No Dark Secrets In This Book

Episode 69

What is dropping out? It means the student voluntarily leaving school. In other words, the student’s intention is the most important. Whether the principal opposes it or makes a fuss, they can’t stop it if the student says they’ll do it. 

Thinking like that, there was nothing to feel burdened about. Following the guidance of the totem poles running with heavy steps, I crossed an elevated bridge with a forest of flying lanterns as the background. It was the way to the principal’s office, and since the lanterns were red, the forest was blue, and the sky beginning to set was purple, it was nice that I didn’t have to be frantic to keep my pride even with my acrophobia. 

If I just look at the horizon, will my gaze naturally be captured so I can tremble less even high up in the air?

‘It’s pretty.’

The clouds viewed from the elevated bridge were more majestic than fluffy. The solemn texture swirling around the sunset seemed to be hiding an island of the heavens. Below that, there were plains, rivers, and even mountains on the campus grounds. I thought about magnifying the students flickering like ants on the ground with Cheon Seogong, but gave up. Because I was starting to feel nauseous. I quickly raised my head and stared at the sky.

I don’t think I’ve ever introduced it, but the scale of Areah Academy can be compared to a small city, and extracting that much land in Seoul is something that can’t happen in Korea.

Then how did Areah Academy come to have that much size?

‘Ancient mysteries.’

Thousands and tens of thousands of ancient magic that I still don’t understand are overlapped in Areah Academy. 

Just the totem poles in front of my eyes are like that. I have no idea what mystery is embedded in them that makes the totem poles not fixed to the ground but running around with heavy steps like zombies. Magic beyond the realm of human understanding, incomprehensible mystery. We call it traces of the ancients.

The space expansion magic laid out across the entire Areah Academy is also part of the ancient mysteries. Up to the area accessible to outsiders, Areah Academy is a real domain that can be accessed from the outside, but the inside is different. If someone who hasn’t been granted permission forcibly pushes their way in, they become isolated in the middle of a distorted space. They become an eternal lost child who can’t even go back out without the academy’s permission.

Among the ancient mysteries shown in the original work, there is also an aerial island where the principal resides.

‘Aerial island.’

Contrary to the dreamy and beautiful atmosphere exuded by its name, reminiscent of the aerial island in the clouds from an animated film, it is a brutal place that seems to slaughter all intruders. Should I call it a steampunk-style artificial island where the sound of blades moving and gears constantly grinding something can be heard? The pinnacle of magical tools where steam engines, magic, and mysteries are intertwined, that is Areah’s aerial island and the principal’s residence.

There is one reason why the principal lives on a machine device instead of leaving a proper piece of land alone, and it is in line with the reason why the principal should not go outside Areah. Professor Damyeon, the reason he can appear in front of students even though he is known to have died to the outside world, is because the principal is maintaining his life with the ancient mysteries of Areah.

‘In short, it’s a life like a pufferfish that dies immediately if it goes outside Areah…’

Anyway, the aerial island is the culmination and command center of Areah Academy’s cutting-edge technology. Not just anyone can approach there.

Because the mysteries don’t open the way.

I, too, would not have been allowed to even go up the elevated bridge if I hadn’t received an invitation from the principal.

However, now, as if to somehow persuade Cassice Demillang who expressed his intention to drop out, the principal summoned me. Thus, crossing the sunset and shadows drenched in rain, I am walking in the sky.

The higher I climbed the stairs, the redder the sunset became. It was as red as a scene from a dream I had seen before. And the island that began to be visible from afar, like a lump of iron, was shining darkly with a black light.

When I hurried my steps and approached closer, the components of the island were simple as described in the original work. One large mansion, and suspicious blades, saw blades, and gears sticking out from outside the mansion…

…It wasn’t a visual that I wanted to approach, but there was nowhere I couldn’t go for the sake of dropping out.

I decided to brainwash myself like that.

[This is as far as it goes.]

The totem pole that led me across the iron bridge to the front gate of the island on top jumped up and down in place and said. That totem pole wore a crown on its head and had fierce eyes, and the letters engraved on the front were ‘Cheonha Daejanggun (General Under Heaven)’, so it could be seen that it was a noble among totem poles with a high status.

Was it the principal’s will that such a being took on the role of guiding me? But no matter what the principal says, dropping out is up to the student’s will! Hehehe. I’ll ignore everything, whether they stop me or not, and do as I please.

“Thank you for the guidance. Now please return to where you were.”

[I’ll wait until your business is finished.]

“Aha, then I’ll do my best to finish quickly…”

When I quickly laid the groundwork to ignore the principal’s persuasion and come out, the totem pole made a strange sound as if holding back a comical laugh. But since I wasn’t the type to develop a habit of conversing with wood, I cheerfully ignored it and pressed the doorbell without hesitation. After a moment, the inside of the door that opened with a creaking sound was more normal-looking than expected for a home. As I entered, I turned back, wondering if it was really safe here…

“Watch where you’re going.”

