Ruby's School Debut and the Teacher's Suspicion
Before heading to school, Seha fell into deep thought while consulting with the demon.
"Is it okay to bring Ruby to the academy?"
"She'll cry if you don't."
"Chirp—."
"But she might disrupt class."
"She needs feeding every two hours, right?"
"Nyaaong."
"……."
Seha looked at Dahong. More precisely, at the fluffy black bundle perched on her chest.
"Where are you looking, you perv?"
"R-Ruby, that's who."
The best option would actually be for Dahong to stay home and watch Ruby, but….
"Dahong, you're not planning to just sit around at home, are you?"
"Nope."
"……."
Seha let out a sigh. Leaving this demon alone felt riskier than keeping her close, even if it drew some stares.
With no other choice, Seha said, "
…Let's go together."
"Okay."
"Nyaaang."
Outside, the morning air was still chilly. Ruby poked her head out from Dahong's arms. There was so much to see for the first time.
"Myaang."
She spotted a row of street trees.
"Myaong."
Then the traffic light in the distance. And passersby.
"……."
Ruby's golden eyes darted busily. Seha smiled at the sight.
"Lots of new things, huh?"
Ruby ignored him completely. This time, she caught sight of her own reflection in a shop window.
She froze. A little black furball with tiny horns and golden eyes.
She stared for a long while.
"……."
Cautiously, she lifted a front paw. The Ruby in the glass did the same.
Ruby tilted her head. The one in the glass tilted back.
"So cute."
"She is…."
The two stopped side by side, gazing at Ruby for a moment. Curious about the creature in the glass, Ruby pressed her nose against it.
The glass Ruby did the same.
Smack.
Startled by the cold sensation, Ruby jumped.
"Aeng!"
"It's okay. It's just glass."
Seha reassured her. Ruby eyed the glass suspiciously now, keeping her distance.
That's when it happened.
Vrooom—.
A car sped past on the road.
"!!"
The gust of wind and roar made Ruby's fur stand on end. Her claws dug into Dahong's collar.
"Adorable."
Dahong stroked Ruby. Ruby burrowed deeper into her arms. Her tail, now twice its usual size, poked out.
Ruby kept her head down all the way to the academy.
The trio arrived at the classroom like that.
Slide.
As the door opened, Ruby lifted her head. Her tail had returned to normal.
"Huh, what's that?"
Someone shouted right away. It was a girl chatting with friends.
"A cat?"
"Kyaa! So cute!"
Rush.
The girls swarmed around Dahong.
"Uwaaa."
Thud.
Seha got pushed out by the crowd.
"Summon sister, can I pet her too?"
"Ask Ruby."
"Her name's Ruby! Cute!"
Dahong set Ruby down on the nearest desk. Ruby landed lightly, spun once, and looked up at the surrounding people.
"Nyaa—."
"She's tiny!"
"Wait, horns and wings?"
"And a gem on her forehead."
"Demon cat?"
"Is it a summoned beast?"
"Yeah, Seha's summon."
"Yu Seha's…?"
"Huh? Really?"
One girl tentatively reached out. Ruby sniffed the back of her hand.
Sniff sniff.
Then tapped it with a paw. Pink jelly tickled the skin.
"Gasp…! She let me!"
"Me too, me!"
Ruby eyed the crowding hands. Her fur bristled a bit.
"Ah, she got startled."
"Sorry~."
Then Ruby spotted Harin hovering at the back of the group. She'd snuck closer amid the crowd to try petting.
"Nyaa."
Since it was a familiar face, Ruby approached happily, tail perked up.
"Huh?"
"She's going to Harin."
The students parted, revealing flustered Harin.
"Wh-what!?"
"Nyong."
"Harin, she wants you to pet her!"
"Hurry and give her your hand."
"Uh, o-okay."
Harin extended her hand gingerly. Ruby sniffed it, then rubbed her chin and cheek against the fingers.
"Kyaa!"
"Lucky!"
"……."
Harin stood frozen, barely breathing.
Dahong watched the scene with interest.
That's when.
Tap tap.
"?"
Someone knocked on the window. Turning, they saw Seoyeun standing there, looking at Dahong. A gesture to come out.
Dahong left Ruby and Harin, stepping into the hallway.
The corridor was quiet, just before class.
Seoyeun walked ahead. Dahong followed.
As they moved away from the classroom, the chatter faded.
They stopped at the end of the hall. Seoyeun turned to face Dahong.
"I have a few questions for you."
"Okay."
"Five months ago. The alley dismemberment murders."
"……."
Dahong said nothing. Her smiling expression didn't change.
"Five victims. All hunters."
