Chapter 154

“Senior, do we need to receive it too?”

At Hersel’s words, Kerndel scanned the first-year students, trying to gauge their reactions.

They all seemed to be watching, as if waiting to see how he would respond.

A wave of inner conflict surged within him.

It wasn’t easy to decide whether to maintain his stern demeanor or retreat and bear the humiliation. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

‘If I back down now, they’ll just laugh at me…’

Kerndel made up his mind and looked at Hersel.

After all, his pride as a first-class upperclassman was at stake—he couldn’t just surrender.

As he was about to stand firm, Hersel approached with a displeased expression.

“That’s, uh!”

The moment Hersel’s face got close, Kerndel’s side started to throb. It was the same spot where Hersel had hit him with his staff before.

“What? Just make up your mind already. So I know whether to shower later or not. Is that it? Isn’t it?”

The irritation in Hersel’s voice was clear.

Kerndel, startled, took a step back.

But simply walking away like that felt too humiliating.

He had to at least save a bit of face.

“Ahem, it was my mistake. We just welcomed the newcomers, and yet I suggested discipline on such a joyful day. I admit that was thoughtless. Let’s just pretend I never mentioned it.”

Though he tried to appear magnanimous, the whispers behind him were irritating.

“Look, he’s trying to act all serious again.”

“Exactly. As soon as he opens his mouth, it’s all just bravado.”

Embarrassed, Kerndel quickly retreated.

Once he reached a place where no one could see him, he couldn’t help but shed a tear.

How did it come to this?

For someone who once reigned supreme at Frost Heart, to end up so pathetically was a pitiful sight indeed.

‘Is there no such thing as an eternal throne…?’

Kerndel wiped away his tears and watched Hersel pack his bags with resentment in his eyes.

At the same time, his fingers trembled.

‘I may dislike him, but there’s a bigger problem here.’

The main issue was that Hersel had moved in here.

Kerndel realized that a dark future awaited him.

How could he manage to graduate peacefully, now that this demon was living right under the same roof?

***

Today was spent exploring the changes in the new living environment.

In terms of facilities, it was far more luxurious than the Schlaphe Hall.

The furniture was of excellent quality, and there was not only a private shower but also a bathrobe provided.

Laundry and cleaning were handled by servants who managed the dormitories.

Additional benefits included no longer needing to carry around a safety mirror to avoid paranormal incidents, as well as having access to facilities for watching music or theater performances.

And perhaps the best part was that, unlike the cramped rooms of the Schlaphe Hall, this place was very spacious.

But at this moment, that spaciousness was a disadvantage.

“So, this is Hersel’s room, huh?”

Limberton grinned as he spoke.

Lying on my bed, I looked around at the men sitting in a circle on the floor.

Besides Limberton, Ricks, Bellman, Aslay, and Riamon were all in my room.

“How’s the atmosphere at the Adele Hall?”

“The living conditions are pretty good, and I think the classes will be better than Schlaphe’s.”

Bellman replied to Ricks’ question.

“Doesn’t that big frame of yours make it inconvenient to move around?”

“I’ve never felt that way. Guess that means it’s not inconvenient.”

Riamon gazed silently at his thin arms, while Aslay flexed his muscles.

The intruders started chatting away without paying any mind to the room’s owner.

Their topics ranged from the general atmosphere of Adele Hall to how its classes differed from those at Schlaphe Hall, beginning as questions and ending with answers.

It was a fairly useful Q&A session, so I didn’t want to interrupt.

But why had these guys taken over my room? I didn’t recall inviting them…

“Since the classes here are generally more advanced, you’ll probably need to take supplementary lessons. There may be subjects you haven’t covered yet, so you’ll need to put in extra effort to catch up.”

Bellman’s words seemed bitter enough to prompt a heavy sigh from Aslay and Limberton.

Ricks, who was fairly bright, didn’t seem too burdened by this aspect.

The discussion then shifted to things to be cautious about.

“Buerger Hall was supposedly ordinary, and Schlaphe Hall was said to be quite liberal, right? Well, you should be careful. The dormitory rules in Adele Hall are strict.”

Since Adele Hall held a certain level of prestige, there were many regulations to follow.

Curfew was strict, any behavior that violated decorum resulted in demerits, and privileges at the facility were reserved for upperclassmen.

Bellman meticulously listed things to watch out for, but one particular rule was emphasized with a serious expression.

“By the way, many of the seniors here are devout believers. Be mindful of your words so as not to offend them.”

Most of the second- and third-years were deeply involved with the student council.

While some genuinely held religious beliefs, many were simply drawn to the various benefits offered by the council.

These included financial support and, for those with limited social skills, the comfort of group activities that alleviated loneliness.

“Maybe I should consider joining a religion too,” Limberton mused, prompting Bellman to shake his head.

“I wouldn’t recommend it. For some reason, I feel like my head would start to get weird even if I only dipped my toes in.”

Riamon, with a sullen expression, agreed.

“Yeah, there’s definitely that kind of atmosphere.”

“I’m already worried. Last year, the second-years probably viewed the order just like we do now. It seems we’ll be gradually influenced over time.”

Bellman’s perspective was surprisingly broad.

So, over time, one becomes influenced.

If the student council hadn’t been the enemy, the current first-years might have followed suit.

“It seems I’ve conveyed everything that needs to be said. Now, let me ask a question. Do you know anything about the remaining student in the Special Wing?”

Bellman asked while looking at me.

“Are you referring to the last remaining man…?”

There were a total of five students in the Special Wing.

