Chapter 7
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: 1st Grade Class (1)
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Watching Roel dash out in a hurry, I wore an inscrutable smile.
I hadn't really thought much about Roel before, to be honest.
She was just... the protagonist of this trash novel that I had to raise. That was it.
But even in that short time we'd spent stuck together all day every day, it seemed to have had an effect. Lately, I could look at her with a fairly pleased expression.
Anyway.
You have undergone complete possession.
For the stability of your soul, we recommend refraining from complete possession for 48 hours.
My first attempt at complete possession was nothing short of a resounding success.
Everything had gone exactly as planned, and Sera's actions had stayed well within expectations.
Since I'd easily cleared the biggest hurdle—meeting the 'possession conditions'—that was that.
"But does even this have to follow the clichés?"
There are several types of conditions for complete possession.
One is that Roel must be unconscious.
The other is that Roel must 'consent' to the possession.
Getting her consent is tough. We haven't built any trust yet, and I have no intention of doing so going forward.
So for me to possess her directly, Roel needed to fall asleep or pass out.
And on that front, I genuinely owe Sera my thanks.
From her perspective, it was probably just to show off the gap in their skills, but knocking Roel out in one hit had me cheering.
Of course, the sensation of entering someone else's body wasn't all that familiar.
The feeling of breathing, of walking, even the muscles in every joint of her fingers—they weren't mine, so it all felt awkward.
Still, there were no issues exerting power.
All the sword movements flowed as naturally as if they were obvious motions.
So that's what sharing talent means.
[ "So... you're really not gonna tell me?" ]
As Roel headed to the classroom, she took advantage of a moment when no one was around to ask.
[ "......Demon? Where'd you go?" ]
I deliberately didn't respond.
Sure, part of it was wanting to gloss over the possession fact, but the real reason was something else.
I shifted my gaze to the computer notification that had been floating there for a while.
Your current behavior does not match your role.
Please correct your actions.
To be honest, I'll admit it.
In the week since the possession, nothing I'd done had been 'evil' toward Roel.
If I'd stuck faithfully to my role, I shouldn't have stopped at just knocking out Sera.
I should have been more vicious, caused more of a nuisance rampage.
So this kind of sanction was inevitable.
"......Guess I'll have to use my head a bit more."
To avoid any more sanctions.
I need to clearly help Roel while still serving as her trial.
But suddenly flipping would feel too unnatural, so gradually reveal my true colors...
Damn.
What a frustratingly tough assignment.
For starters, I should hold back on the friendly act.
[ "......Huh." ]
A flustered voice leaked from the speaker.
Roel had arrived at the classroom.
I set aside my tangled thoughts for the moment and focused on the screen.
This next part was going to be pretty entertaining.
A boisterous atmosphere.
Voices blending into a cacophony of noise.
Classrooms are always like that. They never calm down before class starts.
"......"
"......"
"......"
Such a place fell eerily silent in an instant.
"......Huh."
The source of the silence wore a dumbfounded expression.
She frantically scanned her surroundings as if she couldn't comprehend it.
Roel's appearance screamed clumsiness. But the other cadets thought differently.
'She's doing that on purpose, right?'
The duel between the 5th Grade and 1st Grade cadets from just yesterday.
Many students had watched it, so rumors of the 'shocking outcome' had spread like wildfire.
They said it felt like even breathing required permission.
Everyone held their breath.
All eyes turned to Roel.
That girl was pretending not to know anything, but she was a dangerous figure who could snap at any moment.
Couldn't let their guard down.
"Uh, um, excuse me..."
Roel shuffled in obsequiously and took a seat in the corner.
"What the heck is going on...! You're really not gonna answer me...?"
She even muttered to herself. It almost looked like she was talking alone.
People thought:
Roel Griffith was definitely a crazy woman.
Whatever the case, Roel was currently the most famous person in the Academy.
All sorts of rumors and assessments were spreading everywhere, being fabricated at will.
The same held true inside this classroom.
"She's that strong? Doesn't seem like it."
Some doubted it.
"......Wonder if she'd hate me talking to her. I wanna get close, though."
Others felt awe.
Assessments varied from place to place.
Even Patrick, the Academy's '5th Grade homeroom professor,' wasn't much different.
'Her vibe's different from yesterday.'
He too had watched the duel up close.
