CH-21 Dungeon Exam

 Chapter 21.1

The grand magic training was over and now it was lunchtime.

I'm currently talking with Aivis in the corridor.

"…In other words, you are my lord, the Demon King of Tyranny?"

"Ahh. The name of the Demon King of Tyranny is Arnos Voldigod. Someone has rewritten it as Avos Dillheavia."

Aivis had listened to my story without interrupting or denying it.

"Who's the someone?"

"I have no idea, yet. But it will also be the person who erased your memory."

"I see."

Aivis put a hand to his chin and appeared lost in thought.

"I understand that my memory was deliberately erased, however, is it not possible Arnos that you did this to me?"

A thirst for blood appears and Aivis turns his demonic eyes to me.

"I'm sorry but I have no proof that is wasn't me."

"You have the ability. If you are indeed an enemy of my lord the Demon King of Tyranny then I cannot remain indifferent."

Aivis is no fool. Seeing it from his standpoint with no memories he has no way of telling if I am lying or not. It's natural that he sees me as a potential enemy. He saw me use Time Manipulation ｢Lebaido｣ after all and as far as he knows only I can use it.

2000 years worth of memories erased and out of the blue, someone appears as an ally and proclaims himself as the Demon King of Tyranny as well as trying to fix his memories. No wonder he's suspicious.

"However, at the moment I shall remain neutral out of the nostalgic feeling I have from you."

"It would be a help if you would."

"Farewell."

Aivis walks off down the corridor.

"…That person is Aivis Necron, one of the old 7 Demon Emperors…?"

"…Yes…It's not possible for us black clothes to speak to him…"

"…What about the inept person?"

"Why's the inept person with one of the old 7 Demon Emperors?"

The students here sure like rumours. Good thing I don't care about such things.

"Arnos-kun."

I turned around as Emilia called out to me.

"I've got a lost article. Please take it."

Emilia gives me a school badge with a 6 sided star on it. It's certainly not mine.

"Whose is it?"

"A member of your group."

Sasha's or Misha's then but since I've never looked at their badges I'm not sure which one.

"Who?"

"…It's not Sasha-san."

What strange wording. Why not say Misha's name?

"It's negligent to use me for this. You should hand it back yourself."

I thought she'd be offended or get angry but she looks embarrassed. Whatever. Misha will be looking for this after all.

"I'll pass it on."

I turned around to put it in my bag and Emilia spoke to my back.

"There's a dungeon test this afternoon. Don't come here but go directly to the entrance of the underground dungeon."

"Got it."

I leave the classroom and follow Misha's magic to the courtyard.

It's crowded when I arrive and in the centre of it all is Sasha and Misha.

"I'm sorry but I can't help you. If you want to join the group you'll have to speak to Arnos."

"But Sasha-sama, I have no interest in speaking to that inept person at all. Please Sasha-sama. Can you speak to him…"

"I can't be helped, anyway, he doesn't listen to anything anyone says."

They seem to be former members of Sasha's group and apparently they want to be in my group so they can be with Sasha again.

Guess I'll intervene.

Misha's there as well but no one is talking to her.

If you want to be in my group then you'll have to deal with Misha as well though it's normal to think that Misha is closer to me since she's been in my group from the start.

Is it because she's wearing white clothes? She's the logical choice to talk to if you want to get a message to me.

Thinking about it, I've never seen Misha talk with any other mazoku. She's not the most talkative of people to begin with. Maybe always being with me part of the reason.

"Sasha-sama. Are you satisfied being in that inept person's group? Don't you have a plan?"

Sasha's has a bored expression on her face.

"It can't be helped since we have a contract. Are you sure you want to make light of Arnos just because he's branded as an inept person? He completed fusion magic after all."

All the students fell silent. Not a sound could be heard.

"Fine. Let's go."

The students reluctantly left.

I call out to the sighing Sasha.

"You actually seemed like my subordinate there. Such a thrilling rejection."

She obviously wasn't aware I was there as her eyes rounded and she turned away.

"…Shut up…they were annoying me, that's all…" Sasha says feebly.

"Misha, you dropped this."

I hold out her school badge.

"…Thank you…"

Misha takes the badge and puts it back on.

"Did you come to pick me up?"

"For what?"

"…The dungeon test this afternoon…"

Oh yeah, Emilia mentioned something about a dungeon test this afternoon. Basically, it's a test that challenges the dungeon that's built under Deruzogedo. It's similar to the group opposition test as you have to act as a unit.

Magic tools and weapons are placed in the dungeon and you compete to score the highest.

Although they try and sell it as a training exercise for labyrinth exploration it's basically a treasure hunt.

"That's not why I'm here but you are right about the test."

"Nn."

The meeting place is the entrance to the dungeon but since we are all here we can set off a bit earlier now.

"Arnos. Did you listen to the exam explanation properly?"

"Aah. You can get a perfect score if you get to the altar on the bottom floor and retrieve the king's sceptre. A simple matter."

"You weren't listening after all. Though there is a perfect score it's absolutely impossible. No student has ever made it to the bottom. Not even a teacher has ever made it. Nobody even knows if the king's sceptre is there. Some even doubt that the lowest floor even exists."

"Then why is there a perfect score item?"

"…Even if you ask such a thing me, I don't know. It's probably tradition or myth that the king's sceptre is on the bottom floor."

Yare yare. Is this academy even fit for purpose?

"Is the king's sceptre an item that strengthens your magic like Demon King Army ｢Guys｣?"

"Yes. It's said that the sceptre was made by the founder."

"If that's so then it exists."