Since this wasn’t the first time dealing with a sensitive employer, Jay thought it would be easy. But that was only for a moment. Reading the contract, Jay was so shocked his eyes nearly popped out.
“Your, your tongue rots.”
[If you divulge facts seen at Connubium, your tongue will immediately rot and decay.]
“As long as you don’t loosen your lips, there’s no need to fear this clause at all.”
Jay became afraid of what on earth was happening at this school. If it were just an ordinary school teaching marriage classes, there would be no reason for such a strong clause.
Since there were children of marriageable age, perhaps they were being sensitive? Jay nervously gulped and rolled his eyes left and right, reading the atmosphere. Then, after a few minutes of silence, he carefully opened his mouth.
“Um… Madam?”
“You may call me Carter. Do you have any questions?”
Carter answered with a rigid appearance as if not even a needle could penetrate. Jay carefully continued speaking. He looked insignificant, trembling at his fingertips from being so tense.
“Animals?”
Carter’s brow furrowed slightly. Jay didn’t notice such a Carter and with very careful hands pulled Belly out of his pocket. It had a bizarre appearance that resembled a chameleon but couldn’t exactly be called any particular species.
Since she had been sensitive about furry animals, Carter said without emotion.
“As long as it’s not a furry animal, it doesn’t matter if you keep it.”
“Thank you.”
“However, I’d like you to prevent contact with the students.”
“Yes, I’ll do that.”
With one big concern resolved, Jay read through the contract with a somewhat more relaxed mind.
It wasn’t that he didn’t think such a strong confidentiality contract was excessive for a temporary employment of a few months. However, the other conditions were quite good, as if they were compensation for the excessive sanctions, making it hard to refuse immediately.
For Jay, who had the ‘setting’ of a fallen noble, money was absolutely necessary, and for desperate him, there weren’t many options. Scratch, scratch. The sound of the pen nib grazing the paper echoed in the room. When the signing was finished, Carter took the contract.
“Good, Jay Doe. From now on, I’ll call you Professor Doe. You should also be careful with how you address others.”
“Yes.”
“Welcome to Connubium. Though you’re a temporary professor, take pride in being a member of this school.”
“Yes.”
“What you need to do from now on is simple. Take charge of and manage a few students, and teach literature classes as per the contract.”
Carter continued her explanation smoothly. Since the original professor had taken leave due to illness, he just needed to fill the vacancy during that period. Jay was listening to the explanation when he asked a question.
“What do you mean by managing students?”
“Come to think of it… Professor Doe isn’t from this school, are you?”
Carter said oddly. Usually, Connubium hired students who came from their own school, so situations like Jay’s were rare. However, since it wasn’t unheard of, the explanation continued without pause.
“At Connubium, professors are each in charge of a certain number of students. Writing reports on what they ate every day and what they did is also part of the job.”
Carter’s odd words came as a shock to Jay. Because reporting everything one by one was the same as saying to monitor them. Whether Jay was shocked or not, Carter spoke as if explaining a fact as obvious as the sun rising in the east. She was so nonchalant that Jay wondered if he was the strange one.
Jay’s thoughts were somewhat correct.
“This is ‘management’ that all students at this school must naturally receive. Do you understand?”
“That…”
Jay desperately wanted to say something, but the words didn’t come out as if stuck at his throat.
He knew his place well. What was so natural to them, even if he, just a temporary professor, tried to say something, there was no way it would get through. Knowing this, Jay ultimately closed his mouth.
“…I understand.”
“Good. The details will be explained by Professor Doe’s supervisor—”
Knock knock.
The knocking interrupted her words. Carter frowned slightly, but it was only momentary. Carter’s face, which immediately returned to a doll-like expressionless appearance, was eerily inorganic.
“This is Vinoshu. I heard you called for me.”
“You came at just the right time. Come in.”
The person who quietly opened the door and entered was wearing a black dress similar to Carter’s. With light brown hair and red eyes, she looked as rigid and strict as Carter.
“Professor Vinoshu. This person is the temporary professor hired starting today, Jay Doe. You’ll have to manage her from now on.”
“I understand.”
“Professor Doe. If you have any questions, ask Professor Vinoshu. Well then.”
“I understand. Thank you.”
Vinoshu bowed precisely and left the room. Jay also hurriedly bowed and followed behind. Vinoshu looked at the bewildered Jay and said.
