'Done....'
Writing the thesis, which had become my only hobby (?) here.
The moment I was writing, I could forget that my life was in imminent danger.
It was a fairly decent hobby and an exit strategy.
'Is it because there is no pressure? It is not bad.'
The manuscript, now finished with proofreading, is at a fairly decent level.
The readability wasn't bad, and it was fun enough to make one forget the formality of a thesis.
Enough to make me think I wouldn't lag behind even if I serialized it right away.
Of course, that would be a huge delusion.
Even when I first wrote this Academy's Genius Scoundrel, I used to imagine easily getting paid monetization and having ten million won plugged into my account every month.
But the reality was 'Yeah, no.'
Forget ten million won a month, I couldn't even get paid monetization.
It would probably be similar if I serialized this in reality.
'Still, if it is for Academic Achievement, this is sufficient.'
I organized the manuscript well, put it in an envelope, and firmly pressed the seal that had undergone magical processing.
With this, they won't be able to oust me from Glasco using academic performance as an excuse.
The big topic thrown into academia right now is the combat aspect of demons, and although it is my imagination, it is faithfully described in this thesis.
In the first place, this worldview was born in my head and from my fingertips, so there are no errors in historical evidence.
I resolved one obstacle.
On a day like this, I should raise a toast.
"Rit. Send this thesis to the academic conference. And...."
I was about to bring up the topic of having a staff dinner.
'No. Even if affection is over 100, where is the teaching assistant who likes a professor dragging them to a dinner? Right. Let's drink alone.'
I swallowed the words back down at the realization that suddenly came to mind.
"After that, you may get off work."
What a considerate professor.
I was proud of myself.
[Affection with 'Rit' has decreased. -3]
No, why did this drop?
***
'Professor Lucas appears at Kailon Hall every dawn.'
After the incident a while ago, the usage of Kailon Hall had dropped significantly, no, to a level where one could say it was completely nonexistent.
However, there was a single exception, and that was Lucas.
He appears here around five in the morning.
The reason Jesse is at the entrance of Kailon Hall is to meet Lucas.
Around 5 o'clock.
A single silhouette is seen in the distance.
"What are you doing here?"
As known, Professor Lucas arrived in front of Kailon Hall at the set time.
It felt like his chilly presence overwhelmed my entire body.
However, there was something I wanted to ask.
"I was waiting because I had something to ask you, Professor."
"...."
"The Trionic Sw... that you showed me."
"I definitely would have told you that the kindness I can show you ends there."
That is correct.
Clearly, after the demonstration, Professor Lucas drew a firm line saying that was the limit of the kindness he could bestow.
But there was a problem for which I had to seek an answer.
...Why is he able to implement the Trionic Sword, the family's secret technique, so perfectly?
How could he wield the first form more perfectly than myself, the successor of the Athlon family?
What on earth must I do to reach that?
I wanted to ask Lucas, who was in front of my eyes.
But I could not open my mouth.
At that moment, Lucas's mouth opened.
***
'...Why is he doing that over there?'
Kailon Hall, which I visited for daily training.
A silhouette stands at that entrance.
Regardless of the darkness, the existence is clearly visible thanks to the effect of Vision Enhancement.
Jesse Athlon.
It is a shape that looks like he is waiting for someone no matter who looks at it.
And that would probably be me.
In the first place, I am the only person using this Kailon Hall right now.
"What are you doing here?"
"I was waiting because I had something to ask you, Professor."
"...."
"The Trionic Sw... that you showed me."
Before he could say anything more, I hurriedly cut him off.
"I definitely would have told you that the kindness I can show you ends there."
His question is obvious as if visible to the eye.
How can I demonstrate the Trionic Sword, which is his family's secret technique?
What is a secret technique?
It is a secret technique because it is secretly transmitted within the family.
Essentially, the reason I knew of the Trionic Sword's existence is because I wrote the setting called Trionic Sword, and the reason I could use it is merely the effect of a skill.
How could I tell him these facts?
Even if I told him, would he accept it?
No, I have no choice but to keep my mouth shut.
At my cold answer, Jesse bit his lip.
However, I know he is not a guy who will give up meekly.
And the most important thing is that Jesse Athlon becomes the trickiest villain in the Glasco invasion.
There is no need to plant ill feelings for no reason.
"If I happen to bestow teachings upon you next time, I will give you the answer to your question then."
I left him a strand of hope.
Of course, such a thing will not happen.
