Dues to the Demon Lord Reborn: Of Intimacy and Salvation
Those Outcast Fear Others—The King Delivers This Judgment
“I DID ITTTTTTTTTTTT!”
Noon at the Academy. I could hear a certain idiot’s screams echoing down the first-floor hallway connecting the first-year classrooms. Naturally, it caught the attention of the students, who looked at the source.
Immediately after, our eyes slid toward the paper affixed to the wall, posting the results for practical and written finals. The students were checking their grades and comparing their ranks, either breaking down or jumping in joy based on the outcome.
Among them, Sylphy raised both arms, eyes brimming with tears. Ireena and Ginny frowned as they watched the girl act like she was on top of the world.
“Um…what did you do, exactly?”
“Miss Sylphy. Didn’t you score last place again by a wide margin?”
Sylphy Marheaven—a natural troublemaker and impressively stupid—managed to score below 20 percent on all subjects this semester. A first in school history. She even earned a zero in combat—her one forte—because she ignored every rule in the practical exam and made a total mess. This, too, was a new record.
Even in this situation, Sylphy snorted, taking on a look of pure pride.
“Who cares about the test scores?! Look! Look at this!”
She held something out that she’d been gripping in her right hand for some time. A weekly entertainment magazine. The printing industry was having a bit of a revolution, which was influencing the shift in chosen entertainment. One might say a regularly circulating magazine was the perfect example of this.
Sylphy was holding an entertainment magazine that was popular with women and featured romantic stories and gossip about stage actors. She flipped to a certain page—
“Look at my horoscope for the week! My star is finally coming in first!”
In this country, one’s star was decided by the date of their birth. Each one was named after a different constellation…and Sylphy’s was Leo King.
“My horoscope always says ‘You suck’ or ‘You’ll regret being born,’ but I’m finally number one! This week, Leo King girls will have the best luck! It’s my time to shine! Ha-ha-ha-ha!”
Sylphy thrust out her flat chest with a loud laugh, but that didn’t change the fact that her test scores placed her last. What made her so lucky again?
“By the way! Ireena and Ginny—you’re in for some good luck, too! And you’re in second place, Ard! You’re worse off than me, but the magazine says you’ll coast through this week!”
“Hmm… I guess—,” Ireena started.
“—that doesn’t hurt to hear.”
The two girls each put one hand to their cheeks, mouths curling into tiny smiles.
Yeah. It didn’t hurt to hear. That said, horoscopes weren’t very reliable. My main issue was that horoscopes were based on astrology. In other words, you used the alignment of stars to divine your fortune. In that case—
“Hmm? So you believe in horoscopes, too, Ard Meteor?”
The speaker was snide—a classmate named Veronica von Velgr de Falmes. The von Velgr part indicated she was a daughter of a duke, the highest of the nobility. Her most distinctive characteristics were her braided golden hair and confident face.
A sneer formed on her lips. “So you’re mortal just like the rest of us—letting the results of some fortune dictate how you feel. Honestly, it’s laughable.”
Veronica’s eyes held visible antagonism.
Ireena, unable to tolerate her attitude, turned bright red. “What’s your problem?! You’re so annoying!”
“Oh? Aren’t you the daughter of some tiny baron? Um, what was your name again…? Meleena?”
“It’s Ireena!”
“Whoopsie. I don’t bother remembering the names of those I don’t notice.”
This seemed to make Ireena bristle with anger, eyes narrowing. This cold gaze didn’t affect Veronica in the least.
“Ard Meteor. You may have outdone me on our finals this semester…but don’t let it get to your head. The more important event is the classroom observation coming up this weekend.”
“Uh-huh. If you say so.”
There was a special lesson during the coming weekend—the classroom observation, where our parents and guardians would watch us compete in one-on-one magic battles. The opponents were matched ahead of time, and mine was this girl, Veronica, in front of me.
“I suggest that you enjoy the number one spot while you can. After this weekend, you’ll never sit there again.”
And with that, she laughed haughtily and left. Ireena continued to glare from behind.
“Hmph! She couldn’t beat Ard even if the world turned upside down!”
“I agree!” Ginny said. “Miss Veronica would have to train for a hundred million more years before declaring war on Ard.”
The two glared in her direction, obviously irritated.
On the other hand, Sylphy was thinking about something else altogether.
“Was Veronica always this way?”
“…Now that you mention it…”
“She was never one to stand out—neither causing trouble nor crowding around Ard. I remember her studying by herself.”
Veronica used to be an unassuming prodigy who plugged away at her work. Her dedication consistently put her at the top of our year, though her practical skills used to be midrange. I hated to say it…but she was kind of a letdown for the daughter of a duke.
