Chapter Seven: Pay Close Attention and Learn!

Staring at his own reflection in the mirror, the twisted smile curling on his lips, Louis’s expression was rather remarkable. In that glass, he was grinning unnaturally, while Osyclisse and Helen stood behind him, hand in hand, performing a handstand ballet.

[Osyclisse has been glaring at Louis from behind for some time, forcing him to...]

[A. Settle it in one move and seize the moment—just as you imagined, a malevolent spirit sealed within the mirror is as helpless as a neutered kitten; dispatching it is simply too easy.
Rewards: Ministry of Magic’s Interest x1, “Strange Wizard” Sakura Bell’s Interest x1, Slot in Cross-Species Reproduction Experiment x1, Sexy Female Orc x1, Super Stamina Recovery Potion x30/day]

[B. Castrate yourself on the spot, leaving both the evil spirit and Osyclisse utterly speechless, thus driving away the specter. Then, journey to the Sorendo Magical Kingdom, create a new martial arts sect in a foreign world, and ascend to the pinnacle!
Rewards: “Sunflower Manual” x1, Introduction Letter from Princess Osyclisse x1, Royal Court Employment Certificate x1]

[C. “Teacher, I don’t know how.” (Justified and confident)
Rewards: Magic +1, Sacred Oak Expulsion Notice x1]

“……”

“Lou—is!” Osyclisse’s face was growing ever more unsightly. The murmurs and laughter among the audience in the hall were becoming increasingly conspicuous. Although, due to their vantage point, those seated below couldn’t see the mirror’s reflection, standing on stage, Osyclisse could share the scene in the glass with Louis—those tall, noble stockings, the witch’s slit gown clinging up to her waist, and the inverted dance, made her want to smash the mirror on the spot and gouge out the eyes of Louis, the only eyewitness.

Louis rubbed his face hard, reflecting on his character’s persona and usual style, pondering his options. After a brief moment, he lifted his head and declared to Osyclisse, perfectly self-assured, “Teacher, I don’t know how—but please give me a little more time. It’s just an exorcism spell, after all. If I prepare properly, I’ll have no trouble with it.”

Osyclisse pressed her lips together, knowing full well Louis was bluffing. That was just his way—his reach always exceeding his grasp. But at this point, there was nothing else for it; she couldn’t very well have him step down and lower her teaching score!

“Go stand behind Helen,” Osyclisse snapped, shooting Louis a glare that could curdle milk—the very image of a displeased teacher.

But Louis let out a long, relieved sigh. He noticed his magic had increased by one, and the expulsion notice was only to be collected from the administrative office; for now, it hadn’t arrived.

Collect it? Like hell. If he managed to scrape through today, there’d be no expulsion notice to collect. He’d just put on a show at the right time and that would be that—at worst, he’d repeat a year, turning Louis the Sixth into Louis the Seventh.

The exchange on stage drew raucous laughter from the audience; the Ministry officials and court wizards present nearly laughed themselves sick. Just an exorcism spell? Did this “Louis the Sixth” even know what kind of spell that was? Did he have any inkling how much preparation had gone into forcing Osyclisse out of the royal family and marrying her off to the dragons? That thing in the mirror was a “Calamity-class” fiend! Not just Osyclisse’s clownish student—none of those present could claim to deal with it easily.

What made the onlookers even more amused was that Osyclisse actually nodded! As the Queen had said, this performance was a spectacle indeed.

Of course, if one of Osyclisse’s students actually managed to handle it... At that thought, many in the audience felt a chill and cast sidelong glances at the two students laughing the hardest.

These two were nearly in tears; Louis the Sixth had been boasting for six years—did he really believe his own bluster?

“Learn it? Louis, then you’d better learn well!” A young man in his early twenties, tall and strikingly handsome, strode up to the stage. He offered Osyclisse a slight bow, intending a kiss on her hand, but she deftly evaded him. Smoothly, Tyres placed his hand to his chest and said, “Your Highness, please rest assured. Give me three—no, five minutes, and I won’t let you down.”

Osyclisse nodded coolly. “Go ahead, Sir Tyres.”

She sighed inwardly; her worst fears had come true—they’d actually brought a Calamity-class fiend. Not only was it hard to handle, it was nearly impossible to identify. Whether Tyres and Lufield could defeat it was a toss-up.

As for Louis... Osyclisse glanced surreptitiously at the defiant young man hunched over his books, preparing in a huff—did he really know to use an exorcism spell? Had he recognized the fiend in the mirror? Surely not. Osyclisse suspected Helen had given Louis the exorcism spell beforehand—he’d only prepared for that spell, so that’s what he suggested.

Osyclisse rubbed her forehead in frustration. The good news was, she’d anticipated the right subject. The bad news: judging by his manner, the fool hadn’t even memorized it! Please don’t embarrass me later, she prayed.

By now, Tyres stood before the mirror. The instant he met the gaze of his reflection, his mind thundered—only then did he realize what he was facing! He’d nearly succumbed at a glance! How had Louis managed to stand here so calmly just now? This was no ordinary specter! It was ever-changing—what in blazes was it?

Damn, he thought, I should have made that idiot Lufield go first. With a sidelong glance, he saw Lufield polishing his hands with a golden handkerchief, mouth twisted in a mocking smile.

The hall was deathly silent, every eye fixed intently on Tyres. Even the eunuchs sent by the Queen gripped the edges of their seats, cold sweat beading beneath their robes.

Tyres was no different. He knew such creatures grew stronger with fear, so he struggled to still his mind, steeling himself as he began to cast spell after spell, trying to subdue the fiend sealed within the mirror. All eyes were on him.

Meanwhile, Louis, now ignored by all, squinted at Tyres—not at the man himself, but listening carefully to the incantations he recited. As Tyres went through spell after spell, Louis quietly echoed him, but soon realized many of Tyres’s incantations omitted sounds. He used his own senses to track the shifts in Tyres’s magical field.

After a moment, Louis’s eyes flickered—he’d found the correct spell, and, to his surprise, had learned several of Tyres’s probing cantrips in the process.

But...none of these were spells effective against a Calamity-class fiend, Louis thought, puzzled. What is this guy playing at?

Just then, Helen slipped a small note into his hand. Glancing down, he saw it was the exorcism spell she had prepared to recite.

“Use this,” Helen whispered, her face pale. “Otherwise, it’ll be too embarrassing when your turn comes.”