"Senior, what on earth... What's going on?"
"I don't know either. The important thing is, we can't get involved in that mess."
Olivia and Adriana were making their way through the forest. Olivia was leading, holding tightly onto Adriana's hand in case they got separated.
The situation had already been dire, but when an unexpected demon-like creature kidnapped Adriana, it became even more critical.
When that demon captured Olivia as well, her heart sank.
As they were being abducted, hanging in mid-air, Olivia hesitated to use her divine power. She didn't know what might happen to herself, but she feared Adriana could fall.
And then.
When the demon unceremoniously dropped them off in a distant forest and just left, they couldn't help but be stunned.
They had expected some kind of treacherous ordeal or a threat to their lives.
But the demon released Adriana and Olivia without a word, and then soared away somewhere, its massive black wings flapping.
Olivia had been wracking her brain on how to confront this never-before-seen demon, but there hadn't even been a chance to fight.
She had considered drawing Tiamata, but that moment never came.
When a thunderstorm rolled in from afar, lightning flashing and a crimson firestorm surging, they knew chaos had truly erupted.
Though Olivia desperately wanted to investigate what was happening, she didn't head in that direction solely because of Adriana.
The situation was unclear, but securing Adriana's safety was the priority.
That's why Olivia was diligently walking away from the scene.
Adriana also found the situation incomprehensible.
"Listen well, Adriana."
"Yes, Senior."
"Whatever happened to us, you must not tell anyone."
"Yes."
Adriana understood why Olivia was saying this.
"We don't know what this is, but if someone finds out, it will definitely not end well."
"…Yes."
Given the circumstances, even if it was a remote area of the empire, a large-scale investigation into the chaos that had unfolded there would soon be inevitable.
What's worse, the demon had rescued them for reasons they couldn't understand. If this came to light, they might not be treated well, or worse, they could be accused of colluding with the demon.
Furthermore, only the death of all the knights in that place would ensure the validity of their silence.
Olivia didn't know what was happening.
However.
They had to get out of this place.
Olivia continued walking, holding Adriana's hand tightly.
It had been quite a commotion, so there was bound to be chaos, and it was certain that forces would be dispatched for investigation.
"Did you take care of everything?"
"Yes."
That's why we regrouped at a location far away from the abandoned monastery.
I, Sarkegaar, Loyar, Eleris. And the trembling Lydia Schmitt. Lydia Schmitt hadn't fully grasped the situation.
However, she had seen the demons flying through the night sky, the Lord Vampire unleashing large-scale destructive magic, and even the silver beast Loyar.
She had witnessed the four of us slaughter the elite Holy Knights of the Riverrier Lanze, including Lanze himself.
It would have been an impossible battle if they had been in their best condition and fully prepared.
Originally, I would not have been a match for Riverrier Lanze. He should not have fought in a place where the most destructive magic, capable of turning a person to ashes in an instant, was unfolding. But he lost his life due to an unexpected variable, the demon sword Tiamata.
Strictly speaking, this was a stroke of luck created by Tiamata's demonic power, not a tremendous increase in my strength.
Yet, the fact remains that I fought Riverrier Lanze and killed him.
The fleeing Holy Knights were all dealt with by Loyar and Sarkegaar.
"You… Who… Who are you…?"
In this inexplicable situation, Lydia Schmitt could only see my subordinates and me as the unfathomable rulers of the demon world.
Therefore, it was time to decide the fate of the terrified Lydia Schmitt.
The information I needed was the whereabouts of Riverrier Lanze, which I had obtained and resolved the incident.
Now, Lydia Schmitt was no longer useful. I stared at the terrified Lydia Schmitt.
The other three hadn't addressed me as "your highness," so Lydia Schmitt still didn't know my true identity.
However, she must have some idea since I controlled demons.
The re-emerged Demon King.
I couldn't simply let Lydia Schmitt go.
She knew too much that she shouldn't.
Kill her or turn her into a vampire.
I had to choose one of the two options.
"Your Highness."
Eleris called out to me quietly.
"May I take care of this child?"
"You want to take responsibility?"
Eleris doesn't like killing.
But today, Eleris had repeatedly unleashed large-scale destructive magic at my command.
Although Loyar had killed the elites, those without the power to protect themselves had been slaughtered by Eleris.
Her expression wasn't great because of that.
She hadn't argued against my orders and had obediently carried them out.
But she couldn't help feeling tormented.
It seemed she wanted to avoid any further killing if possible.
"I will take responsibility and make her harmless to us."
"!"
The one who gasped at her words was Lydia.
"P-please… Please… Please. Kill… Kill me, please…"
Lydia collapsed to her knees, sobbing and curling up. Eleris looked at her with a somber expression.
"It doesn't mean that I'll create one within my power."
"Then... what exactly?"
"We'll have to figure that out as we go."
It seemed that Eleris was trying to find a better solution than where she had to kill Lydia or turn her into a vampire.
"Fine. I trust you."
"Thank you, Your Highness."
Eleris forcibly lifted the trembling Lydia. Neither Loyar nor Sarkegaar had anything to say to Eleris.
If it were Eleris, she would find a way not to kill Lydia.
At least it would be better than leaving it to Loyar and Sarkegaar.
Above all, Lydia Schmitt was a powerful elite knight who remained here. If she could become an ally under their control, it wouldn't be bad.
We returned to the main road through Eleris's mass teleport.
Eleris was holding onto Lydia Schmitt. Lydia's face was pale with fear of what might happen to her, but she couldn't bring herself to resist.
The fanatics were gone, and only a person trembling with fear of being turned into a vampire remained.
What was Eleris planning to do with Lydia?
She wasn't sure, but it seemed Eleris always had a way. It would be checked later how this issue was handled.