***
"Let's see, the next thesis is... Oh, Lucas von Kraus. Isn't he the famous 'Hero of the Eastern Front'."
He discovered a familiar name among the pile of theses and reached out his hand.
A thesis titled 'Combat Aspects with Demons as Seen through the Situation of the Eastern Front' written in stylish handwriting.
In the first place, he did not have high expectations.
The prestige of 'Hero of the Eastern Front' is just a prestige; it hasn't been proven.
Although there was a video that became a hot topic recently, he thought there was exaggeration in that video.
Even assuming it was real, how could he, who is 'practical combat type' no matter who looks at him, receive attention among these prominent theses?
He turned the first page of the thesis with the intention to laugh loudly.
'Hmm, well. The start isn't bad.'
Since the arguments penetrating the thesis are based on actual combat, my eyes are drawn to it.
Flip-
It reads more smoothly than expected.
The organization of data is neat, and the grounds for the thesis likewise leave no room for refutation.
The data comparing theory and reality is also flawless.
Flip-
'Hmm....'
Flip-
Flip-
The speed of turning pages gradually becomes faster.
His posture straightens, and his eyes rapidly chase the next paragraph.
"Professor Belkyr, what is it? What's wrong?"
"...."
However, he was only turning pages without giving any particular answer.
Naturally, the gazes of the committee members with him are drawn to him.
The title held in that hand and the author's name stand out.
"Lucas? Ah, the protagonist of that video that's a hot topic these days? Well, I guess there is something interesting?"
"...."
There is no returning answer.
The curiosity of the members who were slowly reviewing other theses began to reach its peak.
Flip-!
As the last page turned, Professor Belkyr revealed a blank expression.
"Look here, Belkyr. Just how is that thesis for you to act like that? Here, let me see it once too."
"W-Wait."
He turned his body away as if afraid the thesis held in his hand would be snatched.
"J-Just once. I will read it just one more time."
And then he began to read the thesis intensively from the beginning again.
This time, the speed of pages turning was slow.
It wasn't that his interest had dropped.
'I must not miss a single letter!'
Rather, he was cramming each letter, one by one, into his eyes until they turned red.
***
"Professor, it is a summons from the Vice-Chancellor."
"What is the matter?"
"Shall I check what the matter is?"
"No, never mind. I will go personally."
I tidied up my clothes and headed to the Vice-Chancellor's office.
When I opened the door, professors of the combat department were gathered in groups of twos and threes.
"Oh, Professor Lucas. You've come!"
"Everyone was gathered."
"Now, now. Sit for now."
Ronald offered a seat.
His secretary quickly brought out tea.
The gazes focused on me... are burdensome.
"I heard you were looking for me."
"Ahem, so, I saw the thesis you submitted to the academic conference."
"Is that so?"
"That, how should I say it...."
"It was amazing."
Professor Michern took over Ronald's words.
As if he didn't care about Ronald's glare, he spoke with fervor while spitting as he talked.
"It was an incredibly fresh approach. I couldn't even imagine approaching it from such a perspective. This all comes from experience...."
I am thankful that the scholarly Michern looks favorably upon my thesis.
But how is that related to the reason they called me?
"Professor Michern, calm down. Professor Lucas is bewildered."
"Ah, I got excited. I apologize."
"...So what is the business for which you sought me?"
This seat is quite uncomfortable.
Because the identity of the demons not yet revealed bothers me.
Since they could be here, my nerves have no choice but to be sharply on edge.
"It is nothing else, but the academic conference saw your thesis and formally invited you. They requested a lecture regarding the 'Combat Aspects with Demons as Seen through the Situation of the Eastern Front' that you published. It seems it caused a stir even at the conference. Hahaha!"
"I understand."
I answered plainly and hurriedly stood up.
The mysterious, sticky gaze I felt from earlier makes me dizzy.
***
-It seems your plan has turned into bubbles again?
-Not yet.
Until now, it is within the range I can control.
He spoke leisurely, but truthfully, this was a huge variable.
However, if he let such a fact out of his mouth, Orpega would not let him live.
He had to bring up even a desperate measure.
-When Professor Lucas leaves Glasco for a moment, I will aim for that time.
-Even if he is absent, Glasco's barrier is solid.
-It is not a full-scale invasion.
The full-scale grand undertaking is two years later.
I intend to plant a seed for that time.
-A seed, you say.
-That is correct.
Among the freshmen who entered this time, there is one with the best qualities.
Orpega could easily recall that name.
-Jesse Athlon.
-Yes, that is correct.
He was not chosen by Professor Lucas.
