The Academy’s Undercover Professor – 74



◈ Episode 74 Back Alley Meeting (3)

“It’s amazing.”

To me who had safely left the conference room Hans reacted in a dazed way as if he was still dreaming.

“What do you mean?”

“Those ideas that you brought up. “Even I who pride myself on having seen and heard a lot saw this for the first time in my life.”

“Well it’s no big deal.”

“It’s not a big deal. “Didn’t you think of it all?”

“I also just came up with something after seeing someone else’s. “I can’t call it mine.”

I simply suggested a path based on the history of the Earth that I have seen.

This is not something I had in mind but a path forged through blood and sweat by pioneers of an era.

There is no reason to pretend that it is mine and show off as if it is natural.

“Still it’s surprising. “For now all organizations have pledged to follow your words.”

“It’s not complete compliance.”

They say they come under my command but that doesn’t mean they completely obey my orders.

I understand their feelings. That’s why I don’t regret it.

Because I haven’t shown you much yet to just blindly trust and follow me.

Therefore I must successfully complete this project and earn their sincere loyalty.

“There are many workplaces to utilize. “The basic funds are sufficient.”

The businesses that the Red Society has used so far and the money they have saved. And even Bellbott Rickson’s slush fund.

Just using it will give you ample funds.

“But that’s not what’s important right now.”

I stopped walking turned around and stared at the corner of the alley.

“But if I have something to do I come out.”

“yes?”

Even as Hans asked what that meant the woman who had been hiding in the dark for a moment appeared.

A noble lady wearing black old-style clothing and a black cotton thread on her face.

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It was Violetta who led the Black Rose Women.

“I guess I have some other business to attend to. “Seeing as you didn’t even bring an escort.”

“yes. “I think we should talk quietly together.”

“Hmm I see. “Hans.”

“Yes brother.”

“Go first.”

“…Are you okay?”

“It’s okay. I?”

“no. no. “I guess I was worried for nothing.”

Hans shrugged and quickly disappeared into the alley.

The only people left standing were me and Violetta.

“Do you want to walk for a while?”

“no. “Let’s just talk here.”

“As you wish.”

Violetta seemed to have a lot to ask me so she got straight to the point.

“Do you really think our business will do as well as you say?”

“If you say it’s a business then that’s right….”

I proposed a musical to Circus led by Pinion. This is because I had a vision that matched it and I thought I could do it.

But the women of black roses are different.

We cannot expect flashy showmanship from them like Circus.

So how should they proceed with their business?

It is ‘fashion’.

Clothing garment design.

This is the path I suggested to them.

“Do you think it won’t work for you?”

In this world clothing has a significant presence in the market.

Since ancient times people have wanted to show off their style through clothing and do not hesitate to spend a lot of money to do so.

It was still the same now.

“The clothing market is dominated by nobles and wealthy merchants.”

“yes.”

“…and they are firmly maintaining their position by creating their own strong brands. A place where no one can squeeze in.”

I nodded.

Those currently considered leaders in the fashion world are brands that sell professional clothing to aristocrats.

Expensive good materials beautiful and colorful design.

There is a word called Haute Couture.

It refers to a store where individual designers produce custom-made clothes for the upper class.

It is the exclusive preserve of the noble and is no different in this era.

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This is how a brand was created just for the upper class.

Whenever a banquet hall or party is held noble ladies always wear clothes with these brands.

And this culture and situation has already become so entrenched that change itself has been rejected for nearly a dozen years.

“Do you think we can break through that?”

“It must be difficult.”

In this world fashion is the exclusive domain of the wealthy.

But just because you don’t have enough money doesn’t mean you can’t discuss fashion.

Of course the logic of the market is ultimately the logic of money.

The flow has no choice but to follow those with money.

“Fashions always change. And the clothes that are popular now have been around for too long. “It’s time to change water.”

“It’s easier said than done.”

“You seem to know surprisingly well about the fashion world huh?”

“….”

Violetta kept her mouth shut at my point.

As if someone was caught off guard.

“It seems there was a lot of interest.”

“Can’t we do that?”

