Kenja no Mago
Volume 9 - The Astounding Invasion of the Devils
099 – Emergency call
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Spring has come and we have advanced to second year.
Although the classes are reorganized every year, only S class was exempted from it this year; after all, everyone in class S is part of the Ultimate Magic Research Society, which means they are part of the Ultimate Magicians. The difference in ability between class S and the other classes is too far apart, so class S was exempted from this classes' reorganization.
Apparently, there were considerable changes in classes A to C. I'm sorry to say that I ruined the chances of getting promoted to class S.
Tony was happy about it, though. I was told that if he dropped out of class S, he'd be transferred to the Knight's Academy. …Yah, I didn't though he would keep saying that, but apparently Tony's promise with his family was surprisingly big. No matter the situation, he had no intention of breaking it. Tony looks like a charlatan on the outside but inside he's manlier, or perhaps more serious, than you might think; ever since he started going out with Miss Lilia, he hasn't been going out with other girls.
That aside, today is the new students' entrance ceremony and we're also participating in it as second year students. The ceremony itself proceeds without incident, but the new students are acting strangely. It seems like they are looking around restlessly, or like they are not listening to the greetings of the attendants on the stage.
…Well, I know the cause.
It's well known that the Ultimate Magicians are formed solely by students of the Advanced Magic Academy. They're probably trying to see us. This is not the case for senior's students, but for the new students, it's the first time they've seen us. Well, they'll get used to it soon.
Eventually, the ceremony progresses and ends, despite the teachers repeatedly warning the new students.
"Mhm… yawn… I am sleepy…"
"Awesome Shin! I couldn't concentrate on the ceremony because I was distracted by the stares of the new students."
I was walking towards the classroom, stretching out as I struggle with the drowsiness caused during the ceremony, when I was approached by Sicily who called out to me dumbfounded and impressed.
"'This guy draws attention everywhere he goes.' I think I've got used to that kind of stare"
"As expected, Shin! You have nerves of steel"
Aug calmly analyzed the situation as Alice interjects.
"Well, aside from the Shin's thick, you guys should be careful from now on, alright?"
I was about to say a few words to Alice, but Aug speaks up first.
"Be careful?" – Maria asked bewilderedly.
"Up until last semester, there was no excessive contact with us. I guess they don't know how to treat us, because someone who had previously been a student of the same magic academy had suddenly become famous." – August continues.
"I agree" – I agreed with Aug's opinion.
"However, the freshmen are different. The number of students who took the examinations at the Advanced Magic Academy was the highest ever. It's not because this particular age group has a large population this year." – Aug finishes.
Maria asks perplexedly because she doesn't understand what she must be careful about, so Aug began to explain what he has just said.
"The freshmen aim is obviously us. I don't know what kind of approach they're going to take. They might ask us to join the Ultimate Magic Research Society or the Ultimate Magicians, or they might come to challenge us without understanding the difference in abilities"
"Oh, that kind of thing" – Maria nods.
"Corner. Especially you, be careful"
"Eh, why?!" – Alice asked.
"If they challenge you, you may gladly accept."
"I wouldn't do that!"
Sure, I'm worried about Alice. There is antecedents similar to the magical girl incident. That's why I was laughing with everyone else while I think about it.
"What are you laughing at, Shin? I'm most worried about you." – Aug then directed his speech towards me.
"Ehhh… me!?"
"In your case, I'm worried more about women surrounding you than about someone challenging you"
"Eh, but everyone knows I'm engaged to Sicily, right?" - After all, we had a nice big engagement party, I though.
"So what? There are many stories since ancient times about of men in power with wives who have been depraved by a woman"
"Men in power…"
The leader of the Ultimate Magicians and owner of the Wolford Chamber of Commerce… I suppose it is powerful enough…
"The Ultimate Magicians are isolated from the world, you know. Perhaps the Advanced Magic Academy is the only place you can interact with them and that would fire them up?"
"What an annoying attitude…"
"So, Claude, you have to stay with him at all times. That's an order."
