Damn Academy - Chapter 215

Chapter 215

Host (12)

I couldn’t move for a while. Cecil had a knack for piercing the gaps in one’s heart.

After some time, when I returned, I found that the number of members had halved. The entire Instrumental Department had left.

Lilith rushed towards me, her skirt fluttering. Standing close, she looked at my face and spoke.

“Damian… Are you feeling unwell?”

“Why?”

“Your cheeks look a bit red.”

“……”

Had my face heated up without me realizing it?

“Are you okay? Did something happen? What did Cecil do…?”

“It’s nothing. More importantly, have you heard anything about Senior Pavela?”

“Oh, Senior Pavela is resting at the temporary survey camp. Once we’re done here, we should join her.”

Soon after, Senior Tami approached me.

“Damian, you’ve really worked hard. Let’s wrap things up and head back.”

“We need to compile the information and write the report…”

Tami shook her head.

“You’ve all worked hard so far, so leave it to me. I’m incredibly fast at writing. I’ll handle the report; you all can rest on the way back.”

Lilith questioned the decision to return.

“But we haven’t uncovered everything yet. Are we just going to leave?”

“Yes. Damian and I discussed it yesterday. Although it feels incomplete, considering the state of the village, it’s risky to stay. Returning is the right decision.”

Though Lilith showed signs of lingering regret, she reluctantly agreed.

“Okay.”

“Let’s head back to the carriage.”

The members trudged back to the carriage parked at the village entrance. As I watched them, something tapped my back.

I turned to see a head of golden hair. Luna was leaning her forehead against me, seemingly out of strength.

“Luna.”

It was rare for Luna to initiate physical contact so naturally. Was she becoming more comfortable with me? It seemed like a good sign.

“Damian…”

“Yes?”
T h i s w as c op i ed f ro m k i n gm t l . or g

Luna lifted her head weakly and looked at me.

“When we return to the camp, I’ll rejoin the Drama Club…”

T hi s wa s c opi e d fro m k in g m t l . o rg
“I understand.”

It would be difficult for her to continue accompanying me, especially with the glares from the Art Department members and Pavela joining us soon. Parting ways here seemed appropriate.

“Thank you for taking care of me.”

“Sure, but can you explain why you said I was clinging to you?”

“I… don’t… know.”

Luna hurriedly evaded the question and quickly walked past me towards the carriage.

***

About twenty minutes away from Marbas Village was a clearing where the survey camp was set up. Though Marbas Village was the best location for camping, it had turned into a crematorium and could no longer be used.

More people than expected were staying there. There seemed to be about five or six groups, including the Drama Club members we had been hostile with and the Dance Club members.

The Drama Club members slipped away when they saw us, not showing any overt hostility.

However, the Dance Club members occasionally watched us from a distance.

Despite the Art Department’s glares, Luna politely thanked them and rejoined the Drama Club.

Then, we found Pavela huddled under a blanket in a corner of the camp.

T h i s w as c o p ie d f rom k i n g m tl .o rg
“I’ve been waiting for you all day.”

Pavela greeted us with a weak smile.

It seemed she had no friends and had been alone there the whole time.

She wasn’t injured, and her clothes were intact. Everyone else at the camp looked a bit disheveled from the days of camping, but Pavela was noticeably in better condition.

“Let’s return, Senior.”

When I announced that we planned to return to Eternia, Pavela seemed disappointed.

“Really? I have some information too…”

Th i s wa s c o p i e d f r o m k i n g mt l . o r g
I shook my head.

“It’s ominous.”

T h i s was c o pi e d fr o m k ing m t l. o r g
Just then, the students in the camp turned their attention to the sky, collectively murmuring.

We too looked up.

The sky was filled with something dark, like a flock of migratory birds.

The objects rapidly approached the camp.

Stitches.

Each student in the camp received a scroll.

“An official notice?”

“Something must have happened.”

The first-year students looked confused, not understanding the situation, but the more experienced second-year students quickly sprang into action.