And rumor has it that on the first day of class, there was some disturbance in that lecture.
-What disturbance?
-...I cannot know the details.
Rit was also not at the scene, and Lucas issued a gag order on that incident.
However, Jesse Athlon must certainly be harboring hatred toward Professor Lucas.
It is the perfect state to plant a 'seed'.
-Right, so you will use Jesse Athlon as a puppet?
-That is correct.
-...It is not a bad plan.
You won't disappoint me this time, right?
-I will not disappoint you.
***
'Ah... I'm screwed.'
Although I spoke plainly and stormed out of the seat, that was strictly due to the intuition that I had to avoid that place quickly.
Of course, the lecture itself is a huge opportunity.
Because it is an opportunity to engrave a mark on the high-level strongmen who will gather at the lecture.
However, a huge obstacle exists.
That is- the 'Demonstration' which is an essential element in a lecture.
I cannot guarantee that I can deceive their eyes with skills copied through 'Teaching and Learning Grow Together'.
It was a moment where I needed my own originality.
And in this worldview, originality was synonymous with Aura.
The problem is that I do not know how to use Aura.
Even if I can copy it with 'Teaching and Learning Grow Together', that cannot become my originality.
Aura is bound to be imbued with unique characteristics.
It might work on students, but it is unreasonable to deceive their eyes.
'It is not like there is no way.'
The first item in the Tier 3 section of the Gold Shop is exactly-
-Aura 100,000G
If the limit of the 'Special Coupon' obtained previously had been up to Tier 3, I would have chosen it without hesitation.
But the limit of the 'Special Coupon' was Tier 2, and this Aura had no choice but to exist as a pie in the sky.
Even if I want to buy it, the large sum of 100,000 Gold does not exist for me.
The total gold gathered so far is 77,200 Gold, which falls far short of 100,000 Gold.
'Couldn't I get it from a draw ticket?'
It is reckless, but it was an idea with enough possibility.
Just like how I pulled Teaching and Learning Grow Together at first, couldn't I just dump all stats into luck and pull?
'Right, that is the only way.'
My hand goes to the point conversion in the Gold Shop.
If I convert the nearly 80,000 gold all into points, and dump all the points that have accumulated to overflowing levels into luck.
It is a crazy thought no matter who looks at it, but it wasn't a situation where I could make a rational judgment.
At that moment.
[A new notification has arrived.]
[Teray has donated 300G.]
[n7988_mohini1526 has donated 100G.]
[n7988_mohini1526 has donated 100G.]
[n7988_mohini1526 has donated 100G.]
[Urul has donated 3,000G.]
[vomuc has donated 500G.]
[vomuc has donated 500G.]
[safe has donated 1,000G.]
[safe has donated 100G.]
[Astore has donated 500G.]
[Astore has donated 500G.]
[k2929 has donated 100G.]
[ChiuGunHwang has donated 100G.]
[Dkdis has donated 100G.]
[Arshel has donated 300G.]
[YeonchamBaragi has donated 500G.]
[Mujangryong has donated 10,000G.]
[SantaDoesntExist has donated 100G.]
[Astore has donated 3,000G.]
The donation window densely fills my vision.
A total of 20,900G in donations brought me to my senses.
...
...
I almost got done in by this shitty game.
I must not overlook the fact that the foundation of this system is a money-crazed shitty game comparable to the 3N.
This was a huge trap.
The moment I let my guard down, I fell into the pit of ruin.
Fortunately, I was able to stop right before doing something crazy.
Above all, the gold that was far lacking has approached the figure of 100,000 thanks to the donations just now.
A slight hope began to appear.
'The remainder is about 2,000 Gold.
....
....'
It is certainly a large amount.
But compared to 20,000 Gold, it was definitely an amount with possibility.
Suddenly, I recalled a comment left on Rit's donation reaction last time.
-Passing the reaction to the assistant, as expected the professor doesn't know the human heart...
-I want to see the professor dance.
The only breakthrough is visible.
I lifted my two hands and reached towards the back of my head.
'....'
I almost made a mistake.
It was a line I should not cross.
I am the protagonist.
So, I should not beg for my life in this way.
It might give immediate pleasure to the readers.
However, such an act will only become a minus element when viewed in the long term.
I corrected my posture.
Smack-
I slapped both my cheeks with all my strength.
My mind cleared up.
'Do not forget. I am the protagonist. I am not an extra neglected on the other side of the story.'
I opened my eyes wide.
"I am, Lucas."