Veronica, however, now ranked second in both written and practical exams.
“…Something is suspicious about her progress,” I mumbled.
Just then, a woman made an announcement from the magical acoustic device installed in the corner of the ceiling.
“This is Olivia vel Vine. I’ve got a message for Ard Meteor. Please make your way to the staff room. I repeat, this is Olivia vel Vine with a message for Ard Meteor. Please—”
After I listened to her voice—stern yet beautiful—I shrugged in exasperation.
“…I wonder what they’ll put on me this time?”
Not long after, we headed to the staff room and met with the voice from the broadcast.
Olivia. My elder sister of sorts, with black animal ears and a tail characteristic of a therianthrope. A woman renowned for her cold beauty, she was both an instructor at the Academy and a former Heavenly King.
The first words out of her mouth…
“You know a student named Veronica, right?”
Was this some kind of coincidence? She brought up the one student on our minds.
I nodded, feeling like this was fate.
“As you guys know, she’s not really one to grab anyone’s attention. Except…her skills have grown exponentially, and now she’s number two in your grade.”
“Hmm. Are you saying you’re more suspicious of than pleased by your pupil’s progress?”
“…Yeah. She got good too fast. I wouldn’t think anything of it if it was only her classwork. That just depends on how you apply yourself. But practical skills are different. There’s no way that she could shoot up the ranks.”
“…I was also thinking about that. I wonder if she’s involved in something not good.”
“Oh. That saves me time, then. Keep an eye on her and deal with anything suspicious.”
I nodded and prepared to leave the staff room. However…before I could, Sylphy shoved her magazine at Olivia.
“Look at this, Olivia! Your fortune is rotten this week! Pfft! You better be careful! You’re in last place! Pfft!”
“…Hmph. Horoscopes? A total waste of time.”
“Pfft! You might act like it doesn’t bother you, but I bet you’re crestfallen on the inside!”
“…Horoscopes are bullshit. Anyone who believes in them is—”
—an idiot, I imagined she would say. Before she could get the words out…
BOOOOOOOOOOOM!
An explosion came from nowhere, rocking the room. It sounded like it originated from the roof. It was at this point…that Olivia seemed to grasp the situation.
“Heh, hee-hee. Hee-hee-hee-hee-hee.” She broke into a radiant smile. After all, her potato garden was up on the roof. “Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha. Want to bet my precious potatoes are burned to a crisp? Didn’t you set that magic trap, Sylphy?”
“W-well, uh…”
“By the way, Sylphy, how’s your horoscope looking?”
“M-my star is the luckiest.”
“Yes, yes. I knew it. Horoscopes are totally fake.” Olivia swiftly got on her feet.
Sylphy darted on reflex. “Aaaaah?!”
There was no escape. Grabbing the girl’s nape, Olivia caught her almost instantly.
“Since you placed last in your grade, I’ll congratulate you by adding more oomph than usual. ” Olivia dragged Sylphy away with a blinding smile.
“H-help meeeeeee!”
All we did was coldly stare at her as she was taken to who knows where.
Fast-forward to after school. As everyone returned to their dorms or homes, we set to work.
Our mission was to tail Veronica. She seemed to live off campus, seeing as she slipped through the gate without heading toward the dorms.
“Think she’ll stop somewhere?” Ireena asked.
“If there are demons involved,” Ginny replied.
“Ow-ow-ow-ow… I’m… I’m still seeing stars…”
Sylphy seemed to have a few extra screws loose after Olivia was done with her.
We followed our target at a distance far enough to prevent her from detecting us. As Veronica stepped into a carriage, I thought the girls might be onto something…but the destination was her palatial residence.
It was luxurious enough to be a duke’s manor. The sprawling garden was secluded from the outside world by a huge gate and guards…which made it impossible to get any closer.
“Since she went straight home…is it safe to say she’s innocent?”
“It’s too soon to say. This is either a one-day anomaly or something is occurring within the household. Like a family member may be controlling her,” Ginny concluded.
“Y-you might be right,” Ireena said. “…How can we check inside? Invade it?”
I shook my head. “There’s no need to enter the manor. Please come this way.”
I led everyone to a backstreet, hoping to avoid drawing attention to ourselves, and then cast magic—circles with complex geometric patterns unfolding before us that transformed into a large mirror. It floated in midair.
Ireena tilted her head. “Wh-what’s this?”
“Vista magic. With this, we can peek in on Lady Veronica’s private life.”
As I finished speaking, the mirror showed us Veronica. Maids were greeting her in an unbelievably big foyer. She handed over her schoolbag, headed to her room, and quickly changed into an ornate outfit. So far, her after-school activities were just like any other aristocratic young lady’s. Veronica sat at her wide desk and began flipping through a textbook.
