Chapter 632: Dakdemont and the Sense of Ceremony (6k)
This year, the Second Princess Anna was also wearing a tiger costume, just like the Third Princess Angie, which was custom-made.
Even though she was in a costume, one could still see her joy from her steps.
It seemed she had obtained a satisfactory identity.
“Huh—”
Anna sat down at the table and unzipped the head of the tiger costume, letting it drape over her neck like a hood.
She tilted her head back slightly, took a deep breath of fresh air, and curiously asked, “Dak, are you a vampire?”
Dak opened his mouth to reveal his fangs. “You mean this?”
“Hee hee.” Anna shifted her attention to her plate and began eating small bites.
…
In the common room filled with the aroma of food, various probes were exchanged.
Upperclassmen and underclassmen mingled together, laughter filled the air, but there was something else mixed in with the joy.
The masquerade had not officially started, yet the students were already immersed in their roles.
The festive atmosphere grew increasingly intense.
Dak cut the honey cake on his plate into small pieces, picked them up with a fork, and savored them in his mouth.
The sweetness spread, causing him to squint slightly, and his peripheral vision traced some glaring glances.
He gradually realized that he was being watched.
Of course, this wasn’t unexpected.
After all, he had always been quite conspicuous.
Like a firefly in the dark, even if he didn’t intend to shine, he would be noticed by everyone.
Those gazes weren’t all malicious.
Perhaps many were simply curious about how he would perform in this masquerade?
The rules of this event undoubtedly enhanced interaction among the students.
By assuming their “roles,” everyone was both a hunter and prey.
…
After dinner, Dak did not leave immediately.
The two young princesses suddenly invited them to go up to the rooftop.
He thought for a moment and agreed.
They pushed through the crowd, climbed the stairs, and ascended.
Before long, the five of them arrived at the top floor of the Tower of Noble Academy.
All four towers within the academy were of the same height, each having nine floors excluding the basement.
The first floor was the common room.
Starting from the second floor and upward, the floors were allocated to first-year to sixth-year students.
The eighth floor was the dueling practice room, and the ninth floor was the observatory!
Since the clubroom was set up in the Spiral Bell Tower, Dak hadn’t visited the observatory for quite some time.
It happened to be lunchtime, so no one was present in the observatory.
In the center of the observatory stood a large telescope, with a transparent dome directly above it.
Although it wasn’t as tall as the bell tower, standing here allowed one to see parts of the scenery outside the castle.
As soon as Dak entered the observatory, Anna and Angie, who had already put on their masks again, ran excitedly to the window and pushed it open forcefully.
Immediately, the autumn breeze rushed in.
Dak instinctively tightened his collar and was drawn to the view outside.
“This is…”
He quickened his pace to the window, unable to help but look out.
But he saw that the entire castle was encircled by a massive barrier.
On this barrier, countless spells converged into black dragons, swimming around both the inner and outer layers.
If it weren’t for seeing Professor Metia’s pumpkin carriage parked in the middle, he might have suspected something.
“This Halloween setup is really impressive.”
He couldn’t help but exclaim.
“If only the rewards for the Crimson Star were as grand as this!” Second Princess Anna suddenly said beside him.
“Exactly!”
Third Princess Angie also eagerly agreed.
For some reason, Dak suddenly felt a bit dispirited.
So he asked, “Is this what you brought me here to see?”
“Why else?” Anna was puzzled.
Angie suddenly took a step back, clasping her chest and shivering. “Don’t you have any other ideas?”
Then her little bear cheeks were suddenly pinched by two hands coming from behind.
Diana looked at the trapped little bear, her heart filled with joy.
Rose walked to the window and said, “Actually, it’s quite beautiful. And it has a strong Halloween atmosphere.”
…
That was all there was to it.
The five teenagers watched the scenery for a while on the observatory before descending the stairs and going their separate ways.
Though such actions might seem insignificant, memories are composed of these intentional or unintentional moments.
The hidden beauty often lingers in one’s mind.
…
It was almost six o’clock.
The professors, who had worked hard all day, gathered in a spacious rest area.
Under the direction of Professor Lily Laplace, the primary organizer of this Halloween event, and Professor Pavar Jones, the secondary organizer, these professors who had nothing to do consumed a whole day transforming the entire castle into a massive stage filled with numerous traps!
