The time remaining until the first

 

As I stared blankly, feeling like I had been hit on the back of my head with a hammer, Pingvalais lay down on the sofa just as he was dressed. Then, with an elegant stretch, he crossed his legs and tapped his foot.

 

“Did I forget to turn off the magic circle…?”

 

No, I didn’t. I finished modifying the magic circle in no time. It won’t have any impact on the academy until I activate it, and even if I do, I’ve already made an exception for Pingvalais.

 

Who knows which unidentified force that discovered the truth about the magic circle NTR made a new one in just a day and activated it. No, that would even make the Archmage go crazy.

 

While I was trying to assess the situation, Pingvalais suddenly threw in an additional attack.

 

“Don’t you want to hit me?”

 

“What, what again.”

 

“The butt.”

 

“Why do you keep saying crazy things whenever you have time since then?!”

 

As I jumped in fear, Pingvalais gave a mischievous smile. He slightly narrowed his eyes and lifted the corners of his mouth. While still lying down, he said this.

 

“You said you would treat me as a friend.”

 

“…………”

 

It was a fake exchange!

 

Like playing a mean prank on a friend, Pingvalais also seemed to be in a mischievous mood. Hey, haven’t I always rolled forward and backward and run away whenever Pingvalais did this kind of movement?

 

The balance of the tense mental battle that had been tightly maintained…collapsed. Pingvalais was now in a mount position and launching indiscriminate attacks.

 

I can understand being excited about meeting a friend who knows how to cast a s*x-reversal spell after living without friends since birth. But receiving one-sided attacks in a deal like this was not good.

 

And what was not good was that I wasn’t feeling good.

 

I won’t just take hits without fighting back.

 

“[Deception: Gender Reversal].”

 

“?”

 

If the wish is to engage in a showdown with temptation, then face it.

 

I tidied up my side hair and swept it over. The wavy black hair fluttered. It had been a long time since I had realized that the Femme Fatale was weak in her absolute territory.

 

As I was about to start the seduction war, motioning to remove the stockings under the skirt that seemed to barely hide the panties, a sharp cat’s cry was heard from the side.

 

“Nyaahhh!!”

 

The yellow cat puffed up its fur all over its body, expressing irritation. Sorrow dripped steadily from its purple eyes. I transformed and rushed over.

 

“Our Kitty, what’s wrong? Why do you keep calling Dad?”

 

“…A cat?”

 

“Oh, I picked it up yesterday. Strangely, I felt attached.”

 

I petted Kitty all over while asking. Perhaps because it was a stray cat, it was surprised at first, but soon it came over, rubbing against my hand while purring.

 

The seduction war was postponed, but grudges are not forgotten. Just wait, Femme Fatale.

 

—–

 

The time has come.

 

Tomorrow, the first lecture of “Fantasy Magic Response” will be held. And I wasn’t a student; I was a professor. It was a bit nerve-wracking to do something I had never done in my life.

 

But it was okay. I had a magic spell that could relieve all tension.

 

This is… a tabletop role-playing game (TRPG).

 

I felt the same way during the job interview in my past life. In fact, thinking of this situation as a TRPG and myself as a character made the words flow smoothly. It was a proven method.

 

I’m trying to play the character of a professor. What kind of professor, what kind of… character would fit this situation the most? Perhaps, someone a bit mysteriously beguiling.

 

A feeling like a suspicious character with narrow, mysterious eyes.

 

This character has its advantages. Even if I suddenly bring out a map with a cursed sword buried somewhere or start muttering about an unverified rumor like, ‘Do you know? There’s a Celestial Demon Art hidden in the academy…,’ it would be accepted.

 

Surprisingly… I am already suspicious. A holy maiden with a sword, who picked up a cursed sword, is chasing me. Anyway, if I’m already suspicious, it’s probably better to become so suspicious that I can’t regain my composure.

 

Okay, next.

 

How should I approach the first class…? Let’s summarize the objectives of the class.

 

1) Elevate the status of the Purple Demon Tower through Viral Fantasy Magic.

 

2) Spark curiosity about the lecture on “Exploring Other Worlds.”

 

3) Instill a sense of caution and teach coping strategies for Fantasy Magic among the students.

 

4) Supplement with practical experience.

 

Hmm.

 

Something… something caught my eye. One move that seems to satisfy all the conditions. A sharp angle. I called out to the dawdling Ping Valez beside me.

 

“Hey, Ping Valez.”

