Yandere Instruction Manual: My Wife is World Ending Calamity!

Chapter 56: [Bonus 3] The Professor Smiled Warmly, but Murder Was in His Eyes.

"The world was once far vaster than it is today."

Maximus recited from the book in his hand, calmly adjusting his glasses.

"But during the Age of the Gods, the Seven Calamities descended upon the world, reducing most of it to ruin. In response, the benevolent Orthodox Gods protected their followers by creating the Crimson Mist that now surrounds the Great Sea around us."

"Nobody truly knows what exists beyond those crimson mists and even those who ventured into beyond never returned... and the few who somehow did were never the same."

His voice carried the exaggeration of an old storyteller but most of the students merely yawned because the tale was common knowledge for nobles and even the lone commoner in the class had undoubtedly heard it countless times before.

"But this world inherited more than danger, it inherited strength and mana. The Gods bestowed upon us the blessing of mana, granting every individual the ability to grow stronger through endless practice."

"With their grace, every child born within the lands under their protection awakens mana upon reaching the age of sixteen and alongside it, the soul manifested as a Talent and an Affinity shaped by one’s very existence."

He took a moment before continuing.

"Some gain the power to command flames while others possess the strength to shake the heavens themselves. In the end, it all depends on the soul and those who awaken walk upon the Path of Ascension."

The words continued being written down on the blackboard behind him as he spoke.

"Beginning at the Mortal Rank, they gradually climb through the Awakened, Enlightened, Exalted and finally... the highest realm known to our civilization."

"The Transcendent Rank."

"And every person awakens the right to walk that path at the age of sixteen without exception..."

He paused.

"...Or at least, that was true until eighteen years ago because on that day, someone was born who failed to awaken at the age of sixteen."

For the third time since the lecture had begun, that bastard looked directly at me as his lips curled into a smile.

"Fortunately, that... exception is seated among us today."

A faint chuckle escaped him.

"Zenith von Ruinbringer."

"If not for the influence of his family, I am certain the Awakened Alliance would have eagerly taken him away to conduct a few experiments and discover how someone like him could even exist."

His smile softened into one of fake kindness.

"But... in the end, he is still one of our fellow students. So I do hope none of you treat him differently because of his... unfortunate flaw."

Immediately in response a few chuckles escaped.

"If you don’t mind, would you like to tell us how it feels to have awakened a year later than the entire world with the weakest physique, Zenith?"

His eyes were warm and looking at him, a smile appeared on my face as I spoke.

"It feels... surprisingly good, Professor."

I smiled politely.

"Most people spend their entire lives hoping to be remembered for something. Whether it’s admiration or ridicule, at least the world remembers my name."

"Many are never afforded even that."

The moment those words left my mouth, the bastard’s lips twitched ever so slightly.

Bullseye.

Maximus was a pathetic excuse for a human.

Born into one of the most influential noble families in an empire within the Sylvara continent, he was once hailed as a genius but the illusion shattered the moment he entered the Arcanum and the commoners began surpassing him.

Despite already being fifty years old, an age barely equivalent to the mid-twenties for superhumans who could live for centuries, he had barely just reached the Enlightened Rank with all the resources provided by his family.

His own family had long since abandoned any expectations of him and using their influence, they quietly shipped him off to the faraway Arcanum as a professor, despite him once being the eldest son destined to inherit the family.

So, more than power and more than wealth, what he truly wanted was recognition and acknowledgment.

Unfortunately for him, he never received either.

Not until he made a deal with a devil and attempted to slaughter the academy’s students in exchange for greater power.

"It’s nice to see such optimism despite such a frail body."

Maximus replied with the same warm smile and only the constant twitching of his left eye betrayed what he was truly feeling as he calmly resumed his lecture.

He was the first person I intended to kill within the academy because even if his strength wasn’t particularly impressive, if left alive, he would become one of the most dangerous people here.

In my previous life, he had used his influence to turn Lily’s life into a living hell and now that I had placed myself squarely on his radar, I had no doubt he would come after me instead.

Still, that could wait because first, I needed to copy Seles’s and Ruan’s Talents.

***

The rest of the lecture carried on as expected, with Maximus and a handful of noble students continuing to shoot irritated glares my way.

I could understand Maximus but why a bunch of random extras had decided to take offense on his behalf was something I genuinely couldn’t understand.

In the end, I simply ignored them and finally after a long hour, the lecture finally came to an end as Maximus left the classroom with one last overly warm smile directed at me.

The moment he disappeared through the door, the students began gathering their belongings to leave but before anyone could actually leave, heavy footsteps echoed as someone entered the hall.

"Good afternoon, everyone of the World Class. I am Silas Granum, the current Student Council President of the Arcanum."

"I would appreciate a few minutes of your attention."

Every head turned toward the front of the classroom.

Standing upon the platform was a giant well over ten feet tall, making even the spacious lecture hall feel noticeably smaller.

The ancient giants of old had once towered over mountains but with their bloodline growing thinner over the ages, the modern descendants rarely exceeded eight to ten feet in height.

Even among them, Silas stood near the very top because he was the Second Prince of Kharos.

... And the man who would one day kill his own father.

"First of all, I would like to congratulate every one of you on earning your place within the Arcanum and especially the World Class."

He smiled before snapping his fingers.

Two Student Council members entered the classroom carrying large wooden boxes.

"Every student of the academy receives a Mana Bracelet. It serves as your primary means of communication and is also used to receive official announcements from the academy."

"Naturally, it is yet another masterpiece created by our Principal and this particular model only works within The Arcanum.."

At his gesture, the Student Council members began distributing the bracelets throughout the classroom, once everyone had received one, Silas spoke again.

"Now that the official business is out of the way, I would like to invite all of you to the Freshers’ Welcome Banquet."

"It is one of the academy’s oldest traditions."

"Each year, the senior students host a welcoming banquet for the incoming class. It’s also one of the best opportunities you will have to meet students from the other classes and begin building connections."

"So, I hope to see every one of you there."

He continued.

"The details will be shared through your Mana Bracelets and attendance isn’t mandatory. So don’t feel pressured and once again... congratulations to all of you. I sincerely hope you can remain in the World Class."

With those parting words, the Giant Prince turned and left the classroom, his slow, heavy footsteps echoing through the hall.

A faint smile spread across my face.

Freshers’ Welcome Banquet? My ass.

It was nothing more than the senior’s way of bullying the freshmen and making sure they understood exactly where they stood from the very first day.

But well, it had its own charm.

After all, it was the perfect opportunity to identify people with useful Talents and decide whose abilities were worth copying.

Before any of that, however, my gaze shifted toward Seles once again.

She was already on her way out of the classroom and I still needed to place the Mark of the Usurper on her.

"See you tomorrow, Lily."

With those parting words, I pushed myself out of my seat and sprinted toward the classroom entrance because it was finally time to see the conditions to engrave the True Name of Seles.