Leaving the two in Eleris's basement room, Loyar, Sarkegaar, and I went out to the street.
"Your Highness, why is it necessary for us that the Empire knows about our existence?"
Sarkegaar finally brought up the question he had been holding back.
"I think the sense of crisis will unite humanity, and that unity will not be good for us at all."
A valid question.
"I think so too," said Loyar, who had been silent.
Although they did what they were told, they couldn't help but have doubts. They had mentioned Tiamata while sharing recent news, but they didn't question it.
"I have a plan. I'll explain it soon, so please wait."
"..."
"..."
"I'm a bit busy right now."
Sarkegaar closed his mouth as if he understood, and it seemed Loyar stopped caring.
If I thought hard, I would have an excuse. I could somehow convince them, but there was no time to devote to such things now.
"Let's go."
The only thought was to return to the temple quickly.
The time was already close to midnight.
The official events of the festival had all ended on Friday.
The winner of the Miss Temple Contest was Ellen.
Unfortunately, the winner of the Mister Temple Contest was not Clifman. However, Clifman had received many votes from the female seniors who were intoxicated by his clumsy charm on stage, and he managed to come in third place.
There was even a parade led by Miss & Mister Temple after the contest.
Ellen didn't know about such things, but it was fine either way.
During the main event and the parade, Reinhardt didn't show himself.
With the help of Liana, Ellen changed her clothes.
"Something must have happened."
"..."
Liana blurted that out without hesitation. She wasn't so stupid as to not understand what she meant. Ellen understood her words too.
For some reason, many of her classmates who congratulated her looked at her with pity.
Ellen knew why they looked at her that way.
Harriet hugged her wordlessly. Harriet seemed genuinely sad, and that made Ellen feel even more miserable.
On a day when she should be receiving congratulations from everyone, Ellen couldn't remember a single word she had heard or said.
It felt as if her soul had momentarily left her body and returned.
What happened today?
What did I do?
It felt like a fleeting dream.
A dream.
Futile and empty.
All the moments she had worked for felt meaningless.
After Liana left, Ellen removed her makeup, showered, and sat blankly on her bed.
The cheers and applause of countless people echoed like distant reverberations.
There was someone she wanted to defeat.
There was a vote she wanted to receive.
But neither of them was there.
"..."
Were they together?
Ellen felt miserable just thinking about it.
She received everyone's cheers and praises, but for some reason, it felt as if she had failed at everything.
Ellen looked at the trophy, evidence of her Miss Temple victory, in her room.
She didn't really need it.
It wasn't bad to receive it, and it was certainly evidence of someone's acknowledgment.
Ellen stared at the trophy for a while and then opened the door.
She felt like she needed a change of pace.
She opened the door.
She just wanted to take a walk.
She wanted to take a walk, and there was no other reason. Casually glancing around the hallway and the lobby.
Checking if someone had returned or if someone was around.
Thinking that she just wanted a change of pace.
Ellen quietly scanned the A-Class dormitory and headed outside.
She was dressed in light training clothes. It didn't seem like she had changed much, but Ellen found her reflection in the window fascinating.
Clothing seemed incredibly important.
Ellen realized this as she saw herself dressed in training clothes in the window.
The gap between her previous self and her current self was significant.
Even when she had been dressed in a flashy dress and heavy makeup, she had felt miserable.
Now that she had returned to her original appearance, she looked even more miserable than before.
She wanted to show herself.
She wondered what expression he would have when he saw her like that.
She was curious.
She had been pondering what to say in that state.
Suppressing those thoughts, Ellen headed outside the dormitory.
Was he not coming back today?
Had something serious happened?
Despite trying not to think about it, the thoughts kept flooding in, leaving Ellen feeling confused.
She had asked him to come, but he didn't. There must be a reason.
Could it be that, like always, he had found himself in another dangerous situation? If so, rather than feeling hurt by his absence, she should be worried.
Maybe she should go and look for him.
Feeling her imagination spiraling out of control, Ellen heads toward the dormitory entrance.
And then, she sees him.
A familiar figure from behind.
Sitting on the steps of the dormitory entrance was a familiar back view. The Temple Academy uniform was nowhere to be seen, replaced by casual clothes. Yet, the back of that head was unmistakable.
"..."
For a moment, the countless confusions, questions, and feelings of hurt that arose in her mind subsided.
Ellen quietly approaches.
"What are you doing?"
"Oh, ah!"
Startled by her voice, Reinhardt almost rolls forward as he gets up.
"Uh, um... Well..."
It's a cold day.
Reinhardt, his face flushed from sitting there for who knows how long, looks at her with a bewildered expression.
His fingertips, face, and the tip of his nose are all red.
Why is he just sitting there on the dormitory steps, without coming inside?
Ellen cocks her head as she looks at Reinhardt.
"Aren't you cold?"
"Well... You see..."
"..."
Even though it's cold, could it be that he couldn't come inside?
He could have come in, but maybe he couldn't.
There must be something he needed to say, but it seemed like no words would suffice.
On this bitterly cold night, Reinhardt had returned some time ago but was unable to bring himself to enter the dormitory.
He must have been unsure of what to say if he encountered her. Whether she was in the dormitory lobby or elsewhere, there was no way to know if he would run into her.
So, he remained outside the dormitory, unable to decide whether to enter, simply sitting there aimlessly.
Ellen looks at the shivering Reinhardt.
It's clear that he's not shivering from the cold but for another reason.
He looks so foolish.
"Aren't you cold?"
"Uh... A little?"
"I feel like taking a walk."
At Ellen's words, Reinhardt shakes his head vigorously.
"No, not cold at all. This is nothing."
Ellen chuckles at Reinhardt's response.
"Let's go."
As if being led away.
Ellen takes the lead, and Reinhardt follows.
