I Became an Unknown Professor at the Academy

On the way back to the mansion.

Although it had only been about a month, the freshmen now seemed well-adapted to the academy, walking in pairs and enjoying the warm spring weather.

‘They still have some leeway.’

But after the academic year evaluation in May, when more detailed data comes out, they will be busier than ever. Even if not, they will gradually reduce their leisure time on their own.

Rank, first and second place.

As a place that encourages students and professors to duel, there were special benefits given only to students with high ranks.

However, the academy also supports those who consistently and steadily improve, even if they don’t aim for the top ranks.

There’s no need to climb up the ranks. Of course, if one’s rank improves, the range of choices will expand a little. But even if one doesn’t improve their rank, as long as they show sufficient effort by fixing or compensating for the areas that were pointed out in the previous evaluation, the academy provides them with quite useful elixirs.

Since the same elixirs are provided to all students except the top two of each grade, there is no gap created due to this. On the other hand, if one doesn’t put in the effort, their rank can plummet in an instant.

-Let’s hurry, it’s about to start.
-We still have 30 minutes left, you know?
-We need to buy popcorn!

Perhaps because they couldn’t go outside, the students were quickly making their way towards the center of the campus, where the convenience and recreational facilities were located.

‘…I guess I need to start reducing the frequency of her visits home.’

I had no intention of forcing her, but if possible, I wanted her to form various connections. Even if they turned out to be bad connections, I wanted her to experience a lot, grow stronger, and become resilient enough to stand on her own without needing my support.

As we walked, the bustling atmosphere gradually faded away, and the sound of leaves rustling in the spring breeze replaced the voices of people.

I walked through the maze of white flowers that never withered and opened the door to the mansion.

‘She hasn’t burned anything yet.’

I could sense Claire’s magic in the kitchen. Although there was still quite some time until dinner, she needed all the time she could get to improve.

“You’re back?”

-Pii?

I changed my shoes and was about to head to the study when Baek Hana poked her head out of her room, with the little troublemaker on top of her head.

“Yeah.”
“I thought you’d be later.”

If I had gone out with Yoon Do-sik after the incident in the gate, I would have returned at least two hours later. But,

“It ended quickly.”
“I see.”

She had been waiting for me, even sending me emails asking when I would be back.

I walked past the grinning Baek Hana and headed to the study. She quietly followed me and sat on my lap as I sat down.

To avoid disturbing Claire, who was probably still concentrating, I didn’t bother going to the kitchen and went straight to the study. Baek Hana leaned comfortably against my chest and opened the book she was holding on top of me.

It was the textbook Claire had used to teach Baek Hana how to read, and now it was a textbook for the little troublemaker on her head.

“Okay, get down.”

She no longer asks for permission and does what she wants. She has definitely been spoiled too much. Well, the main reason I knew she wouldn’t bother Claire was probably because she would have asked me before coming to the study if she had other things to do.

Unlike me, who still didn’t know much about her, this little girl seemed to be gradually getting to know me better as she grew up.

-Papi pupupu~

“Are you doing that on purpose?”

-Pupu pupu~

From the little one’s mouth came a monotonous sound that didn’t deviate from a certain template, even as Baek Hana pointed to the letters.

“You’re clearly just messing around…”

-Pii?

Baek Hana lowered her posture slightly and gently rubbed the fairy’s cheek with her index finger.

“She seems to understand simple words now, but why can’t she speak yet…”

I looked at the little one with emerald green eyes.

As Baek Hana said, the little one probably understood the meanings of simple words by now. After all, she was curious and a fast learner. Moreover, fairies were not foolish creatures.

“Eit, eit.”

-Ppyong!

The fairy flopped onto the floor and started wriggling as Baek Hana’s finger tickled her side.

However, the reason why she couldn’t produce anything beyond a chick-like sound, apart from the different communication system, was also due to her physical structure.

‘It will be resolved as she grows bigger.’

In the past, Oberon had communicated with humans. If she could fully mature, Baek Hana’s wish would come true.

-Pii, pii aaah!

Unable to withstand Baek Hana’s tickling, the little one flapped her wings and flew out of the study. She was probably going to Claire.

‘Hmm.’

Since she had watched Claire’s failures with me several times, she would probably just quietly observe from a distance without interfering. Or maybe she would just eat the cookies on the table.

Swoosh.

As I lowered my head due to the weight on my chest, I found myself face-to-face with Baek Hana’s sky-blue eyes.

“What did you do today?”
“It’s none of your business.”
“Tsk.”

