Sekai Saikyou no Maou desuga Daremo Toubatsushinikitekurenainode, Yuusha Ikusei Kikan ni Sennyuusuru

Chapter 1. [Episode 16]
“The Demon King Visits the High School of Magic”

 

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The next day.

We first-year students were given a tour of the High School of Magic.

All first-year students and the teacher who led them traveled from the military school to the High School of Magic, located in the central district of Mildiana.

It took some time to get to the central district, partly because the military school is adjacent to the military, and partly because it is located at the edge of the city to prevent unrelated people from entering easily.

An hour later, we arrived. I looked up at the structure.

The building, which boasts a large site area, was filled with a kind of divine atmosphere.

The building is supported by several thick columns.

Led by a teacher, we entered the interior, where we found many civilians.

According to the story, part of the building is open to the public only during the daytime.

In the hall, tools and other items related to magic were on display, housed in cases with multiple sealing techniques.

Once here, we were free to do whatever we wanted, so I looked around and found something that caught my attention.

Displayed in the case was a pendant with an intricate design.

The description says “The Viscountess’ Pendant”. Its contents–.

[You’ll be cursed if you keep staring at that thing!]

[Whoa!]

I almost hit my head on the case when I was pushed from behind with a vigorous thump.

I turn around and the elf girl smiles at me.

[Liz. Don’t give me a heart attack.]

[No, no, no, because, you know, I was looking around and I saw Theo-kun who was very interested in the ‘cursed pendant,’ so I thought, ‘Oh my God, this is dangerous.]

[Curse? It looks like an ordinary pendant. It does look kind of classy, though.]

[That’s right. It is a ‘former’ cursed pendant. It was so powerful that it caused the bearer to fall into misfortune one after another, but they used a sacred technique to purge it of evil grudges and so on. This pendant was restored to its normal state by a magician belonging to the High School of Magic, so anyone can see it like this.]

I guess it’s something with an interesting story behind it.

[Theo-kun, is this your first time at the High School of Magic in Mildiana? If you like, we can go on a date! I’ll show you around.]

[If that’s the case, I guess I can count on you.]

[All right, here we go! Let’s take a look around then. Next time~]

Liz forcefully grabbed my arm and showed me various exhibits.

Some, like the cursed pendant I mentioned earlier, are decorated with holy swords and other objects that hold magic.

After being shown a series of exhibits, we were led to an area away from the hall.

[Theo-kun, you know a lot about magic, don’t you?]

[Well, as much as anyone.]

[You are being modest again. A person who can use the 10th-rank technique is not at the level of a human being. Or is it something else? Are you making fun of me who can’t even use 7th-level magic? Hmm?]

[No, no, no. I think you’re great enough, don’t you? You’re able to set up that many barriers on the spot.]

Liz’s expression was not so bright, although I told her about the magic test.

[I’m not very gifted. I don’t have much talent. It took me a lot of hard work to get to that level.]

Lack of talent? I didn’t think so very much.

If you think about it in comparison to Julian, that’s a misnomer. The dragon tribe has much more magical power than the elves, and they have a much deeper understanding of magic.

Comparing her to President Ludio is also out of the question. He is the Commander-in-Chief of this southern territory, and he is not as old as he seems, at least not as he appears.

[I don’t think it’s very good to compare one with another, do you?]

[…… but I still have to get better at it. And yet.]

[Liz. It takes effort to learn things, but it also takes time. You’re still young, so there’s no need to beat yourself up like that.]

[Theo-kun said something strange. Which grandpa said that?]

Did I sound like I was preaching? I may indeed sound old-fashioned.

But in the end, I just wanted to say this.

[You are blessed. You’re the only elf I’ve ever met who made the cut.]

[That’s true, though. Usually, that’s where you rejoice.]

[Ordinary students can’t be special students, can they?]

[Usually. But I’m not normal. ……]

[Liz ……?]

Liz had been lying on her face muttering to herself for some time, but suddenly looked up and laughed.

[Aah! What a shame! It’s a great date, but it’s ruined, isn’t it? Sorry, sorry. Come on, I’ll show you around, let’s go!]

I was surprised at how quickly things changed.

Liz regains her usual cheerfulness and forcefully pulls my arm to explain as we walk.

[That is the research building, where we study the contents of grimoires and ancient texts and explore the magic. And that is the practical wing. After making an application, you can create your original magic. and see the results.]

As I walked deeper and deeper into the building, I saw a door.

It says, ‘Entry is forbidden to all but related parties.’

[This is the place. We’re not supposed to go in there. ……]

Liz took one key out of her pocket. She plunged it into the keyhole and immediately unlocked the door.

[Come on, Theo-kun! Let’s go into the unknown!]

[Wait a minute. It says “No Trespassing.”]

[I don’t care about that little thing. I said it’s okay, so it’s okay!]

What a pushy girl. ……

I was somewhat taken aback as she led me into the room.

It was only when I entered there that I noticed how different the room was.

In the small room, a huge crystal that looks as big as an adult is placed on the floor.

It was shiny and blue, with chains engraved with several sealing techniques entwined around it.

[It is a magical crystal that can only be unsealed in time of war. Do you know what this is?]

[…… That’s a pretty powerful sealing technique. In terms of magic,…… this is equivalent to the 13th rank. As far as magic goes, this is as good as it gets.]

[What else do you know?]

[I guess such a powerful sealing technique is only possible with this ‘chain’. The problem is this crystal. I can see that it is sealing something that is clearly beyond the realm of magic. What is sealed inside is not some kind of …… evil spirit or spirit. I can feel a more powerful …… surge of magical power clothed in an icy atmosphere.]

Very interesting indeed.

I involuntarily stared at the crystal to gauge its true value.

