No Dark Secrets In This Book

Episode 26

Ah, of course I said I would seduce Ryuseong, but I had no plans to rush to him without any mood and start taking off my clothes. Surprisingly, I also have some common sense. Even making advances should be done selectively, because if you indiscriminately hit on anyone, you could really get sued for disturbing public morals. 

‘Besides, being subtle and barely revealing is sexier.’

Anyway, as long as we remain roommates, I’ll be able to stick with him, so I thought I’d take it slow and steadily seduce him without being impatient.

‘Wow! I’ve got a long-term investment prospect!’

However, there is a deadline. No matter what, it’s best to get him into bed within a year. After that, the dark fantasy power of the original work starts to seriously upgrade.  

‘That’s around the time when the protagonist starts to get X-ed in earnest.’

The historical background of the very beginning of this novel is prosperous compared to the thousand-year history that has continued.

Although the war with monsters continues, humanity has also prospered through victories, and it’s an era that takes the threat of monsters lightly.

Then, tragedies that ruthlessly shatter the peace that came after a thousand years begin, and the original’s extreme desolate survival spectacle starts. Disasters on the level of mountain ranges being shattered and seas being turned upside down start to occur.  

While complacent humanity thinks they can overcome it because they’re the best, the situation rapidly deteriorates, and by the end, they lose almost all the land to sustain and survive on.

Around then, the final villain that appears is none other than Cassice Demillang. The young master of the world’s most prestigious family.

‘Hey, Cassice Demillang. What were you thinking doing that?’

I don’t know what Cassice did or how he ended up behind the world destruction plan. Because I was reborn here after getting burnt out while reading before the last volume where the truth is revealed.  

Still, it’s fortunate that since I’m the final villain, the world won’t head towards destruction if I don’t do anything.

‘So that means I can just live recklessly like this.’

However, there were still destruction wannabes in the world. Beings that wanted to dive into world destruction. In other words, the Named.

Monsters have no reason. So they act like let’s all die together. Demons have reason. So they can haltingly imitate human speech. The stronger the demon, the more communication is possible. The Named speak like humans and act like humans. They have human intelligence.

But they desire death. Monsters want to live, but the Named want to die. It’s like their racial setting value is a suicidal group.  

I won’t stop them. If they want to die, they can go ahead and die well amongst themselves.

But the problem is that the Named happen to wish to die along with humanity. 

‘The annihilation of humanity is fate, after all.’

In other words, the Named are crazy things that won’t die until humanity is annihilated.

With their outstanding intelligence, they hide among humans. When they openly gnaw at, tear apart, taste, and enjoy the world, Cassice does something behind the scenes to bring it to the brink of destruction – that’s up to the chapter I read. I don’t know since when he starts acting as the final villain, but anyway.

My conclusion is this. I just need to not hang out with the Named. Because if I obviously make enemies with demons, there’s no way I’ll go “haha, let’s happily destroy the world together” with them.

‘Still, quite a few tragedies will likely occur.’

Ah, it would have been nice if the human named Cassice Demillang was the type to have no enemies. If he had lived a life without any mishaps in a peaceful family, not even being subjected to assassination attempts.  

But this guy is a villain born and raised in a notoriously unlucky prestigious family. Escaping from the family is a good choice too, but honestly, the possibility of getting caught is too high so I can’t.

And the family has a lot of money too, so why bother?

‘It’s not like I’m someone who cares about ethics or has a conscience, so is there any reason I need to leave Demillang?’

I can’t give up the power and wealth of Demillang just to avoid assassination attempts!

And to leech off the family’s honey, I have to pretend to be Cassice. Even though he was second to Ryuseong, Cassice is also a tremendous genius. 

To at least pretend to be him, I need to look strong to others’ eyes at a minimum. Therefore, I will live and die for pretense.

A loud empty wagon, a rotten apple that looks good.

‘That’s me!’

This is the reason I studied to death during the theory class period. Because if you’re going to put on airs, at least the outer packaging needs to be perfect. Is it believable? But it’s a life-or-death activity, so let’s call it that and accept it.   

Living and dying for pretense, this is the guideline for a possessor who came to live as Cassice Demillang.

‘But dammit, I think I’m screwed.’

I have a feeling that the concept play of Cassice Demillang will fall apart from the first practical class. The 1st year practical curriculum of  Areah Academy, known for its historically unparalleled intensity.  

The problem was the professors involved in today’s first class period, which was the “Magic Department” orientation.

“Hello~ cadets. Good morning. I’m Pungseonja, and I’m the professor who will teach you Taoist magic~.”

“I am Dohyun, the shamanism professor. Anyone with mushy brains, get out the door right now.”

“Huh! It’s okay. You don’t have to leave! Cadets over there, don’t freeze up and follow my words step by step! Even if you’re a bit stupid, there’s no problem taking a class from me, Lord Eipl, a magic specialist! You just need to have a genius level of intelligence! Ah, if you’re below that, it’s best to give up on becoming a Conqueror?”

The cadets glancing at me strangely is a constant occurrence, so let’s ignore that.  

The Magic Department refers to the combination of Taoist magic, shamanism, and sorcery, with three professors in charge of 1st years. But oddly, even the swordsmen had to take at least 1 subject.

In other words, regardless of your major, the academy’s policy was to make you study everything in your 1st year. 

“Well~ Taoist magic is supposed to be performed with internal energy~ but does everyone want to learn Taoist magic~?”

“Hey! Is there anyone here who doesn’t know shamanism also uses internal energy? You bear-like Taoist, don’t even think about opening your mouth and taking kids away!”

“Hehe, cadets who use mana, let’s not look over there since we’ll lose! The moment you get to take a class from me will be recorded as the proudest in your lives!”

I roughly get it. It’s not about raising knights to be one-tool idiots who only know how to use a sword, but cultivating the ability to handle various situations, to at least be able to use simple fire magic.  

But you can’t teach mana usage to kids who use internal energy, so they let you choose what to learn to some degree by department. I also know the real purpose is to completely weed out cadets who can’t keep up with the hellish difficulty of the curriculum.  

But just because I know, it doesn’t mean having more subjects to study is a good thing.

Especially if you end up in a situation like me.

“There are so many kids with clean eyes~. The Taoist is happy~. Ah, Cadet Demillang, won’t you learn Taoist magic with us~?”

“Cut the crap about cultivating the Tao! Cadet Cassice! Ignore the Taoist and learn shamanism. You have a unique constitution, so you can do it, right? Isn’t it a waste of your talent to only use magic?”

“Ooh, both of you stop. Calm down. Are you sure your dahnjon* isn’t getting too hot? Cassice will follow this Eipl’s guidance anyway, so why are you so worked up?”

“And what are you?”

[T/N: Dahnjon is an energy center in the body according to Taoism.]

… Areah Academy is a nasty educational institution that expels students without hesitation if their grades are poor, and I heard the most cadets drop out during the 1st year practical period and the 4th year graduation exam.

Since it’s that intense, there are many opinions that it creates discrimination.  

In fact,  Areah Academy’s education method is both notorious and highly efficient, and the survival rate of  Areah graduates among Conquerors is insanely high.

There was even a rumor that the Conquerors who dominated and colored an era were all from  Areah Academy.

Therefore, the  Areah Academy graduate cartel wields tremendous influence.  

I know, I know all that, but…

“Now, make your choice!”

“Taoist magic!” 

“Shamanism!”

“Sorcery!”

“Which do you want to learn first, Cadet Cassice Demillang?!” 

I want to drop out of the academy.