Damn Academy - Chapter 234

Chapter 234

Claridyum

Calios asked, “Do you feel anything?”

“I feel the mana pressure is lighter than before.”

The sensation was bewildering, as if I were holding a different sword.

“On this side, the mana pressure feels stronger than before.”

I also measured the duration of the magic sword, and it had significantly increased. It could now be maintained for nearly 15 minutes.

Despite consistent physical training, the duration of the magic sword had barely increased. Learning Calios’s method had almost doubled its duration.

I finally realized that controlling the magic sword was more about the mind than the body.

“As you become more familiar with the magic sword, you’ll learn to concentrate its power even further.”

“What does concentrating it mean?”

“It means striking with an even more powerful blow.”

A so-called special move. In Priscilla’s case, it would be a cold storm, and for this light sword, it would be a sword wave.

Calios’s instruction didn’t stop there.

“Sensing killing intent is more fundamental than any swordsmanship. Whether against beasts or humans, it gives you an edge. Right now, you’ll only be able to distinguish between friend and foe, but as your senses develop, you’ll be able to read your opponent’s movements.”

His explanation sounded like an invincible skill, but he also noted its limitations. For instance, those who kill as easily as eating don’t emit killing intent, as it’s a familiar act for them.

The sense of killing intent is more useful against beasts than humans.

Calios occasionally tested me by throwing the spear he had carved.

“You’re reacting. You’ve definitely grown.”

There was progress. However, when Calios absorbed all the killing intent, I could barely sense a faint discomfort, so it was far from being useful in actual combat.

“How far along are you with Zeldan Hart’s trials?”

“I’ve completed the second trial.”

“Do you know there’s someone your age in the Empire who achieved the second stage faster than you?”

“…Should I be concerned?”

“That person possesses one of the Four Great Magic Swords. Now, doesn’t that bother you?”

“….”

“Don’t you want to surpass that person?”

“Isn’t that your ambition, Professor?”

“It’s all for your benefit.”
Th i s wa s c o p i ed f r o m k i n gm tl. o rg

I paused my meditation and squinted slightly, glancing at Calios. His eyes were filled with eagerness and greed.

“You want me to get ahead of him.”

“No, I want you to go beyond that and kick that fool’s butt.”

“Then why don’t you do it yourself, Professor?”

“Can an adult intervene in a children’s fight?”

“Are you planning to use me in an adult fight?”

Calios paused for a moment and took a deep breath.

T hi s w as c opi ed fr o m k i n g m t l.or g
“No, this is related to your friend Azelis. And one day, it will become your concern.”

The clarity I found through meditation blurred again. What does this have to do with Trisha?

“What is it?”

“When Azelis awakens her abilities, you’ll naturally understand. Knowing now won’t change anything; if anything, it will only clutter your mind again.”

“…”

“Don’t overthink it. Just think of it as preventing Azelis from biting her tongue and dying.”

Calios was right. My mind was already sufficiently confused. If I heard a few more words, I’d be fixated on it for the next week.

“What do you want me to do?”

“Awaken your sense of killing intent. Zeldan Hart’s third trial is related to that.”

“Weren’t you saying it would take years?”

“But you’ve already done it, haven’t you?”

“…”

“And, what’s your next plan?”

“I have a visit scheduled to Claridyum.”

Calios stroked his beard, looking displeased.

“It will take ages just to get there.”

“It takes a little over a week by carriage, I’ve heard.”

“Can’t you rent a ship?”

“The art club’s budget doesn’t allow it.”
T h i s wa s c op ie d f r om k i n g m tl . o r g

“Hmm…”

Calios pondered, gazing into the distance while stroking his beard.

“Should I cancel it?”

“No, go and mingle with people to clear your mind. Instead… let’s see. You’ll have to give up on the final evaluation.”

“What?”

“What’s the point of getting good grades? There’s somewhere we need to go together. This place is too peaceful. Isn’t it a place where everyone laughs and chats wherever you go? It’s the worst place to understand beasts, survival competition, and killing intent.”

“…”

An ominous smile appeared on Calios’s lips.

“To become stronger, you must, of course, go to hell.”

***

The day before the excursion to Claridyum, the art club members gathered in the greenhouse for a final check.

Georgia, the art club’s advisor, stood with her hands behind her back and delivered the instructions.

“Those in the Magic Department or Alchemy Department, bring any decent works you’ve made. You might get them properly evaluated in Claridyum, and if they’re good, you can also auction them off for a lot of money.”

The mention of making a lot of money caused a brief commotion among the members. A student raised his hand and asked a question.
T h i s w a s c o p i e d f r o m ki n g m t l . o r g

“Can we sell other things, too?”

