Harassment [3]

In the midst of his lecture, shortly after the Professors left, Vanitas's gaze lingered subtly on Cassandra, who quietly left the lecture room.

They were University students. There was no need to inform the Professor if they wanted to use the bathroom or not.

Do so, and they might become the laughing stock of the class.

However, Vanitas had a bad feeling. Of course, he could follow her and intervene.

But in the end, as a Marquess, favored by nobility, Desmond Wyndale would get a mere slap on the wrist.

Not an expulsion, but perhaps, a suspension.

There was a better alternative.

"We'll be conducting a group exercise."

The room fell silent.

They had just finished their examination, and now, they were expected to jump straight into another exercise?

But of course, no one voiced their complaints, afraid of the Professor, Vanitas Astrea.

"I'll announce the objectives once everyone's here."

Vanitas coughed, then turned his attention to Ezra.

"Ezra Kaelus, could you call the student who just left to return?"

"Wha—Me?" Ezra pointed at himself.

"Yes, you."

"P–Professor, she might be in the bathroom. I can't go in there."

Vanitas raised an eyebrow. "I didn't say you had to follow her in. Just ask her to come back."

Ezra hesitated for a moment, then nodded and made his way toward the door.

With a heavy sigh, Ezra left the lecture room.

***

"No, there's no one else here but me."

"Is that so?"

"Mhm."

Ezra watched as the female student left. He looked around, but there was no sign of anyone else.

Apparently, the girl he was looking for was a new student who had transferred into their class along with Charlaigne and another girl he couldn't remember the name of.

It was odd.

She had left about ten minutes ago, but still hadn't returned.

If she had come back, someone would've come looking for him to return as well.

That meant she hadn't returned yet.

Ezra started walking around the campus, checking the nearby halls.

He walked past the student lounge and the courtyard. But there were still no signs of her.

"...."

The library was quiet, but she wasn't there either.

He headed toward the storage rooms.

"...."

Still nothing.

His next stop was the unused classroom down the hall. It was a dusty, rarely visited room that hadn't been booked for lectures in weeks.

He had seen students sneak in there before for a break or a nap.

He opened the door. The room was dark and quiet. He walked further in and glanced around, but it was empty.

"...."

After checking the obvious places, Ezra's mind started racing. Where else could she be?

He thought outside the box. It might've been a waste of time, but there was no harm in checking.

He made his way to the garden behind the university building. It was a quiet spot, tucked away from the main paths.

"...."

He thought of every hidden nook and cranny where students might hide when they wanted to avoid everyone. 

The janitor's closet, the old auditorium storage, the unused hallways….

"Seriously…. I should just go back. They must've started already."

But Ezra felt a slight unease. He was the type of person who, if given a task, would see it through until the end.

Finally, he decided to check the student dormitory common area. 

Even though it was a bit far from his usual route, it had a chance of being where she'd gone.

"Maybe she wasn't feeling well?"

While he wasn't actually sure if she left her bag in the lecture room, it was still a plausible theory.

It was then.

As Ezra walked around in search of her for about three minutes, the door opened somewhere ahead. 

Ezra's eyes narrowed, scrutinizing the figure that emerged.

"Ah."

There she was. The violet hair was all he needed to confirm it.

"...."

But she wasn't heading in his direction. Ezra followed, quickening his pace to catch up.

The moment she heard his footsteps behind her, she glanced over her shoulder and started to run.

"Hey! The Professor's looking for you!" Ezra called out, but she didn't stop.

Before he could finish his sentence, she was already speeding down the hallway.

Ezra, being faster, closed the distance quickly and grabbed her arm, pulling her to a stop.

"Hey!"

She jerked away, but Ezra held firm, his grip gentle but insistent.

She averted her gaze, trying not to look at him.

Ezra studied her face. Then his gaze faltered as something caught his attention.

Tears streaked her face, her eyes red and puffy, as if she had been crying for a while.

"Your face…."

He wasn't sure if he was seeing it right, but her cheek looked slightly swollen.

"What happened?" Ezra asked, his voice full of concern. "Why did you run? What's going on?"

Her eyes flicked up to meet his, but only for a moment. 

"....Forget it," she muttered, her voice shaky. "It's none of your business."

Ezra frowned without letting go of her wrist. "Maybe not. But we're classmates now."

"...."

But she remained silent.

Ezra didn't let go of her arm. He stepped closer, lowering his voice. 

"Just tell me what's going on. I'll do my best to help you."

Her gaze softened for a split second, but she quickly turned her face away, as if she were fighting back the urge to say something.

"I don't need your help," she said. "Just…. leave me alone."

It wasn't as if she didn't want to confide in him. But, in the first place, for Cassandra, who the hell is this guy even?

