โปTranslation Note: I changed Mirim's hair color from blonde to silver. I apologize for the mistake.
Children glare at me with hostile eyes.
The pure hatred present there.
Suddenly, I felt a sense of discomfort.
Do new teachers really receive such hostility? Could there be some reason behind it?
Five children.
Misaki Kenya (ไธๅดๅฅไน)... Male, 8 years old
Sekiguchi Ryota (้ขๅฃ่ฏๅคช)... Male, 8 years old
Gale Gibson... Male, 9 years old
Alice Rond... Female, 7 years old
Kuroe Aubel... Female, 8 years old
All of them are under the age of 10.
I look at each of them, one by one, while reviewing the information I received in the staff room.
Children gathered from all over the world, apparently called monsters in their respective lands.
They were discovered and protected through requests for extermination by adventurers in their respective lands.
The documents state this, but something feels off.
Why are they all around the same age? And why were they found around the Jura Great Forest by chance?
Moreover, this has all happened within the last three years. There might be something to it.
These children seem to have followed Ms. Shizu, and they don't listen to Yuki.
They are so mischievous that it's hard to believe they are in a classroom.
"Hey, brats! Don't do anything ridiculous all of a sudden!
I'm Rimuru, your new instructor from today.
Unlike Ms. Shizu, I don't live in the wild, so remember that!"
First, I start with an introduction...
"Shut up! We won't be fooled!"
"Right, right! Even if we do as you say, you're just going to kill us, right?"
"What about Ms. Shizu! Did you kill her too!?"
"Right, adults can't be trusted!"
"Are you just going to abandon us because we're bad?"
Eh? Their reaction is a bit strange?
This isn't a case of a class breaking down. They aren't just being arrogant; it's genuine malice and hatred.
And they genuinely distrust adults.
To begin with, how could they even think about killing or that Ms. Shizu was killed? How did such thoughts come to mind?
There seems to be something behind this.
I couldn't conduct the lesson that day.
Without knowing their circumstances, it felt wrong to suppress my intentions.
So, today, I decided to just introduce myself and withdraw.
"Ke, Ken-chan... Are you okay?"
"Don't come over here! That masked instructor is doing something ridiculous!
Hey, snap out of it!"
"Hold on! I'll be good, I'll be good, okay?!!!"
Noisy voices come from the other side of the door, but I ignore them.
I just had them greet me. Ranga is taking over the physical education class for me. I'm sure she's doing a great job.
I told her to play with those who don't want to solve the problems I distributed.
Today turned into a self-study session, but there's nothing I can do about it.
For that reason, I left the school and visited Yuki at the Adventurers' Guild headquarters.
In the room of the guild's chief, Yuki and I sit facing each other on sofas.
The aroma of tea wafts from the cup in front of me.
I start the conversation.
"So, I'd like to know the situation of those children."
I asked directly.
Yuki looked at me, thought for a moment, and then said,
"Mr. Rimuru, I have one question...
How much do you know about Hinata Sakaguchi?"
What's this? Is there some connection with the child named Hinata?
"I don't know much. Just that we're from the same hometown.
Shizu mentioned that he had a good memory... That's all."
"Hmm." She nodded once.
"Then, what's the difference between summoners and isekai people?"
I listened and thought about it, but I don't know much.
Summoners have a 100% chance of awakening unique skills, but the success rate is low.
The rest is that their souls are cursed with magic.
I conveyed this information.
"That's right. It matches what we've investigated. You know a lot...
In any case.
Summoners have the powerful ability to call someone with strong will by limiting conditions and bringing them here.
If they are summoned in an incomplete state, what would happen?"
From there, Yuki's explanation was unsettling.
Over 30 mages perform a ritual over three days, with a success rate of less than 0.03%.
Moreover, once a summoning spell is used, there's a cooldown period before the same person can use it again.
This cooldown period is either 33 years or 88 years, depending on the length, which seems to allow for more specific conditions.
If no conditions are set, what would happen?
In exchange, the conditions are relaxed, and the summoning can be done multiple times without a cooldown.
According to Yuki, if conditions are not set and a simplified summoning is performed, it often results in the summoning of a child.
A child with a strong soul and a large amount of mana is summoned here, but without the abilities to match that soul...
Those summoned without unique skills collapse their bodies due to the mana within them.
The amount of mana affecting their abilities burns their bodies.
"Eh? Wait a moment. Then, those children?"
"...... The longest confirmed record is three years.
This is the survival rate of incomplete summonings.
And those children are the ones who were subjected to incomplete summonings...
They are the remnants of heroes."
"Wha, what? Heroes? For what...
Did Hinata Sakaguchi also suffer this fate?"
Yuki doesn't answer.
But her silence seems to speak volumes.
