Caron’s recent statement was so absurd that it bordered on lunacy.
Not something you’d think, “Is he insane?” about, but rather something that would make you instinctively say, “Ah, he’s definitely lost it.”
Wasn’t it? Suggesting to deploy 1st and 2nd years to a place that might harbor demons?
“I must’ve misheard.”
Caron, logical and rational as he always was, couldn’t have said such a thing.
It must have been the result of exhaustion from all the recent work, messing with his hearing.
“Ah, I apologize. It seems I misheard due to my fatigue. So, the available 3rd years for the mission total twelve, correct?”
“You heard correctly. I proposed bringing the 1st and 2nd years along.”
“…You’ve completely lost it.”
Principal Dwener shook his head in disbelief.
Sure, the 2nd years might be somewhat acceptable. They had received considerable training regarding demons and had even gained some experience through dungeon simulations.
But the 1st years? Absolutely not.
They were nowhere near prepared.
‘And what if my precious Zero gets hurt in the process?!’
Of course, Dwener was also concerned about the safety of the other students. However, compared to his worry for Zero, that concern barely even measured half.
A vivid image of Zero crying out, “Principal! Save me!” while standing on a blood-drenched magic circle flashed through Dwener’s mind.
“I cannot accept this proposal.”
“Please reconsider. It will be a valuable experience in live combat. Opportunities for them to think critically and draw their own conclusions are rare, as you know.”
“Live combat, sure. But this isn’t just any live combat. We’re talking about a location where demons may exist. And not just demons—there could also be people who’ve made contracts with them. You’re well aware of the horrors of those who take the demon’s hand, aren’t you?”
While many described demons as the most terrifying beings, trembling in fear at their name, Dwener thought otherwise.
‘Humans are the real monsters.’
Infanticide, cutting off limbs while their victims were alive, killing families right before their eyes—unimaginable acts that couldn’t even be spoken aloud.
Even demons themselves would scratch the back of their heads awkwardly and say, “Uh, even I wouldn’t go that far…”
And yet, people who had taken the demon’s hand?
They wouldn’t even value the lives of students as much as an ant’s.
‘If cornered, they’ll sacrifice everything around them as offerings to amplify the demon’s power.’
If something like that occurred, Caron and the instructors would certainly notice quickly and handle the demon efficiently.
But by then, a few students would undoubtedly meet their deaths.
Which was why Caron’s proposal to bring 1st and 2nd years into this situation was unacceptable.
“…”
As Dwener paused to think, he realized something was amiss.
Caron wasn’t the type to be ignorant of what Dwener himself already knew.
That meant there had to be an ulterior motive hidden behind this absurd plan.
“This isn’t like you. Why are you so adamant about this?”
“Because it’s a good opportunity for everyone.”
“Everyone?”
Not just the students?
Dwener finally caught on to what Caron was scheming.
The “everyone” Caron referred to wasn’t just the students. It included the Evil-Slaying Group as well.
‘He plans to use the students as decoys.’
If the students roamed the village, all eyes would be on them, leaving Roy and Bernstein free to act as they pleased.
This would create the perfect environment for the Evil-Slaying Group to gather information.
“That’s not the only benefit. Additional casualties can also be minimized.”
It was only natural that increased attention would make abductions more difficult.
Securing new sacrifices for rituals would prove much harder under such circumstances.
“That’s only temporary. If this drags on, there’s a risk of things spiraling out of control.”
“We’ll settle it before that happens. It’s a much smaller village compared to the Academy. A conclusion will be reached within days.”
Caron’s proposal to involve 1st and 2nd years, admittedly, had some merit.
Although they didn’t know who had made the contract with the demon, as long as they could prevent him or her from going berserk, it wouldn’t pose much of a problem.
However…
“This feels like using students as shields.”
“Shield seems like an overly harsh term. Perhaps decoys… or disguised pawns would be more fitting.”
“Wouldn’t the number of pawns from the 2nd years alone suffice?”
“That’s what I initially thought. But… it turns out the 1st years have been just as motivated as the 2nd years following the Carpathia defense.”
Even the 1st years, reflecting on their shameful displays during the Carpathia defense, were burning with a desire to prove themselves.