Seoyeun crossed her arms and continued.
"One witness."
She paused, inhaling.
"Testimony: While being robbed, a white woman with horns appeared, killed them all, and left."
"Hmm."
Dahong made a small hum, as if it were someone else's story.
Seoyeun narrowed her eyes and pressed on.
"A few days later, the hellhound escape. Five in transport broke their cages. Subdued by academy first-years Han Isol and Yu Seha nearby."
"Right. We were together."
"Finally, Iron Claw Guild."
Seoyeun uncrossed her arms. A pure white eagle flew in from somewhere, perching on her arm. Its beak and talons bore holy patterns—a summoned beast.
"Most members vanished overnight. Including S-rank hunter and guild master Mun Jeonghyeon."
"……."
"And Jeonghyeon had lost his son to those dismemberment murders."
"I see."
"Was it you?"
Red eyes turned to Seoyeun.
"What if it was?"
"……."
Seoyeun tensed. It wasn't denial or evasion—just blunt confirmation, hitting differently.
"Why?"
"Bored."
"……And Iron Claw?"
"They attacked first."
"You killed dozens for that?"
"Can't I?"
"Of course not."
Seoyeun exhaled slowly. Her eyes sharpened. Mana gathered at her fingertips.
"Why stick by Seha?"
Dahong grinned wickedly.
"It's fun."
"……When it's not?"
"I'll kill him and leave."
"……."
Mana runes deployed in an instant.
Shing—!
A massive magic spear erupted from the summoning circle.
"I can't let a dangerous demon like you stay near my student."
Pure white wings. Not a pegasus.
Six pairs of wings. An archangel.
Dahong's expression shifted. Interest sparked in her eyes.
"Think you can win?"
"……."
Seoyeun gritted her teeth. She knew it wasn't fear or bluff. Dahong was excited. Truly.
Thud.
The angel stepped forward. Immense mana pressed down the hall.
"Angel summons hold absolute advantage over demons. Let's see how long you keep smiling."
"……Keehihik!"
Dahong's mouth split into a savage grin.
As the two powers clashed fiercely.
"Ruby! Where are you going!"
Seha's voice echoed from the classroom.
Both sharply restrained their mana. Seoyeun reverse-summoned.
Creak creak slide.
The door flew open. Ruby dashed out.
"What are you doing? Oh, Dahong? Teacher's here too?"
Ruby trotted up.
"Myaong."
Seha scooped her up quickly. Sensing the odd tension between them, he tilted his head.
"…What happened?"
"Nothing."
Dahong smiled first.
Seoyeun turned away.
"…Get back inside and prepare for class. And keep Behemoth under control."
"Y-yes!"
Seha hurried back in.
Seoyeun stood at the podium as if nothing occurred.
"Take your seats."
The noisy room settled.
"All teams returned safely from practice with no major injuries. You all did great. I didn't see every group, but the other professors evaluated carefully, so no worries. And starting this week—."
Seoyeun turned to the board, writing the week's curriculum.
Red eyes bored into her back.
After school. Seha and Dahong walked the street. Ruby, exhausted from the day's petting frenzy, slept in Seha's arms.
Seha glanced at Dahong.
"Dahong."
"Yeah."
"What happened with the teacher this morning?"
"Nothing much."
"The vibe was weird for 'nothing.' What'd you talk about?"
Dahong glanced at Seha. He was looking up at her profile.
"Just some worry consultation."
"……Worry consultation?"
"Yeah."
"Whose worries?"
"Seoyeun seemed to have some."
"……Hmm."
Seha looked ahead again.
"What kind?"
"Didn't hear it all—ran out of time. She seemed busy."
"Why tell you…."
"Dunno."
Dahong shrugged, genuinely puzzled.
"……."
Seha didn't press further.
Late night. Seoyeun sat at her desk. The monitor's blue glow lit the dim room.
A report form was open on screen. About Dahong.
The cursor blinked. Many fields blank.
Type: Demon.
Rank: Low.
Delete.
That grin as she faced the archangel.
'Think you can win?'
"……."
She'd heard demons had many battle maniacs, but this was beyond that.
"What if we'd fought for real?"
Seoyeun pondered. S-rank hunter, top-tier summoner. Her class made 1v1 struggles rare—she could force multiples.
Contracted with divine beasts and angels, demons' natural counters.
But….
Something felt off.
Seoyeun tapped her lips with her pen. Then Yu Seha's face came to mind.
Top in theory, top in practice. Entered Class A via ranking.
Yet failed summons all semester, last in opening duel.
"……'Sticking around 'cause it's fun.'"
After deep thought, Seoyeun resolved something. She set down the pen and started typing.