ALL NOVEL Chapter 86
Claris Academy’s commercial district.
Yellody Latashia, who was kicked out after lounging around until cafeteria closing time, found herself lectured by Laura, the committee secretary.
“Do you have anyone in mind among the freshmen?”
“Ugh…”
Yellody trudged along, quite literally dragging her feet.
Huh.
Laura sighed softly, so Yellody wouldn’t hear her, and continued speaking.
“I hear the knight department has already gathered opinions.”
“I don’t care…”
The purpose of the Claris Student Council is quite simple: to select hopeful candidates among the freshmen.
And by taking on the responsibility of being the chairperson, they aim to cultivate not only combat skills but also various practical abilities simultaneously.
Typically, the heads of the divisions are third-year students.
In Claris, reaching the third year usually means that one has reached adulthood, and most are engaged in real-world tasks outside of school.
Thus, the student council president, who needs to be present at the academy, is typically a second-year student, while when special events like this festival occur, a third-year student is usually assigned to the committee.
Naturally, only Claris students can join the committee, and only those who have served as division heads or possess equivalent skills can undergo the membership screening.
“Can’t we just have that one? That Liris or whatever…”
“If you’re talking about Liris Larochelle, that won’t do.”
The vice-chair supporting Yellody seemed to be thinking it over.
Since most students enter guilds after finishing their second year, division representatives need to earmark high-potential freshmen before the outside guilds do.
The problem is, there aren’t any suitable vessels.
Originally, Liris Larochelle, who was the student council secretary in her second year and the magic department head, has completely lost her way.
Her aptitude wasn’t that high, and there were many issues…
I’ve messed up completely…
And notably, for some time now, she has shut herself in the dormitory.
“Isn’t there anyone else?”
“The only promising talent visible right now would be Yeriel Artina from the second year. Though she’s a bastard child, she has a good background. The problem is… she’s not interested in holding the chair position…”
“We can just ask her to do it…”
“…That won’t be easy.”
Talking to a child was testing Laura’s patience to its limits.
However, Yellody Latashia is an overwhelmingly skilled person.
Above all, despite being a second-year, she had evaluated herself only in Liris’s shadow, but she had hired her.
You look like you’ll do well…
Huh?
You’re hired.
She recognized my abilities…!
… was a wrong assumption.
Yellody only does what she wants.
She turned down professors’ recommendations, only maintaining her practical training so that she wouldn’t be expelled.
But when she does take on something, she handles it thoroughly.
She’s definitely capable.
Just yesterday, she was rummaging through the magic department’s freshman student records, and I thought she was finally taking an interest in committee duties, but I ended up finding her lounging in a café.
If that’s the case, why did this person take the chair position…
The answer to Laura’s concern was simple.
Yellody took this position because of Caeran Hiss.
Yawn…
First of all, Yellody has a natural talent that could overturn the hierarchy of demonkind, but since she can’t eradicate the Great Demon, she needed someone who could kill the Demon King in her stead.
And she had been judging Caeran Hiss to be the suitable candidate to defeat the Demon King.
Considering his ambitions and selfishness, using him as a long-term pawn didn’t seem like a problem.
Having drawn up the schematics for a contract with the demon by listening to his ambitions several times in the past was all done.
What’s left is for him to willingly become a hero.
If his offbeat personality caused the knight department not to choose him, the magic department, herself, would have pushed him as a hopeful candidate.
But then…
A variable occurred.
Even Yellody, proficient in thirteen kinds of magic including black magic, failed to specify the curse that was gnawing at Caeran.
The suspicion was only one:
Caeran weakened after he faced the first-tier battle…
And that opponent was,
Lev… Denek…?
Clearly, even while rummaging through the student records, he appeared to be just a no-good loser.
That’s when it happened.
Oh…?
Her steps halted, and Laura’s expression brightened.
“Have you finally made up your mind…?”
The person Yellody had in mind was down the alley ahead.
…What are you doing here…?
“……”
Yellody’s sky-blue hair sparkled like the surface of the water.
Is this Liris 2.0…
To run into the later villain Yellody Latashia here…
One relief was that there was another female student, who looked like her aide, standing next to her.
Yellody is also a demon, and strictly speaking, she must hide her identity even more than I do, so I shouldn’t be scared.
I quickly responded.
“Who are you?”
“……”
“Do I know you?”
-……
That was a perfectly timed answer.
I’m supposed to not know her, after all.
And she clearly said,
…What are you doing here…?
It wasn’t even dormitory curfew yet, and there were people passing by.
But the fact that she asked that here means that the chapter five villain, Yellody, was starting to take notice of me.
Pretend.
At my question, Laura, who was next to Yellody, adjusted her glasses and came closer to me.
“This is the head of the magic department student council, Yellody Latashia. Do you perhaps know her…?”
“…I don’t know this person.”
I turned on my heel, making a face like, ‘What the heck.’
I had never seen anything in fanfics where Yellody got involved with Edwin at this time.
And her specialty was to seamlessly bind contracts with demons like flowing water.
She usually appears out of nowhere, resolving issues, and when the person weakens psychologically, she cunningly lures them in with a demon’s whisper.
The moment I become her follower, the game is over…
So, the best bet is to play dumb until Saint Psyche shows up.
