A Terrifying and Sinister Scheme
"Welcome to our class, Chocolate!! As you can see, I'm a snake suin! Orochi! Shhh. Ephemera lady's helping out, so I'll tell ya!"
"...Be honest with me, is the top student a total tsundere?"
That girl has a subtle tendency to look out for me, doesn't she?
"The lady~ hates people who get cocky just relying on their talent!! And she can't stand it when someone with talent deceives others!! That's probably why she dislikes you?"
She sees it as deception for someone born a witch with innate talent from the moment of birth to just swing a sword around and act like that's all there is to it.
Orochi, in the same class as the top student, explained this with the snake heads on both his hands flicking their tongues.
"You're dead last in the entire department, but you work hard every day, right? You'll have to get used to the lady's pissy personality!"
"So she is pissy, huh?"
"And part of the problem's on you too, Chocolate."
"What problem?"
"Last exam, I got swept up and couldn't submit mine!"
"Sorry..."
Orochi laughed with a shhh while saying knowing that was enough, and advised that the top student hates nuisances who drag innocent students down with them.
I knew that already, so I reflected on it and tried to act more carefully... but since I never knew when an accident might happen, I decided just to hold back.
Like Grand Duke said, even a nightmare while sleeping could materialize and go on a rampage—what could I do about that?
"It's not just repeating a year you need to worry about; it's expulsion at this rate."
Why had I only been fretting over repeating? Was I naively thinking, like, since Mom didn't get expelled back in the day, I won't either?
If I kept being a nuisance to all the students, the academy might have no choice but to take extreme measures.
I couldn't even imagine what Mom would do if I got expelled and came crawling home.
But it was on me to always be cautious to avoid that kind of nuisance.
Come to think of it, maybe this anxiety and worry is why I can't use my powers properly?
I had zero hesitation with plants like mandrakes.
But in duel practices or student fights, the fear of what accident I might cause made the anxiety worse.
As I rubbed my chin, lost in thought, Orochi stretched a snake puppet and yanked my cheek.
"Isn't that overly cautious personality of yours the real issue?"
"...Huh? What's wrong with my personality?"
"Well, I heard the first-gen one's a personality-wrecked trash psychopath."
Your mom, but yeah, undeniable truth, Orochi stated flatly.
"Anyway, the lady's initial invitation was asking if you, the bottom of the whole school, could even be taught by her!"
"Initial...? Hmm... If the top student teaches me, my grades might actually go up?"
Just watching her study every day made me think she'd be amazing at teaching too.
Her notes I'd glimpsed were neatly summarized with highlights.
"And the second one! Revenge on you for flunking the third prince—from the 'Repeaters' Club' invitation!"
"Ah... The top student called me a nuisance to the prince too."
"Whaaat~ What the lady meant was, don't make her resent you for not being able to block your enrollment?"
Ah, so that's what she meant.
Yeah, the more nuisance I caused at the academy, the more students would complain to the third prince about why he couldn't stop me from enrolling.
"By the way, she sighed at the flunked prince that he got what he deserved for being incompetent."
"Th-the top student said she wouldn't teach him?"
"Said he could learn at the academy and scratched her back."
What? Was that about me?
The déjà vu story made me sigh deeply.
Anyway, the ones targeting me were professors and repeaters—both exhausting to deal with, right?
Academy history had no "special treatment for graduation," so no wonder the repeaters were pissed.
With limited spots even for grade promotions, repeaters were inevitable—such discrimination.
Even I'd go complain if I were them. I'd probably yell that I'm more urgent, right?
Plus, repeaters included third-years—would run into them every promotion.
Totally the worst.
"Even by second year, most third-year seniors who could help will have graduated... Repeating's inconvenient enough..."
I massaged my brow, stomach churning at the mere thought of that stressful future.
But what could I do? Still, dropping out and going home on my own feet was worse.
"I don't know much about repeaters, but you know there are teaching assistants helping professors? Ones who get tons of points, special treatment, and professor recommendations later!"
"Hmm... Yeah, something like that."
I'd been too busy studying, but vaguely remembered students helping professors.
Some went to professors after class instead of clubs or the library?
"Anyway! They first pushed you at the Divination professor as a meat shield to test reactions!"
"Reactions"—what do they think professors are?
Like shoving in a sacrifice to see how the beast reacts—why's that needed at an academy...?
"But whoa? She listens well and is docile? If it were first-gen, she'd look down and chop knees or gouge eyes—doesn't even rip out tongues when talked to? Maybe she's got a good personality?" That flow."
"...Th-that.... No, never mind. Keep going."
At that point, they'd be justified shoving in sacrifices to test.
I instantly got why the professor fled out the window when I enrolled.
"So the professors thought! Witches all have strong personalities, but this one's eager to learn? Maybe we can manipulate her better...?"
"Ah..."
Not just my enviable powers professors coveted, but unlike other witches, good personality and study drive—they got greedy.
So outwardly cooperating on "graduation," but professors scheming to keep me in the academy post-graduation.
Then I just graduate steadfastly without temptation?
...Professors wouldn't overlook that—stay sharp and attend academy properly.
"Anyway, for black magic, probably the Necromancy and Professor."
"...Won't the repeaters bully me sneakily?"
"From what repeaters say, seems they'd just come beat you up."
"Aha."
So only frontal assault macho men who don't know petty tricks.
Or maybe too dumb to repeat like me, lacking brains for nasty stuff.
"...But for a professor's plan, wasn't it too dangerous?"
"Yeah, mandrake crossed the line."
★★★
"Heh heh heh... As expected of Witchcraft! Mandrake doesn't faze her!"
