Chapter 371: Dark Demon’s Easter Egg (4k)
Although the initial idea of “ID cards” was to lure out the “Invisibility Person,” neither Professor Kazel nor Professor Shylph were particularly concerned about the presence of the “Invisibility Person.”
Especially after solving the major threat of the vampire Vlad, the “Invisibility Person” became even less significant. After all, similar “dark elements” were not uncommon in St. Maryann Academy, and as long as they did not cause too much disruption, the professors generally ignored them.
Now that they were planning such a grand setup, doing so merely for a few “Invisibility Persons” would seem wasteful. Thus, Professor Kazel and Professor Shylph decided to formalize the Easter Duel Festival!
Coincidentally, they had been lacking some events that could boost morale recently…
After communicating with the principal, both agreed, and the matter was settled.
Next up…
Post advertisements, publish in newspapers, sell tickets, prepare Easter eggs…
Everything would be done in line with a formal competition.
In short, they must brand the St. Maryann Duel Festival!
If done well, perhaps they could host this festival every Easter from now on.
…
“Hold on, preparing Easter eggs?”
Dark caught the key element and interrupted Professor Kazel’s explanation.
Professor Kazel smiled mysteriously, “Do you know about Easter eggs?”
Dark replied, “Of course.”
Professor Kazel twirled his wand like a pen and said, “Since it’s the Easter Duel Festival, we should have some festival-themed souvenirs… So…”
Dark hurriedly interrupted, “Wait, I meant, have you considered selling Easter eggs?”
Professor Kazel was slightly puzzled, “Easter eggs are definitely sold. Our academy has substantial expenses, so we need to find ways to maintain revenue.”
Dark asked curiously, “How do you sell them?”
“Isn’t it obvious?” Professor Kazel spread his hands, “One egg costs 160 sacred coins, equivalent to 10 credits.”
Dark shook his head, “Why not 188? It’s only 28 sacred coins more, which could bring good luck. And if we treat Easter eggs just as souvenirs, even if 10,000 people each buy one, it would only be 1.88 million sacred coins. That wouldn’t make any money.”
“How so?”
Professor Kazel suddenly became interested.
But Professor Shylph interjected, “Easter eggs are just souvenirs; the main income comes from tickets. The average ticket price is around 1,000 sacred coins.”
“Each branch can provide tens of millions of sacred coins in ticket revenue, even after deducting costs and fees.”
Dark glanced at her and shook his head again, “Ticket sales and lottery sales don’t conflict. We just need to include a few limited-edition prizes in the Easter eggs for sale. This would easily double the sales. Of course, those prizes need to be very attractive.”
“Or, we could create a series. Make popular Mana Golems into models and put them inside the eggs. The more popular the Mana Golem, the fewer the numbers, creating rarity… If someone wants a specific model, they’d have to buy far more than necessary.”
“There are many similar methods. Anyway…”
At this point, Dark suddenly stopped.
Because he realized that his method might not be very useful for the academy.
After all, the academy didn’t lack funds…
But Professor Shylph, who had interrupted earlier, showed great interest, “Don’t stop, keep going.”
Dark couldn’t help but smile and poured himself a cup of black tea, continuing, “We can add some movable models like Mana Chess pieces in the eggs. Naturally, these models should be rarer. Most importantly, promote it well so consumers know what they can get from the eggs.”
“After this Easter, we can sell eggs year-round without the Easter theme. Believe me, there’s a huge opportunity here.”
“Are you utilizing consumers’ gambling mentality?” Professor Shylph pondered.
Professor Kazel added, “By creating rarity, we give limited models extra value. Then, even people who don’t like models will buy eggs hoping to get high-value models…”
Professor Shylph blurted out, “This is way more reliable than spinach.”
Dark: “??”
“Cough.” Professor Shylph quickly said, “Your method indeed has great feasibility. But we need proof. This Easter Duel Festival can serve as a trial.”
Dark was surprised, “It’s decided already?”
Professor Shylph casually said, “People’s desire to buy Easter eggs is evident every Easter. It’s just that no one thought of such details before. I think it’s feasible. What about you, Kazel?”
Professor Kazel nodded vigorously, “Very feasible!”
“Good.” Professor Shylph said, “I think Duke Altair will also support your proposal. If your proposal truly brings in revenue for the academy, you’ll receive due rewards.”
…
Seeing the two professors about to discuss Easter eggs, Dark hurriedly said, “Professor, why did you call me here? Are you just letting me look at this ID card enviously?”
Professor Kazel said, “Of course not. Since the festival is formalized, we can’t just put ID cards as prizes.”
“Also, grouping first to third years and fourth to sixth years isn’t quite appropriate. We want to hear your opinion.”
“Isn’t it suitable? I think it’s fine,” Dark squinted and smiled.
There’s still a chance to compete with third years.
If it were fourth years, that would be asking for trouble.
I’m still a first-year newbie who needs protection!
Professor Kazel laughed, “You misunderstood. I meant dividing it more finely: first to second year, third to fourth year, fifth to sixth year. Perfectly divided into low, middle, and high levels. This would benefit you…”
“I don’t think so,” Dark said, “Easter is only one day, and time is already tight. Dividing into too many groups would make the schedule too tight.”
Professor Kazel nodded, “True.”
Dark continued, “We can limit conditions later, reduce the number of participants. If only the top four get rewards, the participants won’t be many. After all, Easter is just part of the event, not the whole thing.”
