Damn Academy

256 – In the Master’s Embrace (4)

The Fourth Magic Tower, towering in the heart of the imperial capital, was nothing short of the epitome of luxury, both in its exterior and interior design.

Golden tiles, chandeliers adorned with crystals and jewels. Luxurious wooden furniture crafted from rare species of trees that were hundreds of years old.

Even the high-ranking nobles of the empire would be wide-eyed at such opulence, but Enoch showed no particular reaction. He had grown so accustomed to it that it was no different from any other magic tower to him now.

Enoch closed his eyes tightly for a moment, lost in thought. Soon, he knocked on the door of the tower master’s office.

A brief silence. Then, the door opened smoothly, even though no one had touched the handle.

Enoch walked in with steady steps and spoke.

“You called for me.”

The tower master, Katrina, spoke without turning her body, seated on a sofa facing away in the center of the office.

“Did your outing with the princess go well?”

She was engrossed in trimming her red-painted nails, not even glancing at Enoch.

“The escort mission was successfully completed. There was also significant progress in my relationship with the princess. Is that why you called me?”

“Partly for that… and also to tell you a few things. How are you adapting to the holy sword?”

“As I mentioned before. If it was such a trivial question, you could have just sent Stitch.”

She blew the nail dust away with her mouth and continued her grooming. Then, she spoke nonchalantly.

“I have a responsibility to guide and supervise your growth. I have to be mindful of the Senate too.”

It was a phrase Katrina always used when she wanted to exploit Enoch. She was nominally Enoch’s mentor, but she had taught him directly only a handful of times. Their relationship was purely one of exploitation and being exploited.

“What a waste of time.”

“Is your memory starting to fade? It was I who brought you to the order and persuaded them to let you wield the holy sword. The power, fame, and achievements you have, you wouldn’t have gotten them without me. Remember that.”

“Yes, I am well aware. But the holy sword would have come into my hands one way or another.”

“Ah, I see. There were other paths, but why did fate guide me through this one?”

“….”

Katrina suddenly burst into laughter.

“Puhaha, relax your face. Why so serious? Afraid I might ask you to do something unreasonable?”

To Enoch, even that appearance seemed vicious and malicious.

“I just wanted to remind you of our contract. Do I look like some kind of blackmailer?”

“What do you want?”

“Nothing. I just thought good news should be shared.”

A white hand emerged from the turned-back sofa, pointing to a distant table. On that table lay scrolls.

“What is that?”

“The downfall of the disgusting woman we’ve been dreaming of.”

There was only one person referred to as the disgusting woman. It was her nemesis, Sylverine.

“That must be your long-cherished desire.”

“You promised me before you grasped the holy sword.”

Enoch bit his lip tightly.

“Relax your face. You want to be on equal footing with that woman, and I want her downfall, so it’s mutually beneficial, isn’t it?”

“If you want it so much, why not compete directly with magic until one of us breathes their last?”

She paused her nail care for a moment.

“Do you think I would lose?”

“Who knows.”

“I can do it, but it would be troublesome if everyone dies as a hero without knowing her true nature.”

“….”

“Don’t worry. Even if we don’t intervene, it is progressing slowly.”

“…Is this it?”

Enoch, unable to shake off his doubts, slowly unrolled the scroll on the table and examined it.

As Enoch read through it slowly, his pupils gradually widened.

A report from the empire stating that Silvarin’s disciple had been consumed by the cursed sword and was committing indiscriminate murders in Claridium. And a statement condemning Silvarin and Eternia for guiding him.

At the end of it was the seal of the mayor of Claridium.

“Impressive.”

“Silvarin, who raised an orphan with nowhere to go into a murderer, cannot escape responsibility. Isn’t it amusing? He was so arrogant, believing he could raise even weeds into ancient trees. That’s why you have to be careful when choosing disciples.”

Unconsciously, Enoch’s grip tightened, crumpling the scroll.

This time, he had no choice but to acknowledge her words. A strange sense of exhilaration welled up in Enoch’s chest upon hearing the news.

“Is this the end?”

