TUS

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Chapter 3 Part 6

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Side: Ephthal

I had a bad feeling about this, so I went into town looking for Anastasia….

── And I was right.

I mean, why is it that only terrible premonitions like this can come true?

Anyway, Anastasia is still dazed mentally and is being assaulted by a group of thugs.

Of course, there’s no way I’m going to overlook this.

I headed towards the thugs and grabbed the wrist of the man who was trying to tear off Anastasia’s clothes.

“Sorry, but that’s my companion”

“Arghh!”

I twisted his wrist, and it snapped.

“How dare you!”

A thug attacked me from behind, so I turned around and gave him a straight right to the face. |Editor’s Note: “Straight Right” In boxing, basically a power punch using your right hand.|

I felt an unpleasant squishy feeling on my fist. A single blow was enough to pulverize his nasal bones.

“Now, only two left”

A kick to the right knee and a karate chop to the clavicle later.

“Gargh!”

“Hyaagghhh!”

Each of them was left in a state of pain and agony.

The sound of the men collapsing with a heavy thud echoed through the back alley, and so I called out to Anastasia.

“Hey, Anastasia? You’re really troublesome, aren’t you?”

“Um, er… troublesome…?”

It’s like her heart isn’t there.

The incident must have been quite a shock since there’s no color… or rather, life in her eyes.

“Why did you steal the Raikiri from me?”

“…That’s… the special slave crest…”

“I shouldn’t have asked that question, I’m sorry. So let me ask again. Why didn’t you tell me anything?”

“…The slave contract is absolute, it’s the core of the social system. Even if I tell Ephthal-sama, it’s obvious that there’s nothing you can do about it…”

“It’s obvious that there’s nothing I can do about it, you say? Hey, Anastasia? I’m Ephthal Alcott”

“…I know”

“In other words, I’m one of the legendary Four Emperors”

“The legendary… Four Emperors?”

Anastasia gave me a blank look that screamed, ‘What is this guy talking about?’.

Well, the legendary Emperor of the Thunder God has already passed away four hundred years ago, so that reaction is natural.

“Hey, Anastasia? The act of contracting slave contracts is the core of the social system, you say? What does it matter?”

“…Eh?”

“Even though things may appear this way, I still work hundreds of times harder than other people. Hey, Anastasia? Don’t measure me… with your standards of common sense”

I gave the same unclouded smile that I had given Merlin after our last magic duel. 

Then, I briskly placed my palm on Anastasia’s head and caressed her.

“── Don’t underestimate Thunder-sama too much, okay? I picked you up. I picked you up knowing the whole story. Don’t worry, I got your back”

Gradually, the color returned to Anastasia’s eyes.

Anastasia’s expression then changed to one of relief, just as Merlin had before.

“…Hey, Master…?”

“What’s the matter? Anastasia?”

Anastasia said to me with tears in her eyes and a perplexed face. 

“…Uh… um… I can’t do it… anymore. I’m sorry. Please… help… help me”

“Yeah, I’ll take it from here”

I beat on my chest with a thump.

Side: Anastasia

After the incident ──

“I see, it’s more or less as I have imagined it, but that’s the situation, huh”

In the dining room of Ephthal-sama’s mansion.

I explained to him, with tears flowing down my face, what had happened so far.

Then a steamy teacup was placed in front of me.

“…Have a drink”

“Um… uh… Merlin-sama?”

The nice aroma of herbs wafted from the tea served.

“Don’t make me repeat myself. You must be cold, aren’t you?”

For the first time, I feel like this person has shown me a compassionate smile.

Well… I guess Merlin-sama is a compassionate person, after all. Then suddenly, master clapped his two palms.

“Alright, drink that, and then we’ll get started”

“Er… get started… with what?” 

Master nodded and replied.

“We’re going to break the curse”

We descended the long, long spiral staircase of the mansion.

After a couple of minutes of descending to the depths of the mansion, the three of us reached a large room.

“What is this place?”

In a white space about a hundred meters on each side.

It was a room with an advanced defensive magic circle drawn on the wall.

“Um… what is… this…? I’ve never seen… such a defensive magic circle… before”

“It’s a Level 10 defensive magic circle”

“Um, uh, er… le… level 10…?”

Merlin-sama gave a small nod.

“The long-standing art performed by all Four Emperors. Well, the Emperor of the Fire God was quite reluctant though…”

“Haha, well, he wasn’t very cooperative, after all. I had a hard time forcing him to admit that he lost the poker game, too”

“Ephthal-sama has always been unbeatable at poker, after all”

That’s where I became speechless.

“Um, uh… Merlin-sama…?”

“Hm? What is it?”

“Er… is it really true that… master is one of the legendary Four Emperors…?”

Merlin-sama nodded proudly.

“Yeah, it’s true. It appears to be reincarnation. On the contrary, it would be unlikely for one such as me to serve anyone but Ephthal-sama himself, wouldn’t it?”

“No, but… this is just insane…”

“Hey, what do you know?”

“……”

“As master’s apprentice, I concluded that there was no other explanation. That’s what I thought the moment we got under each other’s skin with magic”

“No, but…”

“Don’t you measure my master ── with your common sense”

Hearing that, I chuckled.

Well, master really is the reincarnation of the legendary Four Emperors, huh?

After all, both the master and apprentice said the same thing…, “Don’t measure Ephthal-sama with your common sense”.

Besides, there’s the fact that a heroic figure as great as Merlin-sama said that, “there was no other explanation”.

That’s what she thought when they were comparing each other’s magic at the time, I cannot help but judge it as highly credible.

“…Master? So what is this place?”

“Aah, it’s one of the best underground magic laboratories in the world. This is a durability spell cast by the Four Emperors’ ritual class magic. There’s no other facility with higher durability than this one. It used to come in handy for mock battles between my apprentices, or with me even”

Master then approached me and bluntly said, “Take off your top”.

“…Take it off?”

“Just take it off”

As instructed, now that I’m showing my underwear, master touched the slave crest on my shoulder.

“Um… what are you really planning on doing…?”

Master grinned at me ──

“── We’re going to do it by force”

And that’s what he said. Honestly, I have no idea what he was saying.

Be that as it may, master is going to perform the technique of breaking the curse of the slave crest on me.

I can use that technique, too.

However, if I do that without achieving the conditions needed for the release of the slave contract…. Then the contract beast lying dormant within the slave crest would appear in this world… and pass down judgment due to the forced termination of the slave contract.

“…Master? Merlin-sama? At this rate…”

“Yeah, I know. A contract beast will appear in this world, and those who interfere with the execution of the contract will be erased. It seems that not long ago, a small country consented and tried to annul a contract… that led to the country’s ruin”

“…Could it be that… you’re going to fight head-on against… the contract beast that is akin to a God?”

“That’s right”

“No, but… that’s not something that… mortals can do, after all. Isn’t that why magic contracts are woven into the core of our social system?”

Merlin-sama, checking her favorite staff, said.

“What are you talking about?”

“…No, but… forcefully annulling the contract… is none other than the miraculous work of God…”

“Ephthal-sama said he would do it. And I will assist him. All the preparations are in place, you know? In other words ──”

Merlin-sama kept silent for a moment.

Then she took a deep, deep breath and said.

“── What is about to happen is not a miracle, but it’s just inevitable”

They are seriously going to have a fight with a God, and they intend to win.

I gulped as I saw them smiling at me.

But… it had me thinking.

── God.

It is a general term for those who dwell in the spiritual realm, one stage higher above the mortals.

That is to say, a being that is everywhere and nowhere.

That is because they don’t possess a body of flesh, but are with the atmosphere as a spiritual being.

God is a very conceptual entity, and its origin is spontaneous existence due to people’s collective unconscious interfering with the will of the macrocosm in the first place… well, let’s not go into the details.

At any rate, God is a conceptual living entity that lives off the energy of people’s spiritual activities.

To put it simply, it can either be nice or frightening to have such a being exist. 

It’s easier if we think of it as the embodiment of people’s unconscious envy and fear.

For example, the Goddess of Mercy rarely performs miracles in regions where plagues are rampant.

And at other times, the God of Destruction would stir up major earthquakes or turn great forests into wastelands with meteorites.

They generally get energized by spiritual activities in the form of faith and awe, but of course, the world of Gods is also tough. 

They have to get people to recognize, worship, and fear them. So, a God who is not well known in the first place is… well, it seems to be tough.

The point is that if they disappear from people’s awareness completely, their very existence disappears.

Now, back to the contract beast.

There were once guardian beasts called the Four Divine Beasts in the Eastern Island Country.

Genbu. (Black Tortoise)

Suzaku. (Vermilion Bird)

Byakko. (White Tiger)

Seiryu. (Azure Dragon)

They were originally Gods who were said to protect the country from supernatural disasters. 

However, about a thousand years ago, the country itself had disappeared, and the populace who believed in them instantly diminished.

It was then that a great mage made contact with them and proposed a new role for them as they were about to disappear.

That is ── the enforcement of the contract system.

It is still the same today, but there are many people with a shallow sense of morals in the past.

Naturally, promises and contracts were meant to be broken in this world, and the social system was in a somewhat troublesome state.

That’s when a genius mage was commissioned by the Grand Chamber of Commerce to create a basic social system that would make people honor their contracts.

The genius mage’s new role for the Four Divine Beasts is to be a strict God, punishing those who violate contracts.

Although they’re nowhere to be found, they’re there… they are certainly everywhere.

Furthermore, for them, who have absolute power, it is simple to punish the mortals with their power.

The type of punishment depends on the type of contract, but it starts with removing a finger, and the most severe punishment is death, just like mine.

Well, that’s how they went from being revered for protecting a country from supernatural disasters to being feared.

Thus, the contract became absolute in the world, and the Four Divine Beasts escaped the fate of disappearing from being forgotten by people.

No, that’s not all.

They became widely known as the contract beasts and successfully made people always aware of their existence….

If anything, they became more powerful.

── Naturally, the power is not that of the former divine beasts… not of the low-ranking Gods that were on the verge of disappearing.

Needless to say, they’re beyond what mortals can handle, so they’re feared and revered as Gods.

But Merlin had said.

“── What is about to happen is not a miracle, but it’s just inevitable”

Still… I have my doubts.

Are they really going to fight against God… and plan to win…?

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Chapter 3 Part 5

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Side: Anastasia

A place where the commoner’s hard-earned money was squeezed out of them and used to decorate with luxurious and dazzling items ── the Portes family’s mansion.

I don’t know how many times I’ve been here.

I always feel guilty and nauseous when I come here after finishing my task or when I’m here for a progress report. As I thought, I still can’t get used to it.

In one of the many rooms of the mansion, I was talking to Abe-san, the representative of the Portes family.

“Still, I was surprised when you came in as a transfer student”

“Um… er… m-me too. I didn’t expect that one of the head family’s lineage is enrolled in Altena Magic Academy…. What’s more, a mock battle was carried out to deliberately make you two fight… it’s unbelievable…”

“Wasn’t that a splendid performance, did you know about that?”

Master… no, I think he’s talking about Ephthal-sama’s power.

Of course, I knew about it. I also indirectly imply it several times, “It’s better not to fight”.

However, he didn’t listen to me and was the one who forced the mock battle to take place.

“…I didn’t expect that… humans to have that much power…”

That being said, I don’t know what kind of resentment Abe-san would feel if I were to tell him I knew about it.

That’s why I think it’s safer to say it this way.

