episode_0206

Nari confessed that her announcement of leaving the academy was a lie, and the classroom was once again thrown into chaos.

Her presence had been a crucial pillar among the 1-A cadets, and her departure was undoubtedly a drastic change.

A change for the worse, at that.

However, they all wanted Nari to stay at the academy.

That was their choice.

Even if Nari herself had anticipated it to some extent, and even if it was a well-planned, albeit slightly theatrical, scheme.

Everyone’s opinion was to elect Nari as their leader.

Because they thought that without her, the future of 1-A, and even the academy itself, would be uncertain.

If they had let Nari leave, she might have returned to the royal palace with Yuri to prepare for her next plan.

But what you sow, you reap.

Even though they were now consumed by fear and rejecting the immense influence of Narias Philbrogue, someday they would find Nari again on their own.

It was all exactly as Nari had predicted.

And Andrew, who had no way of knowing these predictions, heard the cheerful atmosphere of the class as it seeped from beyond the Oracle, and relaxed his tightly clenched fists.

His body grew languid as the tension eased, and he chuckled, about to lie down on his cot, then tightened his abdominal muscles and held himself up.

Then he stood up again.

“Hey, did you all hear that?”

“…”

*Clack-*

He forcefully pushed aside the curtains surrounding him and yelled at the other cadets who were lying down.

They were all lying on their sides.

It was because of the discrepancy between their healthy bodies, almost completely recovered, and their minds, still unable to fully shake off the fear, making them unwilling to get up.

Looking at their small backs, Andrew once again strengthened his voice.

“Are you going to keep lying there like that?”

“…”

Compared to Andrew, who already possessed extraordinary strength and solid experience, the other cadets were overwhelmed by the fear etched into their bodies.

Even if they want to forget, they can’t. That’s just how the human brain works. The harder you try to forget, the stronger the memories become.

However, they also had unforgettable memories.

The days they spent with Nari. The agonizing days of training and the thrilling moments of victory. Chronologically, they had tasted bitterness far longer than sweetness.

But the quantity and quality differed.

A single day of victory achieved through weeks of grueling effort. A thrilling sweetness that completely overwhelmed the bitterness.

Because they didn’t want to get out of bed, they tried to forget that sweetness.

But it didn’t fade. Their determination to forget manifested as physical strength, causing their fists sprawled on the cot to tremble even more violently.

Andrew chuckled faintly; the sound was barely audible to the other cadets.

“I’m feeling restless, so I should get some light exercise. I’m going first.”

He put on a coat from the clothes rack because of the slightly chilly weather.

It wasn’t a very thick coat. It would only ward off the temporary chill; the training would generate body heat, making it unnecessary afterward.

As he was putting on his clothes and about to go out, Andrew looked around the ward as he opened the door.

He saw the cadets getting up one by one.

. . .

*Flap-*

Duke Darius placed a bundle of papers densely filled with writing on the table and fell into thought.

The cover read, “ “. It was, in other words, the rule book.

As soon as the details of the exam were finalized, he received the information through informants he’d planted in the academy.

Quickly accessing the enemy’s classified information. Not only was Moriarty’s outstanding intelligence gathering ability proven, but it also gave him time to plan the next attack, which was a good thing.

However, Duke Darius slowly distorted his expression.

“After what happened last time, they’re still holding an external event…”

*Crack-*

His hand holding the papers tightened, the corners crumpling wildly.

He had underestimated them, severely underestimated them.

He felt a scratch on his self-esteem.

If they had at least shown any movement to increase security or something, he wouldn’t feel this much displeasure.

However, he didn’t remember hearing such a report. According to his informants, the security and number of guards are the same as before.

Duke Darius doesn’t exert his full power from the start.

He nudges them lightly with a weak force, and when they start resisting, he pushes with a slightly stronger force. The stronger the resistance, the stronger the force he uses to overwhelm them.

He enjoyed this omnipotence. It was observing the changes in his playthings.

To use a game as an example, the pleasure of playing on an easy difficulty, then a medium difficulty, and finding the differences was his pastime.

Actually, there’s no need to give an example.

Duke Darius kills people with the feeling of playing a game. Spreading evil, corrupting with depravity, he enjoys the reality of being the protagonist in a sinister way.

Since his pastime, his most important pride, had been offended, it was natural that his emotions were stirred.

“Huu…”

Of course, he keeps his emotions in check.

Using cold reason and power to thoroughly distort reality, and using emotions only when enjoying the results is acceptable.

That’s the kind of habit and rule that makes the seeker, Duke Darius, strong, and it is in itself his driving force.

“Today, the blood of a bitter old man will do.”

He rose from his darkened office and approached the cupboard, surveying the human blood displayed within.

Suddenly, a wine bottle with an old label caught his eye. He reached in, took out the wine bottle, and returned to the table with a glass.

