Academy’s Undercover Professor-Chapter 249: Each One’s Choice (2)

Casey Selmore had fallen asleep.

Or more precisely, she had thrown herself into the swirling torrents of memory.

That immense stream she had visited before.

As if suddenly tossed into a fiercely surging river, Casey calmly collected her thoughts in the midst of it.

Even a single misstep could sweep her away into unwanted currents, but this was a place she had already been once.

‘It’s different from last time. I can go there directly.’

Casey pushed against the current of memory.

It hadn’t been too difficult the first time, but the second attempt was even easier and faster.

Eventually, Casey arrived at the point where she had previously stopped reading.

Right before the memory imbued with the scent of water.

‘Let’s go.’

This time, she wouldn’t let it slip past.

Thinking that, Casey hurled herself into the memory’s depths.

As before, her vision darkened—and then regained light.

What she saw next was the continuation of the memory she had previously witnessed.

It was after James Moriarty had become a full professor at Ordo University.

This time, Casey watched James Moriarty’s behavior with a slightly more composed attitude.

Even though he had become a full professor, his life had not changed.

He continued researching, studying, and returning home to teach Arte.

The only real change was that he now gave regular lectures to Ordo University students.

‘So this is why he functions so well as a teacher at Seorn. His experience from this period helped him.’

The repetitive cycle of research, training, and lectures.

Despite that, James Moriarty was steadily building his reputation.

“Professor! Good morning!”

Even while walking through the university grounds, female students would approach him to start conversations.

They claimed it was to ask about things they didn’t understand, but to any observer, that was clearly just an excuse—they were trying to strike up a conversation with the handsome professor by any means.

‘Tch. If you’re students, just study instead.’

Watching from her translucent state, Casey crossed her arms in disapproval.

‘Kids these days, really. Why are they so drawn to dangerous men like him?’

“Make sure to get home safely, all right?”

“Yes, sir!”

“Eeee! The professor is worried about us!”

The surprising part was that Ludger, despite everything, responded to students who approached him with subtle kindness.

Of course, as soon as they walked away, he returned to his usual expressionless, chilly demeanor.

A thoroughly constructed mask.

Casey immediately picked up on that sense of dissonance.

‘More importantly... is the incident still not happening?’

She observed Ludger's every move, but he didn’t do a single thing suspicious enough to trigger her instincts.

Just research on repeat.

Just lectures on repeat.

He didn’t try to build social connections or cling to them either.

If someone approached him, he didn’t push them away—but that was just a form of social navigation, not driven by any ulterior motive.

By all appearances, he lived the textbook life of an upright, untainted professor.

After seeing off the students, Ludger returned to his office.

Since becoming a full professor, he had been granted a rather spacious office. One wall was lined with bookshelves, and the other bore a large chalkboard.

The chalkboard was covered in white chalk markings—equations and diagrams related to his current research in topological mathematics.

James Moriarty didn’t employ a teaching assistant.

So even when he drank coffee or tea, he made it himself.

Ludger leisurely savored the flavor of his coffee while reading the newspaper.

After finishing the paper, he neatly folded it and began reading a book.

‘Huh? This scene... feels familiar for some reason...’

Even though the routine was repetitive, the déjà vu was oddly strong—and just as she wondered why...

Clack.

The office door suddenly opened, and the sharp sound of heels echoed brightly in the room.

Ludger, who had been reading, lifted his gaze just slightly to glare at the uninvited intruder.

Framed by sunlight streaming through the window behind him, he fixed one sharp eye on the figure who had entered.

At that sight, Casey instantly remembered what had happened in this memory.

‘That’s right. It was this moment!’

Just after her internal realization, the room was filled with the same brazen voice as hers.

“I heard someone named James Moriarty was here?”

The person who entered the room was Casey Selmore from three years ago.

She looked a bit younger than she did now.

Back then, she had been a rising star—already earning fame as a genius detective traveling the world.

The Casey from three years ago radiated confidence and boldness, and it was clearly visible on her face.

‘Ugh... Did I always look that smug?’

Current Casey frowned as she stared at her past self.

That version of her... how should she put it... looked like someone puffed up with arrogance.

Not that she didn’t have an excuse.

At the time, she had solved several high-profile cold cases in a row and her ego was at an all-time high.

And right then, she had heard rumors about a genius professor making a name for himself through topological mathematics.

Even if she had initially visited out of curiosity, the mindset of “I, the great one, have graced you with my presence” had seeped in without her realizing it.

‘Ah, this is so...’

Embarrassing.

That was all the current Casey could think.

“Indeed. I am James Moriarty. And who might you be? You don’t appear to be one of our students.”

Instead of scolding the guest for barging into his office without permission, Ludger calmly asked in a gentle voice.

“Who I am? Do you really not know?”

“Not sure why I’d need to know someone who enters my office uninvited.”

“What an interesting man. Perhaps you’ve heard my name? I’m Casey Selmore.”

‘Ugh...’

Current Casey clutched her chest as she watched her past self speak and grabbed her head in agony.

‘What are you even doing!?’

No matter how much she regretted her immature behavior back then, she couldn’t change what was happening now.

“Casey Selmore... Yes, I’ve heard that name. They say you’re a genius detective who’s solved many cases.”

“Oh. So you do know me?”

“You’re often mentioned in the newspapers, after all.”

Since Ludger read the paper every day, there was no way he could forget a name that appeared so often.

“So, what brings a famous detective to the office of a mediocre professor like me?”

“Pure curiosity. I heard Ordo University recently hired a new professor, and apparently he was quite the sensation.”

“You flatter me.”

“Well, at first I thought the rumors were exaggerated, but then I heard more details. You should feel proud. That was a compliment.”

“......”

