Academy’s Undercover Professor-Chapter 268: An Unexpected Gift (1)

Ludger arrived at his private faculty office and began reviewing the documents laid out on his desk.

The field training was just around the corner.

Now that the sorting was mostly complete, organizing the final paperwork meant this task was practically finished.

‘The mentors seem to be more or less finalized, too.’

After confirming the list of mentors, Ludger concluded that there was no problem proceeding with it as is.

Though his role as Planning Director should have made him busier, Ludger hadn’t been overwhelmed with work since his first inspection.

Most of the tasks were handled by his subordinates.

All Ludger had to do was sign the approval documents that made their way up to him.

‘This year we’ve gathered some truly formidable mentors.’

Seorn's field training had always attracted participation from many renowned mages.

Seorn was the Empire’s top magic academy.

Many famous mages were graduates of Seorn, and there were plenty willing to step forward for the sake of their alma mater.

‘Besides, just being named a mentor for Seorn students is enough to earn recognition among magicians.’

It was only natural that magicians competed to be selected.

But this year, despite it being an annual event, the competition was particularly fierce.

Many familiar names appeared on the compiled list.

Old Mage Tower, New Mage Tower, even the School Alliance.

While those groups always sent representatives, this year the number of applicants had tripled compared to last year.

‘It’s probably because of me.’

Most likely, it was due to the lecture he gave at the Arcane Chamber last time.

It was obvious that people were trying to connect with him or curry favor with Seorn.

‘Still, managing to narrow down the list from all those top-tier applicants is impressive.’

Ludger found himself admiring the Planning Office’s efficiency.

The selections were near flawless—there was hardly anyone he could add or remove.

At least on the surface.

‘They don’t work in the Planning Office for nothing. It’d be a waste of talent not to use them more often moving forward.’

Had they heard this, the staff at the Planning Office would have foamed at the mouth.

Lately, they had been so busy because of Ludger that they could hardly breathe.

Living on a permanent caffeine drip and buried under endless piles of paperwork had become their norm.

They wandered the halls with souls drained from their bodies, looking more like graduate students than administrative staff.

Rumor even had it that a zombie had been sighted near the Planning Office for the past week.

“Professor Ludger.”

Just then, Sedina appeared from the assistant office, carrying the last stack of documents needing approval.

“Here’s the final set for signatures.”

“Good work. Anything else I should know about?”

“Ah, there is one thing to report. A graduate advisor came by the Planning Office.”

Ludger looked at her over the rim of his frameless glasses, slightly lowering them at the completely random report.

“Why?”

“They thought a graduate student had escaped the lab and fled here. Seems they misunderstood because of the rumors about zombies showing up at night.”

“......”

Ludger wondered if he’d misheard her—but Sedina’s earnest expression confirmed he hadn’t. He put his glasses back on.

“...I should give the Planning Office staff a break once this is all over.”

Come to think of it, the reason the Planning Office had gotten so busy was entirely because of him.

He’d assigned a lot of new work upon his appointment, and the surge in mentor applicants was also largely his fault.

Because of that, the Planning Office had been lit like a sleepless city for over a week.

“Well, the work’s done now, so there won’t be anything mor—”

Just then, the office door swung open with a rattle.

Someone had opened the door without knocking.

Quite rude.

Simultaneously, Ludger felt a strange sense of déjà vu.

Something like this had happened before.

Three years ago, at Ord University in the Delica Kingdom.

“Pardon the intrusion.”

A woman entered the office with confident steps.

Yes. Just like back then.

Like a stream of clear water flowing through a forest.

Her vivid blue hair shimmered and swayed with her stride.

Ludger silently stared at Casey Selmore as she approached.

Most people would avoid eye contact in this situation, but Casey met his gaze head-on, unwavering.

“You could’ve knocked. That’s basic courtesy.”

“Isn’t it a little late to be surprised by me?”

Instead of replying, Ludger simply signaled Sedina with a glance.

This wasn’t the first time something like this had happened, so Sedina naturally placed the documents down and withdrew to the assistant’s office.