“Everyone, gather! The survey mission is over!”

“Guys! Pack up!”

“We’re returning to Eternia!”

All the groups immediately began organizing their belongings for a prompt return to Eternia.

While trying to grasp the situation, Pavela explained.

“This is an emergency notice. Eternia assigns tasks to students based on difficulty levels. If there’s an error in the assessment, they send out a notice like this.”

I opened the scroll to confirm the contents.

It instructed us to stop what we were doing and return to Eternia immediately.

“What does this mean?”

“They don’t send these for one or two level errors. If the issue can be solved with more people, they add cooperative points and let the students handle it. A return order means there’s a danger that everyone combined can’t handle.”

“…”

“It means we could all die. Your decision was right.”
Th i s w a s c o p i e d f ro m k i n g m tl. or g

Senior Tami and Sierra ran over to us and shouted.

“It’s a return order. You were right!”

“How did you know? Our newbie has good intuition.”

The Art Department members seemed more amazed at my judgment than shocked by the return order.

But I couldn’t feel completely satisfied.

What I felt was closer to a sense of defeat.

If I had truly recognized the threat, I should have ensured the safety of my people first. That would have been the right decision.

But I had let Cecil and Luna go. Cecil’s confession had made me relax for a moment.

“Get ready quickly. If I don’t return, don’t wait for me. I’ll move separately.”

“Huh? Where are you going!”

I left the return preparations to the seniors and hurriedly searched the camp. Luna was preparing to return with her members, but Cecil was nowhere to be seen.

Cecil had said she’d continue the investigation with her friends after parting from the Instrumental Department. I approached the Instrumental Department members in the camp to ask about her whereabouts.

Hubert, packing his things, responded.

“Huh? She split from her friends.”

T h is w a s c o p i e d f ro m ki ngmt l .or g
“Any idea where she might be?”

“She understood the northern dialect Gale’s group was muttering. It’s probably about the hidden reward. She felt indebted to you all and said she had to get it.”

I realized then that letting Cecil go was a critical mistake. My heart started racing with a bad premonition. I hoped it was just my imagination.

“Who’s with her?”

“Nyias and a few others. They’ve lost contact since leaving. The Dance Club says they think it’s intentional, to avoid being tracked.”

So asking around the camp was pointless.

“Do you know Gale’s group’s location?”

This w a s copie d f ro m k i n gm t l.org
Hubert’s expression turned serious.

“No, that’s not a good idea.”

He seemed to have figured out my plan.

“You’ll be fine.”

“That’s not the point. Do you want to get beaten up? Are you sane? There’s no rush. The notice went to Cecil too, so wait.”

“Just tell me where they are.”

***

The Drama Club leader, Lilyke, pretended to pack up and then came back to Luna, probing her.

“So, with the boys gone, tell me.”

“That’s… difficult.”

“What’s your relationship?”

“Just… friends.”

“Just friends? It’s hard to believe a handsome boy and a pretty girl can be just friends.”

“…”

“Someone’s obviously more than a friend, while the other thinks they’re just friends.”

“We’re just good friends.”

“Damian seems like the type to save a friend from hell.”

“That’s… true. And it feels like Damian… clings to me.”

Blushing, Luna turned away from Lilyke, fidgeting.

“How come he threatens me but is kind and protective to you? It’s infuriating.”

Although Lilyke spoke jokingly, there was a hint of sincerity.

Luna sensed it and felt uneasy.

“If you get close to him, he’ll be kind to you too…”

“Be clear. Are you just friends or more?”

“We’re friends…”

“Really? Then I can pursue him?”

“……”

“How do you plan to keep him with such a lukewarm attitude? I’ll go find another lonely guy in Weisel.”

At that moment, a stranger rushed into the Drama Club’s tent.

It was Victor from the Dance Club. Panting, he asked Lilyke,

“Senior, have you seen Cecil and Nyias?”