It wasn’t a big deal, but rules were rules.

‘…I wonder if I conveyed it properly.’

Jaiden and Lee Hyuk had already decided on the people they would cut from the list, and I had asked them to submit the list to see their approximate abilities.

The list I gave to Choi Min-sik also had spots left open for those who would be cut.

They had already discussed the general outline, so Choi Min-sik just needed to meet them, make some minor adjustments, and sign the contracts.

“Hmm…”

A small gust of breath tickled my chin.

Baek Hana’s eyes were half-lidded.

“Do you have something to say?”
“……”

She looked up at me silently for a while, speechless.

-Prick.

Suddenly, she brought out her animal ears and tail.

The white tail that poked out of her pants landed on the back of my hand, which was resting on the armrest.

“……Do you want to touch it?”

And then she spoke in an incomprehensible language.

“Are you asking me to touch it?”
“Yes, it’s fine. You can touch it.”

It’s fine to touch it? I didn’t understand what she meant.

Then she pouted her lips. What a hateful lip.

“……You look unhappy.”
“I am.”
“……Yeah.”

The first thought that came to mind was a question. What part of me made her think that?

I touched my lips, which were in their usual state, neither upturned nor downturned, just to make sure.

“It’s just, it’s just… you felt that way.”
“A feeling.”

A feeling, huh.

“Well, um… it’s like, the scent or something felt a little heavier than usual…”

As she rambled on, the white ears that had been perked up on her head folded in half.

‘I don’t know.’

I had been quite emotional in the conference room, but I had left all that behind after the meeting. Later, I met Yoon Do-sik and gave Kim Sung-won a little warning, but that was it.

But if she felt that way, then there must be something wrong with me.

Just as I was sensitive to her, this physically grown-up little girl was also sensitive to me.

Swoosh,

“……?!”

The moment I lightly touched her tail with my hand, her back straightened.

“Woo-jin?”
“Didn’t you tell me to touch it?”

The head that had been raised to look at me gradually lowered, and her hands, which had been on the desk, were now respectfully placed on my knees.

“It’s soft.”

“Uh, uh, yeah.”

The white fur, like her hair, was softer than anything I had ever touched.

“It’s softer than anything I’ve ever touched.”
“Tha, tha, that’s… right…”

Flap, flap!

The ears that had been folded in half quickly unfolded and folded again.

“If, if, if Woo-jin wants… um, you can touch it whenever you want…”
“I’ll remember that.”
“……Yeah.”

I stroked her tail a couple of times and then stopped.

“You, you can touch it more if you want……”

Baek Hana, who had been bowing her head, slowly raised her chin and looked up at me again.

“That’s enough.”
“Oh, okay……”

The freed tail swayed and caressed my thighs.

And then, silence.

Baek Hana sat on my lap, just swaying her tail. As if she wanted me to touch it some more.

But if I kept touching it, I felt like I would end up stroking it forever, so I needed to exercise some self-control.

“Ugh……”

After keeping quiet for a while, she fiddled with her fingers that were on my knees and said,

“Is there, is there anything else you want me to do for you…?”
“Hmm.”

There were many things I wanted, but those weren’t things that could be granted just because I asked her for them.

“Ah, like a massage or something, that’s fine too… yeah…”

I reached out and picked her up, who had been hunching her back and bowing her head.

“Huh?”

Then I put her on top of the textbook and sat her down so that we could face each other. Baek Hana just stared at me in surprise, unable to say anything.

I called her name.

“Baek Hana.”
“Y-yes?!”

The formality she used when she was nervous slipped out.

With her eyes wide open, she looked up at me, and I reached out and stroked her hair, just as I had always done.

“Having you by my side is enough.”
“Uh, uh, eh……”

A crimson blush bloomed on her pale face. Meaningless words spilled out from her parted lips.

“U, uhi……”

Soon, the blush spread across her face, and she grinned foolishly. That smile reminded me of one I had seen before.

On the night of the full moon.

The foolish smile she had shown me when she was exhausted from the aftermath of her awakening.

The smile she had wanted to show only to me.

My hand, which had been on her head, slowly moved down to touch her flushed cheek, when,

-Boom!

“Ahh?!”

Startled by the loud noise coming from the slightly open door, Baek Hana turned her head.

I clenched my hand, which had been outstretched in the air, and said,

“I need to go and check.”
“Yeah, you should. Sister!!”

Baek Hana jumped down from the desk and ran towards the kitchen.

“……”

I clenched my hand.

It seemed like this damn body had a problem.