WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS

Surviving the Assassin Academy as a Professor

Translator: Touch

Editor: Grass

Join our discord to check out the official illustrations: https://dsc.gg/wetried

Chapter 72: DLC [Professor in a Heroic Fantasy] – Midpoint Recap (5)

On one side stood a lady brimming with energy, her identity unknown.

On the other side stood a lady completely devoid of energy, her identity all too clear.

The scene was almost ironic.

At the same time, I found it confusing. I couldn’t understand why Adele’s expression—visible for only a brief moment—looked so strange.

Was it because the exclusivity she held as my teaching assistant had been broken?

Then, could it be that she genuinely wanted to be a good assistant?

But if that were the case, why would the other players consider her a threat?

I was suddenly reminded of something Adele had once said to me:

“Professor, you’re really slow-witted when it comes to stuff like this.”

I couldn't remember exactly when or where, but Adele had said I was slow-witted when it came to human relationships.

Is it true…?

In any case, I was glad I had caught that fleeting change in Adele’s expression just now.

It felt like catching a glimpse of her true self behind the mask—something she hadn’t shown even when drunk yesterday.

Perhaps Ran’s presence would act as a stimulus.

For now, I decided simply to keep watch.

“Assistant Ran, come with me for a moment.”

“Yes.”

Setting Adele aside for the time being, I needed to learn more about the new individual who had joined us.

I walked to my room on the second floor, Ran following closely behind.

“Name?”

“Ran. I don’t have a surname.”

“Age?”

“My setting says 25 years old.”

“…Same age as Adele. I’m curious about the journey that led you to become my assistant. Were you sent by the 「Systematic Star⧉」?”

“I don’t know.”

“You don’t know?”

“I was asleep for a very long time. And when I opened my eyes, I felt the need to come to Hiaka.”

“Why?”

“…”

“My departure point was the outskirts of the Hattengraj Empire. When I arrived in Hiaka, the Board Chairman welcomed me. That’s all I know.”

“When did you wake up?”

“20 days, 5 hours, and 37 minutes ago.”

That was around the time I’d left [Offline] and returned to the game world.

I was certain of it now—this person had been sent by the 「Systematic Star⧉」.

“But why did it take you 20 days? If you used the warp stations, you could’ve arrived in a single day.”

“I had no identification documents, so I couldn’t use the warp stations. I only got my legal documents after the Chairman made them for me.”

Then she must have taken the hard, time-consuming way to get here.

Ran’s story was quite intriguing.

I—or rather, Dante—was probably someone sent by the 「Systematic Star⧉」 too. A sort of nepo baby who had managed to become a professor through the Chairman’s recommendation.

In other words, there was a high chance Ran had entered this world the same way I had.

Was she a player… or something similar?

“What is Mc**nald’s iconic dish?”

Ran blinked her pitch-black eyes, then raised a finger to her temple and closed her eyes.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m thinking.”

After a pause, she opened her eyes again.

“ …My apologies, but I don’t understand the question. What is Mc**nald’s iconic dish?”

It was obviously the Big M—wait, no. That’s not what mattered here.

I asked her a series of other questions about real-life topics—Elon Musk, the pyramids, and so on—but she clearly had no idea what I was talking about.

She probably wasn’t from the modern world.

“Then, what do you know about the bugged spaces?”

“I don’t know much.”

“…But isn’t that your role?”

“Is it?”

“…You’re a peculiar one,” I commented, before asking another question. “Do you know how to drive?”

“I cannot at the moment. But one of my auxiliary devices might be compatible.”

“Auxiliary devices?”

To learn more about these auxiliary devices, I took her to the parking lot and showed her the magic sedan.

Ran pulled a random gear-shaped object out of her pocket, placed it on her head, got behind the wheel, and began driving skillfully.

Fascinating. There had never been a character like this in the base game.

“Interesting. So if you place something on your head, you gain certain skill sets?”

“Something like that.”

“What else can you put on your head?”

“I can place an egg.”

“And what happens then?”

“I become good at egging people on.”

“…Anything else?”

“If I put a bamboo-copter on my head, I can fly.”

“Show me.”

Ran pulled out a tiny bamboo helicopter rotor from her pocket, placed it on her head, and started floating in the air.

“Huh, neat.”

This was fun.

She also said that if she placed a pinwheel, she could generate wind (it was nice and cooling).

If she placed a rubber duck, she could swim (apparently, she normally sank).

