Chapter 13
Chapter 13
Succubus-Style Socialism
Normally, nobles who come up to the capital have financiers attached to them.
While these nobles indulge in luxurious lives in the capital, financiers lend them money, taking the autumn harvest from their territories as collateral.
When nobles live extravagantly in the capital, it may benefit financiers and merchants, but for the tenant farmers working the land, it means being squeezed to the point of skin and bones.
Having experienced such horrific exploitation firsthand, Marie respected the Duke of Betelgeuse.
However, from Marie’s perspective—already being ostracized from the very first day—she couldn’t throw mud in the faces of Isolde Polzen and Sendia Aspinal, who had approached her first in friendship.
And besides…
“Lady Polzen!”
“Lady Aspinal!”
There were also male students who followed Isolde Polzen and Sendia Aspinal.
They were sons of lower-ranking officials or merchant families.
‘A prestigious lady like Lady Betelgeuse wouldn’t even glance our way anyway.’
‘Even if we badmouth her, it doesn’t seem like we’ll suffer major retaliation.’
‘She hasn’t built a faction in high society, after all.’
‘Then should we just go along with it and please the other ladies?’
‘Better to side with a reasonably wealthy girl with connections than some grand noble who has no interest in high society.’
With such thoughts, they sided with Isolde Polzen and Sendia Aspinal.
But for Marie, who didn’t understand the nature of high society, it only made her more afraid.
She could clearly feel the influence and power that Isolde and Sendia wielded.
If she displeased them, she would be the next target of gossip.
Especially since she had already drawn attention by insisting she hadn’t done pre-learning, effectively embarrassing a professor.
“Well, it seems you still don’t understand how ruthless great nobles can be… you’d better be careful. Idnia Katche Betelgeuse is a very dangerous person.”
“Ah, yes… I’ll keep that in mind.”
Marie could only nod.
But at that moment, a clear voice suddenly rang out above their heads.
[Honestly, you lot still haven’t shaken off your filthy high society habits… Do you think dinner time was given for you nobles to play your little social games?]
A violent gust suddenly swept across the plaza.
Then, with a sharp female voice, all the lights went out, and darkness descended.
“Eek!?”
“What’s happening?!”
As everyone panicked, black thorny vines began to grow in the darkness at the front of the dormitory plaza…
And from those transforming vines, a woman in black emerged.
Snow-white hair, a black dress that revealed every curve of her body, a toned physique, and eyes burning like fire.
Anyone could tell—she was a demon.
A demon had suddenly appeared in the middle of Dunaise Academy, throwing everyone into confusion.
‘One of the Empire’s Five Great Criminals!’
It was Sadia, the Succubus Queen.
She immediately addressed Vice Principal Professor Deneuve.
“I heard Vuremhyde already handled the initiation ceremony? For that, the students still look pretty lively. Lively enough to be playing these social games. I thought they’d all be half-dead after dealing with his temper.”
“That is… there was a student who destroyed the crystal golem. Professor Sadia.”
“What? Is that true? Has Vuremhyde finally gone senile? A student really destroyed a crystal golem?”
“Yes.”
“Hm. Interesting. Good. I’ll handle the rest of today’s activities. Alright, dinner’s over!”
As Professor Sadia clapped her hands, the tables, trays, and teapots all floated into the air at once.
The food was taken away while the students were still eating.
But Idnia quickly reached out beforehand and grabbed several scones.
‘Tch, I couldn’t even eat properly because I was dealing with those boys coming at me out of interest.’
Other students whispered upon seeing her.
“How uncouth, eating with her hands like that….”
“Indeed.”
“Not very fitting for a duke’s daughter. I used to admire the Duke of Betelgeuse, too.”
Hearing their deliberately audible mockery, Idnia scoffed inwardly.
‘You just don’t know these professors yet… later on, you’ll be picking food off the ground to eat.’
Sure enough, as Professor Sadia raised her hand, a staff appeared in it.
“I like Deneuve, but he’s too soft on the students! How can you feed them this well on the first day?! They’re acting like it’s a social party!”
“These were simply leftover tea party items prepared for distinguished guests at the entrance ceremony. As per the headmaster’s intent, we minimized jam and butter. Since it’s the first day, this much should be acceptable.”
“Too soft!”
Sadia struck the ground with her staff.
At that moment, a magic circle spread out from her…
And magical energy touched every student’s body.
“Ugh?!”
“What is this?!”
“Uh… I feel strangely drowsy… kind of good….”
Everyone was startled by the pleasant sensation coming from the magic touching them.
But those knowledgeable in magic turned pale.
“Ghk?!”
“Danger!”
Crown Prince Rudolf stepped in front of Idnia, casting a defensive spell.
Not only him, but Isolde Polzen, Astraea’s Marie, Prince Mazdari Lorenzo, and Prince Oxbach Karl also cast defensive magic.
Even some students—those who had avoided penalty points by hiding behind others—cast defensive spells.
“Heh, looks like there are a few knowledgeable ones! Well, I made it easy to recognize on purpose!”
-Grand Area Energy Drain!
Professor Sadia’s magic exploded outward.
The defensive spells were shattered instantly, and faint silver energy was drawn from the heads of Rudolf, Idnia, and all the other students, flowing toward Sadia.
“Professor Sadia!”
Professor Deneuve cried out.
