The Scales Tip Toward Truth
Professor Ellie of Cerberus and Kerine stood motionless, glaring at each other. Neither knew the other's abilities. Acting first would be like revealing their hand. So they remained perfectly still, locked in a battle of probing glances.
"Why have you invaded the Academy?"
"Like I'd tell you."
"Are you alone?"
"..."
Kerine smirked faintly, refusing to answer any questions. Revealing her abilities first would put her at a disadvantage. Right now, she had no idea how many foes she faced or whether this woman named Kerine was a swordsman, mage, assassin, or summoner like herself. Gathering intel was key.
Judgment randomly selected an opponent and posed a question—even its owner couldn't choose the target or the query. All Ellie could do was hope it asked something useful. But there was a high chance the first question would target her, the summoner.
"Judgment, begin the trial."
"Professor Ellie, you're terribly afraid right now, unsure how many enemies you're facing."
"Yes."
Terrifyingly so. She could scream for help, but if weak students showed up, they'd just become obstacles she had to protect, making things worse. Fighting alone against unknown numbers and powers was what scared her most.
"Truth! Truth!"
The scales tipped left. Judgment wiggled its index finger and thumb wildly as it spoke. A buff settled over Professor Ellie.
Kerine panicked. When the professor first appeared, she'd been wearing her summon. So Ellie had assumed it was some ability activated while equipped with gloves. But her guess was way off.
Floating gloves, a scale in their grasp, and questions. She couldn't even guess what the power was.
"Judgment, next trial!"
The buff from Judgment lasted ten minutes. She needed to slap a solid debuff on her foe and take her down fast before it wore off.
"Kerine, is the Cerberus you serve the king of the demon realm?"
"Hah, what a obvious question. Only He will transcend the demon realm to rule the world."
"Lies! Lies!"
"What...?"
Kerine had spoken what she believed was the truth—or rather, a lie she mistook for truth. Suddenly, her body felt impossibly heavy. The scales had tipped right—the debuff for lying to Judgment.
"Of course it is. The demon realm doesn't even exist—it's a fantasy cooked up by cultists like you. And a king from a make-believe place? Just as fake."
"Nonsense!"
Kerine felt her entire worldview crumbling, igniting rage. In her reality, the demon realm existed, and its king was the Cerberus she served. For this freakish floating glove and one professor to deny it all? She was furious.
"I'll smash that skull of yours."
Kerine kicked off the ground and lunged, swinging a fist at Professor Ellie. But the professor dodged effortlessly and countered with a palm strike to her jaw.
"Gahk!"
Blood streamed from Kerine's nose as she staggered back. That power couldn't have come from this old professor.
"Kerine, was it? You're a tank, aren't you? Despite the fragile look."
"Tch..."
Kerine appeared slender and delicate at first glance, but she was a frontline fighter who charged into monster battles—a tank's role. Her looks were just bait to lower guards.
"How'd you know?"
"A secret."
It was simple. Those hit by Judgment's debuff usually couldn't even grip a pencil. Yet this woman had traded blows evenly with Ellie's buffed self while debuffed. That left only one possibility: a tank whose body was honed to human limits.
Her hand exposed, Kerine charged Professor Ellie with a furious barrage. Ellie dodged every strike. Then, as Kerine overextended, Ellie drove a fist into her solar plexus. As Kerine froze in agony, Ellie followed with a kick to the head, sending her flying.
"Urgh...!"
"Keep this up, and you won't win. Surrender quietly."
Already four minutes gone. In six, Ellie's buff would end; two more, and Kerine's debuff. She had to finish before then.
Kerine probably didn't know about the timers, so intimidation might force a quick end.
"Sorry, but this fight's already ours."
"Ours...?"
That's when the professor realized it. Blood trickled from her neck and arms unnoticed. No pain at first—like a paper cut. But once aware, the delayed agony crashed in like waves.
"Your flying glove summon—whatever it does, you've only figured out mine."
"Ngh..."
Professor Ellie clutched her bleeding nape, silently swallowing her groans as blood dripped.
Becoming a summon comes with constraints. One is "can't stray too far from the master." No big deal. I can sense everything around me anyway.
Right now, three ants are fighting outside. One winged ant is heading for our master.
Hmm... Wanted to watch the ant brawl longer. But the principal ant's an easy win, so whatever. Better handle the winged one first.
This guy's radiating killer intent toward our master. First one's ever dared that against our cute Lur. Not even Melle and her Wood Golem gave off that vibe.
"Aigoo, my poor back."
I pushed off the floor and rose from the shadows, stretching my waist. Other summons recover in a special space when unsummoned. But for some reason, my master never unsummons me. Six days without rest.
Whatever. No sweat.
'I'm the king of the demon realm!' Plus, six days off won't stop me from squashing a winged ant.
Just in case, I'll plant a "Black Eye" on our master. This floating eyeball will guard you, Lur. Kinda gross-looking, but think of it as a shield. Even the strong fear ambushes in sleep.
'Come on, get in range already. Why so slow? Fastest human I've seen since coming here, though.'
The winged ant entered my activity radius. I could snipe remotely, but I wanna face this one up close. Curious why he's targeting our master.
"Hwaaaaaah!"
Black smoke poured from my mouth. It writhed like a living thing, instantly trapping Mantus.
"What the—?!"
Mantus panicked, engulfed in smoke. Slicing at it with his sword did nothing—it neither dispersed nor cut.
"Hey, this a joke? My blade cuts steel... keh keh keh keh! This just got fun!"
Mantus hacked wildly at the smoke. I emerged behind him. He sensed me and turned.
"Oho! Came out on your own! Your master's got some chops—sensing me and unleashing her summon early!"
This guy's way stronger than the two fighting the professor. Boss ant, huh? Mana and magic power say mage. Sword-wielding mage... kinda cool? But my plan to torture and kill you ain't changing.
"You! From the demon realm, right? This black smoke's its symbol! Nod if yes."
Oho, knows the demon realm. Interesting human. This idiot'll spill everything with a nod.
I nodded.
"Yahahahahaha! Finally, proof connecting us to the demon realm! Lord Cerberus! We're coming soon!"
Cerberus? Rings a bell.
"What, you know him too? Of course! King of the demon realm! Ahahaha! Your king—king! And soon, mine to serve!"
Ah, right. These morons. Big misunderstanding.
"What do you call Lord Cerberus? Crawling Chaos? World-Destroyer?"
"Jjam... Tiger..."
"What?"
"Food scrap... disposal..."
Mantus's eyes rolled back.
"What the fuck is this deer-skulled bastard babbling about?!"
Chill. The lord you worship? Just the dog that ate my leftovers. A stray mutt, common as dirt in the demon realm...
"I'll rip your throat out, you fuck!!!"
He's really pissed now.