I Will Carry as an Academy Veteran

94

[You have subjugated the boss Chimera in Act 3-1!]

[This is a product created by a low-level demon!]

[A reward will be given!]

I had expected it, but there was no good reward.

It’s understandable, considering this guy is the weakest among numerous demons.

And such a weakling made a “rough” chimera.

After clearing away the fallen chimera’s corpse, we were able to rescue Daisy von Schkross, who was trembling alone in the revealed cave.

She wiped away her tears and suddenly hugged Raina when she saw her.

“……D-Daisy von Schkross? W-What’s this, another s-strategy…?”

“Euhuhuhuhuhoooo….”

She sobbed endlessly.

Raina looked at her for a moment with a subtle expression before hugging her.

“W-Well… Did well? You held on well… Umm… hahahaha.”

While the two comforted each other like that,

Nah and Lien, as well as Eran, were looking at the chimera’s corpse.

“…I heard that only demons can create chimeras.”

“Demons…”

“The sacrificed ones… There must have been more than just one or two.”

Yeah.

Demons.

Bellanio.

This guy, the mastermind of all this and the boss of Act 3, is a demon with quite a low “level” as they say.

However, having a “name” means that, unlike demon soldiers driven solely by human souls without a brain, they have intelligence, emotions, and the ability to communicate.

That means demons can also experience fear, terror, joy, and desire.

In a sense, they are even more dangerous.

But even these named individuals are naturally divided into strong and weak, and they have different ranks.

In the case of a typical “demon,” they represent their own class as a rank.

Since the end content, the demon world, has a total of nine underground floors, they could be from the 9th, 6th, or 5th floors, or something like that.

Later, when the seals become loose, they come out one by one, and you can see scenes where demons meet and introduce themselves, saying which floor they are from and what rank in the Demon Army they are, shouting at each other to “get your head banged.”

However, in the case of “Bellanio,” because he was weak among the demons, he didn’t even get sealed and just escaped to a place deep in the darkness, so the setting book doesn’t even mention which floor he is from.

No, if he had been sealed, he would have been on the top floor, the 9th.

But the very existence of a “demon” itself possesses a strength that is on a different level from a typical “monster.”

Even a mindless low-level demon could slaughter dozens of first-year students barehanded.

So, no matter how much of a loser this guy might be, as an intelligent being, he is still undoubtedly a threatening presence in the current situation.

His specialty is “mass production of chimeras,” and even the ones he made “roughly” are grotesque and gigantic like that.

We have to catch him before he disappears into the darkness again and starts mass-producing chimeras.

“T-Then… We couldn’t have saved anyone other than Lady Daisy?”

Eran lowered his head while looking at that scene.

“Ugh, if I had been a little stronger, no, if I had been a little faster…”

At the place where everything ended.

Lien was sitting dejectedly, watching that scene, and Eran was clutching his necklace tightly.

This is the translated novel excerpt:

#### This little brat’s mentality can be controlled, but that’s something they have to do themselves.

Especially Eran, he must truly realize it here.

He needs to break free from being just a student and move forward as a hero.

Is he really so distracted by something like this?

“I saved at least one person. Focus on the ones you saved rather than the ones you couldn’t save.”

“……Yes.”

I turned around.

“That’s enough for now.”

* * *

We returned to Selenium.

The one who greeted us upon our return was Canary, who had been pacing back and forth in front of the eastern entrance.

“Daisy!”

“President!”

While embracing Daisy, Canary immediately opened a large portal leading to the Student Council room and ushered everyone inside.

And so, the location changed to the Student Council room.

Canary took her seat, and I stepped forward.

“So, …what happened? Why are you here again?”

I explained to Canary what had happened during the search, and she tightly wrapped her head as if in great pain.

“…It’s really serious. Thank you for saving us. I mean it. But we can’t just let this go.”

“What do you think we should do?”

“I’m thinking about it right now. What would be the best way?”

If it were the original, Eran would have investigated by running around in all directions since he didn’t know where ‘Bellanio’ had escaped to.

But here, we already know the location of ‘Bellanio’.

So.

“How about organizing a punitive force, Student Council President?”

“A punitive force?”

“Select about twenty elite members and form a punitive force to capture those demons.”

“…The location?”

“We already took care of it, so we know.”

Canary’s expression brightened at those words.

“…Yes, that’s the only way. A punitive force. It’s a good plan if we know the location. But do we really need to bring so many people just to capture one person?”

“He uses chimeras as his main force. …This time, he used the ‘students’ of Selenium as a power source, but there’s a possibility that he’s keeping unnecessary corpses in the ‘darkness’ to supply his forces.”

It’s not just a possibility, it’s a fact.

During Act 3’s boss battle, dozens of creatures stronger than the chimeras we slaughtered in Act 1 poured out as boss escorts.