“It looks like…she’s just reviewing coursework,” Ireena commented.
“Agreed,” Ginny said. “Maybe…there is a secret within her textbook?”
“No. Veronica is studying. For now, at least,” I answered.
She wrote something down on parchment, staring intently at her history textbook. She was doing rote memorization to help her remember the contents. Her paper contained objectionable words—demons and Evil Gods—but nothing appeared to be problematic. She was the image of a model student.
As the daughter of a duke, Veronica wasn’t happy about ranking second and threw herself into her studies. It was hard not to be impressed. Even Ireena, who had just been fighting with her, seemed to feel the same way.
“…She’s a hard worker. I’ll give her that.”
“…The speed of her recent progress must be the fruit of her efforts,” Ginny concurred.
I wanted to agree. However…
“That doesn’t explain her sudden haughtiness.”
“Hmm. Maybe she’s always been like that?” Ireena asked.
“I can’t rule out the possibility. But…something doesn’t sit right with me.”
I was thinking about a certain thing.
I continued to watch Veronica, who remained engrossed in her studies until a maid called her, and she headed to the dining table.
Her family sat around a long table in the center of an immense room. Veronica was one of five siblings. The man—I assumed he was the father—said a prayer before the meal as they folded their hands. After that, the mother added a few words, and they began to eat.
“What do you think, Ard? Who seems suspect?”
“No one. They appear perfectly normal. I don’t believe any of them are controlling her.”
We paid close attention to Veronica’s family dinner.
“By the way, Veronica, I heard you placed second in the final written and practical exams,” said her stately father.
Veronica’s face immediately seemed to light up with hope. She visibly wanted to be praised. But—
“It’s vital that members of our household always strive for the highest excellence. You just aren’t there yet.” Veronica’s father didn’t say the thing she’d hoped to hear.
“…!” Her childlike, cherubic features screwed up in pain, and she gritted her teeth…
Another girl—her elder sister—spoke disdainfully. “Father is right. The family members of a duke always should be in the best of seats. Failure to achieve that is a sign of inadequacy.”
“…Cut the bullshit. You’re beneath me.”
“Hmm? Did you say something?”
“…No, nothing.”
They didn’t appear to be on good terms. When I took a closer look, I realized it wasn’t just the elder sister; her younger brothers and sisters were staring at Veronica. It was clear they didn’t think highly of her, either. It felt like they were saying Serves you right.
Veronica, however, paid them no heed and turned to her parents. “Father. Mother. As you know, classroom observations are this weekend. My opponent…is Ard Meteor.”
“Oh my…!”
“The son of the Great Heroes?”
“Yes. I promise you will see me defeat him during this special lesson. And when I do—”
Then Veronica faltered, and her eyes began to dart around.
Her father looked at her dubiously. “What is it?”
“…Nothing. I shall do everything in my power to meet your expectations.”
“Naturally,” he said.
“I look forward to it.”
The atmosphere seemed tense. There was nothing inviting about this dinner. You might say it was quintessentially aristocratic.
…After the meal, Veronica took a bath, returned to her room, and resumed her study session. There was a knock at the door, and a figure entered the room before she could answer it.
It was her elder sister.
“Oh, studying hard again. I applaud your wasted efforts.”
Her sister had assumed a more wicked expression than the one she’d worn at the dinner table.
Veronica returned this with a smile. “You’re the one who lost to those ‘wasted efforts,’ Sister. I’m now number one in this house. No one notices you anymore.”
Her sister’s face scrunched up, clearly displeased. She, however, was aware that she was a daughter of the nobility. She quickly switched to a placid smile.
“Yes. I admit your progress. You may look like a new person on the surface…but you’re still the same inside. A failed and talentless duke’s daughter who ugly-cries whenever we tease you. Your true self will never change.”
It was here that Veronica faced her sister, clearly hostile. She gripped her fists, and a crease formed along her forehead. Her sister found this amusing and giggled.
“Let me guess what you wanted to say to Mother and Father during dinner: I’ll defeat Ard Meteor, and when I do—please love me.”
The hatred on Veronica’s face seemed to intensify.
“Ah-ha-ha-ha-ha! You’re so weird! There’s no way they’ll ever love human garbage!”
Veronica glared as her sister gripped her sides in laughter. Her expression said she wanted to object but couldn’t. In the depths of Veronica’s heart, she had accepted her sister’s words. The truth was all too clear… She had no confidence in herself.
“Don’t let it get to your head—or get too comfortable. If you lose focus, you’ll find yourself back where you started. Do your best this weekend, Veronica the Dropout.”
