Chapter 07
“W-What? A teleportation gate?!”
“That’s incredible magic…”
Usually, teleportation magic is classified as advanced magic.
Even being able to cast just one spell of that class earns you the title of a high mage.
And yet, at Duneis Academy, even the gatekeeper—who looked like a scruffy goblin—was using such a high-level spell?
Of course, in Gibbles’ case, it wasn’t because he himself was a mage, but rather because the “Gatekeeper’s Lantern” he held was an artifact.
The scholarly boys and girls, who had an interest in magic, were all stunned.
“They’re using a teleportation gate just to travel to the school building? Using such a powerful spell for something so trivial?”
“Now, now, don’t be so surprised yet. Once you enter, you’ll understand why Duneis Academy is considered the heart of magic.”
Led by the walking armor, each student received a brooch.
These brooches, enchanted with magic, acted as student ID tags, indicating their dormitory, year, and other important information.
One by one, those who received the brooch stepped into the teleportation gate.
It was now Idnia’s turn.
[Idnia Katze Betelgeuse. Assigned to the Eurus Dormitory.]
The chestplate of the walking armor vibrated with a sound as it handed the student brooch to Idnia.
As soon as Idnia took it and stepped into the teleportation gate, a humid, salty scent struck her nose.
She arrived at a plaza filled with mist and a central fountain.
Four teleportation gates were opened here, continuously letting in more arriving students.
Around the plaza stood four large dormitory buildings.
Named Eurus, Zephyros, Notos, and Boreas—after the four winds—they stood firm, facing the strong sea breeze, justifying their wind-themed names.
“Now, choose your dormitory leaders! After that, room assignments will begin.”
At that, the students began moving quickly.
Some of the sharper ones instinctively realized something.
The fact that they were being asked to elect a dormitory leader without any prior bias meant that the entrance ceremony wasn’t over yet—and that the real trials were about to begin.
The Zephyros dormitory quickly organized itself around Crown Prince Rudolf and the student representative, Isolde.
Prince Rudolf volunteered to become the dormitory leader.
“As someone destined to carry on the thousand-year legacy of the Empire, if I can’t handle leading a few students, how could I ever be trusted with greater responsibilities?”
As soon as Rudolf was named Zephyros’ first-year dormitory leader, the school’s magic bulletin board updated.
He received two merit points, bringing his total to three, and placing him at the top.
“Dormitory leaders receive two merit points just for being chosen.”
Baroness Bulem explained the rules, and each dormitory began electing leaders, mostly centered around high-ranking nobles.
The problem arose with the Eurus dormitory.
“Uhh, the person here with the best family background and who seems most capable of leading is…”
All eyes turned to Idnia.
Idnia Katze Betelgeuse.
There was no one whose lineage could surpass hers.
She hailed from a princely house that once produced emperors for the Holy Eldar Empire—historically equal to the imperial family itself.
The issue was that the Duchy of Betelgeuse had fallen.
Still, as the saying goes, noble blood remains noble for at least three generations after ruin.
“Lady Betelgeuse, would you consider taking the position? I’m sure everyone would agree if it’s you.”
A stiff-looking male student approached Idnia, suggesting her as dormitory leader. With his short hair, solid build, and both a magic staff and a sword at his waist, he seemed to be a capable student trained in both disciplines.
“Who said everyone agrees?
Why are you speaking on everyone’s behalf?”
“Yeah, exactly.”
Other girls began to jeer. The leader among them turned to Mary of Astraea.
“Hey, Saintess candidate—how about you become the dormitory leader?”
A girl with red hair and the air of a rich heiress grinned slyly and approached Mary of Astraea.
“Me? But…”
“You already got penalty points—you need to make up for them quickly. Don’t worry, I’ll help you.
Oh, I’m Sendia Aspinal.
Though I use a noble surname, I’m a commoner from Betelgeuse.
I’ve been granted permission to use my family crest.”
‘Sendia Aspinal…’
Idnia knew her well.
In the original game, she was one of the villains who followed the antagonist noble girl—Idnia herself.