Despite his extreme measure fizzling out pathetically, the boy cackling sinisterly in the corner wasn't disappointed—he hadn't expected success anyway.
Of course, it was that Witchcraft after all.
"Professor said keep causing incidents to scare her... Nothing as specialized in mental attacks as black magic!"
Butt-like jaw and 5:5 part hairstyle visible from afar.
This unordinary-looking boy was the academy commoner Multrenung.
Aspiring black mage working as TA for the necromancy professor, earning money and learning black magic.
He was doing what she ordered to impress her.
But excess passion turns to poison.
He thought he'd researched enough to be safe, but massively failed to scare Wiyu.
She looked like a pretty girl outwardly, but inside a boy—unavoidable.
"Next necromancy class, possess with evil spirit and make her sexy dance in front of everyone...!"
Then shame and embarrassment would make her bawl?
Then naturally take her to Necromancy professor as evil spirit's doing.
Flunk all other subjects to make her anxious about repeating, volunteer as TA 'successor'..!
Multrenung's nose rose at his own perfect plan.
But his black robe and proudly pinned necromancy TA badge on uniform backfired.
"Gah! As a commoner with nothing, wore armband to show off—damn!!"
"...I'm dumber than this guy and first-year dead last....?"
Shocked at losing to this blockhead, I was stunned.
"Damn! Was perfect—how'd she know I was culprit?!"
"Only black magic major in first-years is you?"
Orochi retorted dumbfounded—is that a real question?
Sad story that Necromancy prof made him TA since no other black magic majors; my eyes teared up.
How desperate was prof for other TAs to resort to this...?
"Being talented's a crime too..."
"Dead last saying that is ridiculous."
"Anyway, know you nearly hurt everyone bad? Self-control on reckless actions, please. So first, punch."
Punch for barbell plate value you made bite.
"No choice!! With my terrifying black magic, force possess and drag you to professor!!"
"You cool doing that casually?"
"Yeah, Wiyu looks AV-ready. In hentai world, defeat flag here."
Orochi spouted some scary crazy aside, but I raised fist first.
Hallway fire-breathing okay?
As I pondered briefly, Multrenung gathered black mana in hand and fired curse lightning.
Black magic major—no chant, curse as lightning bolts?
"Dumb but black magic easy to learn?!"
"Gloomy nasty personality's great affinity! Perfect match for witches?"
"Ooh, tempting..."
"Damn, should've persuaded first instead of attacking...!"
"With that IQ, you'd beat me who couldn't submit."
Multrenung conceded yeah to Orochi's cold analysis.
Why do I feel hurt alone while they chat?
"Witch but can't curse?"
"Uh... Red pen name write?"
Scribbled Multrenung's name on wall with red pen; Orochi eyed pitifully—like that'll kill?
Then he clutched chest and collapsed right after I finished writing.
"...He's dead?"
Befuddled instant heart attack death; I hurriedly gathered divinity in hands.
"Gaaah!! Murder's expulsion!! Don't die, my promotion stepping stone!!"
"Reviving dead's saint-level! Old hero Trust tried resurrecting saint with Lion Resurrection, caused world disaster—"
"Guhk."
"Phew, saved."
"Yeah, do whatever."
Good I learned CPR.
Chest compressions revived him; sighed relief, wiped cold sweat.
"Still anxious, used necromancy too."
"...You can't do necromancy, right?"
"Roughly summoned and shoved in—not soul?"
No fake like this fake.
Revived Multrenung and watching Orochi gawked at me.
Tried black magic suspecting; no black magic, divinity sparkled from his hand.
"Not necromancy—divine possession!!!"
"...Hehe, oops."
"Not 'oops' scale."
Red pen name kills—oops valid?
Orochi pitied Multrenung forcibly job-changed from black mage to divine cleric.
Between us three, awkwardly standing god summoned by divine possession.
"P-please!! Say evil god!! Betrayal god or something!!"
Even evil god allows black magic with divinity.
Clung to hope asking summoned god, but face said obvious.
"Forgotten old god, lowly position—God of Nurture."
"Gaaah!! My lifelong black magic training!!!"
Multrenung wailed as God of Nurture's priest.
"Bad deeds get punished..."
"Just kill him."
Punishment enough, I bolted with Orochi.
Honestly, no confidence handling aftermath!
★★★
"No, Necromancy Professor!! What'd you ask your TA?! Heard everything!"
"Sigh, I'm troubled too. Trusted her, but crude fanatic crap..."
Confessed flunking and stripping TA, but Divination prof said not that.
"Isn't 'graduation' the end?"
"Who blocking? Can attend post-graduation, right?"
World has unsolved mysteries.
Endless potential in delving research.
But time to reach unknown, not even fragments found—that's reality.
Amid that, witches with "make reality if willed" power?
Duty to use that force properly, even if die.
Reach goals others can't even with life—click!
No guarantee even betting all on truth!
"Even murdered by first-gen...! Passionate studying witch common?"
"...No way?"
Lightning bolt to Divination prof promising graduation in 3 years!!
Necromancy prof laughed—not just first-years targeting her.
From headmaster, countless profs covet that shining talent.
"Heh heh heh... Seems I flunked!! But abuse has price, Divination prof!!"
"Uwooo...! World Tree, you sleeping..!!"
While observing repeaters' "rage" at Wiyu Witchcraft.
Profs jumping as rivals too?
Divination prof gnashed at their pettiness.
Shoved her as meat shield, now hog gains...!!
"Then that price!! I'll bear and graduate her no matter what!!"
Divination prof roared mad, vowing any means.
.....And naturally.
Wiyu Witchcraft's will nowhere in profs' talk.
Ching ching~♪