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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Peptobismol]
[Proofreader - Demon God]
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Chapter 159 - Head Theoretical Professor Kaiden (11)
The next morning.
I woke up feeling no different than usual.
As I turned to the side, I saw the golden cat figurine on my nightstand staring at me.
The towel I’d draped over it had somehow slipped off during the night and was now on the floor.
Strange. I was sure I had turned its face away.
Looking at the cat’s piercing gaze made me decide to take it to my office.
No matter how I looked at it, its eyes and expression reminded me too much of Kaiden.
I shoved the cat into my pocket and left the house.
# # # # #
Today marked the start of the end-of-semester evaluations.
The evaluations would take place over three days, followed by a short week-long summer break.
The students would head home, while the professors would remain behind to prepare for the next semester.
At the full faculty meeting, overseen by Headmaster Kirrin, we were reminded to conduct fair, thorough, and well-organized evaluations.
Throughout the meeting, Kaiden sat across from me, watching me with that same enigmatic smile.
From her seat at the head of the table, Ismera frowned in obvious disapproval at Kaiden.
"Headmaster, how are you feeling?"
I asked after the meeting ended.
Kirrin offered a faint smile, her face still pale.
"Ah, I’m fine. I just got so nervous with Kaiden around that…"
She abruptly trailed off and pressed her lips together tightly.
Her complexion didn’t look good. Was she about to throw up again?
"I’ll see you later!"
Clapping a hand over her mouth, Kirrin bolted down the corridor.
"Professor Dian."
I turned to see Kaiden standing behind me, looking up at me with a gentle smile.
"Today’s evaluations are starting. Shall we patrol the examination halls together?"
"I’m afraid that’s not possible, Head Theoretical Professor."
Ismera interjected, stepping forward.
"Please go to your respective departments’ examination halls. I’ll oversee both areas myself."
"Of course. That’s a perfectly reasonable suggestion."
Kaiden said, nodding and smiling.
"Then, good luck to everyone."
Kaiden turned and walked away. Ismera, who had been glaring after him, shifted her focus back to me.
"Hey, I heard you went into town with him again yesterday."
"I did."
"And now he wants to spend the entire day with you too?"
"That’s right."
"Has he asked you to move in with him yet?"
"No, he hasn’t."
"Suspicious."
Crossing her arms, Ismera scowled.
"Smart people have an easy time fooling those less intelligent. For someone like Kaiden, it’s easier than sipping soup."
"But is there anyone smarter than Kaiden?"
"Hardly. He’s an Archmage. Of the three living Archmages, two are on their deathbeds. That leaves him as the only active one. Maybe the Imperial Palace’s Chief Mage comes close, but that’s about it."
She had a point.
The Imperial Palace’s Chief Mage was a legend in his own right. During the war, he was instrumental in the defense of the Kalbasar Plains, casting nearly half the spells that obliterated the Demon King’s advancing armies.
"Mister."
Lost in thought, I snapped back to attention as Ismera called to me.
"Don’t get too close to Kaiden. I'm jealous or anything, it’s genuine concern. He’s suspicious."
At that moment, Kaiden, who had been walking away, turned back to look at us. His expression remained serene, his smile unwavering.
"Ugh. He’s so creepy."
Ismera muttered quietly, just loud enough for me to hear.
# # # # #
The evaluations proceeded smoothly.
Thanks to Ismera’s meticulous planning and Kaiden’s assistance, everything was nearly flawless.
My role was minor.
The combat professors under me were all experts in their fields—far more competent than someone like me, who spent his time doing tricks with Linus during the war.
Rather than meddle, I simply signed off on the paperwork they sent me.
Kirrin and Ismera showered me with praise for my hands-off approach.
Kirrin even went as far as publicly commending my supposed "great leadership," though I downplayed it, saying it was the department professors who deserved the credit.
In private, Ismera alternated between glaring at me and begrudgingly complimenting my work.
