Translator: penny
Chapter: 6
Chapter Title: My Dad's a Man Who Follows Through
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Our dad is a man who does it if he decides to.
In front of the blackboard where chalk dust danced in the air.
I stared blankly down at the white stick clutched in my hand.
The board was crammed full of twisted scribbles.
Ancient incantations tangled with modern equations—formulas so convoluted they'd make any normal student hurl on sight.
But to me, they were just a no-brainer.
Thanks to the special ability I'd gained upon possession.
⚙ PROBLEM SOLVER ⚙
This ability's naming sense was utterly wrecked. Without it, I'd probably never have gotten to farm potatoes in peace.
Exactly three times a day.
This power offers solutions to magical conundrums.
Thanks to it, my magic tutors in childhood would lose their minds.
"He has a flash of genius intuition," they'd say.
Of course, sky-high expectations kept me firmly in the eternal-prodigy-in-waiting spot.
So here I was, facing a problem I could clearly solve, pretending to agonize over it.
"Why not just play dumb, get expelled, and wash my hands of this hellish school life? Isn't that the express lane to freedom?"
Expulsion.
What a sweet word.
It meant heading home, and home meant resuming potato farming.
Professor Iris's penalty had nailed exactly what I wanted, luring me in.
Yeah, did I really need to struggle here?
Just say, "No clue. Fire me," and I'd be free as a bird.
"Go for it?"
Huh?
Go for it?
As I fiddled with the chalk in silence, Professor Iris's icy voice sliced from behind.
"Are you staring because you can solve it, or because your brain's on standby?"
I didn't need to look to know her pose.
Arms crossed, glaring daggers at my back with a tilt.
I answered without turning, dead serious.
"I'm in the middle of a life-defining dilemma, so could you give me a minute? My whole future's on the line here."
"Hah."
Her scoff echoed, followed by murmurs rippling through the lecture hall.
They were whispering just loud enough to avoid her wrath—delicate forward-thinking.
"That lunatic's talking back to the professor?"
"Just give up. Stalling won't spit out the answer."
"Figures the barbarian's got an empty head."
Bark all you want, dogs.
I'm busy painting a big picture you couldn't dream of.
I closed my eyes and ran the simulation.
A vivid worldline of expulsion unfolded in my mind.
Step 1: Declare failure to solve.
Step 2: Professor Iris sneers, instant expulsion.
Step 3: Pack up, stroll home whistling.
Step 4: Arrive at the estate. Reunion with Father Corinth.
Perfect so far.
The snag came next.
Step 5: Corinth explodes in rage.
"This worthless rice-waster finally caused a scene?!"
Step 6: Crystal ashtray hurled, family registry shredded.
Step 7: Potato fields seized, back-mountain fishing spots closed, cornfields torched.
Step 8: "You're no son of mine. Useless even for frontline beast subjugation. Off to the mines with you."
Step 8 might be overkill.
But with our dad?
Hmm, he just might.
Our dad is a man who does it if he decides to.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Beep beep.
Red warning lights blared in my head.
Simulation result: Hard mode life unlocked.
Survival odds: Slim to none.
"...Ah, screwed."
I can't give up potatoes.
My precious fields burning, me swinging a pickaxe in the mines for coal?
On top of "Parne's Barbarian," add "Disowned Scum," and Father would bury me socially.
He never minces words.
"Fuck, my golden expulsion shot..."
Tears of blood in my eyes, I resolved.
Farewell, sweet freedom.
Not the time yet.
I sighed deeply and gripped the chalk firmer.
"Professor."
"No excuses. Can't solve it? Get out."
"No, the chalk's too short. Got a longer one? Feels like it'll scrape my nails."
"..."
I felt Professor Iris's brow twitch.
Undeterred, I snatched a fresh stick from the box on her podium.
Deep breath.
⚡ ABILITY ACTIVATED ⚡
Problem Solver
Remaining uses today: 2/3
Vmmm—
A mechanical ring echoed in my skull.
My vision blurred, the world's colors desaturated.
My body floated, half-numb—a familiar yet alien sensation.
An invisible force yanked my wrist, ignoring my will.
Like a master puppeteer, my right hand danced across the board.
My brain, freed of thought, became the audience.
Tap, tap-tap tap!
Chalk scraped the board, shattering the room's silence.
White dust fluttered like snow.
The nauseating sprawl of equations crumbled under my touch.
Unneeded calculations: erased.
Inefficient mana circuits: shortened.
Circular logic: pierced straight.
I ignored processes or principles.
My hand just knew "this is right" and moved.
Thud!
Final dot placed, the floating sensation ebbed like a tide.
⚙ ABILITY ENDS ⚙
Remaining uses today: 2/3
"Whew."
I exhaled sharply and stepped back.
Glanced up at the board.
The formulas that had overrun the board—and threatened the next—were now neatly three lines.
"...What?"
I tilted my head inwardly.
"Did this sister feel bad about expelling me and toss an easy one? Why so short?"
