Damn Academy - Chapter 211

Chapter 211

Host (8)

Icarus, lying flat on a high rock and observing the movements, spoke.

“Damian is slowly coming up.”

From below, Louis replied.

“Is he moving as expected?”

“I thought he might notice the strong magic field… but he’s walking right into the trap.”

Louis nodded.

“He must be clueless about magic.”

“Shall we start the ambush right away?”

Louis dusted off his hands and stood up.

“Wait for my signal before launching the full assault. For now, just harass him and wear him down. We need him conscious to extract the information we need.”

“Understood, senior.”

The Magic Department, generally weak in close combat, would provide rear support from behind rocks and mist clouds.

To ensure thorough subjugation, Louis would confront Damian directly with his swordsmanship.

Damian stepped into the grassland at the center of the plateau where the magic trap was set. The trap was not yet activated.

Wind blew along the mountain ridge, carrying white clouds that covered the plateau. For a moment, the mist obscured visibility.

The sound of Damian’s footsteps on gravel grew closer.

At the right moment, Louis broke from his ambush and approached Damian.

“Sending a first-year alone to a place like this, do your group members have no camaraderie?”

Damian, looking around, turned towards Louis’s direction.

“…Who are you?”

“Just one of the many people targeting you.”

“The Drama Club?”

“Oh, so it’s not just us. The Dance Club hates you too? Adjusting to Eternia must be hard.”

Despite the sneer, Damian showed no sign of being offended. He calmly thought for a moment before speaking.

“The Drama Club, then.”

“Correct.”

Wind blew again from the lower ridge. The mist quickly cleared, revealing Louis standing with his sword drawn.

“May I ask why you’re doing this?”

“It’s competition. If you lack skill and organization, you’ll be devoured by superior groups.”

“Are the separated Art Department members in a similar situation?”

Louis raised an eyebrow as if it was obvious.

“They’re probably miserable, facing the top first and second-year students from the Magic Department.”

“That’s the worst.”

Louis smiled gently.

“That’s why you need to choose your ship wisely. If the rats start jumping off, you should check if there’s a problem with the ship.”

“…I now understand why my seniors gritted their teeth whenever the Drama Club was mentioned.”

“Yeah. Unfortunately, you’ll end up gritting your teeth just like them.”

Despite Louis’s provocation, Damian remained calm.

“I have no ill feelings towards the Drama Club.”

Seeing no sign of fighting spirit in Damian, Louis gripped his sword with both hands and approached menacingly.

“You need to impress girls like Luna and Trisha, right?”

“…They are friends I care about.”

Louis lunged at Damian, swinging his sword from above.

Clang!

Damian quickly parried Louis’s sword.

They locked blades, pushing against each other for a moment.

“Don’t worry. Luna doesn’t rely on just you.”

“…”

“Luna told me all about your weaknesses. Even things unrelated to combat that I didn’t want to know.”

“Is that so?”

Damian responded indifferently, not seeming to pay much attention to Louis’s words.

“Yeah, she said you came from a poor family, lacking manners and etiquette, and are an orphan.”

“Hmm.”

“And she cried that she couldn’t introduce you to her family because you have no lineage. She said she could only be friends with you at Eternia.”

“I see.”

“Though Luna initially distrusted men, she gradually opened up, especially to me. Maybe because we have similar backgrounds.”

While their swords were locked, Damian slowly stepped back, being pushed back.

“And we’re going to the Central Sky Garden of the Empire together this vacation. Women love vanity, and she accepted my offer right away. Oh, you might not understand. It’s a place accessible only to those with royal connections.”

“Luna seems to be doing well in the Drama Club.”

“Sorry for taking one of your few friends.”

Despite the bold provocation, Damian remained unaffected, which started to irritate Louis.

Louis lunged again, swinging his sword at Damian.

Clang!

Though Damian’s defensive stance was awkward, his sword remained steady, as if striking a rock, causing Louis’s hand to throb.

“How did you get into Eternia with such basic skills?”

Damian calmly proposed.

“Let’s end this with a light spar. We both have a long way to go. If I lose, I’ll hand over the information I’ve gathered.”

“And, never approach the Drama Club again.”

“Why should I agree to that?”

“This isn’t a proposal.”

Louis kicked Damian in the chest, pushing him back.

“I’ll make sure of it.”

Damian stumbled back but managed to regain his balance.

Louis raised his sword high to signal his ambushed comrades.

Immediately, the magic circle hidden beneath Damian’s feet activated, glowing with energy.

Something flew through the mist, cutting through the air.

Boom!

With a sudden impact, Damian, who had been pushed back, was thrown forward. A fireball hit him from out of sight.

