The misfit of demon king.., p.31
The Misfit of Demon King Academy: Volume 5, page 31
Raos raised his head higher and yelled, “Don’t quit! Please!” He looked at Emilia pleadingly. “I know we were hopeless students and that you’ll be able to live a much easier life if you go back to your homeland. We really have no right to be saying this to the one person who showed us kindness, but even so...!” He clenched his fists. “We don’t want you to leave. Please stay here, Ms. Emilia!”
Emilia stared at him in surprise.
“You were the only person who took us seriously after we found out we weren’t heroes. You’re the only one who scolded us time and time again. You were the only one who told us to run when we thought death was the only option left!” Raos grasped Emilia’s hand tightly. “You’re the only one we have, Ms. Emilia! We were only able to face that ridiculous number of dragons because you said you’d never run. We wouldn’t have been able to muster the courage by ourselves. Without you, we’ll return to being hopeless pieces of trash! I don’t want to go back to that lousy version of myself!”
With tears welling in his eyes, Raos pleaded to her. “I don’t want that.”
“Ms. Emilia,” Ledriano said, stepping forward, “we still have so much more to learn from you.” He was also addressing her as ‘Ms. Emilia’ for the first time. “We should have respected your words and your pride. It took us some time to realize as much, but we know now that this is just the beginning! We were too embarrassed to say it out loud, but we all discussed doing our best from now on so that you’d be surprised and proud of us.” Ledriano’s gaze was one of complete earnesty. “We wish for you to be the one to guide us from now on. We want to become true heroes for your sake.”
“M-Ms. Emilia,” Heine said, on the verge of crying, “it’s all my fault. This is all because I slacked off in the bathroom and made fun of you every day. I’ll do better from now on. I’ll go to class properly, wait until lunch to eat, and take all my tests seriously!”
Unlike the students of the Demon King Academy, these students were actually young. They’d only been in their teens when they’d been sweet-talked into becoming heroes and had their minds toyed by Jerga’s will. They had been unable to trust anyone around them until they had finally met someone worthy of being called a teacher—someone they could trust from the bottom of their hearts.
After living their lives under the control of other adults, they must have found her presence a blessing. Now, they knew they couldn’t let go of her. They had felt firsthand just how much they needed her.
“We’ll become good heroes, so please, please, stay and watch over us until then, Ms. Emilia!” the students pleaded.
Emilia was slow to respond. She had already made a promise with me before coming here. “If that were possible, I would have loved to do that, but...”
When she turned to look back at me, Ledriano marched past her.
“Ledriano!” she called.
Ledriano came to a stop before me and knelt. He bowed his head low as he said, “Please allow me to speak, Demon King of Tyranny, Anos Voldigoad.”
“Go on.”
“I beg of you, please allow our teacher, Emilia Ludwell, to stay here for a little longer.”
The students of the Hero Academy all lined up before me and knelt.
“With her guidance, we’ll acquire enough strength to be of benefit to Dilhade,” Raos added.
“We will swear our lives and loyalty to you,” Heine said boldly. “We will obey your every order. So please grant us this one mercy and allow her to remain here until we graduate.”
Every last student bowed before me. The humans who had been taught that demons were the enemy were going so far for their demon teacher. There wasn’t a single ounce of Jerga’s influence left in them. They had seen things with their own eyes and used their own heads to come to this conclusion.
“Lord Anos.” Emilia stepped forward and joined the kneeling students. Then she lowered her head until it was pressed against the ground. “Thank you for calling me an excellent subordinate. I am unworthy of such an honor. However, I have learned something during my time here in Azesion: a position equal to the Seven Demon Elders is too great for me.”
In order to protect what mattered to her the most, Emilia kept her head lowered. This was her fight.
“You may punish me in any way you see fit for breaking our agreement. You may exile me from my homeland for the rest of my life. I have only one wish. Please allow me the opportunity to keep teaching them. I will raise them into fine heroes and build a foundation of friendship between Dilhade and Azesion. The tragedy of the war two thousand years ago will never occur again.”
