Chapter 293 : Chapter 293

Chapter 293. Academy Autumn Festival (4)

Radel’s ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍intentions were simple.

‘I am grateful, but it is still too early.’

If the Meteor Shower Knights wanted to support him, that was something to be thankful for, but the timing was not right yet.

From the moment he began recruiting followers, Radel had wanted people who could move discreetly.

Being too conspicuous would only cause problems.

If his official followers increased here, he would face far stronger scrutiny than before.

‘And…… I am still weak.’

In Radel’s mind, that was the biggest issue of all.

He had grown much stronger than at the beginning, but not enough to protect his followers.

It would not do for the Meteor Shower Knights to be attacked simply because they supported the 8th Prince.

For now, it was more than enough that they maintained a cooperative relationship with him.

‘I really need to become like Ancestor Hayden.’

With that resolve, Radel stepped into the first-year Combat Magic booth.

If he wanted to become strong like his ancestor, he had to learn everything the academy had to offer.

Combat Magic was not a subject he could afford to neglect.

At times, Professor Lillian’s obsession with combat felt overwhelming, but thanks to that, his skills improved rapidly.

Professor Lillian always wanted her students to fight in earnest.

True to form, the festival booth she proposed for first-year Combat Magic majors was deeply tied to combat.

As Radel entered the tent, cheers erupted.

“Woooo!”

“Who is the next challenger?!”

Radel looked toward the dueling arena set up inside the booth.

On the platform stood Inette, red hair whipping as she raised a triumphant fist.

Beside her lay a first-year sprawled on the ground, scorched by flames.

Inette shouted to the crowd.

“You all saw that, right? Come at me! I will double whatever you wager!”

Above the arena, the display board flashed with Inette’s win rate.

100.

It meant she had never lost.

‘She has great momentum.’

What Professor Lillian had proposed to the first-year majors was a magical duel booth.

Traditionally, it was a booth the first-year Combat Magic majors opened every autumn festival.

Surprisingly, betting money on the contestants was allowed here.

According to academy regulations, festival booths were permitted to generate profit.

That was good news for Radel as well.

Because he had to run the integrated major booth, he could not participate as a contestant, but a magical duel booth still offered other ways for him to help.

“Woooo! Amazing, contestant Inette!!”

Cheering loudly, Radel naturally lifted the sign he had prepared.

To grow stronger, improving one’s skills was important, but there were other things that mattered as well.

A great mentor.

Good companions.

A supportive environment.

But to have all of those, there was one indispensable requirement.

Money.

In large letters, the sign Radel held read:

‘Butter-grilled squid for sale!’

‘Cold drinks also available!’

Most of the profits from Radel’s sales here were to be donated to the Combat Magic major, but Professor Lillian had permitted him to keep a portion.

Radel shouted at the top of his lungs.

“Who wants butter-grilled squid?!”

***

After diligently selling, Radel handed over the prepared butter-grilled squid and drinks to the other Combat Magic majors and headed to the next booth.

This time, it was the first-year Cryptozoology booth.

A sign hung at the front.

‘Spend One Hour with a Magical Beast.’

It looked like they had actively incorporated the suggestion Radel had once given Professor Donton.

However, the booth was far quieter than expected.

Sensing that something was wrong, Radel carefully observed the situation.

People who entered the Cryptozoology booth were coming out fuming.

“What do you mean, stay in the same room with a magical beast for a whole hour?”

“At least say something that makes sense.”

“Let us get out of here.”

It seemed the Cryptozoology students were explaining things clumsily.

At this rate, even a booth that should succeed was doomed to fail.

Radel knew it was time for him to step in.

As he entered the booth, he saw the dejected faces of the Cryptozoology students.

“Your Highness!”

One large-built student spotted Radel, his face lighting up.

But as if reality caught up to him, his expression soon fell.

“No one is coming, Your Highness. It is such a well-intentioned booth, but why is it like this?”

“That is right. No matter how hard we explain, everyone runs away.”

“At this rate, we cannot convey how cute magical beasts really are…….”

The other Cryptozoology students looked equally discouraged.

Listening to them, Radel nodded.

“Do not worry, everyone. I know what the problem is. Let us change the sign first.”

And shortly after, the sign of the first-year Cryptozoology booth was replaced.

‘A Private Moment with a Magical Beast.’

At a glance, it sounded like a sentimental name, but in reality, it was still an experience booth that locked a person in a room with a magical beast.

However, the new name conveyed none of that.

Perhaps because of that, people began to take interest once they could no longer guess what it was about.

“What is ‘a private moment with a magical beast’?”

“I know, right? I am curious.”

As people lingered, someone slipped past them and stopped in front of the Cryptozoology booth.

It was Gillian, who had fled from the integrated major booth.

Because he was a priest of the Supreme Deity Order, he had been worked mercilessly at the Supreme Deity 5-piece Set before barely managing to escape.

‘Those lunatics……!’

If there was a hell, that place might as well have been it.

The integrated major booth was insane.

A place obsessed with labor.

Following Gusto, Gillian had cast Heal on the students operating the Supreme Deity 5-piece Set.

