Chapter 08
“Why would someone who usually ignores entrance and graduation ceremonies suddenly…?”
Vice Principal Deneuve’s curiosity was answered by Buremhyde.
“I heard the Crown Prince is enrolling this year. Even I couldn’t help but take an interest. So, with that in mind, I’d like to lightly test the students in commemoration of the entrance ceremony… Ah, but I should introduce myself first, shouldn’t I?”
The elf boy, who was actually a dragon in disguise, beamed brightly.
“Hello, students. I’m Buremhyde. I’m a lifetime professor bound to this academy.
You’ve just entered the academy and must be excited about your bright futures, but…”
“…”
“I don’t like you.
Being bound by a pact that forces me to teach and pass on all my knowledge… The only joy I get is when a student dies from an accident or overwork.
Especially this year, I hear the Crown Prince is among you?
If the Crown Prince were to suffer an unfortunate accident and pass away, that would be quite the spectacle.”
“……”
His blatant verbal abuse left all the students stunned.
Is this guy insane?
Only Idnia, who already knew about Buremhyde, remained calm.
“So, has the dormitory master been selected yet?”
“Ah, yes. Professor Buremhyde, here…”
The trembling steward Gibbles brought over the list, but Buremhyde didn’t even glance at it. Instead, he looked at the dormitory plaza’s punishment board.
Since it was still the entrance day, one could roughly tell who the dormitory masters were by checking the board and noting the discipline scores.
“Well then, dormitory masters. From now on, ask the students and identify those who did prior learning.
It’s my policy to weed out the fools who recklessly learned shortcut sorcery before entering Dunais Academy and now have prejudiced views of magic, so I can adjust the curriculum accordingly.”
Then, a stiff-faced young man from the Euwros dormitory raised his hand.
“Um, I learned from a Dunais Academy graduate…”
“Hm. What’s your name, student who just talked back?”
“I’m Christian DuPont, fourth son of Count DuPont.”
Surprisingly, this student came from a prominent noble family.
Though he was the fourth son and unlikely to inherit, a count’s house was still a prestigious one.
Any proper teacher would hesitate to mistreat such a noble’s child — even a fourth son.
But standing before him was a malevolent dragon, one of the Empire’s five prisoners.
“Ah, that disgusting notion of ‘go easy on him because he’s a noble’s son.’ Love it.
The idea that worldly authority would work on a dragon like me — what a joy it is to teach such foolish minds.
Didn’t your dumb tutor warn you?
That prior learning could be a big problem?”
“Huh?”
“Of course not. That pathetic tutor was probably just trying to squeeze money out of dim-witted clients and wouldn’t warn you that hiring someone like me would be a disaster.
To think a Dunais graduate is out there scamming people — my heart aches for the poor victims.
You were just foolish, but to fall for such a scam… tsk tsk.”
“……”
Christian DuPont’s face twisted with shame.
Finding a tutor who graduated from Dunais Academy wasn’t easy.
Money alone wouldn’t get you one.
His family had gone to great lengths for him, and now this dragon was dismissing them as gullible fools.
He could endure insults to himself — but not to his family!
Still, he lacked the courage to defy a dragon.
The elf boy standing before him was a terrifying being straight out of legend.
“All you detestable lot, listen well. I worship talent.
Prior learning… is, in a way, cheating talent.
Do you know how hard it is for a teacher to distinguish between someone who grasps a concept instantly and someone who only understands because they pre-studied and reviewed everything in advance?”
“Th-that’s…”
Isn’t it better to review and prepare in advance?
That’s what everyone thought.
“If you polish a naturally dull stone and shove it in with genuine gems, how are we to tell them apart?!
We’re trying to find raw gems, but you toss in shiny pebbles?
And all because some wealthy brats’ parents want to flex their money and push their untalented kids ahead of those with real talent?
That sickens me.
Honestly, people like that should be turned into ghouls and forced to feed on their own families. Maybe then, their filthy genetic obsessions would cool down!
Should I just turn you all into ghouls now?!
You damn slaves to your disgusting genes!”
As Buremhyde erupted in fury, a cold aura surged from his body.
The entire Dunais Academy shook.
The winds danced, and madness radiated from Buremhyde.
Vice Principal Deneuve let out a long sigh.
“Professor Buremhyde. If you keep this up, I’ll have to give you demerits…”
“Ah! Everyone, let’s proceed with the academic duties!
So, students who did prior learning, please step forward. Come now…”
Amazingly, the furious Buremhyde instantly cooled off and began clapping cheerfully when Deneuve mentioned demerits, as if nothing had happened.
This was the power of the pact that bound one of the Empire’s five prisoners.
“Hey, guys. If you pre-studied, just be honest.
Things will go badly otherwise. Professor Buremhyde lives for tormenting students.”
Even Gibbles, who was unpopular with students, and Baroness Byurem pleaded for honesty.
And just like that, the dormitory masters’ first task had arrived.
“Well, then. Could those who did prior learning come forward voluntarily?”
Christian DuPont raised his hand.
He had a sword and magic staff — and had openly spoken to Buremhyde — clearly indicating he had prior knowledge.
Other students hesitantly raised their hands as well.
Idnia recorded their names and handed the list to the moving armor controlled by Gibbles.
The armors delivered the list to Buremhyde.
“Hmm.”
Buremhyde skimmed the names and chuckled.
“You never fail to disappoint.
So even among the new students, some lie after pre-studying.
Humans really do lie even to themselves.”
“Huh?”
“Time for punishment.”
The sinister dragon, still in elf boy form, raised his staff.
Winds started swirling around each of its branches.
“Professor Buremhyde! Wait!”
Vice Principal Deneuve tried to stop him — too late.
Buremhyde aimed his staff at the students, and the wind from it formed a tunnel like a tornado, sucking them in.
When Idnia blinked open her eyes, she and the students found themselves on a cliff in a completely unfamiliar forest.
“W-what?!”
The sea breeze was thick in the air — unsurprising, given the wide ocean visible below the cliffs, shrouded in mist.
In that mist, they could see a black forest and, beyond it, the rooftops of buildings.
They had been transported far beyond the academy’s forest outskirts.
“M-mass teleportation?!”
“Even a normal teleport spell is advanced magic…”
Those who knew about magic shuddered at how Buremhyde had shattered expectations.
To cast such powerful magic effortlessly…
He truly lived up to the name of one of the Empire’s five prisoners — a calamity capable of toppling the Empire alone.
[Now then, students. I already know who lied about their prior learning.
But I need evidence to call it out, right?
So now, before the sun sets, return to your dormitories.
But… you’ll have to deal with the undead monsters I released into the forest.
Those who lied must solve the situation without using magic.]
“U-undead?!”
[If I catch anyone using magic despite claiming they didn’t pre-study… hmmm.
Let’s say that’ll earn you five demerits.
And you’ll be grouped in dormitory-based trios.
If any group exceeds three members, I’ll send stronger and more numerous monsters their way.
Now then! Dormitory admission begins!]
Buremhyde’s voice trembled with lowly delight.
“That professor… He’s enjoying tormenting us?! Why?!”
Christian DuPont fumed upon hearing Buremhyde’s gleeful tone.
But the other students glared at him coldly.
In the end, wasn’t it the wealthy nobles who triggered Buremhyde by pre-studying?
Of course, Buremhyde was…
