Unable to repay my student loans, I had no choice but to work part-time as a demon hunter.

"What should an excellent adult be like?" Charlotte asked earnestly.

Gordon thought for a moment.

"Able to make their own decisions and clean up their own messes."

"I'm still a long way off." Charlotte looked at her homework, which was clearly a mess that she couldn't fix.

"But you made good decisions."

"What?"

"You've chosen to help me time and time again, and each time you've been so resolute. These are all good decisions you've made."

"!"

Charlotte's breathing quickened, and she turned her gaze away. The clouds outside were so white, the sky so blue, and the trees looked just like trees.

Helping him is one thing, such as giving him No. 9 Knight Road, which she can do openly and generously.

But it's a different story if Gordon says it directly.

This is very dangerous.

What if Gordon figured out that she likes him?

Worse still, what if he already knew all along and was just waiting for her to admit it?

Charlotte looked down at the assignment and decided to leave the difficult problem to her future self.

Gordon was still marking and annotating with a pen.

It was already dead, but with Gordon's constant criticism, it seems to be experiencing a resurgence.

  

At that moment, she suddenly felt the stifling embarrassment and annoyance in her heart slowly receding.

Gordon is clearly very disciplined and meticulous, and he holds others to the same high standards.

With such a role model in her life, Charlotte felt a very dangerous impulse stirring within her.

She wants to become a better person.

At the very least, we can't let Gordon introduce her in the future by saying, "This is Charlotte, my friend, whose only contribution is that she's good-looking."

Not long after.

As the next bell rang, Professor Winslow's extraordinary anatomy class began.

Today, Winslow didn't dissect any monsters; he simply hung a map of the Blackwater River on the blackboard.

The Blackwater River flows through the heart of the city of Lundenim.

Gordon was very familiar with its underground hydrographic maps.

The above-ground version lacks any ceremonial venues, only marking visible land structures such as docks, sluices, sewage outlets, culverts, and pumping stations. It appears honest and simple, containing no secrets.

Only Gordon knew that beneath it lay a complex underground world, and below that, perhaps, a "sea of ​​sunken stars."

"Ladies and gentlemen," Professor Winslow formally announced, "when I dissected the rabies demon before the holidays, I mentioned that this year's final paper would be about the Blackwater River. Some of you already know that, while others were rushing to catch their trains and left too early that day."

Several students lowered their heads.

"Now I reiterate. The Blackwater River has attracted attention from all sides. A large number of mutated fish have appeared in the river, and inexplicable drownings are constantly occurring on the banks. Therefore, in the process of the Empire's management of the Blackwater River, someone must investigate it and understand it."

"This is a comprehensive assessment of our students. You can study the river's spirituality, the strange activities along its banks, unusual specimens, the physical and mental conditions of the citizens, and even folk tales. Anything that helps us understand the Blackwater River is acceptable."

"The final report meeting will be held in mid-June. Outstanding reports will be considered equivalent to first-class final papers. The grades will not only be recorded in the student's file, but may also be awarded to the royal palace."

"Outstanding research teams will receive a research stipend of at least 25 gold pounds, and key members will be awarded the title of Blackwater River Trainee Investigator. Moreover, there will be no summer homework."

No homework required.

The classroom was quiet for a moment, then suddenly filled with suppressed gasps for breath.

"Oh..."

"The Blackwater River?"

No summer homework!

"Trainee Investigator!"

"25 gold pounds!"

"Okay, this is getting interesting..." The discussion became even more intense, slurping and clapping like a pot of bubbling broth.

The previously dull classroom suddenly became filled with excitement. Everyone felt as if a door was right in front of them, behind which lay grades, honors, stipends, and a summer vacation without homework.

Gordon was also tempted.

25 gold pounds, all it takes is writing a paper. His cash flow, which had been depleted by the custom-made cradle of life, was now in dire need of replenishment.

also……

The Blackwater River is said to have accumulated spiritual energy, and he was just looking for a reason to fish it out. Now the school has not only provided a reason but is also paying him to do so.

What is publicly funded scientific research?

Gordon looked around.

John straightened his back, seemingly determined to get an excellent report. He came from an ordinary family, and 25 gold pounds could change a lot.

Percy Graham, of noble birth, also sat up straight, as if he were seeing a red carpet leading to success.

Charlotte didn't react at all when she heard about money, but the words "no summer homework" instantly perked her up.

"If we get an excellent report, we can travel all over the country during the summer vacation," Charlotte whispered to Gordon.

"You play, I'll level up on my own."

"Ugh." Charlotte was clearly unhappy with this division of labor. She wanted to be promoted too.

Winslow took a stack of forms out of his leather briefcase, placed them on the podium, and asked the students to come up and sign them.

