episode_0158

“Boring. Are you really sure a demon will appear here?”

“I told you, it will. I heard the rumors clearly.”

“In the end, it’s just rumors. Nothing more than people’s idle amusement to spice up their dull lives.”

“How cold.”

The day after I thought El had perfected her act, I was walking side by side with Ellia through a back alley. Ellia didn’t seem too pleased about the mere rumor of demons appearing in such a commonplace back alley.

If word spread that creatures like demons were already roaming the place she would one day rule, it was only natural she’d be uneasy.

But fortunately, Ellia had no reason to worry.

Because I was the one who spread that rumor.

For El’s flawless debut, I’d been carefully laying the groundwork for weeks. It wasn’t too difficult. Every city has its seedy alleys, and if eerie rumors spread about creepy beings appearing there, no one would outright dismiss them as lies.

Not that anyone would seriously believe them, either.

“Being cold is only natural. If demons really appeared here, us casually strolling around like this wouldn’t make sense in the first place.”

“Wouldn’t make sense?”

“If a demon were powerful enough to manifest in a place like this, it’d likely possess high intelligence. One that reveals itself through rumors but leaves no witnesses. Meaning, if it were real, I wouldn’t be able to protect someone as weak as you while fighting it.”

“‘Weak,’ you say?”

“Am I wrong?”

“Well, by your standards, everyone looks weak. How many people do you think can actually beat you right now?”

“Plenty.”

“Plenty? Even the professor loses to you, so what kind of—”

As I chuckled smugly, Ellia responded with a quiet, serious expression.

“You don’t know.”

Yeah, I guess I don’t.

After that, our search through the alley was uneventful. Breaking up fights between delinquents, helping those in need. Though different from our original goal of hunting demons, Ellia’s expression softened slightly, as if helping the Empire’s citizens wasn’t so bad after all.

“We’ve scouted enough. Let’s head back. Staying any longer would be pointless.”

“Aw, but it’s not even night yet? If you were a demon, you’d move at night when people aren’t around, right?”

“If the demon were that smart, it wouldn’t have been careless enough to let rumors spread about itself in the first place.”

“Hmm…”

Ellia’s logic was sound. A truly intelligent demon wouldn’t be spotted even at night—it’d be child’s play for them.

“Wait, so you never believed the rumor?”

“Of course not. I only tagged along because if you got caught up in nonsense based on hearsay, it’d be a problem. If you were alone, you’d probably already be neck-deep in some pointless scuffle.”

“Can’t deny that.”

Left to my own devices, I doubt I’d last an hour in this alley. Even if I could beat up thugs, I don’t have Ellia’s poise or knowledge.

“So treasure your own well-being. It’d be problematic if you got hurt.”

“You worried about me?”

“…It’d just be inconvenient if someone who can see the future dies.”

Despite her words, Ellia’s tone sharpened slightly—a little habit of hers whenever someone saw through her thoughts.

As I smirked inwardly, Ellia shot me a stiff glare.

“You’re thinking something strange again.”

“Nah, as if.”

“Let me say this now. You have a habit of severely underestimating your own life. You devalue yourself and are always ready to jump in for others. Not that it’s a bad thing—if anything, I’d encourage others to follow your example. But…”

“But?”

“It’s dangerously reckless.”

“Have I ever shown you that side of me? Seems like you’re overestimating me.”

“I’m saying this because you haven’t. Bearing a curse like foresight, yet refusing to reveal it to anyone, even mocking yourself to keep that secret while searching for hope—ordinary people could never fathom enduring that kind of—”

“Stop.”

I cut her off forcibly. If this went on, Ellia might blurt out something explosive without me realizing. True, the usually composed Ellia wouldn’t carelessly reveal future events, but apologizing for her past actions and accidentally triggering my conditional restraint? Entirely plausible.

“I didn’t play the fool to earn praise or recognition. I did it purely to survive. I don’t need flowery words glorifying self-sacrifice or noble courage. If we aren’t prepared when the Demon King invades, we all die—and I might die even sooner, cursed with this damned foresight. I’m just doing everything I can to live. Right now, my best chance is shaping you and the student council into a party capable of facing the Demon King.”

“……”

Ellia fell silent.

Did I get through?

“If that’s how you truly feel… I’ll say no more.”

“Yeah. Overestimating me just makes me uncomfortable.”

“……”

Ellia watched me with an indescribably complex gaze. Knowing my future, nothing I said now would reassure her.

Like watching a firefighter say they’re fine before jumping into flames. Seeing her like this, I figured the time had come.

“You wouldn’t—actually, never mind. If nothing’s happening, let’s wrap up here.”

“Sure. Like you said, waiting won’t make anything appear. We can conclude it was just a baseless rumor—hm?”

Ellia’s expression turned grave as she stepped close beside me.

“Stay close, Eric.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Seems the rumor wasn’t completely unfounded after all.”

“Suddenly?”

“Yes.”

“Ha, I told you. Even if exaggerated, the details were too—”

“Quiet. This is no time for jokes.”

“You’re acting scary. Why?”

“Look around.”

“Huh?”

I did—only to find the alley eerily silent, devoid of the faintest trace of life.

“The sounds, footsteps, all traces of people vanished. Even if the alley was empty, this silence is unnatural. Do you understand what that means?”

“…No, not really.”

“It means this alley’s space has been severed from the rest of the world into its own pocket dimension.”

“A barrier? But this feels too… identical?”

“This is on a whole different level from what you know. Most have never seen one. This space now exists on entirely separate magical coordinates from the Empire.”

“Mind explaining in simpler terms?”

I could grasp the concept, but fully understanding was another matter.

“Right now, we aren’t in the Empire—we’re inside a barrier. A pocket dimension carved out of reality. Normally, barriers anchor to a specific target or location, but… I can’t tell why.”

“If someone here monitors the alley, pinpointing our location would be easy.”

“They’re coming.”

As Ellia spoke, the air before us twisted unnaturally. Her face paled in shock. Been a while since I’ve seen that expression.

“That’s… a dimensional gate? Impossible! How could one open here…?!”

Yeah, impossible. Dimensional gates are magic even Chris only recently mastered—the same spell used to escape the church with all of us.

Though the principle itself wasn’t groundbreaking, executing it required immense effort, time, and overwhelming talent.

Even among demons, who surpass humans in magic, few wield this ability.

And in Ellia’s mind, only one fits the worst-case scenario—the sole demon who’d flaunt magic so brazenly among humans.

Screeeech—

Space contorted further, warping the surroundings like light stretching into a black hole.

Then—a hand surged from the rift.

Ellia exhaled sharply.

“At least it’s not a full crossing. We have some time—so listen closely. After this, run.”

“…What?”

“Run. I’ll hold them off.”