"A week has passed, huh!"

Bringing his arm over his eyes to block the terrible sunlight from the window, Art yanked the sleeping cloth off his body with his other hand. Then, moving his legs slightly, he placed them on the ground and sat up on the edge of the bed.

A week had passed since he was officially hired. A week had passed since he began his job as a teaching assistant to Professor Villier. And finally, a week had passed since he successfully avoided a duel with Trish.

Those days had been peaceful. Sure, Trish's endless pestering was annoying, and Professor Villier's unhidden irritation toward him was also annoying—but he still sort of loved them in his own twisted way.

There was no plot to worry about, no villains behind the scenes, and no problematic consequences he had to deal with. But on that particular sunny Monday morning, all those peaceful days had ended.

You see, to avoid stress, he might have postponed a particular problem to the current week.

The crazy swordswoman wanted a duel, and he didn't. So he made a bet with her: if she was able to defeat the main character of this world, he would accept. Unfortunately for him, the main character would be arriving this week.

When? He didn't know. But he knew one thing—for his peace, he had to make sure Trish never fought the main character. At least, not until she was strong enough to handle that crazy girl. Or so he hoped.

"Valerie… Valerie… Valerie."

Muttering her name like his life depended on it, he quickly rushed into the bathroom to freshen up for another day in the education industry.

---

"Good morning, Professor Villier."

Stepping into the academy grounds, the first person he met was Professor Villier, dressed in his usual wizardly black garments. With a sleek black wand strapped to his waist, the vampire turned to meet Art.

"And what is good about the morning?"

Pushing his glasses up, he responded with irritation.

"I don't know, the sun or something." He shrugged.

"As expected, you really are a fool."

"....."

"Don't give me that dumbfounded look of yours. You speak of the warmth of the sun in the face of a vampire and expect him to be overjoyed?"

For the first time since Art came to the institution, the professor actually had a valid reason for calling him a fool.

"Anyway, Professor, what's the agenda for today?"

Following Villier as they entered the corridors of the academy, he inquired. The vampire paid him little attention.

"I have a meeting with the association."

"The Mages' Association?"

"Do not interrupt me!" Villier warned with a sharp glare.

"Yes, sir."

"As I was saying, I have a meeting with the Mages' Association. As my T.A., you should have been escorting me, but alas, those fools do not take lightly to warriors."

"So… an off day?" Art smiled.

"No!"

His smile died as quickly as it came.

"Since you're too unintelligent to handle my class and also because you're no mage, you'll be helping Professor Grim with hers."

"I… understand."

If Art was being honest, he found it hard to approach the other teachers—with Villier being the only exception. Not that he liked Villier—not in the least—but that vampire paid little attention to him, so he could cut loose as much as he wanted. The others, especially Professor Grim? Not so much.

He wasn't evil, nor did he have any sort of bad intentions, but he couldn't deny he would come off as suspicious to others. And if he became too suspicious, many problems would arise.

"Wait… this could be my chance."

There were times when his memories suddenly came undone, and he remembered minor details—like Trish and Valerie sharing the same class, and Professor Grim being their original teacher before Art took over the next semester.

"I'm joining the plot too early, but there's nothing I can do."

For now, he was going to use this change to prevent Trish from fighting Valerie.

"If you're done plotting whatever the heck you want, then stop following me."

Professor Villier was as grumpy as ever, but Art was an adaptive fellow. A week had been all he needed to learn to deal with him. So, pretending as if he heard nothing, he continued following the vampire until they arrived at the teachers' faculty lounge.

The interior was large and bustling with activity—especially since the new school term had just begun.

There were veteran teachers going over their notes in preparation for morning lectures, a few hardened ones noting down complex questions to throw at unsuspecting first-years. There were also the free-spirited ones, lacking the burden of a morning class, just chilling in front of their desks and chatting with colleagues.

"I heard the Association Head will be invited to this year's Rank Games."

"Well, his granddaughter is among the first-years. What did you expect? Wait—don't tell me you believed he was a hermit."

"I've got to admit, he looks like one."

Passing by the conversing bunch, Art unconsciously nodded. He, too, had to admit that old freak from the Association did look like a hermit… a really handsome hermit.

"Professor Villier."

Reaching his desk, he gestured toward Villier, whose desk was just beside his.

"What?" The vampire snapped, pausing his light packing to glare at him.

The stare he gave was frightening, but Art had grown used to it. So he merely shrugged it off and replied, "I just wanted to ask for a few tips about Professor Grim."

"And why ask me? Go ask Cerci or something."

"Normally, I would have done so, but… how do I say this?"

Blushing a bit, he coughed shyly.

"She's a bit too eccentric for me to handle."

Looking at the young man acting like a flower boy, Villier's lips twitched. His expression resembled someone who had just experienced the sourest of tastes.

If not for the policy against attacking other teachers, he would have unleashed the most horrifying spell in his arsenal on the boy. But alas, he was a respectable teacher, so he calmed down and did none of that.

"She's a paranoid freak. If that's all, you may leave. I find your presence unpleasant."

With no further elaboration, Professor Villier shooed Art away.

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