I Became an Unknown Professor at the Academy

[Temple of Amusement]

“Haha, they must be grinding their teeth right now.”

Yesol, who had been watching the meeting disguised as a consultation with a chocolate-eating fairy, approached Claire.

“Are you leaving right away?”
“No.”

Claire shook her head in response to Yesol’s question and stood up from her seat.

The central chapel had been temporarily blocked for the meeting, but it couldn’t be blocked forever.

“Haha, it seems like Professor has another schedule.”
“…”

Yesol smiled calmly, even though others would be trembling with fear at the mere sight of her, and carefully followed her superior.

“You must have something to do.”
“I finished everything for the cute fairy yesterday. And…”

Yesol enjoyed her superior’s blunt reaction and approached Claire, saying, “Why don’t we have dinner together after a long time?”

“It’s not a very appealing offer.”
“Haha, I prepared some fruit cereal.”
“Bring it to my room.”
“Yes~ I’ll prepare it and visit you when it’s ready.”

Claire’s mind briefly flashed to Maria and Edyn’s relationship as she watched her subordinate’s characteristic smirk and climbed the stairs.

‘…Maybe a slap or two would be fine.’

If she controlled her strength, it might be okay.

“…”

Yesol, who had been smiling brightly, suddenly shuddered and moved away from Claire.

“Executor…”
“What is it?”
“I just wanted to remind you that my physical abilities are no different from an ordinary person…”
“…”

Claire clicked her tongue, seemingly disappointed that she couldn’t hide her true feelings.

Yesol breathed a sigh of relief, grateful for the sudden warning.

“Then I’ll see you later.”

Claire watched Yesol and the fairy walk away and then climbed the stairs again.

Click.

She opened the door at the end of the stairs and entered the room, which was clean and dust-free despite not having been visited in a long time. She shook off her annoyance towards her subordinate and looked around.

A bookshelf that matched her height.

A chair and table next to it.

A door leading to the bathroom and a dressing table next to it, with only two combs on top.

And beyond that, a wardrobe and a full-length mirror…

Her face turned red.

-Your traces…

“Ugh…”

Claire couldn’t bear the embarrassment as the memories of that day naturally came to mind, and she knelt in front of the bed.

“…”

Claire slowly turned her head to the side, her face still buried in the bed.

Her heart, which had been pounding, calmed down, and her flushed face returned to its original color.

‘Is he really… leaving?’

Last summer, she had said that her time with them wouldn’t be long.

Maybe even less than five years.

That day, I had answered.

It’s okay, so please accept my feelings.

‘It can’t be okay.’

The thought of not being able to see that person right now made her heart ache and her hands and feet cold.

But.

‘…It has to be okay.’

No, at least not in front of that person.

I can’t show it, but…

Every time I see that person writing something in the study, I feel anxious. What if it’s a farewell letter?

Every time I wake up and don’t feel that person’s warmth, I feel afraid. What if he suddenly disappeared as he had appeared?

Day after day, month after month, year after year, I wake up and fall asleep with these feelings hidden. And sometimes I think.

If small traces make that person turn back, what if I leave a big trace so that they can’t leave?

.

.

.

Knock, knock, knock.

“Executor, may I come in?”

Did I fall asleep for a moment?

Claire, who had been lying on the bed, woke up at the sound of her subordinate’s voice and got up.

“Come in.”

Click.

Yesol, holding a small tray with one hand, entered the room wearing a cute fur coat.

“You can use the chair. This is enough for me.”
“Haha, then there’s no point in eating together…”

Claire sighed as her subordinate rejected her offer and sat down next to her, bringing the tray with her.

Crunch, crunch.

-Colorful!!

“What color is this?”

-Red!!

“What about this one?”

-Crunch?

“Haha, that’s right.”

Yesol skillfully praised the fairy and gave her a few pieces of cereal from her bowl.

“Every time I eat this, I think it’s a flavor that kids would love.”
“Are you saying my taste is like a kid’s?”
“Of course not.”

Yesol smiled slightly, contrary to her words, and ate the cereal, while Claire glared at her subordinate with a slightly annoyed look and also tasted the cereal after a long time.

