### Chapter 500 – Room 207, The Gate Room – The Third Trial ‘Miskatonic University’ (2)
—
– Kim Ahri
Soon, Professor Robert began his lecture.
The title of “Introduction to Demonology” sounded grand, but the content was quite different from what I expected.
I thought he’d teach us something like “How to Exorcise Demons” or some such…
“Did you know? The Vatican claims that every mystery in the world is a demon. Werewolves are man-eating monsters, vampires drink human blood like wine, and witches are born cruelly.”
Honestly, aren’t most of these statements correct?
“But do you also know? The beings the Vatican lumps together as demons aren’t even from the same species.”
Werewolves are not relatives of vampires.
Vampires and witches have entirely different origins.
Witches are much closer to humans than these bizarre monsters like yetis, thunderbirds, or shadow people.
“So the term ‘demon’ is utterly ridiculous. It’s like a cat putting every member of the cat family, like lions or cheetahs, into a category and calling them all ‘not cats’.”
I felt a bit complicated about this.
The ‘Vatican’ seems like a similar entity to our Management Bureau, and so, criticism against them felt like criticism against the Bureau.
Of course, it wasn’t like I was dumb enough to raise my hand and dispute him.
“Wise men have realized the contradictions of the Vatican. According to ancient records, our origins trace all the way back to Ancient Egypt.”
Ancient Egypt, huh?
That’s where the first party started!
I get the gist of it, but still…
“Of course, personally, I don’t believe it all. I hope you students understand this. Why, everyone in the New World insists they come from noble European families, right? It’s somewhat similar.”
“Hahaha!”
“Pfft!”
Robert’s words were amusing enough that laughter bloomed in the lecture hall for a moment.
The idea that the history of the ‘Department of Mysticism’ began in Ancient Egypt seemed ridiculous even to Professor Robert.
But what about the reality?
“For many years, the worthy ones from the Old World came together. Those gifted with mysterious fates longed to live freely, and those who explored the mystery wished to research freely.”
It sounds like those gifted with mysterious fates refer to chaos-born beings,
And those exploring mysteries are the scholars researching them.
“Yet, there was no hope in the Old World. The power of the Vatican spread like a web across the entire continent! Even the great chancellor couldn’t protect everyone from the Vatican’s oppression.”
Great chancellor, huh?
“Then a miracle took place! Christopher Columbus, the great explorer, discovered the New World!”
To be exact, Christopher Columbus wasn’t even the first person to discover the American continent, nor was he really someone who warrants the term “great.”
“Some sought gold in the New World, while others built farms. The great chancellor saw a completely different possibility—freedom! Rights! A land where even non-humans could live freely, a land where everyone could enjoy their born destiny!”
Slowly, the atmosphere in the lecture hall began to heat up.
It was because of Robert’s impassioned voice, but it seems the story was also resonating with the students present.
…
Bit by bit, I started to grasp who “those beings” were, both the professor and the surrounding students.
“Welcome, students, to Miskatonic University. Now, shall we all reveal our ‘true forms’?”
— Fwoosh!
As Robert stood at the podium, his clothes billowed front and back.
Sturdy and rigid black fur burst out from the seams, and bulging muscles displayed an intense presence.
But what was most astonishing was the change in his face.
His snout protruded like some wild beast’s, and razor-sharp teeth emerged!
Professor Robert is a werewolf!
Instantly, the entire classroom began to respond.
A girl in the back revealed sharp horns, while a boy across began to transform with skin like brick.
Some morphed into grotesque forms that seemed to merge amphibians and humans, while others revealed astonishingly beautiful appearances.
Not every student was a chaos-born creature.
In fact, judging purely by numbers, there appeared to be more human students.
However, the human students didn’t show surprise at the various monsters but rather looked intrigued!
Are these people from families of mysticism scholars?
While trying to maintain my expression, someone patted my shoulder.
“Hey, you’re Ahri, right?”
Turning to look, I found ocean-blue eyes that resembled the sea.
Golden waves cascading over her shoulders looked like a painting come to life.
She was an incredibly beautiful girl.
“I’ve heard rumors!”
Rumors?
Was there talk about me?
Am I that famous in the setup?
“Heard you’re a vampire! I’ve never met a vampire before, so I’m so curious. Can you show me something?”
Ah, so this was my identity in the settings.
The ‘old blood’ was the legacy acquired when Miro killed a vampire in the past, right?
