I Know Nothing (2)
Raphael poured her entire soul into the performance as she spoke.
“Um… Do you happen to know me?”
“...No. You worked hard on today’s exam.”
“Here is your ID card. You may begin work starting tomorrow.”
“When you arrive, I will explain everything myself. Are you a demon hunter?”
“No, I’m not. I do hunt demons, but I never performed the official demon hunter ritual.”
“...You know about the ritual?”
“...How do I know that? Wow, I almost got caught.”
The thought of that insane motormouth, Professor Tallen, flashed through her mind. A shiver ran down her spine.
“...It’s nothing. Forget what you just heard. It will be better for your mental health.”
Silly Raphael… your past memories are still lingering after all. I will make sure you never have to make another sacrifice.
“Do you have somewhere to stay?”
“No, I don’t! I’ll need to look for lodging!”
“...You really haven’t changed.”
Even after losing her memories, she was still such a child. Yes. This was definitely Raphael.
“You will live in the academy dormitory. The rooms are single occupancy, so it should be comfortable.”
“....!! Thank you, Principal Flora!!”
“...Yes. You may go now.”
She already knew my name… The speed at which her memories are returning is frightening. It seems the more contact she has, the faster the process becomes. …! Baden… She must not come into contact with Baden! He will definitely recognize Raphael. I can only pray they never meet.
Raphael strolled around the academy in an excellent mood.
As expected, I’m a genius. Just by pretending to have amnesia I got myself a free dormitory. How perfect is that? I need to decide exactly how much memory I’m supposed to have lost.
Since I’m still wearing the inquisitor outfit, I’ll say I remember everything up to my time as a heretic inquisitor but lost all memory after the hero party. Originally I wanted to claim I didn’t even remember my inquisitor days, but those memories are too precious to throw away.
Hmm… I don’t think I missed anything, right?
In the first place, I’m the Nameless One. How many people could possibly know about me? I can just live peacefully at the academy.
I do need to make contact with Ian soon… but since I already told him I wouldn’t be able to reveal myself for a while, it should be fine.
What concept should I go with… I’ll decide that later. Did I really not forget anything? I feel like I’m missing something.
This feeling… what is it? Something is attacking me…?
Clang—Crash—
Someone had fired an attack spell directly at her. Fortunately she had erased it with her energy, but the act itself left her in a very bad mood. Who was it?
The spell had come from the training grounds in the plaza. Were they trying to lure her there?
…Fine. I’ll go personally. Prepare to die, you worm.
Click-clack. Click-clack.
Raphael walked toward the plaza training grounds. No further attacks came the entire way.
Waiting for her there were the provisional hero party and Belinda…?
???????
Did these kids really attack me? Seriously? No way. It must have been a mistake, right? There’s no reason for them to attack me…
“...Reveal your identity immediately!”
“By the authority of Imperial Princess Belinda, remove your mask and surrender!”
What the hell…? What did I even do? They attacked first and now they’re throwing a tantrum…
Good thoughts. Good thoughts. Goooood thoughts…
“Were you the one who blocked the attack spell earlier?”
“...Yes, that was me. But why did you attack me?”
“Also, as of today I am the academy’s professor specializing in demon hunting. Do you have some problem with me?”
Ian stepped forward, drew his sword, and pointed it at her in open threat.
“....Energy. I sense the same kind of energy as my own. What exactly are you?”
“......!!”
Damn it, of all people, Ian just had to say it first.
Ian would naturally be wary of anyone who possessed the same energy as himself. After all, he believed he was her one and only successor…
How should she explain this? And with the princess right there, what could she possibly say…?
“You. What is your relationship with Master?”
Silence Barrier
Raphael erected a barrier that prevented any sound from leaking out and spoke.
“...If I told you I was your master, would you believe me?”
“Bullshit!”
Whoosh— Swish—
Ian watched the masked woman dodge his attacks with casual ease and thought,
She’s several moves above that thug of a hero…? She’s definitely far stronger than me. And she claims to be my master? But Master is supposed to be an angel statue… Just who is she?
“Ian. When we first met, you were blaming yourself for being weak.”
Ian’s attack suddenly halted.
“...How do you know that…”
Grin—
“I told you, Ian. I’m your master.”
“Do you remember me saying I couldn’t tell you yet?”
“.....”
“I became able to humanize.”
“Are you… really Master…?”
“Of course I’m your master. Who else would I be?”
“...That over-the-top self-awareness is definitely Master’s…!”
“Hehe… Our Ian, do you want to die again?”
