Academy’s Undercover Professor-Chapter 28: Werewolf (3)

“What?! W-wait a second! Aren’t you supposed to ask if we’re okay first?!”

Erendir couldn’t believe what she’d just heard.

The teacher who had just saved them from a werewolf was now saying he’d be assigning demerits?

Not only did it ruin the mood, but from Erendir’s perspective, it felt deeply unfair.

“Erendir. What exactly did you do right that makes you think you can raise your voice?”

“I got permission from another teacher...!”

“Silence. Even if you did, it should’ve been under the condition that it wouldn’t be dangerous. Do you not realize what almost happened to you just now?”

“T-that’s...”

“You can’t even take care of yourself, yet your mouth sure works just fine.”

“Ugh...”

Ludger didn’t show a shred of leniency—not even for a princess.

And Erendir couldn’t argue back.

The only reason she was able to wander around at night like this was thanks to her status as a princess.

Just her presence alone was enough to make excited students bow their heads and return to their dorms, which made it easier for her to patrol.

Erendir herself took that responsibility seriously, wanting to prevent students from being put in danger. She’d immersed herself in the role.

But if she was the one ending up in danger, then the entire premise fell apart.

Realizing that, Erendir clenched her fists and bit her lip.

There was nothing wrong with what Ludger had said.

“In that case... at least cancel her demerit.”

“What?”

Ludger turned to look at Rine.

Recognizing her, he soon noticed the stack of textbooks she was holding close to her chest.

“Rine.”

“Y-yes, Professor Ludger.”

“Why aren’t you back at your dorm yet?”

“T-that is...”

“I acknowledge your dedication to your studies, but don’t you realize doing something like this under these conditions just causes trouble for others?”

“...I’m sorry.”

Ludger shook his head.

There was no point in scolding her further here. It would only exhaust emotion and solve nothing.

“Erendir.”

“Yes.”

“Take responsibility for Rine and escort her safely back to the dormitory. If you do, I’ll waive the demerits I mentioned.”

“Really? Are you serious?”

“Do I need to say it again?”

“...No. Understood.”

Erendir agreed, but couldn’t shake the strange thought that popped into her head.

Wait. Why is he treating me and Rine so differently?

To her, he’d barked orders and scolded her harshly, but toward Rine, he sounded almost concerned.

Should she bring it up? Or just let it go?

As she struggled to decide, the werewolf—engulfed in flames earlier—suddenly rose to its feet.

“P-Professor! Look!”

“I see it.”

Ludger stepped in front of the girls protectively and stared down the werewolf.

Most of its magical burns had already healed, but it was still staggering slightly, disoriented by the lingering pain.

Its eyes locked onto them again, brimming with raw hostility.

Then, unexpectedly, the werewolf turned—and ran.

“It’s escaping!”

As Rine shouted, Ludger immediately gave chase.

He had no intention of losing track of the werewolf he’d finally found.

Neither Rine nor Erendir had noticed it yet, but around the werewolf’s neck, a restraint device was fastened.

Fortunately, the thick fur concealed it well.

But if someone else found the creature later, there was a chance it could be discovered—and then, it would be nearly impossible to erase the evidence.

Ludger channeled mana into his legs and launched himself forward.

Charging through the dark garden, cutting across bushes and grass, he caught sight of the werewolf climbing the outer wall of the research building.

Its claws dug effortlessly into the stone, and its hulking frame swiftly ascended to the rooftop, lined with pointed towers.

I won’t lose it.

Ludger immediately fired his wire launcher, soaring straight into the air before landing cleanly on the rooftop.

From a distance, Erendir and Rine watched with their mouths hanging open.

“That was... a levitation spell, right?”

“Uh, you mean mana magic?”

Levitation, a spell from the Manifestation system that manipulated outward mana discharge.

For Ludger to use it so fluidly, while running no less, seemed unbelievable.

In the dark of night, neither of them saw the wire launcher—so they assumed it was all magic.

Two silhouettes faced off atop the rooftop.

They were too far away to make out clearly, but the size and posture made it obvious which one was Ludger.

“Ah... the full moon...”

The clouds parted above, and a cool, silvery light spilled down like curtains across the rooftop.

