One chapter until Camilla-sama makes her entrance…

Also, I gave Myuu an accent. In the original texts, his speech is somewhat rougher, but also very polite and humble and archaic. It’s like, Edo working-class servant type speech, sort of. A bit higher up than that. Skilled workers, at least.

Chapter 6 – Jessica and the Raid on the Capital

“Where are you Timu? Where did you go?”

I went around searching for her in a daze. Along the way some vampires attacked, so I indiscriminately beat them.

“GAHHHH!”

“SHUT UP! DON’T STOP ME!””

With the cross in my fist like a knuckle duster, I walloped it. The vampire was sent flying before bursting into mince meat.

“Hahh, hahh, I can’t find her. This bad. This is so bad.”

I’m so beside myself with worry that it feels like my blood might run backwards.

The longer I take to find her, the lower her chances of survival. I’m just filled with anxiety and impatience. I’ve been searching and searching but all I found were vampires or escaping civilians. Thankfully, so far I hadn’t counted Timu amongst the vampires yet. She’s probably still running around at this moment.
But even if Timu can use magic, she’s helpless against these numbers. They seem countless. It’s only a matter of time until she’s attacked by a vampire.

Aahh, what do I do…?

Because of my panic, my mind isn’t working properly.

This is no good. It’s at times like these that you need a break to calm down.

Suu~ Hahhh~

Calm down, calm down. Think clearly for a moment.

Wiping off my tears, I cooled my head a little.

I had searched the few kilometres around the front gate, but I didn’t catch sight of her anywhere.

In other words, she ran away to somewhere even further?

No, no matter how fast she might be, I was still faster. It was hard to imagine that she had run even further out.

Then did that mean she was hiding somewhere?

But where?

There are too many buildings in the capital, and there are even more houses destroyed from this mess. Even if I go through them one by one, it’ll take too much time.

Ahhhh, shit!

While I was feeling cornered,

“So this is where you were, Tilea-sama.”

thankfully, Pervert(Nielsen), Myuu and the other Praetorian Guards appeared.

I-, I’m saved. Right now even one more person out there searching would help.

“Myuu, Niel, you’re back. Thank goodness.”

“Milady. Though it took a while, we managed to meet with Ortissio’s unit.”

“I see, Myuu. More importantly, searching for Timu comes――!”

“Camilla-sama is together with the other humans.”

Pervert(Nielsen) said something that I couldn’t overlook.

He said something about Timu somewhere? Could it be that she took shelter with the Capital’s Public Safety Force?

“Does that mean that Timu is with the people of the Public Safety Force?”

“As you say. This one had called out to her, but she instructed that we join up with you, Tilea-sama”

“Indeed. It appears that Camilla-sama had some plan in mind.”

“I-, I see.”

T-, Thank goodnesss~

It looks like Timu took shelter. Wow, that really shortened my lifespan. If Pervert(Nielsen) was the only one then I wouldn’t be able to really trust it, but if Myuu is saying it too, then it must be true.
Remilia-san should be with the Public Safety Force. She’s the strongest person in the Capital, you know. Timu will be much safer with her than with somebody like me.

I let out a sigh of relief now that I knew Timu was safe.

“Tilea-sama, Ortissio has a report.”

“Mn?”

“It is an honour to meet you. I am Captain of the Royal Capital Concealment Unit, Ortissio Bo Bach.”

Who the heck is this guy?

He just looks like a slightly lanky, average guy.

…But the Captain of the Concealment Unit, he says?

Honestly, even in a crisis like this… You were a chuunibyou too, weren’t you. Though it’s not like I’m surprised anymore.

“And so, Or, what is it that you wanted to report?”

“Milady. First, in regards to being unable to meet at the rendevous point, I offer my most sincere apologies.”

Mn!? That’s right. If you trace it all back, it’s because you guys didn’t meet us where you were meant to. Although I had actually thought it was Pervert(Nielsen)’s fault though.

“And so, why didn’t you come to the meeting point?”

“Milady. The truth is, yesterday we were being pursued by the Public Safety Force, led by Remilia. The orders were to avoid fighting as much as possible, so there was no choice but to retreat as far as Canoda Town.”

Or’s companions nodded in confirmation.

Haha, what a chuunibyou excuse. These guys are even worse than Pervert(Nielsen). I bet they actually just forgot about the meeting.

Huuu~ Blaming your own mistakes on other people…

And of all things, to blame it on the selfless and hard-working Public Safety Force. It’s just too rude towards these people who risk their lives for us. I’m actually doubting if this guy has any humanity.

To begin with, it’s because you guys didn’t meet us that Myuu and the others were stuck with looking for you. And thanks to that, Timu was separated from her strong bodyguard, and I went through a terrifying time too. But despite that these guys…

“You’ll go that far to make excuses? How unsightly.”

“M-, My deepest apologies.”

“You have an entire thirty people, and this is the best you could do?”

Honestly, you had thirty people, and not a single person remembered? Or did you all just assume somebody else would go, and slacked off? Every single one of them just pushes jobs onto others. It happens quite a lot in society.

“W-, Well, certainly the Public Safety Force itself was no big deal, but the Captain, Remilia, had doggedly pursued us. As you would expect, she was an S-ranked adventurer after all, so it took time to shake her off.”

Or and his companions huddled together as they gave their excuses.

――Seriously, if you forgot, then you can just say you forgot. If they didn’t go because it was too bothersome, then I can accept that too. Everybody has times like that. As long as they apologised properly, I’d forgive them.

But they push the blame onto others… Just what kind of nerves do these guys have? They’re acting this pathetically just because they’re afraid of being scolded?

“Hahh~ You guys… There should be a limit to how pathetic you can get!”

“It is just as Tilea-sama says. Ortissio, just because of a mere human or elf, you arrived late? You shame the entire demon race. End yourself!”

Even though Pervert(Nielsen) is lax on himself, he’s strict on others. And what’s more, he even made sure the whole thing was in chuunibyou. Honestly, I can’t even comment anymore.

“H-, However, it was not only the Public Safety Force led by Remilia. An even more dangerous organisation named Decarabia[Demon Destroying Pentagram] was moving in the background…”

This Or guy made another weird excuse.

Decarabia? The heck is that supposed to be. Some sort of secret society!?

And he’s saying stuff like this in a crisis like now? The only praiseworthy thing about him are his guts.

“Ortissio, do not drone on with your excuses. You have brought shame to Tilea-sama. All members, end yourselves!”

“T-, That’s too much… Captain Nielsen, at least let my subordinates――”

“ENOUGH! If you take too long, then I, Nielsen, shall personally――”

“Aahh, whatever. Enough. For now, let’s discuss our situation.”

I don’t have the time to be watching your little play. Look around you. The place is crawling with vampires. This isn’t the time to be playing around.

“Understood. If Tilea-sama is willing to forgive you, then I shall say nothing further. Ortissio, you had best feel grateful.”

“Y-, Yes. I am truly thankful, and shall redeem my sullied name.”

“Okay, okay. And so, what should we do from now on?”

“Let’s see. I doubt the Capital holds strategic importance at this point. Tilea-sama, would turning this place into a cinder field not be an option to consider?”

“Okay, veto.”

Because of Or’s influence, Pervert(Nielsen) started going crazy with this chuuni speak.

God, just stop it please! Seriously!

Still saying things like this even though we’re fighting with actual demons! These guys are so carefree. The only respectful thing about them is that boldness even in this pandemonium.

“Also, there is one more report, but…”

“What is it, Or?”

“Milady. We slipped off Remilia and the Public Safety Force, but ever since we returned to the capital, we have been under surveillance by a number of people.”

“Eh? What do you mean?”

“It believe that is likely they are encircling us to stop our escape.”

To stop our escape――HAH-!? Is that how it is!?

It’s that measure that the government likes to use in the President Evil series; the quarantine. They’ll blockade off the whole area to stop more victims emerging. And then the people inside the quarantine become the noble sacrifices for the nation.

Kuh! Do the people up top only care about themselves!?

They’re too useless. Too little capacity as leaders. They’re encircling us, but rather than stopping Ortissio, I bet it’s to monitor all citizens in general.

T-, This is bad. This is so bad. Even though I thought I could quickly bring Timu away from all this craziness. If we try to escape from the Capital, we’ll be killed by them. At this point, we can’t just run.

What do we do? What do we do to save ourselves?

I can’t tell. But for now I need information, and…

“What are they like? The ones observing us.”

“They are not the main combatants of their force. Their mana is roughly 1500. Likely an intelligence unit.”

…Chuuni talk again, huh?

Well, whatever. Even if they took it seriously and started panicking, it wouldn’t help much either. And I’m floundering here too. Unlike in games and movies, the real thing is really graphic. But although I thought I would vomit and faint in situations like this, it never got that far.

Why, I wonder? Is it because I gained a resistance from all the horror games I played? Or could it be that without knowing, I got Mental Debuff Resistance as a special bonus when I reincarnated…?

For now, let’s think about who that intelligence unit is with. They wouldn’t be with the Public Safety Force. Their captain, Remilia, would never allow that to happen to the citizens.

