Academy’s Undercover Professor-Chapter 220: Research Results (2)

"Hey, did you hear? You know, that thing."

"Yeah, you mean the mana output study?"

"Right. I heard it’s real?"

Word had spread through Seorn that the research into increasing mana output had ended in success.

Technically, no one was supposed to know anything before the official announcement.

But the news had leaked—someone had talked.

After all, there were people at the testing facility besides the official observers who had witnessed the results firsthand.

It was impossible to silence every loose tongue.

And those who had attended as observers would inevitably recount what they saw once they returned. It was only a matter of time.

It had just happened a little earlier than expected.

Naturally, the students’ reaction was intense.

"Ugh, if I’d known, I would’ve signed up too!"

"Come on, how is this even real...?"

The students who hadn’t volunteered for Ludger’s research were now in agony, regretting their past choices.

Though, at the time, their judgment had been perfectly reasonable.

The goal of the research had sounded far-fetched—borderline absurd.

Who could have predicted that it would actually succeed?

But no matter how much they regretted it now, it was too late.

So the students’ focus shifted elsewhere.

If they couldn’t go back in time and ask to join Ludger’s research...

Then they could always ask the ones who had joined.

There had been six participants in total.

If they could just get something out of one of them—anything—they might be able to replicate the results.

But they didn’t approach just anyone.

There were some participants who were clearly off-limits from the start.

Flora Lumos, daughter of the Duke of Lumos and a second-year prodigy.

Third Princess Erendir von Exilion.

And Freuden Ulburk, heir to House Ulburk.

Each of them came from an elite lineage—and more importantly, none of them were known to be social.

If Erendir had heard herself included in that list, she might have whined in protest—but that was how most of Seorn viewed them.

Naturally, attention narrowed to the first-years.

Julia Plumehart was ranked first among them—but she was excluded too.

Though she greeted people with a polite smile, there was always an eerie coldness behind it that made others hesitate to approach her again.

Which left only two viable targets: Aidan and Rine.

"Hey! Are you heading to class?"

"Huh?"

Rine was walking down the tree-lined path toward class when several students suddenly called out to her.

They were her classmates—students who attended the same lectures.

The moment she saw their smiling faces directed at her, she instinctively tensed.

They’d never shown any interest in her before—why act friendly all of a sudden?

Were they suddenly trying to get close?

‘As if.’

Rine wasn’t that naive.

These were the same people who had ignored her after she got on a noble’s bad side. Now they were changing their attitude? There had to be an angle.

And she knew exactly what it was they wanted.

"If you have time, maybe we could—"

"Sorry, but I’m not going to tell you anything about Professor Ludger’s research results."

She cut them off, flat and firm.

It wasn’t just that she didn’t know much.

Even if she had known more, she had no intention of saying a word.

It wasn’t because she’d signed a confidentiality agreement.

Even without one, she would have stayed quiet.

Because they had made a promise.

And because she didn’t want to betray her teacher.

The students, who had hoped to get something out of Rine in Erendir’s absence, could only stare, wide-eyed at her icy refusal.

“That’s all, then.”

Rine said no more and walked right past them.

“What the hell? So she gets what she wants and just walks away?”

“Ugh, so annoying.”

She did her best to ignore their grumbling behind her.

The sharper issue was the other students now eyeing her with interest—and some with envy.

The rumor had spread like wildfire, and now everyone wanted to learn the secret to increasing their mana output.

‘I need to get to class quickly—’

Rine quickened her pace, but just then, someone stepped in front of her.

“You’re Rine, the first-year, right?”

A glance at the name tag—third-year student.

There were three of them. All nobles.

They swept their eyes up and down her figure, then one of them spoke in an arrogant tone.

“We need to talk. Come with us.”

“...I don’t think so.”

It wasn’t even a suggestion. It was an order.

Rine instinctively took a step back—but they weren’t going to let her go that easily.

“Hey. Are you talking back to us?”

“When did I do that?”

“You’ve got a smart mouth, don’t you? This is why commoners are hopeless. You don’t even understand when someone tries to speak nicely.”

As if they ever spoke nicely.

Rine opened her mouth to retort—but one of them stepped toward her first.

She didn’t panic.

Instead, she stared him down, fiercely.

The third-year noble didn’t like that one bit.

“What’s with those eyes? You think a commoner like you can glare at a noble?”