After saying what she wanted, the elder sister smugly left the room.
“……Dammit!” Veronica slammed her fist against the desk, body trembling. She immediately went to work in a frenzy.
One hour passed, then two. Even when everyone else was fast asleep, Veronica remained glued to her desk. A maid came in and suggested she go to bed.
“Just a bit longer. Please let me do this.”
“B-but sleep deprivation is bad for the body.”
“I’m fine. My grades are more important than my health.”
Ignoring the maid’s advice, Veronica continued glaring at her textbook.
“I’m no genius. That’s why I have to work so hard. Harder than anyone else. Much, much harder.” Veronica’s quill raced across the parchment as she mumbled to herself. “…That sister of mine is right, frustratingly enough. If my grades fall behind even a little, I’ll go back to being a failure. I won’t allow that. I want Mother and Father to love me. I want to die loved.”
The girl at the desk was consumed with madness. Her family situation was unmistakably the root of her twisted mindset.
“…Every noble family is different, I guess. Mine isn’t like this at all,” Ireena noted.
“…I am basically the daughter of a count, but I’ve never had to endure such a stifling environment.”
“As the daughter of a duke, Veronica’s skills are lacking,” I added. “That is why her siblings treat her so poorly…and made her the target of their bullying.”
This was what distorted Veronica’s thoughts. She had an intense desire to exact revenge on her siblings. Furthermore…she wanted her parents to love and approve of her. Growing up in this dysfunctional family had robbed her of every scrap of confidence—roots and all.
“…I guess I can see now why she acts stuck-up,” said Ireena.
Ginny and Sylphy looked like they agreed. I did not.
Ireena was right that it wasn’t strange for Veronica’s personality to have become more arrogant. In this case, however, it wasn’t only because she’d gained a bit of leverage and exacted revenge on her siblings.
There were currently two hearts inside Veronica’s body.
“Hmm. I think I get the general gist… We can solve this matter with a bit of effort.”
“Then let’s hurry up, and—”
“No. We’ll let things play out just awhile longer.” I voiced my thoughts while looking at Veronica in the mirror. “When the time is right, we’ll resolve the situation in an appropriate manner. For Veronica’s sake, too.”
Two days later, the first-year students headed into the classroom observation.
Our stage was an arena for practical exams located on the school grounds. The interior, simply put, was a small-scale battlefield. The stage was set in the center, and the seats around it allowed spectators to watch from above.
The first-years’ parents and guardians were filling the stands. Nobility and commoners congregated together. “That’s my boy!” I heard from the stands.
Meanwhile, students lined the wall in the central exam arena, waiting their turns. Everyone stayed here until their name was called for the battle exam.
As usual, I was huddled together and chatting with Ireena, Ginny, and Sylphy. I heard a voice call out. “A good day to you, Ard Meteor.”
Veronica. She looked from me to Ireena and then broke into a smile.
“Neither of your parents are here today. Is that right?”
“Yes. They were busy,” I explained.
“‘Busy.’ Okay. Are you sure that’s all?”
“What do you mean?”
“Could it be that they don’t really love you?” Veronica giggled contemptuously, and Ireena flared up in anger. Despite knowing the girl’s situation, she couldn’t stay silent when Veronica accused our parents of not loving us.
“That’s not true! Our parents aren’t like yours! They’re special!”
Our parents were revered as the Great Mages and Heroic Baron, after all. When we were kids, our parents wanted to settle and hardly left the village. Ever since Ireena and I grew up and entered the Academy, they’d been busy putting out small fires everywhere. That was why we didn’t believe for a second that our parents didn’t love us, but…
“Are you sure? Today is a big day for us. Even dukes and royalty will prioritize their children over work.”
“…I think they believe in us enough that they saw no need to come.”
“Aha-ha-ha-ha! What kind of excuse is that?! You’re hilarious!” Veronica held her sides in laughter.
Ireena seemed to reach her limit. “Nghhh…! You nincompoop!” Her eyes narrowed, and she looked ready to pounce.
“P-please stop, Miss Ireena!”
“I get that you’re mad, but reel it in!” Sylphy urged.
“Lemme gooooooo! I’m only gonna hit the dummy once!”
Ginny and Sylphy put her in a full nelson, but Ireena continued to squirm. We could sympathize…but getting mad at Veronica wasn’t the answer.
“Ireena, do you remember what I told you?”
“U-um, yes, but…”
“Then please calm your temper.”
After confirming she had quieted down, I turned to Veronica.
“Expressions of love are as complex and mysterious as our hearts. Our parents’ absences don’t indicate a lack of love.”
