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

　However, the summoning process for "Behemoth" is indeed complicated. In previous years, 90% of the time it was summoned in the last 15 minutes.

　At this time last year, Dark was eyeing "Behemoth's Horn".

　This year, he's not as concerned about the materials anymore. So even if he can't participate in the final boss hunt, there's nothing to regret.

　He can easily obtain materials that are, to some extent, "renewable resources" if he wants them.

　However, when I recall the excitement and passion I felt last year when I ganged up on "Behemoth" with the upperclassmen, I still feel a little regretful.

　Once a person reaches a certain level, they will lose some of the joy.

　It was exactly 11 p.m.

　With only one hour left until the masquerade ball ended, Dark checked the leaderboards even more frequently. The fluctuations in the credit rankings revealed who would become the floor boss.

　The fluctuations in the points rankings reveal who has conquered the most challenging escape rooms.

　Dak's primary focus is on the third grade.

　Scrolling down the leaderboard, the first third-year student's name to appear has become Emma Metis.

　But right behind Emma was Sarasawati, who was hot on her heels.

　Next up are Rose Flori, Eudora Envy, and then Aurora Montilfali.

　Among the second-year students, only Aurora successfully blended into the ranks of the top third-year students.

　Next up is Vivian Alvind.

　The two little princesses are not ranked low either.

　Dark looked for Ellie's location again.

　They discovered that she was far ahead of the other first-year students on the points leaderboard!

　In terms of magical skill alone, she is not more outstanding than the first-year students of this year.

　But she is, after all, a professionally trained "assassin" with a clear advantage in escape room strategies, which is why she is leading in the points ranking.

　This unexpectedly gave her a competitive edge in Crimson Star.

　However, the other first-year students should not be underestimated, and it remains to be seen who will ultimately win the "Crimson Star" title.

　Half past eleven in the evening.

　An event that shocked all the students in the entire castle occurred.

　While the top-ranked students were racing to conquer the escape room and desperately vying for the top spots, they suddenly discovered that "Candy Merchant No. 1," who had consistently been ranked number one, had suddenly disappeared!

　"what happened"

　Gina Grant, who was originally ranked second, immediately frowned. She was not interested in what seemed like a handout.

　But when she looked down, she found that the name "Candy Merchant No. 3" was still there.

　This seems to indicate that not all "candy merchants" have withdrawn from the points ranking competition.

　"Is there something special about this 'Candy Merchant No. 1'?" "Why did it disappear from the leaderboard?"

Chapter 1371 Darkdemon's Halloween Farewell (4k)

　Why did "Candy Merchant No. 1" mysteriously disappear?

　This remained an unsolved mystery for a long time after the masquerade ball.

　However, Dark learned the details immediately after she disappeared.

　The answer is being caught cheating.

　As for why the cheating that happened two and a half hours ago was only caught and punished two and a half hours later, only God knows.

　Principal Art probably indulged her a bit because she was having too much fun.

　In short, it really wasn't Dark that he did it. How could he possibly do that, right?

　If he really did something like that, he would probably be plagued by evil spirits for at least two months.

　That's terrifying to even think about.

　Fortunately, before he could make a move, "Candy Merchant Number One" was eliminated.

　The leaderboard has finally returned to normal. Gina Grant has reclaimed first place. Pandora has moved up to fifth.

　Elsie Clarissa also made it into the top ten. Winnie Skadi, on the other hand, held steady in twelfth place. However, the points differences among the top-ranked students were not significant.

　Even Gina Grant, who is currently in first place, could be overtaken by the second-place finisher if she doesn't make any moves in the final half hour.

　The last half hour of this masquerade ball is also the peak time for scoring points.

　This applies to both points and academic credits. This year's monster reserves are almost double those of previous years. Therefore, they were not depleted before the event ended.

　Students who need the credits will naturally make a final push in the last half hour.

　On the other hand, defeating floor bosses can also earn a large number of credits. In particular, defeating the final boss, "Behemoth," can yield a massive amount of credits that can significantly alter your ranking.

　Upperclassmen who want to obtain "Behemoth's Horn" will also actively participate.

　However, if you want to both climb the rankings and defeat the final boss, you must make a decision and give up one of them.

　After all, you can't have your cake and eat it too.

　As a result, the number of upperclassmen who ultimately gathered at the top of the castle to fight for the final boss was half that of previous years!

　Moreover, among those who were eliminated were top players like Pandora Drogon and Gina Grant.

　With the absence of top-tier supermodels like Pandora and Gina, the remaining students became relatively evenly matched in terms of skill level.

　Therefore, their competition for the final boss has become even more intense!

　In the final fifteen minutes, Dark also reached the castle grounds. However, he was dressed as a "candy merchant," completely concealing his identity. All he could do was watch the show and enjoy the spectacle. "Rumble!"

　As the floors shook, the final boss, Behemoth, was summoned.

　The upperclassmen who had been eyeing it immediately rushed over upon hearing the commotion. Then they discovered something completely different from previous years. According to the rules of the event, the team that summoned "Behemoth" had priority in defeating it.