“Excuse me?”

“‘Excuse me’? Oh, that’s it. I want to see if you can keep that attitude up after this.”

And then—

A voice from the side suddenly cut in.

“I’d like to see that too.”

“...What?”

Annoyed at the interruption, the noble looked toward the voice—and froze the moment he saw who it was.

“L-Ludger Cherish...”

“Students addressing a teacher by name. How disrespectful.”

They hadn’t expected to run into Ludger here of all places. The third-years stiffened in place.

Ludger scanned the scene with a blade-like gaze—the trembling Rine, and the frozen third-years.

He didn’t need an explanation to understand exactly what was going on.

“You’re third-years, yet here you are harassing someone early in the morning. And it takes three of you to go after one person?”

“What are you talking about? We didn’t do anything.”

“You didn’t?”

“No. We were just trying to have a little chat with our junior here.”

They thought—nothing happened yet, right? If we deny it, there’s no proof.

‘So what if we did? What are you going to do about it?’

They forced awkward smiles as they made excuses. The other two nodded along.

“Yeah. You must’ve misunderstood, Professor.”

“It was just a joke. That’s all.”

Ludger narrowed his eyes.

“A joke, is it.”

“Yes, sir. Just a harmless joke.”

“A joke... Very well.”

Ludger released his mana.

A wave of immense magical pressure poured out from his body, creeping across the ground like mist.

“H-Hurk!”

The weight of his mana—

It turned the third-years’ faces ghostly pale.

“W-what are you doing...?”

“What’s the problem? It’s just a joke.”

“H-how is this a joke...?”

“Isn’t this the kind of joke you like to play?”

The pressure intensified. None of the third-years could say a word.

“If it’s not, then what? Did you think I’d be fooled by a lie that even a child wouldn’t fall for?”

“U-uh...”

“Because you’re nobles, you thought I’d just let it slide?”

“Ghh...”

“How utterly foolish.”

Even in the suffocating atmosphere, Rine felt something strange—

A sense of ease washing over her.

“How odd. I don’t recall ever going easy on someone just because they were a noble. If I’m wrong, maybe I should remind you right now.”

The murderous pressure pouring from Ludger made the third-years’ minds go blank.

They couldn’t think of an excuse. They couldn’t even speak.

All they could do was tremble—like mice cornered by a predator.

“Professor Ludger. That’s enough.”

It was then—

Rine reached out and gently stopped him.

“It was just a small misunderstanding. That’s all.”

The oppressive pressure that had been crushing the third-year nobles vanished as if washed away by Rine’s words.

As the students gasped to catch their breath, Ludger silently studied Rine.

She looked up at him with clear, glasslike eyes—eyes that hadn’t changed since the innocence of her childhood.

“Is that true?”

“Yes. It really is. Right, upperclassmen?”

Grasping the rope of salvation she had thrown, the third-years frantically nodded.

Though anyone watching could see they were a mess—some even drooling slightly.

“...Rine. Since you insist, I won’t pursue this matter any further.”

“Thank you, Professor.”

“Even so, we never know what might happen next. If anything else arises, come find me.”

Rine’s eyes went wide.

“Huh?! N-no, that’s really not necessary...”

“Even if joining the research was entirely your choice, I can’t say I bear no responsibility for any trouble that comes from it. As your teacher, this is only natural.”

At that, Rine’s lips parted in surprise—then curled into a bashful smile.

“Yes, Professor. I’ll be sure to do that.”

“Good. Class will start soon. Come along.”

“Wait—what about those upperclassmen?”

“They’ll recover. Leave them be.”

Rine didn’t argue on their behalf either.

They had started it, and they’d paid a fair price.

“...Still, come along?”

“Weren’t you headed to my lecture?”

“Oh—yes. That’s right.”

“Then let’s go together.”

“...Huh?”

For a moment, Rine wondered if she’d misheard.

* * *

Aidan had become just as much a target as Rine.

“Hey, Aidan. Have you eaten yet? Wanna grab lunch together?”

“Aidan! Want to head to the study room with us?”

Aidan. Aidan. Aidan!

Everyone was calling his name from all directions.

It was the first time Aidan realized just how overwhelming it could be to have people constantly saying his name.

At first, he’d been genuinely happy—thinking he was finally making new friends.

