Chapter 40 The Attack on the Commoner Dormitory (2)

"Roar!!" The monster in the lead suddenly leaped up and pounced towards me.

"...Tsk." In the blink of an eye, its sharp claws swung at me. In a panic, I quickly reached for the sword I had just bought from the back alley, but...

— Smack!

Before I knew it, Serena had nimbly stepped in front of me. With her fan, she easily blocked the monster's sharp claws and then gave a light wave of the fan.

"Squeal!!" At that moment, the creature flew out feebly and crashed into its charging companions. Seeing this, the other monsters stopped in their tracks and began to hesitate.

"Where do you think you're going?" Serena glanced disdainfully at those monsters and gracefully waved the fan in her hand. Suddenly, a faint moonlight magic began to envelop the monsters.

"Ugh, ugh - ahh..."

"Squeak... Squeak..."

Staggering a few steps under the sweep of the moonlight magic, the monsters fell down one after another. Soon, there was only silence left in the dormitory hall.

"How about it? I'm amazing, aren't I?" I stared blankly at the scene, and Serena blinked and asked me.

"...Just so - so."

"Ugh." I replied to Serena's question in an impatient tone, trying my best to ignore her sullen expression and muttering to myself in my heart.

'As expected of Serena. Has she already fully mastered the secret skills of the Moonlight Family at this point in time?'

One of the only three grand duke families in the empire, the "Moonlight Duke Family", is an "assassination family" that guards the night of the empire. Precisely because of this, the Moonlight Family, symbolized by the moon, possesses the serene, secret, and extremely lethal "moonlight magic", which is most suitable for "assassination". Just like the brilliant and overwhelming "sunlight magic" of the Solare Royal Family symbolized by the sun, and the shining and beautiful "starlight magic" of the Starlight Family symbolized by the stars, each family has abilities that match their symbols.

Of course, compared with the sunlight magic that can continuously unleash explosive power and the starlight magic that can burst out with huge force in an instant, the destructive power of moonlight magic may be slightly inferior... But moonlight magic seeps in quietly like poison, and in another sense, it is equally devastating.

- Rustle...

As I was lost in such thoughts while looking at the monsters that were gradually shattering and turning into powder, Serena spoke with a displeased expression.

"...If you had been training with Miss Isollette or me all along, that level of threat wouldn't have been a problem at all."

Of course, even now, I could completely obliterate those creatures with just one swing of my sword. However, in order to hide my strength in front of the attacker and Serena, I refrained from doing so.

- Swish...

Anyway, with the monsters defeated, just as we were about to take a step forward and start our formal exploration, a familiar voice came from behind.

"...Sorry to interrupt."

Kania was absorbing the black aura flowing out from the broken body of the monster.

"...Ugh." Seeing this scene, Serena frowned, hid behind me, and waved her fan, driving the scattered black aura towards Kania.

"Here, it's all yours."

"...Thank you." Kania frowned slightly at her action. After replying, she began to absorb the black aura several times faster than before.

"...Oh, the little wildcat seems to be angry."

"Enough. Stay away from me."

"Okay."

I sighed, pulled Serena, who had been clinging to my back, away, and began to look back and forth between the two of them.

'...I wish you two could get along well.'

Serena had seen through the fact that Kania was a dark magician from a very young age. Although I don't know how she saw through it, considering Serena's exceptional talent since childhood, I've come to terms with it. I once asked her to keep this a secret. Fortunately, she, who has always listened to me, didn't expose Kania's identity. But ever since the day she discovered the truth, the relationship between her and Kania has been far from harmonious. They've been bickering over trivial matters since just now, which is really exasperating.

"...Huh?"

Just as I was thinking this, Serena behind me suddenly showed a puzzled expression, tilted her head, and started thinking. Since Serena's showing such a reaction must mean something is up, I hurriedly rushed to where she was, but when I got there, I found nothing out of the ordinary.

"...Is it graffiti?"

"Hmm... To me, it seems to have a certain pattern."

As I was staring at the somewhat eerie graffiti on the floor of the hall, suddenly Serena turned her head sharply and walked in a certain direction.

"...Are they the dormitory administrator and the maid?"

"Yes, looking at their name tags... it should be so."

I followed her and found that under the fallen table, the administrator and the maid were lying there with their eyes closed.

"They're not dead, just unconscious. Even without taking their pulse, you can tell from the slight muscle twitches and the movement of their abdomen..."

"Enough. If you know the reason, just give a brief explanation."

"It's magic. He was put into a deep sleep by magic."

After hearing this, I temporarily sent Serena away and fell into deep thought alone. Before I knew it, Kania had finished absorbing the black aura. I said to Kania, who was standing beside me, "Kania, can you try to sneak into his subconscious?"