　Only after that team fails and gives up can the other students try to seize it.

　But this year, there's no trace of that "team." It's as if "Behemoth" was summoned out of thin air, and there was no such thing as a "team."

　Despite their deep doubts, the students did not give up this exceptionally rare opportunity.

　Everyone followed Behemoth to the top of the castle. As one magical spirit after another was summoned, the final battle of this masquerade ball finally unfolded atop the castle.

　"Year after year, the time has come again to besiege Behemoth."

　Dark simply sat on the edge of the castle rooftop, watching that all-too-familiar scene from afar.

　The older students were fully engaged in the battle to defeat Behemoth.

　The younger students gathered at the edge, watching from a distance. The number of people around Dak gradually increased, as if the students had accepted that the area next to the "Candy Merchant" was an absolutely safe zone. They jumped and skipped around, as excited as children just released from their cages.

　Oh, they are just children.

　Children naturally need parental protection.

　Besides Lily, the other "candy merchants" also came to the top of the castle after hearing the commotion, and actively dispersed to protect the younger students from harm.

　Looking down from the starry night sky, those bulky but adorable "candy merchants" seem like "guardian angels" for the students.

　Each guardian was surrounded by people. Initially, there were far fewer spectators than last year. After all, many students, regardless of grade level, were making a final push for higher scores.

　But as the commotion on the top of the castle grew louder, more and more people rode the updrafts to the top of the castle.

　Ultimately, they couldn't bear to give up this show.

　It's as if the masquerade ball wouldn't be complete without watching the upperclassmen gang up on "Behemoth" as it comes to an end each year.

　That was the final stage show, a family-friendly spectacle with "Behemoth" as the eternal villain.

　unconsciously.

　The most gathered around Dark were

　Many people.

　Besides the students, there were also magical elves carrying candy bags and pumpkin lanterns.

　The magical elves naturally formed a solid defensive line in front of him.

　The light emanating from the jack-o'-lantern gathered together like yellow stars.

　The castle rooftop was bustling with noise. Outside the castle, however, all was silent and dark.

　A gaze was cast from the dense forest in the distance. Beneath the starry sky, a fiery brilliance flickered. "Boom—"

　Before the clock struck midnight, the enormous beast finally fell to the ground under the onslaught of the upperclassmen.

　All the senior students who participated in the siege were allocated a considerable amount of academic credits based on the proportion of damage they caused.

　The final killer who delivers the final blow to "Behemoth" will receive double the credits.

　The one who inflicts the most damage on "Behemoth" will receive the final gift box.

　Inside was the extremely rare material—"Behemoth's Horn"! As "Behemoth" crashed down, all the students cheered in unison.

　Of course, while some people were cheering, they couldn't wait to take out their "school cards" to check the ranking changes.

　"Tick."

　Only one minute remains until the end of the masquerade ball. All credits are about to be calculated.

　Gina Grant emerged from the final secret chamber, casually killing one of the attacking monsters in the process.

　Pandora opened the treasure chest to clear the level and summoned a boss-level monster.

　"The last minute."

　She looked at the boss-level treasure chest monster and couldn't help but smile sweetly.

　Emma, ​​however, opened a new secret room at the last minute and rushed into it.

　Vithogd and the third-year Knights Academy students sat around the "Candy Merchant," cheering and dreaming along with the students.

　By this time next year, they will be in fourth grade and will certainly no longer be the ones sitting in the distance watching.

　In the monitoring room, where only one person remained, Professor Lily was writhing and throwing a tantrum in the air.

　worldwide.

　People living in the same cultural context would snuggle together after playing and getting tired, quietly waiting for the day's renovation.

　"Ding dong."

　It's midnight.

　Halloween Eve for this grade was also peaceful and uneventful.

　The leaderboard has been updated.

　Dark took out his Sorting Card to check it after the bell rang. His "candy merchant" disguise was no longer useful; everyone already knew his true identity.

　But the identities of the other "candy merchants" remain a secret. And the professors are all prepared to keep this secret until at least next year. Dark looked at the leaderboard.

　First up is the points leaderboard.

　Gina Grant remains in first place.

　Despite her best efforts, the senior student who ranked second was still unable to surpass her.

　However, the points leaderboard uses a prize pool system, and there is no extra reward for the first place winner.

　He was still able to receive the academic credits commensurate with his high score. The third-place finisher, however, was a familiar name – Pandora Drogon.

　Despite not putting in a particularly strong effort to climb the ranks, Pandora still managed to squeeze into the top three at the last minute.

　Erza Clarissa and Winnie the Pooh also made it into the top ten.

　The two upperclassmen from the Fantastic Beasts Club successfully maintained their rankings within the top twenty.

　Further down.

　Surprisingly, the student who ranked first in points among the third graders was Emma Metis, who came from behind to surpass her.

　Unsurprisingly, Aurora ranked first in the points ranking among the second-year students.

　Ellie also firmly secured first place in the points ranking among first-year students. Next is the credit ranking.