“In conclusion, the academy will not be closed, but the situation will be monitored.”
“…I see.”
Elena quietly nodded at Mikhail’s report as he returned from the castle to her mansion in the academy.
Mikhail, now a close aide to the Princess, spends half the month at the castle, learning from the Prime Minister and gathering information to assist Elena in political matters.
This time, something resembling a ‘Demon’ was sighted around the academy, and as a result of Mikhail bringing that information back to the castle, he returned with a response detailing the discussions between the Prime Minister and His Majesty the King.
“It’s understandable that His Majesty made such a decision.”
“I think so too.”
“No, are you both really okay with this, Your Highness and Mikhail?”
Rookwell, who had been listening to Elena and Mikhail’s exchange, interjected with a dissatisfied expression.
I understand how he feels, but this outcome was somewhat expected.
The reason the information about the Demon’s appearance wasn’t taken more seriously wasn’t because my or Viro’s reports were dismissed, but for the simple reason that the academy couldn’t be closed in the current situation.
Previously, the academy had been closed for several months due to a Demon attack, leading some nobles to question the academy’s security. Closing it again now would cast doubt on the very purpose of the academy.
The Magic Academy aims to cultivate specialized knowledge and political perspectives in the upper nobility, raise the knowledge and education of the unevenly skilled lower nobility, and improve the average level of the kingdom’s aristocracy. The social gatherings and search for fiancés that students prioritize are merely additional benefits.
While the central nobles are one thing, the local nobles send their heirs to the academy because graduating from the academy itself is seen as a sign of adulthood, and they believe that this academy is a safe place to learn, which they offer as a substitute for loyalty to the royal family.
The Royal Magic Academy was considered a safe place, alongside the Royal Capital, under the King’s authority. If it were to close repeatedly, it could lead to distrust of the royal family.
“Mikhail, if you keep quiet about the Demon’s presence, you’ll be putting the students in danger.”
“I know that, Rookwell. The problem is, we don’t know why the Demon appeared. Was it targeting someone in this academy, or did it appear naturally…? There’s also the possibility that the target isn’t the academy, but the Royal Capital or the Holy Church.”
As Mikhail answered Rookwell’s question, Elena, who had been reading the documents Mikhail had given her, looked up and continued.
“It seems that Dandole, the General Commander of the Knight Order, has also approved. There are plans to increase security at the academy, but Lord Dandole seems to want to prioritize the security of the Royal Capital and the Royal Castle.”
“Father does…”
This world is full of monsters and dangers. The more intelligent higher-ranking monsters tend to stay away from human settlements, and people live by forming communities, but once you leave those settlements, you can easily lose your life.
That’s why people create weapons, learn magic, and acquire the skills to fight. The value of life is so low in this world that you have to do that.
In the worst case, nobles can be replaced as many times as needed. That’s why nobles like Elena keep guards like me by their side.
“Besides…”
Elena handed the documents she had read to me, who was beside her, and slowly exhaled.
“The existence of Demons frightens the people more than we realize. His Majesty, Melrose, and both the Dandole families have decided not to make this situation public until the Demon’s purpose is known… Aria, Jesha.”
“Yes.”
“Yeah.”
Elena chuckled at Jesha, whose speech still hadn’t improved, but quickly tightened her expression and reflected our faces in her blue eyes.
“Jesha, I’d like you to cooperate with Rookwell and Viro to patrol and search the academy.”
“Okay, but what about the Princess’s security?”
“One of the three of you will have to stay behind in shifts. I don’t think ordinary knights can handle it, so I’m counting on you, Jesha.”
“Well, I’ll do my best.”
Even Rank 4 Jesha probably doesn’t have much experience fighting Spirits or Demons. Still, the Magic Steel weapons that Jesha and I possess can inflict some damage on spiritual life forms. It’s only a small amount, but if they were processed with special materials like Minotaur horns—living metal (Adamantite)—they could inflict as much damage as Viro’s Mithril dagger.
