Chapter 7.3

The notice that came with the acceptance letter was packed with information I needed to know before starting school.

Unfortunately, special admissions students don’t have a separate entrance ceremony. Since I’m joining in the middle of the semester, it felt more like a transfer than an admission. Luckily, the academy’s curriculum is a university-style system tailored to each student’s level, so I figured keeping up with classes wouldn’t be a big problem.

A list of current classes was enclosed, telling me to think about which ones I wanted to take before enrolling. Besides common subjects like math, language, history, and basic magic, I could freely choose five classes.

Scanning the list, I came across a familiar name.

[Advanced Artifact Creation for a Richer Life / Instructor: Kieryk Al Uff Borrestian]

Having read the original novel in its entirety, these moments always felt so strange to me. Moments where settings and scenes I only understood in my head became something I could physically experience. The fact that Kieryk was a highly capable mage who occasionally lectured at Haiola Academy was no longer just a plot point from a novel; it had become my reality.

It also meant I was getting used to my life as Eloe and to this world.

Wait, was Kieryk even in a state to be giving lectures right now?

‘The ball was two months ago. I don’t know if Jeras and Siliya have met properly. Even if they have, they wouldn’t have been able to do anything to Kieryk yet.’

Siliya was a perfectly ordinary noble lady, aside from the fact that the female lead who knew the original plot had transmigrated into her. She did have a talent for divine magic, which she learned in an attempt to somehow cure the poison that Empress Florese had planted to threaten her.

In any case, even though she was under the Empress’s control, she was the one who had administered the curse potion, so it took quite a while for her to earn Jeras’s trust. No matter how much Siliya talked about Kieryk turning into a demon, the current Jeras wouldn’t believe her.

‘So what? What are you going to do about it? Get involved with that typical Korean busybody attitude?’

I asked myself the question and sighed. Getting more involved here would be nothing more, and nothing less, than being a busybody.

I waved my hand dismissively and refocused on the class list. Kieryk’s kind and gentle smile bothered me, but I forced the thought out of my mind. That was something for the great Crown Prince, who was nowhere to be seen, to handle on his own.

***

“Is that really the Light Magic Successor? The one who appeared after 300 years?”

“Yeah, it’s for real. The dean is right next to her.”

“Hmm… She seems to have a decent amount of mana, but I don’t see anything else special about her.”

“More importantly, she’s a princess from a duchy? She’s way prettier than the rumors said.”

I can hear you, you brats. If you’re going to talk, just come out and say it to my face. It’s so petty to hide and talk behind my back. I should say something, too!

I whipped my head around toward the murmuring voices. The students huddled together, watching me like a monkey at the zoo, flinched.

Most of them avoided my gaze and pretended to be busy, while a few smiled and bowed their heads in greeting as if nothing had happened.

When I suddenly stopped walking, Nia, who was guiding me through the academy, asked, “Why… are you stopping?”

“Oh, there was a cute cat.”

“A cat… So, you like cats, disciple…”

I was tempted to tell on them and let them taste the bitterness of my power, but I decided to hold back for now since I had just started.

Hearing my words, Nia scribbled something in a small notebook. Why is she writing that down? I do like cats, but I just said that off the cuff.

“There are still… many places left to show you. Let’s go quickly…”

Hearing her slow, sloth-like prodding, I felt a strange sensation. I followed Nia as she started walking again.

I could feel the gazes that had momentarily fallen away instantly sticking back to me. Ugh, just watch. Go ahead and watch.

The incredibly vast academy grounds were divided into five main zones.

The Zone of Water with the Magic Hall for magic classes, the Zone of Fire with the Sword Hall, the Zone of Earth with common subject classrooms and administrative facilities, the Zone of Wind with dormitories and other amenities, and the Zone of Light, which students were not allowed to enter.

Unlike the other zones, the Zone of Light couldn’t be seen with the naked eye. It seemed to be protected by a barrier.

We toured the Zone of Water, the Zone of Fire, and the Zone of Wind in order before arriving at the administration building in the Zone of Earth. I barely managed to stop Nia, who was about to take me to the dean’s office without a second thought.

