### Chapter 55
The lighting on the podium flickered anxiously.
In the vertical light, deep shadows cloaked the wizard’s face. However, his eerily glowing red eyes and faint smile were all too clear.
Some viewed it with mockery, others with delight, and still others with a bitter smile.
The wizard was quite tall. His forearms, visible beneath the flowing sleeves, were pale and slender, devoid of any sign of muscle. Was it perhaps due to his lifeless skin tone? He looked even thinner than his already slender frame suggested.
As the students of the academy inquired about their dreams, their gazes were fixated on this peculiar wizard. Even in front of hundreds of prying stares, he remained unfazed. Every gesture, from his shoulder shrug to the casual sweep of the lectern with one hand, appeared completely natural.
It was as if he was pretending no one was there. Or as if he simply didn’t care about their gazes at all. After a sufficiently chilling silence brewed, the wizard began his speech.
He didn’t introduce himself.
“I am here with two objectives: to strengthen your countermeasures against Illusion Magic… and to supplement practical experience.”
Instead, he spoke about his goals. Despite not using any magical device to amplify his voice, his words rang clearly, as if he were whispering directly into their ears.
“But to achieve these goals… I needed to convince you. Why must you prepare against Illusion Magic? And does the wizard before you possess the necessary skills for this undertaking?”
He spoke in a formal yet soft and approachable tone, as if addressing a long-time friend.
Yet because of that,
“So, I gifted you dreams… but about 30% of you seem rather displeased. That’s okay. Even if you didn’t realize it was an illusion, there’s no need for disappointment. If we all strive together, we can improve quickly.”
This, combined with his slightly off demeanor, created a strange dissonance, as if he were forcibly jamming mismatched puzzle pieces together.
Saintess Tara stood up abruptly. She glanced around. The expressions of the students in the lecture hall were all too similar. There was no doubt they had all dreamt happy dreams.
Was he actually confessing to unleashing a Dream Demon in the Academy? Tara recalled her unsettling dream and furrowed her brow in anger.
“So… you’re saying that damned dream was yours? For everyone attending this lecture?”
“That is correct. It was a small event designed to spur your motivation to learn. Oh, and about the empty seats… you don’t need to worry. It’s not that they got stuck in dreams because magic went wrong. They’re being investigated on suspicion of being Black Wizards.”
“That’s not what I mean! Have you lost your mind unleashing a Dream Demon in the Academy?!”
“It seems there’s a misunderstanding. This was Illusion Magic.”
“Unbelievable. You’re trying to dismiss it with such flimsy excuses? Are you going to make some crude excuses for the fact that you hid a Demonic Sword in the Academy too?”
Murmer murmur.
At Saintess’s denunciation, chaos spread among the students. However, the wizard let out a sigh of relief, as if grateful for the situation, and stretched out his hand into the air, as if reaching for something.
The air shimmered, and a ponytailed woman in a suit appeared, handing a thick document to the wizard. He then sent it floating toward the Saintess using telekinesis.
A directive permitting a Black Wizard Tracking Operation, stamped with the seal of Second Prince Irid.
A thesis on the production process of a Demonic Sword that did not use souls, authored by Yuna Violetiris, the Purple Magic Tower Master.
With Saintess Tara’s knowledge, it was impossible to discern whether this stack of documents was real or fake. One thing was clear: the approval of the Second Prince. The heavy authority of the Imperial Family shielded the wizard.
“Is that enough explanation?”
“…Even if everything is legal, even if you achieved it through some mysterious method! The fact that you toyed with the students’ hearts doesn’t change. Thanks to you, I had the worst morning of my life!”
“I clearly crafted the magic to allow you to experience your most desired moments… I sincerely apologize. Might you share what you experienced?”
“…!!”
The students’ gazes converged on the Saintess. She flinched, trembling.
“How could I possibly say that…!”
“I see.”
The wizard nodded as if he understood. The Saintess, at a loss for words, fumbled, biting her lip in frustration before taking her seat. Niolle gently patted the Saintess’s shoulder, unsure of what to do.
