It’s Not Night - Chapter 72

Chapter 72

“I told you to write roughly what you want to write according to the template, but did you really just submit this as is?”

Professor Velott threw the papers on the floor as if there was nothing more to see. Andra hastily picked up her thesis from the floor. When she saw the crumpled thesis, her eyes were already filled with confusion.

During the first and second checks, the professor didn’t say anything, so now that Andra’s thesis was treated as garbage, she couldn’t help but feel heartbroken.

‘Was it too much…’

In fact, she predicted this to some extent. The thesis topic that Andra chose recently was a bit far from the topics she had been researching in the past. From Professor Velott’s point of view, she must have wondered what the hell she was doing.

But that didn’t mean Andra wasn’t doing her best on this thesis. It was the paper she was preparing for the most.

But she must not have been so for Professor Velott.

“Are you going to give me this? Are you crazy? Is the panel a joke to you? I told you not to write like this! You are now a graduating student. What are you going to do if you still can’t write a thesis properly? I wanted to see how far you wanted to go, but in the end, you came proudly in front of me with this? Are you crazy?”

“…….”

“Did you get carried away about just finishing your thesis right now? So, are you going to do just that and act like this? Huh? You think that I put you on my research team for that? Did you think that I listed your name just so you can go and do this for your personal thesis! If you’re being like this, it couldn’t be helped either. You’re not graduating! Did you understand?!”

“…….”

“You know what kind of joke this is now. The data is a mess, and the analysis is arbitrary! Besides, you’re talking nonsense. Who writes a thesis like a normal essay! Are you crazy? Did you even use your head? Have you sold your mind to someone else? Is it time for you to relax over useless things like this?”

Professor Velott, who had poured out her words, huffed and crossed her arms and leaned back on her chair. Andra lowered her head and looked into Professor Velott’s eyes. She closed her eyes and pressed her thumbs against her temples. Suddenly Professor Velott opened her mouth again.

“Ha, whatever. What’s the point of getting angry? It’s just a waste of time.”

‘You’re already angry.’

Andra had a lot to say, but pushed it down her throat. In this case, it was better to keep her mouth shut unconditionally. She didn’t know what kind of aftermath it would be if she opened her mouth even a little just to offend the professor. She may be kicked out of graduating altogether, let alone her research and papers.

‘Last year, one of the seniors couldn’t stand it and started talking back, and then their graduation was postponed…’

Andra wanted to avoid getting delayed. She wanted to get rid of the magic spell that was placed on her as soon as possible, and after graduating, she wanted to leave this academy where Professor Velott was and return to the eastern region. Life beyond this was terrible.

Moreover, it was about fifteen days ago that Professor Vellott’s research team had written a research paper on the dungeon attack case. She picked up the pen again because she had to write one for her personal thesis, but she didn’t expect Professor Vellott to act like this. Her efforts during those fifteen days became a bubble and in an instant in front of her.

“Haa……. Derive the dungeon creation time data again, and change Bill Heston’s theory because it’s not what you think. I think it would be more appropriate to borrow the Aminche theory. The approach route itself is not working. Do you think it makes sense to approach the magic age with only two or three reasons? What the hell have you been learning under me? …Right, if you want to keep pushing that point of view, request an interview with the mages.”

Professor Velott pulled out her notepad and soon scribbled something on it with her pen. Then, as if to take it quickly, she grabbed the note and fluttered in front of Andra. Andra hastily grabbed the note with both hands. On the note, there was a title of a thesis and a letter that was supposed to be someone’s address.

“I have a published dissertation that you could refer to. And he’s a retired magician, so interview him. Seriously, do I have to take care of everything like this? Andra, why is a smart kid like you doing such a stupid thing now when after being good so far. You’ve been doing well. Haven’t you? Am I wrong?”

“No, Professor. I was wrong.”

Andra held the note tightly in her hand as she bowed her head once more. Professor Vellot looked at Andra for a moment, then turned her head in a flash and clicked her tongue. Andra, who is well aware that it was an obvious dismissal order, bowed and took her thesis draft in her arms, closed the door quickly, and she left the professor’s room.

“Ha…”

Andra, who managed to get over the crisis, let out a small sigh and shrugged her shoulders. It was fortunate that she did not have to change the thesis topic. If she had to change it again, she would have torn all her hair out.

In fact, Andra’s chosen thesis topic this time was closely related to the two items she received after conquering her dungeon.

‘Is it too greedy to hit two birds with one stone?’

