Well, that took a weird turn. Alexei is nervous.
Recruiting Princess Marianne and Prince Laius to Numbers is sure to throw the kingdom into further disorder.
Whether or not the siblings agree with their ideology, their names are now added to the roster of the aristocratic faction student organization. This fact alone would plunge the popularity of the king who’s been planning to establish Marianne as the next queen. The current queen, who happens to be possessed by the Devil Lord, would be a whole other conundrum.
Alexei had anticipated that the sitting members would rebel.
The reason he didn’t explain to the group in advance was to prevent information from leaking to Shiva. He also wanted to prevent the clever princess from doubting his sincerity. Number 4 in particular is a hothead and not much of an actor.
Alexei was confident that he could attract the royal prince and princess to join Numbers─whether they’re on board with their ideology or not.
But that attendant of Charlotte’s… She’s truly a force majeure.
He never expected the newcomers to propose settling their differences with a duel.
Was that their objective from the start? If so, it’s more likely that Shiva or Haruto had put the idea in their heads, and not that woman.
A rush of terror shoots up Alexei’s spine─the Black Knight has already sussed out his plot─but at the same time, he finds himself smirking in delight.
He recognizes me as an enemy. That makes things far more interesting. I may wind up dying a disgraceful death… But until then, let’s have some fun, shall we?
Alexei arrives at the school’s main building.
He gives a knock on the door before stepping through.
Headmistress Theresia Montpellier is sitting at her desk facing the entrance. At the sight of the blond male student entering, her eyes widen in surprise.
“Please excuse the sudden intrusion. I need to speak with you about something…and I don’t want us to be overheard, so please lower your voice.”
She’s sure to understand that I’m being wary of Shiva listening in on the conversation.
In fact, Theresia does. However…
“Don’t you think Shiva’s already noticed that the Devil Lord is possessing you?” She deliberately speaks aloud.
If Shiva didn’t know, he sure does now.
“Well… This is problematic. I didn’t expect you to be on my side, but I didn’t think you’d be on his either.”
“That is accurate, Alexei Guberg. It’s only a matter of which side to give precedence to. My role is to vanquish the Devil Lords regardless of the circumstances.”
“To vanquish gods, you mean.”
“It’s the same thing. Ghosts of the ancient gods have no place in the modern world.”
“I see. But we seem to have a slight misunderstanding. I’m still Alexei Guberg─I am simply borrowing a bit of the Devil Lord’s knowledge and power. Unlike her.”
“Unlike the queen, you mean. There’s no need to beat around the bush at this point. I suspect you were able to relocate from Zara Yessel’s body into Alexei’s.”
It seems ridiculous to keep up the ruse─she’s saying it all out loud.
“Zara attempted contact with Shiva and was captured,” Alexei confesses. “Whatever fragment of the Devil Lord residing in her body escaped and took refuge in mine. Does that lower your suspicion towards me at all?”
Theresia remains guarded. “I am also wary of you, Alexei Guberg. You’re an incredibly dedicated and talented student, but your core beliefs are dangerous. I am referring to your interest in wreaking havoc within the kingdom for your own amusement.”
Alexei can’t help but let out a chuckle.
“What’s so funny?”
“Oh, I was just thinking how truly admirable you are as an educator─you’re able to recognize me for who I really am. Meanwhile, in the Devil Lord’s memory, you’re nothing more than a God Killer. The thought of such a person influencing today’s youth is laughable.”
“You didn’t come here to waste my time with this drivel, did you? What do you want?”
Alexei shrugs his shoulders. “Ah, right…”
He explains how the princess and company wound up challenging Numbers to a duel during their meeting. He keeps his own opinions veiled, and instead, focuses on the pretense of “collaborating across factions.”
“But your true motive is something else… Setting that aside for now, I certainly can’t condone a duel among students.”
Alexei counters, “I don’t wish for any fatalities in this conflict, either. If that were to happen, Shiva is sure to intervene.”
“In that case, the school could organize a mock battle between teams at our arena with ample safety considerations─”
“No. That will not do,” Alexei interrupts Theresia’s proposal. “The other students will surely find out about an on-campus duel going on even if we close off the site. They’ll be bound to stir gossip and slander. My feelings aside, the other members will be livid.”
“However, if the duel is held off campus, the school faculty will have limited authority to oversee it. I cannot permit such a thing.”
“I can understand that. Which is why I want to propose that we organize a contest instead.”
“A contest? Rather than a magic battle?” asks Theresia.
“Essentially, it’ll amount to the same thing. However, the primary objective is different,” Alexei explains. “I propose an expedition in the Olympius Ruins.”
Since expeditions in the ruins are used as a graduation exam, the school definitely has the know-how to ensure safety.
“To my knowledge, there have been graduation exams in the past where two opposing teams compete to retrieve an object from the ruins. The teams are allowed to interfere with each other. This would be a viable format for dueling.”
“The faculty must regulate the level of ‘interference’ allowed. But I suppose that might do… However, the ruins have been facing strange phenomena as of late.”
“Monsters have stopped appearing.”
Theresia’s eyebrow twitches with surprise.
“More precisely, the monsters are all concentrated in the lowest level. Ever since Haruto Zenfis and his party visited.”
“You certainly know plenty.”
“No need to give me that look. One of the servants of the Devil Lord caused some mischief. Not that it’s my business to clean up after her, but I can remedy the situation.”
Theresia is silent for a moment.
“Very well. I give you my permission. But I will make the rules.”
“I’m fine with that. I wish to play fair, too.”
Alexei’s expression is sunny and carefree. Theresia wonders how much of his words are genuine.
But you’ve been listening to our conversation, haven’t you, Shiva? I trust you’ll be able to contend with whatever happens.
It goes without saying that the Academy’s headmistress intends to exercise extreme caution. But at the same time, Theresia finds herself feeling dependent on the man of unknown identity and allegiance.
Meanwhile, in Haruto’s room…
“Hnaugh?! Num num…”
He bumbles in his sleep.