Gentle Breeze and the Chairman's Gaze
A gentle breeze swayed, carrying the sweet scent of flowers. The ticklish sensation prickled his skin.
"Ah… fuck."
Before he could even register the itch, pain surged through his entire body. Had his consciousness awakened after being unconscious just moments ago?
"Looks like you've opened your eyes."
A low voice whispered in his ear. It felt unfamiliar yet strangely familiar.
"…Ah."
Enduring the pain, he lifted his head. A woman with striking cross earrings gazed down at him intently.
"Ugh…!"
"No need to push yourself if it's bad enough to make you curse."
"Ah, no… I just misspoke because I'm tired. Chairman."
The chairman of Arcadia Academy and an 8th Circle mage. Hinisila Prihen. She stood by his bedside, her sky-blue hair swaying.
"But why is the chairman here…?"
Honestly, he knew. No, fuck, after taking out a professor who'd turned demon, how could they ignore it?
'I'm on edge.'
She was an 8th Circle archmage who transcended human limits—the strongest in the human realm, succeeding Belhalm, the greatest mage in history. If she examined him closely and found traces of demonic energy, he'd be dead without question.
"I came to heal you first. You were on the brink of death."
"Ah."
It must be the backlash from demonization combined with using Primal Light. Even if used discriminately, wielding demonic energy and divinity together was insane. Demonization alone had nearly killed him; this pushed him right to the edge.
'Looks like I got treated, though.'
The pain lingered, but his body functioned normally. It should've been wrecked.
"I took care of it. Yuria helped too."
"Thank you."
"No need. We couldn't just let a dying hero go."
Hinisila smiled warmly and lifted a cup from the desk. The sweet coffee aroma wafted from the bed, stirring his appetite after days unconscious. He was starving.
"The academy thanks you first. For stopping Professor Barhen."
"…No. It was nothing."
Of course it was. If he hadn't, he'd be dead by that guy's hand.
"If you want anything later, we'll support you as compensation. Your grades are already maxed out."
"…That's plenty."
"Ah, right. This came up."
Hinisila muttered to herself, snapped her fingers. A magic circle appeared in the air, revealing a single-edged sword.
'What… is that a drop?'
It was the legendary item with low drop chance from defeating the dying knight in Act 1.
◈ The sword used by the dying knight in life.
◈ Hardens in proportion to the user's mental strength.
"…You recognize it."
"No… I just thought it looked cool."
"Aren't you in the magic department, Dante?"
Hinisila's eyes sharpened. But the answer was obvious.
"Guys always think blades look cool."
He meant it. Even in his twenties, he'd admired greatswords.
"…I see. It's from Professor Barhen anyway."
"Is it?"
If they weren't giving it, he didn't care. It'd be a shame, but not essential.
"It's your rightful reward. Do you want it?"
Just as he gave up, she asked gladly. Want it? Obviously.
"…I'll take it gratefully. Any residues or issues?"
"Use it well. My appraisal found nothing wrong."
A legendary weapon usable now? It was like giving wings to this tiger.
'Time to train seriously beyond magic.'
He'd planned later, but no hesitation now. A good weapon unused was pointless.
"That settles it. Thanks again."
"No… no need to bow. I just did what I could."
"Rest easy then. We'll handle your academy leave—focus on recovery."
"Yes."
He planned that anyway. Plenty of time till Act 2—no rush.
"……Master."
"Huh? There you are. Thought you'd vanished."
Lilia appeared right after Hinissila left—palm-sized, not full form.
This had its own charm.
"I really thought you were gonna die!!"
"Didn't, so it's fine, right?"
"…Is that something to say?"
Lilia pouted. What could he do? Betting his life was the only way to survive.
"Why so tiny?"
"You used up a ton of my demonic energy, Master. This is me squeezing out what I can."
"Oh?"
Her manifestation ran on demonic energy. He'd burned through his stock fighting, leaving her short too. Even this form strained her.
"Gonna focus on recovery for a while. Yours too, Master."
"Got it?"
Disappointing, but inevitable. Her presence didn't max training anyway.
"More than that, that woman earlier…"
"Huh? Why?"
"She was staring right at me."
"………What? Hallucination?"
Hinisila saw Lilia? Without even materializing fully, beyond his notice?
"Possible?"
"Dunno. Just felt it."
"Hm… probably not."
No way. He'd be in holy judgment otherwise. Just nerves.
"Ah, Master."
"Yeah?"
"Won't see you for a bit. Take care?"
"Sure. Don't worry."
With that, Lilia vanished. A twinge of emptiness, but he'd lived ten years alone.
'Feels weird.'
No chatter from her—unavoidable void. Staring blankly at the ceiling from bed.
"Dante!!!"
"…Don't barge in! I'm a patient."
"He'll be fine? I healed him."
Familiar voices piled from the door.
*****
Hinisila Prihen. At the pinnacle of magic, she gazed out her office window.
"Are the demons resurfacing?"
Demons. Seeds of evil corrupting the world. Last seen 60 years ago—since then, only lesser fiends. Just as all forgot, one appeared after six decades. In Professor Barhen's hands, no less.
'Dante Vergilius…'
She'd been puzzled at his enrollment. No standout talent, shunned for looks, rumors brewing. Even she worried.
'A demon hunter who's a demon himself…'
She'd sensed demonic energy on him—denser, stronger than cultists'. Yet she overlooked it.
Because he'd saved the academy. That alone. Not devout enough to kill an innocent student.
"Have to trust him. A demon stopped a demon—not the hero."
Not church-approved hero Luel, but demon Dante. Anomalous, but she shelved deep thought, choosing faith.
To avert the future her magic 'Eyes of Transcendence' foresaw. He was undeniably key.
'But that cute demon beside him? No.'
While unconscious, she'd clearly seen her hovering. Diminished in energy and rank, yet instinctively alarming. Not low among the 92 demons.
A mythic calamity incarnate. Akin to the one from 60 years past.
"Ugh… didn't become chairman for this. Why always me…"
Hinisila clutched her head, grabbing the desk's liquor bottle.
Freshly an 8th Circle mage, yet fretting world fate.
'Wanna quit…'
She thought once more.