Each One's Dream
A "minor" mishap at the celebration party marking the formation of the alliance, born from each person's dreams and visions of an ideal paradise. Demons had invaded a gathering of the most important figures. It was undoubtedly the worst possible scenario, with every layer of security breached.
Yet the alliance called it a minor mishap. In the end, every demon on site had been eradicated. Alliance casualties, meanwhile, were effectively zero. One noble had died, but he turned out to be a vassal. Practically a demon himself—no count.
In this atmosphere, the Continental Academy proposal gained explosive momentum.
"The Continental Academy will welcome the Empire, the Holy Kingdom, kingdoms, and even other races as 'students.' It will be a place of true harmony. Though the alliance was formed for war, we don't need to walk the path of blood forever!"
The strongest advocate in the Empire was Arhen, the Third Prince, who had secured a considerable power base despite his position. Even Evan, the Border Count, had slyly voiced his support. That meant half the Empire backed the academy.
"Kingdoms including Kasen deeply empathize with the Continental Academy proposal. Overcoming the horrors of war ultimately depends on the new talents who will shape the future."
Kasen Kingdom, rated second only to the Empire on the continent. Representing the kingdoms, Prince stepped forward. The other kingdoms had already been persuaded by him long ago. Everyone found the Continental Academy irresistibly appealing.
"My siblings' intentions are truly admirable. In a world overrun by evil, striving for wisdom and reason through goodwill is something even the gods would graciously approve."
Liberio, who had returned to the Holy Kingdom and swiftly become a saint, blessed the academy in the name of sanctity.
Political interests from every nation, even religion—all perfectly intertwined to produce results. The land was fully secured, buildings erected. If opposition had overwhelmingly outnumbered support? It would naturally have been repurposed. As an imperial villa, or whatever else.
In the midst of this, Second Prince Wilhelm offered his opinion.
"Continental Academy. Fine. Sounds good, but what if demons barge in? Can you handle that?"
The answer was already prepared. First, intelligence agencies from every nation would do their utmost. Then, the Holy Kingdom would provide full support. Demons, Contractors, even vassals—all would be detected in advance.
But Wilhelm remained lukewarm. The perceptive saw why.
'Cain. He's considering his stance.'
'The Demon Slayer. The Mad Dog. He's a specialist on demons at least—his opinion matters.'
A mere commoner daring to meddle in the affairs of the highborn. Everyone inwardly bristled but hid it. They knew what kind of man Cain was. What power he wielded. That on demons, he was the continent's top authority.
They recalled the recent party raid. A miracle with no casualties, as if watched over by the gods. But would that repeat at the academy? Miracles were called miracles because they didn't happen often.
What if demons appeared before academy students? Nobles' children slaughtered, taken hostage, or turned into vassals? Forget blame—the chaos would be catastrophic.
'No helping it... we have to hear from Cain.'
'The Mad Dog, of all things. It stings our pride, but with the future of nations at stake... we can bear it.'
The academy buildings were already complete. All that remained was the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Whether it happened or not—all eyes turned to Cain.
'Considering that man's personality, he'll scoff at the very idea of an academy.'
'He'll oppose it outright. Then we'll need reasons to counter the opposition...'
Cain had enlisted as a boy soldier and fought demons for over a decade. He himself said battlefields suited him best. Part of his Mad Dog moniker came from liking to bite demons. Would such a man look favorably on an academy?
He'd oppose without a second thought—
"In favor."
"...?"
"??"
Cain dropped his bombshell before everyone.
"I'm in favor of the academy. Yeah. That's what I said."
The Demon Slayer. God's Right Hand. Mad Dog Cain. He said the academy was a good idea.
"...."
"...."
Thoughts racing through those who heard:
'What the hell is this Mad Dog scheming?'
'He wants to enroll? Nah.'
'Short on book learning, maybe that's it.'
'Can't rise above his station with merits alone, so snag a noble lady at the academy for a life reversal. Cheeky commoner!'
As wild speculations flew—
"Please summon some strong demons for us, dear Academy."
Cain knelt, holy water at hand, praying earnestly.
Every nation and race in the alliance cast their vote in favor. One task remained: selecting faculty and students.
Devil minions could appear anywhere, anytime. Any whiff of suspicion meant immediate rejection. The Empire's Special Forces handled it.
"Listen up. We already showed incompetence at the recent party. Smeared our own name."
A sharp, intimidating aura emanated from Captain Yuris. One eye lost, covered by an eyepatch—but the remaining eye's intensity defied imagination.
Agents held their breath, listening intently.
"No mistakes this time. Report anything remotely suspicious immediately. Holy Kingdom priests will verify. Refuse investigation? Arrest them. Heavy resistance? Subdue by force. I'll cover all political fallout."
Her pride as captain was deeply wounded, the agents knew. True enough—Yuris was wounded. Properly stung by demons. And humiliated too.