Now, it was time for them to enjoy the fruits of their labor.
The students danced on the stage, while the professors watched from the sidelines, both experiencing their own forms of joy.
Lily chewed on sunflower seeds, her eyes gleaming with excitement as she pointed at the mirror in front of her.
Instantly, ripples like water appeared on the mirror’s surface, revealing the bridge outside the Noble Academy tower.
Lily had scattered thousands of imps throughout the castle, each able to move freely between walls.
Using a special method, she could connect with these imps and project their views onto the mirror’s surface.
Not only that, but she had shared this privilege with all the professors present, allowing each professor to freely choose their desired viewpoint.
Nominally, she had obtained Professor Shylph’s permission under the pretext of protecting the students…
Then, Professor Shylph also requested permission for “Blood Princess” Ophelia Brad.
The other mother, Hefestus Dragone, naturally sat in this rest area openly.
Hefestus was teaching Professor Nina how to connect with the imps.
Although Professor Nina had some talent, she had never received formal training as a magus and struggled with mana usage.
Beside them, several arithmetic professors gathered together and chose viewpoints outside the Noble Academy tower.
They all wanted to see what the cute Little Dak would come up with.
That twenty-question test paper had genuinely piqued their interest.
…
At this moment, almost all the students had gathered in the common room.
Since receiving their house assignment cards this morning, they had been preoccupied.
Waiting for this moment, he was now finally able to experience it, filled with immense excitement.
The masquerade during Halloween was considered one of the easiest times of the year to gain a substantial amount of credits and resources.
Even those who had no interest in the “Crimson Star” or “Platinum Star” were all ready to participate, eager to make their mark.
Moreover, this year’s masquerade was especially interesting!
Students who had obtained the identities of “Vampires” and “Werewolves” were even more excited, unable to wait any longer.
Of course, there were also students with other identities harboring concerns, but that mix of fear and excitement added a unique flavor.
Everyone was poised and ready.
…
Noble Academy Tower.
Dark stood at the stairway entrance, accompanied by Diana and Rose.
He did not ask about Diana and Rose’s identities, but from their demeanor, they were likely not unlucky draws.
Diana kept stuffing her mouth with candies, trying her best to replenish her energy.
Rose, on the other hand, carefully observed her surroundings, her gaze calm and wise.
…
As the time approached six o’clock precisely, the conversations in the common room gradually diminished, and the breathing sounds became more distinct.
“Clang—”
Finally, the hour hand pointed directly downward.
From within the Spiral Bell Tower at the center of the academy, a loud bell rang out.
The masquerade officially began!
…
The doors of the four towers opened simultaneously at this moment.
Students near the doors rushed out as soon as the light shone through.
“It’s coming!”
In the professors’ lounge, Lily’s eyebrows lifted as she quickly searched for Dark Demon’s figure among the crowd surging out of the Noble Academy Tower.
But Dark was standing motionless at the stairway entrance, so she naturally could not see him.
Imps with dragonfly wings flew like characters from a fairy tale, dragging long trails of glowing light across the sky above the external bridges.
Below, the students finally charged onto the bridge.
Once they crossed the bridge before the tower, they could enter the castle and start tonight’s hunt for “Ghosts.”
Unexpected changes occurred just as the first person was about to rush out onto the bridge.
From the exact center of the four external bridges, black spots appeared almost simultaneously.
Within less than a second, these black spots rapidly expanded, covering the entire bridge in an instant.
At that moment, the bridge… vanished from the students’ view!
…
“Ahh! W（?Д?）W Ahh!”
The highly ceremonial scream that opened the masquerade seemed to tear through the night sky.
Students who had not yet stepped onto the bridge suddenly stopped.
However, the students behind them could not stop in time, pushing the front part of the line onto the bridge.
Then, those students lost their footing, their bodies piercing through the bridge surface, plummeting downward.
“Be careful!”
“No!”
“Help me!”
Various cries filled the air.
Quick-thinking students immediately drew their mana cards and started summoning.
Those overwhelmed by fear felt nothing but darkness, their thoughts completely disrupted.
