EDPEN 40

Chapter 40.

You Wouldn’t Have Known This (1)

Ruin rubbed his brow as if exasperated.

‘A bounty worth an empire, of all things.’

An empire’s worth was absurd by any common sense—it just meant the ransom had skyrocketed to a ridiculous level.

‘What kind of tycoons put that up, anyway?’

Ruin let out a sigh.

“Anyway, ‘special-grade wanted criminals’ are people that only ‘special-grade heroes’ can even stand up to. That’s why everyone aims to become special-grade heroes—I know that.”

The students’ eyes sparkled.

“Then how do we catch Firefly—!”

“But what you really have to be careful of is the Five Evils. Because special-grade wanted criminals are enemies you only see on the battlefield, but the Five Evils have already seeped into everyday life.”

“!”

As if they’d been poked in a sore spot, everyone’s eyes widened.

“And the Five Evils aren’t abstract concepts. They’re great demons with actual personalities. Even now, they’re spreading suffering among people.”

Ruin was speaking the truth.

“In other words, the ones causing ordinary citizens to suffer aren’t the named criminals, but the power of the Five Evils. Treating that should come first.”

“…!”

The students looked at Ruin in surprise.

Haven’s educational philosophy was that “overwhelming strength is the greatest defense.” On top of that, heroes were far more interested in Firefly than in the Five Evils.

Naturally, Ruin’s words—which went against what heroes preached—left them flustered.

‘But what he’s saying makes sense.’
‘Maybe he’s looking at things from a broader perspective.’

The students murmured quietly among themselves.

But regardless of what they thought, Ginseng, who had sensed Ruin’s true colors, spoke slyly.

“So you’re planning to use the Five Evils to drive the hero away, huh?”

If a demon of the Five Evils showed up, even a hero would have no choice but to get moving.

“But the Five Evils aren’t some pile of dog shit. Where are you planning to get that kind of power? You think it’ll come trotting over just because you call it?”

Ruin smiled.

‘Have you ever seen me act without a plan?’

As it happened, he’d received orders from his superior just yesterday.

—To the willful butterfly. One of the Five Evils, Catalun, is acting freely within the Union’s territory. By the Demon Lord’s command, interfere with it and drive it out.

It wasn’t a strange order. The Demon Lord and the Five Evils didn’t get along. In Union terms, it was like a bunch of old councilors being displeased with a young emperor.

Still, why get crushed between two whales fighting? He’d planned to ignore it, but—

—One percent interest will be deducted per mission.

As if one percent alone would make him move.

—Additionally, you’ll be given “high-grade artifacts or above.” Quantity adjusted by difficulty.

Now that changed things. High-grade artifacts were rare and expensive—profitable whether sold or used.

Of course, the reward was nice, but what mattered more was that this mission would make Ruin’s own plan much easier.

Sure enough—

“From what I hear, there’s already someone in this classroom suffering because of the Five Evils. So why is nobody saying anything?”

“…!”

The students sucked in their breath.

‘We were deliberately keeping quiet.’
‘I can’t believe the professor brought it up himself…’

As if a taboo had been spoken, everyone’s eyes quietly rolled toward a single spot.

Sensing the stares, the person in question stiffened in panic. The target of all those gazes was none other than Haven’s infamous monster duchess.

‘Judith Isles.’

She was the very grand-duke’s daughter Ruin had saved during a Healing Studies class. The problem was that nobody wanted to get involved with that gloomy duchess.

But Ruin was different.

She was his target—a victim of one of the Five Evils, cursed with the “Curse of Disease.” Even the grand-ducal family couldn’t cure her.

“Right. Judith Isles. This is about you. Come forward.”

“…!”

He really called her out…!

The classroom froze.

“Why that monster duchess…?”
“What is he thinking…?”

The real reason they were buzzing was because of the princess—specifically, the relationship between the two.

‘They say enemies meet on a narrow bridge…’

The two were famous for not getting along. So much so that if one took a certain class, the other would deliberately avoid it—even if it was mandatory.

And yet the duchess was taking this class even though she had to know the princess was in it?

Why?

Just to attend Ruins’s lecture?

The princess, clearly bothered, was staring in that direction too.

‘Did she sign up for Ruins’s class because he helped her?’

And now Ruins was calling the duchess out. Why?

The princess bit her lip, and the students held their breath.

After hesitating, the duchess quietly stood up and came forward. What stood out was her body and face. If Ruins Wayne looked like a leprosy patient, she looked like someone covered in burn scars. Even with her pitch-black bangs hiding her face, it was obvious.

“They say that’s from a disease spread by the Five Evils?”
“Wasn’t it some kind of skin condition?”

In Haven, ability mattered more than looks, but the students still whispered.

“They say she can’t even use mana because of the Five Evils’ curse. Even the grand-ducal family can’t find anyone who can cure her.”
“She can’t use mana and she’s still at Haven? That’s a joke.”
“Shouldn’t she just drop out?”
“She used to be Her Highness’s rival when they were kids, but that’s ancient history now.”

At the quiet snickering, the duchess flinched and shrank back.

Seeing her pitiful state, Ginseng the superior clicked his tongue.

