Tilea's Worries

Several days had passed since Elizabeth's attack on the western street. The city had regained its calm.

Baccio, who was hailed as the strongest of primates, had been killed. The mastermind, Elizabeth, was missing. Many other squad members were also killed or captured.

Apparently, the hero Gaderio, who had been on an expedition, led an assault force and quickly returned to the royal capital.

The arrogant Baccio Special Forces had let their guard down from top to bottom, which proved fatal. Caught off guard, they lost their leader Baccio and collapsed pathetically.

Thanks to Gaderio's swift response, the villains who had planned to burn down the western street were wiped out overnight.

The citizens were greatly excited about this achievement.

It seems the next guardian deity of the royal capital would definitely be Gaderio.

...But the truth is different.

In reality, it was Nielsen, Ortissio, and the Eastern Kingdom's elite forces who annihilated them.

Since they needed to hide their identities, they used Gaderio's forces as a cover.

This inevitably meant that Gaderio had pledged allegiance to the Eastern Kingdom. The hero, while being praised, had somehow betrayed the royal family.

Honestly, I don't really care about that.

There's only one thing I can say.

For Tilea and the others who managed to escape to the royal capital, I hope the hero Gaderio continues to pledge his loyalty.

That's all.

Anyway, the city has become peaceful, and Tilea and the others' lives are protected.

That's good.

The problem is me.

I have no memory of the past few days.

I can accept that it's due to injury and fatigue.

But the memory loss itself isn't the problem.

The problem is...

Haah~ I sighed.

Sitting in a chair, I take out a diary from my desk drawer.

It's my brand new diary.

I hardly ever kept a diary before.

But I might lose my memory again anytime, so I started writing a diary to preserve my memories.

I open the diary and turn the cover.

I've included a note at the beginning: "Record events exactly as they happened."

If a third party saw this, they'd be appalled.

A diary is meant to record daily trivial events.

They might think, "Isn't that obvious?"

But if I don't write it this way, this would no longer be a diary but a creative novel.

That's how unbelievable these events are.

For example, looking through the diary of the past few days will explain:

Second day of Frost Month. I had fainted on the main street.

When I woke up, I was surprised. My uniform was in tatters, and the surrounding buildings were on the verge of collapse.

Had a war broken out?

Fortunately, I wasn't injured and felt fine. Better than fine, actually.

My body was as light as a feather, and my skin had transformed into plump, beautiful skin.

It was as if my cells had been refreshed.

Up to this point, I might not have been too surprised.

After that, various things happened and I heard a whistling sound.

Assuming it was the Baccio Special Forces, specifically Hyuma of the whistling, I rushed immediately to the scene.

As I approached the source of the whistling, I noticed two opposing groups.

There was a group desperately holding spears and bows.

These people were residents of the western street. I recognized several of them.

Facing them was a group showing their white teeth, grinning as if about to attack.

This is bad!

I instinctively fired a magic bullet.

At that moment—

A thunderous sound echoed around... the troops were annihilated.

Literally annihilated.

Reduced to dust without a trace...

Huh!? What's this?

I don't remember putting so much power into it.

It was just meant to draw their attention to me.

It was supposed to be a diversionary magic bullet...

M-maybe I targeted the wrong group?

Maybe they weren't Hyuma's troops but militia since they were so weak.

My mind went blank.

But it seemed I hadn't made a mistake after all.

The stunned group, the western street residents, erupted in cheers.

They surged towards me and praised me, saying "As expected of a magic academy student."

A single magic bullet wiping out the infamous squad...

I gently turned the diary page and looked up at the sky.

After that, they praised me as "Our savior!"

Some people even started worshipping me when they saw me.

I really wish they would stop.

Third day of Frost Month. I finally realized something was wrong with my body.

No, that's not the right way to put it.

I decided I couldn't keep turning a blind eye to it anymore.

Let's check my body.

I feel good.

My skin is smooth and beautiful.

If told to fly, I could fly anywhere.

So today, I tried jumping vertically.