“Well, if you say so. Maybe you’re happy they are not here to embarrass you.” Veronica gave a haughty smile and left.
Not long after…
“Next up: Ard Meteor and Veronica von Velgr de Falmes. Please come to the front.”
Upon hearing Olivia’s voice, Veronica was the first to step forward. She turned to the audience, found her parents, and waved to them with a gentle smile. That was probably her true face.
Like Veronica, I moved from the wall to the center of the arena.
“Crush her, Ard!”
“I know you’ll win even without trying, but good luck!”
“You’ll do great, Ard! After all, this is your lucky week!”
The three cheered me on from behind, and I stood in front of Veronica.
“As I promised…I’m going to take you down, Ard Meteor.”
“Please go easy on me.”
As we prepared to face off, the parents in the audience stirred.
“That’s the boy from the rumors.”
“A tough opponent, even for Falmes’s daughter.”
“A battle is all a matter of chance. No one knows what will happen.”
I was a shoo-in, apparently. Displeased by the parents’ reactions, Veronica fixed an intense gaze on me, ready to take me out.
…Well. It would be fantastic if everything worked out as I hoped, but who could say?
“Begin!” called the referee, Olivia, from next to me, and our magic battle commenced.
“You’re going down!”
Veronica was quick to make the first move. She thrust out her right hand, a circle flashing in front of her palm…and a giant fireball blasted toward me.
“A-a Mega Flare?!”
“She didn’t even chant!”
“Since when was Falmes’s daughter so magically advanced…?!”
The parents were thunderstruck. The same could be said for the students.
However…a modern midlevel attack wasn’t exactly a threat to me. I formed a spell mentally, let the magic flow, and cast it, a circle cropping up in front of me to create a semitransparent wall of defense. Her fireball slammed against it, exploding. The impact and heat shattered my shield almost instantly, but I didn’t feel anything.
“H-he did that without chanting, too…!”
“Casting a midlevel defense spell without an incantation… He really is the son of the Great Mages…”
That was just beginner stuff. Well, whatever.
“…That was impressive, Veronica.”
“Hmph! I was just getting started! This isn’t even close to my real powers!”
“Oh? Really?” My lips curled, and I flashed her a smile, challenging her.
I’d never do this kind of thing normally, but I had no choice. Veronica waltzed right into my playacting.
“What’s that look for? Are you mocking me?”
“I wouldn’t dream of mocking you. I was measuring your level…and chose to look down on you.”
Veronica’s anger spiked, and I egged her on a bit more for good measure. I cast molecular conversion magic and turned part of the floor into a sword.
Stroking the blade, I called out loudly. “From this point forward, I won’t use the slightest bit of magic. I repeat. From this point forward, I will not use any magic. I shall be the one to end this battle.”
Upon hearing that, no one would be able to stop the blood from rushing to their head. Veronica was no exception.
“Don’t you dare…underestimate me!!” She cast another round of magic. It was the same “Mega Flare” as before, but this time, there were two at once.
“A-a Double Cast?!”
“Isn’t that a Lost Skill?!”
Based on the standards of this era, it was basically the work of a god—sublime. To me, of course, it was hardly worth a yawn. I faced the incoming fireballs, but instead of casting a defense spell…I just gave my sword a light swing. The blade glided through the air and unleashed a gust of wind. The fireballs that had raced toward me vanished into thin air.
“…What?” Veronica stood there, dumbfounded. Ditto for the parents and other students.
Honestly, I wouldn’t have called it an ideal situation. I hated sticking out for multiple reasons, but…I did it to save the girl in front of me. I had steeled myself ahead of time and chosen to stand out to a certain degree.
“What’s the matter? Already giving up?”
“Tch!”
As I approached slowly, Veronica cast some more magic. This time, it was a cluster of lightning. I eliminated it with a swing of my sword, predictably at this point.
“You—!” She sent a storm of icy blades at me next. I shattered them with a swing.
“Tr-try this, then!” Veronica, struggling, cast even more magic. Fireballs, lightning, ice daggers. She broke out three elements all at once.
A Three Cast, huh? This had to be the final ace up her sleeve. By modern standards, she’d surpassed the realm of the gods. Veronica had literally made the impossible possible…and I risk sounding like a broken record here, but it wasn’t a big deal.
I crushed her ace with nothing more than a love tap. Then I took three steps forward and pointed my blade at her throat.
“I believe that’s checkmate?” I said with a smile.
Our referee, Olivia, nodded, about to announce the end of the battle…
“Wait! This isn’t over!” Veronica shouted. She looked down and started mumbling something to herself. “Didn’t you say I’d win…? You lied to me… At this rate…I’ll go back to being a dropout… I can’t do that… I want to be loved… I don’t want things to end like this…”
To the parents, she looked like a sore loser. I could hear the stands criticizing her.
