Chapter 9
Chapter 9
Enter the Dragon
“There’s someone among us who did advance studying and didn’t admit it! We should find that person and punish them! Right?! Even now, they’re pretending they don’t know magic to avoid demerit points and shifting the responsibility onto us—shouldn’t finding them be the priority?!”
The moment Sendia realized Idnia had no intention of pairing her with Christian Dupont, she immediately changed tactics and began stirring up the crowd.
‘As expected of someone who used to serve a villainess. Quite the schemer. How can a person be so petty and shallow?’
Idnia saw through Sendia’s ploy and inwardly admired it. Even so, the incitement was effective.
“That’s right! Who do you think caused us to end up like this?!”
“We have to find them!”
The students were swayed.
Sendia, who had some influence in high society, had people backing her up, and those already dissatisfied with the situation quickly joined in.
It was practically turning into a witch hunt.
Once things reached this point, those who had been keeping quiet were even less likely to step forward voluntarily.
‘This is bad. We need to get back to the dorm before sunset, and they’re talking about hunting down those who studied in advance? None of them have life experience, so they’re getting manipulated by someone like her. Though it looks like she already had a few instigators from the start.’
Idnia realized that if she didn’t step in, the students of House Euros would collapse on their own.
It was her turn.
“Everyone, please calm down for a moment. If someone who learned magic steps forward now, they’ll end up receiving a heavy penalty of 5 demerit points.”
“Well, that’s their own fault.”
“Exactly.”
The students nodded, still resentful toward those who had lied.
“No. Think about it. The worst-case scenario for us is that such a person keeps pretending to be an ordinary student to avoid those 5 demerit points, and casualties occur as a result.”
Idnia deliberately brought up the worst possibility.
The students hesitated, clearly not having considered that far.
“Uh… well….”
“Would someone really go that far?”
From Idnia’s perspective, someone with life experience, the answer was yes.
People could sacrifice others for their own benefit.
But there was no need to crush these young students with that harsh truth.
“So if someone does end up using magic, I would rather praise them. I would commend them for protecting themselves and their fellow students, even at the cost of receiving demerit points.”
Idnia spoke with a graceful smile.
“It may have started as a trivial lie. Anyone can tell such a lie, can’t they?
Like studying hard until the night before an exam, then saying you didn’t study at all.
I’m sure all of you have told lies like that before.”
To pass the academy entrance exam, basic education was essential. These were all students who had already gone through that process, so they couldn’t deny her words.
“When you think about it, it’s unreasonable to impose such a harsh punishment over something so trivial. The one at fault isn’t the student, but Professor Byuremhyde, who is using excessive punishment to toy with us. Trying to hunt down that person will only please him.
In fact, even if there’s no one else who studied in advance, he could be lying just to plant seeds of discord among us. Haven’t any of you considered that possibility?”
The students were impressed by Idnia’s words.
Even if they didn’t fully agree, they recognized how mature and composed she was in handling the situation.
‘As expected of someone from a prestigious lineage.’
‘So this is Idnia Katze Betelgeuse. She has true dignity.’
‘A saint candidate indeed… she’s incredible.’
Even those who didn’t agree with forgiving the liar were moved by her depth, her compassion, and her understanding.
The agitation died down, and the students cautiously began focusing on forming teams.
‘Good. That settles things for now.
This kind of atmosphere will make it easier for those hiding their advance studying to use magic. Would they step forward easily if they knew they’d be condemned by everyone?’
For Idnia, it was better to create a situation where individuals could use magic, even if it meant taking demerit points.
‘I can’t use magic, after all. I’ll struggle in academics later, and those who studied in advance will naturally have better grades. It’s best if they rack up demerit points here. Come on, hurry up and use magic and get penalized. Please.’
Unaware of her true intentions, the ordinary students were simply moved by Idnia’s maturity, generosity, and kindness.
But then—
Crack!
“Aaah!”
“M-monster!”
“No!”
Screams erupted from the forest.
Students from other dormitories who had entered earlier encountered undead and began screaming. Some even ran back to the starting point.
“Aah! I-I’m staying here!”
“Why should we go?!”
“This is ridiculous! How are we supposed to fight undead without advance studying?!”
“If we studied, we get penalized, and if we didn’t, we’re told to push through undead monsters?!”
“That’s right! This is unfair! A scam!”
The students vented their frustration at Byuremhyde’s unreasonable demands.
“Uh… should we just stay here too?”
“Maybe.”
“We don’t have to follow something this ridiculous….”
[Ah, I see. If you remain at the starting point, then anyone who fails to return to the dormitory by sunset will receive 2 demerit points each. Oh ho. So if someone studied in advance but pretends they didn’t, they can settle for 2 points instead of 5. And they can even drag others down with them. Much better than taking 5 points alone, wouldn’t you say?
At this point, shouldn’t even the dullest among you begin to question the motives of those inciting you?]
Watching the students hesitate, Byuremhyde began sowing discord.
Having been trapped in the academy for ages, tormenting students was his greatest amusement.
If they gave up without even trying, it wouldn’t be fun.
