Chapter 7
Chapter 7
The Empire’s Prisoner
“Th-That’s a teleportation gate?!”
“That’s incredible magic….”
Magic that moves through space is usually classified as grand magic.
Even being able to use just one spell classified as grand magic is enough to be called a great mage.
And yet, at Dunais Academy, even that shabby goblin-looking gatekeeper is using such grand magic?
Of course, in Gibles’s case, it wasn’t because he himself was a mage, but because the ‘Gatekeeper’s Lantern’ he carried was an artifact….
Still, the scholarly-looking boys and girls who had set their sights on magic were all astonished.
“They’re using a teleportation gate just to move to the school? Using grand magic just to move between buildings?”
“Now, it’s still too early to be surprised. Once you go inside, you’ll understand why Dunais Academy is the heart of magic.”
Under the guidance of the moving armor, each student received a brooch.
This brooch, enchanted with magic, served as each student’s ID and also functioned as an identification tag containing information such as their assigned dormitory and year.
One by one, those who received their identification entered the teleportation gate.
Then it was Idnia’s turn.
[Idnia Katze Betelgeuse. House Euros.]
The breastplate of the moving armor trembled as it made a sound and handed Idnia her student brooch.
As Idnia accepted it and stepped into the teleportation gate, a humid, salty scent suddenly stung her nose.
A plaza with a fountain shrouded in thick fog greeted her.
Four teleportation gates were open here, and students were continuously pouring in through them.
Around the plaza stood four large dormitory buildings.
Each dormitory bore the names Euros, Zephyros, Notos, and Boreas, and as if those wind names were not given lightly, they stood facing strong sea winds.
“Now then, choose your dormitory head! After that, we will begin room assignments.”
At those words, the students began to move busily.
Some of the sharper students had already instinctively realized something.
Being told to choose a dormitory head without any prior arrangement meant that the entrance ceremony was not yet over, and that the real hardship was only just beginning.
House Zephyros was quickly organized around Crown Prince Rudolf and the student representative, Isolde.
Crown Prince Rudolf volunteered to take the position of dormitory head.
“I am someone who must carry on the empire’s thousand-year legacy. If I cannot even handle the responsibility of managing a few students, I would not be fit for greater things.”
As soon as the first-year dormitory head of Zephyros was decided, the rankings on the magic board immediately changed.
Rudolf gained 2 merit points, bringing his total to 3 and placing him in the lead.
“Dormitory heads are granted 2 merit points simply for being selected first.”
As Baroness Willem explained the rules, the other dormitories also selected their heads, centered around high-ranking nobles.
The problem was House Euros.
“Uh, first of all, the person here with the best family background and the ability to lead everyone would be….”
Everyone’s gaze turned toward Idnia.
Idnia Katze Betelgeuse.
There was no one here who could claim a better lineage than hers.
A descendant of Yurik Katze, the Tyrant of the East. A prince-elector family that had even produced emperors of the Holy Eldar Empire, making them historically equal to the current imperial family.
The problem was that the Duchy of Betelgeuse had fallen.
Still, they say even a fallen noble house lasts for three generations, don’t they?
“Lady Betelgeuse. How about you take the role? If it’s you, everyone will accept it.”
A male student who looked as rigid as his expression suggested approached Idnia and recommended her for the dormitory head position.
With short hair and a sturdy build, and carrying both a magic staff and a sword at his waist, he appeared to be a talented student trained in both swordsmanship and magic.
“Who says everyone will accept it? Why are you stepping forward and speaking for everyone?”
“That’s right, that’s right.”
Other girls booed.
Then the girl who seemed to be leading them turned toward Marie of Astraea.
“Hey, saint candidate. Why don’t you become the dormitory head?”
A girl who looked like a wealthy young lady with red hair approached Marie of Astraea with a sly grin.
“Me? But….”
“You got demerit points, so you need to make up for them quickly, right? And don’t worry too much. I’ll help you.
Ah, I’m Sendia Aspinal. I do have a family name, but I’m originally a commoner from Betelgeuse. I’ve been granted permission to use the family crest, though.”
‘Sendia Aspinal….’
Idnia knew her well.
In the original game, she was nothing more than one of the lackeys of villainess Idnia… one of the henchmen Idnia used to drag around.
Though born a commoner, she was the daughter of a wealthy wool factory owner, accumulating wealth comparable to nobles and even earning permission to use a family crest, making her part of the gentry class.
Her family had opened department stores in the imperial capital, and their business was skyrocketing. As a result, they wielded considerable influence in high society.
They had exploited refugees created when the Duchy of Betelgeuse turned into a demonic realm, hiring them at dirt-cheap wages, far below market rates. And villainess Idnia had supported them using the legal authority of the noble class while extracting funds for her activities.
Since Idnia had abandoned the villainess route, she had no reason to meet her… but there was no way Sendia was encouraging Marie out of good intentions.
“No, I will volunteer.”
To protect Marie, Idnia stepped forward and declared that she would take the position of dormitory head.
“Eh?!”
“Lady Betelgeuse….”
“Please call me Idnia.
I volunteer to become the dormitory head of Euros. If anyone objects, step forward and explain.”
Idnia took on a slightly forceful tone.
‘In situations like this, if you try to be polite with everyone, it never ends. To wrap things up quickly, a bit of force is better.’
Sure enough, everyone seemed to accept it.
“Ah… well, for us….”
“If it’s Lady Betelgeuse, then….”
The other students seemed inwardly relieved that Idnia, from a prestigious family even if fallen, had volunteered.
But not everyone was satisfied.
‘I was hoping for some fun, and this fallen noble….’
Sendia, who had planned to toy with Marie, grew irritated as Idnia stepped in and ruined her plan.