We sat facing each other in an empty counseling room, and Nia took off her hood, blushing shyly.

“I’m happy… to be able to teach you, disciple.”

“Hahaha… Please don’t call me disciple. Just call me by my name. I’m literally here as a disciple to receive your teachings…”

“No! I will treasure… and cherish the successor!”

“Yes, yes…”

Where did that sudden force come from? It took me by surprise.

“Have you… decided what classes you want to take?”

“Yes. This one, this one, this one, and this one… And… I’d like to take Artifact Creation.”

“That’s an advanced class… Are you sure you’re up for it?”

“Yes, I am. I’ve always been very interested in artifacts.”

“You can always change it if you don’t like it… But… you’ll have to drop one class…”

Huh? You said I could choose five? When I gave her a puzzled look, Nia squirmed.

“There’s a Light Magic… class…”

Oh, right. It wasn’t in the notice, so I hadn’t thought about it. I decided to drop a suitable class and include the Light Magic one.

After checking off the list, Nia gave a shy smile.

“The Light Magic class will be just… you and me… Right? Can we start today…?”

Nia’s eyes sparkled with anticipation. Ugh, I’m not mentally prepared, but the atmosphere makes it impossible to say no.

I hesitated, then nodded. Nia jumped up from her seat.

“Wait here for a moment!”

Nia used magic to disappear from my sight and reappeared in less than three seconds. She suddenly seems to be filled with so much energy and her movements are so much faster.

The clean counseling room began to be surrounded by books and rolled-up parchments. When there was no more space on the floor, the books began to pile up on top of each other like a tower, a strange phenomenon indeed.

What is all this…? Am I going to be buried alive by these books?

“Nia, what are all these books?”

“These are the materials I’ve collected and organized while waiting for you, disciple. There isn’t a lot of information left on light magic, so this is all I could gather… It’s embarrassing.”

“Um, so… Are all these books…”

“Yes! They’ll all be used for our lessons!”

“Goodbye. Thank you for the tour.”

As soon as I gave a deep bow, I bolted for the counseling room door. She wants me to study all this? Are you insane?!

Nia blocked the door with her body and cried out,

“It might look like a lot, but it’s not! You’re a top student, you can do it! Let’s do our best together!”

Why did a sloth turn into an enthusiastic teacher?! I can’t do it. I won’t!

I clung to Nia, who was guarding the door like a tree with its roots in the ground, and wailed.

Please, just let me go!

***

Aside from being dragged into a four-hour light magic lesson with Nia on the very first day, the academy classes were generally fun. The reputation of being the continent’s top academy wasn’t for nothing—the quality of the lessons was excellent. What I especially liked was how magic could be learned from theory all the way to practice in one go.  

And today was the day I had been waiting for: Kieryk’s artifact class.  

The very moment the bell rang, Kieryk strode into the lecture hall. I had deliberately taken a seat at the very back. It was my effort not to draw his attention if I could help it.  

“Good day, everyone. It’s nice to see you again after some time. Have you all been well?”  

“Yes, Professor!”  

“It seems we have a new student who joined during the break.”  

As if on cue, every student turned to look at me. I ducked my head, forcing an awkward smile as I tried to escape the stabbing gazes. Guess they weren’t going to just let this pass.  

“Then, shall we all make a fresh start together?”  

Kieryk smiled gently. He looked almost the same as before, only a little thinner. If he were already falling into demonization, I thought it would show outwardly.  

‘Did Queen Florese change her plan because Jeras didn’t lose control?’  

It wasn’t an impossible thought. If that were the case… it was good news that we had bought time, but bad news that the development was straying from what I knew.  

I spent most of the lecture distracted, thinking about Queen Florese’s schemes and Kieryk’s condition, barely paying attention to the content.  

“That concludes today’s class. For next time, please each create a small artifact based on what we covered today.”  

“Thank you!”  

‘…Huh?’

Something caught my eye. At Kieryk’s feet, just as he was leaving the lecture hall, something black and translucent writhed. At first I thought it was his shadow—but no. I had seen this before, many times.  