In that case, some special organisation within the government? Like some kind of special unit that directly answers to the King, and has the authority to take heartless actions in a crisis?

Oh crap. That sounds really possible. In that case, we can’t just carelessly attack them.

But leaving Myuu aside, if I told these guys about this, they’d just get scared, right? Right now they’re acting tough with their chuunibyou, but you never know when that mask will come off. I have to at least avoid a scared panic.

Okay. For now, I’ll act like the spies aren’t a big deal. But that it would be better not to attack them. Or something like that?

“Hahh, only 1500? We could just leave guys like that alone, but their attitude is a problem, isn’t it? Myuu, if you see them next time, erase them.”

“Milady.”

While emphasizing that everybody could just leave the spies alone, I casually signalled Myuu to attack. When we escape the Capital, we need Myuu to defeat those guys or else.

“And so, Tilea-sama, roughly what plan will we be following from now on?”

“Let’s see. Let’s find Timu, and then withdraw from the Capital.”

“Is it all right not to bring judgement upon the Fake Demons that stole our Evil God Army’s territory?”

YOU GUYS ARE THE FAKE DEMONS! Honestly, the enemies are real demons, you know? No matter how many weaknesses they might have, there’s still no need to do something as dangerous as attacking them. It’s different from the fights with the delinquents so far. This isn’t a game. It’s life and death, you know?

There really isn’t much we can do. Let’s leave the demons to the members of the Public Safety Force. What we need to focus on is how to escape from the Capital.

Yeah, I don’t have any attachments to this place anymore. Now that it’s come to this, Timu probably can’t enjoy school life here, and even Jessica-chan who I――

Mn!? Jessica-chan?

The blood drained from my face.

AHHHHHHHH! THIS IS BAD, THIS IS BAD, I FORGOT HER!

I left her behind…

Oh god, oh god. Jessica-chan said that she couldn’t run, didn’t she? And in a state like that, I went and left her in the middle of a vampire horde. Only a fiend would do something like that! No matter how panicked I might have been about Timu, how could I just abandon a girl young enough to be a middle schooler!?

I have to hurry up and find her!

Just as I was about to go running――

Waitwait. Although Myuu is here, I can’t just leave this lot behind either. After all, if my luck is bad, there’s a good chance they’d run off to fight the vampires bare-handed. If I leave them alone and they die because of that, I won’t be able to sleep peacefully anymore.

I guess I’ll teach them about vampire weaknesses for now. Whether fighting the vampires or running from the vampires, telling them this information could save their lives.

Can’t be helped. I guess this is the only thing left I can do.

“Everyone, listen! A small errand just popped up, so you guys will be heading to Timu first. Myuu, you’re taking command of everyone, okay?”

“Wha-!? Then what about Captain Nielsen?”

“Um, this isn’t a game, you know. I won’t let you complain.”

“”U-, Understood!””

Pervert(Nielsen) replied too, but he seemed kind of dissatisfied. I bet it’s because he’s always playing the Captain when they’re playing Demon King Army. Seriously, what was with that dissatisfied expression! This isn’t a game like before. It’s a matter of life and death.

“Also, and this is important, when vampires attack, stab them in the heart with a wooden stake.”

“We shall abide by your orders, Tilea-sama, but just what meaning does that have?”

Huhu, it’s natural that he’s confused. I bet everyone’s wondering, ‘Why a stake all of a sudden?’. Of course. After all, I’m the only one who knows about a vampire’s weaknesses. Guess it’ll be easier to show them?

“Showing is better than explaining. Watch carefully!”

Pervert(Nielsen) as well as the rest of the Praetorian Guard all paid attention. I walked around a bit to look for a pointed stick.

Mn!? This might be good.

From inside a destroyed house, I picked up a piece of wood that matched my imagination.

All I need now is some prey, but if possible, a slow walking one would be nicer.

Alright, we’ll go with that one. I spotted a tottering vampire about three hundred metres ahead of me. It was moving slowly, and was perfect as a target.

“Everyone, watch closely.”

“”Understood.””

I set out to stab it with the stake.

“Fuahhh, AKU-SOKU-TOTSU![Pierce the Evil at Once!]”

“KISHAAAAAAAAA!”

The stake that I thrust pierced it right through the heart. After letting out a cry, it disappeared like fog.

…Haha, as expected.

“Well? Understand?”

“As usual, it was a splendid display of ability. And so, why must we use a wooden stake, in place of a sword or fist?”

T-, This guy doesn’t get it at alllll! That whole thing worked because of the stake. Vampires have bodies like steel. There’s no way your swords or fists would even hurt them.

“Swords or fists…? You must think you’re really amazing now, huh? Enough with the overconfidence.”

I sharply complained to Pervert(Nielsen). It wouldn’t do if I didn’t give him a proper warning at least once, right?

“I-, I see. I have finally understood your intentions, Tilea-sama.”

“It looks like you finally get it.”

“Yes, Milady. Purposefully using a wooden stake to limit your might with a specific target in mind. In other words, a training method for both power and accuracy, yes?”

Hah? Pervert(Nielsen) was misunderstanding again.

Should I explain once more? No, that’s enough. Thinking about it, I don’t have time to waste here. Jessica-chan is in danger, and I’m racing against the clock here.

“Yes, yes, that’s exactly right. I’m going now, so Myuu, I’m leaving the rest to you, okay?”

“Understood. Please leave it to this one.”

Myuu gave me a reassuring and reliable reply. And then he led the Praetorian Guard off in Timu’s direction.

Now then, I’d better hurry to Jessica-chan as well.

…

Here in the midst of the humans, the Malferands[Vampire Clan], and Decarabia[Demon Destroying Pentagram], a Vampire Annihilation Operation was executed at the hands of the Evil God Army.

“Fuahhh, AKU-SOKU-TOTSU![Pierce the Evil at Once!]”
In Rurouni Kenshin, you have this motto ‘aku soku zan’ which means ‘slay the evil at once’. Incidentally, the guy’s special technique is a piercing technique called ‘gatotsu'(fang pierce) so yeah. I imagine Tilea imitated his moves, except with a stake.

<Previous Chapter | Imouto | Next Chapter>

Two chapters until Camilla-sama makes her entrance…
Also, I kept getting confused between Lilis and Riris, so I’m using Lyris now.

Chapter 5 – Jessica and the Raid on the Capital

I can’t stay conscious much longer.

Ahh, I’m going to die here…

I don’t have the energy or stamina to resist anymore. But I want to curse God for having me die at the hands of my best friend.

It really has been the worst day of my life. I was attacked by the vampirised Geil-sensei. I came face to face with a demon that should have stayed a legend. And at the very moment, I’m on the verge of dying at the hands of my best friend.

Just two days ago we were laughing together so happily.

But now…

I was glared at by the hate-filled and terrifying eyes of my best friend, who then spat words at me so cold that a chill ran down my spin. Just remembering it makes my chest tighten with sadness.

I don’t care anymore. I don’t want to feel sad like that again.

Having half-given up on living, I was about to leave life for good when…

“GUHAH-!”

Edim suddenly cried out. Her hands naturally loosened their grip on me.

“Keho-! Kaho-, Kehoh-! …Hahh, hahh, hahh”

I madly gasped for oxygen.

What happened?

Faintly opening my eyes, I found that Edim had lost her balance and fallen. Looking carefully, she had been hit in the side with a large hammer. It was a large hammer, used for fighting with large-type magic beasts. Had Edim been a normal human instead of a vampire, that collision would have smashed her torso to pieces.

“Owow, shit!”

Pushing the hammer aside, Edim tottered to her feet.

“Tsk. Looks like somebody came to save you.”

“Ah-, wai――”

“Jessica, I’ll kill you without fail.”

After leaving curse-like words, Edim left the area.

Just who on earth saved me?

The exhaustion made me want to faint, but I desperately held back the urge and looked around. And then I noticed a silhouette approaching.

“Ly…ris-chan?”

There was no mistake. It was the strong and reliable person that I looked up to and admired.

Aahh, Lyris-chan, so you saved me again.

Remi Lyris. A second year at Arcudas Magic Academy. Rumoured to be an infamous delinquent, there isn’t anybody at school that hasn’t heard of her. At first, I also thought she was a little scary. The impression that she left on me back when we were classmates was that of a proud loner. Even when everyone else has happily chatting together, she alone would stay silent and clad herself in an unapproachable aura.

But…

One day, when I was wrapped up in an incident, she saved me. Even though all I did was cry, she risked herself with no benefit to herself in order to save me.

Her tone was brusque, but you could tell that she was worrying about me, and considerate. The moment that I noticed her hidden kind side, I saw her in a whole new light. Before I knew it, I was always watching her from afar.

Lyris-chan is here now.

Just that alone was giving me courage. The self-abandonment from before had totally left me, and I once again found the energy to live.

After picking up the great hammer by my side, Lyris-chan stood in front of me and held out her hand.

“C’mon. Get up.”

“T-, thank you.”

“It’s dangerous here. Leave now!”

