Damn Academy - Chapter 202

[Episode 202] Backstage Maneuvers (18)

The ball was still in full swing, but Cecil had left it behind.

The dazzling fireworks exploded, and the festive music from the ballroom spread far and wide.

With tear-stained eyes, Cecil walked towards the dormitory, having taken quite some time to accept her situation.

She had been abandoned.

Her calculation that Candy would cling to her more over time was completely wrong.

Never before in her life had she failed to obtain something she wanted.

The support of a powerful family, the full backing of academic society sponsors, and her unrivaled talent meant she had never experienced failure.

The concept of lacking something was something she understood intellectually but had never personally experienced.

Whatever she pursued, she achieved the highest results if she put in the effort.

Her admission to Eternia and her position as the top student in the Magic Department were part of that success, and male attention had always come to her effortlessly.

Life had been so easy.

She had thought she could win over the person she wanted as well.

But now, Cecil felt a profound sense of loss and, for the first time, a bitter taste of defeat for having been discarded by Candy.
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What went wrong?

As she walked to the dormitory, she pondered endlessly.

Tears welled up from the bitterness, and she found her own weeping face pathetic, hastily wiping it away with her forearm as though nothing was wrong.

“Next time… I’ll do better… Next time…”

***

“There he comes.”

“Really? He’s alone.”

“Oh my, did he really get dumped?”

“Who said that?”

“Serves him right.”

Before the second part of the event started, Damian entered the ballroom in a clean appearance, causing a few girls in a corner to murmur among themselves.

Jenia and Haley, hearing this nearby, frowned disapprovingly.

Unlike the beginning of the semester, there were hardly any girls speaking favorably of Damian now.

Many openly pursued him, and those who felt they couldn’t compete had stepped back, leaving Damian as mere gossip fodder rather than an object of desire.

Jenia leaned on the railing, overlooking the ballroom. From above, she noticed things she hadn’t when she was among the crowd.

Not many were openly watching Damian, but numerous were stealing glances at him. While chatting with friends, sipping drinks, or even dancing, their eyes drifted to Damian.

Jenia sighed and said,

“Girls can be so cunning, right?”

Haley responded meaningfully,

“Yeah. Cunning. You are cunning too.”

“What are you talking about?”

“You know.”

Jenia seemed a bit annoyed,

“I’m not looking at the newbie like that, you know?”

“If the newbie says, ‘I don’t like girls my age. They seem like kids. I prefer mature seniors,’ would you refuse his dance invitation?”

“Yeah. The newbie feels like a little brother now. Not interested.”

“Really? He seemed too childish for me to dance with.”

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Jenia squinted at Haley.

“…”

Haley averted her gaze downwards.

“…”

A moment of silence passed between them.

Then, Haley, noticing Damian’s movement path, said in surprise,

“Wait. Is the newbie… going there?”

Haley pointed, and Jenia looked equally shocked.

“No way… right?”

Damian was walking towards Sion.

After a brief exchange, Sion responded coldly.

After their conversation, Damian headed elsewhere.

“See, it wasn’t him.”

Jenia breathed a sigh of relief.

Haley, on the other hand, squinted suspiciously at Jenia.

***

I finished my short conversation with Sion and headed for Luna.

The incident with Cecil still weighed on my mind, and although I wanted to end the ball early, I couldn’t hurt another friend just because I was in a bad mood.

Being with Luna might offer some comfort.

From afar, Luna had already fixed her gaze on me as if she had sensed my location.

As I approached, Luna modestly clasped her hands and stood up.

“Have you been waiting long?”

“No, that’s not it… What were you talking to Sion about?”

“Something related to Sion’s mentor that I had to pass on.”

“I see…”

I had actually approached Sion amidst the boys who were throwing compliments like “Your dress looks nice” and received a curt “get lost” in return.

“What’s that note in your hand?”

Luna was holding a small piece of vellum.

As if she had forgotten about it, she quickly hid it behind her back.

“…It’s nothing.”

Soon after, the wolf spirit walked up behind her, took the note from her hand, and began to chew it like a snack.

“…?”

Then Luna asked out of the blue.

“Have I… changed?”

Luna nervously twirled her hair. Compared to before,

“The scent has changed. Did you change your perfume?”

Luna’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Yes…! It’s my favorite perfume.”

“It smells nice.”

“It’s made by the alchemist Rubicon Marzini, one of the Witch series perfumes.”

“What’s its name?”

“This one… is ‘Witch’s Lust.'”

I paused. Surely, I hadn’t misheard. An unusual name for a perfume.

“Since it’s a series… are there others?”

“Yes… I also personally like ‘Witch’s Nudity’ and ‘Witch’s Moan.'”

