Damn Academy - Chapter 239

Chapter 239

Claridyum (6)

Where on earth is this smell coming from? What got scorched? So far, the only thing burned was a rat’s tail. That was several hours ago.

Haley rushed out of the entrance, fully dressed.

“Newbie! Did you find anything?”

I shook my head.
T h i s w a s c op i e d f ro m k i n g m t l . o r g

“…There’s no trace.”

Two Guardians, who were on patrol, spotted us from a distance and quickly approached.

They lightly scanned us and asked, “Please sheath your sword. We will need to verify your identities briefly.”

Priscilla trembled once more. I turned the sword behind my back to avoid drawing attention.

“We are members of the Eternia delegation. Professor Erzebet, the Grand Mage, vouched for our identities and the city has permitted our stay.”

The two Guardians exchanged glances. Upon seeing the lights on in Silveryn’s mansion, they seemed to realize something and nodded.

“Ah, you’re from the delegation. We received a report of a scream in the vicinity and came to investigate. Could you tell us what happened?”

“A suspicious figure was spying on the mansion’s grounds, but did you see him? He was here until moments ago but fled quickly.”

“We patrolled this area a few hours ago, but saw nothing of the sort. There haven’t been any reports either.”

“…”

“Do you know which direction he fled?”

“No, he just vanished.”

“We’d like to help, but without clues, there’s nothing we can do.”

“…Has anyone been caught recently for spying on other mansions?”

One of the Guardians scratched his chin thoughtfully.

“Well… there is something. The eldest son of Lady Gerawild, from the block across the way, caused trouble. It was just two weeks ago.”

“What did he do?”

“He was caught sneaking around noble estates at night. His main targets were women, especially young ones. The case was serious, but after a legal battle, he was released.”

“Why?”

“They seemed to consider his mental immaturity. He’s as big as a mountain, but mentally, he’s comparable to a ten-year-old. Lady Gerawild promised to keep a strict watch over him before he was released.”

“…Could you investigate him for us?”

“Yes, we will look into it.”

Haley spoke up. “Can you bolster the patrol or assign guards to the mansion?”

“That’s beyond our authority. We can relay your request to our superiors, but we can’t guarantee anything.”

Haley looked displeased as she watched the departing Guardians.

She crossed her arms, a troubled expression on her face, and said to me, “Relying solely on the Guardians without setting a night watch… it’s dreadful. How can the kids sleep peacefully in this situation? I felt more at ease when we were at sea.”

“I agree.”
Th i s wa s c o p i e d f r o m k i n g m t l .or g

“Ah, no matter where you go, there’s always a madman. Even if just one percent of the population is crazy, that’s dozens or hundreds in a big city… it’s a headache.”

“Oh, right, Senior. There’s one clue: there was a lingering burnt smell.”

“…A burnt smell?”

“Maybe he intended to start a fire.”

“Something that could burn… I don’t know, could it have been a rat sneaking in?”

Given the number of madmen, there are likely just as many rats in the city. It’s possible, especially since we brought loads of dried fruits, jerky, and wine. It might have been slinking around, drawn by the smell from afar.

Haley suddenly clapped her thigh as if recalling something and asked, “Newbie, about the professor’s ancient magic circle. Does it only burn rats?”

“…?”

“Could it be driving out anything that’s not human?”

“I can’t say. Nothing other than rats has ever occupied the space…”

It would be best to ask Silveryn directly, but sending a message from here would take two days to reach the capital and two more to return. By then, it would be time to head back, making it effectively useless.

T h i s w as co p ied f r o m k i n gmt l. o rg
“If that magic circle drives out anything non-human… then humanoid beasts could be a possibility too, right? Ghouls, werewolves maybe.”

“…”

“Claridyum rivals the North and Eternia in terms of beastology. There’s an institution dedicated solely to beast research with an enormous scale and impressive results. If they study beasts, they might bring in many live ones by ship. It wouldn’t be surprising if one or two escaped by accident.”

