Chapter 49
Chapter 49
The Music Box of the Awakened Girl
Idnia was startled when she heard the Demon God Magram humming the opening theme of Awakening Girl Concert.
Could it be that he was somehow connected to Earth?
But this wasn’t the kind of situation where she could casually ask.
A sinister aura swirled around Magram as he approached Rudolf, Isolde, and Mari.
It looked as though he might attack at any moment.
“What is that? What is he doing? Don’t tell me they’re about to fight here?”
“Seems like it. Sadia will try to stop him, but if she fights Magram while protecting the students, she’ll die as well.
Magram in that state is no easy opponent.”
“What? Then…?”
“Given Sadia’s personality, she’ll simply let the students die and fight anyway. Nearby students will get caught up and die, and the responsibility will fall on the two professors, extending their sentences.
Though perhaps… this is exactly the scenario the Emperor wanted.
If the Crown Prince died at the academy, it would give him a perfect excuse to interfere.”
Ludwig spoke as if students dying in a clash between professors was simply unavoidable.
You insane professors!
Idnia immediately cast a shield spell with her black iron magic staff.
“That’s foolish. A mere low-level spell won’t work against Magram.”
“Is that so?!”
Idnia transformed the shield with Form Shift and infused it with Tyrant Aura.
Aura and mana interfered with each other and began to compress.
The edges of the mana shield, which normally dispersed like smoke, now sharpened like a blade.
She compressed it? Combining mana and aura? Not bad.
As Ludwig admired the sight, Idnia rushed forward and took a throwing stance.
Crack—!
Her muscles and ligaments screamed under the strain.
The black iron staff endured the force.
At this point, it felt more like a launcher for throwing a spear.
With her massive Tyrant body and extended reach, Idnia hurled the shield with full power.
Whoooosh!
The shield tore through the air, carrying tremendous speed and force.
Magram casually raised an arm to block—only to have it severed, the disc striking his head.
Boom!
An explosion erupted, scattering the flames that formed Magram’s body in all directions.
Good! I should rush in and finish him off— huh?!
As Idnia charged in for a follow-up attack, she froze.
A stream of black flames flowing from Magram’s body shot toward her.
This isn’t normal fire. I can’t block this… I’ll die!
Making an instant decision, Idnia dispelled her Tyrant Aura and dropped flat onto the marble floor, sliding to evade.
No longer a giant Tyrant, but her slender form, she barely avoided the black flames.
“Excellent.”
Ludwig cast a spell, blocking the scattered black flames.
Otherwise, the entire Necromancy Research Wing would have burned down.
So he could have protected me… and chose not to.
Realizing Ludwig had deliberately observed instead of intervening, Idnia cursed inwardly.
As a result, now completely defenseless after releasing her Tyrant form, she slid right into the middle of Magram and Sadia as they were about to clash.
“Pfft—hahaha! Is this real? Magram? You got hit by a low-level spell?”
Sadia burst into laughter.
“Be quiet, Sadia. That wasn’t just a low-level spell—”
Turning toward the source of the attack, Magram saw Idnia sliding in.
“Student Idnia!”
“Haha! Incredible! Student Idnia!”
Sadia praised her enthusiastically.
“Lady Idnia?!”
Rudolf and Mari were shocked.
Did that mean that attack just now was hers?
“Well done, Idnia! Take the students and run. I’ll deal with that bastard.”
Blue tattoos surfaced across Sadia’s body.
Massive spheres of light formed in her hands, and even her tail created another, forming three terrifying orbs of magic.
Her horns grew larger, crackling with lightning.
The power gathering was enough to annihilate the entire area.
“Haha. What an amusing joke. Go ahead and try!”
Magram’s flaming body swelled, eyes forming within the black flames.
This is bad! When whales fight, the shrimp gets crushed! Even if I run, where would I go? This whole place is about to be destroyed!
Idnia tried to raise her Tyrant Aura again.
But then—
Clap.
“That’s enough.”
Ludwig stepped between them, holding an umbrella indoors.
He pointed the umbrella at Magram and his staff at Sadia.
“Headmaster?!”
“Headmaster?!”
The two, who had been on the verge of a life-or-death battle, immediately withdrew their power in shock.
“Magram. You’ve shown something unfit for students to see. One penalty point.”
“…Can I pay a fine instead?”
“2000 shillings.”
One penalty point equaled 2000 shillings.
An enormous sum.
Even high nobles would hesitate, yet Magram only sighed.
“Thank you for your leniency.”
“Wait. I was trying to protect the students. Shouldn’t I be praised instead?”
“Hard to believe when you say that with murderous intent in your eyes. But taking that into account, I won’t penalize you.
I get that you want to kill royals and high nobles whenever you get the chance, but try to restrain yourself.”
“Isn’t that a bit harsh? I was simply handling an incident from my class.”
“Right. Taking responsibility, were you? Well done, Sadia. Quite unlike you.”
The headmaster then turned to Rudolf.
“Student Rudolf. The magic in your body has already been removed.”
