How did things end up like this?
Ryn sat in a high-backed velvet chair, feeling the weight of a dozen stares. He was in the grand conference hall, surrounded by the heads of the Academy. The air smelled of old parchment and expensive incense.
"Mister Ryn," the Headmaster began, folding his hands. "Given your... extraordinary demonstration, we would like to appoint you as an Academy Representative, alongside Leon Hart and Mira Adrian. What do you think?"
Ryn's expression didn't change, but his mind was racing. Representative? That sounds like a lot of work. I came here to sleep, not to be a mascot.
Seeing the hesitation, the Headmaster leaned in.
"The position comes with a monthly stipend of 50 gold coins. You will also have unrestricted access to all school facilities. In exchange, you must attend all classes—including the senior seminars."
Fifty gold a month just to sit in a chair? I can sleep in a senior seminar just as easily as a freshman one.
"I accept," Ryn said.
"Excellent. You may go."
As Ryn stood up to leave, a teacher with a face like a shriveled lemon leaned close, his voice a poisonous whisper.
"You only got this through a fluke of 'engineering,' boy. Don't get cocky. Luck runs out."
Ryn didn't even blink. He just walked out, the sound of the teacher's teeth grinding echoing behind him.
Ryn headed straight for Alchemy class.
...
The room was a forest of glass tubes, bubbling cauldrons, and the pungent smell of sulfur. He scanned the room and found a spot right next to Mira. It was the only empty station left.
His goal for today was simple: Elimination.
In the story he'd written, the Alchemy teacher, Miss Yenela, was a monster. She was a high-level cultist who kidnapped students for experiments. In the original plot, it took Leon weeks of playing "detective" to find her secret lab, and by then, half the victims were already dead.
Leon's detective arc was a bit of a drag anyway, Ryn thought. And there's no harm in doing some good if it saves me the trouble later.
The problem was, Ryn didn't know exactly where the hidden base was. He hadn't written the floor plan in detail. He needed her to take him there.
Screech!
Mira jumped as Ryn managed to shatter three glass test tubes just by trying to pour water.
"What was that?" Miss Yenela rushed over.
She was slender, with brown hair and eyes that sparkled with a fake, motherly kindness.
"I am so sorry, Miss," Ryn said, looking as clumsy as possible.
"Don't worry, dear. Just be careful next time," she said sweetly, though Ryn saw the flicker of annoyance in her eyes.
"Wait! Miss, I actually made something amazing. Come check it out!" Ryn gave her a brimming, "idiot-genius" smile.
I wonder what he's cooked up? The boy is a freakish talent based on Maxwell's report, Yenela thought. She leaned in close to peer into his beaker.
POH!
A localized explosion of purple soot and foul-smelling smoke erupted directly into her face.
The classroom went silent.
"He... he just blew up a potion in Miss Yenela's face."
"Does he not know who she is?"
"He's a dead man."
The whispers filled the air, and Ryn couldn't have been happier. What better way to get "delivered" to a secret laboratory than to be the "problem student" who needs some "extra tutoring" after hours?
...
Later that night, Ryn wasn't in his dorm. He was back at the demon base, standing before his generals.
"So, let me get this straight," Olivia said, her brow furrowing. "You want us to blend into human society... by starting a company?"
"Exactly," Ryn said with a sharp smirk. "If we become a pillar of the capital's economy, the humans won't be able to just 'purge' us. They'll be too dependent on us."
"And what exactly are we selling?" Adorn asked.
"Soap. Perfume. Chocolate. High-end dresses," Ryn listed them off, his eyes gleaming with the greed of a modern entrepreneur. "Humanity can never resist the call of luxury."
Adorn looked at Bullack. Bullack looked at Nimiri. They all shook their heads. "My Liege... we don't even know what 'chocolate' is."
"Don't worry. I'll teach you everything," Ryn said, pointing at Nimiri, the beautiful blonde elf.
"Especially you. You're the face of the brand. People love beautiful ladies, and you're going to be the most famous woman in the Empire."
Nimiri's face turned bright red. "My Liege... I am honored to be of use!"
"Bullack, status report on the island. Any trouble?"
"It is vast and quiet, Master," the Orc grunted. "No dangers yet. The kinsmen are building shelters."
"Good. We might need a place to run if this Alchemy plan goes sideways." Ryn tossed a heavy bag of gold—his first "advance" and his savings—onto the table.
"Get the materials. We're going to be rich—I mean, we're going to save the demon race."
...
Miles away, inside the cold stone walls of a Blossom Church outpost, a young man stared at a sheet of paper.
His face was grim, his eyes fixed on a single name written in red ink.
Ryn.
"So," the man whispered, his finger tracing the letters. "The 'genius' of the Academy is a little more than he seems."
