Chapter 527
Jane adjusted her posture and clasped her hands together.
“How did it turn out?”
The chief assistant set the papers down on the desk.
“0%.”
Jane picked up the papers with an indifferent expression. The chief assistant continued the report.
“We couldn’t find a single common trait with the 5th Legion Commander, Magnus.”
“……I see.”
In truth, the verification process for a transfer student was rather excessive. The reason for the scrutiny—based merely on ‘appearance’—was questionable as well. Mishandled, it could easily become a political problem, not to mention unfair to the transfer student himself.
And above all, if Magnus truly had plans to infiltrate Keyzen, he would have no reason to deliberately draw suspicion by using a white-haired boy who resembled him, thereby raising the academy’s guard and strengthening its defenses.
Jane closed her eyes with a subtle, complicated expression.
“From tomorrow, White will join the classes. However…”
“Yes, Professor?”
Jane slowly opened her eyes.
“Let’s assign surveillance.”
* * *
The next morning.
With the mission evaluations complete, a new daily routine began.
In the lecture hall, students reunited with friends and were eager to boast of their adventures.
“One ogre was as big as a castle…!”
“That baron tried to bribe me, can you believe it?”
Inside the lively classroom, Simon and Toto were taking out their textbooks.
‘We’re back again.’
Now that the heavy student council president’s coat was left behind in the council room, he could once more return to being just another student of the department, focusing only on class. Stretching with a deep yawn, Simon allowed himself a rare moment of relaxation.
“Hello.”
At that moment, Loraine arrived, her calm steps echoing as she approached.
Restrained movements, a dignified expression—Simon greeted her back with a “Hello.”
‘She’s back to her usual self.’
During the mission in Tarados, Loraine had shown a different side.
It might have been a small departure from her usual demeanor, but in that place she had seemed freer, even a little lively. Yet here at the academy, that atmosphere was subdued once more.
In particular, seeing her padlock necklace firmly locked again gave Simon a pang of regret.
“Good work escorting the transfer students.”
Loraine, sitting down in front of him, spoke as her dark hair flowed behind her.
“It must’ve been hard, going straight from Tarados mission into school affairs.”
“No, no. Professor Jane took care of most of it. Maelyn and Kami also came to help.”
“Ah! There’s the student council president!”
A female student came running toward Simon.
“I heard a transfer came in! Did they join the Summonology Department? Is it a boy or a girl?”
At her words, other students evaluating their missions turned their heads.
“Would a transfer really choose Summonology? Probably leaned more toward Katarology or Darkness Dynamics.”
“No, they did come! Didn’t you hear the dorm was noisy last night?”
“Boy or girl! Tell us that first!”
Feeling the stares gather on him, Simon smiled faintly.
“Two boys.”
Kyaaah!
The surrounding girls cheered with delight. The boys, on the other hand, clicked their tongues or lost interest, returning to their conversations about mission evaluations.
“What’s their specialty?”
“Why did they come to Summonology?”
“Are they handsome?”
Questions came pouring in from all directions.
Poor Toto was instantly shoved aside, his seat stolen, while Loraine let out a small sigh.
“Guys.”
Just as Loraine opened her mouth—
“Get lost.”
An ivory-haired figure strode up from behind: Serne. The girls quickly scattered back to their seats.
Naturally, she dropped into the seat directly behind Simon.
“What a bother, swarming around him first thing in the morning.”
She muttered to herself, then gave Simon a playful wink.
Simon gave a wry smile.
“Serne.”
“Yes?”
“I’ve always wondered… why do you insist on sitting behind me?”
“Well.”
Her eyes softened mischievously.
“Because from here I get a perfect view of the back of your neck.”
‘!’
Simon felt a chill run down his neck.
Enjoying his stiffness, Serne smiled devilishly.
“Every class, I imagine it. What would happen if I just stuck one of my feathers into that spot?”
She pulled out a feather and lovingly stroked it with her fingertips.
“With the strength you’ve shown, I’m sure you’d resist. But then again, seeing how flustered you get with just a little nudge… maybe it’d be easier than I thought. And if you were to fall under my control, how should I play with you?”
Resting her chin on her hand, she beamed.
“And before I know it, ding-dong~ class is over! Another day gone in a flash!”
Simon sighed deeply.
“Toto, can we switch seats?”
“Huh? Uh, sure, I—”
“Why do you not value your own life?”
Toto froze mid-motion like a stone statue.
Turning stiffly toward Serne, he found her tilting her head innocently, eyes blinking like a pure child.
“Did you hear something?”
“N-no, nothing at all!”
“…Serne.”
Just as Simon turned to say something more.
“The professor’s coming!”
The students all hurried back to their seats.
Step. Step. Step.
The assistants marched in, forming neat ranks.
Following them, Professor Aron, head of the Summonology Department, shuffled in, scratching his messy hair.
As always, he was dressed lazily in shorts and slippers, dragging his feet as he climbed the podium.
“Summonology Department.”
His half-lidded eyes swept over the class.
“How were your missions?”
“Yes, sir!”
The students shouted in unison. Aron nodded, then opened a folder in his characteristically languid tone.
“From the statistics, I see many of you took on D-rank and C-rank missions. I respect your choices, but don’t forget: you must clear at least one black-request mission before the end of your second year.”
He lowered the papers in his hand and picked up another.
“And while you were busy with mission evaluations, the student council president brought in transfer students.”
For a moment, the students’ eyes turned toward Simon.
