Argen Isis.
A character that resembles a cute girl with pink hair, always carrying candy, and an overall childlike physique.
Among the supporting characters featured in the story from Argen Academy, she is quite popular.
After all, she is designed with a concept that feels like it was aimed at pedophiles: the appearance of a young girl, yet she is actually a great magician who has lived for hundreds of years, so it’s no wonder she has so many fans.
However, as mentioned earlier, one must not forget that despite her appearance, she is a grand magician who has lived for centuries.
But what is important right now is not this.
Why do I say that I have hope for her?
In fact, there is no particular reason.
“Just because she’s incredibly powerful.”
The title of the grand magician is not for nothing.
As can be seen from her alias, the Grand Magician of Enchantment, she is a magician who has reached the level of a grand magician by arbitrarily changing the laws of the world to create her own unique magic.
Of course, as we progress into the latter half of the work, the scale of battle will be beyond her involvement as she is not a combat-specialized magician, but at least for now, she is as strong as they come.
It may only be for a moment and it’s not like it’s impacting the whole world, but just the fact that she can stop time within a limited space showcases her abilities.
Unique Magic, 『Enchantment』
It is a reality-manipulating type of grand magic that commands the very magic power that makes up the world by imbuing it with will and orders.
Just now, she simply commanded everyone to stop, and didn’t everyone around me freeze?
The demons must find this absurd.
No, perhaps the emotion the demon is feeling right now isn’t just absurdity but…
“Maybe it’s the fear of potentially dying here.”
The demon world is a jungle law of the fittest.
With an entity that is strong enough to be classified as a superior demon, they must have a keen eye for recognizing the strong.
It wouldn’t take long for them to realize that just by speaking, she can immobilize them, someone who can kill them like bugs without even lifting a finger.
“Oh dear, I apologize. I’ll release you all.”
As soon as Argen said this, everyone was able to move once again.
Not only myself but Evan and Stella were moving as well.
However, Stella, still trapped in panic, kept her head down, only letting out broken thoughts.
“What is this…?”
As Evan looked around with a confused expression, Argen responded.
“I merely stopped everything around you momentarily, excluding your consciousness… what…?!”
As she walked casually, sucking on a lollipop with her arms behind her head, when Argen spotted me, she dropped the candy she had been sucking on.
“Oh…”
Now that I think about it, my appearance must look like that of a severely injured student who wouldn’t be strange to see dead to others.
No, it’s not just severe; I must look like a corpse.
“Are you… alive?!”
Her voice was trembling, something I guess she had never encountered in the game before.
“[… Who are you…?]”
I knew who she was, but if I showed that I knew her, it would seem odd, so I decided to pretend I didn’t know.
But…
“P-Please, hold on a bit! I’ll give you first aid soon…!”
“Wait a minute?!”
Argen, confirming that I was still alive, approached me, trying to cast magic.
No!
I just thought I could enjoy some pain in peace without bothering anyone!
I couldn’t allow anyone to take away my little happiness.
I raised my hand to block her and said.
“[I’m fine… I can regenerate from this in no time… Please attend to Evan and Stella first…]”
I’m really okay!
In fact, I’m grateful that she came just in time to help when I was about to face a terrible fate, so please don’t take away this small happiness of mine…
From the perspective of those around me, my current appearance would be hard to look at with both eyes, but objectively looking around, Evan and Stella were in a severe mental state, so they probably wouldn’t even notice me now.
I was anxious that she might ignore my words and cast magic right away, but thankfully, she seemed wise enough to recognize who I was almost instantly.
“… I understand.”
Thank goodness.
Now I could fully enjoy the happiness that comes from the pain…
I pretended to pull out the arm stuck in me a bit more to increase the pain.
Anyway, I have to pull it out for it to regenerate, so there shouldn’t be anyone thinking strange thoughts about me…!
“Shall I have a happy time?”
Puff, swoosh…
“Ugh…♡”
Until a moment ago, the situation was so urgent that I couldn’t completely enjoy the pain, but now that a savior had come to resolve the situation, I could forget everything and comfortably enjoy this moment.
Honestly, cute characters aren’t really my thing, and although she looks adorable, she probably harbors hundreds of snakes inside, so I never really liked them.
But in this moment, it feels like my preferences might change…
The world looks so beautifully vibrant.
As I was trying to pull out the severed arm of the demon lodged in my body, I heard her say:
“… At least I won’t let you feel pain.”
Ah.
Wait a fucking minute.
“[You really don’t have to…]”
“Don’t worry, blocking just one sensation is nothing compared to my magic.”
That’s not what I meant!
Ah!
Oh!
Oh my god!!!
“How does it feel? Are you comfortable now?”
Oh shit!!
“[… Y-Yes… Thank you…]”
“Just think nothing of it.”
Oh!!!
Just a moment ago, I thought of her as my savior and even considered her the GOAT (Greatest Of All Time), now I understand why pedophiles were so infatuated with her.
I rescind my previous statements.
GOAT? No, from now on you’re GOA T (Greatest Of All).
Damn loli girl.
*
Everything has ended.
The girl who introduced herself as Argen Isis, the headmistress of the academy, said not to worry, as they would handle it from now on.
The demons… I don’t know much, but they took her away under the pretense of gathering information about this incident.
They even explained how they would extract information from demons, saying they would make them taste hell while everything except for the demon’s consciousness was stopped.
I didn’t know much about it, nor was it particularly interesting, so Evan shrugged it off.
And then… she even formally apologized.
She expressed her shame for the incident and offered to grant any wish, promising that this matter would be publicly acknowledged, and they would accept any consequences.
Wait, to be precise, that’s what she intended to do.
“[I hope this matter can remain a secret.]”
If it weren’t for Aria’s words.
Why did she say that?
In the end, it was the academy’s fault for not preventing the demon’s entry.
So it wouldn’t be weird to be blamed.
Nevertheless, Aria pleaded that this incident be kept secret, even using the privilege of a wish granted directly by the headmistress.
Could it be she was trying to protect the academy for educational purposes…?
“…”
How could she make such a judgment?
No, from the beginning, she must have made that judgment, which is why she deliberately got herself suspended and secretly went to the training grounds to confront the demon alone.
I knew it.
I knew she was a saint.
And I am the hero.
A hero destined to defeat the demon and soon vanquish the demon king that would lead the world to ruin.
Yet, despite that, that girl named Stella couldn’t even detect the demon’s attack, and in the end, she got severely injured right in front of me.
The shocking image of the demon’s massive hand ruthlessly piercing through her fragile body, scattering her insides, keeps resurfacing in my mind.
The painful expression she wore while coughing up blood, while Stella stared blankly, remains vivid in my memory.
“I… might not be qualified…”
Evan sat on the bed, burying his face in his knees.
A week had passed since the incident.
It felt fairly long.
I had thought about it for a long time.
Am I truly worthy of being a hero?
Can I fulfill my duties as a hero like this…?
I looked down.
The tips of my fingers, which had severed the demon’s hand, were trembling.
“Teacher…”
I am still unable to escape from that nightmare.
It was a day when I longed to see my teacher.
