âLet me introduce my disciple. This is Menou Historia Sensei who teaches at the demon king academy. Sheâs an excellent person whoâs been teaching 3rd-year students at the demon king academy for many years. Make sure you arenât rude to her.â (Diego) (1)
Menou takes one step forward.
âIâm Menou Historia and Iâll be in your care during this exchange. Nice to meet you all.â Menou says with a smile.
âNow then since this is the first day and we donât know each other very well yet this class will be a simple recreation class to help us get along.â (Diego)
Using magic Diego writes on the blackboard.
ââCompetetive academy classâââ
âCompetetive academy class. Itâs an exaggerated name though. The students of each school give questions and the other side answers them. The rule is to compete for the highest score.â (Diego)
I see. By asking and answering questions you can see the level of knowledge between each school.
âNow then letâs begin. Letâs have the hero side set the tone. 2nd place Ledoriano.â (Diego)
Ledoriano stood up when called.
âAsk a question.â (Diego)
âCertainly.â (Ledoriano)
Ledoriano pushes his glasses up with his index finger.
âIâll start with a beginner question. Please explain what the effect of the magic Consecration <Rihido> is and show the formula.â (Ledoriano)
âIâm sorry butâŠâŠ.do you know the answer?â (Menou)
ââŠ..No, I donât. Isnât this fundamentally flawed though Menou sensei? How can I know what they are taught at other schools? How can this be a proper ice-breaker unless the questions are limited to general knowledge?â (Libest)
âI think this is general knowledge though. You say the class itself is at fault for not being taught it but isnât it actually your own fault for not studying enough?â (Ledoriano)
Libest starts to look angry.
âAlright then. In that case, can you describe and show the effects of Demonization <Nedora>.â (Libest)
You can see Libest thinks thereâs no way he will know, however, Ledoriano simply smiled.
âSure.â (Ledoriano)
Drawing the formula on the board he begins to explain.
â<Nedora> is a magic that is mainly used to transform animals. Basically, itâs physical abilities are strengthened but the changes vary depending on the caster and the animal. Sometimes its intelligence decreases, other times it increases and sometimes it increases enough that they become able to understand human language. Also, the animal that has <Nedora> cast on it changes its appearance into that of a demon. In the current Deiruheido unless certain conditions are met <Nedora> is forbidden from being used.â (Ledoraino)
Libest just looks and has nothing to come back with.
âHow was that?â (Ledoraino)
ââŠ..Correct answerâŠâŠâ (Libest)
Menou seems really impressed with Ledoriano after seeing the formula and listening to his explanation.
âHmmm. It seems the 3rd year students are offended by my beginner problem. Considering the level difference between us it might be better to cancel this competition or would you like a handicap?â (Ledoriano)
âUmu, you might be right. Itâs true none of them seem to know what <Rihido> isâŠ..â Diego speaks in a troubled voice though a sly expression was creeping onto his face.
âDiego sensei can you come here a minuteâŠ..â (Menou)
They both move over to the corner of the platform.
ââŠ..This isnât what you said before. You said this competition was intended to let each side know what they have learnt and what they donât know.â (Menou)
I doubt the other students could hear what was being said but I could hear them.
âIt was but that was because I assumed they knew at least common level things. I honestly didnât think the level of the demon king academy was this lowâŠâŠ.No, sorry. This was outside my calculationsâŠâŠ.â (Diego)
Laughter leaks from the hero academy side.
Unlike Menou who was whispering Diego was speaking at full volume.
âEveryone, itâs rude to laugh. No matter how low level they are theyâre doing their best.â (Diego)
Turing his back to Menou, Diego address the students.
I didnât miss the contemptuous look that briefly crossed his face.
On the surface, it looks like heâs rebuking the students but heâs just treating us with contempt. He doesnât dare to insult the demon king academy directly so he does it this way by saying we are doing our best.
âLetâs think of a method to match our levels as much as possible.â
Menou bites her lip.
It must be frustrating for her. Officially they are playing innocent but this hostility is barely dressed up. Itâs pretty nasty.
Itâs almost as if all the students at the demon king academy are considered lower beings than the hero academy students. If by some miracle Diego doesnât feel that way there was still no need to be that rude.
In this nasty battle, the humans are one step above the mazoku.
The art of belittling others without fighting is not something the Mazoku can imitate since as a race they are honest to a fault.
The humans are starting to get a little intolerable with this.
â<Rihido> is a magic that gives sacred power to weapons, armour and tools.â (Arnos)
I stand up and start answering.
âSimply put <Rihido> promotes the function of an object. A sword, for example, would cut better. Taken to its extreme its possible to create simple objects or turn existing objects into magic tools. Practically though that would require the magic power of over 100 sages so itâs not really possible.â (Arnos)
I draw the magic formula on the blackboard using magic without leaving my seat.
âArnos-kunâŠ..â (Menou)
Menouâs face broke into a broad smile looking at me.
âHow was that?â (Arnos)
ââŠ.Correct answerâŠâŠ..the magic formula is also correctâŠâŠâ Diego says almost in a growl.
âHowever, the part where you say that <Rihido> in its extreme can make tools or turn them into magic tools is a gross exaggeration. At best it would have the power near to that of a magic tool but it wouldnât be one. It is factually wrong to say it can be used for that. It seems you have studied reasonably well but have been misled by exaggerated research results.â (Diego)
Laughter leaks from the hero side at Diegoâs words.
âI thought he might be slightly better than the others but it seems heâs stupid.â
âMagic tools donât work like that.â
âThatâs right. A magic tool is something that has its magic built into it so itâs origin is different.â
âIt seems like he has misunderstood the basics of magic.â
Yare yare. Humans and their common sense. They always get too caught up in it.
To be honest I saw this coming though.
âFumu. If you donât know how then let me show you.â (Arnos)
I stand back up and walk over to the platform.
On my way down I point to a sword thatâs hung on the wall near the ceiling and pull it down slowly in front of Diego using magic.
Stepping up on the platform I hold my hand over the sword and the magic formation for <Rihido> appears.
I finish and turn the sword around and present the hilt to Diego.
Diego touches the sword without any fear and when he does the blade emits the glow of magic.
All the students of the hero academy leaned forward.
âOiâŠâŠ.! Itâs a lie right!? That glowâŠâŠ..!â
âImpossibleâŠâŠ..! ThatâsâŠâŠ..thatâs a holy swordâŠâŠâŠ!â
âImpossibleâŠâŠâŠ..He said <Rihido> could create magic tools! Thatâs not a magic tool, thatâs a holy sword!â
âWaitâŠâŠ.thatâs not the problem here. Isnât he a mazoku! They cant use <Rihido> in the first place!! Thatâs a magic only allowed to be used by a hero!!â
Diego stares at the holy sword in amazement. It seems like he canât believe whats happened.
âYou need to discard that common sense and stare deeper into the abyss Diego. If the headteacher in charge of the school doesnât know the answer then all the students will be ridiculed.â (Arnos)
(1) Yes, he does call her his disciple. Not sure why though. The only other translation would be pupil or follower.