But despite his provocation, the students, terrified of the undead, still refused to reenter the forest.
[No, no, don’t do that. Here, like this…]
As if flustered, Byuremhyde suddenly illuminated the forest.
Numerous magical lanterns lit up on their own, revealing paths through the woods.
Roughly five routes became visible.
[If it’s too dark to walk, I’ll light the way for you.
Now, what are you waiting for?
Must I remind you that if you don’t move quickly, you will all receive demerits?
And don’t forget, the punishment for accumulating 5 demerit points is far worse than this!]
But his reaction only backfired.
“Seeing the professor so desperate….”
“Maybe getting 2 demerits each is actually the winning move.”
“Yeah….”
The students began to justify staying put, even enjoying the fact that Byuremhyde seemed unsettled.
“Tch. Their foolishness knows no bounds.”
Byuremhyde clicked his tongue in irritation.
“In that case, perhaps I should simply use the excuse that too many students are gathered at the starting point and strengthen the undead before sending them in?”
“Stop it, Professor Byuremhyde. If you do that, there will be casualties. You know that the moment casualties occur, you will immediately receive demerits.”
Vice Principal Deneuve threatened him with demerits.
Demerits were feared even by the students of Dunais Academy, but for one of the Empire’s Five Great Prisoners, they were even more dreadful.
His sentence would be extended.
He was already forced to serve as a professor against his will—having that term extended was the worst outcome.
That was precisely why the contract existed.
“Ah, I see. There’s no need for me to get worked up. If they want to take demerits themselves….
But with such pitiful creatures, can they really stand against the next Demon King? Especially now that the Grand Duke of Betelgeuse has become a wreck?”
Byuremhyde clicked his tongue as he watched the students give up.
“Pathetic creatures like these… even if I teach them, they’ll just end up as fodder for the demons—hm?”
Then something unexpected happened.
Someone began to change the atmosphere among the students.
“Idnia Katze Betelgeuse….”
Among the faculty, Baroness Willem recognized her and ground her teeth.
It seemed she harbored ill feelings toward Idnia.
“Well, regardless….”
Byuremhyde licked his lips.
“Among these worm-like students, there is at least one with some spirit.”
Idnia knew the future of this world.
A foresight she gained through the game Awakening Girl Concerto.
Powerful demons would continue to invade the world…
And unimaginable disasters would follow one after another.
There was only one way to stop it.
To nurture the saint and the talented students of the academy, and to use the academy’s merit and demerit system…
To master the ultimate magic possessed by the Empire’s Five Great Prisoners.
That was the standard path to achieving the highest results in Awakening Girl Concerto.
And yet, the students were already collapsing at the very first hurdle.
“Our House Euros will take a different approach.”
As Idnia stepped forward, students from other dormitories were startled.
“Lady Idnia Katze Betelgeuse, this is something we should handle together.”
“Don’t tell me you’re trying to break through selfishly for merit points?”
“That would just pit us against each other… we’d be letting those professors toy with us over a few merit and demerit points.”
“Exactly!”
Many opposed Idnia’s suggestion.
Normally, a duke’s daughter from a prince-elector family would be untouchable, but Idnia had a terrible reputation as the eccentric noble who had kicked the Crown Prince in public.
Few trusted her words.
‘They’re united now because it’s easy, but the moment they get punished with demerits, they’ll turn on each other.’
Idnia felt frustrated.
Even without the foresight from the game, the saint’s oracle had already warned them.
A new Demon King would soon rise and bring the end of the era.
They couldn’t afford to just sit here.
More importantly, their current approach would inevitably lead to betrayal.
Did they think the professors would just sit back?
Once demerits led to real punishment, it would become every man for himself.
Someone would inevitably betray the group for rewards.
And when that happened, the fragile unity between the students would collapse like a sandcastle before a wave.
After that, cooperation would become impossible.
They would scatter and regroup repeatedly under the professors’ manipulation.
From Byuremhyde’s perspective, this “strike” was perfect—it would earn them demerits and make them easier to control in the future.
“Of course, your argument has merit. But if we do that, doesn’t it defeat the purpose of paying such high tuition to attend this academy? So I propose a different method.”
“What kind?”
“Teams who have studied magic in advance will take the lead and open the path, and the other students will follow behind them.”
“What?”
Until now, teams had been formed like this:
One elite student who could use magic and fight monsters…
And two support students relying on that elite.
But those teams had all fled in fear of the undead.
Idnia proposed the opposite—forming elite-only teams to clear the path so the rest could follow safely.
‘That woman… when I suggested teaming up earlier, she stopped me.’
Sendia Aspinal fumed at Idnia’s words.
She remembered how Idnia had prevented her from teaming up with Christian Dupont, saying they were both magic users.
Of course, Sendia had only wanted to rely on him, not to lead others.
But now Idnia was suggesting grouping all magic users together.
‘Tch… I can’t oppose her in this atmosphere. But just you wait, Idnia Katze Betelgeuse. I won’t forget this.’
Small-minded people hold grudges over the smallest things.
[Wait a moment!]
At that moment, Byuremhyde, who had been listening to the students’ discussion, stepped forward.