In the midst of this…
“Veronica!”
“That’s enough!”
…Veronica seemed to be interpreting the comments from her own parents as condemnation.
“I’m a disappointment…! Everything is over…!”
She was starting to spiral, mood growing increasingly more negative. As a result…
“Why did things turn out this way…?! It’s all your fault, Ard Meteor…! If it hadn’t been for you…! I despise you…!”
She had the dull gleam in her eyes of someone who had nothing left to lose—and out of her body seeped a dark aura. It spread across the exam arena like a smoke screen, inhaled by everyone from the students at the ready to the parents and instructors in the audience.
“Wh-what’s this…?!”
“I—I can’t move…!”
For those without a constant defense against magic, it served as a magical binding chain. The fog was so thick that I couldn’t tell what was happening to the parents…but their movements were hampered. The students and instructors were in the same state. As for my friends, a short distance away…
“Gah! This is so annoying!”
“Get offa me!”
“No matter how much I wave my arms, it won’t go away…”
They seemed to be pretty mobile, considering.
“Remain where you are. Do not leave that spot under any circumstances,” I called out against the shroud of darkness.
I then turned to our referee, Olivia, who was still standing nearby. As expected, she could move, too. Olivia, however, made no attempt to deal with the situation. She watched me carefully. It looked like she was leaving things up to me.
I gave a single nod and turned to Veronica. “…You’ve appeared as I expected.”
As soon as I murmured this, darkness condensed next to Veronica and took the form of a human shadow.
The faceless entity spoke loquaciously. “Sigh… It’s unfortunate, my vessel. I have no more power to give you. But fear not. I’ll grant your wish in your stead.”
The dark humanoid figure turned to me.
“You’re the thoughtform of an Evil God.”
“Indeed. You’re scholarly for a modern being,” replied the austere voice. It sounded like it was looking down on me…
“Veronica shot up the ranks because you’ve been possessing her. All the while, she grew more arrogant as she continued to sync with you… Isn’t that right?”
The thoughtform said nothing, snorting at me scornfully.
I pressed on. “I imagine this is an absurd question, but I’ll ask anyway: What’s your motive?”
“Hah! Absurd indeed, slave child. There is one purpose for my existence: destruction and chaos.”
What else would it be? Evil Gods were exactly as their name implied—a herd of monsters that I’d either sealed away or subjugated back in ancient times. Known as the Outer Ones at the time, they were still leaving a major impact on this world even though their days were already long gone.
And this thoughtform was one of them.
These things occasionally possessed self-awareness. Whenever that was the case, they liked to trick a suitable mortal host. Veronica must have been lured by the promise of better grades. If they fused together, she could become a better version of herself, and her parents would love her.
“It appears the thoughtform is nearly ninety percent in control…but it’s not too late, Veronica. Reject this fusion. If you meld together completely, your personality—”
“—will disappear completely, right? I know,” Veronica answered with a glare. Next to her, the human darkness smiled.
“Hee-hee. Your efforts are in vain. I’m here now because none of you can dream of beating us. This girl doesn’t fear death. She agreed as soon as I tempted her. She said she doesn’t need much time. As long as she can earn her parents’ love and give her life meaning, she’ll gladly die. That’s why we fused. Isn’t that right, my vessel?”
Veronica nodded. “I wanted…Father…and Mother…to love me…! I was willing to give my life for it…! I wanted to die happy…! That was my only wish…! But because of you…!”
Her voice, thick with resentment, echoed in the dimness. Reasoning with her seemed impossible at this point. In that case…
“There is a condition to an Evil God possessing someone. I recall…that it was a time frame.”
“Correct. You’re quite well-read for a slave child. To be precise, it’s the alignment of the stars.”
“The stars?”
“Yes. We will remain fused until the stars glittering in the heavens reach this alignment. Then I can take her physical body. When the constellations line up, our power heightens, and we can then complete the union. And…that fated moment is thirty seconds away!” Mood soaring, the thoughtform shouted with its chest thrust out in victory. “Ha-ha-ha-ha! The time has finally come! As soon as I possess this foolish girl, I’ll celebrate by torturing you to death! After that, I’ll destroy the world and resurrect my own physical body! Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! I’ve never felt better!” The shadow raised both hands and laughed raucously.
I could only sigh as I watched this. “A word of warning. No one can say how this battle will end. So claiming your win before the results are in is the height of stupidity. Your ego will be your downfall.”
