Misunderstandings Breed More Misunderstandings (3)

"Kneel."

"Yes, my master."

Thud—

A high-ranking demon was prostrating itself before a mere human. Countless professors and students were witnessing this scene. Professor Tallen stared at it and thought, Can I truly kill that thing?

The anonymous professor. The mysterious instructor who wore a mask. All that was known about him was that he had once been an inquisitor and that he specialized in demon hunting. For such a powerful being to suddenly appear… And that skill he used to command demons was something no one had ever seen before. Could he be a heretic? Or perhaps a demon himself?

If the demon was strong enough to ignore the academy’s barrier, that would explain it. I need to call the inquisitors. A dangerous element like that has no place in this school. I’ll rip that mask off your face myself.

Professor Tallen made up his mind to summon the inquisitors and quietly withdrew. Several other professors, having confirmed the demon posed no immediate threat, followed suit.

And then Raphael, now perched atop the demon’s head like it was a throne, spoke.

"Alright, kids? Where’s Class C?"

"Class C??"

"Uh… yes…?"

"I’ve been calling for a while now. What are you all doing? Class president?"

"…Greetings. I am Demia, president of Class C."

"Good. Let’s start with self-introductions, shall we?"

The students of Class C introduced themselves one by one in order. Once the last student had finished, Raphael descended from the demon’s head and landed among them.

"Right. Children, my name is Anonymous. I am a professor who specializes in demon hunting."

"Do you have any questions for me? If you’re curious about anything, say your name and ask away."

"……"

"…Demia. I have a question."

"Hm? Go ahead, Demia. What are you curious about?"

"Professor, you specialize in demon hunting, so why are you keeping a demon with you?"

"Hmm… To be precise, I’m not keeping it. I synthesized it."

"……!!"

"Do you even understand what kind of impact those words will have?"

"Synthesizing demons is something only the Demon King can do… or beings on that level. Like an archwitch, for example…"

This professor… he’s dangerous. He spoke about synthesizing demons so casually. Does he ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠even know what kind of sin that is? Synthesizing demons is practically the same as rejecting the gods. Could he really be an archwitch…?

"Hmm… The reason I synthesized a demon is quite simple."

"It’s because I didn’t have one to use for practical lessons."

Raphael looked at the students and continued.

"Do you children know what a demon’s weakness is?"

At my question, Sein and Eiron answered.

"A demon’s horns and its core, which is its heart."

"Oh! Correct. You know quite a bit. However, that’s not the true weakness of a demon."

"It’s the demon’s eyes."

"The eyes are the weakness…?"

Sein and Eiron looked at Professor Anonymous and thought the same thing. A demon’s weakness is its eyes? That was the first time they’d ever heard that. Knowledge that even regressors didn’t know… And this person was supposedly Ian’s mentor, but something felt off. Ian’s mentor was definitely supposed to be a statue. So why was Ian acknowledging this professor as his teacher?

Raphael looked at Eiron and Sein and spoke.

"Yes. A demon’s eyes are its very foundation."

"As long as the eyes remain, demons can lose every other part of their body and still resurrect."

"That’s why heretics treat a demon’s eyes as sacred during their rituals."

"And the reason demons keep appearing even after you kill them is because their eyes weren’t properly destroyed."

"Simply put, demons can resurrect up to three times. The more eyes a high-ranking demon has, the more times it can come back."

"That’s why high-ranking demons are so dangerous. No matter how many times you kill them, they just keep reviving."

"So when you find a demon, attack the eyes first. That removes their resurrection ability and blinds them, making the fight much easier."

The girl named Demia, who had been listening intently, asked a question the moment I finished.

"Professor, this is the first time I’ve ever heard ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠anything like this. Do you have any evidence or justification to support your claims?"

"Hmm… To be exact, this is knowledge from the inquisitors. And to add to what I said earlier, most demons secretly hide one of their eyes somewhere else."

"It’s insurance against unexpected death. That’s how they can suddenly appear out of nowhere."

"If you ever go demon hunting, make sure to check a demon’s eyes carefully."

"See if it only has one eye or if both are present. And finally, the higher-ranking the demon, the more likely it is to have all its ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠eyes intact."

"It means they’re confident they won’t die."

"Demon Split."

