Chapter 124: Clara Rosemary

There were many things on Ian’s mind—like the temptation to treat Catherine differently or whether to give Ayre a proper lesson in s9x education—but ultimately, he returned to her daily routine without issue.

As a cadet of the Academy, his daily life revolved around enthusiastically attending classes and showcasing his accomplishments.

“So… Ian, Cadet Ian?”

Clara, standing at the front of the classroom, hesitated as she called out. 

Ian casually raised his hand to signal his presence, then shifted his gaze elsewhere.

In terms of rank, ability, and knowledge, Ian surpassed most of the teaching staff. For him, classes felt like a form of torture.

And it wasn’t any easier for the instructors, either.

“Ahem. Today, we’ll study summoning formations, as well as basic strategy and tactics.”

To most instructors—many of whom held the title of earl—Ian’s existence was like a thorny cushion. After all, he already bore the title of marquis and possessed knowledge that could shock even the faculty.

As a result, most instructors either half-ignored him or simply went through the motions of teaching. Only the new instructor, Clara, seemed to pay any real attention to him.

Fortunately, the subject Clara taught—strategic tactics—was the only one Ian struggled with.

But…

“This…Cadet Ian…”

“Ah, this one too—Cadet Ian.”

“Cadet Ian! Please solve this problem!”

The issue was that Clara called on Ian far too often. Her efforts to prevent Ian from feeling isolated instead gave off the impression of favoritism.

In truth, Clara did favor Ian, even if only a little.

‘Because we were childhood friends…’

That was before Ian had taken possession of this body, but Clara still hadn’t let go of her connection to its original owner.

Of course, Ian himself remembered about as much as an ant’s eyelash.

“Ah, Cadet Ian! Please focus!”

“…Sorry.”

“It’s okay! Really, no need to apologize!”

Perhaps she had sensed Ian’s lack of memory. Their already awkward relationship had only grown more distant after Ian was granted the title of marquis.

These days, their relationship was marked by polite formality. It would take something significant for either of them to return to the way things used to be.

Unfortunately for Clara, Ian wasn’t the type to take the initiative in relationships.

‘I’m already too busy dealing with the people around me…’

Seven women had already entangled themselves with him—should he really add one more? It felt like emotional overkill. What was this, a tripartite love story? Ian wasn’t some romantic lead juggling chairs at a court drama.

Even one more person would tip the balance.

“Class is dismissed! If any cadet has questions, you may visit the academy office later…”

Though it was a war strategy class, and Clara was a new and inexperienced instructor, the cadets were simply glad it was over. No one lingered to ask questions.

Soon, only Ian and Clara remained in the quiet classroom, their eyes meeting across the rows of empty desks.

“Sister.”

“…I’m your instructor, remember?” Clara replied in an awkward tone.

She knew Ian was both her student and the childhood friend she used to play with. Her head understood it, but her heart kept getting caught on Ian’s new status as a marquis.

The cadet who used to seem so much younger than her now felt like a distant, unreachable figure.

“So… What’s going on, Cadet Ian?”

“You’ve been avoiding me lately.”

“…Is that so? Maybe it’s just your imagination. Why would a instructor avoid a cadet, right?”

Her reasoning sounded solid—but it wasn’t always easy to live by rational theories. Clara, after all, was only human.

Watching Clara avert her gaze, Ian realized she had indeed been avoiding him on purpose.

Why? he couldn’t tell. Ian wasn’t a mind reader or a psychic.

“Then I must have misunderstood. My apologies.”

“No, not at all. If you ever have questions, you can come to me for advice anytime.”

With those words, Clara hurried out of the classroom.

***

To become an instructor at the Academy meant one of two things: you were either a retired summoner with an impressive career or a graduate with exceptional talent.

Clara belonged to the latter category. Her remarkable potential had earned her a teaching position at a young age.

A peasant girl with no noble background who summoned her own beast and secured a post at the Academy—it was a story straight out of a novel. Naturally, both students and instructors were curious about her.

‘So exhausting…’

The aristocrats, however, were quick to see through her.

The ability to learn and the ability to teach are two very different things.

Clara lacked the latter. Her poor teaching skills led to indifference from the cadets, and gradually, her enthusiasm waned.