The Luon gang comprised four members, leaving only one man currently remaining.

Rumors about him surfaced occasionally after the Luon subjugation, but they quickly faded due to his lack of presence.

“Yeah, he rarely attends classes. I heard that even the professors’ strict punishments have no effect.”

Given the past offenses of those from the Special Wing, it seemed like there was considerable concern about this individual.

It was only natural to be wary.

I knew the man’s identity, but I decided to feign ignorance.

“I’m not sure. I’ve never seen him before.”

“Well, it’s strange that we, who reside in the fort, haven’t seen him, so it would be even stranger if you at Schlaphe Hall knew him.”

“Is it even worth worrying about right now? We’ll meet him anyway once we become second-years.”

“True enough. I heard that after spending a year in the Special Wing, you’re freed. We’ll find out by then.”

Bellman accepted the reasoning easily. Then, as if recalling another student to keep an eye on, he brought up another topic.

“In that case, the most concerning problem is Dorosian.”

Bellman looked at me and asked, “Hersel, what should we be careful about regarding Dorosian?”

I blinked slowly.

What was there to be cautious about? Hmm.

“Why are you asking me about that?”

“According to Ricks, you’re the only one who talks to Dorosian.”

I was momentarily speechless.

These guys seemed to think of me as some kind of beast tamer.

Dorosian was a woman who might reveal her true nature at any moment.

At Frost Heart, she wasn’t exactly an ally. She was a potential villain who could disrupt the scenario if things went south.

I, too, was hoping she wouldn’t cause trouble, watching her warily.

Still, if there was any reassurance I could offer, it was this:

“It seems you all have a prejudice against Dorosian.”

Everyone was nodding in agreement.

For some reason, no one approached her, as if she exuded a terrifying aura.

But in reality, there wasn’t much to it.

The rumors and stories of those who had faced her were mere illusions.

So I spoke with confidence.

“Why not muster up a bit of courage and approach her? Who knows? You might end up building a normal friendship and having a smooth school life.”

“Hersel, Ricks told us that when he tried that, he ended up hypnotized into a frog for an hour.”

At Bellman’s remark, Ricks let out a deep sigh, as if recalling a traumatic memory.

I smirked at the sight, reminded of the time I tried to mess with him.

– “She wants to be friends. She’d like to share meals and have casual sparring matches to enjoy academy life. It seems she’s taken a liking to you all. So, let go of your prejudices and try approaching her. Then, you can have fun together, laughing and talking.”

Haha, they really believed that.

***

The scent of incense filled the room.

A book lay on the table.

A vivid crimson sun symbol was engraved at the center of the black book’s cover, intense enough to nearly melt it.

“They don’t seem to be aiming for a hostile relationship with us,” said the man standing across the table.

The man seated at the head of the table looked up at him with a benevolent expression.

He had soft eyes and was a promising candidate to be the next student council president.

Ders, the current student council president, tapped the Bible with his index finger.

“Is that so?”

The man, seeing Ders’ reaction, let out a lifeless smile.

“It seems so. Just look at how he immediately ceded the first-rank position to Kerndel. If he were truly ambitious for power, he wouldn’t have made that decision.”

Ders nodded at the man’s words.

“Indeed.”

As the student council president, he was well aware of Hersel’s actions.

‘He has many unexpected traits. When I first heard he was challenging for the top ten, I thought he was just trying to take Kerndel’s spot…’

At that time, Ders had naturally been considering the benefits and was ready to discard Kerndel.

In fact, there was no need to weigh the options.

From the moment a new power emerged, Kerndel’s value had diminished.

No amount of money or strategy could have enabled a fool like him to win.

“It’s good news that he isn’t hostile, but it’s still a bit disappointing. Establishing new relations didn’t seem like such a bad idea.”

In truth, Hersel had no interest in the position.

The clash between him and the Ten Elites had been sparked by a simple dispute.

While he wanted to take advantage of the situation, there was a reason he couldn’t.

The official, finding this strange, asked in a curious tone, “But why are you interested in him? We’ve already concluded internally that there’s nothing significant to connect us.”

“That’s true.”

“I still don’t understand why you remain interested in him.”

Hearing the official’s question, Ders ran a hand through his hair.

“The truth is, an order came directly from the Ecclesiastical Headquarters.”

As soon as the name of the Headquarters was mentioned, the official’s eyes widened in surprise.

“From the Headquarters?”

Ders’ inner thoughts were no different from the official’s reaction.

The Ecclesiastical Headquarters was the core institution of the order.

Even the most promising members sent to the academy were still considered mere believers.

It wasn’t the kind of place that would normally issue direct orders without any intermediary.

“It’s too soon to be surprised. In fact, it’s not just Hersel Ben Tenest they’re interested in. They’ve also ordered surveillance of Leana Rel Derevian, a first-year knight in Adele Hall.”

“Leana… Wait, what on earth is the Headquarters thinking?”

“I can’t believe it either. I have no idea what their intentions are, but what choice do we have? Orders are orders.”

Ders sighed, then glanced at the wall clock and rose from his seat.

“Wow, it’s already this late. Let’s call it a day.”

“Yes, sir.”

As the two men left the student council room, the curtains fluttered.

Even though the window was closed, the movement continued.

Soon, the curtain was suddenly pulled aside, revealing a man hanging from the curtain rod.

It was Emeric.

“Hm.”

Emeric carefully stepped down to the floor and looked at the door Ders had exited through.

“I was trying to dig up some potential weaknesses, but it seems I’ve eavesdropped on a rather significant affair.”

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