“B-, But Edim…”

“Forget her. That thing ain’t your best friend anymore.”

The words ‘best friend’ pierced my heart. Edim’s earlier words came to mind. I was the only one who thought that, and she actually hated me.

“R-, Right. I-, It seems that she didn’t think of me as a friend to start with, so.”

“…When people get turned to vampires, the negative feelings that they had as humans is amplified, and eventually they know nothing but hatred. So Idunno what she said to ya, but don’t mind it.”

“R-, Really?”

“Yeah. At least, you guys looked like best friends to me.”

“Thank you, Lyris-chan.”

“Hmph.”

Lyris-chan snorted in embarrassment as she looked away. She was trying to cheer me up, wasn’t she. A kind person as always.

“Really, thank you. If you hadn’t come, I would’ve been killed.”

“Seriously. I just happened to notice, so just think of it as good luck.”

“Whoaa, you’re so stubborn. Even though you noticed that Jessica-chan hadn’t come back to the dorm, and even raan around looking for her.”

“Wha-!? Vera, you bitch… Saying needless things…”

Who is that? And what’s with her clothing?

I didn’t notice before, but Lyris-chan was wearing the same strange clothes as Vera-san. It wasn’t the school uniform, nor was it the Public Safety Force’s. If I had to say, it resembled the vestments of a church priest. A simple, long outfit all in black.

Is she somebody from the church?

No, both Lyris-chan and Vera-san are holding weapons. Lyris-chan has a great hammer, and Vera-san had a great spear. That’s why it’s a mismatch with the pacifistic church.

Really, who is she?

Vera-san was a beautiful adult wearing priest-like clothing, and easily handling a great spear. Whether it’s that gap in figure and strength, or that mysteriousness, she’s just like Tilea-san.

Why is she together with Lyris-chan?

“U-, Umm, Lyris-chan――”

“Go seek shelter with this lot!”

At Lyris-chan’s words, I turned around and found fellow students coming my way.

“Ah-, where are you two going?”

“Soorry, but we can’t tell you, Jessica-chan.”

“Also Jessica, tell ’em this; prioritise the evacuation of the citizens, and don’t fight.”

“Eh? What do you mean?”

“I mean, it still ain’t so bad if they’re fighting the former humans, but they can’t fight the demons.”

“That’s right. If you kids meet any demons, run away immediately. They’re too much for you to handle.”

So warned Vera-san and Lyris-chan. And I understood. I knew the terror of the demons first hand. It was completely impossible for me to fight. Although it’s true that I was inexperienced, it was also clear that they were on a fundamentally different level to me.

Yeah, it’s just like these two said. A demon would be too much for any of the students to handle.

“I understand.”

“Each to their own, okay? Leave them to our demon hunting specialist group, 『Decarabia』[Demon Destroying Pentagram].”

“Decarabia?[Demon Destroying Pentagram]”

“Oi! You’re telling her too much!”

“Just this much is fine, isn’t it?”

“Seriously, always messing around like this――well, whatever. Point is, be careful about demons!”

“Bye now, Jessica-chan.”

Leaving those words, Lyris-chan and Vera-san disappeared into the darkness.

Decarabia[Demon Destroying Pentagram]…

A demon hunting specialist group?

I had no idea there was an institution like that here in the Capital.

And what’s more, Lyris-chan is a member?

My head was in chaos.

Ahh, it’s no good. I’m too tired to think properly.

I reflexively sat down on the ground, just as President of the Student Council, Muvordelly-seitokaichou came running over.

“Nichol-kun, are you okay?”

“Kaichou. I-, I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine. Now let’s hurry and run. We’ve taken up camp up ahead.”

“Y-, Yes.”

“Mn? You looked quite weakened. Drink this.”

“Is this a potion?”

“Yeah. There’s only a third left. Mix some herbs in and use it.”

I received the potion and herbs from him. First I plucked off a few leaves of the herbs and put them into my mouth, before gulping them down with potion.

“Pwahh”

S-, So bitterrr!

Because I mixed potion into it, the bitterness of the herbs became especially bad.

Uu, my tongue is going numb.

But the effect was outstanding. I could tell that mana was rushing about my body. As expected of the potions that are the pride of the capital. My stamina wasn’t completely back yet, but the potion recovered about 80 or 90 percent. I could even run now. I immediately headed to the camp with Kaichou and the others.

But still, I wonder what everybody else has been doing.

Now that I was consciously wondering about them, I decided to try asking Kaichou.

“What on earth is going on?”

“It’s an invasion by the demon race.”

So it really was just like what Lyris-chan and Vera-san said. It wasn’t just Arcyune. To think that there were more of those scary things around…

“And the counterattack?”

“The Capital’s counterattack system is mostly not functioning. The damage spread in an instant.”

“T-, That can’t be…”

“They really pulled a fast one on us. Not just the Public Safety Force Captain Remilia-sama, but all the powerful adventurers were absent when they chose to attack and invade.”

“Then Maira-san and Robin-san aren’t here either?”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

Far from Remilia-sama, even the two other alias-holding stars of the Guild were out…?

The Captain of the Public Safety Force isn’t here, and neither are the two A-ranked adventurers. Our fall in war potential was obvious. In this kind of situation, we couldn’t put up a decent fight.

“Why did this happen?”

“Yesterday, Remilia-sama was pursuing a suspicious character. As for the famous adventurers, they’re out of the Capital at the moment.”

“Out of the capital, you say?”

“Remember? There was a rumour a while ago that there were demons in Beruga Plains, right?”

If that’s what he’s talking about, then I know about it too. Remilia-sama noticed a suspicious mana maelstrom and headed to Beruga Plains a few times. But although she went to investigate she never found any proof, and then simply put it on hold.

“I heard that she didn’t find anything, but?”

“Yeah, but she still had her doubts, you see. She thought that something might be lurking there.”

It makes sense that if they heard about Remilia-sama’s interest in the place, everybody else would wonder about it too.

“And amidst all of that, there were reports that an unconfirmed large-type beast appeared in the Beruga Plains.”

“I see! So as adventurers, they wanted to go and verify it, right?”

“Yeah. All the famous adventurers went over together to hunt it.”

“But it turned out to be just your regular pack of magic dogs, right? They didn’t immediately finish the job?”

“Mn, they were magic dogs, but they weren’t your regular pack of magic dogs. They were ferocious, much more so than the ones the Guild recognises, and the adventurers were forced to make expedition after expedition. Because of that, they grew increasingly far from the capital.”

“A mysterious whirlpool of mana, the appearance of ferocious magic dogs, and then the attack on the Capital. Could it really all be a coincidence?”

“There’s a good chance that it was all the plot of the demon race. Carefully hiding the fact that the Capital was their true aim, they lured everybody out.”

Oh my god! Neither the famous adventurers nor the Public Safety Captain are here. All we have are trainee Public Safety cadets, and third-rate adventurers. In that case, the Magic Academy is our only real war potential. We’re basically no different from a rabble. Just like the two of them warned, I don’t think that a fight with the demons is at all possible for us.

“Then doesn’t that mean the Capital has almost no war potential! There’s no way we can fight with the demons.”

“I know. But we can’t so easily just give up and idle either.”

“But, I heard that the Decarabia[Demon Hunting Pentagram] have set out to subjugate the demons.”

“Decarabia[Demon Hunting Pentagram]? Can’t say I’ve heard of them.”

“Eh? Ah, I-, I thought not. Just who on earth is Lyris-chan…?”

“At any rate, we’ve sent an express messenger to Remilia-sama. Until she returns, we of the Arcudas Magic Academy need to defend the Capital with our lives.”

The moment that Kaichou returned to the base, he gathered and organised the students.

I was stationed three kilometres behind our base, and was given the mission of sounding an alert if vampires came.

<Previous Chapter | Imouto | Next Chapter>

Chapter 4 – Jessica and Her Best Friend

Fires were rising from here and there, and I could hear wails and roars. While watching the bright flames from the window, Tilea-san and I stood still in a daze.

“…Ha-! Timu!”

Tilea-san exclaimed like she suddenly remembered. Right, Timu-chan should have been by the gate. In this huge disaster, there might have been vampires gathering by the gate.

“Aaah, how could this happen! She’s definitely trembling somewhere in fear.”

“Let’s hurry.”

We began to run, but my legs wouldn’t hold out. And so I collapsed to the ground.

It’s no good. Maybe because of the accumulated damage, but I can’t move as I like. Even though Timu-chan is in a race against time…

At this rate, I’ll just slow Tilea-san down.

“Sorry. Please pay me no mind and go ahead.”

“Get on.”

Tilea-san bent down, and took a piggy-backing pose.

“Is it really fine?”

“Hurry! There’s no time!”

“Y-, Yes.”

Threatened by Tilea-san’s attitude, I stood up and leant onto her back. The very moment that she picked me up, she began dashing all the way to the main gate.

Tilea-san’s speed really is amazing.

We arrived at the gate with the speed of a gale.