“You two are in sync now.”

“Thanks to someone in particular.”

“I wonder who that ‘someone’ might be. Anyway, I’m here for this, Planning Director Ludger.”

Casey said that and held out a document.

Ludger glanced at the paper she extended and looked back at her.

“...A mentor application?”

It was a mentor application form for guiding students during the upcoming field training.

Ludger narrowed his eyes.

It was a look that said, What scheme is this cheeky detective up to this time?

“That expression says, ‘What scheme is this cheeky detective up to this time?’”

“...I never thought that.”

“Please. I can read it all over your face. Honestly, I’d be suspicious too if I were you. So, what’s it going to be? Are you going to approve it?”

“You always make unreasonable demands.”

Ludger shook his head—then paused for a moment, realizing he’d slipped back into his old manner of speech without noticing.

It had been a while since they bantered like this, and he’d unknowingly fallen back into the habits of their past.

I thought it was all just an act... but maybe not entirely.

Maybe he hadn’t just played a role as James Moriarty. Maybe he’d truly enjoyed their old banter.

But those days were long gone.

That relationship had ended in the worst possible way.

Even if the animosity between them had cooled, they remained adversaries.

Yet curiously—

Unlike what Ludger feared, Casey didn’t get angry at him for using his Moriarty tone.

Instead, she showed an emotion he didn’t expect at all.

What is this?

A fleeting expression—somber, almost regretful.

Though it lasted only a second, and she quickly returned to her usual self.

Still, Ludger noticed it immediately.

Could it be because of the assassins? Was my warning too late?

That was the only plausible explanation.

“...Anyway, I’m submitting this.”

“Rejected.”

At Ludger’s immediate reply, Casey shouted in frustration.

“What?! Why?!”

“The application deadline has already passed. Nothing can be done.”

“Hah, do you even know who I am? I’m Casey Selmore! The Azure Witch!”

“Even if you hold a color title, the rules still apply. No exceptions.”

“You could easily leave a slot open at your discretion!”

Then, with a sudden grin forming at the corner of her lips, Casey lit up with realization.

“Oh, right. You haven’t signed off on the final paperwork yet, have you? Then technically, it’s still invalid.”

“No. That won’t work either.”

“Why not?!”

Ludger immediately picked up a pen and scrawled his signature across the file in his hands.

“I just finished approving it.”

“How petty can you get?”

“And if I say I am, is that a problem?” 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

“So that’s how you want to play it?”

Casey narrowed her eyes and activated her mana.

Just as Ludger tensed up—ready to stop whatever she was about to pull—Casey’s gentle mana quietly erased Ludger’s signature.

“Oh my. The signature vanished.”

Since the ink was still liquid, she had evaporated it using her mana.

A feat impossible for most mages, but not for Casey.

Ludger tried to sign again, but the ink no longer flowed.

He had only recently used that pen—it couldn’t be empty already.

With a sharp glare, Ludger turned his gaze to Casey.

“How childish.”

“And if I say I am, is that a problem?”

The same words—thrown back at him.

Ludger sighed and removed his glasses.

“Was that your only reason for coming?”

“Yes.”

“...”

“That’s a look that says, ‘Why are you being so straightforward?’ But yes, that’s really why I came. For now.”

“For now, huh.”

Ludger let out a dry chuckle at her blatant threat of further mischief.

Normally, he would’ve been annoyed by such antics.

Strangely enough, today... he felt a curious sense of anticipation.

It was ridiculous even to himself.

Here he was, facing an old enemy who had sworn to drag him down—and yet, he found himself amused.

“Judging by your tone, something must’ve happened recently.”

“...Yeah.”

Her face, even if just briefly, wore the same sadness he’d seen moments ago.

While Ludger wondered what could have caused such an expression, Casey suddenly held out the mentor application again.

“...”

Ludger glanced at her—then, as if resigned, accepted it.

“I’ll take that as a yes and be on my way.”

As if her business was completely finished, Casey turned around and left the office without hesitation.

As though she were running away from something.

Ludger, who had expected her to dig for some weakness or at least try something more, found this highly unexpected.

