Chapter 9 - The Saintess Loves Darkness (1)
The Saintess Loves Darkness (1)
Translator : Elizabeth
『Introduction to Dark Magic Basic Theory』.
As the name suggests, it is a class dealing with the ‘Darkness’ attribute, which is rare along with Light among magic attributes.
The content is, of course, incredibly abstruse, difficult, and unfamiliar.
That is because most mages, that is, nobles, usually inherit attributes engraved in their blood from their families,
And naturally, the attributes they inherit are mostly elemental attributes.
Specifically, there are four: 『Water, Fire, Earth, Wind』.
On the other hand, the Darkness attribute, along with the Light attribute, is classified as a different type, not an element.
Unlike the Light attribute, which is used by borrowing the miracle of God,
Darkness is magic that originates from the Demon Tribe, starting from its very root and history.
“……It will eventually be cancelled this year too. If I’m unlucky, I’ll barely avoid cancellation.”
That is why it is unpopular.
Beyond simply being unpopular,
Even though the ability to wield magic is the distinction of nobility,
Sometimes they receive treatment worse than commoners.
It is understandable,
Because the blood of the Demon Tribe flows in the veins of families that actually handle the Darkness attribute as a family secret technique.
“Phew…… I have no luck, truly no luck. To be born into a family like this, and to be forced to take charge of a class every year due to the Dean’s stubbornness.”
『Snake』, the professor in charge of the 『Introduction to Dark Magic Basic Theory』 class.
His full name is 『Snake the Nightshade』.
If one traces back the history of his family,
He himself knew very well that the blood of the Demon Tribe was mixed in his own.
‘Was the ancestor of my family…… said to be a mixed-blood of a Dark Elf and a human 500 years ago?’
The Nightshade family originated during the Great War 500 years ago.
At the edge of the North, the Forest of Night, which is the path to the Gate of the Demon Realm.
It was born when the Dark Elf lineage guarding that place mixed with a human noble.
Originally, considering the situation during the Great War, the Demon Tribe was treated as even more of an enemy than now.
However, it is said there was a Dark Elf companion who made great contributions alongside the Hero of that time in driving the Demon God back to the Demon Realm and sealing the gate at the end of the war.
And that Dark Elf and one of the companions fell for each other, engaging in a forbidden love that transcended species,
And eventually, it was recognized as one of the kingdom’s noble families—a fairy-tale-like story.
“Let’s see, the list of registered students is…… Done. Half or more will disappear after the orientation anyway, so there’s no need to check it already.”
That’s right.
It’s only as an old story like this that Academy students take an interest in Dark Magic.
When the actual proper class begins,
They realize that Dark Magic is vastly different from the magic they originally knew, and it is common for one after another to quit.
If they just quit without a word, they are the gentlemen.
However, some thorough students,
『Are you daring to tell me, who inherited the blood of XXX and so on and so forth, to learn the language of the Demon Tribe?』
Or,
『To teach magic that only demons would use in this sacred Academy, I cannot believe it……!』
Saying such things,
They not only complain to the professor’s office but, in severe cases, even submit petitions directly to the Dean’s office.
For reference, such things were repeated countless times every year at the start of the semester.
The reason the class opens every semester even though it gets cancelled every year,
Is perhaps because there are always eccentrics, even if only a handful, who exist every year beyond that.
“Well, knowing that would happen, I wrote the course description even more destructively this year so they wouldn't even come near it…… but still, eccentrics always exist.”
For reference, Professor Snake hoped for the cancellation of the class.
Sincerely, at that.
He just did as contracted with the Dean,
‘To be precise, I do have one magic graduate student who is my disciple for now, but…….’
……Anyway,
As a professor, he only needed to research Dark Magic properly on his own.
However, there was an instruction from the Dean to at least open a basic theory class related to Dark Magic every year.
Because of that, he opens this 『Introduction to Dark Magic Basic Theory』 every year like this,
And repeats the process of it being cancelled due to failing to meet the minimum number of students, reaching 0 students every time.
“Therefore, a weeding out will be necessary.”
Yes.
The goal is 0 final students.
To get it cancelled as soon as possible due to under-enrollment.
With this, Professor Snake’s teaching obligation for this year would end,
And he could focus entirely on research until the sun goes down.
So this year too, it would be nothing more than the meaningless orientation that happens every year—
—There was himself who had misjudged so.
