kscans

Chapter 185 - The Professor Would Never Click Her Tongue

Chapter 127: The Professor Would Never Click Her Tongue

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We were burnt to a crisp... turned to white ash...

In the Arisugawa family living room, the hopeless co-ed and I were in a daze, our souls practically leaking from our mouths.

I don't want to see a fountain pen for a long time. I never thought I'd be handed a ridiculously expensive-looking one and forced to 'practice writing letters.'

If, and only if, that were all, I might have been able to accept it as a necessary skill for my future as a working adult. Even if I'd just be sending emails instead of writing on paper, the phrasing would be useful.

But why in English...?! And not just any English, but full-blown Queen's English...!

Even Aira-san, who was supposed to be good at English, was getting corrected on her expressions and phrasing, so I'm guessing we were made to write some extremely formal stuff.

What was that about? Did she want us to write letters to her family back home? Even if I'm a major sponsor for my employer, I'm just an adventurer. We're not in a relationship where I'd need to send letters.

The previous lessons were obviously useful for the future or would affect my English grades, but this one was completely baffling. I didn't understand the intent.

However, my English grades have improved significantly thanks to the professor. I should probably trust that this was necessary, too.

Glancing at Aira-san, who was still white-eyed and open-mouthed, I took a sip of my barley tea.

The room was air-conditioned, but the tea felt like it was directly cooling my boiled brain. It was delicious.

I placed the glass on its wooden coaster and breathed a sigh of relief.

"You two worked hard! How was it?"

"Hell."

"So simple."

How else was I supposed to describe it?

I gave a dry laugh to Erina-san, who had just entered the living room with a beaming smile.

"Getting constantly corrected without a hint of malice or insult, all in the name of goodwill and sound logic... What are you even supposed to do about that..."

"You can only get better, I think!"

"So simple."

If it were that easy, I wouldn't be struggling.

...But considering I'd probably improve if I did struggle, I suppose the professor is a good teacher, all things considered.

"Can you believe it, Kyouta-kun?"

"Oh, she's back to life."

"Even though she's such a demon, she's apparently the number one professor whose lectures students want to attend at the university. And that was her reputation even before she published that paper on the other world. It seems the world is full of people besides you whose brains are in their pants."

"Well... the professor is stunningly beautiful. Both her face and her mannerisms."

Having been raised so well, she has a natural elegance.

Every one of her movements is more graceful and flawless than even Erina-san's. On top of that, she kindly imparts her knowledge with goodwill and fairness, so it's no wonder she's popular.

I bet she was a very popular teacher even before she became an elf, back when she looked her age.

"You've both worked hard. Here are some cookies."

"Thank you, my sister. I love you from the bottom of my heart. They smell wonderful. I'm being saved from hell..."

"Oh my. It seems you still have the charm to be this delighted by my baking."

"Gah, the old hag!?"

Following Mia-san, who was carrying a tray of cookies, the professor, who had been clearing away the inkstones and paper, entered the living room.

I straightened my posture while still seated and gave a small bow. The professor smiled sweetly at the hopeless co-ed beside me, who had just made a rude comment.

"It seems you still have plenty of energy. We could probably cram a little more in."

"Nooo!? I'll overflow! Other knowledge will spill from my ears! And I was up all night figuring out the most efficient way to grind in my gacha game!"

What is wrong with this person?

The hopeless co-ed shook her head violently, her long hair flying. With the motion, her chest, wrapped in a t-shirt, bounced from side to side with a thump and a wobble.

Ah, my brain is recovering. But staring like Mia-san would be bad, so I forced my gaze forward.

"...Well, that's enough for now. I did make you help quite a bit when I was writing that paper, after all."

"Alright! Nice one, past me! It was worth cutting my game time by an hour!"

Aira-san pumped her fist triumphantly. With that motion, her chest bounced again, and my eyes, along with Mia-san's, were drawn back to it.

This is bad. I have to use the hopeless co-ed number two as a cautionary tale and activate my willpower with all my might.

"Now then. Since today's lecture is over, let's move on to the next topic."

The professor pushed up her glasses slightly and turned her gaze toward me.

Her outfit, a green one-piece dress with a thin white cardigan, gave her the look of a literary girl.

Her eyesight should be excellent due to her Awakening, but apparently she can concentrate better during lectures with glasses, even if they're just for show.

"About the matter of 'Alchemy' we discussed the other day. May I see that book?"

"Yes. I'll get it out now."

I partially manifested my [Arcane Gear] and took out a single book.

The four of them stared with curiosity at the object I deliberately kept dematerialized during dungeon explorations and stampede battles.

"Hmm. So this is the 'textbook' you mentioned, Kyouta-kun..."

"It looks like a simple leather-bound book. There's no title."

"It's as thick as a dictionary... If its appearance is anything to go by, it should be around three thousand pages."

"Is this what you read to make Byak-chan?"

"Yeah."

I nodded in response to Erina-san, who was dressed in an indigo kimono.

I haven't been able to read this book all that often, but I have been trying to commit its contents to memory by occasionally transcribing them into a notebook.

In the beginning, I was quite enthusiastic about it, treating it as 'fantasy knowledge.' It was a good break from studying for exams.

Of course, it got tougher as I read on. The content is simply difficult. It's easier than what the Alchemy Enthusiasts Club has made public, but it's still like a chemistry textbook. And most of the knowledge isn't very useful for school tests.

"Kyouta-kun. May I photograph the contents of the book?"

"Umm... ah..."

Even I understood that this was the goose that laid the golden eggs.