He revived students who collapsed from depleted Magic Power, fed them recovery potions, and used Heal on those whose stamina was failing.

Then they rose like zombies and picked up their staves again.

Eventually, he became confused about why they were going to such lengths.

It was only an academy festival, after all.

So why did everyone seem to be working as if their lives were on the line……?

Carrying that doubt, Gillian kept working.

Then he realized he had lost his pouch.

The pouch he had received from Kier.

Inside were stones infused with a Curse Formula.

He must have dropped it while riding that damned ‘Into the Supreme Deity’s Embrace.’

Gillian retraced his steps in search of the pouch.

And finally, he spotted the 8th Prince picking it up and slipping it into his clothes.

It had fallen into the hands of the one person it never should have.

Of all people, the 8th Prince, a key figure of the Supreme Deity Order!

‘Without that, this plan will fall apart.’

And if this were discovered, he would be finished in the Black Order.

Not only would he face the wrath of the cult leader, Kier would be the first to come after him.

He had to retrieve the pouch from the 8th Prince at all costs.

Gillian begged an apprentice holy knight, saying he had to return to the Supreme Deity Order booth.

He did not know why he had to debase himself so far, but that was the atmosphere of the integrated major booth.

Even if one wanted to stop working, it was not so simple.

Thus, after making a false promise that he would help again tomorrow, Gillian fled.

It was freedom he had bought by discarding his pride and lying.

Never again would he even turn his head toward the integrated major booth.

With that firm resolve, Gillian searched for the 8th Prince.

That was how he ended up at the Cryptozoology booth.

The 8th Prince had definitely gone in here.

‘There is nothing to worry about. If I borrow Lord Asmodeus’s power, retrieving a mere pouch will be easy.’

To do that, he needed an opportunity to speak with the 8th Prince.

An opportunity to unleash Lord Asmodeus’s power of temptation.

‘Just wait, 8th Prince.’

Following the 8th Prince, Gillian entered the Cryptozoology booth.

***

As Gillian stepped inside, someone approached him.

It was the 8th Prince, wearing a friendly smile.

“Welcome. Do you like magical beasts?”

He looked exactly like someone working at the Cryptozoology booth.

He had thought the prince was running the integrated major booth……?

As Gillian hesitated in confusion, Radel asked again,

“Or is there a particular magical beast you like?”

“……Well, I would say I am just somewhat interested.”

Gillian steadied himself and answered.

Come to think of it, whether the 8th Prince was a Cryptozoology major or an integrated major did not matter.

What mattered was getting the pouch back from him.

In fact, this was perfect.

To think he could get a chance to speak with the 8th Prince alone so quickly.

Gillian’s gaze fixed on Radel.

“I suppose I prefer cute magical beasts.”

At that, the faces of the nearby Cryptozoology students—not Radel—brightened.

“Really?”

“You like cute magical beasts?”

“This is perfect!”

Why were they so happy?

Gillian wondered if he had said something that impressive.

Now that he thought about it, it was a strange booth.

For a Cryptozoology booth, there were oddly few things related to magical beasts in sight.

There were several rooms deeper inside, but they were far from ordinary cages.

‘The doors look rather sturdy.’

But it did not matter.

He placed his hand on the Key of Seal inside his pouch.

The unsuspecting 8th Prince smiled at him.

“That works out well. This is a place that gifts time spent with a magical beast. What do you think about spending some private time alone with a cute magical beast?”

“Private time…… as in?”

“Feeding it, petting it…… anything is fine. As long as you do not harm the magical beast. It is also fine to do nothing and simply watch it. Our goal is to give you time to freely commune with a magical beast.”

“That sounds wonderful.”

Gillian replied vaguely while inwardly chanting a spell of temptation.

‘Fall for it!’

Once the spell succeeded, the 8th Prince would fall under hypnosis.

He had even used the Key of Seal, so there was no way it could fail.

……Yet no matter what he did, the spell did not take effect.

‘Why? Why?!’

When the flustered Gillian came back to his senses, he was already being led somewhere by the Cryptozoology students.

Dazed, he listened as they excitedly spoke to him.

“There is a cute magical beast in here.”

“You can look forward to it. Once inside, you can feed it and even touch it yourself.”

“……I see?”

Then the Cryptozoology students handed him a sheet of paper.

“Yes, we wrote down how to handle the magical beast. Just follow this. It is absolutely safe.”

“Safe……?”

Gillian asked blankly.

Radel, completely clear-minded, smiled faintly and answered,

“That is correct. You will be able to spend a peaceful, intimate time with a magical beast.”

In an instant, they ushered Gillian into a room.

A room with a magical beast.

Realizing the situation too late, Gillian tried to protest, but all he heard was a cold sound.

Click.

“……Excuse me?”

The sound of the door locking sent a chill down his spine.

- Grrrr.

Something nearby let out a low growl.

Had they not said it was a cute magical beast?

At that moment, Gillian’s eyes fell on the paper clutched in his hand.

‘Warning. Do not scream. The magical beast may like it very much.’

That was the moment his pupils began to tremble with fear.