Chapter 24
They say advantages and disadvantages are two sides of the same coin.
Even a reputation that had grown troublesomely high could be put to good use.
[You... you couldn't have...]
I wonder what kind of rumors are circulating about me among the demons. Even after I boldly declared that I'd poisoned him, he still can't hide his shock.
[To resort to such petty tricks. And you call yourself a professor of the prestigious Imperial Academy?!]
The enraged demon berated me, but his words didn't wound or shame me in the slightest.
I have no pride as an Academy professor to begin with, and this is clearly his fault for misunderstanding me. I mean, how many times did I emphasize that I was a failing professor?
If it bothers him so much, he should have properly assessed my character first.
"I'd advise against moving carelessly. The poison will instantly spread through your bloodstream and melt your entire body."
I declared this without changing my expression one bit.
Though it seems my opponent wasn't completely thoughtless.
The demon rose to his feet with an expression of utter disbelief. It seems trying to bluff twice in a row was too much of a gamble after all.
It's a bit disappointing, but no matter.
While it may not have the potency to melt flesh as I claimed...
'This poison is definitely not something to be taken lightly.'
It's an item I procured directly from the Imperial Palace.
Having personally selected it from the treasury, I can guarantee its effectiveness. While instant death might be too much to expect, it should be extremely effective at weakening him.
[...I shouldn't have trusted that bastard Gamigin. He said I'd find a worthy opponent who would make my blood boil.]
The demon ground his teeth.
He took a stance while emanating killing intent.
The moment I think 'he shouldn't be too dangerous now that he's poisoned' is the moment I'm headed for a bad ending.
Judging by his build, the enemy was most likely a combat specialist.
Our compatibility couldn't be worse. One solid hit and someone like me would be turned into mincemeat.
[In the name of Malphas, 39th ranked, I will tear out that deceitful tongue of yours.]
Hostility towards me swirled in those eyes.
With my pathetic physical abilities, trying to react to his attacks after seeing them would be far too slow.
His personality seems straightforward. Someone like him would try to kill me immediately without thinking twice. Having made this assessment, I didn't hesitate to take a defensive stance.
I place my hand on my uniform, recently repaired at the Imperial Palace.
I only asked them to repair it, but the court mage had tearfully said 'How could the spell formulas be this damaged? Just what kind of fierce battles have you been fighting in secret?'
The advanced spell formula that a true genius had poured their full ability into engraving now activated before me, modified according to my whims.
A massive barrier unfolds like a blooming flower.
It builds up layer upon layer to form thousands of walls.
[You don't even have the guts to face me head-on!]
He scowled as he wildly struck at the barriers. But I easily ignored his provocations and used this time as effectively as possible.
When getting my uniform's engravings repaired, naturally the spatial spell formula on the back of my hand was restored as well.
During the entrance exam, the situation had been urgent and I'd wasted the precious spatial spell formula on mere defense. But given time, I was confident I could modify it more precisely.
Without changing its essence.
Just warping its directionality as I pleased.
Rather than creating a space to contain something, I make it release that containing space externally.
If I unfold a thin spatial void inside the opponent's body...
'Even if small in scale, it's a temporary spatial slash.'
There's no way a cheat technique that cuts enemies with space itself could be achieved with just a simple inventory. This is merely an imitation that mimics that effect.
While it's more comparable to nail clippers than a sword in terms of feebleness, it's enough for now.
'If I can pierce the core precisely, it should result in instant death like before.'
Like a dragon's reverse scale - if I can pierce through the vital spot that kills demons, like when I killed Amon, he'll instantly turn to ashes.
The core that remains invisible no matter how hard I look.
While it seems hopeless to try piercing the vital point of an opponent who's violently trying to break through my barriers...
Let's put my faith in my luck here.
I'll gamble on the core locations I've inferred from the demons I've killed being correct.
With a do-or-die resolve, I immediately released the spatial void inside his body, and the result was naturally...
A failure.
Did my legendary 80% rock-paper-scissors luck disappear the moment I became a professor? While he coughs up blood showing he took damage, the demon hasn't turned to ashes.