Clearly, something really had happened to her.

“Barging in uninvited and leaving without closing the door... just like last time.”

Muttering quietly to himself, Ludger filled in Casey Selmore’s name on the mentor application she had handed him.

“Sedina.”

“Yes, Professor. You called?”

Sedina, who had been waiting in the assistant’s office, responded promptly.

“One new mentor has been added to the list.”

“...That mage from earlier, correct?”

“Yes. Say what you will, but her skills are genuine.”

Sedina nodded as if in full agreement.

Casey Selmore was someone even she was well aware of.

A mono-elemental user who had received a color title from the Mage Tower—how could anyone not know her?

And if someone like her was volunteering as a mentor, Seorn wouldn’t just accept her—they’d welcome her with open arms.

“Is there room to squeeze in another slot?”

“We can’t add any more. We’ve already accepted more than originally planned.”

“Then we’ll have to bump someone and seat her instead.”

“I’ll have the Planning Office handle it.”

“Looks like the Planning Office staff will have to wait a little longer for that vacation.”

At Ludger’s words, Sedina silently offered a moment of sympathy for the already-overworked Planning Office employees.

But what could they do?

When orders come from above, salaried workers have no choice but to obey.

For the time being, complaints about "graduate students" wandering near the Planning Office would surely continue.

And that’s when it happened.

A presence was felt through the still-open office door.

“Ahem.”

A light cough meant to announce their presence.

Ludger and Sedina both turned their eyes toward the sound.

“P-Principal?”

Sedina asked in surprise, and even Ludger widened his eyes, clearly not expecting this.

Principal Elisa was standing just outside the door, smiling playfully.

“Professor Ludger. Are you busy?”

“I just finished the last of my work.”

“If you’re not busy, then I can come in, right?”

“Of course. ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) Sedina, please make the principal some tea.”

“Ah, yes.”

“Oh no, it’s fine. I’ll just get to the point and head out.”

The way she said “get to the point” made it clear she wanted to speak to Ludger alone.

Sedina, noticing this, glanced at Ludger, who gave a subtle nod.

Clack.

With a light scurry, Sedina disappeared back into the assistant’s office, and only then did Principal Elisa close the door with magic and step inside.

“Did I startle you by showing up suddenly?”

“There’s nothing strange about you visiting. So, what brings you here?”

Ludger asked as he observed her carefully.

Today, Principal Elisa seemed different.

What’s going on?

She, who was always composed and brimming with leisure, was actually nervous.

Because of that, even Ludger felt a heavy aura of pressure emanating from her presence.

He had never seen the principal react like this before.

Did I offend her somehow? Or was the gift I gave her too much?

Tock, tock.

The principal began walking straight toward him.

Her overwhelming aura showed no signs of subsiding.

On the contrary, the closer she came to Ludger, the heavier and more intense that aura grew, as if gathering momentum.

Goooo...

It was as if she were facing down the opponent of a lifetime. After seeming to steel herself, the principal finally opened her mouth.

“Professor Ludger.”

“...Yes, Principal.”

Ludger instantly sensed something big was coming.

Had a new force infiltrated Seorn? Was Hugo Burteg plotting something ridiculous behind the scenes?

Or—had Ludger’s identity finally been exposed?

He waited in tense silence for her next words.

“...”

“...”

The two stared at each other, neither breaking eye contact.

Tick-tock.

The quiet ticking of the office clock was the only sound.

The prolonged gaze was starting to become burdensome even for Ludger.

Tap.

Suddenly, Principal Elisa placed something she had been hiding behind her back onto Ludger’s desk with a quick motion.

And without saying another word, she turned around and swept out of the room.

“...?”

Left alone, Ludger didn’t understand what had just happened.

He silently looked down at the item now resting on his desk.

It was a sealed envelope bearing an official crest.

Ludger opened the envelope and checked its contents.

Inside was a “Dinner Invitation with the Principal.”

Written in what appeared to be her own handwriting.

“...?”

Ludger still couldn’t make sense of the situation.