“Uchaa~ Here, it’s really okay to talk loudly!”
“…I look forward to your guidance.”
Sion and Reiko entered the discussion room located in the library.
Originally, it was a place used for group assignments, discussions, and team project meetings, but the spaciousness of the library meant the competition for the room wasn’t too fierce.
“So, do you have something you’re curious about regarding the Demon Race? Not the boring stuff from the books, I’ll give you the latest information~!”
“…Then I have something I’m curious about.”
“Yeah, what is it~?”
“Apostolos.”
“…!”
As soon as the name Apostolos was mentioned, Reiko’s face suddenly froze. Then she immediately reached out her hand—
“…Ugh!?”
“It’s really dangerous. You shouldn’t say such things outside!”
Her delicate fingers covered Sion’s mouth.…For a moment, he was startled by the soft touch of her fingers against his lips. She gently withdrew her hand from his mouth.
“Is Apostolos that dangerous?”
“Of course! Was what Sion-kun was looking for about Apostolos?”
“Yes, I didn’t have any information.”
“…It’s not surprising you have no information. They are a really dangerous organization.”
Reiko pressed her temples as if her head was hurting.The sparkly, elongated nails on her fingers caught his eye.
“Listen well, Sion-kun! Not all demons are crazy, but those guys are especially out of their minds.”
“…Out of their minds?”
“Yeah, I don’t understand how they could bring back someone who died over a hundred years ago. I also don’t get why they’re trying to disturb the peace.”
She sighed, as if genuinely annoyed.…It is indeed an eyesore from the perspective of the other demons who are maintaining peace.
Still, it was good to get information about Apostolos.
“I don’t know for sure. But they are made up of seven members.”
“…Seven members?”
“Yeah, they named themselves after the seven deadly sins.”
The seven deadly sins.Designated by Christianity in a previous life, they include pride, greed, jealousy, anger, lust, gluttony, and laziness.
He never imagined he would hear the name “seven deadly sins” in this place.
“If there are seven of them… that’s fewer members than I expected.”
“No, that’s not the case. That story only applies to the top executives of Apostolos. There are actually a lot of followers below them.”
“Is, is that so?”
“Yes. There should be various ranks below the level of the seven deadly sins. I don’t know the details, but I do know about the seven deadly sins.”
Sion’s head was spinning from the new information.The seven top executives taken from the seven deadly sins.He didn’t know how many followers there were beneath them.
‘…Why is it that I’m so curious about Apostolos?’
Even while listening to her words, he couldn’t understand himself.Why was he so curious about the organization called Apostolos?As if it were his ‘mission,’ he continued to obsess over Apostolos.
Amidst his confusion about his incomprehensible actions, Sion felt a constant touch on his forehead.
“…Reiko-san?”
“Your face looks really dangerous, Sion-kun… Did something happen with Apostolos?”
Reiko looked at him with a worried expression.Sion bitterly smiled at her concern.Even though it was their first meeting, he could tell she wasn’t a bad person.
“No, it’s nothing. Thank you for your concern.”
“Yeah, if there’s anything I can help with, just let me know. I really want to help. I don’t like those Apostolos guys either.”
“Just saying that is already a big help. Well then, I should… take my leave. I have afternoon classes.”
“Wait a moment.”
Reiko handed Sion her student ID.
“You said you wanted to know about Apostolos, right?”
“Uh… yes.”
“I’ve told you a lot about Apostolos, so you should tell me about yourself.”
Reiko looked up at Sion with a bright smile.
“I’m curious about you, Sion-kun.”
“Y-yes?”
“It’ll be fair, right? We share our curiosities… or do you dislike that?”
“N-no.”
Sion, with trembling fingers, entered his number into her student ID.
‘…It feels like I’m getting a lot of numbers since coming to this world.’
In his previous life, he had never experienced exchanging or getting numbers.Was it because the culture of the fantasy world was different from that of South Korea?While he was lost in such thoughts, Sion had entered all of his numbers.
Tururu—
“Okay, the signal goes through well. Thank you, Sion-kun. Shall we meet again next time?”
“…Thank you for today.”
“Yeah~.”
Waving her sparkly nails, Reiko saw him off.Sion smiled awkwardly and exited the library.
‘She’s a good person.’
