“To tell you the results, the academy will not be closed, and it has been decided to observe the situation.”
“…Is that so?”
Elena quietly nodded at Mikhail’s report. He had returned from the castle to her residence at the academy.
Mikhail, who had become the princess’s aide, spent half of each 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. Mikhail brought this information back to the castle, and he returned with the response detailing the discussions held between the Prime Minister and His Majesty the King.
“It was likely unavoidable for His Majesty the King to make such a decision.”
“I think so too.”
“No, Your Highness, Mikhail, are you both alright with that?”
Roakwell, who had been listening to Elena and Mikhail’s exchange, interjected with a dissatisfied expression.
I could understand his feelings, but this outcome had been somewhat expected.
The information about a demon appearing wasn’t given much importance, not because the reports from eyewitnesses like Viro-san and myself were disregarded, but for the simple reason that, under the current circumstances, the academy cannot be closed.
Previously, when the academy was closed for several months due to an attack by the Evil Race, some nobles had raised concerns about the academy’s security. If it were to be closed again now, the very significance of the academy’s existence would become questionable.
The Magic Academy aims to cultivate specialized knowledge and a political perspective in high-ranking nobles, and to elevate the knowledge and culture of lower-ranking nobles, whose levels vary, thereby raising the average standard of the kingdom’s nobility. What students prioritize, such as networking among nobles and searching for fiancés, are merely secondary benefits.
Aside from the central nobles, regional nobles send their heirs to the academy not only because graduating from it is considered a mark of adulthood, but also because they believe their legitimate sons can study safely here, and they consider this a substitute for loyalty to the royal family.
The Royal Magic Academy, under the King’s prestige, was thought to be a safe place, on par with the Royal Capital. If it were to be closed repeatedly, it could lead to distrust towards the royal family.
“Mikhail, if we keep quiet about the demon’s presence, we’ll be putting the students in danger.”
“I understand that, Roakwell. The problem is, we don’t know why the demon appeared. Was it targeting someone at 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 Roakwell’s question, Elena, who had been reading documents handed to her by Mikhail, looked up and continued.
“It seems Dandole Knight Commander has also approved. There are plans to increase the academy’s security, but Lord Dandole apparently wants to prioritize the security of the Royal Capital and the royal castle.”
“Father…”
This world is filled with monsters and danger. More intelligent, higher-ranking monsters tend not to approach human settlements, and people live by forming communities, but once you leave them, it’s a world where you can easily lose your life.
That’s why people create weapons, learn magic, and acquire skills to fight. The value of life in this world was so low that such measures were necessary.
In the worst-case scenario, nobles can be replaced as many times as necessary. That’s why nobles like Elena keep guards like me by their side.
“Moreover…”
Elena handed the documents she had read to me, who was beside her, and exhaled slowly.
“The existence of demons frightens the common people more than we imagine. His Majesty the King and the Melrose and Dandole families have decided not to make this situation public until the demon’s objective is understood. …Aria, Jesha.”
“Yes.”
“Yeah.”
Elena chuckled at Jesha, whose manner of speech still hadn’t improved, but her expression quickly turned serious as her azure eyes met our faces.
“Jesha, I want you to cooperate with Roakwell and Viro to guard and search within the academy.”
“Alright, but what about Her Highness’s security?”
“One of you three will have to remain behind in rotation. I think it would be difficult for ordinary knights to handle this opponent, so I’m counting on you, Jesha.”
“Well, I’ll give it a shot.”
Even for a Rank 4 like Jesha, he shouldn’t have much combat experience against spirits or demons. Still, the Magic Steel weapons that Jesha and I possess can deal some damage to spiritual life forms. It’s minimal, though, but if processed with a special material like a minotaur’s horn—Living Metal (Adamantite)—it could deal damage comparable to Viro-san’s Mithril dagger.
Jesha’s weapon is also currently being processed with Black Dragon scales owned by the Rainbow Sword, by Dolton’s decision. Once that’s done, Jesha, with his large battle-axe, should become a cornerstone in both offense and defense.
