The prison cell was cold. Damp stone walls, iron bars, and the faint smell of burnt offerings in the air. But the students didn't care. Not really. Their teacher was coming.
Aika paced back and forth, voice trembling. "I… I just know Sensei's gonna smash that Demon King to pieces. There's no way he won't!"
Iida, slouching against the wall, snorted. "Of course he will. Did you forget what he did last term? That guy once killed a literal lion that escaped from the zoo… to save us. A zoo lion!"
"Stop exaggerating!" Natsuki said, though her wide eyes betrayed her awe. "He… he actually did it! I was there! He jumped straight in front of the lion like it was a tutorial mini-boss and shoved it into a dumpster or something."
"Yeah!" Mori added. "I mean… why a dumpster? But it worked. And no one died. Not a single scratch on us. And the lion… well, it was very… contained afterwards."
Iida said, "How even is he that strong? I mean, there's no way someone can kill a lion like that."
"Maybe he learned how to fight from somewhere? I don't know." Mori replied.
Aika wiped her tears, giggling despite herself. "He… he's insane. I mean, who just punches a lion in the face?!"
The cell echoed with quiet laughter. Even in the Demon King's prison, they could picture Izaru yelling at a literal lion like it owed him rent money.
"Do you think he's going to… I don't know… bring monsters back from the forest to fight alongside him again?" Natsuki asked nervously.
"Ha! He'll do worse," Aika said, puffing her chest out. "He'll probably use the furniture as weapons if he has to. Chairs. Tables. Potted plants. Anything. Even a stuffed bear if he finds one."
Jumpei, from a corner, muttered, "Can I join?"
"Only if you promise to not jinx anything again." Aika said, smiling terrifyingly.
"Maybe later."
The others went back to talking then.
Iida's expression darkened slightly, but a grin tugged at his lips. "I… actually feel safe now. The Demon King has no idea what he's about to face. Not even close."
Mori sat down, crossing her legs. "I still don't get it. How can he be so calm… so… ridiculously overpowered? He's like… like a walking cheat code."
"I guess that's why he's our teacher," Aika said softly. "And maybe… he's scary, yes, but he actually cares about us. Even if he makes us do homework on a mountain in the rain."
"And nearly killed us with that chemistry experiment," Iida muttered. "Again, totally irrelevant to today, but… just saying."
Natsuki laughed, nodding. "Remember how he saved us from the lion, though? That's what counts. He doesn't just talk the talk—he literally punches a lion to save us. I mean… who else does that?"
Aika sniffled, smiling through tears. "I just… can't wait for him to get here. Demon King? Pfft. He doesn't stand a chance. Sensei will… will make him wish he'd stayed in bed that day."
"Yeah," Mori whispered, her eyes shining. "And we'll finally get to see him laugh at the Demon King's face. That's my favourite part of all of this."
The bars rattled slightly, a distant noise echoing through the dungeon. Maybe it was the Demon King's minions checking in. Or maybe it was just Izaru making his way toward them.
Aika gripped the bars. "Whatever happens… I trust him. Completely. If anyone can turn a Demon King into a crying NPC… it's Sensei."
And for the first time that day, the students felt a spark of hope. And maybe… just maybe… a little excitement.
Because the chaos that was their teacher was about to arrive.
(P.S. Don't worry. There's two girls and a boy talking with Jumpie in the background. He's not lonely. Like you. That was personal. Sorry.)