She finally stood up and looked at Enoch. Long black hair. Long, thick eyelashes and pale skin. Eyes that uniquely combined purity and venom. Anyone would find her appearance captivating. But not Enoch.

The old adage, ‘A wizard hides a vile heart behind a beautiful face,’ was undeniably true, at least for her.

“Stop the pretentiousness. You acted like you didn’t care, but you were conscious of it all along, weren’t you?”

“I won’t deny it. Competitiveness is also my fuel. But I didn’t expect you to be my rival. When the time comes, you are just someone to step over.”

“Is that all?”

Katrina would not bother Silvarin for a while, having found something to mock him with. Consequently, the sacrifices of her slaves and young attendants would also subside for a while.

“If there’s nothing else, I’ll be going. I have a meal with the princess.”

“Don’t get too deeply involved with those who have been pushed out of the succession structure.”

“That’s for me to decide.”

She sat back on the sofa, barely extending her hand and waving it dismissively. Wizards. Especially the highest-ranking ones, were always like this.

Enoch left the office with a stern face.

As he walked down the corridor, the corners of his mouth faintly moved. Katrina was a woman he didn’t want to get involved with in any way, but this meeting wasn’t too bad. Thanks to the interesting news of Damian’s downfall.

He thought about Damian, who had become a wanted man in Claridium.

He was enjoying luck that didn’t suit him. Taken in by Silvarin’s hand beyond his means, and obtaining a magic sword that overflowed his capacity.

And in his greed, he eventually reached an irreversible state. The goddess of fate took back the blessing that had flowed to the wrong person.

The place where the exchange battle would take place was also coincidentally Claridium.

He stopped walking and looked up at the ceiling, taking a deep breath.

In the end, everything flows according to the natural order. Silvarin’s ‘one and only star’ will also flow as fate dictates.

Enoch repeated to himself.

Yes, Damian. Even if I don’t step on you, you will fall there.

He walked down the corridor again.

*

Professor Hamilton of Eternia’s Spirit Studies carefully examined the Spirit Studies evaluation records and said,

“Did something happen?”

Luna, sitting demurely, sipped her tea and said,

“…No.”

Luna had set new records in the four evaluation categories of spirit control, empathy, summoning, and understanding. She had already been so exceptional that even upperclassmen couldn’t follow her, and her growth rate was also frighteningly steep.

“Then… did you sell your soul to a spirit?”

“No.”

Emilton felt a bit embarrassed by the dry response to his joke.

“Yeah, I was just saying.”

“Is there… a problem?”

“No, as you know, they say half of a spirit mage’s talent is innate sense and the other half is a blessing from the gods. When I see you, I feel that truth to my bones.”

“You’re… flattering me.”

“What wind suddenly blew your way? Lately, you’ve been active in class and diligent in training. And also…”

She looked Luna up and down. The plain and simple appearance she had at the beginning of the semester, indifferent to adornment, was no longer visible. Now, her attire had become bright, and her once gaunt cheeks and lips were now lively. Anyone could see she looked much more girlish and lovely than before.

“Let’s see… Spirit mages grow through certain triggers. When they go through significant events, they grow mentally, become emotionally stable, and their talents as spirit mages fully bloom…”

“…”

It was a theory spirit mages heard until their ears grew calluses. Luna, predicting what would be said next, subtly turned her head to avoid eye contact.

“Did you fall in love with someone?”

“No.”

“Love always elevates a spirit mage. Spirits also prefer spirit mages who are in love and exude the power of emotions.”

“…No.”

Luna slightly lowered her head and fiddled with the golden hair that fell to her waist with her fingers.

She smiled slyly.

“Well, whatever helps you grow is good.”

“……”

“If it burns your soul, even better.”

“Can I… leave now?”

She said with a satisfied smile.

“Yes, good job. Oh, and you don’t need to come for the final evaluation of Spirit Studies. Your evaluation is already done. But you know you shouldn’t slack off on your homework just because it’s over, right?”

“Yes.”

Luna stood up and bowed her head in greeting.

“Can’t you give me a hint about who it is? I’m worried you’ll suffer because of some bad guy.”

“I… I’ll be going now.”

Luna hurried out as if fleeing.

