[Translator - Pot ]

[Proofreader - Kawaii ]

Side Story Chapter 21: Field Trip (1)

After that, I spent my days busy adapting to life at the Academy.

The classes still felt difficult, but I was able to endure thanks to the help of Hazel and the Princess.

“Oppa, the answer to this problem isn’t the Herko region, it’s the Herman region. The fertilizer invented there led to the Empire’s agricultural revolution.”

I did not know this, but Hazel was actually very smart.

Unlike me, she was smart enough to be at the top of her grade. The bloodline of the Ryan Bloom Marquisate is truly superior.

“Theo, this word should be translated as ‘vine,’ not ‘forest.’”

The Princess was also a very big help.

Being in a higher grade than me, she knew a lot, and more importantly, she taught me in a way that was incredibly easy to understand.

After school, I always studied in the library with the two of them.

“Look over there, it’s Theodore Haksen.”

“Next to him are the Princess and the young lady of the Ryan Bloom Marquisate, aren’t they?”

“To think the three of them are always sticking together like that… he’s a fearsome playboy, just like the rumors said.”

“To think he’s already chasing women with such a cute face…”

…Thanks to this, my infamy grew even more, but this was not the time to worry about that.

I had finally enrolled in the Academy, so I could not afford to be held back a year or expelled for poor grades, could I?

If that happened, my parents and my uncle would be very sad.

It was about a month after I had enrolled in the Academy.

“Starting next month, a field trip awaits you.”

When the last period ended, Teacher Oliver spoke to us.

“The Academy actively encourages field trips in order to gain experience that cannot be obtained at the Academy.”

Oh, so it's that kind of class. As expected, the Academy is different in every way.

“We are accepting location sponsorships until next week. Students who are willing to provide a location should have their families contact the school. With that, this meeting is dismissed.”

After saying that, Teacher Oliver left the classroom.

I was a little puzzled. Providing a location for a field trip? Isn't that something the Academy decides?

“The field trip season has finally arrived.”

I could hear the conversation of Geisel and his cronies sitting behind me.

These three, despite being on bad terms with me, always sat in the seats behind me.

“Are you perhaps planning to have the Huko Ducal House provide the location?”

“Of course. We cannot miss such an honorable opportunity.”

“That is truly amazing!”

Oho, it seems providing a location for the field trip is a big deal.

“If it’s a location the Huko Ducal House would provide… could it be the Ten Thousand Year Armory?”

“That place is good too, but my father said he is also considering the Spirit Spring.”

“Wow, that is truly incredible!”

Somehow, the names all sound quite extraordinary.

I heard that the ancient families of the Empire have many secrets. Could this be one of them?

I was concentrating on the three’s conversation.

“Theodore Haksen, what are you listening to so intently?”

Oops.

It seems I was being too obvious.

When I turned around with an awkward expression, Geisel spoke with a triumphant look on his face.

“Well, you can’t help but be interested. Our Huko family’s Ten Thousand Year Armory and Spirit Spring are famous even in foreign countries.”

Um, I actually have no idea what those are, but I did not say anything.

If I did, he would obviously start teasing me again, calling me a country bumpkin or whatever.

“You can look forward to it. I’ll be sure to broaden the horizons of a country bumpkin from the Apple Kingdom like you.”

But not saying anything did not stop him from calling me a country bumpkin.

I got worked up and said to Geisel.

“What’s so great about going to a place like that that it’ll broaden my horizons? I’d be lucky if I don’t fall asleep.”

This time, Geisel got worked up.

“Ha! A country bumpkin will be a country bumpkin. A frog in a well.”

“What did you say?”

“Am I wrong? The Haksen Dukedom has great power, but its history is short. It’s obvious you don’t have any place worthy of being recommended for a field trip.”

I felt my words get caught in my throat. I could not refute him.

“You’re speechless now that I’ve hit a nerve. Just sit tight and look forward to it. I’ll take you to a place so wonderful that the likes of the Haksen Dukedom couldn’t even dream of it.”

Geisel laughed out loud and left the classroom. Left alone, I could only tremble.

***

“...and that’s what happened!”

That evening, I was talking to my uncle and told him about what had happened today.

-What, is that for real? The likes of the Huko Ducal House looked down on our family?

Uncle Damien asked back as if in disbelief. I swung my fists around and said.

“It’s true! He said our Haksen Dukedom has a short history so we probably don’t have any places to be proud of, and what not…”

-They dared to spout such nonsense.

My uncle’s eyes darkened.

Whenever my uncle made that expression, some kind of trouble was bound to happen.

Normally, I would have tried to stop my uncle beforehand, but at that moment, I was so worked up that I did not notice.

“Do you know what pisses me off even more?”

-What is it?

“It’s that I couldn’t refute his words…”

As Geisel said, the Haksen Dukedom has a short history. It has only been a little over ten years.

We have a magnificent castle and a beautiful forest, but we do not have any place so grand that we could confidently invite students to it.

-The Haksen Dukedom doesn't really have a place like that.

For once, even Uncle Damien seemed to be at a loss, just stroking his chin.

-But we can’t just stand by and be looked down on like this.