Thanks to everyone’s efforts, the evaluations ran like clockwork. I spent most of my time wandering the examination halls with a practice sword in hand.
Sometimes, I felt guilty earning a paycheck this way.
During my rounds, I caught glimpses of the students.
Hindrasta looked thoroughly bored, though her performance in every practical evaluation was, unsurprisingly, stellar. She was a dragon, after all.
Merilda, who was clumsy and physically uncoordinated, earned predictably low marks in practicals but would make up for it in the theoretical evaluations.
When I saw Knightley, I was taken aback.
"Knightley! What’s wrong with you?!"
"It’s nothing…"
Her usually radiant complexion had turned ghostly pale, resembling cement.
Draping a white sheet over her might cause someone to mistake her for a corpse.
"She’s terrified she won’t top the rankings in any category this time."
Hindrasta explained.
Fearing she’d lose out to Hindrasta in combat and to Merilda in theory, Knightley had been sacrificing sleep to study relentlessly.
Though her overall score would likely still dominate, her perfectionism wouldn’t allow her to accept anything less than first place in every category.
Well, you can’t change someone’s personality.
By the final day of evaluations, everything had gone smoothly.
The morning marked the end of testing, leaving the afternoon as free time for students. For the faculty, however, the real work began—tabulating final scores, verifying them, and ranking the students.
Having little to contribute to the process, I excused myself from the department meeting.
Sticking around would only get in the way. I planned to sign off on the final report later.
I decided to use the free time to buy snacks for the hardworking faculty.
As I stepped out of the main building, I felt an odd sensation, prompting me to glance around.
Nothing seemed out of place.
Strange.
Just as I was about to move on, the feeling returned, stronger this time.
Following my instincts, I turned toward a shadowy corner where something faint shimmered.
The outline distorted the background behind it—evidence of an invisibility spell.
"If you have something to say, come out and say it."
"Professor."
The voice came with a flicker of movement as the Imperial Palace’s Chief Mage revealed himself, though his form remained partially obscured, like a figure veiled in mist.
"Let’s speak somewhere private."
The Chief Mage here? And sneaking around in invisibility? This had to be about Kaiden.
Kaiden wouldn’t want the Chief Mage here, and clearly, the feeling was mutual.
"Follow me."
I said, curious about his intentions.
I led him to my office.
"Thank you,"
He said as he stepped inside, dispelling the invisibility spell and fully revealing himself.
"What brings you here? And why the secrecy?"
"I’ll get straight to the point, as time is short,"
The Chief Mage said, his tone urgent.
"Have you spoken with Kaiden about joining the Imperial Department of Magic?"
"No, not yet. It’s been a busy evaluation period."
"I see…."
The shadows on his face deepened.
"Surely that’s not the only reason you came here? Or is there something else?"
"There’s nothing else. I just… I’ve heard no updates since our last conversation and…"
The Chief Mage trailed off, his dejected posture speaking volumes.
This man was truly obsessed with Kaiden.
"Does Kaiden seem happy here?"
"Unfortunately, yes. He shows no signs of wanting to leave."
"I see… As I thought, Kaiden won’t leave as long as you’re here."
The Chief Mage’s words trailed off as his gaze fixed on something.
Following his line of sight, I turned to see the golden cat figurine on my bookshelf.
The cat was staring directly at us.
Wait—did I leave it facing that way?
"What’s that?"
"A gift from Kaiden. He said it helps with restful sleep, though I haven’t noticed much effect."
Before I could finish speaking, the Chief Mage strode over and grabbed the figurine.
"Damn it."
He cursed under his breath as he inspected it closely.
"Professor. This… this is surveillance magic."
His words struck me like a hammer.
"Excuse me?"
"This is enchanted to share its line of sight with the caster."
"So, you’re saying…"
"Kaiden has been watching everything happening here through this figurine."
No sooner had he finished speaking than the golden cat began to melt, its form dissolving into a viscous liquid.
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Peptobismol]
[Proofreader - Demon God]
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