“That’s quite plausible. And I just remembered, one of Professor Silveryn’s estates once belonged to a vampire.”

Haley’s eyes widened.

“Oh? That fits the puzzle! I’ve heard high-ranking vampires can transform into bats! It would be possible for a bat to sneak into the mansion. It might have been repelled by the magic circle.”

If what Haley said is true, it is most likely a vampire that sent us the curse. We can even speculate about a grudge with Silveryn, who has notable connections with vampires. Of course, there’s no conclusive evidence, so we should conduct a broad investigation.

Haley bit her lip, deep in thought.

“Alright. Tomorrow, Jenia and I will investigate Lady Gerawild’s son at the Guardian Assembly Hall. The day after, we’ll tour the exchange match venue. After the tour, we’ll visit the university research lab to see the beasts bred for the exchange match. Let’s find out if there are any species that could pose a threat.”

“I’ll walk around the plaza at dawn to gather information about vampires.”

“Sounds good, but Newbie, there’s almost no way to distinguish a vampire hidden among humans.”

“…Isn’t there some kind of artifact in a city of magical studies?”

Haley shook her head.

“A vampire who’s lived for hundreds of years wouldn’t be caught by such simple means. Traditionally, the only reliable method is… finding someone whose face hasn’t aged for decades.”

In that case, I’ll have to find someone in Claridyum who has lived here for ages and knows many people.

“Understood.”

“And Damian.”

Haley’s expression turned serious.

“If our enemy is an intelligent being, don’t let them realize we’re investigating them.”

***

Lilith came in with her gray hair neatly combed and styled in a half-updo, different from usual. She wore an elegant blue dress embroidered with flowers, adorned with gemstone earrings and hairpins. Her lips were painted pink, making her pale and delicate appearance stand out even more today.

Even inside the carriage, she maintained a noble lady’s posture, sitting upright as if it were second nature. Anyone could see she carried herself like a noble lady.

However, unfittingly, she couldn’t keep her gaze fixed and fidgeted restlessly.

“Where… are we going?”

“I told you before. We’re going to Progress Plaza.”

“Right, of course.”

She clenched and unclenched her hands nervously, aware of the plan to search for vampires told to her in the morning.

We’ll move like ordinary travelers. We’ll conceal our true intentions and leisurely enjoy shopping.

“Yah!”

The coachman excitedly shook the reins.

“We’re almost there, Miss!”

Every few minutes, the coachman glanced back at Lilith. He didn’t say a word to me; his attention was blatantly focused on Lilith. His obvious interest was amusing.

“…”

T h i s w as co p i ed fr o m k i ng m t l . or g
“Is this your first time at Progress Plaza?”

“…I was here yesterday too.”

“The plaza has never seen a lady as lovely as you, Miss.”

“…”

“You truly are beautiful, Miss.”

“…”

“May I ask your name?”

The coachman seemed to think this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and desperately tried to flirt with Lilith.

The carriage made its way through a narrow street and soon emerged into a wide-open plaza.

At a glance, you could sense that people of various classes were mingling in the plaza.

A woman holding a placard with a child’s portrait, searching for a missing person. A madman on an apple crate, preaching about religion, gods, and the apocalypse. A Vintera racing by, pulling a dark carriage. A beautiful woman sitting by the fountain, being painted by an artist. A madwoman, alone, muttering nonsense to her reflection in a shop window.

The thought that a vampire might be hiding somewhere in this plaza made the hair on my arms stand up. Priscilla also shivered in response.

Lilith, observing the scene, murmured to herself, “One sign of impending doom is an increase in street madmen…”

We descended in the middle of the plaza.

“I hope to see you again, Miss.”

The coachman extended his hand to shake with Lilith. Instead, she linked her arm with mine, indicating her feelings.

The coachman smacked his lips and scratched his head, then hurriedly left. Lilith unlinked our arms.

“How does it feel to be told you’re pretty?”

“…Can I be honest?”

“Sure.”

