"A new professor is coming?"
"Yes, Vice-Chancellor. I heard they are people appointed directly by Your Majesty."
"Directly by Your Majesty?"
"Yes."
Glasco's Vice-Chancellor, Ronald, felt his head starting to throb.
He pressed his temples to control the headache.
"Hmm... What did the Chancellor say?"
"He hasn't said anything particular yet, but judging by his temperament..."
"Ronald! Are you there!"
At that moment, the door to Ronald's office opened roughly and an old scholar with a flushed expression appeared.
"I heard a new professor is coming! Then can I retire now?"
"...Wouldn't he say that."
Ronald's headache worsened.
"Quickly remove that from my office."
"Ronald, my friend. Listen to a person until the end..."
"Talk sense! Do you think a greenhorn young professor can replace you! Stow away talk like retirement!"
Ronald declared firmly.
It's not that he doesn't understand Heinz's heart.
He may look like that, but he is a genius of the century called the continent's best intellect.
If Heinz and Ronald's teacher, the former Chancellor, hadn't forced him to take the role, he is a man who would have stayed cooped up in some mountain only doing research.
"It seems the Royal Family intends to interfere with Glasco in earnest. If you are not here, who will block that offensive."
"I don't really care though."
"...Quickly remove that."
"Yes, Vice-Chancellor."
"Wait! I get it. I'll put retirement aside. Instead..."
Ronald's expression rotted further.
Retirement is bait to the end.
This guy's true intention is....
"I think the research I newly started this time will require quite a lot of budget... you can handle it, right?"
"We don't have money even if we try to eat and die, you rascal!"
"Then I'll retire and go to some other academy..."
"...Oh, my fate. Remove that immediately, immediately!"
"Chancellor, let's stop here for today."
"Ronald, think about it carefully!"
Heinz's receding voice sounded annoying, but Ronald will eventually accept Heinz's request.
Because this Glasco survived based on his research results essentially.
If even that is gone, the talents enrolling will dry up.
Talents must come in to be raised and produce results or whatever.
'If the Royal Family's interference begins... students might also be driven to war. What to do.'
The clouds of war wrapping around the continent.
Even in the past when war intensified, there is a record of even academy students being conscripted.
There is no law saying it won't happen this time.
Until now, this Glasco stepped back from the King's influence so they could prevent just that somehow, but the King directly selecting a professor and sending him here means there is a possibility Ronald's worry will become reality to some extent.
"It's a big trouble, big trouble..."
Bang-!
"Ronald, if the full amount isn't possible, at least half..."
"...Get out."
Ronald was troubled in many ways.
***
{The Cradle of All Talents in the World}
'Right, right. This is Glasco.'
Glasco's ideology.
Nurture all talents in the world regardless of status-.
How cool is this.
Usually, academies nurture only children of wealthy merchants or nobles, but in this Glasco, without such things, rather they are raising promising talents even giving scholarships.
At first, this system didn't shine that much, but as Heinz took office as Chancellor, it was being covered to some extent thanks to his research results.
But that also has limits.
Glasco's financial state is not good.
The academy of the wealthiest kingdom being strapped for cash was an irony, but it was like a last bastion set up to prevent the Royal Family from interfering in the education field.
This professor appointment case is also like that.
Since Glasco is naturally Aeroc's academy, the King also possesses the right to appoint professors.
But due to the tacit agreement between the Royal Family and Glasco, this personnel right had never been used until now.
However, this time he broke that tacit agreement and appointed me as a professor.
The reason the professors' gazes looking at me aren't kind probably originates from that too.
"It is an honor to meet the rumored heterogenous race Count. I am Harriet, in charge of the Combat Department."
"I am Lucas."
Frozen by the tense atmosphere, a short answer came out.
But this seemed to rather birth a strange misunderstanding.
"As expected, like a strong person Your Majesty has eyes on. You mean to prove with your body rather than words."
The atmosphere became colder.
"Please understand. Although Your Majesty probably saw your ability and 'recommended' you as a professor of Glasco, for us, we can only see it as the Royal Family planting a person in Glasco."
Especially Vice-Chancellor Ronald was displaying hostility the most.
Outwardly he is treating me with manners and kindness, but it was 'visible' that this person dislikes me.
In this uncomfortable situation, I could only sip tea.
"Hmm..."
Amidst that, Glasco's Chancellor, Heinz's burdensome gaze kept scanning me.
Panic feels like it will strike.
I wanted to escape this situation quickly.
"Stop- How about stopping around there."
-Yes, understood.
Oh my, fuck you startled me.
A black masked man suddenly appeared before my eyes.
Goosebumps broke out all over my spine.
Since when was he there?
"As expected, I could not deceive Sir's eyes this time either."
'This time either?'
I'm sorry but I'm seeing you for the first time though.
"Secret Guard!"
"Isn't that Your Majesty's secret guard unit heard only in rumors!"
"Did you really know the presence of that Secret Guard in advance?"
No, I didn't know though.
"Of course. Because I have never deceived Sir Kraus's eyes even once until now."
The masked person answered instead of me who couldn't say anything.
"To see through the Secret Guard whose stealth ability is unrivalled not once but every time, you do have ability."
"That, I cannot deny."
It wasn't intended, but anyway it seems to be flowing well so I kept my mouth shut tight.
"By the way, not only using the personnel right but sending a Secret Guard even. Does Your Majesty intend to place Glasco under his feet?"
Ronald said showing an uncomfortable sign.
Then the masked person shook his head and took out a small box from his bosom.
"It is the sincerity Your Majesty is showing. Saying he is sorry for suddenly interfering in professor appointment. He said Sir Kraus here is a talent Your Majesty guarantees so he will surely be of help to Glasco."
