Damn Academy - Chapter 238

Chapter 238

Claridyum (5)

Rosalyn stomped her feet in frustration. The mirror curse was serious enough to devastate several noble families and cause a stir in Claridyum for a while. Some even removed all mirrors from their homes or hired mercenaries to stand guard at their entrances to prevent the bizarre phenomenon of mirrors being moved to the foyer.

Yet someone had secretly performed this curse ritual at the mansion of Archmage Silveryn, coinciding with a visit from the students of Eternia.

Jenia spoke calmly, “Calm down, Senior. It’s not like anyone’s dying.”

“All of you, just cover the mirror with cloth and leave it alone for now. If you break a cursed artifact, you might have to bear the consequences alone, so be careful.”

No sooner had she finished speaking than something whizzed past Rosalyn with the sound of the wind.

Crash!

“…!”

T h i s w as c o p ied f r o m k in g m tl. or g
It was Damian’s doing. Without a word, he had hurled a sword, shattering the mirror into pieces.

Everyone stared at Damian in disbelief.

Damian stepped over the crumbling debris, retrieved his sword, and said, “Could you help me clean this up?”

“…What did you do?”

Everyone could sense it. Damian had deliberately broken it as soon as he heard he might have to bear the curse alone.

His reckless action left everyone speechless.

Haley watched Damian intently and subtly smirked.

“Now you see? The newbie is really something.”

“…”

Rosalyn was still in a daze.

Haley whispered softly, “That’s how he managed to charm the Grand Duchess of Ulyssia, the top magician, and even Jenia.”

Jenia, overhearing, objected, “Not me! I like older people, you know?”

Rosalyn looked at the other members’ faces.

Thanks to Damian’s unexpected action, the members seemed to regain their vigor. His behavior had clearly boosted their morale. Once like prey, their eyes now burned with determination.

“Are you okay? I can find you another place to stay.”

Haley said, “No, we like this place. We’ll stay here.”

“Then let’s check if there might be any intruders.”

***

We followed Rosalyn’s instructions.

I checked the second floor with Jenia, while Jenia and Rosalyn inspected the first floor. The remaining members searched the attic and basement, waiting for the carriage carrying their luggage.
T hi s w a s co p i e d f ro m k i n g mt l . o r g

I entered each room with Jenia to inspect them.

As we went, I suddenly had a question.

“Senior.”

“Yes?”

“May I ask you something?”
Th i s w a s c o pied f rom k i ng m t l . o r g

“What is it?”

“Does a curse like that actually work?”

“Haha, pfft!”

Jenia suddenly burst into laughter.

“…?”

“Hahaha. Hahaha. Oh, geez.”

She was laughing so hard she had to lean on the wall for support.

“Senior?”

“Hahaha. Isn’t it supposed to be the other way around? Who breaks something first and then asks questions later?”

“I was just curious.”

Jenia caught her breath and continued, “Every researcher in magic agrees that curses are the trickiest. Most are superstitions, but sometimes they manifest without warning.”

“…So they can really work.”

“Yes. The same curse might not work in Eternia but could work in Claridyum. That’s why it’s tricky.”

“That’s fascinating.”

“Curses are a branch of magic. If you borrow power from the land or yourself, it’s general magic. If you borrow power from spirits, it’s sorcery. If you borrow power from local deities or spiritual entities, it’s a curse.”

I think I’d heard something similar before.

“Curses are unpredictable. They don’t always require magic as payment.”

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“Then what do they require?”

“Anything but magic. Your heart, liver, fate, wealth, girlfriend, parents.”
T hi s wa s c o p i e d f r o m k i n g m t l .o r g

“…”

“You lay all those things out and negotiate with spirits. You say, ‘I’ll give you this, so please kill that.’ If the price is right, the trade happens.”

“Well, if that were true, then people couldn’t commit wrongdoings and live brazenly. But reality isn’t always like that…”

“Right, there are too many variables. Scholars have different theories. I think any magic that’s hard to explain academically gets lumped together as curses.”

“In your opinion, is the mirror really related to a curse?”

“Well, it’s more like a superstition. If someone who placed the mirror like that met with misfortune… it’s like a serial killer’s mark. There must have been cases for my senior to react like that.”

“…”

I thought similarly. I had a curse-defending artifact enchanted by Erzebet on my wrist. Since it didn’t react when I broke the mirror, it was likely just a superstition. Curses don’t scare me. It’s humans with malice in their hearts who are the real threat.

We had nearly finished inspecting the second floor and opened the door to the last remaining space, the master room.

“Hmm?”

T h i s w as co p i e d f r om k i n gm t l . o rg
“A magic circle?”

In the master room, there was a single bed, and in the center of the floor was a peculiar magic circle. A black dagger was embedded in the circle’s perimeter.

We approached to examine it more closely.

“It looks like ancient magic… feels ominous. Who did this?”

“It’s probably fine. I think Professor Silveryn drew it.”

“Huh? How do you know?”

“There’s an identical magic circle at the Eternia residence. I’ve seen her draw it herself.”

