{???}

I went down the stairs on a stairway in a deserted area with no one nearby. Recently Ive started to avoid other people even more than before.

If I have to live in such fear, I might as well

Just when I thought, someone suddenly showed up in front of me. Even though I didnt even sense them coming up the stairs

Found you, Cain. No, you were called Smith around here, werent you?

The one chatting me up with a smile was that famous boy.

The name Primrose mentioned at the end was likely his true name. But, she probably couldnt capture him since her magic power was too lacking to challenge the hidden route, if you put it into game terms.

That means, Smith must be Cain, if you leave out Sword whos no member of her reverse harem. But, was such a boy attending this academy?

When I asked Sword while tilting my head in confusion, he confirmed it, saying that the name is listed in the student register.

Good job! I wouldnt even have dreamed of findin him by referrin to the boys your sister likes. Well done, really, he praised me and stroked my head. A member of the magician class, huh? Hes frighteningly good at erasin his presence. At this rate, he can easily become an assassin, cant he?

I mean, even my detection skills didnt identify him. And since he didnt leave any impression on Sword either, hes truly not to be underestimated.

However, once I catch him, he wont be able to get away anymore, I commented with a broad grin.

Hey, dont go and kill him all of a sudden, warned Sword.

I answered with a nod, I dont know his objective. No, I dont even know whether he has an objective to begin with. But, for the time being Im going to have a chat with him and if he proves to be harmless, Ill let him go. As long as he hasnt abandoned his body, things are going to work out one way or another.

Wait, that would be equivalent to him havin died, you know? Sword retorted.

Thats not set in stone. If a demon is the wire puller here.

After that conversation, I caught him, and brought him over to Swords place.

Somehow hes looking like hes about to be pulled on the executioners block any moment

Hey, isnt it kinda harsh for you to have tortured him out of the blue?

Smith trembled with a start.

I didnt do anything like that. Or rather, I havent done anything to him at all. We havent even talked yet.

With that as the impetus, we had a chat.

Hello, youre a member of the magician class, arent you? Im Indra. A student of the special class!

Whats with that fishy introduction?

The peanut gallery should stay out of this!

As a matter of fact, I came to this academy after being used by a heinous villain! On the pretext that something is occurring in this academy! Do you have an idea what that might be?

Smith shook his head while quivering.

You dont know either? Ive completely given up all hope in finding out as well! But, the villain, whos using Instructor Sword and me, wont let us leave this academy unless we find that something. For this reason, Ive been thoroughly trying everything around here! I meddled with the guys, who picked a fight with me on the first day, the prince, his valet, Damsel Scarlet, Swannyboy, and now you! At that point I peered into Smiths face, asking, Say, are you a demonkin?

Smith widened his eyes, the blood visibly draining from his face.

I fixedly stared at him, Hmm, I imagined demonkins to be surrounded by a far denser layer of magic elements, but youre different. Or is the evil spirit, who had been sealed before possessing you, concealing your magic elements?

Smith was gawking, so frozen in his movements that I started to wonder whether he was still breathing. And he didnt talk to me at all.

In reality, you see, it was apparently planned for Primrose, my dumb younger sister, to exorcize the evil spirit haunting you, but look, my sister is stupid to the core, you know? Even if she might possess the talent for light and holy magic, she cant use them as the dumb mutt she is. Because of that, I called Instructor Sword! The instructor will carry out your exorcism!

I pointed a hand at Sword full of pride. Once I looked at him, he was pulling a miserable face, though.

Indra, somehow Ive started to pity Smith, so could you leave it at that?

No look, I was talking because he hasnt said anything, okay!?

And then, just when I thought Smith was trembling, his magic elements gushed out.

Oh? The real deal is making its appearance?

Rather, aint that a normal demon?

We had such carefree talk, but in the meantime the magic elements kept gaining in intensity.

But to be honest, its no big dealthe amount of magic elements is lower than the guy I met during my A-Rank exam, not to mention the last boss of the capitals dungeon.

The magic elements took form.

A fleeting demon in the shape of what seems to be a woman? If anyone asked me to describe a ghost, shed perfectly fit the bill.

Please wait. Smith hasnt done anything wrong

She covered for him!

Hmm? She doesnt really seem to be an evil spirit, does she?