A Magical Creature That Affects Even Demons
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A magical creature capable of affecting even demons. No matter how much he pondered what that meant, Maness could only reach one conclusion.
It was research aimed at demons.
Of course it was. The details had stated as much.
But why had it shown him that illusion?
The illusion of the wisp that Maness had encountered wasn't ordinary. It went beyond manifesting scenes from a target's memories. The experience of facing a mirror image of himself—one that spoke to him exactly as he would—was still vividly etched in his mind.
It was deliberate.
The professor of magical biology had conducted research on something that could affect demons. The resulting illusory wisp had been prepared specifically for Maness Pictri.
The chain of events led to a single answer.
Impossible.
Demons had vanished from the continent centuries ago, during the cataclysm. He knew only two that bore no malice toward humans had gone into hiding. But no one would research them as a target.
There was no need to poke the reverse scale of monsters content to live quietly.
Whether the original Maness had ties to demons or not, there was no reason for the professor to suddenly pursue demon-related research now.
Only someone who knew demons would reappear on the continent would do such a thing.
And the only one who knew that was him... aside from a single other person.
"You seem worried. Or maybe just tense?"
Maness, lost in thought while gazing at the scenery through the carriage window, turned his head.
Abel, the third-year prodigy, flashed a beaming smile.
"Your friend wouldn't shut up with all his questions."
Boltman scratched his head sheepishly. Maness had noticed the guy bonding quickly with his senior amid the chatter, even while deep in his own reverie.
"Better to go experience it yourself than just hear about it."
"True, but your face looked pretty shadowed."
"...Personal matters."
The senior stared at him steadily, then snapped his fingers.
"Got it. You're stressed 'cause you're getting shunned as a troublemaker, right?"
Completely off the mark. Maness simply nodded quietly.
It was a natural assumption for the guy, and arguing would just waste energy.
"I've had similar worries myself."
Abel crossed his arms, nodding to himself. Boltman, eyes sparkling with rapt attention, made for a striking duo.
"I'm not into academia or research. I wanted the raw power of magic. Y'know, battle mages? Like imperial mages."
Boltman flinched at "imperial mages." Maness sighed inwardly.
He reacted like that every time his brother came up. Looked like he needed to build up the kid's confidence fast.
"So once my skills leveled up, I started poking around everywhere. Didn't matter if they were classmates, seniors, or juniors—if they had any real skill, I'd challenge 'em to a duel."
Odd that he'd describe himself as "poking around," but it showed solid self-awareness.
"That's why first year, they called me the brat. Second year, the lunatic. Now? Mad dog."
The nicknames seemed to drift further from human with each year...
Maness held back his inner thoughts. Even in the original story, where he barely crossed paths with the guy, he'd heard the "mad dog" moniker. As a grade rep, the info was bound to circulate.
"Mad dog..."
Boltman murmured in awe, bordering on admiration.
"I've got a good eye for people. But you're not quite the same type as me."
"Not mad dog level, no."
"Yeah, first-years love trash-talking over tiny issues. I get it."
Maness dipped his head in thanks as the senior patted his shoulder with a grin.
Misguided or not, it was only right to return kindness.
"Everyone's different, of course."
Abel ducked his head, lowering his voice conspiratorially.
"You know those who took Almond's class? The fourth-year's kinda stoic by nature, but that second-year? Scary dude."
"Scary?"
Unlikely, but the mad dog glanced out the window—just in case—before continuing.
"You know the student council?"
"Yeah."
"Huh, I don't."
Boltman's input was breezily ignored.
"Only the ruthless get in. No mercy, no tears."
Maness recalled the second-year who'd dragged him to alchemy class. Elena. She'd struck him as cold-blooded even then.
"So why the student council...? That second-year senior—is he on it?"
"If he were, he couldn't ditch for the Magic Tower like this. Snowrobe doesn't run without the council."
Maness nodded vigorously in agreement.
"Heard he even got an invite. Figured he had the makings."
Boltman swallowed dryly, the sound echoing in the carriage.
"Stuffy types like that come with biases. They looked at me like I was a bug at first—barely nodded."
Probably exaggerated, but recalling the vibe he'd seen, it was plausible.
"So watch out, you two. Especially you, troublemaker—get on their bad side, and it's a headache."
Maness knew it was just playful scaring. Most of those emotionless types ignored everyone.
They might be picky inwardly, but they wouldn't cause harm.
"Y-Yes, sir!"
Boltman was plenty for the teasing response.