Though not fatal, it was a significant blow.

Damian briefly glanced in the direction the fireball had come from. Only thick mist was visible, with no sign of people.

Momentarily flustered by the unexpected attack, Damian breathed heavily.

Louis smirked.
This w a s copi e d f r o m k i n g mtl . o rg

“You thought I’d be alone? While I’m enough on my own, I couldn’t leave my comrades behind.”

“…”

The ambushing comrades hadn’t even acted yet. Seeing Damian stagger from just one magic trap, Louis felt confident the situation would go smoothly.
Th i s wa s cop i ed f r om kin g m t l . o r g

As Damian steadied himself, another fireball flew at him.

“Ugh!”

Th i s w a s co p i e d fr o m ki n g mtl . o r g
Hit directly in the side, Damian collapsed.

Louis surmised that Damian had little experience dealing with such magic.

Th i s w a s cop i e d f rom ki n g mt l . o r g
As long as he couldn’t escape the magic circle, the fireballs would relentlessly harass him.

Damian, gripping his sword, stood up and deflected another fireball coming from a blind spot.

Clang!

With a dull sound, the red-hot stone was deflected away.

T h i s w a s co pi e d f r o m k i n gm t l. o r g
Taking the opportunity, Louis charged at Damian again. Damian quickly turned to defend, but Louis’s upward slash from below, out of sight, caught him off guard.

Though Damian stepped back quickly, Louis’s sword left a shallow, long cut on his thigh.

He winced slightly, looking at his thigh.
T h i s w a s co pi e d fr om k in g m t l . or g

Another fireball came barreling down, giving Damian no time to rest. He twisted his body to avoid a direct hit. Though he managed to dodge, it was clear he was struggling to protect himself. It looked like a clumsy performance by an inexperienced clown.

“Is that all you’ve got? I expected better.”

“…”

“No need for the second plan.”

Seeing Damian flounder under a basic coordinated attack, Louis felt disappointed.

He was about to sigh, wondering why Ruskeus had lost to someone like this in their duel evaluation.

In that moment of complacency, Damian adjusted his posture and dashed towards Louis, swinging his sword.

“…!”

His movements turned fierce, like a cat on the hunt. The floundering earlier was clearly a ruse.

Clang!

Blocking Damian’s sword, Louis felt a heavy impact on his wrist. Despite the clumsy arc, the power behind Damian’s swing was formidable.

Louis’s palm stung, and he bit his lip.

Their swords locked, and they stared into each other’s eyes. Damian’s eyes remained calm.

***
T h i s w a s c o p i ed fr om k i n g m t l . o r g

The combined Art and Instrumental Departments hurried to the next village after parting with Damian. Their journey along the well-trodden mountain path was smooth but short-lived.

They stopped for lunch, but two scouts from the Instrumental Department, pale-faced, hurriedly reported danger, causing them to leave in a rush.

“A wolf, a huge wolf like a bear, is lurking nearby!”

The second-year students were puzzled, but the first-years were terrified.

The white wolf was a symbol of Luna, the genius spirit mage.

“A wolf?”

Cecil explained to the second-year students.

“It’s a spirit wolf controlled by Luna from the Drama Club. It seems to have found us during its patrol. We’ll be helpless if it attacks.”

“Is it strong?”

“I’ve seen it fight during our Circulation class. It’s incredibly strong for a first-year. None of us can stand against it.”

They hurriedly left with empty stomachs, but within an hour, they were being chased by the spirit wolf.

Though the carriage sped along the mountain path at full speed, the wolf kept pace, running through the forest beside the path.

After about ten minutes of this chase, Sierra voiced her confusion.

“Why isn’t it attacking? It looks like it could flip the carriage if it tried.”

Though it seemed poised to attack at any moment, it only continued the chase without making the first move.

Watching the wolves silently, Lilith spoke.

“Maybe it’s because it’s Damian’s carriage or rather, Professor Silveryn’s carriage.”

“How polite. Waiting for us to come out willingly instead of attacking while we’re inside.”

“Even if we’re safe for now, the horses will tire soon, and we’ll be surrounded.”

Pavela cautiously suggested.

“Let me out. I’ll handle it.”

The Art Department students all tried to stop her.

But Pavela insisted.

“I fought Luna during the duel evaluation. It was an accident that prevented a decisive outcome, so Luna must be eager to settle the score. If I confront her, she might stay focused on me and let you all go.”

***

The carriage gradually slowed down. The spirit wolves moved to block the path, tightening the noose.

Eventually, the carriage stopped completely, and Pavela stepped out.

T h i s w as co p i e d f r o m ki ng m t l.o rg
She looked at the seemingly empty forest and spoke.

