Chapter 11
The massive crystal golem—surely weighing no less than 800 kilos—gradually picked up speed.
Getting crushed meant death. Even a collision would at minimum result in serious injury.
No matter how powerful Mari of Astraea was right now, this was not an opponent she could face head-on.
“Because Mari used prior learning, she’s starting with 7 demerit points, right?
That’s a bit much. I suppose I should help her a little.”
Idnia decided to secretly lend Mari a hand.
She picked up a small stone from the ground and carefully focused her aura into it.
The problem was that, as she tried to concentrate her aura, the Tyrant Emperor’s energy began to surge within her.
The suppressed power started to boil, threatening to transform her appearance.
“No, not now. Tch… I need to hide in the bushes.”
Sensing her transformation was imminent, Idnia quickly darted into the bushes.
Fortunately, everyone’s attention was fixated on the charging crystal golem. No one noticed her slipping away.
“Alright, here goes!”
— Swoosh!
The stone, wrapped in terrifying aura, flew toward the crystal golem.
At that moment, Mari, in a desperate move, cast another Holy Light Arrow.
— Ting!
Once again, the Holy Arrow bounced off. But beneath its glow, Idnia’s stone pierced straight through the golem.
— Boom!
The crystal golem shattered instantly.
“Oh?!” “Ooooooh!”
Cheers erupted as the seemingly unbeatable monster of despair was demolished.
“Oh my god!” “We’re alive!” “Hooray!”
The students were overjoyed, finally free from the fear of death.
Had anyone looked closely, they might have noticed the Holy Arrow bounced off, and a faster projectile lurking beneath it had struck the final blow.
But everyone had been too busy running in terror to notice the truth.
— Rumble…
The shattered crystal golem crumbled to the ground. The obstacle blocking the path to the dorms was now gone.
“Well, it ended up looking like Mari took the credit.
That’s fine.
Mari of Astraea… she’s got impressive potential.
She really might be the protagonist. I’m glad.”
Hiding her transformed form, Idnia quietly rejoined the others and entered the dorm.
If even just getting into the dorm after the entrance ceremony was this much of a nightmare, what would the rest of her time at the academy be like?
Just entering the dorm had left all the students in complete disarray.
Despite the magic lights, they had to wander through a dark forest and fight unexpected low-tier skeletons.
“It’s a miracle no one was seriously injured. Still, Professor Byuremhyde caused the incident and remains totally unfazed…”
The very professor who caused the mess, Byuremhyde, had amused himself by harassing the students, only to suddenly lose interest again.
“She broke my crystal golem just because she’s a Saint candidate?
Hmm. Based on the recorded output, that shouldn’t have been possible.
Guess I’ll return to my lab. The rest is up to you, Vice Principal.”
He did whatever he wanted.
Considering the mess Byuremhyde had caused, the fact that there were no casualties was nothing short of a miracle.
Professor Dneuve, grateful that all students had returned safely, called for Mari of Astraea.
“Miss Mari. You remained silent despite having studied in advance. As such, you will receive 5 demerit points.”
The other students started mocking her again.
Perhaps accustomed to high society gossip, some couldn’t resist taking pleasure in others’ misfortune even in this situation.
“Heh… what? You studied ahead and still came in dead last? That’s hilarious…”
However, many thoughtful students immediately objected.
“Is that funny to you?” “Huh? I mean, if she studied ahead and still got in last, she must be really dumb…” “So then, can you destroy a crystal golem?” “Uh… well, no, but…” “Then maybe something’s off, don’t you think?”
Thanks to the overwhelming feat of destroying the crystal golem, the mocking students were silenced.
But then—
“Um, excuse me, but I swear I didn’t study ahead.”
Surprisingly, Mari protested.
Everyone was stunned.
She had blasted away skeletons with magic and even taken down a crystal golem (though in truth, Idnia had destroyed it), and now she claimed she hadn’t studied in advance?
Even Professor Dneuve looked bewildered, not expecting her to argue at this point.
“If it wasn’t prior learning, how did you use that magic?
You say it’s divine magic, so it doesn’t count as prior learning? Miss Mari, our academy does include divine magic in the curriculum.”
“Well, that is…”
“Is she claiming it was a miracle?”
“Maybe she picked it up in the womb.”
The students mocked her again.
Even the thoughtful ones who had supported her earlier were now speechless.
Using powerful magic was worthy of praise, but making outrageous claims like this made people lose faith.
“She’s choosing a thorny path for herself.”
Idnia, however, knew Mari was telling the truth and felt bad for her.
“She probably inherited divine magic skills…
In games, we’d just call it an inherited trait, but in reality, it’s basically a miracle.
Still… how could she possibly explain that to anyone?”
Mari likely possessed powerful divine magic from childhood without ever knowing why.
She was simply being honest, but others saw her as a liar making excuses.
“Are you claiming it’s because you’re a Saint candidate? Fine. If you can prove it, I’ll remove the demerits.
But until then, I’ll leave the demerits as they are.”
Professor Dneuve, disregarding the presumption of innocence, demanded Mari prove her honesty.
“Still, this is quite fair. If it had been another professor, they’d probably take this as a challenge to their authority and impose a harsher punishment.”
Indeed, Professor Dneuve was remarkably fair-minded.
“That said, I award 2 merit points for stepping forward to protect your classmates from the crystal golem’s threat.
While I do not endorse Professor Byuremhyde’s methods, students—note that many of you received prior education as well.
Yet none of you stepped forward to help others, choosing instead to preserve your own scores.
Compared to that, she deserves praise for risking demerits to protect her peers.”
“Yes… th-thank you.”
With that, Mari gained 2 merit points, offsetting her 7 demerits. She rose from the bottom to within the rankings.
Although her demerits remained the highest, rankings were determined primarily by merit points, and since most students had none, Mari’s score shot her ahead of them.
Then came more rewards.
“Rudolf Rosenbaum Kalliestra. For your excellent leadership as the Zephyros dorm head, you are awarded 1 merit point.”
“Thank you.”
Crown Prince Rudolf Kalliestra took the lead with 4 points. He had led his dorm mates through the skeleton ambush with decisive command.
“Idnia Kache Betelgeuse.”
“Yes.”
“For outstanding leadership during a crisis and your performance as Euross dorm head, you are awarded 1 merit point.”
Idnia also received a reward.
“They could’ve given me 2 points… but 1 is fine, I suppose.
That puts me right behind the crown prince, doesn’t it?
I’m no good at magic, so I’d better secure points where I can…”
With 2 points as dorm leader and 1 more now, she had 3 merit points and no demerits—placing her right behind the prince.
She surpassed Isolde, the top entrant with 2 merit points, and the Notos and Boreas dorm leaders to claim 2nd place.
“Well done, everyone. Now, dinner will be served.”
Professor Dneuve snapped his fingers, and plates and pitchers floated up to set themselves on the tables.
Scones and tea, bread and cheese, a bit of fruit, and a vegetable soup made for a simple yet elegant meal.
These noble children, used to luxury and rarely obsessed with food, had been pushed to the brink on day one. Now they clung to the table and devoured their meals like starving teens.
“I’m hungry too… but I can manage. Let’s find Saint Mari.
She’s probably getting side-eyed by people calling her a liar. I should help with her mental health before it takes a toll…”
Idnia began searching for Mari of Astraea.
But before she could, a young man approached her.
“Ah, excuse me. Would you mind if I sat here, Lady Betelgeuse?”
He was a handsome man with brown hair and a somewhat older appearance than the other students.
Smiling like a playboy and reeking of cologne, he gave off a careless, unserious vibe…
・。.・°✧・°・。.・
