“D-Don’t be stupid, Grandmother!” The girl automatically shot back at her grandmother like a child being teased, but after realizing that Akuto was watching her, immediately stiffened and she cleared her throat.
“Ahem... I haven’t... I haven’t seen you at school yet, which means you’re a transfer student. Nice to meet you, I’m the representative of Class A, Junko Hattori. For taking care of my grandmother, please allow me to thank you.”
Junko gave off an air of a samurai as she bowed. Unlike before, her behavior gave off the cool and level-headed impression that her appearance would suggest.
“It’s not something you need to thank me for.” Akuto was quick to say.
“Here she goes again, always trying to show off. Well then, I’ll be heading back.” The old woman bowed to Akuto and headed down the stairs.
Junko and Akuto were left at the air bus stop.
A few awkward moments passed, until Junko decided to break the ice.
“...It’s rare to have a transfer student start from high school.”
“I heard there are a few other people who are coming in at the same time. Normally all of the students come straight from the Academy’s middle school, so it seems that they don’t allow transfers without extenuating circumstances.”
“Yeah. Unless you’re returning from abroad or a foreign research student, they seldom accept you. What country are you from?”
“Oh no, I’m a scholarship student. From passing the exams.”
“Really...” Junko said, impressed. “I’ve heard that there have been years where no one has passed the exam before. That’s quite a feat.”
Akuto’s face softened self-consciously.
“Thank you,” he said. “I don’t mean to pry, but are you planning to become a state magician?”
“Yes. After all, I have to do my best for my family, which means doing my best to defend the country.”
The previous look of foolishness had entirely disappeared from Junko’s face. She was certainly a capable class president, and looking at her now, you could get a very clear impression of the distinct stubbornness and nobility of Suhara’s followers.
—It’ll be nice if we’re in the same class.
Akuto thought to himself. Until now, he had never had a friend who was his equal. There wasn’t anyone in his rural town who even thought about serving the country and becoming a magician, so his lack of friends wasn’t entirely his fault. But now that he’d met Junko, he realized that the Academy was a place where students who felt the same he did gathered to study. This thought made Akuto feel a surge of excitement about his upcoming life.
The air bus arrived. Akuto and Junko were the only two who got on. They sat down opposite each other in the middle car of the bus.
“Where are the other transfer students? I thought that I wasn’t the only one.”
“I believe that the international students should have arrived at the Academy a little earlier. You will probably meet up with them after your body measurements are done.”
“So that’s why... Ah.” Akuto exclaimed as he saw the view outside the window.
The air bus flew up, and Akuto gazed out at the imperial capital below them, and in the distance he saw the entirety of Constant Magic Academy.
The campus was spread out with several buildings peeking out in the middle of a vast forest. The main campus building had two magnificent steeples, sparkling white.
“You probably know this already, but the school is an old fortress from the war with the Demon King one hundred years ago. The older school buildings just use the fortress as it was, and there are still many kilometers of underground tunnels. Although they have turned into a sort of underground labyrinth now. There have even been reports of people going missing down there, so be careful.”
“I will be. Though I don’t intend to go anywhere dangerous during my life here. I came here to study. I want to change the course of society to be good and just, and in order to do that, I want to study at the best place possible.”
“Change the course of society?” Junko’s eyes lit up with curiosity.
“In other words, I am going to become a high priest, someone who shapes society.”
Junko let out a sigh of admiration as Akuto said this.
“This is the first time I’ve heard someone say something like that. Although they say that the gods see all actions taken against their will, nobody gets punished for those actions. But... that’s right, if you are going to become a high priest... no matter which religious order you follow, violating any taboos is strictly forbidden.”
“I know, I know.”
Akuto’s reply was so nonchalant that Junko’s eyes widened as she gave Akuto one more look. She double-checked Akuto’s expression to make sure he wasn’t joking, and then gave him a strong, affirming nod.
“I’ve heard that even littering can become an obstruction on the path to becoming a high priest. It’s a difficult thing to prepare yourself for. I don’t know what order you follow, but if that truly is your goal, then I’ll help you achieve it.”
“I’d be grateful for your help. I think adjusting to school life will be tough.”
—It seems that when you meet someone with the same values, you mysteriously get along. Either man or woman...
Akuto reached out for a handshake. Junko put her hand up as if she was refusing him, but then with a smile, she pulled a small sword out of her uniform.
“In our order, we have a ceremony used to bond two people in friendship. We grip this short sword together and move the hand guard to make a sound.”
“That’s a good custom.”
“You think so? It means that both parties swear that if one of them betrays the other, then the other has no choice but to cut them down.”
“That’s intense. I like it.”
Akuto and Junko brought their hands together and gripped the short sword. Junko grabbed the hilt with her other hand, and when she moved it up and then down, a dry noise rose from the hand guard.
“This is the most basic friendship seal, but you’re the first man I’ve made one with,” Junko said.
“It is an honor. This is also my first time meeting someone like you. You seem like a truly noble person,” Akuto replied, speaking from his heart.
