Chapter 182: Dark Demon's Troubles of Weight
"Come on, clap your hands!"
Under Dark's forceful command, Eevee sat obediently on the windowsill, clapping its paws with a look of disdain. The light representing [Helping Hand] emanated from it, gradually intensifying, but then, like a bubble, it vanished with a "whoosh."
"It doesn't work?"
Dark felt extremely regretful. It seemed Eevee's [Helping Hand] couldn't be used on itself. But then again, a nice monster should hide behind the scenes and spectate; how could it take the stage itself?
After tidying up his experimental tools, Dark read for a while, then, for the first time in a long time, practiced [Nether Divinity Art] for an hour before falling into a deep sleep.
Only two weeks remained until the end of the semester.
In the time that followed, the professors generally stopped teaching new knowledge, focusing mainly on review and consolidation. Aside from Dueling class, all other courses assigned major homework, requiring students to complete and submit them by December 20th.
This major assignment would serve as a reference for students' academic performance this semester.
Students who had been growing increasingly excited and out of control due to the approaching holidays and Christmas, were like wild horses reined in, developing a weary air at a young age. Bound by heavy assignments, they even forgot about finding dance partners and preparing gifts for a long time.
It wasn't until the afternoon of December 15th, the fifth day of the new week, when the increasingly festive atmosphere of Traveler's Street washed over them, that students suddenly realized Christmas was only a week away!
Topics about Christmas then erupted like wildfire.
Just like during Halloween, Dark started receiving confession letters again. Compared to the more childish first-year students, his "mature and steady" peer persona was clearly more popular among young girls. Moreover, just the week before, he had won the inter-class competition, making him exceptionally prominent.
On Friday evening, he even received a ball invitation from a second-year senior! A young lady from the Noble House in the same tower smiled as she placed a white, heart-adorned envelope on his desk in the common room, claiming it was an "invitation" from her best friend.
Dark opened the "invitation" and glanced at it, feeling a bit troubled. This letter, an "invitation" in name but a "confession letter" in reality, was filled with a literary girl's poetry and distant dreams. It was a type he didn't dislike.
But how could he politely refuse in his reply?
...
Professor Claire's after-class tutoring ended last night.
Although Dark still had many questions unanswered, Claire, as a professor, also had her duties; she would be very busy in the coming week.
And regarding whether to remain in her position, or even take on the role of Steward House Dean... She had many things to ponder.
In the ten years after the war, Claire had no fixed abode except for a prolonged stay at the Duke's mansion, wandering wherever she pleased, fulfilling someone's wish to "travel around."
→If the war ends, I'll travel alone, see the mountains and waters, see if the things described in books are truly that magical.
Reverse waterfalls, inverted giant trees, mysterious underground worlds, distant sky islands...
...
She had already traveled too many roads. Perhaps, it was time to stop.
To rest for a while. To organize what she had gained over the past two years. And to write another book, earning some royalties. She couldn't always be accused of "eating, drinking, and taking for free."
"After I go back, I should discuss it with her."
...
Virt and Robert, still serving their detention, had no choice but to pour all their efforts into their assignments, under the supervision of Ms. Gris.
Their world had no Christmas ball, nor Christmas gifts.
Detention would last until the evening of December 23rd, until Ms. Gris left the academy.
December 24th was their last window.
That was perhaps Professor Sarah's mercy. Otherwise, they would experience "social death" during their first Christmas at the academy for "only receiving gifts and not reciprocating."
...
The weather in St. Marian grew colder and colder.
Occasionally, young Magic Guide Masters would go to the infirmary for special cough medicine due to colds. Sister Carian's work became very busy.
Not because the number of people with colds increased, but because "retaliation incidents" had appeared in the academy, just as they did every year before Christmas.
Not everyone could accept "rejection."
Prank retaliations, sparked by this, were as numerous as stars. For example, making pimples on a person's face as large as a finger. Or making someone's hair grow incessantly. Or turning a person's skin a deep blackish-purple...
Sister Carian had to deal with these strange pranks that caused no substantial harm.
"This Christmas, I'll have to stay at school again."
...
Dark started conceptualizing Christmas gifts on Friday evening.
In previous Christmases, he was always the one who only received gifts and didn't reciprocate. This year, of course, that was no longer possible.
Not returning gifts at Christmas was a privilege of children; students entering St. Marian had already outgrown that age group.
He sat in the common room, writing down a gift list in his notebook.
Diana
Rose
Senior Pandora
Professor Kazel
Professor Claire
Professor Lily
DemiDevimon
Emma
Alvit
In addition to a box of chocolates for each Noble House classmate, Emma and Alvit were also included on the gift list. After all, he had received Emma's contribution in mural research; he had to reciprocate somehow.
As for his mother's gift, he could ask Professor Claire to deliver it. Before Christmas, most professors would leave the academy to spend Christmas with their families.
Dark had always spent past Christmases with Alvit; this year would arguably be his first time spending it alone.
"I didn't realize until I counted, but there are actually nine gifts that need careful preparation!"
"Let's tackle them one by one."
"For Diana, although she probably hopes for a big candy package, I happen to have a core material that suits her."
"Rose... hmm, maybe a signed copy of 'Claire's Travels'?"
"As for the senior, I'll think about it more."
"Professor Kazel, he never lets himself relax. I'll get him a novel, 'The Old Knight of the Frontier' sounds good."
"Professor Lily, hmm, I'll check Traveler's Street tomorrow for some good wine."
"DemiDevimon, choose a scarf that can also be used as a hat."
"Emma, I wonder what books she's been reading lately? I could give her a case of homemade apple juice."
"Finally, my mother, hey, I wonder if she'd be interested in snapdragons?"
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