“It’s the same as our thoughts,” Professor Shylph said, “But if students want to participate for fun?”
This was actually their dilemma.
Students’ enthusiasm couldn’t be contained.
As professors, they couldn’t enforce restrictions harshly.
Dark thought for a moment, “Then give them a platform to showcase themselves.”
Professor Shylph asked, “How?”
Dark said, “Add a preliminary round. Everyone can participate. Each kill of a Mana Golem earns one point. The first thirty-two to reach ten points within half an hour advance to the main tournament.”
Professor Shylph’s expression changed, “That’s a good idea. Your thinking is broader.”
No, it’s your thinking that’s narrow.
Dark rolled his eyes secretly. He had many other ideas, but this one was simpler and easier to implement.
Moreover, the academy already had similar activities.
Like the Halloween event, it was excellent.
But it seemed to have been created a long time ago, unrelated to this generation of professors.
In short, this generation of professors lacked experience in organizing activities.
St. Maryann Academy’s internal activities hadn’t changed in decades. If not for the “ID card” idea sparking the Easter Duel Festival, nothing would have changed.
However, Professor Shylph correctly recognized her shortcomings, choosing to seek help instead of stubbornly sticking to her own views, which was already commendable.
With this experience, they might organize more interesting internal activities in the future.
For example, the indispensable school event—Sports Day!
…
After helping the two professors answer more questions about the Easter Duel Festival, Dark finally left the office before the afternoon class on Magic History.
Sigh…
He rubbed his empty stomach and sighed lightly.
…
After finalizing the details, the action force of St. Maryann was impressive.
The next Friday, when Traveler’s Street reopened, the notice for the Easter Duel Festival was posted on the bulletin board at the castle entrance.
Minister Jo William and Deputy Minister Inia Knight of the Dueling Club personally pasted the poster made last night onto the bulletin board.
William had smooth red hair and was tall and strong, standing well with the equally tall ponytail girl Inia.
But the two didn’t really get along.
William smoothed out the corner of the poster and apologized, looking at the white dragon that indeed protruded from the paper, “We’ll rely on you again, Dragon student.”
Inia scratched her yellowish long hair and complained, “Minister William, this is false advertising. Pandora said she doesn’t plan to participate in this duel festival.”
William crossed his arms and patiently explained, “Inia, this isn’t fraud, it’s promotion. Even if Dragon doesn’t participate in the duel festival, she is still a student of our academy. And this event is under St. Maryann, followed by the Easter Duel Festival…”
Inia froze, then angrily said after a while, “Minister, if you keep this up, you’ll be beaten after graduation.”
William calmly said, “It’s fine, not many people can beat me outside.”
“Never mind.” Inia gave up, “Minister, do you think this Easter Duel Festival will go well? And those… Easter eggs?”
William replied, “Inia, remember, our responsibility is only the duel festival. The model Easter egg project is handled by others.”
“Oh, I’m just curious.” Inia said, “Do you think I have a chance to get my sweetie’s model?”
William: “Is your sweetie a popular Mana Golem?”
Inia shook her head, somewhat dejected.
William said, “If it’s not popular, you might get it. Of course, provided they produce it.”
…
The Minister and Deputy Minister of the Dueling Club were walking advertisements themselves. Just standing there was enough to attract attention.
Once they finished posting the poster, students immediately turned and saw it.
“Easter Duel Festival—Unprecedented Preliminary Grand Melee?”
“Easter Eggs—The Most Beautiful White Dragon!”
“Extra activities this Easter?”
“Winners get secret path passes?”
“Can you get Mana Golem models from Easter eggs?”
“No way? Where can I buy them?”
Crowds surged forward, discussions increasing.
Most students weren’t interested in secret path passes, but the preliminary melee and model eggs attracted their attention.
Within a short time, news of the Easter Duel Festival spread throughout the castle.
Even some information reached Traveler’s Street.
Sensitized merchants immediately realized the business opportunities. Soon, someone proactively contacted the academy to negotiate internal representation or outright manufacturing of Easter model eggs!
As for piracy and follow-ups…
They wanted to maintain their place in Traveler’s Street.
But this also reminded the academy staff responsible for this project.
To remind them to print the academy emblem and product serial numbers on the models during production.
Of course, all production work was carried out locally by the St. Maryann Duel Branch.
This allowed for immediate sales after production.
With the support of Mana Technology, St. Maryann Academy’s productivity was astonishing.
Promotion for popular Mana Golem models had already begun rapidly.
…
On Monday morning, as Dark ate breakfast brought by the Imp Beast, he opened the newspaper and found that the news of the St. Maryann Easter Duel Festival had made it to the front page of the Wise One Daily!
The next day, the entire front page of the Wise One Daily was taken over by illustrations of popular Mana Golems!
If even the Wise One Daily was like this, imagine the smaller newspapers.
Perhaps the kingdom and its surroundings, including semi-human races like elf-people, were already flooded with advertisements.
Clearly, once St. Maryann Academy’s massive machine started running, it was truly formidable.
With only a short half-month until Easter, it seemed to be more than enough?
…
Affected from the inside out and then from the outside in, St. Maryann Academy began to get excited about Easter.
Originally, Easter as a fixed Sunday holiday had no additional holidays or special events, never causing much of a stir.
But this year’s Easter was clearly different.
For instance, first-year boys were especially interested in the preliminary melee of the duel festival.
…