*
After a long pre-festival, today marks the first day of the Claris festival.
– Next up, we will have a speech.
Professor McClone’s retirement ceremony showcasing his achievements commenced, signaling the start of the sacred fire festival at Claris.
I participated only in the necessary parts of the ceremony, opting to substitute the subsequent congratulatory performances with a nap in my dorm room.
Last night, after meeting Yellody, my mind was filled with thoughts, and I hadn’t been able to rest properly.
When I woke up, it was already early evening with the sun setting.
As the long congratulatory event concluded, first and second-year students began gathering in the central plaza.
– Each person will take one!
At the booth prepared by the academy, students were being given bracelet-shaped magical items.
It was the main event of Chapter 3; treasure hunt time.
– I’ve been waiting for this day!
– Will there be rewards to level up…?
– Dream on.
– No, it could happen, right?
– Money is the best, money.
Is there anyone in the world who hates treasure…?
This was the event everyone had been eagerly anticipating.
Although it’s said to be an annual event, according to the fanfic content, it’s supposed to be even more special.
Alongside Professor McClone’s retirement ceremony, it has become an event where we fight the monster created by his summoning magic to earn treasure.
Of course, it’s exceptionally special to me.
This treasure hunt is essentially [Demon Beast Descends: Gate of the Underworld].
“Ah. Ah.”
In the center of the plaza filled with students, a familiar voice resounded from a large voice-amplifying magical item.
“Since it seems everyone’s gathered, allow me to explain briefly?”
Sylvester, the charming half-lidded character, made his entrance after a long time.
“From now on, as you travel throughout the academy, you’ll encounter magical circles that respond to the bracelet-shaped magical items given to the students. They’ll be hidden, so you might not see them, but upon contact, monsters will appear and attack the students.”
Ding.
A holographic image of the monster projected above the students’ heads, depicting a wolf beast in a rather realistic manner, causing an “Oooh” reaction from everyone.
“Of course, these monsters are illusions, so they won’t harm the students. However, if substantial damage is inflicted, the bracelet’s ability to recognize the magical circle will gradually diminish. In other words, it’ll become unfavorable for exploration.”
So, forming a party is definitely a good idea, right?
Looks like it…
“However, the bracelet can regain its functions through sacred power or healing magic, so it would be best for students who can use healing-type magic to be visible.”
At Sylvester’s words, everyone began scanning their surroundings.
– Is there a healing type around?
Now, they’re searching for healing type students.
“Finally, upon successfully defeating a monster, rewards will vary depending on the card dropped. Of course, taking from others is cheating… and this will also factor into evaluations…”
Anyway, the fanfic content is quite predictable.
The Great Demon Bunea, like how Liris messed with the selection exam, is expected to summon real monsters amidst illusions and create a horrific slaughterhouse.
I didn’t find anything yesterday, but…
Today seems like the day the Gate of the Underworld will finally appear.
All I can do is quickly locate the large monster; if the opportunity arises, take it down, and if it seems tough, stall for time until the academy guardians, professors, or other strong allies arrive.
Under normal circumstances, this chapter would see the Claris Academy suffer significant casualties, and the festival’s events would be canceled entirely thereafter.
Even if the death of monsters is conceived as a step towards the empire’s future, once people die, the mood becomes heavier, and the curriculum tightens significantly starting from the second semester.
To me, this might be a story, but to these people, it’s reality.
There are families involved too…
Even if I can’t save everyone, reducing damage is the right approach.
For now, utilizing the hermit attributes means I shouldn’t have any party members.
If I’m seen with them, I’d be the prime target.
That’s when it happened.
“Yeriel, how about partying with me!”
“Yeriel!”
In the midst of the crowd…
Grab.
“?”
Suddenly, a pure white girl stood beside me, tightly gripping my sleeve.
“…Yeriel?”
Trying hard to suppress her heaving breath, could it be she was looking for me?
“Lev…! Can I join you…?”
Her tone, as uplifting as usual, felt somewhat pitiable for some reason.
It seemed like she hadn’t slept well since the social practice yesterday…
In the original story, Edwin repairs his relationship with Melissa and Aveline.
Yeriel, worried he might get hurt again, is depicted as spying on Melissa to gauge her sincerity…
“Stay away from my junior!”
Eventually, when Melissa and Edwin found themselves cornered by monsters, Yeriel awakens momentarily and successfully intervenes.
A scene renowned in fanfics where she proves her real mastery, even when her role isn’t favored.
And this is where Edwin gains levels in sacred attributes and acquires [Acceleration], [Elasticity], and hidden traits.
But the reason Yeriel came to me was… Could it be…?
I used my magic eyes on her for the first time in a while.
Ding.
—————————————————
[Yeriel Artina]
[Average Status]
: 5.1
[Specialization]
Circle Magic (6)
[Unique Traits]
Tarchangel Transformation (Lv.??) (Activated) (Stage 1)
Element (Lv.6)
Spirit Magic (Lv.3)
—————————————————
“……”
Where does Yeriel’s true heart lie…
Snap.
“Let’s start now, shall we?”
Pushing aside my confused feelings,
the hunt for monsters begins with Sylvester’s finger snap… treasure hunt has commenced.