The Witch of Decay had successfully infiltrated Dungeon Island.

And right now, she was sitting among the freshmen, waiting for the entrance ceremony to begin.

The girl in the seat next to her had no idea, and simply spoke to her with innocent curiosity.

“You’re obviously going ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) for a magic club, right? White Magic? Or a Mage Tower one? Guild?”

“I’m still thinking about it. I might not join anything.”

“Huh? Why?”

“There’s something else I want to do.”

“...I see.”

The girl nodded, but still looked somewhat puzzled.

It would do her no good to draw suspicion even in trivial conversations like this, so from now on, she would have to be even more careful.

Just as the Witch of Decay was making that resolution—

FLASH!

“!!”

A fierce gaze flew in from somewhere and stabbed into the back of her head.

It felt as though someone were peeling her open, dissecting her down to the last detail.

It was a sensation she knew rather well.

‘Master...?’

It felt similar to when Corpse Dragon looked down at her.

But there was no way her master could be here, so the next most likely possibility was—

‘A dragon...!’

But she hadn’t been informed of any receiving party.

Was it one from another faction?

Or acting independently? For amusement?

The Witch of Decay was seized by the urge to turn around at once, but she desperately forced herself to endure and suppressed it.

‘I might not be exposed yet.’

It was possible that someone’s gaze had merely rested on her by coincidence.

If she turned around for no reason, the chances of being singled out would only rise.

She had grounds for thinking that too.

The Witch of Decay recalled what had happened before she left the base.

Her sisters had seen her off.

Among them, the Witch of Madness had approached with a broad smile.

Our youngest is going off to school, so I should give her an entrance gift, right?

Then she placed a hand on the Witch of Decay’s head and cast a spell.

It had been a disguise spell.

In the hierarchy, Madness ranked right below Death, and public opinion held that even among S-ranks, she was at least mid-tier.

And true to her name, she excelled at mental interference and information manipulation.

She’d even boasted while casting the disguise.

Probably not even the previous Hero would recognize you.

Well, maybe if someone deliberately examined you, who knows? But what are the chances of that?

As long as you don’t give yourself away, you’ll be fine~

And sure enough, after sending that first gaze, the other party had taken no further action.

If they had really identified her, they would have looked at her at least once more.

That meant she’d passed the dangerous moment.

‘Still, it’s too soon to relax.’

Until she identified who that other party was, the same thing could happen again at any time.

The Witch of Decay made her vow once more.

From now on, she would move even more cautiously.

*****

I already knew from experience that Seo Ye-in had good eyes.

Looks like something unusual had flashed by while she was scanning the freshmen, but now that she was trying to see it again, it wasn’t working out as easily as she wanted.

After tilting her head one last time, she said,

“...Nothing.”

“Really?”

There was every chance she’d just mistaken it because she’d only glanced at it casually.

She wasn’t exactly the type to pay attention to other people in the first place.

‘But if it was a deliberate disguise...’

That would mean someone with skills that didn’t fit a freshman had slipped in.

I still couldn’t be certain, but just in case, it seemed better to give the academy a heads-up.

So while I was leaving a message for the principal, the Great Hall gradually started going quiet from the front.

At last, the faculty had walked in.

Among them, Lee Sudok and Seo Cheongyong stood out too.

‘So much for saying they’d only stay one year.’

They’d made it blatantly obvious they were only taking the job because the principal asked, because it was a request, because they were being forced into it—but apparently they’d unexpectedly decided to remain at Dragonslayer Academy.

Those two seemed to have found me among the second-years as well.

Seo Cheongyong smiled and waved brightly, while Lee Sudok glared with savage intensity.

He looked like he wanted to Kim Ho-Belghe(Cut) me on the spot, but I still bowed my head politely in response.

Soon the principal stepped onto the platform.

Whether it was the opening ceremony, the graduation ceremony, or a tournament, he was dressed in the same shabby way as always.

He scratched his stubbled chin and began with the formal greeting.

“Welcome, freshmen. I sincerely congratulate you on entering Dragonslayer Academy.”

Then he spoke in a much more serious tone.

“I am aware that the atmosphere has been quite unsettled lately. Incidents and accidents have not ceased across the land. Dragons, the Blood Cult, witches....”

