Chapter 542: Four Routes to Conquer the Academy (4k)
The singing in the hall suddenly became continuous and long, with sacred hymns pouring out from trumpet-shaped instruments.
The students instinctively looked up towards the stage when they heard this familiar song.
As if waiting for this moment, the velvet-black curtain slowly parted under everyone’s gaze.
Cynthia Saint Altair, the most beautiful and noble lady and principal of Saint Maryann Academy, stepped onto the stage from behind the parted curtain.
The nine elementals surrounding her flew forward, transforming into flowers and fireflies, painting the stage with a dreamy and beautiful scene.
Thousands of floating candles in the air rose and fell like tides, following the melody of the song.
The candlelight reflected off golden plates and silver goblets, casting colorful and enchanting lights.
“Welcome to Saint Maryann Academy!”
These repeated welcome words made every senior feel as if they had just entered the academy.
Seniors were immersed in memories, while freshmen were filled with joy and anxiety.
Victoria and Phoenix stood among the freshmen, their eyes full of excitement… and curiosity.
They were like cats mixed in a group of cubs, sharing similar appearances and patterns, but being completely different individuals internally.
Fortunately, they never felt inferior about being golem elementals, so they didn’t fear being exposed.
“Hey, do you remember us?”
A sudden voice from behind startled Victoria.
She abruptly turned around and saw the twins in white dresses staring at her and Phoenix with big round eyes.
Victoria widened her eyes and glared back, but racked her brains to recall who these two were.
“It’s the princess—”
Phoenix whispered into Victoria’s ear.
This reminder helped Victoria remember that she had seen them at Dark’s birthday party.
Then she shyly smiled and said, “Are you also new students this year?”
“Of course,” Anna in front replied proudly, “After the sorting ceremony, we will be classmates!”
Angie, however, turned her eyes and asked, “So, which academy do you want to be sorted into?”
Victoria scratched her head and said, “Although I want to join the Noble Academy, it should be the Knight Academy.”
Phoenix was likely to be sorted into the Knight Academy, so she naturally wanted to be together with her.
Angie was surprised, “Why the Knight Academy? I heard that the people there are all muscle-bound, and someone as smart as us should go to the Mana Academy.”
Anna quickly interjected, mocking, “You want to join the Mana Academy too? Just stay with your sister in the Noble Academy. Don’t worry, I’ll fulfill Father’s expectations. You just need to lie there and wait. When the time comes, I’ll feed you…”
Angie raised her eyebrows, turning away, pretending she did nothing.
But such a transparent act couldn’t deceive anyone. Anna instantly lifted her foot and stomped down—then there was a crisp sound as her foot hit the floor.
The clear stomping sound immediately caught Professor Shylph’s attention.
Professor Shylph sharply turned around, her cold face and stern gaze silencing the whispering children.
…
“I know everyone has been looking forward to the sorting ceremony. Now, let’s move on. Please welcome the first new student called.”
Principal Altair always managed to end discussions before students grew bored.
She smiled and lifted her wand, lightly touching it to a rolled ancient scroll that appeared out of thin air.
The scroll hovered in the air, automatically unrolling to reveal a list of new students’ names.
Principal Altair lifted her wand again and lightly touched the center of the scroll, creating a tear that quickly wriggled into a mouth.
From this mouth came a very sharp voice, “Hannah Apple!”
“It’s my turn! It’s my turn! It’s calling me!”
One of the new students, a rosy-cheeked little girl with two flaxen braids, frantically looked around, confirming no one else shared her name.
“Hannah Apple!”
“I’m here, I’m here!”
Hannah was startled and hurriedly ran out of line, holding up her skirt and running onto the stage.
Principal Altair noticed the girl’s nervousness and gently touched her red shoes, imbuing them with magic.
With each step, a glowing butterfly flew out from her feet.
After a few steps, Hannah was surrounded by butterflies.
Her eyes widened as she reached out to touch the beautiful butterflies, the cool sensation calming her quickly.
“Apple, come here.”
Principal Altair beckoned her with a gentle look.
Hannah stood beside her, spine straight, hands tightly pressed against her sides.
Principal Altair smiled slightly and asked, “Do you know about the four houses of the academy?”
Hannah nodded vigorously, “Yes!”
“Do you know what they are? You’re very brave.”
“Yes!”
Hannah strained to speak louder. She felt braver than ever.
“There are four houses in the academy: the Noble Academy, the Knight Academy, the Mana Academy, and the Fool’s Academy!”
“The symbol of the Noble Academy is a royal crown. Only students with pure noble blood can be assigned to it.”
“The symbol of the Knight Academy is a knight’s spear. Students assigned to the Knight Academy have courageous hearts.”
“The symbol of the Mana Academy is a magic book. Only students with a strong thirst for knowledge can gain favor from the Mana Academy.”
“The symbol of the Fool’s Academy is the Fool card from the Tarot deck. Students assigned to the Fool’s Academy are unpolished gems, possessing the greatest potential.”
Hannah spoke in a speed she had never used before, pouring out everything she knew.
Principal Altair nodded approvingly, “Very well spoken. The Knight Academy and the Mana Academy would suit you.”
“Really?”
Hannah looked extremely happy.
“Absolutely.”
Principal Altair clapped her hands.
One of the nine small elementals around her flew toward Hannah.
Hannah took a magic card from the elemental’s claw and flipped it over, noticing a card back with a crown, a spear, a magic book, and the Fool card.
Principal Altair said, “I think you already know how to activate the sorting card?”
Hannah nodded slightly and placed the sorting card in her left palm, covering it with her right hand, closing her eyes, and concentrating her thoughts into the card.
