Chapter 25 - 25. True Survival Training (4)
Before them stood one of the 72 Great Evils.
On the other hand, they were just first-year students of the Academy.
Not only had they not yet completed even a semester, but with the demon's barrier in place, they couldn't expect reinforcements. Not even their professors could protect them now.
Yet, despite such circumstances, none of the students lost their composure. In fact, if any of them had, that would have seemed stranger.
"After all, we've all learned under that professor."
The protagonist of this world, Ciel Ludbeth, flashed a confident smile.
He knew their professor had single-handedly defended against the assault.
He knew their professor had seen through the demon's true nature.
He knew their professor had saved everyone multiple times.
And most importantly, he knew that their professor was a true educator of this era who genuinely cared for his students.
"A mistake by Professor Lian? Neglecting our safety and allowing a demon to get close to us?"
There were limits to what could make sense.
The term 'flawless' best described Professor Lian. This, too, must surely be part of his design.
Going over the situation step-by-step, the answer became obvious.
Using poison—a method he didn't often employ—to weaken the enemy, stopping at merely wounding it when he could have delivered a fatal blow.
And the fact that the weakened demon happened to target the A-Class students.
There was only one possible explanation.
"Our first assignment is to hunt down a demon? Just what does Professor Lian expect of us?" said Sylvia beside him, her voice filled with a mix of wonder and excitement.
Ciel wholeheartedly agreed.
Even though the demon was weakened, defeating one of the 72 Great Evils was no ordinary task for mere students. Scouring the history of the Academy, one would be hard-pressed to find an assignment this demanding.
All the students were visibly stunned by a request that defied all conventional logic.
"Still, if Professor believes in us, we must do everything we can to live up to that expectation."
Of course, astonishment did not mean they would back down.
Though the professor's expectations weighed heavily, gratitude outweighed any fear.
"You're capable of this much, my students," it was as if they could hear him whispering encouragement to them.
With the most trustworthy person in the world supporting them, how could they not find courage? How could they not draw their swords proudly in the face of the enemy?
"Let's go! We'll take it down with our own hands!"
Ciel's shout resonated in their ears, and with it, the A-Class students moved into battle formation.
Though the demon muttered something to itself as it watched them, whether Professor Lian's assignment or the demon's ramblings were more important was not up for debate.
They easily ignored its attempts to converse, questions like, "Are you really first-year students?" and "Why can every single one of you use mana reinforcement?"
"Whew…"
Taking a deep breath, Ciel tightened his grip on his sword.
As someone with mana insensitivity—unable to sense or control mana properly—he was an anomaly with an innate mana pool that could rival anyone's.
He didn't understand how to enchant a blade with mana.
He didn't know how to release sword energy.
Yet, he'd seized the position of Academy's top student with overwhelming skill alone.
"…Horizontal slash."
Simply putting all his strength into a single slash, he had dominated all his peers.
A simple strike, yet so powerful it was impossible to counter, flew towards the demon. As it witnessed the attack, it leapt into the air, panic written across its face.
There was no option to block it.
Realizing this early, the demon had chosen to evade, as Ciel had anticipated.
"Now's the time!"
He shouted to everyone. Poisoned, already injured, and now forced into a desperate dodge—no matter how resilient the demon was, its stance was unsteady.
There would never be a better chance to strike.
The students, who had longed to avenge the insult to their professor's honor, surrounded the demon as if in unison.
"Twenty against one? Don't you have any sense of pride? Can you really act so dishonorably in a sacred duel without shame?"
Among them were students from noble knight families with centuries-old traditions of honor. Ordinarily, invoking pride in such a desperate moment might have worked, but…
The demon had no idea who it was dealing with.
"Our professor saw this situation coming."
"It's poison, not medicine, you foolish creature."
With mastery over advanced spatial magic, Professor Lian certainly could have defeated this demon without resorting to underhanded tactics.
He must have used such tactics in front of everyone for one reason only.
"No respect is due to a demon. Don't be fooled by its vile tricks, and learn instead to outwit it."
Just how many steps ahead had Professor Lian been?
His wisdom constantly left them in awe.
Not one of his students would ignore his teachings. None would be so foolish as to feel shame from the demon's words.
"The demon's trying to divide us! Stay close! Close in and tear its limbs apart!"
They surrounded it, delivering blow after blow.
Bound together with a common cause, they tortured the demon without mercy.
The demon's agonized screams filled the air.
As they watched the bloodied demon with bright, almost joyful smiles, it became hard to tell who the real demon was.
"You arrogant brats, taking after your professor! Get some perspective! If I unleash my full strength, do you really think you can stand a chance?"
Cornered, the demon shouted, determined to make one last desperate stand, its face filled with malicious resolve.
Even weakened, it was still one of the 72 Great Evils. Ciel could tell it wasn't bluffing.
If it fought with suicidal determination, several students would be dragged down with it.
By the time the professor broke through the barrier, half of them could be dead. They should stop pressing the attack now—but that only applied if the demon was free to use its full power.
"Unfortunately for you, demon, your wishes will go unanswered."
With black hair and piercing blue eyes, a girl pressed her hands together in prayer and addressed the demon.
The demon's body began to tremble. It must have sensed who she was instinctively.
"The Saintess who should be in the Holy Kingdom—why is she here? And at the Academy, at this moment?"
The demon's face contorted with despair as it screamed, lamenting how it could be facing a group like this, but the Saintess remained unperturbed.
With a serene yet unsettling smile, she spoke.
"I'll give you one last chance to repent."
With a sign of the cross, she began a prayer, and chains of light burst forth, binding the demon in place, leaving it helpless.
A look of near-ecstatic fervor on her face, she dragged a massive morning star towards it.
"Scream in agony, so that your cries may reach the Celestial God and remind Him of our devotion!"
For the first time, her half-lidded eyes snapped open, wide with unsettling glee, and she charged.
A tear rolled down Malphas's cheek.
---
A sudden, disorienting scene.
Cold sweat trickled down my back.
A moment's carelessness. Overconfidence in the demon's brutish nature had allowed it to break through to my students.
There was no time to waste. I rushed to the barrier and began analyzing its structure, working quickly to dismantle it.
Moments later, the barrier shattered.
The scent of blood and sight of entrails assaulted me. The scene was so ghastly I could barely take it in.
Despair welled up in me at the sight, until…
"Professor Lian!"
A voice called out.
Ciel approached me with a cheerful grin, running over.
In his hand was the demon's head, impaled on his sword like a casual skewer.
"A gift to present to you, professor. We took it down together!"
My students, splattered in the demon's entrails, smiled proudly.
A chunk of brain slipped off the demon's head and hit the ground.
…I simply gave up trying to understand.