Damn Academy - Chapter 205

Chapter 205

Host (2)

The opponents are formidable. While Trisha might not be a threat, someone as skilled as Luna certainly won’t miss the mission.

It’s not just the Drama Club we are up against. There’s also the Dance Club, which has a talent pool equal to the Drama Club. Additionally, we face formidable second-year students from other departments, including Sion and Cecil.

Lilith raised a question.

“Is there a particular reason we must win? With sponsorship funds, we shouldn’t be short on field trip money. My family is planning to send a donation soon too.”

“It’s not about the amount of money. The important thing is, if we win, we’ll be allowed to go on a group field trip during the semester.”

“What about our grades then…?”

“If we go after the midterm evaluations, there shouldn’t be any problem. Isn’t that reason enough to win?”

I also had a question and interjected.

“Is there a specific reason we must go to the Magic City?”

Haley blinked as if she hadn’t even considered such a question.

“That’s an unexpected question. The Magic City, Claridyum, is the pinnacle of civilization. It’s where you’ll find artificial humans made using magic, alchemy, the first Stitch, and flying ships—all of it can be seen there. Don’t you want to see it?”

“…”

I’ve read about these things in books. However, all the artificial human experiments ended in failure, the flying ships never flew because no one could figure out how to operate the ancient relics, and the significance of the “first” Stitch has faded due to its widespread usage.

Moreover, with Erzebet, the pinnacle of magical science, protecting Eternia, there’s no reason to waste strength by going there. The trip would consume too much time, which could be better spent.

Seeing my tepid reaction, Haley shouted.

“Newbie, you’re disappointing.”

“…”

Maybe Haley just wanted to go without overthinking it.

T h i s wa s c o pi ed f rom k i ng m t l . o r g
Raised under a strict family, she might have never had the freedom to go anywhere she wanted.

Haley then expressed her feelings even more strongly.

“Disappointing!”

“…”

Lilith, sensing the mood, sided with Haley.

“It sounds amazing. I really want to go.”

“Right? And I want to show those Drama and Dance Club pigs that we’re not to be underestimated. We are not an easy opponent.”

“Then… what is the strength of the Art Department?”

“We’re a small elite group. The third and fourth-year members can handle their missions well, but the problem is the first and second-year missions.”

Several freshmen in the Art Department had dropped out, leaving us with barely ten members. The Drama Club has fifty members, and the Dance Club has a similar size. The second-year situation isn’t much different.

We are overwhelmingly outnumbered in terms of talent pool.

Furthermore, in the first year, I’m the only member from the Combat Department. There are three members from the Magic Department, including Lilith. If a combat mission comes up, we might have to handle it with very few people.

“Has the mission been announced?”

Haley patted my shoulder.

“The announcement will go up around lunchtime, so let’s meet at the student plaza then. See you later!”

***

In front of the large bulletin board at the student plaza, various groups were gathered and buzzing with activity.

Lilith was the first to arrive at our meeting spot.

She waved awkwardly when she saw me.
Thi s w a s c opi e d f r o m k ing mt l . o rg

“Should I say it worked well? Oh! No, thanks to it, I stayed warm.”
Th i s w as c o pi e d f r o m k in gm t l .o rg

She then held out Peep, resting gently in her hands. Peep’s feathers were neatly groomed, and a cute ribbon was tied around its neck.

I shook my head.

“It’s my spirit, but it doesn’t like being with me. If you want to let it go, release it into the sky.”

“Oh, okay.”

Lilith raised her hand high, but Peep just sat comfortably, basking in the sunlight.

“Oh, um, I guess I’ll do it later.”

She had no choice but to put Peep back on her shoulder.

Shortly after, Haley appeared suddenly, grabbing both our shoulders.

“Nice picture.”

“…You’re here.”

“My dear seedlings of the Art Department. Shall we check the announcement?”

***

The announcement on the bulletin board had nothing out of the ordinary.

The number of participants for each grade in the Special Clubs Competition is limited to three.