At first, seeing the demon’s horns and tail made him wonder if she was affiliated with Apostolos, and he was surprised.The gyaru fashion that looked like it was from a Japanese anime also contributed to that preconceived notion.However, after talking with her, he realized she wasn’t a bad person.
Since they exchanged numbers with the student ID, it wouldn’t be bad to talk more later.Thinking that, Sion headed earnestly to the classroom for his next class.Monday afternoon class was Professor Heruj’s ‘Swordsmanship Necessary for Wizards’ lecture.
Meanwhile, at that moment.
In a forest not far from the academy.In a cave located in a sparsely populated area.A certain sound echoed irregularly.
Ugg-ugg—
It sounded as if something was greedily chewing on something.At the end of the winding cave.‘It’ was there.
A massive body, sticky black slime, and tentacles that invoked disgust.It felt as if one was looking at a living swamp.And connected to that bizarre creature was a person.
“Really, what do they want to do if they die in front of the academy students? They’re useless.”
The person connected to the tentacles was a beautiful woman with black hair and black eyes.It looked as if she was dressed, but the black slime casually wrapped her body, completely revealing her voluptuous figure.
Although her body exhibited beautiful curves, the slime-like monster connected to her seemed to overshadow that beauty.Of course, there was no one brave enough to say that in front of her.
Someone appeared in front of her.
“Lady Greed…”
“Hmm? What is it?”
With horns and ears that resembled a demon.A figure that seemed to be her subordinate stiffly handed over some documents.
“Here’s the plan for the Magic Department’s practical class that will happen next week.”
“Let me see!”
Swish.She moved her tentacles and grasped the documents.As the tentacles approached, the demon shivered.However, the woman known as Greed seemed completely unconcerned.
“Hmm, this is good. Is it Professor Lunia…? Living in a remote mountain was tough for her! Good work~.”
“Th-thank you.”
“But about this thing, who is the one who brought that skeleton?”
“…What?”
The subordinate demon’s face became stiff.The one who brought the skeleton necromancer was none other than her.The fact that she was asking that now…
“You know, if something goes wrong, someone has to take responsibility, right?”
“I-I’m sorry…”
“If that’s all it will end with, I wouldn’t even have asked in the first place. Now, come here.”
“W-what!?”
Swish!In an instant, the extended tentacles completely sealed the demon’s hands and feet.And just like that, they entered the massive body.The screams gradually diminished until they were no longer audible.
Greed looked as if she were savoring a delicious meal, her expression one of ecstasy.
‘The academy students will definitely be tastier, right?’Gluttony thought, licking her lips.Based on the information the ‘helper’ provided this time, she would raid the academy.And… use the students from the Magic Department as her prey.
“Everything is for the Demon King… Kya-ha-ha!”
Her eyes shimmered with gluttony.
“Nice to meet you! Let’s work hard in training today!”
During Professor Heruj’s class.As expected of a squirrel beast, she tried to start the class cheerfully while wagging her tail.Originally, she would have directly told them to grab wooden swords and engage in practice.
But today was different.
“Before we start the class! I have an announcement. It’s about the sports festival!”
The Byzantine Sports Festival is set to take place in a week.With the time being tight, there were many things to decide in advance.Among them, what Professor Heruj had in abundance was….
“There will be a martial arts demonstration competition by department. Each department must select one male and one female participant. I hope those who want to participate raise their hands!”
“……”
The students exchanged glances at Professor Heruj’s words and did not raise their hands.
‘Isn’t this basically a throwaway match?’The martial arts demonstration competition.As the name suggests, it was a competition to showcase the martial arts one possessed.While students in the Combat Department might have enthusiasm for it, this was the Magic Department.
Naturally, they were far from martial arts.
“The male participants are already decided, so the female ones just need to come out!”“……”“Is there no one? If that’s the case, we’ll have to draw lots!”
Even with Professor Heruj’s half-threat, the students didn’t budge.Sion also smiled bitterly and avoided Professor Heruj’s gaze.
‘Looks like the male participants are already decided.’Since a pair of males and females must participate, and they were only accepting female applicants, it seemed that a male student from the Magic Department was already secured to participate.Whether it was from a different grade, it didn’t matter to Sion—
“By the way, the male participant is Sion-kun.”
“……What?”
“Huh? Since he’s my student, he obviously has to participate! Did you not know?”
Professor Heruj tilted her head cutely like a squirrel.Sion was at a loss for words at her natural demeanor.…Uh, Professor, what about my will?
