Chapter 32
Chapter 32
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: Demalico
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Lately, I'd been sensing Rin getting strangely entangled with me. She drew excessively close, smiling as she approached.
And she often sought confirmation that I didn't hate her. At first, I thought she was just insecure.
But her expression said otherwise.
'She just wants to keep hearing those words.'
Like lovers craving endless "I love you"s, Rin was hooked on hearing that I didn't hate her—she wanted it over and over.
Honestly, it was getting annoying and exhausting, but she lit up so brightly with just one reassurance that I'd half-given up resisting.
"Wow, you must be wiped out."
Rin had just dropped by our classroom for a chat before leaving, and Tana, who'd watched the whole thing, clicked her tongue.
"Why don't you just date her?"
I replied to Tana's sarcasm with a sigh.
Normally, Eve would've jumped in here, jabbing sharply under a veil of politeness, but today she was quiet.
"Hm?"
"Wonder what book's got our Eve so hooked this time."
Tana and I glanced at Eve beside us, but she wasn't even registering our words, lost in her book.
"What're you reading?"
"Something on plants? It's got illustrations."
As we kept staring, Eve flipped a page, met our eyes, and startled.
"Uh... What's, what's wrong?"
"What're you reading so intently?"
"'Cause our Eve is cute."
Tana teased me as I sneaked a peek at the cover and Eve. It was definitely a botany book, but nothing worth that level of absorption.
That focus was the kind she showed only for romance novels. Eve loved those.
As I puzzled over it, Eve whispered.
"Truth is, I've been growing a Belliment since my second year, but its color's off."
Belliment was a flower that bloomed this time of year and kept going strong through winter—famous for its vitality.
Pretty blooms, easy even for beginners. Having cultivated all sorts in the Demon Realm Forest, I took an interest.
"Color's off?"
"It should be pale purple normally, but it's... black."
"Black?"
I'd been about to explain how reds or yellows could shift slightly from the environment, but black?
"Where're you growing it?"
"There's a flower bed behind our restaurant. I was tending it there on the sly."
"Yeah? Lunchtime's coming up—let's go check it out."
After class, we grabbed a quick lunch at the cafeteria and headed behind it. Sure enough, a Belliment bloomed black in the flower bed.
"Hmm?"
It was behind the cafeteria, but Belliments were tough cookies—no real issue there. Eve had cared for it diligently; it looked healthier than the surrounding plants.
"Why not buy a pot instead of hiding it back here in the flower bed?"
"Truth is, I didn't exactly plan to grow it..."
As Tana and Eve chatted, I frowned, scrutinizing the Belliment.
'Color's one thing, but the leaf shape and texture are wrong too. The stem's bizarrely sturdy by contrast.'
I dug lightly at the soil base—plenty of dead bugs clustered there.
"......"
Something unnatural was afoot, but I had no clue what caused it.
One thing was clear: contrary to Eve's diligent care, someone malicious was sabotaging this flower bed.
'Not just the Belliment. The whole bed's trashed.'
Belliment took the worst hit, though.
The bed held cafeteria staples like cherry tomatoes and basil—damaged too—but what was it to me? They'd handle it.
Still, personally, I was curious.
A mutation even I didn't know, after tending crops and morale-boosting flowers in the harsh Demon Realm Forest?
'Intriguing.'
I told them let's head out, then split off to find May.
Her delinquent crew made no secret of it—lunchtime had them clustered on the school rooftop, messing around.
"Who's that guy?"
"E-Class Daniel, right? Kinda chummy with May?"
"Chummy? Nah, she's just toying with him."
I ignored the chatter and beelined for May, who leaned on the railing sucking a candy. She asked without looking up.
"What's up?"
"Post some kids behind the cafeteria for a bit."
May crunched her candy hard, eyeing me like I'd lost it.
"Something weird there—have 'em check it out."
My personal curiosity pricked my conscience a tad, but a little patience would uncover the secret easily.
"You think my crew are your gofers? They're friends."
"Hm?"
Unexpected answer.
I'd assumed she treated them like lackeys.
She pouted, then asked after a beat.
"How long?"
"Dunno—longest you can?"
"Can you say why?"
Telling her would earn a punch, so I shook my head gravely, feigning seriousness.
"Nah, might be dangerous to know."
For me, anyway.
May ruffled her hair in irritation.
"This damn academy's never quiet. Leiros mess barely dies down, and now this."
"......"
Guilt stabbed; I clamped my mouth shut.
May sighed heavily and turned to her crew.
"Hey, kids—something's up at the flower bed behind the cafeteria. You know anything?"
Just fishing, but the whole gang flinched. Then they glared at me, the one who'd brought it up.
"Huh?"
May looked as surprised as I felt.
"What do you know?"
As she scowled, one girl among the tight-lipped bunch spoke up slowly.
"That's where we smoke..."
"What?"
"You quit, May, so we go there alone now."
May shrugged at me, her look saying See? I let out a dry chuckle.
Students brazenly admitting to smoking?
"Where do you get 'em?"
Secondhand smoke warping plants that grotesquely seemed off, so I pressed. The girl shot me a sour glare.
"Tell him."
May's word cracked her instantly.
"We don't know. Demalico's personal hookup—we give him cash, he fetches."
"Dude's probably skimming."
"He griped about being broke lately."
"Gotta tail him to the source sometime."
As they muttered among themselves, I cleared my throat to refocus them.
"Where's Demalico?"
Backtalk meant he wasn't here.
One boy blurted.
"Called in sick—resting in the dorm."
"Faker."
"Aw, it was my smoke day."
I thunked the grumbler's head and headed for the door.
"Quit today. Any smoke smell in the academy after, whoever lit it—you're done."
They lunged, but May reined them in and tailed me.
"Why're you following?"
"Demalico's been my friend since year one. Something's fishy, so you're sticking close."
"......"
Truth was, simple flower-color curiosity. But things were snowballing oddly.
Bluffing for May—hope it didn't blow up for real.
En route to the dorms, we spotted Tana and Eve snacking at a café.
"Hey, weren't you dieting?"
"We worked out hard this morning!"
"Lunch Eve ate well, so Dinner Eve'll burn it off hard..."
Same Eve, either way...
"Daniel, find out why the flower's color changed?"
"Hm, working on it."
Dodged for May's ears and ducked into the dorm.
"Flower color?"
May's low voice trailed.
I bolted up the stairs, but she stuck close, probing.
"No way you're making this fuss over a flower color change?"
Tone sharpening.
"......"
"Hey."
She jabbed my back with a fist, irritation rising—just as we hit the third floor and Demalico's room.
"Hey, Demalico!"
"See? Fuss to dodge the point."
I didn't know his face, but to shut down May's grilling, I flung the door open sans knock.
Inside: one girl and what looked like Demalico.
Almost thought lovers at first—but the dagger at his throat said otherwise.
The girl was someone I recognized, anyway.
"Sen?"
Extermination Squad alum, but stone-faced—polar opposite her usual emotional overflow—as she held the blade to Demalico.
And weeping Demalico...
"De... malico?"
His skin flaked off like tree bark.