Each department is allowed only twelve participants.

The first and second-year missions are separate from the third and fourth-year missions, and the exact mission details will be revealed on the day of the competition, which is tomorrow.

Haley was delighted.

“Good. Limiting the number of participants tightens the competition. This works in our favor.”

As Haley was about to explain further, someone interrupted.

Th i s w a s co p ied f r o m k i n g m t l. o rg
“Haley! What are you doing with the kids?”

We all turned toward the voice.

Then came a sneering remark.

“Leave them be. The Art Department is in such a bad shape they need to borrow kids’ hands.”
T h i s w a s c o p i e d f ro m ki n g m t l . or g

“Nice picture. How about moving to the Dance Club? We’ll teach you to mop the floor first.”

Haley quietly whispered to us.

“It’s the Dance Club. Looks like it’s the guys I kicked around before.”

The Dance Club gang, gathered in one corner of the student plaza, laughed among themselves.

The sudden mockery and ridicule made me feel unpleasant.

Haley responded firmly.

“Oh, Riddiger? Are you upset because I beat you up in the duel evaluation and brought your friends? Do you want to get beaten up in front of your friends again?”

“The Art Department doesn’t seem to understand proper teamwork. Power is ultimately determined by strength in numbers. All you can get from one-on-one duels is a bet.”

“Ha! I’m looking forward to competing against the Dance Club. Do you know why? It’s another chance to legally beat you up. Oh! Unfortunately, I can’t personally beat you up because you’re a second-year, unlike me, but my junior will handle you thoroughly. Just like he did with Ruskeus.”

The man called Riddiger flinched and glared at me.

I didn’t react emotionally but politely bowed. I could understand his animosity. Freshmen who beat up upperclassmen are never welcomed. But I had no intention of taking his provocations kindly. I would remember his name.

“Don’t boast about beating Ruskeus by sneaking up on his weakness. I’m not interested in kids’ fights that stink of immaturity. Victor, who’s better than that guy, will handle you. Oh, and Gale Varianne will join us as a mercenary. Do your best.”

“If you have eyes, you can’t deny the blatant difference in skill. Besides, Damian beats second-years; do you think he’s scared of someone in his own grade?”
T h i s w a s co pi e d f ro m k i n gm t l . o r g

“Gale is different. Did you hear he recently tied with the top student in a rematch? Junior, you must be feeling enormous pressure. Let’s go, guys. It’s a waste of time.”

A rematch with the top student? Is that really true? Did he tie with Sion, who uses a Magic Sword?

The Dance Club gang left, leaving an unpleasant feeling in the air.

“Why does the Dance Club act like that?”

“Because we seem easy. Just by looking, do you think I look scary?”

“Not at all.”

“Think about it. If I were a hulking brute who drew a sword and lunged at any provocation, they’d be scared and hiding in a corner.”

“Is that so.”

“The problem is, the Art Department president is a delicate and beautiful person. Right?”

“…”

“Aside from that, I’ve been too gentle, and the Art Department has acted too gently. They think we can’t ever beat the Dance Club, so they act like that. We need to get out of the prey position and become an object of fear. They need to engrave in their minds that messing with us can lead to disaster. We can’t let those idiots act out recklessly.”

“Understood.”

“Ha, Gale and… Victor. This year won’t be easy. I’m not asking you to win. That’s… realistically difficult. Just don’t give anything up easily.”

I nodded.

“Don’t worry about that.”

“Oh! And you need to cooperate with Pavela. She’s also one of our valuable assets.”

***

Second-year Magic Department top student, Lilyke, spoke.

“The Dance Club is the problem. After that… maybe the Instrumental Department, which has the next largest number of members? We don’t need to worry about the others.”

The first and second-year students of the Drama Club were gathered on stage, having a meeting to prepare for the competition.

“Who’s in the Instrumental Department?”
T h i s w a s cop ied f r o m k i n g m t l . o rg

“Sion, Cecil, Hubert.”

