After the contract was finalized,
Yujin took a moment to explain Elicia’s current condition to her.
“Your Highness, the truth is that your body has already reached an irreversible state.”
“By that, you mean…”
“It means that your physical body has already nearly transformed into that of a demon. And this process cannot be undone.”
Yujin would never forget the brief moment of despair that washed over Elicia’s face upon hearing those words.
Of course, he didn’t forget to quickly add his next words.
“While your physical body cannot be restored, it is still possible to preserve yourself as a human. The help I mentioned earlier is precisely to help you maintain your sense of self. So, there’s no need to fall into complete despair.”
“But… even so, if my body is that of a demon, the Pantheon will definitely want to execute me.”
“In that regard, I also plan to provide help. Furthermore, isn’t the Empire already protecting Your Highness? I don’t believe there’s any need to worry about that for now.”
Yujin’s reassurances seemed to somewhat calm her, though Elicia still couldn’t help but ask again.
“…Is it really true? Has my body truly become that of a demon?”
“In essence, yes. While it might be more accurate to call you a half-formed Transcendent, at least in terms of your body, it has become very close to that of a demon.”
“And there’s… absolutely no way to restore it?”
“None. At least, as far as I know, there is no way to revert a transcendent, once created, back to an ordinary human.”
Yujin was firm in his declaration. He knew all too well how cruel it was to offer false hope.
He remembered the pain he had felt when his mother and father were dying, clinging to the words of a doctor who had claimed there might be a way to save them. That hope had ultimately shattered, and the fall into despair had been unbearable.
He had no intention of planting such hollow hope in anyone else.
“…B-But… didn’t you say you sealed my demonic power? As long as I maintain my current state…”
“For the time being, yes, there should be no immediate issue. However, Your Highness, a seal is nothing more than a temporary measure. It’s simply a way of forcibly suppressing your demonic power and locking it away.”
Though the princess made a last, desperate attempt to cling to some semblance of hope, Yujin shook his head as he spoke.
“Your Highness, your body is already too close to that of a demon, and demonic power is the very essence of a demon’s power. If you continue to suppress this power and live as though it doesn’t exist, your body, having lost its essence, will gradually weaken… and unless the seal on the demonic power is released, you may eventually fall into an eternal sleep.”
“……”
“Additionally, demonic power is like waste building up in the body. The more you suppress it, the higher the chances it will negatively affect your body. For now, it hasn’t been long since the energy was sealed, and your previous state wasn’t good to begin with, so you may not feel the effects yet… but eventually, it could take a toll on your body.”
What Yujin had told Professor Reina yesterday wasn’t entirely baseless. In reality, Yujin himself didn’t know what kind of negative effects might arise the longer the demonic power was suppressed. He only had a vague sense that it wouldn’t lead to anything good.
“……”
“Your Highness, if you feel you can’t endure this, please let me know now. If you decide you don’t need my help to at least preserve your sense of self, I will void the contract as well.”
“……No. That won’t be necessary.”
Then, after a moment, she shook her head and said,
“There’s no turning back now. Besides, my family hasn’t given up hope. So how could I give up first?”
“Is that so? I understand.”
“So, what is this method? The one that can allow me to maintain my sense of self…”
When Elicia asked about it, Yujin replied in a tone so casual, that it sounded as if he were talking about what he had for lunch.
“It’s simple. Your Highness needs to fully transform into a complete demon.”
“…What?”
For a moment, she couldn’t comprehend what he had just said and asked again in disbelief. Transform into… what?
“It seems my explanation was lacking. As things stand now, Your Highness is already not so different from a demon. You understand this much, don’t you?”
“That… yes.”
She hesitated for a moment before nodding her head in acknowledgment.
“The purpose of the demon seed inside you is to transform its host into a complete demon. If Your Highness fully becomes a demon, the seed will no longer have any reason to continue its erosion. In fact, it will likely become a core mechanism that allows you to control the demonic power.”
“But…”
“Your Highness, as I’ve said, your body has already become closer to that of a demon than a human. Reversing that is practically impossible, even for me.”
“………”
“If you wish to survive while maintaining your sense of self, you must undergo this transformation into a demon while keeping your current mental state intact. I’ve come here to help you with that.”
“How… how exactly would that work?”
“I will assist you in gaining control over the demonic power.”
The demonic power.
Yujin was referring to the energy currently sealed within her body, and he said he would help her learn to control it.
“Once Your Highness is able to control the demonic power with your own will, the erosion will cease entirely, and the powers and abilities of a demon will also become yours to command. Naturally, this would make you no different from an actual demon.”
“………”
“I will ask again. This is Your Highness’s decision, and I will not force either option upon you. Whatever you choose, I will respect that decision. Will you survive, even if it means becoming a demon? Or will you die as a human?”
“I.……”
Elicia trembled slightly and her lips started quivering. She bowed her head deeply before speaking.
“…I am human.”
“I believe so as well.”
“Even if my body has become that of a demon, even if my soul rots and decays to its very core, that fact will not change. So…”
She lifted her head once more and said,
“I will survive as a human. Even if I become a demon, I believe that it is I alone who defines who I am.”
