Chapter 39: Instructor Jacqueline?! No—!

Chapter 39: Instructor Jacqueline?! No—!

Other students' second year: attending classes, doing homework, slowly increasing magical power, having initial interactions with weak dark creatures, pondering over the next meal, worrying about running out of gold.

Fei Yi's second year: attending classes, doing homework, enduring high-pressure after-class tutoring, explosive growth in magical power, engaging in in-depth discussions of black magic with demons, sifting through villainous intelligence to overturn the world, searching texts for ways to break divine retributions, traveling across the continent, dealing with minor bosses from her memory, regularly receiving new sacrifices, helping followers fulfill their wishes...

Carrying a couple of invigorating potions and mana restoratives had become a habit for Fei Yi. Every day, she hurried from one task to the next without pause.

Her feet barely touched the ground, her figure swift as the wind.

Often, it was only after Hill had fallen asleep that she would rush back to the dormitory under the stars and moon.

She could not sleep for long before having to rise again for a new day's tasks.

In her previous life on Blue Star, even studying for her postgraduate exams wasn't this exhausting, and that was with her head crammed full of this world's entire setting.

Even her classmates started to notice something was amiss.

Hill was extremely worried, “Fei Yi, why are you so busy every day? Is something serious going on? Or... do the instructors have something on you? Are they forcing you to do something?”

Fei Yi: “...It’s not like that, don't worry Hill, I'm just busy studying.”

Lunien: “Fei Yi, they say the instructors are giving you special treatment! Have you learned any really powerful magic manifestations? Can you teach me? I’ll buy you fruit-flavored milk!”

Fei Yi: “Thanks, Lunien, but that's not the case. I'm just helping the instructors with cleaning, dealing with the Sticky Bugs in the Twisted Forest, bathing Instructor Sharp’s upside-down dolls, and such.”

She tiredly bluffed, “If you want, you can join us tonight. How about after dinner? Let’s go wash the headless warhorse for Instructor Berlona.”

Lunien, terrified of the temperamental magic manifestation instructor, shook her head, “No no no! Better not! Instructor Berlona caught me not finishing my homework last time... I don’t want to trouble her... You keep it up, I'm off!”

The famously gossipy Lunien quickly left, and probably by nightfall, the whole school year would know what Fei Yi was up to, likely stopping any further probing into her affairs.

Fei Yi, exhausted, slumped over her desk.

Despite the tiredness, it had to be said, she was having a great time during this period.

She had borrowed many useful weapons and tools from Principal Lilith, and was free to use the castle's teleportation circles.

With the ability to shorten her travel time, Fei Yi had more time to locate the dungeons from her memory.

In the "Divine Demon Continent" game, the locations of some simple dungeons were easy to find.

Fei Yi started with these low-level dungeons, one by one confirming the whereabouts and status of the bosses within, and then devising plans to deal with them.

She could directly eliminate some of the weaker juvenile bosses, though they usually didn't possess shards of the Wheel of Fate.

For the stronger ones, she would use various tools and potions to defeat them.

By the end of the second academic year, Fei Yi had killed 11 juvenile bosses and recovered 3 shards of the Wheel of Fate, raising the world line correction rate to 41%.

Meanwhile, the results of her after-school tutoring were equally gratifying.

Fei Yi officially broke through the major milestone of level 45, leaving only 15 levels to go to progress from an intermediate to a senior witch.

Normally, ordinary students at the Witch Academy wouldn't surpass level 60 and become new senior witches until after graduating from the four-year program.

Additionally, thanks to Marian's tireless expansion and the increasing number of souls bound to Fei Yi, her actual magical power even slightly exceeded the level 50 mark, not accounting for the doubling effect of the modifier.

If her power were to be multiplied by the current correction rate of 410%, she would be powerful enough to contend with beings between levels 60 and 65.

Fei Yi once sneakily used the Wheel of Fate modifier to check the instructors' specific levels and noticed that each of them was no lower than level 75.

The highest was Principal Lilith at level 93, followed by Instructor Berlona at 91.

From this, it could be inferred that the missing Clinfoord wouldn't be lower than level 85, and the mysterious tattooed man, who has never appeared and hasn't been found, would definitely not be below level 90.

This doesn't rule out the possibility of other powerful entities within the Black Moon.

Fei Yi glanced at her own level and sighed, realizing the long and arduous path ahead.