“Well, it doesn’t matter. Still… to give that person the Raikiri, that damn old hag, Merlin, sure took a liking to him, huh?”

“Um, uh… is this really the last time?”

“You make it sound like you are reluctant to obey us?”

“…I’m sorry…. It’s not pleasant to be in thievery”

“The curse of the special slave crest… the thief of our Portes family, huh. Haha, well, it’s all your guys’ fault for losing the war against our family three hundred years ago”

“…We will obey the Portes family in exchange for not beheading my family and retainers… that has been the special contract between my family and yours since way back then…”

“So, as a family of magic swordsmen, have you got what we wanted?”

I then presented the Raikiri that I had stolen from Ephthal-sama.

“…I was sent to the Edwards household and was unable to carry out the task of stealing the former Demon King’s equipment. I’m sorry”

“Oh, I don’t care about that. So long as we get what we want, we have no complaints”

So I asked Abe-san again.

“…Is this really the last time?”

“Yeah, that’s the arrangement. Five artifacts per generation… for the time being, the contract is remitted” 

“Finally… finally, this is the end of it…”

“However, the slave crest implanted in your lineage will not disappear. It’ll be the same thing again in the next generation. Anyway, you have done well. I will report to Father and discuss with him how you will be treated in the future. Wait until tomorrow morning… also, as a reward, I’ll let you stay at this mansion today”

“Me…? Is it okay… for me to stay in this mansion? I’m lower than an ordinary slave in this mansion… no, in the first place, I’m a sinner in the eyes of the world, right? Even the fact that I have a connection with a special slave crest should not be known to other families…”

“Yeah, that’s right. So if you want to stay, you’ll stay in the stables”

“…Ah, yes. I knew it”

“Haha, I’m just kidding. Now, don’t get me wrong here. It’s true that’s how we’ve been treating you until now… but we can’t treat the person who brought us the Raikiri the cold shoulder. Just for tonight, we’ll treat you as a guest”

“…Thank you very much”

“But can’t you do something about the way you talk? Also, your timid attitude irritates me, you know?”

“…I’m sorry”

How can I have confidence in myself?

Even though it’s coercion, I’m still a thief…. But saying that will make him even more irritated.

“I’d like to hit you like I usually do, but I’ll be nice to you today”

I was then led into a luxurious guest room.

I sat on the fluffy bed and saw some fresh fruits served on a nearby table.

This is also the result of the five artifacts that have been presented to the Portes family, my quota, in accordance with their order.

My older sister presented three, and I presented the remaining two. All of those items were stolen over the time after risking our lives.

“I have betrayed Ephthal-sama…”

It’s always been the case that the rich are good-for-nothings.

That’s why I hadn’t been feeling so guilty before, but this time I have betrayed a decent person.

I felt so bad that not even the black tea and the tea cake that the maid had left for me earlier are going down my throat.

To think that today’s stay in this luxurious room is the price for betrayal… it only makes me feel depressed.

But still, this was the only choice I had.

So, I lay on the bed, turned off the lights… and slowly closed my eyes.

── I’m sure I’ll have that dream again today.

But this is the last time.

After all, my atonement is… over now.

And so I fell into a deep sleep.

── I had an older sister.

She was ten years older than me. When I was little, she was always hard on me.

And that’s because my elderly parturient mother gave birth to me, and a few days later ── she passed away.

“You caused our mother’s death. I wish you had never been born”

For as long as I can remember, I was always hurt by those words.

Naturally, as I learned to understand more and more, I began to hate my sister.

── When I was seven years old.

My sister left the village and went to work in the outside world.

We used to be a noble family, but now it has fallen into ruin. We are not affluent, too.

And so, about every six months… my sister would come back home, but she didn’t seem to bring any money back home.

However, her clothes were always pretty, and her hair was properly maintained.

Even though our father works every day from morning to night on the farm, so I thought she was really a shameless and foolish sister.

As a bonus, she would always find fault at me by saying, “You caused our mother’s death. I wish you had never been born,” to me.

Then one day, when I was twelve years old… as my sister accosted me as usual ──

“I hate you. Please don’t come back home ever again”

I said to my sister.

My sister was a strong-willed person, so I thought we would get into a huge fight. But, she only said gently with a sad tone, yet still looking glad ──

“…Don’t become someone like me”

I felt refreshed when I said that, but at the time, I didn’t think that my sister would never come back alive.

As it turned out, a few months later, my sister’s corpse was sent back home.

It was then that I learned the truth from my father.

One, that my sister died from being tortured in retaliation for the failed theft of an artifact.

Two, our family was once the royalty of a small country and was cursed with a special slave crest as war responsibility.

Three, we must decide who among the direct descendants of the current generation will receive the curse of the special slave crest. It doesn’t matter if they’re the eldest daughter or the younger sister.

In short, not only did my sister never tell me, but she took the brunt of the family’s curse alone without letting me know anything about it.

She was deliberately making me hate her… so that I wouldn’t be saddened by her constant absence or shocked when she was caught as a thief.

With pretty clothes and great hair care, for the task of stealing artifacts… it was inevitable to use women’s beauty as a weapon.

When I heard the truth, I had a thought.

── She really was a shameless and foolish sister…. 

If her younger sister will eventually find out the truth….

── Just how much regret and sorrow does she think there will be for those that were left behind?

I cursed my sister one last time without realizing that I was surrounded by deep, profound love.

I can no longer take back… the last moment abusive words that I spat up.

All I could do was just shed tears for my sister’s corpse.

── The next day.

After breakfast, I was called to Abe’s room.

As one would expect, it’s a uselessly luxurious room, decorated in poor taste. I even felt slightly nauseous.

“I didn’t know this either, so it’s no wonder you didn’t know… that if you present five artifacts in one generation, you would be let go in that generation, right?”

“Er… I’m pretty sure my sister has presented three, and I have presented two. We should have finished the quota now”

“Sure, some people have won their freedom by doing just that, but it’s actually just a private promise between individuals in the past generations”

“……?”

I titled my head, whereupon Abe’s lips twisted into an amused smirk.

“According to my father, don’t let someone so outstanding that they can bring the Raikiri to you end right there”

“…What do you mean…?”

“What I mean is that you’ll be doing the same thing for a while”

“…Then… what did my sister die for?”

“Huh? I don’t even know your sister”

“…We have presented five artifacts in our generation. Three of them were presented by my sister”

“So? What’s your point?”

“Er… I think my sister… stole for me with no regard to how it is done ── and died as a result”

Hearing that, Abe just keeps on smirking.

That’s right, even though I told him my sentiment on the dead, this man just….

“Um… uh… er… I’m sorry. I’m going to ask you again, okay? What did my sister die for? How do you think my sister would feel when she believed that meeting the quota will bring us closer to freedom…?”

When I grabbed Abe’s shoulder and tried to question him again ──

“Hell if I know!? Get off me, you dog!”

He kicked me in my stomach, and I collapsed to the ground.

“N-… no way…”

“Regardless. You will present the remaining five artifacts, and when you bear the next child and engrave the slave crest on the next dog, I’ll release you. I really do promise you this”

Finally, with a mocking grin on his face, Abe said ──

“And with that, you can get started with the next task”

A bunch of paper with a list of artifacts that the Portes family wanted was thrown down in front of me as I crumbled down to my knees.

“………”

“What is your answer?”

“…Um, er… er… I… I…”

“What is your answer?”

“Er… uh… um… I… my sister… uh…”

“I’m just going to say this one more time, okay? What is your answer?”

The slave crest is absolute. If I oppose it, death awaits me.

But….

At that moment, hot, burning emotions started to flare up inside me, deep in my heart.

From the very depths of my heart, I felt it, “── !!”. The voiceless wailing, the cries of my soul, were about to flood up from my throat.

“Oh? What’s with the defiant look?”

“…U… u… u! *Growl* ── !” 

But my anger didn’t translate into any meaningful words, it was just a… soft growl.

“Oh? What, are you going to cry? Why are you blushing? Ah, you are crying?”

Just as he said, I noticed that tears were endlessly running down my cheeks.

“Haha! This is seriously funny, you know?”

All I could do was a scowl.

All I could do was cry.

I couldn’t talk back.

I couldn’t hit him back.

“Wait! Hey!”

── I just had to get out of here.

“Whatever. You can’t escape. As long as you still have the slave crest, you have to come back soon, or you’ll die. The time limit is three days. In the meantime, cool your head”

As soon as I finished listening to the words that were hurled at my back, I opened the door and left.

After leaving the mansion ──

I was wandering in a half-dazed state.

I couldn’t put my thoughts together. All I could see in my hazy state of mind was a sepia-colored landscape.

Before I knew it, I noticed the time was well past dusk.

At a water fountain in the middle of the main street in a park.

I sat on a bench and looked up at the starry sky.

── Even though I thought I was going to be free, he easily reneged on his promise….

Without single care of how my sister… and I felt…!

They don’t think of us as people. No, I doubt that they even treat us like dogs.

I could feel my tears ready to burst out.

“It’s not safe for a woman to be alone this late at night”

Before I knew it, three men had surrounded me.

“……”

With a flicker of a knife, the man grabbed my shoulder.

“Too scared to speak?”

“……”

“Hey, we’re not going to kill you. Just have fun with us for a couple of hours, and then we will let you go”

Hearing that, I laughed to myself.

“…Um… er… you will let me go? Where’s the guarantee that after those couple of hours… I’ll really be free?”

That’s right.

If I continue to listen to them, I still have no guarantee of freedom.

The only thing I am sure of is that if the slave crest is passed on to the next generation, my children will feel the same way.

── In the end, as long as we have this ancestral special slave crest… there would be no future for us.

“Well, anyway… let’s have you head to the back alley for a bit”

He grabbed my arm and dragged me halfway into the back alley.

I didn’t even have the energy to resist.

I felt like anything, and everything was too bothersome and ambiguous.

It’s like I’m not in control of my own body. I feel like… I was standing on the sidelines somewhere far away like a stranger.

It doesn’t matter what’s going to happen anymore.

── I might as well just go with the flow.

Feeling desperate, I also know that I’m not in a good situation right now.

But I just ── felt weak and exhausted.

And so, after being dragged into the back alley, they started unbuckling their belts.

“We are so lucky to have such a beauty walking around by herself”

“You’re right. I guess this is what happens when you’re always well-behaved…!”

“No, no, I’m pretty sure we’re always ill-behaved! Well, anyway, we’re lucky!”

The world is full of malice.

The irrationality of this world is that… time changes and places change, but malice is surely still there, unchanged.

While still deep in my thoughts ── the face of that person came to mind.

He was the only person who could brush away the malice that had appeared before me.

That’s right, only that person… had the power to blow away all the irrational things in front of me.

If I had that overwhelming power of his… I could… no, or if I had told him everything and relied on him….

However, it’s all too late now.

I have betrayed him, and I don’t deserve it anymore.

When one of the men started trying to forcefully tear off my clothes ──

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Chapter 3 Part 4

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And so the next evening.

I was having dinner with Anastasia at the mansion.

The room is large enough to hold a banquet for about thirty people, and there’s a very long dining table in the middle.

There are also maids waiting in the corner of the room.

“…Um…uh…Master?”

As I cut into my beef tenderloin steak with my knife and fork, Anastasia, sitting opposite me, watched me from beneath lowered brows and tried to speak up.

“Hmm? What’s the matter?”

Anastasia continued to look at her meal but then looked up as if she had made up her mind.

