Chapter 1412

<Chapter 1412> 1412. The Academy’s Savior

[Using “Moment” technique. Stacks remaining: 6]

With the Hwaryeon Sword in my hand, I sprinted forward at Full Strength. My reckless movement caused the Ghost Cloak effect to dissipate, fully revealing my presence and silhouette. As I approached, Hattori’s gaze shifted from walking toward Reika to lock onto me.

Heavenly Lightning Style: Thunder Light.

The blade, wreathed in crimson lightning, cleaved through the air. Startled, Hattori stepped back and blocked my sword strike.

“…Kuh! You’re no ordinary opponent…!”

A shadow clone erupted from Hattori’s body. Ignoring me completely, it lunged toward Reika, intent on eliminating her first. I gritted my teeth – I was already a step behind.

[Using “Moment” technique. Stacks remaining: 5]

With Moment, I instantly closed the distance with the clone. Using it once more would have easily allowed me to slice through the clone. But I held back. Instead, I positioned myself in front of Reika and intercepted the clone’s palm strike with my own body.

My side was pierced. Blood splattered. Enduring the pain, I swung my sword and decapitated the clone, causing it to vanish.

“You… you’re an exchange student…! Why did you save me?!”

Reika’s eyes widened in shock as she questioned me.

“Of course it’s because I wanted to seduce you…”

I couldn’t possibly say what I was thinking. After a brief moment of consideration, I responded:

“I saved you because I wanted to. That’s all.”

I delivered my line in the most protagonist-like manner possible.

“Huh?”

Reika looked at me with confusion, her reaction much cooler than I had hoped for… but given the situation, I understood. Perhaps when the time comes, she’ll reflect on this moment.

“…So you’re the son of Rais. Just as described. Tsk.”

Hattori clicked his tongue and began producing clones. Two. Four. Eight. Sixteen. Thirty-two. The dozens of clones emanated an intimidating presence.

“Get lost. Or I’ll kill you.”

After attempting to murder Reika, he suddenly tells us to leave?

‘He’s aware of me. More accurately, he’s aware of Seonghali.

He knows that killing me would prompt Seonghali to declare all-out war against the Mage’s Guild.

“Sei! Shinbo! Are you alright?!”

“These insolent ones! Retreat from Tsukuyomi’s Jade immediately!!”

Yuki Kyodo, wielding his dark katana, and Miko-clad Mieko Miyakado appeared. The usually emotionless Mieko Miyakado unleashed a furious roar.

“Meddlers just keep appearing. My patience has its limits. You will…”

Hattori cut himself off mid-sentence and retreated along with his clones. In the spot where Hattori stood, a bead descended from Heaven and exploded upon impact with the ground, creating a small crater.

Hattori glared upward coldly. A child clad in splendid red kimono floated in the sky.

“Tenrai Nagisa…!”

“It’s been a while, Hattori. I still regret not killing you twenty years ago. Today, I shall end your life and rid myself of that regret.”

“How did you get here so quickly! Even you couldn’t defeat Nanba in such a short time!”

“That troublesome hand of yours? Indeed, even I needed time to deal with him. However, there are others at the academy now who can handle him.”


“That brat just passed it on and left.”

“……The Celestial Sage’s intellect.”

“Has your curiosity been satisfied? Then now… let go of all regrets and prepare to die!”

Nagisa extended her small hand towards the empty air. A hand that, despite decades of endurance, looked far too soft and squishy, gripped the void.

At that moment, the space where Hattori and his clones existed crumpled like wrinkled paper. Hattori and his clones disappeared without putting up any proper resistance.

“Hmm?”

Nagisa narrowed her eyes as she looked at the spot where Hattori had been. There was no corpse.

“Thought he was the main body, but it was just a clone? Your skills have improved since last time.”

Suddenly, dozens of Hattoris appeared from somewhere. The clones surrounded Nagisa, leaping around in all directions.

“So, you’re still the Princess of Emptiness from Suigetsu. Even after all these years, your immense power hasn’t diminished one bit.”

“I’m prepared to face death here.”

“For the greater good, I’ll gladly sacrifice myself.”

“For the glory of the Demon Hunters!”

The clones shouted in unison. Demonic energy, Magic Power, surged from their bodies. Their forms began to change, transforming from human shapes into Monsters.

「A Demon Hunter has detected the presence of a Demon.」

「All abilities temporarily enhanced.」

「Attack power against Demons temporarily increased.」

Tensrai Nagisa battled the demon-transformed clones of Hattori. The space shook violently, and shockwaves destroyed everything nearby. No one could recklessly interfere in the battle between Hattori and Nagisa; stepping in meant certain death.

‘There’s no need to jump in. Nagisa will ultimately be the victor anyway. What I need to do is…’

I extended my hand toward Reika, who hesitated for a moment before taking it.

“Even if you hadn’t helped me… I would’ve managed somehow on my own.”

“Do you really think that?”

“…Maybe it was dangerous. Thanks for helping. You said your name was Sung Yoojin, right?”

“Yeah.”

Our brief conversation ended. Reika kept glancing at me while looking up at the battle between Hattori and Nagisa.

‘Hattori’s true self is elsewhere.’

Though Nagisa was deceived, my eyes weren’t fooled. Hattori was rushing toward the place where the Tsukuyomi Fragment was stored. He swung his shuriken, forcibly breaking through the Barrier.

“Hattori-sama! Please stop! If you keep this up, we’ll—AAAAAAHHH!”