“You’ll make me self-conscious, praising me like that. There haven’t been many serious students at the Academy recently, and a lot of them laugh when you go on about justice or helping others. We understand one another because we aren’t like that, I think.”
“Irresponsible students, huh...”
“It’s due to the school’s tradition of student freedom, really. That in itself isn’t bad, as it gives you the opportunity to gain useful experience for the future. But that also means that there are students who go around fighting monsters in the underground or the forest, and try to justify it by claiming it’s a necessary part of school life. They cite ‘real life experience’ as an excuse for messing around with their magic. All of the class presidents, including myself, have a tough time. We have to supervise the dorms, as well. The only time we can have peace of mind is during long vacations.”
Akuto flashed a teasing smile at the tired-looking Junko.
“And that’s why you left all your things behind?”
“Stupid, don’t make fun of me,” Junko said flatly, her face turning red. But she suddenly started to fidget and looked up at Akuto.
“That... That’s a secret... Don’t tell people at school... Okay? They know me as a strict class president.”
“Of course. I won’t do anything to betray you, right?”
The air bus landed on the roof of the main school building. Stepping off the bus, they felt blades of grass under their feet. The entirety of the vast rooftop was green, and it appeared that the area the air bus landed on was also used as a resting area and an athletics field. You could see the entrance down into the school building at the edge of the open rooftop area. It was a large gate with a bird a
nd cherry blossom design on it.
“There are a lot of students who fly here and land on the roof. That’s why they also put a main entrance here.” Junko pointed out the gate. “Since no one else is around, I’ll be the first to welcome you to Constant Magic Academy.”
○
They walked through the blowing wind and into the school. As the sound of his shoes echoed loudly on the stone staircase, Akuto was thrilled.
“You have to head to the infirmary first, right? I’m going to my classroom, so this is goodbye for now. Even if we end up in different classes, get in touch with me tomorrow,” Junko said, taking her school handbook out of her pocket.
“Once you get your student handbook, if you open up the back page, you can bring up the Mana Communication console. You’ll have to get the hang of telepathic communication, but that shouldn’t take long. Just search for my name.”
The last page of the handbook was completely blacked out, but when Junko stroked it with her finger, shining letters appeared on the page. When she flicked the characters with her finger, a contact list floated into view.
“Once you get used to it, you can operate this just by using your mind. But if you aren’t careful, the mana will get agitated and there is a chance someone could eavesdrop on your conversation. Well, see you later!” After this simple explanation, Junko continued down the stairs.
—I wouldn’t call it love, but she’s a comfortable person to be around. It’s like all my hard work has finally paid off. This is the first time I’ve felt like my words have been understood by someone else, and it’s the first time I’ve formed an equal bond of friendship with someone. Finally, the wind has begun to blow my way.
Akuto thought as he continued on the route marked for transfer students. He soon arrived in front of the school infirmary where a crowd of students was gathered.
“Akuto Sai, correct?”
Noticing Akuto’s arrival, a woman wearing a white coat over her suit called out to him from the middle of the group of people. The information on Akuto was reflected in the woman’s big, round glasses, and she used her pen to put a check on the note in her hand.
“Right on time. With that, all of the transfer students are accounted for. My name is Mitsuko Torii. I’m the school physician. I’m a teacher too, so some of you might also have me for one of your classes in the future. For the rest of you, you’ll want to come see me when you’re not feeling well. But I suppose in that case the less you see of me the better, right?”
With a laugh, the tall, frizzy-haired Miss Mitsuko gave off an innocent and naive air. She seemed cheerful and friendly, and peacefully carefree.
“But in all seriousness, we see a lot of dangerous injuries at this school. You’ll figure it out soon enough, but compared to the outside world, this is a pretty risky and adventurous place. If you focus more on researching magic than studying, you’ll see some of the most incomprehensible things in the world here. I’m sure there’ll be times when you will want to take risks of your own, but the healing process can be an arduous one, so don’t be too reckless, okay?” Miss Mitsuko opened the school infirmary door and shuffled everyone inside.
Everyone besides Akuto was a foreigner. Comparing his skin color to the other students, it seemed that many of them were from the middle of the continent. Some had black skin and others were blonde haired with blue eyes. Akuto had read some material that said about fifty percent of the student body at the school was from abroad.
The school infirmary was massive in size compared to the one in Akuto’s old middle school. The gym-sized space was separated into a number of booths, including a room with beds lined up together and a room where they performed surgery. Even now there were people undergoing treatment with the other school doctors. Some were even groaning in pain, but with a sidelong glance, Miss Mitsuko explained:
“The death rate has been much lower lately, so don’t worry about it, okay! Now, it’s time to take your body measurements, so have a seat in that chair when your name is called.”
Miss Mitsuko pointed to a large wooden chair in a corner of the room. The armrests and backrest were so high that it would be snug for a normal-sized person. Next to it was a cylindrical glass container as tall as the chair. The glass cylinder was giving off a dull light.
