“…Therefore, it appears the claim that Viscount Koskov was involved in demonic worship was false.”
“Accordingly, Viscount Koskov is to be reinstated into the noble family, and the former family head, David Koskov, is hereby acquitted.”
“As compensation for the harm caused by the wrongful judgment, the Koskov family shall be granted their fiefdom again after a three-year protection period.”
“In addition, 500,000 imperial gold coins will be awarded as reparations.”
“Exceptionally, for the Koskov family alone, a three-year vacancy for the head position will be permitted.”
And so, the incident that had shaken the Magic Department came to a close.
The Koskov family succeeded in restoring its lost honor and was promised a significant sum in compensation for the humiliation it had endured.
Professor Grayton, taking responsibility as the chief professor, resigned.
Topyren, the eldest faculty member, became the new chief professor of the Magic Department.
The faculty didn’t stop there; they successfully identified the source of the malicious rumors and the main perpetrators of the harassment.
Every last one of them was either suspended or held back a year.
One of them had even been selected to participate in the upcoming cross-department exchange event.
To fill the vacancy, a new selection process began.
There were many calls to conduct a complete re-selection, especially given the reported death of vice-representative Adel Bliss.
In this way, Tane Academy resumed its intense schedule once again.
Though a single death had changed many things beneath the surface, the world continued to turn.
“That’s the end of the imperial decree. Good work, student Sasha.”
“…Yes.”
Clunk—
Sasha closed the door to the chief professor’s office.
“……”
Back when this had been Grayton’s office—
She recalled the moment she had closed that very door, pretending not to hear his ridicule and enduring his scorn.
Now, everything had returned to its rightful place. As if all her worries had been unfounded, the chains that had bound her had vanished without a trace.
The one once seen as the descendant of a criminal was now a pitiable victim.
Students who had never spoken a word to her were now cautiously trying to approach.
“……”
She still couldn’t believe it.
Barely a month.
In just that short time, her position had changed so drastically… Sasha placed her hand over her chest.
It was then—
“…What is it?”
Those who had suddenly appeared hesitated for a moment before bowing their heads.
“Um… suddenly, we’re really sorry. We sincerely want to apologize.”
Their features were too vague. Sasha couldn’t remember who they were. She simply assumed they were among those who had insulted her in the past.
“Um, that time at the library… I’m sorry. When you told us not to insult Adel… I really regret it now.”
“…What a joke. Looks like you somehow avoided disciplinary action.”
Sasha glared at them sharply. But they simply kept their heads bowed and began to confess.
“…Yeah… actually, it’s thanks to Adel Bliss.”
“……?”
“My dad runs the Ainzel News Agency. Adel made sure your false accusation was turned into a special report… and because he was credited for that, I avoided punishment.”
“…What?”
Sasha’s eyes widened as she froze in place at that confession.
“Explain properly. What do you mean by that?”
“…So you didn’t know. Adel told us not to tell you…”
It wasn’t hard to get them to talk.
Just threatening them with disciplinary action made their faces go pale as they spilled everything.
“Honestly, printing an extra edition at the paper is extremely rare. Especially for something like a false accusation. Normally it wouldn’t even be considered.”
“But whatever deal he made with my dad, Adel met with him one-on-one, and the extra edition was immediately published…”
“The Magic Tower Special Edition. Adel wrote every single word of that article himself.”
“I don’t know for sure, but I bet he was also behind the correction to the ‘Mirage Oasis’ research.”
“That happened right after he attended the Magic Tower seminar…”
“……”
With all the information piling on, Sasha was rendered speechless.
Overwhelmed by a flood of emotions, all she could do was move her lips slightly…no words would come out.
“……”
The girls who were watching her reaction in silence bowed their heads and, after murmuring one last apology, ran away.
Meanwhile, Sasha hurried back to her dormitory without a word.
Because she didn’t know what kind of expression she was making.
She was afraid of what might be seen.
