“Do you like it, Your Highness?”
“The accessories suit you very well!”
“Today, I did your makeup with a bit of a charismatic feel!”
Nicasia Holimpia was sitting in front of the dressing table, getting all dolled up with the help of her maids.
It wasn’t anything special since many nobles wanted to meet the Imperial Princess under the pretext of ‘official duties.’
“Is my hair too flashy?”
“It’s the style that’s trending in the capital these days. Simple, elegant, and pretty! We put a lot of effort into braiding it up.”
“This necklace doesn’t seem to suit me. I’ll wear the one Her Majesty gifted me last time.”
“Yes, understood!”
Reflected in the large mirror, Nicasia Holimpia looked so mature and elegant that it was hard to believe she was just a 5th-grade elementary student.
‘I really wanted to attend the art class today. I wish I could skip the magic class instead…’
Despite her outward maturity, Nicasia’s inner self was oddly soft, like a child. She wanted to play more, chat with friends, and study what she was interested in—just a normal kid.
But the world wouldn’t leave her alone.
“Is this much preparation enough?”
After checking the earrings attached with magic, Nicasia got up and headed to her neatly organized desk. As a student of Cosmos Academy, studying was a given. Thanks to that, she didn’t need to receive guests in the lavishly decorated reception room.
Nicasia adjusted her uniform here and there, then with the help of a maid, she smoothed her skirt and sat down on the chair.
“Let them in.”
Nicasia tightened her posture, putting strength into her waist and hips. She really hated this moment, but she didn’t want to disgrace her parents, and her pride was strong enough that she didn’t want to appear weak in front of others.
“Respected Princess Nicasia Holimpia. Colette Bloodberry greets you.”
Colette, who walked through the door opened by the attendant, was wearing a gorgeous black dress. Hanging from her waist was a grimoire that symbolized her family’s pride.
“Welcome, Countess Colette. You must have had a hard journey from the Magica Kingdom to Cosmos Academy.”
“Hehe, if I don’t go through this much trouble, how could I become the Magic Deity? It’s just part of the job.”
‘As expected, she’s such a nasty woman.’
Nicasia looked at Colette with a bright smile.
“I hope our conversation will be of great help amidst your busy duties.”
“Of course. It’s a very important matter.”
Colette slightly raised the corner of her mouth.
“Respected Princess, you are also a student of Cosmos Academy, and I have matters to attend to as well, so let’s get straight to the point.”
“Yes, please speak comfortably. Before being a princess, I am a student of Cosmos Academy. If there’s anything I can help with, I won’t be bound by formalities.”
“As expected of the respected Princess! You have a kind heart, just like the Crown Princess.”
Nicasia’s expression remained bright, but her mood wasn’t good. Naturally comparing her to her sister was a blatant attempt to provoke Nicasia.
“Respected Princess, you know that the history of Cosmos Academy is very deep, right?”
“It’s common knowledge in the Empire. I know.”
“Do you know about the ‘Curse of Knowledge’ club?”
Curse of Knowledge.
It was the name of the club that sealed the Demon God, Armonia.
* * *
Esme Bloodberry had become a ticking time bomb that could explode at any moment.
I’m not a fool, so I plan to handle this heated bomb neatly. I already know all the ways to avoid the dead event, so how could I possibly fall for it?
Actually, the method is quite simple. Just increase Esme’s favorability.
No matter how much I hate demons, no matter how much I dislike them, I can’t kill a ‘friend.’ If a friend gets good grades, it’s annoying, but I wouldn’t want to kill them. And Esme knows it too.
Not all demons are bad, there are good demons.
She just can’t express it. The adults around her keep shouting that all demons should be killed, so she can’t speak the truth in her heart.
Adults are so rigid. So stupid.
“Everyone, today we’ll be painting on canvas. The theme is simple.”
Anyway, I decided to take ‘Art Class’ to get closer to Esme.
The art class taught by Professor William Ross offers the opportunity to create gifts that can increase charm and favorability.
Even though Murmur has to mess around with clay, paint, sew clothes, and create artworks—ridiculously tedious tasks—it’s a golden opportunity in the game to create items that can skyrocket favorability, so it’s a class I have to take a few times.
