Chapter 7

◈ Chapter 7: False Identity (2)

Her outer hair was white, and the inside was a peculiar two-tone hair, a light pink like cherry blossoms, of a beautiful woman.

The principal smiled brightly and greeted me.

"Yes, nice to meet you, Mr. Rudger. More importantly, are you feeling well? I heard you were caught up in a terrorist incident."

"It's nothing serious. I received help from the Coldsteel Knights at a dangerous moment."

"Oh, that's really fortunate. I was quite worried. It's rare to have a new teacher, and I was thinking what to do if you got hurt. It would be a loss of face for us, wouldn't it?"

Judging from her open talk about her own reputation, she definitely didn't have an ordinary personality.

Well, people who reach high positions are usually twisted in some way, aren't they?

Especially if they are a mage.

My teacher was like that, and the woman in front of me is no different.

I wasn't particularly surprised.

"By the way, are you feeling unwell or anything?"

As I looked at the principal, who was smiling and gazing at me with a subtle look, I wondered if something had been discovered.

Come to think of it, had the principal met Rudger before? If so, would she have noticed the change in me?

Just as I was feeling uneasy, her voice snapped me out of my thoughts.

"I've only seen your file, but this is the first time I've met you in person. You're quite handsome and impressive."

Fortunately, it seemed this was the first time the principal and the real Rudger had met.

I let out a sigh of relief and replied.

"Thank you for the compliment, even if it's just a formality."

"No, it's not a formality. I think the students will be quite excited when the semester starts. To have such a handsome teacher."

"Thank you for the kind words."

"Here, take this."

The principal handed me a piece of paper.

"I've already announced it, but it's best to have a thorough contract. The contract period is two years. The salary is as stated here. Board and lodging are provided automatically, so keep that in mind."

I took the contract and carefully read through it.

Since I planned to leave as soon as my false identity was exposed, I didn't think it was a big deal.

Until I read the contents.

'What? Hold on a second.'

The things written in the contract were so astonishing that my eyes widened.

'My monthly salary is 30 gold coins of the empire?'

One gold coin of the empire is equivalent to 1 million denars, the common currency of the continent.

So, 30 gold coins mean 30 million denars, which is almost 300 million won in Earth currency.

And this is my monthly salary.

A monthly salary of 300 million won. I had to wonder if they were trying to take my organs, but this was Seolren Academy.

The top magic academy in the empire.

In the world I came from, the annual salary of a top teacher at a prestigious academy in Gangnam could reach up to 1 billion won.

It was entirely possible.

'And there are bonuses at the end of each semester and at the end of the year. Even more, the salary can be increased based on performance. If the faculty evaluation by the students is good, it can go up?'

If everything goes smoothly and I get all the bonuses, my annual salary would exceed 500 million denars.

With a two-year contract, that's over 1 billion denars.

With this money, I could live lavishly anywhere. Even better, I can do side jobs with permission.

Swallow.

I couldn't help but swallow.

A salary this high was impressive, but the support funds for teaching were even more astonishing. There could be additional support funds based on faculty evaluations.

On top of that, they provide a separate house and meals, so there's almost no need to spend money.

'If I can last two years, I'll have 1 billion denars. In Earth currency, that's 10 billion won. And that's the minimum. If I do well, my salary could increase, and the contract could be extended after it ends.'

It was a condition that could only be described as insane.

This is the top academy in the empire?

What has my life been up to until now...?

"How about it? Is it okay?"

"...Not bad."

It's not just not bad; it's a jackpot. A huge one.

I took a deep breath and read the contract again.

Sure enough, it wasn't a dream. It was like a golden melon had rolled into my lap.

But there was a fundamental problem.

'Seolren is indeed great to offer this much money, but it also means that the weight of being a teacher at Seolren is significant.'

Can I really handle that position?

In a place where all kinds of geniuses gather, can I really function as an educator?

'No way. My mediocrity would be exposed in a day, which would be a miracle.'

Still, I have confidence in my ability to bluff and put on a show. I grew up in an environment where I might die if I didn't.

I quickly analyzed the situation.

'While the salary is attractive, it's also burdensome. But I can't refuse now that I'm here. Rudger is already a teacher here, and I've become this Rudger Chelisi.'

Can I even refuse in such a situation?

With the appointment as a teacher already confirmed, I can't suddenly back out. That would raise suspicion.

In reality, the answer I had to give was already decided.

'If that's the case, there's no other choice.'

I decided how to use this identity of Rudger Chelisi.

I just need to endure for two years here.

Yes, if I can last two years, I can end this life. The money is good, and I have freedom of movement, so it's better than the military.

Thinking about it that way, I felt relieved.

I handed the contract back to the principal and spoke.

Deception, bluffing, and setting the mood.

That's my specialty.

"I have confirmed the contents of the contract."

"Good. I look forward to working with you, Mr. Rudger."

"Yes, I look forward to working with you, Principal."

I shook hands with the principal, who smiled at me.

I was trying hard to maintain a neutral expression, but my lips were almost curling up in a smile.

* * *

After my meeting with the principal, I followed Mr. Wilford, who was waiting outside, to the assigned accommodation.

Indeed, this is Seolren Academy.

Even the teacher's building on the campus looks expensive.

It was hard to believe that a two-story house, like something out of a fairy tale, was my home.

"You have three weeks until the start of the semester, so you can rest until then."

Mr. Wilford said this and then left in his carriage.

He was a true gentleman, maintaining his composure even as he left.

'Shall I go in?'

I picked up the suit case and entered the house.

The inside felt different from the outside. The furniture was well-equipped, and there wasn't a speck of dust, indicating regular maintenance.

