Even after revealing their families, there was no change in the daily activities of Kang Sihyun and the Harris group. They attended classes as usual, met for meals during dining hours, and gathered during their free time for conversations. Occasionally, before bedtime, they would sneak out of their rooms and into each other's dormitories—a bold act they had begun six months after enrolling at Delruan Academy.
Despite expectations of difficulty, it turned out to be surprisingly easy due to the lax supervision of the housemaster, and Sihyun, along with the children, became so enthralled with the thrill that they continued their dorm escapes even as their first year was drawing to a close. Once, when he was with Rodin, they were caught by a teacher and given demerit points, but Rodin served extra community service to erase the points for both of them. What did he say at the time? He said it was because you’re so fragile, a slight overexertion could knock you down, or something like that? The way he blushed while saying it was quite amusing.
It sounded like something out of a boy in love....
Of course.
Rodin seemed to really like me.
More precisely, he liked the face of Harnen. He would suddenly turn his head away or lose his senses when this face drew near. Thinking back, Rodin had shown a similar reaction when they first met. Apparently, he had no immunity to a face like Harnen's.
Definitely beautiful.
Kang Sihyun was pretty, but Harnen was even more so. As if all her stats were invested in her appearance due to her short lifespan, there was no such beauty in misfortune. Initially, Harnen was so emaciated that the point was missed, but as she regained some health and smiled more while at the academy, her beauty visibly enhanced. Even Sihyun, accustomed to the attack of beautiful faces from Class A students, was taken aback.
Her previously gaunt cheeks had filled out, becoming soft, and as her health somewhat returned, her pallid, patient-like skin regained vitality, transforming her corpse-like appearance into that of a doll's. It was then that Sihyun realized the impact of Harnen’s face, which Harris had mentioned on the day of the entrance ceremony. If Harnen were not short-lived and grew up safely, her face alone could probably devour a country.
Was that why she was short-lived? Like a balance patch?
Although Sihyun usually didn't exaggerate, Harnen's face was indeed exceptional. An angelic-looking Harris had been so impressed he felt it could be the subject of a thesis.
Because of such beauty, she often faced the threat of chastity from male students, but Sion’s efforts allowed her to live safely. The looks of defeat from male students sometimes pouring in were nothing compared to being ignored as a bastard during the first week.
Sihyun continued his academy life in that manner.
Mingling with familiar children, occasionally teasing Rodin, who seemed to like him. Since it was such a fun time, the longing to return to Earth was briefly forgotten.
Yet he had his worries.
When should he confess?
Considering Hamin’s personality, it seemed likely he would confess soon. Given his nature, if there were no signs of reciprocation and no threats, he would sort out his feelings on his own. But lately, Harnen had inadvertently provoked Rodin by receiving confessions from male students as well.
Those who ignored her as a bastard were now those who envied Harnen.
Perhaps sensing the crisis, Rodin would often stare at him meaningfully, then sigh and shake his head. Sihyun, being younger and thus more transparent in his emotions, laughed at this behavior.
Then suddenly, he stiffened, recalling the moment Hamin had confessed.
Unlike the comfortable and cute young Rodin, the 17-year-old Hamin at the end of his teenage years brought a more profound sentiment. The fingertips he had held felt hot even now, causing Sihyun to frown as he examined Rodin’s face.
What would he say if he confessed?
Honestly, he didn't dislike Rodin.
But Harnen was young, and so was Rodin. Moreover, Harnen was meant to be short-lived. Knowing this, he couldn't recklessly accept a confession.
Better to think about it when he's a bit older.
Sihyun came to a simple conclusion and lifted his head. A bustling scene of children entered his vision.
“It's already the end of the year!”
In the auditorium, where all the freshmen had gathered just like at the entrance ceremony, Haewoon exclaimed as if he felt slighted. Sihyun agreed with his words. The phony-like entrance ceremony felt like just yesterday, yet a year had passed, and the closing ceremony was approaching. The exam to be held during the closing ceremony was necessary to advance to the
second year, but since nothing was known about the exam, the children murmured among themselves.
“Are they bringing a dragon or something?”
“Eh, that’s a bit…”
“But it’s the principal, right?”
“……”
“Personally, I think they’ll bring back the dorm seniors who graduated. Then they’ll say, handle the criminal sorcerer!”
