The Academy’s Professor is Overpowered!

Our sin was our birth.

A sin so great that centuries of our lineage could not make amends for it. It was the selfishness between the two sides of the world that gave birth to us.

The ones that had riches and abundance, but lacked the blessing of mana. The ones who lived in scarcity and encumbrance but were loved by mana.

When the worst of those two sides united, we were born. How could a demiurge make amends for all that lived on this earth, was it not cruel?

It was useless to think about these things, but I couldn’t do anything else.

I sat alone with my head buried in my hands. Ethan had just left the bar, promising to return at sundown after handing me a letter for the ones who would be reaching the village.

Who could I blame?

Who was to fault here?

Was it not the world itself? But what was the point now? I already knew how unfair this world was.

Biting my lips, I pushed myself off the table.

Time was running out. I had already lived long enough. Something had to be done now.

Neither for me, nor for this damned empire. But for the ones who were with me.

This bar, this city, I was going to leave it all behind forever. Maybe someone else will take over.

This place wouldn’t miss me. Heck, it would scorn me.

There was no reason to worry.

I rushed up the stairs of the bar and went to my room, the place where I lived.

There was no time. I had to be quick on my feet.

First, I gathered all the money I had saved over the years. Everything. Every single coin in every nook and cranny of the room, I gathered it all.

Making four different bags, I put away the mini-fortune. Each of the bags would last them for the journey. I had to make sure to put them at different places in case they made a mistake.

The most important thing right now was to smuggle a second carriage outside of the city without leaving any traces.

My friend said he would handle that, so I had to trust him.

Instead, I started rushing around the building. I grabbed every empty barrel I could find and filled it with bottles of water and food.

I stuffed them all and sealed them shut. It was strange, how very strange.

With one step, my body felt light as if I had lost all control over it, and with the next, it became to heavy to move.

It was not the weight of my bones, but of my heart. My breathing never really settled down.

I was anxious. It was pumping.

It felt as if my insides were rotting away. As if I was here and not here at the same time.

But I didn’t stop.

I carried them all over to the back gate, so I could place them all in my carriage as the moment came.

This much should be enough. For seven of them, children, it would be enough to last them the journey and then some more.

I was sending them away, to a place I have never seen or heard of. Even maps did not have it. All I had to trust was Ethan.

But if it was true…

If it was true, they would be living a life I could only ever dream of.

I grabbed another barrel and took it down the stairs, to the backgate.

Strength left my knees again and I slipped down the stairs. The barrel tumbled with me as I fell atop it.

“Ah…”

Tears threatened to spill out. There was no pain, yet I wanted to cry.

Not yet. I couldn’t afford to cry yet.

I wiped my eyes and stood up. After placing the last barrel in place, I went back to the storage room at lower floor.

The dusty place was filled with old goods and items. I went to the couch at the corner of the room and pushed it aside.

There was a small door beneath it. A very small door.

I held the handle and pulled it open.

Gasps rang out from the dark place.

“Mundus…?”

“Grab your stuff and come out. We’re leaving.”

“Isn’t the sun… still up?” The eldest of the kids below asked.

How old was he? Just seventeen. And that child spoke like a prisoner.

“Yes. Now is our only chance. We have to leave.”

The kids below started to fumble around. In that place where the kids could barely sit with their heads lowered, I couldn’t even fit.

From their toys to their beds. Everything had been in that place. Even light was from them, with a single lantern being all they could use.

Yet, these kids.

They always smiled.

One after another, they started streaming out of the gap.

I took a glance at the old clock in the room. Sundown was just an hour away.

Slowly, all the kids stepped out. Three girls and four boys.

“Come here, quickly.”

I led them out of the store room and towards the backdoor, where I had gathered all the barrels.

These small kids couldn’t even grow. The oldest, Synac, was just seventeen, and the youngest Apin was barely 10.

“All of you, see this.”

I hurriedly laid down the map in front of me and brought the kids around.

“Synac, do you remember what I told you about driving carriages? Can you do it?”

Synac nodded. “I have to drive?”

“Yes. You will have to drive. You have to drive with everyone else, alright?” I quickly tapped on the map. “Lan, do you remember how to read maps?”

“Y-yeah…” Lan, the oldest of the girls, answered. She hesitated, scared.

“Look at this map. You will follow this marked route. You are smart kids, so I am sure you will handle it. This… this border, it will be tough but you can cross it if you’re on the carriage.”

“W-wait…” Synac interrupted my explanation. Lan and the other kids had a similar expression. All of them were looking at me with trembling.

“Where are we going, Mundus?” Pat asked. The mischievous boy was very timid today.

I pointed at the mark, the place that would be their destination.

“Here… once you reach this place, there will be no more need to hide when the sun is up. No need to live below the ground…”

The kids gasped.

“Right… you don’t have to hide from people. You can make friends, go out and play. Maybe sometimes food will be scarce, but not always.”

The kids looked awed, but the oldest of them had a different thought.

“You’re not coming with us…” Lan muttered. “Why? D-did we do something? Mundus, you’ll come with us, right?”

My breath got stuck in my lungs. I closed my eyes shut and took in a deep breath.

“I’ll be… right behind you. If we’re followed, it's all over. So I will make sure nothing happens.”

Lan shook her head.

“Now, follow what I say, ok?”

I started again, telling all of them of everything they would have to do. At the border, and when they crossed over, to Ethan’s letter for when they reached.

Synac and Lan still had some complaints, but they held it in.

The sun was about to set. We were almost due.

“Now, just a little longer, you’ll have to hide. Go in the barrels… go…”

***

Ethan had entered the bar again. It was just me and him in the place. We had to leave before others came around.

Ethan did not say a word, maybe out of consideration.

“Lad…” I called out to him. “Promise me something… No matter what happens. No matter what, you won’t let anyone from here chase the kids.”

Ethan looked into my eyes.

“I promise.”