The Graduate Student Wants to Assassinate the Professor Chapter 2

The Halderion Magic Academy, named after the Archmage Halderion, was located in the small Kingdom of Rompel and was the most prestigious institution on the Kuchiki Continent. 

 

It was famous for gathering only those who were geniuses or above among mages of various races and species, but that wasn’t an issue for Leorina. She was a mage who had reached the level of the 7th Circle long ago. 

 

This meant that even without a university degree, she would have no problem following the Master’s curriculum among the brilliant students of the Halderion Academy.

 

‘But I can’t reveal my true skills here. I have to live as an ordinary graduate student…’

 

Just as Leorina was suppressing a sigh,

 

“It’s really surprising. I never expected someone to apply to Professor Huaderica’s laboratory.”

 

The staff member in charge of the department administration office, who introduced herself as Merryl, chattered away while helping Leorina carry some of her luggage. 

 

“I’ve been here for over ten years, but Miss Leorina Yuren is the first person to ever volunteer for Professor Huaderica’s lab.” 

 

Leorina replied with an awkward smile.

 

“Haha, I read the professor’s papers and found his research interesting. That’s why I was curious.”

 

“Hmm… if you look purely at the research, would it seem that way?”

 

Meryl pursed her lips and whispered cautiously.

 

“It’s not really my place to say this to a newly admitted graduate student, but, well… you know the rumors about the professor.”

 

“Rumors?”

 

“That he slaughtered his own clan…”

 

“Ah, those.”

 

Judging by the atmosphere, Khaladniel’s reputation at this academy didn’t seem very good.

 

Leorina shrugged as if she didn’t care.

 

Over the past fortnight, she had tracked Khaladniel’s activities as part of a preliminary investigation.

 

However, all that came up were various research papers. Dig here and it was a paper; dig there and it was a paper. It was all papers, papers, papers….

 

She had even investigated whether he had murdered anyone other than his own clan or committed any heinous acts, but there wasn’t even a shred of evidence linking him to minor crimes.

 

‘His routine consisted of nothing but home, school, restaurants, and the occasional pub.’

 

The one unsettling part was that his faculty evaluations had been at rock bottom for several years. 

 

His lectures were so unpopular that he often only kept a handful of elite students or had the classes canceled, so it was a wonder how he hadn’t been fired.

 

What kind of life is this man living…?

 

Leorina was lost in thought for a moment when Merryl spoke.

 

“This is it.”

 

Meryl stopped in front of the door.

 

[Room 304, Professor Office]

 

[Khaladniel Sigelo Huaderica]

 

While Leorina was reading the nameplate on the door, Meryl knocked.

 

“Professor, are you in?”

 

There was no answer from behind the door. Meryl knocked once more, but again, there was no reaction.

 

Leorina scratched her head and looked at Meryl.

 

“Is he not here…?”

 

“No, he is definitely inside.”

 

Meryl shook her head firmly, turned the door handle, and opened the door. At that moment, a pile of books stacked higher than a person’s height inside the door came crashing down.

 

“Argh!”

 

Leorina quickly stepped back to avoid it, but Meryl was hit on the top of her head by several falling books.

 

Thanks to that, a frustrated Meryl shouted with emphasis.

 

“Professor Huaderica!”

 

Then, a head slowly rose from behind the backrest of the 3-person sofa in front of Leorina.

 

“If a person doesn’t respond, isn’t it common sense to realize you shouldn’t come in?” 

 

Khaladniel grumbled, leaning his back against the sofa, bending his neck backward, and looking at Leorina and Meryl upside down. Meryl, taken aback, replied.

 

“Professor, I told you that Miss Leorina Yuren was coming today.” 

 

“Leorina Yuren?”

 

Khaladniel’s left eyebrow arched upward. His eyes turned toward Leorina.

 

“She’s Professor’s student who’s starting her Master’s program today.” 

 

“…Huh?”

 

Khaladniel made a dull sound.

 

“What are you talking about? My student?”

 

Leorina and Meryl exchanged glances for a moment at his tone, which suggested he had no idea what was going on.

 

“The graduate school application and letter of recommendation were submitted correctly and you were clearly accepted. You gave a positive response, Professor…”

 

“That’s right. I personally received the acceptance notice from you, Professor.”

