Chapter 26: Alice (4)

“This is an opportunity. Rather, it’s an opportunity.”

Elena and Isabel both looked at me with worried eyes, but to me, Alice’s offer was an opportunity. An easy chance to gain social status by getting my marriage to Isabel officially recognized. A chance to move to another region, increase my power, absorb vital energy, and become even a little stronger.

“Still, Evan. The academy will have incredibly strict security. What if they find out you’re a demon?”

Alice had left us alone to talk amongst ourselves. As soon as the door closed, Isabel tried to dissuade me from going to the academy, citing the fact that I was a demon. Even I, who had been excited about the thought of taking women at the academy, couldn’t help but click my tongue at Isabel’s point.

An academy of that caliber would surely have countermeasures against demons, and if I were unlucky enough to get caught, I wouldn’t die easily.

“But still, if I’m going to build my power and get stronger, I have to go somewhere. Going to a place like the academy, which has some defenses and infrastructure, is more stable for me than going to another region where I have no connections and no defenses.”

But conversely, since they have countermeasures against demons, there probably aren’t many other demons around, and with lots of young women and men, it would be easy to steal vital energy. Elena asked why I was so intent on strengthening myself.

“Why the sudden urge?”

“Yesterday, you see.”

I told Elena and Isabel about the conversation I had with Lilith yesterday. It was about how demons operate under the law of the jungle, so I needed to grow stronger even if I didn’t intend to rule the world, and that if I didn’t, other demons might try to enslave Elena and Isabel.

“If it’s like that, then…”

Both Elena and Isabel seemed to understand why I needed to get out somehow after hearing the story. But their understanding didn’t solve the problem. I still didn’t know if it would be safe at the academy.

Isabel said.

“Still, isn’t going to the academy too dangerous? Evan, you know nothing about the academy. And it’s hard to ask Alice about things like demon detection devices there.”

Alice was a smart kid, and she disliked me. I didn’t want to arouse suspicion by asking about random things like demon detection devices. Lost in thought for a moment, I looked up. There was one person who would likely know about such things without needing to ask Alice.

“There will be no problem.”

Lumia, whom I had invited under the pretext of searching for any lingering side effects or hidden demonic energy, said so while drinking tea. She didn’t seem particularly surprised by the fact that I was going to the academy.

I asked.

“No problem? Are there any surveillance devices or anything?”

“There are. The academy buildings have detection devices that sense demonic energy above a certain level, and when an alarm sounds, priests and paladins are dispatched.”

Hearing that priests and paladins would be dispatched sent a chill down my spine. Seeing Lumia’s indifferent expression, I asked again.

“What the heck, then how do I get in?”

Lumia put down her teacup and said.

“Evan-nim is too weak to pass the demonic energy threshold of the alarm devices.”

I shut my mouth. Isabel laughed awkwardly,

“Pfft…!”

Elena burst out laughing openly. I pinched Elena’s cheek and said to Lumia.

“I thought I was pretty strong. I branded you, I have two women, Carlson, and I sucked the vital energy out of three servants.”

Lumia shook her head and said.

“Evan-nim’s subjugation of me relied heavily on external help. If it had been just Evan-nim, even if the tide had turned and I had collapsed from exhaustion, I could have escaped.”

That was true. Lumia had tried to attack me by gathering holy power even at the moment she was completely drained. If Lilith hadn’t been there, I would have been the one lying on the floor, dead, that day. But still, I couldn’t accept the fact that I was that weak.

I’m still a proper demon, aren’t I? I’ve drained four people?

“Isn’t the threshold too high? The standard for demons required by the academy.”

Lumia looked at me intently, then smiled and said.

“The Theology department within the academy sometimes treats ancient magical artifacts or humans contaminated by demonic energy. It would be problematic if the alarm devices went off every time, so the academy sets the threshold for the alarm devices a bit higher than elsewhere.”

So it wasn’t that I was weak after all. The academy’s demon standard was just unreasonably high. I puffed out my chest and said.

“Right. I knew it.”

Elena bowed her head deeply. Her shoulders shook. I said to Elena.