Violetta asked back angrily.

Her occupation is that of a prostitute who is looked down upon by society.

No matter how beautiful a person is and the head of an organization his or her origin remains a stigma.

It’s a sign that you can never escape no matter how hard you try.

“Nothing can’t be done. Or rather if there is a lot of interest it can be said that it is fortunate that we have the same intention.”

“You really think that’s possible.”

“Didn’t you look at the design drawing I gave you?”

The clothing designs I gave her were less than 10 sheets but it must have been quite a shock to Violetta.

Unlike the current clothing that only insists on being beautiful and flashy it was almost the opposite.

Lighter more comfortable clothing.

It is not a fashion that only a select few can enjoy but a fashion that the public can choose.

Mass fashion targeting the many not high fashion for the few.

No in this case should we call it Pret-a-porter?

Pret-a-porter.

It refers to ready-made clothes that can be worn right away.

The clothes currently sold by clothing brands are just for show so they are difficult to wear in everyday life.

So clothing with a more practical design was born.

Clothes that can be worn comfortably in everyday life.

Yet these clothes have the image of luxury goods.

It was a path that the majority of the public could choose rather than the exclusive domain of the nobility.

In fact in Earth’s history after the Industrial Revolution occurred large-scale production became possible old fashions faded away and these popular clothes began to become mainstream.

The blatant high culture that only a few people practice is inevitably pushed aside by popular culture.

“Yes I saw it. And it was definitely amazing. “I never thought such an idea would come out of the head of a man like you.”

“It’s not mine. “I also got it from someone else.”

“Whatever it is this is definitely innovative. Of course there are many parts that need to be fixed and there are some things that are annoying.”

“I see. “I leave that up to their discretion.”

“…there will be severe checks.”

I don’t say I particularly dislike it.

But take that into account.

What I want to do in the first place is to bring those who were in the shadows up to the sun.

At the same time it is no different from declaring an all-out war on a culture enjoyed by upper class society.

It is said that change will come someday but if it is brought forward conflict with the older generation will be inevitable.

“But I definitely win.”

History has proven it.

Although this world is said to be filled with magic and mysteries that did not exist on Earth there is bound to be some degree of similar intersection in the places where people live.

Wherever people live the wind of change inevitably blows.

“You can’t live stuck down there forever.”

“…It’s surprising.”

“What do you mean?”

“When I first saw him I thought he was a hard and cold man but now I see that he had more passionate ambition than anyone else.”

“Thank you for the compliment.”

I answered slightly lowering the fedora on my head.

Anyway the Black Rose Women will be opening a clothing store based on some of the businesses I handed over.

It is premature to start dealing with something as luxurious as a tailor shop.

For now we will mainly be selling clothes that the public can wear.

However it will be different from the costumes widely seen on the streets right now.

“It may be minimal at first but you can gradually expand the scope.”

In particular the woman in front of me has a better eye for fashion than others.

Is it an innate talent or did you put in a lot of effort?

Maybe it’s both.

It seems like I’ve been suppressing it for a long time because of my humble origins but there’s no need to do that anymore.

You can use whatever you want to your heart’s content.

“Now you don’t have to worry about protecting your sisters from other guys. “If there is such a person then I will step forward.”

And another suggestion from me.

In order for them to be free to do what they want they need a support.

I will play that role.

“Is that so?”

“And if you succeed in establishing yourself to a certain extent you might be able to apply your magic to fashion.”

“…!”

Violetta trembled greatly at my words.

Although her expression could not be seen because of the black cotton it was easy to see that she was shocked.

“Did you think I didn’t know?”

“…How did you know?”

“A wizard recognizes a wizard.”

Violetta who was only a high-class prostitute was able to create a force called the Black Rose Women in the behind-the-scenes world of Lederbelk.

It was because she also had a part of her that she believed in.

The power of magic.

“…Well it’s nothing special at best.”

“No matter how unremarkable it is if you don’t have talent you won’t even be able to learn that magic. “Who did you learn it from?”

“He was just one of the wealthy wizard customers. “I gave him a little candy saying I loved him while wearing a mask and he was so happy that he taught me a few magic tricks.”

