Ch.60Midterm Exam – 3

“Kyaaa?!”

A cute scream echoed through the air. The slash that extended from Eternal had shattered the defensive magic Aria had cast and created a huge ravine right next to her left foot.

I charged toward Aria through the scattered remnants of her defensive magic. The next magic circle was already forming at the tip of the staff pointed at me, but it was too late.

I swung Eternal. The moment the blade touched her neck, a warning sound rang out, and we were forcibly separated. After a brief daze, Aria smiled sheepishly as if admitting she couldn’t handle it.

“Winner, Mira Crate.”

With Professor Jake’s declaration, the midterm practical duel came to an end. From the audience seats came the sounds of frustration and wails from students who had bet against me.

Not that they would have won much even if they’d bet on me. What was the odds ratio again? Not even 1.1, I think.

“Congratulations on first place, Miss Mira. As expected, I just can’t keep up with you.”

As soon as the duel ended, Aria stood beside me with a bright smile. I had nearly used up the time limit, but she probably knew that I had been going easy on her to make that possible.

She looked more relieved than disappointed about losing.

I unconsciously reached out to pat her head as I had done with Priscilla to acknowledge her effort, but I hesitated. However, I had already raised my hand halfway.

While I stood there awkwardly, unable to commit either way, Aria made the first move.

“Hmph.”

Her delicate fingers grabbed my wrist and guided my hand onto her radiant blonde hair.

Even as I wondered when Aria and I had become this close, I moved my arm, thinking it would be impolite to pull away now. Her brilliant golden hair flowed softly between my fingers.

“This is cheating! That’s so unfair!”

Brunhilde, who had regained consciousness after receiving holy healing from Rosaria, barged in and threw a fit, claiming it was cheating, but the result had already been decided.

Aria firmly stated in her usual gentle, soft-spoken manner that what’s done is done. Brunhilde hung her head in defeat.

“That’s really hard to get…”

What was the name of that limited-edition dessert again? Strawberry cream marshmallow chocolate muffin cake, or something like that?

“Want me to help you get it?”

“…Really?”

Brunhilde, who had been dejected, immediately brightened up and clung to me. She glanced cautiously at Aria, but surprisingly, Aria didn’t seem to mind.

“It was an unfair bet with a predetermined outcome from the start. I can certainly show that much mercy.”

“…Just you wait, Aria.”

Brunhilde was, of course, burning with the desire for revenge after hearing those words.

After parting with the two, I returned to the club room and found Io Brante already waiting outside. From the looks of it, she had been waiting without even having dinner.

For some reason, I ignored Roxanna, who had come along and was whining to be let in, and shooed her away. We couldn’t very well hold a meeting about countermeasures against succubi with a half-succubus present.

As soon as Io entered, she let out a loud stomach growl at the sweet dessert smell wafting through the air, then hurriedly devoured the dessert plate Rosaria offered her. Her eyes were shining with unusual brightness.

“Hello, Io Brante. Sorry for the late greeting.”

“Gulp! Oh, hello… Ah, right! That was delicious… No, I mean! Thank you!”

I spoke to her when her plate was almost empty. Io was startled, quickly swallowed what was in her mouth, and hurriedly returned my greeting.

“We’re the same age, so you can speak casually. No need to be awkwardly formal.”

“No, I prefer this way. Besides, you’re not just a classmate but also my client…”

“Well, if that’s how you want it. Do as you please.”

Courtesy is offered only once. Since she declined, there was no need to insist twice. I handed Io the documents I had prepared in advance.

Her hands trembled as she took the papers, probably because this was an opportunity to earn two platinum coins as an advance payment, with twice that amount to follow upon successful completion.

“Before that, just a moment.”

I gripped the papers tightly.

“Once you’ve seen these documents, there’s no backing out or refusing. You must do it. If you think you might refuse, now is your last chance before looking at them.”

“I, I would never refuse! I’ll do it even if the sky falls!”

Io desperately shook her head and pulled at the papers. I quickly let go before they could tear. Finally holding the documents, Io clutched them preciously to her chest and began examining them.

“These people… they’re all nobles, aren’t they?”

“They’re nobles, but far from having noble blood. At best, they might be viscounts or barons? And they all share the common trait of being truly terrible people.”

To be precise, they’re men enthralled by succubi. They’ve been working as minions of the Astrierre family since the original story, engaging in all sorts of dirty work.

In other words, there was absolutely no possibility that the four men listed on that paper had been transformed into good people because of me.

“Good or bad doesn’t matter to me. I just kill and get paid…”

Io, who had calmly uttered such a cruel statement, continued examining the documents.

“Do, do they have families? Even I would hesitate a bit to kill children… That’s why. If you paid me really, really well, I might reconsider… hehe.”

“They’re all single. It says there’s no family history, doesn’t it?”

“Y-yes, it does. I’m sorry. I didn’t see that.”

These fools, nobles who hadn’t or couldn’t arrange strategic marriages, had become prime targets for succubi. That made them easier to manipulate, with almost no risk of discovery.

After examining the documents for a while, Io put them away in her inner pocket with a much more serious expression.

“I’ve confirmed everything. I’ll start working next Monday. I need to take my exams first…”

“Do as you wish. Don’t you want to ask anything else? Like why we want to kill those guys?”

“Not necessary.”

Io firmly shook her head.

“I just need to complete the job and get paid. I don’t want to know unnecessary information that won’t help with the job. The more I know, the more likely I am to be silenced.”

“That’s wise.”

Good attitude, and she knows her place. From an employer’s perspective, mercenaries obsessed with money are the easiest to handle.

Fools obsessed with honor fail countless times due to unnecessary honesty, and idiots obsessed with the thrill or pleasure of hunting often end up being hunted themselves.