"Yes! I'll never leave his side!" - Sicily happily replies.
Saying that, she clung to my arm. But… no, uhm… everyone is still around…
"It's still too early… but it's okay. Do that all the time"
"Understood"
That guy Aug, he's definitely amusing himself. However, I don't consider in the sightless the idea of shaking off my arms from this soft feeling.
"Seeing this love-love aura, you'll end up give up no matter what. I wish you would die…" – Maria speaks with a grudge.
"… I wonder why Maria can't get a boyfriend… I heard that even the Demon Hunters Association has been aware of this lately."
Girl hunters are rare, so I wish she could be cheered on.
"Haha… well, I guess since Maria beat up that guy in the association with Miranda… now they have an unwritten rule not to mess with those two, you know."
Tony, who also goes to the Demon Hunters Association a lot these days, informed me about Maria's real situation.
It's… well… I guess it was deserved, don't they? For a gal who says she wants a boyfriend, even if someone's trying to pick her up, she's just going to turn the tables on them, doesn't she?
"Hey… Maria do you hate being asked out?"
"It depends on how you ask me out. But for some reason, most guys who come to me are pricks." - Maria sighs, feeling troubled.
It seems that even when we first met, she was being forcefully picked on, so is there something in her that is attracting that sort of people?
"You are also a prick!"
"Don't be rude, Alice!"
I shouldn't laugh. I want to agree with Alice, but I shouldn't laugh. If I laugh, Maria's anger will turn to me.
With Maria chasing Alice, we move to the classroom. Starting this semester, it's the second year class S classroom. However, the equipment is the same though.
"For the time being, I'm glad there are no disturbances today."
"Absolutely. This time last year we were in quite a ruckus already."
"Ah… I'm sorry…"
Relieved to be in the classroom, Thor mutters, and Aug recalls about last year. Sicily who was the cause last year's ruckus seems to be apologetic.
"It wasn't your fault Sicily" – I comfort Sicily.
"No, I'm pretty sure I was to blame."
"You don't have to worry so much about it. Rather, that fiasco has brought me closer to you, Sicily."
"Shin…"
"But I didn't expect it to become such a big mess"
The Kurt rampage incident happened last year around this time. After that, Kurt was used as an experiment by Schtrom and turned into a demon, Schtrom then created a large number of demons, and those demons went out of control becoming a riot that involved the whole world. The turmoil has finally come to an end, and one year later, and it is finally back to normal…
"…Hmm?"
"What's wrong, Shin?" – Aug asks.
"No… I think I've forgotten something important…" - I wonder what? Now, I have a mental block, I think.
"You're forgetting. What?"
"Ummm… what is it? I have it on the tip of my tongue…"- What is it? It's bothering me.
"…I'm really worried, but you can't help it if you can't remember. You'll tell me as soon as you remember, won't you? If possible, I want to make sure we're ready for this to end."
"That is…"
"Yeah. It's about time to announce the end of the operation."
"Hee, is it all right?" – Maria utters.
Oh. It seems that the operation will finally end and Maria took a bite out of it.
"Because the surveillance network will be completed soon. Finally, Pope Ekaterina will declare the end of this operation." – Aug explains.
"It's been a long time, hasn't it? I didn't realize it would take more than six months." – Tony muttered.
"This is a lot shorter, thanks to the cooperation of the world. If our country had run this operation alone, it would have taken years." – Aug concludes.
"Ue! Spare me of this lasting a few years or anything like that!"
Tony muttered that it was finally over, and Alice looked heartily disgusted when she was told that it would have taken years to carry out the mission with just Earlshide. Well, I don't want this kind of tension to last for a few years either.
"I see, it's finally happening." – I said with relief.
"Well, we can't be too careful because Schtrom and the demons aren't gone. We built a surveillance network for that purpose, and if anything goes wrong, we'll be there."
Still, I think it's better than staying nervous about when and where the demons will attack. Will this finally bring back a quiet life?