This was exactly the event of a moment ago.
“…….”
—Twinkle! Twinkle!
“…….”
—Twinkle! Twinkle!
And currently.
“That…….”
When he entered the lecture room,
There was one strange existence that should absolutely not be seen in this class.
“……What brings the Saintess to my class?”
Yes.
There was a Saintess.
The Saintess of Light, an existence that can be called the pinnacle and the very embodiment of Light Magic.
Right here in the class teaching Dark Magic.
And to Professor Snake’s question, she answered like this without a shred of hesitation.
“Because I want to learn Dark Magic!!”
Words that a Saintess should absolutely never say.
Professor Snake maintained his gloomy expressionless face,
But inside, amidst a crucible of confusion and chaos greater than ever before,
He briefly scanned the surroundings.
“…….”
“…….”
“…….”
Thanks to the course description written even more destructively this year, there were fewer than ten students visible.
In other words, even those filtered eccentrics,
Seemed quite dumbfounded by the Saintess’s existence and her remark just now.
“…….”
That was the same for the professor, Snake.
What should I do about this?
No, just what is her intention and what is she thinking?
Did she come to punish him, who wields Dark Magic, as the Apostle of Light, the Saintess?
Or even if not to that extent,
Did she come to hold a heated debate right to his face, saying things like ‘before the name of the Goddess’ and so on?
Or is she truly interested in the Darkness attribute, just as she said a moment ago……?
……A Saintess?
Who wields Light Magic, which is the exact opposite of Darkness,
And although symbolic, is an existence practically acting as the Apostle of Light representing the Church next to the Pope?
As Professor Snake was simply at a loss for words like the other students,
“I heard it from a friend~! That Professor Snake majored in that rare Darkness attribute!”
Fortunately or unfortunately, the Saintess spoke again first.
“Darkness! Physically, it merely defines a state where light does not exist, but to think a concept that is practically no different from a null set can exist entirely as a single attribute……! Isn't that fact alone incredibly amazing~? Yes, yes?”
……For now, I understand that she has an interest.
“If so, Darkness is effectively Dark Matter! Dark Energy! Perhaps it might be the only means to experimentally reveal the existence of dark matter and dark energy?! That means, along with Light, which allows us to approach the secrets of the universe, the Darkness attribute is one of the only two attributes that can do so! Isn't it really, incredibly, truly amazing~? Yes, yes?”
……I understand that beyond having an interest, she is incredibly interested.
There were strange words mixed in the middle that even he, a major in Dark Magic, couldn't understand, but…….
Anyway.
“……What kind of fantasy you harbor about darkness is your freedom, Saintess, but anyway, I understand well that you didn't register for the class as a joke.”
If she comes out like this, there wasn't really anything Professor Snake could do.
Whether the opponent is a Saintess or whatever, he couldn't arbitrarily expel her from the class as long as it didn't violate school regulations.
‘Then the only way is to give a failing grade and make her exit quickly.’
—Shooosh.
Professor Snake familiarly unfolded dark mana.
Dark purple hands stretched out from his grasp,
—Thud, thud, thud.
The orientation materials that had been on the lectern just a moment ago were placed nicely on the students' desks.
“S-Silent Casting……! There was no magic circle either!”
“The rumor that silent casting is standard for the Darkness attribute unlike elements was true…….”
“……There was a reason why the human side had to be pushed back from the beginning during the Great War.”
“But these distributed materials…… Aren't they just blank papers……?”
At the spectacle that happened in an instant, the students couldn't hide their gazes of admiration and shock.
“Quiet.”
But to Professor Snake, it was nothing more than the reaction of students he was sick of seeing every orientation.
“First, before starting the orientation, I will lightly resolve your previous doubts.”
—Point.
Professor Snake pointed to a student.
It was the student who had said silent casting was standard for the Darkness attribute earlier.
“Regrettably, just because it is the Darkness attribute does not mean silent casting is standard. You will not have occasion to wield darkness like I did just now, and you probably never will, but I will show you anyway.”
—Slide.
Professor Snake slightly took off his right glove and showed the back of his hand to the students.
“Just now, instead of an incantation, I simply used the 『Imprint』 engraved on the back of this hand.”
Imprint.
At that expression, some students widened their eyes roundly as if they couldn't believe it.