“Well, maybe another time—”
“Don’t! Can’t you show me? I’m Emily! Nice to meet you!”
As I stared at Emily’s nonchalant smile, I realized the eyes of those around were gathering on me.
Others, or rather, the monsters were looking toward me with similar expressions.
It was like they wanted me to show something.
“…”
I flicked my finger lightly, causing a drop of blood to settle on the table, shaping itself into an S.
I felt like I was performing circus tricks.
“Wow! That’s amazing!”
“Is that a type of blood magic? I’ve only heard about it!”
“Even if the chancellor has covered the sun a bit, still, it seems quite normal?”
“Hey, didn’t you hear that high-class vampires can withstand sunlight?”
“Really?”
The atmosphere was openly critiquing me.
But now I understood the gloomy weather—it’s the chancellor!
Given that many of these monsters prefer the dark over light, was the school maintaining this constant overcast for their sake?
“…”
Though it was just ‘Miskatonic University,’ having the power to control weather is truly something else.
Is the great chancellor also a creature, not human?
Or perhaps the archmage who has realized the ultimate wisdom?
Either way, they’re an opponent I can’t let my guard down around.
Just as I awkwardly smiled and raised my head, I spotted a very familiar face smirking.
“Oh.”
I was a little surprised.
Because in my memory, I hadn’t seen that look in nearly 50 years.
*
After “Introduction to Demonology” ended, I moved to a quieter place to talk to the familiar face.
“Congratulations!”
“What do you mean?”
“Congratulations on your rejuvenation! Man, you totally look like you’re in your 20s now!”
“…”
“Wow! When was the last time I saw this face? Not even in the Curse Room did I see it. Feels like it’s almost 50 years since I last saw it.”
“Come on, old timer, stop acting old.”
— Snap!
“Whoa! Wait, was that a swift kick to the leg? No, Ahri, you started talking weird first!”
“… Let’s cut to the chase.”
After settling the atmosphere, we began discussing serious matters.
“So, do you roughly understand what Miskatonic University’s Department of Mysticism does?”
“Kind of. It feels like they’re trying to seize opportunities in the New World after fleeing the Vatican’s oppression on the Old Continent.”
For many long years, the Vatican called chaos beings demons and exterminated them, while scholars researching mysticism were branded as corrupted and burned alive.
Of course, the oppressed likely fought back as best they could.
Stories I heard hinted that those born as chaos beings, like werewolves and witches, or humans who wished to explore the mysteries came together because their interests aligned to ‘escape the Vatican’s oppression.’
However, they could only succumb helplessly before the Vatican, which held sway over the entire Old Continent.
Then one day, a route to the New World was uncovered, changing everything.
The almighty Vatican had limits when trying to extend its influence over the New World.
“So these guys blatantly seize control of the university to expand their power… Hmm, what to do about this?”
“…”
“I’m thinking as a Management Bureau agent. Given that monsters are gaining strength across the sea, maybe we should act as some sort of terrorists and mess up the university.”
“Talk as a hotel participant instead.”
“Then I wouldn’t know. As you well know, the hotel doesn’t always create human-centered scenarios…”
“I’m starting to think we might not be human according to the setup?”
“True. You seem to be a high-class vampire, and I did end up showcasing ‘The Arm of the Abras Warrior’ after a long while.”
“Wouldn’t that mean we ought to take the university’s side?”
“…”
As an agent of the Management Bureau, should I sabotage this fallen monster lair?
Or, fitting my role as a ‘high-class vampire,’ should I bust the Vatican’s scheme while siding with Miskatonic University?
“Pretty tough.”
“Tough indeed.”
“Don’t use that funky dialect. You sound like an old man.”
“Tough indeed, it is!”
“… Have you designated the regression point for ‘One More Chance’ yet?”
“I set it right at the beginning.”
Mooksung’s legacy, ‘One More Chance’ requires you to specify a regression point within a month to use it.
“The Chancellor.”
“…”
“Seems like a formidable presence. Did you hear the content of the lecture?”
According to Professor Robert, the head of the Department of Mysticism at Miskatonic University was indeed an extraordinary being.
He’s lived for hundreds of years at least, and no one knows his exact age.
It’s unclear whether he is human or not.
It’s said even his name is unknown to anyone.
“Before crossing over to the New World, they called him the ‘Antichrist.’”
