“The disciplinary committee?” The student council members were flustered. The three members present worriedly looked between the president and Akuto.
“The disciplinary committee is, well...” The student council president jabbed her finger at Akuto as she spoke. “It’s tough. Real tough. Are you good in a fight?”
“Hmm, I don’t know. I haven’t been in one before.”
The student council president smiled wryly at Akuto’s honest reply.
“I see. Well, whatever. Being on the disciplinary committee at this school is no walk in the park. But I guess you can quit as soon as you’d like, so just do whatever you think is necessary. The discipline rep works independently under the student council so you can just do anything you want.”
“Is that so? I don’t really understand, but I mean to take this job seriously.”
“You’ll take it seriously without understanding it? At any rate, do your best. At least it sounds like it’ll be interesting, so it should be fine, right?”
The student council president seemed to be directing her questions more to the other student council members than directly to Akuto himself.
After that, Akuto received the key to the disciplinary committee room. As Akuto exited the student council room, a surprising school announcement came in over the speaker system.
This is an announcement from your student council. A new disciplinary committee president has been decided. The president is Akuto Sai. If you wish to speak with him, please visit the disciplinary committee room.
The student council was vigilant. But Akuto didn’t yet know that there was someone even more vigilant than them. He didn’t realize this even when he received a telepathic message at the end of the lunch period.
“I’m sorry for reaching out to you like this so suddenly. Do you have a moment?” Right as Akuto finished his meal, Fujiko called out to him through their student handbooks.
“Yes,” Akuto replied, telepathically.
“Hattori didn’t attend class today, but she has promised to meet with you. It seems she will be in the old barracks in the underground labyrinth at 4:00 in the afternoon. Understand?”
“Yes, I understand. Thank you so very much,” Akuto said, then ended the communication.
○
Meanwhile, in the girl’s bathroom, Fujiko was grinning to herself after the end of the telepathic link.
“Hehehehe... How delightful. I love a good scheme.”
Fujiko kept her student handbook open and entered Junko’s contact information next. Once the communication had connected, Fujiko’s expression completely changed back to her other self, putting on the image of a gentle, high-class girl.
“Hattori?”
“Yes...? Oh, Dorm Leader!” Junko sounded like she was startled when she’d realized who’d called her.
“Have your wounds healed?”
“Oh... Yes... I’m totally fine now!”
“I see, since you’re still missing school then it must have something to do with the incident with that transfer student, correct? I apologize if it’s a difficult subject to talk about.”
“Oh... Umm... Yeah... That’s actually why.” Junko spoke as if it was hard for her to admit. Her candid reply spoke to the trust she had in her dorm leader, Fujiko.
“Actually, the reason I ask is because that transfer student has proposed a reconciliation.”
“Reconciliation? At this point, why would he...”
“Yes. Maybe, just maybe, it has something to do with becoming the disciplinary committee president?”
“The disciplinary committee president? But that’s...”
“That’s right. People still believe that defeating the disciplinary committee president will improve your ranking, so he’s gotten himself in yet another tough spot. There are a lot of people obsessed with trying to figure out who could be the rank one student. It’s quite a hassle.”
“Which is why no one has wanted to take up that role... But what does that have to do with a reconciliation?”
“That much I do not know. Maybe he’s planning something behind closed doors? I don’t know what someone like him could be thinking, but he might be aiming to gather power within the school?”
“You’re right... That must be it.”
Even though she was communicating telepathically with Fujiko, the displeasure in Junko’s voice was clear.
Fujiko chuckled.
“As the dorm leader, I was asked to be the intermediary, but I wanted to warn you. He chose the barracks on the third level of the labyrinth as a meeting place, at 4:30 today...”
“A large, open space, suitable for violent outbursts, huh? I will be careful.”
“Yes. Please do. Today at 4:30,” Fujiko emphasized the meeting time and ended their conversation.
Hurriedly, she then began communicating with her next target. A burly man’s voice answered.
“Yeah?”
“Oh? And since when are you allowed to speak to me in that tone, I wonder?” Fujiko sounded amused, as she received a flustered reply.
“M-My apologies!”
“I know it’s been a long time since we’ve seen each other, have you become forgetful? I could make you remember.”
“P-Please pay it no mind! What do you require of me, Mistress?”
“I’m going out of my way to give you this information. Be grateful. Do you know about the new disciplinary committee president?”
“You mean how some nitwit jumped into the position, right? I don’t blame him for not knowing the details, but it’s impossible for someone like me to see it as anything but a challenge. But isn’t that guy getting special treatment? A governmental Liradan follows him around everywhere, there’s no way to get a hold of him. It’s best just to leave him alone I thi—”
“Cease your sniveling!” Fujiko interrupted him sharply. “You want to be a black magician and you’re still talking like that, Takeshi? Do you understand what I’m saying? He’ll be going down to the third floor of the labyrinth today at 4:00. Without the Liradan. Take a hostage for all I care, just give him a hard time and make sure he knows who’s in charge around here! No matter how strong your magic or physique, everyone succumbs to mental pressure. Get it done.”
