Damn Academy - Chapter 203

Chapter 203

T hi s w a s c o p i e d f r om k i n g mtl. or g
Backstage Maneuvers (19)

We didn’t return to the ballroom where the main event of the second part was taking place. Luna was uncomfortable with drawing others’ attention.

Instead, we sat quietly on a lawn with a good view of the fireworks and watched the sky.

The sound of fireworks echoed in the sky.

Luna, sitting beside me, was silent. Unlike other girls, she didn’t chatter about her daily life.

The light of the fireworks reflected in her sparkling eyes. It was hard to read her thoughts from her expression.

Although it might have been a boring time, there was no complaint. She seemed to find meaning in simply being in the same space, seeing the same sights, and breathing the same air.

I, too, wasn’t skilled in making small talk, and we remained silent for a while.

It was peaceful. So much so that I wondered if I deserved such tranquility.

The Sword Master’s letter had warned of a Magic Sword Hunter’s impending visit, but there was no sign of any disturbance anywhere.

Luna’s spirits had more or less occupied the campus, so there was no need for vigilance.

Just as I protected Luna, Luna was also protecting me.

Breaking the long silence, I spoke first.

“Luna.”

“…Yes.”

“Are those dark spirits still bothering you?”

Luna nodded.

“Yes. But they haven’t completely disappeared from Eternia… When you go far away, I sometimes feel their gaze. They can start again anytime, anywhere. That’s their nature…”
Th i s w a s c o pi e d f r o m k i ng m t l. o rg

“…”

“But even if they come back, things won’t go back to the way they were before.”

I had first met Luna at the Railes Estate in Rigved. Reflecting on that time, Luna had changed a lot.

Unlike when she was hiding and trembling in the dark, she now got along well with others and even smiled occasionally. Although it was still only with me, her hostility towards the opposite sex was visibly improving.

“Will it be alright during the vacation?”

During the vacation, we’d be apart for a long time. Even if something happened, I couldn’t rush over to help. It made me uneasy to leave Luna in such a situation.

I couldn’t follow her to her family home either. It was uncertain whether her family, being of noble status, would accept someone of my humble background.

“I can handle it now.”
T h i s w a s c op i e d fr om k i n g m t l . o r g

Seeing Luna’s confident demeanor, I thought she might be stronger than I had imagined.

Even without me by her side, she might learn to face crises on her own.

“…Yes, I’m not worried about the vacation anymore. Because I have the wish token.”

“…What?”

“Damian’s vacation… is mine now.”

Wait, what is this?

“…Could you explain what you mean?”

Luna avoided my gaze. Then, her face started to blush.

“When… when the vacation comes… visit the Railes Estate. That’s my wish…”

“…”

Well, if necessary, I’ll visit, but thinking about my schedule after the vacation made my head spin.

First, I had promised to visit Trisha’s home, then the Duchess’s place. And now, if I had to go to Luna’s estate… Was she from the Empire?

Considering the travel distance, I might end up spending more nights in a carriage than in a bed.

“Where is the Railes Estate?”

“It’s close to the Imperial Capital. We also have many villas near the border…”

Hearing about the villas reminded me that Luna was also a precious daughter of a noble family. It was easy to forget this fact while living in Eternia, which emphasized equality.

I didn’t respond and stood up, brushing the grass off my pants.

Luna looked up at me with anxious eyes, awaiting my answer.

“Will you… come?”

The faint sound of music from the ballroom reached us. The sun had set, and the ball was nearing its end.

Instead of answering, I extended my hand to Luna and said,

“It’s time to dance.”

“…Yes.”

She looked a bit flustered but took my hand and stood up.

There was no one around us. No dazzling lights, just a clearing with a few trees. This wasn’t my choice. It was where Luna wanted to be.

Why she wanted such a place, I didn’t know. Maybe she just disliked noisy places.

“Take a deep breath.”

“…What?”

When I placed my hand on Luna’s waist, she flinched. For some reason, her reaction made me feel guilty, as if I was tormenting a delicate soul.

We moved our feet to the distant sound of music. Luna, perhaps too tense, couldn’t keep her steps and trembled slightly.

To ease her tension, I made a joke.

“I’ll visit you before the vacation ends.”

“…Yes.”

“But you didn’t need to use the wish token for that.”

Luna’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Then cancel the wish token…!”

“It’s too late.”