He opened the box he brought.
Even at a glance, expensive jewels filled the box.
While I was thinking useless thoughts like 'I wonder how much that would be if I sold all that....', an angry voice rang out loudly from the front.
"Is Your Majesty trying to buy sacred education with money now!"
"Chancellor, that is a misunderstanding..."
"What misunderstanding! We cannot accept these jewels... Ugh!"
"Please convey thanks to Your Majesty for his care."
"Ronald!"
Heinz, who flew far away due to Ronald's kick, rolled on the floor and stopped.
He shouted looking at Ronald with an expression of not understanding.
"As an educator, you cannot do this!"
"Styy stll (Stay still)..."
Heinz, cowed by the furious Ronald's spirit, withdrew his anger and buried his body in the sofa with a sulky expression.
"Professor Lucas! Welcome to becoming a professor of Glasco!"
Uh... one thing solved!
***
[A new notification has arrived.]
[User jsjang0626 has donated 1,000 Gold.]
'What is this? Is it a bug?'
Doubting my eyes, I rubbed them once.
The zeros were not two but three.
It was clearly 1,000 Gold.
The items of the Gold Shop I scanned in my head for a moment came to mind.
Although they were terrifying prices, there were also items with somewhat conscientious prices.
'There were items I could buy with 1,000 Gold too.'
If I plan well, it would be possible to buy several usable items. To do that, I would have to examine the Gold Shop, but it's not easy.
"This is the Main Auditorium. Usually banquet events are held here."
Because of Vice-Chancellor Ronald who volunteered as a guide right next to me.
I was moving according to his guidance right now.
When was he hostile, now doing useless things when I said I don't need it.
Tsk.
"From here is the Aden Hall where you will mainly go."
What on earth is this old man's intention.
Hostile feelings are still glimpsed, but why is he volunteering for this trouble.
"There are no watching eyes now. Please say what you want to say."
If it's this Ronald character I set up, there is definitely a different intention.
That was the conclusion I reached.
If there is something he's hiding, I wish he'd say it quickly.
Because I'm dizzy wanting to check the Gold Shop.
"Ahem."
Indeed, as if my thought was right, Ronald withdrew his good-natured expression and opened his mouth.
"Since you say so, I will get straight to the point. Although we accepted you as a professor, my judgment is that we cannot entrust you with heavy responsibilities."
"I don't care."
What I wanted is the title of Glasco professor, not something like heavy responsibility.
Stepping up to the front uselessly won't be helpful.
If worst comes to worst, I can take charge of after-school classes.
So I can pick only the kids I want.
"Ha, I really don't know your ulterior motive."
...I don't have such a thing though?
"You organize lectures separately away from our Glasco's core. I will leave the personnel you organize specifically to you."
"Take responsibility only for the students I chose... is that what you mean."
"That is so. I haven't withdrawn the suspicion that you might have come to Glasco receiving Your Majesty's order. That is what I and the faculty are most worried about. However, since there is the sincer, ahem. Sincerity Your Majesty showed, we have to entrust something to you, so I am making this proposal. If you cannot accept, I will suggest cancelling the professor appointment."
Good?
It's the condition I wanted?
"Ah, and that selection is limited to freshmen. I will let you interview them."
"Good."
This answer also came out without hesitation.
Freshmen who will enroll next year.
Because they are the real deal.
***
Parting with Ronald, I immediately moved my steps to the faculty residence assigned to me.
Luggage had arrived in advance and was neatly organized.
The residence might be narrower than the mansion, but it was an excessively wide space to live alone.
It was satisfactory.
Now, it is time to look around the Gold Shop I waited and waited for.
'Gold Shop.'
When I summoned the Gold Shop, the usual translucent window floated up.
Setting the search setting to 1,000 Gold or below, 5 items floated up.
-Basic Swordsmanship 900G
-Show-off Muscles (Air Muscles) 800G
-Full Body Hair Removal (Non-permanent) 500G
-Vision Enhancement (Stage 1) 300G
-Bad Breath Removal (Disposable) 200G
Was my expectation a little too big.
Disappointment came first.
But soon I changed my mind.
'A guy who was dying of thirst for donation until just a while ago is now full. It is a precious asset the reader gave. I must use it usefully.'
The choices here are two.
Buy, or save.
The answer is set.
'Purchase Basic Swordsmanship.'
[1,200G->300G]
For what it's worth I'm a professor of Glasco Combat Department, it won't do to be at a level of swinging clumsily.
For anything, the basics are important.
So I purchased Basic Swordsmanship.
If Basic Swordsmanship and this body's monstrous strength are added, it seemed plausible trickery would be possible.
'The remaining is 300 Gold....'
Should I save it.
Even if I say remaining, there are only things that look useless.
Just when I decided to save it for an unforeseen situation and was about to turn off the Gold Shop, one item kept catching my eye.
-Vision Enhancement (Stage 1) 300G
That phrase Stage 1, which strangely seemed like there would be more behind it, bothered me, and the fact that the most useful thing after waking up in this body was vision kept pulling my eyes.
Furthermore, as if aiming for it, the balance and price matched.
'Ugh....'
After a moment of contemplation, I made a decision.
'Purchase Vision Enhancement.'
[300G->0G]
Blood-like gold drained out-
Thud!
"Argh, Argh!"
My eyes became painful as if burning. I couldn't open my eyes and intense pain dominated my brain.
The moment I was regretting the purchase firing off 'I'm fucked'.
Whoosh-
Like a lie, the pain subsided, and my vision started to recover gradually.
And a new world unfolded.