“Er…I’ve always wondered…whether it’s okay for me to have dinner with you?”

“What do you mean?”

“Uh…I’m still a slave. It is customary for slaves to eat their meals on the floor…and…we even eat the same dishes…”

“Don’t worry about it. Slavery is just that, a status, and I don’t pay much mind to it”

“…Also, I still think it’s strange that…Master and I go to the same academy. It is as if Master has an unusual relationship with Merlin-sama, to begin with”

“You’re still just a child. You need to get a proper education and be able to stand on your own two feet someday”

“Er…I think that’s…weird. Um…it’s like an adult lecturing a child…. Anyway, I also feel bad for the generous hospitality I’m getting now”

I still haven’t told Anastasia that I’m Ephthal of the Four Emperors.

She wouldn’t understand if I told her, and the situation is different with Merlin, who realized it from experience that…well, it can’t be anyone else but me, after exchanging magic in the duel.

“You don’t have to feel bad. It is said that I’m a relative of Merlin’s…so it’s too late for me to turn back, too”

Hearing that, Anastasia became teary-eyed.

“…You’re kind. Master…”

Well, I’ve always had a habit of picking up odd things.

In the decisive battle at the Demon King’s castle, I even picked up the Demon King’s daughter, Merlin, who was still a baby, after all.

“Hey, the food is getting cold, so we’d better eat quickly, okay?”

“…Master?”

“Hmm? What is it?”

“…But still…as I thought, I don’t think I should stay like this without returning the favor after being picked up by Master”

“As I said, you don’t have to worry about it”

“I am really…really glad that I was picked up by Master. That’s why I have to return the favor in any way I can…”

“That’s enough. Let’s not talk about that anymore”

And so I took a sip of my glass of red wine, Anastasia then said with a determined look.

“U-U-Um…er…I-I-I…I am…a virgin. I think there’s nothing I can’t do…as a sex slave. I…can go to Master’s room…tonight…, i-i-i…-is that okay with you?”

Hearing that, I spit out the red wine with a “Bfffwww” sound.

With a cough, I choked on the wine that had entered my trachea.

“Just because you have a slave crest on you…doesn’t mean you should treat yourself that lowly, you know?”

“Um…er…I’m sorry. But, Master is really kind. That’s the kind of Master you are, so…I thought that it’s fine, too”

“……”

“……”

Then Anastasia, who had turned a bright shade of red, lowered her gaze.

“Um…Master?”

“What is it?”

“Er, I’ve been thinking for a while now…but Master is very powerful, right?”

“Well, you’ve seen it all so far, haven’t you?”

“Uh…such a powerful Master…what would you do if you were faced with something beyond your ability?” 

To ask such a question, she must have some thoughts about the special slave crest.

Apparently, she doesn’t think I’m aware of it.

“Then I’ll just try not to let it get out of hand”

Anastasia looked dumbfounded for a moment and then gave a small, fleeting laugh.

“The answer of the powerful. Does that mean…you think that there’s nothing you can’t handle?”

“Well. That’s not what I meant. I’ve had my moments of helplessness, too. Just like…times where you can’t help but fall into the depths of despair”

When I found out that I had no aptitude for magic, it felt like I’d been plunged into an abyss.

“However, I stood back up and here I am now. I overcame the impossible…no, I’m here now trying to get over it”

“As a result, I think…it’s a problem that could be worked out”

Anastasia said, still fleeting.

“What do you want to say?”

“…Master…I…”

Then she shook her head.

“I’m…I’m sorry. It’s nothing. I think I’ve had a little too much red wine and became more talkative”

For a moment, I was about to say something about the special slave crest, but…on second thought…I shook my head.

── Not yet.

As long as she doesn’t ask for my help, I don’t think it’s something I should intervene in…until there’s a definite problem, that is.

“…Master?”

“What is it?”

“Um…it’s true that M-Ma…Master picked me up, I’m glad. Please believe me on that”

said Anastasia with a sorrowful smile.

The next day ──

In the ruined treasure vault, Merlin and I were holding our heads in our hands.

Incidentally, the gatekeeper, Lamp Genie, is not functioning right now due to Merlin’s scrupulous punishment.

“Was it Anastasia?”

After thinking for a moment, I shrugged my shoulders and said.

“She stole a few artifacts, including the Raikiri. She probably won’t be coming back here”

“…I see. Well, that’s the fate of that type of special slave crest, I suppose”

There are two common types of slave crests.

Namely, the slave labor crest and the sex slave crest.

Just because they’re slaves, it doesn’t mean that their masters can give them any orders. There are rules for handling slaves.

Naturally, they can’t give orders that would be in violation of a crime, nor can they give orders that would take the lives of the said slaves.

It’s just a type of commercial contract for labor and prostitution. Binding them with a slave crest is to prevent them from escaping or labor strikes.

However, Anastasia’s slave crest is disguised.

At first glance, it looks like a sex slave crest, but…to the trained eye, you will know that it’s a special slave crest of black magic.

── A dark slave crest.

It is a nasty binding that even committing criminal acts must be obeyed if ordered by the master.

Even back in my life, it was considered a crime to apply the crest, and it was also convenient for some crime syndicates and religious extremist organizations.

There are also ranks among the special slave crests. Some of them could force you to commit murder, so it’s not difficult to imagine that it was really convenient for such organizations.

And what was engraved on Anastasia is the crest of stealing.

Perhaps that’s why she was with the guy from the Edwards family when she first met me. It’s probably because they were targeting Duke Edwards’ household treasure vault.

“So, what do you plan to do now?”

“I picked her up, knowing that this would happen at some point, and then we ended up getting involved with each other. I could cry myself to sleep, but…that wouldn’t solve anything”

“Solve?”

“Yeah, I’m pretty sure someone is forcing her to steal. She’s not the kind of girl who can just nonchalantly betray me…. I can’t leave her alone”

“The special slave crest’s technique…is not available for commercial use. You can’t transfer the ownership of a slave in any way, even with money, you know? Because it was originally used to show the absolute hierarchy of the mafia, and the resolution of believers to obey God, after all”

“Well, I know that. Even if transferring ownership is possible…for example, if it were only to replace a mafia boss or a cult leader, then there should be a way to do that. Outsiders probably wouldn’t be able to get in there and have access to that knowledge”

“Then, isn’t a basic solution impossible?”

“You know that all contracts are secured by the power of God, right?”

“A contract beast. It is still fresh in my mind that a small country was trampled by a God decades ago due to the annulment of a contract”

“Well, if we can’t annul the special slave contract the usual way ── then we’ll have to do it in a unique way”

Hearing that, Merlin grinned.

“…I see. You’re as flamboyant as ever, aren’t you?”

“Well, I’m the one who came up with the idea, after all”

“However, are you sure it’s ok to have your Raikiri stolen, even if it’s only temporarily?”

“I placed tracking magic on Anastasia”

Hearing that, Merlin gasped with an “Ah!”.

“Did you let her go free from the beginning?”

“Wouldn’t it be idiotic considering that the absence of the Lamp Genie was unexpected, after all?”

“Yeah, that’s true”

Merlin chuckled, and I gave a small nod as well.

“I suppose it’s probably about time she delivered the loot to her real master. I couldn’t know where the mastermind was just by being with her. That’s also why I purposely showed that child, who was supposedly targeting the Duke Edwards’ household treasure vault, a replacement ── in other words, the Raikiri. Well, I could say that it all went according to plan, too”

“But…she betrayed Ephthal-sama, didn’t she? Why did you go to such lengths for that girl…?”

“It’s the same as when I picked you up, Merlin. I’ve always had a habit of picking up odd things, and once I’ve picked them up, I’ll take care of them until the end”

Merlin then laughed exasperatedly, but certainly gently.

“Right, I suppose so. That’s the kind of person you are”

“I’m sorry for the trouble”

“Yeah, honestly…”

Merlin stood up and opened the treasure vault door.

“Where are you going?”

“Armaments…I mean, I’m going to get ready”

“I’ll be fine on my own, though…?”

“I have decided not to leave Ephthal-sama’s side…to the best of my ability. Also, I would hate to see you wander off to somewhere…like you always do”

*Haha!*, I laughed and shrugged my shoulders.

“Well, it’d probably be quite hard on my own. It’s also true that I’d like to have a brilliant mage with me. I appreciate it. Thank you”

“Did you just describe me as…a brilliant mage?”

“Yes”

Merlin then, brimming with tears, bowed her head.

“Before, I didn’t feel anything when anyone praised me for my brilliance, but when Ephthal-sama praises me…as I thought, the words carry a different weight. Well then, I’ll hurry up and get ready”

“I’m sure your unsuccessful master will continue to inconvenience you in the future, but please do take care of me”

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Chapter 3 Part 3

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The first period was over, and we were in recess.

With his face burning red, Abe came to my seat.

“Y-Y-Y…You…, who are you!?”

I honestly thought to myself, “Well, I saw this coming”.

“Who am I, huh…I can only say that…I’m Ephthal…”

As I said this, Abe, being fed up, grabbed me by the collar. 

“When Merlin-sama words it that way, she must be implying something, doesn’t she?”

“Well, as I said…”

That’s when Abe laughed and let me go with a “Hmph” as if he just realized something.

“Aah, so that’s how it is”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Merlin-sama…no, I was told that Merlin volunteers to hold magic classes for beautiful boys”

Come to think of it, there was such a story, too.

Well, I don’t want to say anything bad about Merlin, because it’s her hobby. But still, I was a little taken aback when I found out.

“Yeah, I guess”

“You’re Merlin’s beloved plaything, aren’t you? Dear me, a four hundred years old shotacon…that old hag…!”

Ah…so that’s how he interpreted it.

Well, in that case, then I don’t really care what he thinks.

“…I don’t think ‘old hag’ is a good term, you know”

“Huh? You’re asking me for an opinion?”

“No, not really”

At any rate, he really looks like a real pain in the ass. If possible, I don’t want to be involved with him from now on.

“Oh, I see. You’re…in love with that old hag after she laid her hands on you, huh? The first time around, a girl’s got to be special, if you get what I mean. That old hag seems to have a strong sex drive and is rather obstinate. I’ll say no thanks to that, but is that really what you wanted?”

“……”

If possible, or rather, I do not want to have anything to do with him by all means.

I mean, why did I get involved with someone so weird so early after just transferring to this academy?

*Ding-Dong Ding-Dong Ding-Dong*. The bell rang, and the second period began.

“We will now begin the class. Today’s agenda is deciding the members for the class competition”

The Altena Magic Academy is a thorough meritocracy.

Although there is no particular classification at the beginning for the first years, we later are divided into different classes after every four months.

By the way, it’s only been a month since the entrance ceremony, so to be more specific, the classification will be held three months later.

Naturally, the classification depends on your results, so everyone is frantic.

In addition to the results of periodic exams, the monthly class competition results among five selected members of the class are also an important indicator for the classification.

Well, being chosen as one of the five selected members in the first place is in itself a huge advantage.

“First of all, let us start with the magic swordsman slot. Errr…last time it was student Abe, correct?”

“Yes, Merlin-sama. My last result was winning two out of three fights”

Even though you were calling her an old hag earlier…. What a worldly person you seem to be.

The homeroom teacher, Merlin, then smiled and looked at me, “A magic swordsman, huh…”, she said.

Oh, come on, Merlin, I beg you, please don’t invoke your authority here. Seriously, don’t.

