NOVEL NEXT Chapter 354
<354 - The Principal's Trick>
“Instructor Russo committed a first-year injury crime that would usually warrant a six-month imprisonment in the Great Prison, but given that the opponent was Oknodie with skills far beyond any first-year and the fact that he was unilaterally beaten, a verdict of not guilty is declared.”
The Mahabharata Professor, known as the last mercy of the Dragon Principal, closed the trial today with a verdict saving one instructor.
“I can’t believe it. I never thought I would feel grateful towards Oknodie.”
“Same here. It ended up differently than expected, but how is it that you can unleash kicks and not end up in jail?”
“What will you do going forward?”
Camela’s intentions were clear without needing to ask. Russo was already pondering the same thought.
“If I wanted to… maybe I could advance to third year now. It’s impossible at this moment during the semester, but next year will surely be feasible.”
Camela, with her keen intellect, had definitely put two and two together regarding the pet contract she had used to secure the workforce of numerous students. Despite her dismissive attitude, pretending it didn’t concern her, Russo had already spotted her hand tightly gripping her skirt behind her.
“Are you really thinking that now, having the ability to ascend to the third year unlike in your poor times, you would betray yourself without hesitation?”
“… Don’t tease me. If you’re going to go, just leave quickly. I have no intention of moping over someone whose heart has departed.”
“Of course, I have no intention of leaving. Did you really think I would consider the penalty fee as a freebie and run off? If that were the case, I would be disappointed.”
Russo lightly grasped Camela’s arm.
“The trust that was not broken even against that Oknodie won’t break overnight.”
“Instructor Russo…”
“Actually, I want to ask you. With such a major incident occurring, you can’t be unaware of the focus on your organization, right? If you keep trying to misuse contracts like before, the Student Council will come after you. What is your plan for managing the organization going forward?”
“A little more mercifully and a little more strictly. I plan to show compassion to the contractors while imposing restrictions on myself who benefits from the contracts.”
The operation of the contracts remains the same. However, the objectives have changed.
“I’m planning to become Madam Camela, primarily focused on couple-making. I have confidence in my insight to see through the hearts of people, and those I connect are also satisfied.”
The Camela Organization, which transformed from exploiting the feelings of couples to purely connecting them and receiving their cooperation in a wholesome manner! Suddenly, an organization that became the origin of a marriage agency was born in the academy, and Russo thought it was for the best.
‘She’s saying that, but let’s just give her a chance.’
The gaze of the Student Council watching from the gallery shifted away. With this, Camela managed to survive like Russo.
“So what can I help with? Unlike before, it seems unnecessary to create a safe zone to evade the watchful eyes of the instructors.”
“What a sad thing to say! In this world with no one to trust, you must become my safe zone.”
Bravely leaning against Russo’s arm, Camela. Russo, taken aback at first, eventually pulled her closer, letting her head rest on his shoulder.
BAM!
“If you don’t manage Camela properly, you know what that means? Next time, you’ll be playing with me for 12 hours!”
It would be a lie to say that this threat didn’t influence the current decision. But in such sweet moments, even without someone’s request or threat, he would enjoy it as much as he could.
Compared to spending 25 years just waiting to graduate, isn’t this true life?
“I will keep my promise. Both yours and Oknodie’s.”
Watching the warm scene between the two, there was another figure leaving the gallery. It was none other than the man who sparked this whole fiasco, Jaku.
*
“So… if I’m hearing correctly, the Camela Organization was utterly wrecked by you folks and barely managed to survive after some serious restructuring?”
“That is correct.”
A mark indicating the forced repayment of the contract appeared in Velocasio’s sight. It was no surprise, considering the absurdly large information provided.
Velocasio was astounded. Such information isn’t something you can just dig up at will. If one is well-versed enough in the entire situation surrounding the rise and fall of an organization to ask details like that, they are definitely fit to think seriously about changing professions.
Yet, Jaku had managed to do the impossible. By borrowing the power of the Oknodie organization, he wrecked Camela’s organization and merely kept it breathing.
“Is every first-year just a monster or a weirdo…?”
“Now that the contract is over, the debt should be gone, right?”
“Is that a statement? Of course, it’s all paid up. The contract is terminated.”
“Who decided that? That’s not fair. I will formally file a complaint to the God of Contracts.”
“What?”
“The value of the information I provided far exceeded the debt to be repaid under the contract. If I don’t receive the difference as a refund, I will demand that the God of Contracts evaluate the unfairness of this contract and impose punishment on you, Velocasio.”
Suddenly, the roles of victim and perpetrator under the contract were swapped. Even the God of Contracts seemed to think, ‘That’s not entirely wrong,’ as he accepted the proposal.
