Chapter 2
[My disguise should have been perfect. Even the Primordial Dragon's Eye couldn't see through my true form!]
The Demonkin before me shouted.
His voice was a complex mixture of wariness toward an unknown entity and the humiliation of having his disguise instantly exposed.
[Tell me. How did you break through my power?]
He asked while emanating a murderous aura.
Though his expression clearly showed his bewilderment...
If anyone should be asking questions, it should be me.
A Demonkin?
Why is one showing up at this timing? They usually don't appear until at least the middle of these stories.
Did I just get unlucky? Did I randomly catch someone who just happened to be trying to infiltrate the Academy?
How could things get this messed up? The overwhelming confusion made me feel like I was about to lose my mind.
[...So you won't reveal your hand, is that it? Then I'll have to find out myself.]
But the situation wouldn't wait for me.
His form vanished as if erased from existence. Soon after, a voice came from behind me.
[In the name of Amon, seventh of the 72 Great Evils, I promise your soul will burn eternally in hell.]
There's no time to hesitate.
I didn't hesitate to use the special privilege the Empire had given me. The spatial magic formula glowing in my left hand.
Using inventory storage magic for shock absorption - normally that would be impossible. But I didn't become a professor for nothing.
Analysis and modification of spell formulas is my specialty.
If it's just slightly tweaking an already well-constructed formula, that's entirely possible.
I felt his fist connect with my back. But the impact was minimal.
The overworked spatial formula broke down, but fortunately, it succeeded in blocking this attack.
He clicked his tongue and stepped back while looking at me.
[Spatial magic... So you were hiding your power after all.]
The Demonkin's ridiculous overestimation of my abilities.
He stared at me like I was some kind of monster. After all that bravado about burning souls and whatnot, now he was very un-demon-like, breaking into a cold sweat.
While the Demonkin hesitated to move due to wariness of me, perhaps the others had regained their composure. The Elf professor beside me suddenly raised his staff and shouted.
"To think one of the 72 Great Evils would show themselves. We absolutely cannot let him escape from here!"
Everyone took battle positions.
At this point, there was no need to worry anymore.
The Academy's professors are all monsters in their own right.
As long as some madman doesn't start rambling about cotton picking and throw us off guard again, several professors should have no problem handling one Demonkin.
I'll just carefully ride their coattails to safety.
That was my conclusion, until...
I saw the interview room door.
And thought of the children beyond it.
I don't really know what this Amon character's deal is. But I know well enough what Demonkin usually try to accomplish when they secretly infiltrate in academy stories.
Terrorism.
Their goal is surely to cause as much damage as possible.
...I could see the Demonkin backing away.
Carefully glancing toward the door.
If he would just run away obediently from here, that would be ideal. But would a real terrorist really be satisfied with just escaping?
The children in his escape route.
Would he maintain his manners and not harm them?
'There's no way.'
There will definitely be casualties.
And that would clearly be my responsibility.
In the original story, the protagonist would have surely found and eliminated this terrorist. After all, I'm the one who exposed his identity.
People who wouldn't have died originally will lose their lives because of my actions. How is that any different from killing them myself?
My feet moved naturally. That troublesome habit of acting first and thinking later showed itself again.
I quickly blocked the doorway and said.
"I cannot let you pass through here."
It was a gamble worth taking.
The odds were more than enough in my favor. I'm not foolish enough to bet my life on a fight I can't win.
'He's clearly wary of me.'
A spatial magic user who seemed unaffected by his attacks.
Seeing me that way, it was hard to think the Demonkin would rashly attack me again.
While I block his escape route, either the professors will subdue him, or one professor will realize the risk of students being taken hostage and take measures - either way we win.
If he doesn't suddenly change his mind and charge at me directly, I can't lose.
So I just need to buy about 10 seconds...
Suddenly an alarm blared.
A student who peeked at the situation inside the interview room just had to press the emergency alarm button at this timing.
[Damn, at this rate that crazy lizard woman will...]
The Demonkin grimaced with an anxious expression.
He who had been maintaining distance while probing until now quickly took a stance.
