Chapter 15
When Idnia polished the shoes, they gleamed brilliantly.
“She’s insanely good at this!”
A typical noble lady would probably have never lifted anything heavier than a spoon, but Idnia’s skills were on another level.
She quickly polished Marie’s shoes and even hung up her clothes on hangers. When she stepped briefly to the window to shake them out, she removed every bit of dust in an instant.
“Alright, shall we go have breakfast? Do you need any help walking?”
“Ah, no. I can walk. Thank you, Lady Duke.”
“Just call me Idnia. We’re roommates, after all.”
“W-What? How could I possibly…?”
She was overwhelmed.
This dazzlingly beautiful girl, whose noble lineage was impossible to hide, was breaking down the social wall and granting her the right to call her by name.
“Then may I call you Marie, too?”
“Ah, I-I would be honored…”
“Let’s go with Marie then. And you can call me Idnia.”
“Y-Yes, understood.”
“Then off to the dining hall, Marie.”
“Yes, Idnia-nim.”
“…Drop the honorific.”
“If I do, others will scold me. Idnia-nim.”
“Haa… then I’ll call you Marie-nim too. Let’s respect each other equally.”
“W-What…? Such…”
Marie of Astraea still felt deeply unworthy.
“Alright, let’s head to the dining hall. Something tells me breakfast won’t be easy either…”
Recalling the saying “words have power,” Idnia headed for the dormitory’s first floor.
When breakfast time came, the students stumbled groggily into the dining hall.
They gathered in the cafeteria connected to the dormitory’s courtyard through a gallery, looking more like zombies than students.
The previous night’s sudden forced march had left everyone sore and stiff.
Many hadn’t even bathed during the maintenance period given at night and in the morning, making half of them look like complete messes.
Hair, nails, and clothing that had always been tended to by servants and maids were now in disarray—like a vegetable patch ravaged by rats—eliciting bitter laughter.
This was likely the academy staff’s plan all along.
“Alright! I’ll assign the seats.
Today only, I’ll serve you food myself, but from next time onward, you’ll carry trays and feed yourselves.”
The breakfast scene was ruled over by none other than the communist succubus queen, Sadia.
“Now! Sit down like lightning. Execute!
Don’t chatter among yourselves during meals, and nobles must sit with commoners, no exceptions!
No same-gender seating! You must sit with the opposite gender! Mix it up, dormitories too!”
Queen Succubus Sadia used life magic to float food-laden trays toward students.
The food consisted only of chunky vegetable soup, hard bread, and milk.
Though last night’s tea party (which replaced dinner) hadn’t had jam, at least the food had been halfway decent. By contrast, this breakfast was the epitome of negligence.
Worse still—there was no sugar. Not a single hint of sweetness.
Sugar was expensive in this world, but considering the students came from wealthy families, they were practically addicted to it. The sugarless meal left everyone shocked.
“W-We’re supposed to eat this?”
“Anyone who doesn’t want to eat? Raise your hand.”
Who would raise their hand to that?
Idnia thought so—until a few naïve students actually did.
Energy Drain!
The students’ life force was drained, and Sadia’s appearance sparkled again.
“Gyaaaaah!”
“Agh, I’m so hungry!”
The drained students screamed from sudden hunger.
And then, to everyone’s surprise, Boreas Dormitory head, Karl Gustav Oxbach, stepped forward.
“What do you think you’re doing? Even a professor can’t punish students without regard to the rules. The academy handbook clearly states that five penalty points lead to disciplinary action! So then, isn’t this energy drain a punishment outside the penalty system!?”
A flawless argument! Young Lord Oxbach challenged Sadia by citing regulations.
“Well, well. So it’s Prince Karl of the Oxbach family? Let me explain. From today onward, all academy meals will be prepared efficiently to accommodate the large number of students.”
Everyone gasped.
If what she said was true, this bland, nutrition-based menu would be permanent.
Thinking back, the tea party food had been leftovers from the banquet held for the guests attending the entrance ceremony.
Normally, such meals would never be made.
Meaning… for the entire semester, they’d be eating sugarless, medieval sailor-style rations.
“But this food must not suit your tastes, right? Lucky for you, I’ve got a great side dish for you. Ever heard of ‘hunger makes the best sauce’?”
Of course, everyone had.
They just hadn’t tested it on themselves—yet.
“In other words, my Energy Drain isn’t a punishment. It’s a kind of seasoning to make your food taste better!”
Despite Sadia’s shameless statement, Karl Gustav Oxbach stood firm—even as a student.
“I’ll accept that the poor food quality is due to the student population size.
And I can endure this level of hardship.
But draining life force against students’ will?
Energy Drain is a dangerous spell that could kill someone if misused.
Using it on students? That cannot possibly be allowed under Dunais Academy regulations!”
“Oh? So defiant? Is this how you speak to someone you know hates royalty and high nobles?”
“I trust that, as a professor, you have the sense not to abuse students based on personal hatred.
If the punishment is by the book, I’ll accept anything.
But I will not accept personal punishment.
We are not your playthings!
Everyone here is the future foundation of the Empire!”
Sadia glared at Karl with blazing eyes, but he didn’t flinch.
All the students admired Karl’s spirit—even Sadia was slightly impressed.
“Hmph… not bad. You’ve got backbone.
If I could, I’d reward you for that.
But not enough for that yet.
And Karl Gustav Oxbach—there’s one thing you’re mistaken about.”
“What is it?”
“You are our playthings!”
“What!?”
Karl cast a defense spell—but of course, it couldn’t stop a professor.
Sadia’s Energy Drain ripped through the barrier and struck him head-on.
“Urgh… no…!”
The dignified young man of the northern warrior family—nicknamed the Northern Grand Duke—fell to his knees.
He tried to resist, but there was no way a fledgling mage could stop a grand spell like Energy Drain.
“Fufu. I liked that, Karl Oxbach!
This isn’t punishment—it’s a reward!
A token of my affection to help you enjoy your meal a little more.
Now then, everyone—enjoy your breakfast.
Time is ticking.”
Shocked, the students hurried to eat.
“Seriously… this empire’s five great sinners…”
Idnia once again felt the bitter truth—these students were sacrificial lambs for those monsters.
Even Karl, the Northern Grand Duke, had been humiliated. Recovering from that would require extraordinary grit.
Fortunately, other students from Boreas Dorm helped him to his seat, though he looked dazed and sat awkwardly, as if his soul had left him.
“Did you see that?”
“No way! She attacked the heir to the Empire’s prince-elector family!?”
“Not just any elector—he’s the Lion of the North, head of the Iron Warriors, Oxbach himself.”
“I mean… it did feel kinda good when I got drained…”
“Consider yourself lucky if hunger’s all you felt.
Normally, Energy Drain kills and turns you into a walking corpse.”
“What is this professor even trying to do with us?”
If even Karl Oxbach could be crushed like that, then… what hope was there?
