I Became an Unknown Professor at the Academy

January 8, 2031.

Three days until the Festival.

“Ugh…”

Jayden, who had been lying flat on the sofa in the laboratory, groaned as he opened his eyes.

He had fallen asleep so deeply that he almost fainted, but fortunately, he seemed to have avoided oversleeping.

‘I never want to experience that again…’

Jayden sighed deeply as memories flashed through his mind.

-Haha! I’ve figured out your pattern!

The female student from the Ability User department charged at him confidently.

Yes, an Ability User, not even an Enhancer, was charging at him with a staff in hand.

Thud!

His shoulder crumbled under the blow of the morning star she wielded, and she completed the incantation for the Wind Blade right in front of him, slicing off the head of the summoned creature.

“You’re not even a Battle Mage…”

If she had figured out his pattern, why would she give up her arm?

If she could win, she should just win.

-After using their abilities, they experience a brief moment of stiffness due to the backlash.

She had told him to aim for that weakness.

Roar!

-With this much destructive power, there should be that much risk!

But the crazy bastard charged straight into the enemy’s ability and stabbed his spear into the summoned creature’s chest, causing it to disappear.

The summoner was also expelled from the arena due to combat inability.

-Good, next!

And less than 10 seconds later, he jumped back down into the arena.

He thought that after experiencing pain a few more times, they would calm down.

But he was wrong.

The students argued among themselves and rearranged the order of challenges several times while others were challenging.

He had thought that after passing the 10th stage, their madness would subside. But he was mistaken.

As more students passed the 10th stage, the madness of those waiting only intensified. And not only that, Nam Seo-hee and other students who had already passed the 10th stage forcibly subdued the waiting students and started challenging the stages again.

It was pure madness.

Because of this, he and Cheon Ji-ho hadn’t slept a wink until yesterday.

Every time they returned defeated, the students, with their restored stamina, charged at them without rest.

Damn those bastards.

He had treated them so well.

Cheon Ji-ho even seemed to have reached enlightenment after seeing students willingly offer parts of their bodies.

“I hope we can get on the plane soon…”

At least then, they could sleep for 8 hours.

Jayden got up from the sofa and packed his luggage, which he had neglected to do yesterday.

A specially enchanted sleep mask and earplugs.

A soft pillow and a personal blanket.

Finally, the dress uniform for tomorrow’s opening ceremony.

“That should be it…”

There was a clock tower nearby, so he could get anything else he needed on-site.

.

.

.

In front of the staff parking lot.

Hanna stood in front of two limousine buses, tapping her foot impatiently.

It was almost 9 o’clock, and Baek Hana and Nam Seo-hee hadn’t arrived yet.

The other 28 students had already boarded the buses, and Professors Jayden and Cheon Ji-ho had arrived early and were sitting in the bus assigned to the professors.

Beep!

Hanna’s smartwatch made a short sound.

It was 9 o’clock sharp.

“Hey!”

At the same time, Hanna shouted at Baek Hana and Nam Seo-hee, who were walking towards them with their luggage.

“Hurry up and run! You’re the last ones!”

But they didn’t run.

Instead, they just walked a little faster.

‘Ugh, if they weren’t our little darlings, I’d smack their heads…’

Nam Seo-hee was the youngest daughter of Namgung Min, the top swordsman in Korea, and Baek Hana had the support of Claire, the famous Executor.

“Hello.”

“Go ahead and sit down.”

Hanna helped Baek Hana, who was dozing off, and climbed onto the bus, leaving Nam Seo-hee behind.

She stuck her head out of the front bus door.

“All students have arrived. You can start moving.”

“Alright…”

Cheon Ji-ho, sitting next to Jayden with a sleep mask on, waved weakly.

“Hmm, okay.”

Hanna quickly stepped back and boarded the bus with the students.

‘Huh?’

As she was about to sit down, Hanna was slightly taken aback by the scene at the back of the bus.

‘What is this? What did they do?’

Just 10 minutes ago, the back of the bus had been ordinary, but now it was transformed into a bed with countless cushions.

And shadows were holding the cushions in place, maintaining their shape.