 

“Yes, sis.”

 

“Right, my dear. Dreamwalking allows you to enter someone’s dream, right? How does the mechanism work?”

 

“Lord Nan, entering dreams is possible due to the inherent characteristics of the Dreamwalkers. They possess the ability to transition between reality and illusion, transforming their own bodies into clusters of information and parasitizing the bodies of their targets.”

 

“Thanks for explaining, love.”

 

“Don’t mention it, Oppa.”

 

Why do you try so hard to avoid saying a word?

 

Anyway, I got the feeling. Fantasy Magic wasn’t so different from that. Magic circles seemed to have various uses, but this time I decided to use it as a battery and loudspeaker.

 

Since it has the ability to exert influence throughout the entire academy, the magic cast here can spread to the entire academy with just a click of the mouse.

 

I sketched it vaguely. A wonderful friend who enters other people’s minds and shows them good dreams. I gave it a bit of intelligence, but with limited autonomy. A cluster of information that follows my commands. I named it in a classic way.

 

“Sandman.”

 

You could also call it an artificial spirit.

 

The Sandman deliberately toned down the strength of his fantastic magic. Enough for sensitive individuals to perceive it as an illusion. That way, class wouldn’t be disrupted.

 

I recalled memories from a past life, the beginning of the semester. The face of the teacher who distributed a pop quiz to assess our levels as soon as we entered the assigned middle school was still vivid. Back then, it was resented, but now I see the rationale.

 

The Sandman would conduct a pop quiz. It’s time to see how immune students are to fantastic magic. I activated the magic circle.

 

A gray mist was drawn into the center of the magic circle. After a short wait, duplicated Sandmen would spread throughout the academy. Then, they would seek out the pre-entered students and show them the dreams they desired.

 

Now, a phantom was wandering through the academy.

 

—–

 

Bennett opened his eyes.

 

“⋯⋯⋯⋯.”

 

He threw off the blanket, got up, opened the back door, and splashed water from a basin. After a light wash, he combed through his damp hair. However, a vague feeling of haziness remained.

 

What day was it today? Today is… right, I have to go attend the “Fantastic Magic Response” lecture. It’s the beginning of the school year. Academy life has started again.

 

Bennett had been doing well so far. Sneaking into the academy, becoming Alecson’s disciple, and living incognito for two years. The time of patience was about to end.

 

Pretending is over. Seeking guidance from Alecson, talking to the familiar faces at the academy, this would be the last time. The fateful day was in early July, just before the academy’s final evaluation.

 

Stirring up as much fear and anxiety as possible before July.

 

After casting “Corpse Flower Feeding on Fear,” and performing “Nightmare Summoning”…

 

A new world would come. Dark wizards would achieve their goals, and Bennett would obtain the promised reward.

 

He dressed himself. Wearing the academy uniform, he equipped two short daggers and one long sword. Then, he left the dormitory. The “Fantastic Magic Response” lecture was supposed to take place in an auditorium large enough to accommodate all students.

 

He walked. Other students passed by. Today, their facial features seemed oddly blurred. A strange sense of discomfort lingered.

 

Blink.

 

He closed his eyes and opened them; now, he was in the auditorium. Time really flows like an arrow. Walking absentmindedly sometimes gives the feeling of teleportation.

 

He sat in a suitable corner. Not too close to the front, not too far back, but with the exit of the building nearby. Bennett was always cautious.

 

A wizard stood on the podium. He was wearing a hood. Right, he had formed a group to chase after the author. Saint Tara and Neore. Surely, they would be attending the same lecture. They weren’t in sight.

 

The magician was talking about how to cook spaghetti. I listened with one ear and let it pass. Soon, the magician’s voice became as faint as background noise.

 

I felt stifled, as if submerged in water.

 

From Noble mtl dot com

 

At that moment, someone sat down next to Bennett. Thick green hair cascaded down. It was a sinister shade of blue, like a poisonous flower blooming in a decaying swamp, something that could intoxicate just by looking at it.

 

Bennett knew her. He knew her very well. She was the “Corpse-Eating Horror Flower.” A former black magician who had been executed in the past but had come back to life.

 

Why was she here? When Bennett wondered, she spoke in a sweet and gentle voice.

 

“The plan was a success, Bennett.”

 

“…What are you talking about?”

 

“I mean it. Thanks to your hard work, enough fear has gathered. Actually… I didn’t plan on keeping my promise. But since you worked so hard, I’ll keep it.”

