The exclusive dining hall reserved for professors and their assistants was supposed to be a haven of refined conversation and peaceful als.
Instead, it felt like I’d stepped onto a battlefield.
Tension sizzled in the air.
"What the hell is going on all of a sudden?" I muttered, glancing between the two professors locked in a silent war of glares.
"Dale will beco my assistant.""Rubbish. Dale has been my student since year one. Naturally, he’ll join after graduation."
Professor Jade’s spectacles glead ominously.Professor Lucas’s jaw clenched tight.
’Why are two of the academy’s most eccentric professors fighting over like I’m the last slice of cake?’
"Hey. I don’t even want to be an assistant, you know!"
This wasn’t just awkward. It was dangerous. These weren’t ordinary teachers—both had reputations that made freshn tremble. And now they were posturing over like I was so rare magical reagent.
’Did I trigger a flag sowhere?’
Let think.
With Professor Jade, maybe I understood. I had helped him secure research funding. Solved problems that stumped specialist professors. Tracked down ingredients for the Stigma Amplifier. And, of course, spent three hours cleaning his trash heap of a lab until it looked halfway inhabitable.
’Okay, fine. He’s got a case.’
But Professor Lucas?
He was different. He’d spent the last two years dragging through hell in training. He was my ntor, sure—but not soone who’d want hanging around forever.
Then I rembered.’Ah. The wine. And the little nudge about Professor Bianca...’
That favor I’d slipped him—trying to make ands from my past life—might’ve earned a few too many goodwill points.
Damn it. This was backfiring.
"Mr. Dale, what do you think?""You’re not seriously considering working under that lunatic, are you?"
They flanked on either side, voices sharp and eyes demanding. It looked less like an academic discussion and more like a love triangle gone terribly wrong.
’Why are my romantic leads professors?!’
I rubbed my forehead. No matter how I looked at it, both of them were essential for what lay ahead.
Jade was a mad genius in magical theory and Stigma research. The kind of man who could make the impossible happen in a lab. Lucas, on the other hand, was a walking war machine and a respected tactical commander. I’d need both if I was going to survive the looming conflict with the Demon Church.
There was no way I could afford to alienate either.
"Why don’t we go inside and talk this over with a al?" I suggested.
"A al? With him?""I’d rather choke on my spoon."
"Then do you plan to keep blocking the entrance and disturbing everyone who walks by?"
They blinked. Looked around. A few professors and assistants were already casting awkward glances in our direction.
Social awareness finally kicked in.
"Tch.""Hmph."
Grudgingly, they followed inside, still shooting daggers at each other with their eyes.
After we ordered today’s special, silence fell across the table like a fog. No one touched the bread basket.
I cleared my throat.
"First of all, let say this. I don’t know what history you two have, but to , you’re both professors I deeply respect."
"Hah. Respect, he says. This is the sa kid who loiters in my office every ti he’s bored."
"Well... that’s..."
Lucas waved a hand. "Forget it. Respect doesn’t matter to ."
But then he turned to Jade, eyes narrowing.
"What does matter is that you keep your distance. Dale doesn’t need the influence of so half-mad recluse."
Jade’s lip curled. "Oh, please. You want him to waste his talents running around waving a sword like a muscle-bound idiot? Don’t make laugh."
"What did you say?"
"Exactly what you heard."
The tension spiked. For a mont, I genuinely thought the table might flip and the special-of-the-day would go flying.
"Enough," I said firmly, slamming my palm lightly on the table.
The two stared at , surprised.
"I didn’t co here to choose sides. I ca here to survive. You both have your strengths, and I plan to learn everything I can from you—both of you. So stop making this about ego."
"...""..."
They turned away from each other like sulking schoolboys.
I sighed and reached for the bread.
’This is going to be a long war.’
But at least, for now, I’d managed a temporary ceasefire.
I spoke in a low, composed voice.
"What are two grown n doing acting so disgracefully?"
Rude? Maybe. But with the way they were behaving, I couldn’t help myself.
"Ugh...""Ahem. Sorry about that."
The two professors—Lucas and Jade—winced, now fully aware of how undignified they’d looked. For once, they didn’t bother comnting on my tone.
The air was thick with awkwardness again, until—
"Hmm? Now that’s a rare sight. The two of you together?"
A gentle voice interrupted the tension.