“Raise your head.”
Emilia slowly looked up at me. Her expression was heroic. She had no fear of whatever punishment I could give her. This was her resolution towards her beliefs and towards her students.
Suddenly, a voice unfitting of the situation yelled from the doorway.
“Fools! What is the meaning of this? How dare you all lower your heads to the leader of the enemy nation!”
It was the haughty Headmaster Zamira.
“And what is this about swearing loyalty to the Demon King after your graduation? Can you hear yourselves?! This is treachery! You will all be sentenced to death for treason! Is that what you want?”
Unable to overlook those words, Emilia rose to her feet. “Headmaster Zamira, please refrain from making such lawless statements. None of that is considered treason, nor will there be a death penalty over it. The laws of Azesion state they are free to live and work wherever they wish.”
But Zamira’s face distorted with displeasure. “Headmaster? Who do you think you’re speaking to, lowly teacher?!” He puffed out his overweight chest. “I am the 107th King of Gairadite, Zamira Engelo Gairadite. Azesion is my kingdom, and I am the law.”
Emilia was speechless. The students of the Hero Academy frowned.
“What do you mean?”
“It’s simple: the entire royal family, King Lycius included, is dead. The only one left with the right to succeed the throne was myself. Now lower your head, demon.”
Emilia clenched her teeth.
“Hmm? What’s that rebellious look for? I can close the Hero Academy if I so wish. After all, my kingdom has no need for a school of traitors. Well? What do you say?”
With a look of complete humiliation, Emilia started to kneel. I gently grasped her trembling shoulder and stopped her.
“Well, well, well, if it isn’t the Demon King of Tyranny. Shouldn’t you berate your follower for failing to kneel before the king of another nation?”
“You consider yourself king? What a thickheaded man.”
“What?!”
As Zamira’s face twisted unpleasantly, another voice echoed from the desk in the room.
“You knew everything all along, Zamira Engelo.”
It was the crystal clear voice of a god in the form of a girl.
“The first person Ahid made contact with was you. Despite knowing the risks, you introduced King Lycius to him. You despised the king and conspired to murder him.”
Arcana had appeared in the seat by the desk.
“There’s no need to play dumb. I know everything.”
“I see.” He took one look at Arcana and realized making excuses would be futile. “I see, I see, I see. Indeed, there is no need to play dumb.” He nodded in agreement and said defiantly, “It is true. I was the one who arranged the deaths of the royal family.”
“You royals released dragons across Azesion so that they’d attack the people. You colluded with Jiordal, Kingdom of the Divine Dragon, in an attempt to kill Hero Kanon. You did all this to steal the Sword of Three Races and declare yourself the hero instead.”
“Actually, that was all King Lycius’s idea, but it’s true I turned a blind eye. If either side fell, it would only place me closer to the throne.”
Zamira ranted on, boasting about his success. “While we’re at it, I also colluded with the previous headmaster, Diego. I knew you foolish students were being brainwashed by Jerga, but I kept out of it. I was hoping the number of royals would be reduced through war with Dilhade. It didn’t work out back then, but luckily, another chance came around eventually.”
“Hmm. So you consider yourself lucky after revealing so much?”
Zamira smiled with a leer. “Fool. There’s no proof of any of it. Who would believe the words of demons and failed heroes? I can merely announce that the Hero Kanon who visited was a fake.”
Drunk on the power he had obtained, Zamira spoke boldly. “And what can you do about that, Demon King? Kill me? Our nations have formed an alliance. It may be easy for you to take my life, but doing so would result in another war. Is that what you truly want? Hmm?”
“Indeed, I won’t lay my hands on you. No matter how rotten this nation is, that’s a problem for its own people. Dilhade is unrelated.”
“Ha ha ha! That’s exactly right. Some Demon King of Tyranny you are! This is not the age of violence. Idiots who boast of their strength are worthless!”