Usually, these humiliation problems eat two or three boards.
This ended before ramen water boils.
Wasted chalk.
I dusted off my hands and glanced sideways.
"Done."
"..."
Professor Iris was speechless.
She bored into my solution, her blood-red eyes darting frantically.
Lids fluttering behind her glasses.
"...Huh?"
Bad vibe.
That wasn't awe.
She looked ready to snap, "What kind of half-assed answer is this?"
Something shrank in me.
"Ah, fuck. Too sloppy?"
I just followed the ability, but skipped too many steps.
Yeah, condensing her wall of work into three lines? No wonder she's pissed.
It's an effort issue.
But I didn't choose this.
Offering to redo with annotations? Doubt that hawk would cooperate now.
Round two same way? That's straight rebellion confirmed.
I cleared my throat, gauging her slyly.
"Um, Professor?"
Why the mute act? Making me anxious.
No way she's saying, "Right answer, but so half-assed and rude I can't pass you."
No. Math's done.
I can't get expelled.
"...Correct."
"Can I sit then?"
Wanna wrap this and never return.
Gasp echoed around at my brazenness.
"That scoundrel..."
"Professor lets it slide, and no thanks?!"
What, sue me.
But.
"...Sit."
"Pardon?"
"I said sit."
Professor Iris nodded blankly.
Eyes still glued to the board.
"Ah, yes. Thanks."
I bolted from the podium.
Footsteps echoing, her gaze prickled my back unpleasantly.
Normally, "Watch it next time" or "Docking conduct points."
Nothing.
The silence unnerved more.
Before sitting, I peeked back.
"..."
Knew it.
Professor Iris had turned only her head to me.
Glasses flashed coldly.
Beyond, red eyes gleamed predatory, like a wildlife doc beast.
Fuck, chills.
"...What? Not over?"
Why that stare?
Grudge?
If grudge, just dock points or yell.
Why that sticky gaze.
I'm no tough gazelle haunch.
Scarier than her expulsion threats by a hundredfold.
I nailed what she asked, got it right, yet that creepiest look.
"Screw it... Hide all semester in this class."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Crossing the hall, I exited the main building into warm afternoon sun.
"Haa."
This is life.
Crisp air filling my lungs.
Escaping that hellroom, I felt alive.
What was with that professor, making everyone so uneasy?
All I did was try to nap facedown.
If this were a Korean uni?
Professor?
"Not sleeping upfront rude, but quietly in the corner? Cool, we both do our thing."
Fucking academy's why I wanna quit.
Now to the carriage stand, crash in Thomas's ride, nap home—perfect day.
Humming that tune.
Shiii...
Spine chilled.
Clear day, no breeze, yet nape prickled like winter balcony wide open.
"...What? Sunny, why cold?"
Mood?
No. Instinct never lies.
This aura, felt from Father once.
Someone's watching.
A Father-like someone.
...Fuck?
"Why a Father-type at the academy..."
A few suspects.
Shaking unease, I instinctively turned.
Sight: Main building second floor, terrace corridor window.
And there.
"...Gasp."
Silver hair blinding in sunlight.
Violet eyes below pierced fiercely down.
Empire's certified villainess.
Elysia von Rosenberg.
Arms crossed, leaning on the sill like a masterpiece painting.
But eye contact hit like a gong.
Breath caught, time froze.
"...Why's she watching me?"
Just two floors up, face clear, but poker face hid emotions cold.
Noble faces piss me off.
Escape class, now her bullshit.
Brain spun supercomputer fast.
Options:
Wave?
-> "Ew, lowlife presuming familiarity with the Duchess's Daughter? Don't." Public execution odds 99%.
Bow politely?
-> Hate it. Like greeting boss on commute.
Wink?
-> Instant death. Les majesty plus Crown Prince fiancée.
Answer clear.
"...Ignore and bolt. That's it."
I stretched naturally, like stiff neck.
Crack neck loud, fling gaze to sky.
"Ow, neck hurts. Nice clouds."
Whip head away.
No one ghosts better in this world.
I upped pace 1.5x.
"Hey! Thomas!"
"Oh, young master! Already out?"
I flew to the carriage, yanked door, hopped in.
Nape burned like laser.
Using magic?
Bam!
Door shut, peeked through window slit.
Second floor window.
Elysia still there.
Change: No haughty poise.
Gripping sill tight, fan to mouth, staring at receding me.
Violet eyes blazed visible from here.
"Eek, that glare. Hundred percent pissed. Properly fucked."
Why though?
We tight enough for hellos on sight?
When?
Cold sweat down back.
*
I pressed my fan tight to my mouth.
Or my face would broadcast everywhere.
Blue veins bulged on Elysia's pale hand.
She couldn't close her mouth at the unbelievable scene before her.
"That... that man just."
Lips quivered.
"Ignored me? Right now? Eyes met and everything?"
Unimaginable.
She was a Rosenberg, after all.
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