episode_0100

1.

Even if you want to separate the Academy and the rumors, they are inseparable.

A peculiar closedness.

Because that’s where a lot of teenage boys who love gossip gather.

But there were people who didn’t enjoy such rumors.

“Taina!”

“…Uh, uh. Ignis.”

Taina greeted Ignes with a trembling expression.

“Where?”

“Now I have to go to the training center and do some personal training. There’s not much time left until the midterm exam.”

“Huh? Then why are you going alone instead of with me?”

“Because it’s personal training…?”

“I see!”

The two of them headed to the training ground together in the afternoon when the sunset was setting.

The gazes of those around me are uneasy.

“”……””

A creepy murmur, like sand being rubbed.

A story told by someone in a soft tone.

Gossip that tickles your ears.

“…What is it.”

Although he didn’t know the details, Ignis thought the atmosphere at the Academy had been strange lately.

But I feel a bit awkward approaching her and asking.

It seems like it crossed an ambiguous line and then stopped.

“Taina, don’t you think something’s strange these days?”

“…Huh?”

“No, they keep muttering something… muttering muttering… It looks sinister!”

Ignis complained.

“You just have to stand tall and speak confidently!”

Ignis put his hand on his heart and spoke confidently.

Things are so dirty these days!

Just as I was about to say that.

“…Are you even honest?”

A creepy murmur reached my ears.

A creepy feeling, as if bugs are crawling on your body.

Ignis turned his head away because he couldn’t just sit by and watch.

“…”

Where the sound came from, there were only kids making silly jokes.

A light-hearted attitude that makes you think you’ve spoken ill of someone.

“Did I hear wrong… Big…”

When I turned around again, feeling embarrassed for no reason.

“You heard everything, you idiot. Hehe.”

Again, malicious words were heard.

A rough voice that feels like scratching a throat.

This time, let’s turn around without missing anything.

“What are you looking at?”

“…you.”

Who was it, Ignes thought.

I was able to figure out their names by listening to the children’s murmurs.

“Taina, is that kid Chili?”

“Uh, yeah. He’s a bit rough around the edges and says a lot of weird things. Just ignore him.”

“…No, it doesn’t matter if you have a rough mouth?”

I was surprised that it still resembled a snake, whether it was when I first encountered it during the midterm exam or now.

Long, slanted eyes and the corners of the lips turned up as if in a snickering smile.

I didn’t want to associate with him because he gave off a bad impression.

“Hmm.”

The academy’s hallway leading to the training grounds, leaving behind such an unpleasant encounter.

I feel that creepy feeling from every child I encounter, or rather, every child I pass by.

Maybe it’s the sharp sense of the inspector.

It’s never a good feeling.

“Tina.”

“…Huh!?”

Besides, Taina’s reaction is a bit lukewarm.

Usually, Tyna would respond with a smile, but now he is clearly frozen.

“What’s going on at the Academy these days?”

“What… is happening?”

“Oh, right. That story from last semester about a demon king living in the academy. The atmosphere is similar to that time.”

“Oh, really?”

“Yeah. Honestly, I wasn’t interested in the story at the time? But I was curious because the kids’ mood was gloomy.”

Ignis bit her lip.

“I was wondering if you knew anything, Taina. You like this kind of stuff, right?”

“Isn’t it just a rumor that went around in the first semester becoming popular again?”

“Suddenly?”

Ignis glanced at Taina and realized.

That Taina is hiding something.

There was a big difference between Taina’s usual appearance and her appearance when she was acting all flustered and dazed.

The sense of discomfort I felt in this atmosphere was really uncomfortable.

“Yeah. When something happens, old memories come back to me and stuff like that.”

“Oh my, those rumors, those rumors. They’re really weird. Anyway, what the hell is going on, Taina?”

“That…”

Taina’s speech is slurred.

While waiting for an answer, looking at Taina’s hesitant lips.

“Tina?”

Srenya and Uni caught my eye.

Bora Bora, the cute and lovely Uni and the cold and beautiful Srennia.

A friend who welcomes his friends even when he is shy, and responds well even when he is bothered.

“Oh, wow… You’re here?”

“…”

The mood today was decidedly strange.

To be exact, wasn’t he looking at Ignis?

Look away, don’t speak, and give a subtle glance.

Even the dullest Ignis is never dull when it comes to friends.

Rather, he is quick-witted.

“Oh, right. I left something at the dorm. You should train first, Taina.”

“Yeah.”

Ignis quietly left the room.

Yuni and Srenya also only gave a brief glance and did nothing more than that.

‘…It’s strange.’

He put his hand on his chest and turned around.

For some reason, the more I distance myself from my friends, the more I start to have this absurd thought that I am being hated.

Even though I tried to shake my head and say no, I quickened my pace.

“”…..””

A creepy murmur passes through my mind, and I recall that absurd thought.

