The villainous young master just wants to live a Buddhist-like life.

　Many students at magic academies don't even bother to earn credits or points. They're completely absorbed in collecting and solving "question cards."

　They searched everywhere for "candy distributors" to obtain challenging "problem cards." After solving them, they gathered together to show off their work.

　Darkdemon's "Problem Card" is undoubtedly the best among "Problem Cards".

　Having successfully obtained and solved the problem correctly, he will undoubtedly be the center of attention! "Wait a minute, why is this 'item card' a type I haven't seen in the instructions? Could it be a rare item card?"

　The news that someone had found a rare item card in Darkdemon's candy bag quickly spread, and more and more students gathered in that corner. But Darkdemon had already run out of "question cards," and after checking with a few upperclassmen who had solved the problems, he slipped away from that corner.

　Then he returned to the monitoring room.

　"Why are you back so soon?" Professor Mitia turned around, her face full of surprise and confusion.

　Dark glared at her and said, "Restock!"

　……

　Good morning, baby!

Chapter 1369 Darkdemon is truly a master of escape rooms (6k)

　When Dak Dimon reappeared, an hour had passed. The students, addicted to answering questions, turned their attention to the remaining "candy givers" after searching unsuccessfully.

　While complaining, "How can these magical sprites' questions possibly satisfy me?", they secretly hid in various classrooms and buried themselves in deep thought.

　It's exactly eight o'clock.

　The magical elves had already guessed most of the "question cards" they had prepared. But the masquerade ball had only been going on for two hours, and according to the original plan, their "question card" reserves should last until at least the last hour.

　I never expected that some students would enjoy doing practice problems during the holiday activities—even the town's top test-takers aren't as good at it as they are!

　Before leaving the monitoring room, Dark looked around and found that many magical spirits had already been released. They certainly didn't need to be "restocked" like he was. Distributing the "problem cards" was equivalent to completing half of the task.

　The remaining task is to wait for the students who have obtained the "problem cards" to successfully solve the problems, and then find them in this huge castle to exchange for candy, resources, or "item cards".

　However, the "candy distributor" task guidelines do not include any requirement for "proactivity".

　In other words, under normal circumstances, they don't need to cooperate with the students in doing anything; they can simply enjoy the masquerade ball as they please and wait for the students to come to them.

　It would be even better if the students received the "problem cards" but didn't come to find them. In short, the magical sprites had a pretty good time after getting used to their role as "candy givers."

　Dark even saw Leomon and Gatomon competing to see who could hunt monsters the fastest.

　Since the "Candy Giver" can't make the list, they'll compete among themselves. As for magical sprites like the "Cosmic Brain Monster," they rush into the secret room as soon as they get a "key card," clearly more interested in activities that require brainpower.

　Of course, there are also magical spirits like "Angemon" and "Mildos" who have no interest in fighting and killing, and faithfully serve as "standing NPCs" in a certain location where they can see the night view.

　There are also creatures like Snorlax and Blue-Eyes Baby Dragon that steal candy from their own animals.

　There are also creatures like "Dream Fairy" and "Poison Baby" that turn around and ask students for candy.

　After all, if you don't give them candy, they'll cause trouble!

　Dark was well aware that his magical spirits had always been restraining their true nature within the academy.

　He provided human-like education to the magical spirits, but magical spirits are not human after all.

　While some of them may have a strong thirst for knowledge, most of them are simply learning to meet his expectations.

　Although this phenomenon also exists in human education itself.

　Learning is not innate; education is often compulsory.

　But the constraints imposed on them by Dark are also real.

　This is also the main reason why he added the role of "sugar dispenser" to tonight's masquerade ball.

　A masquerade ball is undoubtedly a stage where magical elves can unleash their true nature.

　For the first six hours after the event began, they were no longer restricted and were free to do whatever they wanted.

　So Dak let them do as they pleased, without interfering in the slightest.

　This is one of the few freedoms he can currently grant to the magical spirits. When something gains sentience, it is no longer just a tool.

　As Dak cultivated them, he gradually came to understand this principle.