“…I see. I understand Your Highness’s choice.”
The words that she would survive by transforming into a demon, yet never forget that she is human. Hearing this, Yujin let out a faint laugh. He was reminded of his own experience shortly after he became a dragon.
“Very well. I will respect that. Let us proceed accordingly.”
“In that case…”
“For now, you should rest. This will be a long process, after all.”
Saying so, Yujin stood from his seat.
“Isn’t there another version of yourself that you see within the illusions, Your Highness?”
“!”
At this question, Elicia’s eyes widened in shock.
“How do you…?”
“Haha, if you’re going to question that, shouldn’t we start with how I recognized at first glance that a demon was parasitizing you?”
“……”
“Well, in any case, that would be the demon’s ego. The malice or weakness within Your Highness’s heart has likely been awakened as a new persona by the demon seed. Right now, that ego is probably the one holding control over the demonic power.”
As he said this, Yujin’s gaze fell on the flower blooming in Elicia’s right eye.
“Your Highness will need to grow to the point where you can overcome that ego and seize control over the demonic power. You’ll also need to adapt to it or tame it. These things cannot be resolved all at once. As I said, this is a long-term matter. So let us stop here for today. I also have some personal matters to attend to.”
“………”
“For now, enjoy the rare peace you’ve been granted today. The ‘treatment’ will begin after that. Headmistress?”
“…Understood. Then, Princess Elicia, we shall take our leave for now.”
Fwoosh!
With those words, the Headmistress left Elicia’s room alongside Yujin using spatial teleportation.
Left alone, Elicia…
“…Haa.”
She collapsed onto the sofa as though her strength had left her and stared up at the ceiling.
“…A demon…”
After a moment, she stretched her arm upward, staring at her hand. Then, she shook her head and brought both hands to rest on her chest.
“No, I am human…”
***
“…I’m not sure if this is truly the right thing to do.”
Meanwhile, as the Headmistress left the women’s dormitory, she muttered to himself with a slightly complicated expression.
Yujin spoke up.
“Are you referring to the matter of transforming Her Highness into a demon?”
“…Yes. No matter what the circumstances are, is it really right for her to keep living, even if it means becoming a demon? I’m not sure about this.”
“This was her choice. Therefore, it should be respected. I’m merely doing my best to fulfill the contract.”
“…Regarding that, may I ask you something?”
“Go ahead.”
When Yujin gave his permission without hesitation, the Headmistress asked,
“Of course, I’m not saying you should help Her Highness for free… but is there a particular reason you made such a contract? I can’t imagine there’s anything Her Highness could offer that you might need…”
“Haha, the answer lies in what you just said.”
“…Huh?”
“Didn’t you just say it? That I’m not obligated to help for free. It’s the same for me. Helping someone for free, as if I were simply being charitable, would gain me nothing but a fleeting sense of self-satisfaction.”
“……”
“If I had offered my help for free, do you think Her Highness would have trusted me? And even if she had, wouldn’t she have started to view my goodwill as her right? How could I predict how an act of goodwill with no price attached might eventually turn out?”
“That’s true, but still…”
“I understand that’s not exactly the root of your question, Headmistress. You’re likely wondering why, in exchange for helping Her Highness, I only asked for a single favor. Especially since it doesn’t seem like I would need anything from her.”
“…Yes. Forgive my presumption, but that is correct.”
“Why do you think that?”
“…Huh?”
“Her Highness accepted the terms of the contract. From now on, she will gradually transform into a demon. In other words, she will become a transcendent being. So why would you assume that I wouldn’t have any use for someone like her?”
“!”
Yujin who saw the Headmistress’s reaction smiled faintly and continued speaking.
“That’s how it is. Of course, you might ask why I didn’t simply put a leash on her and make her my slave so she could never resist. But… there’s really no reason to go that far, is there? A single favor is enough for me.”
“……”
“Does that answer your question?”
“…Yes, I see now that my understanding was lacking.”
“You don’t have to say it like that. After all, it’s not exactly easy to believe that Her Highness would suddenly become a transcendent being.”
“That’s… true. I suppose that line of thinking was underlying my doubts.”
The Headmistress nodded her head at Yujin’s words. Yujin then said,
“Well, now that the questioning is roughly over… I suppose it’s time I introduce myself to the professors.”
As he said this and turned to glance at the Headmistress, she replied,
“There won’t be any lectures taking place at the Academy for a week after the exams… which means there aren’t any today. For that reason, I’ve already summoned all the professors.”
“That’s quick. When did you call them?”
“Before you came to complete your paperwork, I sent them messages in advance through the communication ball.”
“Is that so… understood. By the way, I couldn’t help but notice that, despite there being no lectures, the students seem quite active.”
“Even without lectures, most students live within the Academy grounds.”
“Hmm, I see.”
After exchanging such words, Yujin and the Headmistress headed toward the conference room where the professors had gathered.
***
Meanwhile, in the professors’ conference room…
“Did you hear the news?”
