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“Yawn~ I’m so bored, is there anything fun going on?”

A barren land that can hardly be called a place for humans to live.

Yet, in the midst of it stood a castle in the demon world, exuding a vintage charm.

A demon was rolling around in bed.

“I wanted to go to the human world too… Sending only Alastor is so unfair…”

A woman wearing a sheep mask expressed her dissatisfaction.

An old butler-like demon responded to her complaint.

“Lord Alastor has gone to fulfill a mission on behalf of Lord Paimon. It’s not a leisure trip.”

“But~ I just wanted to see that ‘star’… What if I’m compatible with it? Why only send Alastor~”

The old man spoke to her in a soothing manner.

“You don’t have to be too disappointed. Lady Lilith will have more important tasks to handle, right?”

With that said, the woman in the sheep mask replied cheerfully.

“Oh, right! I’m really looking forward to it. Will the body I’m compatible with this time be from the star or the thorn? I sure hope it’s the ‘star’~”

At that moment, both of them sensed a presence entering the demon world.

“…It seems Lord Alastor is returning.”

*

As the gates of the demon world opened,

A portal was created.

From it emerged a man wearing a fly mask.

As the man set foot in the demon world, many figures resembling demons knelt in welcome.

“Welcome back, Lord Alastor!”

“Al! You’ve returned!”

A woman in a sheep mask squeezed through the crowd of demons and hugged the man in the fly mask joyfully.

“Lilith… Did you really come to greet me? This is an honor.”

“Yeah! So, how was the star this time?”

“Hmm… She was quite an interesting girl. Almost gave me chills.”

“Hahaha! A demon feeling cold? What a funny joke.”

The old man approached the two and knelt down.

“Lord Alastor, Lady Lilith, Lord Paimon is waiting for you.”

“Me too?”

“Yes, it’s a command for all six Executioners to gather.”

At that, Lilith grumbled in dissatisfaction.

“Paimon is always so reckless, even though we’re in the same rank, giving orders like a big shot.”

Alastor patted her head.

“Well, it’s true that even if all six of us charged at that person, we wouldn’t win, right? Oh, and five of us would, but not you because you’re weak.”

“Al! Isn’t that a bit harsh? You can only summon monsters!”

“I’m sorry~ but I definitely don’t want to make you my enemy. Let’s hurry before that madman starts talking again.”

*

Deep in the demon world’s castle, there was a circular massive table with seven thrones around it.

Seated at the table were several demons wearing masks in the shapes of a snake, fox, lion, and phoenix, facing each other.

“Yahoo! How has everyone been?”

The woman in the sheep mask burst into the room excitedly, slamming the door open.

“Oh wow, everyone’s here early?”

“You were the late one, Lilith.”

The woman in the fox mask responded with annoyance.

“Isn’t Baphomet being too strict? It’s a virtue to give some slack to a beautiful succubus like me if I’m late, you know?”

“Still noisy as ever. Do you need your mouth stitched shut?”

“So, where’s Alastor?”

When the lion-masked demon interrupted with a question, the man in the fly mask quickly answered from behind.

“I’m here. Paimon, please don’t keep counting the days.”

“Then, tell us about your findings. How’s the ‘star’ doing?”

“Going straight to the point? Well… she was definitely strong. I think she might be the strongest ‘star’ yet.”

“It seems she’s suitable to be a vessel.”

The snake-masked demon growled toward the lion-masked demon.

“Paimon, don’t try to play the field alone. I still haven’t retrieved my sword, and if you try to resurrect your demon king again like last time, I’ll kill you.”

The fly-masked demon spoke in a soothing tone.

“Calm down, Igares. Didn’t we promise not to awaken our demon kings until we collect all the sacred relics this time?”

The snake-masked demon scoffed.

“You already retrieved the ‘Corrupted Skeleton,’ so I suppose that doesn’t concern you. Astaroth, why did you help that guy?”

The phoenix-masked demon replied with a dismissive attitude.

“Because it was part of the contract~ I’m going to sleep now, so don’t bother me. If you do, I might just kill you.”

“…Why are you so annoyed?”

“Asta-chan got hurt badly fighting that knight, so he’s feeling rough~ Just touch him, and you’ll end up dead!”

“Shut up, Lilith.”

“Eek… S-sorry…”

“Astaroth’s sacred relic, I promised to find it for you.”

The lion-masked demon interrupted.

“I happen to know its location.”

“Enough chit-chat, Alastor.”

“Yes—please go ahead, Paimon.”

“Can the star utilize Giant Star Magic?”

“Hmm… I don’t think so. She only seems to use Stellar Magic so far. When I reflected on her inner self, there didn’t seem to be traits of greed or arrogance. If anything, she would be more aligned with ‘anger.’”

“Wow~ ‘anger’ sounds disappointing! I wish it were lust… I can at least thank my lucky stars that Satan’s followers are dead, otherwise if that were resurrected… ugh, terrifying.”

