LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 935
<935 – The Rolling of Oknodie (3)>
In the office of Student Council President Jezel.
While organizing office supplies, a Student Council Executive from Dark Trading Company tilted their head in confusion.
“President, I’ve been curious about something for a while. May I ask you a question?”
“The plant in the corner of the office is a designated pot for Howling Mandragora, which occasionally comes to play. So don’t touch it or throw it away.”
“That’s not what I was curious about.”
“If it’s the dim lighting, that’s because Jiang sometimes comes to play in the shadows and intentionally makes it darker. Don’t make it brighter, please.”
“That’s actually helpful. But that’s not the information I want to know.”
“Then what are you curious about?”
“I’m talking about the various special papers. Why are these expensive papers distributed repeatedly to Oknodie and the professors’ offices, as well as the Administrative Office for Staff? I mean, there’s no need to use such costly paper and not everyone needs to receive them, right?”
Jezel dedicated some time to the curious new executive.
“Are you saying you’re puzzled by Oknodie’s habit of tossing paper airplanes?”
“Exactly! The kids are just making paper crafts, yet they’re throwing around such expensive mana-coated paper—it doesn’t seem logical!”
“That’s true. For an ordinary paper airplane, there’s no need to employ a rare magical manufacturing technique.”
The executive realized that Oknodie’s paper airplanes were not as simple as they first appeared.
“Are you saying they’re not ordinary paper airplanes?”
“There are three methods of communication at the Gift Academy. One is through Magic Watches. Another is using familiars, pets, and minions to relay messages. The last one is urgent messages sent via paper airplanes.”
“…How can paper airplanes be considered one of the top three communication methods in the world’s best educational institution?”
Even with intercontinental communication magical tools available, using a paper airplane felt like a method that had dropped the intelligence level by at least a millennium.
Jezel chuckled softly and opened a mailbox.
“It’s not strange to feel that way. Paper airplanes are rarely used unless there’s something significant, and it’s uncommon for undergraduates to witness them in action.”
“…So what level of incident would warrant their use?”
“Well, let’s see. Most of the correspondence to the Student Council comes via paper airplanes.”
As Jezel unfolded the paper airplane that had arrived in the mailbox, she began reading what was written on it.
━━━
Stone World Dimension, Platinum Grade Warning
Reaching d-365 until a Mid-Realm Collision in this dimension.
━━━
━━━
Terror Site Dimension, Gold Badge Crisis
Mass escape confirmed for monsters caught for fourth-year exclusive training due to long absence of the responsible staff because of restoration work at our school.
━━━
━━━
Research Dimension, Professor Diogenes’ Laboratory, Emergency SOS
The professor claims that the universe’s void is also part of nature, has deactivated the dimensional barrier, and is currently abusing students.
━━━
“Well, there you have it. Quite astonishing news, right?”
“No, no!! Is that really okay?!”
“It can’t possibly be okay. We need to establish communication with Empress Masugaki within the hour. We must prevent the situation that increases the risk of dimensional collision due to the Meteor magic’s taboo designation.”
Jezel adeptly addressed the emergency communication. The Meteor magic accelerating the approach speed of the Stone World Dimension required information sharing with Masugaki.
Additionally, preparations for compensation to the magic users of the academy and support measures for acquiring new key magic were in order.
Next on the agenda was investigating the list of visitors exposed to nightmares from the Terror Site Dimension and ordering the Production Department’s Alchemy Club to produce sleep-disrupting potions for the affected individuals.
Finally, for the pitiful teaching assistants trapped in Professor Diogenes’ research lab, she filed a request for access to the officially submitted dimensional coordinates and drafted an application for a dimensional entry permit to substantiate the administrative feasibility of the required magical tools for emergency rescue.
“As you can see, paper airplanes are the last communication method that transcends dimensions, which is why they carry so much important information.”
“With such critical information passing through, how can Oknodie toss around paper planes without care?! Isn’t it permissible for the Student Council to issue a ban on using paper airplanes?!”
“Our little lady isn’t doing this unknowingly. Even before the mass appointment of Foundation Faction Professors, the Foundation was well aware of what happened on campus, so they are likely already knowledgeable about the use of paper airplanes.”
It wasn’t being done unknowingly.
It was a deliberate act from the very beginning.
To naturally access the most crucial information flowing in and out of the academy.
“Could it be…! Is Oknodie able to access other ‘paper airplanes’?”
“Access? That’s just the beginning. They’ve even established a relay station to collect all the paper airplanes on campus, copy the information, and then send them to their intended destinations.”
“Oh my goodness! If that kind of thing gets exposed…”
“Indeed. You can’t avoid severe penalties. A stay in the Great Prison’s lowest level or up to the fourth level will be on the table.”
“Y-You’re sharing such serious information with me…”
“Do you realize how much I value you?”
The Student Council Executive was overcome with emotion.
Everyone in the Student Council knew that Jezel and Oknodie shared a close bond.
For Jezel to share unfavorable information about Oknodie was a gesture of deep trust.
However, hearing about Oknodie’s actions now raised some late concerns.
“Isn’t it dangerous if such crucial reports get passed on to someone else? For instance, if the report from the Stone Field Dimension gets misused, it could become a weapon for mad doomsday theorists to hasten the timing of a collision between the Mid-Realm and Stone Field Dimension by repeatedly using Meteor!”
“That might be true. But from the Foundation’s past actions, we know it’s unnecessary worrying. The Wahyhiemhai Foundation has maintained the order of the underworld by eliminating many beings that threaten the Mid-Realm, including spirits and demon contractors.”
“Indeed… That explains why Oknodie is accepted at the academy despite being called the Dark Princess.”
