CHAPTER 110
CHAPTER 110
Profit-Oriented
“I can tell that much just by looking. But why?”
Idnia asked why Isolde was cooperating with them.
“Ah, yes. This brooch contains a powerful spell to protect students in case of accidents inside the academy dungeon.
Yes. They are a detachment sent to install beacons in the ruins of Dunaise Academy—more precisely, the ruins of an ancient magical civilization.
The demons claim they are the rightful successors of that ancient magical civilization, and apparently, the facilities of Dunaise Academy once belonged to them.”
Isolde avoided the question.
“No, my question is why you chose to cooperate with them.”
“That is…”
Isolde fell silent.
That was exactly what she had been trying to avoid answering.
But Idnia’s question could no longer be dodged.
“If I say I can’t answer, will you be angry?”
“Then unfortunately, my imagination will start filling in the gaps on its own.
I know it’s rude to speculate about someone’s personal circumstances, but imagination isn’t something easily suppressed.
If you’re told not to think of an elephant, you end up thinking of one anyway.”
“…You’re quite eloquent, Idnia.”
Isolde was taken aback by how smoothly Idnia spoke.
“So what do you imagine, then? About that elephant?”
“Well, if I let my imagination run for a moment—Miss Isolde, your condition changed after meeting that person who claimed to be your maternal relative during the wizard ball match.
And considering you’re now acting alongside a demon detachment, it’s only natural to assume that this ‘relative’ is actually a contact from the demon side.
You’re a top student even among the prodigies of Dunaise Academy, so there’s no way you’d believe such a claim without evidence.
They must have had something very convincing.
Unless, of course, you’ve always secretly admired demons and wanted to become one of them.”
“……”
Realizing there was no point hiding it any longer, Isolde let out a long sigh.
“Yes. You’re correct. My mother is a demon. She was sent as a spy to monitor the Emperor. And I… am a half-demon.”
She slumped to the ground.
“Are you satisfied now? I’m a half-demon, and I betrayed the Empire out of fear of that truth being exposed. I helped the demons create and stabilize an entrance into Dunaise Academy.
If you turn me in, both the academy and the Empire will reward you greatly. Go on. Take me and have me punished.”
“I would never do that.”
Idnia shook her head.
“The Emperor’s consort being a demon? There’s no way that would ever be publicly announced.
It would be handled quietly, and while you might receive material rewards, there would be no public honor.”
“……”
“Oh, and don’t worry, Miss Isolde. I have no intention of turning you in. Didn’t you hear what I said earlier? About the Empress Dowager?”
“…Pardon?”
Only then did Isolde recall the earlier conversation.
The Empress Dowager.
The figurehead of the faction her mother, Aura Polchen, served.
In reality, the demon general and archmage were the true powers, but nominally, the First Prince, Second Prince, and the Empress Dowager acting as regent for the Second Prince were engaged in a succession war.
And that Empress Dowager was—
‘The former Saint Flora… Idnia Katche Betelgeuse’s mother?’
Not only was the former Saint alive, but she had married the Demon King and become Empress Dowager.
And not even as an unmarried woman—she had a husband.
This was no ordinary scandal.
And surely, it wasn’t something Idnia would want revealed either.
Just as Isolde wanted to hide her identity, Idnia would not want her origins exposed.
“That certainly isn’t something you’d want made public. Why tell me, then?”
“If I keep your secret, then we can cooperate on this matter.”
“Cooperate?”
“Yes. Though I belong to a ducal house, my financial and human resources aren’t exactly abundant.
I need capable people I can trust with confidential matters.”
The benefits of recruiting Isolde outweighed the rewards of turning her in.
Even so, Isolde couldn’t fully trust her.
“Well, if you don’t believe me and want to confess to the Empire and be burned at the stake, I can’t stop you. But I’d rather you didn’t.”
“……”
Isolde had no real choice.
Cooperate with Idnia—or face execution.
Not knowing Idnia’s true intentions, she could only comply for now.
Idnia calmly asked another question.
“So, what are they planning to do with those beacons?”
“They were trying to open a way to access this dungeon from outside the academy.
They believe that by exploring the ruins, they can claim ownership over Dunaise Academy.”
“I see. In that case, this should be reported to a professor.”
“…Yes.”
Isolde lowered her head.
‘So she wasn’t going to hand me over to the Empire… she was going to report me to the academy instead.