Before Takeshi could even respond, Fujiko cut off the telepathic link.
“Now then...”
After hanging up, Fujiko reverted back to her high-class, respected-by-all facade. However, her mind was still filled with dark and wicked thoughts.
“Everything is going according to plan. No matter how the chips may fall, he will definitely end up taking that medicine,” Fujiko chuckled to herself. As students passed her in the hall, they only felt praise and admiration as they saw Fujiko’s ever-gentle smile.
○
When afternoon classes ended, Akuto sat at his desk, thinking about how he could shut down Korone without being seen and get down into the school’s underground area. In the middle of his thoughts, he suddenly realized that the atmosphere around him was strange. Everyone usually kept their distance from Akuto, but this time he could sense fear in the classroom.
“Doesn’t something feel a little off?” Akuto asked Korone.
“It is unclear to me how you have come to this conclusion, but if you are referring to abnormalities, those two seem to be missing,” Korone said.
“Those two...” Akuto looked around the room. Now that Korone had mentioned it, he realized that both Keena and Hiroshi were gone. Keena had probably aimlessly floated off to someplace or another, which wasn’t strange. But as for Hiroshi, Akuto figured he must have gone to the bathroom or something.
—I guess with them gone, it’ll be easier to head down underground.
Akuto stood up.
“There’s a place I want to check out.”
“Where?”
“The underground.”
“Why?”
“I want to see what’s left over from the war.”
Making up an excuse
on the spot, Akuto exited the classroom. Korone followed after him. He knew no one would follow him this way, and he’d be able to shut Korone down as soon as they got to the underground area. After heading down the stairs into the school’s basement, just before entering the underground labyrinth, Korone suddenly spoke up.
“By the way.”
“What?”
“While I won’t interfere myself, this doesn’t mean I’m hoping for your failure, so as your observer I have to point something out.”
Akuto cocked his head at Korone’s sudden remark.
“What do you mean?”
“Please don’t forget this fundamental rule: when someone attempts to interfere with you, sometimes I may ignore them. But if I do, that in itself interferes with your life. So if I ignore something, I will take responsibility for the results.”
As usual, Korone was saying things that Akuto couldn’t understand at all.
“In other words?”
“It seems that you are unaware of the way people perceive you. However, I believe that becoming able to recognize this can be seen as ‘personal growth.’”
“Don’t say annoying stuff like that.”
Akuto spent a few seconds facing Korone, feeling slightly irritated. Due to this, Akuto didn’t pay attention to the mysterious metal clattering sound that echoed from the underground.
“Anyway, let’s go.”
The large metal door going down into the labyrinth was open. Akuto immediately turned around and closed the door upon entering. Doing this, he realized that Korone had her back turned to him.
Although he was still nervous, this was his second time around. So he pressed on, knowing he only had one shot. He immediately extended his hand towards Korone’s butt and stuck his hand under her skirt.
“Ah!”
Caught off guard, Korone yelped out in surprise. Her response startled Akuto, but he successfully managed to pull her tail. She remained upright, but her body stopped moving.
“Phew... I don’t think I’ll ever get used to this shutdown method...” Akuto sighed as he sat Korone down next to the door.
Akuto opened up his student handbook and brought up a map of the underground labyrinth. Apparently there was an exploration club who sold maps of the area. Of course, no one knew if these maps were completely accurate, but they did have the reputation of being absolutely perfect down to the fourth floor. This was because the upper parts of the underground area were often used by students for club activities. Come to think of it, as the girls’ dorm leader was using the old war room as a secret meeting place, it seemed obvious that other rooms must also be used by students.
According to the map, there were many entrances into the labyrinth. Akuto had figured that the entrance he’d come through was used the most because it stood out so much. However, it was far away from the various underground facilities, so apparently that wasn’t the case. It seemed like you could also enter the underground through the dorms, and some classroom supply closets. Akuto hadn’t properly checked out any of these other pathways, though.
Nevertheless, with the layout of the underground, it was natural that one section was being used as a hangout spot for delinquent students. Upon arriving at the third level, he was met with the gazes of students crouched along the side of the passageway, and eyes piercing through the darkness of open club room doors.
—If they’re going to treat me like an enemy, they can’t complain if I suddenly attack them first...
Of course, up until now he had never acted on thoughts like this. While that was partly his own good intentions, most of it was his inability to take on multiple opponents at once. But now that he had entered this school, and learned to control powerful magic, that was no longer a concern.
—Besides, Korone isn’t here right now... So as long as I don’t kill them, she won’t be able to punish me.
Realizing this, Akuto became aware of the disconnect between his brain and his heart. He felt both disturbed and excited at the same time. He knew it wasn’t okay to harm others, but he also thought about how nice it would feel to get back at these belligerent delinquents.
In the end, Akuto hoped that they didn’t do anything to try and upset him as he made his way towards the barracks.
