episode_0060

Principal’s Office located in the Academy Headquarters

Tap, tap.

“Hmm? Is it time already? Come in.”

Reading through documents and handling them one by one, the petite girl, Beatrice, the principal of the Academy, raised her head towards the door upon hearing the knocking sound, looking towards the entrance as she spoke.

Not long ago, there was an incident at the Academy involving Diabel, the former student council president, known as the Academy Terror Incident. Due to this event, one of the professors at the Academy suffered severe injuries and had to leave to recuperate.

Although it was just for recovery and he could return in about six months, they needed someone capable enough to fill his position during his absence, leading to the search for a new professor.

Creak.

The door opened, and a woman with a serene demeanor entered. She appeared to be in her late twenties, a mature beauty.

“Pleased to meet you, Principal Beatrice. My name is Iris Nemerelia.”

Introducing herself as Iris, the woman gracefully greeted Beatrice.

In the current continent, the only grand mage who had officially reached the esteemed status of the 8th Circle was Beatrice, so when mages encountered her, it was a sight commonly seen.

“Pleasure to meet you.”

Beatrice rose from her seat to welcome Iris.

“For the next six months, I entrust you with Professor Bella’s vacant position during her absence.”

Beatrice shook hands with Iris, sealing the agreement.

“On paper, she seems like a perfect candidate for the professorship, but… just to be sure, should I check her out a bit?”

Through her “Magic Sight,” Beatrice scrutinized the person she was shaking hands with.

And then…

“!”

Thud.

Beatrice let go of Iris’s hand and stepped back.

“Who… what are you exactly?”

“… ”

Wary of Iris, Beatrice gathered magical energy with both hands, ready to cast a spell at a moment’s notice.

“Oh dear. Did I misjudge after such a long time? Seems like I’ve grown rusty too.”

Vrrrrr.

Iris’s face contorted, and a dark shadow enveloped her.

Subsequently, the space where two people stood transformed into an endless abyss within the principal’s office.

“Wh-what in the world…”

Despite being a grand mage capable of understanding and comprehending everything, Beatrice couldn’t make sense of what she was witnessing.

“Don’t worry, dear. I have no intention of causing harm or disruption to you.”

With a face resembling the abyss, Iris, or rather the witch, spoke to Beatrice.

“I heard you reached the 8th Circle, but your understanding of magic far surpasses that level. You seem to see through my disguise.”

The witch whispered in an unusually warm tone.

“You… just what…”

Feeling fear in the incomprehensible situation, Beatrice took a slight step back.

Thud.

“Eek!”

However, at that moment, the witch was holding onto Beatrice’s shoulders from behind.

“Do not fear. I am simply here to reclaim what was lost. Once I retrieve that individual, I will leave the Academy.”

What was lost?

“Oh, perhaps… magnificent…!”

As Beatrice hesitated to ask, the witch interrupted.

“Do not mistake me for those wretched dragons.”

“S-sorry!”

“…Well, it can be confusing.”

Since she had no intention of revealing her true identity, the witch thought it might be better to let them remain mistaken.

“But still, being mistaken for those damn dragons is a bit of a blow to the ego.”

As soon as the witch snapped her fingers, they were back in the chief’s office.

“Huff… huff…”

Returning to reality, Beatrice gasped for breath urgently.

The dizzying infinite space.

The overwhelming fear consumed her, causing her whole body to break out in a cold sweat.

“Anyway, I’m Iris. Got it?”

“…Huff… huff….”

“Answer.”

“Yes, yes!”

“Just like usual, you can handle it, right?”

“I can!”

“Hehe.”

The witch smiled as she watched her trembling apprentice, paralyzed by fear.

From the abyss of endless darkness on the witch’s face emerged Iris’s visage once again.

“Well then, Chief! Please take care of things from now on, okay?”

“Sure, I’ll do my best…”

Thunk.

Clatter.