The chilling sensation the students felt.
The Cleave that was admirably superb.
Those eyes that seemed to oversee everything.
He'd seen it all clearly and remembered it vividly.
His conclusion was this:
'Roel Griffith. No idea what her goal is, but she definitely took the 5th Grade on purpose.'
Patrick had a slew of nicknames.
Since the Academy was newly established and he hadn't even taught a single class yet, all those monikers came courtesy of fellow professors.
Rule Monster.
Tactless.
Get Some Flexibility, You Fucking Asshole, and so on...
Patrick was the kind of man who had to follow the rules no matter what.
So!
He couldn't tolerate a student surpassing 5th Grade level being in the 5th Grade classroom.
He strode forward.
Patrick stood before the muttering Roel.
"Cadet Roel, why are you here?"
"......Pardon?"
Her face said she had no idea what was going on.
Fine, playing it that way, huh.
Patrick spoke firmly.
"All professors have the authority to promote or demote cadets for valid reasons."
"A-and so...?"
"You're no longer 5th Grade starting today."
Roel's expression filled with horror, but Patrick notified her regardless.
"The 1st Grade classroom is at the end of the hallway to the left. Head there."
Even before entering the classroom, something had felt off.
Every time she passed a crowd, she'd felt strange stares.
She'd brushed it off as her imagination back then, but the moment she stepped inside, she realized it wasn't.
'......Why's everyone staring at me?'
Silence.
In this vast classroom, only breathing sounds could be heard.
......What the hell?
"......"
Why, indeed.
All because of this Demon.
Roel quickly claimed a corner seat.
"Give me an answer...!"
She started demanding the moment she sat, but the Demon showed no sign of responding.
"Hey...!"
Whispers.
Her strained small voice sounded especially pathetic.
"What did you do with my body...?"
A hint of resentment seeped into Roel's voice.
At this point, even Roel had to realize it.
Just like last time when he'd stolen her voice, the Demon must have moved her unconscious body.
It wasn't mere conjecture. She couldn't imagine anything else.
"......"
No response came, right up to the end.
"Cadet Roel, why are you here?"
At the sudden call, Roel looked up.
There stood Professor Patrick.
What was this about?
"The 1st Grade classroom is at the end of the hallway to the left. Head there."
"......?"
Having her evaluation changed without warning was pretty painful.
Especially if it was an upgrade.
"......Me?"
Roel made her now-signature 'blank expression.'
No, I don't wanna make this face either.
What am I supposed to do when incomprehensible stuff keeps happening?
Damn...
"Yes, you. Pack your things and move classrooms now. Just drop my name to the professor there."
In the end, Roel rose from her seat and stepped into the hallway.
Slide...
She stared daggers at the door as it shut behind her, then began walking listlessly.
1st Grade classroom is at the left end, right?
Wait, does that mean I've been promoted to 1st Grade too?
She wasn't particularly happy about it.
—Congrats on making 1st Grade.
"Ah!!"
The familiar voice echoed in her head.
Roel halted and reflexively let out a groan.
"Where were you!?"
—Where would I go? I'm a presence inside you.
"Then why didn't you answer?"
—Just felt like it.
"Y-you crazy Demon...!"
Roel's hands trembled.
"......Fine. My fault for trusting you even briefly. I won't talk to you anymore."
Sulking Roel.
She issued her unilateral declaration and resumed walking.
She reached the classroom soon enough.
Seeing the bold '1' on the door made her swallow hard.
"......Think I can handle it?"
Roel hadn't forgotten. The mockery from all sides before the duel began.
No matter how her evaluation had changed, she'd only confirmed it in the 5th Grade classroom.
1st Graders might be different.
She hesitated for five minutes like that.
The Demon, fed up with the delay, finally spoke up.
—Not going in?
"I'll handle it myself."
—Thought you weren't talking to me.
"......"
Roel's expression twisted briefly before settling.
"Hoo."
Good.
Nothing happens if you don't try.
Even if ignored, she could work hard and prove herself.
Roel reached for the door handle.
"Move."
Then, a childish voice came from behind.
"What're you doing just standing there all spaced out? You're 1st Grade anyway..."
Turning around, a quite familiar girl stood there.
"Eek...!"
Sera Evans.
The black-haired girl who always wore an arrogant expression.
For some reason, she was frozen in terror.