The question was, where could these two be hiding?

Clinfoord's disappearance after scheming against her was expected, but what about the tattooed man?

To date, Fei Yi didn’t even know his name, and since he left Ninnehui Town, there had been no news of him.

Instructor Anqi, in charge of investigating the Black Moon Bar, also had no new developments; the bar seemed too normal, both in its overt business and its hidden connections with other gray market chains, with nothing amiss.

There were no signs linking them to Ferman the First, nor any clues indicating a connection with monsters across the regions.

The less they had to go on, the more covert their actions had to be.

Fortunately, there were some breakthroughs elsewhere.

Instructor Berlona intercepted four human trafficking operations targeting 12-year-old girls, three of which involved habitual traffickers, easily crushed by the instructor with a wave of her hand.

On one occasion, Berlona arrived to see the face of the buyer, who was not the silver-framed glasses-wearing tattooed man, but a man with a full beard.

Unsurprisingly, a fight broke out between Instructor Berlona and the bearded man.

Oddly, the man wasn’t particularly strong, but his build was unusual.

“He seemed like he had just learned magic, using it awkwardly, yet his spells were fluent. He also wielded a small wand that was mismatched for his size – with his stature, he should be wielding a greatsword, right?”

Berlona recounted the incident with frustration at a meeting.

“I didn't intend to kill him initially; I wanted to capture him and hand him over to Gaia for research. But he was so weak that my familiar killed him on the third strike. What's weirder, I couldn’t find his soul.”

Normally, upon a human's death, the soul would bubble out of the body like a vapor.

Souls can be captured using special methods, either to extract desired information or to create undead.

Without these steps, the soul bubbles would merge back into the earth, vanishing completely.

"But that bearded man's body was empty," Berlona said. "And not long after, his corpse began to dissolve internally, turning into a disgusting pool of blood."

"Melting Descent Curse," Lilith deduced, "a favorite dark magic of black archmages, often used on their controlled puppets and a method of controlling followers in many secret gatherings."

Fei Yi thought to herself, ...This is something Marian must not hear.

Sallira: "So, this bearded gentleman is likely the person we're looking for?"

Bearded man... Fei Yi blinked, recalling a bearded man she once knew, a kind soul who had fortunately started a new life, perhaps now owning a small house and a safer job than mining.

Berlona: "Of course! Who else would be so idle to create such bizarre beings for trafficking girls? Especially when our academy is struggling to fill its student quotas—"

"That's enough, Berlona," the Principal interrupted. "We roughly understand the situation now. You’ve proven those people are still active. Maybe you can try to find the families of the targeted girls to see if they left any clues."

"Alright, Principal," Berlona responded.

"Next?" Lilith asked, "Sallira?"

"I haven’t found Clinfoord yet, but I’ve tracked the artificial demon god Pemoris that Fei Yi mentioned," Sallira projected a map in mid-air with her magic. "It appeared in the direction of the Northern Ice Fields, seemingly searching for something there. Notably, it appears to have a strong learning ability; it learned to hide its traces shortly after arriving."

"It’s hard to imagine such a creature being man-made without prior knowledge. I’m curious about the methods they used."

"Keep watching," Lilith mused, "We haven't found the key information about Black Moon yet; it’s not time to resolve it. Now, Jacqueline?"

"Continuing to monitor," Lilith said thoughtfully, "We haven't located critical information on Black Moon yet; it's not yet time to deal with it. So, what about you, Jacqueline?"

Instructor Jacqueline had always been a woman of few words, speaking only when the topic concerned artifacts; otherwise, she would remain silent throughout entire meetings.

Many often overlooked her because of this.

However, now called upon by the Principal, Jacqueline slowly shared the updates from her end.

"I have gleaned some clues from that skull. With a bit more time, I might be able to trace the creator's location through backlash."

"That item is very dangerous," Lilith cautioned again, "Jacqueline, you must ensure your safety while researching."

Jacqueline: "Understood, I will be careful."

Indeed, the cursed object was perilous.

Watching her colleagues continue the meeting, this witch, revered as a master of artifacts, contemplated silently.

She had never encountered an artifact so dangerous yet… beautiful.

Jacqueline glanced at the only girl speaking, the one who had brought Poli to her –

Fei Yi Luo, who had grown tremendously recently, both in magic and experience. A second-year student with strength rivaling graduates, the academy had never admitted a child with such prodigious talent.