Bennett pondered. Like himself, the Saintess must have dreamt of something she deeply wished for, only to be hurt by the chasm between her happy dream and grim reality. The reason was clear. But
The wizard’s cunning maneuver had gagged the Saintess.
Most students seemed to have enjoyed their happy dreams, oblivious to the fact it was all an illusion. They would be perplexed. After all, she had gone so far as to publicly condemn the wizard for insulting her. To maintain any persuasion in her accusations, she would need to disclose what she experienced in the dream.
Simply saying she felt “bad” wouldn’t bear much weight.
But she couldn’t speak. For Bennett, the dream from the previous night included his most deadly secret and weakness. If the Saintess was in a similar situation, she certainly couldn’t speak up.
That would be like laying their heart bare for all to see.
Trying to pressure the Saintess due to her standing was nearly impossible. The Saintess was already suffering a reputation drop due to her unusual behaviors, and behind the wizard, loomed the Second Prince. Furthermore, the incident regarding the Demonic Sword was refuted under the name of the Purple Magic Tower Master.
The wizard looked around the auditorium, almost as if he were searching for more dissenters.
As silence descended, the wizard calmly continued.
“Illusion Magic can, thus, sometimes be fatal. Together, you will explore various illusions and discover ways to build stable mental barriers. Have you all understood? Excellent.”
Step, step.
The wizard walked to the center of the podium. Then, he produced glass vials containing various chemical agents from his robes and spilled them onto the floor. He was preparing to cast a spell.
Bennett gripped the hilt of his sword, ready to draw it at a moment’s notice. He was a student, and the wizard was a professor. Professors were supposed to teach students; they didn’t harm them… but with the wizard’s suspicious actions, believing standard logic was appropriate felt rather naive.
“A thousand doors, a thousand stairs, a labyrinth with nowhere for your eyes or hearts to rest. ‘Step into the Door, Ascend into the World.’”
His premonition was indeed correct.
As the incantation continued, swirling colors oozed from the puddle of spilled chemicals, twisting and writhing before explosively expanding.
The space began to shift. The students murmured as they looked around. The auditorium had transformed into a bizarre, otherworldly landscape.
Ceilings, floors, and walls were densely adorned with doors. Beneath desks, inside textbooks, atop someone’s whiteboard, and even—
“…Is there a door on my belly?”
“Where are you looking?!”
Regardless of location, countless doors popped up throughout the area, numbering in the hundreds.
A veritable feast of doors. However, the original exits to the building were nowhere to be found. Curious or impatient students began opening doors at random.
–KIAAAAH!
“AAAHHH!!”
The doors led to absurd locations or became traps with monsters springing forth. To the students, it was as if they had been abruptly thrown into a dungeon. Watching the bewildered students, the wizard quietly stated.
“Class will finish once you find the exit.”
The Red Tower Wizard, Selvier, cried out.
“What are you doing?! On the very first class! And what’s with that bizarre way of speaking?!”
“You don’t have much time. My role is to create time for you. Didn’t you say you desired trials and tribulations?”
“Ugh… For some reason, I felt fired up at that time!”
Bennett found himself glaring at Selvier without intent. The content of their conversation wasn’t inherently remarkable, but the expression on the Red Tower Wizard’s face was one of guilt, as if she had inadvertently stepped into a massive trap pulling everyone along with her.
The students understood the rules. That wizard wanted them to navigate this labyrinth. Faced with this sudden crisis, they all responded in their own unique ways.
“Let’s combine our strengths to break through!”
“If we kill the caster, the magic will dispel, so attacking the professor is the right answer!”
“The doors might be traps. We should break through the walls instead!”
Bennett observed the escalating chaos around him, quietly organizing his thoughts. He wasn’t sure what the wizard’s true intentions were. However, when considering his words, behavior, refusal to disclose his name, and Alexon’s testimony about his swordsmanship… and the action of turning the classroom into a labyrinth.
There was no doubt he was toeing the line of utter insanity.