“Professor?”

“Yes? Oh, sorry.”

Hanna quickly sat down as she saw the bus in front of her start moving.

She glanced at the rearview mirror.

Baek Hana was lying on a bed made of cushions, her head resting on Nam Seo-hee’s thigh.

Her eyes were closed, clearly asleep.

And in front of her, sitting as if guarding her, were Yoon Iseul and Na Joo-hee.

‘I’m so curious…’

What had happened inside?

Hanna shook her head at the students’ nonchalant attitude and leaned back in the soft chair.

“Let’s go.”

The bus, which had been stopped, started moving towards the airport.

.

.

.

“Alright, everyone off!”

“Huh?”

Baek Hana, who had been lying in a daze, opened her eyes at the sound of Hanna’s voice in her ear.

“You’re awake.”

“Yeah.”

Baek Hana greeted Nam Seo-hee, who was looking down at her, and got up.

“Huh?”

Then she looked around and blinked.

She remembered following Nam Seo-hee onto the bus, but why was she lying on cushions instead of sitting in a chair?

“Let’s go.”

“Oh, yeah…”

Baek Hana didn’t quite understand, but she was grateful for the comfortable ride and followed Nam Seo-hee off the bus.

“Where’s Hwaram?”

“They boarded first.”

A little further away, Hanna and Jayden were talking.

“So this is the airport…”

“Is it your first time?”

“Yeah.”

Baek Hana looked around in wonder, and Yoon Iseul, standing in front of her, smiled and said,

“Do you want to go on a trip abroad with me this summer?”

“If you’re going, go with me. I’ll pay for everything.”

Na Joo-hee quickly added,

“Thank you, but I’ll pass. You too, senior.”

“Let me know if you’re interested.”

“Me too.”

Na Joo-hee was about to ask why, but she furrowed her brow slightly as Yoon Iseul took a step back and followed suit.

“Let’s go, let’s go!”

The professors followed Jayden into the airport.

Baek Hana and the students followed, chasing after Hanna’s back.

“Ah, you’re here. This way.”

The group arrived at the gate without going through any security checks. “Is that our plane?”

“Yeah. There’s a restaurant and some light entertainment facilities inside.”

“Let’s go to the restaurant first.”

“Okay.”

Baek Hana’s eyes sparkled as she looked at the plane.

Nam Seo-hee smiled and followed Baek Hana onto the plane.

“There’s a number on each room door. Go in and sit in the order of your rankings. I’ll give you further instructions after takeoff.”

Hanna finished speaking and walked away.

“See you later, Hana.”

“Yeah, okay.”

Baek Hana stepped into the room with the number ‘1’ on the door, marveling at the interior, which looked nothing like what she had seen online.

“It’s bigger than my room…”

She sat down in the seat, impressed by the interior, which had everything from a bed to a sofa and a refrigerator.

-We will be taking off soon, so please take your seats and fasten your seatbelts.

After the announcement, the scenery outside the window began to move.

“Wow…”

Baek Hana was genuinely amazed by the view outside the window.

And at the same time, she felt a little disappointed.

-You’re free until landing. Just don’t cause any trouble, and first-years, wait in your seats for a while.

After a short break, Hanna’s voice came through again.

-Since this is your first time, I’ll explain the rules and etiquette for the opening ceremony…

Even though she had summarized it, quite a bit of time had passed before Hanna allowed the first-years some free time.

Click.

Baek Hana unbuckled her seatbelt and walked towards the window.

Below the bright blue sky, the fluffy clouds she had always looked up at were stretched out like a bridge, and it was fascinating.

‘It would have been better if we could see it together…’

Baek Hana thought of Baek Woo-jin, whom she hadn’t seen in a month, and felt a sense of longing and regret.

‘Should I call him…?’

He was probably on the plane somewhere.

If she texted him that she missed him, would he come to see her?

“No, no…”

Baek Hana shook her head, remembering her conversation with Claire.

-Hana, let’s go to the restaurant.

“Yeah, okay. I’ll be right there.”

Baek Hana put her smartphone away and left the room.