No wonder Poli had told her about the child's ability to enter the Sea of Illusions.

She was tempted to send her into it again, to retrieve the remaining parts of Poli.

But now was not the time.

The girl was too perceptive; she had to prepare thoroughly.

Or perhaps… she could seek someone else's help?

After the meeting concluded, all the witches stood up, preparing to leave.

Berlona, looking irritated, was conversing with Sallira about something; both vanished in a puff of black smoke.

Anqi and a few others were called over by the Principal.

Gaia pulled Fei Yi aside, seemingly close, and teleported out with her.

Everyone found their own departure companions, leaving in pairs or small groups, looking intimate and lively.

Jacqueline glanced around, but still, no one called out to her.

It seemed irrelevant whether her task of researching artifacts bore fruit or not, as the other instructors' missions appeared more crucial to the overall scheme.

She had been invited to join the academy as an instructor only later, and only because the previous artifacts instructor had passed away. When she arrived, the other instructors already had their cliques.

No one excluded her, but it seemed no one was eager to invite her in either.

Jacqueline stood up and left quietly, waving her arm.

A lonely wisp of smoke appeared where she stood, quickly dissipating amidst the bustling atmosphere of the Principal's office.

Jacqueline returned to her dormitory.

To prevent bold and audacious students from sneaking in, each instructor’s dormitory had its own set of wards.

Prohibiting any entity other than themselves from entering.

Inside, the curtains were tightly drawn, and the dim environment allowed Jacqueline to relax significantly.

She opened the hidden space she had set up, revealing the enormous workbench inside.

A variety of weapons and artifact components were neatly arranged across the extensive tabletop, each small tool meticulously organized.

Placed in the most prominent position was the familiar human head.

“You’re back, Jacqueline,” its eyes opened, black moons sparkling in the sockets.

Poli's head smiled gently, as obedient as a cat waiting for its owner.

Jacqueline sighed in relief, rushing to the workbench, her lips curving into the day's first smile.

“Sorry to keep you waiting, Poli.”

No one knew that Poli's head had its own consciousness, not even Jacqueline initially.

At first, she regarded Poli merely as a somewhat dangerous cursed artifact. She had cast anti-curse magic circles and set up chaotic spells to prevent the curse from targeting, only then starting her research.

As instructed by the Principal, she was to gather as many clues as possible about the one who had cast the spell on this head.

As many as possible, meaning it didn’t matter if she found none.

Jacqueline was used to this; compared to the other instructors, her abilities weren't strong, and she never had the chance to be on the front lines.

The tasks she received were always inconsequential; doing well was fine, and failure mattered little. Nobody expected or cared much about her work.

It was the same with the students.

They were extremely well-behaved in Berlona’s classes, rushing to ask questions after class, eager to curry favor.

Sharp was always smiling, excellent at being a life mentor to the young witches, making her a favorite among many students.

Sallira was another story; elegant like a black swan, she naturally attracted the younger children.

As for Gaia... well, she thoroughly enjoyed her solitude. Yet, even so, the students still liked her aloofness and distance. There were even rumors of students bringing her homemade cakes.

Then there was herself.

The students detested the dry knowledge of assembling artifacts, the complex calculations, and rigid integration principles, which often left them drowsy.

They preferred overwhelming magical power over external aids.

So, during her classes, they dozed off or chatted; after class, no one ever knocked on the door of her office.

Day in, day out, Jacqueline taught alone, finished classes alone, and besides dealing with the artifacts on her workbench, there was little to make her happy.

She began her somber research on Poli's head.

The head of the young girl, appearing as if asleep, would quickly heal regardless of what was done to it.

The first time she peeled back the scalp and saw the densely packed, bizarre patterns underneath.

Jacqueline was astounded.

Every magical artifact has its magical circles; these condensed circles form the foundation of the artifact.

Some clutter their creations with haphazard magical circles, while others... create them as beautifully as this.

Yes, beautiful and astonishing.

Whether it was the intricate and tight patterns of the magical circles or the strange symbols interwoven within them.

Jacqueline's heart raced uncontrollably at the sight, leaving her speechless for a long time.

The Principal had mentioned that the script was from the legendary "Festival," believed to be the language of the gods.

For the first time, Jacqueline felt an unusual attachment to an artifact.