In the witch’s absence, the chief collapsed on the floor.

“What’s going on this time! To think that facing a dragon would be considered dealing with a mere lizard!”

Ugh…

Beatrice sobbed, burying her face in her hands.

“What is this at the end of my days… I don’t want this anymore…”

After the stress from consecutive incidents and encountering an incomprehensible powerful being, Beatrice’s mental state shattered.

“This is so frustrating!”

A puddle of yellow liquid formed from fear.

Sitting on it only made her feel worse.

Meanwhile, the witch who had reduced Beatrice to such a state strolled down the hallway chuckling.

“A cute little thing, isn’t it? It has its talents too.”

Walking and laughing softly, she imagined a scene of a happy family with herself, Beelzebub in the form of a child, and their secretary.

“…No, why am I losing my spirit. Perhaps that little one has returned; it’s not impossible, right?”

The witch shook her head.

“But that Beelzebub. I hope he hasn’t caused any trouble while I was away?”

* * *

Poof.

A small wind sprite about the size of a palm emerged from thin air.

“…Pip?”

The girl, appearing to be a wind spirit, raised her small head to look at Beelzebub.

“A spirit…?”

It was a summoning ritual. Considering that spirits rarely manifest even in properly conducted rituals, summoning one in this manner could be seen as quite successful.

However, perhaps.

There was a small hope that she might meet those spirits who had contracted with her in past lives, like Sylph or Undine.

“It’s not working…”

Reflecting on her past actions, she realized that it was unreasonable for those spirits to come just to meet her.

Knowing that if she were to lose her life, they would not be able to maintain their status as spirit kings and would revert to small spirits.

Aware that her life belonged not only to herself but also to them, Beelzebub sacrificed herself to save Claudia.

“I guess even I might be running out of kindness…”

Just as Claudia had asked for forgiveness, Beelzebub found herself needing to seek forgiveness from those spirits.

“Beep?”

Beresus bowed his head as the wind spirit, summoned by Beresus’s affinity with nature, fluttered its head and greeted Beresus.

It seemed as if the little girl was smiling, wondering why this human was behaving in such a way.

*Bzzt.*

The wind spirit flew slowly towards Beresus.

*Beep.*

Raising a hand in front of Beresus, the spirit’s greeting to the human who made its spirit core tremble like crazy for some reason.

“…”

Although Beresus did not notice such a greeting from the spirit.

*…Bzzziiing!*

The spirit rolled its foot, eyes glinting.

Even though it was a lesser spirit, it was the most popular one in the spirit realm. To be ignored after graciously offering the first greeting!

Most humans would have just ignored and walked away, but she would make an exception!

Driven by the imprint on her spirit core, the wind girl intended to contract with Beresus.

*Beep!*

The spirit leaped towards Beresus’s embrace.

“Oops!”

A fresh breeze blew as Beresus’s body slightly shifted due to the wind spirit’s power.

The wind girl touched Beresus’s chest.

“I’ll give you a name. Hmm… How about Sylph?”

“Sylph! I’ve prepared a meal for you!”

“You cut down that huge tree! Impressive, Sylph!”

“Yes, Sylph. Can you help me?”

“-Of course. Everything is as my master wishes.”

*Bzzt…?*

Memories flooded into Sylph’s mind.

Memories of her appearance and power before losing them.

“…Huh? Isn’t having just you enough, spirit? Of course, we only need Sylph! But you seem to be struggling too much, Sylph. Having friends can make it easier for you to rest! You can spend time with me too.”

*Bzzt…*

“Sorry, Sylph. Undine. Everyone. I can only apologize to you all.”

“-Huh?”

“-Beresus! Is that you!”

“If we meet again in the next life, I will definitely repay you.”

To never forget, to always want to keep it, memories of the soul imprinted on the spirit core to transcend the limits of species.

“…Beresus.”

Crossing time, crossing dimensions, revived beyond the grave.