After confirming no one was around.

I put strength in my legs and jumped...

My body rose steadily and reached the roof of the academy dormitory.

That's about thirty meters.

Of course, I didn't use any body enhancement magic.

Just my physical strength.

Even with body enhancement magic tripling my power, this jumping ability would be impossible.

By the way, at the beginning of the school year's physical fitness test, my vertical jump record was sixty-seven centimeters. With body enhancement magic doubling my strength, it was one hundred and forty centimeters.

This must be some mistake.

There's no way my jumping power could exceed thirty meters.

Thinking like that, I tried again multiple times.

I kept getting more and more determined...

In the end, it wasn't my misunderstanding.

My jumping power wasn't just thirty meters.

I went far beyond the rooftop, cutting through the clouds.

When I made eye contact with a flying Camobird, well...

I gently turned the diary page and looked up at the sky.

I live on the third floor of the academy dormitory.

Recently, I've been entering my room by jumping to the balcony instead of using the stairs.

It's convenient.

Fourth day of Frost Month. Today, I tested my grip strength.

I casually picked up an apple and squeezed it.

Instantly—

The apple burst and scattered.

Of course, I didn't use any magical power. Just physical strength.

Am I a beastman?!

I made the retort to myself.

After that, I tried to see how powerful I was, similar to the vertical jump.

After the apple, I tried copper, iron, steel, and platinum.

All of them were crushed.

Other hard materials include diamond and orichalcum.

But I couldn't test those.

It would be wasteful to use such precious and expensive materials for experiments.

The result would probably be... nothing special.

Thinking about it further will only increase my worries.

Fifth day of Frost Month. I've understood that my physical abilities are monstrous.

Now I'll thoroughly investigate.

This time, I decided to check my magical power.

The academy has magical tools to measure magical power.

There are ones for students, staff, and research.

The student version can only measure up to five thousand. It's a simple device.

The staff version is about fifteen thousand.

There's also a large measuring device for magic research that can measure up to forty thousand.

This is a valuable item; there's only one in the academy.

Of course, I initially started measurement with the easily accessible student version.

But I stopped right away.

Because the needle was about to go off the scale.

I had expected this.

With such a monstrous body, it's natural to think that my magical power has also greatly increased.

So I decided to use the large measuring device.

Of course, since it's difficult to get permission, I sneaked in to use it.

Despite it being strictly managed, I easily snuck in.

I won't dwell on that.

Somehow I felt like I could do it, and I actually did.

Without exaggeration, I might seriously be able to become a master thief.

When I wanted to silence my footsteps, I could.

I can walk silently.

I can even completely eliminate my presence.

People who were there didn't notice at all and walked right past me.

Seriously, what's up with this body?

While feeling slightly dizzy, I started the measurement.

But I stopped right away.

Because the needle was about to go off the scale.

Huh!? This isn't the student version!

O-one more time.

I stubbornly tried again and again.

The result was the same.

The needle was about to go off the scale immediately.

This wasn't getting me anywhere.

In the end, I decided to measure it myself.

Without using a measuring device, I couldn't get an accurate value.

But I had no choice.

I cast an investigation spell on myself and measured my magical power.

I stopped when it exceeded fifty thousand.

Well... it became terrifyingly high.

By the way, my investigation spell was more accurate than the device.

I could measure accurately to 0.01 millimeters.

Ahaha, maybe I should take over measuring students' magical power?

I'm more accurate than the measuring device.

Anyway, I understood that I contain an enormous amount of magical power.

Now, let me record today properly.

Sixth day of Frost Month— I stopped.

I closed the diary and put it back in the desk.

This is truly like a creative novel.

What in the world happened to me?

I can't consult anyone about this.

In just a few days, my magical power easily exceeded fifty thousand.

My physical abilities easily surpassed those of beastmen and birdmen.

No one would believe such a tall tale.

They'd just think I've gone crazy— wouldn't they?

Actually, I could just demonstrate my combat power.

Everyone would be surprised.