Still, it wasn’t enough for her to step forward and openly object, so she stayed put and spoke sarcastically.
“Oh my… come to think of it, Lady Betelgeuse, you’re also a saint candidate, aren’t you? Is that why you’re interfering? Because you don’t want some commoner saint candidate to become dormitory head? Ah, of course, since I’m from Betelgeuse, I’ll naturally support you if you say the word. But if she were to lose her position as a saint candidate as well, our poor Miss Marie might soon be expelled, don’t you think?”
Rather than getting annoyed, Idnia found herself impressed.
‘Wow, how is she exactly the same as in the game?
Though surprisingly, she isn’t afraid of me right now. Instead, she’s trying to step on me.’
In the original game, Sendia feared Idnia and would overcompensate with excessive loyalty at even the slightest cue.
But now that Idnia had abandoned the villainess route and withdrawn, she must have seemed easy to deal with.
“Don’t worry. Me taking the role of first-year dormitory head of Euros means I intend to support everyone here. And as for being chosen as a saint candidate, I don’t personally see it as a competition. If the sacred blessing of a saint truly helps in dealing with demons, then wouldn’t it be better to have more saints?”
Idnia countered Sendia’s sarcasm.
“So, Miss Marie of Astraea. Don’t worry too much about demerit points.
By the end of a school year, the total accumulated demerit and merit points become enormous.
The way rankings are shifting over just 3 merit points today is simply a performance by the professors to establish discipline among students.”
“Eh?!”
“I-Is that so?”
“Yes. As you know, I am the daughter of the Duke of Betelgeuse, and I gathered various bits of information in advance from academy graduates. In that sense, I believe it would be best if I take the role of dormitory head and help my fellow students in Euros.”
With her refined way of speaking, Idnia captivated the students.
Everyone was already anxious, and as Idnia subtly displayed her status while taking responsibility in a way that didn’t feel unpleasant, they readily agreed.
Instead, Sendia, who had tried to subtly drive a wedge between Idnia and Marie, faced backlash.
“Why does she talk like that?”
“Ah, isn’t her family the one that sold off all their assets and ran away when the Duchy of Betelgeuse fell?”
“I heard they exploit refugees from the duchy and do shady things. Is that why?”
“I’ve heard rumors that the Aspinal company even deals with the criminal organization ‘Scarlet Pimpernel.’”
Someone began badmouthing Sendia from behind.
Hearing it, Idnia clicked her tongue.
‘How frightening. This academy. The moment you show even the slightest weakness, people start talking behind your back.’
Perhaps because so many high-born children who frequented high society were gathered here, they had already mastered one of its core skills: gossip.
In the end, as Sendia fell silent, Idnia was unanimously chosen as the dormitory head of Euros.
‘Tch, I originally planned to live quietly and ride along with the original protagonist, but now it looks like I’ll be the one carrying the protagonist. How did it end up like this?’
[First-year dormitory head of House Euros, Idnia Katze Betelgeuse….]
As the moving armor announced it, Idnia’s name appeared on the board.
By becoming dormitory head, she gained 2 merit points, tying with Isolde Polchen and the other dormitory heads.
Isolde, upon seeing the name, flinched in surprise.
“Idnia Katze Betelgeuse? Oh my. Isn’t that the infamous duke’s daughter who declared a broken engagement with my brother? Will this be alright? Brother? Won’t this create an uncomfortable situation between you two?”
“Well, the Duchy of Betelgeuse has complicated circumstances. She had understandable reasons for requesting the annulment, so the fault lies entirely with my inadequacy. Rather than this, I should go greet her. Ah, that’s right, Isolde. If it’s alright, shall I introduce you to her?”
“No. If someone who did not even catch your eye would notice someone as insignificant as me, how could that be? I am embarrassed. Since you must have much to discuss, please speak with her first, and introduce me afterward.”
Hearing Isolde’s words, Crown Prince Rudolf assumed she was simply shy and declined the introduction for now, and approached Idnia alone.
“Ah? Th-The Crown Prince is coming this way?!”
Marie of Astraea, the protagonist of the original game, seemed completely captivated by Crown Prince Rudolf, gazing at him in a daze as he approached.
“Ah… to think such a beautiful man exists in this world. He’s completely different from the people I’ve seen in the countryside. He’s like an angel….”
“……”
Watching Marie’s admiration, Idnia worried about the future.
It seemed Marie was completely a local country girl.
According to the setting, Marie of Astraea was a girl who received a divine oracle by chance in the countryside.
Having only seen pig herders her whole life, it was no wonder she lost her composure upon seeing a peerless beauty like Rudolf appear before her.
‘If this girl loses her senses, the world could be in trouble….’
Just as Idnia was thinking that—
A sudden fierce gust of wind blew, and something passed over their heads.
“Ah! Wh-What was that?!”
Everyone panicked and flailed, but Idnia clearly saw it.
A massive dragon with blue scales cut across the dormitory plaza at terrifying speed, then circled once and slowly descended toward the center.
“A-A dragon!”
“Th-Those still exist?!”
“What are you doing?! Run!”
Some of the panicked students drew their wands and cast spells.
Flaming arrows, ice projectiles, spheres of water, pure mana bolts—various spells shot toward the dragon, but…
A powerful force field erupted from the dragon’s body and shattered all the magic.
And then….
“Hm. I told you not to do advance studying, yet there are students who did. Using such low-level magic.”
The dragon’s form shifted, transforming into an elf boy about 150 centimeters tall.
“Professor Byuremhyde! What brings you to the entrance ceremony…?”
Vice Principal Deneuve was shocked.
And for good reason.
The lifelong professor standing before them was none other than one of the Empire’s Five Great Prisoners, the dragon Byuremhyde.