“…In many ways, I almost couldn’t do without you, Adrian. Thank you.”

“It’s too early to hear those words. I can’t listen until I completely cut his throat and sever his windpipe.”

Canary nodded.

“Okay, a punitive force. Then, let’s gather the top and second-ranked students from each grade… Since the 4th grade is not at school, we’ll gather the top and second-ranked students from the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grades. And Adrian, can you take care of selecting the rest of the members?”

I nodded.

“Alright, then I’ll hand over the command to you. Carry the name of Salenium on your back and crush the demons for me.”

“I accept.”

Good.

With this, I became the commander of the punitive force, able to lead as I pleased.

For now, our party members and comrades are fixed. Achievements unlocked when capturing demons for the ‘first’ time will be helpful later on.

“The deadline is 3 days. Please submit the list by tomorrow if possible, as there’s much to prepare on our end too.”

Canaria casually handed over some documents as she spoke.

“First… Once the retrieval team is sent out, investigate and send letters to the families… Oh right. Also, the participation in this ‘punitive force’ operation will be recognized as attendance under the Student Council decree, so don’t worry.”

“Thank you.”

“…What I’m thankful for is on this end.”

* * *

On the way back to the dormitory.

Throughout the journey back, Reyna remained silent, and I had nothing to say either, so we didn’t speak a word to each other.

Just walked.

Is it inevitable that our steps feel heavy?

“Reyna.”

“Yes, Adrian.”

“Want to sit for a moment?”

I gestured towards a bench, and Reyna nodded.

Sitting side by side, we watched the passing clouds.

A moment of silence.

With a soft sound, Reyna rested her head on my shoulder, then suddenly asked.

“…Adrian.”

“What is it?”

“Why do demons do such things?”

Well.

I don’t know either.

As far as I know, demons are said to feed on human souls.

There isn’t much known about them.

“Why would they… Everyone there, the people we’re with, students who came dreaming, demons, to so many people… so nonchalantly…”

Her voice trembled.

I held her hand quietly and stayed there.

“Adrian, can’t all races have a peaceful world?”

“…”

“Sorry for the random question.”

Hurriedly responding, Reyna stood up from her seat.

Her eyes looking back were slightly bloodshot.

“I’ll go in first. Take care, Adrian.”

“Alright, take care.”

Saying that, Reyna turned and left.

I turned my head.

“What is it?”

“I have something to say.”

A guy standing in front of me, blocking the way.

“Move aside, I’m very tired right now.”

“…I know, I’m sorry, but I’ll only talk for a little while.”

Saying that, the guy plopped down at the opposite end of the bench.

…?

Who are you?

“Apologizing…? You’re not Evenice.”

“What nonsense are you talking about? …Anyway, I heard. Just now, a message went out to all the senior and junior executives.”

Is that so.

Has the punitive force already sent out the message?

“…They clashed with the demons?”

Strictly speaking, it was a chimera created by the demons.

“That’s it! What about… your body?”

“As you can see, I’m just a little tired from overexerting myself.”

“…I see.”

What’s going on?

What is it?

Stop fidgeting and speak properly.

“If you have something to say, say it properly.”

“…I’m a Repelhite.”

“Then it’s true?”

“Listen! And you’re also a Repelhite.”

The guy suddenly created a ‘sacred sword’ in his hand and gripped it.

“Do you know that in the ‘blood’ that flows alongside ours, there is a kind of brainwashing will that compels us to definitely exterminate the demons?”

Do you think I wouldn’t know that?

“…Well, I guess you would. That’s why. We have a duty to execute the demons if we see them.”

“Get to the point.”

“So! I’m saying let’s have a temporary truce! Just until I exterminate that demon by joining the ‘punitive force’.”

“…Is that so.”

This guy, even in this situation, is not trying to restrain me, but suggesting a truce.

In other words…

“Are you suggesting that you and I… should cooperate?”

“Remember, it’s only until we catch that demon! After that, we are enemies! The sworn enemies who will never join hands again, the irreconcilable foes!”

Saying that, the guy crossed his arms with a smug look and turned his head.

…Is that so.

This guy has proposed to put aside the competition for the time being and join forces to eliminate the demon in question.

“Eliminating the demons is the duty of the Repelhites, and stabilizing the situation is the duty of the leadership, the nobility.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Good. Not bad. I’m willing to cooperate on this matter.”

“…Yes?”

In that moment, as I returned to the dormitory and exchanged greetings, I remembered the slightly blushing eyes of Reina.

Thinking about that twisted my emotions severely.

I lightly stood up from the bench.

“You and I will declare a temporary truce and cooperate. And then, we will together bring down the culprit behind all this chaos, the Mazoku.”

Good. That proposal.

“I accept.”