Chapter 37 – The First Day of School

I didn’t have time to be surprised.

If I took that reckless charge head-on, my ribs would shatter at best.

Dodge? Not an option—Yurasia stood in that path. Her reaction was too slow; she wouldn’t be able to respond.

I had to block it.

“Damn it…!”

I instantly flared my mana and wrapped my arms around Yurasia’s neck. Pivoting sharply, I managed to twist my body, successfully turning my back while holding her.

“Hyahahahaha!”

A bright laugh rang out. Instead of the expected impact, something soft pressed against my back.

“Surprised? Scared? Hm? Hm?”

“…M-my lady?”

Soft fur tickled my bare legs, and playful breath teased my nape.

I slowly turned my head.

There she was—short golden hair as wild as a lion’s mane. Golden pupils split vertically. Sharp fangs. That mischievous smile and clear, ringing voice.

The Vice Headmaster who had suddenly kicked at me during the entrance exam.

“…Vice Headmaster…”

I couldn’t remember her name.

“That’s right! I’m Vice Headmaster Leona Megenberta! Though maybe you should add ‘ma’am’? Unless you want me to punish you!”

The tension instantly drained from my body.

That charge had been impossibly fast and fierce—so much that I doubted she could even stop herself. Yet she had halted without any recoil, merely patting my back lightly.

I’d felt it during the entrance exam too. Her physical abilities were beyond comprehension.

While beastkin naturally possessed superior physical abilities compared to humans, Leona operated on an entirely different level.

“Hehe. As if I’d ever hit a student!”

“…Hah.”

I let out a deep sigh and released Yurasia from my protective embrace.

“Um… ah… eh…? V-Vice Headmaster?”

“Yes! Yurasia Espilot, right? This year’s top student! Correct?”

“Y-yes… That’s… correct.”

“Excellent student.”

Leona giggled and bent down to look up at me.

“Eliaernes!”

“…Yes.”

“Come with me for a bit.”

“I need to eat first.”

“Then let’s eat together!”

“…Why?”

“We need to talk about your little incident!”

“What incident?”

At the word ‘incident,’ all eyes in the classroom turned toward us. Even Yurasia gaped at me.

“From the entrance exam!”

“…What incident from then?”

“Can’t say here! Too many eyes watching! How embarrassing.”

“Embarrassing…?”

The mention of “watching eyes” sparked not just stares but murmurs throughout the classroom.

Is she deliberately trying to make me look suspicious? Or did I actually do something?

I couldn’t tell. But arguing here would only spread more rumors…

“…Fine. Let’s go.”

Left with no choice, I nodded. Then I pulled a card from my pocket and pressed it into Yurasia’s hand.

“Go eat without me, Yurasia.”

“Oh, um… yes. Th-thank you…”

“Yeah. See you later.”

“Good thinking! Hehe.”

Leona linked arms with me and waved cheerfully to the students with her free hand, beaming brightly.

“Congratulations on your admission, everyone!! See you later! Oh, wait—better not see me too often! Meeting me usually means you’ve caused trouble!”

“…Why would you add that last part?”

“Hm? Well, meeting me isn’t exactly good news, right?”

“No, I meant—how do you think that affects my image when I’m standing right here…?”

“Hmm…”

Leona tapped her lips thoughtfully before nodding slightly.

“Oh! For the record, Eliaernes hasn’t caused any trouble! Don’t misunderstand!”

I can’t comprehend how this person became Vice Headmaster.

Is she getting back at me for cursing that one time?

I rubbed my face wearily and sighed. At that moment, my eyes met Silina’s. She glared at me with an “I knew it” expression.

The sighs just kept coming. One after another, endlessly.

“…Hah. Let’s just go.”

“Right!”

***

Slurp- slurp-

Lunch was noodles.

Slurp- slurp-

The location: the training grounds. Sitting on the bare floor.

Slurp- slurp- slurp-

She slurped away enthusiastically, completely ignoring my stare. Already annoyed, I grew more irritated because the noodles actually looked delicious.

Slurp- munch munch- gulp.

“Why are we eating here on the training ground floor? We could eat in the dining hall.”

“No time for that! Got to eat fast and get moving!”

“…It’s entrance ceremony day. There’s nothing scheduled, so what’s the rush?”

“I’m busy!”

“Then couldn’t we do this tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow? We’re doing this tomorrow too!”

“Tomorrow too? Is there that much to discuss?”

“Yep!”

Slurp- slurp-

The Vice Headmaster, Leona, cheerfully answered before burying her face in her bowl again.

“Hah…”

I reluctantly picked up my chopsticks too.

Slurp-

After finishing six bowls of noodles clean, Leona patted her belly and jumped to her feet.