Ezra Kaelus? Sure, but a commoner, no less.

He wouldn't be able to give her the help she needed.

Ezra's grip tightened slightly, not out of force, but out of the need to make her stop.

Her lips pressed into a thin line, and for a moment, Ezra thought she might finally open up. 

"...."

But she didn't. Realizing there was no way to get through to her, Ezra's grip loosened and Cassandra pulled away.

Without another word, she walked away.

"...."

Ezra stood there, frozen, his gaze fixed on the ground.

He had tried, but it seemed like nothing he could say would break through the wall she had built around herself, as if she had lost her trust in everything,

Ezra clenched his fist, frustration boiling inside him. He turned around, fixing his gaze on the dormitory building where she had once emerged from.

With heavy steps, he approached the room and knocked on the door.

To– Tok.

No response.

He knocked once more, louder this time.

Still no answer.

He hesitated for a moment, then started banging on the door.

Bang. Bang. Bang.

All of a sudden, the door swung open.

"Fucking, what is it!?"

A man appeared in the doorway, and though Ezra didn't know his name, he recognized his face.

It was one of the noble guys who had caused trouble with Charmander a couple weeks back.

"You…. Ezra Kaelus?"

"...."

Ezra remained quiet and looked past him, noticing three other people in the room.

All of them were the same noble delinquents.

Ezra didn't flinch, but his jaw tightened.

"So it was you bastards again."

The man sneered. "The hell?"

Ezra's eyes narrowed. "I'm here to talk to someone. Move."

The man stepped forward, blocking the door. "Not so fast."

Mana began to surge within Ezra as he repeated, "Move."

But the man blocking the door responded with a surge of his own mana, glaring at Ezra.

"You think just because you made quite a performance in the exam, you're some hotshot now?"

Ezra's fists clenched, but he didn't take his eyes off the man. "I don't care who you think I am. Move."

The tension thickened in the air as mana crackled between them. The other three nobles stepped closer, clearly enjoying the confrontation.

"The hell's going on, Avel?" one of the nobles asked.

"I—It's nothing, Desmond," Avel stammered. "This Ezra kid's causing trouble. I'm just trying to get him to leave."

Desmond, whoever he was, smirked. "You're really picking a fight over this? He's just some first–year kid."

Ezra's glare sharpened. "It was you bastards, wasn't it?"

Desmond's smirk faltered for a moment, realizing the baseless accusations, but he quickly regained his composure.

"Woah, woah. Us? Are you accusing us of something?" Desmond said, his tone laced with mockery.

Ezra's eyes burned with anger. "That girl. I saw her leave the room, crying. Her face was swollen. The fuck did you bastards do to her?"

The air between them thickened with tension. Desmond's face darkened, though his expression remained poised.

"That? Haha. Just ask her yourself. She'll tell you the truth."

"...."

Ezra realized they weren't taking him seriously. It was clear they were enjoying the situation.

Moreover, he couldn't afford to cause a commotion, especially in the dormitories.

At the moment, the building was empty, all the students attending their lectures. These senior bastards must've cut classes to hang around and cause trouble.

Nevertheless, Ezra wasn't some brainless idiot who would cause a ruckus without evidence.

Especially in this situation, going against a noble. If he raised his fist first, he could lose his scholarship.

"...."

Ezra glanced at the door, then back at Desmond and the others. He could feel his patience wearing thin.

He had to get answers, but pushing too hard could lead to even more problems.

Without saying another word, Ezra turned to leave. But just before he could walk away, Desmond called out.

"It wasn't us, Ezra boy. Just ask her yourself."

Ezra paused for a moment, his back still turned. He spoke without looking back.

"You think I haven't asked her?"

Leaving off with those words, Ezra walked away.

***

Cause and effect.

A route that had opened up because of his transmigration. 

By accepting Charlotte's proposal to join the dormitories, a system designed to foster community, Vanitas unknowingly set the stage for the suffering of Cassandra.

The system paired students with roommates of the same gender, and while it worked for most, it ultimately subjected Cassandra to brutal torment at the hands of her peers.

All because her roommate was Vanitas Astrea's little sister.

"How childish."

Desmond and the other seniors were nothing more than a nuisance, especially considering Desmond's history. 

He was a student that the original Vanitas had failed twice in his lecture.

As a result, Desmond was forced to switch courses, ending his path toward becoming a battle mage.

At least, that was his interpretation from the old records in his office.

"Just study harder, idiot."

Desmond, now 21 years–old, still seemed mentally underdeveloped.

"Maybe that's why he's such an idiot."

He was already a young adult, yet he still acted like a child.