　However, tonight's masquerade ball is not entirely the stage for the magical elves.

　The students are, as always, the main characters.

　After leaving the monitoring room, Dak took out his "Sorting Card" again to check the rankings.

　With the addition of the variable of locked-room integration, the credit ranking has also become different from usual.

　However, the final ranking of points will be converted into academic credits. At that time, the academic credit ranking will undergo another major change.

　Therefore, academic rankings don't mean much right now. After all, many more students are spending their time solving escape room puzzles.

　When it comes to the points ranking, Gina Grant is still ranked first.

　The second-ranked player has now become "Candy Merchant Number One". However, Dark thinks that Professor Lily should know her limits and is unlikely to continue climbing the ranks.

　Further down the rankings, from third to sixth place, none of the names are household names.

　It wasn't until seventh place that "Candy Merchant No. 3" came in.

　The eighth and ninth place names aren't ones whose faces you can immediately recall.

　And it is only in tenth place that Pandora Drogon is ranked.

　It is clear that this secret room design has indeed brought considerable uncertainty to this year's masquerade ball.

　After all, no matter how the activities have changed in the past, they all ultimately come down to the level of magic mastery.

　Even the masquerade ball designed by Professor Lily last year did not escape this formula.

　This year's escape room design, however, greatly reduces the impact of magical abilities.

　Students can obtain "item cards" in various ways, and they can also use various methods to conquer the escape room levels.

　Basically, obtaining "item cards" is very easy. And all you need to conquer the escape room levels is your brain.

　At St. Marian Academy, there are actually quite a few students who are intelligent but whose magical abilities are not particularly outstanding.

　In addition, these students are more eager for credits, resources, and reputation, so their enthusiasm for conquering escape rooms far surpasses that of others.

　Under these circumstances, many previously unknown students have distinguished themselves.

　This is actually what Dark would most like to see.

　Of course, it would be even better if Gina Grant wasn't ranked number one.

　The same few people come and go at this masquerade ball; it's so boring.

　If the masquerade ball could have a completely different theme every year, it would definitely be even more anticipated.

　As Dak walked down the corridor, he already had plans for the next masquerade ball in his mind.

　Since this year's test is in your brain, why not test your muscles next year?

　Haha.

　Of course, this was just a sudden flash of inspiration.

　He probably won't be involved in designing the masquerade ball next year. "Come out, Blue-Eyes White Dragon."

　Once again summoned, the Blue-Eyes White Dragon roared and charged at the monster that suddenly appeared in front of it.

　Dak walked past them and continued on his way.

　This time, he not only had to inspect the entire castle, but also distribute all the unused quiz rewards from the candy bags.

　Considering that his basic reward pack might not be enough, he will need to kill as many monsters as possible along the way to obtain "item cards".

　But just as he found the stairwell leading to the eighth floor, he suddenly heard a familiar voice behind him.

　His expression changed, and without thinking, he rushed down.

　But as soon as he got downstairs, he heard laughter coming from above, and he couldn't help but sigh and stop.

　Above him, Professor Lily, dressed as a "candy merchant," peered through the ceiling with a smug smile on her face.

　"Take it."

　Dark took a "question card" directly from his bag and tossed it over. Professor Lily caught the "question card" and said, still quite worried, "It has to be the rarest one!"

　“Rare, very rare,” Dark said. “But we have to follow the rules.” “No problem,” Professor Lily readily agreed, then grabbed the “question card” and retreated back into the ceiling.

　Dak glanced up and began surveying the eighth floor.

　He wrote a geometry problem that was far beyond the scope of the curriculum on the "problem card," thinking that it would at least stump Professor Lily for a few minutes.

　What he didn't see was that Professor Lily, without even glancing at the "question card," simply walked through the walls and slipped into the monitoring room. Then she placed the "question card" in front of mathematics professor Lars Melno.

　So, in less than five minutes, Dark saw Professor Lily's score jump up again.

　Two minutes later, Professor Lily reappeared in front of him, smiling broadly as she handed Darker a "question card" with the answers written on the back.

　Dark handed her the rare "Mechanical Monster Transformation" item card with a blank expression.