“And Aria, I’ll have you cooperate with Mikhail to investigate the Royal Capital. Viro-san is probably more accustomed to the city, but considering the dispersal of our forces, I have no choice but to rely on you, Aria.”
“Yeah. I understand.”
If I were to investigate not only the Royal Capital but other areas as well, I would have to move alone.
In terms of combat strength, I could rely on the Rainbow Sword, but Dolton and Mira are too conspicuous to move around gathering information. Feld, being a human, hasn’t returned from his greatsword crafting yet, so I, who can fight demons alone, had no choice but to move by myself.
To be honest, me leaving Elena’s side might be the enemy’s strategy, but as Elena’s “decoy,” I can only pray that by moving alone, they will target me.
Where did the demon come from? Is it acting on someone’s will? How strong is the demon…? I’ll probably have to find out for myself, firsthand.
I can defeat a Lesser Demon without any problem. But… if it’s a ‘Greater Demon,’ can I win with my current strength?
“…Is there still no word on Bibi’s whereabouts?”
“I am truly sorry, Clara-sama.”
In the ‘Crown Princess Palace’ within the royal castle, late at night, Clara quietly sighed at the report from Hilda, her personal attendant.
Originally, this place was to be given to the Crown Prince and his wedded princess, but because Clara was the primary fiancée candidate and a demon had been confirmed at the academy, Margrave Dandole, the Knight Commander, 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 Consort moved to the Queen’s Palace, but it was well-cleaned, and there were no particular inconveniences. Even now, the Crown Princess Palace’s dedicated maids and Clara’s subordinates were securing the surroundings, but with only her close aides present in the room besides herself, Clara let out a smile as if to praise the three of them.
Seeing that, Hilda and Heidi, former assassins, bowed their heads vigorously.
“We’re sorry, Clara-sama! That Bibi…”
“That girl, not only did she abandon her duties, but to do such a thing…”
“It’s not your responsibility. It’s likely that girl also obtained a Divine Protection (Gift). It was my failure not to confirm that sooner.”
As a result of recalculating with Clara’s “Foresight,” it was found that there was a high probability that not only that viscount’s daughter but also Elvan, Amor, and Nasanitar had obtained a Divine Protection.
That dungeon is owned by the royal family, but it was a place where, due to the fickleness of spirits, high-level abilities could not be obtained. Therefore, she had been careless. Because Clara possessed knowledge of the otome game, she had arbitrarily assumed that only support-type abilities could be obtained there.
“It’s probably a mental-type ability. It shouldn’t be possible to obtain a Divine Protection powerful enough to twist another’s will, but it should be possible to weaken hostility, or perhaps divert the direction of hostility elsewhere.”
“So Bibi was made to believe that person wasn’t an enemy?”
“I don’t know. If she had clear hostility, it might have been nullified, but it’s also possible she was skillfully manipulated with words.”
“I see…”
Clara spoke vaguely, but Hilda recalled that Bibi hadn’t sworn absolute loyalty to Clara, but had followed her for the sake of revenge. Even so, Bibi felt indebted to Clara, and it was thought there wouldn’t be any major problems like betrayal, but it seemed her emotional vulnerability had been exploited.
“As a countermeasure against dark-attribute mental abilities, carry light-attribute Magic Stones. It might only be for peace of mind, but it should have some effect.”
“Understood. I will make a request to the Holy Church.”
“U-um…”
Just then, Heidi, who had wished to guard Clara even when Bibi and Doris went to assassinate the viscount’s daughter, spoke up in a small voice.
“I understand the countermeasures for that girl, but… is it alright to leave that… as it is…?”
“That,” referred to Princess Elena’s moves to oust Elvan from his position as Crown Prince. The Viscount’s daughter couldn’t be ignored either, but if Princess Elena were to have a new Crown Prince acknowledged by His Majesty the King, Clara would inevitably no longer be the Crown Princess consort.
