There was one thing I realized after lifting the curse.
“Ah, these stares are driving me insane.”
“Aren’t you just pretending to hate it when you actually like it?”
“I did at first, but not anymore…”
In a good way, my appearance drew a lot of attention wherever I went.
The fact that I received many stares was no different from before the curse was lifted, but the emotions contained in those stares were different.
Not disgust and contempt, but curiosity and goodwill.
It was better than the former, but that didn’t mean it wasn’t burdensome.
‘There’s still some time before the results come out, so should I go somewhere else?’
I did feel like I had passed, but I intended to wait until the Academy made the announcement.
More than whether I passed, I was curious about which class I’d be assigned to. If possible, I just wanted to avoid the class with the protagonist.
“The list of successful applicants comes out the same day?”
“Yeah. Since I applied through the practical exam track.”
An exam track that assessed purely the practical skills themselves.
‘Usually, nobles even hire tutors and take the written exam, though.’
Most noble children entered through the written exam rather than the practical exam, which placed a lot of emphasis on talent, but not me.
‘Because that insane family applied for the practical track without me even knowing.’
Their purpose was obvious.
Most likely, they planned to use my failure in the Academy entrance exam as an excuse to kick me out of the family.
The shame of the family, the trash of Vergilius…
Just thinking that those derogatory names would have been attached to me if I hadn’t broken the curse made me shudder.
“Anyway, there really is nothing to do.”
Was I supposed to just shut up and wait until the results came out?
Even though I was merely sitting still on a bench, countless gazes were directed at me.
It was too burdensome to enjoy.
‘While I’m at it, should I take a look around the Academy?’
After all, as even the examiner had said, my admission to the Academy was practically decided.
In that case, it should be fine for a prospective freshman to look around the Academy. Probably.
“Lilia. If you’re bored, you can go play too.”
“Ah! Really?”
“I’m just going to wander around and look too, anyway.”
“Then I’ll be off!!”
Excited by the words that she could go play, Lilia even released her spirit form and ran off.
She must be over a thousand years old, so how is she like that? Maybe her mental age is only around ten or so.
“Masteeer.”
“Huh? Why haven’t you gone?”
“Were you thinking something just now?”
Lilia, who had been running off, stopped in place and began staring at me intently.
“No? I wasn’t thinking anything.”
“Hmm… All right! I’ll be back later, Masteeer.”
Is this what years of experience do? Scary. Too scary.
She usually acts like such a ditz, but at times like this, she really does seem like a demon.
“Guess I should start walking around too.”
In truth, even if I wandered around, there weren’t many places an outsider could go.
Since the Academy’s security wasn’t lax, there were many restrictions on me as an examinee.
‘Still, I can come here as much as I want.’
The place I found was a small forest where cherry blossoms were in full bloom.
A cherry blossom forest surrounding the Academy.
And if you walked just a little farther from there…
“Oh. This place really looks exactly like it did in the game.”
A shabby wooden cabin entered my eyes.
Cobwebs spread everywhere, as if to prove that no one lived there.
And even the window creaking in the wind.
From the outside, it looked like a shabby abandoned house, but the value held by this single cabin could not be put into words.
The first great mage to surpass the 9th Circle and reach Changseong.
The first headmaster who founded the Academy, and the Great Sage.
It was the birth home Belhalm had used in life.
“Are you a freshman?”
Just as I was blankly looking around the birth home.
An unfamiliar voice rang in my ear.
A pleasant yet lively voice.
And it was definitely a woman’s voice.
“Yes. I’m Dante, and I took the Academy entrance exam this time.”
“Ah, today was the exam, wasn’t it? Nice to meet you. You’re my junior, then.”
Drop, from the sky.
Literally dropping suddenly from midair, she had pale violet eyes.
Pale violet eyes and dark blue hair.
And on top of that, looks that were not inferior to Lilia’s…
“Are you my senior?”
I pretended to ask, but I knew who she was.
“That’s right! I’m Dorothy, a third-year.”
Her uniquely gentle way of speaking matched her pleasant voice remarkably well.
One of the main heroines and the Witch of Illusion.
Dorothy Merhenia.
‘I never even imagined I’d run into her here.’
She was originally an elusive existence.
Even though she was a heroine, she appeared randomly in the game’s story…
“But what brought you here? Even current students don’t really know about this place.”
“Ah, I came to pray for passing, something like that.”
“Aha. Did the exam go well?”
“I did fairly well.”
Dorothy’s pale violet eyes looked at me.
