I Became an Unknown Professor at the Academy

……Clack.

Lee Nayoung swallowed her saliva as she slowly walked towards her bed, where her bag was.

Ppiwuu, ppiwuu

A small, cute sound came from the open bag on the bed.

But every time she heard that tiny sound, Nayoung’s stomach and intestines ached. Where had this little one come from, and where had the ingredient she needed for today’s class gone?

“I, I should take my medication first…”

If she didn’t, she felt like she would just keep running to the bathroom without getting anything done, so Nayoung carefully stuck her hand into the bag.

-Ppiiee

“Uuuu.”

It was so cute the way it pouted and squirmed in its sleep. But her stomach hurt.

As her stomach started to cramp, Nayoung quickly took out the glass bottle of medication and backed away. She opened the cap and popped a small pill into her mouth, gulping it down.

“M, water.”

Because of budget constraints, the medication tasted bitter and astringent, with no added ingredients to improve the flavor. And because she had swallowed it hastily, she felt like the pill was stuck in her throat, making her even more anxious.

Clack.

Nayoung twisted the cap off the bottle of water she had taken from the refrigerator earlier and slowly drank to prevent indigestion. One gulp, two gulps, three gulps.

“Haa…”

As she drank the water, the pill that had been stuck in her throat finally went down, and the aching in her stomach quickly subsided. She had sacrificed flavor for effectiveness, and the medication worked quickly and lasted a long time.

As her rapidly beating heart calmed down, Nayoung approached her bed again, where the bag was.

-Ppiung… Ppiiee….

A tiny creature with fresh green hair like a midsummer forest and a pair of translucent wings that were barely visible.

“Where did it come from?”

The dormitory room had windows, but Nayoung didn’t remember ever opening them while Hana was out. After all, the weather was still chilly, and she didn’t feel the need to ventilate.

Plus, she only went out for lunch and dinner, four times over the weekend. And she had been fully conscious during those times.

“……Did the dalppuri root transform?”

If a creature this small had entered the room, she would have noticed. Moreover, it had been found in the pouch where she kept the ingredients she needed for today’s class.

Alchemy was a scientific field, but in a world where gates, monsters, awakened ones, and gods coexisted, there were many things that couldn’t be explained by science. So, it wasn’t unusual for something to change or transform.

“Uuuu…. Let’s take it out first.”

In front of her eyes was an adorable little creature, but what was more important was retrieving the dalppuri root she needed for her class in a few dozen minutes.

Fortunately, she had a spare in her personal locker at the main building of the Alchemy department, so she could just use that. First, she needed to take out the little one and pack her bag.

Sssswwiik.

Very carefully, she pulled out the pouch and placed it on the bed.

She took a moment to admire the cute little creature that was chirping like a chick without breaking, then closed the bag and packed her things.

‘Should I open the window a little…?’

Nayoung debated for a while but ultimately decided against it. The weather was still chilly, and the little one might want to go outside at some point. She could always open the window later if it wanted to go out.

‘I should ask Hana about it, just in case.’

Nayoung quietly took a picture of the fairy with her smartphone and attached it to an email to Hana.

[Nayoung: (photo) Hana, do you know anything about this little one? If you do, don’t worry, it’s on my bed.]

“I should get a reply by lunchtime…”

Hana was probably in her combat training class right now.

Nayoung put her phone away and quietly left the dormitory.

**

“Yes, everyone, good job. Starting from the front row, please come forward one by one and submit your samples. Oh, and don’t forget to attach the name tags.”

Following the professor’s instructions, Nayoung attached a name tag to her self-regeneration enhancement potion and went to the front of the class.

“Lee Nayoung, confirmed.”
“Yes, four.”

Nayoung returned to her seat and carefully packed the rest of her potions into her bag.

She had managed to get to the Alchemy department’s main building in time to retrieve the spare dalppuri root, and she was satisfied with the results of her class.

However, she wouldn’t be able to perfect the flavor of the potion she would be making in the afternoon’s class, where they were supposed to create their own recipes.

‘What a shame…’

With an empty wallet, she rarely had the luxury of adding flavor to her potions, and she had been looking forward to this opportunity to enhance the taste of the sedatives she had left, about 10 pills. But now, it seemed like she would have to take them as they were—bitter and astringent.

“Yes, everyone has submitted their samples. Now, please divide the five remaining samples among the enhancement students and get their evaluations by next week. I’ve uploaded the evaluation forms to the data room, so you can print them out and use them. And one last thing, just in case: don’t forget to submit your own samples, and don’t try to cheat by using your connections.”

After delivering his message, the professor gathered the submitted samples and left the classroom.

As soon as the professor left, the students started packing up and leaving one by one, and Nayoung was the last one to leave the classroom.

‘Oh, an email.’

She stopped at the corner of the hallway and took out her smartphone. She tapped the mail icon at the top.

[Hana: Ah, sorry!! I think it followed me… Did it do anything wrong?]

[Hana: Class is over! I’m heading back to the dormitory now. Are you coming? I’ll buy some food on the way!]

‘So, they know each other.’

