WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS

Surviving the Assassin Academy as a Professor

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Chapter 11: Saintess of the Palace (2)

I was tempted to kick the fallen man in the face, but decided against it. There was no need to escalate things further.

The reason I attacked him was simple. Judging by his 【textbox】, he was about to try to subdue me.

My short temper—the kind that flared whenever I had to deal with any bureaucratic nonsense—definitely didn’t help me stay amicable. 

“Krrgh! Urghhh…!!”

The armored man rolled on the ground, trying and failing to draw his sword before collapsing again in agony. Blood trickled down his face, staining his cheeks as clerics rushed over to tend to him.

Judging by the amount of holy power they poured into him, there likely wouldn’t be any lasting impairments, even if the pain lingered. 

Either way, now that things had gone this far, my impression of Rebecca, whom I hadn’t even met yet, plummeted.

Just as a rude envoy could disgrace an entire nation, a guardian knight’s behavior reflected upon their princess. 

With that in mind, I turned to leave the cathedral. But the maid hurried over, wringing her hands and stepping in front of me to block the path. 

“M-My apologies, Professor Dante,” she stammered. “This guardian knight only joined us recently. I sincerely apologize for his rudeness…”

“Move aside.”

“Yes! But, um… the princess awaits you inside. May I please escort you in?”

In human society, attitude mattered greatly. If someone approached me rudely, I responded in kind. However, if they showed respect, I returned it.

I gave a curt nod. "...Very well."

Climbing the stairs, I knocked on the door to the clerics’ chamber. A voice from inside invited me in.

As I stepped through, a quiet room bathed in a soft, warm glow unfolded before me. 

There stood a monstrous assassin disguised as a maid, and beside her, a monstrous knight masquerading as an elderly retainer.

Rebecca sat in a chair between them, smiling as she welcomed me.

"Oh my."

She rose and approached, her expression calm, her smile gentle. 

“You came.”

A chill ran down my spine. My instincts warned me that she was merely pretending to be a saintess and that she was an unsettling, dangerous woman.

Nothing appeared in the 【textbox】, so this was purely my own conjecture. But I was certain of it. 

“Have a seat.”

Despite everything, she was playing the role of an ordinary cadet. 

A typical professor would have followed etiquette and protocol, but I decided to mirror her casual tone instead.

“If you wish to meet with a professor in the future, apply for an appointment through their assistant.”

For a brief moment, the maid and the old man behind Rebecca twisted their faces in barely concealed anger. Their thoughts in the 【textbox】 made it clear—they thought I was a lunatic, disrespecting the princess.

But Rebecca simply smiled.

“My apologies, Professor. I’ve been so busy that I had a hard time finding the time.”

“Since you’re so busy, I’ll get straight to the point. What do you want from me?”

Rebecca blinked, caught off guard, then spoke in a soft but deliberate tone.

“Could you two step outside for a moment?”

Only after the maid and knight had left the room did she continue.

“The other day, Kaiser told me about you, Professor. He said you were truly remarkable.”

“Kaiser does have a good eye.”

“Of course. In fact, I’ve never seen Kaiser praise someone so highly before. His words intrigued me. I wanted to see for myself what kind of person you are.”

As much as I didn’t want to admit it, her voice was soothing—soft and smooth, like polished jade.

“I’m sure you didn’t call me here just to take a look at my face.”

“That is true. I keep circling around the actual subject, unsure how to bring it up... since I know you’re already aware of it.”

“I’m listening.”

Rebecca drew a breath before continuing. 

“There are strong children in the academy. Right now, they may still be just learning cadets, but in the future, they will grow into some of the greatest combatants on the continent. Still, they have many shortcomings… They are children in need of guidance.”

“That’s a curious thing to hear. From what I understand, you’re all heirs of noble families or powerful organizations. What could you possibly lack?”

Rebecca smiled faintly, her expression tinged with melancholy. 

"When creating a still-life painting, the artist often turns the rotten side away, so it’s hidden from view." She paused. "Professor, did you hear? At the beginning of the year, the imperial princess took her own life. She was beautiful, adored by all, wealthy, and the holder of the greatest power in the world. And yet... she must have needed help. Otherwise, she would not have hung herself."

The princess of the Kingdom of Hiaka lifted her gaze and looked at me again.

Now, it was my turn to ask the question that had been sitting in the back of my mind. 

“I see where you’re going with this. But allow me to ask. Why did you call me instead of requesting the chief professors?”

Chief professors were in a league of their own. They were overwhelmingly stronger than anyone at the Academy, including the Black Dragon cadets, and even the regular professors who often learned from them. They were assassins who stood as pillars of the nation.

Rebecca’s decadent red eyes narrowed.

