The Obsessive Regressor of The Academy

33. Entrance Ceremony (2)

One ought to respect another’s tastes. Acel gave Celine a cursory nod, and promptly exited the library.

“Hey, hey! Just a moment!”

Her shout rang out from behind him. Acel turned back to her. Apparently not gifted in matters of physical exertion, Celine was already panting for breath after such a short run, staring straight up into Acel’s eyes.

“It’s not like that.”

There was no need to even ask what “like that” meant. He cast a fleeting glance at the book in Celine’s hands, then chuckled softly, nodding his head.

“Sure.”

Celine’s face flushed a furious red at his reaction. She clutched the book to her chest, her golden eyes blazing.

“It’s not!”

“I know, I know.”

Acel replied casually, continuing on his way. Celine huffed and puffed, following close behind him.

“I just picked it out for fun, okay? There were no ulterior motives!”

“No, I said I understand, didn’t I? Why are you sticking to me like this?”

“Just in case you spread some weird rumors, that’s why! Like, ‘Celine of the Aurora Tower is secretly a pervert who likes being dominated!'”

“Aurora Tower?”

Acel repeated the words, turning back to look at Celine. That phrase, rather than what followed, had immediately captured his attention. Though he’d seen her face during the entrance exam, this was the first time he’d heard her name and affiliation.

Acel knew quite a bit about the Aurora Tower. Celestial magic, manipulating the power of constellations. A prestigious tower that specialized in researching and developing it. Less well-known than other towers that dealt in elemental magic, but a monstrous organization that easily dominated the upper echelons when it came to raw magical power.

Celestial magic required a lengthy pre-cast, but the destructive force unleashed when the spell finally manifested far surpassed other magic of comparable rank. As it harnessed the power of stars, its might was almost beyond imagination. There was a reason why mages from the Aurora Tower so frequently participated in wars and large-scale subjugation operations.

Their numbers were fewer than fire mages, making them relatively inconspicuous. But they were coveted individuals wherever they went. Plus, their magic was visually spectacular, which was always a nice bonus.

Of course, just because someone could use Celestial magic didn’t automatically mean they belonged to the Aurora Tower. To enter the tower, one had to be able to manipulate the spells they dealt with to a certain level, and had to pass an exam. The same applied to other magical towers.

This was why Acel hadn’t assumed Celine was affiliated with the Tower. He’d just assumed she was a mage who only knew how to use magic, given how she’d simply stood there, helpless, during the mana interference. Turns out she was surprisingly skilled.

Once he realized this, Acel began to see Celine in a slightly different light. He wasn’t planning on being picky about who he associated with, but if she was a mage from the Tower, there was no harm in him taking the initiative. Acel smiled faintly, matching his pace to Celine’s.

“If you’re affiliated with the Tower, there’s no real need for you to come to the Academy, is there? You can learn everything you need there, and get practical experience by taking on requests through the Tower, right?”

“The Master submitted the application for me. Against my will. Said I spend too much time cooped up doing research. Needed to get out and make friends.”

“……”

A Master who valued human connections over magical research, then. Unusual, but not unheard of. Though forcing enrollment… that was a different story.

“But, I suppose, coming here wasn’t so bad. Better to be here than constantly under the thumbs of old men in the tower.”

“Aren’t there many young mages in the tower?”

“Not in ours, no. Isn’t it the same for you? If you’re a disciple of Gaebyeok, you belong to the Witch’s Coven, right? What’s it like there?”

“Similar.”

Acel finished the thought and turned his feet towards the dormitories. Celine trotted alongside him, keeping pace.

“More importantly, how did you know I was a disciple of Ena?”

“You’re already famous. Before the entrance exam, no one knew, but now? I bet the whole academy’s heard. You did conjure up quite the lightning storm, didn’t you?”

“……Good or bad, I wonder?”

“Probably bad? I’m sure the professors are already watching you like hawks. Gaebyeok’s reputation isn’t exactly small. The Department of Arcane Arts professors are probably itching to get their hands on you.”

Not exactly welcome news. Acel sighed, fidgeting with the bracelet that circled his right wrist. A thought then struck him. He met Celine’s eyes, a curious expression on his face.

“Speaking of the entrance exam, what happened afterward? I only did the test with Fernan. Don’t know what happened to everyone else.”

“……? Weren’t you there for the assembly?”

“What assembly?”

“After the exam. The proctors gathered all the participants and gave instructions.”

“……Did they?”

Acel scratched his cheek, a sheepish look on his face. As soon as he felt well enough, he’d left the tent. Seems like the proctors had said something important after that. Should have stayed a little longer, perhaps.

Celine chuckled at Acel’s reaction, then stepped slightly ahead, speaking.