She yearned to claim the head as her own.

However, at that moment, her reason still prevailed.

Night and day, she studied the magical circles on it, every inch of Poli's skin. Even the mass of soft, curly hair was repeatedly examined by her hands.

Finally, she seemed to have made a small discovery.

Considering the importance of the head, Jacqueline immediately went to seek Principal Lilith.

She harbored a hopeful expectation, anticipating praise from the Principal and an opportunity to converse more.

Perhaps during this time, other witches would notice her, appreciate her character, and seek her out for discussions.

Fortunately, Lilith was in her office, drinking tea.

Jacqueline knocked and entered, excitedly starting, "Principal Lilith, about that cursed artifact..."

"Lilith!"

Before Jacqueline could finish, another voice suddenly erupted.

Turning her head, she saw Berlona, who had teleported in.

The fiery witch didn't even notice Jacqueline; she grabbed the Principal's wrist, "You must come quickly, it’s very important!"

“Uh…” Lilith hesitated for a moment before she was whisked away by the hurried Berlona through teleportation.

The large books that usually surrounded Lilith, noticing her departure, began to shuffle and clumsily hoist themselves back into the bookshelves.

The carpet was left empty, as was the Principal's office.

Jacqueline lowered her eyes, the shadow cast by the tall bookshelf engulfing her like an ocean.

Returning to her dormitory, she opened the door, closed it, and shut out all sounds from the outside.

The instructor of black magic artifacts leaned against the wall, gradually sliding to the floor.

Suddenly—

“Jacqueline, are you unhappy?”

The head placed at the center of the table opened its pitch-black eyes.

Jacqueline was startled, her first instinct being to contact the Principal.

She had dissected and reassembled the head daily, and it had never shown any response.

However, Poli’s next words made Jacqueline freeze.

“Jacqueline, can you talk with me for a bit? Just a few words. It’s been so long since I’ve spoken with anyone. Afterwards, you can send me wherever you want.”

The pitch-black pupils stared unblinkingly at her, the moons within them slowly revolving.

The dormitory was engulfed in silence, and it was a long while before Jacqueline slowly stood up.

“What would you like to talk about?”

*

Busy days always fly by quickly, and amidst Fei Yi's intense bustling about, a new batch of students quietly enrolled.

Due to the "Black Moon Incident" instigated by Fei Yi, the instructors were swamped, causing this year's recruitment to be delayed.

But it was no issue; their vacation would be correspondingly shortened or even canceled, ensuring ample time.

Sallira once again took up the role of recruitment instructor, responsible for distributing admission notices to each child born with magical powers.

However, she was so preoccupied this year that she had to ask Fei Yi to help transcribe the notices.

The ink for the notices was made from crushed black trees from the abyss, resistant to water spills and not dissolving in oil.

The paper used for the notices was a special kind of magical artifact that would never leave the first person who touched it.

Even if thrown away, burned, or torn, it would reappear beside the intended recipient overnight.

Each year's notices were crafted by Instructor Jacqueline, and Fei Yi’s first task was to retrieve the paper from Jacqueline's office.

“Hello, Instructor Jacqueline,” she knocked on the office door.

For some reason, it took a while before rustling sounds came from inside.

Jacqueline opened the door and pointed to a stack of stiff paper floating next to a blue desk, “Do you see that stack of rigid paper over there? Those are them.”

“Okay, thank you,” Fei Yi entered.

Each instructor’s office was the same size, but they typically used spatial enchantments to expand them substantially.

Instructor Gaia's office was filled with a variety of abyssal plants, along with familiars fluttering about watering them, resembling a small greenhouse garden.

Jacqueline’s, on the other hand, looked like a vast workshop one might stumble upon.

Just the desks alone numbered eight, differentiated by various colors. They adjusted their positions according to usage.

The floor was nearly covered with all sorts of magical artifacts, disassembled by Jacqueline like dissected bodies, each shrouded in different magical barriers for identification.

Fei Yi had to carefully navigate through the narrow spaces, her movement as challenging as traversing mountains.

The instructor was engrossed in her work, not once lifting her head to look at her.

Finally reaching the blue desk, Fei Yi stuffed the rigid paper into her spatial bracelet and began to make her way back.

But on her way out, she suddenly caught a familiar scent.

It was the smell of the tide.

She sharply looked up, but the scent vanished as quickly as it appeared, almost as if it were an illusion.