Though from a commoner background, she was the daughter of a wealthy textile factory owner, part of the gentry class with enough wealth to use a noble crest.
Her family wielded significant influence in high society.
They exploited refugees from the demonified Duchy of Betelgeuse, paying them far below market rates, while the villainous Idnia supported them legally and financially.
Since Idnia had abandoned her villain route, she hadn’t encountered her—until now.
Clearly, Sendia’s intentions toward Mary weren’t sincere.
“No, I’ll volunteer.”
Idnia stepped up to protect Mary by claiming the dormitory leader position herself.
“Huh?!”
“Lady Betelgeuse…”
“Please call me Idnia.
I volunteer to be Eurus’ dormitory leader.
If anyone objects, please step forward and explain.”
Idnia took a slightly forceful tone.
‘Things like this, if handled politely and slowly, drag on forever.
If you want to settle it quickly, a firm hand is best.’
Indeed, everyone seemed to accept her claim.
“Well… I mean…”
“If it’s Lady Betelgeuse, sure.”
Even if her house had fallen, her noble background reassured the others.
Still, not everyone was happy.
‘Tch, I was going to have some fun with the saintess, but this fallen noble had to ruin it…’
Sendia, who had tried to manipulate Mary, grew sulky when Idnia intervened.
But she didn’t object out loud and instead muttered bitterly.
“Oh, right… Lady Betelgeuse, weren’t you also a saintess candidate?
Are you trying to block another commoner candidate from gaining influence?
Well, since I’m from Betelgeuse too, if you just say the word, I’ll fully support you.
But if Mary also loses her saintess candidate title, she might even be expelled. Poor thing.”
Rather than getting irritated, Idnia admired her.
‘Wow, she’s exactly the same as in the game.’
Except now, she wasn’t afraid of Idnia at all—and was even trying to step on her.
In the game, Sendia feared Idnia so much that she’d grovel at a single glance.
But after Idnia gave up her villain role and withdrew from society, she must’ve seemed like an easy target.
“Don’t worry.
Me becoming Eurus’ dormitory leader means I’ll support everyone here.
Also, I don’t see the saintess candidacy as a competition.
If a saintess’ divine blessings really help fight demons, then the more saintesses we have, the better, right?”
Idnia fired back at Sendia’s sarcasm.
“So, Mary of Astraea—don’t worry too much about the penalty points.
Usually, by the end of the school year, the total merits and penalties accumulate massively.
What we’re seeing today with rankings shifting over just a few points? That’s all for show—to instill discipline early on.”
“Huh?!”
“R-Really?”
“Yes. As you know, I’m the daughter of Duke Betelgeuse. I’ve gathered some insider info from academy alumni.
That’s why I think it’s best for me to lead Eurus and help guide everyone.”
Idnia charmed her fellow students with polished rhetoric.
They had all been feeling anxious, and her calm leadership—paired with subtle reminders of her noble birth—was very reassuring.
Instead, it was Sendia, who tried to create conflict between Idnia and Mary, who received backlash.
“What’s with her tone?”
“Didn’t her family liquidate everything and flee when the duchy fell?”
“I heard they profited off the refugees by underpaying them.”
“There are even rumors that the Aspinal Trading Company works with the criminal group ‘Scarlet Pimpernel.’”
Someone began whispering gossip about Sendia.
Idnia clicked her tongue when she overheard.
‘This academy is brutal. Show even a little weakness and they’ll tear you apart.’
It seems many students from high society were already well-versed in gossip—the core skill of the noble social world.
As a result, when Sendia went quiet, Idnia was unanimously chosen as Eurus’ dormitory leader.
‘Ugh… I was supposed to live quietly, letting the protagonist carry me through the story. But now I’m the one carrying her.
How did it come to this?’
[First-Year Dorm Leader of Eurus Dormitory, Idnia Katze Betelgeuse…]
The walking armor declared, and Idnia’s name appeared on the magic bulletin board.
With the two merit points from becoming a dorm leader, she tied with Isolde Polchen and the other dorm leaders.
When Isolde saw Idnia’s name, she flinched in surprise.