“First, the four people who sparred with Fernan automatically passed the academy. Their scores were all top-tier, so they’re assigned to Weisel. So, right now, in the Department of Combat Arts, there are only four people living in Weisel: you, Grace Beidel, Elena von Valdemia, and Ellen Hargelin.”

“……”

“And among the remaining participants, those who remained until the end of the exam were also accepted into the academy. Their scores were ranked through practical exams, and most were assigned to Fiollen. Like me.”

“Then what about those who gave up or failed during the exam?”

“They took both the written and practical exams, and if they passed, they were admitted. They were assigned to Gail and Wimble.”

Compared to previous entrance exams at Luminous Academy, it was quite an unusual case. That likely meant there were more variables this time around.

“Who’s the valedictorian and salutatorian?”

“Don’t know. They said they’ll announce it on the day of the entrance ceremony. But… I bet those who need to know, already know.”

Celine pointed at Acel as she continued.

“You’re the valedictorian of the Department of Arcane Arts. Grace is the valedictorian of the Department of Knights. The salutatorians would be Elena and Ellen, respectively.”

“Names disgustingly similar.”

Celine grumbled, then let out a heavy sigh.

“If it weren’t for Elena, I would have been the salutatorian…”

“Based on what?”

Asel asked with a snort. Celine bristled, her brow furrowing in response.

“Nobody but you distinguished themselves in the exam this time, right? That means the strongest of the rest of us, me, is the salutatorian!”

“That’s preposterous.”

“Whatever.”

Celine retorted, her steps bouncing as she walked on. Then, at the fork in the road that led to Wizel and Piollen, she mumbled in a slightly subdued voice.

“S-so…”

“…?”

“Y-you aren’t going to spread rumors, are you? I answered all your questions, and didn’t even get annoyed…”

“I said I wouldn’t.”

What did he take her for? Asel shook his head and started down the path towards Wizel. Celine, watching his retreating back, shouted out.

“I believe you!”

Asel waved a dismissive hand in response.

Back at the dormitory, he washed up and immediately locked himself in his laboratory. He’d had a faint breakthrough today regarding the simultaneous manifestation of fire and ice elemental mana. He wanted to make some progress before that spark of inspiration faded. He was tired, but he could manage.

He finished about half his research. Asel rubbed his heavy eyelids and rose from his seat.

‘Guess I’ll call it a day.’

There was still plenty of time before the entrance ceremony. He planned to go straight to the library in the morning, so it was best to get some sleep now. With that thought, Asel left his laboratory and collapsed onto his bed.

Falling asleep was instantaneous.

And waking up was just as quick.

Asel woke up early, washed, and then quickly scarfed down a piece of bread in the dining hall before heading to the library.

It was morning, so there were fewer people in the library than yesterday. There were plenty of seats, and the number of flying books was noticeably lower. Much more pleasant. Asel smiled with satisfaction, grabbed books on mana fusion theory, and went to find a suitable spot.

Not long after, he spotted Celine tucked away in a corner.

“Ah.”

Asel’s gaze drifted towards the title of the book Celine was reading.

[50 Methods for Subjugating Her, Volume 2]

Asel smirked, raising one side of his lip in an open display of amusement.

Celine’s face turned bright red.

*

The drug is a gift from the divine. The instant one consumes it, they grasp the rationale of all the world, and it evokes a delusion as if they themselves have become gods. This is that the divine has created it to bestow its senses upon humanity; therefore, all humans must joyfully indulge in drugs.

Those cults that forbid this are heretics who reject the will of the divine, and thus, must be punished. Drink their blood, tear their flesh and bury it in the earth, grind their bones and organs to create materials for drugs. This is the will of the divine, and the will of I, the divine’s messenger, thus I feel no shame in my killings.

Zerbil shouted thus to everyone. However, the demon worshippers who actually heard his words all contorted their faces.

“…Is that the reason you entered the kingdom’s cathedral and committed mass slaughter?”

“No? I just swept it away because it was annoying. They kept following me and bothering me.”

“The guy’s a real maniac.”

The man rose from his seat, veins throbbing on his face. Zerbil gasped, covering his mouth with both hands.

“How scary. Are you going to kill me?”

“That’s enough.”

One of the demon worshippers spoke to the sneering Zerbil. The man, still with bulging veins, gritted his teeth and sat back down, while Zerbil shrugged, tilting his head left and right.

“Too bad. I was curious what would happen if I made corpses out of demon worshippers.”

“Enough with the pointless provocations, benefactor. Say why you’ve come, and get out of here.”

“Will I? I didn’t particularly want to stay long anyway.”

Zerbil grinned, gazing at the old man with greying hair.

“I have a proposal to make. As you know, I’ve been rampaging like crazy lately, right? But in the process, I left behind marks? Rituals? Whatever it is that you guys use.”

“…What?”