But still, Tilea-san’s waist is so slender. I could feel from my position on her back that she was toned. She’s powerful and quick in her judgements and reactions, and even compared to an expert adventurer, she isn’t any worse off. And what’s more, she has a chest too, and she’s a beauty, and if she became and adventurer, I’m sure she’d be popular just like Maira-san. Even though she has this much ability, she’s a chef?

“Aahh, dammit. I messed up. If I knew this was going to happen, I should have left Myuu as Timu’s guard.”

Myuu? Who’s that? I could hear her mumbles as she ran.

“Urgh, I shouldn’t have left her with (a) Pervert(Nielsen).”

A-, A pervert? Should I take that at face value? Tilea-san’s words and behaviour are cryptic as usual, but I could at least tell that she was feeling regretful about something.

“U-, Umm, Tilea-san, Myuu-san――”

“Tsk, at a time like this.”

For the first time, Tilea-san’s speed eased. Why? I looked over her shoulder.

Vampires!?

Something like hundreds of vampirised former-humans were prowling for prey.

“What should we do?”

“Jessica-chan, do you have any kukanomi?”

“No, I don’t.”

“Yeah. Of course you wouldn’t so conveniently have any.”

“Ah-, but if you threw some rocks instead, then,”

“I told you! It doesn’t work like that!”

“B-, But――”

“Jessica-chan, sorry. Close your mouth for a little? It won’t do if you bite your tongue.”

“Eh-!?”

“Hold on tight.”

Tilea-san ran back into the academy at an incredible velocity.

I-, I can’t breathe. T-, Too fast!

I didn’t see her use any body reinforcement magic. Or rather, even if you used reinforcement magic, these speeds would still be impossible.

C-, Can a human really run at these speeds?

Aah, I’m going to fall.

I clung desperately to her, but I couldn’t feel my hands anymore. And eventually, my hands parts from Tilea-san.

I’m going to crash to the ground.

Aa-, aah, I’m done for.

The moment I thought that――

“Oop, be careful, okay?”

“Eh?”

With one hand, Tilea-san caught me, and then pulled me in tight. I could finally breathe again. And then in an instant, we arrived back at the dining hall.

“-wheeze- Hahh, hahh, hahh, hahh…”

I collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath.

Haha, to think that the person being carried would be the one with rougher breathing…

While I was resting, Tilea-san headed into the storage room and began stuffing kukanomi into a huge sack.

E-, EH!? There’s enough going into that sack for the entire school. While I was watching, the sack got bigger and bigger, and turned into a weight that would take a few strong men to carry.

“T-, Tilea-san, no matter how much you need them, that’s too much!”

“Don’t be so stiff! This is an emergency, right! Timu’s life is at stake, so give me a break about the money.”

“No, that’s not what I――”

“I’ll compensate the nation later, okay?”

With a slightly off-kilter reply as always, Tilea-san picked up the entire sack.

S-, She managed to lift it!? And she makes it look so easy. Really, just who is Tilea-san?

“Now then, let’s go.”

“Y-, Yes.”

With the sack in one hand, Tilea-san gave me a piggy-back. And then just like that, she started running for the main gate. The moment we left the west exit, a crowd of vampires came to attack us.

Glancing around, I counted one, two… more than ten now.

With the kukanomi sack in one hand, she started pelting vampires with the other.

“Take this, HADOOOOKYUUU!”

“GUGEGHHHH!”

Hit with a kukanomi, the vampire was sent flying.

“One more! HADOOOKYUUUUUU!”

“”GUGEHEGHH!””

Amazing. She was making weird cries, but each kukanomi sent dozens of vampires flying. But still, does Tilea-san have endless stamina or something? She duelled with a demon, and even now she’s running around while attacking vampires without losing a single breath.

“Aahh, there are too many! At this rate the kukanomi won’t last!”

“Tilea-san, you’ve been saying kukanomi this, kukanomi that, but I think you’ll be fine even without them, you know?”

“Y-, You’re right. I’ve been a bit too fixated on the kukanomi haven’t I.”

Tilea-san, do you finally understand me?

“Right. Amongst the weaknesses of the vampire, there are also crosses and wooden stakes, aren’t there.”

Crosses? Wuu Densteiks? I’m really not getting through to her.

“Jessica-chan, do you have a rosary with you?”

“A rosary? No, I don’t. Only priests or really religious people would have something that expensive on them.”

“Eh-, really? Damn.”

“If you’re okay with a wooden imitation, I do have one though.”

I handed over the thing I bought at a market stall.

“Mn, mn. This’ll do. It looks just like a cross.”

“Is that so. Although I still don’t quite understand what you want to do, how is this thing used?”

“You use it like this. HAHHHH!”

Tilea-san held up the wooden cross to the vampire. But there wasn’t any change.

“It doesn’t look like anything is happening, you know.”

“That’s weirdd~ Hmmm…”

Tilea-san folded her arms in thought. It’s probable, no, it’s almost certain that Tilea-san is misunderstanding something.

“Tilea-san, you won’t be able to beat a vampire with a toy like that.”

“That shouldn’t be the… I know! I’ve got it, Jessica-chan. I don’t have any holy powers, so even if I hold it out from afar, nothing will happen.”

“I-, I think that there’s a more fundamental issue here, but…”

“Just watch me. It should be fine as long as you use it close-up, like this.”

Gripping the cross, she punched a vampire, hard.

“GUGEEHH!”

“Amazing!”

“It really does just look like you’re hitting it.”

Vampires were being mown down left and right. But rather than the power of the cross, I could only see it as the force of her fist doing the job.

“Umm, what if you forgot about the cross, and just hit them normally?”

“No way. My punches wouldn’t work on a vampire, you know? It’s only because of this cross that I can fight them.”

Aren’t you just gripping a cross? It’s the same as punching normally. I don’t get it. Why did Tilea-san come to these conclusions? Anyway, Tilea-san isn’t an ordinary person. If she’s not an adventurer, then she’s probably a hero’s descendent.

“Tilea-san, could it be that you’re a hero’s descendent?”

“What the heck are you saying? Geez, I told you that I was a chef.”

“But, a chef who can do something like this…”

“Jessica-chan, you can’t make tasty food unless you train your body every day, you know?

“B-, But,”

“Jessica-chan, we don’t have time to chat. We have to hurry to Timu.”

“I-, I’m sorry.”

Why is it common sense for her that her strength comes from being a chef? There are a mountain of things I want to comment on, but it’s true that Timu-chan’s wellbeing comes first. Swallowing what I wanted to say, I zipped my mouth shut.

And so, while vampires were being mown left and right, in a short time, we made to to the gate. But even though I didn’t think we took long, Timu-chan was nowhere to be seen.

“…Timu isn’t here.”

“Perhaps she ran away somewhere?”

“Aahh, it’s all my fault. If only I quickly came back here.”

Tilea-san held her head in agony.

I wonder where Timu-chan went.

I don’t think the time loss was as big as Tilea-san is saying, but…

Maybe because of all the vampires popping up, she’s running around somewhere?

“Wahhhhh… hic-, where did you go, Timu?”

“Tilea-san…”

Even though she was so reliable before, large tears started to run from her face as she sobbed. It was painfully obvious just how important Timu-chan was to her.

“Tilea-san, it’s okay. We have the Public Safety Force, and we have adventurers as well. Timu-chan is definitely being sheltered somewhere.”

“Hic… Ghh… Ngh… Timu. Timu. Where are you? Where are you?”

While shedding tears, Tilea-san ran off, half-crazed.

“W-, Wait, Tilea-san.”

It’s no good. I don’t think she could hear me. I’ll bet she’s crazy worried about Timu-chan. Without hearing my words, in a blink of time, she had run far off.

“Tilea-san, running about by yourself is dange――”

No, Tilea-san will be fine. With such monstrous strength, even adventurers would be weaker than her. The one in trouble right now is actually me.

This is bad. I’ve separated from Tilea-san. And my stamina is at my limit.

Should I return to the dorm for now?

No, the situation won’t permit it. I can’t tell what place is safe and what place isn’t. It’d be good if I could meet up with somebody in the academy, but…

While I was considering my future measures, I heard footsteps from behind me.

Is somebody there?

When I turned around in reflex,

“Hii! Edim!”

standing right there was my former best friend.

“Jessica, you were in a place like this? I’ve been looking for you, you know.”

Edim started closing in, step by step. Unlike the soulless expression from earlier, I could see anger on her face now.

“S-, Stay away.”

“Even though I even thought of making you one of us…”

“No. No. Help-”

I turned around to run, but Edim grabbed my arm.

“Ow! Hii!”

“I know, you know? While looking for you, I went to the dining room after all.”

“Then, it can’t be…”

“Yeah. I saw him. Arcyune-sama! Aahh… So pitiful… To be left in such a tragic state…”

“W-, Wait, Edim.”

“HOW DARE YOU HOW DARE YOU HOW DARE YOUUU! HOW DARE YOU KILL ARCYUNE-SAMAAA!”

Her face warped with rage, Edim bore her fangs and attacked me.

“S-, Stop, Edim!”

“I’ll kill you! I’ll take every last drop and kill you!”