The scent suited Luna, but the names of the perfumes were wildly provocative, especially for someone as reserved as Luna to mention so freely… too stimulating a choice of words.

Seeing Luna’s unembarrassed, tranquil face, I wondered if she didn’t fully grasp what those names implied.

She must not know…

Luna, with curious eyes like an intrigued cat, looked up at me. It was hard to tell what she was thinking.

I naturally changed the subject.

“There’s still a lot of time until the finale. Want to step out for a bit?”

Luna nodded.

“…Yes.”

“Let’s go.”

As I turned, Luna quickly grabbed my arm.

“It’s customary for partners to link arms…”

I offered my arm without much thought. Luna hesitated for a moment before lightly resting her hand on it, more of a touch than an actual arm link.

Considering how cautious Luna was about physical contact, it was strange to hear her speak of ‘Witch’s Moan’ and such.

“There seem to be a lot of people out and about.”

Entering the second part, several small events aimed at heightening the excitement were underway.

“Yes, I… want to go to the maze garden.”

“Is there something you want to see there?”

“Just…”

***

Following Luna’s request, we left the bustling ballroom and headed towards the maze garden, greeted by a cool breeze.

Unlike the quiet first part, the maze garden was relatively crowded.

At the entrance, a host directed a line of paired men and women, indicating some event was underway.

Approaching, we saw a few students blocking the entrance, controlling movement.

A student standing on an apple crate shouted to the crowd gathering at the maze,

“…The prize is a couple bracelet made of brasswood stem, crafted by our Horticulture Club. I’ll repeat for those just arriving. The ‘Find Your Partner!’ race winners will receive a brasswood stem couple bracelet.”

It seemed to be a small event organized by one of the special interest clubs.

The Horticulture Club.

Overshadowed by the Dance and Drama Clubs, I had almost forgotten about these smaller specialty clubs.
T hi s wa s co p i e d f r om k i n gm t l .o r g

“A brasswood accessory…”

It was likely a fake. My experience in craftsmanship and a not-insignificant knowledge of botany told me its true value.

Brasswood’s strength was comparable to metal, and its unique scent lasted over a century. Due to its slow growth, it traded for more than its weight in gold. Too precious an item for a one-off event.

It was meant to be enjoyed, and without any signs that the Horticulture Club students were profiting, I didn’t feel the need to question it.

Besides, Luna’s eyes sparkled too much at the prospect of winning the bracelet.

“Do you want to do it, Luna?”

She nodded twice, clearly having set her sights on this from the start.

The host continued explaining,

“We’ll take your partners to the deepest part of the maze and tie them up. The remaining participants must find their partners as quickly as possible within the time limit.”

As the rules were announced, the waiting students began whispering among themselves.

I examined the maze walls. Not too high, and the total area wasn’t vast. It seemed manageable.
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The value of the brasswood bracelets didn’t seem to matter to anyone; the atmosphere was just to have fun. Being too competitive might draw disapproval.

“Now, those who will wait in the deepest part of the maze, raise your hands!”

Most of the girls raised their hands, Luna among them.

“Why should men always be the seekers? Boring! Those who didn’t raise their hands will stay at the entrance. Men, please follow me inside!”

Laughter erupted as the rules twisted amusingly.

I looked at Luna. She shyly lowered her arm and nodded at me.

“Is this ok?”

“Damian… I’ll be the one to find you.”

“Why not make a bet like the others?”

Around us, partners were wagering on how quickly they could find each other.

“Luna, if you win… is there something you want?”

“Yes. There is.”

“What is it?”

“…A wish?”

“Huh?”

“A wish… would be nice.”

Wishes were a common exchange between men and women. In transactions or monetary relations, it could cause problems, but in strong bonds, unreasonable requests were rare.

If Trisha had mentioned this, I would’ve pondered for days, but with Luna, there would be no hardship. She wouldn’t put me in a difficult situation.

“Alright. If we win, I’ll grant you a wish.”

***

The men followed the host to the center of the maze. The experience was different from viewing it from above. The structure was complex enough to get lost for hours if not careful.

“Okay, you can wait here.”

We were tied up in a formal restraint, loosely knotted with almost no pressure.

We sat down, spaced apart along the maze wall. The host left us there and departed.

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As the starting signal exploded at the entrance, the guy sitting opposite me began to squirm.

“Dammit, why tie it so tight.”

A handsome guy cursed as he twisted his body.

Then he looked at me,

“Hey, can you help me out?”

He didn’t seem harmful.

I took out a dagger from my waist and threw it in front of him. The guy, surprised, cut his restraints with the dagger.

“Ah, that’s better.”

“…”

The man glanced at my face and asked,

“Have we met before?”

Honestly, I wanted to ignore him, but the walls we were leaning against were too close, making it difficult.

