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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Vine
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“…Haa…”
Lucia Marigold sighed. It was a rare occurrence.
She was concerned about the recent demon and devil appearances.
The demon incident during the training exercise a few months ago. She had been away on business.
She heard that a group of first years, including the top student, had managed to defeat it.
She didn’t believe it, but she couldn’t confirm it.
When was the last time I saw a demon…?
It must have been at least 10 years.
She had encountered one when she was an A-rank adventurer.
It had been a difficult fight.
So demons vary in strength.
“Huu…”
She sighed again, resting her forehead on her hand.
And now there was the demon incident during the mock dungeon exercise.
She knew what had happened from the students’ accounts, but she didn’t know *why* it happened.
Demons and devils were supposed to be in hiding. Why were they appearing so frequently?
She recalled the report from the professor.
“The students felt something was wrong right after they entered, and tried to leave, but there was a barrier. They went deeper and found a demon controlling corpses.”
Controlling corpses…
A typical demon ability.
She had questioned the professors. What had they been doing?
“The magic tool inside was taken over. We didn’t notice since it was using existing mana.”
The demon had infiltrated the dungeon beforehand.
How did they know about the academy’s curriculum? How did they know when she was away?
There’s an inside man.
It couldn’t be explained otherwise. Unless it was a god, or something equally powerful.
Was it a student, a professor, or a janitor?
She had no clue.
I have to find them.
She leaned back and closed her eyes.
-It’s a good thing we had that adventurer.
-That adventurer saved us.
The adventurer had been mentioned in the reports.
And she knew him.
Luke.
She hadn’t forgotten him.
He’s on his B-rank promotion exam…
She exchanged information with Argo.
She knew Luke was on a raid for his promotion.
It had been a few months since he left.
How did the last place student become so strong?
She was curious. Not just for herself, but for the students.
She wanted to add his training methods to the curriculum.
Demons and devils were appearing more frequently.
She could deal with them when she was there, but not if they appeared while she was away.
The students needed to be stronger.
I should ask him.
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That was how it started.
She planned to offer him favorable terms.
She had come a few days earlier.
She was prepared to accept most of his requests, as long as they were reasonable.
If he hadn’t thrown up…
“Luke, your mouth…!”
“It’s dripping…!”
“…”
There was a commotion.
But Lucia cleaned it up with a snap of her fingers.
“…If you’re not feeling well, you should have said something.”
She didn’t need to hear from him urgently, so she was just going to postpone it.
“He says he couldn’t speak.”
“…What?”
It was the beastkin woman who spoke. Luke was silent.
“Um… you are…?”
“I’m Luna, a member of Luke’s party. And this is Yui.”
“I see…”
She knew the importance of party members, having been an adventurer herself.
She had been worried about Luke when he left, but he seemed to have found good companions.
…Though, they seemed a little like slaves.
It must be my imagination.
“Are you feeling unwell?” she asked Luke.
“No.”
He wasn’t sick. But even if he was, he wouldn’t have come if she called.
“Would you be interested in being a temporary professor?”
Luna whispered something to Luke, who then nodded after shaking his head a few times.
“Do I really have to say it like that…?” Luna asked him.
He nodded.
“Sigh…”
She wondered what he was saying.
“He says he refuses.”
“…I haven’t even told you the conditions yet.”
“He says he’ll still refuse.”
Luna added her own opinion.
Luke nodded in agreement.
“I’m curious about something.”
“What is it?”
“Wasn’t there objection from the professors?”
“That’s why I didn’t mention it. ”
Wasn’t it too much for her to act on her own?
If she had held a meeting, the result would have been predictable.
There would be professors who would object based on their elitist views.
A dropout as a professor? A commoner teaching nobles?
That was why she came alone.
It would be too late after the contract was signed.
And Luke would prove himself with his skills.
“Think of it as a break.” Argo suggested.
“He asks, why?”
“Your rapid promotion is alarming. There are rumors.”
There were rumors about his rapid promotion.
Bribery. Connections.
How could someone become so strong in a few months?
It was fueled by jealousy, but it sounded plausible.
He could prove them wrong with his skills, but…
How many people could he prove it to personally?
He’d be A-rank soon, and by then, the rumors would be facts.
He needed a break.
“He says, can’t he just kill everyone to make the rumors go away?”
“…Then he’d be a wanted criminal.”
Luke seemed disappointed.
She had thought it was a joke, but it wasn’t.
This was a good opportunity.
“We offer good benefits. Meals, accommodation, we’ll try to accommodate your requests. I’m not expecting you to stay long, maybe one or two months?”
Luke seemed to be thinking it over.
“We also pay very well.”
“He asks, how much?”
She whispered the amount.
It was a lot.
She smiled.
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Go hunt monsters? 💰
Hunt down demons? 💰
Teach some whippersnappers to survive? 💰
Luke has got his work cut out for him…