The Retired Supporting Character Wants to Live Quietly

[Translator - Peptobismol]

[Proofreader - Demon God]

Chapter 157 - Head Theoretical Professor Kaiden (9)

"Who am I?"

Kaiden tilted his head slightly, like a curious cat, and smiled.

"I’m Kaiden. Your long-time comrade, Kaiden."

"You know that’s not what I’m asking."

"Of course. You’re not the type to ask something so obvious."

Kaiden tapped a delicate finger to his lips, pretending to think.

"Then what exactly are you curious about? Perhaps you’re suspicious of me—of my appearance."

He spread his arms, drawing attention to his altered form.

"You must be wondering if the form of me you’ve known all along is fake, since I can so easily change my shape."

"It’s entirely possible."

"If so, let me ask you again: why would I do such a thing?"

Kaiden smiled faintly.

"What benefit would I gain from casting magic on my body? All I’ve done is create unnecessary suspicion in someone I admire and love deeply—you, Dian."

"Then why are you doing this now?"

"To express my gratitude to you, of course."

Kaiden crossed his arms, pushing his chest together for emphasis.

"I was ready to wither away and die in the Illusion Tower. There was no purpose for me in the outside world. But then you came and brought me back into it."

"That’s just…"

"And even here at the Academy."

Kaiden interrupted, ignoring my attempt to speak.

"You’ve helped me in so many ways, both materially and emotionally. As a human being, I feel it’s only natural to repay such kindness. But what could I possibly give you, Dian?"

His eyes curved beautifully as he smiled.

"I know you have no interest in wealth. The reward money from the Imperial Palace is enough to last you a lifetime. Nor are you motivated by ambition or honor. If you were, you wouldn’t have chosen to hide away in a remote port city in the first place."

As Kaiden spoke, his black hair lengthened and turned pink, styled into twin tails that resembled Hindrasta’s.

"But surely, as a man, you must like women?"

Before I knew it, Kaiden had transformed into an almost identical version of Hindrasta, with a similar face and figure.

"You said Hindrasta was charming, didn’t you? Or…"

This time, his hair darkened to black again, his ears elongated, and his skin turned dusky, making him look strikingly similar to Kirrin.

"Is this more to your taste?"

Kaiden smiled as he turned, showing off his new form.

"Just say the word. I can provide whatever you prefer."

"You bastard!"

I yelled, disgusted by his antics.

"You’re supposed to be a man! None of this is turning me on!!"

"Oh."

Kaiden’s mouth formed a small "O" as if he’d just realized something.

"Could it be that you’re into men? If so, what a relief."

Kaiden’s body shifted back to its original male form.

"In that case, there’s no need for me to use magic at all…."

"ARGHHHHHH!"

A deafening scream suddenly tore through the air as Hindrasta came crashing down from above.

At the same time, there was a shattering sound, like a massive pane of glass breaking, and the distant noise of the street suddenly returned.

Wait—when had the sound disappeared?

"Dian! Step back! Don’t fall for it!"

Hindrasta skidded to a halt on the cobblestones, cracking them as she landed.

"That scheming mage is trying to ensnare you!"

She shouted, pointing an accusatory finger at Kaiden.

"Dian! Professor!"

Knightley and Merilda appeared out of nowhere, each grabbing one of my arms and shaking me violently.

"Are you okay? Can you recognize us?"

"What’s your name? How old are you? What Academy do you work at? Do you remember anything at all?"

As the two of them shook me, Hindrasta planted herself firmly in front of me, blocking Kaiden from getting closer.

"Mage Kaiden! Stop messing with Professor Dian!"

Kaiden, now back in his usual black robe, regarded the scene with amused curiosity.

"Sophie? Knightley? And Merilda, too? What brings you all here at this hour?"

Kaiden smiled gently, his tone light.

"It’s not the weekend, and you’re out of the Academy without supervision. This is quite problematic."

"You just cast a spell on Professor Dian!"

"What are you talking about? Just because I’m a mage doesn’t mean I use magic willy-nilly."

"You did! You cast an illusion to hide everything here just now!"

"Exactly! If it weren’t for Sophie, we wouldn’t have even known anyone was here!"

Merilda chimed in, still clutching my arm.

"What exactly happened, then?"

"Sophie broke the illusion by ramming into it headfirst."