"The church is hoping for a new hope, a new center of gravity.
It is light, the hope of humanity. The savior of humanity, the 'Hero'!
I secretly investigated several facilities and rescued the children... "
"What... is that..."
"There is no known way to prevent the collapse.
Children summoned before the age of 10 almost invariably die without obtaining unique skills..."
"Does it not matter how the summoned fare? Even if it fails, is it of no concern?"
"Rationally, they summon a large number. If there is a means, they do not hesitate. That's the thinking, I suppose..."
"Don't joke! Why leave the church unchecked?"
"The church, the Western Holy Church, has vast influence.
Among the countries surrounding the Jura Great Forest, all except the Demon King Kingdom of Salion have designated the Western Holy Church as their state religion.
Do you understand? That power is something even a country cannot oppose.
There are believers among the guild members.
If the guild were to oppose the church, it would split in two and conflict would arise!"
With that, Yuki slumped weakly.
I couldn't find the words. Those seemingly healthy, arrogant children...
That's why, that hostility and hatred.
"Hey, why did you introduce me to the children? Why did you tell me this?"
"....Why, I wonder? Perhaps, somewhere deep down, I wanted to seek salvation...
In this world where there is no one to rely on, and even Ms. Shizu is gone.
If you hadn't noticed, I wouldn't have said anything.
Why did you notice?"
I don't know.
If I hadn't noticed, I could have smiled and gone on.
But now that I've noticed, I can't smile. It's not even funny.
"Isn't it dangerous for a school to be next to the church? If it's discovered, it could be dangerous, right?"
"Hehe. On the contrary, it's safer. The darkest place is under the lamplight.
What will you do? Will you quit as a teacher?"
I looked at Yuki.
I said firmly.
"I won't quit, and I'll do things my way. No complaints, right?"
Yuki nodded.
And then,
"I'll leave it to you. If possible, please save those children..."
She bowed her head and said to me.
I won't say, "Leave it to me!"
This is something Ms. Shizu couldn't complete. I'll take it over.
And perhaps, this meeting was arranged by Ms. Shizu's will.
For some reason, I felt that way.
Leaving the guild, I returned to the school.
Come on, I shouldn't have a gloomy face.
I do what I can. I have done so in the past, and I will continue to do so.
If Ms. Shizu entrusted it to me, and Yuki hopes for it, I will respond.
??????????????????????????
That day, in the Water Kingdom "Yurazania," it became the worst day.
Demon King Carion looked up at the sky with a tense expression.
From a distance, a dense mass of mana was flying over.
The powerful aura, without any attempt to hide it, belonged to Demon King Mirim.
(Really, is this for real...)
Clearly in a battle stance, it seemed to be targeting this country.
The real Mirim? The battle with Navah. This could be a chance.
Carion doesn't overestimate his own strength. He thinks Mirim is probably stronger.
But.
(Defeating a strong opponent is fun, after all!)
His blood boiled, and his heart raced.
The absolute strong, Demon King Mirim. A senior demon king, and despite her appearance, a demon king who is greatly feared.
Fighting this demon king, it would be unreasonable not to be excited.
He had heard a story from his parents when he was young.
An old tale of the cruel princess of the dragon.
Is this Mirim, or just a model? The story his parents told him.
If you anger the dragon princess, the country will fall!
You must never fight the dragon princess!
How foolish.
The Water Kingdom "Yurazania" is not a large power, but most of its citizens are warriors, befitting a warrior race.
It is a strong country that does not fall behind other nations.
Moreover, he himself has evolved into a demon king. There is nothing to fear!
Looking up at the towering peak behind the castle, he reaffirmed his strength and stood up to face Mirim.
His subordinates, the maids and vassals, knelt and looked up at Carion.
"Listen! The enemy is one. Only Demon King Mirim!
Against a demon king, even if your mana piles up like a mountain, you can't win. I will go!
You, protect the people by setting up barriers! Believe in me, I will win!!!"
"ใใใUoooooohhhhhh!!!ใใใ"
The cheers echoed, and he felt the excitement of everyone.
Today, he would prove that he is the strongest!
(I didn't hate her personality. We could have been good friends, but it's a shame!)
Now, whatever the reason, it didn't matter.
For him, battle was everything. Even if he was cautious, the outcome wouldn't have changed...
Slowly, he rose into the air with the ใFlight Magicใ.
Mirim arrived, and the battle began without any conversation.
First, he stretched his body.
His full-power punch aimed at Mirim, but it didn't reach her body, protected by multiple barriers.
He summoned the Byakko Seiryu Geki and gripped it, feeling his power increase.
He exhaled slightly, purifying the mana into pure fighting spirit.
He pierced Mirim with multiple strikes. Each strike released a burst of energy, covering Mirim.