“Huh? Do you have a good idea?”

-I do. Of course, I do. I’ll take you to a place so wonderful it will turn that Geisel Huko bastard’s pride to dust.

With those words, the communication was cut off.

Where on earth is my uncle planning to take us?

“No way?”

Could he be planning to take us to the island where the elves are, or the dimension where the dragons stay?

I have been to both places, and they were truly magnificent.

If that is my uncle’s intention, he will surely be able to crush Geisel’s pride.

There is no place more mystical than those two in the world!

Thinking that, I fell asleep in a happy mood.

But the next day, my expectations were completely betrayed.

“Um… the location for the field trip has been decided.”

Teacher Oliver said with a blank expression on his face.

“We are… that is… going to Inferno.”

***

Orobos, the Lord of Inferno, opened his eyes today as well, to the sound of a gargoyle’s cry.

-Kkieeeek! Kweeeek!

There was no sound better for waking up than the cry of a gargoyle, which sounded as if it were tearing a human soul to shreds.

Orobos stretched and got out of bed.

-Keeeek! Keeeek!

The moment he stepped on the carpet, a scream could be heard.

It was the sound made by a demon who had been turned into a carpet for the crime of defying Orobos.

Orobos stepped on the carpet a few more times, enjoying the screams.

Hmm, another refreshing morning.

Every time he heard the clear cry, Orobos felt his mind and body become at ease.

Greatly satisfied, Orobos changed his clothes and headed for the dining hall.

Sitting at the table, Orobos asked his demon servant.

“What is for breakfast today?”

“It is asado made from the soul of a nouveau riche who built his fortune on usury, seasoned with the pain of sinners, and cooked over hellfire.”

Orobos nodded his head in satisfaction.

Orobos’s favorite food was the souls of humans.

Just hearing the name made his mouth water.

He finely sliced the food on the table with a fork and knife and slowly savored it.

-Kyaaak!

-Kraaak!

Every time he chewed the food, a sweet scream rang in his brain. It was a truly excellent dish.

‘Another peaceful day.’

As he savored the dish, Orobos recalled the past.

Ten years ago, an incident occurred where the high-ranking demons, including the Lords of Inferno, went up to the surface world and were annihilated.

In an instant, all the powerful figures of Inferno had vanished.

The demons vied for the empty seats.

They killed each other and took their power.

Orobos was one such demon.

He shed blood every day.

Not a day went by that he did not kill.

Sometimes, he even had to risk his own life.

In this way, Orobos seized victory.

He had risen to the position of a Lord of Inferno.

‘The hardship was worth it.’

Thanks to that, Orobos now had all of Inferno beneath his feet.

All the power and wealth of Inferno were his.

All demons bowed their heads before him.

‘The only downside is that I cannot go up to the human world.’

Inferno is a barren place.

Therefore, many demons sought to advance to the surface world.

Because the surface world was a place where they could harvest human souls on a scale incomparable to Inferno.

‘How delicious would a freshly harvested human soul be.’

Just imagining it made his mouth water.

But it was nothing more than an empty dream.

Because there was a monster on the surface world.

‘Damien Haksen.’

That man was the cause of the incident ten years ago, when the ruling class was annihilated en masse.

He had single-handedly slaughtered all the high-ranking demons, including the Lords of Inferno.

As if that were not enough, he had even annihilated all the Demon Kings who were the former rulers of Inferno.

Of course, they were not the real Demon Kings, but undead who had inherited their power.

‘It’s the same thing. Since they inherited the power completely.’

Going to the surface now meant facing Damien Haksen.

Orobos had absolutely no desire to face that monster.

‘I should just live contentedly in Inferno.’

In fact, Orobos’s position was still unstable.

There were demons who coveted his seat.

Things were a bit quiet now, but until three years ago, his life was threatened by having to constantly fight challengers who appeared.

‘I pray this peace continues.’

-Kkieeeek!

Orobos genuinely thought so as he chewed on the sinner’s soul.

***

One month later.

“You’ve heard the explanation from your homeroom teacher, right?”

Damien Haksen stood facing the students of Class 3, which included Theodore.

“We are now going to enter Inferno. Don’t worry. Not a single hair on your head will be harmed.”

Fear appeared on the faces of the Class 3 students.

What kind of place was Inferno? It was a terrifying land inhabited by demons.

The thought of going to such a place now could not help but make fear well up inside them.

Even if they were with Damien Haksen.

“There is no need to be scared. You will return safely without a single hair on your head being harmed.”

Could the words Inferno and safety even be used together?

A deep question appeared on the students' faces.

Ignoring them, Damien swung his sword into the air.

The air split open, and a dimensional portal opened. At the awe-inspiring sight, the students briefly forgot their fear.

“Shall we depart, then?”

Damien Haksen entered the dimensional portal first. The students all hesitated.

Just then, Theodore Haksen entered the dimensional portal first.

His steps showed not a hint of hesitation or fear.

At his appearance, the other students also mustered their courage and entered the dimensional portal.

It was the entry into Inferno.

[Translator - Pot ]

[Proofreader - Kawaii ]