Chapter 106
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 106
Chapter Title: Demon Realm's Room?
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I stared at the door in the center of the arena.
Is that the Demon Realm's Room.
It was exactly as described in the original novel's setting.
Even though it looked like a shabby old door, it was one of the treasures of Meikahel University.
That thing, called the Gate to the Demon Realm, was originally a prison made to lock up vicious criminals.
Long ago, it was said that an unnamed mage, under the king's orders, spent his entire life connecting countless barriers to create it... but the truth was a bit different.
No matter what, no one would think that thing was a barrier made from Jörmungandrs shed skin.
The ancient demon beast Jörmungandr, said to be so massive it could swallow an entire country whole.
The prison was made using the enormous shed skin left behind by that guy, the Gate to the Demon Realm.
It was true that the mage spent his whole life making that door.
Because he had to inscribe massive spells onto the impossibly huge shed skin of Jörmungandr. People thought he was just a madman, and in a way, he was a great madman.
If he hadn't been making barriers, he might have gone down in history as a sage....
Anyway, the barrier made by that nameless madman had devolved into a teaching tool for students' classes.
For the students' safety, the monsters trapped inside were all low- to mid-level.
The students formed teams of ten and faced the monsters, while professors around them kept watch in case of emergencies.
That wasn't all. They were even allowed to use their staves.
As expected of a proper prestigious university, the school was clearly taking maximum care for the students' safety.
However, I couldn't relax.
Variables always existed.
Ever since I possessed Tristan's body, no one could predict how this world would unfold.
Moreover, I had a walking variable right with me.
Pretending to lean back in my chair, I gazed at the students in the arena.
More precisely, at the smallest and youngest-looking girl among them.
The little one's brimming with confidence today.
Helga, sitting beside me, muttered while looking at Wendy.
Just as she said, Wendy's small face radiated a fierce determination to settle things once and for all.
It was a stark contrast to her usual insecure demeanor.
Has she grown too.
Wendy, not intimidated at all among the noble children, was waiting for her turn.
Seeing her like that put my mind slightly at ease.
She was my death flag, capable of causing unpredictable variables.
All because of her trait Misfortune.
But beyond the Gate to the Demon Realm were just trash mobs. Even if Wendy's bad luck pitted her against a strong monster, it would be something like a Minotaur or Manticore at worst.
And that was an opponent a full team of this school's students could handle easily.
Plus, Myohail would be by her side, so it should be fine.
Still, was it just my imagination, or did Wendy's face look paler than usual today.
Grrrrooo!!
The group right in front of Wendy's was facing a monster.
The beast they encountered was an ugly green dwarfa goblin.
The goblins, the most common monsters from the Gate to the Demon Realm, came charging out a dozen at a time.
It was a decent number, but the students calmly exterminated them with magic.
Yes. Unless something special happened, Wendy would handle her monster just as easily.
As I watched their exam, Helga beside me opened her mouth with a scoff.
Heh heh. If I'd gone down there, I'd have torn them all apart.
Torn apart? She would've massacred them wildly.
You couldn't expect moderation from Helga, who'd been slaying monsters since her Aslan days.
She had no mercy in front of beasts.
Ah. Being students, they still don't get it. Goblins don't have thick skulls like orcs, so you can subdue them easily with a poking spell from your finger.
...That's not magic.
Come on, Count.
Helga shamelessly scooted closer and sat beside me, then lightly poked my shoulder with her finger.
Poke. This is my anti-goblin spell, Finger Gun. And it's revolutionaryno mana required.
If it doesn't use mana, it's not magic.
Her finger, twirling circles on my shoulder, felt oddly seductive.
Good thing I was sitting up high. Otherwise, someone might have seen.
How about it? My magic.
But Helga, smiling slyly, didn't seem to care about that at all.
Poke poke.... Heh heh.
She seemed to be enjoying the situation, lightly brushing my shoulder with her finger.
The moment her finger started sliding toward my chest, I finally spoke up.
Helga.
Yes?
Do you want punishment?
Yeees. I'm bored. Punish me, Count.
Helga whispered to me in a playful voice.
As she removed her eyepatch, her seductive face came into full view.
I averted my eyes from her and slowly nodded.
Is that so. You really want to be punished, then.
Yes! I do.
Then stand there quietly like before.
Yes! Grea Yes?
I spoke to her in a cold voice.
That's your punishment.
Ugh.... Yeees.
At my stern tone, Helga pouted and returned to her original spot.
Bang-!
With one student's final spell, the goblin pack was completely wiped out.
Good work. We'll score you considering the monster you faced might differ. Next group, please come forward.
As Ariel shouted, the students waiting in their chairs stood up.
Finally, it was the turn of Wendy's group.
Ready?
Yes.
Professor Ariel nodded.
Then, the male student with the lowest attendance number in the group approached the Gate to the Demon Realm.
Then, Group 7... we'll begin the exam.
Knock knock knock.
Just like Professor Ariel had done, he knocked on the door.
The door began to rumble.
Everyone, step back ten paces and prepare. The exam starts the moment it opens.
Yes.
Wendy swallowed hard as she backpedaled per Professor Ariel's instructions.
She had no idea what monster would come out of that door.
The orc Professor Ariel had shown as an example was a powerful beast.
None of the groups that went first had faced anything stronger than an orc.
Unless they were extremely unlucky, Wendy's group would get something manageable too.
No. It won't be that easy.
Wendy shook her head.
In times like these, it was best to assume the worst.
Luck always deserted her in desperate moments.
So, what monster would it be?
Harpy? Lizardman? Or maybe a gray wolf?
Something unexpected could come out.
It was very rare, but they said Manticores or Minotaurs were possible too.
Thud thud!
As the door's rumbling intensified, the students raised their staves.
Wendy gripped the staff she'd hastily bought at the school store tighter.
The rumbling wasn't stopping as expected.
Just how massive was the monster coming out.
The terrifying sounds from beyond the door had not only the exam-taking students but even the onlookers tense.
Thud....
After a few seconds like that.
The door's screaming finally stopped.
Now it was time for the monster beyond to emerge.
Wendy steadied her breath and aimed her staff at the door. But....
No matter how long they waited, the door showed no sign of opening.
The students, and even the watching professors, were baffled by the now completely silent door.
What?
Did we need to knock harder?
Something was wrong.
The Gate to the Demon Realm had gone silent.
Huh?
In that moment, Wendy spotted something on the door.
More precisely, an ominous aura leaking from the door's gap. It writhed like a snake before vanishing from her sight.
That's weird. Three knocks should open it.
Finally, Professor Ariel, unable to wait, approached the door to knock again.
Then, a low voice came from somewhere.
Professor Ariel! Get away from that door right now!
Huh? Who just said that?
By the time Wendy realized it was Myohail's voice, she knew something had gone wrong.
Baaaaang-!!!
Screeech?!
The door exploded with a roar.
Wooden shards from the door flew at Professor Ariel.
Rumble rumble....
Wh-what is it?!
A rumbling from the ground echoed from somewhere.
No one could pinpoint the source of the tremors shaking the arena.
As everyone froze at the unknown anomaly, Wendy spotted something strange again in her vision.
Run.
The ground beneath the door was sinking.
Wendy, who noticed it first, shouted to the students.
Run away!!
She yelled and tried to step out of the arena, but she couldn't.
Because that spot was empty air.
...!
Her vision flipped.
In that brief instant, the last thing Wendy saw was a massive serpent opening its maw from the sunken ground.
Dazed by the unrealistically enormous snake, she plummeted into the void of darkness.