 

Leorina handed him the acceptance notice that had arrived for her under Khaladniel’s name. Khaladniel jumped up from the sofa, snatched the paper Leorina was holding, and read it quickly.

 

While Khaladniel, who had his long silver hair loosely braided and draped over one shoulder, and his mysterious bluish-purple eyes slightly lowered, read the document, Leorina stared at him intently.

 

‘He’s even more handsome in person than in the photo.’

 

With his tall, sturdy body, chocolate-colored skin, and silver hair that looked as if it were spun from moonlight.

 

‘I heard he’s over 350 years old, but he looks much younger than I expected.’

 

Khaladniel’s appearance was that of a man only in his mid-twenties by human standards.

 

Leorina looked at the cloth he had wrapped around his head like a turban.

 

A large horn protruded through the cloth above his right ear, but there was nothing on the left side. Just as she already knew.

 

The only thing different from her prior investigation was Khaladniel’s clothes.

 

‘Those patterns… seeing as magic power dwells in each one, they must be embroidered magic circles. They are unique designs, so I don’t know what kind of magic it is, but…’

 

Just as Leorina was internally tilting her head, wondering about the nature of the magic circles, he lifted his head sharply.

 

“Ah! So that’s what this was? I just signed it roughly because they told me to sign, and I didn’t think it was anything important!”

 

Leorina was just as flustered.

 

“Th-then what happens to me? Is my admission canceled?”

 

That would be quite problematic. She was in a situation where she had to stick by Khaladniel’s side at all costs.

 

However, Khaladniel looked back and forth between the acceptance notice and Leorina, his eyes curving into half-moons.

 

“Canceled?”

 

An inexplicable sense of dread crawled up her spine.

 

He approached Leorina, grabbed her by both shoulders, and asked as if to confirm.

 

“So, you’re saying you’re going to be a volunteer slav… no, a graduate student who will help with my class preparations and take over my chores and research?”

 

“Uh… I guess? Isn’t that what a graduate student does?”

 

Since he wasn’t wrong, Leorina nodded and answered.

 

“And, Merryl. Is it also true that having a graduate student means more research funding is allocated for the student’s share?” 

 

“That’s correct.”

 

As Meryl nodded, Khaladniel smiled radiantly and reached out to Leorina.

 

“Welcome to our laboratory. I am your advisor, Khaladniel Sigelo Huaderica. You can just call me Khalid.”

 

At those words, Leorina grabbed the hand Khalid held out.

 

‘Who cares about dread right now? I’ve managed to stick myself right next to the mission target!’ 

 

Leorina smiled brightly, squeezing his hand with determination, resolved never to let go.

 

“Thank you, Professor! I will definitely be a help to your research!”

 

Leorina and Khalid smiled at each other, each harboring different ulterior motives.

 

* * *

 

Life as a graduate student with Khalid was more monotonous than expected. This was because most of his days didn’t deviate from a routine of commuting, research, classes, and going home.

 

For the past few days, Leorina had been following Khalid around and handling the tasks he assigned.

 

Fortunately, compared to his notoriety, Khalid wasn’t a very demanding person. However, there was just one problem…

 

‘This man, he’s really high-maintenance!’

 

Khalid didn’t make Leorina do personal chores, but he dumped every single menial task related to his classes and research onto her.

 

On her second day of meeting Khalid, Leorina was horrified when she followed him into the lab.

 

The dust, which she couldn’t even guess when it was last cleaned, all sorts of expired reagents, and experimental equipment rolling everywhere…

 

‘I should have guessed when I saw his office was a pigsty.’

 

That was it. The first task given to Leorina, who had just started her first day, was a massive deep cleaning of the laboratory.

 

“I really couldn’t bring myself to clean it alone.”

 

Khalid smiled refreshingly and handed Leorina the cleaning tools.

 

“Just… where and how am I supposed to start with this…”

 

“Huh? What did you say?”

 

“…Nothing, Professor.”

 

Leorina, who had been muttering to herself, barely regained her composure at Khalid’s question and started moving.

 

Because she was, after all, a graduate student of this godforsaken professor.