However, Merlin looked away from me. Just as I started to feel relieved ──

“Are there any other candidates other than student Abe? I don’t mind if you nominate yourself or someone else, okay?”

Good, looks like I’m no longer in the running for the magic swordsman slot.

When it comes to competitions, the other me tends to get…fired up, so you’ll never know what might happen.

If I unleash Level 7 or Level 10 Magic in the academy, even I can’t talk my way out of it.

── I only wanted a quiet life in the academy. If I can just use the library after the lessons have ended for the day…that would be fine.

Just then, Anastasia, who was sitting next to me, raised her hand.

Oh, come to think of it, Anastasia can use her rapier fairly well, too, doesn’t she?

She has the aptitude to be a magic swordsman, so I think her aiming for the magic swordsman slot is good.

“What’s the matter, cur…no, student Anastasia?”

“Um, er…I-I recommend Master…no, I mean, Ephthal-sama”

After those words were uttered, you can feel time froze in place in the classroom, and Abe snarl at Anastasia like a wild beast.

“Huh? What are you talking about when you don’t know anything on your first day of transferring to this academy?”

“Er, uh…I heard that the most brilliant individual is to be chosen for the class competition”

“That・is・why! I should be in the magic swordsman slot?”

“Er…which is why I’m saying that the most brilliant individual should be chosen…”

“Huh? Do you think that this human is better than me? Is that what you’re saying?”

“No, but…er…uh…”

Hmm? She’s acting a little strange.

Was Anastasia ever this opinionated?

That is when Merlin shrugged cheerfully.

“The academy is traditionally a meritocracy. It would be better to decide this in a mock battle. The two competing for the magic swordsman slot are…student Ephthal and student Abe, right? Are there any other candidates?”

Merlin’s words silenced the classroom, and then Abe glared at me.

“I’ll do it. I’m going to expose his true character after all ── this piece of trash!”

Well now…, I remained frozen on the spot.

── How did it come to this….

And so we are going to have a mock battle.

It’s to choose who is going to fill the magic swordsman slot for the class competition…. Well, I don’t plan to participate, though.

But, I guess it can’t be helped since it has come to this.

I faced Abe in a circle with a radius of 10 meters drawn on the playing field.

“Well then, student Ephthal? Please take it easy on him, okay?”

Merlin is acting as the referee, and my classmates keep staring at me from outside the circle as if they are thinking, “Let’s see what Ephthal can do…”.

Honestly, I don’t give a damn about winning or losing. As long as it doesn’t actually cause me real harm, then that’s fine by me. I don’t really care what other people think of me.

But if I win, I’ll definitely stand out, so that’s not good.

However, an easy loss here would make Merlin lose face.

Abe has been dissing Merlin’s propensity to like beautiful boys, so if I were to lose so easily on top of this treatment of me….

It’s obvious that it’ll be more troublesome than if I were to win.

Now, what should I do….

While holding a mock sword, I pondered for a while.

Then, I came up with a good idea.

── Alright, we’ll be fighting on an even playing field…. Well, maybe I’ll have to be on the losing side a little, and then say something like, “Well, Abe-kun, you’re strong. I’m no match for you”, and then concede right there.

Hehe. That’s the perfect plan if I do say so myself.

Abe seems to be a good fighter, so if I put up a good fight, losing a little bit at a 4:6 ratio would probably get my ability recognized fairly well, too.

Incidentally, I won’t make Merlin lose face, too.

And that’s when Abe called out to me.

“Hey, human?”

“Eh? What is it?”

“Do you know how good I’m with a sword?”

“No, I don’t know…”

“The truth is, I’m not much of a mage myself. Even so, from a human point of view, it must be on a whole nother level” 

“Oh…is that so?”

Abe smirked.

“But, I’m one of the top five most skilled swordsmen in this academy”

I see.

I don’t know how good he is, but he seems to be fairly confident with his sword skills.

With that being said, I’m also confident in my swordsmanship.

I had a good instructor, so I’m confident that I’ll be able to hold my own against adult masters, too.

Alright, since I’m telling myself that I’m this great, I’ll get hurt if I’m too careless.

If it’s magic, I’ll never lose, but if it’s swordsmanship…. Well, for now, let’s see how it goes with about 50% of my strength.

And not a moment later ──

“Well then, let the mock battle begin!”

Just as Merlin said that, I rushed at Abe.

Then I held my sword over my head ──

── A feint, followed by a front kick!

“Guh…!”

Abe flew backward and then dropped to one knee.

Ehh? I, with all my heart, just rushed in and didn’t even put my guard up.

Nonetheless, I have made minimal adjustments, so he’ll probably be up and running in no time.

“I won’t lose…!”

Abe was wobbling as he tried to stand up ──

“Urgh!”

And just like that, Abe crumpled to the ground and lying on his back.

“…Eh?”

That’s when Merlin nodded proudly and loudly declared.

“Student Abe is incapacitated! So the winner is ── student Ephthal!”

“…Eh?”

And as I was looking around, the blonde-pink ombre haired girl who had found fault with me before in the homeroom ── Maria, opened her mouth and said.

“It is said that humans are only skilled in close-quarters combat…and looks like it was true…!”

Err….

So is that what it is…?

The demon race is only good at magic…so their physique is weak…and 50% of my strength is….

“That’s amazing…as expected of Merlin-sama’s…!”

“I’ve never seen a move that fast before!”

“That is some outrageous technique there!”

Yup, I’m standing out.

I almost started screaming in frustration right then and there, holding my head in my hands.

Aargh!!!!

How did it come to this!!!!? 

── And I just hung my head, feeling dejected. 

“But seriously, what is with that guy…? Wasn’t that just amazing!?”

While looking at me with a dumbfounded expression, Maria made a face that said, “Ah!”.

“So that’s how it is…! Because an extraordinary swordsman has enrolled into the magic academy, so Merlin-sama is…giving that guy special treatment”

Then a man at this exhibition of a mock battle spoke to Maria.

“What do you mean by that?”

“Perhaps Merlin-sama is thinking about improving the entire academy’s magic swordsman’s curriculum. That’s why such an extraordinary swordsman from the human race was transferred to this academy”

“I see! So that’s how it is!”

“Yeah. It is said that although the human race is not good at magic at all, their superior swordsman’s close-quarters combat ability is awe-inspiring!”

“Merlin-sama chose our class as a testing ground and wanted to experiment with improving the magic swordsman’s curriculum by becoming the homeroom teacher herself…?”

“That’s right! I can’t imagine it any other way!”

── They seem to be amazingly presumptuous.

At any rate, it’s conspicuous, but…let’s go with Maria’s suggestion. It’ll give me an image of a…muscle head.

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Chapter 3 Part 2

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Now, we were enrolled at Altena Magic Academy, where Merlin is the headmaster at.

The Altena Magic Academy used to be a magic academy for humans, but due to the influences of the great war that broke out in an unstable world after subjugating the Demon King, it is now a magic academy for the demon race.

Incidentally, it’s within commuting distance from the mansion.

And in the past ── it was a venerable magic academy where the strongest man on Earth had enrolled despite being only a villager.

Well, I heard that he was actually only registered and hardly went there.

Apart from the history of the magic academy, Anastasia and I, who are the transfer students, tried to go through the gate of the magic academy, but ──

“Hey, you? I haven’t seen you around before, have I? The uniform is ours, but…”

A guard stationed at the gate asked me.

His ears are long, and he looks like someone from the demon race. Well, this is a country of demons after all, so that’s a given.

“Oh, we are transfer students”

“Transfer students? Come to think of it, I did receive a report like that. Please wait here for a moment”

The guard then went back to his security post and fetched some documents.

“Hmm…Ephthal Alcott…”

Looks like he’s using photographic memory magic to make an image of my face to the document.

The guard looked at the document then at me and gave a small nod.

“And Anastasia…family name is unknown”

Unknown?

Come to think of it, I’ve never heard of her full name, I wonder why.

Well, I guess it’s because of ‘that’.

Just then, the guard asked Anastasia, “Can I have a look at your shoulder?”.

Anastasia grimaced for a moment, but dexterously shifted her uniform to reveal the nape of her neck and shoulder.

“This crest…”

“Is there a problem?”

Well, it’s natural that the crest caught his attention. It’s a bit special even among the standard slave crests after all.

“No, it’s not for me to interfere as long as she’s allowed to enroll at the academy. By the way, Ephthal-kun?”

“Yes, what is it?”

“Being armed with a sword is allowed, but there’s a licensing system. Therefore, I’d like to register your sword”

“It’s not a sword, but a katana, though”

As I held out my right hand, I handed the katana with the scabbard to the guard.

The guard pulled the katana out of its scabbard ── and his expression changed as he examined it.

“E-E-E-Ephthal-kun?”

“Yes, what is it?”

“T-T-T-This sword, could it be ──”

I grinned and replied.

“Yes, this is the Raikiri”

“It is said that it was once owned by the Demon King’s commander-in-chief…a rarity of SSS-rank…!”

After saying that, the guard started frothing at the mouth and collapsed on the spot. It was as if he suffered anemia.

Well, maybe it was a little…too stimulating for ordinary people.

And so, we headed to our classroom.

Despite being transfer students, we didn’t go to the staff room nor the office, but we headed straight to the classroom as if it was normal.

Though, I’m only doing this because Merlin told me to….

“Wa-Wait…why did a human come here as a transfer student?”

A blonde girl sitting in front of me said in a low voice.

By the way, Anastasia is sitting next to me.

“The other person seems to be a demon…but like I was saying, why is there a human here? I don’t get it?”

Then, the one who responded to the question was a silver-haired guy from the demon race who sat diagonally to the right from where I was sitting.

He has fairly long hair and a slender build…one could probably say that he’s a good-looking guy, too.

“Hey-hey, Maria? You’re an elf too, aren’t you?”

Wait, this blonde girl is an elf?

Well, it’s true that her skin color is absurdly white and her ears are even longer compared to those of the demon race.

“But, humans aren’t good at magic, right?”

“They are in heat all year round, and their numbers are high, so the balance of power is just barely maintained. At the very least, humans are mismatched for our magic academy”

“It is said that demons and humans learned magic side by side in the past, so I guess it’s not unprecedented…but really, just why?”

“Oh, come to think of it, there was a rumor that in the era of the Four Emperors, humans could use magic reasonably well. Well, that’s not important anymore. Anyway, now that we’re talking about humans, it’s pretty much a given that they are not good at magic”

“So, why is there a human here?”

“Perhaps ── he’s a human authority figure or something. I guess he must have talked to the executives of the academy and forced his way into this elite academy”

It’s a bit embarrassing because it’s not necessarily…wrong.

“Well, I guess that it’s probably something like that”

“So, do you think that humans, the trash that is lesser than demons, can keep up with this elite academy’s education?”

“Hey Abe…that’s a bit much, and he can hear you, you know?”

Abe suddenly hits his desk with a bang.

“Huh? I don’t care even if he can hear me. Or rather, I’m saying it out loud so that he can hear! Does he have any idea what sort of ridiculous acceptance rate we had to overcome in the exam just to get in here?”

“Hey ── stop it!”

“Studying with a stinking ‘human’ sitting near to me? There’s no way I can accept it! This is an academy for the elite of the elite where only superior species like demons and elves are allowed to go, you know?”

I see.

He seems to have a lovely personality.

Abe smirked at me when I didn’t say anything back.

