Even after Baek Yu-Seol left, Jeliel remained seated as if rooted to the spot.

She was unable to muster the thought of moving for a while.

Even with her cynical nature, she found it difficult to properly confront the current situation.

However, time kept passing.

‘... I need to prepare for the next schedule.’

She forced strength into her trembling legs and stood up.

Despite the gaping hole in her usually composed heart, she knew she couldn't afford to stay seated if she wanted to move forward.

‘I should have listened to my father's words…’

The oath of magic was absolute.

And, it was also an oath that should never be made easily.

Before becoming a mage, one usually received education from their parents.

‘Consider the oath of magic as risking your life.’

For this reason, it was considered impolite to casually present the oath of magic to someone in magical society, unless the other person happened to be a notorious criminal.

‘Was this incident really worth risking my life for?’

… If you had to answer, it was worth it.

It occurred to her that she would bite her tongue rather than facing the shame of failure in front of her father.

But what was the result?

She found herself bound by the oath, and probably for at least three years... She wouldn't be able to see her father.

It was the most gruesome torture for Jeliel.

Every day would feel like a nightmare.

She needed to find a way to get over it.

"Ah..."

Losing balance, she placed her hand on the table as her leg gave way.

A solid and rough sensation was felt through her palm.

Upon inspection, there was a stone-like object placed on the table.

It was the item Baek Yu-Seol left behind as a gift.

‘...The item from that infuriating Baek Yu-Seol.’

She had no intention of taking it with her, but there was no choice. She found herself in a situation where she had to listen to him.

Placing the stone in her arms, Jeliel staggered back to her waiting room.

The sight of her fleeting back was quite pitiful, but there was nothing in this world that could comfort her.

——

The interior of Stella Dome was composed of various systematic structures, and the complexity of its paths often led newcomers to get lost even with a map.

Fortunately, the dark mage using the name Ka Baren appeared unaffected by it.

Anella followed him through the intricately twisted interior of Stella Dome for quite some time.

"Haha! A bit confusing, isn't it? Stella is like that from the beginning, so follow me well. Oh, don't worry! I've memorized all the paths here!"

"......"

"By the way, what status did you use to come in here? The administrator's zone isn't accessible to just anyone, yet you're wearing an academy uniform? Did you come in for some petty role like part-time work? Pfft! No, right! Well, with such status, your missions would be limited. Right? Right?"

"Noisy."

He had an unusually chatty side, and he appeared like the guy who wouldn’t hold back whatever comes to his mind.

From Anella's perspective, it was a personality she didn't particularly like.

Even if he weren't a dark mage, she didn't want to associate with such a personality.

Ka Baren continued to chatter noisily while guiding Anella somewhere.

Originally, the reason she could enter the Stella Dome management area was thanks to Baek Yu-Seol’s help.

Just as a 'participant's friend,' Anella's activity area was limited, but Ka Baren freely roamed around, tapping his necklace's name tag on the sensor to go wherever he pleased.

'I didn't expect Stella's security to be this weak...'

The Dark Magic Sealing Technique developed by the leader of the Dark Mage Alliance made her realize how remarkable and dangerous the technique was.

Even now, there were rumors that such dark mages were infiltrating various places in the magical world.

Perhaps... if things continued like this, dark mages might truly devour the world, but she shook off the thought from her head.

'I will return to being human.'

Dark mages dominating the world?

The moment those who acted impulsively on momentary desires, and the ones who were selfish and power-hungry creatures, dominated the world—she believed that would be the end.

Even though she was currently a dark mage, she didn't want such a world.

A world dominated by power would, at best, be a fleeting existence under her feeble strength.

"Come on, we're here!"

After walking for a while, Ka Baren entered an area with high access restrictions inside Stella Dome.

"What is this...?"

A massive room located at the end of the corridor.

The circular space was filled with magic circles on all sides, and numerous researchers were busy controlling them.

"You've never seen it, right? This is the 'System Control Room' that handles all phenomena in Stella Dome. Well, there are probably about six more rooms like this within Stella Dome, but that's not important."

