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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Chaos
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“This is an opportunity. A real opportunity.”
Elena and Isabelle both looked at me with worried expressions, but to me, Alice’s proposal was an opportunity.
An easy opportunity to gain social standing by having my marriage to Isabelle formally recognized.
An opportunity to move to another region, increase my power, and absorb life force to become even stronger.
“But Evan, the academy’s security must be incredibly tight. What if they find out you’re a demon?”
Alice had excused herself so we could talk privately.
As soon as the door closed, Isabelle voiced her concerns about me going to the academy, given that I was a demon.
Even I, who had been excited about the prospect of bedding women at the academy, had to acknowledge Isabelle’s point.
An institution like the academy would definitely have countermeasures against demons, and if I was unlucky enough to get caught, I wouldn’t die peacefully.
“But I have to go somewhere to build my power and become stronger. Going to a place like the academy, which has some level of defense and infrastructure, is more stable for me than going to another region where I have no connections or protection.”
On the other hand, since the academy had countermeasures against demons, there wouldn’t be many other demons around, and with so many young men and women, it would be easy to steal their life force.
Elena asked why I was so eager to increase my power.
“Why this sudden urge?”
“Last night…”
I told Elena and Isabelle about my conversation with Lilith the previous night.
I explained that the demon world operated on the principle of survival of the fittest, so I had to become stronger even if I didn’t want to rule the world.
I also told them that if I didn’t become stronger, other demons might try to enslave Elena and Isabelle.
“If that’s the case…”
After hearing my explanation, Elena and Isabelle seemed to understand why I wanted to leave.
But their understanding didn’t solve the problem.
I still didn’t know if it was safe to go to the academy.
Isabelle said,
“Still, isn’t going to the academy too dangerous? Evan, you don’t know anything about the academy. And it’s difficult to ask Alice about things like demon detection devices there.”
Alice was smart, and she disliked me.
I didn’t want to arouse suspicion by asking about something as random as demon detection devices.
After a moment of thought, I looked up.
There was one person who might know about these things, even without asking Alice.
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“You’ll be fine.”
Lumia, invited under the pretext of checking for any lingering aftereffects or hidden demonic energy, said so while sipping her tea.
She didn’t seem particularly surprised that I was going to the academy.
I asked,
“I’ll be fine? Are there no surveillance devices or anything like that there?”
“There are. The academy buildings have detection devices that sense demonic energy above a certain level. If the alarm goes off, priests and paladins are dispatched.”
A chill ran down my spine at the mention of priests and paladins being dispatched.
Looking at Lumia’s indifferent expression, I asked again,
“So how am I supposed to get in?”
Lumia put down her teacup and said,
“Your demonic energy is too weak to trigger the alarm.”
I shut my mouth.
Isabelle gave an awkward laugh, and…
“Pfft…!”
…Elena burst out laughing.
I pinched Elena’s cheek and said to Lumia,
“I thought I was pretty strong. I branded you, I have two women, and I sucked the life force out of Carlson and those three servants.”
Lumia shook her head and said,
“You had outside help when you subjugated me. In fact, if it had just been you, even if I was exhausted, I could have escaped.”
She was right.
Even when her power was depleted, Lumia had tried to gather her divine power and attack me.
If it hadn’t been for Lilith, I would have been the one lying dead on the floor that day.
But still, I couldn’t accept that I was that weak.
I was a proper demon, wasn’t I? I had drained four people!
“Isn’t the threshold too high? The academy’s standard for detecting demons, I mean.”
Lumia stared at me intently, then smiled and said,
“The theology department within the academy sometimes treats people affected by ancient magical artifacts or demonic energy. It would be troublesome if the alarm went off every time that happened, so the academy has set the threshold for the alarm a bit higher than other places.”
So I wasn’t weak after all.
The academy’s standard for demons was just ridiculously high.
I straightened my back and said,
“That’s right. I knew it.”
Elena hung her head low.
And her shoulders shook.
I said to Elena,
“Are you laughing?”
