Damn Academy - Chapter 186

[Episode 186] Backstage Maneuvers (2)

Luna, unable to utter a word, righted her leaning body back to its original position. She fidgeted restlessly for a moment before walking towards the exit. Then, as if changing her mind, she turned around and sat down in the nurse’s chair beside my bed.

She spoke in a calm voice.

“I… didn’t do anything.”
T h is w a s co pi e d f r om k i n g m t l .o r g

Before I even asked what she had done, Luna seemed to react as if struck by guilt.

“Have you been here the whole time?”

“No… well, yes… I mean… I’ve been taking care of you here.”

“That just now…?”

“I thought I heard you talking in your sleep… so I tried to listen.”

“Did you hear what I said?”

“It was just… sleep-talking.”

It seemed like I was missing something, but I didn’t press further. Luna might sometimes be clumsy, but she wasn’t someone who would do anything strange to me.

“But are you sure it’s okay for you to be here? We’re not supposed to be seen as too close.”

That was true, and how long had Luna been here tonight? Had she just silently endured the dull hours all this time?

Luna nodded confidently.

“Yes… I want to stay. You saved me… It would look bad if I just left.”

“…Well, no one would suspect anything if we became friends after this.”

“I was thinking the same.”

I noticed she still hadn’t untied the handkerchief ribbon. She must have liked it.
T h i s w a s c o pi e d f r om k i n g m t l . or g

Suddenly curious, I asked her about something I had requested of her.

“How is Senior Olivia?”

“It looks like it will be resolved. The kids guided the duchy’s envoy to Senior Ruskeus.”

It wasn’t a special request. Luna’s spirits had only found the private meeting place between Ruskeus and Olivia and sent the duchy’s envoy there.

Now that the family’s honor was at stake, they wouldn’t dare act carelessly. The seat next to the princess was undoubtedly beyond reach now.

Luna smiled faintly, as if to say everything had worked out. It seemed the abuser had indeed been met on the scene, just as I intended.

“And Senior Olivia?”

“…She’s not seriously hurt. Senior Ruskeus will soon be referred to the disciplinary committee.”

I unknowingly tensed my neck, then relaxed upon hearing her words.

“But Luna, it’s late. Shouldn’t you head back?”

Even after penetrating injuries and recuperative treatment, the tissue wouldn’t heal in a day, and I had to rest undisturbed for a full day. I had to endure a tedious stay in bed, but there was no need for Luna to do the same.

“…It’s okay. If I go back to the dormitory… I’ll be alone again.”

I had been thoughtless. Luna’s dormitory was isolated; she would be alone if she returned.

“Then, would you like to share some cookies with me?”

I reached for Haley’s cookie box that I had put on the nightstand.

“I’d like that…”

But then I noticed another box, fist-sized, beside it.

“I haven’t seen this one before, is it yours, Luna?”

“No… it was already here when I came.”

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Opening the box, I found it full of candies. However, there was no name indicating who had left it. Someone had visited while I was asleep, and the contents inexplicably irked me. Could it be from someone who knew I liked candies? Perhaps Cecil.

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“Why… what’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

***

After Luna departed, I spent the rest of the night alone.

While most pressing matters were resolved, there was still much to ponder. I had to question Trisha about Cecil and investigate the wooden sword that had broken my Enchanted Sword.

Then there was the enigmatic dream, its significance unknown to me.

And, looming even more ominously than the evaluations, was an imminent and terrifying event.

Eternia was… about two weeks away from a dance event.

The mere thought brought on a cold sweat.

A cruel event indeed. One must find a partner and dance publicly at the ball.

While I had quickly learned to dance from Silveryn, I was out of options if the music’s tempo changed from what I was taught.

Moreover, I remembered stepping on Silveryn’s feet at least ten times while dancing with her. I was bound to make a fool of myself with similar blunders at the upcoming ball.

The biggest dilemma, however, was choosing a partner.

It was tradition for the male students to initiate the invitation.

It would have been easy to ask Silveryn without hesitation if she was here, but, regrettably, she wasn’t. How perfect it would have been if Lady Vivi had been an Eternia student. I could have easily matched dance steps with her, given our shared experiences.