“If you have artifacts or trophies you want to sell, feel free to bring them. That’s where you’ll get the best price.”

The idea is tempting.

Let’s see. Do I have anything worth selling? The mask, the meteorite bracelet, Priscilla, the sapling sword, and… the magic defense artifact. None of them can be sold.

I wonder if they’ll accept handicrafts I’ve made.

While racking my brain, I suddenly remembered something I’d forgotten.

I had a precious potion: the ‘Elixir of Love,’ which I received as my reward for topping the Circulatory System evaluation.

Since I have no use for it, I might as well put it up for auction.

“I will guide you only to the Rigved pier. Once you’re on the ship, Haley is in charge, so listen to her. Don’t cause any trouble. We’re loading the luggage today, and if we find any alcohol, it’s all confiscated. Do you know what the waves take first? Drunken sailors. If you fall overboard like that, your body won’t even be found. Got it?”
Th i s wa s c o p i e d f r o m k i ng m t l. or g

The members responded in unison with a bright “Yes.”

“If you hear singing on a suddenly foggy day, cover your ears. You know? Sirens with bare chests sometimes sing to confuse people and take handsome men. Our art club boys are so handsome, it’s a big concern.”

A female member commented, “The sirens would just pass by our ship—”

The girls burst into laughter.

Georgia shook her head as if she were fed up.

“Oh, you vixens. Don’t fight over nothing. When you arrive in Claridyum, a senior who graduated will guide you, so listen to them. Got it?”

“Yes—”

“I’ll hand out an emergency stitch to each of you, so send it if there’s an urgent matter. Keep the stitch marker with you at all times.”

“Yes—”

A member went around distributing the stitches one by one.

“Alright. Be sure to gather at the Rigved pier by tomorrow morning. That’s all.”

Professor Georgia finished speaking and left.

As everyone departed, Haley stopped me.

“Newbie, stay behind.”

“…”

She waited for the others to leave and then spoke.

“You have some strength, so help me move the luggage. And while we’re at it, let’s check out Rigved.”
Thi s w a s c o p ie d from k i ng m t l . or g

“Senior, but a ship? Weren’t we traveling by carriage?”

“I don’t know either. An anonymous tycoon from the Empire sponsored us and provided a fast ship.”

“…Who?”

“They didn’t tell us? Professor Georgia hinted that they’re quite an impressive person.”

“Could it be a sponsorship for you, Senior, from the Empire?”

“I’m suspicious too, but there’s no mention that it was for me…”

“Let’s go then.”

Haley and I stepped outside the greenhouse. As we walked, I noticed something suspicious near the garden trees and stopped.

“Senior, just a moment.”

“Uh-huh. What is it?”

Something was slightly poking out from behind the hedge along the path. More accurately, it was a familiar blond crown.

“Mind if I check something?”

“Sure, go ahead.”

I cautiously approached the hedge and looked down, meeting eyes with Luna, who was crouched there.

Luna’s eyes wavered significantly.

An awkward silence lingered for a few seconds as we stared at each other.

“Luna?”

When I called her name, she lowered her head and fiddled with the dirt, pretending to be distracted.

“There… was a mushroom here…”

“Luna.”

When I extended my hand, she accepted the situation and took it.

She seemed embarrassed, using her other hand to cover her face. Then she stood, stepping over the hedge.

“Luna. Why are you hiding in a place like this?”

Her face was small enough to be almost entirely hidden by one hand. I craned my neck slightly to see her face from the side. Her cheeks were flushed, and she kept her eyes tightly shut.

Perhaps feeling my gaze, Luna turned halfway away from me.

“I was… looking for mushrooms.”

“Why have you been avoiding me lately?”

“You have a girlfriend now, and… I can’t bother you when you’re having a good time.”
T h i s w a s c op ie d f r o m k i n g m tl.o rg

It seemed yet another creative rumor had been circulating. A girlfriend for me.

“Who said that?”

Luna hesitated but continued.

“I know you went on a date… and spent a night together… at the mansion.”

From an outsider’s perspective, it’s easy to misunderstand. I slowly refuted her words, ensuring not to sound aggressive.

“Trisha was there, and so were you. Did anything happen then?”

“The underwear…”

“It didn’t fit, so I borrowed something from the professor. That’s all.”

Th i s w a s co p i e d f r o m ki n g mt l .o r g
“And…”

“And?”

“You promised you wouldn’t neglect me…”

“I did.”

“…”

This was the first time Luna openly expressed her feelings of disappointment. Having seen her quietly accept things until now, I found this new side of her refreshing.

Indeed, one should know how to demand and express anger.

“I’m going to Claridyum. Is there a souvenir you’d like?”

“…”

I could sense her emotions and mood. Luna was expressing her disappointment through silence.

