Damn Academy - Chapter 229

Chapter 229

Black Footprints (4)

At the appointed time, her eyes opened naturally. After months of working as a maid, it had become ingrained in her.

Liria stretched and lit a candle. The mansion of Silveryn, where she stayed, was a remodeled castle with many things needing repair.

Last week, a wasp nest was found on the first-floor balcony, requiring a magician to clear it, and this week, they patched up leaks from rain.

Damian, busy with his studies, couldn’t manage the mansion, so the butler and the maids had to handle everything.

Sitting on the bed, she brushed her hair and changed into her maid uniform.

Then, to start the day, she opened the window and found something unexpected outside, gasping involuntarily.

“Oh?”

A carriage was parked in front of the main gate, indicating Damian had gone out and returned to the mansion.

“…Damian!”

Excited, she set aside her other tasks and rushed straight to Damian’s room.

***

“Ugh. It’s hot…”

Cecil, dealing with a hangover, tossed aside the clothes she habitually wore to bed.

Sweat clung to her body, and she kicked off the thick blanket, but the heat persisted. Annoyed, she threw off the top she was wearing. It was a habit from when she was at home.

Then, feeling a strange unease, Cecil slowly opened her eyes.

“…Where is this?”

High ceilings and rough stone walls. Curtains and rugs that tried to brighten the otherwise stark interior. A clear horizon visible beyond the balcony. Everything was unfamiliar.

The fireplace was filled with logs, heating the room thoroughly.

“Oh right, yesterday’s drinking…”

Realizing she was in the mansion of Archmage Professor Silveryn, she got up.

She stretched lightly and, sweating, threw her undergarments onto the bed.

“Whose room is this?”

Then she rummaged through a nearby wardrobe drawer.

White shirts, white shirts, white shirts.

It was filled with men’s shirts.

“Ugh, it’s hot.”

She grabbed a towel from the last drawer, wiped the sweat from her chest, and tossed it onto the bed.

“Damian’s room?”

Without dressing, she approached the desk. There was dried ink and an unfinished letter.
T hi s w a s co p i ed f ro m k in g m t l . or g

“To Professor Silveryn…”

It started with that line but didn’t continue.

“Must be Damian.”

Bored, she went to the mirror beside the bed. She admired her body, lifting a leg and twisting to check her side profile.

“To think I’ll waste this in a research lab’s closet…”

Then she heard hurried footsteps outside the door.

Without giving Cecil a moment, the unfamiliar presence burst in.

“Damian!”

“…?”

Naked, Cecil and Liria faced each other. Cecil, despite being unarmed against a stranger, showed no sign of agitation.

After a moment of silent exchange, Liria spoke first.

“Who… are you?”

“Who are you?”

“I’m Damian’s maid. And who are you to be here? Especially dressed so… inappropriately…”

“I’m a friend of Damian’s. Why are you entering your master’s room without knocking?”

“Damian is usually awake at this time, and he allowed it.”

“I didn’t come here by myself; Damian put me here. So just do your thing and leave.”

Cecil struck a pose in front of the mirror, unfazed by Liria’s sharp glare.

“Please put on some clothes. This is Professor Silveryn’s mansion, so please be formal. Damian could be back at any moment.”

Ignoring her, Cecil pinched her thigh and muttered.

“Did I gain some weight…”

“Excuse me…!”

Cecil sighed, pulled a shirt from the drawer, and slipped it over her bare body.

“As long as the important parts are covered, it’s fine, right?”

Liria replied in a sulky voice.

“If you don’t have women’s clothes, I’ll bring you a maid’s outfit.”

Cecil ignored her and resumed admiring her outfit in the mirror.

T his w a s c opi e d f r o m k i ng mtl. o r g
“Does my chest make me look too big? Maybe if I…”

She tightened the shirt around her waist to fit her figure.

“Excuse me!”

Finally, Cecil turned around, looked Liria up and down, and spoke.

“Kids’ clothes won’t fit.”

Liria replied with a slightly crestfallen look.