“If you’re a coward and don’t say anything back even after all this…then you’re going to be my gofer from now on. Well, even the bastards who talk back, are called out to the back of the academy building and then get beaten up to make them my gofer”

As I glared at him, Abe whistled a “Whew”.

“Oh? Are you going to retort with something? You, a mere human?”

And that’s when the blonde-pink ombre haired girl named Maria struck her fist on Abe.

“That’s enough!”

“Well, you said it yourself, didn’t you? I’m just speaking for everyone ──”

Maria then started to subdue Abe with her palm.

“I know what you mean”

Maria turned her gaze to me and said.

“It’s Abe’s fault that it turned out to be extreme or rather, vulgar, but you know…”

Then, as if to spit the words out, Maria continued.

“It’s true that humans…aren’t well thought of after all. I don’t discriminate on the basis of race, but I do discriminate based on a merit system. My pride won’t allow me to be in the same class as a failure. You aren’t going to be able to cast magic very well anyway, so with that in mind, I’d recommend you to stay out of our sight as much as possible”

When I looked around ── there were definitely cold gazes flying towards me.

So I sighed oh-so deeply.

── This is the beginning of another difficult road for life at a magic academy….

And so, the morning homeroom began.

“Now, before introducing the transfer students, I would like to inform everyone here of a change of the homeroom teacher”

A slender, tall figure with silver hair that reaches down to her waist.

She looks to be in her early twenties, and looking good in a tight suit ── but come on, isn’t this bad?

“Be honored. I, Merlin Alcott, your headmaster, will personally teach everyone here”

I mean, Merlin hasn’t changed her family name since I adopted her.

And naturally, the classroom went deadly silent, and after a while, my classmates started buzzing with conversations.

“Hey-hey, what’s going on?”

“The hero of the demon race is…?”

“To begin with, she’s kind of a hero, a living legend. She’s just a headmaster in name only, isn’t she?”

“But aren’t we lucky if we think about it? I can’t believe Merlin-sama is teaching us!”

That’s where Abe, the good-looking silver-haired guy from earlier, raised his hand.

“May I ask you a question, Headmaster Merlin?”

“Oh? What is it…? Errr…”

“It’s Abe. Abe Portes”

“Aah, right, I still can’t remember the names of the students I’m not interested in”

Those words caused Abe to mix anger into his expression for a moment, but he continued on as if he had regained his composure, “In the eyes of a living legend, that’s what I am now, huh…”.

“Why would the headmaster be our homeroom teacher?”

Merlin looked at me and winked, then said.

“It’s because a special student has enrolled in the academy”

Uhh…Merlin?

I don’t think that’s a good idea, you know?

“Special…you say?”

“It’s probably going to be a lot of work getting an outside element that’s far too different in level into the mix. So that’s why I’m here to coordinate”

Abe seems to have misunderstood something as he laughed at those words.

“I see. This guy seems to be the son of a very influential person. So much so that Merlin-sama has to go to the trouble of doing so. Being overprotective here, aren’t you?”

“Hmm. Does it look like that to you?”

“Yes, I can’t see it any other way. To me, he’s just an ordinary human ── an inferior one”

“Look, is it really so odd that a human enrolled in a demon’s magic academy, student Abe?”

“Since we are the chosen elites of the chosen race…”

“Well, it’s true that humans are, on average, inferior to us in terms of their individual magic ability in this age. I don’t deny that part. Magic is the pursuit for truth, and you can’t see the truth if you twist the facts after all”

“Yes, exactly”

“But it’s a third-rate mage to see matters only through entrenched stereotypes. Listen. Magic ── is the art of manipulating unorthodox miracles. You must know that ── the foundation of a mage is the ability to see things as they truly are”

“I’m not sure I understand what you mean by that…?”

Merlin then winked at me again.

“You too…should make a lot of observations about that boy, the transfer student. It’s undoubtedly a great opportunity for you to dispel your own ── stereotypes about the humans”

Then Merlin bowed deeply to me and said.

“Now then…please be gentle…with the fools of our academy”

After saying that, Merlin said, “That’s it for the homeroom”, and left the classroom.

I thought to myself.

── Hey, Merlin? Surely you’re not going to let me live a peaceful student life…are you?

And just as all eyes in the class were on me, the first-period lecturer came into the classroom.

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Chapter 3 Part 1

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Chapter 3 – I Thought I Had Transferred To Another Academy, But Suddenly I Had To Fight Against The Four Gods: Azure Dragon

So basically, by invoking the personal right of the headmaster’s authority, in this case, Merlin being the headmaster, it was an immediate decision for both me and Anastasia to enroll in Merlin’s academy.

Incidentally, both Anastasia and I are disguised on paper as direct disciples of Merlin’s adopted child.

Furthermore, I’m going to live in Merlin’s house.

“Ha, ha, hahaha! What a large mansion this is!”

There is no doubt that the mansion is as Anastasia said.

Or rather, the house Merlin currently lives in was originally my house though.

I gave Merlin the house, leaving her in charge of the grimoires and treasures. This in turn lets her use the property and house as she sees fit.

Hmm…this explanation doesn’t feel quite right.

I also loved Merlin in some way after all, so it would be appropriate to say that I wanted to leave something for her. I would feel embarrassed to just hand it over like that, so I made it out to be like a business deal.

With that said, it seems like it is going to take some time to go through the formalities before transferring to another academy, so in the meantime, I’m going to spend my time at Merlin’s, or rather, my private residence ──

“Ephthal-sama…what would you like to wear next?”

“Ah…yeah…”

This is my tenth change of clothing.

I’ve had a number of clothes merchants come to me and I’ve been made to play dress-up doll for a while now to help me choose my personal clothes and formal attire.

Well, it’s like…where you get one luxurious and well-tailored clothes after another, just as royalty would wear.

“Um, Merlin?”

“What is it, Ephthal-sama?”

“It doesn’t matter what I wear, or rather…as long as I don’t look weird in the eyes of other people, then that should be just fine, right?”

“No! I won’t allow that!”, said Merlin as the look on her face immediately changed.

“Eh?”

“I’ll lose face if I make Ephthal-sama look shabby! We must choose carefully here…! Ah! These clothes are cute!”

Ehh? Cute?

And so I was made to wear unisex clothes which could be worn by both boys and girls alike.

“As I thought, it’s cute!”

“You know…”

“These clothes are cute, too!”

Ah, there’s something about Merlin’s eyes that are sparkling.

I mean, those are some lively eyes there. Come to think of it, she’s always liked dress-up dolls and other cute things, didn’t she…?

I remember being worried about her because of her unusual obsession with doll clothes when she was a child.

Like, right now…the clothes that Merlin has with her. That’s something I’m definitely not supposed to wear, right?

“Hey, Merlin? Those clothes are totally for girls…”

“Ephthal-sama is such a beautiful boy ── so you should care more about what you wear”

“I’m not interested in cross-dressing…so I won’t wear it, you hear me? I won’t wear it, okay? Wait, ah…st-stop…ahh…ahhh!”

And so, I had spent a nightmarish hour as Merlin’s dress-up doll.

☆★☆★☆★

── The next morning.

“You better return to where you came from before you get hurt”

As we descended the long, long spiral staircase, we finally arrived at the underground treasure vault, but we were immediately given that warning.

Right now, in front of us stands a high-ranking familiar called the Lamp Genie.

It looks like the one you might see in the Arabian Nights stories or Aladdin.

There are quite a few mythologies and legendary creatures from Earth in this world that are very real.

I’m not sure why, but maybe it’s because there are places in this world that are connected to Earth…sightings and stories might have just naturally become part of Earth’s mythology and folklore?

Well, I’m not interested, but that’s beside the point.

Merlin has been away on official business since last night, and the plan is for her to be back by noon today.

After eating breakfast, I invited Anastasia to come to the treasure vault, saying “Now that I have learned how to use a sword, there’s a sword that I’d like to have”, so here we are ──

Perhaps this is Merlin’s familiar, an outstanding treasure vault guardian.

It probably can do everything from fighting off thieves to the maintenance of the treasures.

“So, are you two fucking thieving brats? Ah, that’s not a nice way of putting it, so you want the Raikiri?”

Fucking brats….

I was dumbfounded by its vulgar speech.

“It’s the legendary sword brought back from the Demon King’s Castle by the legendary Four Emperors, Ephthal-sama, you know? Its rarity value is SSS-rank, and you will rarely find one of the same value in the treasure vault of any nation”

“Well, that’s true”

“You both are students in Merlin-sama’s voluntary magic class for the local children, aren’t you?”

“……?”

Besides being the headmaster of a magic academy, Merlin also personally does volunteer work like that, huh?

There are a fair amount of children who don’t have the opportunity to learn magic after all, so she does some personal charity work for those children….

Yesterday, she made me dress up as a dress-up doll, and here I thought I had raised her wrong, but it seems that she’s grown up to be a proper good and honest child, so I’m very glad.

The Lamp Genie then looked at Anastasia and tilted its head slightly.

“This is strange? Merlin-sama’s magic class is…supposed to be nothing but beautiful boys from 10 ~ 16 years old. I can understand the black-haired brat, but why a pink-headed little bitch…”

I take back my previous statement.

Aaghh, Merlin….

What the hell are you doing collecting shotas….

“The black-haired brat is strange, too. You haven’t been made to change your clothes…in fact, you still have ordinary clothes”

It used to be dress-up dolls, and now it’s dressing up beautiful boys, huh…?

I don’t want to meddle in other people’s hobbies, but I’m a bit taken back.

“Anyway, I’d like you to open up the treasure vault?”

“Like I said, that won’t do. As a brat in Merlin-sama’s magic class, I’ll overlook the fact that you are stealing from her. I’ll pretend that it was just youthful enthusiasm that you wanted to examine the treasure and that it was a joke…so you can go away now” 

“No, like I said…”

“In the first place, this treasure vault belongs to Merlin-sama, but at the same time, it also doesn’t belong to her. It’s just that Merlin-sama was entrusted with curating the treasure vault by the legendary Four Emperors, Ephthal-sama”

“That’s why I have the right ──”

“Shut up, you little shit. Not even Merlin-sama can take out the many artifacts in this treasure vault at a moment’s notice, you know?”

Aaghh, this is getting nowhere.

It didn’t listen to me in the first place, and it’ll never understand me when I talk to it….

“By the way, you little shit. Where’s Merlin-sama now?”

“Guess she will be back from official business by noon?”

Hearing that, the Lamp Genie smirked.

“I see, Merlin isn’t here now…no matter how sharp her ears are, she can’t hear us from outside the mansion, can she? Alright…hey, little shit? I’ve had enough. Shall I make things clear?”

“Clear?”

“The old hag seems to have a soft spot for her favorite beautiful boys ── but it’s not before long that she’s going to slowly drive you to death, you know, you little shit!”

“…Eh?”

“That old hag has been such a slave-driver…ever since she used me as a familiar. And you know what? The story is that her Master, Ephthal, was incompetent with no aptitude for magic, and that’s why Merlin is shady in the first place. I bet her Master used some dirty tricks to get the position of the Four Emperors. Not by using his own ability, but by applying pressure from the political world of power struggles”

“……”

“That old hag, Merlin, still seems to be obsessed with the old geezer, Ephthal, and looks like a young Merlin back then was…much more loved at night by the old geezer, Ephthal. He must have been a good-for-nothing lolicon”

“……”

“Well, that old hag must have been corrupted by all the night-time abuse she received as a child. So basically, what I’m saying is get the hell out of here now”

“…Where is the Raikiri?”