“Seems like I’m the only one you’re after. Am I right?”

A blonde girl hiding behind a tree revealed herself.

The other companions gasped in surprise.

Luna, with a firm expression, nodded quietly.

“For now, can you let the carriage go? The rest of the Drama Club members will probably attack anyway.”

Luna silently nodded.

“…Go ahead.”

The wolves opened a path.

Pavela gestured, and the carriage began moving again. Soon, it disappeared from sight, leaving Pavela behind.

“What do you plan to do with me?”

“We’ll fight.”

“You must hold a lot of resentment against me, don’t you?”

“…”

“If you act like this, Damian will hate you. Can you handle that?”

“…My friendship with Damian isn’t so shallow that it’ll be shaken by something like this.”

“Something like this…”

Pavela wore a sad expression. Luna didn’t understand why she looked like that.

“Do you really think so? Damian doesn’t forgive those who turn against him.”

“You speak as if you know Damian well.”

Pavela casually ran her fingers through her hair, walking around. Despite the standoff, she showed no tension.

“You’re like a precious junior in the Art Department. Even if you pretend to be indifferent, I know you care a lot. I couldn’t just leave you alone.”

“Damian isn’t close with you.”

“Well, after spending the night together yesterday, things have changed.”

Despite the obvious provocation, Luna bit her lip in anger.

“…”

“How well do you really know Damian?”

“I know him best at Eternia. He’s my closest friend.”

“When I first saw him, he wasn’t as skilled or strong as he is now…”

“Damian was strong even when he first entered.”

Pavela smiled faintly with unfocused eyes and asked.

“Why do you follow Damian so closely?”

“…I’ve never followed him.”

“Do you love Damian?”

Luna’s eyes widened. Taken aback by the sudden question, she remained silent.

“If not love, is it admiration? Like an apprentice wizard idolizing a great mage, studying their every move?”

“…This has nothing to do with you. I’m here to fight, not for relationship advice.”

“Why do you want to fight me?”

“…I have something to confirm.”

“Pride of a first-year top student who couldn’t even beat an average second-year?”

“…”

“You’re not very observant. Do you really think the anomaly during the duel evaluation was an accident?”

The air around Pavela grew heavy. If one hadn’t trained in magic, they might faint from the oppressive mana.

Pavela ignored Luna and slowly lifted her head.

The clear sky was now filled with dark clouds, and the cool breeze carried a biting chill.

Pavela’s hair began to float as if defying gravity.

Silent snowflakes started to fall from the sky.

Sensing the ominous aura, the spirits around Luna began to encircle Pavela, blocking any escape routes. Yet, Pavela simply stared at the sky.

“Damian is an unusual child. He disrupts order and absorbs misfortune wherever he goes.”

“Don’t act like you know my friend.”

Ignoring her, Pavela spoke ominously.

“You might want to stay with him, but with your half-hearted resolve and ability, you’ll only be a burden.”

Pavela extended her hand towards Luna, and blue light began to emanate from it.

***

The standoff didn’t last long. Another fireball aimed at Damian created an opportunity for a counterattack.

Louis kicked Damian in the abdomen, pushing him back.

Damian, cunningly, slid his sword along the way and cut Louis’s arm.

Caught off guard by the unexpected attack, Louis quickly retreated.

Though not injured, the bandage on his left wrist was cut off, scattering in the air.

A clear bite mark from a wolf was revealed on Louis’s left arm.

Damian noticed the scar.

“…Luna’s wolf.”

“…”

Only Luna’s wolf could leave such a large bite mark. Damian quickly recognized the scar for what it was.

“What did you do to Luna?”

“It happened while we were having some private fun. No need to explain further.”

“I’ll ask again. What did you do to Luna?”

Damian’s voice carried more weight than before.

“Knowing won’t change anything. And I don’t intend to tell you.”

Veins bulged on Damian’s forearm. His once calm eyes now flashed with anger.

Wind swept up the valley, bringing mist that enveloped the battlefield.

Damian’s figure was obscured in the mist.

Amid the shrouded visibility, their voices exchanged.

“Where is Luna?”
T h is w a s c o p ie d f r o m k i ng mt l. o rg

“Stop meddling in the Drama Club’s affairs.”

Th i s w a s c op ie d fr o m ki n g mtl. o r g
“…You’ll tell me soon enough. I’ll make you.”

“Empty threats.”

Louis narrowed his eyes at a strange sight. In the thick mist, a pair of golden eyes shone like those of a predator.

“…What?”

A sudden gust of wind cleared the mist swiftly.

Where Damian should have been standing, there was nothing.

End of Chapter