This Is It (2): The Price of Distraction
This was it. This was the guy—Evan Valencia. The Margrave tasked with defending the Empire’s borders. Right now he was attending the Continental Academy as a student. Given his position, it should have been impossible.
The man ultimately responsible for the entire border territory could not simply abandon his post. Under normal circumstances, every kind of objection should have been raised. But now? What was the current situation? The demon war was tilting decisively toward the alliance’s victory.
Thanks to that, breathing room had opened up in many places. The construction of the Continental Academy had been for exactly that reason, as had the gathering of so many powerhouses here. It was also why Evan could enroll despite being the Margrave.
And here, there’s Estelle. That woman.
The authority of a Margrave within the Empire was extraordinarily high. It was only natural; he was the one who held the border. The position had grown even stronger through the war. The Margrave’s lands were the Empire’s fence.
The demons had tried to tear that fence down. What they wanted was the psychological effect. Until now the border territory had blocked every enemy of the Empire. History had proven it an impenetrable shield.
Therefore, the moment it collapsed, the impact would be that much greater. Countless humans would tremble in terror at once. It might even produce more traitors than before.
That was why the demons had launched even more invasions. The Margrave’s territory had blocked every last one. In the end the Empire’s fence had endured.
Because of it, Evan’s fame had risen even higher. The faction supporting him inside the Empire had grown. Evan himself knew all of this perfectly. He understood just how strong his support and popularity had become.
That was why he wanted Estelle even more.
A woman who doesn’t spare me even a glance.
Was it because she came from Kassen? No. Evan’s name was carved across the entire alliance. Noble daughters from other countries knew his reputation well. Just to be sure, he had even investigated Kassen.
The Empire and Kassen had once been rivals of a sort. Even after joining hands under the alliance, a subtle competition still lingered. So maybe his popularity was low in Kassen? He had looked into it with that thought in mind, only to find the opposite.
“Even in Kassen, the Margrave’s name is well known. I’ve heard that among the noble ladies from our country who enrolled at the Continental Academy, several are aiming outright for the position of Margrave’s wife.”
He had heard it directly from an acquaintance in Kassen. If that was true, then Estelle should know about him too. How could she remain this indifferent?
“Lord Evan. Would you care to have a cup of tea with me?”
Even now, countless noble ladies were wagging their tails at him. The Margrave’s territory was currently at its absolute peak. With the demons in retreat, the danger had dropped sharply. To become the Margrave’s wife and lady of his domain—there were few positions sweeter.
“…Ask me later.”
In the past he would have accepted for the sake of appearances, but now other women didn’t even register in his eyes. The one woman who had never spared him a single glance. Estelle. He found himself searching only for her.
“Are you looking for someone?”
“…The Saint.”
Liberio approached from the end of the corridor, smiling.
“Since we’re all students here, you may call me by name comfortably.”
“Fine. Then you call me comfortably too.”
“Thank you, Brother Evan. In that case, may I have an answer to my question?”
“…”
Evan already knew what Liberio was thinking. The moment the man had seen Estelle, his eyes had changed. He had noticed they harbored the exact same obsession.
“I’m looking for Estelle.”
“Sister Estelle, you mean.”
“I have something to tell her.”
In moments like this, the best move was a direct frontal strike so the opponent couldn’t hide his true feelings. It was far more advantageous to fight once everything was out in the open. As Margrave, Evan understood this very well.
“What sort of matter?”
“It’s personal.”
“Personal, you say.”
“We’re not close enough for me to explain in detail.”
He laid his feelings for Estelle bare. No matter how hard the Saint tried to conceal his own heart, could he keep that mask in place after hearing this? At Evan’s opening gambit, Liberio finally responded.
“So Brother Evan admires Sister Estelle.”
“A man taking interest in a woman. There shouldn’t be any problem with that, should there? I heard that even the scriptures of the Holy Kingdom describe love between man and woman as something truly beautiful.”
“Correct. You seem rather well-informed.”
“And there’s one more thing.”
Now that both knew they were rivals, the fight became a matter of who could stab deeper.
“While ordinary priests may not marry, the high officials of the Holy Kingdom live as celibates.”
“…”
“Am I wrong?”
