I Became an Unknown Professor at the Academy

Drip, drop.

Small, transparent raindrops fall one by one from the gloomy sky filled with dark clouds.

“Hmm…”

As I listen to the sound of rain tapping on the window, Claire, nestled in my arms, murmurs softly in her sleep and snuggles closer into my embrace.

Even though there’s no more room to snuggle, I can’t help but smile as she rubs her cheek and nose against me.

Swoosh.

I brush back her slightly dull, yet radiant blonde hair, revealing the faint red marks hidden beneath.

The marks I left on the pure white canvas of her skin.

‘I’m undeserving.’

The emotions I’m feeling right now.

Everything given to me.

“Hmm…”

As I stroke her cheek with the hand that was brushing her hair, she smiles faintly and rubs her cheek against my hand like a child.

‘Is this greed?’

I thought that making just one person happy would be enough, but now there’s one more.

‘It’s not a positive change.’

But it wasn’t an impossible desire.

“Hmm…?”

Her long eyelashes slowly lift, revealing the hidden blue eyes beneath.

“Sleep a little longer.”
“Mhm.”

As I stroke her hair with the hand that was caressing her cheek, Claire’s eyelids, which had briefly lifted, slowly close again, and soon, her even breathing fills the room.

A completely defenseless state without a hint of wariness.

I take in the sight of her face, which only I can see, and listen to the sound of the rain tapping on the window.

Wishing that my heart won’t become numb.

.

.

.

“I have an appointment with Jayden, so I’ll have lunch first.”
“I will do so.”

Claire replied as she walked beside Baek Woo Jin, heading towards the entrance.

“I’ll be back.”
“Ah, this…”

She hands him the black umbrella she had prepared earlier.

“Okay.”
“…”

His lips curve up ever so slightly, making her face flush for no reason.

She knew he didn’t need an umbrella, but she had prepared it to satisfy her own personal desire.

“Please go ahead…”
“Okay.”

He opens the umbrella she gave him and steps out of the entrance, and she sees him off until the door closes completely.

“Haa…”

As soon as he disappears from sight, her left chest pounds loudly, and she exhales a hot breath.

He wears a black shirt and a simple black suit, with the coat that has become his symbol, looking no different from usual.

By now, she should have gotten used to this, but as she saw him off earlier, her heart raced unusually fast, and she felt extremely troubled from the morning.

“Let’s start with some tidying up.”

Her heart still beats rapidly, but she couldn’t put off the household chores, so she forced herself to move her reluctant feet.

First, she cleared the teacups and dishes from the table.

Next, she entered Baek Hana’s room, dusted, and changed the bedding.

Finally, she passed by the study and opened the bedroom door.

Huff—

When she first woke up, she didn’t notice anything, but as she walked around the mansion and returned to the bedroom, she became keenly aware of the strong scent lingering from the night before.

Her face flushed, and she took a deep breath, removing the sheets and bedding. She briefly considered taking the pillow as well but ended up leaving the bedroom with only the items in her hands.

“Hmm.”

After finishing the household chores by turning on the washing machine, Claire quietly returned to the bedroom and sat on the bed.

Drip, drop.

She had been daydreaming for a while, but as the sound of rain from behind reached her ears, she slowly lay down on the bed and looked up at the window.

She used to fly by plane once a day, or at most, once every two weeks.

Even without using magical tools, the housework would be done within an hour, and after that, she would spend her time idly, feeling like a loafer with nothing to do.

‘Is it okay to live like this?’

She wasn’t bored.

The time she spent waiting for him to return was still filled with excitement, never dull.

However, perhaps because she had been busy for so long…

Even now, she couldn’t quite get used to this leisurely life.

“Lunch… alone…”

Remembering Baek Woo Jin’s words before he left, Claire hugged the pillow he had left behind and curled up.

The faint scent of him slowly permeated her body with each breath.

A pleasant, deep voice.

Large, warm hands embracing her waist.

Last night, she felt deep affection, but as Claire snuggled into the pillow, about to bury her face in it—

-Beep beep beep~
-Huff, did you properly shake off the water?

Through the slightly open door, she heard the familiar voices of the two, and Claire quickly got up and left the bed. She checked her outfit and walked past the study, heading towards the hallway.

-Claire!!

“Oh, aren’t you supposed to be attending a lecture with me today?”
“What… Schedules can always change.”