“What? The magic placed on me?”
“Yes. It was a curse that allowed the Emperor to spy on the academy through you and, if necessary, trigger a dimensional rupture by sending you into a rampage—one that would destroy even its host.
Since no one would thoroughly examine the Crown Prince’s body, it was used as a tool for surveillance and control.
The problem was that Student Mari’s mana exceeded expectations.
Her power disrupted the magic structure, triggering its self-destruct mechanism.”
As Ludwig explained, Rudolf collapsed weakly.
“So… my father was willing to let me die. Then perhaps… it would have been better if I had never been born.”
Ludwig responded coldly, closing his umbrella and resting it like a cane.
“I understand you’re an emotional adolescent, but I didn’t come here to listen to whining. If you have any thinking ability, consider this.
If you die now, you’ll only be doing Franz a favor.”
Idnia inwardly cursed at Ludwig’s harsh words.
“If you self-destruct in despair, to Franz it’ll be no more meaningful than an assassin he hired committing suicide after failing a mission.
In fact, it would be convenient.
The academy would be burdened with responsibility for your death.
Franz would use it to pressure us and simply create a new heir to replace you.
Is that what you want?
To offer your life, soul, and purpose to a father who doesn’t love you?
Even then, Franz will never love you.
In fact, someone like Franz is incapable of loving anyone.”
“But… I’m not even sure I’m a complete human. In my memories…”
“As for that…”
Ludwig covered his face, revealing only his right eye, glowing crimson.
The sight gripped everyone’s hearts.
“By nature, I can see through most of your kinds at a glance. There are many students in this academy who are not entirely human.”
Idnia flinched.
As expected, Ludwig had long known she was a half-demon.
“But it doesn’t matter to me. I don’t care what race you are.
What defines you isn’t your species, but your thoughts and your spirit.
All I do is teach magic and send you out as mages worthy of Dunais Academy.”
Unable to watch further, Sadia stepped in.
“Alright, alright. Headmaster, that’s a bit much.
Hey, you emotional boy.
Look at how many girls came to protect you. Instead of exhausting yourself trying to please a father who doesn’t love you, cherish the people who do and live your life giving your father the middle finger. Sounds more fun, doesn’t it?”
Even Sadia tried to comfort him after Ludwig’s harsh words.
“But seriously, how did Student Idnia even get here? Was that shield just now yours? Haha, a freshman landing a hit on Magram.”
“Well, that is….”
As Idnia brushed off her clothes and looked at Mari and Rudolf, surprisingly, Magram stepped forward.
“That was impressive. That strike far surpassed the level of a low-tier spell. Thanks to you, I’ve lost face.”
Magram, who had just been struck, now stood perfectly fine—having returned to a male form.
“Normally I’d reward you generously, but let’s offset it with your violation of leaving the dorm at night. Student Idnia, we professors would prefer not to spread news of ourselves arguing. Do you understand?”
“Ah, yes. Of course. I understand completely.”
Having nearly died from the backlash of that attack, Idnia had no intention of spreading it either.
If Magram and Sadia had clashed, this entire area would have been devastated, possibly killing sleeping students.
No need to tell them they nearly brushed death.
The academy wouldn’t reveal it anyway, so she couldn’t earn shop points from it.
“Then instead of a reward, may I ask a question?”
“Yes, if it’s something I can answer.”
“That melody—where did you hear it?”
“…Pardon?”
Idnia hummed the title theme of Awakening Girl Concert.
This is embarrassing… everyone’s watching.
Despite her embarrassment, she continued, while everyone watched intently.
“Oh, that? Why do you ask?”
“It sounds familiar. I feel like I’ve heard it somewhere too.”
“Oh?”
Magram’s gaze sharpened, as if probing whether she spoke truth or lies.
Maybe I shouldn’t have asked… this just makes me suspicious too.
Just as Idnia felt pressured, Ludwig stepped in, blocking Magram’s view with his umbrella.
“That’s enough staring. You’re making the young lady uncomfortable.”
“Haha. Isn’t that a bit harsh, Headmaster? I was only looking. Very well. Then take this.”
Magram reached into his lamp as if rummaging through a pocket and pulled something out.
It was a small music box.
“…What?”
Idnia recognized it immediately.
It was merchandise from a fast-food collaboration event with Awakening Girl Concert.
A small, cheaply made music box branded with the fast-food logo and the game’s title.
Yet it carried the unmistakable sensibility of Earth—its precision printing something unimaginable in this world.
“This is an object from another dimension, found in a dungeon.”
When Magram wound it, the title theme of Awakening Girl Concert played.
Just a short melody—but the moment Idnia heard it, an indescribable wave of longing overwhelmed her.
“Wow… something this small is a music box?”
Mari marveled at it.
“Instead of a reward, I’ll give this to you, Student Idnia. It should make a fine keepsake. Something to remind you of… memories.”
“…What?”
Startled by his meaningful words, Idnia accepted the music box.
Magram handed it over—and winked.