Chapter 61
Chapter 61
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 61
Chapter Title: Hypnosis Ghost Joins the Protagonist's Party
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Seraph Academy Grand Hall.
The students murmured without knowing the reason for the assembly, but I knew.
The lighting dimmed, and the noisy voices gradually quieted.
A thousand students held their breath, and silence fell.
At the center of the podium stood Seraph Academy's headmaster—a frail old man from the stories who once wielded considerable power—and a professor handling the explanations.
"Students of Seraph Academy."
The headmaster's cavernous voice, booming despite his age and overly muscular build, echoed through the hall.
"First, take a look at this."
A massive aerial geological survey photo appeared on the giant screen behind him.
It showed a colossal rift, like a black maw gaping open, an endless void that hinted at unimaginable depths.
Scale comparisons with human figures in each angle gave a sense of its enormity.
"Professor Kenya, please explain."
"Yes. Focus on the center. This is an unprecedented massive cavern in the Herba Plateau Formation. Its structure resembles a vertical cave, but nothing like this scale has ever been seen."
The professor introduced as Kenya chattered on.
Geology professor, right?
"Its depth is so great that we haven't even confirmed the bottom yet, and as you might guess, it has developed its own unique ecosystem inside. That's right."
"This is demon territory."
Demon territory.
The moment those words dropped, the students' murmurs swelled.
Lienhua, standing beside me, looked up slightly from tapping away disinterestedly on her phone.
"Geologically, this kind of collapse can't be considered a natural phenomenon. Looking at the strata pressure, erosion patterns, and mana formation charts, it's unmistakable. We've reached our conclusion."
I can see the future.
After building suspense... they'll declare it just like this.
"This is an omen of the Demon King."
Once "Demon King" was uttered, even the murmurs ceased.
Demon King.
A word so faded from relevance. Honestly, plenty of students hearing it now would just think, Oh yeah, it was sealed away ages ago.
They probably see it as something from dusty history books.
The world had become so peaceful, so advanced...
The proof of graduating from Seraph Academy had become something like a medal, in a way.
The most honorable graduation badge, helpful for jobs and all sorts of things.
"Esteemed students."
The headmaster spoke again.
"This is not the Demon King's resurrection. However, researchers unanimously agree that unpredictable pattern changes are occurring in the seal even now."
"Thus, we've decided to treat this as a precursor to seal weakening and act accordingly."
That's true. The Demon King revives faster than expected.
And... there aren't many beings capable of opposing it.
Analyses suggest the Demon King possesses power that could regress human civilization by centuries, even if it revives right now.
"This brings to mind the founding ethos of our Seraph Academy. The words left by the previous Hero: 'Prepare for the darkness!'"
Prepare for the darkness.
His voice thundered through the grand hall with emphatic power.
"For you are the precious stars of Seraph Academy, bearing the most sacred destiny upon your backs."
"Hey, when's this gonna end?"
Lienhua whined beside me, looking annoyed.
Sigh. This is a turning point in the era, and this airhead...
"Now is the time to uphold the previous Hero's legacy! The academy will now establish a program to thoroughly explore that sector!"
"This year's Hero Party will earn glory and honor beyond comparison to any before."
───.
Time seemed to freeze.
Sudden demon territory, real combat like that—these kids don't know much about it. I haven't faced real combat myself either.
But depending on the route, humanity meets a bloody end.
As long as Rak stays alive with those eyes wide open, it won't come to that.
"Pig, what the hell is all this? I don't get it. Explain."
"They're throwing us into a dungeon sector."
Lienhua snorted at my explanation.
"The headmaster's lost his marbles. Why should I? I'm just gonna graduate. Right~?"
I wish it were that simple.
Rak's eyes were already gleaming. And the saintess heroine had probably prepared for a day like this.
This marks the start of Seraph Academy's true story.
An unfamiliar development for extras like us───.
A sigh escaped me.
"The Hero Party thing, that's for S-ranks, monsters among monsters at Seraph Academy. Has nothing to do with us."
Lienhua suddenly scrutinized my face and burst out laughing.
"No way, did you get in somewhere?"
"If I did? So what."
"A pig dreaming that big? Hilarious~~ Ahaha, doesn't know his place!"
She's asking for a spanking again.
"But you should drop it, right? Pig, you'll just die. Let someone else handle that stuff."
"Yeah, tell me about it."
What deep thoughts would delinquents have?
They probably just glance at news events like, Oh, that happened.
Never thinking it'd involve them.
But───.
