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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Yuziro
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A large bed sat within a dark cave, a luxurious piece out of place in the rough surroundings. Upon it lay a woman, so still she appeared lifeless.
Rumble…
The woman’s eyes snapped open at the sound from outside the cave. Irritation filled her blood-red irises.
“Which- bastard is it-?”
Her name was Espina Pereza, once known as the Thorn Princess, a world-renowned criminal, and now the Archbishop of Sloth.
“Ah- is it time already-?” She glanced out of the cave, then turned to look beside her. A cracked eggshell lay where something had hatched and departed.
“Hmm- I wonder- if the results are- meaningful-” She hummed, Magi swirling around her. The luxurious bed, absorbing the overflowing Magi, floated into the air.
“Will it be able to emerge-?” A look of intrigue crossed Espina’s face as the ornate bed ascended into the dark night sky.
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I took a deep breath, calming myself. The thought of losing my precious student had shaken me.
“Are… are you alright?” Ariana asked, her voice laced with concern. I quickly schooled my expression.
“This is nothing. Are you hurt?” I noticed her tattered owl robe.
“I’m fine, thanks to Sena.”
Indeed, despite the state of her robe, she had no visible injuries. Sena’s healing was remarkable, even for Magi-inflicted wounds. The power of a Saintess was truly impressive.
“Thank you, Sena,” I said, glancing at Sena and Lux. Aside from some dirt, they seemed unharmed. Ariana had protected them well.
“Woo!” Sena suddenly puffed out her cheeks, standing right in front of me. She grabbed my hand and placed it on her head. “Praise me too! Lots of praise!”
“What’s gotten into her? Did the Magi affect her brain?” I muttered.
“Just pet me! Why do you only favor Ariana?!”
I couldn’t argue with that, but didn’t women usually dislike having their hair touched? However, I couldn’t refuse her insistent gaze.
I cautiously stroked her hair, and she beamed, a goofy grin spreading across her face. Her brown hair and cheerful demeanor reminded me of a retriever.
I turned at the intense stare from my side. Lux was watching my hand intently.
“Do… you want some too…?”
Lux stepped closer without a word, offering her head. Her expressionless face made it hard to tell, but she clearly wanted to be petted. I placed my other hand on her moonlight-silver hair.
Lux gave a faint smile, despite her exhaustion. She was more like a cat.
After petting them both, I pointed to Taxi. “Get on. This place is dangerous. We’re going to the safe zone.”
“Wow… how did you tame that?” Ariana asked, fascinated.
Was he that rare? It was true that a wolf large enough to carry several people wasn’t a common sight.
“There’s a way. I’ll get on last…”
A chill ran down my spine. The familiar sense of mortal danger, honed on the battlefield, gripped me. My body reacted before my mind could process the threat. I twisted away.
A powerful force tore through my robe. I located my attacker just as a scream pierced the air.
“Ariana!!!”
I whirled around.
“Oh…”
Ariana clutched her abdomen, blood flowing between her fingers.
“Oh no! Professor, what do we do?!” Sena cried.
The wound was severe.
“Calm down! You’re the Saintess! Divine magic!! Hurry!!!” The wound seemed too large for her slender frame.
“Don’t… don’t die… Ariana… please…!” Sena’s divine magic illuminated the area, making Ariana’s injury even more stark. I had seen countless wounds like this, but… why…?
Screech…
A grating sound drew my attention. I met the gaze of a small, monkey-like creature, its face blackened by Magi, save for its glowing red eyes and mouth.
Screech… It stared at me, then grinned.
A beast capable of understanding and reacting to my emotions was no mere magical beast.
“Kill… screech…” it hissed.
A creature capable of simple communication and radiating such potent Magi could only be one thing: a demon. A fully summoned, true demon.
But what did it matter?
“You little bastard…” It had dared to attack my student. Demon, devil, Archbishop, Demon King – it made no difference.
“I’ll grind your bones to dust.”
“
”
“Primordial Qi Technique.”
Overwhelming power surged through me.
Dark energy crackled around my fists. I was about to attack when…
“A vanguard must always remain calm,” a tearful voice said.
I turned to see Lux, tears streaming down her face. “You won’t break your own rule, will you, Professor…?”