Doltone is currently processing Jesha’s weapon with Black Dragon scales from the Rainbow Sword, and if that’s completed, Jesha, with her large battle axe, should become a key figure in both offense and defense.
“And Aria, I’d like you to cooperate with Mikhail to search the Royal Capital. I know Viro is more familiar with the streets, but considering the distribution of forces, I have no choice but to ask Aria.”
“Yeah. I understand.”
If I were to investigate not only the Royal Capital but also other areas, I would have to act alone.
I could rely on the Rainbow Sword in terms of combat power, but Dolton and Mira would be too conspicuous to move around gathering information. Feld, a human, hasn’t returned from Greatsword production yet, so I, who can fight Demons alone, had no choice but to act alone.
To be honest, it’s possible that my leaving Elena’s side is the enemy’s strategy, but I can only hope that by having me, Elena’s “bait,” act alone, they will target me.
Where did the Demon come from? Is it being controlled by someone’s will? How strong is the Demon…? I have no choice but to confirm it myself.
If it’s a Lesser Demon, I can defeat it without any problems. But… if it’s a Greater Demon, can I win with my current strength?
“…Is there still no news about Bibi?”
“I am very sorry, Clara-sama.”
In the ‘Crown Princess Palace’ within the Royal Castle late at night, Clara quietly sighed at the report from Hilda, her exclusive maid.
Originally, this place was to be given to the Crown Prince and his wife after their marriage, but because Clara was the leading candidate for betrothal and a Demon had been confirmed at the academy, Margrave Dandole, the General Commander of the Knight Order, had requested protection from His Majesty, and it was lent to her as a temporary residence.
It hadn’t been used for about ten years since the current Queen moved to the Queen’s Palace, but it was thoroughly cleaned and there were no particular inconveniences. The exclusive maids of the Crown Princess Palace and Clara’s subordinates are still guarding the area, but with only Clara and her close aides in this room, Clara smiled to reassure the three of them.
Seeing that, Hilda and Heidi, former Assassins, bowed their heads vigorously.
“I’m sorry, Clara-sama. Bibi’s just…”
“That child, not only did she abandon her work, but what has she done?”
“It’s not your fault. That girl probably had a [Divine Protection (Gift)] too. It was my mistake for not confirming that first.”
As a result of Clara’s re-calculation with her “Foresight,” she realized that not only that Viscount’s daughter, but also Elvan, Amor, and Nasanitaru were highly likely to have obtained [Gifts].
The Royal Family owns that Dungeon, but it was a place where Spirits could not whimsically grant high abilities. That’s why she was careless. Because Clara had knowledge of the Otome Game, she automatically assumed that they could only obtain support-type abilities.
“It’s probably a mental ability. They shouldn’t be able to obtain a Divine Protection powerful enough to distort the will of others, but they should be able to weaken hostility. Or, they should be able to shift the direction of hostility somewhere else.”
“So Bibi was made to believe that he wasn’t an enemy?”
“I don’t know. It might be ineffective if she had clear hostility, but she could be skillfully guided.”
“I see…”
Clara spoke vaguely, but Hilda remembered that Bibi had not sworn absolute loyalty to Clara for Clara’s sake, but had followed Clara for revenge. Still, Bibi felt indebted to Clara, and it was not thought that there was any major problem that would cause her to betray her, but that gap in her heart was exploited.
“As a countermeasure against mental abilities, which are Dark attribute, keep Light attribute Magic Stones with you. It’s only a placebo, but it should have some effect.”
“Understood. I will ask the Holy Church.”
“U-um…”
At that time, Heidi, who had wanted to guard Clara even when Bibi and Doris were heading to assassinate the Viscount’s daughter, raised a small voice.
“I understand the countermeasures for that girl, but what about that one (…)? Is it okay…?”
At that statement, Hilda and Doris directed accusatory gazes at Heidi.
