Assistant Professor (2)
This really felt like a dream. Everything felt like one of my delusions. But even now, the thumping of my heart and my gaze that refused to miss a single movement were entirely grounded in reality.
“They’ve nominated me for the vacant professorship of the Department of Swordsmanship at Springwind University in this session of the council. Of course, it is only right to dedicate oneself to training successors, but I’m not ready yet, and there is still work I must do in this position.”
What Grace said was something I already knew.
She served the Empire as the Captain of the Imperial Royal Guard.
‘Captain of the Imperial Royal Guard’ might sound vague, but—In modern terms, it’s like a four-star general, or more precisely, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
For such a person to take up a professorship at some no-name college—(Readers often called Springwind University a no-name college)—meant only one thing.
“However, after much deliberation, I’ve decided to accept the offer. Since ‘that time,’ many talents have died, and filling in the missing spots is also my responsibility.”
That ‘that time’ referred to the ‘Second Human-Demon War,’ which lasted from Imperial Year 939 to 945. The backdrop of The Genius Mage of Springwind was about five years after that.
Contrary to appearances, if you left ‘Blin,’ the capital of ‘Habledown,’ and went out to a satellite city, the scars of war were still visible. But that wasn’t the important part.
What really mattered here was—why did the young lady, despite being in such a politically significant position, end up ‘demoted,’ not even reassigned, to a mere professor role?
There was only one reason. Despite being in the thick of politics, she neglected politics.
She had lived day and night only to protect the Empire, defend the people, and revive livelihoods. Because of that, her reputation was unmatched.
People adored Grace, the war hero who sacrificed her own life span for their sake.
Just searching for ‘Grace Euclid,’ or rather, ‘Gragod,’ online would return nothing but praise and admiration. But the young lady didn’t know how to handle people.
She didn’t know whom to keep close, and whom to stay away from. As a result, the one who suffered the most from interpersonal relationships was her. Maybe that kind of personality wasn’t shaped by the war but rather by other humans...and here I was again, calling Grace ‘young lady.’
“So, I want you to be my aide. That is, an assistant professor.”
Even Grace, someone like that, had one person she could confide in.
“Rohan.”
That person was me.
“Are you listening right no—”
“I’ll do it.”
“...What?”
I stood up and looked down at Grace. Then, I knelt on one knee and bowed my head respectfully.
“I may be lacking, but if you will have me, I will devote myself unto death to assist you, Grace.”
When I raised my head from the message, SubgoalAchievedSubgoal Achieved
I saw a smile written across her face that I had never seen before.
“If you say that...”
It was a sentence I had wanted to read at least once.
“I would be very happy.”
Grace smiled tenderly.
That look was so lovely that I couldn’t help but smile too.
***
CurrentPlausibility:12PCurrent Plausibility: 12P
In addition to the ‘10P’ gained from achieving the subgoal, I earned an extra point and a boost in ‘Understanding’ because my response to Grace matched what ‘Rohan’ would’ve said. But so what.
I still didn’t know what this P, this ‘Plausibility,’ even was.
No way it’s like ‘you can swear 12 times,’ right?
“Day after tomorrow, huh.”
In two days, I would follow Grace and begin my post as an assistant professor at the so-called no-name college. Of course, it wasn’t really a no-name college.
Though people mocked it, within the world of this story it was the greatest institution of education. Anyone who was considered a pillar of society in this world had passed through it.
Springwind Imperial University.
Even the current Empress of the Empire, Adela Historia, and Baldwin Vandali, the founder of the Vandali Knights, had graduated from this college.
Even the main villain of the story, Queos Lumière du Noir, and future Alpha-ranked Archmage of Canterbury, Karen de Arileria, were currently enrolled there.
So, though it might seem like an elite school churning out legendary figures, readers still called it a no-name school for one reason.
“...Unlike the past, now anyone with money can get in—be it a dog or a cow.”
Even readers who defended the school couldn’t deny this.
Even Dennis Éclat’s daughter had paid a hefty ‘donation’ to get in, case closed.
Apart from Plausibility, I still had many questions.
“Is this some kind of regression?”
「Bookmark」
An ability that activated the moment I believed I had ‘failed.’ Because the incident happened so soon after arriving in this world, I had no choice but to experience failure unprepared. And this feature allowed me to make up for it.
“...”
I recalled that moment again—when I subconsciously wished to turn back time.
「Bookmark」 ⸺ Unique Feature
✵Description
Saves the current page to be recalled later.
If nothing is saved, returns to the origin point of the most recent event.
Oh?