“What’s wrong?” Jacqueline looked up at her.

“Nothing,” Fei Yi apologized, “I was just distracted.”

Pretending to find her way, she swiftly scanned every inch of the office, but found nothing unusual.

The scent did not reappear.

Was it an illusion? Was she under too much pressure lately?

Fei Yi decided to finish the tasks at hand before anything else and thus bid farewell and left.

After the door gently closed, a low voice suddenly echoed in the office.

"Jacqueline, I think she noticed me just now."

Polly's head slowly emerged from an empty desk, worry filling her black eyes.

"The girl is too perceptive, I couldn’t help it..."

"It's not your fault," Jacqueline dropped what she was doing, crossed over in a few strides, and gently combed through Polly's fluffy curls.

"It's not your fault. Next time I'll be more careful and ensure no one detects your presence."

"I didn't mean to, Jacqueline. I just couldn't resist talking to you," Polly said with her large eyes, "Will I cause you trouble?"

"Of course not, Polly. You will never be trouble to me."

Jacqueline's tone became anxious, her eyes reflecting the girl's face.

Moonlight flowed, casting its cool glow into their pupils.

*

Fei Yi infused magic into her feather pen and began writing admission notices with black tree ink.

After completion, Instructor Salira would personally deliver these notices to the recipients.

Children who accepted would enroll within three days, while those who didn't truly believe would think they had experienced a vivid dream.

However, this year's batch of freshmen was larger than usual.

This was a good sign, at least there were no worries about a decline in population, and the instructors' faces showed marked improvement in spirits.

The academy itself became livelier.

After busying with these tasks, time passed and the second academic year was nearing its end.

Two major events marked the finale: one was the final exams, but this year, the rule of "failing leads to being burned" was abolished, so most students were relatively relaxed.

The other event was the coming-of-age ceremony for third-year seniors.

In this otherworld, twelve years old is considered the age of adulthood. This year signifies the transition from being a 'child' to a recognized 'adult'.

This is normal in this world, where general education levels are low, and only selected children qualify to enter the academy for education.

The rest start helping with household chores as soon as they can walk, with tasks like feeding cattle and horses considered relatively easy.

Families couldn’t afford to support them for long, so by age twelve, they needed to start fending for themselves.

Additionally, due to magical influences, the world's crops and animals possess unique energies. Regular consumption not only accelerates growth but also extends lifespan, making the children here generally more mature than those on Blue Star.

The coming-of-age ceremony is attended by all students, held in a grand hall that hasn't been used in a long time.

On that day, the hall was filled with white saprophytic flowers, and leaping black flames wrapped around the shoulders of each student like cloaks.

With each step they took, the flames dropped in black and red sparks, creating a dazzling and unique spectacle.

The new students were awestruck, and of course, so were Fei Yi and her peers.

“Why didn’t we participate in something like this?” Hill grumbled discontentedly.

“It seems that Senior Mei and many others strongly objected to the freshmen watching,” Fei Yi explained. “They were shy.”

Hill didn’t respond but sneakily glanced at her roommate, her breathing quickening.

Next academic year, she would be able to join the ceremony alongside Luo.

The prospect of reaching adulthood with a friend was thrilling! Wait, what should she prepare for it?

The castle’s kitchen had added many new dishes, and even the drinks came in eight different flavors.

Soon, the seniors lined up to be crowned with the witch's hat gifted by the academy, presented by the instructors.

— A small black pointed hat with basic defensive capabilities, including a one-time automatic teleportation ability in case of fatal danger.

It was a potent lifesaving artifact.

Then, they were given a task sheet detailing their only final assignment. If completed successfully, they would advance to the fourth year.

If not completed, they would have to keep working on it until it was done.

Curious, Fei Yi borrowed a task sheet from a senior and saw that it only had one line of small text: [Go to the mudflats near the Sea of Illusions and find a special examiner].

Wait, the mudflats near the Sea of Illusions, wasn’t that place home to only one solitary, old demon?

So the third year's final exam was... a class change?

Only then did Fei Yi realize that in this timeline, class change wasn't referred to as such.

The demon sets the exam, and witches who complete it receive a demon's tooth. These contain rich magical power, aiding weaker witches in rapidly enhancing their abilities, helping them progress further.

So that was how it worked…

It seemed that demons had a significant affinity for their race.