If she placed a steamed bun on her head, she could eat (a useless ability).

In short, Ran was Doraemon.

“Will they work if placed on my head too?”

“No.”

So I wasn’t Nobita. How unfortunate.

Moving on.

Since she could drive, we took a spin through Zone 0.

But soon, I got curious about the bugged space near Mount Stargaze and redirected our route.

“Do you see that?” I asked, pointing at the bugged space in the distance.

Ran pulled out a marble etched with the ⧉ symbol.

“…Didn’t you say you weren’t sent by the 「Systematic Star⧉」?”

“No, I said I didn’t know. But among my auxiliary devices, this symbol was present on one.”

She placed the marble on her head. The ⧉ symbol appeared in her eyes as well.

“If you mean that black dome, then yes. I can see it now. What would you like to know, Professor?”

“Tell me everything you know about that bugged space.”

“…At the moment, there’s only one entry in the list of information.”

“At the moment?”

“…It seems there are at least two bugs present in that area, but only one is properly known to us.”

She then mentioned that she wasn't sure when the list would be updated.

“Then, what does the one entry say?”

I had always been curious about it.

That 50-meter-wide bugged space above the academy caused the unexpected early appearance of Jinxsite.

Then, what would come out of a 1,000-meter-wide bugged space?

What kind of bug could it be?

Ran paused briefly, then answered.

“Inside that dome, something that was supposed to die according to the world’s order is being forcibly kept alive.”

* * *

——

Scene #1 – Kaiser

Scene #2 – Teaching Assistant

Scene #3 – How Did It Come to This ◀

The death of an innocent stranger is painful.

But the death of a cherished friend is even more painful—almost unbearably so.

This was the story of Kaiser, who had just dropped out of the academy.

In truth, he thought it would be difficult to withdraw, considering how much classified information he knew, including intel about the Black Dragon Division.

But to his surprise, Princess Rebecca let him go without a second thought.

“I don’t need you anymore. Professor Dante will be joining us now.”

“But I do appreciate your hard work thus far. I’ll inform the Council of Elders not to lay a hand on you.”

The lack of reaction was a bit sad, considering everything he had done for the division. But at the very least, he was glad he could leave safely.

I’m a free man now…!

Kaiser wanted to live a decent life, and seeing Dante’s Holy Tree had only reaffirmed that desire.

The professor would one day rule over humanity, and that future would be a utopia—a perfect world.

A mere commoner like himself had no reason to get in the way of that grand journey.

So what should I do now?

After much thought, Kaiser tried to find his own definition of righteousness.

I’ll become a doctor.

During the assassination war, one of his friends had been trapped in a burning building. Although rescued and taken to the hospital, the friend didn’t survive — there simply weren’t enough doctors for the sudden wave of patients.

Kaiser himself hadn’t been able to get his leg treated in time in the past due to a shortage of doctors and ended up with a limp.

Moreover, if he became a doctor, he could help the professor.

Kaiser believed that good people always died young, and Professor Dante might be no exception.

If he studied hard and became the professor’s personal physician, how wonderful would that be…?

Yes. I’ll become a doctor. That’s my righteousness!

It felt like the tiny seed he had once planted in the empty clearing of his heart had finally started to sprout. 

So, Kaiser went to a nearby territory, the Lewian Viscounty, and bought a house with the money he had saved. He bought medical books and even a stethoscope to help get himself in the mood.

Hehe! A stethoscope~☆

Then came his first day going to the local library to study.

Kaiser limped along a small street, leaning on his usual cane, when suddenly…

“Hey, hey! You there, young man…!”

A masked figure jumped out from an alleyway.

“Uh… are you referring to me?”

“Are you a doctor?”

“Ah, well, not yet…”

“You’re a doctor, right? Or maybe a med student? I can see those medical books under your arm and that stethoscope around your neck…! So don’t lie to me, you son of a—!!”

The masked figure suddenly cursed.

“Eek…!”

Kaiser flinched in surprise.

But then, the person’s legs gave out, and he collapsed to the ground with a thud, leaning against the wall.

As Kaiser got a better look at him, he noticed blood gushing from the man’s stomach and legs beneath his black clothing.

“Ugh… Please, save me… I’ll give you as much money as you want…”

“What on earth happened to you?” Kaiser asked, panicked.

“I was shot… three bullets in the leg and stomach… I can’t breathe… Ugh…”

“L-Let me contact the guards immediately—!”