Just then, a voice could be heard.
“It is true. I was the one who arranged the deaths of the royal family.”
It was clearly Zamira’s own voice.
“What?!” Zamira looked around the room as his voice called out again.
“Actually, that was all King Lycius’s idea. But it’s true I turned a blind eye. If either side fell, it would only place me closer to the throne.”
Arcana was using Limnet to broadcast the footage of what had just taken place.
“What... What is that?!”
“The magicast being shown all across Azesion as we speak.”
Zamira paled, but he soon returned to his senses and yelled, “I-It’s all a fabrication! This room is surrounded by a powerful magic ward made of holy water. You shouldn’t be able to use Limnet or any other recording spells!”
“That feeble anti-magic couldn’t do anything. Just so you know, the footage of you negotiating with Ahid was playing up until now. He must have recorded it with the intention of blackmailing you later.”
Zamira looked shell-shocked. His voice played from the magic broadcast once again.
“While we’re at it, I also colluded with the previous headmaster Diego. I knew the foolish students were being brainwashed by Jerga, but I kept out of it. I was hoping the number of royals would be reduced through war with Dilhade. It didn’t work out back then, but luckily, another chance came around eventually.”
“Now, the corruption of this kingdom is this kingdom’s problem. I won’t lift a hand, but what will the people of Gairadite think?”
The next image shown on Limnet was of the entrance to the royal palace. Hundreds of Gairadite’s citizens were marching towards the gate.
“What is the meaning of this?! Bring Zamira out here at once!”
“My hometown was destroyed by dragons! Are you saying that was because of the palace?!”
“We’ve had enough of you! If you want war so badly, step out of those doors!”
“Yeah! We’ll take you on! Send out Zamira!”
“Where is he?! We’re sick of the way you royals run things!”
“That’s right! We won’t let you get away with this! Hey, get out here right now!”
“I’ll kill you myself! Get out here!”
Shouts of rage filled the air. The soldiers holding back the people were at their limit—the palace gate wouldn’t hold them back for much longer.
“C-Curse you, Demon King. Using such despicable methods... I won’t forget this!”
With those parting words, Zamira fled from the meeting room—and ran straight into a group of armored soldiers outside the door.
“Oh, good timing. You’ve come to pick me up, right? Good grief, what a disaster. I’ll need to lie low for a while. Well, I might as well take a vacation. Hey, you lot! Prepare someplace suitable for me!”
The soldiers thrust their spears at him.
“Wha—?!”
His arms were soon restrained.
“Wh-What are you doing? Who do you think I am?! I am the king! Cease this insolence!”
“Unfortunately, you are no longer our nation’s king.”
The ministers and nobility of Azesion had arrived.
“You betrayed our nation, murdered the royal family, and attempted to take the lives of our people. Zamira Engelo, you are to be charged for treason!”
“W-Wait! Don’t be deceived. This is all part of the Demon King’s scheme! If you do this, Dilhade will— Gah!”
One of the ministers had punched Zamira with all his might.
“We were already fed up with the corruption of the royal family. As you have requested, we will prepare someplace suitable for you.” The minister glared at Zamira. “In prison.”
“Th-The insolence! Who do you think protected this nation until now? If it weren’t for royalty, this kingdom would be in ruins!”
“All you have to worry about is the day you’re sent to the gallows. Take him away!”
The soldiers dragged Zamira off.
“Stop! Unhand me! I am the king! Stooop!”
The ministers and nobility retreated. One of the group paused and bowed to me on his way past. It was Igareth. Before his reincarnation, he had gone around as a human and sounded out all the decent-minded people in the royal palace, which had laid the groundwork for Zamira’s arrest.
“Well done,” I said.
“I will report back to you later,” Igareth said before leaving.
“Now then.”
I turned around to see Emilia and the others staring at me, dumbfounded. Their minds had yet to catch up with the dizzying events that had just occurred.
“Continuing from where we just left off, Emilia, as promised, I have prepared a position for you.”