Chapter 15:Academy Representative
How did things end up like this?
Ryn sat in a high-backed velvet chair, feeling the weight of a dozen stares. He was in the grand conference hall, surrounded by the heads of the Academy. The air smelled of old parchment and expensive incense.
"Mister Ryn," the Headmaster began, folding his hands. "Given your... extraordinary demonstration, we would like to appoint you as an Academy Representative, alongside Leon Hart and Mira Silverstone. What do you think?"
Ryn's expression didn't change, but his mind was racing. Representative? That sounds like a lot of work. I came here to sleep, not to be a mascot.
Seeing the hesitation, the Headmaster leaned in.
"The position comes with a monthly stipend of 50 gold coins. You will also have unrestricted access to all school facilities. In exchange, you must attend all classes—including the senior seminars."
Fifty gold a month just to sit in a chair? I can sleep in a senior seminar just as easily as a freshman one.
"I accept," Ryn said.
"Excellent. You may go."
As Ryn stood up to leave, a teacher with a face like a shriveled lemon leaned close, his voice a poisonous whisper.
"You only got this through a fluke of 'engineering,' boy. Don't get cocky. Luck runs out."
Ryn didn't even blink. He just walked out, the sound of the teacher's teeth grinding echoing behind him.
Ryn headed straight for Alchemy class.
...
The room was a forest of glass tubes, bubbling cauldrons, and the pungent smell of sulfur. He scanned the room and found a spot right next to Mira. It was the only empty station left.
His goal for today was simple: Elimination.
In the story he'd written, the Alchemy teacher, Miss Yenela, was a monster. She was a high-level cultist who kidnapped students for experiments. In the original plot, it took Leon weeks of playing "detective" to find her secret lab, and by then, half the victims were already dead.
Leon's detective arc was a bit of a drag anyway, Ryn thought. And there's no harm in doing some good if it saves me the trouble later.
The problem was, Ryn didn't know exactly where the hidden base was. He hadn't written the floor plan in detail. He needed her to take him there.
Screech!
Mira jumped as Ryn managed to shatter three glass test tubes just by trying to pour water.
"What was that?" Miss Yenela rushed over.
She was slender, with brown hair and eyes that sparkled with a fake, motherly kindness.
"I am so sorry, Miss," Ryn said, looking as clumsy as possible.
"Don't worry, dear. Just be careful next time," she said sweetly, though Ryn saw the flicker of annoyance in her eyes.
"Wait! Miss, I actually made something amazing. Come check it out!" Ryn gave her a brimming, "idiot-genius" smile.
I wonder what he's cooked up? The boy is a freakish talent based on Maxwell's report, Yenela thought. She leaned in close to peer into his beaker.
POH!
A localized explosion of purple soot and foul-smelling smoke erupted directly into her face.
The classroom went silent.
"He... he just blew up a potion in Miss Yenela's face."
"Does he not know who she is?"
"He's a dead man."
The whispers filled the air, and Ryn couldn't have been happier. What better way to get "delivered" to a secret laboratory than to be the "problem student" who needs some "extra tutoring" after hours?
...
Later that night, Ryn wasn't in his dorm. He was back at the demon base, standing before his generals.
"So, let me get this straight," Olivia said, her brow furrowing. "You want us to blend into human society... by starting a company?"
"Exactly," Ryn said with a sharp smirk. "If we become a pillar of the capital's economy, the humans won't be able to just 'purge' us. They'll be too dependent on us."
"And what exactly are we selling?" Adorn asked.
"Soap. Perfume. Chocolate. High-end dresses," Ryn listed them off, his eyes gleaming with the greed of a modern entrepreneur. "Humanity can never resist the call of luxury."
Adorn looked at Bullack. Bullack looked at Nimiri. They all shook their heads. "My Liege... we don't even know what 'chocolate' is."
"Don't worry. I'll teach you everything," Ryn said, pointing at Nimiri, the beautiful blonde elf.
"Especially you. You're the face of the brand. People love beautiful ladies, and you're going to be the most famous woman in the Empire."
Nimiri's face turned bright red. "My Liege... I am honored to be of use!"
"Bullack, status report on the island. Any trouble?"
"It is vast and quiet, Master," the Orc grunted. "No dangers yet. The kinsmen are building shelters."
"Good. We might need a place to run if this Alchemy plan goes sideways." Ryn tossed a heavy bag of gold—his first "advance" and his savings—onto the table.
"Get the materials. We're going to be rich—I mean, we're going to save the demon race."
...
Miles away, inside the cold stone walls of a Blossom Church outpost, a young man stared at a sheet of paper.
His face was grim, his eyes fixed on a single name written in red ink.
Ryn.
"So," the man whispered, his finger tracing the letters. "The 'genius' of the Academy is a little more than he seems."