Finally, she arrived at her dorm room.
Click—
She looked around the familiar room she hadn’t seen in a month… and slowly stepped toward the open window.
Creaaak… creak…
There, in the corner of her desk, was a diary.
A notebook once filled with earnest wishes… for some reason, she opened it.
At the beginning were notes of small hopes.
But as the entries went on, the tone darkened.
One line stood out at the bottom of the last page:
I just want to live a normal life too.
Yet strangely, there was a reply written beneath it.
└ I’ll make it come true for you.
“……”
She collapsed to the floor, silently crying.
The dam holding back her emotions crumbled all at once.
Clutching her chest with a tight fist, she held in her sobs.
“…Adel, Adel, Adel…”
In her hand was a broken pendant.
A pendant left by the boy who had pulled her out of despair.
“…Something like this… if you die… it doesn’t mean anything anymore…”
The darkness had passed, and Tane’s campus was beautiful beyond words.
***
“Oh. Right.”
“What is it?”
“…It’s nothing.”
“Okay. Then hold still for a bit.”
“Why do you keep touching me?”
“Your constitution causes the magical energy to circulate inside your body. If your body acts like a barrier, then there must be a weak point somewhere… Didn’t I explain this earlier?”
“Aren’t you just using that as an excuse to grope me?”
“Wh-What?! I-It’s for an experiment!”
“Hmmm…”
“It’s part of our contract, remember?! If you keep saying things like that, I will take your pants off too!”
“I agreed to assist with experiments and act as your butler… not serve you at night.”
“Y-You!! Just be quiet!!”
“Yeah, yeah.”
The moment I started spouting nonsense, Heinel’s endless nitpicking came to a stop.
Relieved that the nuisance was finally gone, I returned to the thought that had just crossed my mind.
Come to think of it, I never got a chance to tell Sasha… She might really think I’m dead.
But that worry only lasted a second before I shrugged it off.
Since I’ve spoken to Camilla, she’ll probably tell her. Whatever.
Nothing much should come of it.
So I’ll trust my sister and focus on what’s in front of me for now.
First, I need to properly investigate the new demon form.
In the original story, this demon was instantly killed by Tane’s headmaster, so there’s little information about it. Which means I’ll have to check it out myself.
…Besides, just the fact that I, who was supposed to be the first boss, survived has already shifted the scenario in a major way.
I don’t know for sure, but what happened with Sasha this time is probably just the tip of the iceberg.
There are likely many more variables developing in places I can’t see.
I let out a small sigh.
At this rate, taking things slow at the academy is a naive idea.
Change one thing, and it causes another event to happen.
And if I use some method to deal with that event, yet another consequence arises.
It’s a vicious cycle. This world is much more organically connected than I thought.
If this keeps up, the information I have from the original might eventually become useless.
The Sasha incident was still within what I could handle… but if things like this keep happening, sooner or later, something I can’t handle will hit.
Rather than waiting to be blindsided again, I’ll deal with them first.
In that case, it’s safer to just crush the demon worshippers entirely.
Time to change plans.
I’ll eliminate the root of the problem before they fully set their plans in motion.
Forget just avoiding a dead end… I’ll bring the clear ending closer myself.
That’s how I’ll move forward.
Just then—
“Experiment assistant!! Look!! I think I found it!”
Heinel suddenly started poking my thigh repeatedly.
“……”
“Here, right here on your thigh! There’s something like a snake! Fufu. It’s pretty big. Must be some kind of magical build-up! Like a blood clot!”
“…Please don’t press it.”
“Hmm? Why not? Huh? Did that just move a little…?”
I pinched the bridge of my nose. I never actually thought I’d get molested…
“C-C-C-could it be…?”
“Yes. That, so please take your hand off.”
“Kyaaaaaaa!!”
Heinel Shifter is five years older than Adel, making her 21.
A bit young to be recognized as an accomplished mage, but old enough to know about these things as a woman.
