Chapter 81
Chapter 81
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 81
Chapter Title: The Exchange Student Summoning the Storm
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"Please, catch the demon lurking in our academy! If you can drive out that witch at the same time, our academy's morale will surely rise, and we'll regain our former prestige!"
The vice principal's desperate plea prompted Ariana to accept the request, saying she would have done it anyway without being asked.
He handed them each a scroll and a set of clothes—the clothes being the academy uniform, though the scroll's purpose was less obvious.
"Since we don't know who the demon is, even you, Saintess and Holy Knight, need to blend in naturally. We've already informed the faculty that you're exchange students from the Holy Kingdom, so feel free to move about without worry."
"And this scroll?"
"It will change your appearances. No one must recognize you. To prevent the demon from fleeing, we've set it up that you're from the Holy Kingdom but haven't awakened your holy power yet, so you've come here to learn. Unless it's absolutely necessary, do not use holy power."
"Got it."
"Understood."
"Detailed personal info is here. Just review this."
Taking the paper from the vice principal, Is saw his new identity at the academy laid out in detail.
Name: Ace Adonis... It reminded him of his old street nickname from the slums.
A Holy Knight aspirant from the Holy Kingdom, still no different from an ordinary swordsman for now.
Appearance change would just require tearing the scroll.
When he tore it, blue magical energy sparkled and glowed before seeping into him.
-Wooong!
About three seconds later, the mana was fully absorbed.
The vice principal handed him a hand mirror just in time.
His light gray hair had turned black, and his blue eyes shifted to yellow.
'Feels like when I had that twist reveal.'
He'd originally been a black-haired Korean, but as time passed living as Is, black hair had started feeling out of place.
Absentmindedly fiddling with his now-black bangs, he noticed a blue flash from Ariana beside him.
Her transformed appearance was complete.
Her sacred silver hair had turned golden, like Rapunzel from a fairy tale, and her blue eyes, similar to his former ones, became green.
Just changing hair and eye color made her look less like the saintess Ariana and more like some open-hearted noble lady.
It was refreshingly different in every way.
"Wow."
He stared blankly at her, holding up the mirror to show her.
Ariana toyed with her newly golden hair.
'What a novel feeling.'
Just hair and eye color changed, yet she looked like a completely different person.
Ariana gazed at him intently with her green eyes.
"Hehe, it suits you well, Is."
"...Even with the changed appearance, you remain beautiful, Saintess."
They exchanged compliments.
The vice principal cautiously spoke up again.
"For now, attend classes with the students and investigate. I don't know why the principal won't expel that witch... but she's the prime suspect, so both of you will enter as first-years."
"Got it."
"Understood."
Afterward, the vice principal escorted them to the dorms, where Is and Ariana inevitably had to separate.
"The Papal Court approved this mission too. So don't worry about me, Is—just focus on rooting out the demon."
"...Understood."
Even with permission, going from always being together to this separation felt deeply unsettling.
Not because of separation anxiety on his part, but worry that Ariana might face danger again due to some unforeseen variable.
"Start classes tomorrow morning. We've briefed the faculty that you're exchange students, so there won't be issues."
With that, they spent the night in their respective dorms.
Their cover: close friends who were exchange students together.
Having gone through so many changes—from his past life, street days, to Holy Knight—adapting to this was a piece of cake.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ -Creak.
The door opened as the professor entered the classroom.
A middle-aged man with long hair tied back, yawning tiredly.
"Alright... We've got an exchange student from the Holy Kingdom joining us today. Unfortunately, they can't use holy power, so don't pressure them too much."
The professor muttered in a listless voice and tone, drawing interested reactions from the seated students.
"Exchange student? From the Holy Kingdom?"
"Damn, I heard girls from the Holy Kingdom all have huge tits. No way, right?"
"I'll pretend it was an accident and cop a feel."
"What the hell, you animals are so trashy."
"What? Which bitch— Gah! L-Lady Renezia..."
"Front-row boys, shut up."
"Yes, ma'am..."
"Leri, if you think he's kinda cute, crush him right away. Preemptive strike is key."
"Yes, Lady Renezia."
A space rife with curses, schemes, and vulgar talk.
The professor sighed and shook his head.
"Sigh... Exchange student, come on in."
He slumped into his chair and called out, prompting someone to step through the front door at his summons.
The exchange student's identity revealed.
"Huh?"
"A guy...?"
"...He's hot."
"Looks so innocent."
"...Leri, cancel the plan. Just stick him by my side."
"Milady? Honestly, he's not even on my level—"
"Are you out of your mind?"
Disappointment from the boys, admiration from the girls at the reveal of a male student.
The exchange student, Ace, cautiously waved to everyone.
Black hair, yellow eyes.
"Greetings, fellow students. I'm Ace from the Holy Kingdom. Nice to meet you."
He even finished with hands clasped in prayer.
Definitely a Holy Kingdom exchange student.
As the professor gestured for him to enter, questions poured from the students.
"How many centimeters?"
"Oppa, you're so handsome!"
"Follow me to the roof, asshole!"
"You look like a total loser!"
"Fight me!"
"From the Holy Kingdom? What a damn househusband!"
"Can't use holy power? Lame ass!"
Sexual harassment mixed in amid the torrent of insults and jeers.
But Ace, unfazed by the barrage of abuse, stood firm.
"I'm overwhelmed by all this attention from my classmates. The Goddess has truly blessed me with such wonderful peers."
His words chilled the atmosphere instantly.
Everyone was thrown off by the unexpected response—even the professor's eyes widened in surprise.
Ace looked at the professor with eyes questioning if something was wrong.
The professor cleared his throat, composing himself.
"Ahem, anyway, Ace. Your seat is..."
Scanning the room, the professor's gaze stopped at the back row, nearest the rear door.
"There. The seat next to Dreania Redfilian is empty."
A pair of horns protruding above red hair.
Small wings sprouting from her back.
She didn't look like an ordinary human, yet despite the new student, she was just slumped over her desk, sleeping.
Ace flinched upon seeing her.
"Typical Holy Kingdom reaction to horns. Dreania isn't a demon—she's a 'dragonkin'."
Dismissing it as commonplace, the professor urged him to sit quickly.
As Ace climbed the stairs toward her, the students whispered again.
"Man, he's screwed now."
"Dreania's the absolute worst."
"Sleeps all class but tops the grades, no luck and zero manners."
"How long you think Ace'll last?"
"Holy Kingdom stock, so good endurance—three months tops?"
"Exchange student, he'll bail after a month anyway."
The curses lessened, pitying opinions grew.
Dreania was the most dangerous figure in this classroom.
Ace reached the seat beside the dragonkin girl Dreania.
He pulled out the chair next to her.
"Eek."
"I can't watch."
The students shut their eyes and covered their ears.
At that moment, an explosion rocked Ace's spot.
-Boom!
Desk blasted away, chair shattered to bits.
Realizing the disaster had struck once, students looked to where Ace had been.
"Whoa..."
"She did it again..."
"He didn't die, right?"
"Half-dead maybe."
Ace still shrouded in smoke from the blast.
Students waited eagerly for it to clear, then Dreania's tail whipped it away.
"Mm..."
She stirred awake, sitting up.
The class fell silent in tension.
Dreania turned to her side and asked.
"Who the hell are you?"
As the smoke parted, Ace appeared unscathed and replied casually.
"Just an ordinary student from the Holy Kingdom."