Knightley answered.

"She said she was sure you two were here and just charged straight in."

Dragons are naturally resistant to magic. Even in polymorphed form, their innate resistance remains.

If a dragon charges at an illusion with strong conviction, it’s possible for the spell to break.

After all, doubting an illusion is the best way to dispel it.

"That aside, what are you all doing here?"

"Sophie said Professor Kaiden used magic on her. When we went to your house to tell you, we heard you’d gone out with him, so we followed. We ran into Sophie on the way, and now here we are. It does seem suspicious, though."

What the hell is this mess?

"Kaiden! Are you trying to monopolize Professor Dian? I won’t allow it!"

Hindrasta, completely fearless, glared at Kaiden as she yelled.

"And what makes you think that, Sophie?"

"You used illusion magic to trap me in a maze and lured Dian into this secluded alley! If that’s not suspicious, what is?"

"I see."

Kaiden said with a nod.

"It’s true I blocked you from entering the office, Sophie. But do you think I did so without reason?"

Suddenly, an illusion appeared in front of us—a memory of Hindrasta and me tangled on the floor of my office.

It showed Hindrasta rummaging through my things, attempting to steal snacks, and me trying to stop her.

"Wait! What’s this?!"

Knightley and Merilda gasped at the scene.

"Sophie hasn’t been attending classes lately and has been spending her time lounging in the professor’s office instead. On top of that, she’s caused him significant trouble. As a fellow professor, I couldn’t overlook this. I had to take action."

Kaiden explained calmly, and Hindrasta clenched her fists in frustration.

"Don’t fall for it! That’s just an illusion!"

"It is an illusion, but the events depicted in it are factual. Sophie, you did trouble Professor Dian by behaving carelessly in his office, didn’t you? Not all illusions are lies, Sophie."

"Even so, is it a professor’s place to use magic on a student?!"

"Would you have listened if I’d just told you?"

Hindrasta fell silent. Dragons couldn’t lie, and her silence was proof enough.

"You see? It was a necessary measure. I am the Head Theoretical Professor, responsible for the Academy’s well-being. Ensuring Professor Dian’s working conditions and encouraging student participation in class are part of my duties. Using magic to achieve that isn’t such a grave offense, is it?"

Kaiden’s voice was gentle, his logic impeccable. Hindrasta had no way to refute him.

"Then why did you use illusion magic here?"

"Because I had a gift for Professor Dian, but it’s not something to be seen by just anyone, so I had to hide it."

"Now this is getting suspicious,"

Knightley said.@@novelbin@@

"Professor Kaiden, if it’s a gift, why couldn’t you just give it to him openly? What’s so secretive about it?"

"It’s a deeply personal matter, not something for others to meddle in."

Kaiden smiled as he continued.

"And if you truly wish to question my actions, Sophie, you could have requested a formal meeting instead of breaking Academy rules by following us."

"Bullshit! You’re just trying to monopolize Dian!"

"Hehe."

Kaiden stifled a laugh with his hand, his eyes glinting with amusement.

"Monopolize? That’s an interesting claim. But tell me, even if I did, would it be a problem? Is Dian public property?"

"He is!"

Merilda interjected.

"Professor Dian is someone we all admire! No one has the right to steal him away!"

"I see. So you all admire him as well."

Kaiden said softly, smiling.

"That’s Dian for you—someone who captivates anyone who gets to know him."

Kaiden paused, studying each of us intently before continuing.

"My intentions weren’t sinister. The item I intended to give him was simply too valuable to risk exposing in a public place."

Reaching under his robe, Kaiden produced an object that gleamed brilliantly—a gold figurine of a sitting cat, encrusted with rubies and other jewels.

It was about the size of a hand, heavy-looking, and clearly worth a fortune.

Knightley and Merilda’s eyes widened, while Hindrasta’s gaze fixated on it, her mouth practically watering.

"Do you see? If I displayed this openly, wouldn’t it tempt the wrong kind of people? That’s why I concealed it."

With a gesture, Kaiden floated the figurine toward me.

"Here, Professor Dian. What you saw earlier was just a bit of fun. This is my true gift for you."

The cat figurine landed gently in my hands. Its ruby eyes glimmered as if they were staring straight at me.

What on earth is this?

[Translator - Peptobismol]

[Proofreader - Demon God]