They wanted to shine, just like Zero and his group had.
“Even so, the 1st years are a bit…”
“We plan to assign an instructor to each group, so there shouldn’t be any major issues. Besides, we have Lady Lowell as well.”
“The mad lion? Oh, I mean—Lady Lowell agreed to assist?”
“She accepts any mission. That’s how she earned her nickname, isn’t it? She agreed right away.”
Lowell’s title as the “Mad Lion” stemmed from two things: her foul personality and an unusual obsession with completing missions.
That was why she was called the Mad Lion.
“However, she did set one condition.”
“A condition?”
“She said she’d only take on the mission if all the 2nd years were included.”
“…All the 2nd years?”
Since Caron’s initial proposal already included both 1st and 2nd years, there was no issue with accepting Lowell’s condition.
But still…
‘What’s her true objective?’
It was already strange that Lowell, who had unexpectedly taken on a temporary instructor role at the Academy, had now placed this condition of taking all the 2nd years.
Dwener couldn’t decipher Lowell’s intentions.
“Do you know her reason?”
“Well, I have a rough idea. But it’s not something that will cause problems for this mission.”
Caron, the instructors, and now even Lowell…
A mid-tier demon? This was a force capable of taking down even a high-tier demon with ease.
Against an opponent presumed to be at most a mid-tier demon, this was overwhelming firepower.
‘Even so, the students’ safety isn’t guaranteed 100%.’
But that didn’t mean they could simply shout “Safety first!” and leave it at that.
The students’ growth was important. Especially now, when black mages and demons roamed freely.
They had to prepare the children for life beyond the protective walls of the Academy.
After all, Dwener’s role was simply to help the students have a fulfilling Academy experience.
While Dwener was lost in thought, agonizing over the decision—
“If anything happens, Principal, won’t you protect them?”
“…Me?”
“Isn’t that what the training was for?”
The fact that Adonis, disguised as a Rat, had been secretly training Dwener wasn’t exactly a secret to Caron, the Empire’s Rat.
‘To suddenly start training an old man of the same age… what on earth is he thinking?’
It would have been far more efficient to spend that time training capable students instead.
When Dwener had asked Adonis directly, the man had simply nodded, saying, “Because it’s romantic.”
Well, it wasn’t something Dwener particularly needed to concern himself with.
In any case, maintaining basic fitness was essential for running the Evil-Slaying Group, so leaving it alone wouldn’t hurt.
“So it was you. You’re the one who sent him, aren’t you?”
Dwener’s eyes burned with intensity as he stared at Caron.
Though he’d already received reports from the Rats along the lines of, “An unusual rat is tormenting an elderly man daily!” it seemed things had gone further than expected.
While there might have been a slight misunderstanding, Caron decided not to clear it up.
‘Some misunderstandings are better left alone.’
Dwener benefited from the training, and Caron found some amusement in harassing a stubborn old man who didn’t listen and tried to shirk his duties. It worked out for everyone.
As Caron averted his gaze slightly, Dwener sighed.
“I see. Well then, if I don’t protect the students, who will?”
This mission offered the opportunity for both student growth and the elimination of evil.
It was a chance to kill two birds with one stone.
“However, if we lose even one bird, I’ll hold you personally accountable.”
“Understood.”
“When do you plan to depart?”
“I’ll inform them tomorrow and depart the day after.”
“There’s much to prepare. Let’s move quickly. You said someone from the village came to us directly, right? Summon them immediately. Oh, and bring Roy and Bernstein too!”
Caron promptly called for Roy and Bernstein, who had been waiting just outside, to fetch the villager.
That part of the mission could be safely left to them.
“Now, I need to arrange transport carriages.”
Cheap but sturdy carts!
The downside was that the students’ backsides might end up bruised, but there was nothing more efficient than those carts.
Caron mentally reviewed the plan once more.
Dwener wasn’t the only one concerned about the students’ safety. He cared just as much as Dwener did.
‘Even if something unexpected happens, we have Lord Adonis, so it’ll be fine.’
But Adonis wasn’t the only ace up Caron’s sleeve.
‘Zero. That kid is there too.’
Though it was a bit early, considering what lay ahead, it was time for Zero to handle something of this scale alone.