‘Ian, too… he’ll end up ignoring me.’

It didn’t take long for her initial passion to curdle into insecurity—and that insecurity soon turned into quiet despair.

She fell into a deep depression. The bright mind a summoner should possess was gradually darkening.

The academy had warned cadets to be cautious of this, but even knowing it intellectually, putting it into practice was far more difficult.

‘‘I must look pathetic.’’

It didn’t matter to her that Ian had tried to speak kindly to her earlier. It was no different from his past actions.

What mattered was her own perception—because it painted everything in the world with gloom and despair.

[Yes, everyone ignores you.]

A sweet voice echoed in her ears. It was a mesmerizing voice, the kind that could enchant a person if they weren’t careful with their soul.

And right now, her guard was down.

[Everyone—cadet, instructor, even that kid named Ian—is ignoring you, right?]

“No, no…”

[You just have to prove that’s not the case.]

“…Prove it?”

‘How?’

The voice didn’t answer. It simply showed her.

A brilliant future—one that could be hers if she accepted herself.

And…Clara Rosemary chose that future.

Jet-black flames engulfed her.

Once a talented summoner, now became a powerful demon.

If Ian had seen her at that moment, he would have called her a boss monster.

***

“Senior.”

“Yes?”

“What are you doing today?”

Ian was sharing refreshments alone at Dinua’s house. Although the seeds of evil had been completely purged, there was no guarantee they wouldn’t be planted again.

Like people who regain weight after dieting, relapses could occur at any time.

Dinua smirked and sipped her cocoa. She didn’t bother answering—believing her calm demeanor spoke for itself.

“You look fine.”

A person who could eat sweets and smile like that was someone with emotional breathing room.

The human mind deeply affected the body. A person who was truly on the verge of death couldn’t smile gently just from tasting something sweet.

Fortunately, Ian spent this moment with Dinua.

‘By the way, how does the story go from here?’

Demons attack the academy. Humanity loses the academy, and the scattered protagonists set off on a demon hunt with the emperor’s backing.

That was the main storyline. But the demons that attacked the academy had appeared from within, not from outside.

‘Dinua became that demon and destroyed the academy.’

Humanity, having lost the academy, could no longer sit idly by. They launched a direct assault on the Demon King.

In the midst of an all-out war with demons, a covert special forces unit was formed to assassinate the Demon King.

The protagonist, as a member of that unit, took his comrades and stormed the Demon King’s Castle. After a long and bitter struggle, he succeeded in beheading the Demon King.

‘But that’s not now, right?’

Since Dinua hadn’t become a demon yet, there was no reason for the academy to fall. And if the academy hadn’t collapsed, humanity wouldn’t have sent a desperate guerrilla force.

Maybe everything would just pass peacefully.

Rumble…

“…Did you feel that?”

“Yes. An earthquake, all of a sudden…”

Kugugu—

Just as Ian and Dinua spoke, a green stem shot up through the dormitory floor. It resembled a plant, but its active movement betrayed it as something else—almost like a tentacle.

[Master!]

The summons, already on high alert since the tremor, recognized the threat and immediately took action. They pulled Ian and Dinua away from danger, cutting and burning the stem.

The plant-like appendage writhed as it burned, then disintegrated.

Ian watched it smolder and realized he had seen that type of stem before.

“This… could it be…?”

He immediately left the dormitory, just in case.

As he rushed through the main campus, away from the dorms, he came upon a towering female demon sobbing with her face in her hands.

“Sniff…Ah, ah—ah ah ah…”

Her legs were composed of tens of thousands of plant stems. There was no need to ask who the owner of the stem that had pierced the dormitory was.

“D*mn… I know what this is…”

Ian chuckled bitterly.

Dinua, who had only become a boss monster in the game, had begun her destruction by obliterating half the academy with her special move. But now, none of that had happened yet.

In other words, the academy still had its maximum power intact.

“I didn’t even see this in the game…”

Moments later, another massive force revealed itself, tearing through the academy buildings.

It was Principal Catherine’s 4-star summon: a Mountain Keeper.

And thus began the monster battle between the giant summon and the demon.