As a special clause inscribed in divine language appeared in the shining contract, Velocasio only let out a sigh.
‘Surely, this isn’t all the threats.’
Having wrecked the Camela Organization for touching one of their students, Velocasio didn’t want to end up as the next plaything of the Organization that Plays with Oknodie.
Jaku sensed the unspoken threat from Oknodie that warned him to receive the jab as it comes when he sends one.
“Make sure not to touch any of your Class 981 again. I don’t know how all your schemes keep failing.”
Watching the bitter back of a man whose pride as a crime advisor had vanished, Jaku pressed on.
“So when are you planning to repay the refund?”
“Are you worried I’ll skip out? Never. The God of Contracts is watching, why would I go crazy with that? Hand one over right now.”
“Greedy bastard, take this and shut up.”
With that mentality, Velocasio spilled a piece of information as if it were a quest reward.
“Dragon Principal. Isn’t it unusually quiet these days?”
“True.”
“He’s been busy tormenting upperclassmen. That should wrap up soon.”
Jaku’s expression turned sour. Velocasio’s face, wrinkled with displeasure just a moment ago, now bore a displeased satisfaction.
That’s definitely not a good sign. Something is approaching.
An ominous future awaits the Class 981 first-years.
“What’s about to happen?”
“I don’t know. The principal is unpredictable. But you know what to prepare for.”
Velocasio pointed at the Magic Watch.
“Access the lecture boards for the courses you’re attending and check the assigned tasks. And submit all assignments in advance this weekend.”
What? A thoroughly friendly piece of advice. Is he actually a tsundere who just can’t express his help honestly?
SHING!
The shining clauses in the contract seemed to lose their effect, as if the God of Contracts acknowledged that Velocasio’s words were sufficient as ‘refund.’
*
“It’s a festival!”
“A festival?”
Upon hearing Jaku’s report, it immediately struck me. The ridiculous event at the academy’s second semester.
What was supposed to be a restful week for fortunate students mixed among regular weekly events turns abruptly into a maddening trap.
Specifically, it was a trap from the beginning. The newbie students who kept falling into the fake festival events were the ones paying the price.
“Professor! Can we really take a break?”
“Of course.”
“If we don’t attend, will our scores drop?”
“That’s an unnecessary worry.”
“Then why are there lectures?”
“It’s a time made for those who want to take a break, so if you don’t want to, you should come to class to keep the professor company.”
“Haha. Then I guess you’ll be quite bored since no one will show up.”
With that innocent remark from my naive newbie days, the professor smiled warmly.
That naive newbie soon learned the reality. Students who heard advice from seniors showed up for the professor’s lectures, and all the accumulated assignments had to be turned in the following week. It goes without saying that the topics taught in that time would also show up in the test, so the value of lecture notes skyrocketed.
“I said that good students could take a break! Who said every inferior student can take a break? That’s the price for overestimating yourself.”
That naive newbie finally realized, kickstarting this event, that the Gift Academy also teaches various injustices and absurdities experienced in society!
“I heard it started around this time last year. The principal’s wicked fake festival!”
“The festival… isn’t real?”
“Oh, the festival is real. But if you just take it easy, believing everything is fine, you’re only setting yourself up for loss!”
Enjoy the week-long festival of liberation from classes. Learning that the grand slogan had the phrase ‘(Honors Students Only)’ hidden beneath it sent shivers down Jaku’s spine.
“Still, it does sound fun! Each year, different classes’ seniors experience the festival, so the themes vary!”
There are scrumptious beef festivals and even mosquito-hunting festivals.
What kind of theme will lead the newbies to fall for the trick this time?
“This week’s event is [Exorcism Festival]. Students unable to exorcise non-physical beings are encouraged to focus on their studies.”
“…”
A festival that makes no sense, appearing like a bug in a game.
Even if a real festival were held, it’s doubtful whether they would be invited to enjoy it, yet they blatantly set up this kind of trap and say such things!
“The harder you work on exorcisms, the better items you can receive as rewards! Also, by completing the exorcism challenges at each church, you can earn church merit points, so I recommend you to challenge it at least once.”
The members returning from boat rides exchanged awkward looks, glancing at each other. They already have what they need, so why would they want anything more?
The buzzing voice of the ring, which had been annoying since earlier, was also concerning. It was a needlessly pitiful distress signal from Fake Lin, trying to say not to exorcise her.
Well, Fake Lin wouldn’t want to be treated like a wild ghost either.
If she accidentally got exorcised, would that break her relationship with Sing too?
Alright, it’s settled. While others play, we’ll focus solely on studies!