===============================================================
Concealed from view, I watched with a satisfied smile as the students enthusiastically wandered through Illusion Magic. I was relieved that they seemed to enjoy it.
I had also cleared up the misunderstanding with the Saintess. I worried it might take longer, but thankfully, the prompt delivery of the thesis and directive helped in providing proof successfully.
Was my use of Illusion Magic totally dope? (O)
Did the students gain awareness towards Illusion Magic? (O)
Was practical experience being supplemented too? (O)
It wouldn’t be long before students would flock in saying, “I want to learn Illusion Magic!”
My checklist was filled with circles alone. The only flaw was that the Saintess evidently didn’t appreciate the happy dreams I showed her. I hadn’t included a recording feature while setting up the magic, as I was a bit stingy with capacity.
Thus, I had no idea what dreams the students enjoyed. Where did I possibly err? Should I seek out the Saintess and ask her directly?
Hmm. Perhaps I lacked consideration. If something like shota in shorts appeared in the dream, wouldn’t that be embarrassing to bring up in front of others?
Well, I could consider my regrets as fuel for tomorrow. Time to grow. I turned to Pink-Haired Lesbian sitting next to me for an objective evaluation.
“Pink-Haired Lesbian, how did today’s class go?”
“You seemed like a crazy bastard.”
“Which part?”
“Why didn’t you just speak normally?”
“Well, I mean, it was my first class, so I was really nervous and embarrassed. If I hadn’t set a concept and rambled, I might have stuttered a few times.”
And what. Wasn’t there often one or two suspicious professors in an academy?
Moreover, looking back, it didn’t feel all that suspicious. Didn’t I just apprehend a bunch of Black Wizards? Then that means I’m a good guy, right?
“Mmmm…”
Regardless, I decided to take her advice to heart. Perhaps I was too tense and acted overly dramatic. I had exerted quite a bit of effort in my performance. For the next class, should I show my true self and approach them more friendly-like?
Anyway, enough thinking regarding class.
It was now time to consider the more pressing matter. I was talking about Otherworld Exploration. So far, only three people had signed up. I had kept the registration open, welcoming anyone to sign up, hoping for more participants.
But as it stood, just three.
I had prepared the scenario. It was a thrilling, basic Call of Cthulhu classic RPG. Last time and the time before that, there hadn’t been much of an introduction; I had just gone with the flow. But for this one, I had ample time to structure it properly.
First things first, let’s tackle the introduction.
“Pink-Haired Lesbian, I have a favor to ask.”
“As long as you don’t go above my chest… fine.”
“Well, what. I’m sending the applicants to an Otherworld. I’m not sure where to start or how far to explain. Could you go first and come back?”
“Is it a reconnaissance mission?”
“Strictly speaking, it’s more like a sightseeing mission. There’s no real danger; just a quick tour… and all I need from you is to write up a report for the later arrivals.”
“Alright, then. I’ll be looking forward to the reward.”
===============================================================
Pink-Haired Lesbian emerged from a brief visit to the simulation looking utterly exhausted. It seemed she struggled quite a bit, tagging along with cultists and filming a hardboiled movie afterward.
“So you’ll be sending the students here?”
“Yup.”
Pink-Haired Lesbian, Yuri Lanster, glared at me, appearing ready to curse me out with her eyes. She seemed to have a lot to say but let out a sigh instead. Then, as if something clicked in her mind.
“About the participants. Is that Red Tower Wizard going to be there?”
“She didn’t sign up.”
“So after stirring everything up, she just sneaks away alone…?”
Her tightly clenched fists seemed to demonstrate her frustration and sense of injustice.
On the flip side, I was grinning. Thanks to quickly dipping Pink-Haired Lesbian in and out of the simulation, I finally remembered a friend’s name.
Should I call her Yuri and surprise her? I almost did, but since the nickname Pink-Haired Lesbian had stuck, it felt oddly endearing, albeit slightly embarrassing. So, I decided against it. Pink-Haired Lesbian was certainly perfect for her name.
It had been long enough. It was time to prepare for the Third Session.
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