No Dark Secrets In This Book

Episode 51

“To avoid the guardian statues in front of the professor’s office at that time…”

Oh, fuck.

As soon as I heard that, I backstepped and started looking for Ryuseong. It was to tell him to immediately stop his friends from doing something crazy. But halfway in the corridor, I ran into Ryuseong who had the same expression as me.

“Is it the same for you?”

“It was the same for you too?”

We realized that sighs weren’t enough to express the emotion in this situation and simultaneously hit our foreheads. And at that point, we realized that each other, whom we thought were the craziest people in this world, were unexpectedly sensible in a corner and shared an existential pity for each other.

…So on this stormy night.

Spending the night from midnight while invisibility magic was cast on top of the chandelier was definitely the sin of having friends who were fools.

At least the attitude of informing the professor if our friends really committed cheating was encouraging us to stay up all night.

‘Because we already failed to prevent it in advance…’

At least we definitely failed with Logan, Capone, and Diedrich. We told them not to cheat and they said okay, but.

‘Honestly, I’ve been less attentive to them lately because I’ve been distracted by Ryuseong, so in the current state, they probably won’t even listen to a word.’

On the other hand, it was ambiguous with Hae Yuna, Lee Hyang, and Shin Myohan. I scolded them to the point of tears and said I made them give up, but I alone was doubtful if it really succeeded.

But we can’t report them before they’ve done anything either…

“Anyway, it’s my job to prevent cheating by my underlings.”

“Yeah. But why did you bring me along?”

“Your friends might come too. And if it’s my business, you should do it together.”

It was a just argument and Ryuseong didn’t say anything. It means he neither affirmed nor denied the remark that if it’s my business, he should do it together too.

Anyway, sitting alone on the chandelier at midnight as if it were a swing was quite creepy and thrilling. It was even more so in the sense that it was scary that a ghost might appear.

Especially since I was recently sleep paralyzed, it felt even more eerie.

“Don’t you think a ghost might appear?”

“I think it’s okay even if a ghost appears.”

“What? What a terrible thing to say.”

“What’s more terrible is if a person appears.”

“…”

It’s so damn true that I’m tearing up?

‘But they can’t be that totally messed up in intelligence, right?’

But how many minutes passed just like that?

“I can endure even cheating if it’s to dedicate the exam paper to Cassice…”

“Honestly, you’re the one who wants to take it.”

“Admitted. I have to take it. Unlike you, Sir Demillang, I’m not good at studying.”

Something more terrible than a ghost happened.

“Gasp, there. They’re all here.”

“They said D3, right?”

“Be quiet. I hear footsteps from somewhere…”

Six green fools have encountered each other.

“…”

“…”

“…Why are you guys here?”

“You guys, why…?”

It meant that both of our friends had all changed jobs to thieves.

“Ha! Go back. The exam paper is ours!”

“What?! We can’t lose! You think we’ll let it get taken?!”

It was the beginning of a battle for the prize.

***

Ryuseong, who was looking down at them in vain, slowly opened his mouth.

“I thought you of all people, not anyone else, would want the exam paper.”

“Is that so? Why?”

“Because it’s an opportunity to get a perfect score.”

“Oh my, you still have a long way to go to understand me. If I hadn’t started studying, maybe, but I’ve already put in effort for this subject. The fact that I spent a few precious seconds means I have to get a worthy value for it.”

“Can’t you get an even better value if you obtain the exam paper?”

“Well, to put it in a way you can understand, I don’t want to get involved in such a cheap fight.”

Our gazes turned to the floor. Down there, the fierce argument over the ownership of the exam paper still hadn’t ended.

“It’s not hard to break the limbs of you guys who grew up pretty like flowers.”

“Tsk tsk. You must be so happy living in such a low, vulgar, and dirty way?”

“Should I repot you? Make it so your body can’t recover unless you shower with potions? Huh?”

“Don’t worry. We won’t treat you guys that harshly. The strong are usually merciful.”

…Now it seems to have turned into an emotional fight, but considering the countless power struggles surrounding the Korean peninsula, it makes sense to conclude that. The troubles that didn’t explode because Ryuseong and I got along well are now bursting out like a fanfare.

“The exam paper is ours.”

“Nope. It’s on our land, so it’s ours.”

The fact that the exam paper belongs to the professor isn’t important to the deranged students.

In particular, except for Shin Myohan who joined because it seemed fun to hang out together, everyone was under heavy academic pressure from their families. To survive even one subject, they had to steal the exam paper.

“If you’re not going to tuck your tail and run away, let’s have a match!”

“Yeah! The winning side gets it!”

– Thus, the students began to deviate from the genre.

In other words, it’s like this.

[Academy Story OFF]

[Supernatural Battle Story ON]

‘It’s so fucking exciting…?!’

The reason they don’t even think about the possibility of it falling through is because the fools gathered here can’t stand the provocation of “Scared?”

“But if we fight like this, our energy will be detected and our presence will be exposed. If you don’t want to be punished, we have to avoid that at least.”

“Ah, so you’re tucking your tail in the end? Because you’re scared of us?”

“Ha! Don’t even joke! We’re not the type to avoid the likes of you. But use your head a little? Didn’t you guys also prepare a way to avoid the guardian statues?”

“Don’t underestimate us! We all have our own ideas!”

It’s too late to get snacks now since we don’t know when it will start.

“Should I have brought popcorn?”

“You should get your humanity and personality in order first.”

The Academy has a mystical power that prevents outsiders from entering and students from going out at night. It’s the previously mentioned guardian statues, and they have a different nature from other mystical beings where souls possess objects or egos are born from old objects.

Befitting their attribute as guardian posts, they are loyal beings who take charge of protecting the Academy.

