The Gloomy and Timid Princess Heads to the Academy

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스테파니아 was walking through the forest with a lively step.

She wasn’t enjoying a leisurely stroll. If she were, she wouldn’t be holding a grotesquely twisted heart in her right hand.

The heart was taken from the demon she had handed over to Georg. It was extracted just before being passed to him, and it was still pulsing.

Knowing that a demon’s heart regenerates quickly even if exposed to divine power, Stephanie had no qualms about pulling it out.

To begin with, those were beings she felt needed to be sorted out anyway, so she didn’t feel any sorrow or guilt.

Really, they should have been a bit more useful.

That was the last thing she left them with.

‘I thought it was somewhere around here…’

She was moving according to her memories and the divine power visible before her.

Even though she was far from the exam site and the proctor had left, she wasn’t overly concerned, as she had made a deal with Georg for this very purpose.

‘…It moved, huh?’

For some reason, the area with the strongest divine power had shifted slightly, but it was only a matter of a few dozen steps, so she didn’t mind it much.

After being trapped and immobile for so long, it was no wonder she wanted to move, even if it meant twisting her body.

Stephanie thought so.

She cleared away the relics that had eroded to the point of being unrecognizable and placed the heart upon the ground where divine power was concentrated.

“Demon. I offer this as a sacrifice; obey me according to our contract!”

Reciting those words that were barely recognizable as a spell, she stomped on the dark red heart and crushed it.

As the blood gushed from the heart and seeped into the ground, the surrounding air began to shift dramatically.

The beasts, sensing something, fled from their spots or lay on their backs showing their bellies, and the divine power that had filled the area was being eroded by the newly flowing magic.

To Stephanie, it merely seemed like the divine power was disappearing.

But knowing that this was due to magic, she immediately enveloped herself with the thickest mana shield she could cast.

Having witnessed firsthand how a human psyche transforms when exposed to magic, she was determined to avoid that fate.

-…To display such irreverent behavior in the presence of divine safety, how arrogant.

“You’re the one being arrogant. What are you claiming to be a god when you’re not even a god’s servant?”

Something that arrogantly claimed to be a god seemed enraged, causing the atmosphere to tremble with a great roar, but she paid it no mind.

A god without followers can only maintain its own body.

A fallen deity couldn’t even stop a competent being from defining itself as a demon and entering into a one-sided contract.

Knowing that shaking the atmosphere like this was the maximum threat a demon could pose, Stephanie didn’t feel frightened.

Unless she went insane and was fully exposed to magic, this relationship would never be reversed.

-…So be it, impudent contractor. You come all the way here to where my true form is buried, and now what business do you have with me?

“Create numerous magical beasts and monsters at the location I specify.”

-You’re giving me orders now?

While sending location information to the demon, since it had irked her, Stephanie thought she’d have to inform it of its position again.

“Oh my, aren’t I at least a being somewhat akin to a god? If I’m a ‘god’, shouldn’t I move as my servant desires?”

-You are unique… Ha. We’ll see about that. For now, I’ll grant your wish. But next time, you must show me a bit more respect.

The sight of it resembling a gambling addict dreaming of a windfall made Stephanie unable to suppress her laughter.

“Puhuh… Dreams are free, but you don’t even have that freedom anymore. You’re in a sorry state, bound to a human after losing long ago. Just stay crumpled.”

After some sharp words were exchanged, the demon complied with the contractor’s order.

—

“…Thank you for calling it pretty. But…”

Hoyeon seemed like she was about to say something more but suddenly cut herself off.

“But…?”

Curious about what she was about to say, I prodded her a bit, but she seemed not to hear me at all.

“…”

With an expression I hadn’t seen before, she was staring at the sky.

I wondered if something weird was happening, or maybe a dragon passed by, but all I could see was the clear sky.

“…Hoyeon?”

“Sorry, not now.”

But her serious expression made it hard to press her further.

An awkward silence lingered for a while.

Fortunately, Iris and Anya came running from a distance, or I honestly considered stretching just to relieve the tension.

“Dokan! Hoyeon! Are you okay?!”

I wondered how they could come back so soon after saying they were going to gather herbs, but immediately noticed something was off with them.

Anya had scrapes and wounds all over her body, and Iris was murmuring the same words as if her spirit had left her.

“Monsters… magical beasts… Lady Stephanie… Why…?”

Monsters, magical beasts, Stephanie.

Ah, damn it.

Did Stephanie cause trouble again?

Knowing that Iris had a connection to Stephanie, just hearing a bit of what she was saying helped me piece together what had happened.

Somehow, Stephanie had unleashed monsters and magical beasts upon this mountain.

“Did the magical beasts attack?!”

“Uh, not yet. Anya, are you alright?”

With all the blood and wounds on her body, she didn’t look fine at all.

