Chapter 28
Chapter 28
Demon God of Temptation, Magram
‘Hmph. Well? What do you think?!’
Isolde Polzen puffed up proudly.
Having instantly reclaimed first place in the grade rankings with five shop points, she glanced at Idnia, wondering if she might be upset.
But Idnia showed no reaction at all.
She seemed far more focused on something else than on Isolde.
‘Tch. That woman…?’
Seeing Idnia completely ignore her, Isolde Polzen felt both anger and a sense of defeat.
Being perceptive, she understood it herself.
Compared to Idnia, who bore the responsibility of leading the entire Euros Dormitory as the daughter of the Betelgeuse Grand Duke, she herself was just an ordinary student.
The weight they carried was different, so it was only natural that Idnia wouldn’t obsess over momentary shop points.
‘Even so, I’ll keep gathering shop points and secure Zephiros Dormitory’s advantage. That’s what I can do for my brother.’
She knew her role well, and Crown Prince Rudolf also recognized her contributions.
“Well done, Isolde. I’m proud of you.”
With that praise from Rudolf, her mood lifted.
“No, brother. Have I finally been of some help to you?”
“You’ve been a great help not just to me, but to all of Zephiros Dormitory. That’s why, during the lunch preparation period, I plan to review the quiz. Isolde, could you teach the other students?”
“Me?”
Isolde was flustered.
Rudolf was asking the top scorer of the textbook quiz to teach the others.
“There’s no suitable place to gather.”
“We’ll meet in the garden.”
“Wouldn’t students from other dorms notice?”
“They might see us, but they won’t easily join. And if they do, that would benefit the entire academy.”
As expected of the Crown Prince.
Everyone here would one day become pillars of the Empire. When he became Emperor, these students would support his rule.
From Rudolf’s perspective, it was more beneficial to grow together than to compete.
‘I want to refuse.’
Unlike Rudolf, Isolde Polzen had no desire to share her hard-earned knowledge.
Rudolf had everything.
Excelling academically was just one of the many talents and advantages he possessed.
But Isolde?
She was the daughter of a consort.
Though no one in high society could openly mistreat her, that world thrived on gossip behind closed doors.
What kind of vile rumors must circulate when she wasn’t present?
That was why she wanted to silence them with her ability.
And now she was being asked to share that hard-earned knowledge with everyone?
During the academy entrance exam, she had realized something.
‘Those who pass this test must all be exceptionally talented.’
Though Isolde Polzen was undoubtedly a genius of her time…
The difference between her and the other talents here was no more than a thin sheet of paper.
Sharing her insights through study sessions would be a great sacrifice.
‘I want to refuse. But if I do, will my brother see how narrow-minded I am? That frightens me.
Ah, brother.
Among the countless things you possess, I am just one. But what you ask of me is my pride, my everything.
Of course, because you are more precious than all of that, I will give it if you ask.
But how precious am I to you?
Among all that you possess, how much weight do I carry?
Perhaps I am nothing more than a girl who might even be your half-sister.’
To Isolde, her knowledge was nearly her entire being.
Yet Rudolf was also everything to her, so if he asked, she would endure the pain and give it up.
At that moment, fortunately for her, raindrops began to fall outside the window.
“Ah… it seems impossible to hold a study session in the garden. We’ll have to cancel it.”
Just like that, Rudolf withdrew his request because of the weather.
Isolde felt grateful for the rain… and even for the academy system that forced such constraints.
The academy spaces open to students were too limited to accommodate everyone indoors.
And with rain, gathering outside was impossible.
‘Hmm. I was lucky this time. But if we accumulate enough shop points to unlock an indoor study space… then I won’t be able to refuse without disappointing him.’
Though she had escaped for now, Isolde knew the road ahead would be difficult.
After Baroness Willem’s class ended, it was finally time for the class of one of the Empire’s Five Prisoners, Professor Magram.
Students crowded into the large lecture hall of the First Lecture Building.
After everything that had happened, the way they looked at each other had changed.
Many had known each other by face from their time in the imperial capital, Dunaise.
But the atmosphere among them had completely shifted.
Though Crown Prince Rudolf had formed an alliance, no one truly trusted it.
Because Notos, led by Lorenzo Medici Mazdari, had openly demonstrated their successful smuggling…
And had even gone so far as to seize control of the academy-affiliated village.
Could one trust a blade held by someone else?
Those with power understood both its fear and its fleeting nature.
As nobles, they all knew the only way to maintain an alliance was to hold the blade themselves.
And the moment everyone tried to seize the blade, the alliance would inevitably break.
