Villain Professor of Heroes – Chapter 17

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Chaos
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After the day’s work, I lay down on the sofa for a bit of rest before returning to the faculty housing.

Even though my coughing had stopped, my body was still weak, and I felt drained and heavy as evening approached.

So, I usually rested for ten to thirty minutes before leaving work.

There was no one to greet me at home, and I had no particular hobbies, so it didn’t matter whether I went home early or late.

And lately, I had developed a minor problem.

Nightmares.

They weren’t exactly nightmares, but strange dreams that left me feeling odd upon waking, so they might as well have been nightmares.

The dreams went like this:

I would be floating high in the sky and enter strangely colored clouds.

Then, the scene would suddenly change, and I would be on the ground, looking up at a shining meteor falling rapidly towards the earth.

A few other scenes would flash by, but as with most dreams, I would forget them as soon as I opened my eyes in the morning.

The only things I could remember were the clouds and the meteor.

I had no idea what the dreams meant.

I couldn’t just ask anyone about it either, so I assumed it was some sort of issue stemming from the possession process.

But if these nightmares continued, it would become a problem.

On nights when the nightmares were severe, I tossed and turned all night, and the next day, I felt like I was dying.

On those days, I would barely manage to function by pouring down nutritional supplements and tonics, then stagger back to my housing, utterly exhausted.

As I lay there, breathing slowly, my phone alarm suddenly rang.

[Hello, Professor. It’s Han Min-ha.]

Han Min-ha sent me a message…?

How did she get my number?

Teaching Assistant Bae Ye-bin probably gave it to her after the advisor assignments were finalized.

[My teaching assistant gave me your number and told me to greet you.]

As expected, Teaching Assistant Bae had taken precautions so her students wouldn’t be overlooked.

With their poor grades and lack of attention from the academy, their only hope was their advisors.

So, she had them greet their advisors politely in advance to make a good first impression.

[Nice to hear from you, student Han Min-ha. Although we’ve already spoken a few times.]

[Thank you for choosing me as your student. I’ll work hard.]

[That’s a very good attitude. I was actually planning to contact you separately. We have an advisor orientation tomorrow.]

[Is there anything I need to prepare?]

[No. It’s just a time to chat over coffee, so come relaxed.]

[Understood. Will Hee-won be there too?]

Han Min-ha was also concerned about Yoo Hee-won.

For a completely different reason.

Yoo Hee-won’s pride was hurt because she was assigned the same advisor as Han Min-ha, who was at the bottom of the class, while Han Min-ha probably felt like, “How dare I be with someone like her?”

But what else could I do, Han Min-ha?

I had to accept Yoo Hee-won as well to properly guide you.

[Student Yoo Hee-won will also be there.]

[Understood, Professor. I’ll see you tomorrow then.]

[Yes.]

After the brief conversation with Han Min-ha, I saved her number.

Her profile popped up in my messenger, automatically added as a friend.

There was nothing written in her profile.

Her display name was just Han Min-ha, and her profile picture was the default image.

A girl her age would at least have a selfie or something.

Well, what could I do about her personality?

I put down my phone, lay down for a few more minutes, and then got up from the sofa to leave for the day.

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Back at my housing, I showered and sat on the sofa.

I should have eaten dinner, but that would require going to the cafeteria on campus.

It wasn’t far, but after showering and sinking into the sofa, I couldn’t bring myself to go back out.

Kindness and diligence came from physical strength, didn’t they?

Without energy, I didn’t want to do anything.

I should have stopped by the cafeteria on my way back.

No.

At that time, I would have definitely thought it was better to come straight back, shower quickly, and lie down.

One way or another, I would just have a simple dinner tonight.

I took a pre-made frozen meal kit from the freezer, put it in the microwave, and paced by the window.

I was in the male faculty housing.

Across a small flower bed was the female faculty housing, situated diagonally.

As I looked down, I saw Professor Jin Se-young walking from the other side.

Professor Jin, with her training jacket tied around her waist, reached up and fumbled behind her neck.

Soon, she located the zipper and pulled down the top part of her full-body suit.

Professor Jin’s toned upper body, clad in a sports bra, was revealed.

The setting sun illuminated her sweat-glistened muscles.

Professor Jin fanned herself repeatedly and disappeared into her housing.

She looked so… healthy.

A stark contrast to me, a gray mold.

Leaning against the window, I ate my microwaved meal and watched the sun slowly set.

Nothing had happened since the quest to make Han Min-ha an S-Rank appeared.

There was no mention of a reward, and there wasn’t a status window or anything to refer to.

Would I really be able to return to my original world after completing the quest?

Now that Han Min-ha’s appearance had completely derailed the original story, I couldn’t be sure of anything.

Where did Han Min-ha even come from?

I had definitely read this failed, trashy academy web novel to the very end, but she never appeared in it.

Perhaps…

This was a ridiculous assumption, but…

Perhaps the world I had possessed was a remake of the original.

If that was the case…

It was absurd enough that they had brought a loyal reader who followed that failed novel to the end into this world, but if it was a remake, there was a problem.