“No, no… I just had a sad thought, so I’m wiping away some tears… pfft…”
Getting angry here would only make me look more ridiculous, so I decided to let it slide this time.
I looked at Lumia again and asked,
“…So, you’re saying I’ll be safe even if I go. I can even use my powers freely.”
“As long as you don’t fully unleash your power and have a deathmatch with another demon, there shouldn’t be any major problems. Unless you, you know, overuse your… lower body and indiscriminately increase your number of women.”
Lumia made a circle with her fingers and then demonstrated a thrusting motion with her other hand.
Isabelle blushed at Lumia’s vulgar gesture, and Elena looked at her with a look of disapproval.
I said,
“So it’s decided that I’m going?”
Elena nodded and said,
“It is. I’m a little sad, though. If Evan’s not here, I’ll have to do all the mansion work by myself. And it’s a little scary being alone with the mistress.”
Isabelle soothed Elena, who was whining.
“It can’t be helped. Alice insisted on this. We have to compromise.”
Lumia said,
“If you’re really worried, I can stay at this mansion for a while. If I say I’m staying here to monitor for any signs of demonic activity since a demon appeared here, no one will find it strange. And no one would be foolish enough to intrude on a priestess’s residence.”
“Well, I’d appreciate that, but are you sure it’s alright?”
Lumia smiled and said,
“Being able to live in a space where Evan’s presence lingers… isn’t it wonderful? I’ve been thinking lately that I made the right choice becoming a priestess.”
“Evan, she’s even scarier than you.”
Elena shook her head, disgusted.
Lumia chuckled and took another sip of tea, and I stretched, looking up at the ceiling.
I was already excited about going to the academy.
What kind of adventures awaited me?
What kind of new encounters would I have?
With a fluttering heart, I went up to the attic to prepare my bed, and before I could even count the stars, I drifted off to sleep.
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When I told her I was going to the academy, Alice simply nodded.
The farewell wasn’t long.
Alice repeatedly asked Isabelle for understanding, and Isabelle, in turn, hugged Alice tightly, saying she understood her feelings.
Elena hugged me tightly before I left, and when Alice gave her a suspicious look, she gave the brazen excuse that they were just close.
Lumia, due to her status as a priestess, had to settle for a simple handshake, and she looked quite disappointed.
“I’ll be going then.”
“Take care.”
“I’ll come back stronger.”
Isabelle smiled and waved at me.
I waved back, and the three of them stood at the mansion gate, seeing us off until we left the village.
After exchanging brief greetings with the villagers, we hurried to the carriage station.
Alice adjusted her clothes and said,
“You’ll be staying in the servants’ quarters, but no one’s going to make you do anything special. After all, you might become my father one day. It’ll be boring for six months, but I think Mom needs time apart to sort out her thoughts. Please understand.”
“Don’t worry too much. I’ve always wanted to go to the academy.”
When I spoke informally, Alice gave me a strange look, then nodded and turned away.
The way her red hair swayed was quite attractive.
Up close, Alice was quite beautiful.
She had a sharp nose and sharp, alluring eyes with a decadent charm.
Even though her chest was small, her legs were long, and her arms and waist were slender.
The pure white thighs visible beneath her uniform skirt must have captivated many at the academy.
“You said you were in the magic department?”
“Me?”
Alice tilted her head at my question, then exclaimed and shook her head.
“Oh, did you think that because of Sylvia’s story in the letter? My friend Sylvia is in the magic department, but I’m in the law department.”
“Law department?”
“Yes, the law department. I’ll get a job right after graduation.”
“That’s cool.”
To be honest, I didn’t know what a legal professional did.
My life had been completely unrelated to the law.
Perhaps dissatisfied with my lukewarm response, Alice added,
“The law department is difficult to get into, and the workload is heavy. But after graduation, you can become a legal professional or a lawyer.”
“Really? That’s impressive. Men must be lining up to marry you.”
Alice, who had been smiling at my compliments, suddenly hardened her expression at the mention of marriage.
“Not really.”
Seeing her expression, I felt awkward and turned away.
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