[One week later, In the Royal Academy.]
"And so my name has got some dirt on it now huh?"
Alice chuckled and continued to go through the weekly magazine.
It was somewhat similar to that of the earth but different.
The Magazine was published by the alliance to carry the news to the general public about how they are working, how the demon hunter association is taking initiatives, and whatnot.
With the technology of the dwarves and the magic of the elves, it was easy to create something that can pass the news to the whole kingdom.
Although the publication was monopolized by the elves and the dwarves, humans were still satisfied by the results.
The literacy rate of the whole world was low but the magic used in the magazine helped them to hear the words instead of reading.
News put forth by the people and by a trustworthy source made a large difference in the condition of the kingdom.
The magazine was published by a branch of the 'Demon Hunter Association', so it had the title 'DSF' (Demon Subjugation Force).
The magazine was specially made for the upper class, so not 'everyone' could afford it. A strategy used to control the general public with the 'herd' mentality while showing how DSF was reaching the commoners,
An outstanding strategy indeed.
[The second Crimson Burn?!]
[The second Crimson Burn happens in the Royal Academy of the kingdom Fluger? Crimson Witch's reply on the condition.]
Alice facepalmed as she read the cringed yet attractive title.
She read through the special edition of the weekly DSF, where her identity was under the alias of 'Crimson Witch.'
[According to the sources, the royal academy of the Fluger kingdom has once again suffered the loss of students.
The second-year students from the academy were tasked to subjugate and collect a demon core from the baron and above-level demons to gain real-life combat experience.
According to the students, the majority of them suffered mental trauma from the death of their peers and the happenings in the wilderness.
The survivors stated and highlighted that the demons were gathered around caves, open areas, and places where the mana was dense in the air.
The domains are set on high alert and civilians are requested to keep calm. The information about the catastrophe will be personally analyzed and handled by the Elite Demon Hunters.
"Civilians need not worry when their protectors are there!"
The head of the Demon Hunting Association reassured the safety of the civilians in the hands of Elite Hunters, the hope of humanity.
According to...]
She calmly read the whole magazine only to stumble upon one line.
'This is the second time in the tenure of the 'Crimson Witch' that the Royal Academy has suffered losses, 'us' the 'Elites' will surely look into it.'
"That bitch!"
Alice cursed.
But before she could burn the expensive magazine,
Tring- Tring-
A device rang.
"Who?"
She asked.
{The blue is the sky, your dreams are high, bid me a farewell before you sigh.}
A feminine voice from the device said.
"Stop it... your poetry sucks."
{Wha-...}
"What do you want?"
Alice asked without a reply.
{You are summoned~ Come quickly~ Darling~}
"No, I can't."
{It's not a request, darling~}
"Fuck you!"
{If you can~ I would love getting fucked by you~}
Bang-
'I bet those people are going to question me! Ugh! My head hurts!'
Alice put her device down, got up from her seat, and left while cursing.
...
[Inside the adventurers' guild, in the Capitol City]
Chatter- Chatter-
A lot of adventurers who read the magazine at the counter were talking and expressing their opinions about the 'Crimson Burn second'. Among them, a conversation in a group went like this-
"Hey, you heard that right?"
One of them asked.
"Yeah... apparently it's the second time..."
"You read the DSF (Demon Subjugation Force's Weekly Magazine)... of this week? Poor things died for nothing."
Smiling awkwardly another guy expressed his grievance.
"True... I've heard that the students were forced to complete the task... That shit academy..."
"Hey! Don't say that here, they might target you!"
"haaa! Like I care!"
When the two of them were arguing, another one joined their conversation.
"Ummm... what can I say? It is partially... no it is nothing."
"Hm? Why cower now? Speak!"
"Well, you see, what is the job of a demon hunter?"
The guy asked.
"To kill demons?"
The pair arguing answered in unity.
"Then think about it like this, they were preparing for something worse than hell and were subjugated instead of demons because they were weak.
"If the same was to happen when they become demon hunters, then don't you think it was better to die early than dying with the lives of civilians on the line?"
"..."
A pin drop silence was created because of the man's statement.
No one answered, or rather they didn't have the answer.
All of the adventurers lowered their heads as they realized how naïve they were to blame the academy.
"A soldier is made to protect the country, and if he dies while protecting or while training... In the end, he dies... and that is the truth of this world. The results are important and not the process."
His words were like a knife to everyone who heard.
He spoke the truth, and the truth is the bitterest thing in the entire world, whether you agree or not, it does not matter.
"Let's go to the tavern and put off some steam now, shall we?"
Giving a bittersweet smile to everyone, he calmed the whole crowd.
This was a person hired by the Demon Hunting Association to calm the masses after any fortunate or 'un'-fortunate event.
These people do not have any hypnotic techniques, but rather they had the skills to manipulate the masses, developed over time with sheer experience after living in the masses.
The majority of the civilization worked in an adventurer's association, and because of this, the Demon Hunter Association was required to appoint such skilled workers.
The man gave a nod, to a certain someone in the crowd. This way he conveyed that his job was done.
The man also gave him a nod before disappearing, as if he was air.
...
[Inside a Darkroom.]
Alice was sitting in front of the projection of the three individuals who were present in the room like shadows.
{Yoo~ Hoo~ Alice~ how'd you been?}
Alice looked at the female shadow with an annoyed look on her face. This was the same woman on the call previously.
{Darling~ Why are you not responding?}
Alice ignored the female and,
"So? Why am I summoned by the 'Elites'?"
{You know the answer very well, Alice.}
A man answered her question.
{You should be happy that 'He' is not here, otherwise, you would've suffered dearly, darling~}
"It's a part of the student's curriculum, they had to go through it, someday or the other."
{Haaa}
The man rubbed his temples.
{Darling~ You know this is the second time, right?}
"I know, and our hopes were high this time."
{So? Did you achieve what you wanted to?}
"Well... we are monitoring the major victims."
{You!}
{Calm down~ calm down~}
{How can I stay calm? This woman! And her audacity!}
"I told you, the moment I achieve what I am looking for, you all will worship me."
Alice flicked her hair back and answered egoistically.
{...}
The third figure snorted at her words and made its presence known.
Gulp-
Everyone in the room gulped.
{Ssss... last chance... Ssss... one month Alice. You fail... Ssss... You come back to hunting... Ssss... Direct... under him... Ssss.}
{...}
"!"
Alice lowered her head and clenched her fists... In the entire world, if she feared someone then there were only two individuals.
The figure in front of her and 'he'.
And if the shadow in front of her said something, then it was not a request but an order.
"Y-yes."
Alice stuttered and beads of sweat fell from her forehead.
{Sss... Then you go... Punishment... Ssss... one month... Ssss... Get going...}
Alice stood up, bowed her head, and without looking back, she ran out of the room.
...
Kevin returned to the academy on the day of the deadline.
He saw hundreds of students in the infirmary without limbs, wounded, severely injured, and lying in blood everywhere.
His face paled at the situation and a frown appeared on his handsome face.
Anyone who looked at Kevin's distorted face assumed that he had suffered similar faith as them.
Those who were envious of him felt better and those who were on good terms with him gave him their condolence.
"Those who have brought the demon core, please submit it to the academy!"
One of the teachers with dark circles under his eyes said with a painful expression.
Everyone who heard the teacher wanted to smack him, however, they knew very well how cold-hearted the academy could be, so they simply shook their heads.
However, two individuals got up and went near the submission counter.
The core collector's eyes widened in surprise as the two individuals forwarded their hands in the union to submit the core.
Noticing each other's presence the two of them looked at each other and,
"Kevin!"
"Amaya!"
Both of them embraced each other.
***