Just being stared at gave me the sensation that she was seeing right through me. As expected, she was no easy opponent.
[Talent: Thousand Faces emphasizes your charm even further.]
“B-By the way, what did you say your name was again?”
“I’m Dante Vergilius. Please just call me whatever is comfortable for you.”
“T-Then I’ll just call you Dante! You can speak comfortably to me too!”
Unlike what I had seen in the game, Dorothy was slightly flustered.
Her face was faintly red, and unlike just now, she was avoiding my eyes.
‘She wasn’t originally that kind of character, though?’
She was definitely a mage who slaughtered enemies mercilessly with rational thinking…
[Talent: Insight activates.]
[The target feels favor toward your perfect appearance.]
Aha. Even Dorothy, of all people, does care about faces.
It felt both pleasing and painful.
If it had been me from not long ago, the situation would have been quite different.
“Ah, more importantly, are you hoping to join the Department of Magic?”
“Yes. For now, I thought magic would be good.”
Since I had managed to find a good teacher in the form of a demon.
I thought majoring in magic would be much better than majoring in martial combat.
And since I’d gone to the trouble of coming to another world, I wanted to try using magic too.
“Then you really are my junior.”
“Yes. I look forward to learning from you.”
“Sure, sureee. If there’s anything you’re curious about, come find me anytime! You’re welcome to.”
Dorothy shrugged and gave a pleasant smile.
‘Coming here wasn’t a bad decision. I even formed a connection with Dorothy while I was at it.’
Just as I was smiling with satisfaction at the situation.
“Masteeer! Masteeer!!”
I heard Lilia’s voice as she rushed toward me, already in spirit form again.
‘Why? What happened for you to come looking for me in such a hurry?’
I’d definitely told her to relax and play.
“When I looked, it seemed like the exam results were out!! Everyone was gathered there!”
“Ah.”
Come to think of it, I had spent some time walking all the way here, looking around, and talking with Dorothy.
It wouldn’t be strange for the practical exam results to be announced by now.
“Senior Dorothy.”
“Hm? What is it, my junior?”
“I enjoyed today.”
“Ah, are you leaving?”
“Yes. It seems the announcement is out. I’ll see you again later.”
I gave a slight bow of my head to Dorothy, who was smiling at me, then turned my steps back toward the path I had come from.
“Masteeer. But did you seduce another woman in that short time?”
“Seduce? What seduction? We just talked a little.”
“Her gaze didn’t look like you just talked a little, though. I may not be a succubus, but I’ve seen enough to know that kind of thing is just…”
“Lilia. You weren’t a succubus?”
“What!? How could you compare me to such a lowly demon…”
“If not, then never mind.”
“Waaah.”
Anyway, I wonder what the rankings for the Academy’s Department of Magic are this time.
‘Since a variable like me got involved, it won’t be the same as before.’
Something would definitely change.
I was at the level where I could be confident of passing, so it would change, but…
“Wow… Look at those practical scores.”
I never thought I’d end up as the top practical scorer in the Department of Magic.
[Department of Magic Practical Exam Successful Applicants]
1. Dante Vergilius (Top Scorer)
2. Veloa Ramier (Second)
.
.
.
I hadn’t aimed for it, but to think such an honor would follow me.
“Dante…? If it’s Vergilius, isn’t he that bastard delinquent?”
“…If it’s him, he probably bribed the examiner.”
“No way. Even so, would the Academy really do that?”
“…How could that lowly bastard.”
“There’s no doubt… Dante, it’s you, Dante.”
Ah, and.
The favorable interest from the students directed at me…
“Dante… Dante, Vergilius.”
Along with the hatred-filled gaze of Veloa, who should originally have been the top scorer, as a bonus.
***
A luxurious reception room permitted only to the Academy’s honored guests.
There, a woman with pure white hair was drinking black tea.
“Chairman, there is no need to treat me so generously.”
“Even so, I cannot do that. Since you have not yet enrolled in the Academy, you are still, strictly speaking, the Saintess.”
“Hehe… I am not such a great person, so please treat me comfortably. I will soon become your student, Chairman.”
The Academy was originally famous for selecting its entrants by thoroughly testing their ability.
However, despite that custom, there were exceptions.
One of those exceptions was the white-haired beauty before the chairman’s eyes.
The Saintess.
—Clack.
“Oh? Saintess, what is the matter?”
“…I can feel it.”
“Feel it…? What do you feel?”
When the chairman asked the Saintess in puzzlement.
The Saintess parted her lips.
“I feel an ominous energy… one that cannot coexist with humans.”