As soon as I looked forward at those words, my heart nearly dropped. Because there was a skull bowl right in front of my nose.

“Ah, yes. Of course. Master.”

I spoke calmly, but honestly, I was scared to death. Because since I had become somewhat strong, I could read the presence of people other than Ryuseong quite well. But as expected, the Named Hunter, Professor Damyeon, seemed different.

Even when I concentrated to the maximum, his movements were blurry.

‘Will it change if I turn on Cheon Seogong?’

But there was no need to openly show a hostile attitude in front of the principal. If the principal doesn’t intend to confine me to prevent me from dropping out…

“Skinny as a rake… Ting! Follow me! I need to feed you something…!”

What is this person saying now, being a zombie with only a skull left?

“I’ve already eaten, so please just process my dropout application.”

“…”

When I said that, the principal quietly looked at me.

With eyes flowing with a golden light, calmly.

“You, are you trying to become the family head?”

‘Ah, how does this bastard know?’

I apologize for speaking informally to you, Principal, since you are old. But it seems like you asked too sharply. How the hell did you notice my grand ambition to become the family head just from my words about dropping out?

“Why are you pretending to be surprised when you wouldn’t even be surprised? What would you do after leaving school? You’ll jump into society. By declaring that you’ll drop out, you declared war against the family head, didn’t you?”

Ah, so that’s what it was?

… (51 lines left)

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Episode 70

“Do I look like I’m talking nonsense right now? Don’t tell me you doubt even the fact that he loves you? Do you think Ryuseong is crazy enough to kill you just because you’re a Demillang? He’s different from you, you bastard! He’s different from you…!”

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Episode 69

What is dropping out? It means the student voluntarily leaving school. In other words, the student’s intention is the most important. Whether the principal opposes it or makes a fuss, they can’t stop it if the student says they’ll do it. 

Thinking like that, there was nothing to feel burdened about. Following the guidance of the totem poles running with heavy steps, I crossed an elevated bridge with a forest of flying lanterns as the background. It was the way to the principal’s office, and since the lanterns were red, the forest was blue, and the sky beginning to set was purple, it was nice that I didn’t have to be frantic to keep my pride even with my acrophobia. 

If I just look at the horizon, will my gaze naturally be captured so I can tremble less even high up in the air?

‘It’s pretty.’

The clouds viewed from the elevated bridge were more majestic than fluffy. The solemn texture swirling around the sunset seemed to be hiding an island of the heavens. Below that, there were plains, rivers, and even mountains on the campus grounds. I thought about magnifying the students flickering like ants on the ground with Cheon Seogong, but gave up. Because I was starting to feel nauseous. I quickly raised my head and stared at the sky.

I don’t think I’ve ever introduced it, but the scale of Areah Academy can be compared to a small city, and extracting that much land in Seoul is something that can’t happen in Korea.

Then how did Areah Academy come to have that much size?

‘Ancient mysteries.’

Thousands and tens of thousands of ancient magic that I still don’t understand are overlapped in Areah Academy. 

Just the totem poles in front of my eyes are like that. I have no idea what mystery is embedded in them that makes the totem poles not fixed to the ground but running around with heavy steps like zombies. Magic beyond the realm of human understanding, incomprehensible mystery. We call it traces of the ancients.

The space expansion magic laid out across the entire Areah Academy is also part of the ancient mysteries. Up to the area accessible to outsiders, Areah Academy is a real domain that can be accessed from the outside, but the inside is different. If someone who hasn’t been granted permission forcibly pushes their way in, they become isolated in the middle of a distorted space. They become an eternal lost child who can’t even go back out without the academy’s permission.

Among the ancient mysteries shown in the original work, there is also an aerial island where the principal resides.

‘Aerial island.’

Contrary to the dreamy and beautiful atmosphere exuded by its name, reminiscent of the aerial island in the clouds from an animated film, it is a brutal place that seems to slaughter all intruders. Should I call it a steampunk-style artificial island where the sound of blades moving and gears constantly grinding something can be heard? The pinnacle of magical tools where steam engines, magic, and mysteries are intertwined, that is Areah’s aerial island and the principal’s residence.

There is one reason why the principal lives on a machine device instead of leaving a proper piece of land alone, and it is in line with the reason why the principal should not go outside Areah. Professor Damyeon, the reason he can appear in front of students even though he is known to have died to the outside world, is because the principal is maintaining his life with the ancient mysteries of Areah.

‘In short, it’s a life like a pufferfish that dies immediately if it goes outside Areah…’

Anyway, the aerial island is the culmination and command center of Areah Academy’s cutting-edge technology. Not just anyone can approach there.

Because the mysteries don’t open the way.

I, too, would not have been allowed to even go up the elevated bridge if I hadn’t received an invitation from the principal.