“The barrier… KRAAAAAAH!”

The Barrier shattered violently, dragging all nearby subordinates into its destruction. Their entire bodies exploded, killing them instantly. Hattori himself wasn’t unscathed either; his entire right side blew apart, revealing white ribs, intestines, and muscles. It was a fatal wound that would kill any ordinary human—but he was a Demon.

With his remaining hand, Hattori grasped the Tsukuyomi Fragment.

“So this is the Tsukuyomi Fragment… I can feel its immense power indeed.”

Hattori created a clone and handed over the fragment.

“Take it and run. Make sure you deliver it to Sanada-sama. That’s your mission.”

The clone dashed off.

“You bastard!!”

Nagisa roared from above, pulling out a folding fan and swinging it like a sword. Space itself split apart. Hattori stood silently in front of the clone, deflecting the slicing energy wave with one hand. The wave crashed into the ground, creating a massive crater.

“Even if it costs me my life, stop him!”

With his blood-soaked hand, Hattori pointed at Nagisa. His clones charged at her with desperate determination.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The clones lunged at Nagisa and detonated themselves. Their explosive force was something even Nagisa couldn’t ignore.

“No! Give me back the Tsukuyomi Fragment!”

Miyakado Mieko tried to chase after the fleeing clone holding the fragment. Hattori blocked her path.

“You can’t go.”

Hattori’s shuriken moved, aiming straight for Mieko’s neck. Wearing a Ghost Cape and planning to secretly follow the clone, I changed my plan.

“Mieko!!”

Before Hyodo Yuuki could rush to protect her, I acted faster.

[Using Shunsha (Instantaneous Movement). Remaining Stacks: 4]

I deflected Hattori’s shuriken with my blade and shielded Mieko…


With one arm, I swept her waist and stepped back. Hattori let out a whistle of admiration at the clean move.

“Skill like that is rare even for Academy students.”

KIIIIIING!

Flames erupted from the ground. The fire surrounded me.

“This is the Flame Barrier passed down in my family. Have fun suffering in there.”

Hattori’s figure and voice vanished.

It was a burning forest. Everything was ablaze. I stood still, since any movement caused the heat to surge towards me.

‘Staying still makes the heat less noticeable. This must be some kind of binding barrier.’

I could have forced my way out using Chenshin, but I didn’t. The reason? Miyakado Mieko in my arms.

This was the perfect situation to flirt with Mieko.

“Let go of me! As a shrine maiden of Tsukuyomi Shrine, I must retrieve the Jewel of Tsukuyomi!”

“Calm down. If you rush out without a plan, you’ll burn to death. Then you won’t be able to retrieve any jewel.”

“The Jewel of Tsukuyomi must not fall into the hands of the Demon Court! I must retrieve it… KYAAAAAAAAAH! What are you grabbing?!”

My hand had grabbed Mieko’s ample chest. In the confusion, I’d sneakily grabbed her, not expecting her to regain her senses within 10 seconds.

“Ah, sorry. I was trying to stop you… It was an accident.”

I lowered my hand to grab Mieko’s waist instead. Through her robes, I could feel her firm waist – the exact opposite texture of her soft chest.

“You…! Never mind. Can you let me go now?”

“Nope. If I let go, you’ll charge into the flames.”

“I won’t charge in. I’ve already regained my composure. The situation has gone beyond what I can handle anyway.”

“Hearing your voice, you do seem calm. But I still don’t trust you, so stay put.”

Mieko furrowed her brows as much as possible.

Quietly trying to find an opportunity to escape from my grip, she noticed blood flowing from my side.

“A wound on your side?!”

“Ah, it must have reopened when I moved earlier. Wait, why are you taking off my clothes? Surely not…”

“I’m going to treat you, so stay still.”

A magic circle appeared in Mieko’s hands. She placed the magic circle on my side. It tickled.

“Treatment magic? A shrine maiden using magic… doesn’t suit you.”

Ignoring my comment, Mieko focused on the treatment. When she felt it was done, she spoke first.

“Why did you save me? We’re not related in any way.”

“Because I didn’t want to see you die?”

“I don’t understand. Your opponent was Hattori, a senior member of the Demon Court. You could have died if something went wrong.”

“I didn’t die, did I? And if I saved you out of kindness, why question it?”

“I don’t believe in human kindness. It’s all hypocrisy. If we were friends or family, I might understand. But we’re unrelated. We’ve only exchanged greetings, never had a proper conversation.”

“I just wanted to save you. That’s all. Even if it wasn’t me, Hido Yuki would have saved you too.”

“Your position is different from Hido’s. If you don’t want to talk about it, fine. Since I owe you a debt… I’ll repay it someday.”

Mieko said seriously.

『Name: Miyakado Mieko

Strength: D+ Stamina: D Agility: D Durability: D Mana: A

Trait: Shinto Shrine Maiden (S)

Skills: Magic (B+), Sorcery (C), Purification (A)

Affinity: 33』

Affinity 33.

Not bad.

I deliberately let all strength leave my body, causing it to collapse onto Mieko.

“Wh-What are you doing?”

“Sorry, weak from the wound…”

“Hmph. Fine… Lean on me for a moment. I’ll support you until this barrier disappears.”

“Thanks.”

I subtly enjoyed the sensation of touching Mieko.

The Flame Barrier disappeared 5 minutes later. Hattori had died by Nagisa’s hand.