“Ah, I happened to acquire a demon worshipper’s brain on the black market the other day. After transplanting a small portion of it, I was able to discern parts of the rituals you use. Anyway! That’s not the important part –”

“You son of a b*tch! So it was your fault that demon worshippers have been running rampant lately!”

“No, that’s not quite it.”

“Shut up, you b*stard. I’ll cut off your head and use it as a sacrifice for a ritual.”

The man drew the sword from his waist and strode towards Zerbil. Zerbil sighed deeply, looking at him.

“Honestly. I hate it when people are so impatient. They never even try to listen.”

“Shut your mouth!”

The man shouted, swinging his sword at Zerbil’s neck.

A swordsman who reached Master rank through human sacrifice a few days ago. The aura blooming from his blade shot forth with such force that it seemed to cleave the world. Yet, Zerbil’s expression remained unchanged. He flicked off the dust from his face, glancing sideways at the descending blade.

Crackle!!!

That was all. The swordsman’s sword severed space, along with Zerbil’s neck. Black blood gushed from Zerbil’s neck like a fountain. The swordsman clicked his tongue, watching the scene.

“Filthy mage b*stard. Even his blood is disgustingly dirty.”

“That’s too much. What you said just now was a little hurtful.”

“……!”

A voice that should not have been heard, was heard. The Inquisitor’s eyes widened, and he swung his sword unconsciously. But as his shoulder was pulled backward, his arm transformed into rotting flesh, crumbling away. The sword slipped from the arm, now devoid of muscle and nerve, and he gritted his teeth against the intense pain.

“Krrrgh……!”

“Quiet.”

The voice emanated from Zervil’s head, rolling on the floor. Zervil’s body carefully picked up the head, and he continued, a saccharine smile playing on his lips.

“I was speaking, you see.”

“……!”

As he spat out the word, the Inquisitor’s tongue and jaw rotted away. His mouth sealed shut in an instant. The Inquisitor frantically tried to grip his sword with his remaining hand, but the crushing of his brain proved swifter. Brain fluid and blood poured from the Inquisitor’s ears, eyes, and nose as he died right there.

A tragedy that occurred without any magic, simply through exposure to condensed malignity.

Though it was a level attained through human sacrifice, he was still an Inquisitor who had ascended to the rank of Master. He could face an army alone, and, if he so desired, crush an entire city.

To kill such an opponent with mere aura. There was no need to explain just how absurd that was.

“Now, to continue where I left off.”

Zervil rubbed the severed head against his neck as he spoke. An elderly man swallowed hard, listening intently to his voice.

“Because I often leave traces of devil worshipers, the Alliance, the Empire, and the Order suspect that *I’ve* become a devil worshiper. So the Alliance even organized a subjugation force. They said they had to kill me before I summoned a devil or something. I don’t have any interest in idiotic devils like that.”

“…….”

“Anyway. The important thing is what comes next. Honestly, the subjugation force? I don’t care about that. If I hide in my territory, even Lady Ena couldn’t enter carelessly. So I’m hardly worried about them. The important thing is you, the devil worshipers.”

Zervil reanimated the Inquisitor’s corpse, whose brain was crushed, as he continued to speak.

“Because rumors are spreading that I’ve become a devil worshiper, I’ve been getting a lot of calls from various devil-worshiping organizations lately. Aren’t you guys more active than usual these days? Is that why I keep getting offers to join forces from places that are suffering from a shortage of manpower or places that need a large number of sacrifices?”

“……And so?”

“And so! Before I kill them all, get the word out. If they offer me any more proposals, I’ll turn them into corpses along with the devil they serve.”

Zervil spoke with a smile still plastered on his face. The old man frowned and replied.

“……Is that all?”

“Hm? Of course. Why?”

“Is that all you’d come here for, killing all our comrades, killing the sacrifices, and stealing the communion ritual?”

“Yes. The owner of the transplanted brain belonged to this place. Is there a problem?”

Zervil blinked at the man. The old man’s face contorted. But he didn’t open his mouth. Compared to Zervil, the old man was no more than a newborn infant. He could lose his life with a single gesture from Zervil.

No matter how much of a devil worshiper one might be, life was still precious. The old man forcefully suppressed his surging anger and clenched his fist tightly.

“……I will do so.”

“Good. Consider your lives spared as payment. Ah, I imagine you know better than I what will happen if the job isn’t done properly.”

With that, Zervil stood up abruptly, then, a sudden thought striking him, he looked back at the old man and said,

“Ah, a few more orders to give. One is to find a country we could reasonably devour without much fuss, and the other is…”

Jervil stretched his lips into a wide grin as he continued.

“The rumor that Gaebyeok has taken on a disciple. Find out if that rumored disciple was taken in from the slums of the Kingdom of Kidwyn.”