"You... Do you know that magic?"

"Of course I do. I know most things about you."

I smiled and said. Seeing Kania suddenly showing a flustered expression and breaking out in a cold sweat for some reason, I realized I had said the wrong thing and quickly added, "Ah, if it's too difficult for you, you don't have to do it. Dark magic is very consuming and it's a dangerous magic."

Kania stared at me for a while, then laughed softly and said, "No, I'll do it. The dark magic I've taken from the monsters is more than I can handle."

"...Thank you, Kania."

Hearing my words, Kania nodded gently, and then began to inject dark magic into the unconscious maid lying on the ground. As I was watching this scene with great interest, suddenly Kania frowned and quickly withdrew her dark magic.

"...It seems I can't do it."

"What do you mean?"

I asked with a puzzled look as she shook her head and said this. Kania replied with a serious expression, "...I'm not sure either. It seems there's an unknown force preventing interference with the unconscious state."

After hearing her words, I couldn't help frowning.

"...That Demon King is really crazy."

"What?"

"If even your 'unconscious magic' doesn't work... It's impossible unless it's the interference of the 'Demon King'."

"Then, does that mean... The Demon King is here now?"

Kania asked in surprise. I gently shook my head and replied, "No, it shouldn't be... He might have divided his power among the 'attackers'."

"What? Not a cadre or a confidant... but just an 'academy student'?"

Kania showed an incredulous expression. Just like her, I also opened my mouth with the same look and said, "So I told you, the Demon King has gone crazy. Why on earth is he doing this? Why? Why?"

Just as I was struggling to figure out this plot that had completely deviated from the track, Kania asked cautiously, "Master, forgive me for asking, but... could it be that the mission has failed?"

"Ah, it hasn't failed yet. The main - line mission window is still open."

"Then... that means the 'goal' that the attacker and the Demon King are plotting hasn't been achieved yet."

"That's right. We have to stop them as soon as possible. And after stopping them, I must take their place. So Kania, I have a favor to ask of you."

"Hmm?"

"...Give me some of your dark magic."

Just as Kania, looking dazed, accepted a portion of the dark magic and was about to leave the table, Serena's voice came from upstairs.

"Come here now!!"

Hearing this, I quickly ran to the second floor and found Serena staring intently at me.

"...So, what did you call me here for?"

"I want to tell you my reasoning."

As Serena spoke, she waved the fan in her hand, and the door of the dormitory beside us began to corrode gradually.

"...This is troublesome."

Soon, behind the corroded door appeared the unconscious students of the commoner academy.

"It goes without saying that the other floors must be in the same situation. We've already defeated ten monsters just to get here, but we haven't seen a single person."

"...Hmm."

Hearing that, I put my hand on my chin and fell into thought. Serena continued to explain, "Well, this incident is probably too huge and evil for you... I'll assume that you came here to stop it all."

"...I understand. Get to the point."

"Why haven't there been any casualties?"

Hearing this, I widened my eyes. Serena gently shook her fan and continued, "In this dormitory filled with aggressive monsters... It's really strange that not a single person has been injured. If the monsters really wanted to attack, these wooden doors couldn't stop them at all."

"And the unguarded administrator and maid on the first floor are also safe and sound."

Kania, who had appeared behind me at some point, took up the conversation. Serena, who had been frowning slightly, coughed lightly and continued, "Ahem, in short, considering these factors... It seems there's someone who can control the monsters."

"...Is that person the attacker?"

"Yes, and the reason why that attacker specifically put everyone in the dormitory to sleep and released the monsters to deal with the intruders instead of the sleeping people is..."

She paused for a moment, looked in the direction of the first - floor hall, and said softly, "...The graffiti we found just now, you saw it, right?"

"Yeah, but why..."

"There's similar graffiti here too."

As she spoke, she pointed to the ground, and indeed, there was a pattern similar to the graffiti on the first floor.

"What's interesting is that the graffiti on the first floor and the graffiti on the second floor where we are now match perfectly."

"Then..."

"If these graffiti extend all the way to the top floor... Eventually, it might form a'magic circle'."

Having said this, Serena took a deep breath and continued with a serious expression, "According to my speculation... Everyone in the dormitory must be put to sleep, and there can't be any variables like intruders that would make the number of people unclear... If such a large - scale magic circle is to be activated..."

"...Damn it."

Before she could finish speaking, the image of the succubus queen I met in the back alley flashed through my mind. She had been carefully preparing a magic circle to awaken the Demon King with a large number of 'healthy children' as sacrifices. Judging from the shape of those graffiti... Although it's slightly different from the magic circle the succubus queen used at that time... It seems even more evil and on a much larger scale.

So, the real purpose of the 'attacker' who raided the dormitory and the 'Demon King'...

