After the banter between Knox, Simon, Cindy, Claudia, Jamie, and Merida finally died down, the group decided to sit together.
Their seats were arranged with Claudia, Jamie, and Merida in the row ahead, while Knox, Simon, and Cindy took the seats directly behind them.
As they settled in, Knox ignored the curious glances drifting their way. It wasn't surprising. The lineup they'd formed was… unusual, to say the least.
Pulling out his notebook, Knox spoke casually,
"If I remember right, our first class should be Curse Class—formally known as Katarology, right?"
Claudia nodded, resting her chin lightly on her hand.
"Yeah, that's right," she replied in a cheerful yet composed tone. "I'm more curious about who is going to teach it."
Almost on cue—
Clack.
The classroom door opened.
The moment the professor stepped inside, the room erupted.
"Bahil Amagar!"
"No way—seriously?!"
When people heard the word necromancer, they often imagined dark figures lurking among corpses, shrouded in gloom and rot.
That image was outdated.
Modern necromancers had long since stepped into the mainstream—sharp, practical, stylish. If anything, the stereotype of stiff conservatism had shifted elsewhere… namely, priests.
And among this new generation, one name stood at the very top.
Bahil Amagar.
Dressed entirely in a pristine white suit, his tall, well-proportioned frame looked straight out of a fashion runway. Strikingly handsome and still in his late twenties, Bahil was a star among necromancers—a core member of Kizen's elite unit, the Crows.
To the students of Kizen, he wasn't just a professor. He was an icon.
Bahil smiled faintly at the roaring cheers and lifted a hand in greeting. Several high-pitched squeals immediately followed.
"Nice to meet you, freshmen," he said smoothly.
"I'm Bahil Amagar, and I'll be in charge of your first-year Curse Class this year."
Another wave of cheers rolled through the classroom.
Bahil raised both hands, effortlessly calming the room before setting his felt fedora neatly on the lectern.
"Well then," he said with an easy smile, "let's take attendance. Since this is our first meeting, I'd like each of you to give a brief self-introduction when your name is called."
He opened the attendance book.
"Jamie Victoria."
"Yes! Professor, it's truly an honor! I've always wanted to—!"
Bahil lifted a hand and cut her off smoothly, a playful wink accompanying the motion.
"You'll be introducing yourself to your classmates, not to me. Let's try that again."
Scattered chuckles rippled through the room.
Jamie flushed bright red, then straightened herself and gave a polite, composed introduction, finishing by saying she looked forward to the semester.
With Jamie setting the pace, the rest followed with calm, typical introductions.
Simon, already aware that standing out too much would only make things worse for him, kept his introduction short and neat.
Cindy followed with her usual cheerful energy, while Claudia introduced herself in a tone that sat comfortably between Jamie's calm politeness and Cindy's friendliness.
Then came Merida's turn.
"Hello…" she murmured, barely opening her eyes.
"My name is Merida Hugh Ickel… little sister of Phantasus Hugh Ickel."
A few students who recognized the name nodded knowingly. Those who didn't quickly realized—oh. That Phantasus.
Merida, having fulfilled her duty, promptly leaned back and looked ready to fall asleep again.
Finally, it was Knox's turn.
He stood calmly, a gentle, sunny smile on his face. "Hello, everyone. My name is Knox Aznable," he said.
"My hobbies are eating delicious food, reading, writing, and singing. I hope we'll have a pleasant year together."
That was it. Simple.
And yet—
Several students blinked.
Knox's smile lingered as he spoke—clear and radiant, carrying a warmth that didn't demand attention, yet drew it in all the same.
A few girls outright froze.
Jamie and Claudia, seated close by, felt their vision blur for half a second, caught completely off guard by that natural, blinding warmth. Merida, thankfully—or unfortunately—remained unaffected, her eyes half-closed in drowsy indifference.
A few students who had tried to make themselves memorable—dropping achievements, hinting at connections, or giving off a clear remember me for group projects vibe—were met with mild disinterest or even faint disdain.