The Lamp Genie pointed to the back of the treasure vault with a repulsive smile.

“Over there, you know?” 

Hearing that, I walked towards the radiant azure-silver sword lodged into the pedestal.

This sword is the one I brought back from the Demon King’s Castle a long time ago…. No, to be exact, it was the sword used by Demon King’s Army No. 2, the Commander-in-Chief. 

I remember being anxious when he cut my ‘Level 10: Emperor of the Thunder God, [Ephthal]’, in half.

“No matter what you say, I’ll take it with me, okay?”

“Fuhahaha! I’ve been quiet about this until now, but…all the treasures here are protected with magic. They are enchanted with enshrinement magic that no ordinary thieves and mages can even touch, you know?”

I slowly reached out to the sword on the pedestal.

“Useless, useless, useless! You’d have to be on old hag Merlin’s level to do anything about it!”

“…Level 8: Complete Spell Release, Perfect Dispel”

I then effortlessly pulled the sword from its pedestal.

“That’s…impossible…!”, said the Lamp Genie with his eyes wide in shock.

And just like that, the genie dropped to the floor, repeatedly having its mouth opening and closing, like washed-up fish gasping for air.

── Right then and there, the door of the treasure vault opened with a creak.

Just as I thought, it was Merlin, who now has a number of bulging veins on her temples, and it looks like she had decided to stand with her arms crossed.

“M, Me, Mer…Merlin-sama…?”

“You…I can hear you from the spiral staircase outside, you know? Hey, say it again…who’s the old hag?”

“A, A, A…Aieee…”

“Merlin? I think you’d better discipline your familiar properly, don’t you?”

Merlin got down on one knee and bowed to me.

“My apologies, Ephthal-sama. It appears that I have made you feel upset…”

“Ephthal…?”

The Lamp Genie alternately stared at my face and the Raikiri that I had drawn out more seriously now.

“Ephthal…? It can’t be…”

“Ah!”, exclaimed the Lamp Genie as it opens its mouth wide ──

“I’m, I’m, I’m sorryyyyy!!”

It immediately got into a Dogeza, but there was an insane amount of veins bulging on Merlin’s temple, so ──

“Namu Amida Butsu”. I recited the Nianfo with one hand.

That night ──

“Ephthal-sama? There’s something I want you to hear…”

Merlin has come to visit me in my bedroom.

By the way, my room is the one I used in my previous life. The large collection of books laid out on the bookshelves on all sides of the room were left as they were.

There’s a lot of knowledge that I have forgotten, so I’m really thankful for it.

I can see that each book has been meticulously and regularly preserved with Preservation Magic. The technique used here is also quite advanced.

Perhaps it was Merlin who took the time to perform maintenance on the tremendous number of books, one by one ── with her own hands.

Yes, I have a good apprentice. She really took good care of them because they were my legacy.

She honestly listened to the words I told her at the time, “In exchange for giving you the mansion, I entrusted you with its management”, ….

Unbeknownst to me, I was moved to tears from reminiscing the past.

“Ephthal-sama? What’s wrong?”

“It’s nothing”

So I invited Merlin and a maid in and sat on the reception sofa.

The maid set down the tea utensils and left the room with a bow.

“So what is it, Merlin?”

“It’s about Anastasia…”

“Hmm? What’s wrong with Anastasia?”

“I took a bath with her in the large public bath today”

Aah, I see.

Then…well, I suppose that would make her want to come to my room and have a talk with me.

“Before we dive into that, I want to know why you are taking a bath with Anastasia?”

“Aah, about that. It’s an inspection”

“── Inspection?”

“It’s an inspection to determine if her body is fit for night service to Ephthal-sama”

“Err…I’m a little unsure of what you’re talking about”

“A top-notch man must have a top-notch woman in his arms. Of course, it is necessary that I, Ephthal-sama’s No. 1 apprentice, to be checked. Naturally, I wouldn’t mind, but Ephthal-sama doesn’t seem to be interested at the moment…”

“Hey, Merlin? Do you mind coming over here?”

When I beckoned to her, Merlin obediently came up to me.

Then she kneeled down on the floor on one knee and bowed.

“How may I help you?”

“I’m about to get really angry, you know?”

With a yelp, Merlin got teary-eyed as I knocked her on the head with my fist.

“No, but. As long as that girl is in Ephthal-sama’s arms every night, I need to check her for things like STDs, her three sizes, and so on”

I knocked her on the head with my fist again, Merlin got teary-eyed again as she let out a yelp. 

“Because Anastasia and I don’t have that kind of relationship”

“Eh!? Then why did you pick her up?”

“Well, it just sorts of happened…”

“Aah, is this a usual habit of Ephthal-sama’s? I heard that I was picked up at the Demon King’s Castle, too”

“That’s right”

“By the way, about Anastasia ── after seeing that special slave crest, do you really intend to take her under your care?”

“That’s what I’m going to do though?”

Hearing that, Merlin gave me a bone-chilling gaze.

“── That’s equivalent to holding a bomb in hand…. The countdown for the time bomb has already begun. You understand that, don’t you?”

I shrugged and told Merlin.

“Stop whining. It’s my decision”

Merlin looked relieved after hearing those words.

“My deepest apologies. It wasn’t Ephthal-kun’s decision…but Ephthal-sama’s, wasn’t it?”

“Yeah. Once you pick something up, it can’t be helped. You got to take care of it, right?”

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Chapter 2 Part 4

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☆★☆★☆★

I was at a loss for words, my mind wandered for a while, but it was not long before my consciousness returned to me.

I mean, just what am I supposed to do in this situation?

Merlin is shedding tears. Anastasia has a twinkle in her eyes and an ecstatic look that just screams “As expected of…Master…!”.

And, to make things worse, the whole place is full of onlookers ──

── They stood there frozen with their mouths agape like their jaws were about to come off.

Hundreds of people are gathered here, but the whole place is in complete silence.

No-no, I was the one…who cast a Level 10 Magic without giving it a second thought, and just like that, I exited the stage. Though this situation right now…seriously, what should I do? 

Well, it can’t be helped, so I asked Merlin.

“Um, Merlin?”

“Yes, what is it, Ephthal-sama?”

“Um, it’s a bit of a long story. But it’s just that I’ve got a lot of research to do at the Magic Academy”

“Hmm. Well, I suppose it’s something complicated, isn’t it?”

“And now…there’s no way I’ll ever be able to have a normal academy life…”

“Well, that’s to be expected, isn’t it?”

Yeah, well…as I thought, Merlin thinks so, too.

“That’s why I feel so troubled”

“If Ephthal-sama is troubled, that means I’m troubled, too. Because a Master’s distress is also an apprentice’s distress”

Thus, both of us began to brainstorm for ideas ──

“For now, I have a plan” 

“A plan?” 

“Ephthal-sama, you’ve been taking the exam without revealing your background, right?”

“Well, I didn’t want to bother my family. So other than my name, most of the information I revealed is fake”

Hearing that, Merlin broke into a smile.

“── In that case, let’s get out of here now!”

To Merlin, who was still smiling, I exclaimed ──

“EEEHHH!? What do you mean by that!?”

── With a perplexed look on my face.

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Chapter 2 Part 3

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☆★☆★☆★

“Let’s start with a quick test, Merlin-san ── Level 6: Flame Array’s Zenith, Flare Burst!”

Merlin smiled bitterly.

Well, that would happen if a child right after entering a Magic Academy could handle Level 6 Magic as a quick test.

Even I’d be surprised by this.

“I see ── so that’s your so-called quick test, huh!? Fuhaha! You’re good! Level 7: Absolute Durability, Perfect Wall!”

‘Absolute Durability, [Perfect Wall]’ defended from the blaze of ‘Flame Array’s Zenith, [Flare Burst]’.

After blocking my magic, Merlin grinned.

“Level 6 Magic, this level of proficiency at your age…huh? I can’t help but shudder and be amazed, too! Fufu, that person…Ephthal-sama has been doing all sorts of mean things to surprise me since his death, hasn’t he…!?” 

“Mean? What kind of mean things did the ancestor do to you?”

Right then and there, Merlin’s face turned red and shook her head from side to side.

“…A lot of things. That person really gave me a ‘mean’ education…. I’ve been embarrassed more than once or twice later because of that education”

I mean…I’ve spouted a lot of ridiculous and stupid things other than the ‘kissing could make a child’ spiel.

Well, as for Merlin…I may have teased her a little too much.

I had a lot of fun spouting those lies because she firmly believed them and when she had a ponytail hairstyle, I would often playfully pull her hair. 

Yeah, to put it mildly, I love you, Merlin.

Dear me, I’m really starting to miss a lot of things.

Merlin shook her head again from side to side to calm her body down from trembling.

“But I can’t lose to you, at least not at your current age. No, I absolutely can’t lose to you! I also have some pride in myself, Ephthal-kun! You may be the thirteenth generation of the family, but I am the first favorite apprentice of Ephthal-sama! I’m proud to say that I’m the original who has received Ephthal-sama’s magic in person!”

Merlin was tiny and cute at the time.

Now she’s a sexy, dynamite sister…. Since I’m kind of like a foster father of hers, so I’m really emotional about a lot of things.

And as I was thinking that, Merlin’s expression changed to a Rakshasa.

“You’re dealing with me now…why are you grinning at me!?”

…It’s exactly as she said.

I can’t deny that I was a bit too carefree, remembering the past.

On another note, I’ve never seen Merlin with this expression before. I need to brace myself a bit, or she might pull the rug out from under me.

“Then allow me to return the favor. I’ve judged that it’s unnecessary to go easy on you. Don’t let me down by getting hurt! Level 6: Flame Array’s Zenith, Flare Burst!”

I see. She has returned my ‘Flame Array’s Zenith, [Flare Burst]’ with another ‘Flame Array’s Zenith, [Flare Burst]’ of her own.

It seems that she has always had an unquenchable desire to compete, or rather, hate to lose, just as in the past.

“In that case, I’ll also return with an Absolute Durability, Perfect Wall!”

Once again, ‘Absolute Durability, [Perfect Wall]’, defended from the blaze of ‘Flame Array’s Zenith, [Flare Burst]’.

Normally, it would take time to transmute mana into high-ranking magic again. Therefore, with that in mind, battles are built on the assumption that there will be a pause until the next magic.

But I know. No, we both know.

── That we could barrage each other with magic without a moment’s pause.

For we are kin who have inherited the same craft.

That’s right, if one mastered the craft of the Ephthal School, which I developed, you can perform high-level magic without chanting and consecutive magic attacks.

Originally, I was even worse at handling super high-level magic compared to the other three Emperors.

No, to be precise, when I was using Level 10 Magic, the cast time was too long compared to the three of them due to my magic aptitude.

To make up for the disadvantage, I established a strategy of consecutive attacks using Level 7 ~ 8 Magic, and of course, Merlin inherited the trump card that I established. 

“With this, it seems like you won’t be injured even if I go up a level, right!? Level 7: Absolute Freeze, Cocytus!”

“…I knew you could do it in no time…but you’re constructing your magic formula just way too fast, you know!?”

“You’ll get hurt if you talk too much!”

“Huh!? Me getting hurt? Just who do you think you’re talking to…you greenhorn!? Level 7: Absolute Durability, Perfect Wall”

“The magic formula is insufficient. Even though they are the same level, that won’t stop my Absolute Freeze, Cocytus!”