At this time, the concept of levels didn't exist, so the instructors set the date at the end of the third year.

However, as Senior Mei explained, there were those who couldn't pass the demon's test.

These individuals would automatically drop out, move out of the academy, and plan their future independently.

“The academy doesn’t provide job placements?” Fei Yi was astonished.

“Placements? What’s that?” Senior Mei asked, taking a bite of her cream cake, puzzled.

Fei Yi waved her hand dismissively, “It’s like… arranging jobs, that's how we talk back home. I thought the academy would manage the students' career paths!”

“Of course not, the castle doesn’t have that much space,” Nana, another senior, handed Mei a clean napkin and casually replied, “Only students with exceptional abilities and coinciding vacancies get the chance to stay with the instructors.”

“But some students don’t want to stay at the academy anyway,” the seniors shared a knowing smile. “The world outside is so vast, we all want to explore it! Who would want to stay cooped up in the castle living such a boring life.”

Fei Yi thought: ...As expected, students are the same in every world. Escaping school is always the first step after graduation.

But this way, Mr. Demon will be busier and perhaps won't feel so lonely and isolated.

However, that night, after Hill went to the bathroom, someone knocked on their dormitory window.

A grumbling man with a thick tail swung in, to Fei Yi’s shock, leaping right through.

“Put that tail away!” Fei Yi rushed over, “Don’t sweep my bed!”

She hurled a silencing spell at the demon, firmly trapping its voice within the magic circle.

“Fine, fine,” Beelzebub transformed into his full human form, pacing angrily around the room.

“Look at the students this year! I asked for fish from the Hot Tide Lake, and what do they bring? Fish from a stinking lake! The entire mudflat was reeking! It took me ages to clean it up!”

Fei Yi suggested, “...Next time, why not hang a map of the Hot Tide Lake in the mudflat?”

Beelzebub grew even angrier, “What kind of exam would that be? Someone even came to me with a map of the abyss, asking how to navigate the Rift Valley or how to kill the Scythe Ant King!”

“The seniors were just flustered meeting you for the first time,” Fei Yi sat down beside him. “They are serious and hardworking, they just need a bit of time to adjust. How about trying the new fried double-sided fish at Razama Town? I heard it’s delicious, with queues from morning till moonrise.”

Beelzebub swallowed his retort, unable to resist the mention of a new dish, his tail involuntarily flicking out.

“New dish? What are we waiting for?”

The demon leaped up, instinctively reaching out and grabbing Fei Yi’s wrist, pulling her close, “Come on, I’ll take you there.”

Bathed in the abyssal moonlight, his human face took on a somewhat wicked appearance. In his narrow eyes, Fei Yi saw her own reflection.

The next moment, they appeared in Razama Town, across the street from Fei Yi’s follower Fieyr’s chain restaurant, bustling with dinner time crowds.

As Beelzebub walked by, his carefully sculpted human face drew numerous quiet gasps of admiration.

The demon looked smug, like a peacock spreading its feathers.

“Fei Yi, don’t you think my human form looks quite handsome?” He leaned in close, bending down beside the girl, whispering.

Fei Yi was busy greeting the familiar restaurant manager, asking him to pack two portions of fried double-sided fish, a basket of onion-flavored bread rings, and several cups of honey-sweet milk.

Considering the demon’s enormous appetite, she added a few plates of roasted double-headed beef and wine-flavored lamb chops.

The demon's voracious appetite was evident, but the feast they were about to have seemed well worth it.

Without even looking up, she nonchalantly replied, “Yes, yes, very handsome.”

The demon’s mood brightened considerably, his earlier irritation vanishing completely.

He stopped the departing manager and switched the order from honey-sweet milk to frothy fruit wine.

“Actually, bring two cups of sweet milk too, since Fei Yi isn’t an adult yet.”

The restaurant was crowded, but Fei Yi didn’t want to compete for a spot, so they found an unoccupied area for an impromptu picnic.

The spot, chosen by the demon, was beside a beautiful, cold lake.

With winter nearing its end, the ice on the lake had already melted.

Beelzebub snapped his fingers, and flames from hell instantly ignited on the ground.

The cold, stiff earth became dry and warm, prompting Fei Yi to spread out the picnic mat.

Beelzebub came over to help set the plates and cast a warming spell for the girl.

They sat under the moon, enjoying their dinner.

