As I walked down the street, I noticed a surprisingly diverse crowd around me.
I didn’t expect to see so many students hiding inside the building. Given the low number of monsters and the absence of the Seed of the Demon King, I could just walk out, right?
While walking, I took a glance at them. They were panicking in fear, staring at something.
Wondering if there was anything else dangerous here, I took a closer look, and they were all staring at me in terror.
Thinking about it, I guess I could be considered a Seed of the Demon King too. I’m closer to a monster than a human, with a Fragment of the Demon King residing within me.
The crimson magical energy following me must’ve caught their attention. It’s just flaunting its presence for no reason.
But compared to other monsters, I’m quite peaceful. Unless I’m hungry, I won’t kill someone for no reason.
And today, I wasn’t hungry. So I didn’t kill anyone.
Among the terrified people, there were some who recognized me, but because my hair color changed, nobody seemed to be able to recognize me.
They just gossiped about a mysterious red-haired student wandering around the academy.
So I decided not to care about it.
As I was heading towards Ariel’s location, I felt a strange sense of discomfort.
Unknowingly, I found myself walking towards the direction of the Fragment. Maybe it was drawn by the power of the Demon King, as I was naturally led to the same force.
Is this some kind of instinct?
Still, since it might come in handy later, I decided to keep it for now.
If not now, when would I have the chance again? Last time I needed it, I had to raid the Empire’s underground.
And who knows, following the Fragment might just lead me to Ariel.
So I changed my walking direction.
*
There are five Fragments that the Demon King’s army has spread around the academy.
They were placed around the interior of the building, near the Swordsmanship Training Ground, the dining hall, and the garden.
The last one was entrusted to Seir, a high-ranking member of the Demon King’s army, as I believed they would use it appropriately depending on the situation.
“Haa…”
Professor Reina, guarding the dining hall, sighed heavily. The exhaustion was evident in her breath. Just a moment ago, she had defeated a Seed of the Demon King.
Near the dining hall, a giant monster lay dead, frozen to the bone, a testament to the fierce battle that had just occurred.
Seated half-covered in blood on the monster’s corpse, Reina lit a cigarette.
The woman with long blue hair leaned against a shard of ice.
They say only the strongest from the Empire are gathered here, and those in the top three are particularly exceptional.
Reina, the third strongest among them, stands just below Freya and Albert.
At her level, facing a Seed alone is doable. It wasn’t an easy fight, though.
Her pretty face and the cigarette were an odd combination, especially when smeared with blood.
But sometimes that mismatched combination evokes a certain decadence.
She pulled out a lighter from her pocket to light her cigarette. Click, and Reina pressed the button. It wouldn’t work. It broke during the intense battle with the Seed.
“Tch.”
Fire magic isn’t her specialty.
Unable to light it, Reina held the unlit cigarette again.
Instead, she gazed at the blood-soaked scene of the academy. She thought it would be safe with this level of strength guarding it, but it seems that’s not the case.
She was witnessing a scene she couldn’t protect.
Even at this moment, monsters were swarming the academy, and powerless students were busy fleeing.
In her heart, she wished to protect them, but she was just too exhausted.
So she took a break.
Then, someone approached Reina. It was someone she knew.
“It seems you successfully defeated one, huh? I had faith in you.”
“Albert.”
He was supposed to be in charge of the Seed near the Swordsmanship Training Ground, right?
“How did it go over there?”
In response to Reina’s question, Albert showed her a golden Fragment.
It meant he had also succeeded in defeating his.
Unlike Reina, he had no visible wounds or blood on him. Was there still a significant difference in their skills? Reina thought to herself.
With a slightly sarcastic tone, she said, “You look relaxed. Since you’re so at ease, why don’t you take care of the rest as well?”
“Not at all. Even if I look this way, I’m tired.”
“Yeah, I can see that.”
The Seed of the Demon King wasn’t an easy foe for Albert either. Upon closer inspection, he was running on low Mana compared to usual.
In the end, he wasn’t much different from Reina. She sighed softly before taking another drag from her cigarette.