“Like I said, that’s...” she mumbled hesitantly. Although she had appealed to remain at the Hero Academy, she wasn’t in a position to stubbornly deny my decision. In the first place, this had all been suggested by Emilia herself. She couldn’t just back out and say she’d changed her mind. As a teacher, she had to set an example for her students.
“As you just witnessed, the position of headmaster has just become vacant in Arclanisca. Unfortunately, a replacement is yet to be found. The royal palace has to deal with the end of the royal bloodline and will have no time to spare here. However, the ministers would be extremely troubled if the only institution capable of exterminating dragons were to be left with no one in charge, especially should the beasts appear again. And so, I told them I had the perfect candidate for the job, one who was already highly regarded by her students.”
Emilia gasped then straightened herself and looked at me solemnly.
“I was also able to learn something by watching how you atoned for your sins. I ask that you give back the knowledge you have cultivated during your harsh days by serving this land.”
Emilia knelt before me. The students of the Hero Academy knelt beside her, lowering their heads.
“Emilia Ludwell, I am appointing you Headmaster of the Hero Academy Arclanisca. Having lost their royal family, Azesion is about to embark on a long and arduous trial. You are to educate the treasures of this nation so that they may overcome it.”
She bowed her head low and said, “I humbly accept this appointment.”
§ Epilogue: Promised Reunion
The students of both the Hero Academy and the Demon King Academy were gathered in Arclanisca’s auditorium. On the teacher’s podium stood Eldmed, Shin, and Emilia. The final class of the education exchange had just concluded.
“With this, the educational exchange has come to an end. Oh, what a worthwhile trip this has been! The growth of the Hero Academy students was especially wondrous.” Elmed rested his hands on his cane and turned his Magic Eyes towards the students. “Be proud of yourselves. Your courage to fight for your comrades in the face of death is proof beyond doubt that you are heroes. Your feelings are just as strong as those of the humans of two thousand years ago.”
The Hero Academy students looked triumphant as they listened to the Conflagration King’s parting speech.
“While it was only for a brief period, you all did your best to keep up with my classes. And so, I have prepared a small farewell gift.”
Eldmed tapped his cane against the floor, activating Limnet on the blackboard. A voice started playing from the footage.
“Everyone, please listen without lowering your guard.”
Emilia whirled around to stare at the blackboard in shock. It was her own voice playing over the broadcast.
“You have all studied demons before. You should know what demon royalty means.”
She rushed over to Eldmed. “What is this, Mr. Eldmed?! What are you doing?!”
“Bwa ha ha! Outstanding work, isn’t it? I spent the whole night editing the footage I’d recorded. It’s already streaming on Gairadite’s magicast.”
“What?!”
“Having lost their royal family, Gairadite will abolish their monarchy and convert to a republic with a council.” Eldmed pointed his cane at Emilia and laughed. “In such a case, shouldn’t the people be informed of who it was that risked their lives to protect this city?”
“Please, wait a minute. I have no idea what you mean. How is that council related to me? To start with, I’m a demon.”
The Conflagration King heartily laughed off her concerns. “If a demon were to become a member of Azesion’s council, they would have to be elected by the people themselves. What better symbol of peace could one ask for?” He lowered his cane once again. “That is what the Demon King of Tyranny believes, anyway,” he said.
“W-Wait a moment. I’m the new headmaster of the Hero Academy, aren’t I? I already have so much to learn. I can’t just—”
“Hey now, there’s no need to panic. It will take time for the nation to switch systems. You merely have to prepare for when it happens.”
Emilia faltered under Eldmed’s forceful tone. “That doesn’t mean I can do it.”
“Indeed, holding two positions at once will be tiring. Also, as a demon, you will be subject to much harsher criticism. When it comes to the wiles of politics, you’ll have to learn how to stand up to the sly old dogs who’ve been doing this all their lives. The stress alone will be enough to open a hole in your stomach and make you throw up blood.”