The usually composed and aloof Lux was trembling. She wasn’t the only one. Amy’s face was pale, and Sena, desperately channeling divine magic towards Ariana, was also afraid.
It wasn’t the demon. It was me. My rage-fueled loss of control was terrifying my precious students.
“…Right.” It was as if a bucket of ice water had been poured over me. I wasn’t a monster. I had to be a source of strength for my students. That was my duty as their teacher.
“Don’t worry. This will be over soon. And Ariana will not die.”
I pulled out three short rods from my pocket – the Bloodstorm I had used against Alba.
Click
The demon remained motionless as I assembled the rods into a spear. Was it cautious? Afraid? I would find out soon enough.
“No time to play around. Full power from the start…”
I lunged, appearing behind the demon.
Screech?!
“Die.”
The Bloodstorm pierced its shoulder. I had aimed for the head, but it had reacted.
“Screech! Kill!” It mimicked my words, swinging its fist.
Boom!
The force of the blow, unexpected from such a small creature, sent me staggering back. I regained my footing and charged again, piercing its leg. It ignored the attack, spinning to deliver a kick. Even as its leg was torn, it pressed its assault. I dodged, creating some distance.
Screech!
The severed leg regenerated instantly.
That was to be expected.
Even magical beasts had strong regenerative abilities.
A demon’s recovery was child’s play. What caught my attention was its growing size.
“Allen! Kill!” Its language skills were improving too.
My suspicion solidified into certainty. “You’re… growing.”
A growing demon. It was unheard of, beyond my comprehension. But there it was, right before my eyes.
Screech?
How far could it grow? If it could evolve into a devil, I had to kill it here, no matter the cost.
Screech! Impatient, it charged again, its attacks slightly stronger than before.
“Amy! Return to the safe zone!” I yelled, parrying its blows.
“What?! No!”
No time for this. I waited for an opening.
“Primordial Crushing Pillar.”
Screech?!
Crash!
Half of the demon’s body was obliterated by the surprise attack. Had it anticipated this?
My goal was to buy time. I retreated.
“Listen carefully. That demon is still growing. We have to kill it here.”
I removed my robe and draped it over Ariana. Now she could be transported too. Realization dawned on their faces.
“Professor…?” Amy whispered.
“Take Ariana and go to the safe zone. Tell the Headmaster what happened.”
“But…!”
“Just go!”
Amy’s eyes widened at my sharp tone. I took a deep breath, composing myself.
“You know getting reinforcements is the best option, honor student.”
“Your… students don’t want to see you die! Now go!”
It was Lux who finally pushed Amy and Sena away.
“
”
“Lux?!” Amy gasped.
Lux had cast the spell at close range, forcing their elimination. Enveloped in translucent spheres, Amy and Sena stared at Lux in bewilderment before being transported.
“You have to live,” Lux said, meeting my gaze.
“Of course.”
Lux turned and vanished with Ariana.
I was about to breathe a sigh of relief when the demon’s voice echoed from behind.
“Screech… you die anyway.”
“Be careful what you wish for.”
It was right. I would die eventually. But not today.
Screech?
I raised Bloodstorm towards the confused demon.
“I’ll carve it into your brain so you remember it even in death.”
A battlefield with no allies. This was the scene, the situation I knew best. And it was where I could unleash my full power.
“Screech… kill!”
It charged again, its speed drastically increased.
I whispered.
“
”
“Blood Demon Body.”
An ominous aura erupted.
Reptilian scales covered my left arm, dark green skin enveloped my right, and the traits of various races permeated my body.
And then…
“You’re the one who’s going to die.”
I hissed, my eyes slitted like a predator’s, fixated on the demon.
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OK, this sucked. MC is supposedly a veteran of 13 years on the battlefield, and a master. And he’s going to lose his head like this? Seriously, WTF with this author?
Eh, kinda makes sense in this case? I mean, he’s unused to being a teacher and having students, he’s presumably got quite a lot of trauma associated with losing comrades, and he was just beginning to destress and tamp down his instincts to adapt to life off the battlefield, so the reaction is probably a result of him being caught in an awkward transitionary stage.