That black smoke seeping from Queen Florese, and rising from Jeras after he drank the potion!  

‘I can’t just let him go like this!’

I shot up from my seat and dashed out of the lecture hall. Frantically scanning the hallway, I caught a glimpse of golden hair disappearing around the corner.  

“Excuse me! Sorry, coming through!”  

Shoving past the students crowding the corridor, I barely managed to catch up. The closer I drew to him, the stronger a strange unease and disgust churned in me. The black aura flickered in and out like smoke tossed by the wind.  

As Kieryk turned another corner, I called out to his back: “Pr-professor! Please wait a moment!”  

Kieryk looked over his shoulder. His face was cold, expressionless, and dark—nothing like the Kieryk I knew.  

A chill ran through me, and I stumbled back a step without thinking.  

Then, slowly, a faint smile tugged at his lips.  

“I was just thinking I wanted to speak with you. At the academy, I should address you not as ‘Lady,’ but as Miss Eloered. Is that all right?”  

“Y-yes… please do.”  

“What is it you wished to discuss, Miss Eloered?”  

I swallowed hard. Kieryk took a step closer. A sharp, acrid smell hit my nose.  

It wasn’t like fish or the sea. It was something entirely unfamiliar, the kind of stench that made every hair on my body bristle.  

“Did you not have something to say?”  

“Y-yes. Since it was my first time in class today, I wasn’t sure how to approach the assignment. I just wanted to ask you about that…”  

“I see. Do you have another class after this?”  

“Ah, no. I don’t…”  

“Good. Then why don’t we discuss it in my office? This way.”  

Kieryk moved beside me, guiding me forward as if escorting me. In my head, every instinct screamed don’t follow him, blaring like an alarm.  

For some reason, there was no one else around. Not even the cheerful noise of students chatting reached my ears. Just moments ago, the hall had been bustling with students leaving class.  

Not that having people around would have helped. I couldn’t very well scream that Kieryk was possessed by a demon and was about to kidnap me. No one would believe me.  

“Shall we?”  

At his feet, black haze swirled again.  

I twisted slightly to avoid his arm and focused on that haze. Its familiar shape sparked a thought.  

‘If the dark aura is visible like this, it’s practically a curse, isn’t it? Maybe divine power will work. Nothing to lose by trying.’

“Um… Professor?”  

“Yes? Go on.”  

“Could you look into my eyes for a moment?”  

Kieryk tilted his head slightly, his expression marked with curiosity. But other than that, he made no move to resist, simply meeting my gaze.  

Maybe it was my imagination, but the once-clear, calm eyes seemed murky. His condition was definitely not good. Even if Queen Florese hadn’t acted yet, something was wrong with him.  

I cleared my mind and focused. Since divine power and mana were fundamentally similar forces, and I had learned to control mana flowing through my body, I could quickly draw on my divine power.  

Heat gathered in my eyes, as if I’d pressed something hot against them. Staring intently into his, I muttered softly:  

“…Eye beam.”  

In a flash, the world went white. It was the same principle as the time I had dazzled Jeras back at the temple, except this time the light shot only from my eyes, controlled into a weaker beam.  

Hit by the divine light, Kieryk staggered and grimaced.  

“What is this…?”  

“S-sorry! I’ve been practicing mana control lately, and sometimes divine power leaks out by accident! Are you all right?”  

“Don’t touch me!”  

The sudden roar, sharp as a scream, froze me in place with my hand half-extended toward him. He covered his eyes with one hand, breathing raggedly for a long while.  

At last, when he seemed to calm down, he lowered his hand and glared at me. The killing intent in his eyes made my shoulders hunch involuntarily. If eyes could kill, those would.  

“We’ll speak another time.”  

Without waiting for my reply, Kieryk turned and left. His staggering gait looked dangerously unsteady. The black haze flared up once, enveloping him, then seeped into him without a trace.  

Divine power doesn’t harm ordinary humans. His reaction had been far too extreme for just being dazzled.  

Nothing about him had been like the Kieryk I knew.  

He really was…  

“Haah.”  

I let out a sigh so heavy it felt like the ground might cave in beneath it.