“If you’re done eating, stand up!”

“…Weren’t we supposed to talk?”

“Yes. We will!”

“Hmm…”

I set down my empty bowl and stood up.

“Eliaernes Eustetia.”

“Yes.”

“You’re a martial artist, right?”

“Well, yes… I suppose.”

Leona giggled.

“Karela Academy is an institution responsible for nurturing talent and education. It was created to prepare for the Human-Demon War that may or may not happen. What do you want to achieve here?”

“Obviously, to become strong—”

“Lies. You believe in your abilities. Your confidence is immense. And your skills match that confidence. So why would someone like you want to become stronger at the academy?”

Her vertically-split pupils flashed sharply.

“Eliaernes. I really hate lies.”

“…I came to graduate.”

“Hmm? And what do you want to do after graduating?”

“I’ll go to Gevihenum.”

“Why?”

“That’s…”

To find traces of my companions. To kill Kaloso. To eradicate the demons. To defeat the Demon King.

All reasons I couldn’t speak aloud.

Just as I opened my mouth to give the excuse I’d told my parents—

“Eliaernes. Do you want to kill the Demon King?”

Leona spoke first.

“…What?”

“Even though the previous heroes succeeded in sealing him and we’ve reached a truce—no, a ceasefire—with the remaining demons, bringing temporary peace to this world… it’s not true peace, is it? That’s what you think, right?”

I didn’t answer. I couldn’t tell if she was testing me or not.

Saying you want to break the Demon King’s seal and kill him now was tantamount to declaring you’d destroy the peace.

In harsh terms, it was treasonous talk.

I’m not foolish enough to casually spout such things.

“I want to kill the Demon King.”

But apparently, she was.

“I want to kill the demons, slaughter all three remaining commanders, break the Demon King’s seal, and kill him.”

“That sounds like dangerous talk.”

“It’s fine if I say it. And it’s fine to be honest with me.”

Step- step-

Giggling, Leona took a step forward.

“Eliaernes. Do you want to kill the Demon King?”

“…What makes you think that?”

“Just a feeling. I’ve always had good instincts about these things.”

Tapping her nose, Leona took another step closer. Close enough to touch.

I stayed silent, just watching her.

“Right. You don’t have to answer right now. But one thing’s certain—you hate demons. Don’t you?”

“Everyone does.”

“No. You hate them more. It’s closer to loathing.”

“I’m not sure what you’ve seen that makes you say that.”

This was our first real conversation. During the entrance exam… we’d talked past each other more than to each other.

Besides, this was the first time I’d really seen her properly.

Even if she knew me from documents or rumors, those only showed the surface.

So how could she be so certain?

I didn’t understand.

“Hehehe.”

Smiling brightly, Leona changed the atmosphere and clenched both fists.

“Now, shall we get to the main point?”

Her fists collided.

BOOM—!

A thunderous sound like rocks smashing together echoed through the training grounds.

Seeing this, I cautiously voiced the question forming in my mind.

“The main point… don’t tell me.”

“That’s right! I’m a martial artist too! So come at me!”

“…Weren’t we supposed to talk? Is this about me cursing during the entrance exam?”

“The entrance exam curse? Nyahaha! No! It’s just faster and easier than talking!”

“You mean… body language?”

Leona’s eyes widened.

“Oh, exactly!”

“Hah…”

I sighed, running a hand down my face.

Do all martial artists—these chimpanzees—talk like this? What’s wrong with their brain structure that makes them sound just like Arisa? Does punching and kicking rewire your brain somehow?

Am I going to end up like this too?

“I’m wearing a skirt, you know.”

“It’s fine! No one comes to the training grounds on entrance ceremony day!”

“Then why are we using it?”

“Because I can! Which means you can too!”

“…So does this mean I’ll have to have these ‘conversations’ with you every day now?”

“Exactly!”

“What about my classes?”

“You’ll train after regular classes anyway, right?”

“Well, yes, but I need my alone time.”

Leona smirked.

“Alone time? You’re this weak and you need alone time?”

I froze for a moment.

“…Pardon?”

“You said you’re going to the demon realm after graduating? At this rate, after three years, you’ll still be just as pathetic.”

“Huh.”

I clenched my fist.

“Eliaernes. Do you know why martial artists are called chimpanzees, beasts, primates, or something less than beasts?”

“Because we don’t use weapons.”

Leona’s clenched fist extended one finger, wagging it side to side.

“It’s because you only know the ‘fight’ in martial arts, not the ‘martial.’”

Her pointing finger stopped, aimed directly at me.

“Just like you chimpanzees.”

The moment those words ended.

“Nyahahahaha!”