So surprised that they might run away when they see me?

I'd be quite suspicious to the royal family.

The security forces would come to interrogate me.

At worst, I might be taken away by a special royal agency and executed.

...Well, with my current strength, I could probably easily defeat such a special agency.

Anyway, if someone found out, I could never live a peaceful life.

Haah~ I sigh while thinking about the future.

At times like this, I need a change of pace.

Maybe I should go check on Tilea?

Tilea... she had fainted and collapsed during Elizabeth's attack.

After annihilating Hyuma's whistling troops, I visited Tilea's shop, but Timu and the others from the Eastern Kingdom had grim faces.

That's when I heard what happened.

Tilea had collapsed in front of the shop.

Hearing this made me extremely worried, and I rushed to Tilea's side, but...

...Tilea was sleeping soundly.

Isn't this just regular sleep?

Tilea isn't used to the battlefield. She's an otherworldly princess. She probably collapsed from unusual tension and fatigue.

Timu and the others were shouting things like "It's because of Kousenjiyu" and "The Maja Three, unforgivable."

What's Kousenjiyu?

Maja... were there such people in Baccio's troops?

I didn't understand many things.

But I knew Tilea was safe.

I was relieved and left the place.

I wonder if Tilea is doing well?

Yes, a good idea is a good idea.

Let's go visit her right away.

I leave the academy dormitory and arrive at Tilea's shop.

After arriving, I head towards the stairs leading to the basement at the back of the shop.

After taking about three steps, I noticed Edim standing firm, glaring at me.

"Isn't it Edim. It's been a while."

I raised my hand lightly and greeted her.

I haven't seen Edim these past few days.

Timu and the others have been busy taking care of Tilea. I've been busy checking my own body.

"Miless, fancy meeting you here. The other day ended ambiguously, but I don't remember forgiving you."

"The other day?"

"Are you playing dumb?"

"No, that's not it. Does Edim know the situation? I don't remember the past few days."

"Come to think of it, you were babbling about losing your memory, it seems."

"Y-yes. The way you put it is a bit off-putting, but that's right. So I don't know why Edim is angry."

"...Then, I'll tell you. Be aware of your grave sins before you're executed!"

Edim explained the situation while enraged.

I listen to Edim's explanation and understand the key points.

Apparently, I had betrayed Timu and tried to become Elizabeth's subordinate.

According to Edim, I was acting together with Ronde, one of Elizabeth's entourage.

I was finalizing plans with Gil to infiltrate Elizabeth's mansion.

Ronde was a pawn in that plan.

Probably to deceive the enemy, as the saying goes "from allies," I must have lied to Edim for the sake of the plan at that time.

In retrospect, it was a reckless plan.

Thinking about it now, there were too many holes.

Ortissio is too direct, so he's reckless and unplanned.

Gil and I planned to somehow fill those holes.

Edim doesn't know these circumstances.

Ortissio, you should have properly shared information with Edim.

Edim, having taken my lie at face value, appears to be furious.

"Edim, it's a misunderstanding. That was—"

"No discussion needed. I'll apologize to Tilea-sama and Camilla-sama later."

Edim raises her fist.

Lowering her waist, she takes a straight punch stance.

Edim's fist approaches my face.

T-this is—

I've experienced this before.

Infiltrating Elizabeth's mansion,

Making Edim angry,

And then...

I must have taken a punch as slow as a fly landing.

Wait, huh?

Maybe I don't remember after all?

Edim's feeble fist approaching me.

What is this?

Is she serious?

I can easily handle this.

I moved my face to the right and dodged with ease.

"What!?"

Surprised that I dodged, Edim's eyes widened.

"Edim, apart from losing my memory, there have been other changes. It seems I've become stronger than before."

"Stronger? Don't get too full of yourself!"

Edim launches a barrage of punches and kicks.

Her fists and kicks accurately target vital points.

"You know, skipping the details..."

"Heyah!"

I try to explain, but Edim doesn't listen.