“There are bigger ones! And aren’t you pretending to be an adult without a single hair!”

“Do you still think I’m a kid after seeing this body?”

Then the sound of boots echoed in the corridor.

Damian returned to the room after his morning training, drenched in sweat.

“What are you doing?”

“Um…”

“Ah, Damian!”

Damian’s gaze turned toward Cecil.

Seeing her, he quickly ushered Liria out and closed the door without a word.

Bang!

Then he spoke to Liria in the hallway.

“Liria, there’s a dress in Professor Silveryn’s wardrobe… the one she doesn’t wear because of the wine spill.”

“Oh… yes.”

“Please bring it.”

Liria looked utterly defeated. Tears welled slightly in her eyes.

“What’s wrong? Did my friend say something?”

“Yes… No, no. I came to give you this.”

Liria handed Damian a black letter taken from the fireplace.

“Was it originally torn?”

“No… I accidentally tore it while cleaning… I’m sorry.”

Damian glanced over the contents and said.

“Is that why you’re upset?”

“Oh, no. It’s just… ugh…”

“Did you have a fight with my friend?”

“No. That’s not it either…”

“Okay. There’s nothing to apologize for. If it weren’t for you, this letter wouldn’t have been found in the first place. You’ve done something very important, so I should be thanking you. Don’t worry about the tear.”

“Yes, I’ll be back.”

After Liria left, Cecil peeked out and spoke.

“Damian, I found something strange in your room.”

“The strangest thing in my room right now is you.”

“This. Found a really long white hair under the bed! Whose is it?”

“It must have been a guest I didn’t know about.”

“Really? That’s boring. Oh, that kid, she works here?”

“Yes.”

“She’s cute.”

“You seemed to clash with her.”

“No, nothing happened. She’s cute.”

“Didn’t you fight?”

“No.”

“I’ll bring clothes, so wait inside.”

“Does the shirt look good?”

“I’ll bring everything you need. Just stay in there.”
T h is w as c o p i ed fr o m k i n g mtl . o r g

Cecil said confidently.

“There won’t be any underwear that fits me, though.”

“There is.”

“…What? Whose are they? The maid’s?”

Damian avoided Cecil’s gaze.

“Not hers? Then…”

Cecil seemed to realize something, trailing off.

“I have an art club class. I need to train again in the afternoon.”

“Do you need to be so diligent with the art club? You won’t fall behind if you skip. Let’s just hang out a bit longer, okay? Show me around the mansion!”

“No.”

Damian left in a hurry.

Cecil called after him as he left.

“How do you know the professor’s size?”

Damian’s footsteps quickened. Cecil muttered to herself with a puzzled expression.

“…Is it true?”

***

Reading Amarylis’s letter, I was in shock for a while.

Priscilla, in fact, was the soul of the magician Nocturne.

I informed Calios of this revelation, Priscilla’s true identity, and the stories of Mayhen and the Mist City.

Calios skimmed the letter for a few seconds before handing it back. He seemed to have expected it. Feeling something was off, I asked.

“You knew about this?”

“No, I didn’t know. I just vaguely had a hunch.”

“So it’s true that a human soul is involved?”

“No, you don’t know why the land of death is called the land of death. Priscilla isn’t human. Even before becoming a magic sword, she was something that couldn’t be called human. No human lives and breathes normally there. And this mysterious woman, Amarylis, is probably the same.”

“…”

“To emphasize, don’t think of Priscilla as human. Once a magic sword, it can never turn back. You can’t save her. Sometimes the sword is your lifeline, but other times, it’s a consumable you may need to discard or sacrifice. The moment you think of the sword as human, hesitation arises, and in that brief moment, your neck could be on the line.”

Even after pondering, there was nothing wrong with Calios’s words. Priscilla wasn’t human, wasn’t before becoming a magic sword, and I can’t save her. As a tool to protect my life, sympathy for the poor girl, Nocturne, is sadly best left buried.

