I Became a Demon Who Can Never Be Headpatted in the Academy?!

Bonus chapter thanks to Vesle2’s review on I Became a Demon Who Can Never Be Headpatted in the Academy?! – Novel Updates!

Amara Bloodberry.

Saying it like this might make it sound too harsh, but…

Today, I learned for the first time that Esme’s mother actually had a proper name.

Esme’s pitiful and tragic ‘family history’ was a plausible reason for her hatred towards demons and served as a ‘convincing background setting’ that either hindered or helped players aspiring to become heroes.

The game never detailed what her mother’s name was or the exact reason she was killed by demons. I only learned today, thanks to Nikea, that there was a proper will.

There were no related quests, nor were there any books or documents to infer the setting. So, the fact that such a secret was hidden in the will Esme held genuinely surprised and excited me.

“Oh my… It seems like Mother truly used magic on this will.”

“I’m not well-versed in magic, but the contents of the will have completely changed, and there’s even a ‘photo’ attached, right? This isn’t ordinary magic, is it?”

“No, this is definitely… definitely not magic that can be used lightly.”

Esme carefully examined the few photos neatly attached to the will and then covered her mouth with her left hand.

“Oh my…”

The photo showed a ‘brown-haired lady’ with braided hair exuding elegance, and a maid with dark skin, posing amicably together.

“Mother…”

Esme carefully examined the photo and then gently pushed the will towards me.

“I think I should read this with Murmur.”

“With Murmur?”

What on earth is in it that makes it necessary?

The opening sentence was definitely ‘To my beloved daughter, my jewel, Esme, who has made an irreplaceable friend.’

“… The fact that you’re reading this means you’ve become friends with the descendants of Nectar, just like I did.”

After reading the sentence, Esme looked at me.

“I never told Esme, but… I had a truly precious friend. This friend taught me a lot of magic, helped me meet Esme’s father, and supported me through many hardships that I can’t even begin to describe in this letter.”

“As you know, Esme, I couldn’t introduce this friend to everyone. But please remember, Esme, it’s not because I was ashamed of this precious friend.”

Esme looked at me blankly.

“… Mother, she couldn’t have introduced them. Although there are demons working quietly in the imperial palace, the number of nobles who scorn them is so great that it’s faster to count those who praise them.”

“… … It’s embarrassing, but I won’t deny it. If Esme’s mother had introduced her precious friend to everyone, they would have all rushed to insult that friend or belittle the arduous magical path Esme’s mother had built.”

Nikea let out a long sigh. Esme clutched the will tightly again.

“If the photos are properly attached, make sure to look at them. You’ll see how close Mother and Leraje were… Ah, these are the photos you’re talking about.”

Esme showed us the photos that were naturally attached to the will.

“They must have been together since a very young age.”

“Mother’s friend… ‘Leraje’ hasn’t aged or grown at all.”

The memories captured in the photos were poignant, even to someone who didn’t know the circumstances.

A demon maid holding a small child in her arms.

A lady using water element magic to extinguish the candles stuck on a birthday cake.

A friend cheering on a lady blushing in front of a young master.

Sitting on a blue magic circle, gazing at the night sky together.

“… Mother and Leraje were truly friends. I had no idea she was such a person.”

“Do you remember, Esme?”

“Well… I do remember. She was always by Mother’s side. She was kind and took good care of me, but… I never imagined she was a demon, not even in my dreams.”

Esme sniffled once.

“Do you remember the magic book Mother always said, ‘Let’s read it together when you grow up’? That book was actually a gift from Leraje to Mother… My goodness… How could such a coincidence…”

“A magic book gifted by a demon?”

“Yes… And that magic book is precisely… the heirloom of Mother that Murmur asked to borrow from me today.”

That’s why Esme was so firm in saying she could never lend it.

If it was a magic book she was supposed to read with her mother when she grew up, I’m grateful she even said I could read it on weekends.

“… Colette Bloodberry couldn’t have known this. The magic Esme’s mother prepared seems to only respond to those who have made friends with ‘a friend of demons.'”

Esme nodded slowly, still holding the will tightly.

“Mother must have known that revealing this secret would put her and her friend in danger. That’s why she used such powerful magic to protect it.”

I could see the determination in Esme’s eyes as she looked at the will. It was clear that she was ready to uncover more about her mother’s past and the mysterious friend named Leraje.

“Can you be sure?”

“Yes, the magical tome gifted by the Demons… Esme, I’m not saying this in a bad way.”

Esme shook her head.

“I’ll explain. First, thank you, Princess Nikea. Ahem, Murmur? In case you don’t know, let me tell you. The ‘magical tomes’ created by demons are fundamentally classified as forbidden books. No matter how safe the knowledge may seem… it’s not something an individual mage can decide on.”

Esme placed her hand on her chest and spoke.

“That’s why it must be… classified as a forbidden book and sent to the Mage’s Tower to verify the knowledge. We investigate to understand if it’s magic we humans can use safely, or if it is a power we can accept.”

“Let’s keep this conversation a secret between us.”

Nikea whispered as she firmly held our hands.