It’s no good. With this incredible strength, it’s impossible for my arm to even budge. So Edim really did gain more strength. And I basically have no strength left in me.

“Y-, You’re wrong, I didn’t――”

“That’s right. With your strength, you couldn’t have killed Arcyune-sama. But your companion did. Am I wrong?”

“P-, Please. We’re best friends. Even you don’t really want to be doing this, right!?”

“Best friends? Are you still spouting that garbage? I’m not a human anymore. I’m a demon. A vampire.”

“Don’t say that. We’ll look for a way to change you back.”

“Hmph. The good girl as always, aren’t you.”

“Please, go back to the old you…”

Edim’s grip slackened. Could it be that she remembers our friendship!? A faint hope rose in my chest.

“Jessica… You know, I’ve always, always… HATED YOUUUUU!”

“GAHH-!”

With inhuman strength, Edim gripped me by the collar.

“H-, How come? Why? …Why are you doing something so cruel?”

“Jessica, with her indiscriminate kindness, and her adorable appearance. The favourite of our class, and the girl who even Mark and John were obsessed with.”

“Eh?”

“Huhu, even though you’re always so sharp, it’s only in this area that you’re slow. Is that also one of the secrets to your popularity?”

Mark and John… Aren’t those the names of the boys that Edim told me she liked!?

“I-, I’m sorry. I, didn’t know…”

“Well, that doesn’t matter now. At this point, I don’t have any attachments to humans anymore.”

“I-, It can’t be.”

“Huhu, do you understand now? We’re not friends. I’ve hated you all this time!”

After saying that, Edim started to squeeze my neck. It hurts. My throat was being constricted, and my consciousness was starting to fade.

“Ka-, huu-, E-, E… dim…”

“Anyhow, I’ll kill all of Arcyune-sama’s murderers!”

W-, Was that really how Edim felt? Or was it because her heart went mad from becoming a vampire?

I don’t know. But I don’t want to believe, that she always hated me.

Aahh, but… what I do know…

Is that the best friend that I loved doesn’t exist anymore…

It might be better that I die.

As Edim did as she pleased to me, my consciousness slipped away.

*imouto*

*imouto*

*imouto*

*imouto*

*imouto*

*imouto*

“Take this, HADOOOOKYUUU!”
Reference to Hadoukyuu.
Hadouken（波動拳） means ‘wave fist’ and hadoukyuu（波動球） means ‘wave ball’.
http://princeoftennis.wikia.com/wiki/Had%C5%8Dky%C5%AB

<Previous Chapter | Imouto | Next Chapter>

Translator’s Note:
If you dislike misunderstanding comedies, then don’t read it.
If you read it, and at any point feel like complaining about too many misunderstandings, or at any point feel like asking me when the misunderstandings will be resolved, then please kindly leave, because I’m sick of listening to people spout the same brain-worm addled bullshit every damned chapter.

We’re 50 chapters in and you know what it’s about now. I’d have expected an end to this shit already. I’m translating because I want interesting comments. If you’re just here to mope and complain about stuff that you should have known was coming, then please just get lost.

Of course, negative feedback of the chapter is fine. That’s just part of the ride. Some series get better over time, some series get worse. Some series have arcs more boring than white people porridge.

But if you have nothing better to do than complain about the series in general, go fuck yourself. I don’t put in time translating because I enjoy listening to whiners. When I dislike a series, I stop reading. I complain to my friends in private. I don’t go over to the translator’s blog and complain like an entitled little faggot. Nor do I head over to Xianxia translations and bitch 50 chapters in about how it’s too violent, and nobody ever sits down to negotiate.

Yes, Tilea is a dumbass. Yes, she’s unbelievably stupid. If you didn’t get that much after the chapter where he jumps in front of a truck and talks about how he spent 30+ years as an unemployed chuunibyou, perhaps you aren’t the sharpest tool in the shed either.

And you know why I don’t care? Because it’s part of her character, she’s consistently dumb, and she’s consistently fixated on her (often mistaken) impressions. Which is more than I can say about half the stories being translated out there.

Chapter 3 – Jessica and the Blonde Bishoujo

“Uwah-! That was close. What the heck are you doing all of a sudden!?”

“Hohh? Surprisingly nimble, aren’t you. I didn’t think you’d dodge.”

Tilea-san avoided Arcyune’s sudden ambush by a paper-thin distance.

Amazing… To think she dodged something like that…

Arcyune looked a little surprised as well.

“Hey, stop joking around already――wai-, Arcyune-sensei, you’re cosplaying!? And you suddenly used some weird magic to do it. Why all this weird behaviour suddenly…”

“Ku ku, you still don’t understand the situation? A truly slow head you’ve got there.”

“WHA-!? S-, Slow head you say!? Grrrgrgr――Is that something a teacher of all people should be saying!”

Tilea-san turned bright red with indignation. Apparently she was really angry about the slow head comment.

Mn, but this is probably the only thing I have to agree with him about. Her non-existent sense of danger is really a problem, you know.

Can’t Tilea-san feel the pressure from a demon? Anyway, I have to hurry up and make her understand just how dangerous this is.

“Tilea-san, this isn’t the time for that. He’s attacks people. A vampire, a demon. He’s trying to kill us, you know!”

“Vampire? Demon? What on earth are you saying? No matter how harshly he scolded you, you can’t go slandering people like that, you know?”

ARGHHH! What’s with this person!? Please just understand how tense our situation is. Maybe you could call her optimistic, or maybe a bit out of touch with reality, but the point is that indirect expressions won’t work with her. I don’t think she’ll get it unless I say it outright.

“It’s true! He tried to kill me too, and he’s already attacked my friend, you know!”

“…S-, Seriously?”

“Yes, seriously. This isn’t a joke, or a magical disguise, or anything else.”

Perhaps she realised how serious I was, because Tilea-san looked back towards Arcyune and started observing his face and figure.

And then…

“UWAHHHHH! He’s really a demon? Eh? Eh? Vampires are real? This isn’t some prank show, right?”

“Ku ku. Quite right. So you finally know terror? Honestly, I never thought I would be troubled by my prey being too dumb. Even though I was quite taken by your beauty, I’ll subtract some points for your lack of intelligence.”

Arcyune frankly stated his opinions. I wanted to disagree, but I’m bad at lying.

“S-, S-, S-, Seriously… A-, As expected of the Capital. A-, Aahh, so what if I can use elementary magic? T-, This is a real adventure. So at last, in the truest, truest sense, I too have set foot into a fantasy world. W-, What do I do? My heart wasn’t prepared for this. At least start me off on a slimeeee…!”

Perhaps because she was frantic, Tilea-san started to speak nonsense. It can’t be helped though. After all, there’s a demon in front of her eyes. I’m a student who took lessons in magic, and even I almost fainted from his aura. To say nothing of a normal person. There’s no way Tilea-san would be in a normal state of mind.

I have to try my best for us! If I can’t act during times like this, just what on earth did I learn magic for!

“Tilea-san, let’s run!”

“Y-, Yeah.”

I took her by the hand and started sprinting down the hallway. But to be honest my feet felt unsteady. If I let up even a little, I might faint at any moment. My endurance is reaching its limit, and we won’t get away at this rate.

“Hahh, hahh, hahh…”

“Jessica-chan, are you okay?”

Tilea-san spoke to me with a worried expression. Even though she was that scared just now, she’s worrying about me instead. She really is a kind person, just like I thought. I have to let her escape at least.

What do I do?

I can feel Arcyune’s gaze on my back.

He’s probably toying with us by having us run. I guess I have no choice except to hold him back with magical bullets while he still isn’t being serious.

“Tilea-san, I’ll hold him back somehow.”

“Jessica-chan. Thank you. And sorry. I fell into a bit of a panic, didn’t I. It’s pathetic that I’m the older one here.”

“Not at all. At any rate, I’ll use magical bullets to hold him back. In the meanwhile, please escape.”

“Jessica-chan, that’s what they call a death flag you know? Definitely not. We escape together.”

“But, I can’t run anymore.”

“I see. Got it.”

The moment she heard my words, Tilea-san suddenly lifted me up like a princess and began to run.

No way! Tilea-san is surprisingly powerful. And fast.

Like the wind, she ran faster and faster.

“Ku ku, run, run. Tremble in fea――wai-, wha-, s-, so fast! Oi, wait up! Wait, I say!”

Arcyune’s face changed, and he started running after us. Apparently Tilea-san’s running speed shocked him too. With me still in her arms, she bolted up the stairs without missing a breath. Rather, it was me, being carried, that was out of breath due to the speed…

Tilea-san’s leg strength really isn’t normal. I don’t think you can get this kind of speed without body reinforcement magic, and a high-level spell at that. So could that mean that Tilea-san is actually a famous adventurer maybe?

“Tilea-san, you were actually an adventurer, weren’t you.”

“Heh? What the heck are you saying. Of course not. I’m just a normal chef.”

“B-, But, you’re running so fast with me in your arms…”

“Well, I do have confidence in my physical strength.”

“Just that much wouldn’t explain it. A normal chef wouldn’t be able to――”

“Tsktsktsk. Jessica-chan, you shouldn’t make light of chefs. Cooking needs a lot of strength, you know?”