“You mean that the new professor of magic studies is the author of that thesis on space-time magic?”
“Yes. The Headmistress explicitly said so.”
“Is that true?”
“I only checked the message this morning, so how would I know for sure?”
“Wow… if it’s true, that’s truly astonishing.”
“I caught a glimpse yesterday, and he looked remarkably young. Perhaps he’s an Archmage who’s reached a level similar to the Headmistress…”
“Come on, that’s a bit much. No one could compare to the Headmistress.”
“You’re wrong. Have you still not heard the news? The head of the Mages Association was instantly subdued by the author of that thesis.”
“What? What are you talking about?”
“It’s true. It happened just last night, and the news has already spread like wildfire this morning.”
“Unbelievable…”
Murmurs and chatter filled the room.
Many professors had gathered, engaging in conversation. It was a scene that felt oddly familiar, like a déjà vu.
As she thought about how similar it was to what had happened the previous night at the Mage Association’s lecture hall, a young professor who stood out among the others, Reina Sahart, lowered her gaze.
“If they’ve gone so far as to arrange an introduction like this, does that mean the Headmistress ultimately failed to find any evidence…? But who knows what might happen to Her Highness? We need to find a cure as soon as possible…”
Feeling a tinge of anxiety, she secretly bit her lip.
“Your expression doesn’t look so good, Reina.”
“…Linne.”
When Reina turned to her side, she saw a woman with ash-gray hair and calm blue eyes, gazing at her with a languid expression.
“If it’s just because of overwork, should I whip up a potion for you?”
“…No, it’s not that. Thanks for your concern.”
Linne Eneria, a professor of alchemy at the academy, was also Reina’s longtime friend. Hearing Linne’s soft-spoken words, Reina shook her head and responded.
“…You don’t seem to be unwell, then. Is there another reason?”
“…That’s…”
Reina hesitated for a moment before turning to look at Linne beside her.
Her expression was unreadable. It was slightly languid and blank.
Seeing that expression, Reina wavered.
Should she tell her? That she had encountered a dark mage last night who was plotting something against the princess?
And that the new professor, who was about to be introduced by the Headmistress today, was that very dark mage?
Whether Linne would believe her was one thing, but would revealing this information to her be safe? Reina couldn’t help but agonize over it.
As Linne quietly observed her, she finally spoke again in her usual gentle tone.
“…I don’t know what’s going on, but you don’t have to shoulder it alone. Just tell me anytime.”
“………”
As Reina watched Linne smile softly while speaking those words, she hesitated for a moment. Her lips parted and closed as if she was struggling with an inner conflict. Then, finally, she turned to Linne and began to speak.
“Well, the truth is…”
“I apologize for being late.”
Of all times, it was then that the Headmistress’s voice echoed through the room.
Reina and Linne both instinctively turned toward the source, their conversation slipping from their minds.
The wide conference room doors had opened, and two people were walking inside.
“I was held up by something urgent, and I’m afraid I’ve arrived late. I hope you’ll forgive me with a generous heart.”
“It’s not a problem at all, Headmistress.”
A woman with fiery red hair spoke as she entered. It was Headmistress Ines. A gray-haired senior professor shook his head in response, reassuring her. The other professors nodded in agreement.
After all, the Headmistress wasn’t significantly late, and most of the professors already held her in high regard. Ines was one of the most skilled Archmages among mortals; she was a figure deserving of their respect regardless of any political dynamics or power structures.
“I see. Thank you for your understanding.”
“But, Headmistress… that person over there…”
“Ah, yes. I suppose it’s about time I made the introduction.”
When one of the professors glanced in the direction of the other person who had entered, the Headmistress nodded in acknowledgment and responded.
“This is Professor Han Yujin, who has recently been appointed to the faculty. I imagine many of the professors in the Department of Magical Studies may already be familiar with him.”
A ripple of murmurs spread through the room.
“My goodness…”
“So that’s really him…”
“He’s even younger than I’d heard. I regret not being able to attend his lecture myself…”
“Quiet down. Professor Yujin, please step forward and introduce yourself.”
When the professors started murmuring among themselves as they looked at Yujin, the Headmistress quieted them.
She then sent Yujin forward.
And as she did, Reina watched him with a subdued gaze.
Before long, Yujin smiled and began to speak.
“It is an honor to meet all of you senior professors at the academy. My name is Han Yujin. I imagine many of you know me as the author of the papers on space-time magic. Yes, I am that person.”
– Murmur, murmur
Though they had already been informed beforehand, hearing it directly from him felt like a completely different experience.
“Stop this fussing at once.”
At that moment, the Headmistress uttered a single remark, and the room instantly quieted down. It was a moment that demonstrated the authority she held. Yujin spoke again.
“Thank you, Headmistress. Now, I will continue with my introduction.”
Yujin then looked around the room, smiled, and continued speaking.
“Though this may come as a surprise, I have a dream.”
And just like that an unexpected story began.
“……”
Meanwhile, Professor Reina who was listening to those words couldn’t help but feel a strange sense of unease creeping over her.
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