Chapter 228 The baldy professor... Gunther?
I had a terrible flight yesterday, sigh.
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(POV: Akashic Records)
Aldnoah Magic University,
In the office of Director Takano Ryu, a man with a bold, bald head and a thick mustache burst through the door without hesitation.
It was none other than Gunther Schmidt, the university's?professor for Transfiguration and Shape-shifting known for his no-nonsense approach.
"DIRECTOR RYU! DIRECTOR RYU!!"
Gunther's booming voice echoed through the room, almost shaking the delicate decorations on the bookshelves.
Director Ryu, a calm and composed man by nature, let out a weary sigh.
"( This guy again... )" (Takano)
He was already expecting a tumultuous discussion.
"Yes, Gunther?" Takano finally responded.
Without skipping a beat, Gunther launched into his tirade.
"I knew it! I knew it was a mistake to hire these young whippersnappers as professors! They have no respect for punctuality!"
His face grew redder with each word, his mustache twitching in anger.
"( He actually looks like a watermelon this way. )" (Takano)
Director Ryu raised an eyebrow, his patience beginning to wane.
"Eeeeeh, Professor Gunther, what seems to be the problem... again... today...?"
Director Ryu asked this, trying to keep his tone as calm as possible.
But his question also indicated that Professor Gunther had come here today, before now.
At the time, he came to report about students wasting paper by drawing pictures of eggs and pasting it on his door.
To which Director Ryu told him— "Eh, I'll ask them why they're posting egg pictures of their 'bald' teacher".
Back on the matter at hand.
Gunther cleared his throat, composing himself before he spoke.
"The Adventurers' Practice class professors have just arrived, Director Ryu. They're late, on their very first day of the scholastic season!" he exclaimed.
To Director Ryu, Gunther?s righteous indignation only pissed off with each passing second.
Growing slightly exasperated, he sighed heavily.
"There must be a reason for their tardiness, professor. Let's not jump to conclusions."
Gunther, not one for such leniency, straightened his posture and looked Director Ryu dead in the eye.
"With all due respect, Director, a professor should never be late, especially on their first day. It sets a bad example for the students!"
"Eeeehhh."
"And you of all people should know that!"
Director Ryu, eager to bring the conversation to a swift end and get back to his much-needed rest, finally relented.
He leaned back in his chair and asked Gunther, "So, what'd you propose we do, Gunther? How can we address this issue?"
Gunther, his hands folded thoughtfully, took a moment to ponder.
The faint sheen on his bald head seemed to reflect the thoughts weighing heavily on his mind. "I suggest we note their names and address the issue with them later," he began. "Each late occurrence will result in a strike. Three strikes, and they should be terminated from their positions."
Director Ryu furrowed his brows.
Listening to Gunther's strict stance, he was partly amused. "Is that really necessary?" he inquired.
Gunther gave a haughty chuckle.
"Harshness breeds success, Director," he declared, puffing out his chest. "This university's a crucible for fostering interracial education, and we mustn't waver or deviate in our approach."
Director Ryu reached for a delicate quill and elegantly poised it above a bottle of ink. As he dipped the tip in, he raised an eyebrow at Gunther. "And what are your names?" he asked, his voice as smooth as silk.
Irritatingly proud for no apparent reason, Gunther straightened his posture and proclaimed, "The names: Ophelia Fenberg, and Grome Staltork."
Director Ryu gingerly jotted down their names on the crisp paper, forming elegant strokes with the quill.
He glanced up at Gunther.
"Rest assured," Gunther said, a subtle sarcasm in his tone. "These names shall be etched into the annals of this university's efficiency, ensuring the absence of any undedicated professors."
A sigh escaped Ryu?s lips.
"Uh, Gunther...?"
"Yes, Director?"
"You do know the teaching roster was set based on recommendations from both Princess Celese as well as Lady Lucretia, right?"
"Eh?"
Gunther's face reddened slightly at the implication.
He fumbled for a moment before reaching for his handkerchief, mopping the beads of sweat gathering on his gleaming bald head.
"Ah, um, there's no need for that," he stammered.
"No need for what?" Ryu smiled.
He leaned back in his chair, a confident smirk followed.