 

Thank goodness. Bennett thought there was no chance she would willingly give it back. But a miracle happened. Bennett’s efforts had been worthwhile.

 

Deceiving others, occasionally killing the innocent, tearing away at his own soul while using magic. The past years had not been meaningless. He was rewarded. It was moving.

 

“Now, I’ll give it back.”

 

“Yeah, give it back quickly. I’ve been waiting for this moment… so long…”

 

His heart trembled. Finally, they were able to meet again.

 

Slowly, green liquid seeped out of the “Corpse-Eating Horror Flower’s” hair. And the original color, slightly lighter than Bennett’s, a silky gray, returned. Finally.

 

The “Corpse-Eating Horror Flower,” who had taken his sister’s body and come back to life, left.

 

Suppressing his overflowing emotions, Bennett cautiously called his sister’s name.

 

“…Verda.”

 

“……..”

 

“…It’s me. Bennett. Long time no see, right? How have you been, big brother? Yeah…”

 

“……..”

 

The response did not come. When I closely examined my sister’s face, there was nothing there. It was only natural. It had been over five years since I had last seen her. It was enough time for the memories to fade away.

 

Bennett lowered his eyes.

 

“…As expected, it was just a dream.”

 

It wasn’t the first time he had experienced this. It was indeed a dream. And it was someone’s psychic attack. Could it be that the nightmare had infiltrated the academy?

 

Bennett desperately hoped for his sister’s return. She was the only family he had left in this world. It seemed like the nightmare could sense his desperation. Bennett drew his sword, consumed by disappointment, self-loathing, and anger.

 

“…Get lost.”

 

The figure that distorted the appearance of his sister tilted its head as if it didn’t understand. Its mouth was grotesquely torn open.

 

[How did you know?]

 

Bennett woke up from the dream.

 

—–

 

Those who are attacked by nightmares struggle to distinguish between dreams and reality. Bennett grabbed his head and sat up. His eyes were moist. Was this a dream or reality?

 

He opened the drawer and unfolded his diary. The details couldn’t be recreated in a nightmare. He read through the contents of the diary. It was logical, with no inconsistencies. It was reality.

 

He dressed, armed himself, and went outside. He had to attend the lecture on “Fantasy Magic Countermeasures.”

 

He shook his head to dispel the unpleasant sensation. As he walked along the street, he could hear the bustling sounds of people from all around. The knights were busy patrolling the streets.

 

“…Are they trying to catch the nightmare?”

 

“Well, that’s one of the reasons… Most of it is about apprehending the dark sorcerers.”

 

Bennett turned his head at the answer that came from behind. It was Tara, a holy maiden with a perpetually embarrassing outfit and a particularly disheveled appearance today. Sadness stained her eyes. Had she also fallen victim to the nightmare?

 

“Apprehending dark sorcerers?”

 

“They succeeded in a group… Causing a commotion. I don’t know what they did wrong, but they were lucky. It’s been a splendid day except for the damn nightmares.”

 

“……..”

 

My head throbbed. At this crucial moment, could it be that even allies had stirred?

 

Thud. Thud. Thud.

 

Observing the figures of Venet and Tara, Niole, holding the whiteboard high, joined in. Unlike the two tormented by nightmares, he seemed extremely cheerful and happy.

 

[Good morning!]

 

“…Looks unusually cheerful. Did something happen?”

 

[I had a really happy dream.]

 

“……”

 

“For now, let the commotion be handled by the knights. Let’s go for our class. It’s only the rascals causing trouble, so there’s no need for anyone else to step forward.”

 

The holy maiden waved her hand.

 

[Is something the matter?]

 

“Once again, I say…”

 

Holy maiden Tara and Niole headed towards the classroom, chatting amiably. Venet followed a step behind.

 

—–

 

One by one, students began to gather in the classroom. Some were smiling as if they were happy, while others had a gloomy expression similar to Venet and Tara. Suspicion swelled in Venet’s heart at this strange commonality.

 

“…No way.”

 

Could it be that the turmoil from this morning…?

 

Thud. Thud.

 

A sorcerer with a hood flipped up ascended the platform. Black hair hanging down under the hood, and beneath the shadows, eyes shining like red jewels.

 

The sorcerer stood on the platform and casually greeted.

 

“Did you have sweet dreams last night?”

 

“⋯⋯⋯⋯?”

 

Silence. The classroom froze in an instant.