The first class was Bahil's Katarology Class.
Once the lesson began, the events of last night in the forbidden forest were completely forgotten amid the usual classroom chaos. Bahil wrapped up the theory and moved straight into practice.
"In the last Exhaust class, I noticed many of you were relying on correction tools. So today, we'll work with a simpler curse."
The Transfer Curse was built upon a foundational Darkness formula that imposed Darkness onto a target lifeform. The objective today was to manifest the magic circle mid-air — without correction tools.
"Hmmm…"
While the other students strained to focus, Knox calmly spread his palms apart.
It looked as though he were holding a large piece of fruit.
Then, by channeling Darkness through his hands, a magic circle began to form in the air.
Deep violet Darkness flowed from Knox's palms, tracing a perfect ring — the base structure of the circle.
"Easy~"
He formed the base as naturally as breathing and immediately began inscribing runes at its center.
For most of the class, things were far less graceful. Some students found their circles resisting and wobbling the moment they tried adding runes. Others had hands trembling like they were fighting off a fever.
Naturally, Knox experienced none of that. Without the slightest hint of instability, his magic circle remained flawless.
Near him, Simon awkwardly continued writing runes and formulas. Ideally, it should have resembled a crisp diagram fresh from a photocopier, but Simon's letters wriggled and twisted however they pleased.
"Compared to what Sister Jane, Sister Tene, and Sister Jean put me through… this lesson is basically angelic," Knox muttered.
Then he decided to test the spell.
On his desk stood a tall plant — a species that thrived by feeding on Darkness.
If the Transfer Curse succeeded, a single bud should bloom.
With a relaxed flick of his fingers, Knox activated the spell toward the plant.
Fwoom…
A surge of Darkness pulsed into the pot. What happened next was something Knox hadn't anticipated.
Numerous flower buds suddenly burst from the plant's body.
"…Huh?"
Before he could react—
BLOOM—!
The buds exploded into full blossom.
Flowers of violet streaked with soft pink rapidly spread across Knox's desk, cascading outward in an instant. Petals unfurled, vines crept, and within seconds—
Knox found himself engulfed in a sudden flower garden.
"Wow!"
"What—what is that?!"
"How beautiful!"
Exclamations erupted across the classroom. Team Seven, who had been in the middle of practicing their curses, stopped and stared at Knox in confusion.
Team Eight — Knox's own group — reacted differently.
They looked at him with open awe… mixed with the unmistakable expression of:
There he goes again.
Cindy practically sparkled.
"Wow, Knox! That's so beautiful! You have to teach me!"
Claudia, still staring at the flowers, spoke more softly.
"…It's gorgeous. Knox, how is something like this even possible?"
Merida gazed at the blooming desk with half-lidded eyes.
"Wow… If it grew into a tree that size… it'd be perfect for a nap…"
With so many eyes now fixed on him, Knox felt a sudden pressure to respond.
"Hmmm…"
He rested his chin on his hands, thinking. Then he looked at his teammates.
"Cindy, Claudia, Merida… look at me."
"Hm?" Cindy blinked.
"Yes?" Claudia answered.
Merida slowly tilted her head.
Knox gestured dramatically toward the sea of blossoms.
"Among these countless beautiful flowers…"
He paused.
Rested his chin back onto his hands.
Formed a pose like a blooming petal.
"There is…"
A beat.
"…Me."
Silence.
Then—
Cindy: "Pfft—!"
Claudia: "…Pffhahaha—!"
Merida: "…Heh… hehe…"
The three of them suddenly burst out laughing, heads lowered as they struggled to contain themselves.
Even Merida was laughing.
The rest of the class, who had been staring at Knox out of sheer curiosity — wondering what kind of nonsense the infamous devil student would pull next — soon followed.
Laughter rippled through the room.
For some unfortunate students, the magic circles they had painstakingly constructed wavered—
—and collapsed.
"Ahhh!"
"My magic circle!"
Groans and cries erupted everywhere.
Cindy wiped at the corner of her eyes, still recovering. "Phew… Knox, what was that for?!"
Knox grinned. "Hehe… I just felt like it."
At Cindy's complaint, he simply shrugged, offering another carefree "hehe."
Then—
Step.
A footstep echoed beside Team Eight. The group instinctively turned.
Bahil stood there.
"…Huh?" Cindy blinked.
"Professor Bahil?" Claudia straightened.
Despite their voices, Bahil remained silent.
He stared blankly at the flowers surrounding Knox.
(Ahem. No puns intended. By "flowers," I mean the actual flowers. Not Claudia, Cindy, or Merida.)
"…Professor?" Knox asked.
Bahil blinked, as if waking from a trance.
"…Ah. Yes. Student Knox. What were you saying?"
Knox tilted his head. "Nothing, Professor. You were just… standing there silently."
"…Oh. I see."
Bahil cleared his throat. "That was… somewhat embarrassing."
Knox chuckled. "Haha, it's okay, Professor Bahil."
Honestly, Bahil had completely frozen.
Well… if a student suddenly produced something this bizarre, that kind of reaction was understandable.
At least, Knox thought.