Indeed.

The crucial fact was that a dark mage had reached the central location which controlled a place symbolic of Stella Academy, the Stella Dome.

'How...?'

Anella hesitated and took a step back. She couldn't believe that she could easily enter this far without any difficulty.

This must be a trap.

Otherwise, it wouldn't make sense.

'Is Stella's security... this lax?'

In this case, it seemed as if they deliberately opened the way for her to enter...

'Why on earth?'

Anella tried hard to recall who might have infiltrated Stella Academy and who might be manipulating the upper echelons, but as a low-ranking member, she wasn't given much information.

Information gap.

In the face of an unbelievable phenomenon which penetrated the gap of ignorance, Anella felt an unknown fear.

Quietly, slowly, surely.

As if it would swallow her.

"Whoa, there's no need to be so scared."

Ka Baren walked forward, chuckling as if he understood her reaction.

"Wait a moment."

"This is a restricted area."

Researchers in white gowns and magic knights in black robes stepped forward to stop him, but Ka Baren confidently presented his name tag, mimicking a normal person.

"It seems the message didn't reach you. I came here at the request of the Vice Principal. They said there's a need for some system adjustments in the magic circles of the control room. Here, his personally signed access card."

"Ah... I see."

After looking at the access card, the magic knights nodded, granting permission.

"And the student behind you...?"

"I'm keeping an eye on this student. They want to see the magic of Stella Dome."

"Um, please make sure the student doesn't tamper with the magic circles."

"Of course."

Anyway, it was the Stella Dome.

The system wouldn’t crash suddenly by touching a few magic circles, so allowing one or two students entry upon the request of the Vice Principal wouldn't be a major issue.

… And so, Ka Baren smoothly entered the System Control Room, and turned to look at Anella.

"See that? For the Dark Mage Alliance, things like this are quite easy, you know."

Only then did Anella realize the reason he brought her here.

A display of power and authority.

She was aware of the subtle conflicts between factions of dark mages, but being a low-ranking member, she hadn't directly experienced it until now.

Given the circumstances, she was mistaken for a high-ranking dark mage, and the other party came to boast to her about it.

'We can do things like this. What about you?'

Realizing his intention belatedly, Anella felt quite upset, but unfortunately, she had nothing to show off.

"Oh, of course, what I want to show is not this."

"... What?"

"Do you know this? Stella Dome is a semi-fictional space. In other words, it's very similar to the real world."
So what does that mean?

Ka Baren raised the corner of his mouth and approached a nearby magic circle stealthily.

"These magic circles... they're operating very meticulously, so even if we tweak them a bit, it won't change much. Indeed, it's the magic of the academy’s principal. Remarkable. Truly remarkable."

However.

"If we, as dark mages, delve into the system's loopholes, we can cause 'bugs' and more."

Finding gaps in the magic of a typical Class 9 mage was practically impossible.

But the case was unusual.

The other world belonged to the dark mages.

Even Eltman Eltwin, who was known as the authority of space magic, couldn't completely conquer the other world.

Therefore, a proficient dark mage could interfere 'ever so slightly' with Eltman Eltwin's perfect magic.

During the Persona Gate practical training for first-year students, it was as if a real Persona Gate had appeared.

"Now, what little prank should we do this time? Drumroll~"

After playfully saying that, Ka Baren squinted his eyes at Anella.

"Actually, I've already done it."

"... What?"

"The Magic Survival unfolding in Stella Dome... you know participants can't inflict real harm on each other, right? That's why participants can genuinely attack each other without holding back, and they won't be afraid of the opponent's attacks either."

However, what if...

"Among them! If there's a dark mage who can really kill the opponent... What would happen?"

"... What?"

"Well, then, wouldn't the Survival become even more thrilling?"

Only then did Anella understand his intentions, and her face turned pale.

The ability to directly strike the opponent.

Truly, to the point of death.

That was the very trivial yet horrifying terror Ka Baren intended to commit.

While numerous prestigious academies gather for the tournament, actual students were dying in front of everyone's eyes.