“The Vatican probably bestowed that derogatory label on him, which he didn’t like. After arriving in the New World and establishing the university, everyone started calling him ‘Chancellor.’”
The chancellor has been gathering power for at least 300 years battling the Vatican on the Old Continent.
The forces he amassed from those times are now the faculty and patrons of the Department of Mysticism at Miskatonic University.
“It doesn’t sound like he’s on par with the Vatican…”
“That’s right. He must have fled because he couldn’t win, right?”
“Of course, if we consider the Vatican as the Management Bureau of this era, only being able to hold out for centuries is nothing short of amazing.”
“Look at the sky. The dark clouds, right? I bet the Chancellor made those too.”
“Uh, does that make the Chancellor a boss or something?”
“Who knows? Not yet anyway.”
Is the chancellor the boss of the third trial?
Considering the hotel assigned us roles as ‘chaos beings,’ the Chancellor might actually be an ally.
From that perspective, the boss could be someone in the Vatican…
…
As Mooksung and I both fell into deep contemplation, silence enveloped the table.
Soon, the familiar face of that youth I had known for so long stood up.
“Ahem, rather than sitting around, let’s take action. There’s something I want to show you.”
“Uh?”
“I found something shocking.”
*
Mooksung led me to the place I had passed by in the morning.
“What? Isn’t this the place showcasing those bizarre skeletons?”
“Technically, it’s a paleontology exhibition. They even have dinosaur bones.”
“Did you have a liking for this? I thought only Jinchul was into dinosaurs.”
“… Just joking.”
“I stumbled across it this morning, you probably missed it. Come on, take a look.”
He guided me to a seemingly well-restored exhibit—
“Yikes!”
I was shocked!
I hadn’t even jumped back at seeing Professor change into a werewolf in class, but now I crouched down, completely startled.
“What, what is this!”
“Ahri, I was startled, too; that’s why I brought you. Is this ‘bird’ the same ‘bird’ we know?”
It’s Perro!
No matter how I look at it, it’s Perro!
If it was in a parrot state, I might have confused it with a similarly shaped one.
But in this grotesque mutated form, there’s no chance of confusion.
It’s a taxidermy of grotesque Perro!
“Ah, ah, ah…”
Unknowingly, I reached out to touch it.
Perro, what happened to you?
How did you end up here turned into a trophy—
— Thud!
Someone grabbed my arm.
“Be careful.”
“…”
It’s an old man I’ve never seen before.
In that instant, Mooksung and I exchanged glances.
‘When did he appear?’
‘Showing up out of nowhere!’
“Student, you just tried to touch that taxidermy, right? This doesn’t seem like a time for silence.”
“… I’m sorry.”
“Keep your wits about you. This is… a very ‘precious being.’”
Precious being.
“Excuse me, are you a professor?”
“Something like that.”
“Can I ask you one thing?”
“Go ahead.”
“Do you know where this taxidermy comes from?”
“…”
The old man, whose age was hard to ascertain, fell silent for a moment.
Does he not want to answer?
No, it doesn’t feel like that…
It’s a somewhat emotional attitude.
“Where it comes from… why ask that?”
“Personal curiosity. This is the first time I’ve seen such a, um, beautiful taxidermy that surprised me!”
“Beautiful? It’s not beautiful.”
“…”
He has a point.
The parrot form itself may not be beautiful, but its grotesque state is certainly not.
“Though when this friend was alive, there were times it looked beautiful.”
“…”
“I’d say it’s an old friend of mine.”
“Did you raise it?”
“Did I raise it? Haha! Nope, rather this friend protected me for a long time.”
Perro protected this old man for a long time?
What in the world does that mean?
Before I could ask again, Mooksung and I went silent again.
“… Wow, this old guy is surprisingly quick on his feet for his age.”
“Watch your words. He might be listening.”
The old man vanished without a trace.
What was his true identity? The Chancellor?
I’m not sure.
*
Despite wandering around Miskatonic University until late, I hadn’t drawn any clear conclusions.
Since it was nearing closing time, I had no choice but to return to the dormitory, the starting point.
“Phew…”
As I sat on the bed, a solid sensation poked me in the backside.
“What? What’s this?”
On the bed was a hard piece of paper embossed with a strange drawing.
“… The Eye of Horus?”
The most famous deity from Egyptian mythology, depicted in a symbolic form.
There was a short sentence written on the back of the letter.
“Father, why have you abandoned us?”
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