Anyway, if I just raise Esme’s favorability enough, things will go smoothly. No matter how much Aunt Colette screams, what can she do? Would a grown adult really slap a 5th-grade elementary student? That would be a crime!
“Painting is another window to view the world. The tools aren’t important. Whether you paint by hand or by magic, it doesn’t matter.”
Professor William Ross, with his curly hair, had a very soft voice that could make you drowsy if you listened quietly.
“What’s important is what you paint. How you express what’s in your heart.”
“Professor! Can we really paint with magic?”
“Of course. The most important thing is what you paint. So, paint whatever comes to your heart.”
Professor William smiled and raised his brush.
“Today’s theme is friends. Pair up and paint each other. It’ll be a fun way to see how your friends view you.”
As soon as the professor’s soothing ASMR voice ended, the kids got up and started looking for partners.
“Kate! Let’s paint together!”
“Me! Someone pair with me!”
“Hey! Why are you pairing with her?!”
Even though Professor William spoke seriously, the kids had different priorities. They were more focused on wanting someone to paint them prettily.
Naturally, those who could paint a bit better or those who were close friends started pairing up.
“Ah… sorry, Esme. I already promised to paint with someone else.”
“Ugh! I don’t like Esme! You can’t paint well!”
“Sorry, Esme… you, you! The last painting you did was so weird!”
As I expected, Esme was left alone. No one would cling to Esme, who couldn’t paint well and had a slightly bad personality, to paint them.
“Esme, let’s paint together.”
『New event confirmed!』
《Draw Esme Bloodberry’s Portrait》
《Time: Class Time》
Since the status window popped up properly, it’s confirmed that favorability will increase.
As expected, knowing the future and all the event conditions makes academy life easy, right?
“Ugh… with Murmur?”
“Yeah, Esme, you’re alone right now. Murmur is alone too.”
“Well, of course! You’re a demon! But where’s Princess Nicasia?”
“She said she’s busy today. She has to meet with an adult.”
Esme growled and looked around.
So, she’s alone.
“Ugh… I shouldn’t be friends with you, really, I shouldn’t.”
“Can’t we even paint each other’s portraits? Otherwise, Esme, you’ll get a zero.”
I casually grabbed Esme’s trembling hand and found a seat to sit down.
“I don’t want to be friends with you! I hate demons!”
“I know. But you need the grade, right?”
Esme pouted and stuck out her lips.
“Hmph! You can’t even paint well, Murmur. Just sit still.”
Grumbling, Esme sat next to me and fiddled with her hair and uniform.
“Esme, you’re pretty even now.”
“…You’re not doing this just to see me, are you?”
When will she ever be honest? Anyway, I held the pencil in my right hand.
It doesn’t make sense to use paint from the start. It’s just an elementary school art class, so I’ll just sketch and submit it.
“Esme, can you paint properly?”
“Of course. What do you think of Esme Bloodberry?”
Esme grumbled and gently clasped her hands together. She was clearly planning to paint using ‘magic.’
If the tools are prepared, you can paint with magic. The principle isn’t complicated; it’s just that the action of waving a brush with your hands is replaced by waving it with magic.
As Professor William said, it’s about showing the world in your heart, so in the world of Legend of Academy, paintings done with magic are more valued than those done by hand.
“Murmur is…”
Esme clasped her hands together, emitting a white light, and muttered softly. It was kind of cute how she was struggling to express the scenery in her heart onto the canvas.
But, Esme’s painting skills were terrible. She was probably drawing Murmur weirdly again, right?
“Huh…?”
Scratch scratch.
Swish swish.
The pencil and brush floating in the air, controlled by Esme’s magic, moved non-stop, and a surprisingly decent painting was appearing on the canvas.
Wait, what’s this? She’s painting at a level that’s almost like taking a photo. Is Esme actually more talented in this area?
“Murmur is… a demon… scary… demon… parents’…”
Every time Esme let out a painful groan, the number of painting tools floating in the air increased.
Pencil, brush, paint, palette, water cup…
As the tools emitting an uneasy white light increased, the speed of the painting slowed down, but I could clearly understand one thing.
“Esme, is this how you see Murmur?”
The Murmur in the painting that Esme Bloodberry was struggling to paint was a ‘monster’ with terrifying wings.