“Guu…such proficiency in the magic formula…eeii! Level 7: Absolute Durability, Perfect Wall ── Parallel Activation!”

My ‘Absolute Freeze, [Cocytus]’ completely fended off by the two large magic walls.

And there, due to the adverse effects of magic intoxication from having two high-ranking magic activated at the same time with Parallel Activation, Merlin seems to have suffered a mild concussion.

Yeah, it’s exactly as I thought…she’s losing consciousness. I can tell by her complexion that she is pale.

Merlin staggers and her eyes which are watching my movements become hazy for a moment.

“When using Parallel Activation, you could lose your consciousness to the magic formula construction! Didn’t the ancestor teach you ── never take your eyes off your opponent? Level 6: Degraded Thunder God, Lesser Ephthal!”

“Evasion…is impossible! Eeii! Level 8: Spatial Transfer, Teleport!”

Merlin appears behind me, and I also activate Level 8: Spatial Transfer, Teleport.

I did that because I was sure that I would be attacked from behind with a series of consecutive attacks.

“Level 6: Flame Array’s Zenith, Flare Burst!”

As expected, the space where I was located just a few moments ago had been burnt by Level 6 Fire Magic.

Speaking of me, I appeared five meters beside her, and Merlin immediately turned towards me.

“What’s the matter, Merlin-san? Why are you smiling…?”

“I’m smiling…?”

Merlin placed her hand over her mouth and made a surprised expression.

“You’re right, I’m smiling…”

Merlin shrugged as if she had given up on something, and then gave a little nod.

“Ephthal-kun, I apologize for my rudeness”

“Rudeness?”

“I looked down on you since you’re just a child. But without a doubt, you’re quicker to construct magic formulas and also have more proficiency in magic than me. I was only able to counter you with Parallel Activation during the Level 7 Magic clash”

“……”

Merlin again nodded at my silence.

“Would you care to join me for a little old tale?”

“…An old tale, huh?”

“My Master was trying to be the strongest”

“Yes, I know”

After all, I’m still aiming for it.

“And I, too, was chasing what my Master aimed for, these two words, ‘The Strongest’. Every single day for the last 400 years, every single day of my life, foolishly. No, to be precise…that’s what I thought earlier till just now” 

“Thought, as in the past…?”

“Earlier…I smiled in the middle of a battle in which I was at a disadvantage. Why do you think I smiled?”

“…I don’t know”

“I felt a sense of vexation that the skills of my Master that I had been honing for 400 years…were being beaten by you who was handling the same skills”

“Well, I suppose it’s natural that you would have such a feeling”

“And I…had a feeling of nostalgia and delight in seeing you handle your skills, exactly like my Master”

With an indescribable expression on her face, Merlin shrugged again as if she was in over her head.

“Then as my emotions and feelings conflicted, I smiled. As I look at you, who is exactly like my Master…rather than regret…I remembered the old days…and I smiled. It reminded me of those evenings when I played the game of magic with my Master, long, long ago…I was happy…and now it just feels nostalgic…”

Merlin looks like she’s about to start crying any moment now.

“I wasn’t trying to be the strongest. I just cherished and treasured the toy called magic that my Master had left behind for me, the toy I used to play with him…the toy he gave me as a gift. I understood that as I saw you”

“……”

“It felt really strange to me, too. Why do I have these strange feelings about you? Even though you’re no doubt the descendant of my Master…but you’re not my Master…you’re not Ephthal-sama”

Um…yeah, thank you.

Merlin loved me that much.

How should I put it…yeah, I’m really glad to see her again. Aren’t I getting a bit teary here?

“With that said, I still have my pride after all. Now, Ephthal-kun? Can you take it? The next secret technique I will unleash is my trump card. If you can overcome this…I’ll admit defeat”

Merlin was cladded in the Ephthal School’s forte, Lightning Qi. 

“Level 8…Thunder God’s Strike, Thor’s Hammer, huh? Do you think that would work on me with the exchanges we’ve had so far?”

“Yeah, it probably won’t, right? That’s why I said ── it’s a secret technique”

Now, what should I do?

After all, Merlin is my favorite apprentice. 400 years have passed since then, and she developed a so-called secret technique….

With the utmost caution, I build up my magic power so that I can construct the magic formula as fast as possible.

“I see. So you haven’t given up on the game?” 

“It looks like you’re ready to return the favor on your side. Then let’s do this, Ephthal-kun”

“Yeah, no problem”

Merlin shot out lightning from her raised right palm.

“Level 8: Thunder God’s Strike, Thor’s Hammer!”

After confirming that I was about to cast a Level 7 Defense Magic, Merlin raised her left palm.

“Parallel Activation! Level 8: Thunder God’s Strike, Thor’s Hammer!”

Parallel Activation, huh? I’ll also have to construct my magic formula as soon as possible, otherwise ──

And that’s where I felt a cold sweat run down my spine for the first time today.

“Three…Parallel Activations in a row?”

Merlin raises her right leg high ── high above her head as if a hammer was ready to be swung down.

“Parallel Activation! Level 8: Thunder God’s Strike, Thor’s Hammer!”

This isn’t good.

I’ll also have to use Parallel Activation on my Defense Magic, otherwise…and that’s where I, no…I….

“Hahaha!”

I couldn’t help but burst out laughing in spite of myself.

Next is ── her left leg.

Again, Merlin raised her left leg high above her head as if a hammer was ready to be swung down.

“Four Parallel Activations?” 

“Parallel Activation! Level 8: Thunder God’s Strike, Thor’s Hammer!”

As expected…that seems to be the end of it.

The recklessness of using four Parallel Activations ── Merlin, who should have been suffering from severe nausea due to the effects of overworking her brain, fell to her knees on the spot with a pale complexion on her face.

I mean, even back in my era, there was no such thing as four Parallel Activations of Level 8 Magic.

“I see. That’s one amazing feat. As expected of my favorite apprentice, Merlin. It would be too much for a little Ephthal boy to handle. In that case, I’ll give it my all!”

This secret technique of hers is exclusively Merlin’s own original magic.

In that case, I’ll return the favor by revealing my original magic as the Emperor of the Thunder God.

Otherwise, it would be too rude to this child’s 400 years of effort.

“Well, it’s not bad to see my apprentice grow up, isn’t it? Not bad at all!”

I raise my hand above my head. And ── 

“── Level 10: Emperor of the Thunder God, Ephthal!”

Thunder reverberated with a thunderous roar.

“Haha…hahaha…I see…so this is…an illegitimate child…with the power of the original bloodline…”

Merlin could only laugh weakly at the sight before her.

It’s like all she can do is laugh in dismay. Well, as it should be.

After all, the four Lightning Qi that Merlin cast were instantly swallowed by the extreme Lightning Qi from my Level 10 Magic.

And so, in the next moment, I canceled my magic formula construction before the Level 10 Magic could cause any damage to the surroundings.

This isn’t just an ordinary Level 10 Magic after all. It is a Level 10 Magic where the precision of manipulating magic power was handled at its peak.

In other words, after absorbing the Level 8 Lightning Qis, I canceled the magic formula construction at that very moment, and safely dispersed the electricity into the air.

Whether or not Merlin can manipulate magic in the same realm as me, the answer to that is ‘yes’.

── However, as long as the magic is of Level 5 or so difficulty….

And that’s when I noticed Merlin’s expression had changed.

It’s the same gentle smile that she once directed at me when she was a child…a little spoiled Merlin as she was back in those innocent days…. 

“Well, you noticed, haven’t you?”

In the first place, it was Merlin who mentioned reincarnation.

Moreover, the current Level 10 Magic can only be used by those who have constructed the magic formula from the very first conception of the theory such as at the level of a classroom lecture, that is.

My own original magic, Level 10: Emperor of the Thunder God, Ephthal. If it wasn’t someone who knew everything about it…my performance earlier would not be possible. 

In other words, there is no one else in this era who can handle ‘Emperor of the Thunder God, [Ephthal]’ magic other than me.

“I didn’t actually intend to reveal myself here, but…”

I smile and walk towards Merlin.

“I’m sorry for being so mean and lied to you, Merlin. Those words that you asked me…if I knew about reincarnation…?”

“It can’t be…Ephthal-kun…you’re…”

“Yeah, it’s me. Looking at the ‘Emperor of the Thunder God, [Ephthal]’ magic just now, you should know that it can only be handled by none other than the original. Me, right?”

“A-A…Are you really…the reincarnation of…Ephthal-sama?”

“You know best, Merlin, that there is no other explanation for it, don’t you? Also…looks like you haven’t been slacking off. That was splendid all right. You surprised me”

“I’m just a superficial imitation of Ephthal-sama…who even after 400 years, has yet to reach your back”

“That’s not true, you’re the real deal. Even I don’t know if I could cast four Parallel Activations of Level 8 Magic at the same time. You’ve done well, Merlin. I’m very proud of you, my apprentice”

I turned to Merlin who was on her knees ── grabbed her head in an eagle grip, and stroked her head intimately as I used to do in the past. 

“With those words…I…my…my four hundred years have been rewarded”

“Don’t cry. What are you, a child?”

Before I knew it, tears started to well up in Merlin’s eyes and she almost collapsed to the ground from her kneeling position on the spot ──

“I’m sorry. But it seems that in front of Ephthal-sama…I’ll always be a child”

── And so I supported Merlin who had broken down crying and gently hugged her.

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Chapter 2 Part 2

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☆★☆★☆★

After the entrance ceremony ended, I got into trouble.

I was having lunch with Anastasia in the cafeteria, and all I can say is right now, I’m definitely in big trouble.

All the academic staff and students in the cafeteria are looking straight at us.

── Well, it’s not surprising that this happened, considering that Merlin, who is the headmaster of the Demon Academy, started eating her lunch right next to us.

Merlin glanced at me, and each time she did, she clearly sighed and a light shade of red can also be seen on her cheeks….

And then, with determination, she began striking up a conversation with me, or rather, I should say she’s busy trying to work up the courage to do so.

She has been trying to talk to me for about ten times now, but she just stops herself whenever she opens her mouth…. Such actions have been repeated over and over again.

Well, she’s always shy to talk to strangers, hasn’t she?

Yeah, this is troublesome. Very troublesome indeed. 

── So, what do I do now?

While I was pondering over a solution, an upperclassman who sat diagonal to me took one look at Merlin, grinned, and then said ──

“Really now…this is deplorable for a middle-aged woman to be a shotacon”

Merlin froze for a moment at those words………she then cocked her head slightly to one side.

“A middle-aged shotacon…did you mean me?”

“Yeah, if I were to talk about an older shotacon here, it would be you…O・BĀ・SA・N” |TL Note: Obāsan = Old Lady|

Those words froze Merlin again………for a moment.

“I felt your disgusting, passionate gaze on the new student representative, you know? A woman over twenty years old ogling a 15-year-old boy…. What can that mean I wonder?”

“……”

“Also, it feels like you’re looking for the right time to talk to him, almost as if you’re trying to seduce him or something, you know?” 

“……Seducing?”

“You don’t have to hide it, okay? That disgusting, passionate gaze of yours…it’s nothing more than a filthy sexual desire”

“By the way, who are you?”

“If he’s the main representative of Honour Students, then he is an elite with a promising future. In short, I, the Count’s daughter ── Victoria, am a suitable partner for him” 

Hearing that, Merlin chuckled.

“So you’re telling me that you’re trying to get this boy as a woman?”

Ehh!?

I mean, the power of the main representative is wonderful, isn’t it? It’s quite the development going on here!?

