Evening darkness had already settled over the bustling streets.
Bustle, bustle—
This was Traum Plaza, a massive, circular space at the heart of the Academy Union. It served as the hub where a web of grand avenues leading to each individual academy converged.
Surrounded by a sprawling park for students and faculty and a dense cluster of shops, the plaza was always teeming with people.
And then...
Step—
The atmosphere of the crowd strolling through the streets shifted the moment a single figure appeared. As I walked into view, the passersby began to whisper.
"Isn't that… Roen? I thought he was dead."
"The wicked always live the longest. I heard he woke up today."
"Let's pretend we didn't see him. He might pick a fight."
"Hey, move aside, quickly."
With Roen's arrival, the crowded street parted to the left and right, carving out a path.
"…"
The life of a celebrity, I suppose.
Of course, that celebrity status was born of pure hatred, but when else would I ever get to experience something like this?
Step—
Ignoring the reactions of the onlookers, I walked on, slowly taking in my surroundings.
Buildings blending antique charm with modern European styles lined the road. Their first floors, facing the main street, were filled with a variety of shops. There were clothing stores glittering with lights, accessory shops selling expensive jewels, restaurants showcasing regional specialties, and cafes with charming atmospheres.
I hadn't realized it while confined to the academy buildings, but seeing the world I had only known through a game so magnificently realized before my eyes was a fresh surprise.
As I walked, memorizing the locations of the various shops, I spotted the Union's famous donut shop.
Ilef's Donuts.
Should I buy a gift?
I'd heard Ciel liked the donuts from this shop, so I decided I should stop by on my way back.
Lost in thought, I soon found myself straying from the main street and arriving at a secluded alley. I had taken it as a shortcut, but the atmosphere felt strange.
Unlike the bustling main street, this bleak alley was sparsely populated, giving it a desolate and eerie feel. Untouched by the noise of the crowd and the light of the street, it felt like a dark back alley.
And yet, there was one shop in this gloom that emitted a soft glow.
That place is…
I stopped for a moment and looked at the shop glowing from deeper within the alley. The path wasn't completely impassable, but it was so narrow that it was mostly used as a place to pile up trash. Naturally, its accessibility was terrible. A shop located in a place like this was no ordinary establishment.
I lifted my head and checked the signpost at the edge of the road.
'Traum 9th Avenue, 3/4 Alley.'
It was a hidden passage—an homage to a certain famous magic novel—and an entrance to the world of darkness.
Rustle—
Standing in place, I reached into my coat and pulled out my wallet. It was a thick leather wallet, stuffed with banknotes. Looking at the side where cards were stored, I found a luxurious black card decorated with gold leaf.
[Invitation to the Underworld]
- Classification: Key
- Grade: Common
- Description: An invitation to the black market located in Traum 9th Avenue, 3/4 Alley. Of course, this card does not guarantee your safety.
- Expiration Date: 93 days.
So this is the card.
One might ask why an underworld would exist beneath the academy grounds, but considering the history of the Meteor Archipelago, it wasn't all that strange. In any case, the underworld, true to its name, was a place where one could obtain all sorts of things.
You could buy alchemy ingredients on the cheap or acquire artifacts and materials that weren't officially for sale. Moreover, since many related quests and characters existed there, it was a place I would have to visit eventually.
I glanced at the lit-up shop for a moment before slowly shaking my head.
Not now.
There would be plenty of other opportunities; it didn't have to be today. For now, someone was waiting for me, so I should take care of that first.
I put the card away and continued walking until I finally reached Cafe Seraphium. It was the most popular meeting spot for students, a cafe facing the fountain park on Traum 9th Avenue. It was considered the hottest spot among the Union's students.
Jingle—
When I opened the cafe door and stepped inside, I found it filled with students wearing the priestly uniforms of Seintea Academy.
…Did they book the entire cafe?
As I looked around, Elena waved at me from a distance.
"Over here, Roen."
"…"
Along with Elena's seemingly welcoming voice, the sharp glares of the students fell upon me.