At Professor Anonymous’s command, the demon of malice split into multiple smaller demons.

"Alright, kids? Use the strongest attack skill you have and strike the lesser demons in front of you."

"When attacking, focus on the horns and core. I’ll watch and give you corrections."

Everyone attacked with enthusiasm, but very few students actually delivered threatening blows. Hmm… Only that Demia girl, the regressors, Ian, and Belinda were capable of attacks strong enough to actually kill a demon. Still, everyone was properly destroying the eyes like I told them to. This was actually a pretty decent result.

"Everyone, stop! It’s about time."

"Good work, everyone. See you in a week."

"Demon Fusion."

Crack, crunch—

"Hmm… Where should I store this demon…?"

"Oh, does it go into the inventory?"

Whoosh—

"Oh. It does. Nice, nice."

"That concludes today’s class—"

But suddenly, something came flying toward us.

BOOM—Rumble—

Someone’s magic was attacking Raphael.

Step. Step.

"This aura is undoubtedly Raphael’s… so why do I sense demonic energy?"

"I, Athalia Stardust, shall personally deal with you. Demon wearing Raphael’s skin!"

"……"

That crazy bastard…? Why the hell is the Archmage here…? The probability is completely broken now. Wait, why do so many people who know me keep showing up? At this rate, the Divine Archer or the Saintess might show up too… Surely not… right…?

"You have nothing to say?"

"…Why are you attacking me?"

"Hohoho… A demon dares to imitate that form and speak such words?"

"Just perish here. Demon wearing Raphael’s shell."

"Ugh…"

That insane bastard… Is he seriously trying to kill me? He’s throwing meteors and manipulating gravity—he’s that pissed off?? And why does he think I’m a demon? I’m not a demon, you lunatic.

I was starting to get angry too.

"Chakra Release."

Crack—Craaaack—

Every spell began to disintegrate under the power of chakra.

"Hah… You’re using Raphael’s skill exactly as she did. This will be quite the difficult fight."

"…Please stop."

"I don’t know you. Why are you attacking me like this…?"

"Hahaha. Do you really think I would believe a demon who reeks of demonic energy?"

"Sigh… I am not a demon."

"Kahaha… I’ll sew that filthy lying mouth shut."

Emperor Athalia Stardust gathered his mana, determined to kill the demon insulting Raphael’s memory.

How dare… how dare… how dare!! To wear the skin of my sworn comrade and spout such nonsense… Audrey. You were wrong. The reason Raphael’s body disappeared was because a demon took it. Only I can grant Raphael eternal rest… so I shall do it myself. Raphael… please be happy wherever you are.

"Chakra Release — Attribute Descent."

"I don’t know who you are, but if you attack me, I won’t stand by idly."

"…! You’re mimicking a divine descent…"

"Hah… Very well. I’ll end this with a true divine descent."

"Hoooooo… It is over now, demon."

—Holy Targeting— Raphael — Divine Descent Attack Initiated

But the divine descent did not attack at all. It was as if there were no demons or demonkin within range.

"….?"

"This… what…?"

"The divine descent is rejecting the demon…? You… just what the hell are you…!"

"Sigh… I am Professor Anonymous. I specialize in demon hunting. Since I deal with demons, I naturally carry some demonic energy. And you attacked me first."

"In conclusion, I am human. I am not a demon. Have you figured out the situation yet?"

"What… nonsense are you spouting… You definitely died! I saw it with my own eyes! Do not lie to me!"

"I’m not lying. I am clearly a living person, so why are you trying to kill me?"

The tension between the two continued to rise. At that moment, Principal Flora appeared.

"That’s enough—!"

Thanks to Principal Flora’s sudden intervention, the atmosphere calmed slightly.

"Principal! This man attacked me without warning!"

"I know… So calm down for now. I’ll have a word with him. Everyone, class is dismissed for today. I’ll make arrangements so you can finish the lesson later."

"Oh my! Thank you! Goodbye then~"

Raphael vanished instantly.

The Emperor Athalia Stardust stared in the direction she had disappeared.

"…Flora. What the hell is going on right now?"

"…Flora… what is this situation…?"

"That was undoubtedly Raphael… It was Raphael…"

"Haa… Shall we have a little chat?"