"The match has already begun."

"So..."

"As soon as Magic Survival starts, all participants are sent to an isolated space. Even Eltman Eltwin can't easily intervene. How about it? Doesn't it seem interesting? Exciting? Doesn't your heart race? Ah, I'm getting too excited. Aaah..."

'Crap!'

Leaving behind Ka Baren, who rolled his feet in ecstasy with both hands clasped to his chest, Anella quickly exited the control room.

She had to inform Baek Yu-Seol promptly.

Then, a thought occurred.

'Wait, in Magic Survival......'

Baek Yu-Seol would have participated too, right?

———-

‘Dear Participants, please move to your designated positions.’

Baek Yu-Seol stood on the platform as a woman's voice echoed through the air.

Looking around, elites from each academy were lined up.
It must be said that they were geniuses.

As he looked at them wearing unique outfits, he truly felt like this world was originally a game.

'Hmm...'

Activating the telescope function of his specs, he gazed at a distant location.

There, Jeliel was blankly staring into space with a half-dead expression.

'Will she be okay...?'

As someone who knew the fundamental reason she had to become a villainess was because of her father Melian, he had no choice but to take such extreme measures.

It was impossible for Jeliel to retaliate against Baek Yu-Seol due to the magic oath.

It would be genuinely good if she gave up her feelings for her father like this... but it wouldn’t be easy.

'Finding a nice person to date would be good.'

Baek Yu-Seol considered it almost impossible.

Even in the original game, Jeliel could only choose between focusing solely on her father and walking the path of destruction or choosing to perish or destroy the protagonist.

‘After a while, we will move to the ground.’

When the voice signaling the imminent start of the match echoed, participants began to stretch.

Baek Yu-Seol, too, was lightly stretching when a commotion arose from behind.

'Wait, there's something I need to tell you...!'

"Student! Step back! Right before the match starts..."

"Please! Just let me say one word!"

What's going on?

Baek Yu-Seol squinted his eyes, and maximizing the magnification function of his specs, he could faintly see Anella's face.

However, due to the considerable distance and being blocked by a barrier, her voice didn't reach Baek Yu-Seol properly.

'Isn't it an awkward situation to stand out like that?'

What's the meaning of causing such a commotion?

At that moment.

A warning message appeared in the air.

[An unexpected variable has occurred in the sub-episode 'Academy Battle.']

[Academy Battle is promoted to the main episode.]

"What...?"

It was a message he hadn't anticipated at all, making him bewildered.

'No, all of a sudden?'

Hastily searching through his specs, he tried to assess the situation.

[It happens occasionally.]

[A dark mage infiltrates the event and creates chaos.]

[Why is it happening when it's not even a main episode?]

[I don't know. Go ask the game company.]

[I once died during the Mayuseong’s Date event when a meteor fell from the sky. It's annoying.]

Only then did Baek Yu-Seol realize that such cases were very rare but had occurred even in the original game.

He hadn't experienced it personally, but there were rare posts in the user community related to this.

[Why does this happen?]

[Well, maybe it's because you guys progressed the story in a messy way? Follow the strategy guide properly next time.]

[If it has already happened... that's unfortunate.]

[What can you do? If you don't want to delete your character, you have to solve it.]

Usually, 'events' were nothing more than a brief healing part with no incidents.

However, very rarely... Events lead to incidents and were promoted to episodes.

The situation was as evil and rare as the probability of lightning striking a jujube tree in succession.

A situation where numerous choices converged and intertwined.

[Episode 09]

*[The Shadow Over the Academy Battle]

Such an evil episode fell upon Baek Yu-Seol.

*[In my case, the Academy Battle event turned into a Mafia murder game.]

[Still, don't worry.]

[Just follow the strategy guide, only the strategy guide.]

[Now then, let's try to assemble the shattered event.]

As strategy guides lined up before his eyes, a strange sensation enveloped his whole body.

Swooosh...

With a mysterious feeling as if his body was moving somewhere, the world turned upside down.

‘The match has begun.’