“I do not trust the professors,” she said, voice quiet but firm.

“You don’t trust them?”

“They have no motivation. Furthermore, they don’t particularly like us.”

“Because you’re a threat?”

“That’s part of it. But… also because I’m not exactly like your average cadet.” Her voice softened, her gaze drifting. “Even those who pretend to care about us are only looking to use us.”

“Don’t forget. I, too, am a professor of the Assassin Department.”

Rebecca smiled knowingly. “I heard that you scolded students for their lack of sincerity while assassinating. And the one who told me that was Kaiser. That boy’s judgment has never been wrong.”

I was beginning to understand. After all, Hiaka Academy wasn’t exactly a healthy environment, so her wariness of the faculty made sense. 

“I know my sentiments alone won’t sway you,” Rebecca continued.
“Thus, as the princess, I will ensure you lack nothing during your time at the academy. So please…” Her voice dropped to a gentle murmur. “Could you become the supervisor of the Black Dragon Division...?”

I took a moment to think.

This was the same request Kaiser had made. I still had his message saved on my crystal ball, asking me to correct them if they ever strayed from their paths.

I delayed my response to check the 【textbox】, but nothing appeared.

“Unfortunately, my answer is the same as the one I gave Kaiser. I have no intention of mentoring anyone.”

Rebecca sat silently.

I was certain this was one of the minor traps of Hell Mode—a pitfall meant to trap anyone arrogant enough to believe they could fix others. But I was not one of them. I knew exactly what stood before me now—a monster baring its fangs. How could I dare say I would fix and guide them?

“…That’s unfortunate. Kaiser will be quite disappointed as well.”

To my surprise, Rebecca simply nodded and accepted my answer.

“I understand. I wish you well, Professor.”

It was a dismissal.

As I turned to leave, I glanced at the thoughts of the two people waiting outside in the 【textbox】. Having seen me defeat their colleague and now overhearing my refusal, they were boiling with anger. In their eyes, I was a fool, unable to appreciate the opportunity that had just come my way. 

And I had no intention of refuting them.

But then, something in the room caught my eye.

On the coat rack beside the door hung a veil.

＊ Mantilla Veil [Cursed, Cursed, Cursed]

It was imbued with three separate curses.

The sight reminded me of the time I’d detected the deadly poison in my five-colored black tea from Kaiser.

It was strange. The mantilla veil should not have carried such curses. 

But in this perilous web of relationships I now lived in, it was worth pointing out.

“Princess Rebecca.”

“Yes, Professor?”

“You should have a mage specializing in investigations among your guards.”

“…Pardon?”

“Be cautious and watch your surroundings. The imperial princess did not commit suicide—she was murdered. And it appears someone is targeting your life as well.”

I lightly kicked the coat rack, knocking the veil to the floor.

There was one last thing I had to say.

“And choose better knights.”

That marked the end of my meeting with the princess.

* * *

Princess Rebecca stared blankly at the door through which Dante had exited. The smile had long vanished from her lips.

Then, the elderly knight and the female shadow operative re-entered the room, their voices brimming with complaint.

“What an insolent man! His arrogance is sky-high! How dare he speak so rudely to Her Highness just because no one else was around?”

“I share Sir Cheong-ru’s opinion, Your Highness. There is no need to employ such a professor.”

Their reactions were only natural. She was part of the illustrious royal bloodline. Even the dean of the Assassin Department would kneel and bow when granted an audience with the princess.

“Th-That arrogant professor… Please, give us the order! We can have him removed from his post and—”

“It’s fine.”

Rebecca silenced them with a soft remark.

Her gaze drifted toward the mantilla veil on the floor. 

The two subordinates caught on to the meaning behind her stare. 

“Ah, there is no need to worry about that. What could the professor have possibly known? He must’ve been spouting nonsense. Every item that touches your body undergoes a thorough inspection by the chamberlain—”

Rebecca cut him off.

“Dame Reim,” Rebecca interrupted.

“…Yes, Your Highness?”

“Would the dean of the Mage Department, Ezekiel, happen to be in Zone 2 right now?”

“Yes, most likely.”

“Can you go check?”

Reim, a member of the royal Shadow Unit, frowned inwardly. The professor seemed to have planted needless worries in the princess’s mind.

What nonsense… That arrogant bastard…

Professor Dante Hiakapo had no official combatant rating. No confirmed past record as an assassin. Just an insignificant professor.

He’s nothing special, and yet he dares to…

Reim muttered insults under her breath as she left.

What did that professor know, really? He must have been just making baseless guesses.

But when she found Challenger-rated mage Ezekiel, the response she received was unexpected.

“Oh, you’re right.”

“There are three curses on this. Very malicious ones, too.”