A man with soft brown hair and a youthful face approached the table. His appearance could’ve easily passed for a senior cadet, but I recognized him imdiately—Professor Morpheus. He taught the "ntal Discipline" course, the one where I’d broken through his illusion spell.
He looked at with mild surprise. "Ah, the cadet from class. Dale Han, right?"
I stood and offered a small bow. "Yes, Professor. I’m just having a al with these two to discuss a few things."
"Mind if I join you?"
He didn’t wait for a reply before sliding into the seat between Lucas and Jade.
"I’ve been hoping to speak with you."
"With ?"
Professor Morpheus nodded, his gaze warm yet probing. "Yes. I’m curious how you managed to break through my illusion so easily during class."
I gave a half-shrug. "Well, maybe it’s because you held back on the spell. Just enough pressure to challenge, not overwhelm."
"Hmm. Maybe so. But it’s still not sothing a cadet with your mana levels should’ve broken through."
His smile stayed polite, but his eyes had sharpened—probing, dissecting.
I suppressed a grimace.
’Tch. If this keeps up, he might start sniffing out the Primordial Fla.’
Before I could speak, Professor Lucas cut in, his voice cold. "Didn’t you hear we’re in the middle of a discussion?"
"And interrogating Cadet Dale in public? Hardly professional," Jade added, voice like frost.
They were both glaring daggers at Morpheus.
"Whoa, easy there. I wasn’t accusing him of anything," Morpheus said, raising both hands with a sheepish grin.
He turned back to , the smile returning full force.
"So, what’s the eting about?"
"That’s none of your business," Lucas said curtly.
"Oh, co now. Didn’t I help with the ntal discipline course? Doesn’t that earn so access to the inner circle?"
Lucas clicked his tongue, clearly debating whether to dignify that with a reply. Then, to my shock, he actually relented.
"Tch. We’re discussing who Dale should beco an assistant to."
"Oh? That is more interesting than I expected." Morpheus chuckled, then turned to with a glint in his eye. "So, Cadet Dale—who do you prefer?"
"I’m not interested in either, actually."
I delivered it flatly. No hesitation.
"Haha! You heard him," Jade said, leaning back smugly.
Lucas crossed his arms. "Well, he’s not wrong to hesitate. He still has two years before graduation. Plenty of ti to decide."
No, I don’t need ti. I just don’t want this job, period.
"Haha... This is getting amusing. You know, I’ve been interested in him from the start too."
Morpheus gave a dazzling smile.
No, not you too. Please.
Apparently, my misfortune wasn’t exclusive to Professors Lucas and Jade—now Morpheus wanted a piece of .
The other two turned on him imdiately.
"Professor Morpheus," Lucas said warningly."Didn’t you just hear what we said?" Jade added.
"Relax, relax. It was a joke." Morpheus raised his hands again. "How could I compete with you two veterans?"
Smart. He knew better than to poke the lions twice. Even if he was a professor, he’d only been one for three years. Compared to Lucas and Jade—both of whom had been around for a decade—he was still the rookie.
He quickly changed the subject.
"Anyway, I’m too busy prepping for the Sealing Festival to worry about assistants."
"Oh, right. You volunteered to run it this year, didn’t you?" Jade asked.
Morpheus sighed, the confident smile drooping a bit. "Yes. From issuing permits to coordinating event schedules... it’s more exhausting than I imagined."
Lucas gave a half-smile. "Well, it is a good chance to prove yourself. Not many young professors get that kind of spotlight."
"I didn’t think it’d co with so much paperwork." Morpheus sighed again, then perked up. "Still, I’ve prepared a few surprise events this year. Should make the festival more exciting than usual."
He thumped his chest with a grin.
"An unforgettable festival for everyone—students and professors alike. So look forward to it."
At that, even the battle-hardened Lucas cracked a smile. Jade chuckled faintly under his breath.
"Haha... youth is a wonderful thing.""I’ll be looking forward to it."
Morpheus stood and gave a polite bow. "Then I’ll leave you three to it. Wouldn’t want to interfere with your... negotiations."
With that, he left the table.
"Now, Dale. Let’s continue our earlier discu—huh?"
"What the—? Where’d that rascal go?!"
Dale Han, candidate of Reynald Hero Academy, was already gone—vanished the mont their attention wavered.
The two professors looked around, dumbfounded.
"..."
"..."
Left behind, Lucas and Jade sat in silence, the space between them now missing a certain annoying cadet who refused to be claid.
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