Without even touching it, the wine bottle levitated.

*Pop-* *Drippp-*

The cork popped with a cheerful sound, the dark red liquid pouring into the glass.

Duke Darius raised the glass.

As he tilted it slightly, holding it by its slender stem, the liquid within shimmered, catching the moonlight.

He brought it close to his nose, inhaled the rich aroma, and then brought it to his lips, letting it slowly flow in.

*Gulp-*

“Huuu… As always, it’s a taste that makes your eyes clear.”

The rich flavor swirled in the Duke’s mouth, spreading throughout his body. He licked his lips, as though it was still not enough, and the remaining aftertaste spread sharply.

“Someday, I want to split open that snow-white belly and drink the freshest blood… Princess Narita, ku ku ku—”

His fangs protruded between his lips, shining sharply.

. . .

*Flap-*

Nari put a bundle of papers down on the table. On top, was written in large letters.

She drew lines with a red ink pen.

‘The scoring method is not much different from what I knew. Demon hunting, battles with other cadets, treasure discovery, boss defeat, survival…’

*Swish-* *Swish-*

Then she circled the section marked ‘Exit Zone’.

“Exit points… it appeared again this time.”

The class competition is a team survival game held in a mock dungeon created using the academy’s unique barrier magic.

For a total of 72 hours, points are earned through various methods, and rankings are determined by the final total score of each party.

You can hunt demons, search for treasures, and even stay in the safe zone to earn a certain number of points; albeit a meager amount.

The most unusual feature is the exit zone in the center of the mock dungeon.

You can leave early through this zone before the exam ends, but re-entry is impossible; it is a one-way portal.

This early exit position is important because of the internal broadcast screen that can be viewed from outside the barrier.

Since it’s not an elimination-based exit, it’s not considered the end of the exam. It is possible to check the situation of the dungeon from the outside and relay information to the party members inside.

In other words, a ‘control tower’. Widen your field of vision to various parts of the wide battlefield, obtain numerous pieces of information, and issue appropriate orders.

It could also be seen as having a similar effect to Nari’s original magic, ‘Oracle’.

In the Acasto class competition, this ‘exit zone’ existed for several seasons.

The sharp-witted cadets or upperclassmen who had encountered it last year would have already incorporated the observer position into their strategy. They always have, and it’s the most efficient.

The highest exit point score would allow a quick exit from the dungeon at the start of the exam, obtaining information from a safe location and relaying it to the party members.

This was almost an unspoken rule.

“An unspoken rule…”

*Chuckle-*

Nari let out a small laugh, as if she had thought of another mischievous plan.

With the final exams two weeks away, the 1-A cadets were practically monsters.

Nari pushes them hard with her abundant information and skills, but seeing Eve silently carrying out her orders, most men wouldn’t dare complain.

Moreover, Yuri gently supports the lagging cadets. No one is left uninspired by her warm smile, strikingly contrasting with her ruthless magic.

*Knock knock-*

“Sister, Instructor Aspi is here.”

“Let her in.”

Nari, who had been sitting slumped in her chair, slowly straightened up at the sound of Yuri’s voice.

It was a holiday. There were no training schedules for 1-A, and the information about the class competition had already been posted long ago.

She pondered briefly, unable to think of why Aspi would come to the mansion, until the door opened, and her thoughts vanished like clouds.

“I hope I’m not disturbing you.”

“Oh, it’s okay. What’s up?”

*Shudder-*

A strong fragrance wafted every time she moved further into the room.

Because of the very different atmosphere, Nari’s back stiffened.

“It’s nothing much, but I’ve come to tell you a few things about the upcoming final exams.”

“Oh? What is it?”

Aspi approached the table. Nari pushed her chair back to make room and moved the bundle of papers on the table to the side.

Aspi was in active attire, wearing only a few basic pieces of armor. Instead of the usual clinking of metal, the light tap-tap of her high heels echoed.

*Tap-* *Tap-*

The air in the room felt hotter. Looking closely, black straps peeked out from her tight-fitting leather trousers. Nari immediately understood what they were.

Her chest was uncovered. Dark lingerie could be seen beneath her puffy white shirt, the buttons straining as if they would burst open anytime.

*Flap-*

Aspi clearly noticed Nari’s gaze. However, feigning ignorance, she placed documents on the table and began her explanation.

“For this final exam, we’ll pay more attention to the placement of the knights. To reduce the burden on the audience, we’ll place them inconspicuously—in areas like these—”

She pointed to various places on the academy map.

As she swept her light green hair back, the sweat on her jawline became visible, despite the cool autumn weather.

Moreover, a strange scent emanated from her. While unsure at first, now that they were close, the scent was strong enough to make her nose tingle.

*Chuckle-*

“Is anything wrong?”

“No, it’s fine. Continue.”

Nari decided to observe the situation a little longer.