“I’ve heard it so often it’s lost its impact.”

“…”

“If he’d known my name, he might have asked around and sent a letter.”

“You speak as if you’ve experienced it.”

“Countless times.”

“…”

“By the way, what are we supposed to do while visiting old shops?”

“We’re not overtly searching for vampires. We’re looking for a wizard indebted to Professor Silveryn. An elusive wizard who doesn’t age.”

“Got it. Shopping… we can do as much as we want, right?”

I don’t see a pouch of coins in Lilith’s hand. It’s unclear how she plans to shop without money.

“As long as we stick to our means, there shouldn’t be any problems.”

***

This was the third shop we visited. Lilith examined the shapes and names of perfume bottles, picking them up and putting them in her basket. A dozen perfume bottles filled Lilith’s basket.

What’s truly shocking is that she never checks the price tags. She simply picks what she wants and hands the cashier a note.

Approaching me as I lingered by the display, she asked, “Damian, are you buying perfume too?”

“Hm?”

“Well… I just thought it might be better if you didn’t wear any.”

“You said I smell.”

“If the smells overlap… it might actually be off-putting.”

“It wouldn’t hurt to buy one as a gift.”

I picked up a visible perfume bottle, glanced at the price tag, and put it back.

T h i s was c o p i e d f r om k ing m t l .or g
“Well… if it’s for a gift, I can help you choose. Why don’t you pick one, Damian?”

“This one seems nice.”

I picked up a bottle filled with green liquid. The glass bottle was labeled “Slime Perfume.”

I wonder what slime perfume smells like. The idea of a perfume made from a rare creature like a slime is intriguing.

Lilith frowned slightly when she saw it.

“Of all the pretty perfumes, why that one… are you trying to mess with the recipient?”

“No.”

I chose it seriously, yet she says it’s meant to mess with someone. That seems a bit harsh.
T hi s w a s c opi ed fr om k i n gm t l . o r g

A clerk approached me and explained, “That’s… a perfume reflecting our store’s perfumer’s experimental spirit.”

“What kind of experiment?”

“The inclusion of slime itself is a big gamble.”

“Do people dislike slimes?”

The clerk nodded as if it were obvious.

“Yes, slimes aren’t cute creatures. They’re not a single entity but a cluster of invisible micro-parasites. Just like flocks of birds move together, slimes move similarly. If you look closely with an instrument, you’ll see countless worm-like creatures with mouths inside the slime.”

“…”

“And slime’s mucus has a property of exploding upon contact with very powerful energy. It can’t be cut with swords, and using magic makes it explode, so beast hunters often avoid giant slimes.”

“Then how do you hunt them?”

“You have to deal with them using weak magic. Like cooking meat in lukewarm water, you have to be very careful. There are very few strong magicians, so they rarely encounter explosions, but the important thing…”

Lilith interjected, seemingly on the same wavelength as the clerk.

“…No woman would want to receive a slime perfume full of dead bugs that might explode.”

The clerk nodded in agreement.

“…”

Lilith raised an eyebrow and asked, “Who were you planning to give it to?”

T h i s w a s c op i e d f rom k i n g m tl . or g
“Cecil… do you know her?”

Lilith’s eyes widened momentarily.

“…The magic department?”

“Yes.”

Lilith brushed her hair back and thought for a moment.

“In that case, it might be different. The magic department is known for its adventurous spirit. Since slime perfume is unique… she might actually like it.”
This wa s c o pi e d f r o m k i n g m t l . o r g

I think similarly. Cecil asked for a one-of-a-kind gift, and this seems to fit the bill. Plus, Cecil likes bombs…

“How much is it?”

Lilith interrupted my question.

“I’ve already paid for it, so you can just take it. A bank employee will come, settle the bill, and deliver it to our lodging.”

I’m starting to realize what kind of world Lilith must have come from. Claridyum isn’t even her hometown, yet how much wealth does she have for a bank employee in a foreign city to serve her?

