“The hero academy selection class [Jerga Kanon] and the Libest team from the demon king academy 3rd years will now start the opposition test. Keep the honour and pride of your ancestors and fight fairly.” (Diego)
Diego signals the start of the test.
Those of us on the lakeshore will be watching the test via Remote Clairvoyance <Rimnet>. The images are being sent by falcons used by the hero academy flying over the lake and swimming in the lake.
“I’m sorry Arnos-kun.”
Menou says coming over to me.
“What for?” (Arnos)
“About Libest-kun. He said some bad things about you.” (Menou)
“Hardly the first time I’ve had royals complaining about me.” (Arnos)
Menou’s face takes on an apologetic look.
“Libest-kun is usually a gentle child but most people take great pride in their blood and deeply respect the demon king of tyranny.” (Menou)
Menou keeps watching <Rimnet> while talking.
“Libest-kun has the ability to compete for the top spot amongst the 3rd years now but when he entered the school he was close to dropping out. He was unable to use Demon King Army <Guys> so he couldn’t become a group leader.” (Menou)
“That does surprise me.” (Arnos)
“I know right? Libest-kun doesn’t like fighting so somewhere in his heart he refused to develop his army magic or any offensive magic.” (Menou)
“He doesn’t sound like a mazoku.” (Arnos)
“Perhaps. He hated the demon king who committed all kinds of atrocious acts and hated admitting that he shared the same blood.” (Menou)
That’s an unnecessary concern. It doesn’t matter who your ancestors were, you are you regardless of what blood you share.
Well, in this current era perhaps they now have the chance to think like that?
“What changed him?” (Arnos)
Menou’s expression became nostalgic. Do you remember that time?
“When he was in his 2nd year I was in charge of his class and he confided in me that he didn’t like fighting. He consulted with me because he was considering leaving the academy.” (Menou)
The classes in the demon king academy are biased towards combat so if you hate fighting dropping out would be natural.
“So I said to him that <Guys> was certainly developed for war but the founder probably developed the magic to protect the mazoku, otherwise, why would the demon king of tyranny whose life was being targetted by many enemies create a magic that shares his power out and weakens him?” (Menou)
Oh.
“Is that written in a textbook?” (Arnos)
“If you only teach what’s written in textbooks then you don’t need teachers.” (Menou)
That certainly a teacher like thing to say.
“Don’t you think so Arnos-kun?” (Menou)
“Who knows.” (Arnos)
I caught Misha looking at me with a smile that said she’d seen right through me.
“Even if you hate fighting, power is sometimes needed to protect something. Maybe the founder was like Libest-kun and never really wanted to fight? I think this became important to him because Libest-kun now respects the founder and has pride in the royalty.” (Menou)
“He went too far though and joined the royal faction.” (Arnos)
Menou smiles wryly.
“A little bit. I think the demon king of tyranny became a special existence to him more than anyone else.” (Menou)
That would explain why he really didn’t like me calling myself the demon king of tyranny more than most.
He probably also holds respect for the teacher that set him on that path and that’s why he wants to put right how Menou has been treated himself.
“I see him, my prided student. He will surely win.” (Menou)
Menou lets out a little laugh.
Looking at <Rimnet> both sides are about to move.
The Jerga Kanon team are located in the underwater city filled with buildings and temples whilst the Libest team are located near the underwater caves and mountains.
Both teams have Underwater Activity <Coco> cast on them which allows them to breath underwater and lasts as long as you have magic power left.
“Preparations are ready Libest-sama!”
All his subordinates have a resolute attitude.
Is Libest from a good family or highly capable? You can see respect from all his members. Perhaps it’s simply the result of an outcast fighting his way to the top position.
“Do it!” (Libest)
“Ha!”
Following standard tactics, Libest built his demon king castle where he was standing.
It’s a long and narrow castle like a tower. The water flowing around it started swirling violently forming a wall preventing access to the demon king castle.
Due to the change in water flow the fish and even the huge rocks caught in it are sucked in and torn to pieces.
Apparently, there’s a terrain effect that strengthens water magic.
Libest’s guardian team seems to be excellent. Normally you wouldn’t be able to build a castle and set up those whirling currents with the magic of just 2 people.
“Beautiful demon king castle.”
Misha mutters while watching <Rimnet>
“He’s not just a 3rd year for show. 1st years could never make a castle like that.” (Misha)
Misha tilts her head to one side in wonder.
“Except for you.” (Arnos)
Misha nodded.
“First of all the <Shamans> will scout the enemy. The big difference between <Asura> and <Guys> is the Heroes <Braves> and the Sages <Wiseman>. In exchange for not being able to build a castle the <Wiseman> can use special support magic.” (Libest)
Fumu. As expected of the 3rd year students. They actually studied a little.
Libest’s group has 3 shamans. One casts a net of magic power over a wide area and confirms the position of the heroes. One investigates any changes in magic power using their demon eyes and the last one magically manipulates the fish swimming in the lake to investigate the enemy in detail.
They are looking for the <Wiseman> who can strengthen the <Braves>. They can also buff the attack magic of the <Mages> and buff the healing magic of the <Healers>. They support everyone basically.
Using <Guys> the caster receives the demerits that would normally apply to the <Mages> and <Healers> but under <Asura> the <Wiseman> are a little different in that they can buff the entire unit with no backlash.
All the heroes are strengthened by the <Wiseman> so the first thing to do is eliminate the <Wiseman>.
“Libest-sama.”
One of the <Shamans> reports in.
“It’s strange. The fish familiars are not operating as expected.”
“Same here. Every time I try to cast the magic net it gets interrupted.”
“My demon eyes are the same. I can’t see any magic power over there.”
In other words, it’s not possible to scout the enemy at all.
Libest thinks carefully.
“It could be an application of anti-magic that’s hindering our magic.”
“A formation of <Cavaliers>, <Shamans> and <Healers> will go out and scout the enemy. Avoid fighting as much as possible. If you find something strange report in immediately using <Liikus>.” (Libest)
“Acknowledged.”
3 teams of 3 leave the demon king castle and take different routes to the city where Jerga Kanon is based.