“If the Mage’s Tower sends someone over and begins studying the tome… it could bring really insulting remarks about Esme’s mother.”

“… I can imagine that. I want to keep it a secret. However, if it truly holds dangerous knowledge…”

Esme exhaled deeply. Despite her youth, her gaze was mature.

“…I am the head of the Bloodberry family. If this magical tome is indeed dangerous, I have an obligation to classify it as forbidden and send it to the Mage’s Tower.”

“Esme… will you be alright?”

“Hahaha, of course. Please don’t look at me as if I’m weak? Princess Nikea, even though it may look like this, our family’s ambition for magic is quite serious!”

Esme spoke confidently, but in reality, her mind must be complicated. I wish I could just say that the tome isn’t dangerous and only contains knowledge about ‘Dual Casting’, but…

Logically, it doesn’t make sense to claim that I ‘already’ understand the knowledge of a tome I said I couldn’t read in the first place…

“Anyhow… the end of the letter says this. ‘The magical tome you promised to read with your mother, read it with your irreplaceable friend.'”

“It seems Esme’s mother wanted me to explore the knowledge in that tome.”

Esme looked at me with a slightly uneasy eye.

A child who wishes to pursue what she naturally believes is her mother’s dream stands before me.

I should try a little harder.

“Esme, are you worried that the magical tome might be dangerous?”

“Yes, to be precise… I’m scared of the gossip about my mother after it is classified as forbidden.”

“Murmur will take care of it.”

Nikea and Esme looked at me in surprise.

To be looked at like that?

“Uh… how?”

“Murmur can read the magical tome. Just lend it to me for a day.”

“Wasn’t it unreadable earlier? But if it reassures you, I’m willing to lend it for however many days it may take.”

“There should be a book in the library about ancient demonic languages. Murmur can look at that while reading the tome.”

Honestly, I don’t plan to borrow any library books because Armonia will do the translation.

Besides, it feels oddly like this book might have something more than just the knowledge of ‘Dual Casting.’

If I claim that I inherently understood the knowledge in a book that requires demon help to read, it would sound strange, wouldn’t it? There’s definitely something in it.

“Is there such a book…?”

“There is a class in the high school curriculum teaching these ancient or seldom-used languages… so there might be.”

“Alright then. Let’s read it together.”

“No. The tome might be dangerous.”

Esme pouted.

“Isn’t it more unreasonable to let Murmur read it alone if it might be dangerous?”

“Murmur is a demon. If the tome is truly dangerous, then it might not affect me at all.”

This acted like a kind of ‘hidden trait.’ It wasn’t shown in the game but was a working effect.

Forbidden books, curses, or traps set on magical tomes don’t affect demons.

Come to think of it, didn’t I get a strange trait then? I ought to check that too…

“Oh… I heard about that, but was it really true?”

Esme, with a very uneasy look, grabbed my hand after speaking.

“In that case… Murmur, can I make a small request?”

“Sure, I’ll do as Esme asks.”

“Please decode the magical tome my mother mentioned. And if it’s safe magic, read it with me. Promise me.”

“Yes, Murmur promises. If it’s safe magic, I’ll read it with Esme. If it’s a dangerous book, I’ll tell you.”

At last, Esme showed a comfortable expression, held me tightly by the waist, and rubbed her cheek against mine.

Am I a puppy? Why all of a sudden?

“Aaah…!! I’m really sorry, Murmur!!”

“No, it’s fine…”

“You’re taking on something dangerous, aren’t you? You’re even studying ancient demonic language for me, aren’t you? Thank you. Thank you! Murmur is truly my precious friend!”

“So, so… let go and speak…!”

Observing the situation, Nikea approached with her arms wide open and embraced me as well.

“Le-let go of this… Wait, I can’t breathe…!”

“I’m really glad. Esme! Murmur! You two can continue to get along well!”

“Of course, Princess. The three of us can remain good friends!”

Caught between the two ladies who were smiling brightly, I genuinely found it hard to breathe.

“Ugh… I can’t breathe…”

Anyway, I managed to get the reward for defeating Colette and became closer to Esme, so it was more fruitful than I expected!

* * *

The man in the butler’s uniform, which absorbed the pitch-black darkness, had eyes that exuded experience, perfectly matching his white hair. He was a presence that radiated charisma just by standing silently.

“Miss, Princess Nikea, Miss Murmur, and Miss Esme Bloodberry have returned to the academy.”

The man, who didn’t seem like someone who would serve anyone, bowed very politely and whispered to the lady enjoying her tea time.

The red-haired lady, who finally heard the news she had been waiting for, tapped her intricately twisted hair reflected in her hand mirror with her fingers.

“Well done, Balkan. Is the gold coin ready?”

“Of course. However… it might be better to verify a bit more information.”

“In this world, there is nothing that cannot be bought with money, and a merchant must always move faster than anyone else.”

The red-haired lady put down her hand mirror and looked at Murmur, who was pushing away Esme’s pranks from afar.

“The offspring of the demon… If this rumor is true, we must move faster than anyone else.”

What awaited Murmur, who returned to the academy, was the immense desire of a child too accustomed to the rigidity of adults.