The bridges leading to the castle’s second floor meant they were only a story above ground level.
But each floor of the castle was exceptionally high…
However, this height gave more students time to react.
Some students who quickly calmed down summoned flying golems.
Others chanted incantations to cast floating spells.
And some… simply spread their wings!
…
On the bridge outside Fool’s Academy Tower.
Victoria, who had immediately pulled a classmate out of the tower, did not hesitate to spread her wings in full view of everyone.
Her dark vampire bat wings caused some distaste, but that was all.
Victoria’s golem identity was already widely known.
She swiftly grabbed the panicked student, and with a flap of her wings, carried them into the sky, then frowned as she looked down.
…
Not many students were caught off guard and reacted quickly after the initial shock.
Among those who had not stepped onto the bridge, many offered assistance.
This happened in all four towers.
Even when students inside the towers realized what was happening, all falling students had already been rescued.
They either flew in the air or returned to the sides, all looking astonished and suspicious.
Although they did not suffer any harm, this bridge trap, which was completely different from previous styles, still made them doubt the Halloween activity.
“Why would the professors set up such a trap?”
Victoria comforted the tightly gripping student while quickly thinking.
Suddenly, she took out a mana card from her deck and performed a standard summoning spell, summoning a round, plump cat and throwing it down.
“Miao!”
The fat cat let out a sharp, harsh cry.
But the surrounding students looked at it with extreme indifference, making it feel the coldness of the world.
“Biu—”
Just as the fat cat was about to land, a gentle breeze came, carrying it to a smooth landing.
“So it is…”
Victoria’s brows relaxed as she recalled the cat.
At that moment, her deck suddenly vibrated.
“Beep—”
She took out the selection card from her deck and activated it with slight confusion.
Then she saw the surprising message on the card face: 【Credits +200】
…
Both those who saved themselves and those who helped others received a certain amount of credit rewards.
And the amount was definitely not low.
That prompt from the selection card instantly washed away the students’ negative emotions.
Their enthusiasm, which had just cooled down, rose again, with some even shouting “One more time.”
The black shadows on the bridge suddenly disappeared, and all four bridges returned to normal.
After some students tried crossing, the rest began to pass over the bridge and enter the castle.
But by then, they had become more vigilant.
This year’s masquerade was completely different from previous ones in every aspect.
…
“Pity.”
In the professors’ lounge, Lily looked at the mirror with regret.
She thought she might catch a glimpse of Dark’s panic, but found he never stepped onto the bridge.
It wasn’t until most students entered the castle that Dark, dressed as a vampire, calmly walked out of the tower.
Then Lily heard several arithmetic professors arguing.
“I told you it would be a vampire!” First-year Professor Melnor said proudly.
The professor, who was in his seventies or eighties, had a ruddy complexion at that moment.
Another two arithmetic professors were gritting their teeth, taking out selection cards to transfer credits.
Lily slapped her forehead hard. These professors were actually betting on her heart!
Then she immediately rushed forward, shouting, “What are you playing? Count me in!”
…
Dark did not know that his vampire costume had already helped Professor Melnor earn some credits.
After crossing the bridge, he said to Diana and Rose, “So, let’s part ways here. You saw the trap on the previous bridge, so be careful.”
“Mmm.” Diana nodded vigorously, then lifted her arm to show off her muscles—though, she was wearing long sleeves, so they were completely hidden.
However, Dark found it amusing and looked up with a sudden change in expression, as if he were embodying a “vampire”: “Next time we meet, I won’t be myself anymore.”
“Bring it on!” Diana was fearless.
“Then we’ll go, good luck!” Rose waved at Dark.
Then the three of them parted ways at the bridge entrance.
Dark looked back and noticed that Diana and Rose were still walking together.
He silently smiled and, after turning a corner, began summoning a golem.
“First, ‘Mana Book’.”
Three seconds later, a mana book appeared in his hand.
Then he instructed the “Mana Book” to use a regular summoning spell to summon a four-star golem.
“First, ‘Deoxys’.”
After giving this command, Dark used a regular summoning spell again.
“In the name of Dark Diemont, come forth, Mana Spirit!”
In no time, an emerald-green “Ghost” emerged with a playful laugh.
