I Became a Demon Professor at the Academy – Chapter 26

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Yuziro
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“He came?”

“That wretch really came?”

Christine’s other followers widened their eyes and asked Artel.

“Well… See for yourself.”

Artel herself glanced back unconsciously.

Though she had asked him to come and brought him here, she honestly hadn’t expected him to actually show up.

A bit further away from where they were murmuring, Jekkiel was calmly grooming himself, undisturbed.

“Do you think he has ulterior motives?”

In response to someone’s question, Artel shook her head.

‘If you agreed to come with the intention of doing something untoward to Queen Christine…’

‘I won’t. I swear on my heart.’

For a vampire, swearing on their heart was more absolute than anything else.

Of course.

The heart, the organ that circulates blood, was too precious for vampires.

He had even complied when she suggested searching him, though she had said it half-jokingly.

While things seemed to be going well, all sorts of thoughts raced through her mind.

Was he truly trying to help Christine? Or did he have some ulterior motive, to the point of disregarding even his own demise…

“This whole situation is just ridiculous.”

At that moment, someone firmly shattered Artel’s contemplation.

“For one secretary to abandon her post, and another to entertain the idea of bringing Jekkiel here – is this any way to conduct yourselves?”

It was Kiaru.

With arms crossed, clearly displeased with the situation so far, Kiaru resolutely continued:

“If it was another vampire swearing on their heart, I would immediately put my doubts to rest, for I know the absolute weight of such an oath. However…”

As if vexed, Kiaru forcefully pounded her chest.

Pang! Pang! Pang!

“The heart inside that wretch Jekkiel is Queen Christine’s, is it not? What meaning could an oath on another’s heart possibly hold? Do you truly not understand that it is an insult to Queen Christine?”

Artel began to sweat profusely.

She had followed Vivian’s advice and brought Jekkiel here out of desperation, but Kiaru’s words made perfect sense.

‘Swearing on Queen Christine’s heart…’

Considering Jekkiel’s past actions, it was practically no different from not swearing at all.

Jekkiel had said he no longer had his own heart.

It was said that he had lost his heart on the day he showed disrespect to the Demon King.

In that case, swearing on Christine’s heart was essentially no different.

Artel approached Jekkiel, leaving the other followers behind.

“Jekkiel. No, King Jekkiel.”

“What is it?”

“Can you truly promise not to do anything untoward to Queen Christine?”

Jekkiel pondered for a moment, stroking his chin.

“How impudent.”

That was his only response.

Though his imposing presence was no joke, Artel could not back down either.

“Even if impudent, this is an extremely important matter for us. So please, answer…”

“It’s not that it’s impudent.”

Jekkiel continued in a chilling tone.

‘How vexing.’

No, the point was that Christine was ill.

If something happened to Christine, it would be a grave matter for them.

It was already going to be difficult enough to quickly assess her condition, so being told this and that was only more vexing.

He was aware that the original Jekkiel had a less than favorable track record.

So he understood being treated this way, but…

Understanding and resolving the situation were entirely different matters.

Therefore, he needed to take a firmer stance here.

“It’s your arrogant mentality of regarding Christine as extraordinary that is impudent.”

“Wh… What did you just say?”

“Ulterior motives and schemes are considerations worth making when dealing with a formidable opponent. But to me, Christine is nothing. Make sure you understand this point clearly.”

“Y, y, you… What impudent words…!”

“Furthermore, weren’t you the ones who called me here? Didn’t you need me? Then quietly observe the outcome instead of making such a fuss.”

“A fuss?! Watch your words! If you continue speaking like this…”

“If you wish for Christine’s safety, then you should be the one keeping your mouth shut.”

At that, Artel tightly closed her mouth.

No matter how wounded her pride or how hurt her feelings, for her, there was no greater wish than Christine’s safety.

The other followers glared at him as if they wanted to kill him.

However, none of them rushed forward.

In the end, they too hoped for Christine’s well-being.

“Move aside.”

After pushing the followers aside, he brushed away the curtain draped in front of Christine’s bed.

-!!!!!

Everyone was greatly alarmed.

It was an act no sane person would dare commit.

Their eyes narrowed as they gripped their concealed weapons.

Of course, I was taken aback as well, but not due to the tense atmosphere.

It was because of Christine’s condition.

Christine’s condition was heart-wrenching to witness.

The veins protruding from her pale skin were discolored purple, and her breathing was extremely rapid.

The pillow and blanket were drenched in sweat.

First, I closed the curtain again.