This time, instead of activating, some information popped up. But it didn’t seem usable anytime.
Time until next use: 355 hours 21 minutes 49 seconds.Time until next use: 355 hours 21 minutes 49 seconds.
Usually, overpowered skills have limitations for balance, so a cooldown wasn’t strange.
Given that nearly four hours had passed, the cooldown was probably 15 days.
And what did that mean? ‘If I die in the meantime, I can’t even go back.’
Even before I could fully grasp that, another message popped up—and this one was strange.
【Bookmark】
「None」 「Locked」 「Locked」
┏━━━━━━┳━━━━━━┓
「Locked」 「Locked」 「Locked」
One slot labeled ‘None’ and five marked ‘Locked.’
Ah, so these were the Bookmark ‘slots.’
Even a child could tell up to six saves were possible.
The problem was how to unlock the remaining five.
“Well, let’s save for now.”
Currentpage Has Been Saved.Current page has been saved.
Right after achieving a subgoal—now was the best time to save.
I tested whether saving had a cooldown.
Currentpage Has Been Saved.Current page has been saved.
Thankfully, saving seemed unrestricted.
Now, back to 「Plausibility」.
I whispered the word again like the first time.
「Plausibility」 ⸺ Unique Feature
✵Description
Currency used in the Setting Store.
Such a short, clear line, and yet I read it again and again.
Setting Store? There’s such a thing?
“S... Setting Store, open?”
Toactivatethe‘SettingStore’feature,25Pisrequired.To activate the ‘Setting Store’ feature, 25P is required.
Wait, it costs points just to open a store?
Bang!
At that moment, the door burst open.
Only one person in this knight order could enter the Vice-Captain’s office like that.
“Captain.”
I saluted Dennis.
He skipped the salute and grabbed my shoulders.
“Congratulations, Rohan! Lady Grace Euclid—no, I guess she’s Professor Grace now. Anyway, you’re joining Springwind University’s swordsmanship department with her, right?”
“I’m only an assistant professor.”
“Same difference!”
Dennis’s excitement was obvious.
“Our Éclat Knights’ Vice-Captain position will be waiting until your return.”
“Your words are a great comfort.”
“So, Rohan...”
“Please, go on.”
Dennis hesitated like he was chewing uncooked rice, watching my reaction.
“You know Ellie, right?”
“How could I forget your daughter, Ellis.”
“Yes! Yes! My daughter Ellis! She’s currently studying in the swordsmanship department you’re about to join...”
I smirked.
Ellis Éclat.
Despite being mocked for her lack of swordsmanship, she was beloved in The Genius Mage of Springwind for her cuteness. She admired Grace—not just respected, but loved her. Most importantly.
“Don’t worry. I’ll personally make sure Ellis graduates.”
The real power behind the Éclat Knights, the one who had Dennis wrapped around her finger.
Though Dennis was just a minor character, the strength of the knight order couldn’t be underestimated. In fact, during the incident around Chapter 103, he played a key role supporting Michael.
Looking ahead, it was clear that I couldn’t change Grace’s fate alone.
The fate that bound her was too cruel and difficult; it would be impossible without many people’s help.
“Ah. That puts me at ease. Have you packed?”
“Almost. I didn’t bring anything unnecessary, since I’ll be back.”
“Right. Still, I’ll miss you. Sharing drinks and stories after training was my only joy. Looks like I’ve been interrupting. Go on and finish packing.”
“I’ll hear all your stories when I return.”
With Dennis gone, I resumed packing my suitcase. Spare clothes, a faded music box, a few sword hilts that felt like extensions of my hand—before I knew it, I had packed everything.
Then I noticed a small picture frame on the corner of my desk.
A photo in the frame.
A man and woman stood in ruins, expressionless, their backs to a devastated world.
“Young lady...”
That was a photo of Rohan and Grace from a certain day. Their dried blood stuck to their skin with their clothes, preserving the horror they had lived through.
Through Grace’s broken armor and tangled hair, various wounds were visible. And yet, their faces somehow looked relieved. It must’ve been right after the war ended. And then
Understanding of Rohan's has increased.Understanding of ‘Rohan’ has increased.
“...I have not yet forgotten that day.”
Memories surged over me like a tidal wave.
“When everyone else abandoned you, I alone held on to you.”
「...If you’re hurting, then say it hurts...」
“As you once did.”
「...Come with me to the capital. Let’s forget everything and start anew...」
Rohan spoke of his own will, independent of mine.
“...I too will protect you, young lady.”
「...‘Rohan’...」
It was a day that must never be forgotten for both Rohan and Grace.