While Knox was still lost in his own thoughts, Bahil suddenly spoke.
"Come to think of it… Student Knox."
Knox blinked. "Yes, Professor?"
Bahil adjusted his glasses slightly.
"Were you, by any chance, considering majoring in Katarology?"
"…Pardon?"
Knox stared at him.
Major in Katarology?
Absolutely not.
Well… he hadn't fully decided yet, but Katarology was definitely nowhere near the top of the list.
At least, that's what Knox told himself.
Bahil smiled — calm, measured, unreadable.
"Well, first-year students like you still have plenty of time to reconsider."
His tone was gentle. Too gentle.
Yet somehow, the words carried a faint, almost imperceptible edge.
Knox narrowed his eyes slightly.
…Why does that sound sour?
As if he already knows I'm not interested?
Then it clicked.
Ah.
After forming their groups, each student had written their desired major on the slip of paper distributed by the assistant professor.
Did Bahil see that?
Does he keep track of everything in Class A?
Knox's eyes flickered toward the professor.
…Is he secretly a stalker?
Before Knox could say anything aloud, Bahil turned away.
"Well then. Good luck with your exercises, Team Eight."
"Oh—yes, thank you, Professor," Claudia and Cindy answered almost in unison.
Bahil gave a small nod and resumed overseeing the class.
Moments later, his attention shifted to Simon, whose magic circle had devolved into a violently wriggling disaster, stiffened.
When Simon activated his spell—
BOOM!
His magic circle exploded with a sharp crack and scattered into fragments of Darkness.
"…Tch."
Simon exhaled, shoulders sagging. "As expected… it's not easy."
He didn't have the luxury of failing here. Next week, he was scheduled to hunt a Cyclops.
Gritting his teeth, Simon spread his palms once more.
"How is it? Doable?"
A warm hand settled gently on his shoulder.
Simon flinched.
Turning his head, he found Bahil standing beside him, wearing a soft, unreadable smile.
Simon immediately straightened.
"Ah—yes! I'm doing my best—"
"The operation of your Core."
Simon's voice caught. Bahil's gaze sharpened slightly.
"Your Core operation is unrefined. Because of that, the density of your Darkness weakens, and the magic circle constructed afterward collapses as a result."
"…Ah…"
Bahil raised his index finger from Simon's shoulder.
"Pardon me for a moment."
Then—
He pressed his finger firmly into Simon's shoulder.
Plop.
Simon's mind went blank.
A single droplet echoed somewhere in the distance.
The classroom noise vanished. The presence of other students disappeared.
Simon's body felt as though it were drifting in an endless void.
"There's a common misconception that curses are inherently harmful."
Bahil's voice rang out with startling clarity.
"As someone who studies them… I find that rather unfortunate."
"P-Professor… what is this…?"
"Don't be alarmed."
Bahil's tone remained calm. "It's merely a modified sensory curse. A technique designed to heighten perception."
His faint smile returned. "Now… focus again."
Strangely—
Simon's anxiety began to dissolve.
Bahil's voice carried an odd sense of reassurance.
"Take a deep breath. Slowly draw the mana from the air into your body."
Simon obeyed. Mana flowed inward.
Then Bahil placed his other hand on Simon's opposite shoulder.
"Good."
"Now pass that mana through your Core."
His voice lowered. "Watch carefully."
Simon followed the instructions, visualizing the flow he had repeated countless times in his mind.
The mana responded.
It streamed inward—
—and entered his Core.
"You don't need to force control."
Bahil's voice echoed gently. "Relax your mind. Observe."
"Let the Core do what it naturally desires."
Simon loosened his focus.
And then—
The Core moved. Not forced. Not strained. But guided by instinct.
Darkness circulated smoothly. Stabilized. Refined.
"…!"
After several breaths—
Bahil spoke again. "Now, Simon."
"Activate your magic circle."
Simon extended his hands. Darkness surged outward.
Fwoooosh!
And then—
A breathtaking sight unfolded.
From the plant's body—
Countless flower buds burst forth.
Before Simon could even react—
They bloomed.
Soft blue flowers erupted across the desk, spilling outward in a cascading wave.
In mere seconds—
Simon stood surrounded by a growing field of blossoms.
Though not as vast or radiant as Knox's earlier display…
It was undeniably beautiful.
"W-Woah…!"
"What the—?!"
Exclamations rang throughout the classroom.
Simon's eyes widened.
"P-Professor! This is—!"
"This," Bahil said quietly,
"is your potential."
Simon froze.
Bahil's voice was meant only for him. "Do not misunderstand."
"All I did was help stabilize your output."
His grip remained light, yet firm. "In the near future… you will achieve this on your own."
Simon swallowed.
Because he knew—
Bahil was right. This bloom had been born from his own Darkness.
"Your Darkness is special, Simon Polentia."
Bahil's fingers twitched slightly against Simon's shoulder.
The blue flowers continued to grow, creeping upward, brushing against Simon's chest.
Bahil's expression shifted. No longer smiling. But serious.
"Think carefully."
"Consider the best way to allow your talent to fully bloom."
"And what path you will choose…"
"To wield that extraordinary Darkness."