Claire responded as naturally as possible to Yesol’s question and held out her palm for the fairy flying towards her.

“Did you make this yourself?”
“I put my heart and soul into making it.”

The fairy, wearing a dark green raincoat that matched her hair color, hopped onto her palm and smiled brightly, causing a faint smile to appear on Claire’s lips as well.

– I didn’t get wet!!

“I see.”

The fairy, wearing adorable frog-sticker boots, jumped around excitedly.

However, Claire couldn’t help but smile again at the fairy’s wet hair.

Even without seeing it, she could picture the fairy flying around with sparkling eyes, enjoying the falling raindrops.

“You need to take a bath.”

-Peeep!!

Since the fairy also loved soaking in warm water, she smiled brightly at Claire’s words and flew towards the bathroom on her own.

“Huff huff huff~”
“What’s with that impudent laugh?”

Claire frowned slightly at the subordinate’s attitude, but as she headed towards the bathroom, Yesol opened her mouth with her usual mischievous smile.

“It seems like the professor has a strong sense of possessiveness.”
“What…”

Claire was about to say that she was talking nonsense but closed her mouth. She realized a beat later that Yesol’s gaze was fixed on her exposed neck and shoulders.

Despite having the power to heal and erase any marks, she didn’t do so because he didn’t want her to.

And because he didn’t want to show it to others, she stayed at the mansion today.

“That’s not it…”
“Hmm? What do you mean?”
“…”

Claire glared at her subordinate’s playful question for a moment and then fled into the bathroom.

“Huff, let’s go together~”

Yesol, who rarely had such an opportunity, chased after Claire with sparkling eyes, intending to tease her.

.

.

.

-Puuuuk…

The fairy lay sprawled on the table, her small belly bulging from eating too much chocolate.

Yesol, who had been watching her, spoke cautiously.

“Regarding the missing person case I reported five days ago…”
“Did you catch the tail?”
“Unfortunately, I couldn’t catch the tail.”
“…”

Claire’s eyes narrowed at Yesol’s response.

“I dispatched a Knight.”

Queen.

Bishop.

Rook.

Knight.

These were the names given to the Holy Knights, a group dedicated to hunting down fugitives and followers of evil gods. The Knights were the most skilled in tracking.

“It’s been reported that the remnants of Quickdust, including the hired hands, have been taken care of.”
“Continue the investigation in collaboration with other temples.”
“Yes, I will do so. And in the early hours of today, by Korean time, a large number of skeletons believed to be those of children were discovered in Los Angeles, USA, and Tuscany, Italy.” “Human sacrifice?”
“Currently, that’s the most likely explanation.”

A large number of skeletons, heart extraction.

Based on the clues, the most likely explanation was human sacrifice.

“The leaders of various governments and the association have expressed their desire to handle this incident secretly, fearing a pandemic.”
“Hmph, they’re being overly cautious.”

For the first time, Claire openly showed her displeasure.

“Since the existence of the Executioner and the professor’s power have been revealed, they don’t want to provoke us.”

After all, if a calamity beyond their control occurs, they would want to ask for help with less hesitation and less scrutiny.

“Tell them we won’t get involved.”
“I will do so.”

Although she pretended to respect their wishes, she knew that they also intended to shift the responsibility for any potential future incidents to her.

“Any other special circumstances?”
“There’s one thing.”

Claire, who had been reaching out to the sleeping fairy, paused.

“Due to the recent increase in crime rates and the missing person case, there’s a suggestion to move up the schedule of the Holy Assembly.”
“It would be better to ask the attending party about that.”
“The Great Bwiar has ordered that the Executioner must attend this assembly.”

Both Claire and Yesol’s faces stiffened.

Claire had never heard of this, and Yesol had assumed that her superior had also been informed, but she realized that wasn’t the case.

“I agree. Tell them.”
“Yes… and…”
“Huff.”

At the superior’s short breath, Yesol continued with an awkward smile.

“This time, the host country for the assembly has been changed to Korea.”
“Who decided that on their own?”

At Claire’s chillingly cold tone, Yesol unconsciously averted her gaze from her superior and moved her lips.

“The great ones have…”
“Hmph.”

Claire’s eyes seemed ready to commit blasphemy, and a deep crease formed between her eyebrows.

Yesol seriously considered whether she should order a new statue.