Chapter 7. They Say No One Dies So Easily.
Nox Green was a commoner, but he was exceptionally intelligent.
He received a scholarship to the empire’s top academy, graduated early, and was appointed as its youngest economics professor.
On top of that, he had an extraordinary sense for money, making him the symbolic figure of a successful commoner and someone expected to keep raking in wealth for years to come.
In short, he was a guaranteed goldmine—just adding your name to his venture meant profit.
“So this is how my life turns around.”
I had been on the verge of being thrown out, but this felt like a ray of light piercing through a sky full of black clouds.
Whether it was getting his approval for a joint investment or landing a job at his company, this man was a lifeline for me right now.
However—
“He’s not quite what I imagined from the game.”
Usually, when you think of a guy with glasses, he gives off a smart and sharp impression, doesn’t he?
But because of the glasses, he seemed more easygoing, like an overworked scholar buried in a lab, rather than a sharp businessman who nobles line up to invest in.
“Nice to meet you, Professor.”
I bowed politely with a smile.
Seeing a noble like me offering such formal courtesy seemed to catch Nox off guard for a moment.
But he quickly composed himself, pushed his glasses up, and handed me a densely packed schedule for the month.
“Let me first walk you through the upcoming lectures.”
Before I could even get a word in, Nox dove straight into the explanation without a pause.
He didn’t leave a single gap for small talk and smoothly outlined the goals, direction, and content of the lessons.
“That schedule alone looks packed, and yet he’s memorized all of it. He really is sharp.”
As I compared his explanation with the printed schedule and a brief course summary, I couldn’t help but be impressed.
“Introductory, huh? Seems like basic economics.”
I flipped through the textbook casually.
It didn’t look like an official academy text, so he must’ve made it himself. It was clearly organized and easy to understand—perfect for beginners.
“Is there a problem with the textbook?”
“Sorry?”
Maybe he thought I was spacing out during the lecture, because he asked.
“Oh, no. There’s no problem. It’s just… the difficulty level.”
“It’s intentionally simplified. It shouldn’t be too hard to follow.”
“Yes, and that’s the problem. It feels too easy.”
I opened the table of contents and began listing off topics and anticipated content based just on the titles.
Since it was introductory, it didn’t differ much from what I’d learned in university.
“Basic knowledge is important, of course, but I need something more practical.”
Theories are similar everywhere, but real markets differ by era and country.
To make money in this world, I needed to understand its economic system and unique characteristics.
“Before jumping into practice, it’s important to build a foundation. You also need to get used to the terminology.”
“You’re right. Then would you like to test me?”
I closed the textbook and gave him a confident smile.
“I must have underestimated you, Miss.”
“You probably heard from my father, so it’s understandable.”
Just a moment ago, Nox had fired off questions nonstop, gauging my level through my answers.
Of course, I didn’t answer every question perfectly.
There were some concepts I understood vaguely but couldn’t recall the exact terms for.
Still, it was clear I had exceeded his expectations.
For the first time since entering this study room, Nox looked genuinely flustered.
“You went to great lengths to prepare this. What now? Should we skim through it for a week? Or would you rather start fresh?”
“I’ll rework it. Since you answered from memory, reviewing this would be a waste of time.”
After quietly studying me for a moment, he took the schedule from my hand.
Unlike when I first arrived, he looked rather pleased.
The next day, Nox returned with a new schedule that blended theory and practical application at my request.
This setup would help me grasp the flow of this world’s economy and gain real-world experience. I accepted it readily.
His class was everything I had hoped for. But still—
“Professor, this is way too intense.”
After just one week, I was completely exhausted.
As soon as I finished the essay exam he gave me, I collapsed onto the desk.
“You’ve worked hard.”
The words were meant as comfort, but they lacked any real warmth.
I glared up at him, but Nox casually slid the paper out from under my arm and began grading it with a red pen.
He looked almost cheerful—was I imagining that?
“Are you enjoying this?”
“Teaching a capable student is always a pleasure.”
Yet his red pen danced so enthusiastically over my answers, it looked more like choreography than grading.
Ugh. If I have to redo all that by tomorrow’s class, I’m definitely not getting any decent sleep tonight either.
I buried my head into the desk again.
The soft scratching of his pen started to sound like a lullaby.
Just as my tired eyes began to flutter shut, Nox tapped the desk.
“Grading’s done.”
I turned my head slightly and—good grief. The answer sheet was completely red.
There goes my sleep.
“Do I need to correct it by tomorrow?”
Lifting my upper body with effort, I asked. Nox gave a small smile.
“No, it’s not all wrong.”
“Then what is it?”
“Your logic was fascinating. I just added some rebuttals.”
He handed the answer sheet back to me.
If it wasn’t wrong, why use red ink? My eyes hurt just looking at it.
I thought I had failed!
“Do I need to respond to this by tomorrow?”
I’d rather take another exam than counter his arguments—it would require going through a mountain of reference books.
“I’ll give you plenty of time. Honestly, even academy students struggle with this.”
“Oh, thank goodness.”
“You did very well.”
“…Sorry?”
“I honestly didn’t expect you to keep up this well. I’m curious why you didn’t attend the academy.”
I blinked at him in surprise.
Wait—what is this? I feel… moved. My heart fluttered.
Thrown off by the sudden emotion, I covered my face with the answer sheet.
“Is something wrong, Miss? Is it too much? You don’t have to feel pressured—”
“No, it’s not that…”
Still covering my face, I shook my head.
“It’s just… That’s the first compliment I’ve ever heard.”
“Oh.”
Looking a bit awkward, Nox scratched his head.
“I’m not usually generous with praise. But complimenting you after only a week is extremely rare. I don’t even say that to academy students until after a full semester.”
“It’s not that. I meant, literally—I’ve never been complimented before.”
Nox raised his head.
His puzzled gaze hovered around my eyes, silently asking for an explanation.
“Well, I wasn’t a particularly bright child.”
“You, Miss?”
“Yes. I was always behind my brother—slower, lacking, not good at anything. So I never heard praise from my parents.”
That had always been Siena’s childhood.
Her brother, Martin, was exceptional, even recognized in the military, and favored by their parents.
Compared to him, Siena was clumsy in everything.
She worked hard to become a suitable Duchess of Ortiz, but her embroidery lacked delicacy, her piano lacked emotion, and her etiquette was always slightly off.
“You just hadn’t discovered your talent yet. You’re more than worthy of praise.”
“Thank you for saying that. It really makes me happy.”
To be acknowledged by someone—to hear even one small compliment—was such a joy.
If Siena had received even a little encouragement like I do now, if someone had simply recognized her efforts, maybe things would have been different.
Sadly, it wasn’t until I became Siena that any of her hidden strengths came to light.
Perhaps she had something she excelled at—something not required of noblewomen.
If she had found a different way to prove her worth, maybe she wouldn’t have clung to Demian so desperately.
“You’re doing great, so don’t worry.”
Tap. His hand lightly touched my head.
That awkward, clumsy gesture felt more comforting than anything.
I couldn’t help but smile.
“Thank you, Professor. I’ll keep doing my best.”
“Of course. For me, someone who rarely gives compliments, this is quite the exception.”
Unfortunately, his small cough wasn’t enough to hide his embarrassment.
Nox might be a strict teacher, but today, it felt like he’d agree to anything.
Now was my chance. A perfect moment to finally bring up what I’d always wanted from him.