“No…! Don’t call the guards…! Just save me… I… I can’t breathe…”

Eventually, the man slumped to the ground, barely conscious.

Kaiser, startled, limped over to him.

“S-Sir…! Since you’re having trouble breathing, I’ll remove your mask first!”

“Yeah… okay… Do whatever you must… Please…”

The mask came off easily, releasing a faint wisp of mana.

But Kaiser, who hadn’t studied anything yet, was helpless. And with the man refusing to call for help, he had no idea what to do.

Before long, the man’s pained breaths stopped, and his eyes lost focus.

“Sir? …Sir…?”

All that remained in front of Kaiser was a corpse.

Bang! Bang bang!!

Gunshots suddenly rang out from beyond the alley.

What the—?!

Kaiser’s heart dropped.

A gunfight? In broad daylight? In this peaceful territory?

This was way more than what an ordinary commoner like him could handle!

I-I have to call the guards after all…!!

Thus, Kaiser decided to limp away with the bloodstained mask. He figured it could serve as evidence when reporting the situation.

“That way!!”

Unfortunately, he didn’t get far before he was surrounded by a group of ten assassins, all armed with guns and blades.

I’m screwed…

Kaiser’s mind went blank.

If he’d known this would happen, he never would’ve dropped out.

Forget being a doctor—he should’ve just stayed as the leader of the Black Dragon Division!

Just as he stood frozen, not knowing what to do—

Thwack!

An arrow flew out and pierced Kaiser’s leg—his already numb left leg.

Seeing his lack of reaction, the leader of the assassins (easily identified by his flashy outfit) shouted,

“Well, well! You didn’t even flinch after getting skewered by an arrow? How very like you, Heidloff.”

“…?”

“Guess you’d need that much guts to rob the treasure vault of the Bartholomew Syndicate all by yourself. I’m impressed! So our fight against your underlings was just a distraction?”

Heidloff… who??

“It’s funny. It’s been nearly ten years since you and I first crossed swords, and only now do I finally see your face. You’re much younger than I imagined.”

At last, Kaiser understood the situation.

Ah… Shit… How… How is something like this happening again…?

Finally, the enemy leader’s face twisted with rage.

“Answer me right now, you bastard. Where’s the treasure you took from me? Talk, or I’ll kill you!”

He aimed a crossbow at Kaiser.

“This next shot will blow your brains out.”

“Now, talk. Where’s my treasure?”

Kaiser tensed up. A pointless death was imminent, and he had to avoid it at all costs. 

He had to find a way to survive.

Then suddenly, in the span of a second, a strange chemical reaction exploded in the genius mind of Kaiser—the Evil Mastermind (as Dante had once called him).

In that instant, he figured out the one and only way to get out of this situation alive.

Kaiser lowered his head, took a steady breath, and recalled the voice of the dying man.

Then, he slowly lifted his head and smiled casually.

“…You’ve never been good at negotiating, Bartholomew.”

“What?”

The enemy leader’s face stiffened, then he forced out a laugh.

“This bastard’s talking nonsense now that he’s cornered.”

“Do my words sound like nonsense to you?” Kaiser asked.

“Don’t push your luck! Pretending to be calm won’t help you!”

“Really?”

Kaiser smiled with even more composure, which only deepened Bartholomew’s scowl.

There was something off about Kaiser’s serenity—his expression, his tone, his entire demeanor.

“You forgot one thing,” Kaiser said. “Negotiations can only happen when both parties hold equal value.”

“And? You’ve got nothing but your life to offer!”

“Is that really all I have?”

Shhhlp!

Kaiser yanked the arrow out of his leg and aimed it at Bartholomew.

“Ha! Is that all you came up with? You’re going to kill me with that little arrow?”

“Oh no. I can’t kill you.”

“Huh? Then what good will that arrow do?”

Kaiser turned the arrowhead toward his own throat and pressed it gently against his skin. A trickle of blood followed.

“H-Hey! What are you—?!”

Kaiser’s lips curled into a faint smirk.

“Now, my life and death are in my own hands, Bartholomew. So tell me—what do you have to offer? You’ve lost your treasure. You don’t know where it is. And now, you don’t even control whether I live or die.”

“Enough with that nonsense, you son of a—!”

“Bartholomew.”

“Cut this crap out, you psycho!!”

“…Tch.”

“Answer me, Bartholomew.”

Kaiser slowly smiled.