Every time I dodge, she gets more agitated and attacks again.

These attacks are slow and wasteful.

I dodge by shifting my body.

It's like she's relying purely on strength.

I don't even need to move much.

I can dodge with just footwork in place.

To begin with, even if the attacks hit, they probably wouldn't be a problem. They're just power-based attacks. If I were to receive them, Edim would hurt her fists.

That would be pitiful.

Using light footwork and sway, I continue to dodge Edim's attacks.

"Hah, hah, hah, why? Why can't I hit you?"

Catching her breath, Edim looks at me with a surprised expression.

"Well, you won't hit me with such wasteful attacks."

"Y-you bastard!"

An enraged Edim swings her arms wildly.

I easily dodge and move behind Edim.

"Listen. I seem to have become much stronger than Edim thinks."

I lightly placed my hand on Edim's shoulder.

"...What do you mean? What happened in such a short time?"

"Yes, I want to know too. Since I don't remember, I don't know the cause."

"I see, it's a secret. How convenient for your memory!"

Edim turned around and threw a punch.

My body moved naturally.

I countered with a punch to Edim's face.

"Guhah!"

"Ah, sorry. My body just reacted."

I unintentionally struck out.

Edim staggers, splattering nose blood.

Blood dripped to the ground.

"Ah, ah, s-such... b-blood, it's blood!"

"I'm really sorry. But it's because Edim was being violent."

"I-I won't forgive you. For a filthy human like you to make me bleed!"

Edim's expression transforms like a furious demon.

Her features are distorted with rage.

If faced with such hatred, boiling like magma...

I-I'm not scared at all.

Her fighting spirit has increased with anger.

But her roughness is more noticeable.

Rather, she's putting too much force into it due to anger. It will probably increase wasteful movements.

With this, she looks like she's just displaying the facial expressions Tilea often talks about.

...Honestly, I'm not scared at all.

Maybe my sense of fear has become numb?

I feel even more depressed.

There are still so many things I need to verify.

Edim stands up wobbly and rapidly increases her magical power.

The overflowing magical power begins to stir the air.

Hm!?

Oh, that much?

Edim's magical power rose to nearly twenty thousand.

To be precise, it's nineteen thousand four hundred and twenty point three.

Ah, it dropped by ten.

Hmm, it's unstable.

Her control of magical power is poor.

Despite having such magical power...

A lot of it is wasted. It's quite unsightly.

"Kukku, Miless, this is my true power. I'm going to color that carefree face of yours with despair."

Edim has a triumphant look.

While I'm critiquing Edim's magical power control, she asks an irrelevant question.

No, that's not right. Edim is correct.

I should be afraid, right?

After all, it's nearly twenty thousand magical power.

It's equivalent to the power of Remilia, descendant of heroes. I'm facing someone with such combat power.

It should be dangerous, but...

No matter how much stronger I've become, the opponent is also a powerful being exceeding ten thousand.

Battles are unpredictable.

I shouldn't let my guard down. I try to understand this logically, but...

It's no use. I'm not afraid at all.

My cells are telling me that this level of threat doesn't warrant a danger signal.

Ah, what should I do?

I'm afraid of myself for not being afraid.

Also, what bothers me is...

Edim isn't human, right?

This magical power quantity and quality, the phrase "filthy human," and above all, the fangs occasionally visible from her mouth.

Considering these...

"A vampire?"

"That's right. I don't know what happened, but don't get cocky just because you've become a bit stronger. You're just a human after all. Your combat power is limited. I am a demon race. I'll show you the difference in species."

Edim proudly declares.

Ah, Edim...

You became a victim during the royal capital attack, didn't you?

During the demon race's attack on the royal capital, many citizens fell victim to vampires.

The tragedy was that the attacked citizens became vampires, lost their sense of self, and attacked people.

To think Edim suffered such a fate...

My chest tightens with sadness.

Well, Edim seems to have maintained her sense of self, but the fact that she was forced to give up being human hasn't changed.

"Edim, that must have been tough."