To Evan’s preemptive strike, Liberio answered with a smile. Of course the expression could not possibly be genuine.
“Not at all, Brother Evan. The scriptures teach that those who guide the faithful must keep body and mind pure in order to convey God’s words faithfully. That is why the Pope and cardinals all live their lives as celibates.”
But Liberio was no fool.
“However, the Saint is slightly different.”
“What?”
“The Saint is merely proof of God’s existence and does not actually lead the faithful. He receives treatment equivalent to a cardinal, yet the scriptures do not specify his duties in detail.”
“…”
“Therefore, the Saint may marry.”
Becoming the Margrave’s wife was appealing, but becoming the Saint’s companion was impressive too—especially with the Holy Kingdom’s growing influence. It seemed both of them desired the same woman. Unfortunately, a competition could not be avoided.
At the meaning behind Liberio’s words, Evan’s eyes grew cold.
“The Holy Kingdom is far more lenient than I thought.”
“Isn’t love between man and woman something truly beautiful? Even I, the Saint, am ultimately just one person. A single creature made by God, so such things are possible.”
If the event that followed had not occurred, the two men would have remained locked in their standoff.
Rumble—
“…Hm?”
“An earthquake?”
Evan’s face twisted in shock. Liberio wore a flustered expression. If he was not mistaken, the ground had just shaken. A faint roar had accompanied it.
“Brother Evan. Did the Empire truly not consider natural disasters when choosing the location for this vital Continental Academy?”
“Impossible. Do you take the Empire for fools? Every factor was considered before the site was selected and construction began. Earthquakes were among them.”
While they eyed each other with suspicion, another vibration and faint sound reached them. Soon they realized what it was.
“This is… a scream?”
“It does sound like screaming.”
And the source of those screams was none other than—
“Goddammit!”
“Dear God!”
The building where the administrative studies lecture was in full swing. The very direction where Estelle would be.
***
“Ugh…”
I clutched my skull, which felt ready to split. At first I thought it was only a headache, but no. When I wiped my head, my hand came away covered in red blood. Something hot trickled downward.
“What the hell…”
From what I remembered, the lecture had ended and I had stepped into the corridor. When I opened my eyes again, I was like this. It could not be a simple accident. She had a gut feeling.
Kiara let out a small, bitter laugh and muttered.
“The safest place… my ass.”
There had been an incident at the academy. An enemy raid. Demons, contractors, or something else. Everyone had insisted it was safe. Yet barely a month after enrollment, disaster had struck.
“Huk!”
Strength suddenly fled my legs. I thought it was from the shock, but that wasn’t it. My leg was injured too. Red blood gushed from the torn flesh. The collapsing debris had cut too deep. It would heal quickly with holy power, but there was no priest among these ruins.
My luck really is the worst.
At this rate I would bleed to death. I wrapped the wound as best I could and searched for a gap in the debris.
“Kyaaaak!!”
“Uwaaaak!!—”
The half-collapsed building was a vision of hell. Screams and pleas for help echoed everywhere. Between them, dark shapes appeared here and there. They looked like survivors, but they were definitely not human. Otherwise they would not have horns on their heads.
“If they resist, kill them and take the rest! They are valuable assets that can subdue the human scum, so do not eat them! I warn you again—do not eat them! Do not tear off their limbs and eat them either!”
“Kihihihit! Can’t I just say their limbs were crushed under debris and eat them anyway?!”
“You’re a genius! That might actually work!”
“I said don’t!”
How had these demon bastards gotten inside the academy? Where had the people who were supposed to protect it gone? The Grand General? The Court Magician? The Holy Knight Commander?!
…Ah.
That’s right. The Grand General had suddenly left his post. The Kassen Court Magician had received an invitation from the Empire’s mages. And the Holy Knight Commander… I wasn’t sure about that one.
Does this even make sense? How could demons slip into the academy in the exact window when all three top powers are absent?
At this point there had to be another traitor inside. Otherwise this would have been impossible.
“Huuu!!”
Dragging my injured leg, I tried to escape. A commotion had broken out; someone would surely come. If I could just survive until then, I might make it.