'This is seriously driving me crazy.'
I bite my lip while touching the artifact received from the Imperial Palace - a necklace made from Dragon Heart.
The situation isn't looking good.
I've used two cards but failed to completely finish off my opponent. While I could probably take him down if I used all my remaining means, that would defeat the purpose.
It might be excessive worry, but I'm concerned about his mention of the demon Gamigin. I can't guarantee he's my only enemy, can I?
'But I can't just leave him be either.'
A demon clearly harboring hostility and attacking me.
No matter how weakened he might be, this frail body of mine won't withstand even one of his punches.
As long as he focuses his attacks on me, I'll have no choice but to keep using up my precious trump cards.
I would have had to keep using my cards, but...
The demon who had been charging at me with killing intent suddenly calms his anger. After being so aggressive earlier, he now backs up several steps.
[...I've changed my mind. If you're going to keep acting like this, I'll have no choice but to fight dirty as well.]
Though suffering from both poison and internal injuries, he grins wickedly.
[You'll regret underestimating me for the rest of your life.]
The demon leaped behind me.
He was... targeting my students instead of me.
*****
This is extremely unpleasant.
I've never felt this irritated in my life.
'Just how far does he plan to insult me?'
The spatial spell I just used. It had definitely pierced right next to his heart by a hair's breadth. Overwhelming power that could freely wield even space-cutting slashes.
He must be beyond the level of an archmage.
Like when he dealt with Marbas and Amon, he could kill him instantly if I wanted to.
But this man didn't do that. He put on a strange act of feeding him poison and making the spatial slash deliberately miss to keep him alive.
There could only be one reason for doing such a thing.
He saw him not as an opponent but as mere entertainment.
Dying in defeat to an opponent is fine. But being considered not even worth fighting is unforgivable. So... he had to pay him back.
Even if it meant using the cowardly methods he despised.
The demon quickly placed his hand on the ground to construct a barrier.
What he drew in were naturally the A-Class students near Ryan, the ones that man had nurtured.
'While I may not be able to touch a hair on that man's head with my skills. Breaking his spirit should be possible.'
The opponent he had looked down on killed all his students.
What expression would he make when he realized his arrogance had led to the death of the children he cherished so much?
He was already looking forward to seeing it.
The massive barrier spread out.
Students exposed to danger with no way to escape, completely cut off from their professor who would protect them.
Malphas gave a hideous smile at the sight.
[While I have nothing personal against you all. I have my circumstances, you see. You'll all have to die here.]
He had forgotten while focused on fighting Ryan, but wasn't dealing with the prophesied child also part of his mission?
There was no reason to hesitate.
He creates a greatsword from the blood flowing from his wounds.
He quickly takes his stance, preparing to charge.
[If you want to blame something, blame your misfortune in choosing the wrong professor.]
Malphas immediately kicked off the ground and leaped.
The blood sword swung with a tremendous sonic boom.
Even if he couldn't use his full power due to the poison and internal injuries, he shouldn't be so weak as to struggle against mere students.
That should have been the case, but...
His opponent easily blocks the greatsword he swung with bare hands. That immense energy the student has wrapped around their body. No matter how you look at it, that was Magic Enhancement.
Why on earth was there someone capable of Magic Enhancement here? While the demon's mind went blank for a moment...
Quick thinking was Malphas's specialty.
He could just deal with the other students first and leave the troublesome one for later. It wasn't a big problem.
[I'll deal with you later.]
The demon fled from a Magic Enhancement user.
...
...
[Y-you too, I'll deal with later.]
The demon fled from a Magic Enhancement user.
...
...
[You... you too I'll have to deal with later...]
The demon fled from a Magic Enhancement user.
...
...
[...How about we start with a conversation first?]
The demon failed to escape from twenty enraged Magic Enhancement users. Students whose eyes had rolled back in fury, saying they needed to exact revenge for insulting their professor.
Cold sweat ran down his back.
...Something had gone very, very wrong.