episode_0029

My basic magic is ignition.

Although the names of the skills vary, most are based on ignition.

Therefore, it’s safe to say that all the skills I use are derived from one type of magic.

In fact, since I’ve only used one magic so far, my current ignition magic can produce the power equivalent to intermediate magic.

Of course, this is just my speculation.

Anyway, Shadi is about to attack to take Luna’s shadow.

A situation that could escalate at any moment. What can I do here?

While I was thinking about something else, Shadi’s shadow began to twist around her.

The eerie twisting shadow around her suddenly took on a human form.

That is her skill, Shadow Doppelganger Technique.

It suits her quite well as she mainly uses fists rather than magic, and the shadow mimics her actions, delivering follow-up attacks when she punches.

Essentially, it turns into a 2-on-1 fight.

Although the doppelganger cannot use magic, it mimics all actions, making it difficult to face her alone.

She is a skilled martial artist, so without a tank or light/dark magic in the party, defeating her is challenging.

There seems to be only one solution.

First, remove shoes and socks, put them in the inventory, and draw mana from the mana core.

Enhance the mana output with the amplification feature.

Some minor injuries must be endured.

I need to quickly acquire fire resistance.

Anyway, the only thing I can do now is to take Luna and run away.

For that, speed is necessary. A speed sufficient to escape with her.

Gather mana in hands and feet, keeping the range small but the output high.

Flames of mana began to flicker in hands and feet.

Short and thick, bursting forth.

Yes, let’s call it a boost.

“Let’s go.”

The faintly burning blue flames burst forth in an instant, and I started flying away.

….

“What is this girl doing?”

Unbelievable.

I’ve been getting bored of this place recently anyway.

“It’s annoying. Should I just kill her?”

Was that whispered softly to the idiotic girl in front of me?

She starts spouting nonsense.

“What? Do you really want to die over a human issue? I’ll take away your life and your shadow!”

Human, huh.

Yes, I wanted to become a person.

Abandoned by my parents as a half-breed, raised as an orphan by the headmaster who took me in.

I also wanted to truly become a person.

But after parting ways with the headmaster and arriving at the academy.

There can’t be paradise where you run away to.

Really… I’m getting angry.

I want to kill both this one and that one.

Endure. The headmaster wouldn’t have wanted this.

He sent me to where I could become a person because I said I wanted to be one.

But is there really meaning in it?

Can I really be saved by becoming human?

Not human nor demon, me?

When I first arrived at the academy, I thought it was a pretty good place.

There was a time when I thought that I could live like a human being among people here.

Everything was shining brightly in this place, Oasis Academy.

Everyone equal and all students shining brightly like the sun in the sky.

But beneath it all, darkness had taken root.

It wasn’t bad when I first enrolled.

Resembling my resented parents, I had talent in magic and a large reservoir of mana.

And due to the looks inherited from my father who abandoned me, many approached me.

But as if overnight, everyone started to keep their distance from me.

Was it after one semester?

Having not experienced much interaction with people and emotions, I naturally didn’t fit in and drifted apart.

I wanted to have proper conversations, but I couldn’t do it properly.

The trauma that had been embedded in me since childhood was further distancing me from people.

Unable to express my emotions properly, students began calling me a heartless woman.

They started insulting me, claiming I pretended to be rich while always wearing a cold expression and unable to smile.

I want to laugh too. I want to be treated kindly too.

But things don’t go as I wish.

My laughter disappeared when it was abandoned by my damned father.

At some point, students found out about me being an orphan, and the news spread throughout the school.

Being parentless and considered heartless, I suddenly became a target for bullying.

While everyone claimed equality, students cared about trivial matters like who their fathers were, who their mothers were, which family they belonged to, and what connections they had.

So, being parentless, being bullied was just the natural course of events for me.

Initially ignored, then verbally abused behind my back.

But there were people who approached me.

Soon enough, they all distanced themselves.

They were all just hypocrites with ill intentions towards me.

Now in my second year, I’m treated like a transparent being.

I wanted to become human.

I thought if this half-breed like me became human, I could show my father who abandoned me a thing or two.

I wanted to be a good person like the principal, I just wanted to live a normal life.

But whether in my family or here, they won’t leave me alone.

Now everything is tiresome, and enduring has become difficult.

But this less-than-perfect woman suddenly asks me to reveal my shadow.

