Chapter 68

68 . The demon king self-studies

Amazing, youre amazing Arnos-sama! As noble as always!

Yes! If Arnos-sama teaches me the heroes magic then we dont need to go on this school exchange!

This school exchange means we have to go to Azeshion right? Will we be lodging somewhere?

Possibly . are you going to do a night raid!? (1)

I cant do something that shameful!

Why are you asking then?

Will we sleep in the same building as Arnos-sama? If so, isnt that the same as sleeping together? Its almost a hug right!?

You know . your strong delusions are quite embarrassing .

My fan union is being noisy as usual .

. I see Youre that inept person .

Has it finally clicked? Menou looked at my school badge .

I thought something about you was familiar . Youre Arnos-kun right? You won the sword tournament .

Aah .

Like the rumours say, you really can do incredible things .

You might hear about my power but to actually witness it . Cant you hide your surprise?

Well, Im pretty sure Emilia wasnt saying anything good about me to the other teachers so Menou might have been doubting what shed heard .

From what Ive seen of Menou she doesnt seem to be one of the stiff royals like Emilia either .

Well then, as you can all see this is the heroes magic . Anyway, next week everyone in this class will be going to the royal capital of Gairadeite and studying at the hero academy . My third-year class will also be going . The owl will be delivering all the necessary paperwork to your houses today so keep an eye out for it .

Getting over her surprise Menou had started over again .

Today is only a quick introduction from me so the rest of your day is self-study . Please try not to disturb the other classes .

Menou heads out of the room but stops as she remembers something .

Oh right . Im sure the hero academy is also practising army magic so there might be a competition between them using <Asura> and us using <Guys> . The best mazoku from all over Deiruheido are gathered here in this school so I wont accept us losing .

Menou winks mischievously .

Well, Im sure the third years will uphold our honour but I expect no less from yourselves either . Please dont show any unseemly behaviour and all of you do your best with self-study .

Menou leaves the class .

Fumu . Self-study huh?

Youre not going to bother are you? Sasha says looking over at me .

Of course I am . It will be too boring otherwise .

I stand up

Misha, Sasha, Ray, Misa come with me for a bit .

Thats fine . (Ray)

What are we doing? (Misha)

Because its self-study Im going to teach you how to use your powers .

I hold out my hand and Misha takes it . The others also hold hands and I use <Gatom> .

The place we arrived at was the demon forest . This is the best place for practising due to the magic soil that repairs anything so you can go wild without worrying .

Ive got a bad feeling about this . What are we doing here . ? (Sasha)

Im going to teach you all .

Sasha had a faraway look in her eyes for a moment .

You serious? (Sasha)

I said Id teach you all to use your power . The mock fight between us and the hero academy is also a certain thing too . Theres no way its just a possibility .

I guess, but you alone will be enough wont you? (Sasha)

I wont deny that .

I learnt something during the demon sword tournament . (Arnos)

Sashas face takes on a curious expression and Misha stares at me

Learnt what? (Misha)

Even if its insignificant use everything you have . Doing your best is the highest thing you can do . Even if you have to overturn heaven and earth, push through with all your might . Doing that gives birth to something irreplaceable .

. Why are you coming out with those springtime of youth lines when you have that insane power . ? Sasha complains while Misa has a bitter smile .

Ahaha . Even if we know that, those things rarely work . (Misa)

I understand it though . Arnos feelings . Ray says with his refreshing smile .

I thought youd say that Ray .

Good thing . (Misha)

Really?

Misha nodded .

Do my best .

I glance over at Misa .

Of course Ill do it .

Sasha?

If everyone else is I will too . Ill come with you .

I laugh and start walking .

Im glad Ive got such understanding followers .

I activate a magic formation and turn back to face Sasha .

Sashas eyes round in surprise .

. . Wait a sec . You cant be serious .

Defend against it otherwise youll die .

A jet black sun left a trail of light behind it as it shot towards Sasha .

Sasha immediately dodges it by jumping up and activating Flight <Fres> .

The trees behind her disappear in a jet black explosion .

I ready another one .

Hey! Wait wait! Isnt firing off Flame Prison Anhiliation Cannon <Geo Greys> a bit much for self-study?

What sort of self-study doesnt endanger your life?