I made it clear I was annoyed and shook my head.

“No, I get it. I’ve seen you. Damian.”

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“…Have we met?”

“I saw you in Rigved. It’s rare to see someone grab attention like you.”

“I don’t recall.”

“No, you did.”

“…”

“I’m Hubert. Mutant. Freak. I’ve been called various names, but my real name isn’t so bad.”

“Not the friendliest nicknames.”

“My heart carries dwarf blood. Often called a mutant or a half-breed.”

“You don’t seem related.”

At a glance, the guy had long limbs and a face too handsome to fit the rough image of a dwarf. More akin to a prized stallion than a mongrel.

“My father is closer to a typical dwarf. I guess I’m doing alright for a descendant of a despised race.”

“…”

His disconnection from dwarves was apparent, but he didn’t seem to be lying. His blunt honesty wasn’t entirely unlikable.

Hubert then asked bluntly,

“What about you?”

What? Does he think I’m some kind of mixed breed too?

“What are you asking?”

“Are you… human?”

The question was unexpected, but it felt right to match his honesty.

“My mother is human, and I’ve never seen my father, so I don’t know.”

Hubert grinned disarmingly, not mocking but acknowledging my openness.
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“I like you. Who did you come with?”

“A friend.”

“Is she pretty?”

“One of the prettiest at the academy.”

Hubert shrugged as if he had expected as much.

“Well, of course. Is she your first?”

“…”

I didn’t answer. Hubert seemed to understand something about me, nodding to himself.

“Ah, that side? I’m the opposite.”

I couldn’t grasp what he was implying.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, I don’t like virgins.”

“…”

“You seem to lean that way, but you appear less experienced. Be careful; women can obsessively cling to their first man. Can you handle it?”

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“And you?”

“I prefer women with experience. Less clingy, easier to break off, more convenient. Clean, no aftermath… you know?”

“Not at all.”

I shook my head.

He seemed like the typical playboy.

It was slightly irritating that he treated me as if I were in the same category as him.

“You’ll learn to judge people better through experiences. Don’t you think?”

“If you meet the best one, there’s no need to wander.”

Hubert laughed.

“That’s not bad either. You’re interesting. I’ll invite you to a party sometime. I’ll introduce you to my friends.”

“If time allows.”

“By the way, have you ever hit on Erzebet?”

“Who?”

“My partner. She claims you flirted aggressively, causing her distress.”

I shook my head in annoyance.

“Never seen her.”

“Don’t worry; I’m not accusing you. I already knew it was a lie. Just checking.”

“Why make up such a lie?”

Hubert rubbed his neck,

“What else? Insecurity. It’s obvious, isn’t it? She wants to dominate but feels anxious about where the partner might wander. So, she provokes by mentioning other men.”

“…”

“Ah, she acts experienced, but seeing this, she seems naive and overly attached like a first love.”

“You chose it, you deal with it.”

“I just wanted something light. She’s burning with desire to do anything… even considering marriage… You get the feeling? You’d suffocate seeing how intense her possessiveness is. I guarantee, she won’t hesitate to use any means to win first place.”

Hubert dramatically tied the rope around his neck, simulating strangulation.

Then, noises erupted from one side of the maze.

“Aaah!”

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“What’s happening!”

“Wait, wait!”

The commotion drew closer.

Hubert remarked as if he had expected it,

“Told you, they’re coming.”

We rose, anticipating the end, and looked towards the path connected to the noise.

A familiar blonde head appeared first.

Surprisingly, it wasn’t Erzebet but Luna who emerged, alongside the white wolf spirit that immediately set about freeing me. Then, it laid down, showing its belly.

“…Hmm?”

Hubert looked at Luna and me with wide eyes, seemingly making a discovery.

Luna rushed to me and took my hand, wrapping her fingers timidly around mine.

I asked first,

“What caused all the noise?”

“There was an obstacle… so I cleared it.”

“…”

“I won… right?”

“…Yes.”

“The wish… the wish is mine.”

Luna led me back the way we had come.

Then, belatedly, a girl burst into our area.

“Hubert!”

It was Hubert’s partner, Erzebet.
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She ran to him, throwing herself into an eager embrace.

“Been waiting long? I’ll save you!”

Erzebet brushed past us without giving me a second glance, her eyes fixed only on Hubert. It was clear she had no interest in me.

Seeing her affectionate look towards Hubert… it seemed like my name was just used in a power play.

For a brief moment, Cecil’s figure flashed in my mind.

Caught by our partners, Hubert and I briefly locked eyes.

Hubert nodded at me silently.

It appeared I wasn’t so different from him after all.

I turned back to Luna and asked,

“Luna, what’s your wish?”

“…Make it three wishes.”

“That’s not allowed.”