All of that momentum evaporated the moment Knox sat back down.
Ironically, he hadn't planned any of it.
And yet, without meaning to—
Knox Aznable had just delivered the strongest introduction in the room.
"There are a lot of unique personalities here. That's good."
Bahil closed the attendance book, rolled up his sleeves, and walked toward the chalkboard.
"Let's begin the lecture."
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Chalk scraped against the board as he wrote a single, large word:
Curse
He pressed down hard on the final stroke.
Snap.
The chalk broke and skittered across the floor.
Without missing a beat, Bahil picked up a fresh piece.
"Let's start with a fundamental question," he said calmly. "Why do we need to study Curse?"
From the very first line, his presence seized the room. Students leaned forward instinctively, afraid to miss even a word.
"Can anyone define what a curse is?"
Jamie's hand shot up.
"Jamie Victoria! A curse is black magic that weakens the opponent while preserving your own power!"
"Excellent, Jamie."
At the praise, her face flushed bright red.
"But for some of you," Bahil continued, "that explanation might feel a bit abstract. So let's simplify things."
He raised the chalk and held it like a sword.
"Imagine two knights of equal skill facing each other."
He slashed the air lightly.
"They clash blades. Neither gives ground. Stamina wears down as they wait for an opening."
On the board, he wrote:
Exhaust
"After twenty exchanges, neither falls. Then—one knight glares, pouring killing intent into his stare."
Bahil's eyes sharpened.
"The other flinches. Just for a moment."
Another word appeared:
Pressure
"Then—"
He mimed a swift slash.
"The blade cuts across the shoulder. Blood sprays. Movements slow."
Bleeding
As he spoke, the board filled with words—each one a curse spell, each one another step toward defeat.
The classroom grew deathly quiet.
"And finally," Bahil said, his voice reaching a sharp peak, "the knight takes the head."
He lowered his arm.
Silence.
Bahil scanned the room, then grinned and wrote one last word beneath the rest.
Doom
A wave of gasps rippled through the class.
"Do you see now?" Bahil said. "Even the most primal, barbaric form of combat—steel against steel—is nothing more than a process of weakening the opponent until victory becomes inevitable."
He picked up another piece of chalk.
"Now then," he said lightly, "let's see how modern necromancers do it."
He drew a crude stick figure, almost like a doodle.
"How does a necromancer defeat this opponent?"
Bahil circled every curse term on the board, grouped them together, then dragged the mass toward the stick figure.
"Victory."
"Ah…!"
"Among all forms of dark magic," Bahil continued, "curses are light, simple, and fast. With minimal effort, they can completely destabilize an enemy."
He winked at a male student in the front row.
Then—snap.
An exhaustion curse fired off in less than a second.
"Gah!"
The student collapsed onto his desk, frozen, eyes darting in panic.
Bahil strolled over casually.
"This—"
He pulled a blade from the student's bag and mimed a clean slash at his neck.
"—is how modern necromancers fight."
"Ooooooh—!"
The classroom erupted. Students leapt to their feet, cheering.
Bahil bowed slightly, smiling, then released the curse. The student slumped forward, gasping.
"I don't know which major you'll choose," Bahil said as he returned to the podium, "but I'd wager over eighty percent of you will be taking my class again next semester."
He tapped the board.
"Curse magic is highly compatible. Use your specialties. Exploit openings. Implant curses steadily."
"That," he said, "is the most efficient path to victory."
He paused, then smiled.
"Now then—let's talk about something more interesting."
Beneath the word Curse, he wrote another term.
Priest
"Personally," Bahil said, "I believe Curse is the core of modern necromancy. And the reason is simple."
"Our primary enemies."
A sharp glint lit the students' eyes.
"If necromancers have curses, then priests have blessings" Bahil continued smoothly.
"Weaken versus strengthen."
He turned back to the class, smiling softly. "So tell me, why are curses superior to blessings?"
The room fell silent.
Students exchanged glances, hesitant. Then, a hand slowly rose. It was Jamie Victoria—the first name called during attendance.