The moment I saw that, I immediately sensed it.
I'd prided myself on having good luck in both my past and present life, but this time that luck wasn't with me.
Due to the threat of the alarm and reinforcements it would bring, the anxious Demonkin chose to risk dealing with me in order to escape quickly.
I really shouldn't have stepped into this kind of demonic realm. I had such regrets as I watched the approaching Demonkin.
Perhaps he too was desperate in his own way. He seemed to be burning up all his remaining demonic power in this one strike.
As a last resort I drew the protective dagger hidden in my sleeve, but it was meaningless since I who never learned swordsmanship had no way to defeat him.
Several professors were hastily deploying spell formulas to protect me, but. With a desperate surprise attack at that speed, it would be impossible to make it in time.
The demon's hand extended.
An unpleasant feeling like my soul being caressed.
Soon after, a terrible scream rang out.
[ARGHHHH!!!]
From the Demonkin's side, not mine.
Opening my eyes that I had squeezed shut at the incomprehensible situation, I saw the Demonkin with an agonized expression in my field of view.
Moreover, somehow impaled on my dagger.
[I definitely hid my core... Yet even that couldn't deceive your eyes...]
The Demonkin cried out in anguish.
When I twisted the dagger reflexively, he let out another terrible scream and began to burst into flames.
His form reduced to a handful of ashes in an instant.
I stood frozen, blankly staring at the pile of ashes before coming to my senses.
'...Did I win?'
Whether the dagger that old man gave me as a gift was something special, or if he was just weaker than expected, or if I happened to hit a vital point.
I'm still not sure about that, but. At least it was certain that I had survived this disaster.
As soon as I realized that, the tension finally drained away.
'I really almost died on my first day of work.'
Surviving in this demonic realm was truly a miracle.
This incident made me painfully aware why I shouldn't stay at the Academy. Let's carry out the plan and get out of here as soon as the situation settles.
I came to that conclusion as I looked around.
As I looked around, I met the numerous gazes directed at me.
The Elf who had cursed at me.
The old professor who had scolded my attitude.
Without exception, every professor who was there was looking at me with some strange expression.
And to top it off, a voice from behind.
"Hmm... I happened to witness something interesting."
Silver hair.
A face beautiful as a carved work of art. Two horns protruding above it.
"Would you care to join me for a cup of tea?"
The Imperial Academy's principal.
The Empire's Primordial Dragon stared at me intently.
With eyes sparkling as if seeing something very interesting.
...It seemed my grand plan for getting fired was being demolished in real time.
*****
Even after the new professor was dragged away for questioning, the Academy's interviews continued as scheduled.
However, not one of the professors remaining there could focus on the interviews.
Even the old professor who had pointed out the new professor's attitude and given him a look about having other thoughts during work now couldn't concentrate on the student before him.
That was certainly unprofessional, but.
Who could possibly scold that old professor?
-Are you really going to let such a grotesque thing into the Academy?
That professor had noticed the other's true identity from the start. He alone had accurately seen through the evil nature that no one else could perceive.
He even used code words to warn that the enemy was a demon trying to infiltrate the Academy.
-I cannot let you pass through here.
That professor stood alone with dignity.
He showed no signs of wavering, to the point where one might foolishly think he was just frozen in shock.
The man simply stood there.
He didn't construct spell formulas. He didn't wave a staff. Yet the man completely overwhelmed that powerful enemy.
The man maintained his silence as if refusing to even speak with a mere demon, but broke it once in indignation.
That he absolutely would not let them pass through here. That he would never allow the students to be harmed.
When everyone else was focused only on capturing the enemy to achieve merit, he alone saw the children.
When everyone else was trying to kill someone, he alone was trying to save someone.
...How could one forget such a person?
How could one erase that image from their mind?
All sorts of monsters entered the Academy.
The Saint of the Holy See.
The Empire's genius Second Imperial Princess.
The commoner who achieved top entrance scores despite magic power insensitivity.
Though each was uniquely extraordinary in their own way, everyone there could be certain.
Among the many talented individuals who appeared this year, the most extraordinary was undoubtedly that new professor.