episode_0078

1.

The long, long final exams are over.

No, it would be more correct to say that it is just before the end.

Because it was our group’s turn, the last one in the afternoon group.

“Ban Party! Come forward!”

Instructor Tachibesus’ shouts echoed throughout the training grounds.

At the same time.

“Wow!!! Finally!!!”

“Cariel! Cariel! Cariel!!!”

“Student President!!! Work hard! Vice President too!!!”

A shout louder than the instructor’s was heard.

‘..but.’

Previous tests have also ended up being too trivial.

Because more teams had difficulty attacking together than expected, they didn’t know how to deal with strong opponents, and they lacked strategies for dealing with demons.

Not only that, but two of our party members are the second and first place winners of the academy in terms of both looks and skills, so this kind of response is understandable.

“Warrior Club!!!”

“Taina!!! Good job~!!!”

“Younnie junior is so cute!!!”

The Warriors Club has also established its own position, so there is a positive response.

Of course, it is a position that was built up through direct instruction from the instructor, but my image has definitely improved.

“Guys, remember.”

Taina remained frozen, not responding to the children at all.

“It’s okay if Kariel and Ban’s conflicts come out. Ignis, I, and Srenia can complement each other.”

Before this test, the main thing Taina warned us about was compatibility.

And I studied the information about the extreme compatibility and the countermeasures devised based on that information.

So that we can overcome even the most extreme situations.

Never back down even when faced with a strong opponent.

I am teaching them one by one like that and now I am leaving you with some final words of advice.

“…Let’s work hard!!!”

As soon as Taina finished speaking, all the members of the warrior club took their seats skillfully.

“From now on, the sword and my body will become one, and I will reach the realm of body-sword unity.”

At the same time as the spell, point the tip of the greatsword at the mirror.

His expression hardens coldly and he takes a stance to protect his colleague behind him.

“Light.”

Kariel simply said one word.

But I know.

That one phrase is the family motto of the Algi family.

As soon as he spoke, Kariel stood behind Ignis and took the upper position.

“Altina…”

Taina said a word full of emotion.

I always think of him as my idol.

“World’s best poem…”

Srenya prayed with a look of faith.

“To protect everyone…!”

Yuni gathered her magical power with determination.

“…Let’s go!!!”

As a warrior, I gave the starting signal.

“Let’s start the warrior party test!!!”

At the same time, we hear the words of Instructor Tachibesus, who confirmed our preparations.

The devil appeared without any sound.

“…”

It’s not a demon.

human being?

“What, what is it.”

“Is it a humanoid demon?”

“…But why don’t you attack?”

“…”

The demon neither howled nor attacked ferociously.

He just looked around, checking something.

Long, reddish hair sways back and forth along the head.

And… the eerie red eyes seem to pierce through us.

-Ss …

The hair that extends all the way to the toes like a ghost is creepy.

“…What is it, Taina.”

“I, I don’t know either.”

I asked Taina to understand the situation, but it was similar to mine.

I don’t understand English.

“…”

The silence continues.

Professor Casselina is causing some commotion.

I looked away for a moment to try to assess the situation.

“…Wake up!!!!!!!!”

Ignis’s urgent words are heard.

“…….keuheuuk!!!!”

“Woof!!!”

“K, kekekekekeke!!!!!!”

“Wow, breath…!!!”

This, this feeling.

The instructor’s murderous intent.

It feels like a stronger pressure than when you get hit directly.

All of us, including Kariel, were just standing there somehow.

It was not the artificial feeling of Instructor Tachibesus’s presence, but the creepy fear that came from risking one’s life that consumed my body.

“Hey, save me…!!!”

A desperate cry for help comes out.

I want to run away.

I want to turn away and cover my ears.

“…….The Demon King!!!”

But contrary to such wishes, Teacher Casselina’s shouts were heard clearly.

“…”

It’s the Demon King.

A terrifying being that pierces us with its bloodshot eyes.

-Jeongbuk

Take a step towards us.

Her hair sweeps the floor, and her bloodshot eyes stare at us intently.

We had no choice but to accept the disaster blankly, without even thinking about stopping her.

There is no malicious intent involved.

It seems to contain a sense of pity, as if one were looking at a small creature.

-Jeongbuk

One more step.

The distance between the Demon King and the Hero Party gradually decreases.

-Jeongbuk

One more step.

But this time, it’s not just one step.

Because I raised my hand and drew out my magic power.

-Jeongbuk

Those bloodshot eyes shine as brightly as rubies, and the halo of light begins to waver.

Magical power overflows like flowing fog or scattering blood.

Around it, blood is pooling and clumping.

-Jeongbuk

“…”

He just moves his hands without saying a word and manipulates his magic.

And under the influence of that magic, the blood takes on a very beautiful hexagram and geometric structure, forming a magic circle.

And what pops out from there is a sword.

Hundreds of magically realized swords were rushing forward, blood flying.

“Wake up, wake up!!!!!”

-Kang! Kaaang! Chaeng!!!

Ignis struck down all the numerous swords.

In the process, broken swords were scattered here and there, and blood was all over the place.

“Hoo, hoo, hoouk…”

Except for a little shortness of breath, none of the warrior party suffered any fatal injuries.

“…Whew!!! Remember!!! How we defeated the stature of Instructor Tachibesus!!!”

At those words, all the members of the warrior club closed their eyes for a moment.

Before the feeling of helplessness sets in, take a moment to avoid the source of your fear and slowly adjust to it again.

