Chapter 30

‘Guess I shouldn’t have said that.’

The President’s magical power weaved through the air, forming a spell. It wasn’t the multidimensional magic circle that Yujin often displayed but an extremely ordinary 2D circular magic array.

Yujin quietly observed it and thought.

First, he went over every word he’d exchanged with the President.

When he mentioned arriving at the Academy, it was literally true. Though he left out noticing the Princesses and calling them over, he simply came himself without needing anyone to fetch him, just wanting to take a quick look around after seeing the Academy grounds.

His answer about how he managed despite the twisted space coordinates was also truthful—he just didn’t find the spatial distortion significant.

About asking for a quick arrival before heading to the dorms…

Well, though he joked it off as nothing serious, there was indeed a subtle meaning behind it. After all, Yujin had noticed the Demon lurking in the Academy and had already given them a report. He figured since he was heading toward the Demon within the Academy, he should mention it.

When asked why he was with the Princess, things got slightly awkward. The truth was, she was drawn to him by the Demon’s Magic emitted from the Enkeos horn he possessed.

But since holding the Enkeos horn itself seemed suspicious, and knowing the Princess followed its influence felt weirder, Yujin glossed it over with a lie—just saying they met by chance.

As for the cardigan business, even Yujin didn’t know much about that. He assumed the Princess had casually thrown it on her shoulder before rushing off, so he honestly replied regarding that part.

Finally, when questioned why the Princess had collapsed…

This required some careful thought. There was potential for misunderstanding that he might’ve harmed her.

He could’ve truthfully said he sealed the Demon’s Magic, but then he’d have to explain the Demon residing within the Princess. That would lead to further questioning: how did he know about the seal or the Demon inside her?

Besides, the President looked far too intimidating. She seemed ready to attack if she thought he messed with the Princess.

So Yujin decided to be honest while subtly hinting that the President wasn’t entirely above reproach either.

Neither the President nor Professor Reina showed any surprise at the flower blooming in the Princess’s eye. They only worried about her fainting—not questioning the flower at all.

Seeing this, Yujin deduced they were aware of the Demon’s Seed parasitizing the Princess. He decided to use this knowledge to put slight pressure on the President.

“—By the way, Your Highness seems to have a Demon attached.”

He dropped the line, implying he’d noticed the Demon within the Princess.

“—It’s quite strange. How is someone like Her Highness being infiltrated by a Demon while staying here at the Academy?”

Then he highlighted that the Princess was being infiltrated by a Demon while at the Academy. The President stiffened upon realizing this.

She probably thought: “We’re hiding a Demon-possessed Princess on an Academy-wide scale,” understanding the implications.

In fact, Yujin framed himself as the victim for being near a Demon-infested entity, putting the onus on the President to explain.

But did he expose something sensitive?

“…What’s your point with that story?”

The President’s expression turned icy. Looks like he hit a sore spot.

So Yujin responded with a harmless smile.

“Maybe you know more about it, President.”

The statement wasn’t deep. If the President were rational, he believed she’d understand what judgment needed to be made—and that she was the one who should explain.

“Is that so…”

Apparently, he stirred up a hornet’s nest—or perhaps she decided extermination was easier.

She began casting a spell, clearly intending to kill him.

“Well, guess I have no choice.”

Realizing physical demonstration was unavoidable, Yujin bitterly smiled and raised a hand with half-open eyes.

Woooom!

“…!”

The President’s eyes widened. Attempting to cast a spell, her magic circle refused to move—instead responding to Yujin’s gestures.

Crash!

“What the—”

Her magic circle instantly collapsed. She recognized the phenomenon immediately.

“Magic Reverse Engineering!”

A technique controlling mana to seize control of another’s magic. Specifically, channeling one’s own mana into the opponent’s to reverse-engineer and steal their magic.

Since it’s typically used against significantly weaker opponents, it’s rarely employed, especially not against someone as powerful as the President.

Having never experienced being reverse-engineered despite using the technique herself since birth, the President was understandably shocked.

“Gah!”

Though realizing the skill gap, she couldn’t back down. Having already attacked, showing mercy would be foolish.

However…

“『Void』.”

Whoosh!

“…Huh?”

With a single word from Yujin, she felt her strength drain away. Beyond that, she couldn’t sense any power.

Rather, more accurately…

No energy whatsoever could be felt.

Mana, Divine Power, Demon’s Magic, Aura… Everything in the atmosphere seemed to vanish.

“This… this…”

The President trembled, recognizing this force.

A power that alters the laws of reality with a single word—near-omnipotent authority.

The hallmark strength of Dragons.

“Dragon… language…?”

Her shaking eyes gazed upward.

There stood a youth with crimson pupils and slit-like vertical irises, looking down at her.

***

The Karandar Family.

Long ago, this family took its surname from an ancient Dragon ancestor, existing as a force independent of any nation.

Proud bearers of Dragon blood, they rejected subordination to any state, finding the establishment of nations by mere humans beneath them.

Thus, they chose solitude, recognizing only their bloodline as their true strength, refusing noble titles offered by other countries.

Through this solitary existence, they built their power—a task not overly difficult.

Each descendant of Dragon blood was a prodigy in magic. Teaching them one concept resulted in mastery of tenfold more, and their mana quality far surpassed ordinary humans.

Among these prodigious mages, one extraordinary genius emerged.

Ines Karandar.

An exceptionally gifted child in her generation, heavily infused with Dragon blood.

Without instruction, she grasped concepts others struggled with, and her mana level dwarfed even other Karandar children.

Unlike many geniuses who lamented their talents, feeling disconnected from ordinary people, Ines saw her gifts as a blessing. Learning magic brought her joy, and admiration from others pleased her deeply.

Understanding others? Humans can never fully grasp each other anyway, yet still manage to coexist. Lamenting such disconnects was merely a luxury problem for geniuses.

Ines remained hungry, constantly studying and enjoying magic, reveling in others’ admiration.

Amidst this joy, she wondered: What were the Dragons, the source of her blessed lineage? If someone like her, barely carrying their essence, could achieve so much, how great must they have been?

Curious, she studied not only magic but also Transcendents, the originators of magic.

Though ancient records were sparse, she learned enough about Dragons’ immense powers.

Their magic systems far surpassed human ones, and they could invoke spells effortlessly through sheer will alone.

Simultaneously, they wielded near-omnipotent authority, capable of altering the world’s laws with a single word.

The pinnacle of magic. And the name of this power?

“Dragon… language…?”

Dragon Language.

The ability to alter the very laws of the world with a single word.

After discovering this, Ines harbored immense reverence for Dragons. Learning Dragon Language directly from them became her dream.

She even ventured to the Great Maze where remaining Dragons were said to be imprisoned. Unfortunately…

“I never met one.”

These beings, who rarely appeared before mortals to offer trials, never showed themselves to her.

Frankly, she was deeply disappointed. She’d believed, given her strong Dragon blood, something different would happen.

But now, she finally…

“Dr… Dragon…?”

Met one.

A real Dragon who could use Dragon Language.

“Hmph… well.”

The Dragon before her, in human form, chuckled wryly.

“President, shall we have a candid conversation?”

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