“Huh…”
Nicasia let out a deep sigh, wiping away the sweat that had trickled down from her forehead.
“Murmur ultimately didn’t show up, huh.”
The sky was gradually turning into a sunset.
Nicasia’s test, which had been under the heavy expectations of adults, naturally scored a perfect 100 points.
“Respected Princess Nicasia.”
At the voice of Professor Malea calling from behind, Nicasia quickly flashed a smile.
“Yes, Professor Malea. Is there something you need?”
“Have you received any contact from student Murmur by any chance?”
Nicasia coughed once.
“If I had heard from her, it would truly be wonderful.”
The late-arriving Pearl and Balkan had explained what ridiculous things Murmur might be doing right now.
But that was all. There were no updates on what Murmur was currently doing or accomplishing in real-time.
“I’m sorry. I haven’t heard anything special either.”
“I see. In that case…”
Professor Malea made a troubled expression while flicking the stack of papers in her hand.
“Student Murmur will not be participating in today’s exam then.”
Nicasia briefly looked at the sky and observed the training grounds where a few students were still running or practicing combat.
If Murmur appeared now, she could still take the exam, but there was no sign of her arriving.
“The exam must be fair.”
“I understand her intention to rescue Torlin, but…”
Professor Malea gave a wry smile.
“It’s regrettable that Murmur’s efforts have come to nothing.”
“Not quite, Professor Malea.”
Nicasia clenched her fists tightly.
“To put it bluntly, Murmur’s efforts did indeed come to nothing. But Murmur simply has something she wants to do more than taking this exam.”
“… To save a friend, perhaps?”
“Yes, that’s Murmur for you. If she can save her friend, she’ll accomplish anything.”
Nicasia smiled.
“I think what matters most for a hero isn’t the exam score but their mindset.”
“That’s true. Well said.”
Professor Malea gave a bitter smile.
“Student Murmur seems to already possess the mindset of a hero, unlike us who hesitate with various excuses to save Torlin.”
Nicasia did not criticize Professor Malea, who was struggling.
As the princess of the empire, she understood better than anyone how the world of adults operated.
“In that case, wouldn’t it be good if you, Professor, helped Murmur and Torlin in a way only an adult can?”
“Princess Nicasia?”
“Senior Garitosa… hasn’t been pleasing since last year. You don’t find her appealing either, do you, Professor?”
Nicasia decided to help Murmur in a way only she could.
*
“Ugh! Senior Garitosa really has strange tastes!”
Having cleanly solved the puzzle in the third-floor corridor, we ascended to the fourth floor without much trouble.
We had a minor skirmish with an automaton along the way, but with two excellent mages in our group, they weren’t enough to stop us.
“The atmosphere is giving me chills, it’s so dark and gloomy.”
“If they genuinely wanted to replicate the Demon King’s Castle vibe, I’d give them bonus points.”
Monica and Citrine stood behind me and Murmur, looking tense.
Garitosa’s traps ended at the third floor.
Knowing this, we could have just walked forward confidently, but we proceeded cautiously anyway.
You never know how reality might change until you face it.
— Creak! Creak!
After taking just a few steps, the suits of armor standing on either side of the corridor suddenly moved.
They raised their massive greatswords high and moved to block our path.
“Murmur, I’m about to cast ice magic! Once they’re frozen solid, Esme, blow them away!”
Since this scene unfolded exactly like the game, I, Murmur, quickly conjured a giant mass of water with my right hand and emitted chilling coldness with my left.
“I shall assist Master Murmur!”
With Citrine casting ice magic as well, the automata soaked in water froze instantly like solid blocks of ice.
“Tch!”
Esme promptly summoned a powerful gust of wind, smashing the frozen automata against the walls.
In the game, these guys were immune to physical attacks, which was annoying, but knowing the strategy saved us from unnecessary hardship.
Anyway, the important part comes next…
— Click, click!
As soon as we defeated the automatons just like in the game, the sound of heels echoed through the corridor.
“You little brats from Elementary Unit… how dare you crawl this far.”
Along with the voice, “Garitosa de Monte Negro” appeared at the end of the corridor.
Holding a shiny cane in her right hand, the aura she exuded was unpleasant enough to make one’s skin crawl.
“You were in Elementary Unit just last year, yet here you are speaking such words.”
“Shut up! I’m a Middle Unit student now! We’re not on the same level anymore!”
Garitosa snapped irritably.