“Really? What’s it used for?”

“It was used to chase away rats at the mansion. But I don’t know about this dagger.”

“Is this dagger made of Mediolite metal? It’s likely used to disrupt the magic flow of the circle. Even if the magic continues after breaking the circle, you can use this to cut it off. Did she leave it when she left the mansion? It’s quite valuable.”

“Should we pull it out?”

“Let’s do it.”

I pulled out the dagger, and as if the magic circle regained its power, the chandelier suddenly lit up, brightening the room.

Soon, the ceiling and walls echoed with the noisy scurrying of rats.

Tap-tap-tap. Squeak! Squeak-squeak! Tap-tap-tap.

“Wow, so it’s real. I’ve never seen magic like this.”

As we exited the room, the hallway was also lit, exuding a warm ambiance. It seemed the entire mansion was illuminated.

When we descended to the first floor, chaos ensued.

Even the students of Eternia, who dealt with beasts, were frozen against the walls. They were shocked to see the hordes of rats, tails ablaze, fleeing out the front door.

***

Rosalyn handed out passes to the members, allowing unrestricted movement throughout the city’s districts.

“These passes were issued thanks to Professor Erzebet’s endorsement, so don’t cause any trouble in the administrative district. And just in case, at least two people should stay watch at each floor, totaling four people in shifts. Guardians patrol this district even at dawn, but… don’t fully trust it. Move in groups of three or four when engaging in outdoor activities. Record where you’re going before leaving. That way, we can handle any incidents.”

Rosalyn privately pulled me aside to talk about the curse.

“There’s a superstition that the owners of places where mirror positions change like that go missing or die. This rumor has circulated for years and has become taboo. Some say you lose your mind even if you don’t die. If a mirror was placed in the foyer once, it might end in a mishap, but if it happens repeatedly, I’ll immediately send you back to Eternia. I plan to interrogate suspicious maids or workers. Until the culprit is found, be careful and manage the members well.”

With those words, Rosalyn left.

I was assigned a private room, presumably the master room Silveryn had used on the second floor.

After unpacking my bag, I lay on the bed, took a deep breath, and tried to calm my mind. For some reason, ever since setting foot in Claridyum, my nerves had been on edge.

My heart beat slightly faster than usual, and my digestion was off. Priscilla, who had been calm on the ship, was extremely sensitive here.

Someone knocked on my room door.

“Come in.”

Lilith opened the door, and with her was the young girl we had taken from the accident scene.

“What’s up?”

“The child wants to go home.”

“…She had a home?”

“Yes. Apparently, someone was taking care of her. But it’s on the outskirts of the city, and it’s dangerous to go alone, so Senior Haley asked if you could accompany her.”

“Do you know the location?”

“Yes. The carriage is ready.”

It would soon be dark, and I couldn’t let a young and pretty woman and a child go alone in an unfamiliar place. It was bothersome, but it was right to follow Haley’s instructions.

I got off the bed, picked up my sword, and checked the window. There was a carriage waiting at the mansion’s gate.

I approached the child.

“Why didn’t you tell us you had a home?”

“…Grandma always knows when I’ll come.”

“Mischievous one. Your grandma must be worried.”

Lilith and I left the house with the child and headed for the carriage.

Once inside, Lilith handed the coachman a pre-prepared map, and he set off without a word.

The carriage passed through the administrative district, the city’s core, and gradually moved towards the outskirts.

I, like Lilith, quietly admired the city’s scenery.

Just as we were about to pass a wide, bustling intersection, Lilith spoke.

“This must be the Progress Plaza.”

“…Is it famous?”

“Yes. It’s said to have rare items from all over the continent. Artifacts, food, clothes. Every visible building is a shop. Travelers spend the most money here. Both Senior Jenia and Haley wanted to come here first.”

“…I had something to buy anyway. I’ll have to check it out tomorrow.”

Lilith turned to me.

“Do you want to go together?”

“Why not?”

“G-great!”

Lilith’s eyes widened.

Cecil, Luna, Trisha—all are noble ladies. With my instincts from being raised in an orphanage, choosing gifts they would be satisfied with was impossible. I needed the help of a noble lady with similar status.

The child tugged at Lilith’s clothes with her small hand.

“Grandma said Grandpa Westwood is the greatest.”

“…Huh?”

“In the Progress Plaza.”

“Oh, really?”

Lilith wasn’t listening carefully. Her face was randomly flushed, and she kept smoothing her hair nervously.

I asked on behalf of Lilith, “What does that grandpa do?”

“He’s lived the longest.”

“Really?”

“…No, he’s done the most.”

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Typical of a little kid, her words were mixed up.

“Done what?”

“This and that.”

“Uh-huh.”

“And Grandpa Gepetto is called a poor man.”

“Who is he?”

“There.”

The child pointed out the window at someone. It was a middle-aged man resembling a beggar, standing alone on an apple crate, delivering a speech. Though passionately speaking, no one was stopping to listen.

He was the typical madman seen in every plaza.