'Too many blunders in front of Sir Cain. What if he loses faith in me?'
Letting a Contractor slip into the party was maddening enough. Then allowing a demon raid. She'd feigned calm, acted fine—but dreaded his gaze of contempt. Feared he'd deny their shared past. Regret it.
She'd been on tenterhooks.
'But Sir Cain said nothing. Treated me the same as always.'
Cain was straightforward. A man's man. He spoke what needed saying, showed what must be shown. No disappointment. No regrets. Still good. For now.
That "for now" mustn't become "in the end." From here on, not even a speck of vulnerability.
"Captain. Check this one."
"Noble applying as professor. Family and personal reputation clean."
"Recently kept a mistress on the sly. We searched her place, found a key clue. Says he has a strange marking on his left chest."
"Bring him in. Now."
If true, thrash the noble. If not, the mistress. That was the lesson Yuris learned from Cain. In this harsh world, suspicion outweighed blind trust.
"Let go, you lunatics! Who the hell do you think you're touching?!"
The captured noble showed no sign of cooperating. Indignant victim offended by suspicion? Or anxious devil minion exposed? One way to find out: ask directly.
"Special Forces Captain Yuris. I'll ask a few questions. Answer only."
"Dragging an innocent man here for torture! I won't forget this—"
Crack! The man's head snapped sideways mid-shout. Face beet-red. Nose bleeding. Expression of utter disbelief.
"Strange marking near your left chest, they say."
"I-it's just a scar!"
"Wonder if it's just a scar... or thorny vines."
He'd have lived peacefully as a noble. But he applied to teach at the academy. And had a strange chest marking.
"Strip."
"Th-this indecency! Get my superiors! I'll speak to them myself!"
"Special Forces act independently on demon suspicions. By His Majesty's direct order. No worries. If innocent, I'll take full responsibility and compensate."
If not? Most regrettable.
Agents stripped the noble. He thrashed, but couldn't escape Special Forces.
Moments later, something emerged below his chest. Blackish-red thorny vines. Mark of a Contractor.
"Urk!"
"Welcome to Special Forces, Contractor."
Traitors to the alliance. Black-haired beasts who'd forsaken humanity. Every agent had lost family to demons. Hatred burned fierce. Rage pierced the heavens.
The man shrank under the overwhelming killing intent.
"Captain. Ready?"
Catching a Contractor meant busy times for Special Forces. Who else he associated with. Other Contractors among them?
"Prepare."
Extracting answers was simple.
"Brace yourself. We'll have you spilling your mistress's panty color."
She glared as they dragged him to the torture chamber. Catch as many as they might—no end in sight. Even this mark was hidden. Tough to spot.
Animals don't abandon their packs. How could humans?
"Yuris. You in?"
"Sir Cain?"
She shot up at his sudden visit.
"Came to ask a few things. Looks busy."
"Not at all. I have all the time for you."
Sir Cain. For you, as much as needed.
"Hm."
Cain scanned the interrogation room, then spoke.
"Caught a Contractor?"
"Trying to infiltrate as academy professor."
"Probably not alone."
"Already planning to extract his contacts."
Using the techniques you taught me, Sir Cain.
Cain chuckled. "Ah, that one."
"Boil and sizzle, right?"
"Exactly."
Fire and water always knew the truth. A red-hot iron was a good friend. A tub full of water, too. Introduce them properly, and they'd make anyone sing.
Cain had favored those two since long ago.
"Traitors who play with demons always delude themselves. Think they're hot shit. Don't realize it's the demons' whispers making them babble."
Introduce them to his friends? Instant meek lamb.
"How long will this one last?"
"Fifty minutes tops."
Yuris brimmed with confidence—it wouldn't take an hour. Cain smiled warmly at her. Why wasn't such an amazing woman in the original story? Forgotten like the protagonist?
'Has to be.'
Everything was the demons' fault anyway. So kill them all. Not one spared!
Boil and sizzle. Cain's method against traitors. Yuris had learned much more from him. How to survive. Fight. Win.
'Sir Cain.'
Yuris touched her eyepatch. Without him, it wouldn't be her eye lost—but her head. Demons would've had her for dinner, no revenge.
Eternal captain. Eternal benefactor. Eternal first love.
To Yuris, Cain had always been that.
Some called him a madman. Crazy. Killing demons was fine, but his methods were demonic. Forsaken his humanity. Mad Dog fit.
'You know nothing.'
He smiled joyfully killing demons—but Yuris knew that wasn't all. Cain wasn't mad. He was broken. She knew, sharing his plight.
A man who'd lost too much. Desperate not to lose more. Seeming always lighthearted, laughing—but marching back to past hells each time.
That was the Cain the world didn't know.
I want to stand by his side, protect him. Greedy, maybe. But I want to.
"Guhhh!!"
Bloody bathtub brimming with ice water. Soaking the freshly caught Contractor, Yuris made a modest wish.