That didn’t last long.

“Oh... so they’re only talking to me because they want to ask about the research.”

“Well, obviously. It’s not like they’ve ever paid attention to you before. What else would they want?”

“I just thought maybe they suddenly wanted to be friends... That’s kind of disappointing.”

“...Seriously. How is your brain made of that many flowers?”

Leo sighed and shook his head in disbelief.

Tacy felt the same way.

Compared to the schemers swarming around, Aidan was pure white.

Which was precisely why they couldn’t leave him alone.

Just earlier, it had taken Leo, Tacy, and Iona teaming up to block the flood of students trying to approach Aidan.

If not for them, soft-hearted Aidan probably would’ve answered every single question.

Just imagining it was a nightmare.

“Aidan. Just ignore them. They’re not being friendly. They all want something.”

“Yeah... You’re right. Sorry I got you all caught up in this too.”

“You don’t need to apologize. Honestly, just hanging around you, we were prepared for this kind of thing.”

That kind of statement could only come from someone with full confidence that Aidan would absolutely cause some kind of incident eventually.

Aidan was deeply touched by their faith.

“Thank you, everyone!”

“...Why are you touched? That wasn’t a compliment.”

Tacy responded bluntly.

Even so, it had been Tacy—more than anyone—who had fended off the most people approaching Aidan like a furious cat.

Especially when girls came near—her reactions were downright explosive.

Leo wisely didn’t comment on that part.

He knew she’d just vehemently deny it.

The real issue was what came next.

It was calm now because class was about to start.

But what about after?

They were already worried about how many students would swarm Aidan when the lecture ended.

That’s when Iona spoke in her usual blunt tone.

“...Still, I can’t blame them. Everyone wants to get stronger.”

Wanting to know the method—wanting the truth—who could blame them?

Leo and Tacy both agreed with that, too.

But there had to be limits.

Tacy twirled the end of one of her twin braids with a finger as she asked,

“So... Aidan. Is the rumor true?”

“Rumor?”

“That you secretly joined Professor Ludger’s research.”

“Oh... yeah. Sorry about that. I just really wanted to do it.”

“Don’t worry. We’re not mad. You wouldn’t have listened even if we told you not to.”

“Haha...”

“What we do want to know is—are the rumors true? That Professor Ludger’s research was real?”

“Uh... I mean, based on everyone’s reactions, yeah. It is.”

“I thought so.”

“But I really can’t say any more—”

“It’s fine. That’s enough.”

...Huh?

Aidan had expected them to ask more and was completely thrown off by the response.

Tacy narrowed her eyes at him.

“What, did you think we’d use our friendship to pressure you?”

“Uh, no, I mean... yeah. Sorry. I kinda did.”

“And what does that say about us?”

“I’m sorry.”

“Hmph. Since you apologized honestly, I’ll let it go this time. Not like you could talk about it anyway.”

“Yeah. I signed a confidentiality agreement.”

“Exactly. That’s why we’re not prying. If the research really succeeded, it’ll get published eventually. We’ll find out the results then. Not that those idiots still watching you seem to care about that.”

Hearing that, Aidan realized again how thoughtful his friends were being.

Leo muttered,

“What surprises me is that it just keeps coming. We haven’t even finished analyzing the framework we ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) received last time, and now there’s more. What was Ludger doing before he became a teacher?”

At this point, they should be used to being surprised.

But when it came to Ludger, that never seemed to happen.

There was always something new—always something more incredible.

To the point where they were scared to imagine what might come next.

‘There’s no way he’s just an ordinary teacher.’

Suspicion took root.

‘...I hate the idea of going through the Liberation Army, but... this time I have no choice.’

Ludger Cherish.

They had to investigate his background and family thoroughly.

Just then, the students seated by the window whispered to one another.

“Professor Ludger is coming!”

The man who owned this lecture hall—and currently, the hottest name in Seorn.

The moment the students heard he was on his way, they all sat up straight.

Then the back door opened, and Rine stepped in.

At the same time, Ludger entered through the main door.

‘...What? Why’s she coming in just now?’

Most students were too focused on Ludger’s entrance to notice Rine.

But not Flora Lumos.

Maybe she’d been paying attention to her for a while now, but she instantly noticed Rine entering at the exact same moment as Ludger.

‘What the... don’t tell me... did they come here together?’