“Yes, as expected, the other vixens will be quick to take the lead. Well, it seems like I can’t underestimate the allure of a woman, even if she is an Obāsan (Old Lady). If someone calls out to him, he might just easily be deceived. Therefore ── I, as his future partner, will be the watchdog and keep people like you in check”

Just as Victoria finished talking, Merlin thought for a moment, then began to speak in a low, calm voice with a big smile on her face ──

“── Shut your mouth, you cur”

Now it was Victoria’s turn to freeze.

“C-C-Cur!?”

“If a naive stupid brat calls herself a dog…we have no other opinion of her than that she’s a cur”

“Y-Y-Y-You ── To call someone a cur…who do you think you are!? Identify yourself!” 

“I’m not just somebody…but I’m Merlin, the headmaster of another magic academy”

At that moment, the Count’s daughter immediately knelt down and said in a loud voice ──

“I-I-I’m, I’m so sorry!! I didn’t know you were the hero of the demon race, Merlin-sama…!!”

Whoa, she changed her attitude so quickly!?

This girl…what a simple personality she has…!!

I guess, being the headmaster of the demon race, Merlin is really a target of respect and awe, isn’t she? 

Also, Merlin…seems to have a harsher personality than she used to.

Well, I think it’s because of all the things that have happened since then, but I don’t recall raising a child who would call someone a cur?

Merlin then cleared her throat and said to me.

“…You”

“What is it?”

“Ephthal-kun…right?”

“Yes, I guess…”

“Hey, Ephthal-kun?”

With a smile, Merlin asked ──

“…Do you know the word…‘Reincarnation’?”

She’s always quick on the uptake, but she suddenly got straight to the point.

“Reincarnation? I wonder what you are talking about?”

“You resemble him…. My special someone…”

“Resemble, you say? I don’t quite understand, but…well, it’s not uncommon for someone else to bear resemblance to another person”

“You’re right…. I guess you just look like him…”

Merlin nodded slowly as if she was convinced ──

“Do you really think that could convince me!? Why did you run away from me in the first place!?”

When she pointed that out……well, she’s absolutely right. 

I sighed as I took the tea on the table in my hand.

“Ephthal-kun. I had a look at your exam results”

“……”

“You really blew it. The scores looked as if the legendary Four Emperors had taken the entrance exam for fun”

This is bad.

I can’t believe I’m going to pay for not restraining myself in the exam right here and now.

“And you know what, Ephthal-kun? Looking at your answers to the Academic Entrance Exam…I think you should learn how to adapt to the times better”

“What do you mean?”

“Most of the academic staff couldn’t understand a good portion of your answer sheet, which isn’t that surprising ── since the answers are based on magic theories from 400 years ago, so there’s no way today’s mages can understand it” 

Uhh….

I didn’t know that was going to happen.

I hadn’t even paid attention to it because they were all easy questions, but if I answer them with the magic theories that I know, it’s inevitable that there will be a 400-year time gap.

“So…what is Headmaster Merlin trying to say?”

“Even if reincarnation is just a shot in the dark, you have a special connection to the legendary Four Emperors, Ephthal-sama. I’m adamant about that. And the fact that you ran away from me…there was something in relation to what I said earlier that you didn’t want to face, wasn’t there?”

She is right about the reincarnation!

That’s what I want to say, but if I can do that, then I won’t be having a hard time right now.

“Now, Ephthal-kun? Who are you? I’m still a direct apprentice of the Emperor of the Thunder God, you know? If it’s something to do with my Master, I’ll be as persistent as a snake, okay? I’m not leaving until you give me a satisfactory answer”

Well, what should I do now? I wonder if there’s a good excuse that I can use to possibly talk my way out of this situation…. 

Ah, yes! Let’s just go with this.

“The legendary Four Emperors, Ephthal ── if you’re personally involved with him, then you know that he died in a mansion deep in the mountains, right?”

“Yes, of course. I laid flowers upon my Master’s coffin with my own hands after all”

“And…he was a hero and was awarded the title of Duke after the subjugation of the Demon King. Furthermore, his lineage still continues to this day…you know this too, right?”

“Of course”

“Actually. The Four Emperors, Ephthal, had a mistress you see. Are you aware of this?”

“Mistress…you say? That’s news to me”

Well, that’s because there was no such thing.

So of course she never heard of it.

“He had no magic aptitude and died of a broken heart from the despair he got. You know this ──”

Merlin quickly covered my mouth with a changed look on her face.

“That’s a matter that is not generally known…no, I should say it’s a matter that is kept under wraps. It is top-secret information as it concerns the authority of the Four Emperors themselves. Although my Master’s ability was certain…it was still too bad in the eyes of society. I have my personal thoughts on the matter…but that’s how it goes”

“I see”

“But to know such a thing…Ephthal-kun really does have a strong connection with my Master, don’t you?”

You’re the only one with the strongest connection here.

“He had a child with his mistress. And that child had an outstanding aptitude for magic, so he had been teaching the child all he knew about magic, unbeknownst to others”

The words filled Merlin’s face with astonishment.

“What…did…you…say?”

“His dream was to reach the summit of magic. He entrusted his own child and their children with his name and dream. The child settled deep in the mountains in the middle of nowhere, and his family polished their magic like a hermit, cut off from the rest of the world. No…they continued to refine it”

“Ephthal-kun? By any chance, you’re…”

“The thirteenth generation: Ephthal Alcott. That’s me. People don’t seem to know of our existence in general…but that’s the situation. And our existence is a bit of a shock to our ancestor’s direct apprentice…isn’t it?”

“I see…so that’s what it was. Well, certainly…if you’re talking about my Master having an illegitimate child and not informing us about it…then we have no reason to think well of it. Oh, for the record, I don’t mean to offend your family, nor do I mean to offend my Master…I’m just sad that I didn’t know about it…at least that’s how I feel right now”

Oh? It was quite an absurd explanation, but it seems to have convinced her.

Well, she’s always been honest and gullible.

I laughed when she seriously believed my false and foolish stories that anyone could understand for what they truly are. As I recall, she believed that a stork would bring a child to her when she was already over ten years old. Also, I’m pretty sure she believed that kissing could make a child.

It’s like the really stupid and gullible kids were the cuter ones.

“By the way, Ephthal-kun?”

“Yes?”

“I’m also taught magic by Ephthal-sama. So, in a way, you could call me your sister in apprenticeship” 

“Well, I suppose you’re right”

“And I, too…am one who aspires for the summit of magic in Ephthal-sama’s lineage of magic”

“……?”

“It’s not just your family that will follow the path Ephthal-sama has shown us and become the strongest. And they’re not the only ones that have continued to refine their magic too, you know?”

And that’s where Merlin gave me a defiant look.

“The entrance ceremony has ended. In the afternoon, there’s supposed to be a magic battle demonstration between the new student representative and the academic staff representative, right?” 

“Yes, that’s what I’ve been told”

It’s a mock battle to let people know that even the strongest new student is still no match for their academic staff.

Incidentally, in my case, I’ve been ordered to, “If your exam results are true, you will probably win against the academic staff, so I want you to lose on purpose”.

“Hey, Ephthal-kun? Would you like to compare our magic in the magic battle demonstration?”

Now, this is troubling.

The reason is…I’d definitely stand out.

If Merlin and I clash with each other, it’s unlikely that the school building where the demonstration is supposed to be held would be safe.

Well, there’s a very simple solution to the problem and that’s to just say ‘no’. But it’s because I can’t say ‘no’ that I’m in a real bind now.

Anyway ──

── I do want to see how much did my apprentice improve.

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Chapter 2 Part 1

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Chapter 2 – A Story About The Decisive Battle For Humanity’s Strongest That Broke Out At The Entrance Ceremony

—And so it is time for the entrance ceremony.

This is the building used for the ceremony.

A red carpet was laid out in a space the size of a gymnasium, and chairs were lined up everywhere.

It is said that this place is sometimes used to invite important figures from various countries. With chandeliers and such that can take one’s breath away, the interior looks quite luxurious.

I was born as a member of the Duke’s family, but I’m not a child of the first wife, so in a sense, I’m actually more of a commoner.

Well, like the son of a reasonably wealthy merchant type of commoner.

Incidentally, in my previous life, I was the eighth son of a fallen and poor noble. I was almost sold to a debtor, too. 

Anyway…this is the kind of place where the commoner’s hard-earned money would disappear to.

And then there are the Honour Students class, the Children of Nobility class, and the rest of the classes. Looks like each class has their own seats.

The Honour Students class is at the front, the Children of Nobility class is behind them, and the commoners class is behind the latter.

The red carpet laid on the floor is only up to the Children of Nobility class. We can catch a glimpse of a blatantly class-based society here as well, huh….

I felt melancholy as I turned my gaze towards the VIP seats in the frontmost row, left of the ceremony hall.

“Anastasia?”

“Ah, yes. What is it?”

“To me, it looks like Headmaster Merlin is taking quick glances at me. What does it look like to you?”

“I think so, too”

I knew it.

Hmmm…well, I forced myself to run away for no real reason….

In hindsight, I could have just made the excuse that I just happened to look similar back in the office.

Let’s take the initiative and go talk to her to clear up the misunderstanding after the entrance ceremony has ended.

No, it’s not a misunderstanding, Merlin thinks I’m a blood relative of the Emperor of the Thunder God…well, I suppose I really can use the ‘I look like him’ route.

It’s just that I actually have the same presence, and I was like this when I was younger.

Then why did I run away? I mean, in this day and age, Demons are superior to Humans in the field of magic, and it seems that if you’re the leading figure of the demon race in magic society, you’ll be a target of tremendous amounts of respect and awe.

Hmm, that’s right.

How about this as a cover-up plan?

First, I was surprised when I was suddenly spoken to by such an important person. So not knowing what to do, I ran away. 

Then, later on, I realized how rude I was and decided to talk to her to apologize.

After that, I will just say the first thing that comes to mind. ‘Whoa, it’s such an honor to resemble Merlin-sama’s Master, the Emperor of the Thunder God (in a monotone voice)’, and that’s how I’ll push through using this ‘I look like him’ route….

Yeah, it’s the perfect plan, if I do say so myself.

Ignoring my thoughts there, the entrance ceremony proceeded.

It wasn’t too long before the ceremony moved on to where the representative of the new students was supposed to give a speech, and I was called up by the headmaster.

“Now, representative of the new students—student Ephthal Alcott”

“Yes!!”

And that’s where I started feeling uncomfortable.

I mean…I knew it…this is bad. Absolutely bad, right? 

It would be bad if I stood up and replied, “Yes”, when someone called Ephthal Alcott, wouldn’t it!?

It would be bad if I, who has the same name as the Emperor of the Thunder God, stood up and replied, “Yes” in this situation where Merlin is paying attention to me, wouldn’t it?

And so, while heading towards the podium, I cautiously looked at Merlin in the VIP seat with a sideway glance—she’s not just taking quick glances anymore, but she’s now gazing at me.

Well, that’s the current situation, isn’t it?

I mean, she’s looking at me as if she’s leaning forward with all her might. She’s really into it right now and is gazing at my face like she’s devouring me.

Ahh…this is not good.

So I finished my new student representative’s speech and returned to my seat.

While I was returning to my seat, I could still feel Merlin’s fervent gaze. And just like that, Merlin continued to stare at me until the ceremony was over….

Well, guess I’ve caught Merlin’s interest, haven’t I?

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