"Hmph! What are you blabbering about? I'm grateful for the fate of becoming a vampire, breaking free from the fragile human shell. Spare me your misplaced sympathy!"

"I see, you have no attachment to being human."

"Of course. And now that my identity is revealed, I can't let you live!"

Edim emits killing intent again.

After revealing her identity on her own, that's a bit unreasonable, isn't it?

"Edim, can I ask one thing?"

"If it's begging for your life, it's useless!"

Magical power is gathering in Edim's right hand.

She's probably trying to release some energy bullet.

"...Magic bullet."

"That's right. Surprised? It's different from the magic bullets humans use. It's not that trash energy bullet. It's a mass of pure destruction, eat this!"

I had read about it in history textbooks.

An energy bullet favored by the demon race.

That was released from Edim's right hand.

So this is a magic bullet...

A black, aggressive mass of energy condensed with destruction—except it's not.

How pathetic it is.

Huh?

Normally, I should be surprised and afraid here.

N-no good.

No matter how much I think about it, the answer is the same.

Pathetic, too pathetic.

Yes, I can only come up with such an impression.

I don't even need to dodge this, right?

Probably, even if it hits me, I'll be fine.

Ah, but I don't want my uniform to get dirty.

I vertically deflect the approaching magic bullet with my hand.

The magic bullet disappeared into the sky.

"I-impossible! Who are you?"

"So, about my question..."

"W-what!?"

Edim steps back in fear.

While glaring at me with thoroughly frustrated eyes, I could see fear dwelling within.

I approach without hesitation.

Then, as I confront Edim, she pounces on me.

Slow.

I grab Edim's right arm as she tries to hit me, bend it at an angle, and lock the joint.

With her joint locked, Edim lets out a small scream and stops the magic bullet wave she was about to release from her left hand.

Restraint complete.

While holding Edim's joint, I push her against the wall and begin the interrogation.

"Why would a vampire like you approach Tilea and the others? What are you plotting?"

"Kuh, l-let go! I-I can't move!? W-what is this strength!"

"Just answer!"

I release a bit of killing intent and direct it at Edim.

"Ugh, ueh. W-why? Why would Miless, uueh"

I made Edim cry.

Edim is trembling, tears streaming down her face.

This is bad.

I immediately release her.

Edim backs away, whimpering.

I got angry and intimidated her unintentionally.

Edim is my close friend too.

There must be a reason why Edim is near Tilea and the others.

It's been almost a year since the demon race's attack on the royal capital.

If Edim intended to attack Tilea and the others, she would have done so long ago.

Yes, it's not too late to hear her story.

I release the killing intent and smile.

"Edim, I'm sorry. There must be a reason, right? Would you tell me if it's okay?"

"Hah, hah, sniff, hah"

Edim doesn't reply and runs down the basement stairs, crying.

Maybe I scared her too much?

I failed.

I should have known my own changes better.

The difference in power between me and Edim is obvious.

Like an adult and a child. No, an adult and a baby, or even more than that.

I should have responded like an adult.

I need to reflect on this.

Just as I was about to chase after Edim, she returned with a weapon in hand.

"Kill. I'll kill you. I'm going to fucking kill you, Miless!"

That's good.

It seems she's shaken off the fear.

The trembling Edim from earlier is gone.

Though her eyes are bloodshot and she's spreading killing intent.

"...Um, Edim, calm down."

"I'll chop you up. Chop you, kill you, and feed you to the pigs!"

It seems I've greatly wounded Edim's pride.

She won't listen to my words.

In her hands, she carries an incredibly expensive-looking spear, glaring at me with blazing eyes.

Expensive-looking...

Ah, I finally felt a normal impression.

Recently, everything I've seen and heard has seemed pathetic, making me think I might have a mental illness.

Yes, I still have a heart that can be moved.

That spear is good.

I think it's wonderful.

Is it a treasure from the Eastern Kingdom?

Though I don't know why Edim has it.

[TL notes: Sorry taking 2 weeks break again...]