And it’s not like the empire was ever portrayed as a conservative place, so there’s no way she doesn’t have experience at her age… and yet she’s ridiculously flustered.
“Wh-Why did it go all the way down to your thigh?!”
“Beats me. But I am the victim here, you know…”
“U-Uh… s-s-so…”
“Yes, yes. You’re sorry, right? You’re not some hormonal teenager… It was an accident, so I’ll let it slide.”
“…so weird. It felt kinda squishy.”
“……”
She really is the kind of woman who only knows how to say annoying things.
***
The opportunity to inspect the demon form came sooner than expected.
Perhaps still shaken from what had happened that morning, the usually diligent genius mage had declared the entire day a holiday.
◆ [Shape Transformation] Trait Activated.
[Adel Bliss] → [Adel Bliss (Demon of Justice and Execution)]
Transforming back into a form I had already taken once before wasn’t particularly difficult.
Compared to the first time, the pain barely amounted to even a quarter of what it was, and I was able to shift into the demon form with ease.
“That’s the new form you got?”
“Yeah. But… it’s missing more than I expected.”
The Magic Tower Domain, where the tower was located.
About an hour’s ride east from the empire’s capital, the entire land here was owned by the Magic Tower.
It wasn’t land gifted by the imperial family, but rather a “possession”.
It was one of the many signs of just how powerful the Magic Tower truly was.
Still, the anti-demon worshipper organization known as “White Ship” was capable enough to establish safehouses even within the Magic Tower’s domain.
Thanks to their help, I had entered a small house somewhere within the tower’s territory.
“Hmm… it feels… worn down? You’ve got huge dark circles too… and you look scarier than last time!”
“Not scary…bizarre.”
Sally said that while chewing on her side dish, replying to my comment as I looked in the mirror.
“Aw, it’s not that bizarre. If you just slimmed down your right hand a bit, I bet there’d be demand!”
“……”
I wasn’t sure what she meant by “demand”, but she wasn’t wrong.
My height had increased without any change in muscle mass, making me look like a stretched-out ghoul. And with a blade attached to my right hand, I looked even more grotesque.
[Adel Bliss (Demon of Justice and Executiozn)]
Health: 17 (+50)
Mana: 34 (+50)
Dexterity: 21 (+200)
Stamina: 11 (+25)
Perseverance: 13
Intelligence: 17
◆Trait: Shape Transformation (Active)
◆Time Remaining Until Reversion: 15 minutes 58 seconds… 57… 56…
◆Available Mana: [25,590 (+40,000)]
◆Details View (+)
The duration increased a bit… but I lost the special ability “Eyes of Sin”. Maybe because the form’s source is no longer a pure demon.
Still, the 200 bonus points to Dexterity alone were incredible.
Dexterity affects things like concentration during multi-casting and chant speed.
An increase of 200 meant I could now fight with much more technical precision.
And that wasn’t all.
◆Details View (–)
◆Demon of Justice and Execution
: Special Ability – Thorned Wings
: Special Ability – Execution Blade
: Special Ability – Flight
Thorned Wings was a special ability that allowed full control over the thorny vines sprouting from the back.
Execution Blade was a sword whose power scaled according to the magnitude of the target’s sins.
As for Flight, it was exactly what it sounded like. The ability to fly.
Its base stats fall short compared to the Rage Demon form… but it’s still very usable.
It was a satisfying level of power. A clear step forward in strength.
And by this point, I could be certain.
As I thought, the ShapeTransformation trait really is meant to be developed this way.
With that conviction, I began planning my next move.
I’ll collect the next demon just like this.
By the time I’ve collected the third demon, I might finally reach a level worthy of being called a “powerhouse”.
With that thought, I began to retrace my memory.
Where was the next stage again?
Where had the demon worshippers stirred up trouble?
“…The Harunsdel Merchant Guild.”
As I recalled the information without much effort, my eyes naturally narrowed.
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