"Well, when it comes to peace, there is another problem this time, though." – Aug continues.
"Another problem?"
"Have you forgotten? I'm talking about being careful about your surroundings."
"Oh, that…"
Well…Isn't it peaceful? – I ponder.
Since the day after the entrance ceremony…
"Kyaaa! Lord Shin!"
"Oh, Your Highness… I never thought I would be able to catch a glimpse of your face"
"Upperclassman Alice, so cute!"
"Big Sister Lady Sicily has seen us!"
I feel like an idol. They don't get involved with us directly, but when we pass each other or they spot us at a distance, they call us out like this. I'm not sure if I should be happy or embarrassed…
Surprisingly, the female students are unexpectedly gazing intensely at Sicily. I thought the male students were the one that would do something like that… You wouldn't think she would be targeted by the girls? Right? And being called Big sister lady Sicily…
In my past life, I thought it would be nice to be a celebrity or something, but I can't help but feel tired when I'm actually in this position. After all, it feels like my every single move is being watched.
"Hah… I want to use optical camouflage in the academy and live in seclusion…"
"What is it Maria? I already got used to it" – Alice teased her.
"You can't blame me for thinking that when we get this much attention, can you? Oh, but optical camouflage wasn't added to the uniform…" – Maria said in disappear.
I used to be afraid of the granting everyone else the same enchantments I casted on my uniform, but now I've gotten used to it. There wasn't this much of a fuss before, but this is what happens as soon as the new students arrive. It's like the scene that goes forever, that you usually see in manga. I used to look at it somewhat casually, but I didn't realize how exhausting it is to the person in the middle of it…
I'm living such a new and exhausting school life, but once a holiday arrived, the Ultimate Magicians were all at my house. Aug is talking through the wireless communication device. While I'm wondering what the hell Aug is taking so long to talk about on the call, he says the words I have been waiting for and the reason for gathering at my house.
"Shin. The date for the final declaration of conclusion of the war has been decided."
"Oh! So you've completed your surveillance network then?!"
"Yeah. Yesterday. I just received the message through the communication device. Since the surveillance network was completed, the Pope declaration will put an end to this the situation." The moment we heard the report, everyone cheers.
"Yeah! We did it!"
"Yes."
Alice and Lynn are high-fiving each other. Everyone else seems happy too.
"We only took part in the early stages, but it's a relief when the operation we took part in ends successfully." - Tony interjected.
"You know, we were only in it for the first few weeks, right?"
"But the achievement is mass subjugation demons. You should be prouder than that." – Aug concludes
Maria and Tony seem to be concerned about the briefness of our participation, but we did what we could, and I think we can be proud of ourselves. As we were all rejoicing over such good news after a long time, someone's wireless communication device's bell rings.
"Hmm? Me?"
Aug noticed that his wireless communication device is ringing and takes it out to check. All of us, who have a wireless communication devices are together at the same place, including Grandpa and Grandma. Then, the only person who could be calling is Uncle Dis. What can it be about?
"Yes. This is August."
Aug also responded in a polite tone, perhaps because he knows that the other person is Uncle Dis.
"Yes. I'm at Shin's house now… Yes. Yes? Huh!? Really??"
Aug, who had responded normally at first, suddenly shouted loudly. What is it? Is it an emergency? Everyone is nervous because of the distress on Aug's face.
"Yes. I see. Hey! Shin!"
"What?"
"My father says you should take over the call"
Uncle Dis is calling for me? - I wonder.
"This is Shin. Uncle Dis, did something happened?"
"Oh Shin! Is Sir Merlin there?"
"Yes he's here"
"Then it'll be just fine. Take Sir Merlin with you and go to Katie's place!"
"To Miss Ekaterina's place? Why?"
"It's an emergency! I just received an emergency call from Ys."
"Emergency call?" - What? I have a bad premonition.
"Katie has… Katie has been stabbed!"
The situation that I believe it was about to end, began to take an unexpected turn.