Tonight was a full moon.

Balanced atop the tower-spiked roof, Ludger made the first move.

The werewolf, unwilling to back down, charged.

The two figures clashed, weaving through each other in rapid, violent bursts.

“Whoa...”

“Oh my god...”

Rine and Erendir forgot all about leaving. They couldn’t tear their eyes away from the fight.

Ludger’s movements under the moonlight had an irresistible allure.

He danced between the werewolf’s attacks, every motion smooth and precise.

Even from a distance, the sheer pressure of those strikes sent chills down the skin.

But nothing could touch Ludger.

And in the spaces between those deadly blows, his brilliant magic flashed through.

Fire. Ice. Wind. Elemental spells fired like arrows.

They were only around 2nd-circle in power, but each one struck a vital point with pinpoint accuracy.

He served in the military before coming here, didn’t he?

Erendir recalled what she’d read about Ludger Cherish.

She hadn’t paid much attention at the time—it had just been a dossier her maid handed her to look over, just in case.

According to that document, Ludger had once served in the army and made a name for himself hunting cryptids.

Those lines of text...

Were now playing out before her eyes.

This was her first time seeing a mage fight.

But... could this really be called a mage’s fight?

It was more restrained. More efficient. More calculating.

He looked less like a mage—and more like a soldier. No, more than that: a hunter, precisely targeting his prey.

KYAANG!

The werewolf let out a feral shriek, rolling across the rooftop before skidding down one of the sloped surfaces.

Ludger didn’t miss his chance.

Like a predator striking at an injured target, he moved in, merciless and precise.

In that moment, as he cast his next spell—he looked even more like a wolf than the creature itself.

Shhkkk!

Jagged spears of ice burst forth, piercing the werewolf’s chest.

Three ice lances, each as wide as a fist, skewered the werewolf and pinned it to the rooftop.

Even for a werewolf with powerful regeneration, these were fatal wounds.

The battle was over.

Huff... exhausting.

Ludger realized he’d expended a significant amount of mana to take the creature down.

Using this much mana isn’t good.

Thankfully, he’d met with Hans earlier and restocked on potions. If not, things might’ve gone very badly.

Normally, he wouldn’t have used magic to take down a werewolf.

There were far more reliable methods that didn’t burn through precious mana.

Especially since expending mana worsened his physical condition.

This content is taken from fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm.

The problem was—this was Seorn.

There were always eyes watching.

As a professor at Seorn, I couldn’t exactly ignore a werewolf and take it down with old hunter tools, now could I?

If he didn’t use magic in front of students, it would raise just as much suspicion.

Better to wrap this up quickly before things get more complicated.

And besides—there was still another werewolf hiding somewhere in Seorn.

He intended to eliminate both before the night was over.

GRAAAH!

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

As Ludger approached slowly, the staggering werewolf suddenly raised its arm high into the air.

The distance was still too far for a swipe to reach. So what was it planning?

That question vanished the moment Ludger saw the werewolf hurl a chunk of building debris in his direction.

What the—

Fortunately, he'd been cautious.

Immediately, Ludger released his mana and formed a barrier around himself.

The shards shot through the air like bullets, only to strike his shield and bounce off. But the real issue was that the werewolf had bought itself time to act.

Raising both arms again, the creature suddenly slammed them down with incredible force onto the rooftop.

CRACK!

With a thunderous crunch, the roof gave way under the werewolf’s monstrous strength, and the beast plummeted into the structure below.

Debris scattered, and a thick cloud of dust billowed upward.

Ludger narrowed his eyes at the scene.

A werewolf... used a tool?

Even if these weren’t natural cryptids but artificial beings, their core instincts were still that of wolves—animals at heart.

At most, they were clever enough to recognize whether an opponent was a threat or not.

And yet—from the one before, to this one now—something didn’t add up.

Fleeing at the moment danger arises was one thing... but hurling debris?

Even Ludger hadn’t anticipated that.

Did I lose it?

He dropped down through the hole and scanned the interior of the building. The werewolf was already gone.

He clicked his tongue in frustration.

But he hadn’t completely lost it.

There was still a lingering scent in the air, just faint enough to tickle his nose.

Good thing I applied the tracking scent mid-fight just in case.