As Kiara groaned and slowly moved away, the giggling demons noticed something. Five students were hiding there. They held their breath, but they could not hide their scent.
“Kyahaha! I smell living humans!”
“Really? Then let the treasure hunt begin. Now, where could they be? Where, oh where?”
“Hide well, humans. If I find you, I’ll eat your innards while you’re still alive!”
The demons drew closer to the students’ hiding place. Discovery was only a matter of time. A nightmare was about to unfold.
Clang! Kang!
Suddenly someone struck the debris loudly. The demons—and even Kiara—turned in surprise. There stood Estelle with a resolute expression, deliberately drawing every demon’s attention to herself.
“It’s a human!”
“Only one. Five would be better than—”
The demons’ eyes changed mid-sentence. They looked like beasts that had found far more interesting prey. The cruel desire to watch their quarry struggle and die burned in their gazes.
“That one. Let’s catch her.”
“Yeah. Let’s get her.”
They charged at Estelle, abandoning the other humans. Thanks to her, the five students were saved. Estelle, now the focus of their attention, fled. But the demons were far faster. Their physical ability surpassed that of adult men. Running from demons was impossible. Nevertheless, Estelle had lured them away. After confirming the students were safe, she smiled.
Kiara had seen everything.
Crazy bitch. What a completely insane woman.
Was it right to throw your life away to save others? She had to be out of her mind. No sane person would do that. Your own life should come first. That was how it was supposed to work, right? You had to survive before you could save anyone else. You had to live if you wanted to do good deeds later.
I won’t live like that. I refuse to live like that.
Kiara moved. She did not stop.
“Catch her! Catch her!!”
“Kyahahaha!!”
Estelle was slowing down; the demons were speeding up. Still she refused to give up. If anyone nearby had failed to escape, this was her way of buying them time.
“Kyaaak!!”
In the end a demon seized Estelle by the head. Though she struggled, it was useless.
“Uuuu!!”
Just as the demon reached for her throat—Thud!
“Kek?!”
The demon rubbed the back of his head, confused. It did not hurt, but the strange sensation made him release Estelle. He turned. Kiara stood there unsteadily, a broken wooden stick in her hands.
“Hey.”
Kiara, who could barely stand, spoke.
“Run.”
“What…! We have to go together!”
“I can’t run anyway, can I? So just go!!”
It was irritating. Those who acted so virtuous and superior. Even at the moment of death they would probably smile with satisfaction while watching the people they had saved live on. It was such an eyesore she could not bear it. So she would ruin it for them.
“Uwaaaaaah!!”
With a loud cry, Kiara charged the demon.
***
“Estelle! Estelle!!”
“Sister Estelle! Where are you!!”
Evan and Liberio, having reached the area, raised their voices. But the screams of the crowd swallowed their calls. Not seeing Estelle made their hearts burn with greater urgency.
“Help me! Please help!!”
Desperate cries for help came from afar. The faint laughter of demons could be heard as well. It seemed people were being chased. The situation was critical.
Evan and Liberio flinched but turned away. It was already too late to go there. There was no time. Estelle came first. They had to find her before anything else.
In the end, neither man extended a helping hand.
“Please! Please save us!!”
Meanwhile the fleeing students were driven into a dead end. They had no more path to run and no strength left.
“Kihihi! Tag. Game over?”
The demon flashed its sharp fangs. The moment it reached for the students—
“Haaat!!”
A powerful shout rang out. Light flashed. Slice—!
“Kwaaaak!?”
The demon’s hands fell to the ground and rolled.
“Kwaaa!! It hurts! It huuurts!!—”
Who was it! Who had dared hurt him!!
At the demon’s scream, the swordsman revealed himself. With someone’s teachings engraved deep in his heart.
If you’re a hero, act like one. Not for a single woman, but for everyone. Now you carry that name. Hero, Sion.
Recalling Cain’s stern voice, Sion steadied his breathing and readjusted his grip on the sword.
“Of course, words alone won’t be enough, right?”
“Ah, no! Cain! Now it’s perfect!!—”
“I get it, so bite down hard.”
“Uwaaaaaaaaaak!!—”
Every bone in his body had been broken and healed again. Being beaten for three full days and nights had been a bonus.