“…Understood.”
T h i s w a s co p i e d f r om k i n g m t l . o r g

“This is a good sign. You’ve learned who sent you the magic sword. Take your time absorbing the information she provides.”

“Is there no way to reach Amarylis?”

“The reason you’re told to get close to Priscilla is just that. The land of death has no map, and none can be made. Humans who set foot there have their senses distorted, making it impossible to reach their destination. Knowing the name Mayhen doesn’t mean there’s anything humans can do. But Priscilla is different. Coming from the land of death, she’s the best guide. Only Priscilla can lead you to Amarylis.”

“Didn’t the professor say anything?”

“Did I seem like I was getting along with Priscilla? I’m relieved to pass the trouble onto you.”

Reflecting on when Calios fought disguised as a magic swordsman, every time he used Priscilla, he faced resistance. Gale was no different.

“Priscilla almost wrecked your arm, Professor.”

“My arm wouldn’t break from something like that. Though it was burdensome. Anyway, our compatibility wasn’t great, and she’s as quiet as a docile lady in your hands. No one else can handle her but you.”

“When I can communicate with Priscilla, I suppose… I’ll have to go to the land of death.”

“If it’s necessary. If what’s to be gained there is worth your life. Then, whether to go or not, you’ll have to decide.”

“…”

“Now let’s start. There’s nothing immediate happening just because you’re training leisurely. And Eternia wouldn’t send you to the land of death alone.”

“Would anyone volunteer to accompany me?”

Th is wa s co p i e d f r o m k i n g m t l. o rg
“No one in the world goes there for enjoyment. They go because someone has to.”

“…”

Th i s w a s c o p i ed f r o m k i n g m t l.o r g
“Now, focus on clearing your mind again.”

Calios resumed picking up stones to toss at him.

“How long until the next step?”

“Some take decades, and many never succeed despite dedicating more time.”

“…”

“Isn’t there any way to speed it up? I can’t be doing this until I graduate.”

“If you have divine talent and meet all conditions, three years should be enough.”

“That’s a long way off.”

Calios teased him.

“Indeed. You should have met me a bit earlier.”

“…”
Th i s w a s co p i e d f r o m k in gm t l .o r g

Damian sat on the ground, closed his eyes, and focused on his breathing again.

“To be honest, I have expectations for you.”

“…What do you mean?”

T hi s w as c o pi e d f ro m k in gmt l.o rg
“To see what kind of record you’ll set.”

“…?”

As always, Calios imbued the stones with intent as he tossed them.

Damian still couldn’t react.

After holding his breath for a few seconds, Calios threw the next stone.

“Hmm.”

T h i s w as c o pie d f r o m ki n g m t l . o r g
Calios narrowed his eyes with a serious expression. He had noticed Damian’s eyebrow twitch faintly when he released his intent.

“Did you hear something?”

He asked, and Damian slowly opened his eyes, feigning ignorance.

“What… sound do you mean?”

***

T h i s w as c o p i e d fr o m k ing m t l .o r g
Cecil completed her afternoon tasks and returned to the Witthrush Hall dormitory. She had finished all her studies for the day but still had something to do.

The clothes and underwear she borrowed were all Silveryn’s. Cecil, usually fearless, was uncomfortable using the belongings of an archmage like Silveryn so freely.

She changed into casual clothes and neatly folded the borrowed clothes into a basket.

Then she headed to Damian’s room at the end of the third floor of Witthrush Hall. As she was about to leave the basket at the door and turn away, she heard a voice.

“What’s that?”

“Ah, you scared me.”

Luna stood silently in the hallway, glaring at Cecil.

“What’s that…?”

“Why don’t you take a look if you’re so curious.”

“…What did you do with Damian last night?”

Cecil frowned. Luna’s interference in someone else’s date seemed to have crossed a line.

“What do you think happens when a man and a woman go on a date, get drunk, and return home together? Think it over.”

“…”

Luna’s pupils shook violently. Then she froze, as if her breath had stopped.

Cecil ignored Luna and brushed past her.

End of Chapter