“…whoa, whoa… good…”

“Calm down… Calm down…”

“…sob.”

Each in his own way escaped the pressure of murder and, furthermore, fear.

It is an escape from the relic that is literally called the Mirror World of Terror.

“Now, now is the beginning, so make up your mind!”

Ignis was the most sane of us all, so she stood in our way and confronted the Demon King.

But the Demon King, without any hesitation, did it once more.

-Kwaaang!!!

He created the guillotine with a light gesture.

And the guillotine was aimed at the head and fired straight through.

“Kaaa …

The blood-scented guillotine crushes Ignes.

Ignis somehow withstood such a heavy attack with his greatsword.

“…Let’s go!!! Don’t let him use magic anymore!!!”

When I was about to give some instructions as a warrior, Kariel made a quick decision and struck.

After that, Taina followed, stabbing Claw.

“Meteor Sword!!!”

Among the Aspects of Cariel, he uses the fastest meteor sword to give strength to the front.

“…I’m going to die, I’m going to die, I’m going to die, I’m going to die, I’m going to die!!!!!”

In that short gap, Srenya muttered something and quickly grew a magnificent tree.

-Wooo

The leaves of the trees, radiating bright light, cover the sky, and the tree trunks vibrate like bells, sending out warm energy to the surroundings.

At the same time, I felt energized and free from any pressure.

Also, strength has been gained.

Uni’s blessings are spread to everyone, and the tree of Srenya grows more abundantly.

The leaves that fell from the trees one by one clung to him, slowly reviving his energy and corroding him if they touched his ominous blood.

It flies sharply towards the gap and joins the attack.

“…Moon’s Herbivory.”

I did what I had to do.

blow.

A blow for a valid hit, even if it is not a fatal blow.

-Quajijijik!!!

But that might have been an evasion by another name.

Because a blade twice the size of the guillotine that crushed Ignis cut everything down.

The light of Cariel’s meteor sword is covered in sticky blood.

Ignis and Taina retreat to avoid the attack.

The leaves melted into the blade made of blood.

“…Again!!!!”

Following Taina’s signal, I also prepared to unleash my sword.

If that blade melts again and unleashes another full-scale attack…!

“…”

The blade slowly melted and then hardened into a different shape.

The blood spurts out, strand by strand, and becomes entangled and mixed here and there.

A creepy sight, like a human or rather a demonic doll being woven.

And a particularly creepy demon with ant jaws is created.

The awe-inspiring feeling of each and every doll created in this way is conveyed.

The same sense of intimidation I felt when I first encountered the Demon King.

“…W-That’s ridiculous…”

“How do I…”

“…Tch.”

From then on, I was soaked in the fear that had bloomed again.

A total of 4.

When the doll made of blood was completed.

The head of the ant-shaped demon explodes.

“The test is suspended!!!!”

Teacher Casselina barged in.

At the same time, as if a mirror had shattered, all the dolls made of blood, including the Demon King, disappeared.

Without leaving any image behind.

2.

There are six of us.

After school, Taina, Srenya, Kariel, Ignis, and Uni gathered at Ms. Casselina’s lecture hall.

In a place like this, Ignes and Taina would have been chatting, but no noise was heard.

“”…””

Because we just faced the tragedy that happened a little while ago.

I faced the Demon King directly.

And I couldn’t do anything to that Demon King, not even lifting a finger.

In that situation, the fear and helplessness that were deeply engraved in our bodies felt like even our mouths were sewn shut.

“…I don’t know where to start. Let me ask you some questions first.”

Teacher Casselina opened her mouth and stroked her throbbing head.

“Why, the Demon King appeared?”

Taina’s concise question.

Taina never once thought about the Demon King while thinking about the strategy herself.

In the first place, there was no reason for such a powerful being as the Demon King to appear to us.

I think it would be right to say that it is absurd.

“The artifact called the Mirror World of Terror literally creates the existence of terror. ”

“Yes, I understand that. But I couldn’t figure out why… something so powerful was created.”

“To exaggerate a little… I can say that you have great potential.”

To summarize what Professor Casselina said briefly:

The mirror world of fear prioritizes inner fears.

It creates the sum total of that fear, the ultimate presence of fear in all of our thoughts.

As a warrior, I have a vague fear of the Demon King.

Taina, who admires the previous hero party and is hostile to the Demon King.

Srenya, who heard the rumored prophecy firsthand and is afraid of the Demon King.

These three played an important role, and because they all had the qualities of a hero, the Demon King was created.

I understood it.

“Then is she the Demon King?”

“…Yes.”

To my question for confirmation, Professor Srenya nodded her head coolly.

“These are the previous Demon Kings that I have personally seen. And the dolls made from that blood… They are the Four Heavenly Kings, the Demon King’s direct elite beasts. ”

“How strong are the Four Heavenly Kings?”

“In my opinion, the warrior party almost got wiped out by each of the Four Heavenly Kings.”

After that, I tried to get over the shock by talking to Professor Casselina.

The existence of the Demon King was confirmed for the first time.

And the warrior party parted ways, bitter after suffering a crushing defeat.

“Then, what kind of warrior is this…”

He muttered to himself and lamented.

I didn’t get anything done in this match.

The warrior’s ass.

The Demon King is so strong, but I just seem to be watching.

“Why am I a warrior?”

no.

“…Why should I be a warrior?”

The first powerful enemy encountered.

And the day ended with empty questions left behind in the desperate fear felt from such an enemy.