Chapter 98

"Well, even if they escaped, it wouldn't be a problem."

I said, shaking the knife in my hand. The blade was pierced through a human-shaped figure that had been impaled through the chest.

"…Yuki, you are terrifying, Seika-sama."

While collecting the night curtain and breaking the spell to clear the area, Yuki suddenly said.

"Hmm?"

"For Seika-sama… whether there is a medium for the curse or not doesn't matter, does it? It's just a human-shaped figure, and such a thing…"

"Not at all, it's not that it doesn't matter. There are various restrictions if the other person's hair or blood can't be used, and besides…"

I said with a wry smile.

"It's just a bit troublesome."

****

In the end, the second attack by the demons was resolved without any issues. Thanks to the various countermeasures and preparations we had in place since the last attack, there were no casualties this time. The magic practice field was a bit of a mess, but the matter was settled without anyone noticing.

Their bodies, which had been partially charred by molten iron, were left as they were after some hesitation. I had heard rumors that some merchants who had been coming and going from Rodnea had gone missing. They probably carried out raids in several villages on their way here. The empire, if not completely incompetent, should have realized that a group of demons had infiltrated. Even if they couldn't pinpoint their location, they could trace their steps and deduce that they headed to Rodnea. If they found the signs of a struggle and the bodies… they would likely understand that they had died. Probably.

The demon was dead in a different place, so it would be convenient if they interpreted it as a conflict among the group. In any case, it's better than having classes suspended again because the bodies weren't found.

By the way, I dispelled the cooled iron, but left the giant worm's corpse. It was just in the way, and I wondered if I should have cleaned it up… While thinking about such things, I bumped into a small figure at a corner.

"Oh, hey. Mabel?"

"…! S-Seika?"

Mabel, out of breath and wide-eyed, looked up at me. With an anxious expression, the silver-haired girl approached me.

"Where is he!?"

"Who?"

"A, an assassin came! Seika, you know, right?"

"That…"

"Moreover, they said it was a demon… a demon! They must still be looking for me! If they don't find me, they might… someone might be attacked…"

Mabel pleaded with me, her face full of desperation.

"I, I have to stop them!! Seika, you helped me just now, right? That mist… if you know where they are, tell me! If I go out, no one else will be in danger. Even if I can't win… so please!"

"Mabel, calm down a bit."

I stroked her head, and Mabel finally fell silent. However, her expression was still tense. I said with a light smile.

"You're brave."

"Eh…?"

"You were the first to worry about the other students, even though you could have run away."

"Th, that's because…"

"Not many people can do that. It's a sign of kindness and courage."

"Uu…"

"I'm sorry I didn't notice. I thought you had gotten used to the academy… but you've been on edge all this time."

The spell to clear the area has no effect on people with strong purpose. I had been wondering why Mabel was the only one out while the other students and teachers were all in their dorms or classrooms… this girl had been on guard against the assassins sent by the guild all along.

"Even when you were with your foster parents?"

"…Because… they know about those people…"

"I told you not to worry. But if it hasn't been a year since then, it's understandable."

I might have been so relaxed at my family's home because it was the first place where I could let my guard down. Far from the academy and the capital, with a military squad stationed there, this girl finally felt safe.

"It's okay, Mabel. You can live a normal life now."

"B-but, that person…"

"That person wasn't sent to kill you."

"Eh…?"

"Yes, that's right… So, who was it…"

"Um… well, I can tell you. They were after the hero."

"Eh! A-Amu?"

Mabel's face showed renewed anxiety.

"If that's the case, we have to do something…"

"Ah…"

I hesitated a bit before saying.

"It's already over."

"Eh…?"

"You don't have to worry about them anymore."

"Them…? There was more than one?"

"Um… yeah, there were about five."

"F-five? All of them… were defeated by Seika?"

"Yep."

"Are you okay? Five of them… they must have been tough…"

"Ah, no… it wasn't that tough."

"R-really… the demons weren't that strong?"

"Um…"

I answered with a slightly troubled smile.

"I couldn't really tell who was strong and who was weak."

"S-Seika?"

Mabel took a half-step back, looking confused. I smiled wryly and put my index finger to my lips.

"Let's keep it a secret, Mabel."