Ludger began to move again, following the faint odor left behind by the werewolf.

His conviction remained unchanged.

He would end all of this—tonight.

Because he wanted to live.

* * *

“Taishy! Taishy! Where are you?!”

“Aidan, we’ve been walking around forever. Maybe we should just give up.”

Aidan and Leo were searching relentlessly, checking every spot away from prying eyes in hopes of finding Taishy.

The last they’d heard was that she’d headed into the eastern woods. Now, long after sunset, they were still looking.

But they hadn’t found a single trace.

Leo, his patience wearing thin, finally spoke up.

“She probably gave up and went back on her own. I mean, we’ve looked everywhere. Wouldn’t that make sense?”

“Still, we can’t be sure. Even if Taishy was the one who made that ridiculous bet... we didn’t exactly refuse her, either. That’s on us.”

At Aidan’s earnest logic, Leo let out a grumpy sigh.

It was true. He had lied—told her something misleading, just to shake her off.

That small pang of guilt...

Was why they were out here searching.

“Still, if we get caught by a professor, we’re in trouble. Everyone says it’s just demerits, but for those of us who care about rankings, even that matters.”

“Even so. I can’t just leave her.”

“You really think Taishy’s still out here looking for a werewolf?”

“Normally, I’d say no... but this is Taishy we’re talking about.”

Truth be told, even Aidan didn’t fully understand his own conviction.

But the way she spoke to him—challenged him to duel again, the fire in her eyes...

It wasn’t the gaze of someone playing around.

It was the look of someone obsessed, consumed with the need to prove something. Almost desperate.

If that was the case... then she might really be out here, risking her body just to capture a werewolf.

“...Fine. Let’s give it thirty more minutes. If we still don’t find her, we are going back.”

Leo sighed deeply as he looked at the justice-driven boy beside him.

There was no stopping him.

After all, the same kid who had called him “friend” the moment he helped—was also a stubborn mule who refused to compromise when # Nоvеlight # it really mattered.

Just as they were about to resume their search after a short rest—

Kyaaah!

A girl’s scream echoed in the distance.

The voice was oddly familiar. In fact, unmistakable.

It was the very voice they’d been searching for—Taishy Friad.

“Leo!”

“Yeah, I heard it! This way!”

The two boys charged through the bushes and tangled branches, heading in the direction of the scream.

And just as they did, someone burst out of the brush ahead—

Aidan, in the lead, collided with them head-on.

He was knocked backward and crashed onto the ground, someone’s weight pinning him down.

“Ow! What the—?”

“Ugh...”

Aidan groaned, feeling the heavy pressure atop him. He looked up.

The first thing he saw—fiery red hair that gleamed even in the soft moonlight.

“...Taishy?”

“...Aidan?”

Realizing who was beneath her, Taishy scrambled off in a panic.

“Y-you! What are you even doing here?!”

“Well, we heard you scream...”

“Wh-what?! I-I didn’t scream! Not even once!”

Blushing furiously, Taishy shouted as Aidan sat up.

Leo sighed, realizing they’d worried for nothing.

But then—

Grrrr...

A low growl echoed in the night.

“Gah! Aidan. Did you hear that?”

“Yeah... is that really the werewolf from the rumors?”

Their eyes darted to the bushes ahead.

Both Aidan and Leo instinctively drew their wands.

But then—Taishy stepped in front of them.

“You two—wait.”

“Taishy? What are you doing?”

At Aidan’s confused question, Taishy, unusually hesitant, raised a finger to her lips, signaling for them to stay quiet.

She gestured for them to follow.

The two boys exchanged puzzled glances—then did as she asked.

Moving carefully and quietly, the three of them soon arrived at the edge of a shallow basin where the ground had sunken in.

“Look there.”

Following the direction of Taishy’s finger, they saw something writhing in the center of the leaf-covered basin.

“...Is that—”

Aidan, with his sharp country-boy eyes, recognized it immediately.

“A werewolf?”

Yes. Covered in wounds, panting heavily, but unmistakable.

It was a werewolf.

And then—

“It’s... a pup?”

It was small—far smaller than the ones they’d heard about.

It hadn’t even fully matured.

A juvenile werewolf.