"Perhaps," he suggested, "if you're so confident in questioning the choices of Lady Lucretia and the Shield Kingdom princesses, you should summon these esteemed individuals to your office for a lively discussion."
With a flustered expression, Gunther quickly snatched the paper bearing Ophelia and Grome's names from Takano's outstretched hand.
Beads of sweat continued to cascade down his glistening scalp as he stammered, "No, no need for that at all."
"Then what exactly are we talking about?"
Director Ryu?s golden slit-like eyes fixed on Gunther.
Feeling the tension, it didn't take long for Gunther to immediately vanish from the office of the Director. His last words:
"N-NOTHING SIR!"
With the baldy gone, Director Ryu picked up the paper from his desk and then said, "What a waste of perfectly good paper." Ryu?s gaze on the paper lingered a bit and then he said, "or maybe not, I could always write over it..."
...
Soon after, Gunther found himself in a rather unexpected encounter with Princesses Celese and Aurora. As fate would have it, Lumiere, Stellaria, and Lucilia, the princesses' companions, were also present. The weight of their tardiness visibly pained him, causing his temples to throb and veins to bulge on his otherwise smooth head.
"( These bastards came even later than Ophelia and Grome... just who the hell do they think they are?! )" (Gunther)
Princess Celese raised an eyebrow as she came to a gentle stop.
"Gunther?" she said.
"T... That's me, Your Highness," Gunther nodded with a forced grin. He felt like bowing his head would make it explode.
That was the extent of his anger.
"Professor Gunther," Princess Aurora called out, partly concerned. "Are you doing well?"
Swallowing hard, Gunther mustered a shaky smile and replied, "Indeed, Your Highness. I am... holding up, thank you."
His fingers clenched tightly, the pressure in his palm a clear reflection of the turmoil brewing within him. Bowing his head, he gathered his thoughts and summoned his courage. "With your permission, I must excuse myself. I have a class to attend to."
"Oh?" Princess Aurora raised an eyebrow, some surprise coloring her expression. "Very well, Professor. You're dismissed."
With some feeling relief and agitation, Gunther hastily retreated from the scene, his mind racing. Lumiere, who was silent so far, watched him depart, his facial expression— more than enough to define how utterly confused he was.
A yawn parted Stellaria's lips. Naturally, this was barely of any interest to her.
Curiosity getting the better of her, Lucilia leaned in and whispered, "Lumiere, any ideas who that baldy was?"
Lumiere scratched his head in bewilderment. "Not a clue, Lady Lucilia. But something seems to be troubling him."
As Gunther made his hasty exit, Lumiere couldn't resist calling out after him. "Excuse me, sir!"
"( Arrghh! What does that bastard want?! )" (Gunther)
The humor here, was that he referred to Lumiere as a "bastard". Which in fact, was true.
A storm was brewing in Gunther?s mind— a tardy professor like Lumiere shouldn't casually address him, he thought. It was annoying that such an individual was selected by royalty, whereas Gunther fought tooth and nail to get a job which almost anyone with the right experience or qualification could get.
It made all his hardwork feel like poop swept under the carpet.
You've hidden all traces of your actions, but the poop (shame) still smells.
Although not wholesomely startled by Lumiere's call, there was some evidence of shock on his face. Gunther turned back to face Lumiere, his glare brimming with annoyance. "What is it?"
Rubbing his chin, Lumiere quipped, "Are you feeling a bit... pressed...?"
"Pressed?" Gunther repeated.
"Like..." Lumiere searched for the most delicate way to put it. "I mean, you look like you need to go to a toilet."
"Eh?" Princess Celese and Princess Aurora exchanged puzzled glances.
Celese chimed in, unsure if this was some sort of way in which Lumiere tried to lighten the mood, "Could that really be the problem, Gunther?" In truth, Lumiere was honestly just asking a question.
Mentally frustrated, Gunther gritted his teeth, desperately trying not to sound rude. His patience wearing thin, he finally retorted through clenched teeth, "I assure you all, I... Am... Perfectly... Fine... No need for any… bathroom breaks."
And with that, Gunther hurriedly made his departure, leaving them there.
"Yeah right," Stellaria casually stated, "he definitely wants to poop."
Every other person nodded in unison.
"Mhmm," they all said.
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