The Head Professor’s expression twisted at Damien’s cheerful greeting.


    “Are you well?” Damien asked, noticing that the Head Professor looked rather pale, tired, and had dark bags under his eyes.


    Of course, Damien already knew the answer. The Head Professor was far from well; in fact, he was dying.


    Damien is already the Head Professor in the game’s storyline that starts a year from now. I always wondered how he got the position, so I looked up the lore on the Wiki. It turns out the previous Head Professor passed away, and Damien assumed the role by default as he was his teaching assistant.


    The Head Professor clicked his tongue. “Damien, I heard you are my new teaching assistant?”


    Oh? That’s news to me. If I’ve already been put as his assistant, that gives me a clear path to power within the academy.


    Damien didn’t know how to handle this confrontation, so he didn’t fight his traits and let them take over. He acted as his body desired, causing him to look down at the man with disdain. “Yes, that is correct.”


    “Such arrogance for a mediocre mage.” The Head Professor became enraged, “Did you pay off the dean? There are no records of you taking a test to display your capabilities! What school of magic or teaching qualifications do you even have to dare stand beside me?” the professor insisted loudly, drawing attention. He was trying to put on a show.


    To Damien, the man appeared to be a raving dog. Casually checking his watch, he noted the date.


    This man will die in two weeks from a heart attack. It’s a surreal experience to realize you are talking to a dead man; if I were the old Damien, I would be trying to curry favor with him, but since I know his end is near, I couldn’t care less.


    Damien walked down the marble stairs and stood just a step away from the man with the grand library to his back. His large frame and broad shoulders completely dwarfed the sickly-looking Head Professor. Yet despite the man’s ashen complexion, he still had darker skin than Damien. The difference was that Damien’s pale skin appeared healthy rather than being a result of illness. He was a vampire, after all.


    He knew the Head Professor was a prideful man who hated corruption and especially despised the nobility. At least, that’s what the Wiki article’s flavor text suggested.


    If I remember correctly, the Head Professor used to be powerful, but his mana circuit is damaged due to illness, which means he is incredibly weakened. However, only the Head Professor and I know this fact.


    All the students surrounding them still believed the Head Professor was a man with a B-grade in geokinesis. Of course, B-grade wasn’t enough to make him famous, but it was respectable. His knowledge of magic and his A-grade in Mana Control is what made him the Head Professor.


    But it should have been demoted to C-grade due to his illness. Such a downgrade would put him at the strength of a court mage at best.


    “Head Professor.” Damien’s voice was cold and lacked any respect he should have toward his superior within the university. He even surprised himself with how assured he sounded. “My special circumstances mean being tested would be inconvenient, but I am more than capable, I assure you.”


    “I don’t care about your special circumstances.” The Head Professor hissed through his teeth, “Some of us worked very hard for our current position, and it’s noble bastards like you that ruin it for the rest of us!”


    The corner of Damien’s mouth curved up into a smile. The Head Professor was reacting exactly as he had intended. This was a rare opportunity to skyrocket his reputation not only in the academy but also in Kassinki. The Head Professor was a man who commanded great respect and prestige, and nobody else would dare stand up to him like this in such a way, but Damien knew the Head Professor was a dead man walking.


    He would get away with this, and he knew there was nothing the Head Professor could do about it.


    The surrounding students murmured in agreement with the Head Professor’s accusations, while some better-dressed students frowned at the man’s words. They felt personally attacked.


    A person in the crowd shouted, “The Head Professor is right! Nobles always cheat their way through life! I suggest a duel to show Assistant Professor Damien’s apparent capabilities!”


    Damien glared at the commoner boy in the crowd with scorn, his [Noble Aura] taking over. The kid reeled back, the words dying in his throat.


    All is going according to plan so far… Now, will the Head Professor take the bait? Damien thought, amused by how well the situation worked in his favor. I bet in the minds of everyone here that they think I will apologize and turn down the duel. An assistant professor could never best the Head Professor in a duel. But I know the truth—the Head Professor wouldn’t stand a chance against me if I had the actual capabilities of an assistant professor.


    Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    Not that I do have those capabilities, but will the Head Professor take that risk?


    Damien was taking a gamble, yet he could only smile, “A duel? What an interesting idea, but I’m sure the Head Professor is far too busy to entertain such an idea.” He leaned in slightly, “Right, Head Professor?”


    What are you going to do now, Head Professor? You look rather panicked. Is that sweat on your forehead? Perhaps you should take better care of yourself instead of walking around and accusing people.


    The Head Professor retreated a step down the staircase, his expression venomous, but his actions betrayed his weakness.


    “What the assistant professor says is correct,” he fixed his tie, “I’m sure there will be an opportunity for you to prove yourself soon enough.”


    “Good choice, Head Professor. I’m sure we will see one another soon.” Damien put his hands in his pockets and turned to leave.


    “Hold on.”