　The "Mechanical Monster Transformation" item card allows the user to transform into a "Mechanical Monster".

　This "mechanical monster" has all sorts of mechanical gadgets hidden inside its body, capable of doing almost everything that ordinary gadget cards can do.

　Of course, it can also do things that ordinary item cards cannot. On the eighth floor of the castle, there is a high-scoring secret room specially designed for the "Mechanical Monster Transformation".

　This high-scoring escape room doesn't necessarily require the "Mechanical Monster Transformation" to clear. However, without the "Mechanical Monster Transformation," you'll need a lot of regular item cards, exceptional item card usage skills, and fast reflexes and speed to have any chance of clearing it.

　Dak had assumed that Professor Lily wouldn't know.

　Unexpectedly, her eyes lit up immediately after she received the "Mechanical Monster Transformation" item, and her face was practically overflowing with surprise.

　Before Dark could ask a question, she pulled a "key card 08088" directly from her bag, flapped her wings, and flew away.

　"Has someone already shared information about the escape room?" "Or did she enter escape room 08088 before?" Dark frowned.

　The scores for Secret Room 08088 and Secret Room 09099 are roughly equal.

　Once Professor Lily clears level 08088, the top spot on the leaderboard will change hands.

　Sure enough, when Dark was once again cornered by the upperclassmen, the name in the points ranking had changed from Gina Grant to "Candy Merchant Number One".

　Feeling speechless, Darkdemon couldn't help but cover his head.

　A female senior student in front of him immediately asked, "What's wrong, junior? Do you have a headache? Are you feeling unwell because you're too tired?"

　“No, it’s nothing,” Dark quickly looked up and said, “This is your ‘item card’.”

　"It's good that you're alright." Even after receiving the "item card," the senior student still said with concern, "If you're really feeling unwell, don't push yourself. Go see Sister Lillian as soon as possible; don't let a small ailment become a big one. By the way, I heard you designed all the escape room challenges for this masquerade ball. Designing so many interesting escape rooms must have taken a lot of time. You were participating in the academy competition just a few days ago; you didn't work through the night, did you, because your body couldn't handle it…?"

　"No, senior, I'm really fine." Dark looked at the reactions of the students around him, and he was sweating profusely.

　etc.

　He didn't recognize the senior student in front of him at all, and had no idea where she'd heard the claim that "he designed all the escape room puzzles." But now, figuring out who leaked the information seemed pointless.

　"Hey, Yvette, he really designed all those escape rooms!" "No way! He designed all those escape room puzzles?!" "How is that possible? Could one person have designed all those escape rooms?"

　"Wait, why are you only surprised that those escape room puzzles were designed by one person?"

　"What do you mean? Do you think he couldn't design those escape room puzzles?"

　"No, of course not... wrong, I mean, he's only a third-year student after all!"

　The third-year student who ranked first in the academy championship.

　"Okay, I admit it, he's better than many sixth graders." "Good that you admit it, hehehe o(一——o#). Wait, what am I arguing with you about! The designers of those escape room puzzles are right in front of me!"

　"Titus, you really reminded me! Junior Dimon, please tell me how to get through Room 06034!"

　"No, I'm ahead of you in line, you should tell me first. Room 07053 has been bothering me for ages! Damn it, how do I even get past that stupid room?"

　"So what if you're at the front of the line? This is a queue to collect 'question cards' and answer rewards, not a queue to ask about escape room problems!"

　"Please tell me how to solve Room 05055! I've failed three times already!"

　"Secret Room 06038! Secret Room 06038! Tell me quickly, or I definitely won't be able to sleep tonight."

　"Please, Room 07029! Don't force me to kneel down!" "Junior Brother Dark, Room 06088, I'll do anything you ask! I can't get past it, this feeling of being stuck in my heart is really unbearable!"

　"Escape Room 09023! I can buy it with credits!" "Escape Room 09056! I'll exchange it with an item card!" "Escape Room 09033!"

　"Secret Room No. 07045!" "No. 060..." "No. O"

　"Hey, Dimon, Dimon!"