Chapter 14 – Secure a Faculty Office (3)
Professors who took on 'Demon Hunting Studies' generally fell into one of two categories.
One: those who desperately tried to win the students’ favor in hopes of eventually earning the position of Head Professor.
Two: those who tried to break the students’ spirit right from the start.
Of course, the majority were the former—professors who ended up doing nothing but sitting at their desks, stripped of all authority. Or they were made to do things like take attendance for underclassmen. Most couldn’t endure the humiliation and resigned of their own accord.
The new professor seemed to be the latter—intent on breaking the students’ will. That’s why Noah, the third-year class rep, found the situation so ridiculous.
'Does that professor not realize where he’s standing?'
Noah had no intention of losing this battle of nerves. The upperclassmen had already left things to them, after all.
“Don’t let any professors take this course—Demon Hunting Studies is ours.”
“They’re all worthless hacks anyway.”
Noah and the third-years acted as gatekeepers. Calmly, they smirked—condescending laughter came as a bonus.
“You’re the new hire, right? Professor Wayne? We’ll handle the underclassmen just fine, so if you want to save face, you’d best leave now.”
“We wouldn’t want our new professor getting fired on his first day. I’m sure landing this job wasn’t easy for you.”
“Looks like you’re new here, but in Demon Hunting Studies, the students are more qualified than the professors.”
Wayne let out a scoffing chuckle.
“Well, if anything, the only thing you’ve got that’s better than me is that dumbass brain of yours.”
…What the hell?
The students were visibly shaken, and Ruin let out a long, weary sigh.
'Damn it. Is it Wayne’s "Innate Laziness" trait acting up again?' He just couldn’t maintain the “friendly teacher” act he’d originally planned. The slow-simmering irritation—it was hard to tell whether it was from Wayne’s personality, or his own.
The truth was, the students' arrogance had a reason.
“So. I heard you’ve created your own spell, is that right?”
“!”
“The one you use to trap professors, like a bunch of braindead morons?”
“Braindead?”
“Morons?”
Oh dear. Those aren’t very teacher-like words.
「Why is the spy revealing his true nature…」
'That was a slip-up.'
Ruin tried again, this time forcing a smile and his best impression of a friendly professor.
“You understand me? I get furious when I see pea-brained little shits who don’t know their place.”
「…Just give up.」
'…Damn it.'
The students were flustered. None of their previous professors had ever confronted them so directly. Most had simply tried to avoid conflict.
'So this guy’s… different?'
The students exchanged glances, then smirked.
“Well, then we can skip the small talk.”
Flash!
A magic circuit lit up on the class rep’s palm.
“Not a single professor has managed to decipher it.”
“!”
“For professors who can’t even crack a student’s spell, who really lacks the qualifications? We’ll choose who teaches us.”
Ruin’s cold gaze narrowed.
'So that’s it.'
A few years ago, Haven had accepted a class of unprecedented geniuses. Every one of them had been called a “golden talent”—the most gifted generation in the academy’s history.
And this was the barrier spell they had created. It was just a simple wall-type barrier, yet no professor had been able to break it.
The third-years sneered.
“It was actually designed to trap the Firefly, but most of the professors we caught with it ended up begging to be let out.”
“Did you know? We only bother learning from people who are worth respecting.”
“Leave the Firefly to us, Professor. We’re already a step ahead when it comes to capturing him.”
Of course, attacking a professor wasn’t just grounds for disciplinary action—it was cause for expulsion. But the students showed no fear.
Why? Because when they actually expelled a student for this spell, things didn’t go well afterward.
“The Disgrace of Haven’s Professors.”
Haven attracted students from all walks of life—including the children of journalists and broadcasters.
Naturally, the incident was reported, and the public mocked the academy: 'A professor couldn’t break a student’s spell, so they just expelled the kid?'
That one event kicked off the power struggle between professors and students. Until the spell could be deciphered, professors dared not act rashly.
Even if they could expel the students, it didn’t fix anything. With no way to restore their lost authority, professors remained beneath the students’ contempt.
And it all started a year ago—right after one student died… though who cares.
'This is getting real annoying.'
Absolutely ridiculous.
'But for now, I’m only here on a temp contract.'
If he wanted to keep his job, he had to behave like a professor…
“Professor, tell us about your first love!”
“As if. With that face?”
Then again—why should he care about a bunch of brats?
'All I need is to clean out the vault.'
If they won’t take the class seriously, then just tie them down and teach anyway. Enforce top-down order.
Ruin’s cold glare set off alarms in the ginseng pot.
「Hey, you’re not a spy right now—you’re a 'professor', remember?!」
But Ruin ignored it. He didn’t know why the headmaster wasn’t stepping in, but the situation was absurd.
And he now understood why no professor had cracked the spell. And the fact that they made this thing to capture the Firefly? Unreal. Just how easy did they think this was going to be?
No. Ruin rubbed his forehead.
'Endure. Endure. I am a spy. Always calm. Always logical…'
“Pfft. Is he scared?”
“He’s totally chickening out.”
…Screw logic.
'Retirement money can wait.'
Forget the class. All he needed was the 'faculty office' anyway.