“My downfall? Is that what you think? Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! What a thing to say! You don’t even have ten seconds left to stop me!” The thoughtform continued to laugh.
One second passed, or two. I shrugged…and asked Veronica a question as I cast a certain spell.
“Veronica. Won’t you have a change of heart?”
“………” She gave no answer, only scowled at me.
“I see. I understand.”
Three seconds remaining.
Two.
One.
“Pray while you still can that your suffering will end quickly!” The thoughtform’s laughter echoed across the arena.
However—two and then three seconds passed, and the thoughtform changed its tune.
“…That’s strange. We should be fully fused by now. Did I time it wrong?” The voice wondered, sounding a bit deflated.
I smiled. “No, you calculated your fusion with perfect precision.”
“…What?”
“What’s the matter? What happened to your composure from earlier?”
“…What did you do?!” shouted the thoughtform with a mix of irritation and confusion.
“It’s simple. Since you said you could only possess a body if the stars were aligned in a particular fashion…”
I grinned as I revealed the truth.
“I adjusted the stars a bit. That’s all.”
My answer was greeted with silence. Of course, time continued to pass, but there were no signs that anyone would be fusing. Reality stabbed my enemy.
“R-ridiculous! Changing the stars?! That’s idiotic—”
“I don’t mean to brag. In fact, I’d prefer being humble. However, that ‘idiocy’ is child’s play. For me, that is.”
If I was being honest, it wasn’t hard to meddle with the stars. I mean, I could change karma—the foundation of this world—even to the slightest degree. This was easy.
“Im-impossible…! This is… No, it can’t be… Y-your form is different, but…! Your true self is…”
“I think you’ve got the wrong person. I’m just your average villager,” I said with a smile.
In that moment, the thoughtform realized everything and became visibly irritated.
“Tch! If—if this is how it has to be—”
“If you know my true form, I’m afraid I can’t let you go.”
The thoughtform was about to revert to a single lump of darkness and scamper off somewhere, but I had other ideas. A bevy of magic circles surrounded it, quickly transforming into a circular cage, and—
“Don’t worry. Unlike you, I have no interest in tormenting my foes to death.” I turned my palm toward the cage, and…
“A good day to you.”
…I made a fist.
In that moment, the cage constricted before disappearing, the Evil God’s thoughtform vanquished from this world…without even time for a bloodcurdling scream.
As soon as the thoughtform was gone, the darkness covering the exam grounds immediately cleared up.
…Everything had gone according to plan. By instigating Veronica, enraging her, and pointing out that we would never be on the same level, she’d be driven by a further need for power. I surmised…this would draw out the thoughtform that felt all too confident in its victory. The plan was so simple, it wasn’t even worth this explanation.
The annihilation of the enemy, however, was nothing but a warm-up.
The real show started now.
“…Why?” Veronica asked, falling to her knees like a shell of her former self. “…I can’t take this anymore.”
A tinge of madness entered her frail voice. She whipped out a knife from her uniform pocket and went to slide it across her throat.
I wasn’t about to sit there and watch in silence. I promptly kicked the back of her hand, sending the knife flying.
“…Don’t get in my way. I’m already—” Veronica’s shoulders drooped.
I spoke quietly as I looked down at her. “Your life is far from over.”
“…Far from over? It’s lasted too long. I’m a talentless failure. My life hasn’t had value since the day I was born. My siblings constantly mock me; my parents don’t love me… All I wanted for someone like me…was a happy end…!”
To her, I was a god of illness and pestilence. Veronica’s glare could almost kill, but I shrugged.
I spoke with confidence. “You think that to earn a parent’s love you need to excel in all things, so a straggler like you goes unloved… But is that really true?”
“…What?” Veronica looked at me blankly.
I elaborated. “You lack the courage to believe.”
“Believe in what?”
“In yourself. And…you lack the courage to trust your parents’ hearts. You desperately lack both. It’s a real shame, since you have so much potential and talent.”
Veronica latched on to those final words. “Me, talented…? Don’t be stupid…! Where do I have any—?”
“Then tell me, Veronica: what is a genius to you? What is ‘talent’?”
“Isn’t that obvious? You’re a genius, Ard Meteor. You can do anything with almost no effort…and stand at the top like it’s your birthright…”
“You’re right about that, but there is more than one kind of genius.”
Veronica cocked her head with a puzzled look.
“In my opinion, a genius…is someone who never gives up and puts their full effort into everything they do. I believe those kinds of prodigies are even better than those like me who were born with it. When people don’t see results, they give up. They limit themselves. But, Veronica, you never did.”
Even as she gazed at me, her eyes held nothing. They might never again.