***

Nothing happened until the ball ended. Luna’s spirits detected no suspicious movements, allowing me to enjoy the festival with a clear mind.

The moon was up, and everyone, leaving behind the festival’s excitement, returned to their dormitories.

I wondered what it would’ve been like if Trisha had attended the ball.

Is Trisha okay now? Her recent disappearance worries me.

I hurried through the misty labyrinth.

Was it my imagination? The mist’s airflow towards the Thorn Garden Dormitory felt strangely off.

The mist seemed to writhe unusually, unlike usual.

As time passed, my unease grew. I became sensitive to even minor changes in the labyrinth. On Eternia’s first festival day, I had experienced death in the labyrinth.

“…”

I quickened my pace. Finally, when I reached the Thorn Garden Dormitory, my ominous feeling became a reality.

“…!”

The front yard of the Thorn Garden Dormitory was lined with librarians, standing like guards.

A bizarre scene unfolded before me, and I momentarily lost my senses.

“Wh-what is this?”

I blinked my eyes. It felt like a hallucination.

The dormitory building of the Thorn Garden was grotesquely twisted.

The outer walls of the building were bent like a bowstring. Not only that, the roof drooped like waterlogged vellum, and the entire building was enveloped in a dark aura.

What’s more bizarre was that there were no cracks or signs of collapse on the building’s exterior.

Could this be the work of the Magic Sword Hunter? The thought made my heart sink.

Professor Candinella, standing next to the librarians, noticed me and gestured.

I hurried to her and immediately asked about Trisha’s well-being.

“Professor, is Trisha alright?”

Professor Candinella shook her head.

“She isn’t hurt or dead, but there’s an issue.”

“What happened? Is there an intruder?”

“No, it’s unrelated to that. Ah, if it’s about the Magic Sword Hunter, that matter has been resolved well.”

“…Then could you explain what’s going on?”

Candinella sighed deeply and looked up at the twisted dormitory building.

“We can handle a Magic Sword Hunter, but this is different. The space itself has been twisted. Take a good look. This power can either save or destroy the world.”

“Who did this?”

Candinella smiled weakly.

“Your friend.”

“Trisha?”
T h i s w as c o p i ed f r o m k in g m tl. o r g

To think Trisha had such power. No wonder she was in the Masters Class. I hadn’t expected much, but seeing the state of the dormitory, I could only think of her abilities as monstrous.

If that power spread across the entire campus, it would indeed be a catastrophe.

“Yes. For some reason, she’s extremely angry, and her latent power is bursting out.”

“…”

“Her guardian said that this happens once every three to four years. It happened last year and again this year, which is unusual.”

“What will you do with Trisha?”

“The power is confined to the dormitory building and hasn’t spread outside. We need to monitor it, but it’s not highly dangerous. However, if you go inside, you’ll be repelled. The only option is to wait until her anger subsides.”

A special power that bursts out according to emotional state… It reminded me of the ‘Child of the Stars.’ Could Trisha also possess such innate magical abilities?

“Where is Trisha now?”

“In the dormitory.”

“Is there no way to reverse this?”

“If you forcibly enter, you’ll be repelled. That power… no one can control it. We can only wait until Trisha’s mood improves.”

“…Can I go in?”

“I want to stop you.”

“I’ll try to calm her down. I’m used to soothing Trisha.”

Professor Candinella pondered seriously for a moment before answering.

“Alright, give it a try. If you get repelled, we’ll catch you.”

Without further delay, I headed straight to the dormitory entrance.

The black aura enveloping the outer wall writhed like a snake but didn’t directly affect me.

I glanced back at Candinella, who nodded.

Thankfully, I didn’t feel any force rejecting me.

The main gate drooped like a waterlogged cloth. After taking a deep breath, I pushed the door open.

The oil lamps and candles illuminating the hall flickered with green and black flames irregularly. The dormitory was a completely different place. It sounded as if the structure was groaning as the supporting pillars twisted, urging me to move quickly.

I hurried up the stairs to the second floor and stood in front of Trisha’s door.

I knocked.

“Trisha, I’m here.”

No response.

“I’m coming in.”

I opened the door and went inside.

A girl with disheveled white hair and a white dress lay on the bed, curled up like a shrimp, hugging a pillow as big as herself.

“Trisha.”

Still no movement. With her mouth and nose buried in the pillow, how was she breathing? I leaned closer to check and heard faint breathing sounds.