Bahil's lips curved into a gentle smile.
"Jamie Victoria."
"Curses are superior to blessings in casting speed!" Jamie answered quickly. "Against the same target, you can stack weakening effects much faster!"
"Hmm."
Bahil tilted his head slightly, arms folding across his chest.
"An interesting answer."
Jamie's eyes lit up—only to dim a second later. "But," Bahil continued calmly, "it's incorrect."
A soft murmur spread through the classroom.
"If we judge purely by casting speed," he said, tapping the chalk against his arm, "blessings are actually slightly faster than curses."
Jamie blinked.
"Because curses must first pierce through the target's resistance," Bahil added. "That extra step exists even in the most optimized spell formulas."
He smiled faintly.
"That's the current scholarly consensus."
Jamie bit her lip, clearly disappointed, then lowered her hand and sat back down.
Bahil's gaze swept across the room.
"Anyone else?"
Then, a hand shot up.
It was Knox.
His movement was just a fraction faster than another student—a tall, broad-shouldered boy with sharp features and thick eyebrows—who had been about to raise his hand as well.
Before that moment—
While Bahil had still been explaining, Knox had been quietly thinking.
Hmm… I already know this. Not just the theory—I remember this exact scene from the novel and the manhwa. Seeing it unfold in person, however, felt oddly refreshing.
Next should be the question, Knox recalled. Jamie answers first… then Hector.
His gaze flicked briefly toward the tall male student beside him.
Should I answer this one?
Back in his previous life, Knox had been the diligent type—the kind of student who actually listened, raised his hand, and answered questions without being prompted.
Old habits died hard. And besides, this sounds fun.
So when Bahil finished speaking and the room hovered in anticipation, Knox raised his hand without hesitation.
A few students blinked, surprised.
The tall male student—Hector—clicked his tongue softly and lowered his arm, casting Knox a brief, sharp glance.
Bahil noticed immediately.
"Oh?"
The professor's eyes curved with interest as they landed on Knox.
"Hoo… Student Knox Aznable. Our joint special entry, number one."
Bahil smiled, clearly intrigued.
"Before you answer, let me say this first. It's… quite refreshing, to think that an author whose novel I greatly admire would end up as a student in my class."
Bahil placed a hand over his chest. "I truly enjoyed your work—Death Note. The concept of combining a book with a curse that kills simply by writing a name… ingenious. Even as a Curse specialist, I admit I would never have thought of something like that."
His eyes gleamed.
"That novel opened many eyes. Especially among those who study curses."
Knox blinked once, then smiled.
"Thank you for the compliment, Professor," he said politely. "But if I'm being honest, that novel only existed because of experts like you. Curse specialists who laid the foundation first. So if anything, I should be the one praising you."
Bahil chuckled.
"Hehe. Fair enough. Thank you as well." He waved his hand lightly. "Now then—back to the lecture. Student Knox, your answer."
Knox nodded.
As he spoke, a small illusion formed beside him. A chibi priest, floating adorably in the air.
"First," Knox began calmly, "even if blessings enhance physical abilities, there's a risk."
The chibi priest glowed with exaggerated holy light.
"If the body or mind can't handle the enhancement…"
The chibi priest puffed up.
"…self-destruction."
Pop.
The illusion exploded like a balloon.
"Boom~," Knox added lightly, almost cheerfully.
A few students almost laughed because of this.
"Second," Knox continued, his tone sharpening, "curses cannot be overcome through training alone."
Interest spread across the room. Bahil's eyes narrowed slightly. "Curses cannot be overcome through training alone … could you elaborate?"
"Of course."
Knox dispelled the illusion and spoke evenly.
"Almost no one trains while under a curse. And even if they try, their cursed state is already far weaker than their normal condition. So even if someone 'gets used' to being cursed, they're still operating below their true potential. That gap becomes our advantage."
"Third," Knox went on, "curses aren't just about weakening."
Another illusion appeared—simple, illustrative.
