How much time had passed since I delivered coffee to Professor Radvisin and the zombie research students?
By the time I had read all the papers given to me and constructed a table of contents based on the material I had reviewed, Professor Radvisin rose from his seat and said,
"Let's go eat."
Is it because 《NaSE》 is a Korean web novel?
People here often used the expression "let's go eat bap," even when they weren't actually going to eat bap made from cooked rice.
According to the dictionary, "bap" can also mean "food eaten as a meal," so it wasn't technically incorrect.
'But this isn't a world where rice is the staple food.'
That's why, even while reading the original, I often wondered how "bap" could be commonly used to mean "a meal."
On the other hand, now I understood.
The world in this novel had simply been put together haphazardly like this.
Once I accepted that, the question disappeared.
"Ughhh..."
"Uwaaaaah--."
The zombies stopped what they were doing, got up from their seats, and stretched their arms above their heads.
It was something the real Karvaldr would never do, since he considered it undignified.
But perhaps because I had been sitting still and concentrating on reading the papers, my body felt very stiff.
I had no choice but to stretch as well.
Unlike the research students, who returned to their slouched postures as soon as they lowered their arms, I kept my back straight and maintained proper posture.
"Newcomer, how is the organization work coming along?"
"After reading the table of contents and introductions of the papers you gave me, Professor, I understood that you needed materials on the 'correlation between ether colors and attributes.' I read through the main texts, checked and classified the relevant sections, and based on that, proceeded with constructing a table of contents."
As we left the research building and walked toward the cafeteria building, the professor asked about my progress.
So I explained the entire process.
To be honest, I wasn't sure if I was doing it correctly.
If I was doing it wrong, the professor would point it out and guide me in the right direction.
"You're doing well. I was wondering whether you were approaching the work strangely since you weren't asking any questions... Ah! The reason I left you alone despite being concerned was because I thought there might be something to gain from figuring it out on your own. But now I see you weren't asking because you already knew how to proceed?"
I was glad to hear I was doing well, but I couldn't help feeling a little wronged.
I couldn't bring myself to ask because I feared he would think it strange if I admitted I didn't know what to do.
To think it would have been fine to just be honest.
"Actually, I don't really know it well. But you entrusted the work to me so naturally that I thought it was something I should already know, so I proceeded on my own. I apologize."
"Oh my! Were you embarrassed because you thought everyone else knew and you were the only one who didn't? Even so, it's not a good habit to proceed with work arbitrarily. You seem to have a strong sense of pride, Newcomer. Still, it's good that you confessed honestly, even if a bit late. And you managed to find the right direction by thinking for yourself, so I commend you for that."
"Ah... uh... Thank you."
During the martial arts lecture yesterday, when Ríolíkin rambled on about how cool I was and how I was a true noble, it hadn't resonated with me at all.
I felt nothing, since it seemed like he was forcing compliments just to flatter me.
But hearing the professor praise me to my face for a valid reason felt completely different.
I felt very shy.
It was because it had been so long since I had heard words of praise while facing someone directly.
'I stuttered without realizing it. I think my face got a little hot too... Is this a character collapse?'
I instinctively worried about a character collapse.
But after calming myself and thinking it through, I concluded that it could be justified.
Because there was a setting that Karvaldr had never heard proper words of praise from the adults around him, including his father, Hárðr.
When I was learning various things before coming to the Academy, the teachers would glare at me if I couldn't keep up with the class, and if I did well, they would simply take it for granted and move on.
So it might be a natural reaction for Karvaldr to feel shy after hearing words of praise from a smiling elder filled with generosity.
Therefore, I did not cause a character collapse.
"This newcomer is kind of fresh and cute~?"
"What do you mean, senior? 'This newcomer'? Does that mean I'm not fresh and cute?"
It was the two zombie research students who really caused a character collapse.
Just moments ago, they had only been capable of making sounds like "ughh" and "gwooh."
Then they suddenly started speaking human language, which startled me.
"Yeah, that's exactly what I mean."
"Hmph! That's so mean, senior! Just yesterday you were calling me cute and gave me a handful of candy as a gift! Are you switching sides as soon as a handsome newcomer shows up?!"
"Don't say things the newcomer might misunderstand!"
Was a person speaking human language really such a strange thing?
Before I realized it, I found myself listening to the conversation between the doctoral and master's research students.
Unlike me, Professor Radvisin didn't seem surprised at all that the two zombie research students were speaking.
He even seemed quite familiar with both the content and tone of their conversation.
"Hahaha. I always say this, but dating is forbidden in my research lab. I don't want to see one of you drop out of school because you broke up after a series of lovers' quarrels. You are both my precious disciples."
Although he was talking about a dating ban, the professor's attitude wasn't very firm.
In fact, his gaze toward his disciples was quite warm, and his expression seemed to say, 'Ah, to be young again~,' full of contentment.
