I Became an Unknown Professor at the Academy

The soft touch on her waist.

Her body slowly being pulled forward.

“I’ll be back.”
“Take care.”

Claire bid farewell to Baek Woo-jin, who was leaving the mansion for the witness selection meeting, tracing the warm temperature remaining on her forehead and lips.

“Haa…”

After the door closed, Claire stroked her lips a few times with her hand and turned around.

The weather was warm, so she opened the windows of the kitchen and Baek Hana’s room to ventilate the mansion. Then, along with the last spring breeze, she tidied up the kitchen.

After finishing the kitchen, she entered the study as usual. She carefully turned over the frame that was upside down on the other side of the desk.

In the frame were Claire and Baek Woo-jin, holding hands affectionately with Baek Hana between them.

Claire carefully dusted the frame with high-quality silk fabric. Then, she stepped back and admired the painting for a moment before turning it back over.

She didn’t know why it was turned over, but as always, she assumed there was a reason for it and didn’t ask why.

Finally, she slightly opened the window of the study and entered the bedroom.

“It’s time to wake up.”

The fairy, dressed in a pink rabbit pajama onesie, gently caressed the soft cheeks of the little fairy before her and said, “You’ll be left behind if you don’t wake up soon.”

“Piiii…”

The fairy pouted adorably, her eyes widening at some unknown word, and she suddenly sat up.

“Pii-haaaww…” Despite her best efforts, a yawn escaped her, and just as quickly as she had awoken, she stretched her tiny limbs, letting out a refreshing sigh.

Claire couldn’t help but smile silently at the adorable sight. She gently patted the fairy’s head.

“Goodbye~” The fairy waved goodbye with a sweet smile.

“Good morning,” Claire replied with a polite bow.

The fairy flapped her mystical wings and flew towards a painting on the wall, where she embraced the face of Baek Woo-jin, who was lovingly holding Claire’s waist. This was the fairy’s morning routine ever since the painting was hung, and Claire smiled softly as she made the bed.

Claire put down the blanket she was holding and headed to the kitchen with the fairy.

The fairy jumped into her dedicated basket, filled to the brim with chocolates. Claire poured milk into a tiny mug that Lee Yesol had brought for the fairy recently and placed it on the table, saying, “You need to wait patiently.”

The fairy, with her mouth full of chocolate, nodded obediently. Claire patted her head and went about her chores.

She washed the blanket, took out her summer clothes, and put away her spring outfits, leaving only two in the closet.

Claire, after finishing with her own clothes, reached for Baek Woo-jin’s shirts and uniforms to put them away. Unconsciously, she buried her face in the black summer shirt she was holding, inhaling deeply.

“Hmm…” But the scent she longed for wasn’t there, and she felt a bit embarrassed. Quickly, she straightened up and finished organizing the closet.

In the kitchen, the fairy held out an empty mug with both hands, silently asking for more milk. Claire smiled and obliged, refilling the mug.

The fairy quickly emptied the mug again and patted her full belly, letting out an adorable burp.

Claire watched the fairy lie down flat for a moment, then tidied up her apron and headed to the study, returning with a black box sent by Le Colleang. It contained the remaining elixirs and artifacts that she had shared with Baek Hana and the children. Today, she planned to distribute them to the other children and priests at the temple.

“Shall we go?” Claire asked, but the fairy seemed to struggle to get up, making a soft “Pii…” sound.

Claire carefully lifted the fairy and placed her in her front pocket, then picked up the box and headed to the temple.

.

.

.

“Huff, come in.” As Claire opened the temple’s door, Lee Yesol approached with a mischievous smile.

“It’s quiet here.”
“It’s still morning, and things have been a bit chaotic outside lately.”

The frequency of gates, though low-level, had been increasing.

As these gates could appear anywhere at any time, knights and priests took turns standing guard around the Academy.

Others were also sent out to gather information.

It was a busy time in many ways.

“It’s fortunate that you are here. The Professor(Woo-jin) sent me.”
“What’s the matter?”
“You know he’s not the type to share such details.”

Lee Yesol let out a small sigh.

“Just let the necessary people take what they need.”
“Do I count as one of them?”
“Yes.”
“Oh, how delightful~”

The cheapest item was 2 billion won.