“And the second-years?”

“Oliver, Friedman, Fawlty.”

“Ah, that maniac Friedman… just thinking about him makes me mad. You guys may not know, but he’s not to be underestimated. Should we deal with the Instrumental Department or the Dance Club first…”

First-year Icarus suddenly spoke up.

“I think we should start with the smaller departments.”

“For example?”

“The Art Department is quite bothersome.”

“Hmm, I don’t know. Damian, Lilith, that’s fine. But who else is there? We need to select six people. Two can’t do anything on their own.”

“Pavela is also there. Didn’t she do quite well against Luna in a sparring match?”

Second-year representative Lilyke rubbed her neck and spoke.

“Pavela has been mid-tier since last year. The sparring evaluation was just a lucky break due to external factors. Anyway, let’s say we include her. What can three people do? Nothing.”

No matter how outstanding those three were, they couldn’t stand against six equally skilled opponents.

However, few agreed with her.

Louis, from the second-year Combat Department, spoke.

“I also think we should eliminate the Art Department first.”

Lilyke looked between Icarus and Louis. Why did they point out the Art Department? She recalled that Icarus had asked Trisha to dance and been rejected, and Louis had asked Luna but was ignored.

Seeing the subtle determination in their eyes, it was clear their choice was influenced by personal feelings.

“I also find the Art Department unsettling.”

“Me too.”

Soon, more agreeing voices emerged, all from male students.

Lilyke spoke bluntly.
Th i s w as c o p i e d f r o m k in g m t l . o r g

“Is it because of Damian?”

Louis replied.

“Not really.”

“Why do you dislike him so much? Just be honest. I won’t scold you. Negative emotions can fuel determination, which is actually a good thing.”

Encouraged by Lilyke, Louis hesitated for a moment and then spoke.

“He’s rude to seniors and even punched Ruskeus during the sparring evaluation. It also bothers me that he approaches the Drama Club girls. The Drama Club is our territory, isn’t it?”

“Territory? Are we like your female followers?”
T h i s w a s c o p ie d fro m k i n g m t l. o r g

“Why phrase it like that?”

Lilyke knew the truth. The Drama Club girls had no ill feelings towards Damian. Some even secretly admired him and occasionally suggested recruiting him next semester.

If he joined, it would mean displacing existing Drama Club male actors, so they reacted sensitively. Attention that should go to the main and supporting roles was being directed at an extra, causing resentment.

Moreover, Luna and Trisha, the most popular members of the Drama Club, were Damian’s close friends, which played a significant role.

Another male student chimed in.

“It’s annoying how he hangs around us even though he’s not in the Drama Club. If he was interested, he should’ve joined when we invited him, not act like this now.”

Lilyke turned slightly and asked someone else.

“Luna, what do you think?”

Luna looked momentarily flustered by the sudden question.

“…What?”

“About targeting the Art Department first.”

“I disagree. I think we should avoid contact with the Art Department as much as possible.”

“Why? This is a competition. We can’t go easy just because you have friends there.”

Luna shook her head.

“It’s purely a strategic decision.”

“Why did you make that decision?”

“…The Art Department is strong.”

Louis butted in, lecturing her.

“Luna, you seem to misunderstand. The Art Department can’t even compete with the Instrumental Department, let alone us. Their main strength is first-years, while we have Lilyke, the top second-year of the Magic Department. Plus… there’s me.”

“…”

Luna remained silent, turning her gaze away. It was unclear if she was saving her words or just didn’t want to talk to Louis.

T h is w a s c o p i ed from k in g m t l. o rg
Thus, Luna’s opinion was not adopted. Lilyke decided to settle it.

“Hmm… seems like opinions are divided. How about we vote? Raise your hand if you think the Art Department should be the first target.”

Most students raised their hands. Lilyke stopped counting midway.

With the majority voting in the first round, there was no need for further voting.

“Alright, the first target is set. We’ll eliminate the Art Department as quickly as possible.”

End of Chapter