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“Is the next schedule a team battle?”

I said while stuffing my mouth with bread filled with meat.

Originally, the event following the Behemoth was supposed to be a ranking shift team battle.

“I remember it being like that when I looked at the academic schedule last time.”

“I remember that too.”

Luna was aware of some of the schedule since it was provided to the professors, and Riche knew because she was a student.

The ranking shift team battle is called an event, but demons or demonized beings won’t make an appearance.

Still, there are various important reasons behind it.

First and foremost, it relates to the protagonist.

This is, of course, a common cliché for a growth story protagonist.

Just like in the early days, a commoner stuck at the end of ranks eventually becomes stronger than the rest and turns the perception around. It’s called the recognition-changing event.

Next, it also concerns the students.

In an academy where everything is judged by skill, rankings hold significant importance for all students.

From dormitories to their status, they are all interconnected.

The group I briefly caught a glimpse of just after reincarnating—could nobles, who enjoyed wealth and glory in good places, really live in such a place? Absolutely not.

And status is the biggest issue. Even during the brief time I left the academy, I got into trouble for being at the bottom of the ranks; was that really because I was Luke?

No. It’s just because I’m weak.

Most nobles attending the academy enjoy belittling those below them.

Therefore, if one doesn’t want to become like that, everyone is bound to train diligently.

Naturally, the skill of all students will rise on average, and while blood may not spill, it will undoubtedly be a figurative bloodbath.

“Honestly, I think it’s great since I have nothing to do with it.”

The ranking shift team battle is conducted with first and second-year students, excluding the graduating third year.

Even if multiple teams are using the large training ground in the academy simultaneously, it still won’t wrap up in a single day, and during that time, professors will mostly be slacking off except when they’re acting as supervisors.

Especially a temporary professor like me.

“I’ll only help until the team battle ends.”

I should at least raise Riche to the level of a B-rank adventurer by then.

Otherwise, it’ll just be futile.

Even if she can’t master the signature technique used in the original, the Solar Flare, she should at least have some degree of firepower to be useful.

After all, she can only use the Solar Flare after the ‘Blood Moon’ event starts, so I’m not hoping for much right now.

“When does training start?”

“Tomorrow.”

The academy has a break for three days anyway.

It couldn’t have come at a better time.

“What about today…?”

“I’m too lazy.”

“…”

Well, if you’re upset, it doesn’t matter if I don’t help you, right?

The one missing out is you, not me.

“Fine… I am in a position to ask for help.”

Saying that, Riche speared a piece of meat with a fork and popped it into her mouth.

But wait, she’s eating casually?

*

That evening.

As I walked around the academy, I found a student standing alone in the empty training ground.

They’re training hard in preparation for the upcoming team battle.

Normally one would think so.

Unless, of course, they weren’t training alone at such a late hour.

“I found you.”

It would be normal for everyone to be asleep at this late hour, but I’m out here specifically to find that guy training.

“Luna. Go to the girls’ dormitory and tell Riche to come to our lodging.”

“Huh? Right now?”

“Yeah.”

“I’m not sure if she’ll be awake at this hour.”

“If she’s not awake, kidnap her in a bundle or smack her awake, just bring her here by any means.”

I ordered Luna to bring Riche.

Normally, I would have sent Yui along too, but Yui decided it was better to rest in the room, so I left her behind and went out with Luna.

Just another typical hikikomori. That personality of hers doesn’t change at all.

Luna was going to leave her in the room too, but she insisted on coming along because she was worried I might cause some kind of accident if left alone.

If you wanted to follow, just say you wanted to come along rather than making up excuses, right? Anyway, Luna isn’t very honest about her feelings either.

“I’ll go, but… You’re not planning anything while I’m gone, right?”

“I’m just planning on kidnapping someone.”

“Then I definitely can’t let you go…”

“It’s fine. She’s a demon.”

“…Huh?”

I was originally planning to start training tomorrow, but suddenly remembered there was an infiltrator at the academy and thought it might be better to come out now.

Perfect timing for a good teaching material; if I don’t reserve it early, it might get snatched up quickly.

By now, Lucia would surely be looking for that infiltrator with fire in her eyes; we should take advantage of such good material first.

“Student, but she’s a demon…?”

“Why would you think there are no demons among students?”

They’re everywhere and nowhere at the same time.

In reality, demons pop up and disappear, so it wouldn’t be strange for them to be present in any guise.

“Hurry up and go. I won’t kill her.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. I promise.”

I’m not the one who’s going to kill her.

“…I’ll be back soon.”

“Okay~”

Luna turned around and headed towards the girls’ dormitory.

And I headed in the opposite direction towards the student in the training ground.

I approached the student who still hadn’t noticed me and announced my presence by grabbing their shoulder.

“Hey.”

“Uh? Who—”

-Squash!

*

“…Who is this person?”

The moment I returned to the lodging, Yui jabbed her finger into the cheek of the unconscious demon lying on the floor.

The demon was tied up and unconscious with its hands and feet bound tightly.

“A demon.”

“A, a demon…? Isn’t this a student?”

“Student, demon, infiltrator; it’s all three.”

Now that I think about it, it has three identities.

In a sense, isn’t that quite an elite?

“But why did you bring this person here without killing them?”

Are you insane? Do you want to tear apart such valuable teaching material?

“I promised to train Riche.”