Tilea-san replied with an admonishment.

T-, That’s the problem here?

No, no, that’s crazy, Tilea-san.

I was about to speak to her again when Tilea-san suddenly stopped her legs.

“Jessica-chan.”

“What is it?”

“That thing’s a vampire, right?”

In the direction that Tilea-san pointed, Geil-sensei limped on one leg. He had lost his reason, and sometimes roared like a beast.

“Yes. He was a teacher I respected… but because of Arcyune…”

“I see… It must have been hard on you.”

“Hic-, I still can’t believe it… A teacher who cared so much about us students looking like that is… it’s cruel. It’s just so cruel.”

“It’s unfortunate, but he’s a vampire now. We can’t let him attack us.”

It’s just like Tilea-san says. I can’t just grieve here. We have to priorise escaping right now.

“Tilea-san, please don’t let Arcyune drink your blood. If he manages to do so, you’ll be turned into a vampire.”

“Mn, I know that. In the same way, we can’t let those new vampires bite us either.”

“Ah-!? You’re right. Also, it looks like the new vampires gain physical strength too, so we have to be careful about our movements.”

“Hm~mm… So they resemble the cliches in that way too huh… He’s moving about even with an injured leg, so I guess it looks like he has some zombie traits too, huh?”

“Um, Tilea-san, you know about the demon race?”

“Mn. Well, rather than the demon race, you could say that they’re characteristics of a vampire. It’s my very own Reincarnation Cheat; I have some special knowledge. You could even say that it’s my only weapon.”

Rheeyin Carnashon Cheet? Whatever could that mean?

Special knowledge…

It does look like she’s knowledgeable on the vampires.

“But still, I’m glad I had Timu wait outside. To think that this academy would turn into such a den of monsters.”

“Speaking of which, Timu-chan is at the front gate, right?”

“Yeah. Ah~ Wait! This is bad. If I take too long, Timu might get worried and come looking for me inside!”

It’s possible. If Tilea-san doesn’t come back after a long time, there’s a high chance that Timu-chan would search the school for her.

“What should we do?”

“Jessica-chan, is there a food storage room?”

“A food storage room? If you’re looking for one, there should be one in the back of the dining hall.”

“And where’s the dining hall?”

“If we follow this hallway and make a right, we’ll arrive just at it.”

“I see. Let’s go then.”

“Yes. But, why that room?”

“Huhu, it’s to get our hands on one of the vampire’s weakpoints; garlic.”

“Gar Lik?”

“Aah, umm, in this world we call it kukanomi, don’t we.”

“Is that one of their weakpoints?”

“Yeah. It’s common sense that you use garlic against vampires.”

So she declared, filled with confidence.

Kukanomi is their weakpoint…?

We have a lot of dishes on our menu that feature kukanomi. It’s good for stamina so the boys happily eat it up, but it stinks to me, so I’m no good with it.

Is Arcyune also bad with it?

Hmmm… I get the feeling that Arcyune just ate it like normal too, but maybe he secretly left it behind?

…Something feels a little off about this.

“U-, Umm, Tilea-san, I really don’t think that kukanomi is their weakpoint, but…”

“Jessica-chan, believe in me!”

Aahh, even though I’ve only just met Tilea-san, I more or less understand her type. Whenever she declares anything brimming with confidence, she’s basically always wrong.

“B-, But, Tilea-san. I really don’t think――”

“Jessica-chan, we don’t have time. We have to beat him and meet up with Timu!”

It’s no good. She’s not listening to a word I’m saying.

Like that, Tilea-san brought me along, and we reached the dining hall and storage room in an instant.

“Hmm~ So this is the Magic Academy’s food storage room. Huge, as you’d expect. Oohh! They even have heraia fruits!”

Tilea-san opened every cupboard and draw in search of kukanomi. Occasionally, perhaps because she spotted a rare ingredient or something, but she would sigh with emotion too. Considering how moved she is by ingredients, it looks like the thing about being a chef is the truth.

“Okay, found it. There’s quite a bit too. Thank goodness.”

“I-, I see…”

“Here, this is your portion, Jessica-chan.”

I took the kukanomi from Tilea-san. The strong smell assailed my nose. Checking with a squeeze that I had them in hand, I found that they weren’t hard or sort, and just your average, lumpy ingredient. It’s impossible to think that I can use this to defeat a demon.

“Listen, okay? When he comes, we’ll throw these together.”

“U-, Umm, Tilea-san. I really do think we should think of another tact――”

“Shhh. Looks like he’s here.”

Just like she said, Arcyune came running in, out of breath.

“Hahh, hahh, you bitches! Running about so hard to catch. But I’ve got you now.”

“NOW!”

Tilea-san signalled. At this point, it’s do or die!

I threw the kukanomi with all my might at him. But the kukanomi that I threw just traced a parabola in the air before plonking onto the ground.

It’s no good…

Before even considering the effect of the kukanomi, my arm strength was too weak to hit him. As I was feeling despondent,

“GUHAHHHHHH-!”

A death agony suddenly resounded through the room. When I looked up, I found that Tilea’s kukanomi had collapsed-in the area around his collarbone. The kukanomi was sunken into a hole like it was an iron ball. Thick blood overflowed from the cavity.

“A-, Amazing… So you were a a warrior, weren’t you, Tilea-san.”

“I’m not a warrior. I already told you that kukanomi is his weakness, right?”

“Eh-, but, are you saying this is the power of kukanomi?”

“That’s right. Well, in my mind it was more of a ‘shuwawa~’ kind of thing where he’d dissolve after touching it though. Is this what they mean by the difference between theory and implementation?”

Really?

However I look at it, it just looks like Tilea-san used her arm strength though…

“-wheeze, wheeze, wheeze- W-, What the hell did you do? A mere human! Hahh, hahh, d-, don’t make light of me!”

The smile of composure had vanished from his face, and in its place was an intense look of fury.

H-, How horrifying. Is this the pressure from a demon when he’s serious…?

This deep black bloodlust is completely different from a human’s spite. Because of the terror, I clung to Tilea-san’s arm.

“Hahh, hahh, I’ll kill you! F-, Fucking taking advantage because I was just playing with you. Don’t think you’ll die an easy death. I’ll drain you of your blood alive, and then I’ll rip your body to pieces!”

My body trembled violently at his voice. It looked like Tilea-san was trembling from fear as well.

“L-, Let’s escape while we can.”

“Y-, Yes.”

Arcyune had taken damage. What we needed to do now was escape and call for help.

“Hahh, hahh, unforgivable. Hurting me like this is unforgivable! I won’t just repay this humiliation. I’ll have your little sister taste the same hell as well!”

How repulsive. We have to take Timu-chan away as well. I was determined to escape even a second faster, but suddenly, Tilea-san stopped in her tracks.

“Tilea-san?”

“Jessica-chan, you go ahead.”

“Eh-!? We have to hurry and run.”

“No. This guy said he would attack Timu. If I run here, I’ll never know when he might attack her.”

“B-, But.”

“You go ahead. Honestly, I’m really scared, but there’s no way I can let him go after what he said.”

Tilea-san turned around and headed back to face Arcyune.

“Hahh, hahh, no more carelessness… I’LL CLAW YOUR FUCKING BRAINS OUTTTT!”

Arcyune bore his fangs, and rushed towards her.

Tilea-san lifted her leg up high, bending her body like a bow, before launching the kukanomi at tremendous speed. It roared through the air, before crashing into his thigh.

“GUAH-!”

Suffering Tilea-san’s toss, Arcyune staggered away from her. Blood was flooding from his thigh.

“Hahh, hahh… W-, What are you? W-, Why am I taking s-, so much damage from a single toss――”

“This is the end.”

“Hii-, sto-…”

“ONE MORE THROWWWWW!”

“GUAAHHHHHHH!”

Tilea-san yelled to pump herself up before launching the final blow with such force that it seemed to pass the speed of sound. It was so fast that I couldn’t even see it. Before I knew it, that incredible toss had struck Arcyune right in the face, and after convulsing a few times, he stopped moving altogether.

“Now then, let’s go.”

“Y-, Yes.”

Instantly killing a demon…

Just who is Tilea-san?

She said it was the power of the kukanomi, but no matter how you look at it, it was Tilea-san’s strength. I can’t imagine that a normal person could defeat a demon. Could it be that Tilea-san is actually a descendant of a hero, and was bound by some secret fetters that stopped her from revealing herself?

Hmmm… But if that’s the case, her behaviour is too simple, or rather, too straightforward. I really can’t imagine that she’s capable of hiding anything. Or is that also just an act to fool me?

But well, thanks to Tilea-san, my life was saved. I should just feel thankful instead of prying. And also, I’m worried about Timu-chan so we need to hurry.

Tilea-san and I hurried to the main gate. As we approached it, I started to hear some kind of fuss. Even though it was the dead quiet of the night just before, I could hear roars and bellows flying about now.

Wondering what was going on, I tried looking out the window.

WHA-!? People are attacking each other!