To that question, which all her retainers had on their minds but couldn’t voice out of consideration for their master’s feelings, Clara didn’t get angry, but instead showed a lonely smile.
“Perhaps… it doesn’t matter anymore. Come to think of it, I never once thought I wanted to become Queen from the very beginning. If only I could have stayed by his side… I’m sorry, for having someone like me as your master.”
“What are you saying, Clara-sama? It is precisely because you are Clara-sama that we serve you!”
“Me too! Those who aren’t here would surely think the same!”
“We will serve Clara-sama forever.”
“You all…”
In the battle of【Divine Protection】against the Viscount’s daughter, Clara’s side had lost one of her close aides. However, as a result, it had strengthened the bond of those who remained.
Then, to prevent that girl, who held the position of the “heroine,” from doing as she pleased any further, Clara used her〝Foresight〟as if whittling away her own life.
“…(That girl has a mental-type, but what kind of Divine Protections did the other three obtain?)”
The previous King’s younger brother had died young from overusing his Divine Protection. It was hard to believe that Elvan or Amor, who should have known that, would desire a dangerous【Divine Protection】. However, from the moment that Viscount’s daughter obtained an ability that couldn’t be taken lightly, there was a possibility that things differed from her knowledge of the game.
The【Divine Protection】obtained from Dungeons near the Royal Capital are weak. But isn’t that due to a difference in how spirits treat humans, rather than a difference in the spirits’ ranks?
Even the Divine Protection of a powerful spirit that seems to care nothing for humans, looking at it another way, appears to fulfill human desires to the utmost. It is precisely because they love humans that they grant wishes.
Conversely, if a spirit didn’t love humans that much, wouldn’t it just bestow a half-hearted Divine Protection and leave them be? Perhaps even… by misinterpreting their wishes.
Around the same time, a〝devil〟appeared at the academy. If that was a misinterpreted wish granted by a spirit…
Knock.
“—!?”
At the sudden sound of something knocking on the window, everyone except Clara tensed up warily.
“Bibi?”
Beyond the window, there was the figure of Bibi, who should have vanished into the night’s darkness. Her complexion was poor and her figure indistinct, but beyond the window fitted with small panes of glass, the face illuminated by the room’s light was unmistakably Bibi’s.
“Where the hell have you been?!”
Doris, who had been on the same assassination mission, perhaps worried despite her sharp tongue, reached for the window, looking angry yet pleased.
Clara couldn’t see her because Hilda and the others were shielding her. As Doris rushed to the window, Clara, tormented by a headache from using〝Foresight〟, peeked through the gap they made. With her dazed mind, she was a moment too late in noticing〝it〟.
“Don’t open it!!”
“Eh…”
Click…
『—Thank you… for the invitation—』
This voice was clearly different from Bibi’s—from a〝human’s〟.
CRASH!!
“Guah!?”
Blasting Doris away as if to destroy the half-opened window, an entity with a body of black miasma, onto which only Bibi’s face was plastered, slowly flowed into the room. Then, as if to ridicule the mortals, it distorted Bibi’s face like clay and sneered.
“Get away from that thing!”
Seeing that, Clara, who was shedding bloody tears from one eye due to overusing〝Foresight〟, saw through its true identity.
In Clara’s knowledge from her previous life, there was a legend that vampires cannot enter a home unless invited. But that was merely an additional attribute, a weakness appended by those who overly feared the vampire’s power or by later authors, simply to give people hope.
Since ancient times, people had called the terrifying〝things〟that came in the night “vampires” and equated them.
If that were the case, then this tale of not being able to enter unless invited—wasn’t it a simple ritual of a〝contract〟, performed so that such an entity could wield its power?
An existence that would perform such a thing is—
“…A devil…!”
The devil that appeared attacks Clara.
The settings for devils and vampires include original elements.
As was also mentioned in the impressions, it’s a genuine devil.
Next time, Shadow of the Devil – Middle Part
I get excited when devils appear (lol)