Perhaps understanding that his words came from genuine concern, the male zombie... no, the master's research student replied playfully.
"Oh, come on, Professor! Isn't it possible to develop both our academic achievements and our love by studying and researching together?"
"Hey, what is this kid saying?!"
Anyone could tell from the master's research student's remark that he was romantically interested.
At that, the doctoral research student couldn't hide her embarrassment. Her face flushed as she slapped her junior on the back.
The master's research student cried out in pain and twisted his body, but his lips still curved into a smile.
'To think I'd be watching extras who weren't even mentioned in the original having a crush on each other...'
Various elements constantly reminded me that this world was someone's creation.
And yet, characters the original author probably never even imagined existed were living their own lives right before my eyes.
That fact made me feel strange.
My heart stirred with an indescribable feeling.
Regardless of how I felt, we had already arrived at the campus cafeteria building as we continued walking.
The rules stated that first and second years used the third floor, third and fourth years used the second floor, and fifth years and research students used the first floor.
So every time I came here, I always went upstairs, but today would be different.
There was a faculty-only cafeteria in the basement of this cafeteria building, and students could also use it, but only when accompanied by a professor.
Professor Radvisin naturally headed downstairs, and his disciples followed after him.
I followed them down to the basement as well.
Unlike the third floor, where tables and chairs were packed closely together like an ordinary cafeteria despite the fancy decorations, the underground faculty-only cafeteria was decorated like a family restaurant.
The tables were spaced far apart, and comfortable sofas replaced the usual dining chairs.
"Judging by how you're looking around, I guess this is your first time in the basement. It's really comfortable and nice here. The tables are wide too, so you can even write your thesis while eating."
"But the huge downside is that our professor has the final say on the menu. He always standardizes it without even asking for our opinions, saying the food comes out faster that way..."
While Professor Radvisin was choosing the menu, the two research students led me to an empty seat and chatted with me.
The doctoral research student seemed to mean it as an advantage, but to me, it felt like a downside no less serious than what the master's research student had mentioned.
Having to sit at the same table as a professor, eat, and write a thesis.
'Isn't that just torture? Am I misunderstanding something because I've never been to graduate school?'
The menu Professor Radvisin ordered was aglio olio spaghetti.
Unlike the upper floors, where students had to carry their own food trays, here the staff brought the food to you after you ordered.
I didn't know why the doctoral research student had mentioned writing a thesis when there was such an advantage.
'Don't tell me they're going to talk about their theses or research throughout the entire meal?'
My worries were unfounded, since the three of them remained silent throughout the meal.
They ate quietly, as if their mouths existed solely for eating.
The professor said he standardized the menu because the food came out faster.
I guess they wanted to eat quickly and return to the research lab to finish their work.
"Ah, right. Come to think of it, Professor, did you hear? There's a first-year from the Austri Ducal Family who, despite inheriting the family's purple ether, can't use its abilities to the fullest."
"Cough!"
It was around the time ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) the meal was almost over that the master's research student suddenly brought up information about the body I had possessed.
Because of that, I choked and had to gulp down some water.
Despite my reaction, everyone only gave me puzzled looks and didn't change the subject.
"I heard about it too. He can't use any of the poison-related abilities, only the buff, right? I even heard a rumor that he doesn't have immunity to poison either."
"If that's true, wouldn't you want to research it?"
"......"
I had no idea what was happening.
Did they not realize I was Karvaldr?
Was that even possible?
If they had heard the rumor that Karvaldr hadn't fully inherited the family's ether, then they must also know about his eye color.
And they had just mentioned purple ether.
'But can they really not figure out my identity even after seeing these eyes, where purple and sky blue coexist? They saw my face as soon as they entered the research lab, and we're even sitting across from each other eating right now.'
I wondered if they were testing me, but from the conversation that followed, that didn't seem to be the case.
"Come to think of it, Professor, you're in charge of a first-year lecture this semester, right? Is that student in your lecture by any chance?"
"Yes, he is. Was it student Karvaldr? When I asked him to describe his ether attribute, he wrote it down in quite a bit of detail and even proposed an interesting hypothesis, so he stood out in my memory."
"......?"
Even the professor didn't seem to know I was the student Karvaldr taking his class.
Could he really say I was "memorable" without even knowing my face?
"An interesting hypothesis? What was it about?"
"Ah, I can't tell you that. I promised the students I wouldn't divulge the contents of their reports to anyone."
Professor Radvisin kept his word well, saying he wouldn't tell anyone about the contents of the submitted report.
Come to think of it, he could have mentioned that my report didn't include poison-related abilities and that the rumor seemed true, but he didn't.
He really did seem to be a pretty good person.
'But did I really present a hypothesis that would interest the professor?'
A question popped into my head.
But I couldn't continue thinking about it.
Because another topic regarding the body I had possessed came up for discussion.