Glare—
To associate with Elena, the academy's idol and student council president, I had to endure such stares. The hostile glares, practically radiating killing intent, sent a chill down my spine, but I ignored them and stood before her.
Elena led me to what looked like a separate private room. I took off my overcoat, draped it over a chair, and asked, "Have you been waiting long?"
"Yes. You shouldn't keep a lady waiting like this. You deserve a punishment."
Elena spoke jokingly with a smile, but it didn't feel like an empty threat.
"I was delayed by something I had to resolve. My apologies."
"I don't know what great matter you were handling, but I'll choose to believe you this once. The 'reformed' Mr. Roen."
Elena beamed. I gave a slight nod and sat down across from her.
"Hmm-hmm."
Elena hummed as she looked at the menu. Sitting across the table like this, I could once again take in her radiant appearance. Her wavy blonde hair seemed to sparkle in the bright cafe lighting, and her eyes resembled starlight. It was another reminder of why she was the idol of Seintea.
Ding-dong—
Elena pressed the call button, and soon after, a fragrant cup of black tea was delivered to me. It was piping hot, as if it had just been brewed.
"I heard you like tea, so I had it prepared in advance. How is it?"
"Thank you, I'll enjoy it."
"The cake here is delicious too. Shall I order one for you?"
"I'll pass. The tea is enough."
The game had described Seraphium's desserts as exceptionally delicious, so I was curious, but I didn't have the appetite for it right now. I felt like I'd get indigestion if I tried to eat anything.
"Alright. In that case."
Thump—
Elena closed the Holy Book that was lying in front of her and began to speak. The first topic was my well-being.
"By the way, how are your injuries? I heard you were bedridden for a few days because of what happened. There was even a grim rumor that you died and came back to life. I hope I didn't call you out while you're still unwell."
"As you can see, I'm perfectly fine."
"…Perfectly fine?"
Elena tilted her head. I glanced at my reflection in the cafe's window and understood her reaction.
Apart from my chiseled features, my current appearance was haggard and gaunt, with dark circles reaching down below my eyes. I didn't look healthy at all. To put it nicely, I was a frail, handsome youth, but right now, I was no different from a walking skeleton.
Elena looked at me and spoke with a hint of disappointment.
"You see, you should have accepted the divine magic healing from us at Seintea. You would have recovered much faster than just lying in a hospital bed."
Divine magic healing, she says.
I scoffed inwardly at Elena's words. If Roen, a half-demon, were to receive divine magic healing, he wouldn't recover. He'd cough up blood and die.
But without letting it show, I slowly shook my head and replied, "There was no need for that. The academy's medical facilities were sufficient. And as you can see, I'm fully recovered."
"Hmm. Is that so?"
"Yes. Besides, relying on divine magic weakens the body's natural healing ability. It's better to let the body recover on its own unless the injury is life-threatening."
The correlation between divine magic and the body's natural healing ability—it was a common trope. In any case, I wanted to move past this topic quickly. The deeper we delved, the greater the risk of my true identity being exposed.
I drained my teacup, looked Elena straight in the eye, and spoke.
"So, what's the main point? The student council president of Seintea… surely you're not that interested in my health."
As my voice dropped, signaling an end to the pleasantries, Elena's lips curved into a grin.
"Hehe. What a hurtful thing to say. Then, as you wish, let's get to the main point."
With a small laugh, Elena leaned her upper body forward, moving closer to me.
Swoosh—
As Elena approached, a sweet fragrance tickled my nose. Then, her slender hand slid across the table, coming close enough to touch mine. Just before our hands met, Elena looked me straight in the eye and slowly parted her lips.
"Roen. There's… something I'm curious about."
Elena smiled as she drew near. It was the same beautiful smile as before, but the atmosphere was completely different. It was a smile that held a strange sort of allure. And her eyes, which had shone like brilliant stars, had turned viscous and seductive.
How should I describe it? Yes. Her gaze was like that of a snake stalking its prey.