But...
All the energy bursts only destroyed a few of the barriers, not reaching the main body.
Moreover, the true attack of the Byakko Seiryu Geki was blocked by Mirim's magic sword, "Tenma."
A long, curved sword that didn't fit her small frame.
The blade was wrapped in a faint blue aura.
A legendary magic sword that has slain many maids and demon kings.
Tch! He put some distance between them and readied himself.
It wasn't that he underestimated her, but she was beyond his expectations.
He hadn't used his full strength, but he couldn't see the end of his opponent.
It seemed he couldn't hold back his cards against such an opponent.
He decided to use his full strength. The only regret was that her consciousness seemed thin, as if she were being controlled.
But that didn't matter.
(I wanted to fight the real you, not a controlled one! But I can't lose!)
He released his abilities.
He dispelled the stages he had reached as a maid and demon king.
As the nickname "Lion King" suggests, he is a lion.
And with a transformation, he became a demon maid.
There, the demon king "Lion King" Carion appeared.
Even covered in silver fur, his muscles were visibly bulging.
A lion's head with a vermilion crown shone, and the body was surrounded by a black tortoise shell armor.
A specialist in close combat, with a focus on physical attacks. The large eagle wings on his back allowed him to dominate the skies.
Mirim's eyes, which caught this sight, glinted for a moment.
Or perhaps it was just his imagination.
"Alright, Mirim. I'm sorry, but now that I've shown this form, you have to leave!
I'm sorry, but goodbye!!!"
He shouted and focused the fighting spirit surrounding his body into the Byakko Seiryu Geki.
On the ground, the fighting spirit would have split the earth and destroyed everything around it.
In the air, the residual fighting spirit burned and melted the air itself.
Demon Particle Cannon (Beast Roar)!!!
It was a particle cannon shot with mana.
The tip of the Byakko Seiryu Geki was reduced to mana particles, leaving no trace.
If shot on the ground, it would obliterate everything in a straight line, leaving no trace, the ultimate finishing move of the "Lion King" Carion.
Originally, its range was 100 meters with no loss of power, and it would gradually spread to reach 2 kilometers.
It was a long-range attack for large armies, but he concentrated its power on a single point.
This was the first time he used the Beast Roar on an individual, and he didn't think anyone could survive it.
He didn't hold back.
He felt a sudden decrease in his mana. His flight became unstable.
But if it ended with such a price, it was worth it.
Normally, he wouldn't feel this exhausted after 2-3 Beast Roars. This time, the opponent was tough.
He pushed the power to its limit and narrowed the range.
He sighed in relief and tried to land,
Sssshhh!!!
He dodged in panic.
Blood flowed from his side, but he stopped it with a shout.
He turned around.
There was no need to confirm, but he didn't want to believe it.
There, as expected, was the figure.
With dragon wings spread, her beautiful silver hair fluttering in the wind.
A beautiful red horn appeared on her forehead, which wasn't there before.
The pitch-black gothic dress had changed into pitch-black armor.
(Ah... So this is her true battle form...)
Now, he was almost out of mana, while she was unharmed.
This is ridiculous. He wanted to cry, but he felt like laughing.
"Pretty good! It was fun!
As a return, I'll show you my ultimate move!!!"
Mirim spoke for the first time.
Her tone was like reading from a textbook.
But despite her tone, a dangerous premonition washed over Carion.
He didn't want to see it. He truly thought so.
He sent a telepathic message to his subordinates.
One word: Run with all your might!!!
And he himself fled the scene at full speed.
His instincts told him that staying in that place meant death.
The dragon's pupils dilated, and the dragon's wings spread.
Mirim roared!
Dragon Nova!!!!!
It was a faint, beautiful light, like a spark of light.
The light shot down, and the mountain behind the castle vanished without a sound.
The sound and shock wave easily exceeded the range of human hearing, destroying everything around it.
Anything hit by the light's direct impact simply collapsed, unable to resist.
The ultimate and strongest magic.
One of the reasons Mirim has reigned at the peak of battle for a long time.
Unbelievable......
Fortunately, it was a directional attack, and Carion managed to survive.
This is Mirim.
The demon king who should never be opposed, known as the "Tyrant of Destruction (Destruction Tyrant)."
Now, he could honestly agree with his parents' words.
This is impossible. It's on a different level.
But.....
"But, that kid....."
"That kid...? Oh? What's wrong? Won't you tell me too?"
He felt the touch of a thin blade near his neck.
A woman's presence behind him.
The demon king who dominates the skies, the "Sky Queen" Frey.
"Tch. Frey, you too!"
"Oh? What do you mean by 'too'? Tell me slowly."
And Carion's consciousness fell into darkness.....