A mage capable of fire magic had come nearby. Sensing her intent, Albert snapped his fingers, igniting the cigarette.
Cigarettes taste better on rainy days. And it was raining now.
However, today, it didn’t taste as good. It just felt like suffocating smoke.
“How many Fragments are still left?”
Reina asked, letting out a bitter sigh. The situation was dire.
Following Albert’s answer,
“It hasn’t been accurately assessed yet, but at least there are testimonies of a giant monster moving around inside the building.”
“What about reinforcements from the Knights Order?”
“I’ve heard they are deciphering the barrier. It’ll probably be difficult until they break it.”
“There are likely people still inside. Given the nature of this place, the creatures inside the building would be the trickiest.”
With Reina and Albert each having dealt with one Seed, the immediate crisis was somewhat subdued.
If the other professors could buy some time, they could manage to suppress the situation without any more casualties.
“I’ll head to the garden, so could you check inside the building for me?”
The interior of the building is a dangerous place. At least one, if not more, Seeds of the Demon King reside there.
That’s why Reina believed Albert would be more suited for the task than herself.
She wasn’t scared; it was a matter of assessing the situation objectively and distributing their forces efficiently.
“Understood. Let’s do that.”
Albert nodded, understanding Reina’s words.
For now, that seemed to be the best course of action.
The professors at the academy were indeed strong, but not strong enough to defeat a Seed of the Demon King. The Empire also relied on a small number of elite forces.
Thus, the bizarre scenario unfolded where Reina and Albert each had to defeat two Seeds of the Demon King.
It would’ve been easier if Freya were here.
Reina sighed softly.
Freya is solely with the Knights Order and not part of the academy. The barrier trapping the building has vanished, but the one covering the entire academy still remains.
It was unknown when it would be dispelled, but it seems they would have to wait a bit longer for reinforcements, including Freya.
Just as Reina and Albert were about to head to their respective designated places,
“Can’t go.”
At that moment, a low voice dripped like honey.
Then, an ominous presence gripped Reina and Albert’s ankles.
Seemingly skilled in concealing their presence and form, they didn’t notice until just before revealing themselves.
A girl with red hair stood before them, wielding a sword.
An overwhelming presence pressed upon them. The crimson magical energy roared.
“What the hell is this?”
Reina muttered as she recognized the girl’s school uniform.
She might be a student, but the magical energy radiating around her was anything but ordinary.
Iria immediately turned her hostility towards the two.
With an almost expressionless face, she thrust the sword towards them.
Her intent was unclear, but her hostility was evident. Reina and Albert also took on a combat stance.
Just when Reina drew her ice sword and Albert expanded the Mana’s Territory,
The fight ended far quicker than expected.
“Ugh?!”
One second. Maybe even less than that.
In a split second, Iria leaped and swung her sword at Reina.
Even if she’s the third strongest, catching up to Iria, who brandished her red sword, was impossible. Especially since she was already drained.
Reina, narrowly avoiding a fatal wound, collapsed as Iria’s magical energy caused her to lose consciousness upon being cut.
Now, two remained in the confrontation.
Iria immediately turned her sword in Albert’s direction.
The crimson magical energy surged around them.
“……”
Yet, she didn’t stab him immediately.
Recognizing Iria’s intent, Albert held out the golden Fragment.
He seemed to recognize the changed Iria.
Seeing Iria revealing herself not as a human but as a monster, Albert spoke up.
“Long time no see.”
“Not that long, I’d say.”
They had seen each other in the Empire’s underground and recently in the garden.
Since he had erased his memories of both encounters, it might seem like a long time to him, but he knows Iria is the Back Alley Monster.
It’s because one’s memories erased multiple times can lead to this confusion.
Once it reaches this point, they can no longer erase the memories.
Thus, Iria pressed the sword even closer to Albert.
“If you had stayed ignorant and kept quiet until the end, you might have lived. You’re such a foolish person, Albert.”
“Um……”
“Do you have any last words?”
It was a rainy day.