However, now, as if to somehow persuade Cassice Demillang who expressed his intention to drop out, the principal summoned me. Thus, crossing the sunset and shadows drenched in rain, I am walking in the sky.

The higher I climbed the stairs, the redder the sunset became. It was as red as a scene from a dream I had seen before. And the island that began to be visible from afar, like a lump of iron, was shining darkly with a black light.

When I hurried my steps and approached closer, the components of the island were simple as described in the original work. One large mansion, and suspicious blades, saw blades, and gears sticking out from outside the mansion…

…It wasn’t a visual that I wanted to approach, but there was nowhere I couldn’t go for the sake of dropping out.

I decided to brainwash myself like that.

[This is as far as it goes.]

The totem pole that led me across the iron bridge to the front gate of the island on top jumped up and down in place and said. That totem pole wore a crown on its head and had fierce eyes, and the letters engraved on the front were ‘Cheonha Daejanggun (General Under Heaven)’, so it could be seen that it was a noble among totem poles with a high status.

Was it the principal’s will that such a being took on the role of guiding me? But no matter what the principal says, dropping out is up to the student’s will! Hehehe. I’ll ignore everything, whether they stop me or not, and do as I please.

“Thank you for the guidance. Now please return to where you were.”

[I’ll wait until your business is finished.]

“Aha, then I’ll do my best to finish quickly…”

When I quickly laid the groundwork to ignore the principal’s persuasion and come out, the totem pole made a strange sound as if holding back a comical laugh. But since I wasn’t the type to develop a habit of conversing with wood, I cheerfully ignored it and pressed the doorbell without hesitation. After a moment, the inside of the door that opened with a creaking sound was more normal-looking than expected for a home. As I entered, I turned back, wondering if it was really safe here…

“Watch where you’re going.”

As soon as I looked forward at those words, my heart nearly dropped. Because there was a skull bowl right in front of my nose.

“Ah, yes. Of course. Master.”

I spoke calmly, but honestly, I was scared to death. Because since I had become somewhat strong, I could read the presence of people other than Ryuseong quite well. But as expected, the Named Hunter, Professor Damyeon, seemed different.

Even when I concentrated to the maximum, his movements were blurry.

‘Will it change if I turn on Cheon Seogong?’

But there was no need to openly show a hostile attitude in front of the principal. If the principal doesn’t intend to confine me to prevent me from dropping out…

“Skinny as a rake… Ting! Follow me! I need to feed you something…!”

What is this person saying now, being a zombie with only a skull left?

“I’ve already eaten, so please just process my dropout application.”

“…”

When I said that, the principal quietly looked at me.

With eyes flowing with a golden light, calmly.

“You, are you trying to become the family head?”

‘Ah, how does this bastard know?’

I apologize for speaking informally to you, Principal, since you are old. But it seems like you asked too sharply. How the hell did you notice my grand ambition to become the family head just from my words about dropping out?

“Why are you pretending to be surprised when you wouldn’t even be surprised? What would you do after leaving school? You’ll jump into society. By declaring that you’ll drop out, you declared war against the family head, didn’t you?”

Ah, so that’s what it was?

“Others may not know, but I do. I’ve dealt with you for how many years, you think I wouldn’t know that?”

Hmm. Unexpectedly, the principal seemed to have a sharp intellect. How can he think rationally when he doesn’t even have a brain inside his skull?

But for a personality-deficient possessed like me, it was also a question that was convenient to smoothly evade.

“Well, are you curious about Demillang’s intimate affairs? That would be overstepping…”

“Cut the crap. You’re not unaware of what it means that I called you here, are you?”

I didn’t understand what he meant, but I smiled calmly as if I understood everything.

‘After all, you can’t spit on a smiling face, right?’

But the next words took the smile away from the corners of my mouth.

“No one will be able to eavesdrop on our conversation here, so don’t worry. You know that you were both suppressed and protected when you entered Areah? Your family head seems to have already heard that you declared you’ll leave Areah and ordered Ryuseong to assassinate you. To kill you and come back.”

“Aha, is that so…?”

I thought that was truly an incredible thing.

‘To think it made me, of all people, lose my smile!’

Even if I try hard, feeling the corners of my mouth, a smile doesn’t come up. Is that why? Without knowing, an eerie voice leaked out.

“I’m not well-versed in feng shui, so I’ll ask, where would be a good burial site for the family head…?”

“…Hey, calm down first. Are you crazy?”

“Oh my, I’ve been calm for a long time. I think a dog collar would suit Mr. Ryuseong better than iron chains…”

“He refused, you bastard!”

“Pardon?”

When I was seriously pondering and quietly looked back, the principal shouted loudly with a red skull.

“He not only refused but gave a double middle finger!”

“Why would that be? That can’t be possible.”

“What do you mean why! It’s because he loves you! You crazy bastard!”

Only then could I smile.

“What bullshit.”

But I thought it was nice to hear, but for some reason, the principal had a face that looked like he was going to die from frustration.