The carriage left the plaza and headed for the city outskirts. After about thirty minutes, it was nearly dark.

Once we left the central area, rundown buildings appeared sporadically. The passersby looked somewhat shabby, reflecting a lower standard of living.

After traveling about five more minutes, the carriage stopped abruptly upon entering a dilapidated slum.

“The carriage can’t enter this area.”

Reluctantly, we got off and continued on foot. The child led us by the hand between Lilith and me.
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We arrived at a small wooden house resembling a shack.

A slightly tilted old sign was attached to it.

[House of Love]

We stood there momentarily, trying to decipher its meaning. A shadow fell over Lilith’s face.

“Is it what I think it is?”

“What are you thinking?”

“A… a place for children?”

“What?”

“Love… a place for… making children?”
T his w a s c o p i e d f r o m kin g m t l . o r g

“…?”

“As far as I know, these places are usually for maintaining a livelihood…”

Lilith was speaking when someone sensed our presence and swung open the door.

“Peep is back!”

“Waaah!”

From inside, young children with different hair and eye colors rushed out.

“Who are the people with you?”

“They smell nice!”

A dozen or so children not related by blood. Lilith looked at me, something dawning on her. I nodded.

This was an orphanage.

Soon, an old woman with a cane came out and hurriedly ushered the children back inside.

“Come on in, or your porridge will go cold.”

Once all the children were inside, the old woman turned to us.

Now I noticed her eyes were white, focused on nothing. She was blind.

“How kind of you to visit. I’m so grateful. You’re honored guests. I’d love to offer you porridge; would you like to come in?”

Lilith declined politely.

“Oh, no, we must be going now.”

“Then, wait a moment.”

The old woman went inside and returned with something wrapped in paper, handing it to each of us. Despite being blind, her actions were almost indistinguishable from those of a sighted person.

Inside the paper were warm cookies.

“Thank you. We’ll be going now. Take care.”

We bowed our heads in respect and retraced our steps.

Seeing the orphanage brought back a flood of emotions, reminding me of my difficult childhood.

Lilith frowned slightly at the cookie in her hand, staring at it.

“What’s wrong?”

“Uh…”

Upon closer inspection, there were wood shavings mixed in with Lilith’s cookie.

“Give it to me.”

“Huh…?”

I took her cookie and stuffed it into my mouth. The taste… was just as expected, like plain flour dough.

“…!”

She stared at me with wide eyes, her expression questioning how I could eat such a thing.

Sadly, I have a quirk where I can’t waste things.

The sun had fully set, and the atmosphere on the run-down street we walked was quite eerie.

Then, a carriage sped past us. It was a first-class carriage that didn’t fit in with the slum. For some reason, the carriage abruptly stopped. As we were about to pass it, the driver discreetly asked, “Would you like a ride?”

He seemed concerned about us walking at night and made the suggestion. But there’s no need for a first-class carriage. Rosalyn had strongly warned us about them being rip-offs.

“No, we already have a carriage waiting ahead.”

“The nights in Claridyum are chilly.”

“We’re fine. Oh, may I ask one question?”

“Of course.”

“As you travel all over the city, you must know quite a bit. Could you recommend the best place near the plaza for food?”

“There isn’t a place that makes beef stew as well as Jenny and Finny’s. It’s next to Roland’s Drapery. I had lunch there just yesterday.”

“Thanks for the information.”

The carriage resumed its journey.

“Jenny and Finny’s. Remember that.”

“Uh, okay.”

Lilith repeatedly ran her hand through her hair, looking flustered all over again.

***

Upon returning to the lodging, I went to bed early. The exhaustion from several days of sailing and the sudden drain of magic overwhelmed me, and I fell into a deep sleep as soon as I lay down.

How much time had passed?

“Ahhh!”

I was jolted awake by an ear-splitting scream.

It came from the hallway. It was likely from the night watch.

I grabbed Priscilla, which was lying beside me, and immediately burst through the door.

In the hallway, a female member on night watch sat trembling in her pajamas.

Awakened by the scream, others rushed upstairs in panic.

Haley arrived, wearing only underwear and a top, and shouted, “What happened!”

The guard pointed out the window.

T h i s w a s c o pi ed f r o m k i n g m tl . or g
“Out there, out there, outside the fence, something… something was watching us.”

“How long was it watching!”

“At first, it was so dark I thought it was just a tree shadow, but… when I looked closely, it was a human shape. It was clinging to the fence, watching our lodging.”

“For how long?”

“U-until just now.”

Haley signaled to me.

“Newbie!”

I knew what she meant to say. Without hesitation, I opened the window and jumped down. Looking up, I saw Haley, barefoot and in underwear, getting ready to jump from the window ledge.

“Newbie! Catch me!”

“I’ll go. Stay put!”

I exited the fence and surveyed the dark street.

It seemed too late; there was nothing visible on the road. No visible traces, but one thing was odd.

“Why does it smell like this…”

There was no sign of a fire, yet a strong burnt smell stung my nose.

End of Chapter