By that age, Vanitas was already a second-year in college, preparing for his future—deciding which company to apply to and planning his military service after graduation.

"Seriously."

It was only now that he truly realized just how annoying the aristocratic system was.

The amount of spoon-feeding these noble kids received allowed them to traverse life with barely any difficulties, causing their growth to be stunted.

"Professor?"

"Ah?"

He was snapped out of his thoughts as Karina called out to him.

"How should I adjust the joint combat exam schedule? The Crusade Department has an open slot around Wednesday and Friday next week."

Vanitas blinked, refocusing on her. He thought for a moment.

"Let's go with Friday," he said. "It gives us more time to prepare."

Karina nodded, making a note in her ledger. "Got it. I'll finalize the details and send the proposal tomorrow."

"Okay."

At that moment, Vanitas stood up, grabbing his blazer from the back of the chair.

"I need to go somewhere," he said. "If you need my opinion on the adjustments, just do what you think fits best."

By now, Karina should have a solid understanding of his preferences. 

After all, she had been working under him for a month, long enough to know what he would want in most situations.

She nodded. "Understood, Professor."

Vanitas gave her a brief nod in return and headed for the door. 

Click—

As Vanitas left, Karina's gaze lingered on the books on his desk. Earlier, he had given an in-depth breakdown of the circuit he had designed.

And if Karina was being honest, she was utterly astonished.

Just what went on inside the Professor's head to come up with such an innovation?

She couldn't help but wonder how he managed to simplify complex magical systems and make them seem so…. effortless. 

And moreover, what was with that circuit!?

A magical circuit compatible with every essence branch!?

"Just how?"

His brilliance was undeniable, yet he carried himself so casually about it, as if it were no big deal.

"Sigh."

Karina sighed, shaking her head in awe. 

She had always admired his ability to stay calm and composed, even when dealing with questions she, admittedly, wouldn't be able to answer. 

But there was still so much about him she didn't fully understand.

As her gaze narrowed on the books he had recently bought, her curiosity began to stir.

'What kind of books does the Professor even read?'

She wondered if reading them would help her take even a small step toward becoming as smart as him.

Karina approached the small plastic bag and saw the books inside.

They were newly bought, but it was clear the Professor had already read through a bunch of them since the plastic wrap was removed.

If she could understand even a fraction of what the Professor did, maybe she could be more than just an assistant responsible for sorting documents.

Maybe, just maybe, she could assist him in his future research.

"Eh?"

Her brows furrowed, and a bewildered expression spread across her face as she read the title written on the spine.

[How to Win Arguments with Silence (And a Slight Smirk)]

Karina blinked in confusion. Why would the Professor have this?

She shook her head, amused, and reached for another book beside it.

[Mastering the Art of Looking Busy When You're Actually Doing Nothing]

She skimmed the back. 

"Really?"

Next, her fingers landed on a slightly thinner book.

[How to Hold an Intellectual Conversation While Ignoring Everything You Don't Know]

"Pfft…."

Karina couldn't help but laugh at that one.

She continued flipping through the collection.

[How to Say Nothing and Have Everyone Think You're Brilliant]

[The Secret to Making People Think You're Mysterious and Deep (Even When You're Not)]

"What in the world."

She scanned the titles further. Each one was even more intriguing—and absurd—than the last.

"I might get in trouble for this…."

Karina had only wanted to peek out of her desire to learn. To know what kind of books he reads, and to follow in his footsteps.

But seeing the absurdity of the titles, they were clearly books the Professor had bought as a joke. 

"Just for the sake of amusement."

That had to be it.

Otherwise, there was no other explanation.

Finally, Karina picked up a book that seemed out of place. Its title was straightforward, almost serious.

[The Ultimate Guide to Becoming a Good Boss and Retaining Your Employees]

"Hmm…."

This piqued her curiosity. If she had to be honest, Vanitas was actually quite a decent boss.

If he had been using this as a guide, Karina realized if she knew his methods, she could reciprocate properly.

However, as she opened a page and began reading, her eyes widened, and her face flushed beet red.

[If there is something to do, let the assistant do it. If there's nothing to do, then do the assistant.]

"...."

Karina slammed the book shut, and quickly shoved it back inside the plastic bag.

She stared at the bag for a moment, wondering if she had just uncovered some secret to Vanitas's productivity—or something far more disturbing.

'If there's nothing to do, then do the assistant.'

The quote repeated in her mind like a broken record, and with every repetition, her embarrassment only deepened. 

"...."

She could feel her face flush even hotter, a mix of confusion, disbelief, and a hint of…. something else she wasn't ready to acknowledge just yet.

It was at that moment she realized she had learned a very valuable lesson.

"...."

Never peek into the Professor's personal stuff ever again.