The Assault on Delphiana
The Delphiana Assault Incident.
“First off, the initial solution is to give the people you meet some medicine.”
“Medicine?”
Out of nowhere with the drugs? What the hell?
“The biggest issue with your curse right now is that it disrupts classes, correct?”
“It doesn’t right now.”
“It seems like something that could be fixed if they had the courage to overcome that aura. Why not have the students take a courage-boosting potion before class?”
In short, she wanted to turn our kids into junkies? This was coming from someone who supposedly devoted her body to God? Was she actually insane?
“Why are you looking at me like that? Just to be clear, it’s not some shady drug! It’s officially registered with the Magic Potion Association!”
At least she wasn’t completely off the deep end. Still, it wasn’t exactly an appealing solution.
“How much does this medicine run, anyway?”
“It depends on the potency. If you want something strong enough to erase all sense of fear, the price is whatever they feel like charging.”
“What if we compromise on the strength a little?”
From what I’d observed during classes, the students didn’t need to completely overcome my aura. Sure, that would be ideal, but everything came down to money.
“It depends on your definition of ‘a little.’ From what I’ve checked, you should budget around ten silver per pill. The duration varies by person, but it lasts about two hours.”
“Ten silver? That’s fucking expensive.”
My lectures ran twice a week. That meant an extra eighty silver a month?
“But most students at this academy should have that kind of pocket money, right?”
Asia spoke as if she’d read my mind.
“Forget it. On second thought, it looks bad. I’m not some pill pusher.”
Besides, it wasn’t a real solution. It was temporary and didn’t actually suppress my aura. I couldn’t go around dosing everyone I met. It might help in a pinch, but it wasn’t what I was looking for right now. It could work during class, sure… but still.
“Then here’s the next option. There’s a theology professor who’s an expert on curses like yours. Ask them to take a look. I can introduce you if you’d like.”
“You couldn’t even suppress it yourself. What makes you think they’d have a solution?”
“I didn’t realize you thought so highly of me…”
Damn it. Verbal slip. Seeing her shrug made me feel genuinely uncomfortable.
“Overall I’m still better, of course. But this person has dedicated themselves to researching curses. In that specific field, they’d be superior to me.”
Hmm. Not a bad suggestion. But something still bothered me.
What if they figure out I used to be a man?
While analyzing the curse, wouldn’t they be able to tell what had happened to me? Well, I’d have to go eventually anyway.
“Fine, I’ll keep it in mind. What’s the last one?”
“The last one? That’s it?”
Huh?
“You only gave me two options. There’s a third one left.”
“I don’t recall ever saying there would be three?”
As expected, we weren’t on the same wavelength. For something like this, wasn’t it common sense to prepare at least three solutions? She really had zero common sense. No wonder she’d agreed to kick me out of the party—she was clearly an idiot.
“Whatever. I heard you. It’s late, so get out of here.”
“Understood. You really can’t stand being around me for even a second, can you?”
Asia’s lips were sticking out in a pout. She made a sulky face and prepared to leave.
“There’s one more thing I should tell you.”
After slipping on her shoes, she turned back to face me.
“What?”
“I sense demonic energy inside the academy.”
“…You’re not talking about me, are you?”
“No. It’s real demonic energy. As you already know, your aura is distinctly different from demonic energy. What I’m sensing is unmistakably the real thing.”
“Maybe they placed some kind of monster for the student testing?”
“They wouldn’t use actual monsters for that.”
She had a point. The ones they used during the class placement exam had all been fakes. There was no reason to risk using the real thing.
“Who else knows about this?”
If Asia was saying this, there really must be something like a monster around.
“The demonic energy is still irregular and faint. The scale is small too. That’s why I only mentioned it casually to the theology dean. I’m not sure if anyone else knows.”
Hmm.
“Anyway, there’s definitely something here. Just be careful, okay?”
With that, Asia left.
Marius was the kind of person who always looked for the cause of his problems in other people. Therefore, losing the duel and getting kicked out of his professor position were obviously everyone else’s fault. His own mistakes? As if such a thing existed.
Altair Auvergne.
That woman who had suddenly appeared at the academy one day. She was a thief, a robber, a plunderer, and the very incarnation of evil. She had stolen everything from him.
He had placed his hopes in his mentor Lopez, but the man had coldly accepted his resignation letter. There really was no one in this world you could trust.
But he would never actually leave the academy. The moment he packed his bags and tried to depart, countless students would block his path. Please don’t abandon us. We want your teachings more than anyone else. And then Lopez and President Theodor would belatedly appear and apologize. We were wrong. Please don’t leave this academy. Teach the students. We’ve already driven out that Altair person. They would beg him.