—I hope everything goes well tonight... But why did Hattori decide on such a dangerous meeting place? She will need to be on the lookout, too... But then again, she held the second strongest rank, right?
Akuto muttered to himself as he walked along until he arrived at the barracks. He was met with a large sliding door, similar to what one would see at the front of a storehouse. It was closed at the moment, but it didn’t seem to be locked. He put his hand on the door, and it appeared that it was often used, as it smoothly slid open despite its heavy appearance.
Cool air flowed out from inside the room. It was dark, but it seemed considerably spacious inside. Akuto could only make out the area directly in front of him that was lit up by the light from the passageway. Seemingly the only thing inside was a row of three-story steel bunkbeds.
—Ah, this must be because they were used as barracks. Anyway, where is the light switch...
Akuto took a step inside.
Suddenly, he felt the impact of something heavy hitting him on the head. In a matter of moments, he’d been struck down to the ground.
—Ow!
The lights came on. Akuto saw several pairs of legs come into view. He was surrounded.
Looking up, he saw several smirking faces. All of them held weapons in their hands. Shock batons and something square-shaped placed in a sock — all of them weapons designed to cause pain rather than actually kill someone.
“Well, got ya scared yet?” With a jeering voice, one of the students swung his baton down on Akuto.
—Ah!
Akuto wasn’t able to bring his arm up to defend himself. Instead, he concentrated his mana into the back of his neck, where the baton aimed to hit him. Light flowed out, repelling the baton.
“Whoa!” The student who had attacked Akuto felt his hand go numb, like he had just slammed the baton into something hard.
—Have I gotten used to this already? No... It’s because I’ve improved my focus.
Akuto was surprised by his own actions. He had pin-pointedly defended himself from the strike without his mana going out of control. Seeing how he hadn’t put in any practice, he began to grow slightly suspicious at being able to defend himself so well. But then, his doubts were answered. He realized that, instead of just defending himself in a blind panic like before, this time he had a clear and precise purpose in his mind.
—Well then, how should I go about obliterating these punks?
Thinking this, Akuto felt oddly at ease. He was in pain, but he forced himself to stand up and see what was going on. He stood on the edge of the barracks, which was about as wide as a normal school gym. There were six people surrounding him. However, those weren’t his only assailants. On the opposite side of the barracks, there was a male student sitting on one of the beds, surrounded by a dozen of his henchmen.
Akuto couldn’t find the right words to say to his attackers. He figured since they had come at him with violence, all he could do was respond accordingly.
Akuto took a step towards the student whose hand had become numb from his own baton attack. The attacker didn’t back down and swung the baton down again, but Akuto stopped it with his arm. Akuto then grabbed and pulled on the baton, and threw a punch into his off-balanced opponent’s face. But the attacker seemed to be surprised by how little power there was behind Akuto’s punch.
—That’s right, I haven’t been practicing any martial arts or anything, after all.
Akuto realized that though he’d managed to use mana to protect himself from the attack, that didn’t mean his body had gotten any stronger.
“He’s actually pretty weak, you guys!”
The baton-wielding student grew arrogant and took another swing at Akuto. This time Akuto didn’t pu
nch him, but instead released a concentration of mana. With his right fist, he managed to strike and bend the baton. The mangled baton shot back and struck his opponent in the face. Without even so much as a groan, the student collapsed to the floor.
The faces of the remaining students stiffened in fear. Taking a few steps back, they now appeared to be primarily concerned with dodging Akuto’s attacks.
—How repugnant can a person get.
Akuto picked one of the group and pointed his hand toward him. In an instant, a projectile of concentrated mana shot out from his hand. It struck the student in the stomach, and he collapsed on the floor in agony. Clutching his midriff, he rolled around, groaning in pain.
“Shit!”
The four remaining attackers were all facing Akuto, and just as he had done, they launched their mana towards him. Without dodging, Akuto gathered mana onto his body, and repelled the attacks. The four of them looked visibly dismayed.
—I’ve never been in a normal fight, so I never really understood, but... I guess this is what they mean by an inherent difference in mana... That’s right, from the start, their punches were stronger than their magic, and that’s why they came at me like that.
Akuto ignored the four students and continued towards the back of the room. It was obvious that the guy surrounded by henchmen was the boss. He was the person to settle things with.
This guy was big, and his face was so fleshy that his jaw was slack. His facial features were simple, but you could still tell that he had a violent nature. As such, based on a first impression, you could only describe him as “ferocious.”
“I’d like to ask your reason for this sudden attack.”
The student laughed derisively at Akuto’s question.
“What’s it to ya?”
“Understanding and peace of mind. I have to admit I’m a little upset.”
“Fine, I’ll tell ya. Whenever someone joins the disciplinary committee, people want to try their hand at crushing them and making a name for themselves. It’s a matter of pride. That’s why that guy gave you a little warning.”
“...Why do I need to be warned with a hit to the head? Now that I think about it, you haven’t told me your name yet.”
Demon King Daimaou: Volume 1 Page 12