「Wait—what are you doing?!」
The Shadow God sounded panicked, but Ruin wasn’t listening anymore. He was already furious that the Hero had stolen his money—and now these little soft-boiled eggs were mouthing off?
Ruin rested a hand on his hip and narrowed his eyes.
“So that horseshit is what you call a weapon?”
“Ho… horseshit?!”
“Ah, sorry. Meant to say 'bullshit.' Go on, use it.”
“Excuse me?”
“I said, try it.”
At his razor-sharp gaze, the students flinched.
Did he just say “try it”? Was he serious?
'He hasn’t heard the rumors?'
Dozens of professors had been driven out of 'Demon Hunting Studies'. After it hit double digits, no professor dared fight back.
In fact—
“Uh, hey, why don’t we just listen to his class today?”
“You’re still here? If you’ve got nothing better to do, how about cleaning the room?”
“But still…”
“Then leave already.”
“…Understood.”
Professors had long since defaulted to bowing to students.
Of course, the students were fully aware that the faculty secretly resented them.
But they remained smug because of 'the spell' they had.
Even if the professors swore under their breath, none of them would beg to be released.
Sure, there were still capable professors in the academy. But they stayed far away from the third-years.
'Those stiff-necked elites don’t want to risk their careers.'
Those opportunists were at least smart about it.
Which meant that lately, the ones coming into 'Demon Hunting Studies' were bottom-of-the-barrel types with zero skill but lots of ambition.
Wayne, they figured, was just another one of them.
'…Wait. Is he serious?'
'Is he really telling us to use the spell?'
None of them had cast it recently.
The third-years glanced at each other uncertainly.
Ruin clicked his tongue in disgust.
“Look at you—so full of swagger, and yet you’re all just cowardly little shits.”
…What did he say?
“You’re all bark, no bite. Hiding behind your magic, but empty inside.”
“!”
“What’s wrong? You scared now that it’s time to actually cast it?”
His golden eyes curved into a cold crescent—like a black panther mocking a pack of trembling mice.
The students clenched their jaws.
'He must be leaning on his family name. Probably thinks no one would dare hurt a Wayne.'
Or maybe…
'Maybe he actually thinks he can break it.'
They hesitated—but that couldn’t be it.
“Just do it. He’s not going to break it.”
“Yeah. He’s obviously a parachute hire. Probably sent here so the other professors could get rid of him.”
That had to be it.
'There’s no way those greedy bastards would bring in someone who could actually compete for the head position.'
He’s just putting on an act. Sure, the bandages make him look scary, but—
'You wanna act tough? Let’s see how long that lasts.'
Finally, the third-years raised their wands and cast the spell. A bolt of lightning shot toward Ruin like a thunderclap.
Flash!
To the first- and second-year students, it looked like a lightning bird had swooped down. They squeezed their eyes shut, and the third-years sneered.
The spell was a success. A blue glowing barrier surrounded Ruin—tight, barely enough space to stand. No room to sit, let alone move.
Their mocking voices crept closer.
“Let’s see how long Professor Wayne can last in there.”
“The record is five hours—”
“Can’t believe this crap was what put professors under your thumb.”
…What?
“You thought 'this' would put you above faculty?”
The cold voice froze the room.
In hindsight, it would’ve been better if he’d just been bluffing. Because now, the barrier—supposedly immovable—was cracking.
…What?
'It’s cracking?!'
And it wasn’t some tiny hairline fracture.
Craaack. Craaaaack!
!
A force no human should wield—a power of nature ripping apart something meant to hold humans still. Color drained from the students’ faces. They had no time to react.
And then—
BOOM!
“Uwaaah!”
“Kyaaah!”
The blast sent classroom furniture flying. Third-year students were tossed around like paper dolls.
And all Ruin had done was place his hand on the barrier.
The students were speechless.
'What just happened?'
But there was no time to process it.
Tap.
The sound echoed near their ears. A crisp, clear tap of a man’s shoe against marble.
“…So.”
Tap!
“!”
Tap!
The closer the footsteps came, the deeper the fear.
Ruin stood now right in front of them.
“This is the Demon Hunting spell you created to catch the Firefly?”
“……!”
The third-years couldn’t lift their heads.
“P-professor…”
'We’re screwed.'
That’s all they could think.
“Uh… Ghk!”
Ruin pressed a single finger to the class rep’s forehead. His lips curled into a frigid smile.
“This? This would make the Firefly laugh himself unconscious.”
“……!”
No joke—it really felt like he was about to pass out from sheer frustration.
'What did they think the Firefly’s level was?'
They must’ve thought he was some pushover.
“Well, I’ll give you this—you 'did' create a spell that traps someone in a space too small to sit down.”
It was a legitimate torture technique. Even seasoned spies found it hard to endure. No wonder the professors couldn’t handle it. Whoever designed it—Ruin liked their style.
But the students only trembled harder.
He was humiliating them on purpose, wasn’t he?
“It’s not about humiliation.”
Even if it wasn’t, it was still a problem.
“But it’s too damn soft.”
…Excuse me?
Suddenly, a familiar magic circuit lit up beneath the students’ feet. And the same barrier that had trapped Ruin surged up around them.
Now it was the students who were trapped—and they froze.
“W-wait! What is this?!”
“How is he using that spell?!”
