[Translator - Helga ]
[Proofreader - Starfall ]
Chapter 9
‘I love being a professor.’
I watched as the student’s face turned ashen. Just moments ago, she had been so confident. Clearly, she hadn’t expected me to be a professor.
"I suppose being qualified to teach at Masterclass means I’m one of the most powerful people in this field."
A sense of power I’d never experienced during my villainous days washed over me.
With a satisfied smirk, I slipped my ID back into my pocket. "Masterclass regulation 3-1 clearly states that all 13th Department professors have unrestricted access to the library. Did it change overnight?"
"N-no, of course not."
"Then is there still a reason I can’t enter?"
The student stepped aside, her expression a mix of confusion and fear.
I brushed past her and entered the library. A wave of magical energy scanned me, verifying my identity.
"Beep. Identity confirmed. Professor Do Jin-hak of the Deconstructionist Department."
With my faculty card granting me access, I was finally inside the Hwadam Library.
‘It's much larger on the inside than it looks from the outside.’
The library was even more expansive than I’d imagined. It had been enchanted to grow continuously to accommodate the influx of new books.
‘That's why they say students get lost in here all the time.’
Hwadam Library was often jokingly referred to as Hwadam Prison.
The reason for the library's immense size was simple: it had been founded by Seo Gyeong-deok. While known as a Taoist master in folklore, Seo Gyeong-deok was a pioneer of modern military strategy in historical records.
‘I hope he's burning in hell.’
Seo Gyeong-deok had lived for over 500 years, becoming a founding member of the Masterclass. He had dedicated his life to studying and combating supernatural threats. This library was a testament to his centuries of research.
"Now, what was the name of that book again?"
I had come here to take something, but I couldn’t remember the exact title.
"Excuse me, Professor."
I was pulled from my thoughts by the student. "I couldn’t help but notice you’re new here. Would you like me to show you around?"
She seemed genuine, but I could sense her underlying suspicion.
"I don’t need your help,” I snapped back, annoyed by her persistence. "I'm not a child."
She persisted, her eyes filled with doubt.
Given my reputation, her skepticism was understandable.
"I’m not here to cause trouble," she insisted, her voice soft. "I just want to make sure everyone is following the rules."
Her words were polite, but her gaze was unwavering. She was clearly not convinced by my dismissive attitude.
I sighed. "Fine. I'm looking for a book on ancient curses."
Her eyes widened slightly. "A book on curses? That's a rather specific request."
"It's for research," I lied, hoping she would buy it.
She nodded slowly, still not entirely convinced. "I see. Well, I may be able to help you with that. The book you're looking for is in the restricted section. It's a dangerous book, and only certain individuals are allowed to access it."
"Dangerous, huh?" I smirked. "I think I can handle it."
"Now that I think about it, her face looks familiar. Could she be more important than she seems?"
I decided to ask her a casual question, just to be sure.
"What's your name?"
"Me? I'm Arche from the Summoning Department... Oh, Karpi, stay still! I'm sorry. She must be hungry because she was suddenly summoned."
The student, Arche, introduced herself and then went to the library's staff room to find some snacks.
When she opened the door, she found another student working.
"Hey, Senior, are you on duty today?" Arche asked, surprised.
"Yeah, I've been waiting for you. Quick, switch with me."
The senior student looked exhausted, as if she had been working all night.
Arche clasped her hands together. "Sorry. I need to find a book quickly. Have you seen my bag?"
"Your bag? Did you summon Karpi again?"
"Hehe, I need to find a book in a hurry."
"Ugh, I told you to memorize the map."
The senior student grumbled but went inside and brought out a large bag. Inside were plenty of snacks for dogs and cats.
"Karuru!"
The dragon, which had been running around wildly, immediately pounced on the food and began to devour it. Even though it was a baby, it was still a dragon and could eat an incredible amount of food.
But I was more interested in the student.
More specifically, her name.
‘Arche... that blond hair... could she be that Arche?’
I remembered seeing the name Gianluca de Arche on the student council roster. She was ranked 7th overall in the last semester and majored in Summoning.
As soon as I recalled the name, my image of the stern-looking student council member changed.
"Gianluca..." I muttered.
Gianluca de Arche. In the game's world, she was a prominent figure in the rebel army that opposed the powerful Military Association.
‘No wonder her face looked familiar.’
I remembered her now. I hadn't recognized her at first because her current appearance was so different from her image in the game.
‘I can't believe it's her. How could she be so different?’
Gianluca was known for her intense hatred of the Military Association and was considered one of the most dangerous rebels. She was said to have led a legion of dragons and devastated Military Association bases.
It was hard to imagine her feeding a baby dragon like that.
"I'm sorry for the wait. I've fed Karpi, so I can guide you now. But please don't wander off. Many people get lost in here."
Arche turned around and began to walk, looking serious.
I felt a sense of confusion.
‘She's so different from the Gianluca I know.’
The Gianluca I knew was a radical, destructive force. It was strange to see her as a student.
‘I wonder what happened to her. What kind of event could have caused such a change?’
I didn't know much about Gianluca's backstory, but I was curious to find out more.
[Translator - Helga ]
[Proofreader - Starfall ]