‘Baron Kelven… there’s no need to let them know he’s suspicious.’
To survive as a Rat, exceptional deductive skills were a must.
Zero had already proven his remarkable reasoning abilities by deducing the identities of the Four Heavenly Kings.
Still, deducing based on known information and deducing in real-time while gathering clues were entirely different challenges.
‘Let’s see if you can figure it out, Zero.’
Caron thought to himself.
If Zero managed to pull this off, Caron decided he’d give the boy a pat on the head as a reward.
“Arghhh!”
“Instead of screaming, think about your next move!”
Whack!
A child flew through the air after being struck by Lowell’s wooden sword.
It was training time with temporary instructor Lowell—a time filled with the students’ screams.
“Haaam~”
But I was too busy yawning. My head was filled with troubling thoughts.
‘Baron Kelven. How do I deal with this guy?’
Episode: Trash’s Demon, mid-second arc.
The villain was none other than Baron Kelven, the lord of the village.
It wasn’t that the situation was difficult.
The problem was that there were too many ways to deal with him.
‘So, I have to take care of Baron Kelven while also obtaining a Proof Token from Lowell… but this is getting tricky.’
This episode revealed part of the Lucid Family’s secret—a damning one: the fact that they had dealings with demons.
The protagonist, Alex, would discover this secret and, in the process, save Lowell, forming a bond with her.
For Alex, who had high favorability ratings with everyone, this wasn’t much of an issue.
Even Lowell would simply warn Alex rather than kill him.
‘But for me, with maximum hatred stats? If I discover the family’s secret, she’ll cut my head off without hesitation.’
In that case, I’d have to confess everything in advance, like I had with Lucia. But even then, would I be able to keep my head intact? Not likely.
The “Mad Lion” would undoubtedly tear me to pieces on the spot.
‘Ah, this is why I never wanted to get involved with Lowell in the first place…’
Rational, intelligent, and wise as I was, my compatibility with Lowell was utterly terrible.
I’d rather be chained in a dungeon playing Twenty Questions with Caron for a week.
What? You think that sounds worse? Trust me, if you look at this from a slightly different angle, you’ll see I’m right.
“Next!”
“P-please take care of me! I mean, please don’t hit me!”
“Left-handed? Why are you trembling so much?”
Raymon trembled violently.
Without even sparing him a second glance, Lowell swung her long wooden sword in his direction.
It was a blow so powerful that one would need a shield at the very least to block it, even though she clearly underestimated Raymon.
Everyone assumed Raymon would be sent flying through the air like the others.
Smack!
“…!”
Even from a distance, it was obvious that Lowell’s eyes widened in surprise.
He had blocked it. Using nothing but the wooden sword he held in his left hand.
This moment once again showcased the absurd abilities of Raymon’s character.
Normally, in such a situation, any instructor would immediately praise Raymon.
But not Lowell.
“You blocked it?”
“Y-Yes… I-I guess I did?”
“Who told you to block it?”
“Pardon?”
“I said, who told you to block it?!”
“H-Hiiik! I-I won’t block it again!”
“I don’t need your excuses!”
Smack! Thwack!
Raymon managed to block two more strikes, but that was as far as he got.
With his wooden sword knocked out of his hand, Raymon crouched down on the ground, curling up to protect himself.
Lowell planted one foot firmly on his back, pinning him down.
“Acting cocky, huh? Well, your defense is passable. You just need to figure out how to attack.”
“Th-Thank you. Y-You’re small but strong. Truly amazing.”
“…Die.”
Lowell began kicking Raymon like a ball.
Do you see it now? The sheer brutality of the Mad Lion?
And you expect me to walk up to a woman like her and say, “Keke, actually, I know the Lucid Family’s secret. Shall we make a deal?”
“Next! If no one steps up, I’ll come for you myself!”
“E-Everyone run!”
The sounds of children screaming, more kids being sent flying into the sky one after another, and the box Rezé was hiding in shaking violently, all blended together into an orchestra of chaos.
“Keke, what a mess.”
It was a summer that made me miss Caron.
–TL Notes–
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How will this Dwener training go? Maybe it would be a chain quest ended up with Dwener handing his revived family spear style to Zero?