How foolish of me to feel even a moment of hope…
After doing something so terrible, I dared to hope for forgiveness.’
Ashamed, Isolde extended her hands toward Idnia.
“I understand. Take me.”
“How many times must I say it? I’m not doing that.”
“…Weren’t you going to turn me over to the academy instead of the Empire?”
“I don’t want to make this a big issue.
More importantly, Miss Isolde, there’s something I wanted to ask you.”
“…?”
Isolde was confused.
She had already revealed everything.
What could possibly be more important?
“Well… I brought a lot of items, but I came in a hurry and didn’t bring a bag or anything.
How can I carry a lot of stuff out?”
“…What do you mean?”
“I paid Professor Magram 500 academy coins to enter this dungeon.
That’s a huge expense, so if I don’t at least break even, I’ll be running a deficit.
I need to earn something.”
“…What?”
Isolde doubted her ears.
At a time like this?
“That’s why—how can I carry more goods?”
“…Ah… maybe use levitation magic to float a wide board and load items onto it?”
“Oh, I see. But I’ve never learned levitation magic.”
“I—I can do it. Or I can teach you.”
“That sounds good.”
Idnia began learning the spell from Isolde.
But when she tried casting it, her mana surged uncontrollably, launching the object skyward like a rocket.
It seemed she was good at explosive bursts of mana, but terrible at applying small, steady amounts.
“…You can handle complex spells, yet struggle with something like this. Your mana channels really are unusual.”
“Yes. It’s not working well.”
“Then I’ll do it.”
Isolde bent a convenience store sign into a sled, cast a levitation spell to float it about 50 centimeters above the ground, and tied wires into a pulling rope.
When she loaded items and pulled it, the sled glided smoothly above the ground.
Idnia stacked plastic bottles of soda onto it.
“As expected of a prodigy. Good. Now that we’ve increased capacity, let’s find more valuables.”
“But the demon detachment might still be nearby…”
Idnia waved her hand dismissively.
“No way. Who knows when we’ll get another chance to enter the dungeon? Even if we don’t make a fortune, we at least can’t take a loss!
They probably ran away because they were afraid we’d call the professors.”
“You want to risk our lives in a dungeon based on that assumption? Are you sane?”
But Idnia’s eyes gleamed strangely.
It seemed this duke’s daughter was truly obsessed with money.
When Idnia and Isolde exited the dungeon, the alchemy class had already ended.
At the entrance stood Headmaster Ludwig, Vice Headmaster Professor Deneuve, alchemy instructor Naily, and Professor Magram.
“Headmaster, students Idnia and Isolde have returned.”
At Deneuve’s call, Ludwig gestured to Naily.
“Instructor Naily, you permitted them to leave during class. You should conclude this matter first.”
“Ah, yes. Thank you, Headmaster. Student Idnia, you know why I’m here, don’t you?”
“Yes, Instructor. I’m sorry.”
“For leaving class without permission, I assign you 2 penalty points.”
Idnia received penalty points.
Considering she had effectively skipped class entirely, it was a light punishment.
“Not just that. Student Idnia, I also order you to take chemistry.”
“…Hm?”
“Instructor Naily…”
Ludwig and Deneuve were startled.
This punishment exceeded normal rules.
But—
“Ah, yes. Chemistry. I’ve actually been wanting to take it.”
Idnia accepted willingly.
“What? Really? Are you serious?”
Chemistry was unpopular, assigned as punishment—yet Idnia genuinely wanted it.
“S-so… are you trying to seduce me? My goodness, Idnia. I didn’t expect this from you. So you want to scatter your pollen on me? Humans really do want to pollinate whenever they see a dryad…”
“Instructor?”
Isolde called out to the dazed Naily.
“Student Idnia, this punishment is only for leaving class. You don’t have to take another subject… but you seem serious.”
Ludwig tried to stop her, then gave up.
“Then I’ll take my leave. Good work, everyone. Student Idnia, you must keep your promise to take chemistry! If you said it just to calm me down, I’ll be even angrier later!”
“Of course. I genuinely want to learn chemistry. I’m really looking forward to it.”
“…Ah… this is bad. I don’t even have surgery scheduled, yet I’ve self-pollinated! C-cuttings! I’m propagating!”
Overwhelmed with excitement, Instructor Naily left in a daze.