Crunch, crunch.

As they chewed the crispy cereal, which hadn’t yet absorbed the milk, a sweet taste spread across their tongues, along with a subtle fruit scent, gradually soothing their sharp nerves.

“It’s been nine years already.”

Claire didn’t answer and quietly savored the cereal.

“Haha, the first time I heard that person’s voice, my heart fluttered, and my face turned red. Fortunately, I was able to calm down while changing cute Hana’s clothes.”
“…”

Claire, who had been quietly savoring the cereal, narrowed her eyes and glared at her subordinate.

“To be honest, at that time, I was even considering transferring to another branch. It was already challenging to serve the Executor, who values principles above all else, and at that time, that person made everyone, including me, afraid with their overwhelming presence.” “Did you want to transfer?”
“I wanted to, but I couldn’t leave the cute kids behind.”

Maria and Edyn.

All the apprentice children currently attending the Academy were taken care of and raised by Yesol and the priests here, so it was natural that they felt a special affection for them.

“Haha, and now I’m very satisfied with my choice.”

Claire glared at Yesol, who was leaning against her and smiling slyly, and then turned her head back to focus on her cereal.

“But not only has the Executor changed a lot, but that person seems to have changed as well.” “…”

That person, who always had business-like conversations, sometimes… no, often made her feel awkward with their mischievous actions and words.

“Before, he used to pay a little attention to the kids for Hana’s sake, but recently, he seems to genuinely care about them.”
“Hmm.”

Claire nodded as she scooped more cereal into her bowl.

She had also noticed this recent change.

“Maria said that during her consultation with that person, they kindly said, ‘If you ever need my help, please let me know.’ To be honest, I was a little surprised. That person, who always spoke strictly, used such a gentle tone.”

Yesol put down her spoon and continued, “Edyn was even more affected. That person patted her head and even tied her hair for her.”
“That’s why she’s been wearing her hair tied up recently.”
“Yes. She’s a very lovable child.”

The old me wouldn’t have been able to relate to this conversation.

“They’re all lovable children.”

But just as that person had changed, I had also changed in many ways.

After a few more words of small talk, the meal came to an end.

“Executor.”
“What is it?”

Claire, who was about to put on her coat to return to the mansion, turned around.

Yesol, who had been putting the empty bowls on the tray, asked with a serious expression, “I don’t know if it will help, but if you have any worries, I can be your confidant.”
“…”

Claire looked at Yesol for a moment, then turned away and clicked her tongue. Yesol’s eyes twitched slightly.

“Haha, it seems like you have a love-related worry with that person.”

Claire’s left eye twitched slightly.

At that moment, Yesol’s mischievous nature, which had earned her the nickname ‘Teaser’, sparked.

She approached her superior, whispered something in her ear, and…

SLAP!

She lost consciousness as a sharp pain struck her back.

.

.

.

After the lecture, I had a consultation with Yoon Iseul regarding the head of the disciplinary committee. It was a one-sided communication where I made suggestions and Yoon Iseul had to accept them.

‘Is it going to rain again?’

The clear sky from the morning had become cloudy, obscuring the sun.

‘I hope it rains for a while.’

I quite like the sound of rain.

As I looked up at the cloudy sky, I heard Claire’s voice behind me.

“Professor.”

I turned around as I was about to enter the maze, and saw Claire approaching me, wearing a thin coat instead of her usual coat.

“Fairy.”
“I, I left her with Yesol… because she didn’t want to be separated from her…”

I could easily tell that she was lying to me, as her gaze was slightly off compared to usual.

“Is that so?”
“Yes.”

I held her hand.

Hmm!

Her body temperature was higher than usual, and I could feel it through her hand.

‘She must have heard something from Yesol.’

I was curious about what it was, but I didn’t want to make her feel uncomfortable, so I didn’t ask. Instead, I walked with her towards the mansion.

Click.

I opened the front door and stepped inside.

And just as I was about to change my shoes, I heard her voice.

“W, Woo-jin…”

She grabbed my hand tightly and leaned into my embrace.

“I, I…”

And then she looked like she was about to cry, her small lips trembling.

“I, I’m sorry.”