“What can you do now?”

He was drawing out the confrontation as long as he could, praying with every fiber of his being.

By the time three minutes had passed since he was first surrounded…

“Boss!!”

A shout rang out from deeper in the alleyway.

Assassins from the Heidloff Syndicate appeared and rescued Kaiser.

Holy shit! It worked! I lived!!

He barely had time to feel joy at his miraculous survival when one of them turned to him and spoke.

“Boss… At last, our master plan is at hand.”

Kaiser teared up on the inside.

Why the hell am I your boss, you lunatics!?

It was all because of that damned mask. He never should’ve picked it up.

But as they say, old habits die hard.

Dragged off to this unknown organization that had now decided he was their boss, Kaiser somehow ended up revealing his genius-level assassination strategies and organizational skills…

Within three days, he had taken over every syndicate in the neighborhood.

“It’s our victory!!”

And by day five, he had wiped out all the Black Path syndicates in the neighboring region.

“Hoorah! The boss is by our side!!”

Even then, he didn’t stop.

He eventually brought down the largest assassin syndicate in southern Lewian—the Death God Society—completing whatever insane master plan the real Heidloff had once concocted.

“Bow your heads, bastards! Show your respect to the boss!”

“Y-Yes, sir…!!”

Dozens of men dropped to one knee in unison.

All of this had happened in just one week.

Wait… what?

Kaiser sat at the head of a long banquet table, blank-faced, surrounded by 120 gang members lined up in two perfect rows.

Why am I here…?

Again.

It had happened once again…

It was just like the first time he entered and joined the Black Dragon Division.

Things were supposed to be different this time around…!! I really wanted to become a doctor…!!! What the hell am I supposed to do with my stethoscope now, you bastards?!

Just then, a senior member stepped forward and spoke.

“Boss… The men are waiting…”

The banquet couldn’t begin until the boss raised his glass. But Kaiser had been sitting in a silent daze for two hours.

The men had been kneeling all the while, nervously awaiting his next move.

Only then did Kaiser come to his senses.

“…Ah, right.”

He had no choice but to put his dream of becoming a doctor on hold.

Since things had come to this, he would at least support Professor Dante from afar, helping the professor achieve his dream.

And maybe, just maybe, Kaiser could protect the powerless. People like his friend.

“Attention,” he called out.

His solemn voice made the hall fall silent.

“Heidloff was an alias. My real name is Kaiser. That is the name you shall use to refer to your master henceforth.”

Kaiser!!

So that’s the name of the incredible man hidden behind that mask…

The underlings stared in awe as Kaiser continued.

“From today onward, the Death God Society will be renamed the Domination Society. And we shall henceforth worship the Domination Star.”

The Domination Star?

No one had ever heard of such a thing, but none dared to question the man who had conquered the entire southern region in a week.

“Our goal is to unite the Black Path of Hiaka, conquer the southern continent, and finally, dominate all of humanity.”

Little by little, questions and concerns appeared in the eyes of his followers. But Kaiser just said whatever came to mind now, tossing caution aside.

Whatever. Screw it all~ This is what the professor wants, and you assholes have no say in this!

But when it came to choosing a symbol for the Domination Society—and the Domination Star—he grew quiet.

He thought back to the demolished areas of Hiaka Academy.

To the memorials. The funerals.

To the small grave of his friend, before which he’d cried in silence.

To the falling snow.

To the Christmas tree that had bloomed in the sky, as if embracing him.

After long consideration, Kaiser chose the 「❆」 symbol—a snowflake.

It represented that moment. That memory. That feeling.

The sprout that had once grown in the clearing of his heart had reached upward.

But now, he understood what it had turned into. 

It was an opium poppy once again.

He didn’t know how things had ended up this way again.

But now that he was here, he decided to trust that this was still righteous.

If this was the seed the professor had given him, then Kaiser would love it.

He would water it seriously.

He would nurture it with everything he had.

With that resolve, Kaiser opened his eyes.

He raised his glass to the 120 men before him.

“For the domination of humanity.”

For the professor.

“Cheers.”

And with that... 

The roars of the voices shook the banquet hall. 

“CHEEEEEEEEEEEEERS——!!”

DLC [Professor in a Heroic Fantasy]

Midpoint Recap – END

If you wish to read ahead, there are 10 advanced chapters available right now!

Join our Discord for the official illustrations and the fastest updates on releases! https://dsc.gg/wetried