Ludger looked at Casey as if to say, “What is this person?”

‘Please stop talking!!!’

Watching from the sidelines, current Casey desperately wanted to strangle her past self.

She seriously considered abandoning the memory storm and escaping right then and there.

That was when her past self held out a book to Ludger.

“Would you mind signing this?”

“That’s the book I wrote.”

“Yes. I thoroughly enjoyed your work on topological mathematics and geometry. It was packed with fascinating insights. To come up with those theories at such a young age—no wonder people call you a genius.”

“I wouldn’t go so far as to call myself a genius. Still, since you’ve shown such appreciation, I’ll add my humble name.”

As he spoke, Ludger took the book Casey handed him and wrote “James Moriarty” on the first page.

With a fountain pen soaked in ink, he penned it so neatly that anyone would have admired the handwriting.

Casey looked at it with interest and spoke.

“Professor James Moriarty. Are you familiar with graphology?”

At that, Ludger glanced at her and replied.

“I’ve heard of it. It’s a so-called pseudoscience where you deduce a person’s inner state, psychology, personality, and quirks from their handwriting.”

“Pseudoscience, huh. I agree. Like phrenology, physiognomy, or blood type theories. All the same kind of thing.”

“Why bring that up all of a sudden?”

“Even if it’s pseudoscience, I think there are subtle things worth noting. Professor James Moriarty, your handwriting is incredibly precise. It looks like it was typed with a machine.”

"Is that supposed to be a problem?"

"People with handwriting that neat are usually obsessively clean to the point of paranoia. It's the perfectionist tendency—they don’t tolerate even the slightest imperfection at the tip of a single stroke."

As Casey said this, she glanced around the office.

Books and papers were scattered everywhere.

Beneath the chalkboard, white dust coated the floor, as if it hadn’t been cleaned in some time.

"When was the last time you cleaned this place?"

"Hmm. I don’t think it’s been that long."

"Is that so? Anyway, continuing from earlier—this type of personality usually falls into one of two categories. The first is exactly what I just said: the kind of perfectionist who can't overlook even the smallest flaw. Aren’t you curious what the second one is?"

At her transparent provocation, Ludger remained composed and asked calmly.

"You've piqued my interest. And the other?"

"The kind that desperately hides their true self from the world."

"......"

Casey gave him a look, as if to say, “Which are you?”

Ludger met her gaze silently.

Then, he let out a quiet chuckle and handed back the book with the finished autograph.

"An interesting analysis."

"Oh my, really?"

"Indeed. And if I may offer some advice of my own, even with my humble background—it’s best to finish reading a book you’ve already bought."

"And why do you think that?"

"This is a first edition. It was printed on rather cheap paper from Phelephisos. The pages turn well, but they easily show wear if handled roughly."

Casey took the book, narrowing her eyes provocatively at Ludger.

"From the way you held the book upon entering, to how you handed it over—I could tell at a glance that you're not someone who treats books with particular care. But from the middle onward, the pages were pristine. No creases. No trace of having been touched. Which means you didn’t read past the halfway point."

"You saw that in the brief time we spoke?"

"I didn’t see it—it just was."

"Your observational skills are impressive."

"Not that it counts for much in front of a so-called genius detective."

Their eyes clashed midair.

Like sparks flying between them.

"You're fascinating, Professor James Moriarty. I have a feeling we’ll be seeing a lot of each other."

"Indeed. I think we will, Detective Casey Selmore."

That was how the two first met.

‘So that’s what I was like back then.’

Casey looked at her overconfident younger self, now half in surrender.

What did she feel when she first met James Moriarty?

It was like a surge of electricity through her brain.

Back then, Casey had grown tired of everything.

Solving cases, gaining fame, being praised as a genius—it wasn’t unpleasant.

But the satisfaction was fleeting.

The more people admired her, the deeper the hollowness grew.

People made a fuss over trivial things, struggled with things she thought obvious—it all felt suffocating.

Even after meeting so many people, she felt like she was stranded on a deserted island.

As if there was no one like her around.

She didn’t realize it then—but that was the loneliness of a genius.

And the arrogance only a genius could carry.

So when she heard rumors of a young genius professor, Casey Selmore became intrigued—by someone who had nothing to do with her.

And when she met Professor James Moriarty in person, he was different—at least from the idiots she had met before.

She instinctively sensed it.

That he, too, was one of her kind.

Perhaps Ludger felt the same.

‘Yes. That’s how it was.’

From that point on, Casey naturally started visiting Ludger's office while mingling with people at Ordo University.

At first, Ludger found her persistent visits annoying—but perhaps intrigued by her unusual personality, he eventually became her conversational partner.

Not that their conversations were ever pleasant—if anything, they exchanged sharp, probing remarks like verbal sparring matches.

That was the closest thing to friendliness Casey could show at the time, and Ludger didn’t bother to criticize it.

But what felt like it would continue indefinitely didn’t last long.

Strange things began to happen in the Kingdom of Delica.

People started disappearing ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) at night.

It wasn’t widely known then, because the missing were mostly children.

Poor children—ones who barely ate or slept properly.

No one cared what happened to people at the bottom of society.

No newspapers covered the string of disappearances, and if they did, it was buried in the back pages with a small line like “Missing Person Report.”

But Ludger sensed something in that minor detail.

"Disappearing children, huh..."

It troubled him.

It wasn’t something he needed to worry about, but it didn’t sit well.

He decided that when he got home, he would tell Arte and Shelly to be careful.

It couldn’t hurt to give them a warning.

That was the decision he made.

“Teacher!”

After finishing his lecture at Ordo University and returning home as usual, Ludger was met by a panicked Arte.

“M-My sister! Shelly’s gone missing!”