“I’ve been hurt worse. Up north, they only recognize injuries if bones are broken or skin is peeled away.”

Though she said that, Anya’s expression wasn’t hiding her pain.

Having learned healing magic from being beaten by Georg, even if I couldn’t completely heal her, I could relieve some of her discomfort.

“Stay still. I’ll heal you.”

“…Thank you. You’ve finally decided to do something.”

That was because Hoyeon was just too competent; it didn’t seem like a moment to make jokes.

“So, what happened?”

“…I don’t know. Suddenly, monsters and magical beasts started pouring out from somewhere, biting people…”

Thinking I might have misunderstood, I asked for her explanation, but there was nothing special to report.

Suddenly, monsters and magical beasts appeared and started killing people, and yet the scene’s supervisor was nowhere to be found.

This must be why Stephanie took the job of supervising the scene. But why would she unleash monsters and magical beasts?

She might be cruel, but she wasn’t a thoughtless woman.

“…Once they saw the church people, they ran towards them. I caught a glimpse, so I can’t be sure, but…”

For some unknown reason, was she suddenly trying to purge the church’s influence now?

I could somewhat understand what was going on.

After hearing her story, the bleeding seemed to have stopped.

Anya’s expression looked more relaxed, so it seemed to be helpful.

Looking at Iris’ condition, it didn’t seem like she could be communicated with. Hoyeon was still staring at the sky as if in a trance.

…No, not quite.

Just earlier, she was standing upright, merely looking at the sky, but now she was kneeling, resembling someone in prayer.

“Hoyeon.”

“…”

“Hoyeon!”

Even calling her loudly got no response. What was wrong with her, especially in such an urgent situation?

Thinking it would be dangerous to stay still like this, I felt the need to move, but it was impossible because of Hoyeon.

I felt sorry for her, but it looked like I’d have to drag her to get her moving.

Just as I placed my hand on her shoulder, Hoyeon suddenly spoke.

“Dokan, do you trust me?”

“Uh… uh? Of course. But Hoyeon, now isn’t the time to be kneeling—”

“Then stay right next to me. Bring Anya and Iris too.”

Even in this immediate crisis, Hoyeon was saying something bizarre. Suddenly asking if I trusted her and to stay close.

But her expression seemed more serious than ever.

And more than anything, I had a very ominous feeling telling me that if I didn’t follow her words, she wouldn’t move at all, so I had no choice but to comply.

“…Anya. Just stay close to Hoyeon for a moment.”

“I’m by Hoyeon’s side…? Okay.”

While making sure healing was applied well by moving her limbs, Anya stayed close to Hoyeon without a second thought.

The problem was Iris…

With her state of mind, she wouldn’t hear a word I said.

“…Excuse me for a moment.”

I picked her up in a princess carry. She seemed weaker than she looked.

I wondered if Hoyeon would glare at me, but she stayed as she was, still looking at the sky.

With an ominous smile on her face.

…Is this really the right thing to do?

Looking at Iris, I noticed she was clutching something like a necklace tightly in her hand.

It seemed to have a complex sorcery woven into it, but it was in a broken state. Holding onto something like that wouldn’t help at all.

So girls will be girls, huh.

“Alright, here. Everyone stay close to Hoyeon. Now can you stand? If we remain still, the magical beasts will chase us down. We must move!”

“No. There’s no need.”

“…No need?”

I wanted to argue what the heck she was talking about, but I soon realized it wasn’t that kind of situation.

Thud.

Something enormous was approaching us.

Thud.

It couldn’t be an ordinary beast.

Thud.

Maybe a magical beast or… a monster.

Thud.

It resembled a bear at first glance, but it was as big as an elephant, and it had two heads with glowing eyes nestled in between.

“…Guys. Break your bracelets.”

We’d fail the exam and receive a score of zero, but that wasn’t the issue right now. It’s a matter of life and death; what good would a score do?

And knowing they’d compensate if it turned out to be a magical beast during the physical exam, it was wise to cut ties and escape without hesitation.

“Don’t worry, it won’t harm you.”

Yet Hoyeon continued to say the most absurd things.

It was impossible for that thing not to harm us. The magical beasts at the zoo were relatively tame, but this one was already stained with blood around its mouth and claws.

It was clear it had torn something apart; no matter how much of a friend Hoyeon was, there’s no way she would let that slide.

“…Anya. After you cut Iris’ bracelet, cut yours too. I’ll cut Hoyeon’s after I’ve cut mine.”

“Understood.”

The only person I could communicate with was Anya. But having at least one person to talk to was a relief.

As soon as Anya simultaneously cut her and Iris’ bracelets, the two of them vanished.

Thank goodness it didn’t break. Then it was our turn.

Grabbing Hoyeon and my bracelet, I closed my eyes and pulled with all my might.

…But nothing happened.