She was a benefactor, but I hesitated to show it to her so easily. After revealing the truth about my 'Nucleus,' I felt like I should share this as well... but the fact that I still hesitated showed how indecisive I am.

"As payment, you may do as you please with my granddaughters. Not just for one night, but for three days and three nights."

"She sold her own granddaughters!?"

"Ahaha..."

So the professor tells jokes, too. I managed a polite laugh beside Aira-san, whose eyes looked ready to pop out of her head.

Yes. I knew it was a joke, but hearing it in a room full of such beautiful women was awkward. Given the gender imbalance, I had no idea what the correct reaction was...

"Alright, senpai! Let's tempt him with the sexy pose we came up with!"

"Wha-!?"

Mia-san started to fluster at Erina-san's absurd suggestion.

What is this self-proclaimed ninja saying?

I should stop her from making someone else do something ridiculous, but I decided to wait and see.

It's definitely not because I was intrigued by Mia-san's so-called sexy pose! My willpower is made of orichalcum!

...Though I'm not religious, maybe I should visit a church confessional.

"U-Umm..."

Mia-san, in her sleeveless white shirt with a thin ribbon tie and blue skirt, suddenly untied the ribbon. What's more, she unfastened three buttons.

Seriously!?

"Ooh... la-la...!"

Mia-san leaned forward, smiling at me as if to show off her deep cleavage.

Her long elven ears and magnificent breasts were faintly flushed. Her cheeks were even redder, and despite the air conditioning, a light sheen of sweat had formed.

What is this, the very personification of lewdness?

"Come on, senpai! Now for the 'ooh-la-la!' part!"

"Th-That's so old-fashioned! 'Ooh-la-la'!? This is just too much!"

"Ehh? It's knowledge from the future if you're looking at it from the Sengoku or Edo periods, you know?"

"It's the Reiwa era! And that was from the Sho-o-o-wa e-e-era!"

Mia-san shot upright to protest against Erina-san, pulling her chest back. The impact caused her massive breasts to sway with a sploosh♡.

She didn't seem to notice, but her magnificently endowed chest had swayed so much that another button had come undone.

A button-bone, not a chuck-bone. Next to me, the hopeless co-ed took a hit and cried out, "A button to the knee!?" but I didn't care.

Black...! And a mature one, with lace...!!

The white, voluptuous cleavage and the corner of the enormous bra that was now visible. Right now, I was truly glad I was sitting in a chair.

I quietly offered the alchemy book to the professor.

"Please, accept this offering...!"

"No. The payment is insufficient."

"Please refrain from any further jests. My willpower might shatter along with... other things, and I'll be forced to flee this place."

In which case, I wouldn't be able to stand and walk, but would have to roll away curled up like an armadillo or a pill bug.

If I did a full-power roll in that state, I could break through walls to move. I couldn't imagine the damage it would cause.

My orichalcum willpower is screaming in agony!!

"...Very well. I will compensate you later with money or some form of connection. Also, I have already prepared a contract stating that the knowledge in this book will not be disclosed. It's a document I had inscribed with magic through a contact, so it is binding both legally and magically."

"Thank you."

From the bottom of my heart, thank you.

Mia-san, who had been re-tying her ribbon and fastening her buttons, seemed to notice one was missing.

She turned as red as an apple to the tips of her ears and looked at me with teary eyes.

"D-Did you see...? I mean, did you look...?"

"Um... I'm sorry."

"No...! I mean, for showing you something so unsightly..."

"It wasn't... um... never mind."

An awkward silence fell as Mia-san, covering her chest, turned her back to me and left the living room. Even from behind, I could see the side of her breast. What a historically significant chest...!

But I also felt guilty. Her breath had become a little ragged, and her pupils were wide open, whether from anger or shame. I felt like I should apologize properly later.

It was an accident that I saw, but I should have looked away immediately. I'll reflect on that.

"There, there, pain go away."

"Ugh... You're the only one who cares about me after I took a button to the knee, Erina-kun...!"

"To think Paisen would have to switch careers to a city guard...!"

"Ah. Mia... What a terrifying child...!"

Meanwhile, the hopeless co-ed next to me was exaggerating her pain, but with her level and stats, there's no way a button, no matter how powerfully launched, could have done any damage.

She kept glancing at me, dabbing the condensation from her glass of barley tea near her eyes. Is she trying to fake cry?

"Aira-san."

"Ah, Kyouta-kun. I'm sorry, but this is the end of my adventuring career. I'll be watching over your exploits from the rear from now on...!'

"No, Paisen! I'll be lonely!!"

"Hee hee. You and I will always be connected...

"When should we schedule the next leveling session?"

"Show some more compassion, you heartless, good-for-nothing virgin!?"

"Should we go tomorrow, you frail, gloomy introvert!?"

"Huh? We're not going right now?"

"Erina-kun???"

Could it be that this self-proclaimed ninja is naturally sadistic?

"...Due to certain circumstances, I would like to request some time."

Putting that aside, I'd rather not. Not now. Right now is absolutely not the time. Seriously.

"This is convenient for me, so I won't say anything. Just stay there, unable to stand, Kyouta-kun."

"...? Did you take a button to the knee too, Kyouta? Want me to rub it?"

"Please don't. I will die."

Right now, please don't be kind to me. My mental state will die from guilt, and due to certain circumstances, my social life will die.

For a moment, I thought I heard the professor click her tongue with a 'tch' at our conversation, but it must have been my imagination.

There's no way the professor, such an elegant and respectable adult, would ever click her tongue.