Chapter 392 – Darkmtl

Chapter 392



Orcatch, the head of the Plant Club, was a seasoned third-year compared to the reckless and hasty second-years.

He had once sought help from Professor Bronze while cautiously searching for the culprit who had stolen Howling Mandragora from Oknodie.

“I did sulk and mumble about it, but thanks to that, I learned the professor was suspicious.”

Not long after, rumors spread that Professor Bronze had marked a first-year named Oknodie as his disciple.

The rumor was credible, coming from Bixton, a member of the chemistry/alchemy club who supplied growth solutions to the Plant Club and attended the same lectures.

“Was the professor trying to cover for that kid?”

Watching him closely, it was clear he was a repeat offender.

Every night, he would sneak down the dormitory walls and scuttle across the grass, setting off on nighttime escapades.

He would casually nab strange items or rocks and quickly shove them into his mouth or pocket.

When he got bored, he pretended to build sandcastles, but it was evident he was researching the best soil to stash his loot.

While he might not be the apprentice of a rogue, it was obvious that the young thief’s talent was blooming spectacularly!

“During vacation, he must’ve been serious about enhancing his thief build.”

After the break, he stuffed everything he’d swiped into a magic backpack whose source was a mystery.

He effortlessly stole hidden items needed for assignments and growth that students had concealed around the campus using spells like visual obstructions and spatial distortions.

It was a relief for the aquaculture farmers of the Red Fanged Mushrooms that they noticed the theft.

“Magic armor, magic swords, volatile powders that require careful handling, and even past exam papers!”

It seemed he was planning to form a thief guild at the academy, freely distributing stolen goods to kids in the comically named Organization that Plays with Oknodie.

Seeing the members of that organization achieve a remarkable increase in grades made it clear he had snatched up all those old exam papers while he wasn’t looking.

While everyone else was clueless about last year’s test questions and bravely heading in blind, he was cowardly deciphering the intention and tendency of the examiners, studying efficiently and tailoring his learning!

“Disgraceful. So disgraceful I can’t forgive it.”

Whether it was resentment for losing the Howling Mandragora or envy for those shady juniors who easily slid through the tests, it didn’t matter. His boiling anger was genuine!

“I’m going to raid the professor’s herb garden!”

Watching the little rascal charm a stout female student who wouldn’t back down even against a bear, Orcatch hurried his pace.

It was finally time to show that vile freshman thief the bitter taste of life.

With the name of Orcatch, the head of the Plant Club on the line…

“Professor Red Mountain! A first-year has appeared who dares to steal from your herb garden!”

… all thanks to the magical influential power of Professor Red Mountain!

“Huh? A first-year stealing from the herb garden?”

“Indeed. I heard it clearly with my own two ears!”

“A first-year stealing the assignment of a second-year? In my class?”

“Yes! I clearly heard it.”

“You expect me to believe that right now?”

The female professor, with soft skin glowing and an aura of laziness, gazed suspiciously at Orcatch, her long t-shirt draped carelessly around her while her monkey tail swayed back and forth beneath.

The professor didn’t believe him!

Before Orcatch could bolster his credibility, the professor’s magic sealed his mouth.

“Mmmph!”

“I’ve seen many a disgraceful third-year like you. I can’t bear to watch my juniors suffer through assignments while you lowlifes sneakily harvest my growing herbs. Did you think I wouldn’t know you were planning to covertly steal my herbs under the guise of a first-year?”

“Mmmph! Mmmph!”

Orcatch was genuinely vexed as his eyes bulged with indignation, trying to convey his innocence with his whole body.

Seeing his desperate gestures, the professor’s tail began to rummage through a drawer.

Clatter

As the tail flung out vials, including the potion that keeps you from waking up for a year, the potion that makes you cry to your mother, and the potion that forces you to walk on all fours for 30 days, Orcatch trembled in fear.

Professor Red Mountain was notorious for developing bizarre potions since she consumed an abundance of quality herbs by making students do her bidding.

Finally, her tail selected a vial, closed the drawer, and placed it right in front of Orcatch.

While his gaze momentarily fell on her smooth thighs revealed by the hiked-up shirt, the sound of her tail patting the table snapped him back to focus.

“Drink this. I’ll hear what you have to say afterward.”

“Mmmph?”

“What is it? You’ll see once you look at it.”

With that, Professor Red Mountain turned the vial a half-turn with her tail, making the label visible.

‘Potion that sends points to Professor Red Mountain if you tell a lie.’

“Mmmph! Mmmph!!”

Is this nightmarish drug even real?

This was a nightmare!