.......

“Right now, the groups you belong to are probably stopping them for you. But someday, you will have to take over that role. Keep that firmly in your hearts, and strive forward.”

.......!

The mood in the hall swelled all at once.

If he had stopped there, it would have remained a very moving opening address.

But the “principal’s opening address” was only just beginning.

“Then let me tell you an anecdote from when I visited the Sapphire Mage Tower. At the time, during the dragon invasion—”

Even though I could only see the backs of the freshmen’s heads, I could still tell they were suffering.

The second- and third-years, already used to this by now, had openly fallen asleep.

Only Go Hyeonwoo was listening with the attitude of someone determined not to miss even a single word.

And so the previous Hero’s excessive talking continued for a very long time.

Eventually, the vice principal quietly stepped forward and pointed at his wristwatch.

As if to say that by now he’d rambled on quite enough and should stop.

Only then did the principal, looking visibly regretful, wrap up his speech.

“—I hope your time at Dragonslayer Academy will be meaningful. That is all.”

The vice principal stepped onto the platform next.

As always, he mentioned only the essentials.

“The list of prohibited items has been updated for this year. Those items are subject to confiscation simply for being carried by a student or kept in their inventory, and depending on the severity, penalties beyond demerits may be imposed.”

.......!

“In addition, some school rules and their associated punishments have been strengthened, so make sure you know them well to avoid disadvantage.”

I had a rough guess which rules he meant, but to confirm, I asked former Discipline Committee member Han Somi.

“The temporary storage?”

“That’s right!”

At the end of last year, the Archery Club and the Black Blade faction of the Swordsmanship Club had formed an alliance and attacked the temporary storage.

Not by sneaking in like the Thief Club, but in a manner much closer to open warfare.

‘In the end, the Discipline Committee still won.’

That was because Oh Sehun, the Discipline Committee president, had been overwhelmingly strong, and because Dang Gyu-young and I had helped.

Still, since the members had suffered minor injuries, and a lot of resources had been wasted on items and repair costs, it looked like they’d raised the punishment level to prevent the same thing from happening again.

‘Though I doubt that’ll really stop them.’

Maybe the Archery Club would back off, but the Black Blade side was almost certainly still waiting for its chance.

I thought of the second-year I’d clashed with back then.

In both skill and charisma, there was a good chance he’d taken real power this year.

And from how rebellious he’d seemed, he didn’t look like the kind to give up and let it end here.

How he would come at this remained to be seen.

By the time that brief train of thought ended, the vice principal’s guidance was almost finished too.

“This concludes this year’s entrance ceremony. Return to your dormitories without delay.”

The moment the faculty walked out, the Great Hall exploded into noise like a market.

As I shook Seo Ye-in awake, I said to the others,

“Let’s go eat.”

If we were even a little late, we’d end up stuck in line forever.

So we headed straight to the student cafeteria and talked while eating dinner.

As he worked his chopsticks, Go Hyeonwoo said,

“Come to think of it, I’ll need to get a new season pass.”

The pass that let you freely enter the special cultivation room for an entire semester.

In first-year first semester, he’d exchanged for it with the Cube of Life, and for second semester, he’d gotten one from Kim Gapdu—but now Kim Gapdu had graduated too.

Of course, I wasn’t particularly worried.

“You’ve got plenty of points now, don’t you? Just buy one.”

“That would probably be best. I can’t give up the mana cultivation efficiency.”

He’d probably have to spend several tens of thousands, but after staying near the top in duels and raids through all of first year, he’d probably earned a huge amount of points from replays.

Han Somi was in a similar position. Once she quit the Discipline Committee, the season passes they issued had stopped too.

Still, her grades were actually even better than Go Hyeonwoo’s, so buying one shouldn’t be difficult for her either.

There was even less reason to worry about Hong Yeonhwa and Seo Ye-in.

Each of them said a word as if it were only natural.

“I’m... getting one from my department head.”

“They said they’d bring mine.”

Apparently Ruby Mage Tower hadn’t produced any promising newcomer this year, so resources would keep being focused on Hong Yeonhwa.

And Seo Ye-in was the chairman’s granddaughter, so she was top priority regardless of the Hyeseong scholarship students’ performance.

Go Hyeonwoo smiled.

