Academy’s Undercover Professor Chapter 347

"Professor, is Rine okay?"

Erendir, who followed Rudger all the way to the infirmary, asked with concern.

"She's fine."

"But why did she suddenly collapse..."

"It's probably because of the magical beast. You felt it too, right?"

"Yes. Everyone was shocked because of that peculiar magical beast."

"So of the newly born magical beasts have rather sensitive aspects. They unknowingly consu excessive mana from their owners. Rine fainted because of that."

Erendir wanted to ask if that was the only reason, but the question didn't co out of her mouth.

Rudger's serious expression didn't allow for such questions.

"Erendir, I understand your concern for your junior, but you should go now. Don't you have classes to attend?"

"But..."

"Leave this to here. I have plenty of ti, so I can take care of Rine."

"...There's no need for a teacher to do it."

"This is what happened in my class. If I don't do it, who will?"

In the end, Erendir had no choice but to leave the ward, acknowledging Rudger's words.

Rudger silently watched over Rine, who was sound asleep on the bed.

-Why are you showing guilt?

Those were Rine's last words before she collapsed.

It made Rudger's emotions beco complicated.

'just for a mont, the sealing magic was pierced, and the energy inside the judgnt eye exploded exponentially.'

Rudger had read such contents in the literature.

The judgnt eye sees the true nature of a person.

However, the abilities of the judgnt eye could not be defined in just one line.

The judgnt eye was a mysterious power that allowed certain existences to awaken as saints.

That power distinguished between good and evil, sought hidden darkness, and expelled what was impure.

The first power of the judgnt eye.

The eye that discerned what was impure.

Rine's ability to distinguish whether soone had malicious intentions or posed a threat was thanks to this fundantal ability.

Likewise, her ability to approach Erendir or Rudger without hesitation was because the judgnt eye didn't send any danger signals.

The problem was the new characteristics that erged as this power grew stronger.

'It can read emotions'

No deceptive existence could hide its true nature in front of the judgnt eye.

The judgnt eye saw through the evil and distinguished their lies.

There is a difference between reading thoughts and reading emotions.

However, it was easy to tell if soone was hostile or harbored so kind of ill intent.

Rine asking Rudger why he felt guilt was due to the strengthened abilities of the judgnt eye.

'Why did it suddenly beco stronger? I even used sealing magic to suppress that power.'

The biggest reason was undoubtedly that magical beast.

The mysterious magical beast that had no records in any literature until now.

It manifested so kind of power, and because of that, Rine's judgnt eye, even if only montarily, explosively grew stronger.

'But it's strange. Rine's non-attribute mana and the judgnt eye are clearly separate things.'

There have been no stories of previous owners of the judgnt eye possessing non-attribute mana.

Conversely, those who possessed non-attribute mana did not possess the judgnt eye.

In a way, Rine was a malford child of an era where these two peculiar cases rged into one.

There has never been one before, and there will never be another in the future.

She was a unique existence.

'With existing knowledge, it's impossible to make a reckless judgnt.'

If anyone knew this fact, they would think that Rine had been blessed.

Possessing two exceptional talents that others cannot have would be an object of envy to those who don't possess them.

However, Rudger knows that it is neither a blessing nor a gift.

Unwanted power is nothing less than a curse.

Just like he can hear the voices of the gods.

Rine, too, would have endured a lot of suffering, even though she didn't express it outwardly.

'Non-attribute mana. I must find a solution for that at least.'

Non-attribute mana is a rare type of mana with unknown properties in the world.

Rudger searched through nurous books and papers, but he still couldn't figure out exactly what kind of mana it was.

However, one thing he could be certain of is that non-attribute mana consus the user's life force.

Kwak!

Power naturally surged into Rudger's fist.

The previous owners of non-attribute mana ultimately couldn't withstand their own mana and died.

The scene of that day is still vivid in his mind.

'Even so, I thought I had enough ti.'

The owner of non-attribute mana can hardly surpass the age of 25, no matter how long they live.

As ti passes, the mana becos stronger, but the body cannot endure it.

The mana that gradually becos more powerful is poison to the body.

If it cannot be expelled, that person's life gradually heads towards its end.