Unfortunately, those who seemed like a good match were too far away.

Dancing with Luna, which required holding her at the waist, seemed too daunting.

And Trisha… honestly, I couldn’t bear the thought of looking into her eyes and matching steps day after day.

Perhaps art department seniors like Jenia or Haley would be less daunting, but it was uncertain whether they would accept my invitation. How could I know if they already had partners?

As dawn broke, Trisha burst into the room before the nursemaid could arrive.

“Damian!!”

She came to me with a large basket, sitting down in front of me.

“What’s happening?”

“What do you mean, what? I brought snacks for my foolish friend!”

Trisha opened the basket on my stomach, revealing it was full of dried fruits.

“How about that. Pretty good, huh.”

“That’s… nice of you.”

“Should I feed you?”

Trisha seemed a bit too excited.

“Suddenly?”

“Why? Embarrassed?”

“Embarrassed?”

“Here! I’ll feed you. Open up!”

When Trisha brought forth the dried fruit, I reluctantly accepted it.

She watched me chew with a pleased expression.

I felt an odd sense of discomfort.

Was it because I usually looked after Trisha, and now the roles were reversed?

Had she gotten into trouble again without my knowing? Why was she being so nice all of a sudden?

“Trisha, you…”

“Oh! Right. Professor Candinella wanted to see you today.”

“Okay.”

“Damian, you caused so much trouble yesterday that people keep asking me about you. It’s exhausting!”

Th i s wa s c o p i e d f ro m k ing m t l. o r g
“You’ve had it tough.”

“Seriously, you can’t just throw yourself around like that!”

“It wasn’t like I just threw myself…”

“Forget it! I have a class. Bye!”

Trisha interjected throughout, spilling her thoughts without pause, then left hastily as if being chased.

“…”

There seemed to be something more.
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***

Knock, knock.

I knocked on the door to Professor Candinella’s office. I wondered if she was the professor I met most often after Professor Georgia of the art department.

“Come in.”

Entering the office, Candinella stopped her work and stood up to greet me.

“Ah, our beloved Masked One has arrived.”

“I’m here because you said you wanted to see me.”

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“Yes, yes, sit down.”

I took a seat on the reception sofa, and she sat down in front of me.

“How is the art department? Settling in well?”

“It’s good.”

“How about Trisha?”

“No issues.”

“Can you elaborate a bit more?”

“What do you mean?”

“How is it going with Trisha?”

“She’s the closest friend I have.”

“Hm… it’s just that there are people from a far-off land managing Trisha’s affairs. They want to know how she’s doing. Who she’s closest to.”

Suddenly, a fact I usually overlooked resurfaced—Trisha was more precious than anyone else.

“Is it bad if we get too close?”

She shook her head lightly.

“No, the opposite. The closer, the better. They don’t want Trisha to grow up wounded or twisted.”

“Even if she sometimes acts incomprehensibly… Trisha isn’t a bad person.”

Why this sudden inquiry? Was it related to Trisha being unexpectedly nice?
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“That’s good to hear. Yesterday, we conducted an academic adaptation survey among the students in the dorms. It was a simple questionnaire, and Trisha listed you as her closest friend.”

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“Do I need to take the survey?”

“You seem to be adapting well, so there’s no need. But wait a second.”

She fetched some documents from the bookshelf and started rummaging through them.

“Damian, there’s something suspicious related to you.”

“Is there a problem?”

“On the question: ‘Who is your closest classmate or senior/junior?’, fifteen students answered with your name.”
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“…Really?”

“That number seems odd to you too, right?”

“It is very strange.”

The people I consider close are Trisha, Luna, and senior Cecil from the art department. I’ve had no opportunity to form relationships with others.

“Exactly. Most probably just wishfully wrote it down. But the problem is…”

Candinella sighed with a serious look on her face.

“What is it, Professor?”

“Most of those students also listed Trisha as someone they find difficult and unpleasant to be around.”

“…”

“The hidden implication of that question is that she’s the student they dislike the most.”