CHAPTER 91
CHAPTER 91
A Demon Envoy?
“Do you happen to know Noras Street?
It’s a place packed with private magic academies and legal prep institutes. Many examinees from the provinces gather there, all aiming to enter Dunais Academy. Naturally, shops and entertainment venues catering to them have sprung up in the area.”
“The team called the Dunais Civil Service Exam Squad was formed there by those examinees as a hobby.”
“You could say they’re people who grind their teeth at the mere mention of Dunais Academy.”
For ordinary commoners in Dunais, there were only a few paths to success: excel in business, become an imperial official, run a successful enterprise, or become an adventurer.
Among these, the path of becoming an imperial official was practically monopolized by graduates of Dunais Academy.
Lower-level bureaucratic positions were distributed through civil service exams, but even those were fiercely competitive.
Given that reality, the emotions those examinees felt toward Dunais Academy students couldn’t simply be described as “jealousy.”
‘Wait… do civil service exam candidates even have time to play Wizard Ball?’
‘I get that it helps with magic training… but still, there should be limits.’
Everyone could already imagine that the match against the Dunais Civil Service Exam Squad would turn rough.
Vueremhyde evaluated their strength.
“The name caught my attention, so I’ve been keeping an eye on them.”
“The other players are nothing special, but last year their pitcher carried the team to a shutout victory.”
“They got eliminated in the Central Series right away, but in their division, they’re a team built entirely around pitching.”
“Their specialty… is this.”
He threw a ball.
It looked slow and unimpressive—but it was enchanted.
As it flew, it flickered—
Then suddenly burst into a blinding flash.
“Ugh?!”
“My eyes!”
In that instant of blindness, the ball passed cleanly through the strike zone.
“A Flash Ball. A basic trick pitch.”
“How would you counter it?”
An older freshman, Pacifier—formerly an adventurer—raised his hand.
“Flash spells are commonly used among adventurers.”
“If you use a light-filtering spell, you can block it.”
The light filter spell reduced incoming light beyond a certain threshold, protecting the optic nerves.
It had originally been developed in response to flash-based ambush tactics that had once become widespread in the Adventurers’ Guild.
Though slightly complex, it consumed very little mana, allowing even those who didn’t fully understand the spell to use it just by memorizing the incantation.
Even with inefficiencies from imperfect casting, its low mana cost made it widely usable.
As a result, the popularity of flash attacks had declined significantly.
“Correct. But he has another specialty.”
Vueremhyde threw another ball.
This time—
As it flew, it suddenly released a cloud of black, ink-like darkness.
“Huh?”
“A Shade Ball. Another basic trick pitch.”
“If you respond to the Flash Ball with a light filter, you’ll fall right into this trap.”
If one relied on a light filter without properly controlling it, their vision would already be dimmed—
Making them especially vulnerable to sudden darkness.
Thus, the opposing pitcher’s defining trait was his use of both light and darkness trick pitches.
“…This is surprisingly practical.”
Idnia was genuinely impressed.
At first, she had thought Wizard Ball was just a silly imitation of baseball—
But it was far more useful than expected.
Precision. Casting speed. Mana efficiency.
Without mastering all of these, victory was impossible.
It demanded creativity, technical refinement, and physical ability—
A true all-around mage sport.
Now she understood why the professors of Dunais Academy were so fond of it.
“Hm. Indeed. An excellent training method.”
“But in the end, they’re just failures who couldn’t get into the Academy, right?”
Karl scoffed.
“If we lose to people like that, it’d be a complete disgrace.”
Even Lorenzo nodded.
“I agree.”
Everyone steeled themselves—they could not lose.
However, Pacifier frowned.
“Even if we block the Flash Ball with a light filter, what about the Shade Ball?”
“It’s difficult to hit even without the light filter.”
“That’s…”
“No time for that now.”
“Didn’t you all realize lunch break is already over?”
“Prepare for your next class—and think about it meanwhile.”
They had spent so much time training and learning suction magic that they had lost track of time.
The afternoon classes continued—clearly adjusted for the upcoming match.
“We will now practice composite magic combining suction, mage hand, and telekinesis.”
Professor Deneuve turned a basic magic class into an advanced one instantly.
“Why use mage hand for remote suction?”
“First, you don’t have to inhale dust yourself.”
“Second, you can clean remotely—just empty the dust bag.”
“A very practical spell with many applications.”
This increased the fielders’ chances of catching balls remotely.
“And I will also teach you an illumination spell.”
“You already know basic lighting magic, but this version counters darkness magic.”
It consumed more mana—but could dispel magical darkness.
‘Even professors outside the Five Prisoners are interested in Wizard Ball.’
Even Baroness Vuillem joined in—
“Today’s mental training: The Chronicle of Joe Mekis, a warrior of Wizard Ball.”
It was clearly propaganda—
A heroic imperial player defeating cheating foreign teams.
Idnia found it unbearably cringeworthy—
But the other students loved it.
“Wow, that was amazing!”
“I used to think Wizard Ball was just bar brawls… but now I get it.”
“It really gets your blood pumping!”
“And our academy has a team now, right?”
“With the Crown Prince and nobles involved, it’ll be serious.”
“But the match is tomorrow… is that okay?”
“It’ll be fine. It’s all about magic anyway.”
“There’s no way Dunais students would lose.”
Everyone was confident.
Until—
That evening, during dinner—
“Rudolf of Zephyros, Idnia and Marie of Euros, Karl of Boreas, and Lorenzo of Notos—please report to the administrative office.”
A sudden summons.
From Vice Principal Deneuve.
“Idnia…?”
“…Let’s go. I’ve finished eating anyway.”
They headed out.
The administrative office stood at the entrance of the academy.
There, Deneuve and Headmaster Ludwig were waiting.
“You’re all here.”
“Earlier today, an unexpected guest arrived in the imperial capital, Dunais.”
“Unexpected?”
“Has His Holiness the Pope arrived?” Lorenzo asked.
“Demons have come—officially.”
“You are required to attend tomorrow’s imperial banquet.”
“…What?”
Everyone was stunned.
Even Idnia.
‘Demons… in the capital?’
‘This is…’
The Trinity Church regarded demons as absolute enemies of humanity.
Their teachings were heresy.
Their blessings—those of horrifying outer gods.
They were declared incompatible with human existence.
And yet—
Envoys of the demon race had arrived at the capital of the Holy Eldar Empire.
They even brought Albion Libra gold coins as tribute—
And proposed peace.
Emperor Franz accepted them and organized a banquet.
The noble students of Dunais Academy were invited.
Idnia adjusted her uniform.
She had no party dress—
But a formal uniform symbolizing status was suitable anywhere.
‘This is a Season 2 scenario… already?’
In the original game, villainess Idnia never left high society despite her family’s decline.
To maintain her status as the Crown Prince’s fiancée, she needed money—
And thus became entangled with underworld forces, including the Scarlet Pimpernel… and even demons.
But now—
She had distanced herself from society.
Reduced expenses.
Which meant—
Those forces had to find another approach.
‘That’s why the events are appearing out of order.’