“I must say, this restaurant really does have good food,” Beelzebub relished each bite, his eyes squinting with pleasure.

He had lived too long, immune to scenic beauty, but his enthusiasm for delicious food remained undiminished.

Seeing the mood was right, Fei Yi took a sip of her sweet milk and suddenly asked, “Do you remember Poli from the other day?”

Beelzebub bit off a fish head, “The girl who slipped into the Sea of Illusions right under my nose?”

“Yes, you helped me find her head, which turned out to be a cursed object,” Fei Yi spoke while holding her sweet milk. “She tried to control me, to replace my mind.”

The demon paused his eating.

For a moment, unseen by Fei Yi, his human eyes turned into fierce vertical pupils.

“But later, the head was captured by Principal Lilith and given to Instructor Jacqueline for research.”

“Lilith?” Beelzebub recalled, “She’s reliable. If she caught it, you’re safe.”

Logically that was true, but that day in Instructor Jacqueline’s office, Fei Yi couldn’t convince herself that the scent she briefly detected was just an illusion.

She later sneaked back to the office, intending to transform into an insect to investigate, but was stopped at the door by a barrier and a shielding spell.

She wanted to use the Wheel of Fate to view Jacqueline's past, but it showed her not the past she wanted to see, but rather the time when Jacqueline had just become an instructor.

Jacqueline was shy and a bit timid, preferring to lock herself in her dormitory to research artifacts. Some instructors had thought about inviting her to relax together, but always heard the sounds of busyness inside and gave up.

As an observer, Fei Yi didn’t quite understand what the Wheel of Fate was trying to convey. She could only watch, not experience.

So when she happened to meet the demon, she decided to ask more about Poli.

“It's nothing,” Beelzebub said lazily after a few cups of fruit wine, “She probably used some potion to hide her scent, because I would have immediately detected magic. She knew me well, which is not something a just-matured girl could do. And Fei Yi, she didn’t look back or hesitate when she entered; she wasn’t stiff at all.”

Fei Yi paused, instantly understanding Beelzebub’s meaning.

Poli had acted voluntarily, not controlled or manipulated by magic. She had entered with a firm resolve.

If, as Instructor Berlona investigated, the brash and arrogant Poli had come to the Sea of Illusions for an adventure, then such a scene would never have occurred.

At least, the first-time arriving young Poli would have hesitated and surveyed her surroundings.

But she didn't.

She showed no curiosity and didn’t want to waste time, so... did Poli volunteer?

The question arises: Erbil City Mercenary Association's leader, Clinfoord, sacrificed his own granddaughter, a girl who had just come of age, knowing death awaited yet still undeterred.

Did they go to all this trouble, even using Blue Star’s language for the curse, just to randomly pick a witch student for a potentially unsuccessful manipulation?

It seemed like overkill.

Clinfoord wasn’t that foolish, and neither were the others in Black Moon.

They spent such a huge price, using a living person as a sacrifice to create such a powerful cursed artifact. Didn’t they consider that if the control failed, the head might end up in the hands of the instructors for research and decryption?

Wait... hold on!

Fei Yi suddenly stood up with a start!

A possibility dawned on her, sending shivers down her spine.

Was Clinfoord’s ultimate goal… precisely this?

If the control had succeeded, it would have allowed slow infiltration into the academy.

And if the control failed, unable to destroy the head, what would a student most likely do?

No, not most likely, but certainly would seek out an instructor!

If it were just an ordinary cursed object, the instructors might have used various methods to destroy it.

But what if it were a cursed object inscribed with text transcending this world? How would the instructors react?

They would study it, seriously and meticulously!

That was Clinfoord's ultimate goal! Black Moon didn’t want some useless student; they wanted an instructor from the Witch Academy, a high-level witch!

— Instructor Jacqueline!

*

The same night, at the Witch Academy.

Sharp had just come out of the bathroom and was directing her dolls to lay a new soft bedsheet when someone knocked on her room door.

“It’s me, are you asleep?”

“Of course not, just give me a moment,” Sharp waved her hand, and a dark grey shawl automatically flew from the hanger to her shoulders.

Once wrapped, the Familiar Summoning instructor opened the door.

Outside, the dim moonlight fell on the visitor’s face, casting peculiar shadows.

“Jacqueline?” Sharp smiled, “What brings you here so late?”