It was obvious. To give them that opportunity, Marius packed his bags as slowly as humanly possible.
Days had passed since his resignation had been processed, yet he still hadn’t left the academy.
I’ve given them over a week. That should be enough.
He left the dormitory and headed toward the academy’s main gate, moving as slowly as possible to give those who would stop him plenty of time.
But none of what he expected came to pass. He returned to the dormitory once more.
What’s going on?
Finally facing reality, Marius heard a sweet voice whispering to him. Take back what you lost. Set everything right. Blood rushed to his eyes. Before he knew it, his will was no longer his own. After all, someone who had fallen for a demon’s whisper had no need for free will.
That night, the incident erupted.
The Delphiana Academy descended into pandemonium the instant the monsters attacked. An evacuation order was issued to all students and anyone without combat capability.
“This way! It’s safe now!”
Clement Champier swung his sword at the monster that had suddenly burst out. The creature’s severed head rolled as its body collapsed.
“Thank you!”
The three students expressed their gratitude before hurrying toward the shelter.
“Clement! Stop standing around and get over here too!”
“Got it! I’m coming!”
Answering his brother’s shout, Clement looked ahead. The students he had just sent seemed to be the last from the humanities department. No one else was visible.
What the hell is happening…?
Hadn’t the truce negotiations ended not that long ago? Had it all been a deception tactic?
Or…
Were these simply uncontrolled monsters running wild?
Clement could only hope it was the latter.
If it was nothing more than that…
There are always kids in the world who refuse to listen. They casually ignore even direct orders to evacuate to the shelter immediately. Princess Ditrua was, of course, one of them.
I can actually beat real monsters to death?
At the news that monsters were attacking the academy, Ditrua’s eyes lit up with excitement. Oh my god! This was the perfect opportunity!
Even slicing apart fake monsters during the class placement test had given her an incredible thrill. This time they were real monsters! How exhilarating would it feel to cut them down? How much would that sensation relieve the rage pent up inside her?
Just thinking about it was pure bliss.
After safely reaching the shelter and waiting a while, a small opening appeared between Edan, Nathan, and Lily. This shelter was protected by powerful magic and plenty of people. The princess’s safety would be guaranteed. That was what they believed.
Spotting the gap, Ditrua slipped out of their sight. She even used techniques to suppress her presence, moving silently. Having successfully escaped the shelter, she took a deep breath of the clear night air.
“Woohoo!”
Sorry, I’ll only take care of one! It’ll be quick!
The two knights and single attendant who realized the truth moments too late nearly screamed but somehow held it in.
Rilke Termore was another person who had ignored the evacuation order. To the rebellious Rilke, the command to evacuate quickly sounded more like:
Cowards should evacuate. Courageous students who want to prove themselves, stand and fight!
Naturally, Rilke chose the latter. She wasn’t a coward, after all.
Monsters appeared and you want me to hide?
That was ridiculous. Completely impossible.
Rilke slipped away from the line of people carefully making their way to the shelter. While wandering in search of monsters, she discovered a group.
Inside the shelter, Jean-Louis Lopez pressed a palm to his forehead. In his hand was the current list of swordsmanship students who had yet to arrive. His brow furrowed deeply.
“This many?”
The number of students still missing far exceeded ten. So many students hadn’t made it to the shelter yet. His hands trembled with worry for them.
“What could have happened to these students…? Wait a second.”
As he checked the names on the list, the worry in his mind began to fade.
“Rasmur Elm, Vincent Tenhardt…”
His hands shook. The emotion that replaced worry was pure rage. A significant portion of them were all…
“Aaaargh!”
“Dean! Dean! Please don’t raise your blood pressure—calm down! You need to start thinking about your age!”
“Etienne! Do I look like I can calm down right now?!”
In the end, Lopez clutched at the back of his neck. These problem children hadn’t failed to reach the shelter. They had chosen not to come.
“These brats are at it again!”
“They’ll be fine, so please don’t worry, Dean. The monsters aren’t that strong. Especially Rasmur and Vincent—their skills…”
“No, it’s not about whether they’re safe or not!”
Even in this emergency, they had to cause trouble! You’re all getting disciplined. Graduating class or not, I’ll slap you with punishments so severe your futures will be nothing but gray! He had just firmly resolved this when a knight came running toward him. Lopez knew this knight. It was Nathan, one of Ditrua’s guards. But why was his face so deathly pale?
Please, please…
“Dean! It’s terrible!”
Please… just not those words…
“Her Highness the Princess is missing as well!”
“Kyaaaaaaaak!”
Lopez felt several days—perhaps even weeks—shaved off his lifespan.