Neighbours who were talking so intimately just this morning were attacking each other. No, once I looked carefully, I noticed that the side doing the attacking were vampirised. The attackers were vampires, and the humans were fighting back.

Is this also the work of the demons? Did Arcyune have companions?

“W-, What on earth is happening outside?”

“Haha… President Evil.”

Prezee Denteevil?

Tilea-san muttered those words in a hoarse voice.

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Somebody, pleaaaase translate this. It’s not a typical villainess reincarnation novel, I promise!

Chapter 2 – Jessica and the Vampire

“Hahh, there’s sooo muchhh…”

I’d been finishing off reports since yesterday, but my progress was really slow. The main reason was the existence of my Magic Fundamentals II report. It wasn’t possible to write it properly without referencing and researching experimental data. If anybody could write one without it, they would have to be able to combine both formulas and knowledge properly. I’m not so talented though, so I had no choice except to rely on data provided by my forebears.

I had to stay in the library or else. If I went back to the dorms and tried writing this without references, I’d never make it in time. But there was one problem. The library was only open for us until closing time, and it was closed for the night.

Alright. It’s at times like this that you use personal connections. It’s underhanded, but I’ll ask a librarian for a favour and secretly grab the key. A few of my acquaintances have done this before, and managed to pass their supplementary exams. Honestly, it’s breaking the rules, but I can’t get out of this situation without making a few sacrifices.

Having decided that, I immediately moved from the class to the library.

The library was filled with students busying themselves with reports or exam preparations. I called out to my contact in the library clerks. The one in charge today was a girl in my class, so I was hoping our relationship from class is enough. With those faint hopes, I begged her to help me.

She’s been silent for the last few seconds…

So it’s no good after all…?

My shoulders dropped in disappointment.

But her expression seemed to say ‘What am I going to do with you?’ and she secretly handed the key over. I did it. It was surprisingly easy! Only, she told me that she wanted me to treat her to tea at the Lind Teahouse later. Well, I didn’t think it would be free anyway. I’m not so naive.

Later, when the school closed up, I used the key to sneak into the library.

Aahh, the guilt is hurting my heart. I’m not cut-out for breaking the rules. But at this point, I don’t have a choice. Yeah. I need to at least get this report done, now that the rules are already broken. Time for an all-nighter.

Having fired myself up, I headed to a desk.

……
…………
……………………

A few hours had passed by while I was I working away.

Looks like I’ll finish the reports faster than I expected. It really is much more efficient to do this while consulting references in the library.

I wrote away while giving sidelong glances at the reference book.

After that, I continued for another few hours, before I started feeling a bit of exhaustion in my shoulders and hips.

Mmn~

I gave my shoulders a stretch.

Thanks to quietly concentrating, I managed to somehow finish my reports.

Haha, I did it. The night isn’t even over yet.

Getting up from my seat in cheerful spirits, I went to look outside the window.

It’s already pitch-black outside. Although it isn’t raining, black clouds have completely covered the moon.

Uuu, it’s going to be a little scary going back.

And the door to the dorms are going to be shut tight by now. Guess I can’t help it. I suppose I’ll spend the night here. At any rate, I had planned on an all nighter to begin with. I should consider it lucky that I get to sleep at all.

Sitting down on my seat, I lay my upper body down on the table. Perhaps my mind was tired from the report, but even in this weird position, I immediately started to feel sleepy…

-clank-

My eyes opened at the sudden sound. Although my eyes were still drooping drowsily, I stood up.

Who is it?

There shouldn’t be any students left now in the middle of the night. Could it be Geil-sensei making his rounds?

But I can’t hear any footsteps.

It was completely quiet around me. Was it just my imagination?

I’d better listen carefully just in case.

After straining my ears, I heard the groan of some beast. A sound that was a bit like a growl, and a bit like a moan… and the sound was getting closer and closer.

And then, when my eyes happened to catch sight of the entrance, I found Geil-sensei standing there. Seeing him suddenly appear like that sent a chill down my spin.

“Geil-sen… sei?”

“GRGRGRGAAAAAAH!”

“W-, What’s wrong, Sensei?”

He wasn’t normal. His eyes were bloodshot, and drool was running from his mouth.

“GARGHHHHHHHHHH!”

Geil-sensei’s roar resounded through the room, before he suddenly charged at me.

“NOOOOOOOO!”

I immediately tossed a nearby chair at him. Paying it no heed, he viciously sent it flying with one hand. When it hit the wall, it broke to pieces.

“…N-, no way…”

It was unbelievable. I just saw a human match a beast in strength, without even using reinforcement magic. This isn’t normal. What’s going on with Geil-sensei’s body…?

“GARGHHHHHHH!”

Geil-sensei drew in while scattering desks and chairs.

I-, I’m scared… I have to get away.

Grabbing my self-defence mace, I tried to run away, but Geil-sensei was in the way of the exit.

It’ll be hard to escape without defeating him first.

“S-, Sorry, Sensei.”

As Geil-sensei charged at me, I swung the mace down on his head, as hard as I could. Numbness ran through my arms like an electric shock, and a hard and heavy impact was transmitted from my wrists to my shoulders.

I-, It hurts!”

My face drew into a grimace. My hands really did feel numb from the incredible impact. But Geil-sensei wasn’t fazed.

Even though he’s bleeding from his head, he withstood that!?

No matter how weak I was, it was still a strike from a mace. The mace of a magician is made from a special alloy, and then magically enchanted. It’s supposed to be pretty damaging but…

As I was thinking this, Geil-sensei was still spurting blood from his head. But despite that, he was walking towards me without a problem.

“GUGARGHGHHH!”

While I was shocked, Geil-sensei violently swung his arm towards me.

“KYAAA!”

I immediately fell backwards onto my butt. I managed to escape by a hair’s breadth, but had that hit me, even my bones would have been crushed.

Hahh, hahh, hahh. I-, I’m scared…

I could feel my heart thumping away.

Why? Why do I have to go through something like this? Is it because I broke the rules?

God, you’re too cruel… Am I going to die here? No… NOOOO!

“W-, WHAT’S WITH THISSSS!?”

Nothing made sense. In a panic, I began rapidly firing magical bullets. A number of them hit Geil-sensei dead-on, but it only burnt his clothes and did no damage. He glared my way with bloodshot eyes.

“WAHHHH!”

Because of the terror, I fired even more bullets. A few of them ended up hitting the metal fixtures on a high-up bookshelf, and the whole thing started to fall from above him. Just the books and bookshelf alone were pretty heavy, and the fragments of that shelf rained down on him, piercing him here and there, before the books buried him. Blood flooded out from everywhere he was stabbed. Normally it would be a heavy injury. It wouldn’t be strange even if it fatal.

“Hiii! I’m sorry!”

Although I was attacked, I still raised my hands towards a teacher I had respected for many years. I felt dizzy from the self-hatred.

W-, Why did Sensei turn into this?

Running over, I peered in on his face.

And when I did, his eyes shot open, and he started to get up.

“Hii! W-, Why?”

Even though he was buried under the books, he forcefully stood up. Because he was still stabbed with the shelf fragments, when he forced himself up he also ripped off his right arm, and almost all of his left. Even though just moving should have hurt, he once again came rushing at me. No matter how you looked at it, he wasn’t human.

“M-, Monster!”

Hahh, hahh, hahh.

While avoiding the pursuing Geil-sensei, I left the library and ran into the second floor hallway. Because one of his legs was damaged, I easily managed to lose him.

I-, I have to hurry up and let somebody know!

I sprinted full speed towards the main gate.

Mn? Somebody’s there!

I could see a silhouette in the hallway. Slowing down, I strained my eyes to see who it was.

“Arcyune-sensei?”

“Oh? Why if it isn’t Nichol. Why are you so panicked?”

“Arcyune-sensei, the truth is Geil-sen――”

W-, Wait. Why is he here at this time of night? I never heard anything about him being on duty. And that slight smile on his face is eerie.
The cincher for me was his eyes. They felt the same as usual. It was clear to me that his eyes hid a viciousness. That look on his face made me tremble. I immediately went back the way I came.

“Ku ku ku. I’ve always thought you were a sharp girl. I was right.”

Laughing loudly, his whole body transformed. His skin turned pale white, his fangs started to protrude, and the white disappeared from his eyes.

“H-, Hii… You’re not human?”

“Full points, Nichol. I am a member of the demon race. A member descended from a lineage that dates back thousands of years. For all this time, I have abhorred the rule of this world by you wastrel humans, and have desired to destroy this nation, you see.”

Demon? I-, It can’t be, right?

The demon race that was said to have been destroyed?

But his overpowering aura gave a sense of truth to what he said, and my body was telling me that he was the real thing.

I-, I have to run!

In a panic, I ran back the way I came. I could feel a vehement presence drawing in from behind.

“Run. Run. Ku ku, a girl’s face warped in terror and despair is truly a beautiful thing.”

My heart was pounding so hard it felt like it would burst from my chest. But because of the terror closing in from behind me, my feet wouldn’t stop.