At this Halloween masquerade, the “Mana Spirit” was the perfect golem.
With it by his side, Dark didn’t have to worry much about being ambushed by ghost-type monsters.
“Miu!”
The “Mana Spirit” suddenly let out a sound and sharply turned to look behind Dark.
Dark quickly sprinted forward, creating distance before suddenly turning around. He saw a ghostly shadow tightly adhering to the wall, then rapidly stretching downward, turning a right angle, and flying towards him along the floor.
“Huu—”
The cold wind from nearby windows made his hair stand on end.
This sudden appearance of a monster genuinely startled him.
If he hadn’t summoned the “Mana Spirit” at the beginning, he wouldn’t have sensed the presence of this ghostly monster at all.
But since it had been discovered…
“Mana Spirit, use ‘Scare’!”
He immediately gave the order.
“Yomimi!”
The Mana Spirit softly called out and chased after the elongated ghost at a faster speed.
Suddenly, it braked sharply and made a very cute ghost face at the ghost.
“Aah!”
The ghost was frightened by the ghost face and let out a scream.
The “Mana Spirit” extended its two claws and grabbed the ghost while it was in shock.
Ghost-type monsters usually had some degree of physical immunity, but they couldn’t naturally resist the “Mana Spirit’s” claw attack.
When it was killed by the “Mana Spirit,” a piece of candy dropped to the ground.
“Is it toffee?”
Dark bent down, picked up the candy, and remembered that last year, during the Halloween event, the first ghost he encountered also dropped toffee.
These candies, made from brown sugar or molasses and cream, were hard and difficult to chew.
But once you got used to them, they were quite good.
He unwrapped the candy paper, put the toffee in his mouth, and looked at the candy paper.
The candy paper was engraved with intricate patterns, confirming it was a one-time-use mana card valid until midnight tonight.
But upon closer inspection, one could see that it was slightly different from the one-time-use mana card created by Professor Kazel.
It was evident that it wasn’t made by Professor Kazel.
One could learn a lot from these one-time-use mana cards.
Thus, Dark still kept the candy paper and took out the selection card to check.
That ghost monster had brought him ten credits.
This year’s masquerade ball rules had changed significantly, including scoring for killing ghosts.
Except for elite and boss-level ghosts.
Normal ghosts ranged from one-star to nine-star.
Killing a one-star ghost earned ten credits.
Killing a two-star ghost earned twenty credits.
Killing a three-star ghost earned thirty credits.
Killing a four-star ghost earned sixty credits.
Killing a five-star ghost earned eighty credits.
Killing a six-star ghost earned one hundred credits.
Killing a seven-star ghost earned two hundred credits.
Killing an eight-star ghost earned three hundred credits.
Killing a nine-star ghost earned four hundred credits.
…
These normal ghosts weren’t very strong, and their mana values were similar to regular golems, with no enhancements.
Of course, there were also some special individuals between ordinary and elite levels.
Killing them still earned the same credits, but they dropped better resources—not just candy snacks.
As for elite and boss-level ghosts, killing them naturally earned more extra credits and better resource rewards.
…
Additionally, the low-grade protection rule remained.
Except for elite and boss-level ghosts.
Third-year students earning no credits for killing one-star ghosts.
Fourth-year students earning no credits for killing two-star or lower ghosts.
Fifth-year students earning no credits for killing three-star or lower ghosts.
Sixth-year students earning no credits for killing four-star or lower ghosts.
…
Dark was currently in his second year and wasn’t restricted.
While sucking on the toffee, he opened the resource map in his selection card.
This was a new rule added this year.
At exactly six o’clock, the academy distributed the resource maps to every student’s selection card.
Each student’s resource map marked different resource points.
And based on “identity” and grade, the scale and level of resource points varied.
The academy used this to separate grades and minimize disruption from upper grades to lower grades.
In short, before accumulating a certain number of credits, most students would act according to this resource map.
Dark was no exception.
He opened the resource map, injected mana, making it float above the card, then switched to “3D mode.”
A transparent castle composed of lines appeared before his eyes.
Inside the castle, a total of one hundred resource points were scattered.
According to the rules, he only needed to conquer twenty of them to earn additional credit rewards.
“Let’s start with the nearest ones!”
…