“…I don’t want to owe you.”

Lilith shook her head and smiled brightly.

“I’m happy to repay what I’ve received from you. Just… tell Cecil I chipped in a bit.”

***

Even after asking the clerk, we found no useful clues. Claridyum’s population is so dense that people don’t pay much attention to their neighbors.

T h i s w a s c o p i e d f r o m k i n g m t l . o r g
While leaving the plaza and searching for the fourth shop, an old man waved his arm to call us over in front of a store.

“Hey there! Right? The hero of Claridyum!”

The embarrassing appellation drew glances from passersby.

“Come on in! Let me offer you some tea!”

Lilith looked up at me and asked, “Why aren’t you going?”

“His eyes suggest he has a request.”

“You can tell?”

“He looks desperate.”

“…Should we go? We might gain something. He might really just want to offer tea.”

“…”

Lilith pulled me along into the shop where the old man was waving us over. I had no choice but to follow her inside. The interior was filled with bookshelves, resembling an old bookstore.

Once we were inside, the old man checked the surroundings and closed the door. Then, like it was a secret meeting, he pulled down all the blinds and lit a candle in the dark interior.

Each action was suspicious.

“You’re from Eternia, right?”

We nodded.

“Yes, we are.”

“I desperately need your help.”

Lilith looked up at me with wide eyes, wondering how I knew.

I told the old man, “We are not from a task agency.”

“Please, I’m begging you. I’ll let you take whatever you want from my shop. I have rare recipe books, forbidden tomes… and if you bring her back safely, I’ll even give you my family’s heirloom!”

Lilith showed interest and asked, “Bring who back?”

“Bring back my runaway wife!”

“Oh.”

Regretting her interest, she slapped her forehead.

I asked, “Can’t this be resolved by paying a task agency?”

“You can’t trust anyone in this city. Everyone’s missing a screw. Folks from Eternia like you are perfect.”

It sounded like he might be paranoid.

“What exactly happened with your wife?”

“She started neglecting the household. In the months before she left, she changed. She abandoned her usual chores, went out, dressed up, and occasionally stood in front of the mirror, rehearsing lines like she was acting. That’s when I knew. After all those trips to the theater with friends, she must’ve taken up with some rich fellow. You must know when a woman’s heart has left, given your multitude of lovers.”

Lilith looked up at me, her expression questioning if it was true.

“…”

“Then last month, she left without a word. No matter where I search, she’s nowhere to be found. It’s like she’s hidden away, and now I’m afraid she’s left the city, hand in hand with another man. I might have been a bit harsh, but I never raised a hand or starved her. I didn’t realize it before, but now I know. I still love my wife. Truly.”

“Couldn’t you request a search from the Guardians?”

He passionately retorted, “Only fools trust the Guardians! They’re lapdogs for their upper ranks and the families funding them! They don’t care about citizens’ safety!”

“We can’t help you. We don’t know what your wife looks like and have no leads. Besides, we don’t have much time here.”

He hurriedly rummaged through a drawer, pulled out a stamped contract, and handed it over.

T h i s w as c op i e d fro m k i n g m t l.or g
“Go to Lotulek. I commissioned the best painter in this city to paint a portrait of my wife and me half a year ago. It should be nearly finished. Tell them you’re here for the Westwood couple’s portrait. I’ll give you the order sheet, so they should show you willingly.”

“I’ll check it out, but beyond that, I can’t promise anything.”

The old man nodded, seemingly resigned, understanding he couldn’t push further.

“Alright. If there’s no other way, could you visit the prophet Proxima? She’s the city’s best prophet. If anyone can tell you my wife’s fate, it’s her. I’m too scared to go myself.”

“Understood. We’ll be going now.”

Lilith opened the door and stepped outside first.

As I was about to follow her, a thought suddenly struck me, causing ripples in my mind.

I stopped in my tracks, turned, and asked, “By any chance, was there ever a mirror placed in front of the entrance before your wife disappeared?”

End of Chapter