She was indeed the mercenary that Priscilla had guaranteed would be useful if recruited before she fell to the demon race.

“Here. The advance payment I promised.”

“Eek! Th-thank you.”

I took out two platinum coins from my pocket and tossed them to her. Io let out an adorable scream and scrambled to catch the coins as they arced through the air.

“R-real platinum coins… I’ve never seen them before…”

Io trembled as she looked at the coins in her palm, which were similar to silver but slightly different in color. Her legs were shaking uncontrollably.

“Keep today’s business absolutely secret. I can’t guarantee what will happen if you talk. And of course, all future jobs would be cut off. I promise you, there are few employers as generous as me.”

“…Does that mean we’ll continue to meet in the future?”

“If you properly demonstrate your skills.”

“Understood. I’ll see you when it’s done. Don’t worry, I won’t disappoint you.”

Io carefully tucked the platinum coins into her chest and bowed her head deeply.

I insisted that she leave without being seen by anyone, just in case. Io faithfully followed my instructions, opening the window instead of the door and disappearing into the shadows.

“Why, is someone watching?”

“Roxanna was with her when she came in. I sent her away, but she might still be hanging around.”

I didn’t want to mess things up unnecessarily, so caution was needed.

“But why are we suddenly trying to kill these guys? Did you find something?”

“No. That’s why I hired Io.”

“…I don’t quite understand.”

“Have you forgotten how they identified enthralled people in the original story?”

“Oh.”

In the original story, the hero ambushed the Succubus Queen and severely wounded her. While the Queen focused on recovering, they disrupted her plans and found evidence to identify the traitors.

That’s how airtight their operation was. Even with knowledge of the original story, I couldn’t make accusations without evidence. It would be even harder now that their forces had grown so much.

They had even “dealt with” all the half-succubi wandering the human world, making it impossible to identify demons using human technology.

“Then we have to play dirty too. They won’t know who killed them anyway, so what does it matter?”

“You’re really something else.”

Rosaria, who had been shaking her head with a disgusted expression, suddenly asked as if something had just occurred to her.

“Is Io really capable of killing nobles without being caught? She’s just a student after all…”

“She can.”

Priscilla answered with confidence instead of me.

“That person isn’t 18, but 48 years old.”

“…What?”

“Her 18-year-old appearance is due to an ancient artifact she possesses, and the siblings she claims to care for are actually all orphans. She’s been working as a mercenary for decades, changing her face and body shape. Of course she can do it.”

“That… no…”

Rosaria, who seemed shocked, finally managed to form words after stammering for a while.

“Why would someone that age enter the academy?”

“Because they pay you.”

At last, the final day of midterms arrived. That is, Friday evening.

Priscilla had been clinging to me all day, refusing to let go at the thought that we might not see each other for the next two days and three nights. Right up until time was running dangerously short.

I was only able to get away after promising dozens of times that I would return as quickly as possible.

“Let’s see… I’ve packed all the essentials.”

Since the schedule had been changed suddenly, the school provided more than the basic supplies, but of course they didn’t prohibit bringing additional items.

I gathered my magical items containing various survival supplies and headed to the meeting point. The plaza was teeming with first-years, and Professor Jeina was guiding students with swords and staffs in various locations.

“Come on, come on! We’re starting entry! No pushing, one at a time!”

Soon the exam began, and students disappeared one by one through the teleportation magic circle. Since the entry order was determined by lowest grades first, Brunhilde, Aria, and I were last again.

Though that only made a difference of about five to ten minutes.

“Good luck on the exam, Mira! You too, Aria!”

“Good luck to you too, Leona. Do your best, Miss Mira.”

Aria and Brunhilde entered the dungeon first. Since this was an individual test, we wouldn’t see each other for a while. When I was left alone, Professor Jeina grinned.

“Why are you smiling like that? It’s ominous.”

“I’m just excited to see how quickly our great future valedictorian will clear the dungeon.”

I almost asked if she had set up something strange in the dungeon but managed to hold back. Despite her expression, she wouldn’t play pranks on a midterm exam.

When I stepped onto the magic circle, my body was transported to a corridor made of rough stone. I looked around. The path behind me was blocked, and the corridor ahead was open. So they weren’t playing tricks with the path from the beginning.

“I need to move as quickly as possible.”

For Priscilla’s sake, too. Just as I was about to dash forward using physical enhancement magic—

“Where are you rushing to, Mira Crate?”

The Demon King appeared right in front of me, addressing me.

My instincts were faster than my thoughts. I immediately reached for Eternal. As I was about to materialize the sword and swing it, the Demon King raised both hands to head height. It was a gesture universally recognized as surrender.

“I have not come to fight thee. Might I suggest thou remain calm? I merely sought this opportunity to meet with thee.”

“How can I trust you?”

“Let me ask in return: what would it take for thee to trust me?”

“…”

If she was going that far, I could pretend to give in and hear her proposal. I could make my judgment after seeing her actions.

Unless this whole situation itself was a trap.

“Let’s start by taking off your coat. I don’t know what you might be hiding underneath.”

“…Thou makest quite the mischievous request from the start.”

For some reason, the Demon King’s cheeks flushed slightly as she reached for the thick gray coat wrapped tightly around her body.

Without even moving her fingers, the front of the coat opened smoothly and fell downward as if pulled by natural law. From the shoulders down, a woman’s skin was revealed sequentially.

Yes, a woman’s skin.

“…”

I momentarily froze. I had confirmed what was beneath—attire of a level I could never have imagined the Demon King would wear.

I had asked her to take off the coat because it looked thick enough to hide something for a surprise attack, but I truly had no idea she would be dressed like that.

“D-do not stare so intently… Even one such as I can feel embarrassment…”

The Demon King’s voice echoed seductively through the corridor.