“Huh? Wasn’t Cecil with the Art Department?”

“No. We’ve lost contact since she split from them, and we’re searching for her.”

“With so many people missing from the camp, won’t they return eventually?”

“Perhaps, but could we borrow Luna’s help?”
Th is wa s c o p i ed f r o m k ing m t l . o r g

Using the spirits, unseen watchers, for a search was unmatched by any military. But Lilyke shook her head.

“No. Actually, we can’t. Luna’s out of mana from yesterday’s fight and can’t use magic.”

Mana depletion, a side effect of using all one’s mana, requires a recovery period of a few days to a week. Forcing mana usage during this time can drain one’s life force.

Victor, frustrated, put his hands on his hips and sighed deeply.

“Alright. If you hear anything, please let me know.”

Victor immediately ran off.

Lilyke, watching him leave, commented,

“Something seems off, doesn’t it?”

“…”

Luna paused, lost in thought, staring into space.

“…Luna?”

“I have to go somewhere.”

“Wait, where are you going? We need to leave now!”

“You can leave without me…!”

Without explanation, Luna dashed off.

She arrived, her long blonde hair flowing, at the Art Department’s carriage ready for departure.

The Art Department members gave her dirty looks.

Ignoring them, Luna asked directly,

“Is Damian here?”

Sierra, looking down disapprovingly from the carriage, replied.

“Damian decided to return separately, hoping to gather stragglers.”

“…Where did he go?”

Pavela leaned out, watching Luna, and spoke in a soft yet pointed voice.

“I’d rather not tell you if you’re just going to follow him. You’re not much help to us now.”

“…I’m just looking for my friend.”

Pavela smiled sweetly.

“You act like he’s only your friend… perhaps it’s just my imagination?”

Pavela’s unexpected words struck Luna deeply. She bowed her head, speechless.

“…I’ll be going.”

***

“See that cave?”

Hubert didn’t need to point it out.

T h is w as c o p i e d f r o m ki n g m t l. o r g
A massive cave. The noise from inside echoed loudly, amplifying every sound.

Inside, torches flickered, casting shadows of men.

“It’s Gale’s gang.”

Despite the official notice from Eternia, they were partying.

They looked more like bandits than students.

“Why do you think all the specialty clubs set up camp near Marbas Village?”

“…”

“Because no one knows what Gale’s gang might do. They don’t follow any laws or rules.”

“I suspected as much.”

“Move closer, and the guards will notice. What’s your plan?”

Gale ambushed the Instrumental Department, and then Cecil stole some information. Cecil plans to act before Gale gets the reward. I’m worried Cecil might have walked into a trap.

In any case, asking Gale about Cecil’s whereabouts was the fastest way.

Of course, he wouldn’t tell willingly, and I had no intention of retreating quietly.

I asked Hubert,

“Are you tight-lipped?”

“What? What are you talking about?”

“Are you tight-lipped?”

“Except for Cecil’s love life, sure.”

“How tight?”

“What? Why are you asking that now?”

“Would you bet all your memories of Eternia on it?”

“I don’t get it, but let me tell you. My family knows the location of the Dwarf Empire. Unlike surface dwellers, we have access rights.”

“…So?”

“No matter what persuasion or threats we face, we’ve never revealed the Dwarf Empire’s location. Only those with steel hearts and leaden tongues can hold the glory of the Dwarf Empire.”

I stood up, leaving Hubert behind, and drew my wooden sword from my waist.

Hubert’s eyes widened as he called after me.

“Hey, are you crazy? I thought you had a plan, but you’re just charging in? Even Sion couldn’t beat Gale. Besides…”

I pulled out a mask from my pocket and fixed it on my face. My hair slowly turned a dark red.

“Besides, if you’re that… that…”

Seeing me, Hubert’s mouth opened in disbelief.

“If you don’t want to get involved, stay here.”

“Oh, if you’re that famous pervert with the mask… it’s a different story. Oh my gosh.”

End of Chapter