“Poor thing. That’s obviously a disease spread by one of the Five Evils—Catalun of Disease, isn’t it?”

‘No. To be precise, it’s a “mark.”’

“A mark?”

Yes. That great demon deliberately placed “marks” on talented individuals—preventing them from using mana and turning them into monsters so people would avoid them. When that human died, it would retrieve the soul it had claimed.

The more talented the person, the more conspicuous the mark or the more severe the symptoms.

‘If it’s on the face, that says it all.’

It was meant to keep their talent from ever blooming and to isolate them further. Of course, Ruin knew how to cure it.

‘Come to think of it, Ruins Wayne was a monster too.’

Was there a connection?

But as if it didn’t matter, Ruin said,

“Now then, let’s get to today’s main point. Oh, and for the record, anyone who chatted during class has all been docked points.”

What?!

“Especially those who talked about someone else—double the penalty.”

The students who had whispered about the duchess all went pale.

“And I said earlier that Winberg was only half right, didn’t I?”

“!”

“Do you understand why now?”

The princess bit her lip. She still didn’t.

“I think that because citizens are suffering, we need even greater power. Power to deal with special-grade wanted criminals.”

Ruin looked as though he’d expected that answer. It was, after all, the prevailing mindset here.

In other words: if you’re not excellent, you’re discarded. That was why they obsessed over top levels and efficiency.

Which was why Ruin found it distasteful.

“Does that overwhelming force save a dying comrade?”

“!”

“A true hero must also be able to see the suffering around them. That’s the meaning of Healing Studies.”

At those words, Karin flinched and looked at Ruin. She’d never imagined a professor would say something like that.

Ginseng the superior muttered,

“Fine teaching, but what are you going to do with that kid? Don’t tell me you’re planning to use her as a sacrifice to summon a Five Evil. Want me to help?”

‘I’m not a dark mage, you know.’

“Pfft, with a personality worse than a dark mage… What? Why are you staring at me? Ack! Hey!”

Ruin grabbed the palm-sized Ginseng superior and headed somewhere.

“Hey! Hey! What are you doing?!”

‘Come to think of it, I forgot to bring a teaching aid.’

“A teaching aid?”

‘A durable plant.’

Ginseng was flipped upside down.

Ruin dipped Ginseng’s head into a suspicious liquid and pulled it back out. Ginseng let out a shrill scream.

“Hey you! You’re growing mold on my beautiful head—! Hey! Ptoo! Stop! Ptoo!”

Like washing scallions, Ruin swished Ginseng around. Finally, Ginseng’s head withered and sank limply.

“My precious head! Ptoo!”

Placing the screaming Ginseng in front of the duchess, Ruin said,

“Judith Isles. A plant that’s withered from curse energy. Try reviving it with healing magic.”

The duchess jumped in shock, then shook her head in a panic.

“You know the method, don’t you? ‘Detoxify.’ A basic Healing Studies spell.”

When she shook her head again, someone else mischievously raised a hand.

“Professor! The Crow Duchess can’t use mana—she’s an idiot… guh.”

Under Ruin’s icy stare, the snickering student shut his mouth.

Ruin spoke surprisingly gently.

“It’s fine. Try it.”

At his words, she squeezed her eyes shut and activated the basic healing spell.

‘Detoxify!’

It was the most basic of beginner spells, but there was no reaction from Ginseng’s head. The princess turned her head away as if to say, I knew it.

Judith bit her lip.

‘I knew it wouldn’t work…’

Then, at that moment, Ruin lightly placed a hand on Judith’s shoulder.

Something incredible happened.

Flash!

Light burst from Judith’s hand. Healing magic.

The students couldn’t believe their eyes.

“Uh, uh?”
“Huh?”

The duchess used magic?

That wasn’t all. The mold on Ginseng’s head was slowly pushed out and disappeared, and it returned to fresh green leaves. Screams erupted everywhere.

“What?! She could use magic all along?”
“No way!”
“Did the professor fix her?!”

Even the princess, who had been deliberately looking away, gaped. The students leapt to their feet in shock.

“Professor!”
“Did you make her able to use magic?!”
“Yes.”
“What method did you use?!”
“What else? I used the exact same thing Judith Isles just used.”

What? The same…?

“You just use ‘Detoxify.’ Once you know the trick, you can all do it easily.”

…As if it were easy!

If it were that easy, the duchess wouldn’t have been unable to use mana all this time! Even the grand-ducal family couldn’t cure her!

Ruin showed them the black substance he had extracted from Judith’s body.

“Right. This is the culprit that was tormenting Judith Isles. A fragment of the power of one of the Five Evils—Catalun.”

Staring at the vivid mass of mana, the students were stunned.

‘He really pulled out the Five Evils’ power?’
‘So he really is a Healing Studies professor…?’

Meanwhile, Ginseng the superior collapsed like a tragic heroine, sobbing.

“You swindler… what if my head hadn’t grown back? You bastard.”

‘It grew back, didn’t it? If it hadn’t, I’d have just pulled it out.’

“#$&#^&#!!”

Ignoring his superior’s howling, Ruin smiled quietly, having achieved his goal.

‘Now I can go collect my severance pay.’