I checked the bathroom out of curiosity, and it was impressive.

The bathroom, lined with white tiles, looked like something a noble would use. The hot water worked well, and there was even a bathtub for a bubble bath.

It made sense in a world where a magic revolution had occurred.

Thud.

After checking every corner of the house, I sat down on the soft sofa.

'Now, I'm a teacher at the academy... right?'

A lot happened today.

I was caught up in a terrorist incident, mistaken for someone else, and ended up becoming a teacher at Seolren Academy.

I'm just amazed at how I ended up in this situation, but now that I'm here, I can't run away.

If I suddenly disappeared, they would investigate Rudger, and with my real face exposed, I wouldn't have a place to stand in the empire.

It was too fatal that my real face was exposed, not just a disguise.

In the end, I had to act as Rudger Chelisi.

For now.

"Phew. It's tough."

It's been 27 years since I came to this world.

Reincarnated with only the memories of my past life, I had no special abilities.

However, my current parents were so terrible that I had to survive on my own.

I've had a tumultuous life, facing death several times while being involved in various incidents.

Even for me, this situation is just bewildering.

I somehow became a teacher at the academy.

And not just any academy, but the top Seolren Academy in the empire.

Can I really call this a mere coincidence?

'This is practically a covert employment.'

And it wasn't even something I planned; I was covertly employed.

But I couldn't quit now.

It was a situation where I had to ride the tiger.

If I got off now, the tiger would eat me. That was my current situation.

It was a fight between falling off the tiger and being eaten or waiting for the tiger to tire out.

'Yes. Two years. I just need to last two years. That's enough.'

I needed a new identity anyway.

In this situation, the identity of Rudger was very attractive.

Rudger Chelisi is a man who came to the empire from a distant land. There's no one here who knows him.

I decided to learn more about Rudger, just in case.

I picked up Rudger's suit case and went up to the second-floor bedroom. After entering the room, I drew the curtains and carefully checked the inside to guard against any possible external surveillance.

'Nothing suspicious.'

Just as I was about to open the bag, I noticed something.

Click.

"Hmm?"

What's this? The bag is locked?

I carefully examined the leather suit case. Upon closer inspection, there was a small magic array engraved on the metal lock.

'This is... a security spell.'

It was a small but intricate magic array, requiring precise control of mana, and I didn't expect to find it here.

'So, this is for a teacher appointed to Seolren Academy.'

I stood a step back from the suit case and pondered how to open it.

I wasn't giving up; I was thinking of ways to open it.

'If I had reagents, it would be easier, but I sent my belongings ahead, so I have to use another method.'

I grabbed a towel and soaked it in water. After placing the wet towel nearby, I picked up a stick and ignited a small flame at the end.

It was a basic elemental magic called "Pyro."

The flame was about the size of a lighter, but it was quite hot.

I brought the flame to the lock on the suit case.

The heat began to warm the brass.

After a few minutes, when the brass turned red, I quickly inserted the wet towel.

Sizzle.

The water evaporated, and the heated metal cooled rapidly. The lock twisted, and the magic array engraved on it also twisted.

Of course, this wouldn't completely nullify the magic array.

Magic isn't that easy.

'But I can create a gap in the sturdy wall, even if just for a moment.'

Right now.

I didn't miss the brief moment and sharply shot my mana to pierce the center of the magic array.

The core of the magic array, the most crucial part.

Crack!

'It's done.'

As I destroyed it, the effect of the magic array disappeared.

At the same time, the lock clicked open.

'Opening this is as easy as eating cold porridge.'

It's not uncommon to engrave magic arrays or wards on suit cases like this.

Most mages are very sensitive about security, so security spells are almost a basic skill.

If they can't cast it themselves, they ask a friend or a professional engraving service.

If you try to forcibly remove a security spell, a spell that destroys the contents is activated.

It's a manifestation of the extreme mindset of mages, who would rather destroy their own data than expose it.

To safely remove a security spell, you need to analyze the magic and understand how it's implemented. This process is very time-consuming, and I didn't have the luxury of time.

So, I chose this method.

A trick that doesn't require analyzing the magic.

'As long as I know where the magic array is engraved and the material it's made of, that's enough.'

Typically, such magic arrays are engraved on sturdy metals. You can't engrave them on the entire leather bag.

Leather is a very inefficient medium for transmitting mana.

The same goes for cloth and paper. Unless you're a 6th-tier Arcane Mage or higher, engraving a magic array or ward on cloth or paper is impossible.

On the other hand, metals are good conductors of mana.

The most commonly used are iron and brass. Better materials include silver, gold, and platinum.

The best is a gemstone made from a processed mineral, but it's so expensive that only high-ranking nobles use it.

Naturally, the most commonly used materials were the cheaper iron and brass, and I was well-versed in how to deal with them.

The method involves heating the metal engraved with the magic array to expand it, then quickly cooling it with cold water to contract it.

The magic array engraved on the metal twists and misaligns during the expansion and contraction process.

While the magic array can automatically repair itself to a certain extent, the gap created during this process is very critical.

I took advantage of this gap to sharply inject my mana and destroy the core spell of the magic array, nullifying its effect.

'Good thing it worked.'

It's not a commonly known method, just a trick I created by applying scientific knowledge.

Most mages, who are often attached to history and tradition, tend to shun science.

As a result, they often don't prepare for such methods, which is exactly what I was hoping for.

'A real madman would carry a steel case covered in magic arrays.'

Fortunately, Rudger Chelisi wasn't that extreme.

I opened the suit case and checked its contents.

'Hmm, this is.'