“No. I can move properly now too, but Ian, you still need to take a few hits. No matter how I look at it, you deserve a little punishment.”
Raphael slowly closed the distance between them.
“You dared to use attack magic on me? You dared??”
Thoroughly enraged, Raphael layered multiple buffs on herself and stood before Ian.
“Now then… Ian. Shall we see how much stronger you’ve become?”
“Hiiiiik! Guys, help me!! The Demon King appeared! It’s the Demon King!!!!!!!”
“Haha, Ian, that was surprisingly cute.”
“How dare you compare me to that trash? My mood is completely ruined.”
“Also, this barrier prevents sound from leaking while simultaneously stopping anyone from entering. No one will be able to come here.”
“Now… shall we begin?”
As she took a combat stance, Ian spoke urgently.
“...Huu… Master. Since it’s come to this, please give me a one-move handicap!”
“Oh…? Very well, Ian. If you show me an attack that satisfies me, I’ll overlook the discipline this time.”
“...Understood. Here I come.”
“While you were gone, I created my own ultimate technique.”
Dagger Forging — Attribute Descent — Chakra Release!
“Hmm…? Oh…”
“You forged quite a sharp dagger. And a dangerous one at that…”
“Shaping chakra into dagger form, then triggering Attribute Descent through the blade and infusing it with the power of annihilation?”
“A trump card that ignores defensive magic and delivers a fatal strike?”
“The moment it touches, it seems to dispel all buffs and annihilate part of the body.”
“You created something quite interesting while I was away. Ian, throw it at me~”
“....!!!!”
Insane… She analyzed the entire thing in one glance? No matter that it’s Master, she really is a monster. I must be crazy for attacking. Please, just let it hit. Please!!
Whoooosh— Crunch— Ziiiing— Ziiiing—
“Crazy… monster…”
“Ahaha, Ian. Is that any way to speak to your master?”
“...No. You caught my ultimate technique with one hand… that makes you the monster…”
“I clearly created six daggers and fired them all, yet you caught them with one hand…”
“Hmm… Well, I’ll overlook the discipline. This is a passing grade.”
“....!!!! Are you serious?”
“Yes, I’m serious. Grow just a little more and I think I’ll actually be able to enjoy sparring with you.”
“...That part I’d rather skip…”
Silence Barrier — Release
The moment the barrier disappeared, the future hero party and Belinda rushed over to worry about and fuss over Ian.
Belinda turned to her and spoke.
“...Just who are you? To catch Ian’s ultimate technique with one hand like that?”
“And that barrier from earlier is extremely suspicious.”
“You are highly skilled in every regard and incredibly suspicious.”
“Reveal your identity at once!”
Raphael ignored the princess’s demands, simply looked at her, and said,
“Hmm… You possess outstanding talent as a great mage.”
“The quality of your mana is pure… With a little more study, you should be able to use space-time magic.”
“What are you…?”
“Ah, and I am this boy’s master.”
Pointing at Ian, Raphael continued.
“I was so worried about my disciple that I came here to work as a teacher at the academy. Have all your questions been answered now?”
Imperial Princess Belinda stammered, her face turning bright red. Without another word she hid behind Ian.
“Our Ian sure is popular with the girls, huh?”
“Must be nice, Ian? Hehe.”
“Ahem… Please stop teasing me.”
“Ah, yes, yes. I’ll head to the dormitory first.”
“So take good care of those girls for me…?”
Right before Ian and Raphael’s eyes, a man appeared. The man walked up to the masked Raphael, tears welling in his eyes, and spoke.
“Raphael… Is it really you…?”
“......!!!!!”
Fuck fuck fuck, why is this bastard here??? Why is the hero here? And as a fellow professor? Are you kidding me? Is this actually a hidden camera prank? Meeting two people who know me in a single day?
“Raphael…?”
“...I am Anonymous. You seem to have mistaken me for someone else. Goodbye.”
“...No—wait!”
Before Hero Baden could grab her, Raphael vanished in an instant.
He then turned to Ian and asked,
“Ian… You definitely said Raphael was dead… How is she alive?”
“...I don’t know either. This is the first time I’ve seen her in person!”
His heartbeat and the movement of his eyes… It was the truth.
“I see… Raphael… You were alive… You really were alive…”
“But her corpse should be in the Holy Kingdom. I need to investigate what exactly is going on.”
Hero Baden felt both joy at seeing Raphael and a strange sense of unease. It was definitely Raphael, yet at the same time it wasn’t. It was as if she were acting… an alien atmosphere that didn’t belong to the Raphael he remembered.