“Inside is an artificial spirit that is going to check your health. Don’t worry, it’ll be quick and painless. Most importantly, it’s going to predict your future occupation.”
Akuto, as well as the rest of the exchange students, all gave her puzzled looks.
Miss Mitsuko snorted conceitedly.
“This is one of the fruits of the empire’s magic technology. It collects data on your personality, lifestyle up until this point, intelligence, and physical fitness and judges what kind of occupation you are most suited for. In coming to this school I assume you’re aspiring to a position of vital importance for our country, but with this, we’ll know which of those important roles you are best suited for. This isn’t fortune-telling. Think of it as advice on what occupation best fits your personality and abilities, okay? Incidentally, there hasn’t been a single student that hasn’t ended up entering their predicted occupation. Nervous? Don’t worry. Just by being accepted into this school, you’ve proven that you are all outstanding and distinguished students. Everyone ends up being able to enter into the profession they want.” As Miss Mitsuko said this, it seemed to ease the minds of the international students.
—I see, it seems just by coming to this school, we’re set to enter public service.
With this explanation, Akuto was satisfied.
“Well then, let’s get started.” Miss Mitsuko called out the first student’s name.
A nervous-looking boy sat in the chair. Inside of the glass cylinder, the figure of a crow-like black bird appeared. When the bird opened its mouth, a calm male voice resounded.
“Welcome. I am the artificial spirit, Yatagarasu. Through our contract, I will acquire your personal information and give advice on your future. Transfer Number 001: Yoh Lanly. Health: Normal. Future Occupation... Soldier.”
The boy beamed as he was informed that he would become a soldier. It seemed that the answer coincided with his desired occupation.
After this, the other international students went up one by one and each received Yatagarasu’s prediction. There wasn’t a single student that looked dissatisfied with what he said. Doctors, diplomats, teachers... All of them were occupations that were important to society, and these students had come from abroad because they admired these professions. It was the equivalent to being promised a future path, so on the whole every student’s expression was happy and bright.
Finally, Akuto’s name was called. He sat down in the chair and peered into the glass cylinder. The artificial spirit Yatagarasu looked at Akuto’s face and opened its mouth.
“Transfer Number 021: Akuto Sai. Health: Normal. Future Occupation...”
The international students around Akuto looked on with curiosity. They were interested in the destined professions of their soon-to-be-classmates, and particularly in Akuto, as he was the only transfer student who was an imperial subject. Everyone waited with bated breath for Yatagarasu’s prognosis.
Yatagarasu’s tone remained unchanged from his previous decree, but his words resounded in everyone with an unexpected gravity, to say the least.
His words were bizarre and unprecedented.
“Demon King.”
Everyone in the area looked confused.
Akuto was no exception. He remained in the chair, unable to move or understand what he had just been told.
Miss Mitsuko looked at Yatagarasu suspiciously.
“What did you say?”
“Future Occupation: Demon King.”
Yatagarasu repeated the prediction one more time. Since he was an artificial spirit, his words didn’t have any particular emotion to them. On the other hand, Miss Mitsuko was flustered. She stood and walked up to the glass cylinder.
&n
bsp; “One more time, please.”
“Demon King. Commonly known as the ruler of all demons. In this case, the occupation of Demon King means that he is the strongest and most powerful destroyer and threat to society.”
With Yatagarasu’s dispassionate words, Akuto began to realize what exactly he had been told.
“Hah... Haha?” Still, he couldn’t help but think that is must be a joke.
“Okay, stay put. One more time, diagnose him one more time.” Miss Mitsuko forced Akuto to remain seated and approached Yatagarasu.
“The diagnosis is accurate. He will become the Demon King. Both his character and his abilities indicate that this will be the case.”
The artificial spirit remained calm. Miss Mitsuko took her right index finger and stuck it in her ear. This was how magicians communicated telepathically. She didn’t say anything, but even Akuto could guess that she was most likely getting in contact with an expert on the system.
After a few moments, Miss Mitsuko took her finger out of her ear.
“Y-You’ll probably need to be re-examined but, it’s okay, don’t worry. Once you’re re-examined, you should get a normal result. Everyone, don’t be alarmed. We’ll quit for today. Don’t be late for tomorrow’s opening ceremony.”
Miss Mitsuko dismissed the international students. Nonetheless, they were loudly astir over the situation. Left behind, Akuto realized the gravity of what had happened, and was hit by a strong wave of unease and anxiety.
—It’s obvious that this will lead to rumors about me being spread around the school. This is very, very bad. What is going on? This has to be just a bad joke. Yatagarasu was just confused, right? No, even then, the rumors will spread. I have to do something...
These worried thoughts spun around in Akuto’s head.
Miss Mitsuko looked towards Akuto with a stiff expression on her face.
“I’ve contacted the principal. Stay in my office until we hear back from him.”
○
For Akuto, he could only think that this was a nightmare. However, after some time passed with him sitting awkwardly in Miss Mitsuko’s office on the side of the infirmary, an unbelievable message arrived for him.
Demon King Daimaou: Volume 1 Page 2