This wa s copi e d f r o m k i n g mt l. o r g
“I’m here.”

“…”

“Are you asleep?”

Her arms were tightly gripping the pillow as if it might burst.

The candles in the room suddenly flared up as if they had been doused with oil. She had noticed my presence.

To get a reaction from Trisha, I made some silly jokes.

“Your face will get squished like dough if you stay like that. I don’t like girls with flat faces.”

Still no response.

“I have somewhere to take you. If you keep this up, I’ll go dance with the professor instead.”

Finally, she reacted slightly. Perhaps anger flared up, making her arms tremble.

The walls made a heavy noise and started to tilt.

The absurdity of the situation made me laugh like a madman.

To think that a young girl who loved acting, was innocent and passionate, was given the power to control the world’s fate.

Is there any greater tragedy?

“Fine. Keep hiding your face. Even if you suffocate, bear with it until we arrive.”

I lifted Trisha in my arms. Despite holding the pillow with her, she still didn’t show her face.

“Glad I fed you well. You’re heavier than before.”

I left the room and went down the stairs. I stopped by my room to grab the music box Lilith had given me.

Though she hadn’t responded, her anger seemed to be subsiding as the twisted space began to return to normal.

Carrying Trisha, I exited the dormitory. The black aura had mostly disappeared, and the twisted space had reverted to its original state, as if nothing had happened.

From a distance, Professor Candinella, with her arms crossed, watched us quietly and then ordered the librarians to withdraw.

After they all left, I carried Trisha and took out the compass. Following the direction it pointed, I walked.

I hadn’t brought her shoes, but it didn’t matter.

Even after walking for a while, she kept her face buried in the pillow.

I entered the Forbidden Forest, where I had noted a clearing while searching for Maladirut.

It was a place filled with colorful flowers and glowing grass.

Upon reaching the destination, I spoke to her.

“Trisha, you can open your eyes now.”

Her arms holding the pillow twitched slightly. She seemed hesitant to show her face.

After some hesitation, she finally lifted her face from the pillow.

Her eyes were swollen and red, as if she had been crying for a long time.

“…I won’t play with you.”

It was an obvious lie.

“Alright. Just play with me today, and then do as you please.”

“Why didn’t you play more with Cecil… sister?”

“Unfortunately, things didn’t end well with Cecil. I’m feeling very lonely and sad today. Will you be my partner?”

Her expression subtly changed.

“I knew it. Damian’s a fool.”

“Do you want to see something?”

Holding Trisha, I hopped around on the grass.

The ground I passed over glowed softly.
Th i s wa s c o p i e d f ro m ki n gm t l . or g

Though she pretended otherwise, I could feel her interest.

“…Put me down.”

I put her down as requested.

She stomped on the grass with a pouting face.

“I’ve had my eye on this place for a long time. Isn’t it nice?”

Trisha’s sulky expression remained. She wiped the tears from her eyes and said,

“…There’s no music.”

I had anticipated that. I took out the music box and placed it on a nearby rock.

Soon, unfamiliar melodies echoed softly in the forest.

After setting it up, I reached out to her.

“Come here.”

Trisha stood still like a statue, needing more time to release her pent-up emotions.

Having no other choice, I approached her and forcibly took her hand.

I lifted her limp arm and took a ready stance.

Trisha, slightly flustered, said,

“I’m not ready yet…!”

“If you don’t know anything, just leave it to me.”

She was confused, unsure whether to comply or get angry.

We started moving to the rhythm of the music.

For someone usually so confident, she couldn’t focus her gaze and seemed embarrassed.

T h i s w a s c o p ie d f r o m k i n g m tl . or g
“Do you like the music?”

“…It’s my favorite song.”

“How do you know it?”

“My godmother used to sing it as a lullaby.”

“…”

Unfortunately, the music from the music box didn’t last long. In less than two minutes, it stopped, ending our dance.

I carefully observed her.

Despite the short dance, she seemed quite satisfied.

“Damian.”
Th i s w as c o p i e d f r o m k i n g mtl. o rg

She released my hand and looked up at me with a determined expression.

“Yes.”

She stood on tiptoe and wrapped her arms around my neck.

“Serve me for life!”

“…What?”
T h i s w a s c o p i ed f rom k in g m t l.o r g

Before I could resist, she bit my shoulder.
T h i s w a s co p ie d f r om k in g m tl.or g

“…!”

End of Chapter