I continued on, nevertheless. “I believe it was inevitable that you accepted the thoughtform’s invitation and sought a shortcut. But even if it hadn’t appeared before you…I’m certain you would have soldiered on without breaking. The method might have been roundabout, but you would have achieved your goal nonetheless.”
“That’s not—”
“Let me continue, Veronica. From what I can tell, you’re a bona fide genius. Forgive me for repeating myself…but those who persevere are the true geniuses. In those terms, you’re sufficiently talented. All you need is the courage to believe. Resist temptation and find the resolve to walk your own path. Then, you can go anywhere.”
I wondered if a single word got through to her.
Life began to return to her eyes. I looked at her with relief and concluded my speech.
“There is one more thing. You should trust your parents’ hearts. Because of your siblings…your elder sister in particular, you’re convinced that stragglers are unlovable, but—”
Her parents came rushing in from the stands.
“Veronica!”
“Are you all right?! Are you hurt?!”
She stared at them in shock. Their conduct and facial expressions were unexpected.
“Why…? Why are you…so concerned about me…?” asked Veronica, visibly confused. She was so convinced her parents didn’t love her that she was unable to figure out their intentions.
“What was all that?”
“How could this happen…?”
Veronica trembled. After a few moments of uncertainty, she spoke up. “Mother, Father…the truth is…!”
This girl was a good person at heart. She could have talked her way out of the situation, but she didn’t. Veronica revealed all the secrets she’d been keeping.
“What…?!”
“That’s…!”
Her parents’ eyes widened, and she turned away from them.
“Please just disown me… Then I’ll take sole responsibility for this. I’ve endangered the lives of not only the other nobility but the royal family, too. I’m certain the death penalty awaits me… But I don’t mind. After all, life no longer holds any value to me.”
“D-do you even hear yourself?!”
“We would never allow you to bear that on your own! If you are sentenced to death, we will die, too!” declared her mother.
Veronica once again became baffled. “How…? How can you say that…? I thought neither of you cared about me… A failure isn’t worthy of love… It doesn’t matter what happens—”
Her mother fell to her knees before her and…slapped her across the cheek.
“…Huh?”
Veronica’s mother stared straight into the eyes of her clueless daughter, who had no clue why she’d been struck.
“No one in this family is a failure,” scolded the mother slowly, to let the words sink in.
Next to them, her father’s gaze turned bitter. “The fault is entirely on my wife and me…!” He looked down at Veronica with regret. “We thought you could read our minds even if we didn’t express ourselves. You’re a determined girl…so we thought it was best to be strict with you. We were convinced that intentionally pushing you away would make you more competitive, but…we were wrong. We’ve pushed you into a corner…! …I’m sorry…! I’m so sorry, Veronica…!”
“…Father.”
“I realize words aren’t enough. But please allow me to say this: Never once have I considered you a failure. Your positive attitude and efforts have always filled me with pride…! I love you from the bottom of my heart…!” Tears streamed down his face.
This was Veronica’s deepest desire—what she’d wanted since the day she was born.
“Father…! Mother…!”
Her mindset had been distorted. It was all a misunderstanding. She never had parents who rejected their hardworking daughter. Veronica fully accepted this—and her heart was saved.
“I’m sorry…! I’m so sorry…!” She burst into tears and embraced her parents.
Watching them, I let out a sigh of relief. All according to plan. The evil was vanquished, and a poor girl found true happiness. The matter was finally resolved.
As soon as this thought crossed my mind—
“I—I don’t get what’s going on…but he really is the son of the Great Mages!”
“Y-yeah. I’m just as lost, but we have to reward his efforts.”
“The higher nobility won’t like it…but we should give him a medal or something.”
There was a stir among the royalty in the audience.
A medal? I’m begging you to stop. If I stick out any more than this, my peaceful life—
“Woooow. So you did it again. You really are the best, huh?”
I heard a cheerful voice and felt a sudden presence behind me. Standing there with a mega-smile was Olivia.
“I can’t believe you handled that all by yourself.”
She placed a hand on each of my shoulders and dug into them with her nails. This had only convinced her more that I was the Demon Lord.
“They’re gonna give Ard another medal!”
Ireena was so excited, you’d think she was the one getting it.
“Hee-hee. He’ll eventually earn every medal. They really ought to make some custom ones for him.” Ginny pressed her hands to her chin, considering names for these hypothetical awards.
“That was pretty swell, Ard! I knew horoscopes were right! The stars got your back!”
…Sylphy’s eyes twinkled, and I let out a heavy sigh before turning to Veronica.
“I told you to have the courage to believe, but there’s one thing you must never believe in.”
My weariness was bone deep.
“Never believe in horoscopes.”
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