“I see.”

“Even so I couldn’t throw off my status as a high-class courtesan.”

No matter how much magic she knows her identity is ultimately fixed and unchanging.

This is reality.

“Are you really saying you’re going to lift us up to that level?”

That in the end is Violetta’s true intention.

Although she had ambition she had no choice but to hide it.

So does everyone else.

The weak in society.

The deep bottom of the caste system where everyone despises and despises everyone and the only one they can rely on is each other.

The wall they felt was so great that they had no choice but to give up before they could even try anything.

Even Violetta who tries to pretend to be strong is secretly feeling anxious about this project so other people must be appalled.

A wall of status given from birth.

In the end everyone has no choice but to despair and collapse in front of it.

That is reality.

“of course.”

“…I’m serious.”

“What’s important is not who does it but how well they do it. And aren’t you curious?”

“…What?”

“When they saw the people they had ignored and looked down on so fiercely chasing them up from below. “I wonder how those high-ranking people will react.”

“cook. Ahahaha!”

At my words Violetta held her stomach and giggled.

Instead of reacting like a polite lady she reacted like a girl who had just thrown off a heavy burden.

“ha ha ha. “That would be really fun.”

“okay. “It’s definitely worth the challenge.”

“is it so. I’ll admit it. James Moriarty. You won. We the Black Rose Women will trust you.”

Violetta said that and lifted the cotton thread that covered her face.

“We decided to be together so we can’t hide it forever.”

Her face hidden beneath a black cotton cloth.

As could be seen from her voice and elegant demeanor she was quite a beauty.

but.

What was carved on one side of the face of a woman who should have been more beautiful than anyone else was a terrible burn.

A burn near her left eye was ruining her beauty.

“…Is it a burn caused by magic?”

“What can I do? “I decided to endure this from the moment I learned magic because I thought a crazy wizard who mistook his twisted possessiveness for love would do something like this.”

“….”

I didn’t ask what happened to the wizard.

A wizard would not be punished by the state for just scarring the face of a prostitute.

He’s probably living a good life somewhere.

Nevertheless.

Violetta stood up to protect women in a similar situation to herself even when she suffered such a situation.

It was a magic I learned for that purpose.

Having given up on her dreams and future as a woman.

“Isn’t it ugly?”

“no. “It’s not ugly.”

How can that will and that mindset be considered ugly?

“You are truly a strong woman.”

That’s why I liked it even more.

Because people like this are people you can trust and work with.

“Thank you even if it’s just lip service.”

“Is that what it sounded like?”

In that case I should give you a gift too.

“Since you have shown me something it would only be natural for me to show you one thing as well.”

“yes?”

“Just stay still.”

As I said that I slowly extended my hand towards Violetta’s face.

Her eyes widened and she was taken aback by that sight but when she made eye contact with me she stayed still with a determined look on her face.

I guess you’re trying to trust me.

“As you know I am a wizard.”

“yes. With that power he eliminated the enemy society. You sure don’t mean to say something absurd like saying you’ll heal my wounds with magic right? It’s already too late to fix this burn. “The healing priests of the Lumensis Church have also given up.”

“That would be the case if it were general magic.”

“General magic?”

Violetta didn’t seem to understand what I was saying.

okay. You won’t understand. Maybe I can explain it to you.

“What on earth are you trying to do?”

“Just know that it’s ‘real magic.’”

“It’s real magic.”

I only said that and raised my magic power slightly.

At the same time I used some of the strength I normally suppressed.

Faaaat.

In a dark alley where only the moonlight coming down through the cracks illuminates us.

A pure white light that warmed my heart softly arose and then disappeared.

“That’s it.”

Eventually I took my hand off Violetta’s burn scar.

“yes?”

“Let’s check your face.”

Violetta immediately took out a hand mirror and examined her face.

The ugly burn marks on one side of her face had disappeared as if they had been washed away.

Her trembling gaze turned to me.

“How on earth… what did you do?”

“Didn’t I tell you?”

I shrugged my shoulders lightly.

“It’s real magic.”