What are you saying!? Are you an idiot!?

Its fine Sasha . Your origin gives off its most demonic energy when your life is in danger . A light that is about to go out increases its light to stay lit . This is a solid guidepost to follow for those who study magic .

Sasha barely evades another <Geo Greys> while her face has the look of someone driven into a corner .

The scenery behind her is burnt again .

It doesnt matter how strong my magic gets if Im dead does it!

Of course it does . Use that stronger light to avoid your lamp going out . Use your power right at the moment you are about to die to save yourself . Then the next time you are about to die your power will increase again .

The mazoku in this age are weak because there is no risk of death . In order to increase your power, its essential to die to the extent where you dont die anymore .

I ready another <Geo Greys> .

. Saying such absurd things .

You can do it

Such a reason .

You can do it . Dont you believe in me Sasha?

Sasha looks at me silently .

Use your <Demon Eyes of Ruin> . They are the ultimate anti-magic . Remember when you resisted the time magic of Eugo Ra Raviaz?

I fire another <Geo Greys> .

. Erghh . Really . . !!

Sasha deploys antimagic in front of her and slams the power of her demon eyes into the <Geo greys> .

. . Take responsibility if I die!!

The <Geo Greys> burns through Sashas antimagic in no time but Sashas <Demon Eyes of Ruin> reduce the momentum of the black sun .

The black sun got smaller and smaller as well as the flames dimmed but it didnt lose all it power and slammed into Sasha .

Geh . . Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaa . !!

Sasha was engulfed in black flames and got blown away right to the other side of the demon forest .

Is . Is she okay?(Misa)

Alive . (Misha)

Although not perfect she was prepared to die and as such her <Demon Eyes of Ruin> almost destroyed the <Geo Greys> . Thanks to the <Phoenixs Vestment> she wont die though .

I would say Id fight you but Ive got no sword . (Ray)

Leave it to me . (Misha)

Misha uses Construction Creation <Ibis> and makes an ice demon sword for Ray .

Im saved .

Ray picks up the sword and heads towards me .

Here I come Arnos!!

Regrettable .

I catch the blade with my hand and shatter it .

That was a poor use of <Ibis> Misha . When creating stones dont create the stone but create the atoms that make up the stone . What makes a demon sword? You should look into the abyss better for your answer .

While speaking I thrust my fist at Ray who tries to handle it barehanded .

. Haa .

It seemed like he blocked it for a moment but my strike broke through and connected deep in the pit of his stomach .

. . Kuuuu!!

You need to think more about how to fight if you lose your sword Ray . If you have a sword you arent likely to be defeated by your opponent but if you lose your sword you have too many openings that can be exploited .

. . That may be so but you feel stronger than before . .

Even I dont stand in the same place for long . If you want to catch up with me youd better run with all your might .

Ray collapses on the spot as rain starts to fall on me .

Misa is nowhere to be seen .

Rain Spirit Mist <Fuska> .

Dont keep showing me the same magic over and over again even if it is spirit magic .

I walk slowly forward and grab a single drop of rain .

Aah . .

It turned into the body of Misa .

You are weak to begin with Misa but even the weak have their own way of fighting . Use your head more and make better use of your spirit magic .

I hit Misa with my magic power and she falls down unconscious .

Arnos .

I turn around to look at Misha whos made a huge demon castle out of ice using <Ibis>

Again . (Misha)

All right . (Arnos)

I create another demon castle on the spot using <Ibis> .

Turning my palm upwards my castle rises into the sky .

Ill try it . (Arnos)

I point at Mishas castle and my castle flies towards it colliding violently .

A loud noise resounds and countless pieces of rubble fall down .

After the dust settled only my castle remained . All that was left of Mishas castle was rubble .

Youve still got a long way to go .

Misha suddenly falls down unconscious . Without any hesitation, she had poured every bit of magic she had into that castle .

Fumu . Good resolve .

I draw a formation under everyone and cast Total Complete Demon Healing <Ai Shearu> .

All 4 people regained consciousness and slowly got up .

Using <Guys> I restore their lost magic power with my own .

Now then, lets continue our self-study . Ill revive you all as many times as needed until school ends .

(1) The term used here is Yobai which roughly means night crawling .