‘Form the alliance, but secure shop points first.’
The students’ determination burned fiercely.
And then the class began.
“…Huh?”
Even after the bell rang, there was no one in the lecture hall.
Only a small oil lamp sat on the podium.
It was shaped like a teapot—like the classic Aladdin’s lamp.
Then suddenly, a large flaming hand emerged from its spout and began rubbing the lamp.
‘Rubbing its own lamp…’
Even Idnia, who already knew everything from the game, couldn’t help but chuckle.
Magram, an Ifrit and spirit of fire, was also the genie of the lamp.
As he heated the lamp himself, flames and smoke burst from its spout.
With the scent of sulfur, the flames and smoke formed into a humanoid shape.
“Eek?!”
“W-what?!”
What appeared was a genie formed of fire and smoke.
He wore a turban, his entire body made of burning muscle, with a flaming crescent blade at his waist.
“Ah, this lamp is old, you see. Needs a bit of preheating to work properly.
Well then, academy students, nice to meet you.
I’m Magram, your magic instructor.”
Then Magram whistled.
The opening theme of Awakening Girl Concert…
Idnia recognized the melody and smirked.
I want to ask him about it. But that would probably expose me.
While Idnia focused on that, the other students were far more interested in Magram himself.
“Ah…”
“An Ifrit?”
“I’ve never seen one in person.”
As the students marveled, Magram smiled.
“It’s a pleasure to meet such bright young souls.”
Surprisingly, unlike the other prisoners, Magram was very friendly toward the students.
In fact…
“To celebrate our meeting today, I will give each of you 20 Academy Coins.”
“20 coins?”
“Yes. Right now!”
At that moment, every student’s academy brooch began to glow.
“It’s recorded in your brooch, so you can use it immediately at the shop. And with a simple reading spell, you can check how many coins you have. Ah, I should teach you that spell, shouldn’t I?”
Magram floated a piece of chalk with telekinesis and began writing on the board.
He taught the imagery, activation, and incantation for the reading spell.
Is the incantation in English? Reading? That’s way too easy.
Since the Empire’s common language Eldar was similar in pronunciation to English, all students succeeded instantly.
Even Idnia and Marie succeeded on their first try.
Once the spell worked, they could read all the information stored in their brooch—name, dormitory, enrollment year, merit and penalty points, and even the number of Academy Coins.
“20 coins… what’s that worth?”
“At the current rate, about 100 shillings.”
“….”
All the students were shocked.
Even for nobles, 100 shillings was not a trivial amount.
And he was giving that to everyone?
Is he really like the genie from the old stories?
The students whispered, both in awe and fear of Magram’s power.
Of course, Idnia knew the truth.
Of course. It’s just because this is when Academy Coins sell at their highest value. Their real value is one-to-one.
But Magram is terrifying.
Isn’t this just like those mobile games that give free 100 pulls at the start?
How much is he planning to exploit the students?
Idnia understood why Magram was handing out coins so freely.
He wanted them to use coins, get used to using them, and keep spending.
And that wasn’t all.
“Now that you’ve successfully learned a new spell, I will also award each student 1 shop point.”
“…What?”
“…….”
Shop points for everyone?
Dormitories with over 50 students could instantly unlock a facility.
Zephiros had 61 students, Notos had 50. They could already gain a facility with just these points.
Boreas had 47 students, and with Karl’s points, they would reach 49—just one short.
Only Euros, with 32 students, would fall behind.
Even with Idnia and Marie’s extra points, they couldn’t close the gap.
Magram isn’t giving these out generously forever…
In an instant, Euros became the weakest.
“Excuse me, Professor. This makes no sense. First place in the entrance exam gets 2 points, second gets 1. And you’re giving points for a reading spell that any mage can use?”
Christian Dupont of Euros raised his hand.
He realized that this policy would suffocate Euros.
This is clearly a scheme to pit students against each other.
And once the conflict starts, he’ll stop giving points altogether.
Despite knowing the risk, Christian spoke up.
“Ah, judging by that, you already knew the reading spell.”
“Yes.”
“Then your point is revoked.”
“…What?”
Christian’s point was taken away.
Everyone was stunned.
They all understood Magram’s intentions.
But if they opposed him, he would simply take their points under any pretext.
Tch. He’s forcing conflict…
But if we speak up, we’ll lose points.
What do we do? If only we lose points, wouldn’t that make us fools?
Everyone knew they were being played.
Should they just go along with it?
At that moment… Crown Prince Rudolf suddenly stood up.