“It is a good thing to have fewer worries. Have you thought of something, Brother Kim?”

“I’m going to ask around a few places. If nothing works out, I’ll buy one.”

I’d made connections with several clubs last year, so I figured one of them might help.

But there soon proved to be no need for that either.

Someone tapped my shoulder, so I turned my head and saw a familiar face.

Kang Byeol, the Sculpture Club captain.

I bowed immediately.

“Hello, Upperclassman.”

“If you were back, you should have said something.”

“I was planning to stop by and greet you soon anyway.”

“Right. I happened to see you passing by, so I came over. You’re looking for a season pass?”

“Yes.”

At that, Kang Byeol opened their inventory, casually pulled out a season pass, and handed it over.

“I took this as payment for a commission.”

“This is worth quite a bit to just give away.”

“I don’t need it anyway. Let’s say this pays back a little of what I owe.”

Just last year, not only had the Sculpture Club been deserted, it had been so inactive it was on the verge of being shut down.

But with my help, they’d completed an S-rank Hero statue, managed to keep the club alive, and were now spending busy days overwhelmed with commissions of all kinds.

If they wanted to repay that debt, I had no reason to refuse.

“Then I’ll use it well.”

“I’ve also made the statue, so come pick it up when you have time.”

“Thank you.”

“I’m going.”

That was all Kang Byeol said before leaving.

When I glanced at that retreating back and turned around again, the others were all staring at me with odd expressions.

Go Hyeonwoo kept exclaiming in admiration.

“As expected, Brother Kim had a plan in mind.”

“I was going to ask, but I didn’t see this coming.”

“For an Upperclassman to come personally and hand over such a valuable item... one can only imagine how broad your influence must be.”

The others, meanwhile, seemed to have taken the situation somewhat differently.

Han Somi, Seo Ye-in, and Hong Yeonhwa each said their piece.

“Total lewd demon.”

“...Playboy.”

“I’m... okay with it. Even if you’re greedy....”

I answered in an even tone.

“It’s a business relationship, so I’d appreciate it if you didn’t misunderstand.”

“...Playboy.”

But the three of them didn’t seem inclined to let their suspicions die down so easily.

*****

After finishing dinner, we split up and headed to our respective dorms.

I only checked which room I’d be staying in this year, tossed my things inside roughly, and came back out.

And of course, the place I headed was the training center.

‘The sooner I start, the better.’

Spending the whole night in the special cultivation room doing mana cultivation.

Now that I had a season pass too, there was no reason to delay.

But someone was waiting in front of the training center.

Unexpectedly enough, it was Seo Ye-in.

So I asked,

“What are you doing here?”

“I thought you’d come.”

“That was a pretty easy guess, huh?”

“Within predicted range.”

Answering like that, Seo Ye-in grabbed my sleeve and continued.

“Go together.”

“To the special cultivation room?”

“Yes.”

So that was why she’d been waiting in front of the training center.

She’d instantly detected a Kim Ho pillow chance.

There was no reason it couldn’t happen, but I decided to attach a condition.

“Then sleep while doing mana cultivation?”

“Of course.”

“Sounds good. Let’s go.”

Soon we entered the special cultivation room—the place more familiar to us than the dorm—and comfortably settled in.

And in that state, we began mana cultivation.

*****

The next day.

After breakfasting with Seo Ye-in and Hong Yeonhwa, I headed toward the classroom with them.

Just when we were almost at the new school building, Hong Yeonhwa turned to me, as if a question had suddenly occurred to them.

“By the way, what class are you in?”

Since the year had changed, there was a good chance the classes had been rearranged too.

I answered casually.

“Class 2.”

“We’re in the same class...!”

Hong Yeonhwa’s face brightened immediately.

Next, I looked at Seo Ye-in.

“What class are you in?”

“...Class 2.”

“That doesn’t sound convincing.”

“...It’s true.”

The way she subtly looked away only made me more suspicious.

So I gave her a pressuring stare.

“Let’s be honest. What class are you in?”

“...Class 3.”

Just as I feared, the classes really had been split.

I let out a long sigh and said,

“Regrettable though it is, it seems Ms. Seo Ye-in can no longer remain with us. I wish you many fine new connections in Class 3.”

“No....”