'I thought Rine had several more years considering her age.'

Rine's progress was faster than expected.

Could it be because of the book he gave her about non-attribute mana?

Or was it due to the unique synergy between the judgnt eye and the magical beast?

'This magical beast ford by non-attribute mana is unlike anything I've ever witnessed.'

Until Rine unleashed her power, her judgnt eye had remained stagnant.

It was truly a total crisis.

'In the end, should I contact him?'

There was one person they had been pretending not to know each other.

It's not that he avoids eting him personally, but if he had to choose between liking or disliking, he would lean towards the latter.

He was Rine's magic teacher, whom Rudger entrusted her to after erasing her mories.

'If we only consider skill, he could easily beco one of Owens' as an executive.'

However, Rudger didn't call him because of their relationship.

Rine's magic teacher despised Rudger deeply.

Just like dealing with a bitter enemy.

Rudger knew the reason, so after leaving Rine with him, he didn't interfere or even make contact.

There was also the fact that he didn't have the qualification to do so, but it was also because the person couldn't stand him to the point of having seizures.

It was only natural considering what happened between them in the past.

However, regarding the study of non-attribute mana, the two of them had a shared goal, so he must has been diligently researching during the past years.

There must be so results.

'Co to think of it, that guy had his own problems too. I told him to take care of her properly, but he just sent her to Seron?'

Rudger beca annoyed with him, but he couldn't help it.

'That stupid guy. He probably acted all serious on the outside, but if Rine pleaded with him desperately, he wouldn't have been able to refuse.'

Rudger understood what kind of person he was, so he couldn't completely understand why Rine had co to Seron.

'He may co across as useless, but he's likely been far from idle. While his character may be questionable, his skills are truly remarkable.'

When considering only skill, he could rival Owens' executives.

Rudger even went so far as to think about a code na assuming that he might join U.N. Owen.

'If only the relationship between him and had been a little better.'

His code na would have been 'Goethe'.

"Hmm."

At that mont, Rine, who was lying down, groaned and opened her eyes.

* * *

Rine was taken aback.

She opened her eyes to find herself in a hospital room?

She couldn't recall when she had lost consciousness.

What surprised her even more was that the person who had been taking care of her by her side was Rudger.

"Mr.Rudger?! Why are you here?!"

"Don't you rember? You collapsed during the lesson, and I brought you here. Don't you have sothing to say first."

"Uh, thank you?"

"Yes."

"Well, I appreciate it, but you don't have to keep waiting here."

"What happened during my class is my responsibility as the teacher in charge."

Rine felt unnecessarily sorry, thinking that she had burdened Rudger.

"Rine, are you feeling alright?"

"Huh? Ah, yes. I think I'm okay now."

Rine checked her body condition here and there as she answered.

She belatedly rembered why she had fainted.

"I... I fainted because of the magical beast, right?"

"Do you rember what you saw before fainting?"

"Uh, well... I summoned the magical beast, and my magical beast emitted so strange power. And then..."

And then...

Rine mumbled those words but couldn't finish her sentence.

"I don't rember."

"You don't?"

"No. I have a vague feeling of what I saw last and I might have mumbled sothing unknowingly. But I can't recall it."

"...."

Rudger carefully observed Rine's appearance.

He had a suspicion that she might know sothing but was pretending not to, but her expression didn't give him that impression at all.

There had been a similar incident before.

At that ti, Rine unknowingly mumbled Rudger's real na.

Perhaps the seal on her mories had been slightly disturbed.

"What did I say? I didn't say anything disrespectful, did I?!"

Rudger gave Rine a prepared response.

"You didn't say anything. You simply fainted due to the shock of summoning the magical beast for the first ti."

"Oh."

"It was good that you summoned the magical beast for the first ti, but this ti, it went too far."

Rudger's concerned reproach made Rine feel unnecessarily embarrassed.

"I'm sorry."

"But it was my fault for not ntioning it beforehand, so you don't need to apologize."

"Really?"

"Your magical beast is like a newborn baby. It's natural to react sensitively without adapting to the world you encounter for the first ti."

"Magical beasts can be like that too?"