“To begin with… I can’t comprehend it. It’s utterly absurd and incomprehensible!”
She continued, tapping her cane on the ground.
“Murmur! Since you’re filthy demonkind anyway, it makes sense that you’d cause chaos trying to save some dwarf. After all, your kind are inherently stupid.”
I, Murmur, didn’t feel it was worth responding and took a few steps toward Garitosa.
“But why are you here, Saint Monica? Why would you bother saving some dwarf?”
“I’m here to save my friend.”
“Friend? No way. There’s no way you could be friends with that dirty, smelly creature who does nothing but work in the forge and knows nothing else!”
Monica shook her head.
“No, Torlin is a precious friend! He often tells me fascinating stories about sparkling gems and sturdy minerals.”
“Hmph… I can’t understand it… I simply cannot understand it.”
Garitosa pointed her cane at Esme.
“You! Esme! Why are you doing such nonsense!”
“Because Torlin and Murmur are my friends.”
“Nonsense! Colette—”
“Aunt is aunt, and I am me!”
Esme shouted loudly.
“Just because Aunt dislikes Murmur doesn’t mean I have to! And besides, Torlin helped me with my homework last time!”
“How dare you use such trivial reasons?!
Citrine gasped, but Esme laughed.
“I also helped him with magic lessons! Don’t you know, Senior Garitosa? Are you failing history class?”
“What…? How dare a fifth-year Elementary student—”
Garitosa spat lightning from the tip of her cane in frustration.
Esme effortlessly blocked the attack with a protective barrier.
“There are races other than humans in the alliance! Dwarves have contributed greatly in fighting the terrifying and evil Demon King’s army! Same thing!”
“How dare you bring up homework…!”
“Isn’t it better to start with small things?”
Since she couldn’t refute it, Garitosa trembled with an even more unpleasant expression.
“You… you have no idea what important task I’m doing right now.”
I, Murmur, was curious about this too.
Why did Garitosa kidnap Torlin?
In the official story, it was the Elf senior who got kidnapped.
She was a fool who screamed that she couldn’t accept an elf becoming the Student Council President.
“I’m doing something very important. Something crucial to protect us humans!”
Of course, she wasn’t going to explain further.
Garitosa began channeling mana strongly into her cane with her right hand.
But since the boss strategy for this idiotic racist senior was quite simple, I wasn’t even nervous.
Automatons pouring in from all sides might intimidate someone facing them for the first time, but when analyzed calmly, she was actually a pretty easy boss.
Moreover, unlike the official story, she hadn’t brought students as bodyguards.
“So, everyone, scram! I’m busy!”
Garitosa pulled out a mask from her bosom and covered her face with a line familiar dialogue.
It was a mask adorned with plenty of feathers, fitting for a masquerade ball.
“Esme! Monica! Cover your mouths—”
— BOOM!
My warning came too late; Garitosa’s cane struck the floor faster.
In an instant, the fourth-floor corridor filled with pink smoke.
“Mur, Mur… Urgh.”
“Oh dear… oh my…”
Monica and Esme swayed heavily before collapsing onto the floor.
This pattern shouldn’t exist!
To begin with, there’s no way Garitosa’s inferior mind could cast such a specialized sleep spell!
A sleep spell that only affects humans is extremely difficult!
“Hmph… tsk… That woman taught me the spell correctly… and Murmur is the only one left, right?”
Garitosa muttered under her breath while holding her cane with both hands and raising it high.
— BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
“Master Murmur… Did you foresee this too?”
Citrine gasped, pointing at the automatons that appeared on either side of Garitosa.
They were completely different from the automatons we had faced so far.
Huge glowing magic stones were embedded in their backs, and they had smooth human-like skin just like Maghauscia.
The one on the right held a long sword, and the one on the left wielded a large bow.
They’re armed exactly like the students guarding Garitosa in the official story!
“Hmph… fine. I was planning to torture only Murmur, but this works out well. Citrine, you claim to like Murmur, right?”
Garitosa grinned wickedly while gripping her cane with both hands and giggled maliciously.
“I’ll show you how dirty and weak Murmur, the demon, truly is! You should look forward to it, hehehehe!”
Citrine swallowed hard and looked at me, Murmur.
Though our party has been halved and our enemies have power-leveled, it’s alright.
“Trust Murmur, Citrine.”
I, Murmur, calmly called forth spirits with both hands while speaking.
“Senior Garitosa is an idiot after all!!”