"...It can only be a sacrificial magic circle."

"Break through to the top floor immediately!"

As soon as Serena finished speaking, I gave such an order and quickly rushed towards the top floor.

"Master, why the top floor?"

"We have to go to the top floor to complete the magic circle. The attacker is likely to activate the magic circle there. So we have to hurry and stop them..."

"Ahhhhh!!!"

"...Damn it."

However, as soon as we set foot on the third floor, we were surrounded by a large number of monsters.

"...Time is running out."

"Master, please step back."

"Hah... They're all going to be shattered anyway."

When I started to bite my lips impatiently, Kania and Serena gathered power in their hands and stared intently at the monsters, but...

- Buzzing!!!

Finally, I couldn't stand it anymore. I drew the sword from my waist and instantly eliminated a large number of monsters. They looked at me with shocked eyes.

"You... What's going on..."

"I'll explain later. Follow me."

Exposing my true strength in front of Serena is indeed a big minus point, but with the 'Absolute Obedience Magic', I can always find an excuse to fob it off... Although it's very dangerous, as a last resort, I can always erase her memory. Right now, the lives of the common people crowded in the dormitory are more important than those concerns.

"...We're going to break through by force now. So, stay close to me."

After saying this, I infused starlight magic throughout my body and rushed towards the top floor at the fastest speed.

"Ma - Master?"

"Frey! It's too fast!!"

There were dying cries behind me, but now the lives of hundreds of common people were more important, so I had to endure and ignore them.

.....

- Boom!! Crash!!

"Damn it, where on earth did that guy get so much strength!?"

"Stop it!!"

"Hehe... Heehee... After coming this far... You still want me to stop..."

After my fierce struggle, I reached the top floor a few minutes later, and it was already in chaos.

- Zzzz!!

"Miss Pelosh! Are you okay?"

"This, this much... I'm fine..."

The defensive barriers and white shields of Arianna and Pelosh were resist the pouring purple magic.

"Ugh!!"

"You said your magic power was exhausted! Don't push yourself too hard!"

"This, this much... I can still hold on..."

Then, the fireballs summoned by Irina and the golden flash released by Klana collided with the incoming purple magic, triggering a huge explosion.

"Whoa!!!"

Just as the aftershock of the explosion was about to engulf everyone, the sword qi released by Isollette swept away the aftershock. Then, the figure of the "attacker" who was fighting against the world - class powerhouses clearly emerged.

"…Isabelle. It's that guy."

Isabelle, who had been taken away by the royal knight order yesterday, was now shouting hysterically with a crazy smile.

"It's useless!! How many times have I said... As soon as Lord 'Frey' comes, you're all dead!!!"

Hearing this, the people fighting against her all frowned. Kania and Serena standing beside me also looked at me with a puzzled expression.

'...She's already sacrificed her soul.'

Witnessing all this, I finally understood the current situation. It seemed that in order to shift the blame onto me, she had sacrificed her soul to the Demon King in exchange for'revenge' and thus obtained 'a part of the Demon King's power'.

"Give up! You have no chance of winning!!"

"...If you continue to consume your power like this, your vitality will be exhausted, right?"

Of course, it was only a part of the power, and she would collapse from exhaustion soon.

"Hah, wishful thinking! All I need to do today is activate this magic circle here! Then, I can officially become a member of the Demon King's army... The rest, I'll leave it to my superior, Mr. Frey."

The reason why the Demon King granted her power was probably to activate the'magic circle of awakened power'. If that magic circle was really activated, everyone in the commoner dormitory would become sacrifices. By then, the empire would be plunged into a rebellion of angry common people. At the same time, the Demon King who had awakened the 'Blessing of Destruction' would officially appear in the world. Because she was restricted and couldn't manifest in the world unless she obtained the 'Blessing of Destruction'.

「...The guys from the Demon King's army really went to a lot of trouble.」

Those who can obtain the power of the Demon King must be those who can give up everything and pursue only one goal. Isabelle had obviously made contact with the Demon King's army a few days or even weeks ago. And yesterday, due to my intervention, her downfall likely met some kind of condition... So, the originally small - scale 'attack incident', in order to impress the Demon King, had turned into this 'large - scale' action.

"Fr, Frey!?"

"...You."

Just as I was thinking about this, those who had been fighting fiercely with Isabelle for a long time finally noticed me.

"...Wait, what did you say? Frey?"

At this time, Isabelle, who had been loudly proclaiming my name, showed a flustered expression and began to stare at me viciously.

"Ugh... Ugh... Ugh!!!"

Suddenly, she let out an uncomfortable groan, and then rushed towards me.

"...Where do you think you're going."

"It's really disgusting."