“Starting today, Professor Doe will stay in the professors’ dormitory. Your luggage should already be moved there.”
“Ah, I see…”
“The student files you need to manage should already be prepared in your room. How far did Madam Carter explain?”
Jay carefully explained what he had heard. After hearing everything, Vinoshu let out a small sigh.
“You may not know well since you’re an outsider, but this school is thoroughly controlled.”
“I heard earlier—”
“You must write in the report without missing a single detail—every move and even subtle changes of the students you need to manage.”
Vinoshu didn’t seem to want Jay’s answer, as she continued speaking without giving him any gaps. It was clearly a treatment that ignored him. However, Jay couldn’t show his displeasure and awkwardly closed his mouth.
“Since you’re temporary, I don’t expect much, but…”
At the cold voice that didn’t feel a single degree of warmth, Jay inadvertently shuddered. He became a little anxious and touched Belly in his pocket. Belly lightly brushed Jay’s fingers as if to comfort him.
At the appearance of seeming to have been scared, Vinoshu inwardly lowered her evaluation of Jay.
“Anyway. I’ll give you the reports written by the professor on leave, so refer to them.”
“I understand.”
“And…”
Vinoshu’s explanation continued all the way to the dormitory. Throughout the route, not a single person was visible, so Jay got the impression that this school seemed as if it were dead. It was a cold place where not a single bit of warmth could be felt.
Feeling fatigue from everything, Jay suddenly thought he wanted to leave, but having already signed, he was helplessly bound to this place for a few months.
“What can I do? Now that it’s come to this, I have to do my best.”
Jay muttered to himself so Professor Vinoshu wouldn’t hear.
The consoling point was that the salary offered by Connubium was by no means small. Thinking about what he would buy with the received salary, Jay’s heart also lightened a little.
“This is your room. If you need any supplies, tell me.”
“I understand. Thank you, Professor Vinoshu.”
Vinoshu nodded her head slightly in greeting and walked away. Jay watched Vinoshu’s back for a moment, then grabbed the doorknob to enter his room. At that moment, Vinoshu’s voice was heard.
“Oh, there’s something I didn’t mention.”
“Ah, yes. What is it?”
“Professor Doe is prohibited from entering two places: Nokeum Hall and Lily Hall.”
Connubium was largely divided into three areas. Aside from the areas he was prohibited from entering, Pine Hall remained, where lecture rooms were mainly arranged. The professors’ dormitory was also near Pine Hall.
“Yes, I understand.”
“Keep it in mind.”
In the somewhat distant dark corridor, Professor Vinoshu standing there blankly had her face deeply shadowed and looked eerie. A creepiness enough to raise goosebumps on his back climbed up Jay’s body.
“The moment you set foot in those places… I cannot guarantee your life.”
Vinoshu disappeared beyond the corridor without hearing Jay’s answer. Jay lost his senses watching that, then hurriedly entered his room.
The dormitory distributed to professors was so clean that one could feel a sense of mysophobia. On the bright limestone walls was a moderately sized window through which the outside was visible, and on the floor was a thick carpet laid for insulation. On the small desk, stationery items were neatly placed.
Without even looking at the documents on the desk, Jay first placed lovely Belly on the bed and lay down next to him himself. The clean bedding smelled of sunlight.
“Haa… What kind of strange school is this? I heard it was a prestigious school in the rumors… Belly-ya, can I do well?”
Belly flicked his tongue as if he understood Jay’s words. The temperature maintenance device around Belly’s neck sparkled. It was one of the things Belly wore to pretend to be an ordinary lizard when Jack was active as Jay.
“Phew, I should rest for a moment and then get up. It’s tiring…”
The voice sinking like wet cotton announced that Jay was gradually falling asleep. Like that, Jay lost consciousness in an instant.
However, a moment later, his heavily closed eyes snapped open. Jay’s originally dark pupils were dyed a light beige color. It was Jack’s return.
“Ah, interesting.”
“Master-nim, are you very tired?”
Belly, in the form of a small lizard, spoke. The low voice was that of a loyal and affectionate man.
In the blink of an eye, Belly changed to human form. He was faster at returning to human form than returning to animal form. His mature beauty from aging was dazzling like water rising.
“Mm, no. I’m fine.”
Like that, Professor Jay Doe disappeared and I, 26-year-old Jack, appeared at Connubium.