I drove my fist into Leona’s face.

***

“You fight better than I expected, but you’re still worthless!”

“Hak… hah, shit, ugh… huerk… hah…”

How many times had it been? I’d lost count.

It must have been over fifty times.

My stamina was gone, my legs were rubber, my jaw throbbed with dizziness, I couldn’t even lift my arms, my vision was blurry, and drool leaked from my mouth.

Over fifty times.

The sky visible through the training ground windows was already dark. The occasional student chatter and even the curfew bell had fallen silent.

Everything hurt. It would be faster to list what didn’t hurt.

Yet despite this, there were no visible injuries. Of course, if I stripped naked in front of a mirror, I’d be covered in bruises, but all visible areas were clean except for some dirt.

No broken bones. Not even cracks. No stretched ligaments. No torn muscles.

Whenever I tried to cross that line, Leona’s fist would strike my jaw, stopping me short.

That fist carried divine technique—enough force to stop my actions without knocking me unconscious.

“Now you understand the difference between us.”

Leona handed me a towel, giggling.

“Well? Want to have another chat tomorrow?”

Staggering as I raised my upper body, I took the towel and nodded.

“…Yes.”

“Hehehe. Good. Tomorrow we’ll do this properly!”

Roughly ruffling my hair, Leona turned away, her tail swaying gently.

“I’m heading out, but feel free to review today’s lessons or just go straight to bed! Good work, Eliaernes!”

“…I have a question.”

“Hmm? What is it?”

“Who was… your master?”

Her footsteps stopped and her tail went rigid. Her lion-like bob cut swayed as she turned around.

Her face wore a playful smile.

“Like I said earlier, if you ever manage to beat me, I’ll tell you.”

Then she turned away again, resuming her walk.

“Though I doubt you’ll even land a hit! Nyahaha!”

As the Vice Headmaster’s figure disappeared.

“…Bullshit.”

I muttered the curse very quietly. Every time I swore, her palm would strike my lips so hard it brought tears to my eyes, so I’d been holding back.

“Haaah…”

I let out a deep sigh and buried my face in the towel.

Then I reviewed today’s sparring.

Recalled Leona’s movements.

My fists clenched.

“…It was similar.”

Leona’s movements.

They were remarkably similar to Arisa’s.

***

“Sediiiil!! I need a potion!!”

“Where have you been running around this late… What? Were you attacked?”

“Attacked? Ahahaha! No. Just had a little spar with Eliaernes.”

“A spar? How did you end up so covered in dust from that?”

“Never mind that, just give me a potion. I’m hurting!!”

Sedil’s expression turned puzzled at Leona’s words.

“You’re hurting…? Did you harm yourself?”

“What?! Self-harm?! No, just a small crack in my arm.”

Shaking her head, Leona buried herself in the plush sofa.

“You…? Why?”

“While sparring with Eliaernes.”

Sedil’s puzzled expression turned to shock.

“…So, you’re saying… Lady Eliaernes hit you hard enough to crack your arm?”

“No, no! Not from getting hit—from blocking! And I wasn’t even using mana!”

“Even so, the fact that a first-year student’s attack needed to be blocked hard enough to crack your arm… Does that make any sense? You of all people?”

“Yep. Because it’s Eliaernes.”

Of course, she could have dodged. But if she had, the following attack would have injured Eliaernes herself, so she had no choice but to block.

Still, the crack in her arm was real. Rather than explain the details, she just smiled brightly.

“As expected of Eliaernes. Hehehe.”

“Well…”

Sedil tossed her a potion from his spatial pocket, at a loss for words.

Meanwhile, Leona drank the potion and closed her eyes in thought, recalling Eliaernes’s movements during their spar.

Movements abnormally focused on attack. More like a weapon-wielding warrior than a martial artist.

No foundation in martial arts, no fundamentals. No thought behind the combat—movements like a demon’s.

But that wasn’t it.

Clenching and unclenching her fist. Extending and bending her punch. Raising and lowering her legs. Breathing in and out. Even the blink of an eye.

Every single movement was calculated in response to her opponent’s actions, analyzed and judged before execution.

“We might see a new pillar rise within five years. Or maybe they’ll stay the same, or even decrease. Either way, a new pillar will definitely be established. Everyone should stay alert.”

Giggling, Leona sprang to her feet and headed for the Headmaster’s office door, her tail swaying.

“Anyway, I’m playing with Eliaernes from tomorrow on, so don’t look for me! Bye! Good night!”

“Ha, haha…!”

In Sedil’s 128 years as Headmaster.

This was the first time he’d seen Leona praise someone so highly.

Unable to process this unprecedented situation, he could only respond with awkward laughter.