“What if that really happens?”
“What if it does?”
“But it’s Delruan Academy, right?”
“……”
The children unanimously proposed outrageous ideas, but that was the problem with this school. No matter how absurd the test discussed, since it came from the principal, it turned into a plausible exam.
What kind of school is this anyway?
Although it was his first year, Sihyun still thought of Delruan Academy as a crazy school.
“What kind of exam will it be? If it’s elemental magic, I’m confident I’ll pass immediately.”
The speculative atmosphere about the exam had also drifted this way. Sihyun stared at Harris, who had contracted with a mid-level spirit at the end of the first year and recorded an achievement as the first since the academy's establishment, then fiddled with the back of his hand. He too felt he might soon be able to contract with a mid-level spirit, but the closing ceremony had come too soon, much to his regret.
“They’ll probably test each dormitory's specialty, right?”
Rodin put forth a plausible opinion. When Sihyun agreed, a flash of light burst from the ceiling. They wondered where the principal had gone when he suddenly appeared above the children's heads.
“It’s buzzing! Just like cockroaches, fitting for our Delruan Academy students!”
What kind of praise is that?
Confused whether it was praise or insult, Sihyun frowned as the principal clapped his hands twice and calmed the noisy atmosphere.
“Today is the day of the school year exam commemorating the closing ceremony! Those who pass this exam will move up to the second year, and those who do not will stay in the first year and repeat the freshman year. Last year, the seniors heard this and blazed with determination, and all passed without a single failure! A remarkable feat.”
It was quite plausible.
How shocked had he been by the teaching method of Delruan Academy after enrolling for a month. No one would want to repeat that time. Indeed, fire seemed to blaze in the eyes of the current first-year students as well. The principal laughed as if he found it amusing. He was indeed not in his right mind.
“Indeed, this year’s first-year students are also full of motivation! With such heat, we shouldn’t delay the exam instructions. The exam you will undertake is monster extermination!”
“Monster extermination?”
“The monsters we know?”
“Are monsters really entering the academy now?”
The children were startled and murmured among themselves. Monsters. These creatures, harmful to humans in this world, were a manageable threat for the people here. However, no matter what, it was unreasonable for first-year academy students to handle.
Sihyun felt a familiar sense in this situation.
Could the principal here be the reincarnation of the strongest high school principal?
Their natures were strikingly similar.
As if to confirm such a hypothesis, the principal clapped his hands, and four monsters appeared, seemingly trapped in transparent cases.
“It’s real?”
A horrified voice echoed through the auditorium. Sihyun shuddered at a method similar to the Choikang High exam. Not out of fear, but from the disillusionment with those memories.
Any crazy school should just go under.
Regardless of Sihyun harboring such brutal thoughts, the principal bravely continued explaining amid the children's screams.
“From now on, you will each face a monster assigned to your dormitory. Dealing with a monster is no easy task, but if all dormitory students work together, it’s not impossible. The task of this exam is to defeat the monster without sustaining fatal injuries. Now, please move to your dormitory flags to start the exam!”
As the principal spoke, colorful flags sprouted from the ground, much like at the entrance ceremony. Sihyun sighed and looked around at Rodin and Sion.
“Be careful.”
Both were top-class of the Sword Dormitory, so they weren’t likely to fail, but safety was another matter altogether. Worry creased his face for a moment.
“Cough!”
“Harnen!”
Suddenly, his heart thudded violently as if being torn apart by pain. Veins writhed. Choking on blood and collapsing, Sihyun barely stood with Harris's support. Surprised, Sion and Rodin rushed over. Their voices incessantly hovered in his ears.
Are you okay? Does it hurt a lot? Should I call a teacher?
Ignoring all those worries, Sihyun felt every nerve on edge pointing in one direction as he turned his head.
Towards where the monsters were.
Or rather, next
to the monsters, to a space barely torn open.
“Ah.”
A sigh-like groan escaped Sihyun’s lips when the small gap roughly ripped open.
“What!”
The principal turned around in surprise just as a huge hand burst through the torn space.
It was a black claw.
Sihyun knew that hand all too well, staring wide-eyed as it grasped the principal.
“This can’t be…”
Dekumanus.
It was him.
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