Lee Yesol’s face lit up with a wide smile as she eagerly took the box from Claire’s hands.

“Where is our little fairy?”

“Peep~!”

“Oh my~?”

The fairy poked her head out of Claire’s pocket, raising her hands high, while Lee Yesol feigned surprise, widening her eyes.

“Well, the Executor has some business to attend to, so why don’t you play with me for a while?”

“Yes!! Yesol, I love you~”

The fairy quickly scurried onto Lee Yesol’s shoulder.

“Then, please take your time.”
“Okay.”

Meeting a great being was never going to be comfortable.

Claire sighed softly and headed to the private prayer room on the second floor.

Click.

After closing the prayer room door, Claire knelt politely before a child-like statue of indeterminate gender. She clasped her hands in front of her chest and moved her red lips.

“Your daughter seeks an audience with you.”

Swoosh—

The statue was enveloped in a subtle glow, and in an instant, it transformed into a child.

“Really now.”

The child, Bwiar, poked Claire’s left cheek with a pouty face, her eyes closed.

“How could you not visit me even once, despite having more free time than before?!”
“Well, every time I tried, you said you were busy.”
“That, that’s… Oh, anyway!!”

Bwiar, at a loss for words, let out a small cry and sat on Claire’s thigh as she knelt.

“Even if you’re head over heels for a man, visiting your mother once a month is a daughter’s duty, isn’t it?”
“…”
“What’s with that… disrespectful look?”

As Claire opened her eyes, Bwiar, who was sitting on her thigh, shuddered.

“As your child, I didn’t want to burden you when you’re so busy.”
“It’s fine now, so please contact me…”

Bwiar, looking dejected, lowered her head and fidgeted with her fingers.

“I know you’re watching everything, so please stop making that face.”
“…”

Like a child caught in mischief, Bwiar clicked her tongue and then looked up at Claire again.

“I’m not watching everything, am I? That wretched man is so lucky…”

Bwiar chewed on a handkerchief, its origin unknown, and continued, “My daughter! I gave my permission! Hmph… Every time I try to sneak a peek, he notices and comes to threaten me, breaking my statue!”
“It wasn’t a threat; it was sincere.”
“It seems the saying about the futility of raising a daughter is true.”
“I don’t understand why you’re bringing that up now.”

Bwiar fidgeted for a moment, then turned to face Claire directly.

“Are you facing any difficulties or worries lately?”
“It’s not a concern worth troubling you with.”

Though she sometimes got frustrated with Bwiar’s childish behavior, Claire had too much respect for this being to lie.

“Even the smallest thing is fine. I simply enjoy talking with you, Claire.”
“Do you promise not to tell the Professor about this?”
“I promise!”
“…”

Claire knew she shouldn’t, but she couldn’t shake her distrust.

Sighing softly, Claire embraced Bwiar, who was sitting on her thigh, and said, “I don’t know what to do when the Professor acts mischievously.”
“Mischievously?”
“Well…”

Claire tried to explain but could only move her lips without forming words.

“Tsk, over thirty and still a virgin… Oh, I guess you’re not a virgin anymore.”
“…”
“Aha!”

As Claire’s face turned red, Bwiar giggled playfully and hopped off her lap.

“I thought you were being bullied, but it seems you just want to be affectionate. So, come on, let’s have some fun!”
“…”

Bwiar laughed heartily, seeing the steam rising from her beloved daughter’s head.

“Yes… You’re my most beloved daughter. I’m always happiest when I’m with you. So…”

Bwiar gently caressed Claire’s cheeks and kissed her forehead.

“Go ahead and be a little greedy.”
“…”

Claire met Bwiar’s gaze, looking up at her with blue eyes.

“You know that being has accepted you, so be a little more greedy.”
“…”

Bwiar, seeing Claire’s shyly averted gaze, caressed her daughter’s cheeks a few times before stepping back.

“Okay, I’m satisfied for this month, so you can go now!”
“…”

Claire bowed to the child before her and quietly left the prayer room.

Whoosh.

Bwiar’s spirit slowly merged into the statue, becoming one with it.

【Hmm…】

With a mischievous smile, Bwiar’s spirit turned into particles of light and merged with the statue.