Nayoung let out a small sigh as she put her phone away. It wasn’t a sigh of disappointment, but rather one of relief.

The fact that her good friend Hana was waiting for her in the dormitory and that she wouldn’t have to go to a crowded restaurant made Nayoung feel better.

Nayoung put her phone away and walked towards the dormitory with much lighter steps.

-It’s only the third week, and we already have so many assignments…
-If you wanted less work, you should have chosen a practical-oriented class.
-Yes, next weekend is the field trip.

Usually, she would have taken a less busy route to avoid people, but since Hana was waiting for her, she crossed the central street, bustling with classmates.

She walked with her eyes straight ahead to avoid bumping into anyone and arrived at the dormitory.

Hana’s shoes were by the entrance.

Nayoung quickly took off her shoes and went inside. She immediately spotted Hana sitting at the dining table.

-Ppyuung.

Along with the little one sleeping in her pouch.

“Welcome back.”
“Huh? Oh, uhh.”

Hana was unwrapping a chocolate bar and continued,

“I didn’t know what you liked, so I bought a bunch of things and put them in the fridge.”
“Ah, thanks.”

Nayoung sat down in front of Hana and couldn’t take her eyes off the tiny creature that was nibbling on the chocolate with its tiny mouth. It had been cute when it was asleep, but now, with its cheeks puffed out, it was indescribably adorable.

Nayoung finally made her way to the refrigerator and chose the salmon salad. She sat down at the table and started eating.

-Ppiiee?

“Uhh…”

Had the sound of the chair startled it?

The little one, who had been nibbling on the chocolate, looked at her with wide eyes.

-Ppiiee!!

Then, it hid behind Hana’s hand, peeking at her curiously.

“If you want to hide, you should hide the chocolate too.”

The little one, holding onto a piece of chocolate that was about the same size as its body, slowly poked its head out from behind Hana’s hand and started looking at Nayoung.

“M, mmm… I’ll eat in the bathroom……”
“Why would you eat in the bathroom?”
“Uhh…… That, that’s…”

Hana’s questioning look made Nayoung laugh awkwardly.

At her friend’s reaction, Baek Hana blinked briefly, then, using her hand as a wall, she poked her head out and gently stroked the head of the fairy who was peeking out to check on her friend.

“Don’t worry about it, just eat. I have to go out soon, and I’ll be taking this little one with me,” she said, petting the fairy’s head.

“Uh, okay…” Lee Nayoung replied.

Feeling an odd gaze upon her, Lee Nayoung started to pick at her salad. As she ate about half of it, the hidden fairy emerged again and began to munch on the chocolate.

“Hey, Hana,” Lee Nayoung said.

“Yeah?” Baek Hana looked up from unwrapping the last piece of chocolate.

Lee Nayoung reached into her bag, which she had placed on the floor, and took out a potion they had made during their recent practical session.

“This is a self-regeneration potion. Would you mind testing it for me and giving me your feedback?” she asked.

“Self-regeneration?” Baek Hana asked.

“Yeah. Depending on the individual, it should heal any cuts or wounds within a minute, leaving no scars,” she explained.

“Really?” Baek Hana sounded intrigued.

Lee Nayoung handed the potion to Baek Hana and continued, “But it uses up a lot of energy, so a light test will do.”

“Sure. Can I have one more, though?” Baek Hana asked.

“Yeah, that’s fine, as long as you give me the evaluation. Is it for Seo-hee?”

“No. There’s a guy in my combat class who’s been sparring with me a lot lately. I want to give it to him,” Baek Hana explained.

“Huh?” Nayoung was taken aback.

“I’ll definitely get the evaluation from him,” Baek Hana assured her.

“Oh, okay. Thanks,” Nayoung replied, sensing something odd but deciding not to press further since it was Baek Hana.

Lee Nayoung handed over another potion without asking any more questions.

“It looks like it would taste like grapes.”
“There aren’t any grapes in it, but it does taste like grapes.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. It should smell similar too. Go ahead and take a whiff.”

Ppok.

Baek Hana immediately opened the cap, and a sweet, ripe grape scent wafted up.

-Ppiiee?

At that moment, the fairy, who had been holding the last piece of chocolate in her hand, looked up. She sniffed with her tiny nose.

-Ppiiee!!

She flapped her sparkling wings and grabbed the potion bottle. Hana firmly closed the cap and said,

“No.”

-Ppiiee!!

“What’s not allowed is not allowed.”

-Ppi, ppiiee?!

Hana gently picked up the fairy and placed her on the table, and the fairy, sitting on the floor, looked up at Hana with a shocked expression.

“Don’t look at me with those pure eyes…”

-Ppi, ppiie.

“Uuuu….”

As tears welled up in the fairy’s innocent eyes, Hana groaned and glanced at Nayoung.

“Nayoung…”
“Just a moment.”

Nayoung took out a slightly smaller bottle of potion from her bag. It was a portion she had set aside for the afternoon’s class, where they would be creating their own recipes.

Ppok.

-Ppiiee?

As soon as Nayoung opened the potion, the fairy turned her head.

