“H-Hey, hold on. That kid…” (Student boy A)
Looking at my back, a student gasped.
“Don’t tell me that… he’s headed for that seat?!” (Student boy A)
“O-… Oh, crap. H-Hey, Anosh. Don’t go to that seat!” (Student boy B)
I looked back at the student who called out to me.
“Is that seat already taken?” (Anos)
“Well, no it’s not, but…” (Student boy B)
“Then there should be no problem.” (Anos)
Unfazed, I kept walking.
To the seat between Misha and Sasha.
“…M-Maybe he doesn’t know because he’s a child…?” (Student girl A)
“But it’s bad enough that he doesn’t know! That seat… it’s Anos-sama’s…” (Student boy A)
“But Anos-sama doesn’t go to class anymore…” (Student girl A)
“No, but the thing is, there was that one time when I went and sat there as a prank.” (Student boy A)
“You did what?!” (Student girl A)
“It was just a joke! A harmless practical joke!” (Student boy A)
“…So what happened next?” (Student girl A)
“Well, unfortunately, it was then that Sasha-sama came back to her seat and just sat down next to me. She was smiling, but with her <Magic Eyes of Destruction> on. I prayed that she never makes eye contact with me.” (Student boy A)
“Well yeah. If you had made eye contact with her in that situation, you would’ve died for sure…” (Student girl A)
“But that wasn’t all. Misha-chan was just staring at me. Without changing her expression, and without saying a word. She was just staring at me real hard!” (Student boy A)
“If Misha-chan of all people was being furious, then you should know this was a huge deal!” (Student girl A)
“But the one who finished me off was Eleonore-san! She told me in a casual tone, ‘If you choose to sit here, don’t complain if you get murdered.’” (Student boy A)
“Why didn’t you get out of that seat already?!” (Student girl A)
“My hips gave out, so I couldn’t even stand up!” (Student boy A)
All eyes in the classroom were on me.
“Actually, I think that seat over there is even more dangerous than this guy described it… Sitting there as a prank isn’t just thoughtless. It’s straight up suicide!” another student uttered.
“Just look around it. There’s the Hero Kanon, the exchange students from the Hero Academy, the former fake Demon King, and the Necron sisters. I reeeeally don’t wanna be anywhere near them…” (Student boy B)
“Whaaaat? But they’re all nice people, so I’m sure it’s fine.” (Student girl B)
“No no. No matter how you look at it, their group is bad news! Are we sure the Hero Kanon is truly our ally? And the same goes for the fake Demon King. Besides, there’s no reason for those two to attend the academy, is there?” the student said in a grave tone.
“…They’ve got to be plotting something. Just think about it. Do you seriously believe those two are just trying to live as ordinary students? Don’t you think they’re planning to hide in the Demon King Academy and wait for the right time to betray the Demon King of Tyranny…?” (Student boy B)
“Yeah… Maybe Sasha-sama and Misha-chan are keeping their eyes on them to look out for that…” (Student boy A)
“If they weren’t, there wouldn’t be so many monsters gathered in that one spot…! It’s like a powder keg around that seat. They may look like they’re having a friendly chat at first glance, but you never know when they might explode…” (Student boy B)
“And the reason no one talks about that seat is that we’re too afraid to say anything. Even the teachers bow down to it every morning, y’know…?” (Student boy A)
“Hmm~… Well, I can see why it’d be difficult to sit there…” (Student girl B)
Hmm. Apparently, things had changed while I was gone, with my seat being considered a sanctuary, and Lay, Misa, and the others being feared by everyone.
Well, those students were gossip-lovers.
They were free to say whatever they wanted.
I used my magic power to move my chair back.
I sat down there and turned to the side.
“What do you think? None of them noticed a thing.” (Anos)
Sasha gave me a look of dismay.
Misha thought for a moment before giving a short reply.
“They still haven’t?” (Misha)
“Actually, will you be able to go unnoticed forever? It’s you we’re talking about, so there’s no way you’ll manage to keep a low profile, right?” (Sasha)
“Don’t worry, that’s the point of the boy genius persona.” (Anos)
“Ahh~. So no matter what crazy stuff you do, you’ll attribute it all to being a prodigy.” Eleonore exclaimed, as if she had just realized it.
“…It’s… a perfect plan…” Zeshia acquiesced, clenching her fists.
“And there you have it, Sasha.” (Anos)
“…At least try to hide your identity a little more seriously…” (Sasha)
“That won’t be a problem. I have excellent subordinates, after all.” (Anos)
“And… who would they be, specifically…?” (Sasha)
“Am I wrong? Knowing you, I was convinced that you would make things work out for me.” (Anos)
Sasha blushed and looked away.
“…Okay, sure. Anything you say, O Great Demon King. I have a feeling we’ve got hard times ahead of us…” Sasha grumbled.
“Sasha is happy.” Misha whispered into my ear.
“Misha, don’t say anything weird…” (Sasha)
“Ahaha~. But still, I’m glad that we can study with Anos—… I mean, Anosh-kun once again.” Misa said with a warm smile.
Lay knocked over his chair and leaned back with a refreshing smile.
“What about your official duties as the Demon King?” (Lay)
“I can do them after school just fine. As I said earlier, I have excellent subordinates. For the Demon KIng, being a symbol is good enough. As for the people’s petitions, Erio, Melheis, and the others can handle most of them.” (Anos)
Being nothing but a symbol would be the most ideal situation for me.
If this were a situation where the Demon KIng of Tyranny needed to work so hard at his official duties he had no time to sleep, It would mean that there’s no peace.
“Looks like this is going to be another fun school year.” (Lay)
“Yeah.” I said with a chuckle.
The other students, who had been watching us while bracing themselves, sighed in relief.
“…L-Looks like he’s fine…” (Student boy B)
“They’re being so friendly to him. No idea what they’re talking about, though…” (Student girl A)
“But why?” (Student boy A)
“…I’d say, because he’s a child?” (Student girl B)
“Kh! So it’s a kid’s privilege. That’s so unfair…” (Student boy A)
Once again, I heard the sound of a cane tapping the floor.
The students hurriedly turned to the blackboard.
“Today, I have one more person I’d like to introduce: your new swordsmanship instructor!” (Eldmed)