Oknodie’s Foundation Chairman had instilled fear worldwide through the Foundation Workshop Battle, devastated the empire’s borders with a new class of weapons, mobilized numerous scholarship students to plant spies in various nations, and disposed of any scholarship students who had outlived their usefulness in a ‘suicide bombing.’
But hey, thanks to all those antics, the incursions from other dimensions were lessened!
‘…It feels like the Foundation is just cleaning up the mess created by others. I mean, those guys can’t cause as much trouble as the Foundation, can they?’
Though there were some quirks to think about, they still learned one important secret about Oknodie’s unending access to information.
“Then is the reason the Dark Princess, heir of the Foundation, sends paper airplanes also to casually send urgent messages or seize others’ urgent messages?”
“Exactly.”
“Certainly. So even if discovered during a heist, they could cover up the theft using the numerous other paper airplanes around?”
The secret of the paper airplanes was mostly revealed.
Then, the executive was struck with a bold impulse.
“How about we handle those excellent paper airplanes and access the incoming paper airplanes at the Student Council? That way, we could obtain information without Oknodie having to take risks!”
“I suppose the educational effect has only worked half as intended. You’re sharp and ambitious, but because of your eagerness, you don’t know where to draw the line.”
Jezel sternly warned the executive, who was growing greedy.
“Everyone, including the professors handling them, understands the importance of paper airplanes. So if you rashly approach someone else’s paper airplane, you’ll face dire consequences. For instance, the paper airplane that arrives at our Student Council is connected to a designated [Dispel Magic Technique], and if you don’t handle it correctly, a [Trap] is activated.”
“A trap?!”
“Let’s see. The paper airplane from the Stone World Dimension has a [Petrification] curse on it. The paper airplane from the Terror Site Dimension has a spell for [Invitation to Nightmares]. The pitiful assistants stuck in Professor Diogenes’ lab had the letters they sent themselves turned to ash with an [Auto-Incineration] spell out of fear of being discovered by the professor.”
If lucky, the letter might vanish, but in the worst-case scenario, it would fall under a curse.
“Oh? Wait a minute!! Didn’t Oknodie continuously enhance their resistance to curses?”
“That’s right.”
“Then that means… It was an early insurance policy in case they failed to lift the paper airplane’s trap?!”
Jezel realized that the secrets of the paper airplanes were unveiled only after joining the Student Council and believed there was also a similar secret in the curse resistance.
Now, even the Student Council Executive could come to the same conclusion that Jezel reached, albeit belatedly.
“The traps I told you about are limited to these three visible cases. Depending on the professor, they might embed some horrific or stealthy traps, so do not ever seize an unfamiliar letter. I give this advice because I don’t want to lose precious personnel over paper airplanes.”
The executive suddenly recalled that the position they now held had been occupied by another student just a week ago.
“Could it be that the previous executive suddenly resigned and has been under intensive care for a week because of… that paper airplane?”
Jezel could only smile wryly.
The executive felt a cold sweat forming on their forehead without realizing it.
“Finally, you need to know this. Regulations state that there are markers and methods of removal corresponding to each sender, but the spells can be distorted for various reasons, posing a risk of traps malfunctioning.”
“…”
“Is there anything else you would like to know?”
“Uh, no.”
As Jezel leisurely educated her successor, she suddenly spotted a new paper airplane that whooshed through the closed window and landed neatly in the mailbox.
According to the marking, the sender was Professor Buzhaar.
The originating dimension was the Professor’s Office.
“…This doesn’t look like a simple letter.”
Typically, communication from the professor’s office to the Student Council could be adequately handled through Magic Watches or pets without needing a paper airplane.
The fact that a paper airplane was used to convey a message unsettled Jezel.
“…!”
“What does it say?”
As Jezel unfolded the letter, confusion crept onto her face.
“If the stolen monsters are not returned, forced collection will be carried out, including costs for the delay of experiments. Essentially, it’s a warning message wrapped in an ultimatum.”
“Aren’t those monsters entrusted to the Imperial Chimera Corps by Oknodie?”
“That’s my understanding.”
“No matter the professor, touching the imperial corps is…! Is that even possible?”
“I’m not sure. I’ve never seen a professor who wasn’t afraid of the empire this much until now.”
“Are you going to inform Oknodie about this?”
Jezel let out a hollow laugh.
“Inform? There’s no need for that. All paper airplanes on campus ultimately pass through Oknodie’s paper aircraft carrier.”
*
The accumulated curses from the relay of messages ignoring traps and the ensuing communication began to overwhelm Oknodie.
[Resistance Successful]
[Resistance Successful]
[Resistance Successful]
To Oknodie, who resisted even a Divine Punishment class curse, the curses from professors’ classes were no big deal now.
But Buzhaar’s warning couldn’t be brushed aside lightly.
“Senior Alex. It was fun being with you; see you in the next life!”
With a farewell measuring the end of their relationship, Oknodie’s cheerful declaration made Alex grab Oknodie’s ankle and cling to it.
“No way! In this suspicious situation, I don’t want to return!”
“Didn’t you send out requests for help to Professor’s assistants before?!”
“Is it the same to ask for help from the professor and the professor offers to help?!”
There was definitely an enormous gap between the two.
It was like an ant circling around a person’s feet begging for crumbs versus a kind grandmother pouring a pot of soup into an ant hole.
“Well, it’s probably scarier for you to be pulled in after fighting back than just being taken away. Then I’ll protect you as much as I can!”
With a flourish, Oknodie declared, igniting a battle of wits between Oknodie and Professor Buzhaar surrounding Alex.