"A curse isn't just weakening your opponent, it can paralyze a hand right as an archer releases an arrow. It can also dull the senses, disrupt focus, twist perception."
The illusion showed attacks missing their mark.
"Once cursed, the opponent fights with constant unease. They don't know when the next curse will strike—or what kind it will be."
The illusion flickered, showing hesitation.
"That hesitation buys time. They're either predicting our next move… or desperately trying to dispel the curse."
Knox paused, then smiled faintly.
"And depending on the situation, curses can even be used on oneself. For example, blocking pain."
The illusion showed a figure fighting calmly despite injuries.
"As long as the curse is controlled, it becomes a tactical choice."
Silence followed.
Then—
Clap. Clap. Clap. Clap. Clap.
Bahil began applauding, his expression openly delighted.
"Excellent!"
His clapping grew louder. "Truly outstanding."
He laughed softly, shaking his head.
"You didn't just explain curses—you compared them to blessings, expanded on their applications, and even introduced unconventional usage."
Bahil's eyes shone.
"That was far beyond my expectations, Student Knox. It seems your experience as a renowned bounty hunter wasn't just for show."
He turned to the class. "Everyone—applaud!"
The room erupted. Applause thundered through the lecture hall—admiration, envy, respect mixing together.
Simon stared at Knox, genuinely stunned.
Cindy squinted at him, her expression screaming Where did your annoying, sunny idiot persona go? Yet her eyes sparkled with awe.
Jamie watched him with a mix of respect and awe, her eyes quietly shining as if thinking, as expected. A faint blush crept onto her cheeks before she even realized it.
Claudia looked at Knox with open admiration, clearly impressed, her expression softening as a light flush colored her face. So, this side of him exists too… she thought, finding it unexpectedly charming.
That same realization struck Cindy and Jamie as well—this serious, sharp-minded Knox was just as captivating as his sunny, teasing self.
And even Merida opened her eyes fully this time, her drowsiness fading as genuine interest flickered across her gaze, drawn in by Knox's answer.
Bahil continued the explanation.
"As Student Knox said—put simply, blessings are like herbal medicine. They're good for your health," he said calmly. "But because everyone's physical condition is different, even something known as a remedy might not work for everyone."
He tapped the chalk lightly against the board.
"Furthermore, even if a blessing is compatible with someone's body, exceeding the recommended amount will inevitably cause problems. The same principle applies in combat. If the opponent can't withstand the blessing, it may actually worsen their condition instead of helping them."
The students nodded in understanding.
"And curses," Bahil continued, "are far more diverse than people think. They don't merely weaken the enemy. They can inflict mental abnormalities, distort perception, disrupt senses—sometimes even deceive the opponent entirely."
More nods followed.
"Necromancers possess countless ways to interfere with an enemy's condition. But think about this," Bahil said, smiling faintly. "When you're suffering from extreme fatigue or gut-wrenching abdominal pain, who actually trains to prepare for curses in that state?"
A few quiet chuckles spread through the classroom.
"Most people don't. They take a day off."
The laughter grew a little louder.
"So remember this," Bahil said, his tone turning firm. "Rather than obsessing over how to make yourself stronger, think about how to make your opponent weaker."
Quills scratched across notebooks as the students hurried to write it down. Definitely an exam question, many of them thought.
"Now then," Bahil said, clapping his hands once, "let's move on to actually learning curse magic."
Simon, who had been diligently taking notes until now, suddenly froze.
"…Wait, what?"
He slowly lifted his head, eyes wide.
We're learning curse magic… in the very first class? Simon thought, a mix of surprise and nervous anticipation tightening his chest.
————————————
Character Voicelines · Knox and Simon: About Curses
Knox: So, what do you think, Simon? About curses.
Simon: Well… to be honest, they're kind of interesting. I feel like curses are a faster way to get stronger.
Knox: Hm. If you want to get stronger through curses, I do have some advice for you~
Simon: Hm?
Knox: How about wearing a blindfold, changing your eye color to light blue, and dyeing your hair white?
Simon: (tilts head) (・・?)