“Should I pour it into a cup?”
“You can just drink it straight.”
“The, then?”

Nayoung hesitantly held out the bottle towards the fairy, who was staring intently at the potion in her hand.

-Ppiya!!

“Uwaah.”

The fairy suddenly flew towards the bottle and brought her tiny mouth to the opening, surprising Nayoung. She slowly tilted the bottle, letting the fairy drink the contents without spilling a drop.

-Ppiang.

After emptying the bottle, the fairy burped cutely and licked her lips. She watched as Nayoung put the empty bottle back into her bag and then stared at her intently.

Hwaaaak―!!

“Huh, huh?”

Nayoung was startled by the sudden brightness around her and floundered for a moment. But soon, she realized the source of the light and curiously looked at the tiny creature.

The light that had illuminated the surroundings gradually diminished in size and turned into a small sphere, which the fairy held in her two hands and offered to Nayoung.

-Ppiya!

“Huh, me, are you giving this to me…?”

Nayoung was taken aback and looked up at Hana, who said,

“It’s a gift to ask to be friends.”
“F, friends?”

Hana nodded and added,

“It’s the most precious thing she can give. I don’t know exactly what it is, but I heard that if you eat it, you can accelerate your growth.”

-Ppiie.

The fairy’s expression turned slightly sullen.

“Take it quickly.”
“Uhh, uhh, yes.”

Nayoung reached out and took the sphere.

-Ppiiee!!

The fairy grinned and handed it over.

Nayoung looked back and forth between the sphere in her hand and the excited fairy, then asked Hana again,

“So, I, I just eat it?”
“You can eat it, or you can keep it. It’s up to you how you want to use it.”

Hana got up from her seat, and the fairy, grinning widely, flapped her wings and flew up.

“Huh?”

The fairy flew past Hana and approached the window between the two beds. She knocked on the window with her tiny hands.

-Ppiya. Ppiiee.

“……Are you going alone?”

Hana frowned and approached the window.

Puck, puck.

-Ppiang.

“It’s fine if you want me to take you there.”

But since they couldn’t communicate, Hana hesitated for a moment before slightly opening the window.

-Ppiya~!

The fairy didn’t look back and flew out through the opening Hana had made. Hana scratched her cheek and closed the window.

“Are you pouting…?”

Hana muttered to herself as she returned to the dining table and placed the potion Nayoung had given her on the bed before heading towards the front door.

“I’ll try the potion tomorrow.”
“Oh, yes.”
“See you at dinner.”

Clack, the sound of the door closing, and Hana left the room.

Alone, Nayoung looked back and forth between the glowing sphere in her hand and the adorable little one before cautiously putting the sphere into her mouth.

She had considered using it as an ingredient in a potion, but since she didn’t know what effect it would have and it didn’t seem like something she could easily obtain, she chose to consume it directly.

Gulp.

The moment it touched her tongue, the sphere slid down her throat.

It melted away before it even reached her throat, leaving no trace.

“……Huh?”

Nayoung unconsciously let out a sound.

The leaden weight in her body and the fog in her mind cleared up as if by magic. Her body felt incredibly light, and there were no prior signs of this change.

“……”

Nayoung blinked in surprise for a while before getting up from her seat and heading to the bathroom. She looked into the mirror.

The dark circles under her eyes made her look sickly, but the reflection in the mirror was of a completely different person.

Her eyes were clear, and her skin was glowing.

She also felt like she had matured overall.

“……Revolutionary.”

Nayoung couldn’t take her eyes off the mirror for a while.

**

“Hmm.”

In Baek Woo-jin’s study, Claire, who had taken his usual seat, was using her smart watch to read cooking recipes.

Normally, she would be taking care of the fairy at this time, but since the fairy was out, she had no work to do.

She couldn’t follow Baek Woo-jin, who had gone to meet the chief financial officer, so she decided to make good use of her time by learning some cooking skills, a field she lacked in.

Puck, puck.

“……?”

Claire, who had been reading the recipes, turned her head at the sound coming from behind her.

Puck, puck.

Puck, puck.

The fairy, who had gone out, was knocking on the window with her tiny hands.

Claire quickly got up from her seat and opened the window.

-Ppiya~!

The fairy flew into the room through the open window and immediately headed towards the bedroom. Claire closed the window and followed the fairy to the bedroom.

-Ppiiaang~

The fairy, who had entered her small nest, yawned widely and licked her lips a few times before closing her eyes and falling asleep. Soon, a cute chick-like sound came from the small basket.

“You’ve made a new friend, it seems.”

Claire smiled bitterly at the fairy’s diminished presence.

“If you expect me to be satisfied with just me, that’s too greedy.”

As the god she admired had said, the moment of parting would inevitably come.

It comes to everyone who is alive, without exception.

So, he had told her to make the most of every moment and create happy and enjoyable memories.

“In every moment we spend together…”

Claire stroked the fairy’s head a few times as she slept soundly and took out her smartphone from her pocket.

-Ppiwuung.

Claire didn’t finish her sentence.

Instead, she quietly filmed the fairy, who was pouting adorably.