Chapter 24 - True Survival Training (3)
There are two sides to every coin, as they say—weakness and strength. As bothersome as my high reputation had become, there were ways to turn it to my advantage.
[You... you can't be serious…]
Judging by the demon's reaction, rumors about me among them must be something else. Even after I openly declared I'd poisoned him, he could barely hide his shock.
[Such a lowly tactic! And you dare call yourself a professor of the esteemed Imperial Academy?!]
The demon scolds me, outraged, but I feel neither shame nor remorse. I hold no lofty ideals as an Academy professor, and if he wants to fault anyone, he should blame himself for misunderstanding me so thoroughly. Haven't I been clear about my "lousy professor" act from the start?
If he's offended, he should have taken the time to understand my character better.
"You'd do well not to move. The poison will spread through your bloodstream and dissolve your entire body if you do."
I say it with a deadpan expression, not a hint of worry. But the demon, not entirely witless, lifts himself slowly, his face twisting as if to laugh in disbelief.
Perhaps a bit disappointing, but no matter. Even if it's not potent enough to melt him on the spot—
'It's still far from harmless.'
This poison came straight from the Imperial Palace's vaults, hand-picked from the treasure trove. While it won't be instantly fatal, it's exceptionally effective at weakening his power.
[Curse that damned Gamigin for his lies. He said I'd find an opponent to ignite my soul.]
The demon grits his teeth, exuding a murderous aura as he shifts into a combat stance.
Having him preemptively poisoned should make him less dangerous. But if I so much as think it's safe to relax here, I'm already dead.
With that kind of bulk, he's clearly a brawler through and through, and I'm woefully outmatched. One solid hit, and I'd be a splatter on the wall.
[In the name of Malphas, 39th in rank, I swear I'll tear out that deceitful tongue of yours with these hands.]
His eyes glint with hatred. My physical limits mean that if I try to react to his attacks as they come, I'll be too slow.
A simple-minded brute, clearly—one who will throw himself at me without hesitation. Calculating this, I assume a defensive stance without delay.
I place my hand on the Academy uniform, recently reinforced by the Imperial Palace.
When they fixed it, the court mage, nearly in tears, had lamented, "To think your enchantments were this damaged—just how intense was your battle?" With that sentiment, the true prodigy had crafted high-grade spells into the fabric, spells that now flare into action.
A colossal barrier blooms like a field of flowers, layering itself thousands of times into a fortress of protection.
[Can't even muster the courage to face me directly?]
The demon sneers as he pounds his fists against the barrier, his face twisted in a sneer. But I ignore his taunts, making the most of this time to prepare.
Along with the uniform, I'd also had the dimensional spell on my hand restored.
During the entrance exam, urgency had forced me to burn the precious spatial magic purely for defense. But with time, I'd feel confident tweaking it for something more strategic.
Keeping its essence intact, I reorient its direction to suit my needs.
Instead of creating a space to contain objects, it now releases that space outward.
If I deploy the dimensional rift within the enemy's body...
'It's rough, but it should work as a makeshift spatial slice.'
Slicing through space entirely would take more than a mere inventory spell; this is merely a facsimile.
It's hardly the sharp blade I'd prefer, more akin to a nail trimmer. But right now, it'll do.
'If I can pinpoint the core like last time, I can finish him.'
Just like a dragon's reverse scale, demons have a vulnerability. If I can strike it precisely, as I did with that demon Amon, he'll crumble to ash instantly.
The trouble is spotting the core, hidden within his writhing body as he tries to break through my barrier.
All I can do now is gamble on my luck.
Based on where I've previously struck down demons, I focus on the likely location of his core, and I release the dimensional spell inside him, hoping for the best…
And, naturally, I miss.
My once-80% rock-paper-scissors win rate seems to have abandoned me the moment I became a professor. Though he spits up blood, the demon doesn't disintegrate.
'Great, just great.'
I clench my teeth, fiddling with the artifact around my neck—a dragon heart pendant from the palace.
The situation isn't ideal.
I've already spent two resources without neutralizing him entirely. I have one last move that could finish him off, but I'd rather not.
As paranoid as it might seem, the fact that he mentioned another demon, Gamigin, is bugging me. I can't be sure he's acting alone.
'But I can't just let him be, either.'
This demon has made it clear he's out for blood. No matter how much weaker he is now, my flimsy body wouldn't withstand even a single hit.
As long as he keeps targeting me, I'll keep wasting my remaining cards just to stay alive.
The demon, who had been lunging at me furiously, suddenly stops and backs off, his rage giving way to a calculating look.
[…I've changed my mind. If you keep this up, I'll be forced to use dirty tactics as well.]
Despite the poison and internal injuries, he smirks, his grin a thin line of malice.
[You'll regret underestimating me for the rest of your life.]
With those words, he launches himself over my shoulder, not toward me—but toward my students.
---
It's deeply offensive.
I can't recall a time I've felt such raw irritation.
'Just how far does he intend to insult me?'
The spatial spell I used moments ago had cut dangerously close to his heart. It was wielded with a force that could split space itself. The demon was clearly outclassed in magic.
Like when I disposed of Marbas and Amon, I could kill him in an instant if I wanted to.
Yet this professor had spared him. First with that ridiculous poison charade, then by purposefully misplacing a killing blow to keep him alive.
Why? The only possible answer is that he considers me beneath him—an amusement, not an enemy.
I could accept being defeated and killed in battle. But to be dismissed as something unworthy of genuine effort is an insult too deep to bear. If it takes a cowardly trick to get even, so be it.
The demon hastily slams a barrier into place.
He draws into it those closest to Lian—his cherished students in A-Class.
'I may not be able to scratch that man, but breaking his spirit should be easy enough.'
Let him see his beloved students slaughtered, see his pride bring about their deaths. I wonder what face he'll make then.
Already, I'm savoring the thought.
The colossal wall separates the students from their professor, leaving them isolated and vulnerable.
Malphas grins wickedly as he looks down at the students.
[I hold no personal grudge against you, but you're all going to have to die right here.]
In my fury over the professor, I'd nearly forgotten my mission to eliminate the prophesied child.
No reason to hesitate.
Forming a sword from his blood, he takes up a battle stance.
[If you must blame someone, blame the bad luck of choosing that man as your teacher.]
Malphas propels himself forward, sword swinging.
Even weakened by poison and injury, he should have no trouble against a bunch of students.
At least, that's what he thought...
Yet as his blade strikes, a student catches it—bare-handed. And the overwhelming force radiating from that student's body is unmistakably mana-enhanced.
Why are there mana-enhanced fighters here? The demon's mind goes blank for a moment.
But Malphas is quick to adapt. He can always leave this troublesome one aside and target the others. No big deal.
[I'll get back to you later.]
The demon darts away to avoid the mana-enhanced fighter.
...
...
[I-I'll get back to you later too!]
The demon dashes away, sidestepping another mana-enhanced student.
...
...
[You... you as well—another time!]
He darts again, trying to dodge yet another one.
...
...
[…How about we settle this with a chat instead?]
Cornered by twenty mana-enhanced students, each enraged by the demon's affront to their professor, Malphas realizes with a sinking dread that something has gone horribly, horribly wrong.