“But… the chamberlain’s inspection would’ve…”

“The curses may have been placed after the inspection. One of them is specifically designed to activate only in young women, which might explain why it was overlooked. What a clever culprit.”

Reim couldn’t believe it.

“What should I do? Should I destroy the veil?”

“No… I must bring it back.”

“I see. Here you go.”

Even as she walked away, Reim struggled to comprehend what she had just heard. 

…That bastard got lucky. He must’ve made a lucky guess after sensing something.

Maybe he knows a few things about curses.

Still skeptical, Reim returned and reported the truth to the princess. But as she spoke, an uneasy chill ran down her spine.

Rebecca stood in silence, eyes fixed on the veil.

Thoughts churned behind her crimson gaze as she sifted through memories, connecting fragments—until something clicked.

“The maid with the twin braids and red cheeks. And a cute face. Do you remember her?”

“Yes, Your Highness. That would be Hart.”

“Bring her here.”

Three minutes later, the maid was dragged into the princess’s chambers, her arms restrained.

The shadow operative kicked the back of her knees, slamming her to the floor. She let out a terrified scream.

Rebecca stepped forward and grabbed the girl’s hair, yanking her head up. 

“It was you, wasn’t it?”

The maid trembled violently, her eyes wide with terror. 

“Y-Your Highness! I-I didn’t know…!”

“Why did you do it?”

“I-I was just following orders! I really didn’t know anything…!”

“We’ve known each other for so long. Every morning, you gently comb my hair. So why did you betray me?”

“Your Highness…”

“Tell me. Do you hate me, too?”

The maid flinched, her eyes widening in terror. She tried to lower her gaze, but Rebecca’s grip tightened, lifting the girl’s head higher and forcing her to meet her stare.

Red eyes glared menacingly into the maid’s soul.

“I want to know what you were thinking. Did you also consider me nothing more than the filthy spawn of a low-born street girl? That I was vermin—unfit to be treated as a princess?”

The maid’s face drained of color.

Rebecca’s tone had changed, her language taking on a crude edge— words that would never normally leave her lips. Yet her expression remained unnervingly serene.

Eventually, she released her grip. The maid’s head dropped to the floor, her body trembling as she avoided Rebecca’s gaze.

“Sir Cheong-ru.”

As the princess addressed the knight, the maid sensed an order was about to be given. She had a terrible feeling that she knew what it would be. Panic bloomed, and she began to beg frantically. 

“Y-Your Highness…! P-Please, spare me! J-Just this once…! I-I’ll tell you everything! I’ll tell you who gave me the order…!”

“There’s no need. These days, we can even make corpses talk.”

“…!”

“But I am curious. What kind of curses were placed on my veil?”

“I-I don’t know, Your Highness… I swear, I don’t know…”

“Then we’ll have to find out.”

“H-How…? Ack!”

Rebecca seized her hair again and yanked her head back. In one smooth motion, she shoved the cursed veil into the girl’s mouth.

After all, one of the curses was designed to affect young women.

“…I believe we’re the same age. Did you know that?”

The maid flailed in protest, trying to spit it out, but her hands were bound tightly behind her back. Rebecca held firm, ensuring the veil was stuffed deep into the girl’s throat. 

Unlike her, Rebecca had a high resistance to curses due to certain circumstances. The maid, however, had no such protection.

“Mmmph...!!”

As Ezekiel described, the curse activated.

The maid’s face began to age rapidly.

“Mmmph…! MMMMMPH!!!”

Her skin shriveled, sagging in real time, and her hair bleached white with unnatural speed.

Rebecca watched it happen, her expression unreadable.

“…How grotesque. Aging is so unsightly.”

At last, the maid vomited the veil out, now soaked in blood and saliva. It landed on the floor with a sickening squelch, too filthy to be touched again. 

“Sir Cheong-ru. Cut off her limbs and feed them to Mung.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

The command was given with a chilling detachment.

The old knight unsheathed his sword. 

Schling—

Without hesitation, he stepped forward. 

The aged maid, a youthful girl moments ago, thrashed and screamed, her voice now ragged. 

“Y-Your Highness…! Princess… Rebecca, you filthy street-born whore…!! I-I will—!”

The old knight raised his blade high and paused. 

He pondered, just briefly. 

What kind of accident should he fabricate this time?

A slip and fall to her death, perhaps. That would suffice.

As for the junior knight who had gotten thrashed by the professor… he would need to be dismissed.

⋮

Later, after everything was over, Rebecca sat on her bed, gazing out the window.

She looked up at the stars—the very same stars she frequently cursed.

Then, overcome by a strange and lingering thought, she muttered to herself.

“How did he know...?”

Saintess of the Palace - END

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