“I’m going to buy something for all my friends, but if you don’t tell me, you won’t get anything.”

“A sailing ship.”

“What?”

“A skyship.”

What could that be? I’ve never heard of it before. I almost asked if it was expensive.

“Alright. Whatever it is, I’ll get it, even if I have to drag the market by its collar.”

“…Okay.”

“Take care while I’m away.”

The hand covering her face slowly lowered. Luna glanced at my face and then looked down again.

“…Have fun, Damian.”

After concluding our conversation, I turned to rejoin Haley. But then I remembered something I hadn’t asked and turned back to Luna.

“Luna, the white crows… are you controlling them?”

“….”

For some reason, she remained silent.

“Aren’t you?”

“Where did you see them?”

“Recently, while playing.”

“…My spirit was extinguished during the special division competition, so it’s still recovering.”

“….”

It felt like she was oddly denying it, despite being the only one who could handle spirits.

I’ll just pretend to be fooled.
T h i s w a s c o p i e d f r o m k ingm t l. o r g

“Got it.”

A reconciled Luna waved to me shyly.

I returned to Haley, who had been watching with crossed arms.

Haley said, “You’re in a tough spot, too.”

“Why?”

“There’s a saying in the Empire: Once you fall for a blonde, you can never go back.”

“…Let’s go.”

***

I took Haley’s carriage to Rigved. The carriage itself was golden, the wheels golden too, drawing the attention of passersby as we traveled through the streets.

We stopped in the square and wandered the bustling market near the pier.

The journey to Claridyum was said to take just under three days by ship. Because of this, Haley decided to prepare snacks under the pretense of emergency rations and books to read on the way.

“Try this.”

Haley tore off a piece of jerky and forcefully shoved it into my mouth.

“This is beef jerky that’s been brushed with Turnberry sauce every eight hours as it dries. It’s very labor-intensive, so it’s expensive, but the taste is incredible.”

“…It’s good.”

Chewing on the jerky, Haley spoke to the vendor, “How much for a box?”

“Twenty silver coins.”

“It used to be fifteen. That’s too expensive. Can’t you lower it a bit?”

Remarkably, Haley, despite her upbringing, was adept at bargaining.

We bought jerky, dried fish, cheese, wine, and a few books that would be considered indecent in Eternia and subject to disciplinary action, then headed to the pier.

There, a peculiar sailing ship was waiting, alongside the cart carrying our luggage.

What caught my eye was the brilliantly white and sleek body of the sailing ship.

“What is that…?”

“The Golden Swallow. It’s a large fast ship created by the Empire’s magic artisans. It’s equipped with a magic propulsion system and is much sturdier and faster than wooden ships.”

Indeed, it was made of what seemed like marble rather than wood. True to its name, the ship’s sleek and flexible shape was reminiscent of a swallow. It’s hard to imagine how much effort was needed to carve it. It felt like I was looking at a giant stone sculpture.

The sails and banners, emblazoned with the Empire’s emblem, fluttered proudly in the wind. It’s no wonder it’s the Empire.

I was momentarily lost in admiration. I wasn’t the only one; passersby at the pier had also stopped to watch.

“They say if the Golden Swallow collided with a reef, the reef would sink. Maybe I should try crashing it.”

“…Why did they provide something like this for us?”

“That’s what I’m saying. Why? You couldn’t rent this even with a pile of money. I want to know too. I feel like I should bow in gratitude.”

“….”

An image of an old man with a white beard came to mind, but it couldn’t be, right?

“We shouldn’t be standing around.”

T h is was cop i e d f r o m k i ngm t l . o r g
“We have nothing to do, Senior.”

Though we were supposed to move the luggage, the sailors were already carrying the art club’s belongings onto the deck.

“That’s not it, silly. Come here.”

Haley went up to the deck, opened Jenia’s luggage box, and created space by pulling out clothes, including underwear. Then she stuffed contraband novels and alcohol inside.

So that was the main purpose.

“Did you tell Senior Jenia?”

“No! But we have nowhere else to store it, and Jenia will probably like it too.”

“….”

These seniors have quite a unique way of thinking.

After transferring all the smuggled items, she handed me a parchment.

“Newbie, verify the inventory against the cargo list and check for any missing items.”

I followed Haley’s instructions and checked each piece of luggage the sailors brought.

It wasn’t long before I noticed something odd.

“Pavela’s luggage is missing.”

“Oh, she can’t come.”

“Why?”

Haley let out a big sigh and said, “I don’t know. A few days ago, after class, Professor Candinella took Pavela with her, and we haven’t seen her since. When I asked Professor Georgia, she said Pavela won’t be able to come for a while.”

End of Chapter