Artel asked tentatively, “The Sin of Envy, Vivian, said it was not poisoning, but what is your assessment, King Jekkiel?”

“Did Vivian really say that? Are you certain?”

“Yes.”

“That fool has lost all her senses to spout such nonsense about poison.”

Artel and the other followers’ eyes widened.

Artel felt her already racing heart pound even harder.

‘He knows something.’

He knew something that even Vivian had failed to discern.

But then, someone else interjected again.

This time, it was Kiaru.

“Confirming Queen Christine’s condition without permission is a grave matter. If you cannot treat her, you will naturally have to take responsibility.”

“Kiaru, please calm down for now…”

“What are you doing, Lady Artel! Swearing on Queen Christine’s heart, insulting Queen Christine, and now viewing her condition without permission – you’re not fulfilling your duties as a secretary!”

Haah, with a deep sigh, Jekkiel approached Kiaru.

“Then you do it.”

“……?”

He pushed Kiaru’s back, propelling her toward Christine’s bed.

Kiaru looked at Jekkiel with a bewildered gaze.

“What?”

“You’re dissatisfied either way. If you can treat her while maintaining proper decorum toward Christine, then you do it.”

“Of course I can’t directly treat her, but…!”

“Then do you have a better solution? If poisoning was suspected from the start, shouldn’t we have avoided Vivian at all costs? Who was it that came up with the absurd idea of calling her instead? It must have been you, no need to tell me.”

The other followers closed their mouths in shock.

It had indeed been Kiaru’s suggestion.

“…Vivian has a reputation for reviving even the dead! In a situation like this, who else can we rely on? We have to grasp at any straw we can!”

“In other words, she can just as easily turn the living into corpses. You fool.”

Jekkiel pushed Kiaru against the wall.

The red-faced Kiaru let out a small grunt as she clamped her mouth shut.

“Um, excuse me.”

Artel’s urgent voice came from the side.

“If Kiaru was rude, I will apologize on her behalf. But now, time is truly running short. Only thirty-five minutes remain until the coronation…”

“Is that so.”

As if it were no big deal, Jekkiel removed his outer garment.

Artel hurriedly took it and hung it on a rack.

However, Jekkiel did not approach Christine.

Turning his back, he looked at Christine’s gathered followers instead.

“There is a condition in exchange for saving Christine.”

“A condition?”

Everyone gulped hard.

This was the man who had even torn out Christine’s heart.

What could he possibly demand this time?

Queen Christine’s eyes…? The Queen’s ruby eyes?’

It was a plausible demand.

They were one of the few artifacts Christine had preserved in her body.

If he demanded that, what should they do? Artel’s mind began to spin in confusion.

However, Jekkiel’s words were quite different from what they had imagined.

“No matter what happens, you must remain absolutely loyal to Christine.”

“……?”

Before the followers’ expressions could even turn foolish, he continued:

“Let me clarify. Even if Legalus, the King of the Demon Realm, orders you to abandon Christine, you must stay by her side until the very end. Carry out her will.”

In the quiet sickroom, only silence lingered.

“Your answer?”

“Ah, understood.”

Artel was the first to nod.

The other followers then hurriedly nodded as well, albeit clumsily.

“That’s settled then. All of you, clear out and make sure no one approaches this area.”

The followers left without a word, evacuating the area entirely.

Kiaru hesitated until the end but eventually left as well.

Their attitude toward Jekkiel had changed completely in just a few minutes.

Now, only Christine and I remained in the room.

“Christine.”

There was no response.

After pulling back the curtain, I gently grasped her wrist.

I knew what symptoms she was experiencing.

I had clearly seen it beyond the monitor.

She simply didn’t have enough remaining blood.

At the time, I had thought her boss HP was just low, which was why she appeared that way.

But now I understood.

She lacked a heart, didn’t she?

Just as premium fuel is required for high-end vehicles, the highest quality blood was needed for a supreme vampire.

However…

‘Without a heart, you were unable to refine ordinary blood into supreme-quality blood.’

As a result, she could not replenish her blood through normal feeding or blood gems, nor undergo the process of refining it into supreme-quality blood.

She must have endured agony for centuries.

Persevering and persevering, until she finally collapsed.

The extent of her suffering was beyond my comprehension.

My act of sharing my blood to revive her could also mark the start of another ordeal for her.

No, it most certainly would.

“However, even so. Christine.”

You must live on.

For the happy ending of this world, you must survive.

And in return, someday, truly someday.

“Even if not Jekkiel, I will make you happy someday.”

It was at the point where only thirty minutes remained until the coronation ceremony.

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