Seeing her shadow wriggling beside her,

She seems to be attempting dark magic.

“Well, this is ridiculous.”

Magic involving shadows is only forbidden dark magic.

And that’s a type of magic known to only a few among the demons.

So, does that mean this foolish woman is a demon?

Then, being a fellow demon like me, she doesn’t even recognize me properly.

As expected, being a half-breed means I’m nothing at all.

It’s so frustrating and annoying; I just want to kill them all.

Yes, let’s just kill them.

She began to awaken something within herself, and as that something stirred inside her,

Her black hair began to turn stark white, and her black pupils started to turn red.

In the moment she reached out her hand to cast a spell,

Apart from herself and the woman in front of her on this alley, she began to sense another magical presence.

Very faint, but she could feel it.

“Who’s that over there? Are they on the same side as her?”

There have been rumors recently.

That a crazy woman attacks people at night, stealing their shadows.

Those whose shadows are stolen are said to be unable to use magic.

Anyway, is this idiotic woman on the same side as me?

Then it wouldn’t matter if we killed together.

Starting with the black-haired woman over there.

That guy over there is next.

Since the amount of sensed magic is minimal, it doesn’t really matter.

Sorry, Principal, looks like I can’t keep my promise.

“You, what exactly are you? Neither human nor demon. This is… impossible. You die!”

“It’s not me who’s going to die, it’s you.”

Attempting to use her powers to strike the woman, something glimmers beside her.

Something shining brightly in blue is flying towards her at an incredibly fast speed.

‘I need to dodge..!’

Before finishing her thought, the approaching entity grabs her and starts flying away.

“Ahh!!”

Her scream begins to echo through the alley.

….

The alley where she was is straight, and we continue moving forward.

Now my magic is depleted, and I can no longer sustain my power.

I start rolling on the ground while holding Luna close.

Half-blooded as she may be, the vampire herself wouldn’t be so easily wounded at this level.

However, numerous scars have already been etched onto her body.

Even a slight scratch is something I’d rather not leave on her.

After rolling on the ground a few times, I finally managed to stop.

I’ve distanced myself quite a bit from Shadi now.

Since I’ve come out of the alley and onto a wider street, things should be fine.

Perhaps it’s because it’s late at night, there’s no one around except us.

Thank goodness. If Luna had stayed attached to Shadi, she would’ve definitely died.

Luna would’ve gone berserk too.

Phew, dodged another bullet.

“Let go of… that…!”

Oh no, I didn’t release Luna.

I loosened my grip on her arm and let her go.

“I’m sorry, you seemed dangerous, so I couldn’t help it.”

“…Just in case I’m asking. Did you see?”

“…What are you talking about?”

Oh no, I accidentally let slip.

“You know. Why pretend not to know.”

Damn it.

I barely managed to stop your rampage!

“I really don’t know.”

“Didn’t you see my hair and eyes, for real?”

“…I really didn’t see.”

When she uses her powers, her hair turns stark white, and her eyes become a deep red.

As a half-blooded vampire, she usually has black hair and dark eyes, but her appearance changes when awakened as a vampire.

Relations between demons and vampires are extremely strained due to ongoing wars.

If her being a vampire were to be exposed in such a situation, it would turn into a very bad scenario.

And if she were a vampire…

Let’s just say it’s definitely not true.

I didn’t see anything. I saw nothing at all.

“I really didn’t see.”

“…”

“I really didn’t see. I saved you from an attacker, why are you looking at me like that?”

“…”

“…Wait, I get that you’re angry. No, I didn’t mean to look. I won’t tell anyone. I swear.”

“…”

“Wait. Don’t come closer. Do you realize you’re emitting life-threatening vibes to your savior? Why do you keep approaching?”

If you go berserk now, you’ll definitely self-destruct.

So, after barely saving her, now it seems like I’m the one who’s going to die.

In a rush to calm her down, I quickly added, “I promise not to say anything, just calm down for now.”

“How can I trust that? Do I have any reason to spare you?”

Damn it, she’s not listening.

The situation is not just about demons having a bad relationship; they are practically at each other’s throats, making things very complicated.

“If you kill me, my family and academy won’t let you off the hook.”

Please, let this sink in.

“Well, then, I’ll just have to kill them all at that time.”

Ah, damn it.