I keep my promises.

Of course, even if the way I fulfill them is tragic like a monkey’s paw.

The reason I brought her to the lodging was that if she started screaming later on, it wouldn’t be able to leak outside.

-Knock knock.

“Luke-san, I’ve brought Riche.”

Looks like Luna’s just arrived.

“Okay~ come in~”

As the lodging door opened, Luna and Riche followed behind.

“Weren’t we supposed to start training tomorrow…?”

Seems like Riche was indeed woken from her sleep; her voice was slightly groggy.

Well, it is strange for her not to be asleep at this hour.

“I was originally planning to, but I found some good growth materials.”

Noticing she hadn’t seen the demon yet, I pointed my finger behind me.

With bleary eyes, Riche turned to look at the person behind me.

“Wh, who’s that…?”

“Someone you’re going to kill.”

“W, what…?”

“From now on, you’re going to kill that demon.”

For experience points.

“Just out of the blue, you want me to kill someone…?”

“Of course, I handpicked someone suitable for you to kill. This one’s a demon, so just kill them. Feel free to torment them if you want.”

“…Even so, right after waking up, killing someone seems a bit much.”

“Really?”

I see the hesitation shining on her face.

Then I’ll have to force her to do it against her will.

I stepped on the demon’s leg, who was blissfully asleep in the middle of the situation.

-Crack!

“AHHHH!?!”

What in the world is happening?!

The demon screamed in agony at the sudden pain.

“Hello?”

“Y, you?!”

“No need for an introduction, right? You saw my face before you passed out.”

At the very least, they fainted after having seen my face, so there’s no need to introduce myself.

Talking to someone who’s about to die is simply a waste of breath anyway.

Continuing, I applied more force and trampled their body underfoot.

-Crush! Crack!

“AHHHH!! AAAAAHHHH!!!!”

I had anticipated this reaction and deliberately brought them to the lodging.

If I had screamed like that in the training ground, it would’ve been obvious that someone would come before I could kill them.

“What are you doing?!”

Riche instantly snapped out of her drowsiness at my blatant actions.

“What do you mean? You can’t do it, so I’m helping you out.”

If you don’t do it, this one will end up screaming till morning before dying.

Let’s see if you can just stand there and watch this unfold.

I flipped the demon over, kicking them in the gut.

“Ugh!”

Then I stomped on the other leg.

“AHHHH! Please spare me!! I beg you! What have I done?!”

“Wait a second. This one isn’t resisting. Could there be a story behind it…?”

There’s no such thing as an evil villain without a backstory, is there? Well, am I supposed to let them go just because they tell me a sad story?

Every psychopathic serial killer who enjoys murder has their own unique story that sets them apart from others.

If I listen to the petty backstories of every villain I meet, there wouldn’t be any evil in the world left to deal with.

And this one is indeed a villain.

There’s no need for extravagant stories about parents being kidnapped and threatened or having friends taken hostage.

They’re simply one of the victims who were bullied just for being weak and common. Driven by a single-minded desire for revenge, they became a demon and actively conspired with other demons and evil creatures.

Still, it seems like they tried to struggle and eventually trained alone in the training ground, but that won’t change anything.

This one is mostly responsible for the invasion of the academy by demons and evil creatures and they are also a bystander who stood by knowing what was going on.

In our world, bystanders are considered another form of perpetrator.

They’re also the ringleader who insists on turning other students into demons while asking if they wouldn’t want to experience being one.

Originally, they were destined to die during the events that occur later.

“Really? Then should I let this one live instead? I don’t expect much from them anyway, but what if I just let them go and see what happens? But the consequences of whatever occurs afterward will entirely be your responsibility, Riche. What do you say?”

“…”

“Why can’t you speak?”

Well, they only know this one is a demon and not what kind of atrocities they commit.

Let me provide you a little background, just this once.

I poked the weeping demon with my foot.

“Hey, how many did you persuade?”

“…!!”

The demon’s eyes widened in shock.

They were taken aback, clearly having hit the nail on the head.

“Why aren’t you answering, you bastard?! How many did you persuade?!”

-Crunch!

“AHHH! Ten, twelve people!!”

Thirteen?

You charmed a lot, huh?

Considering the incident that took place in the Marquis Territory, it shouldn’t be that easy to convince someone to become a demon.

Maybe this one is better at persuasion than they seem.

Of course, no matter how good a talker one is, if they’re weak, this is how things turn out.

Right about now, Lucia would have likely set up a barrier around the academy, but people who haven’t been demonized are no different from ordinary individuals. Those affected by magic wouldn’t be captured under the barrier.

There are no distinctive markers, so unless you’ve read about them in a novel like me, identifying an infiltrating demon is nearly impossible.

“What’s that about…?”

“What’s that? That’s the number of students this one turned into demons.”

I need to lay the groundwork now so that later, during the event, a huge wave of demons shows up.

“Can you handle it alone?”

Obviously, I can’t hold Riche responsible if this demon kills someone.

But if someone dies later on, will Riche blame herself knowing she stood by and did nothing?

If I were in her place, I’d boldly tell you weaklings it was your fault, but Riche won’t do that.

“Oh, by the way, there’s no getting out of this. You’ve already heard it all.”

There will be no excuses that say I didn’t know later.

You’ve heard it all now.

“So, what will you do?”

“…I…”

 

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