“Are you not human?” Albert asked me.
I had no idea what kind of thought drove that question. After all, he was the Empire’s top Mage, and he couldn’t read my memory just by meeting my gaze.
So, I had to guess his intentions based on his eyes, actions, and the faint sound of his heartbeat.
“Why do you think so?”
I shot back his question with a question of my own. I hesitated, unsure of how to respond.
At the same time, I was testing him. I needed to know if he was asking with certainty, or if he was just probing me.
Silence hung between us for a while. The atmosphere was tense enough that a slaughter could break out at any moment.
Even I, who was clumsy at sensing Mana, could tell the air around was strange.
“It’s your red eyes. They remind me of someone I know. As you know, humans with red eyes are quite rare. The person I know wasn’t a complete human either.”
But contrary to that atmosphere, the words that came from Albert were calm.
He seemed to be seeking a conversation more than a fight.
I relaxed my guard slightly. His request to chat seemed to hold its literal meaning.
“Dean Sertia.”
I spoke her name before he could finish his explanation. She was probably the person Albert was referring to.
“Do you know her?”
Albert asked with a serious face.
I didn’t know her well. I had actually never met her. I was merely inferring based on the memories I had taken from Albert before.
But if we were talking about red eyes, she was the only one that fit. The probability of a human being born with red eyes was slim.
It was intriguing that she was a human cursed to have her eyes tainted.
However, she was a dangerous person, and I didn’t wish to meet her in person.
“I don’t know her well. I’ve just heard her name.”
“In any case, you do know her.”
“······.”
I did not deny it.
That alone progressed our conversation.
“Dean Sertia has conducted several experiments on herself. She concluded that it’s nearly impossible for a human to have red eyes. If it does exist, it’s likely due to some chronic illness.”
His low voice carried a calm tone, similar to how one would lecture in class.
At least, it wasn’t the sharp voice he had during the combat. From what I could tell, there was no intention to attack. It was pure curiosity.
“Are you also under some curse?”
Curse.
That wasn’t entirely inaccurate.
I had been cursed by someone unknown and had fallen into this unknown world, becoming a monster that had to kill.
But that was far from the curse that Albert described.
As for my body, there was no curse. If there was, I would have realized it long ago.
I didn’t feel like something was eating away at me like it did for Sertia, nor did I feel another personality residing inside me.
It was much more natural to say I was a completely different species than her.
So, I shook my head.
“I’m not cursed.”
“······.”
This time, Albert fell silent.
I couldn’t read his memory, but I could guess what he was thinking.
He must be curious about my identity. A being that looked like a human with red eyes but wasn’t a chronic patient or cursed.
So, what was I?
“What are you then?”
The question I expected came in.
But I couldn’t give him a definite answer. I didn’t know the truth about my identity either.
In this situation, I decided to maintain a firm attitude.
“What will you do if I say I don’t know?”
I had nothing to lose as I stood facing him.
If necessary, I could wipe his memory or even kill him.
It was late at night in the park, with no witnesses. I hoped he wouldn’t pry any further.
“Indeed, Ilia-chan is······.”
“It’s probably best for you to stop asking about me for your own good.”
The reason I didn’t kill Albert that day was that he was one of the key figures of the Empire.
I didn’t want to escalate the matter too much when I had attacked the Empire. I wanted it to be manageable enough to cover up from higher-ups, just like now.
You could argue I was scared of the repercussions if I killed Albert.
And.
“······.”
That was different now.
If I wanted, I could erase him from this world without leaving a trace.
I could wipe the memories of those around him so no one would remember him.
It was a night with a full moon.
As the bright moonlight shone down on me, I waited for his words.
I was trying to see if he would cross the final line I had set.
If he did, I would kill him, but even if he didn’t, I would erase his memory.
After spreading the magical energy within me around, I showcased my red eyes to him. This was my true form.
Not the student Ilia but the worst killer with the most casualties.
Albert swallowed hard, trying to cast a spell with his hand, but it was too late. In this situation, whatever he did, I was faster.
As soon as he began chanting a spell to attack me, the red magical energy in this vicinity would pierce his heart.
Whether he realized that or not, Albert didn’t attack me. It was a wise decision.
Silence followed, and another dawn breeze blew.
Should I end the waiting here?
“There’s no next time, Albert. From now on, just ignore me if we run into each other.”
I said that and turned my back. I thought he would understand by now.
Where the red magical energy had settled like fog.
*
Albert closed his eyes for a moment and then opened them.
He had lost part of his memory due to something a few days ago. That day felt like a dream.
It was as if a memory that could almost resurface was wiped out as soon as he opened his eyes.
What lingered in his hazy memory was the red eyes that had been glaring at him. Every time he tried to recall them, someone popped into his mind.
Ilia, the top student of the first year.
Like his teacher, she had red eyes. At first, he thought it must be a coincidence. It was nonsensical speculation to think that someone with red eyes was the same entity he had seen underground.
But the sense of déjà vu he felt every time he saw her was real. It troubled Albert. That led to today’s question.
“Are you not human?”
The red eyes reflected against the dark background seemed to align with that hazy memory.
It wasn’t a question filled with certainty.
He wasn’t sure, but Albert believed the blank memory lodged in his mind was somehow related to her.
And so, a day passed.
Albert opened his eyes in his usual bedroom. It was his mansion, where he had returned after being discharged from the hospital.
Immediately upon awakening, he was tormented by a considerable headache. As he gathered his thoughts, he realized he didn’t remember anything from the previous day.
Was it good luck?
He hadn’t lost his life even after facing the Back Alley Monster twice. It felt like the events of the previous day were nothing but a dream.
Time flowed a bit more, and the day of the promise with Sera arrived. This wasn’t a ranking match or a practical exam.
It was simply a duel between individuals, so it was normal for there to be no referee or onlookers.
But for this instance, there were both.
Even considering their year difference, it was a duel between the top and second-best students. It was a big match between two famous people from different sides.
Whispers had spread slowly, eventually turning into fame, and finally, they managed to secure a dedicated dueling arena.
There were plenty of spectators, yet not a single one was betting on Ilia to win.
It wasn’t that they were dismissing her; it was just that her competitor was overwhelmingly strong. Sera, the second-best student of the second year.
Only overshadowed by another monster from her own year, her strength was still far beyond that of an average second-year top student.
She had defeated all her dueling opponents with overwhelming differences, looking down at them with her characteristic relaxed expression.
In fact, it was accurate to say that there was no picture in anyone’s minds of her losing. They couldn’t imagine her being defeated. Sera was nothing short of a symbol of victory.
However.
“If you put it that way, can’t we say the same thing about Ilia?”
“True. She always seemed so relaxed too.”
With that kind of logic, Ilia wouldn’t fall behind. She too had yet to show any signs of struggle in her duels.
Both were monsters hailed from the same year. No matter which won, it was going to be a fascinating fight.
“Eh, still, Sera’s going to win.”
Sera, being the second-year monster, attracted many who placed their bets on her due to her performance thus far.
Yet, how Ilia would end up losing remained an unanswered question.
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say there were gathered just to see that cold expression fall apart.
Two students stood atop the dueling arena. Ilia, with her silver hair fluttering, and Sera, radiating her red presence from the opposite side.
It was just before the duel was about to start.