Since Andra wrote her thesis from the material she had gathered to interpret the scrolls and the metal discs, she was in fact nervous several times while she showed the draft to Professor Velott. She implicitly thought that Professor Velott might get upset, but she didn’t really expect it to turn out like this, as she even risked her graduation.

‘I thought graduating with a thesis on the dungeon would be safe, but I guess that’s not the case.’

Damn graduation. Andra barely resisted her desire to rip her hair off.

“Miss Avellin.”

Then Assistant Ren carefully grabbed Andra as she was about to go outside. Andra held her thesis and approached Assistant Ren. Ren held a piece of chocolate in his hand and said carefully.

“Don’t take what the Professor said too seriously. It’s because things haven’t been going well with the professor these days. She was called up several times today.”

“Called up? Why…?”

“I don’t know the details well, but it seems to be related to the research grant that the professor was in charge of. It was originally confirmed, but I heard that the application was canceled due to what happened in the middle.”

“Ah… Alright. Thanks for letting me know, Assistant Ren.”

Andra bowed her head to Ren and left the room.

When she came out of the building, she could see the sunset. As she headed to her dormitory, she thought about Professor Vellot’s research grant.

Professor Velott has been conducting research on the excavation of ancient tombs in the southwestern part of the Aslan Ruins before the dungeon. However, she had been preparing for years waiting for a grant because it was not easy.

But this time, she took charge of the Aslan dungeon and finished it smoothly, and was on the verge of being awarded a research grant. But suddenly the grant was canceled.

‘Why was the research grant suddenly canceled?’

Research grant, once established, was never overturned. So many professors wanted to be the target of the grant, so they were accumulating all kinds of achievements. Professor Velott was one of them, so as soon as the Aslan ruins case broke out, she even took her place by presenting her student, Andra.

‘Unless there was a sudden war…’

Andra was deep in thought, and then raised her head, startled by the touch of someone grabbing her. But even before she could confirm the other person, she was pulled into their embrace. She widened her eyes at the out of place scent of green grapes.

“…Ansel?”

“It’s good to think hard about something, but it’s good to see what lies before you properly.”

When she stepped out of the arms and checked the person, she saw Ansel, her older brother, now Marquis Avellin, standing there.

“Andra, it’s been a while, isn’t it?”

“Hi… No, greetings aren’t important now, why are you here, Ansel?”

“I sent you a letter saying I’ll visit you soon.”

“Yes, but you didn’t say you were coming this late.”

The gates of the academy will close in an hour’s time, and outsiders would have to leave. Andra thought that Ansel would come in the morning if he wanted to come to the academy to see her. Because her older brother usually wanted to stay with her for as long as possible.

“Yes, I wanted to, but I had a lot of work to do, so I only had time now.”

Ansel rolled his eyes and smiled as he looked at his younger sister with delight. Fortunately, Andra seemed healthy, except that she looked a little tired. She’s always been a picky eater ever since she was a child, so he was worried about whether she was eating properly at the academy. But seeing that she gained a little more weight than before, he could tell that it was a useless worry.

“If you’re busy, you can come later. I’ll be here until I graduate anyway.”

“I did it because I thought I wouldn’t be able to see your face again.”

“Are you that busy?”

“I guess? After I inherited Father’s title, I have a lot more work to do here than I thought. Shall we walk a bit more? I don’t have much time.”

Ansel smoothly reached out his hand to Andra. Andra felt as if she had returned to the old days in the East, as she saw the hand extended to her and she let out a small laugh. She quickly grabbed Ansel’s hand. Her older brother’s hand touching her was warm.

The two walked through the shelter behind the student center. Because it was close to the end of visiting hours, there were not many people in the shelter. Ansel opened his mouth only after they walked into the room with no one around.

“I’ll give you a chance to ask a question first.”

“Are we going to skip the greetings and start right away?”

“Just by looking at your complexion, I can tell how well you are doing. You look good. What do you think of me?”

“You look very tired. But what happened? Seeing as how you suddenly took over the Marquis title and came to the capital.”

Andra replied, staring at Ansel for a moment with a sad gaze. Ansel burst out laughing.

“It happens every time. But, well, compared to five years ago, it’s rather easier. It’s just before it explodes.”

“What’s going on?”

“Would you like to guess?”

“You’re supposed to answer, not ask another thing.”

“I need to know how much you know so I can tell you exactly.”

Andra agreed with Ansel’s words. In fact, it would save time and make it easier to understand than just listening to the parts she doesn’t know from the beginning to the end.

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