Energy Drain was a powerful necromantic spell, practically a grand spell.
At the level of new students, it was impossible to defend against—it didn’t just kill, it corrupted the soul itself.
Had she gone mad?
“Relax. It’s not lethal. I just took enough energy for a single meal.”
As she absorbed the energy, Sadia’s hair began to glow like starlight.
Her confident, noble, and beautiful appearance made her look more like a goddess than a demon.
Meanwhile, the students were struck by sudden, overwhelming hunger.
“Ugh….”
“I… can’t….”
“I’m starving.”
“Th-this is insane!”
“You feed us and then do this?!”
Everyone dropped to their knees in shock from the hunger.
Only Idnia, the Crown Prince, Saint Marie who had used holy magic, and Isolde Polzen remained standing.
The wide-area Energy Drain was too high-level—like trying to block a cannonball with paper.
Still, having some defense meant they lost less vitality than the others.
“Oh? There are some talented ones. As expected—the Crown Prince, the top student, the noble heirs… and a commoner saint candidate.”
Sadia took note of those still standing.
“I don’t like it. Are nobles going to dominate the top ranks again this year? I’ll make sure that doesn’t happen.”
“Professor Sadia, you must be fair—”
Deneuve tried to stop her, but Sadia had no intention of holding back.
“Fair? Where’s fairness in this damned class society? Commoners are already being brutally exploited!
And you’re complaining when I try to level the playing field?! If you don’t like it, try firing me! Oh right—you can’t, can you?!”
“Well, you are a tenured professor….”
‘More precisely, one of the Empire’s Five Criminals…’
Deneuve sighed, troubled by her disobedience.
The only way to control the Five Criminals was by extending their sentences through penalties, but Sadia always stayed just within the line.
‘This succubus is annoyingly good at toeing the line. Much better than Vuremhyde… Perhaps that’s why she once led a revolutionary faction.’
Meanwhile, Isolde burned with indignation.
The Crown Prince had shielded Idnia in that moment.
‘That woman didn’t even cast a defensive spell, yet my brother protected her! Honestly! Why would he protect someone who humiliated him?! No matter how chivalrous he is!’
But there was no time to dwell on it.
Sadia pointed toward the dormitory.
“As long as I’m watching, there’ll be no cozy little noble gatherings at Dunaise Academy. I’ll starve you and train you harshly so that when food is served, you’ll finish it in five minutes. Take today’s hunger as a lesson! Now then—move into the dorms! I’ll assign roommates!”
Sadia, the Succubus Queen and one of the Empire’s Five Great Criminals, was a demon who nevertheless cherished pure love.
To her, what was pure love?
Love with obstacles.
A difference in status? Good.
A relationship already bound by marriage, drawing society’s condemnation? Adultery? She welcomed it with open arms.
No matter how extreme, as long as it was mutual love, she supported it wholeheartedly.
From her perspective, nobles arranging marriages based on family status was not love—it was breeding.
A despicable act that destroyed the very meaning of love.
That was why she had once joined the class struggle to dismantle the caste system.
Sadia, the leader of the Imperial Revolutionary Party.
A rare case—not captured for being a demon, but for being a communist and anti-establishment revolutionary.
Incidentally, the party collapsed because men enchanted by her constantly betrayed and eliminated one another.
‘Ah, now I understand why workplace romances are banned. Though banning love itself is absurd from my perspective…
But come to think of it, only by having rules against it can people prove true love by overcoming obstacles, right?
If there are no restrictions, then love becomes bland and uninteresting…
I don’t like the empire’s class system, but perhaps it’s better not to abolish it after all.’
Thus, she no longer spoke of revolution, but still couldn’t stand nobles marrying for wealth and lineage.
And so, dorm assignments were arranged to always mix nobles and commoners.
“Ah, I look forward to working with you, Lady Betelgeuse.”
Inevitably, Astraea’s Marie and Idnia became roommates.
“Ah, I’m delighted. To be roommates with you.”
Idnia had already wanted to grow close to Astraea’s Marie, so she was genuinely happy.
‘I’ll raise the saint well so she can save the world, and I’ll secure my own safety. Hehe. In other words, let her carry the burden?’
Marie, on the other hand, was flustered by the unexpected arrangement.
“Huh? M-me? Why?”
“Well, we’re both saint candidates, aren’t we? And your powerful holy magic—I think I have a lot to learn from you.”
Idnia spoke sincerely, but Marie found it hard to believe her completely.
Still, it was difficult to say anything to someone who seemed genuinely pleased.
Right then, her stomach growled.
Though used to hunger as a commoner, it was still painful.
“Ah, would you like some?”
Idnia casually offered her a scone.
“Uh, i-is that really okay?”
“Of course. It’s meant for students anyway. Let’s share.”
“Th-thank you.”
Taking the scone, Marie was moved by Idnia’s easygoing attitude.
There was no sense of showing off, nor did she look down on her for being a commoner.
She didn’t even show any hint of blaming her for the supposed lie about pre-learning.
‘She’s a much better person than the rumors said. Those people must be misunderstanding something.
Though… if things go wrong, I might end up opposing them. Lady Betelgeuse is of such high status that they wouldn’t openly attack her, but I’m just a poor farmer’s daughter… it’s frightening.’
At that moment, a caretaker named Gibbles walked around with a lantern, calling out.