The woman in the sheep mask shivered slightly.

“…It seems everyone here promises not to awaken the star first. Everyone will recover their sacred relics and resurrect all six of the demon kings except for Satan. Until then, we maintain our truce. Anyone who breaks it will have their soul imprisoned for eternity. Does everyone agree?”

“No objections.”

“Sounds good! That way, I can have my chance too!”

“Then let’s wrap up this meeting. You’re dismissed.”

*

Once the other Executioners had left, the now silent circular table was occupied only by Paimon, who then spoke up.

“Come forth, Vega.”

“Yes.”

With that, from Paimon’s shadow emerged a puppet wearing a dragon-shaped mask.

“To you, I command: Make contact with the star and accelerate her awakening. Whatever means you have to use, even if it means killing someone precious to her, push her mind to its limits!”

“Yes.”

“With Murkibel dead, there’s no chance for Satan to resurrect now. By any means necessary, we must create the ‘Crimson Star’ before the others do.”

“I shall follow your wishes.”

“You were created using Murkibel’s rage element. Even if you don’t express it, I’m sure you know how to awaken her. Now go fulfill your mission.”

As the dragon-masked puppet vanished with a swoosh, Paimon murmured with a determined expression.

“Just wait a little longer, Lucifer. This time, I will create your world.”

*

When I opened my eyes, I found myself gazing at a ceiling I had never seen before.

I’ve always wanted to say something like this at least once.

“Where am I?”

Looking around, it seemed to be a hospital.

Suddenly, the door to the hospital room opened, and someone walked in.

“Oh! I see you’re awake.”

“You are… Shia?”

“Yes, it’s been a while, Nova. …Even if it was just a week ago.”

“Where am I?”

“This is the academy’s infirmary.”

“This is the infirmary?”

The infirmary had personal hospital rooms. Is this really the best academy on the continent?

“I was surprised to hear the news. I never expected you to be fighting a swarm of monsters all by yourself. Have you lost your mind?”

“I feel like I hear that a lot lately.”

Shia placed the fruits she brought for my hospital visit beside me.

“Honestly, if it weren’t for Stella, you’d be in serious trouble.”

“Stella… where is she?”

“I thought you two knew each other. If it’s Stella, she went to take a short nap.”

“A nap?”

Shia spoke as if she couldn’t believe it.

“Yes, she spent an entire week by your side without leaving you alone, panicking and worried that you might be dying if you didn’t wake up.”

It was reassuring to know that she hadn’t forgotten about me, but wait, what did she just say?

“A week?”

“Yes, Nova, you slept for a whole week.”

Did I seriously fall into such a long sleep?

I thought I had only dozed for a day or two, which is why I felt so sluggish.

“How’s the academy doing?”

“Due to the sudden monster incident, all classes were suspended for a week. Tomorrow is the reopening day.”

“Wow… That’s quite an unyielding schedule.”

“By the way, I wonder how the monsters breached the academy’s barriers… It shouldn’t have been so easy to infiltrate.”

Just thinking it was a game event seemed too simple. In reality, it’s strange.

The academy gathers the best and brightest in the continent, and it’s hard to believe it could be so easily breached.

But did a demon wearing a mask really hide behind this incident?

It seems like something more significant is at play here.

“What did the academy say?”

“Currently, they have not released any information regarding the attack.”

“Really?”

The academy is known for gathering many famous figures across the continent. Even if they wanted to keep it under wraps, it would still have a significant impact on their reputation.

At that moment, I heard a noise as the door swung open again, followed by a voice.

“Yawn, Shia… I’m hungry, let’s go eat…”

Eyes locking with Stella, who walked in while yawning.

“You… you…”

“Haha… It’s been a while, Stella. Do you remember me?”

Suddenly having an awkward moment upon our reunion, Stella looked as if she turned to stone.

“Um… So, Stella?… Gah?!”

In an instant, Stella barreled towards me and hugged me as if she were headbutting me.

Seeing this, Shia covered her face but kept her eyes open while mumbling.

“Oh my. Oh my.”

“Seriously… what in the world are you doing, you fool…”

Wow, her hair smells nice… Wait, why is she acting like this?

“I’m fine, Stella. Are you hurt anywhere?”

“Really… Really…”

“Yes, I missed you too, Stella.”

“What are you doing! You crazy idiot!”

“Uh? Wait a minute, Ste-”

Bam Bam Bam!

Stella grabbed me by the collar and started shaking me back and forth.

“Why the hell did you go in there alone! Do you want to die or something?! Are you insane?!”

“C-come on, Stella, I’m a patient…”

“Die! Just die, you crazy fool!”

She tells me to die after saving me, and her words make no sense while my body sways to the point that my vision becomes blurry.

Yikes, I’m dizzy. She’s surprisingly strong; this consciousness is…

 

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