Knowing the original story wouldn’t be of any help.

“Fuck.”

I unconsciously cursed, a word I hadn’t uttered since my possession.

I checked the stability of my Mental Barrier and calmed myself.

Whatever the situation, I was already here, so I would focus on the quest.

I didn’t know if it was the first and last quest, or a trigger for other quests…

But since I had finally found a path in this impenetrable forest, I had no choice but to keep walking.

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The next day, Han Min-ha arrived at the lab earlier than the appointed time.

“You’re early. Student Yoo Hee-won isn’t here yet. Come in.”

“Ah, yes…!”

Han Min-ha looked incredibly anxious as she sat down.

She kept glancing nervously at the door while I made coffee.

Just as I finished brewing three cups, I heard a knock.

“It’s Yoo Hee-won.”

“Gasp…?!”

Han Min-ha gasped and jumped up from her chair.

“Come in. It’s open.”

Yoo Hee-won opened the door and strode confidently into the lab, then made eye contact with Han Min-ha.

“You’re here already?”

“Ah… hello…?”

Han Min-ha seemed incredibly nervous at Yoo Hee-won’s appearance.

It was only natural.

It would have been strange if she had acted relaxed.

Yoo Hee-won and Han Min-ha were like oil and water.

It was my job to manage them.

“Sit down. I just made some coffee.”

Yoo Hee-won sat down, looked around the lab, and commented briefly,

“It’s modest.”

“A mere professor’s room doesn’t need to be extravagant.”

“What’s that? A palm tree?”

Yoo Hee-won pointed at the areca palm pot by the window.

“Yes, it’s an areca palm. It purifies the air.”

“You have an air purifier too. Come to think of it, you’re not in good health, Professor. You couldn’t even finish your introduction at the entrance ceremony because of your coughing.”

“That’s right. I have weak lungs. But don’t worry. I’m fine now. Drink your coffee.”

Han Min-ha bowed her head and quickly took a sip of coffee.

“Ow, hot…”

After giving Han Min-ha a serpentine smile, Yoo Hee-won sniffed the coffee and asked,

“Colombian Santa Maria?”

“That’s right.”

We sat in silence for a moment, sipping our coffee.

Han Min-ha was completely intimidated, while Yoo Hee-won, proportionally, exuded confidence.

From their appearances alone, the gloomy Han Min-ha with her dark hair and glasses, and the radiant Yoo Hee-won with her blonde hair and bright blue eyes, were polar opposites.

Yoo Hee-won was glamorous enough to pass for an active hero, while Han Min-ha… well…

I would just have to mold her into a hero from now on.

And that would probably involve dealing with those glasses first.

There weren’t any heroes who wore glasses.

Even those with poor eyesight wore prescription goggles instead of glasses like those.

Appearance was very important for a hero.

Heroes weren’t guardians of justice and common sense.

They were stars who lived off public popularity and the Administration’s attention.

So, naturally, pretty and handsome heroes thrived.

And if they used flashy, instant-kill techniques in combat, it was even better.

No matter how ultimate my defense techniques were, a drab, gray mop like me lacked star quality and would struggle to succeed.

With that approach, I can never become an S-rank, no matter how hard I try.

“Thank you both for choosing me as your advisor.”

Han Min-ha and Yoo Hee-won looked at me with their respective gazes as I spoke.

“I’ve never had advisees before, so honestly, I’m a bit burdened, but I’ll do my best. I look forward to working with you both.”

“Likewise.” “Me too.”

“By the way, you two already know each other, right? Even though you’re in different classes.”

Han Min-ha nodded, and Yoo Hee-won spoke with her characteristic smile.

“How could I not know Min-ha?”

Her words were loaded with meaning, and Han Min-ha blushed and lowered her head.

I smiled and asked,

“Is it perhaps because of a minor incident, like her fainting during the basic evaluation?”

“Well, yes?”

“Alright. But don’t act like a noble lady treating her maid. Understand?”

“When did I ever do that?”

“No, I’m saying this so you don’t do it in the future. Don’t be so sensitive.”

I smiled faintly, and as most women did when I smiled at them, Yoo Hee-won couldn’t retort and closed her mouth.

“From now on, you’re both my students. It would be beneficial for all three of us if you got along. I don’t want unnecessary conflict to ruin everything.”

Han Min-ha nodded repeatedly, and Yoo Hee-won frowned slightly and looked away.

I smiled, took a sip of coffee, and continued,

“Typically, an advisor’s role is to offer advice and support in all aspects of academy life and academics. In addition, professors often teach their specialized subjects in-depth. My subject is Basic Defense. While it’s called ‘basic’, it encompasses almost all defense techniques.”

“So, we’ll be learning defense techniques?”

Yoo Hee-won interrupted me.

“Yes, assuming you both want to. I can’t force you to learn if you don’t want to. But one thing is certain. Studying defense techniques will drastically increase your survival rate. And it’s quite useful in everyday life as well.”

As I finished speaking, I lifted my coffee cup and splashed it towards Yoo Hee-won and Han Min-ha.

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