Heaven's Greatest Professor

Chapter 43  You're Him?

June had to give the man credit for meeting the gaze of a Silver Ranker with Iron Rank power. Most people would've stammered under the pressure of the aura she radiated or begun apologizing, but the man only straightened up. Such willpower couldn't be cultivated in days.

But why does he have to be so damn infuriating? June thought. Why is it so hard for a capable man to be normal?

"So, are we gonna do it?" he asked, his eyes never leaving her as he munched on the kebab. "Let me finish my kebab first."

He really has a punchable face, June thought darkly. She already noticed that the guys standing around them had withdrawn and were maintaining a fair distance, while the cuffed men and the injured professor were groaning under their pressure.

June sent a curt glare at the man and withdrew her aura. "I would have entertained you for what you're worth if it were any other time," she said, "but at this moment, other matters take priority."

She turned to the wounded professor and was just about to ask him, only to remember that even his mouth was closed with a bandage.

"He was very loud," the man said.

June didn't entertain him with any words, lest he make her infuriated again. She turned to the cuffed men. "How did it come to this?"

Kevin was the one to speak. "It was all a misunderstanding. . . ." Throughout his explanation, he sneaked glances in the white-haired man's direction, probably afraid to offend him more than her.

By the end of the tale, June couldn't help but shake her head. Obviously, it was men and their inflated egos. The problem could've been avoided so easily if they just talked it out.

"So, has he given proof that the corpses were really bandits?" June asked.

"Y-yes," Kevin answered.

Walt looked like he had something to say, letting out a muffled scream with the bandage stuck to his mouth.

"Unwrap the clothes from his mouth," June ordered. Nôv(el)B\\jnn

"I wouldn't really advise that," the man said.

June turned to see if he was going to stop her, but the man was giving all his attention to the kebab he was eating. She finally saw the supplier of the kebab, who kept giving the sticks to him. A thin rogue-type class man, who she hadn't noticed before. He clearly didn't look like a resident of the village, like the man.

On noticing her gaze on him, he bowed and excused himself.

"DON'T LISTEN TO ANYTHING HE SAYS," Walt screamed, the moment the bandage was unwrapped. "HE'S DEVIANT, A KILLER, HE HAD ALL THE VILLAGERS UNDER HIS SPELL AND. . . QUICKLY CAPTURED HIM, HE NEEDS TO BE CUFFED AND PUT TO PRISON. . . ." Well, that was some scream. June really regretted her decision now. The professor was clearly not in his right mind and wouldn't listen to reason. She wondered what kind of "Face-slapping" the man executed to make him like this. Did he literally slap him silly?

June turned towards the man, who clearly had the look that said, "I told you so."

After instructing them to cover Walt's mouth again, who was far from cooperating, she questioned Kevin for a more relevant issue.

"About the tainted beasts?" she inquired. "How far have you proceeded to clean them off? Did you find the dungeon yet?"

"Um," Kevin looked embarrassed for a man of his age. "We just got here today and met him right after. We didn't have time to check out anything."

Jane's expression soured instantly. "You were deported eleven days ago," she questioned. "Why did you just get here today?"

There was an edge to her voice. And even though Kevin had excuses ready, he reconsidered his answer, as this could become messy very quickly.

"Professor, you need to consider we were not alone on our journey," he said hesitantly, drawing a quick glance towards Walt. "There were several students, which made us even slower. On top of that... Our horses..."

"What happened to the horses?" June asked. Her expression wasn't growing any better.

"We couldn't count on them halfway," Kevin said, sweating profusely. "Which delayed the journey for a couple more days, and—"

"Enough," June scoffed. "I've heard enough excuses. I'll have a full accounting of the events after we take care of the villagers' needs."

She turned to face the infuriating man, only to notice he wasn't there anymore. "Where did he go?"

The rogue-classed man, who was loitering, pointed in a direction. June stormed in that direction to find bonfires in the open. They were roasting kebabs in the fire, as half a dozen people sat surrounding it.

"Oh, this way, Miss Elf," the guy called, gesturing with his food. "Want a kebab? Wait, don't tell me elves are vegetarian or vegan?"

"We don't like to waste natural resources," June said.

"Then I see no point for you to refuse our hospitality," he said, handing the young girl a plate. She came in June's direction to serve. "Come on, sit down. You came from a long way. Relax a little."

"Please," the girl called Onia said, holding the plate before her.

"Thank you." She relented in the end, taking one of the stick-kebabs. She needed an answer from them; no point in rejecting their hospitality. "I want to ask about the wolf attack."

"Then ask," the man said with the same shit-eating grin. June chewed the meat hard. "What happened?" "Everything's dealt with. How's the food?" 

"Edible," June answered curtly. Actually, it was better than anything she had after she began the journey, but she would chew away the stick before she would give the guy a compliment. The grin from his lips fell a little, as he really seemed to be waiting for praise. "Perhaps elves have different taste buds," his mumble didn't go unnoticed by her ears, but she decided to get back to the topic. "So about the wolves?" "There hasn't been an attack for the last couple of days," it was another youth who answered. He seemed to be pretty badly banged up, with an arm and leg bandaged. He continued guesting towards the white-haired man, "Warden dealt with the attacks and even—"

"Wait," June cut in, recognising the name she heard from her mentee. "You're him?"