Ch.237237. Head-on Confrontation (2)

I wiped the droplets from the corner of my mouth, staring blankly at Elia.

What did this guy just say?

“Let me tell you something first.”

Seeing my expression, Elia spoke with a slight stutter.

Even he seemed embarrassed by what he had just said.

“If you say something like ‘what are you talking about,’ or ‘are you joking,’ or ‘did you misspeak,’ I’m going to hit you, teacher. Understand?”

“…”

As I opened and closed my mouth without being able to say anything, Elia fired words at me like a machine gun.

All the counter-punches I had prepared were instantly blocked.

“You heard me correctly. I just confessed. To you, teacher.”

“…Why…?”

“Why do you think?”

“…”

“Stop giving such stupid answers. Honestly, you’ve known all along and have just been avoiding it.”

“Uh…”

As I let out a dumbfounded response, his reply came back sharply.

“I’m not asking for an immediate answer. It was sudden, and I know it’s not something you can decide easily.”

Without giving me a chance to breathe, Elia continued, looking straight into my eyes.

“But I can promise you one thing.”

His eyes were unwavering, completely different from his earlier rambling.

As if to make sure this message would hit home.

“I’m not affected by whatever that soul quality thing you have is.”

“…What?”

“So do you understand what it means that I just ‘confessed’ to you?”

“…”

Before I could answer, Elia gulped down the teacup in front of him.

It must have been hot enough to steam, but he didn’t seem to care at all.

“Thanks for the tea! I’ll be going now!”

With those final words, he dashed out of my room.

For someone who had barged in so confidently, he was practically running away.

“…”

What was that?

“…Hmm.”

No, seriously, what just happened?

●

After rushing out of Darwood’s room, Elia sat down some distance away, covering his bright red face with both hands.

He did it.

He actually did it.

After agonizing over whether to do it or not, he had given in to a momentary impulse and charged ahead.

‘Ah, how am I going to face the teacher now…!’

Such a whimpering voice murmured inside him.

Will he be rejected? He probably will be rejected.

Just looking at the people around that man, there are so many who are far more impressive than Elia himself. What are the chances he would look his way?

Of course, the reason he confessed so abruptly despite all this was…

[That was a good approach, wasn’t it?]

“…Shut up.”

It must be because of the “advice” from this annoying person.

It was all because of this person who had been constantly pushing him to make aggressive moves, advising him to “confess” before it was too late.

[Hmm. The part where you pointed out that you’re not affected by the soul quality was especially good.]

“…”

[Unlike those fickle demons who fell for you because of your ‘ability,’ I truly fell in love with you sincerely. I became your prisoner. I completely fell for you as one human to another—]

“I told you to shut up…”

Elia barely managed to reply while stroking his burning ears.

Of course, the reason he accepted this advice despite knowing he would be teased like this was…

Because he himself was anxious about Darwood losing his “first time” to some unknown person.

[Unknown person? Weren’t you certain it was that student council president or whatever?]

“…No, something seems off.”

Elia replied, narrowing his eyes.

He didn’t even need to use the Eye of Truth. Elnore and Darwood hadn’t “done it.”

If they had, there would have been an obvious change in their relationship, but as far as Elia could see, the atmosphere between them hadn’t changed much compared to before.

But Darwood definitely lost “it” in the Tristan Dukedom. Who could have—

[Then it must be a demon, obviously.]

“…What?”

[It’s obvious. When a demon has relations with someone, they scrape away the ‘soul information’ of the target. It’s like preserving it in advance for unforeseen situations. To prevent damage when rewinding.]

“What does that mean?”

[It means something big is about to happen to that man.]

“…”

This angel always mutters such unhelpful information.

He gives clear information about the situation but seems to deliberately leave out “why it’s happening” or “what it means.”

[He’s a hot potato even in the Otherworld, that man. I did some research, and all sorts of interesting things came pouring out.]

“I’m not interested.”

[Really not interested?]

“No. You probably won’t tell me anyway, and I’d be satisfied if you’d just keep quiet right now.”

[…Aren’t you being a bit too harsh on me?]

The angel grumbled.

[Then I’ll be generous and tell you just one thing. You should prepare for this too, as a warrior with a holy sword.]

“What?”

[That man is going to cause trouble soon.]

“…Again?”

[…You’re not even surprised, this one.]

The Lightbearer sighed deeply and continued.

[Rather than causing trouble, it’s more like he’s going to turn the wheel 180 degrees himself… But trouble is trouble. The entire world line that should have rolled forward will be completely altered.]

“Please explain, Lightbearer. Please.”

[There’s no point explaining because you wouldn’t understand anyway. But I do know that ‘around this time’ something will happen. It always has.]

While not comparable to demons who exist across time axes—after all, that’s the domain overseen by the Grey Demon, who is practically their leader—a Lightbearer can at least stand on the same level and grasp the “flow.”

This is where the largest branch in the time axis is determined, even among the “repetitions” that have occurred countless times.

And in most cases…

Around this time, that man’s “ending” is determined.

Grey, Violet, White, Blue, Brown, Red, and the forgotten Yellow.

Depending on how he treats which of the seven demons, the future can be completely overturned.

The ridiculous thing is that these changes even include the fate of the demons themselves and the world.