"Speaking of, we should be nearing the waypoint village soon."
Abel wiped the grin away and pulled a map from his pocket.
"You brought that?"
"Nah, Professor gave it out. One per carriage—magic map."
Definitely not ordinary. The continent-spanning map had a red dot steadily advancing toward their destination.
Our position right now.
Maness blinked at it repeatedly.
"Uh, that red dot's the carriage, right?"
"Quick on the uptake."
Checking the map again, Maness couldn't shake his doubt. They'd been traveling a while since departure, but Snowrobe was far behind.
"No way we've come this far already."
"That's 'cause it's a Snowrobe carriage."
Abel puffed up proudly, like it was his achievement.
"Horses aren't the only things that cover a thousand ri in a flash."
Snowrobe's magic carriage. Given its special nature, maybe not so surprising.
But the real reason for his skepticism was elsewhere.
"When I looked out the window earlier, it didn't feel that fast."
"Ah, that."
All three students turned to the window.
The view outside was the standard carriage scenery—nothing rushed.
"Magic's on this too, obviously."
Abel tapped the window like knocking.
"Scenery whipping by would make you dizzy, right?"
"In-Incredible!"
Maness nodded along with the awestruck fool.
Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. And vice versa.
"So that waypoint village..."
Maness pointed to a stationary blue dot on the senior's lap—the map. Identical to the one marking the Magic Tower in the continent's north.
"Yep. Quick stretch or bite there."
At the mention of food, Abel smacked his lips.
"One inn in that village. Their roast turkey's the specialty—the specialty."
Roast turkey.
Maness reacted to the dish name. Late in the original story, after leaving school to handle incidents, they resolve a village's pest problem. Famous for roast turkey.
The inside story: a monster had long occupied the nearby mountains, cutting off herb supplies.
This must be the place.
Racking his memory, the location matched too.
"Looks like we're here."
The carriage slowed to a stop, the motion felt in his body.
Peering out the door, he saw Almond wrapping up with a guard and heading over. She looked ravenous.
"Let's eat first."
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The village buzzed quietly with life. The busiest spot: a decent-sized inn packed with wayfarers.
"From the magic school, eh?"
The owner brought simple snacks, greeting them warmly. His shiny bald head gleamed like it'd been oiled.
"How'd you know?"
"Few young folks head north. And in a group like this? Obvious."
As Maness nodded, the other two students pored over the menu. They'd split seats like in the carriage.
"Roast turkey for me."
Abel's instant order darkened the owner's face.
"Sorry, can't do that right now."
"What?!"
Abel yelped, then scanned the menu dejectedly.
"No way..."
"Needs a herb from the eastern range cliffs to kill the gamey taste. But a monster's holed up there."
Just as expected. Maness nodded inwardly while the other two gaped.
"Monster? Shouldn't the Empire help?"
"Sent requests via passing mercenaries a few times. Nothing."
The owner sighed deeply, glancing at the stairs to the upper floor.
"One skilled merc stepped up, but failed the hunt. Recovering now. Wound looked like no ordinary beast."
Maness's answer: predictable.
A soul wolf, house-sized. Even pros got wrecked without the right strategy.
Silence fell over the trio mid-ordering.
Blame: Abel, still reeling.
"My roast turkey..."
His pitiful state tugged at Maness, who spoke up casually.
"How long we staying in the village?"
"Just eat and go, probably."
"...Shame."
Monsters were mutated beasts. Environment or artifacts could cause it. Soul wolf: the latter.
"If we took it down now, we could grab turkey on the way back."
Abel's eyes lit up at the bait.
Solo would be tough, and convincing Almond? No dice. Strength in numbers.
"Perfect timing with skilled mages like us here, right?"
Boltman's eyes sharpened at "skilled mages." Ideal reaction—Maness smirked inwardly.
"True, monster hunting's a mage's bread and butter."
"Righteous mage, brave mage, heroic..."
Boltman muttered like self-hypnosis—hooked. Abel nearly there.
"Carriage speed means a little detour won't matter."
"...Alright!"
Abel's shout startled the owner mid-serve.
"Eat quick and head out!"
Senior's bold vow. Maness's impish grin shone like he'd grasped a relic.
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"No."
After wolfing down food, their permission plea got a flat rejection.
"It's a good deed, Professor!"
Even Abel's protests didn't faze the second- and fourth-year prodigies. Almond scowled across from the two savoring slowly.
"I wanna get there and crash. You kidding? No means no."
Pure Almond logic.