“Are you laughing?”

“N-no… I just remembered something sad and wiped away a tear, pfft…”

Getting angry here would only make me look more ridiculous, so I decided to let it slide this time. I looked back at Lumia and asked.

“…So, it’s safe for me to go, right? I can use my powers freely too.”

“As long as you don’t unleash your full power and fight another demon to the death, there shouldn’t be a major problem. Or, you know, using your ‘waist’ too much and indiscriminately increasing your number of women.”

Lumia made a ring shape with her fingers and then made a motion of inserting and removing another hand. Isabel blushed at the vulgar gesture Lumia made, while Elena looked at her with an expression of discomfort. I said.

“So, it’s decided then? We’re going?”

Elena nodded and said.

“Yeah. It’s a bit of a shame, though. Without Evan, I’ll have to manage the mansion alone. And it gets a little scary with just me and Madam.”

Isabel comforted the whining Elena.

“We can’t help it. Alice went this far. We have to compromise too.”

Lumia said.

“If you’re really worried, I can stay at this mansion for a while. Since a demon appeared here, no one would find it strange if I said I was staying to monitor for signs. Besides, no human would dare intrude upon a mansion where a priest resides.”

“Ah, I’d appreciate that, but… would that be okay?”

Lumia said with a smile.

“To be able to lodge and dine in a space where Evan-nim’s traces remain… isn’t that truly wonderful? I’ve been thinking lately that becoming a priest was the best decision.”

“Evan. I… she scares me more.”

Elena shook her head in dismay. Lumia chuckled and took another sip of tea, while I stretched and looked up at the ceiling.

Just thinking about going to the academy made me excited. What adventures await me? What new encounters lie ahead? With a fluttering heart, I spread out my bedding and climbed into the attic, falling asleep in the blink of an eye before I could even count the stars.

When I told her I was going to the academy, Alice nodded calmly. The farewells weren’t long. Alice repeatedly asked Isabel for her understanding, and Isabel, in turn, hugged Alice tightly, telling her she understood. Elena gave me a tight hug before I left, offering a shameless excuse that she was just being friendly when Alice gave her a suspicious look. Lumia, bound by her status as a priest, had to settle for a simple handshake for farewell, her disappointment evident.

“Well, I’m off then.”

“Take care.”

“I’ll come back stronger.”

Isabel waved goodbye with a smile. I waved back, and the three of them stood at the mansion’s front gate, seeing us off until we left the village.

After exchanging brief greetings with the villagers, we hurried towards the carriage stop. Alice adjusted her clothes and said.

“Just because you’re staying in the servant’s quarters, they won’t specifically ask you to do anything. After all, you might become my dad someday. It’ll be boring for six months, but I think my mom needs time to sort things out away from you. Please understand.”

“Don’t worry too much. I’ve wanted to visit the academy too.”

When I spoke informally, Alice made a strange expression, then nodded and looked away again. The sight of her red hair swaying was quite attractive. Up close, Alice was quite a beauty. She had a sharp nose and her eyes held a sharp, decadent charm. Though her chest was small, her legs were long and slender, as were her arms and waist. Her snow-white thighs, visible beneath her uniform skirt, must have captivated many at the academy.

“You said you were in the Department of Magic, right?”

“Me?”

Alice tilted her head at my question, then exclaimed and shook her head.

“Ah, you thought that because of the Sylvia part in the letter? Only my friend Sylvia is in the Department of Magic; I’m in the Faculty of Law.”

“Faculty of Law?”

“Yeah. Faculty of Law. I’m going straight into employment after graduation.”

“That’s cool.”

Actually, I didn’t know what a legal professional did. My life had absolutely nothing to do with the law. Perhaps displeased with my lukewarm reaction, Alice added an explanation.

“The Faculty of Law has difficult exams and a lot of studying. But upon graduation, you can get jobs like a legal professional or a lawyer.”

“Really? That’s amazing. Men must line up to marry you.”

Alice, who had been smiling at my remark, suddenly stiffened when I mentioned marrying men and said.

“Not really.”

Seeing her expression, I felt awkward and turned my head away.