I would touch it if I could. I would destroy it if I were allowed. I want to know what is locked up inside.

[You know, Theo-kun? You know a lot of things, don’t you?]

Liz, who had been standing leaning against the door of the room for some time, said.

[I don’t think that’s the case.]

[Theo-kun, are you by any chance from the Kingdom of Chiaro De Luna?]

[You mean that magical powerhouse ……? I told you before, I’m from Granden.]

[I wonder if Theo-kun knows about this. Granden is a place where swordsmanship education is popular and magic education tends to lag, unlike here in Mildiana.]

…… What’s your point?

[It’s a wonder anyone could live in a place like that and know so much about magic.]

[Well, well, I was sort of self-taught.]

[Then, here’s a question. Do you know who was the general who fought with President Ludio in the last war against Zenan and who achieved the greatest success? The clue is that he was the only one who was even called a great hero in that war.]

…… Not good.

I don’t know if it was in the past, but I don’t know about such recent times.

[Theo-kun is belligerent, so he seems to like heroic tales and such. Then maybe you can answer~?]

[It’s ….…]

[I guess that was a little mean.]

[Huh?]

When I ask her back, Liz chuckles.

[Yes, Theo-kun has failed.]

[What are you talking about?]

[Let’s study history better. History is just a few years old, and it would be embarrassing if you couldn’t give me an immediate answer~?]

[I’m sorry I didn’t know about ……. I didn’t know.]

[Ha ha! Then let’s study together sometime! We can study magic, history, anything, or even health and physical education in a practical format if you want.]

Liz, with her mischievous smile, looks like a little devil.

I guessed she wasn’t just bright, but it might be a little dangerous to get too deeply involved with her.

[By the way, that crystal is like the body of President Ludio.]

[What about?]

I suddenly uttered something unexpected and made a dumb noise.

[In principle, the use of ‘beyond magic’ techniques is forbidden in the empire. If such a thing were to be triggered, it could cause a catastrophe. It is the same for the Lieutenant General. That crystal and President Ludio are connected by a magical thread that prevents him from exerting his full power except in times of war.]

[Oh, I didn’t know that was such a trick.]

[It’s like a walking weapon of destruction, you know? A lot is going on. So the crystal can only be unsealed with the Emperor’s permission.]

The icy magic I felt from that crystal was unfathomable.

Since it is so powerful even when sealed, I am curious to see how much great power would erupt if it were crushed.

[But isn’t it careless to have such a big deal in a room that’s so easy to get into?]

[It’s all right, all right. The crystal is unbreakable no matter what you do with it. And if you try to take it away with even the slightest malicious intent, it is a dangerous thing that reacts immediately and activates magic around it.]

I see. That certainly doesn’t seem like it needs to be monitored.

At that point, Liz said, [Well, I guess it’s time to go. I have to go home,] she muttered.

Come to think of it, I think I spent quite a bit of time with her.

[Oh, yes, yes. In answer to the question earlier. The correct answer is General Claude Duras. He is the strongest holy knight on the continent who protects Granden, where Theo-kun lives.]

I couldn’t even flinch.

I just have to stare at Liz.

Liz looked back at me without breaking her smile. We stayed like that for a while.

[Let’s go home, then. Let’s go together, Theo-kun.]

She forcefully grabbed my arm again and we left the room as it was.

……Who the hell is this girl?

In any case, I need to be more careful from now on. Just when I was thinking that Liz suddenly stopped.

[Please listen carefully.]

As I did as she asked, I heard two men’s voices, who seemed to be from the staff of the High School of Magic.

[Another newcomer, another elf?]

[I heard that. Last year and the year before, elves came into the market, right? At this rate, the positions of humans and elves may be reversed soon.]

[The head of the military is now Lieutenant General Lambert. It may be sooner rather than later.]

[I’m not comfortable with them. They all look alike …… and they’re good at magic, so they’re all so loud.]

[I wish they would all just go away. Alliances and nonsense.]

With that being said, the staff went away.

[I don’t know, Theo-kun. This is the current state of Mildiana.]

[……Surprising, isn’t it? Are elves not very welcome here?]

[Most young kids and such don’t care. But the hard-headed researchers, military guys, and so on, they’re very discriminating.]

[How could President Ludio become commander-in-chief, then?]

[That’s for the superiors to decide. It’s completely based on merit, and it’s the same now as it was then, or maybe it’s more like that now. No one in this town is stronger than President Ludio.]

Was there such a situation behind the alliance between humans and elves?

Since I saw many elves in the city, I thought they were friendly with each other, but it seems that it is not that simple.

[I think the elves got a lot of preferential treatment when they allied. I wonder if that’s still lingering.]

Alliances and reconciliation between different species.

While it works, it will always have another different aspect. There are no exceptions.

An alliance formed 100 years ago. Only 100 years. To us demons, it seems like only a short time ago. Moreover, if you are a long-lived elf, you probably have a good understanding of the relationship with the empire before the alliance.

It may take a longer time for humans, who have always directed discriminatory feelings toward something, and elves, who have been directed toward them, to understand each other.

[Okay, Theo-kun. I’ll leave you to it.]

[Uh, yeah, see you.]

[I’ll think of a place for our next date! See you!]

I shouldn’t. When I’m with her, I feel like I’m going to be swallowed up by that unique atmosphere.

…… no longer have long known that I am not from the Western Territories. On the contrary, they probably suspect that I am from the Empire.

It doesn’t matter much if Liz finds out who I am. If it is only due to curiosity.

If it gets in the way, then that’s the time. I can erase her, or whatever… it’s fine to forcefully make it my own in a truly demonic way.

With these thoughts in mind, I went back to visit the High School of Magic.

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