    Damien froze. It was a voice he recognized from the game. Clicking his tongue, he turned to see a human man with dazzling blond hair, wearing a white-and-gold suit of similar quality to Damien’s, walking forward. The crowd seemed to part for him like the Red Sea. Damien mentally sighed. Here comes another death flag. I somehow attracted a Prince’s attention so soon.


    “August Greentail greets the Head Professor and Teaching Assistant Damien.”


    The Head Professor appeared startled momentarily and quickly bowed to the prince. “Greetings to the first prince.”


    August turned to look at Damien and frowned when Damien didn’t bow or pay respect.


    It wasn’t Damien’s choice. His [Noble Aura] forced his back to remain straight in the face of a lesser demanding his respect.


    How troublesome.


    The first prince then grinned, which was never a good sign.


    “I was going to defuse the situation, but if Assistant Professor Damien seems quite full of himself! Therefore, as the first prince, I propose a duel, with some stakes involved, of course.”


    Silence befell the staircase.


    Damien glanced at the Head Professor, who looked understandably shaken. A duel decreed by royalty was likely far more than he had been expecting from this confrontation.


    Prince August gestured toward Damien. “If Assistant Professor Damien loses the bet, I suggest he resign and publicly apologize to both the Head Professor and admit to misusing his material assets to gain entrance into the institution.”


    Ah, I see why he is butting in now. It’s a perfect opportunity for the prince to show off his authority before the nobles present. Everyone can guess I bought my way to this position, so for him to openly oppose my actions shows he won’t turn a blind eye to corruption. How smart.


    The Head Professor hesitantly nodded in agreement. It''s not like he had a choice to decline a duel decreed by royalty.


    “And? What if I win?” Damien asked in a neutral tone as if unfazed by the event unraveling before him.


    “Hmm.” The prince scratched his chin. “How about I request the dean to promote you to Head Librarian of the Mage Towers library?”


    An unexpected boon? Damien mused. This has turned out quite well. As the Head Librarian, I will get protection from the mage tower’s defensive arrays, and I won’t even have to do any teaching. A position that meets my needs without the downsides of becoming the Head Professor.


    Before Damien could agree, the Head Professor interjected, “First Prince, I will be without an assistant then, and if Damien can defeat me, it would be a shame to lose such a talented assistant. I suggest he can have the promotion but must also remain as my assistant on the side.”


    Damien said without a hint of hesitation. “I agree.”


    The man dies in two weeks anyway. I will only be his assistant for a week at most before I get the position of Head Professor. If I can become the Head Professor and Head Librarian of the Mage Towers library, I will hold considerable influence within the university. And if the position of Head Professor becomes too troublesome, I can pass it to someone else while still maintaining a useful role.


    The prince appeared somewhat suspicious of Damien’s swift reply; after all, who would willingly choose to be someone’s assistant? Especially a noble, which the prince assumed Damien was due to his demeanor.


    “It’s my duty to the academy.” Damien effortlessly lied. “It would be improper for me to abandon the Head Professor’s side should I prove my right to stand among you fine mages.”


    “Well said,” the prince nodded, “As the First Prince of Kassinki, I hereby declare a duel between Head Professor Victor and Teaching Assistant Damien...”


    The First Prince glanced at Damien, who in turn looked at Fay. She seemed to understand and nodded.


    “My surname is Karles, Damien Karles,” Damien replied, understanding the prince’s hint of wishing to officiate the duel with noble titles. A title that Damien should have and technically did. However, he would refrain from admitting he was Vampire royalty here. That would be a quick way to being cut down where he stood.


    I might as well continue the lie from earlier at the gate and use Fay’s name.


    “Very well.” The prince said, “Damien Karles and Head Professor Victor shall duel in a week in the university’s arena. I shall be the judge.”


    Shit, only a week to prepare? He’s weakened but the Head Professor is still an old Arcmage with a B-grade skill. Damien thought but kept his expression unfazed. I only know how to float a pair of gloves right now, but this should be doable. This body learns quickly, and my unique set of traits, while deeply frustrating at times, makes me adept at magic.


    The crowd started clapping and cheering in excitement, unaware of his turbulent thoughts.


    “You will regret this, Damien.” The Head Professor hissed under his breath.


    “I wouldn’t be so sure, Head Professor.” Damien said as he left, “Oh, and one more thing,” he glared over his shoulder, “I only do duels to the death.”


    The Head Professor was stunned into silence.


    Damien left the sickly man to stand there and delved into the public library.


    As the thrill of the confrontation faded and he regained control of himself, he frowned. With Prince August’s involvement, things just got dangerous.


    While August posed as human royalty, the prince was no hero.


    He’s the storyline’s greatest villain. Damien clenched his teeth. An A-grade necromancer who will kill his family and bring destruction to this kingdom. We are both cursed with a Villain’s Fate. The question is which one of us will fall first.