Just then, Kania and Serena, with cold expressions, wanted to step forward to stop her...

「Lord Frey!! Please forgive me!!!」

Isabelle, who stopped in front of me, suddenly knelt down and began to smash her head against the ground forcefully.

"..."

Facing her crazy behavior, everyone forgot to attack for a moment and just stared blankly at the scene. After a while, everyone's eyes turned in unison towards me.

「...Is she crazy?」

Of course, I was completely at a loss and didn't understand why she would do such a thing. Just as I was confused, a voice suddenly rang out in my mind.

— Frey Laan Starlight, the helper of the Demon King's army.

「...What's going on?」

Just as I was at a loss due to this sudden situation, the black crow sitting on the windowsill in front of me suddenly winked at me.

I am the humble servant of the great Demon King. Pleased to meet you. Moments later, that voice resounded in my mind once again, and at this point, I finally recalled the identity of that crow.

'...That's right, it's this crow, the very culprit behind the attack on the commoner dormitory.'

This crow, known as the "pet of the Demon King", has the power to fulfill the wishes of the nobles within the scenario of the "Attack on the Commoner Dormitory" in exchange for their souls.

- That woman made a wish to join the Demon King's army. In other words, she will become your direct subordinate.

According to what the crow said, Isabelle's wish wasn't for revenge but "to join the Demon King's army". Therefore, she now seems to be doing her utmost to curry favor with someone who has long - standing connections with the Demon King's army.

- At this very moment today, if the magic circle is activated, the Demon King will awaken his power... and soon, he will make his appearance in this world. So, please talk to that girl now and stall for time.

The crow pleaded with me earnestly. Indeed, Isabelle alone wasn't enough to delay for a sufficient amount of time.

- I have always remembered the loyalty you've shown to the Demon King's army until now. So, if you're willing to assist, I will take today's events into consideration and bestow upon you boundless glory.

After saying these words, the crow pecked its beak impatiently, urging me. I took a deep breath, turned to Isabelle, and said, "Really, I've hinted so obviously..."

"Y, yes! I'm so sorry! Truly sorry!!"

Hearing me, Isabelle trembled with fear and started shouting desperately. She seemed so terrified that she even forgot the fact that I had never given her any hints at all.

"Could it be... Could you be...?"

"Hah, as I thought... I knew you had something to do with the Demon King's army."

"...Scum."

Anyway, as soon as I started talking to Isabelle, the people on the top floor began to react in various ways. Kania, more or less understanding the situation, gritted her teeth and silently assumed an attacking stance against me.

"Wait!! Please wait a moment!!"

Just as those angry girls were about to launch an attack on me, who was looking calm, Serena suddenly stepped in and started shouting loudly.

"...Serena?"

"Oh, long time no see..."

"...Such a nostalgic face."

Irina, Pelosh, and Klana all showed delighted expressions.

"Mr. Fr, Frey stepped forward bravely to slay the monsters to save everyone! Probably."

But as soon as Serena shouted this urgently, their expressions instantly turned cold, and they muttered in low voices, "...It seems Miss Serena hasn't experienced the regression yet."

"What a pity, really."

"...Tsk."

Sensing the frosty atmosphere, Serena quickly looked at me and began to speak, "You!! Tell the truth quickly!! You didn't do all of this... Ah?"

However, when I, at some point, had drawn my sword and was looking around at everyone with a composed expression, she suddenly stopped mid - sentence and started glaring at me.

"...Are you thinking again?"

I knew that expression was the one she had when she was thinking. So, I decided to take action before things got worse. I touched the "Stone of Domination" with the hand in my pocket.

"Roar - ahhhhh!!!"

Immediately after, all the monsters in the commoner dormitory started surging towards the top floor.

"W, what!? What's going on!?"

"'...What else could it be? It's definitely the true power of the hidden Stone of Domination.' As the crow's panicked voice echoed in my mind, I quietly responded in my heart and touched the Stone of Domination again to put it into a trance. This guy is not only crucial evidence of the Demon King's resurrection but has also been threatening me and finally manipulated my mind to do all this, becoming the real mastermind behind the scenes. I must safeguard my political position. So, I have to make good use of this crow with dilated pupils and an open beak. Only in this way will the empress, who is collaborating with me, and the Solar God Cult that I've been secretly funding have reasons to protect me.

"Hahaha - ahhh - hahaha!!!"

After everything was ready, I first let out an evil laugh, then released the dark aura that Kania had previously implanted in me, and shouted to everyone, "For the coming of the Demon King!!!"

As soon as the words fell, the people on the top floor silently assumed attacking postures one by one.

'...I'm probably going to be bedridden for a week after this.'

It seems that the moment for the final BOSS of the attack on the commoner dormitory to make an appearance has finally arrived.