Hahh, hahh. I-, I can’t run anymore…

Panting hard, I immediately sought refuge in a nearby classroom. While trying to calm my breathing, I looked around when…

Somebody’s here!? A girl with brown hair stood in the classroom.

A-, A demon?

I was about to leave the classroom in a fluster when,

“Jessica.”

“…Edim?”

Because I was so panicked, for a moment I wasn’t sure. The person in the classroom was my best friend, Edim. She was in her uniform.

Didn’t she go back to the dorm?

What’s she doing out here so late at night? All sorts of questions flew through my mind. But I can’t dilly-dally here. A demon is coming to attack.

“Edim, there’s no time to talk. Something dangerous is coming!”

“Jessica, you know…”

“We’ll talk after. We have to hurry and run!”

It was right after I said that that I first noticed that she was acting strange. She was idly looking my way, but her eyes were unfocused, and her expression was vacant.

“Run? Why? Even though you can become something as wonderful as this!”

“Edim?”

“Ahaha, why didn’t I notice all this time? Jessica, you’ve got a really cute face don’t you. And pretty hair. And a sparkling white nape…”

Saying that, Edim brushed my hair up, and kissed the nape of my neck.

“I-, It can’t be that the demons did something to you?”

“That’s right. I became Arcyune-sama’s servant. Aahh, vampires are the best! I’m glad I escaped from the foolish human race.”

“What are you saying, Edim! Come back to me!”

“Huhu, I’ll make you into one of us. Aahh, that cute face, that neck, your blood, I wanna drink it. Let me drink ittt!”

“NOOOOO!”

I screamed and flew out of the room. Arcyune was waiting outside. He was smirking like a cat looking at a mouse, and his expression was filled with sadism. He probably thinks of humans as playthings.

I can’t forgive you, Arcyune.

Edim wasn’t acting normal. Just what did he do to her…?

“…What did you do to Edim?”

“Ku ku. Now that you mention it, she was your friend, wasn’t she.”

“That’s right. She’s my precious friend, and I’ve know her forever. What on earth did you…”

“I just sucked her blood. When we vampires suck blood, our prey become our servants.”

“N-, No way… Then the reason Geil-sensei lost his mind was-”

“Yeah, I did it. If you’re a beautiful girl, I’ll let you live as my doll. But I have no need for men. So I destroyed his mind, and turned him into a beast.”

“Y, You’re so cruel.”

“Ku ku, come to think of it, Edim was really worried about you, you know? She was worried that you’d get sick by staying up late all the time, so she went to talk to me about it.”

“It can’t be.”

“So you know what I told her? ‘If you’re worried, then wait until Nichol finishes her work.'”

“…Because of what you said, Edim didn’t go back to the dorm.”

“She took me seriously, and stayed alone at school, you know? The perfect prey! KUHAHAHAHA!”

“YOU FIEND!”

Using my mace, I promptly spread a magic circle. It was my strongest spell, Kilofire[Smallest Flame Spell]. It’s my first time firing this at a person. Because of that, my hands were shaking.

Mmmn, that’s not a person, it’s a demon. And what’s more, a fiend that laid his hands on my precious friend!

“Kilofire![Smallest Flame Spell!]”

The magic circle created a flame which hit him dead-on. His clothes started to burn.

I hit him! Did it work?

But my hopes came to nothing, and he walked towards me uncaringly. His expression was completely nonchalant. It looks like it’s impossible to do a thing with my level of firepower.

Ku-, if I can’t do it with raw power, then I’ll beat him with numbers!

“UAHHHHHH!”

I let out a roar, and fired magical bullets, one after another. He didn’t try and dodge, and all of them hit him, but not a single hair was damaged.

“Ku ku ku. You’re tickling me, here. It’s all so ticklish! What pitiful beings, you humans are. Are you done?”

He was playing with me. He was mocking me because he could kill me at any time. Being this close to him caused me anxiety and terror. I was afraid, but I was also frustrated.

Hahh, hahh, what do I do?

It’s impossible for me to beat Arcyune. I need to run outside somehow and call for help. I started running towards the outside. But perhaps because I used lots of magic without much sleep, I collapsed near the west exit on the first floor.

“What’s wrong? Is the game of tag over? It’s about time to finish things up.”

Arcyune reached his hand towards me.

I’m scared. My legs were trembling, and I could hear my teeth chatter.

“Relax. I let beautiful girls live as dolls. You should consider it an honour. The age of the demons is about to begin. Even if as a doll, you’ll get to join as our lowest member.”

“J-, Just who would obey you demons! If I have to become your servant, then I’d rather die!”

Trying my best to suppress my terror, I spat insults at Arcyune.

“Hmph. Humans truly are foolish beings. I’ve given you the options. Become a toadying doll, or be ripped limb from limb and die. Choose one of the two.”

Arcyune pressed me for an answer with calm words. He hurt my best friend. I don’t want to become his doll no matter what. But if I refuse I’ll hurt his pride as a demon and might meet a fate worse than death.

I-, I’m scared. It’s horrible. S-, Somebody save me…

I hit my limit, and tears started running from my eyes.

With my body this exhausted, and with the absolute difference in power, I can’t fight or run. Uuu, it’s the end.

Just as despair washed over me,

“Hello~ Sorry for intruding late at night. There was a light on, so I thought somebody might be awake.”

Who is it? I heard a young woman’s voice.

“Ku ku. I don’t know who this is, but she sure is a foolish woman for coming here at such a time!”

“No, you can’t com――”

I tried to tell her to run, but Arcyune covered my mouth, and started to squeeze my neck.

“Shhhh. Killing you right now is nothing to me!”

“Nn, uu-, mmhg”

“Behave!”

He tossed me, sending my flying into a wall, before collapsing to the ground.

“Kefu-, kohu-, kahah-!”

After he threw me, Arcyune transformed back into his human form, and walked towards the west exit.

“And whoever might you be?”

“Ah, I’m nobody suspicious. My name is Tilea. Timu who will be enrolling here this week is my younger sister.”

H-, How unlucky! Of all days, Timu-chan’s Oneesan chose today to visit!?

“Aah, Tilea-san is it. We’ve met before, haven’t we. I’m Arcyune, a teacher at this school.”

“Yes, thank you for earlier.”

“And so, what brings you here this late at night?”

“It embarrasses me to say, but the truth is I became a little lost…”

“That must have been quite troubling. Please, come inside.”

Arcyune smiled, and opened the door for her.

“D-, Don’t… co… me…”

I-, It’s no good. Because of the impact against the wall, I can’t breathe, and my voice won’t come out.

Tilea-san did just as Arcyune suggested, and came inside.

“Please excuse me.”

“So you became lost?”

“Yes. A Per――I mean, an employee of mine made a mistake, you see. It seems that he failed to get in touch with our acquaintance in the Capital.”

“I see. And the name of that acquaintance is…?”

“His name is Ortissio. Would you happen to know him?”

“No, unfortunately I can’t help you there. The Capital really is quite a large place after all.”

“That is true. Well, my employee has been looking for him, but hasn’t made any progress at all. Hm~mm, whatever should I do from now on?”

“Speaking of which, I don’t see Timu-san.”

“My sister is waiting by the front gate. She’s a chuu――I mean, her tongue is a tad harsh, and so I wanted to speak first.”

“Ku ku. So your sister is here too. How convenient.”

“Hm? Aah, quite right. My sister hasn’t greeted everybody yet, has she.”

“No, I met with you earlier, Oneesan, but I’ve never had the pleasure of meeting Timu-san. I’m truly looking forward to it.”

“My sister would be very happy to hear that. But still, this school really deserves its reputation. I never would have thought that you would have classes even in the middle of the night. Yep yep. As expected of this place.”

Tilea-san seemed to really be in admiration. From what I’ve heard, it looks like Timu-chan has come to the Capital as well. I have to hurry and warn them of the danger.

I forced my body up.

“HUH!? There was a student-san here too?”

“That’s right. Ku ku. Your sister’s future classmate, Nichol Jessica.”

“Ohh, I see! Jessica-chan, please take care of Timu for me.”

Tilea-san smiled as she spoke to me.

D-, Don’t… c-, come. I tried to implore her with my tear-filled eyes.

“Hm? you’re crying? Could it be…”

Did I manage to warn her? Then you have to hurry up and run!

“You were in the middle of scolding a student? I’m truly sorry for intruding at such a time.”

“Huhuhu, quite right. Ku ku ku, I was truly in the middle of punishing her.”

His lips curved up, looking extremely delighted.

“Jessica-chan, you can’t hold a grudge, okay? Sensei is scolding you because he cares.”

W-, What a crazy misunderstanding…

Even though I had thought that she was a dreamy, blonde-haired blue-eyed Oneesan…

She turned out to be kind of a disappointing(pitiful) person.

More importantly, I have to quickly warn her. My breathing was a lot better now.

“Hahh, hahh, hahh… -un…”

“Hm? What’s up~?”

“RUNNNNNN!”

“Heh?”

“Ahaha, what a foolish woman!”

Arcyune reverted to his demon form, and immediately swooped in on Tilea-san.

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