As he let out muffled screams, the professor forced the potion down his throat and was taken aback when Orcatch still didn’t send any points despite repeating her earlier inquiry.

“So you really plan to raid my herb garden?”

“Indeed! I can’t believe someone would trample upon such kindness!”

“Sorry. As an apology, I’ll let you touch my tail once.”

“I don’t need that!”

“Really? My tail is super soft.”

The seemingly seductive wriggle of her tail as it intertwined with her arms made Orcatch’s face flush red.

“Puhahah! I was just kidding. Why are you so serious? I appreciate the tip, so you can leave now.”

“Before I go, I’d like to ask one thing.”

“You’re curious about how I’ll handle the first-year?”

“How long does the effect of the potion I just drank last before it sends points to you if I lie…?”

“Tch. It lasts only a week, and you’re being petty for asking so much?”

“Please let me go!!”

After taking the release potion and narrowly escaping a curse that wasn’t a curse, Orcatch left.

While Professor Red Mountain, alone, slid her tail back and stowed the potion in her drawer, a thought crossed her mind.

Do I really need to bother stopping this?

“Teaching assistant. Post an announcement on the Magic Watch lecture board.”

She also made sure to write a warning that any stolen items would be the students’ responsibility since she had received prior intel about an impending attack!

“Hehe. I’m such a genius.”

With this, all the hassle would fall upon the students.

The responsibility for lost herbs would be on them too.

Only the herbs that the students diligently cultivated would belong to her!

“Excuse me, Professor. I’m sorry to interrupt your pleasant daydreaming, but you need to be especially cautious about this first-year.”

“Why are you getting in the way, too? Do you want to steal some herbs from the research lab?”

“Though the Plant Club head is a nobody when it comes to collecting herbs, the first-year Oknodie they warned about is no ordinary kid.”

“Still just a first-year, right?”

“That kid is known as the ‘Greatest Thief of the Continent’ and is the apprentice of the rogue known as Professor Bronze.”

The assistant, who had seen the lazily sloppy professor who would even hover on a magic flying mat, watched in astonishment as Red Mountain suddenly sprang to life, throwing off her lethargy.

“That wretched apprentice of the brazen girl who stole my lewd looks dares come to steal my herb garden? Now, this changes things!”

The professor glared with eyes blazing with rage instead of her usual drowsy expression at the assistant.

“Let’s set a trap.”

“Who will do it?”

“Gather all instructors.”

“Phew.”

“And you too.”

“…”

The assistant knew better than to speak up in front of the professor.

The assistant cried silent tears inside.

“Did everyone hear? That brat named Oknodie reportedly made that second-year slacker Russo go crazy.”

“Russo, who took a leave of absence due to getting stuck on his third-year advancement exam, was assigned to be the dormitory security assistant, the lowest rank of all.”

Not all instructors were the same.

The bottom of the bottom, the security assistant.

A diligent administrative assistant.

A versatile practical assistant who was well-regarded.

All the instructors were envious of one particular position that gained the attention of the professor.

The instructors who were supposed to serve the Red Mountain professor had fallen prey to her charms for five years.

Despite everything, it didn’t seem like Oknodie’s exploits were all that impressive.

“Among the first-years, he might achieve something. Even Russo managed to scrape by to second-year somehow. But for us, whatever.”

“Exactly. We’re trusted assistants who are assigned to install magical flying spells periodically, check and replace mana stones, maintain temperatures in the greenhouse, prevent external monster intrusions, and sometimes play the role of armed robbers to inject some tension into the relaxed classrooms!”

Because of this understanding, they weren’t concerned about how Oknodie would infiltrate the greenhouse.

“He’ll make some moves on the control magic circle that regulates the greenhouse’s heating and cooling to lure us out.”

“He might casually blend in among the students and storm in from the front.”

“Or he might confuse us with fake announcements stating the class was canceled or the room was changed, targeting the herb garden.”

Regardless, waiting for an opening was the best strategy.

If they tried to force their way in, they would not only deal with the security measures the assistants set up, but they would also face the unknown measures the professor had installed!

Still, since the professor had told them to ensure her security didn’t function as much as possible, the assistants busily reorganized and set up new traps.

“There are way too many; we’re even scared to come and go ourselves!”

“Let’s make security cards that embed the security spells, so as long as we have the cards, the traps won’t activate. That way, only Oknodie sneaking in will have a rude awakening.”

“Oh. That’s a good idea!”

The assistants, skilled in the lazy way of their professor, created high-pass cards they hadn’t even been asked for and proudly left for the day.

Unaware that first-years were lurking in the bushes, ready to pounce at the return of the lone assistant.