[Right now, most of the Demonic Vessels have gathered in this club, right? Not all of them yet, but still.]

“…Yes? Is that important?”

[It is important. It’s when that man decides who to put inside his ‘boundary’ for the first time. There will also be distinctions about who he likes more and who he likes less. Demons are very sensitive to such things.]

The explanation added that who he accepts, who he places where—these things will play a major role.

At the Lightbearer’s words, Elia slightly frowned with a serious expression.

“…So, in other words.”

Though it sounded ridiculous even to her, if she were to summarize the Lightbearer’s statement…

“You’re saying that depending on who the teacher accepts into the club and how, the fate of demons and the world will be determined?”

[Yes. You’re quite smart, aren’t you?]

After hearing the Lightbearer’s words, Elia immediately replied curtly.

“Isn’t that a rather casual way for demons and the world to have their fate decided?”

[…]

“What kind of nonsense is this—club activities determining whether the world ends and the future changes—”

[…I admit it sounds that way, but I’m not saying it will change immediately. I’m saying this is where the ‘trigger’ happens.]

The Lightbearer sighed heavily and continued.

[So you should also support him with all your might to ensure no harm comes to him. All sorts of things are about to happen.]

So the demon must have personally extracted the “soul information” out of concern for that man’s well-being.

Elia frowned at those words and retorted.

“…I know that. I’ve sworn to protect the teacher’s life many times.”

[Right. You need to protect his life diligently so that at the very least you can hear his answer to your confession—]

Elia silently slammed the holy sword on the ground.

It was a decision to establish some discipline, and by the time she picked it up again, the Lightbearer’s voice had become somewhat sulky.

[…You’re really being too harsh on me.]

“You need to learn when to stop teasing, Lightbearer.”

[Fine, fine. By the way.]

The Lightbearer continued with what seemed like a grin.

[…Love is truly frightening, isn’t it?]

What ultimately determines the bond between that man and the demons is such emotion.

The most fundamental and primitive, but therefore the most powerful.

Because of that.

Because of one such emotion.

How ridiculous is it that the direction of such beings and the future of the world can be overturned by just one small decision of that man?

It’s no wonder Darwood Campbell is referred to as the “Key to the World” among those who know his true identity.

[Anyway. The selection results will be announced tomorrow, right?]

The Lightbearer continued with a voice tinged with laughter.

[Let’s see. Which one that man will choose and how he’ll handle it.]

It was truly a meaningful voice.

●

“Everyone passes.”

“…”

“…”

“…”

“Everyone is a new club member. Without exception, without discrimination, all under me. That’s what you should know for now.”

When I said this to the people I had called into the room, a heavy silence spread.

Even they themselves didn’t expect to hear such madness openly.

“…Um, it’s funny for me to say this as an applicant…”

Faynol Leiphec cautiously raised his hand and asked. There was a bitter smile on his face that he clearly couldn’t hide.

“…This child said her purpose for joining the club was to gain strength to kill her sister? And Elnore said she would shut down this place entirely. Yet you’re just… accepting them?”

“Yes. I am.”

Darwood calmly spoke.

“As the club president, I promise to fully cooperate with your purposes for joining. It’s my duty to do so.”

“…Then my purpose for joining is to become your ‘possession,’ so how would you—”

“I will diligently treat you harshly. Until you feel no awkwardness or defect in being called a bitch or a sow or whatever.”

“…”

No, I didn’t ask to go that far.

This person, how did his tastes change in the meantime?

As the smile on Faynol’s face slightly cracked, Darwood calmly continued.

“However, there is a condition.”

Right, that makes more sense.

At those words, rationality returned to the faces of everyone in the room.

This must be where the main point begins.

“In a few weeks, there will be the Elphante Academy festival. Are you aware of this?”

“…That’s right.”

Elnore nodded calmly.

In other words, it’s a “performance presentation” for each club and department.

“It’s one of the biggest events in Elphante, and even the Empire, isn’t it? It doesn’t just end within the academy; prestigious external forces are often invited as well.”

“Yes. Anyway, we are a club after all, and we can’t attend such a prestigious event without any notable achievements. I want to do some demon-related activities befitting the Exorcism Club.”

“So what condition are you trying to set with that?”

“That’s the time limit.”

“…What?”

At Darwood’s sudden statement, everyone in the room looked puzzled.

Time limit? What does that mean?

“Until then.”

Darwood said with a yawn.

He looked visibly tired, probably from running simulations all night about whether this would work or not.

“If any of you can ‘defeat me’ somehow, I will accept the conditions you set when joining.”

Those words.

Dropped suddenly.

“The field doesn’t matter. Come at me with whatever you’re confident in.”

“…Are you serious?”

To Elnore’s incredulous tone, Darwood added with a smirk.

His expression clearly said he was serious.

“However. If you lose.”

The expression on his face already said, ‘If you’re going to challenge me, be prepared.’

“Conversely, you’ll have to grant ‘what I demand’ one by one.”

Again.

A heavy silence fell over the room.

Perhaps this was the appropriate response.

When one human, facing six Demonic Vessels.

With such a confident attitude, proposes a “match” of 1:6.

[…Isn’t this guy insane?]

At the Lightbearer’s words, Elia clutched her forehead in agreement.