As she quickly walked out of the main building of the Magic Department, a familiar face greeted her.

“Oh, Luna. You were here?”

“Senior.”

It was Rilke, a second-year senior from the Drama Club. She had maintained a close relationship with Luna since the Special Skills Competition.

“You were going to the small theater, right? Great, let’s go together.”

“…Yes.”

By chance, the two ended up walking together. They naturally transitioned from discussing the end-of-semester performance plans to talking about other departments.

“Aren’t you worried about the Art Department? There’s been a lot of talk lately. You seemed pretty close with that guy, Damian.”

Since the day Damian went to the Principality, she had prayed earnestly every night before falling asleep, but she had never shown it to anyone.

She only gave a short reply.

“It’s okay.”

They entered the small theater, exchanging trivial stories. Beyond the dark audience seats, the stage was lit, and the members who had arrived earlier were sitting in a circle.

Rilke shouted.

“Hey guys. What are you doing instead of practicing? Sharing snacks?”

The members finally turned to look at the two who had arrived late. Then, seeing Luna, they covered their mouths and whispered as if they had seen something they shouldn’t have.

Sensing a strange atmosphere, Rilke asked with a stern face.

“What’s wrong? What were you talking about that was so serious?”

A first-year male student opened his mouth.

“We… were talking about Claridium.”

“Really? Why?”

“Haven’t you heard the news?”

“What news?”

“All the rumors related to Doppler are fake.”

“…What do you mean?”

“This, senior Louis brought it…”

As the male student tried to hand something over, the female student next to him, noticing Luna’s reaction, tried to stop him.

“Hey, don’t.”

“It’s only a matter of time before it spreads everywhere, even to Leaguebed.”

Then he handed a flyer to Rilke. Rilke snatched it and began to read quickly. Luna silently joined her to check it out together. There was a portrait of Demian, a bounty, and a long article about the crimes committed in Claridium.

“Hey, what is this?”

Icarus, who had previously participated in the special department competition, said in an annoyed voice.

“What do you think it is? One guy ruined all the honor Eternia built over hundreds of years.”

“Do you think this makes any sense?”

“They say the Imperial Embassy has already formed an investigation team and will send them here.”

“…What kind of nonsense is this?”

“I told you, didn’t I? That guy is a problematic one. I repeatedly said he’s a vile and violent guy, but no one listened.”

Krude, who was next to him, chimed in.

“Now we can’t even brag about being from Eternia anywhere. Because of that damn b*stard.”

“Have you been to the front gate? Right now, it’s swarming with outsiders, we can’t even get out.”

The drama club members all had gloomy expressions. They, like Rilke, didn’t know how to take this incident.

Rilke looked back at Luna. She was still calmly looking down at the wanted poster.

Icarus came down from the stage and approached Luna. Then, in a comforting, gentle tone, he said,

“Luna, we all know this has nothing to do with you. You did nothing wrong. That guy approached you hiding his true nature…”

When he tried to put his hand on Luna’s shoulder, she roughly pushed it away and took a step back.

Then she spoke to Rilke with a polite attitude.

“Senior, I’m not feeling well today, so I’ll rest.”

“……Okay. Go and rest.”

Luna bowed to her seniors and walked towards the exit.

Icarus looked at Luna and laughed as if he couldn’t believe it.

*

Luna sat on her dormitory bed, killing time.

The sound of students chattering near the dormitory reached her room.

Everyone was talking about Demian and Claridium. Demian had become a felon overnight.

A moment later, a white raven flew to the wide-open window and perched on the windowsill, flapping its wings. Luna, as if she had been waiting, handed the neatly folded letter to the raven.

“Please take care of it.”

“Caw!”

The raven took the letter and flew off somewhere again.

Luna watched the departing spirit with resolute eyes.

The message that she would be away for a while would be conveyed to her professors and family. She would not be able to attend classes or the theater club performance. It was not something she had asked permission for; it was a unilateral notification. All of this was entirely Luna’s own decision.

She closed her eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. Then she immediately opened her bag on the bed and began to hurriedly stuff her belongings into it.

In a situation like this, she knew exactly what she had to do.