The headmaster's probably thrilled that the rice-gobbling Hero candidates have found their purpose.
That purpose being to complete the Demon King seal, even at the cost of their lives.
That's the academy's founding purpose, so parental consents are all secured.
In emergencies, fight the Demon King.
Plus all sorts of other clauses, but in short.
We're being thrown into the most dangerous dungeon before the military.
All academy scoring shifts to Great Demon War standards.
In that rapidly changing world, Rak becomes the brightest star.
"Don't even think about it. It's hilarious~."
This girl talks like that but worries about me?
Well, a former nerd turned delinquent's chair becomes the Demon King slayer.
That could be a pretty heroic tale.
If I weren't the Hypnosis Ghost who turned all the delinquents into pussy slaves, that is.
"───Thus, here are tips on party composition. B-rankers and above get various benefits for scouting party members."
"Minimum four members───and on score usage───."
The grand hall briefing speech ended, and students naturally began discussing the shifted meta.
Not many would feel it yet.
But this is just the beginning.
Some were thrilled, "Boring lectures and theory classes are over!" but now it's real combat.
The next day, massive shipments of gear for students arrived, and gates allowed direct dungeon infiltration.
I don't know where this Herba whatever formation is, but academy's top magic teachers are busting their asses to connect straight to the dungeon.
Watching this flow, surprisingly few students think, "Shit, I might die."
"I got scouted by an S-rank?"
"Lucky───wish someone'd invite me too."
The whole academy—hell for loner nerds—kicked off "group formation."
Everyone fears being a leftover, so they desperately seek affiliation.
"I put Moro's name up!"
But...
Bad timing.
Rak appeared before me, grinning, and said that.
Let's party together.
"Sure."
In a way, I'm the most blessed guy in the academy...
Reserved by the future Hero.
But surprisingly, another scout came my way.
"Hey."
The black-haired busty delinquent, Diana, approached me.
"Yeah?"
"Wanna party with me?"
"What, wanna fuck?"
For a split second, I got that classic delinquent glare and shivered.
"Party talk! Party, you nerd. Seriously."
"Me, with you? Why?"
"That's my line."
I really don't get it.
Why party with me? Diana suddenly wanna be a Hero? No way.
The black-haired busty delinquent scratched her head awkwardly.
"You're strong. Protect me."
"......"
"Hey, manage your face? Asshole."
"Would you wanna party with a delinquent?"
"Hey! I got plenty of popularity too, y'know? Turned down A-rank seniors to come to you."
A-ranks after Diana? Girl-chasing motive?
Not everyone wants to be in a Hero Party.
Some might use it as an excuse to cozy up to girls.
But Diana doesn't seem the type to join random crowds.
She picked me.
"Duh. Got a fuckbuddy like me, why chase dudes?"
"Ugh......"
Diana looked down shyly.
"I... I'm only doing this with you 'cause of that hypnosis making me your fuckbuddy. So... don't get the wrong idea!"
"Oh, right, that."
Of course, no such hypnosis exists.
Diana's just deluded.
"Fuckbuddy hypnosis... you're such a perv...... D-don't even think about saying let's fuck in a hallway like this."
"......"
How far does her delusion run?
Does she want to?
"So, you in or not?"
"Already recruited."
"Corelia? Lienhua?"
Why are all the names popping up delinquents?
Thinking about it, it's karma.
Diana's only known connections of mine are the delinquent crew.
"Nah. Neither. Why not beg Corelia? She's strong in her own right."
"So that's a no?"
"......"
Her pouty lips were kinda cute.
"Don't get jealous. No matter where I go, my fuckbuddy's Diana."
Diana's face flushed beet red as she averted her eyes and stammered.
"Wh-what──! Who said jealous? Academy's shameless criminal. Forcing a reluctant delinquent into fuckbuddy status and acting smug."
"Right? Can't refuse sex, huh?"
"Why ask...... Fuck. If you say let's fuck, I'll kill you!"
Kuh... yeah.
Her sharp delinquent barbs warm my heart.
"Fine! If no party, get lost. Don't show up in front of me again."
It's like a WWE vibe screaming "But don't actually leave." Heartwarming.
Diana realized her words lacked venom and snapped in frustration.
"Aargh! Fucking annoying. Look at that smug grin. Die in the dungeon. Your fancy skills won't work there!"
She stormed off huffily.
Hmm.
Didn't expect this feeling, but with all the drama, I'm relieved to be in the academy's top party.
Meanwhile, other extras must be pretty anxious.
A sight I'd never seen back when I dreamed of being the protagonist pre-possession.