"A magical beast doesn't necessarily obey only its owner's commands. Sotis it refuses, and at tis, it even tries to devour its owner."

Upon hearing those words, Rine felt an inexplicable fear.

Being devoured by a magical beast.

Just hearing it was terrifying, wasn't it?

"Of course, such cases are extrely rare."

"I... I don't know magical beasts that well. Isn't my magical beast also an exceptional case?"

"That..."

Co to think of it, that was true.

Rudger hesitated to answer, and Rine beca anxious.

"T-Then, will I be devoured?!"

"No, that won't happen."

"What should I do? I still have so many things I want to do! To go so soon like this!"

"Rine."

"Does it hurt a lot to be devoured by a magical beast? Is there no pain? Should I write a will...?"

"Calm down, Rine."

Rudger's firm voice instantly settled Rine's dizzying mind.

It felt as if a heavy anchor had been dropped into the turbulent center of her heart.

"That won't happen. The magician who was consud by a magical beast was experiencing a state of magical frenzy due to the excessive utilization of magical power. It was a tragedy brought about by their own mistreatnt of the magical beast."

"I... I see."

"That's right. So if you handle your magical beast properly, there is no risk of being devoured."

How to handle the magical beast in its unfamiliar form would be a future problem.

"But it seems you don't want to die."

"Do most people like that sort of thing?"

"Most people would probably dislike it. But there are also those who like it. More importantly, you ntioned that you have a lot you want to do?"

"Huh? Ah, well..."

Rine seed quite flustered, not expecting Rudger to bring up the words she blurted out.

"Well, um... yes?"

"What do you want to do?"

"What do I want to do? Well, I have so many things I'm considering. I want to explore various kinds of magic, I want to travel and see different parts of the world, and I also want to have new experiences."

"Do you have any career aspirations?"

"I want to beco a magical researcher."

"A researcher?"

"Yes!"

Rine nodded with a brighter expression.

"There are still many unknown magics in the world, right? Including the non-attribute magic power I possess. I want to beco a magical researcher not only for myself but also for people who don't know what kind of magic power they have."

"I see."

It was a highly altruistic reason for choosing a future career.

Usually, kids of her age only aid for success through magic.

"Becoming a magical researcher is a challenging path."

"But I still want to do it! It's my dream."

"To beco a researcher, you need extensive knowledge of magic, and you'll have to write a significant number of research papers. You need to excel in theoretical aspects, and your magical achievents should not be lacking."

"Oh... is that much?"

She had thought about wanting to beco a magical researcher, but she didn't expect it to be this difficult.

"Becoming a researcher, especially soone studying magic, is a task reserved for the intellectual elite. Even soone like Clinton Rotschild, a 7th-rank Imperia-ranked magician, is a magical researcher. That's why he rarely appears in the public eye."

"I see."

Rine instantly beca gloomy.

The goal she had wanted so desperately turned out to be an challenging path.

Rudger thought she resembled a puppy who couldn't go for a walk, looking dejected.

"Don't be too disappointed. If you make an effort, you can definitely beco a magical researcher."

"Really?"

Rine's expression brightened again.

She was a sincere student, wearing her emotions openly.

That was Rine.

Soone whom Rudger valued and felt remorseful towards.

Therefore, he had an obligation to repay her.

"You're doing very well in the theoretical aspects of my class. If you can handle your innate magical power well, you will undoubtedly beco a remarkable magical researcher in this century. I guarantee it."

"But still, it's going to be difficult, right?"

"It will be challenging. Sotis it will be overwhelming, and you might want to give up."

"Yeah, I can imagine. Oh, by any chance, have you experienced sothing similar, Teacher?"

"Of course. I've been through the sa."

"Really? I thought Mr.Rudger was good at everything."

"Everyone fails, and everyone faces setbacks due to the barriers of reality. I'm not exempt from that either."

Rine asked cautiously.

"In that case, how did you overco such situations, Mr.Rudger?"

"I haven't overco them. I just endured and persevered."

Yes, he just endured.

Even if the wounds engraved in his soul and mories healed, the scars remained.

It was impossible to completely overco them.

"Why?"

Rudger's words were directed at those pure, innocent eyes that were fixed on him.

"Because that's how it has to be."