Chapter 9
“There’s someone among us who secretly received pre-training and didn’t disclose it!
We need to find them and punish them! Don’t you agree?! They’re pretending they don’t know magic to avoid penalties and shifting the blame onto us. Isn’t it more important to expose them?!”
As soon as Cendia realized that Idnia had no intention of pairing her with Christian Dupont, she changed tactics and began inciting the group.
‘As expected from someone who used to serve an evil noble. Clever little schemer. How can a person be this petty and insignificant?’
Idnia saw through Cendia’s ploy and couldn’t help but be impressed.
Still, her instigation was effective.
“Yeah! Who do you think is responsible for this mess?!”
“We must find them!”
The students were stirred up.
Cendia, being somewhat influential in the social circle, had followers who backed her claims, and others, already dissatisfied with the situation, chimed in.
It was quickly turning into a witch hunt.
In such a heated atmosphere, those who had stayed silent weren’t likely to come forward.
‘This is bad. We need to be back in the dorm before sunset. How do they expect to uncover the pre-trained students here? They’ve got no real-life experience—getting manipulated by a child like this. Although… looks like there were agitators planted from the start.’
Idnia realized that if she didn’t intervene, the entire Eurus dorm might self-destruct.
It was time for her to step in.
“Everyone, please calm down for a moment.
If a student who knows magic reveals themselves, they’ll receive a hefty penalty—five demerit points.”
“They brought it on themselves!”
“Exactly!”
“That’s not the point.
Think about it. The worst-case scenario is that the student pretends not to know magic to avoid those five points, and that leads to casualties.”
Idnia reminded them of the worst-case scenario.
Apparently, none of them had thought that far, and the group fell into awkward silence.
“Uh… well…”
“Would someone really go that far?”
“Yes. That’s why, if the student ends up using magic, I’d rather praise them.
They’d be protecting themselves and their classmates, even at the cost of being penalized. That deserves recognition.”
Idnia spoke with a graceful smile.
“Perhaps it started as a small lie.
Anyone can tell such lies, right?
Like saying, ‘I didn’t study at all for this test,’ when in fact they did.
I bet most of you have told little lies like that before?”
Passing the academy’s entrance exam requires completion of basic education.
And since they had all passed that level, no one could argue against Idnia’s point.
“When you think about it, punishing someone so harshly for such a small deceit is absurd.
The real problem is Professor Buremhide, who’s using minor mistakes to toy with the students.
Even our witch hunt is only playing into his hands.”
The students were awed by Idnia’s words.
Even if they didn’t fully agree with her, they recognized her maturity and the composed way she handled the situation.
‘Ah, truly a child of a noble lineage.’
‘So this is Idnia Kache Betelgeuse! So dignified!’
‘They say she’s a candidate for sainthood… Truly incredible.’
Though not everyone agreed with pardoning the deceiver, they were moved by Idnia’s depth, mercy, and compassion. The agitation died down, and the students began cautiously forming teams.
*‘Good. That should calm things down.
Now, whoever has prior magic knowledge can use it without being stoned by the crowd.
Who would come forward if they’re just going to be condemned?’*
Even if some students still ended up with demerit points, creating an environment where they could use magic was the best outcome for Idnia.
*‘I haven’t learned magic myself. I’ll face difficulties in future studies.
The ones who got pre-training are more likely to score better, so I need to make sure they get penalized.
Come on, use magic and get those penalties. Please.’*
Unaware of this scheme, the other students were deeply touched by Idnia’s maturity, kindness, and generosity.
But then—
Crack!
“Ahhh!”
“A m-monster!”
“Nooo!”
Screams echoed from the forest.
Students from other dorms who had entered earlier were now running into undead creatures and crying out in fear. Some students even turned back and returned to the starting point.
“I—I want to stay here!”
“Why are we even doing this?!”
“This makes no sense!
How are we supposed to fight undead if we didn’t get any pre-training?”
“And the ones who did get training are punished for it, while those who didn’t have to just march through the undead?”
“Yeah! This is ridiculous! A scam! Totally unfair!”
The students voiced their outrage at Professor Buremhide’s setup.
“Um… should we just stay at the starting point?”
“Sounds about right.”
“There’s no need to play along with such nonsense…”
**[Ah, yes. If you remain at the starting point and don’t enter the dorm by sunset, you’ll each receive two demerit points.
Interesting. Those who secretly learned magic might think—‘If I stay silent, I’ll only get 2 points instead of 5.’
Plus, everyone else gets penalized too. That’s a win compared to taking all five points yourself, right?
Don’t you think it’s time to question the motives of those urging you to stay put?]**
Buremhide began to sow discord, watching the students try to remain at the starting point.
He had long taken pleasure in tormenting students within the academy walls.
But it wasn’t fun if they didn’t even try.
Trying to provoke them again, he lit up the forest path with magical lanterns.
**[If the darkness is too much, here—five paths, nicely lit.
What are you all waiting for?
Shall I remind you that failure to move will result in demerits for everyone?
And don’t forget—if you rack up five demerits, the punishment will be much worse!]**
But Buremhide’s outburst had the opposite effect.
“If the professor’s this desperate…”
“Then maybe taking the two-point penalty is the winning move.”
“Yeah, you’re right…”
The students took comfort in Buremhide’s frustration and stayed put even more confidently.
“Tch. Their stupidity knows no bounds.”
Buremhide clicked his tongue in irritation.
“If it’s come to this, should I just enhance the undead and send them charging in, using the excuse that too many students are gathered here?”
“Stop it, Professor Buremhide. That would cause casualties.
And you do know that causing casualties results in your demerits, don’t you?”
Vice Principal Denev warned him.
Even though the students feared demerits, to someone like Buremhide—one of the Empire’s Five Great Criminals—it was far more serious.
It meant a longer sentence.
He was already stuck being a professor—a job that didn’t suit him. A longer term would only make it worse.
It was all because of the binding oath.
“Oh, you’re right. No need to get worked up. Let them rack up their own penalties…
But seriously, do you think these pathetic kids can stand up to the next Demon King? The Betelgeuse Duke is already a cripple.”
Buremhide shook his head.
“These worthless brats… they’re no match for demons… huh?”
Suddenly, something shifted.
Someone began to change the mood.
“Idnia Kache Betelgeuse…”
Among the faculty, Baroness Byulem recognized the student and grit her teeth.
She clearly held a grudge against Idnia.
“Whatever happens…”
Buremhide licked his lips.
“At least there’s one with some guts among these worms.”
Idnia knew the future of this world.
She had foreknowledge from the game Awakening Maiden Concerto.
That future foretold demons with monstrous stats repeatedly invading the world…
Without multiple rounds of training, inheritance, and a fair amount of spending, humanity would face extinction.
There was only one way to stop it.
To train the saintess and the gifted students at the academy using the school’s merit and demerit system…
And to learn the ultimate magic possessed by the Empire’s five criminal professors.
That was the proper way to get high scores in Awakening Maiden Concerto.
But here they were, unable to even clear the first hurdle.
“We from Eurus dormitory will take a different approach.”
As Idnia stepped forward, students from other dorms were startled.
“Huh? Idnia Kache Betelgeuse, daughter of a duke—this is supposed to be a group exercise.”
“Don’t tell me you’re planning to go solo for personal gain…”