The half-finished sorting card absorbed the magical power imbued with thought, gradually glowing.
When Hannah opened her eyes, the sorting card had completed itself.
On the card’s surface, the symbol of the Mana Academy—a black magic book—emerged!
“Hannah Apple, Mana Academy!”
…
“Wow!”
Hannah’s bravery and wisdom left a deep impression on the second to sixth-year students.
Both the Mana Academy and the Knight Academy welcomed her warmly.
As the sorting card completed itself, fireworks formed the shape of a magic book in the air.
The students of the Mana Academy cheered loudly.
The sorting ceremony began quickly and orderly, with the atmosphere growing increasingly intense.
Every potential new student joining brought a wave of cheers.
The empty seats at the ends of the four long tables gradually decreased.
“Phoenix Demon!”
Finally, Phoenix’s name was called from the scroll’s mouth.
“At last, it’s my turn.”
Dark immediately perked up.
The familiar surname caused a gasp from the second to sixth-year students.
Only a few who knew earlier that Jon and Joie from the Demon family had received invitations were less surprised—wait, not Jon and Joie?
Those students’ eyes widened even more as they saw a red-haired girl ascend the stage.
Despite having fiery hair, Phoenix Demon wore a cold expression, radiating an aura of hostility.
After taking a sorting card from the elemental’s beak, she immediately infused it with mana, activating its internal circuitry smoothly.
The sorting card then completed itself, displaying a spear on its surface.
“Phoenix Demon, Knight Academy!”
Before the students could discuss, Phoenix descended the stage and walked toward the long table of the Knight Academy under the guidance of a senior.
Almost instantly, the Knight Academy section erupted in loud applause!
Everyone knew the Demon family was flourishing in the kingdom, and a student with the Demon surname should naturally be assigned to the Noble Academy.
This unexpected result excited the Knight Academy.
As soon as Phoenix sat down, her classmates greeted her warmly.
Second-year students closest to the first-year section frequently turned their heads, curious about her.
But Phoenix seemed indifferent…
…
Dark watched Phoenix’s back with concern, worried about her social situation.
“Only hope Victoria gets sorted into the Knight Academy…”
As he mentioned Victoria, her name was loudly called.
Students who were shocked by Phoenix’s surname now felt even more astonished.
“Including the yet-to-appear Jon siblings, the Demon family has brought four new students this time?”
This astonishing fact could not be ignored.
Since Dark Demon dominated the first-year class last year, Saint Maryann Academy’s students knew the weight of the name “Demon.”
If these four new students grew up, the entire first-year class… perhaps the whole academy would be under the Demon family’s influence!
“What is the Demon family planning?”
…
In the midst of various speculations and astonishment, the vampire princess dashed onto the stage.
Unlike her carefree appearance, she was somewhat nervous, trembling slightly as she stepped onto the stage.
“Victoria Demon?”
“Oh!”
Under Principal Altair’s gentle reminder, Victoria gave a small gasp and took the sorting card from the griffin-like elemental’s beak.
As a golem elemental for Dark Demon, infusing mana was simple.
She had listened repeatedly to Dark’s detailed description of the sorting ceremony, so she promptly closed her eyes, focusing all her thoughts into the mana.
The sorting card in her palm gradually emitted a faint red glow.
It quickly completed itself, imprinted with her unique mark.
Victoria opened her eyes, looking at the sorting card.
…
“Which academy will it be?”
Watching the final answer approach, Dark couldn’t help feeling tense.
The Knight Academy would be the best outcome, and the Mana Academy would also be acceptable, but if it’s the Fool’s Academy?
Wouldn’t it expose the vampire princess as a fool?
“Hmm?”
Focusing on the stage, Dark suddenly noticed something unusual about Wit Gold at the neighboring Knight Academy table.
But after a brief glance, he quickly turned his attention back, seeing fireworks shoot out from the vampire princess’s sorting card.
The dazzling fireworks exploded in the air, forming the shape of a—
“Fool card of the Tarot deck!”
Victoria’s mood plummeted instantly.
Being in a different academy from Phoenix made her feel lonely.
And…
“Neither the Knight Academy nor the Mana Academy. Does it mean I am neither brave nor smart? Waaaaah!”
After getting the result, Victoria instinctively searched for Dark in the audience—then unprecedented enthusiastic applause erupted from the Fool’s Academy direction!
Clearly, the Fool’s Academy students were extremely surprised and delighted by the unexpected addition of the “Demon” family member.
Amidst the cheers, the vampire princess suddenly felt maybe entering the Fool’s Academy wasn’t so bad?
Dazed, she walked off the stage and embraced the Fool’s Academy.
Soon after, the remaining two “Demons” were also called.
The results were always unexpected.
The third person called was Jon Demon.
This cousin of Dark was like a “cheap version” of Dark. Perhaps his desire to escape Dark was successfully conveyed through the sorting card. He was not assigned to the Noble Academy and certainly not the Knight Academy. Ultimately… he was assigned to the “Mana Academy”!
Being assigned to the Mana Academy, symbolizing “knowledge,” was not a difficult thing to accept.
“Yay! \(*\)”
Jon almost leaped towards the Mana Academy, as if running toward sunlight.
Following him, Joie Demon, with a successful example from her twin brother, poured all her efforts into infusing her desire to escape Dark into the sorting card with mana.
However, things don’t always go as planned.
Perhaps she wasn’t as smart as her twin brother.
She was merely assigned to the Noble Academy.
At that moment, the Noble Academy, finally gaining another “Demon,” seemed to release all their pent-up emotions, erupting in a cheer.
But Joie herself couldn’t feel any joy.
…