“Yes, it is what you usually know as the 『Demon’s Imprint』. So correct that meager knowledge in your heads from now on. This is not proof of a demon, but proof of one who uses Dark Magic.”
Professor Snake put his glove back on, covering the imprint on the back of his hand, and continued speaking.
“For reference, an Imprint is a highly optimized Magic Language. A similar thing is the Runes used instead of magic circles in ancient magic.”
—Snap!
Professor Snake snapped his fingers and spoke at the same time.
“Therefore, it is correct to view Imprint as a magic of an independent system that developed while retaining the form of existing ancient runes, unlike modern magic circles which developed in the direction of implicitness.”
Following that,
—Voooom.
As if reacting to the sound of the finger snap just now.
Purple writing appeared instantly on the class materials where nothing had been written.
—Buzz, buzz!
“It-It’s a language I’ve seeing for the first time……?”
“It’s not Runes either. It looks similar, but the letters are totally…….”
“According to what he said earlier, isn't this that independent magic circle related to Imprints…… something like that?”
All the students looked into the materials asking What is this?,
But no one knew how to interpret it properly.
Then, among the few students, a student wearing glasses alone noticed something and shouted.
“W-Wait! Aren't these the characters written in the course description?!”
Even though it came to that, Professor Snake only let out a short scoff inwardly.
‘In 10 years, following last year, is this the second time?’
Still, this level isn't bad.
So he has no luck.
Because last year, there was a student who noticed this similarly, and by the end of the semester, combined with that student's stubbornness, he eventually ended up accepting them as a magic graduate student.
But he declines a second time.
“As the student who just noticed said, what is written in the course description is a hint. It is the ‘Oath of Mana’, which anyone who is a noble and a mage would have memorized, rewritten in Imprint Language.”
And the material distributed was something like a question paper written in the same Imprint Language.
In other words, what Snake wanted to say to the students as a professor was as follows.
“Solve the problems. There are a total of five questions. For reference, there is no relative evaluation.”
It was something he said every year.
But at least when saying these words, a little color returned to the gloomy face of Professor Snake.
“It is 10 points out of 10, and know that anything 5 points or below is an immediate failure for everyone due to lack of qualification right on the spot.”
Immediately after those words, although the number of students was few, wailing sounds were heard here and there.
Giving up and resignation, and beyond that, even resentment and anger at the absurdity.
But that sound was the very firecracker that made Professor Snake happy, at least a little, in this boring-as-hell class every year.
It was understandable,
Because the louder that wailing sound, the sooner the cancellation due to under-enrollment would be pulled forward.
Yes, certainly—
“Done~!”
—It was supposed to be so.
“Professor, Professor~!”
From the very front seat, the Saintess who was listening to the Dark Magic class more attentively than anyone else.
Louise moved her feet busily dododo,
“……?”
Blocking the path of Professor Snake, who intended to leave the meaningless lecture room until the class time was over.
“Here you go~!”
She held out the paper with both hands, going Ta-da~!
Her brightly smiling face was even shining a halo on its own as if proud.
“Ugh…….”
Not metaphorically, but truly with sparkling light.
“……Saintess, what is this now?”
Professor Snake asked, frowning his eyes because it was dazzling for no reason.
Asking what the meaning of this was right now.
Because until this point,
He hadn't anticipated it in the slightest.
“Hm? What do you mean~ Since I solved it all, grade it please!”
“……What did you say?”
That she would solve all those problems already.
Not anyone else, but that very Saintess.
And that too—
“Ah, and considering you said there were a total of five questions, there was one more hidden question in a format similar to an anagram~ If the hidden question is worth 5 points and the rest are 1 point each, eventually if you don’t find and solve the hidden one, it’s an unconditional failure with 5 points or less, isn't it~?”
—With a perfect score of 10 out of 10.
“Fufu, how mean of you~♬”
For reference, it was the first time this had happened in his 10 years of service.
“…….”
Snake accepted the paper without a word for now.
His hand doing so trembled minutely.
Still, with a mind of ‘no way’, he first checked the problems the Saintess solved and her answers.
And,
Soon, not long after,
This time not inwardly, but outwardly, really letting out a bitter smirk pishik,
Snake muttered shortly.
“……I’m doomed.”
It was the moment the beautiful word ‘Cancellation’ in his head was arbitrarily erased by the light.