Where did those quick steps lead to?

“What is it?”

“Hey, he’s here. Hey, shut up.”

“….Ah.”

It was the place I turned my head for the first time.

“Kichile.”

“Why.”

“What did you say to me a little while ago?”

There is no need for a fight over energy or a fight over brains.

Ignis just asked straight to the point.

I want to know about the creepy story.

“Phew. What are you doing? Just set the mood.”

“Just asked me what I said.”

Ignis opened his eyes wide and looked up at Kichile, who was taller than him.

Kichile looked away for a moment, perhaps overwhelmed by the momentum, but then approached Ignes as if remembering something.

“What’s with that little guy.”

-widely.

“You’re glaring, right? ”

-widely.

I pushed Ignis’ round forehead away.

He let out a mocking laugh, the corners of his lips splitting.

“Hey, open your eyes and be polite. Be polite,”

-widely.

“Must be,”

-widely.

“Reply or not.”

-chin.

Not at all polite, just rude.

Ignis was furious at such behavior and grabbed the finger as if he was going to break it.

“Aaak!”

“When did I ever say I was rude? I was just curious.”

“This, this fucking bitch!”

Chichile spit out a curse and pulled his finger out.

He said, holding his pulled out finger as if it was in pain.

“Damn, did you see this bitch’s eyes? I bet she’s the Demon King. This is fucking creepy, seriously…”

“……..What?”

My eyes opened wide.

It’s a story I’ve never thought about or heard of.

“Hey, you saw it. I told you this kid is real.”

“Wow… Are you okay? I guess I was really going to break your fingers.”

“You crazy bitch. Look at those poisonous eyes.”

Confront evil head on.

It might have just been the gossip of some bad kids, but a single word can really tear at your heart.

It feels like my flesh is falling off and I have trouble breathing.

I turned my head without realizing it.

“…Hey, hey. Don’t look at me.”

“…….big.”

“No, is that true…?”

“Oh, I’m telling you, it’s true…!”

“No, then…”

I just found out about the rumor.

“…Ignes is the Demon King?”

Ignis heard a student muttering and ran out of the room.

Even so, Ignis had to close her eyes and cover her ears from the countless gazes and words that were directed at the back of her head.

2.

It was a little late, but Ignis noticed.

It was an established fact that he was the Demon King at the Academy.

“Sigh…”

It was a nice Saturday.

It’s also a day when I go out to eat with friends.

‘Sorry, I’m having a hard time today.’

He broke his promise without even giving a proper reason.

What’s even sadder is that instead of expressing concern, Taina, Srenya, and Uni just nodded and moved on.

“…..sigh.”

I held back the tears that were welling up with both hands.

“I guess everyone is uncomfortable with me… How can I have the decency to hang out with someone who’s rumored to be the Demon King…”

There is one story that Ignis did not know well.

Could it be because I lived a life far removed from the secular world, without any prejudice or preconceptions?

Is it because Srenya, Taina, and Uni were all lumped into the category of just friends?

Taina is from the Shukeros family.

Besides, I admire Altina so much and following her will is my life’s purpose.

That is why he hates the Demon King so much that it would not be an exaggeration to say that he killed Altina.

Srenya is an elf.

Among them, there are elves who have extreme tendencies, like the Primordial Return Sect.

To her, whose level of worship and awe for the World Tree is extraordinary.

After hearing the story of how the Demon King almost burned the World Tree, I became increasingly wary of the name the Demon King gave me.

Yuni’s father was a member of the Count Aperiel family and a former member of the warrior party.

The story about the Demon King she heard as a child is vividly imprinted on her.

As a being of terror.

However, due to the nature of the Academy where clear identities cannot be revealed, Ignes was unable to know this situation.

“Ugh, huh…”

Ignis hugged her knees and buried her cheek in them.

My body is trembling.

That image keeps coming to my mind.

A sharp look of distrust.

At the time it was just a strange reaction, but now I know.

That you feel uncomfortable, suspicious, and afraid.

“Don’t cry. Don’t cry, Ignis. Okay? It was your choice. It was your decision. So what? ”

I speak to myself, pouting at my cheek.

It justifies the choice to keep the children away for fear of them being caught up in bad rumors.

Even if I try to stop the tears and comfort myself.

“But, but…. Huaang….”

Tears like chicken poop keep flowing out.

It’s sad.

I keep feeling like the gazes of Srenya, Taina, and Yuni are stabbing my heart.

However, the contrast between the warmth of those who try to approach me and the cold eyes that express their true feelings makes my heart ache even more.

It’s okay to be hated by bad guys.

I’m not afraid of being hated by people I only know by face.

But being hated by a friend I love is more heartbreaking than anything else in the world.

Fearing that her crying would be heard in the next room, Ignis eventually buried her face in the pillow.

“Hwaaang….sob….”

Ignis spent the day swallowing her tears sadly.