Having completely changed the mood, Elena grabbed my wrist—which was as thin as a withered branch—and squeezed hard.
Crack—
"!"
Elena whispered to me, quietly, but loud enough for me to hear clearly.
"You— aren't you a demon?"
As she spoke, a hint of something akin to madness flickered in her gleaming eyes.
"…"
For a moment, my stomach dropped, but I showed no outward reaction. I hadn't completely ruled out a situation like this, but I hadn't expected it to come so quickly and so directly.
Times like these, I'm truly grateful for my Thick-Skinned trait.
I looked into Elena's eyes, which were filled with a deep yearning, and thought calmly. I didn't know what had made Elena suspect I was a demon, but the fact that she had gone to the trouble of calling me here meant she likely didn't have any concrete proof.
That must be why, despite her busy schedule, she had summoned me to this place and waited for so long. Today's meeting was her chance to turn her suspicion into certainty. If I could just get through this, I would be able to escape Elena's suspicious gaze.
…This is actually an opportunity.
Crisis is opportunity.
After organizing my thoughts, I looked directly at Elena and asked in a firm voice, "Elena. Can you take responsibility for what you just said?"
In the setting of this world, accusing someone of being a demon without clear evidence was a grave crime. Ever since the Ludwig Family's Witch Hunt Incident resulted in thousands of victims, it had been strictly forbidden by continental law. Only after presenting conclusive evidence before a holy court, filing an indictment, and going through a trial could a suspected demon be punished.
This was even more true for someone of noble status like myself, not a commoner. I was questioning her on the clear matter of liability, and Elena answered without hesitation.
"Responsibility… As the princess of the Holy Kingdom of Celestia, my only duty is the annihilation of evil. Everything else is trivial."
"…"
The fact that Elena had deliberately mentioned her status again meant she intended to see her will through, even by force. In short, she was saying, I suspect you, so what are you going to do about it?
The silver lining was that I was hardly her inferior in terms of status. I used this fact to my advantage and declared boldly to Elena, "Hoh. As a member of the Devalis family, I find those words difficult to accept."
The Ducal House of Devalis.
An ancient and powerful noble family, known as the shield of the continent, the tip of humanity's spear, and the guardian of all kingdoms and houses. The Devalis family was at the forefront of demon extermination, defending the western front adjacent to demonic territory. In some respects, they could be seen as fighting demons more directly than even the Holy Kingdom.
To suspect me, a scion of the Devalis family, of being a demon was tantamount to insulting the entire family. Even for Elena, the princess of the Holy Kingdom, she couldn't recklessly accuse me of being a demon like this. Even if I was the family's cast-off degenerate.
"…"
Faced with my confident retort, Elena, who had been glaring at me silently, took a step back.
"How unexpected. I never thought you were someone capable of saying such things."
Elena erased the hostility from her eyes, placed a hand on her chest, and spoke calmly.
"Very well. In that case, I will rephrase. I, Elena Sion Celestia, in lieu of attempting 'treatment' with divine magic on you, the patient, will grant you one request within the bounds of common sense. How does that sound?"
I frowned slightly at Elena's proposal.
"Treatment, you say…"
Only the wording had changed, but that was the important part. Instead of branding me a demon, Elena was using the pretext of treatment to create an escape route for herself should a problem arise. At the same time, she hadn't backed down from her intention to personally verify whether I was a demon or not. It was a rather clever move.
But for my part, I welcomed her proposal. Having her grant a request within the bounds of common sense was the same as putting Elena, the student council president of Seintea, in my debt. It went beyond simply escaping her suspicion; I had gained an unexpected prize.
Besides, I've made thorough preparations to ensure I won't be found out.
There was no reason to refuse. I lightly touched Derod's ring on my finger and nodded readily.
"Fine. I accept your proposal. But make sure you keep your promise."
"Of course."
After accepting Elena's offer, I rolled up my sleeve and extended my wrist to her.
"Then, see for yourself."