That “over there” refers to Princess (Your Highness)’s movement to remove Elvan from the position of Crown Prince. While the Viscount’s daughter cannot be ignored, if Princess Elena is recognized by the new Crown Prince and His Majesty the King, Clara will inevitably cease to be the Crown Prince’s fiancée.
Every one of her subordinates thought it, but refrained from voicing the question out of consideration for their master’s feelings. Clara, however, did not get angry, but instead wore a lonely smile.
“Perhaps… it doesn’t matter anymore. When I think about it, I never even considered wanting to be Queen from the start. I just wanted to be by that person’s side… I’m sorry for making someone like me your master.”
“What are you saying? We serve you precisely because you are Clara-sama!”
“Me too! Those who aren’t here would think the same!”
“We will serve Clara-sama forever.”
“You guys…”
In the battle for the Divine Protection against the Viscount’s daughter, Clara’s side lost one of her close aides. However, that resulted in strengthening the bonds of those who remained.
Therefore, in order to prevent that girl in the Heroine’s position from doing as she pleases any further, Clara uses her “Foresight” as if she were sacrificing her own life.
“…(As for that girl’s mental abilities, what kind of Divine Protection did the other three obtain?)”
The previous Prince Consort passed away early due to excessive use of Divine Protection. It’s hard to believe that Elvan and Amor, who should know about this, would desire dangerous Divine Protection, but the moment that Viscount’s daughter obtained an ability that cannot be underestimated, there is a possibility that it differs from the knowledge in the game.
The Divine Protection obtained from the Dungeon near the Royal Capital is weak. But isn’t that not a difference in the rank of the Spirits, but a difference in their response to humans?
The Divine Protection of a strong Spirit that doesn’t seem to think about people at all, on the other hand, seems to be fulfilling people’s Desires to the maximum extent. Because they love people, they fulfill their wishes.
Conversely, if it’s a Spirit that doesn’t love people that much, wouldn’t they give them a random Divine Protection and leave them alone? Even if it means distorting their wishes…
At the same time, a “Demon” appeared at the academy. If that is a distorted Desire fulfilled by a Spirit…
Knock.
“–!?”
Everyone except Clara tensed up warily at the sudden knocking sound on the window.
“Bibi?”
Beyond the window, there was Bibi’s figure, who should have disappeared into the darkness of the night. Her complexion was bad and her appearance was not clearly visible, but beyond the window with small panes of glass, her face illuminated by the light inside the room was certainly Bibi’s.
“Where have you been all this time?”
Doris, who had been on the same assassination mission, was worried despite her harsh words, and reached for the window with a mix of anger and joy.
Clara couldn’t see her because Hilda and the others were protecting her. Doris rushed to the window, and while Clara was tormented by a headache from using “Foresight,” she was momentarily slow to notice “it” through the gap that opened up.
“Don’t open it!!”
“Eh…”
Click…
“–Thank you, for inviting me–“
This voice was clearly different from Bibi’s—different from a “human.”
Crash!!
“Gah!?”
An existence with Bibi’s face attached to a body of black mist, as if destroying the half-opened window and blowing Doris away, flowed into the room as if drifting, and distorted Bibi’s face like clay and sneered, as if mocking the mortals.
“Get away from it!”
Seeing that, Clara, who was shedding tears of blood from one eye due to overuse of “Foresight,” saw through its true identity.
In Clara’s past life’s knowledge, there is a legend that Vampires cannot enter a house unless invited. But that is just an additional attribute to give people hope, added as a weakness by those who feared the power of Vampires too much, and by writers of later generations.
Since ancient times, people have called the terrifying “things” that come at night Vampires and equated them with each other.
If so, isn’t the story that they can’t enter unless invited a simple “contract” ritual that the existence performs in order to wield its power?
The existence that performs that is–
“…A Demon…”
The Demon that appeared attacks Clara.
The settings for Demons and Vampires include unique elements.
As some of you have mentioned in your comments, it’s a real Demon.
Next time: Shadow of the Demon, Part 2
I’m excited about the appearance of the Demon (laughs).