[Risk Disclaimer. Sign your name, and whatever distance the water monkeys drag you away from you has nothing to do with the school.]

"Listen up," Winslow emphasized, "This is not a picnic. The Blackwater River is dangerous. No student is allowed to go anywhere alone, and don't even think about bringing any aliens back to the dorms."

Gordon was curious to know who would bring the Otherworldly creature back to the dorm, but given the university’s illustrious tradition, there was likely more than one answer.

"Professor, what happens if something of value is found?" Percy asked, standing up.

"Like anything that happens in this city every day, whoever finds it gets to keep it," Winslow said calmly. "Provided you're lucky enough to have it."

Half of the people signed it, while the other half thought it was good to be alive and do summer homework.

"Gorden...before the Easter holiday, you said you wanted me to join your research group." Charlotte smiled at Gordon. "I don't believe you've suddenly lost your memory."

"Of course, but before you join the research group, let's revive your assignment first." Gordon pointed at her paper.

……

In the afternoon, on Lecture Hall Road, at Egret Cafe.

Gordon fulfilled his promise to provide free tutoring.

The coffee shop is very elegant.

The curtains were made of off-white linen, fresh lilies of the valley were placed on the table, and an oil painting of the Blackwater River was hanging on the wall. The Blackwater River in the painting was clear and gentle, with sparkling water. No wonder it could only appear in paintings.

He sat with Charlotte, examining her work.

Drinking water from the Blackwater River can cause a rainbow of diarrhea.

[A short essay. It's quite brave of me to even write a title like this.]

"Isn't the word 'rainbow' a bit too accurate?" Gordon thought the title was powerful.

"That... stuff does have colors. I found yellow, green, black, and red," Charlotte argued.

"From a spectroscopic perspective, it's missing blue, indigo, and violet... And from a medical point of view, I think we should have at least some respect for the patient. He already has diarrhea; there's no need for you to portray it as festive fireworks."

Gordon rewrote the title: "Preliminary Link Between Blackwater River Water and Abnormal Digestive Symptoms".

"This is not cute."

"A paper doesn't need to be cute. Of course, you can be a cute person."

Charlotte felt that wearing her sky-blue coat and white dress today was worthwhile.

She immediately picked up her coffee to maintain her composure, using the cup to cover the corners of her upturned mouth.

Over the next hour, Gordon wrote down more than a hundred revision suggestions.

After watching it, Charlotte felt she would be very busy.

Following Gordon's advice, she had to personally visit the hospitals emitting the foul odor, and collect samples of well water and public water facilities. She also had to, as Gordon suggested, analyze the true connection between the water source and the symptoms to ensure that the red discharge was a consequence of the Blackwater River, and not dragon fruit.

but……

If written to Gordon's standards, this paper would at least be read carefully by the teacher, rather than being thrown on the table and prompting reflection on whether there are indeed problems with education.

"It's so tiring," Charlotte sighed.

"The world is cruel. Everyone only values ​​ability. Capable people can climb higher and higher. Even if you are a nobleman, there will always be someone more outstanding and cunning than you."

"But that's endless. There will always be someone better and stronger, there's no limit, Gordon. You can't always compare yourself to others, sometimes you have to make peace with yourself."

"No. When I read those novels before, I really liked a concept called 'clear-mindedness'."

"What is that?"

"It's about thinking things through thoroughly. For example, if you're truly at peace with yourself and feel that a third-class grade is pretty good, you won't argue with me about tutoring. You'll quietly slack off, and you'll do it with a clear conscience."

"..."

"But you're different. You really want to improve, but your thoughts and actions are conflicting, colliding in your mind and even fighting each other. You're unwilling to work hard and can't accept that you're not good enough, so of course you'll feel bad."

Charlotte quieted down.

It seems so.

This may not necessarily be related to any vicious competition. The main reason is that she can't get over herself if she keeps acting like a fool.

"And what about you?" Charlotte looked at Gordon. "Aren't you worried that someone might be more ruthless, more cunning, or more intelligent than you?"

"That's what's interesting. It's endlessly enjoyable to compete with people. Playing against idiots only lowers my standards. I want to work with the best people in the world and tackle the biggest challenges in the world," Gordon said frankly.

Charlotte took a sip of her coffee, and a smile gradually appeared on her face.

Being with Gordon made her feel that even the biggest difficulties would shrink, because that's the kind of person Gordon is—always on the path of solving problems.

This assignment, which might lead to several sleepless nights, no longer seems so daunting.

Most importantly, Gordon didn't help her finish writing the rest; instead, he pointed her in the right direction and assumed she could get to the other side.

Complete trust is more inescapable than mere comfort. She couldn't let him down.