between Mu En Campbell and Ariel was common knowledge among the entire second year.
And Emon… seemed to be quite close to Mu En Campbell…
Mu En Campbell, it’s you again!
Is it not enough that you’ve caused me trouble, now you’re dragging my proud student into this?
“It seems like they haven’t started fighting.”
Professor Gran continued to watch the spectacle, then suddenly exclaimed:
“Hey, isn’t that… what’s-his-name, Mu En something?”
“Mu En·Campbell!”
Professor Plang also spotted Mu En in the crowd, his eyes widening as he growled:
“How dare he show his face at the academy!”
Professor Plang gripped his cane tightly, wishing he could rush down and give that Mu En·Campbell a good whack.
At the end of the term, you managed to run away quickly, but otherwise, you wouldn’t have any good outcomes!
“Don’t be angry, don’t be angry. He’s just a student after all. Why get so worked up over a student?”
Gran consoled.
“Isn’t it normal for students to have varying grades?”
“Normal?”
Professor Plang looked at Professor Gran with a cold smirk:
“What if one of your Potions students, a year later, still can’t tell the difference between a love potion and a sleeping potion, and even claims to have been slipped a love potion or a sleeping potion? What would you think?”
“…”
Oh no, the scene was too relatable; his blood pressure shot up instantly.
“Ahem, let’s not talk about that. Let’s see what’s happening over there. Oh, that Mu En·Campbell seems to be saying something, and judging by the expressions of others, it must be quite something.”
Gran stroked his chin and chuckled, “Good thing I know a bit of lip reading.
Hmm, let me see what you’re saying?
I… have already… turned over a new leaf… huh? I have already turned over a new leaf?”
After interpreting, Professor Gran was taken aback and turned to Professor Plang:
“That Mu En·Campbell said he has turned over a new leaf.”
“Turned over a new leaf?”
Upon hearing this, Professor Plang immediately scoffed:
“You believe such an obvious lie, that a toad can become a swan?
If Mu En·Campbell really could turn over a new leaf and study hard from now on, I, I would…”
Professor Plang looked around, then suddenly slammed his hand on the desk, booming:
“I would eat this desk!”