“Two applied to Summonology. I’ll introduce them now. Come in.”
At his words, the lecture hall doors opened, and Benz entered wearing the Keyzen uniform.
‘Nervous, huh.’
Simon chuckled quietly at Benz’s stiff, mechanical walk.
The other students’ eyes sparkled with interest. They’d seen plenty of students expelled, but rarely did new faces transfer in like this.
“Introduce yourself. Keep it short.”
Aron said. Benz opened his mouth stiffly.
“H-hello! I’m Benz from Aland. I was also in Summonology there, and my specialty is taming—controlling monsters through black magic. Nice to meet you all!”
Clap clap clap!
The students applauded in welcome.
Benz scratched the back of his neck awkwardly before heading to an empty seat with the assistant’s guidance. Passing by Simon, he gave a quick nod of greeting, which Simon returned with a smile.
“There were supposed to be two transfers to Summonology.”
Aron turned toward the hallway.
“What’s taking the other one so long?”
“S-sorry, Professor!”
From beyond the corridor came the flustered voice of an assistant.
“The student suddenly got distracted by a flying bird…! P-please stop watching and come this way! The professor is calling for you!”
Clatter.
Hector, the department representative, rose from his seat with a menacing expression. Aron stilled him with a look, then quietly waited.
At last, pushed forward by an assistant, a white-haired boy entered the classroom.
“Wow!”
“He’s handsome!”
A few girls lowered their voices but couldn’t hide their excited cheers.
“White hair at that age?”
“Damn kid looks creepy.”
The boys’ reactions were far colder.
Not silver, not platinum blonde, but an unnatural snow-white hair, as if bleached—such hair was considered a sinister omen in the Dark Alliance.
And that was because it reminded them of priests.
Though judging people by hair color was prejudice, the terror of white-haired priests crossing the borders from the Holy Federation lingered deep in the psyche of those from the Dark Alliance.
“……”
White stood at the podium, staring blankly ahead.
He wasn’t looking at the seated students. His gaze was unfocused, staring off into nothing.
A silence fell across the lecture hall.
“Professor?”
The chief assistant nudged Aron.
“Professor, the transfer student is here. Shouldn’t you say something…?”
But—
Something was wrong with Aron. His breathing was uneven, his pupils trembling wildly as though he’d seen something unbearable.
“P-professor? Are you unwell?”
“…No. Nothing’s wrong.”
Clutching his forehead, Aron forced out the words.
“Introduce yourself. Keep it short.”
“……”
White turned his head toward Aron.
The moment their eyes met, Aron’s pupils shook violently again.
Then White calmly turned his head back to the students.
“White.”
That was all.
Told to keep it short, he had simply tossed out his name and clammed up.
At the chief assistant’s signal, another assistant quickly led White to an empty seat.
“Professor, if you’re not well, perhaps you should—”
“No.”
Aron opened the textbook, his breath still ragged.
“If we’re to cover Dullahan before midterms, there’s a long way to go.”
“……Professor.”
He looked over the students.
“Open your textbooks to page 25.”
“Yes, sir!”
“Now that the transfers are here, we’ll accelerate the pace. Fall behind even once, and you’ll be left behind for the rest of the year. From today on, I’ll be dropping advanced practical evaluations without notice. Think of each class as entering a battlefield.”
He raised his head from the book.
“We’ll start with the theory of Ghouls.”
* * *
Shhhhhhh—
“……”
Class was over. Aron was in the washroom, leaning on the sink with both arms, gasping for breath.
Water gushed from the tap, but he had no thought of turning it off.
When he raised his head, his reflection appeared in the mirror—hair dripping wet as though he had splashed water on his face again and again.
—Professor.
In the reflection, the white-haired boy appeared behind him, speaking.
—Professor Aron.
Bang!
Aron’s fist smashed into the mirror.
Crack!
Spidery lines split across the glass in an instant.
Lowering his bleeding fist, he exhaled heavily.
‘Damn it.’
He covered his face with his palm.
‘Damn it, damn it, damn it.’
Just then—the sound of a stall door bursting open came from behind.
“What an amusing situation.”
White pants and polished shoes stepped out.
Tap—
The sound of his soles echoed on the tiled floor as a man emerged, walking casually.
“I don’t believe in fatalism. The idea that every outcome in life is predetermined… I see that as nothing more than an excuse for the lazy and the weak. But, granting a little literary license, I could put it this way—”
Holding down the brim of his elegant fedora, he curved his lips into a smile.
“It feels almost like a prank of fate.”
“……”
“That student White… He looks exactly like Magnus, the one you used to teach, doesn’t he? The elders were in a frenzy about it. I wondered how much of an exaggeration it was—but well. My, my.”
Aron turned his bloodied face, eyes glinting savagely.
“What business do you have in the Summonology building, Bahil?”
Bahil leaned leisurely against the bathroom wall, tilting his hat to shadow his eyes as he chuckled.
“I came to see the boy, and while I was at it, the white-haired one too. Anyway, thanks for the use of the washroom, Senior.”
With a lazy wave, Bahil strolled out of the bathroom.
Creak.
Only then did Aron shut off the rushing faucet, letting out a long sigh.
In the cracked mirror, his reflection was split into fragments—just like himself.
Superb.
When are we getting more free chapters?
Thanks for the new chapters
Very good story and translation but half the chapter aren't for free and it is wayyyy too expensive will it stat like tjis foreve or will it get free after some time