‘The horror of student supervisors who come running the moment they sense the waves of unauthorized energy!’

That’s what the Academy’s guardian statues were.

Originally, guardian posts serve as boundary markers or signposts between regions, or as guardian deities of villages, but perhaps due to the ancient mystical power residing in the Academy, the guardian statues have been stubbornly protecting the safety and discipline of students for a thousand years.

Therefore, the reason the two groups of students were able to safely approach the professor’s office until now was because they knew how to perfectly control their mana and inner energy.

It wasn’t something that could be done at this age without considerable talent.

The energy of the awakened naturally ripples and exudes an aura like breathing. Moreover, controlling naturalness is so difficult that it’s only taught to graduating students who are about to enter society.

Thus, it was evident where they learned to control it…

‘The private education is seriously insane.’

Come to think of it, it seemed unlikely that their bloodlines and families wouldn’t have taught them such things. Logan is a member of the Esteban family. Capone is from the Jones family. Diedrich is the only son of the Winkels. Lee Hyang is a descendant of the Gukseong clan. Hae Yuna is a disciple of the Haenam Faction elder. Shin Myohan is the eldest daughter of a shaman family that has continued for a thousand years.

‘Of course, this body is the epitome of family and bloodline influence. Hehe!’

Anyway, Hae Yuna confidently took out some kind of sachet.

“Here. Look at this. This is the sachet that the guardian statues hate! With just this, no one can approach! I even spent a whopping 5,000 won to buy it! Hehehe!”

“…Hey, Hae Yuna from the Haenam Faction. I’m not trying to pick a fight, I’m asking because I’m genuinely curious, so don’t take it the wrong way.”

“Say it, Winkels.”

By the way, guardian statues are made of wood and stone.

“Guardian statues don’t have noses, so how can they smell?”

“Why don’t guardian statues have noses? They have big ones attached.”

“They’re made of wood…”

“Ah.”

Hae Yuna was dazed for a moment as if frozen, then started flailing her arms and legs.

“N, no way. The seniors definitely said it can avoid the guardian statues! It’s true! They even said they’re selling it to me at a discount for 49,990 won…”

Diedrich tried to put his hand on the shoulder of Hae Yuna, who was greatly scammed, and comfort her, but Capone stepped forward coldly first.

“Diedrich, don’t try to console her half-heartedly. Fix your habit of going crazy over any cute girl you see.”

“Wh, what did you say?”

Before Lee Hyang could even say anything angrily, Hae Yuna shouted with a dumbfounded expression.

“Capone! You’ve been thinking of me as a cute girl all this time?!” 

“…Is that important now?”

Winkels sarcastically picked a fight, but Capone spoke as cold as ice.

“Unlike you guys, we collected proper information and set up wave barriers that disrupt the guardian statues’ perception in five places far from us on our way here. To lure them into being confused.”

“Oh.”

“But what did you guys do? Hae Yuna, no matter how adorably you admire it, the fact that you guys are completely stupid doesn’t change.”

“Ah, adora… I couldn’t even say it.”

When Lee Hyang was shocked in a slightly different area, Shin Myohan intervened.

“Then let’s set up a detection limit barrier.”

That was something we learned in sorcery class not long ago.

“There will be waves of energy when setting up the barrier, but break one of the wave barriers you said you set up at that timing. Then it will lure them that way, and even if one comes this way, we’ll already be inside the detection limit barrier.”

“That’s a surprisingly good method. As expected, you’re quite smart. Why do you hang out with those kids? Because Hae Yuna is cute?”

“Cr, crazy. I’m being brainwashed into an incredibly cute person right now…”

Shin Myohan burst into laughter, hahaha.

“Don’t insult my friends. Shamans usually don’t let go easily once they take a liking.”

“…Fine. Then prepare the barrier.”

Capone clicked his tongue and spoke primly. But Lee Hyang’s stance was a bit different.

“Wait, first of all, isn’t it obvious that we’ll have one-on-one duels in turns?”

“Yeah. We haven’t decided if it’ll be a round-robin or best-of-three.”

“Then don’t you think it’s not just our side that will be in charge of the barrier? Only our energy will be drained.”

“It’s the method you guys suggested? Why are you talking as if we’re pulling tricks?”

Then everyone’s eyes turned to Shin Myohan and she tilted her head.

“Well, I wasn’t sure if those friends could properly use high-level magic.”

“…”

“Erasing presence with magic is high in difficulty. But detection limit is something we learned recently, so I thought sorcery was the most versatile choice in the current situation…”

“There’s no need for such worries, shaman.”

Logan frowned and spoke with wounded pride. Unlike the nervous and sharp Capone and the sarcastic Winkels whose pronunciation was stiff despite his dragging tone, Logan’s accent was uniquely gentle and soft.

But this time, a ruthless hint seeped in, as if he had half-shed his gentlemanly demeanor.

“If you can’t even use magic of that level, you can’t use the name of a prestigious or distinguished family. Let’s each take half the responsibility.”

“Wow, amazing. As expected, family background makes a difference. But I’m curious about something. Does that standard apply to newborn babies too? If a newborn can’t use high-level magic, you don’t even give them a surname?”

“…Which do you prefer, round-robin or best-of-three?”

“Let’s go with the latter. Finish quickly and eat a late-night snack.”

– Thus, the battle royale began.

***

“…Shouldn’t we stop them soon?”

“…”

“If we don’t stop them, not only will the theft of the exam paper be a problem, but they might get caught for dueling.”

Despite my kind remark, Ryuseong didn’t change his coldly frozen eyes.

“If they did something to get caught for, they should get caught.”

It’s a fair point, but still.