Vol. 1 Chapter 4 – It’s a Duel!

At one in the afternoon, Sonia stood with her arms folded in front of a massive dome-shaped building with a blue roof, located in one corner of the high school division grounds of the magic academy.

“My, you actually came without running away.”

“I promised I’d duel you, didn’t I.”

After answering that, Junpei glanced over at Sonia’s outfit. Since it was summer vacation, Junpei was in casual clothes but Sonia was properly wearing her uniform. Her well-filled chest was adorned with a red ribbon indicating a second-year student. A second-year, in other words, she was one year older than Junpei.

“…I’ve kind of been talking casually, but since you’re a senpai, maybe I should be using polite language?”

“It’s far too late for that. Even if you try to dress up your words now, it would just be superficial compliance while harboring defiance. You have no intention of truly regarding me as your senpai anymore, do you?”

“You catch on quick. That makes things easier for me.”

Saying that, Junpei smiled and looked around. Under the blazing sun, the schoolyard had no one else besides himself and Sonia.

“Is it just you?”

“I have no intention of turning this duel into a spectacle. The commander… Kaede-san did seem like she wanted to witness it but I declined. Just the two of us, one-on-one, a fair and square match. Here, in this magic combat training dome!”

Declaring that proudly, Sonia tilted her head back to look up at the dome behind her. It was an exceptionally large building for a school facility, and its exterior somewhat resembled the Colosseum of ancient Rome.

“Since Junpei-san is also a student of this school, you are familiar with this dome, aren’t you?”

“Yeah. The magic combat training dome. It’s used for training in combat magic, and it’s equipped with all sorts of facilities, but its biggest feature is that the building itself acts as a massive barrier… right?”

“Exactly. Within that barrier, the power of all magic is significantly weakened. Furthermore, I am wearing a magic tool that suppresses magical power, so there is no chance that you will die by mistake. Please rest assured.”

“Much obliged. Still, to think the day would come when I’d actually use this dome…”

Hearing his mutter, Sonia blinked in surprise.

“Oh? You’ve never used it before?”

“I don’t have an aptitude for combat magic.”

Magical aptitude differs from person to person. So while the basics are common to everyone, once it comes to the applied stage, practical training is divided according to each student’s specialty magic. However, Junpei had never once participated in combat magic practice. Trying to engage in practical sparring using offensive magic, when he couldn’t properly control his magic, would have been far too dangerous.

“Well, combat magic isn’t the only kind of magic. There are lifestyle spells that make daily life more convenient, as well as vocational magic for specialized professions, and many others…”

“I was no good at any kind of magic.”

【—You’re an ero mage!】

Shaking off Meryl’s voice that suddenly echoed back in his ears, Junpei urged Sonia forward with a『Let’s go』.

There were multiple entrances to the magic combat training dome but Junpei and Sonia entered through a connecting corridor linking the school building to the dome, then proceeded down that hallway toward it.

“This dome is roughly the same shape as those used for baseball games. There is a wide central field, spectator seating overlooking it, and also waiting rooms, changing rooms, an infirmary, a broadcast room, restrooms, a lounge, et cetera… However, where we are headed is underground.”

“Underground?”

At Junpei’s widened eyes, Sonia nodded and stepped through a door at the end of the corridor, entering the dome. Junpei followed after her.

After that, who knew where they had walked, but eventually a staircase leading underground appeared before them. At the bottom of those stairs stretched a corridor, with many doors lined up along its walls.

“The first floor is a vast open space, but underground, as you can see, it is divided into smaller rooms like this. I have reserved one of them.”

Saying that, Sonia took the lead and began walking. Before long, she stopped in front of a certain door and held a card key over the reader beside it. A beep sounded, followed by the click of the lock disengaging.

“Now then, let us proceed. I shall repay your rudeness from the other day a thousandfold.”

At the same moment Sonia said that and pushed the door open, the room’s lights flicked on automatically.

Inside was nothing particularly remarkable, just a very simple square room. It was reasonably spacious. It felt like a multipurpose room that could be used not only for exercise, but also for rehearsals such as plays or music practice.

Standing in the center of the room, facing each other at a moderate distance, Sonia was the first to speak.

“We are about to begin our duel, but as I mentioned earlier, combat magic is not the only form of magic. There are spells for speaking with animals, transforming oneself, entering other people’s dreams, repairing broken objects, as well as magic for organizing, tidying up, or even changing clothes.”

“So what about it?”

When Junpei asked in a sharp, prickly tone, Sonia grinned.

“The systems and attributes of magic are countless. However, most mages have spells they excel at and spells they do not, and these tendencies are often similar within each ethnic group. On average, a mage possesses around ten types of magical aptitude. Yet at present, you have zero. You have magical power and have even caused phenomena resembling magic, yet you cannot find a single type of magic you are suited for.”

“Hmph, are you mocking me? Then how many kinds of magic can you use?”

“The number of types of magic I can use exceeds a thousand.”

At those words, spoken so casually, Junpei let out a startled『Ugh』.

Meanwhile, Sonia looked down on him from a position of superiority and gave a scornful laugh.

“I am a descendant of a heroic lineage that has continued for a thousand years. Throughout the history of my house, mages of every conceivable system have married into the family, passing their talents down to their descendants. And at the very end of that radiant lineage stands none other than myself. Ohohohoho!”

“Tch, don’t go doing that textbook villain laugh! Enough already! Let’s start!”

“My, are you quite sure? Have you prepared yourself to be turned into a tattered rag?”

Hmph, Junpei struck his left palm with his right fist.

“Hey, so this is supposed to be a duel using magic but hand-to-hand combat is fine too, right?”

“Of course. Magic martial arts, which incorporate magic into existing combat techniques, are a perfectly legitimate form of magical combat.”

“Glad to hear it.”

He had no hobby of hitting women, but this was a fight she had challenged him to. Besides, even if Junpei resisted with all his might, Sonia would likely surpass him regardless.

“Here I go!”

Seizing the initiative, Junpei rushed in while swinging his arm back, then unleashed a punch aimed to strike through the side of Sonia’s head. Sonia met it with a grin and said in a low voice,

“Lightning Speed.”

In the next instant, she became a flash of light, pierced through Junpei, and dashed past him to his rear. Junpei was sent flying, crashing onto his back and writhing in agony. His whole body burned with pain. As the pain subsided and he somehow managed to push himself up with his hands, Sonia spoke as if she had been waiting.

“My, my, how fortunate for you that this is within a barrier that weakens magical power. And that I am wearing a magic tool that suppresses my own magic. Otherwise, by now, you would have died instantly.”

“Y-you… what was that just now…”

“I simply turned my body into lightning.”

Sonia said it so casually, but it was not difficult to imagine how powerful that magic was. Moreover, she had omitted the incantation. It was far beyond a student’s level.

“I can use a thousand kinds of magic. When one has too many in their repertoire, most of them end up half-baked, and one becomes a jack-of-all-trades, master of none, so even if one can use many systems, it is normal to narrow it down to a few. But that is what mediocrity does. A true genius masters every kind of magic perfectly. If there is one thing that is impossible for me, it is holding back. That is why I restrain my magical power with a magic tool, and even then, I refrain from using powerful techniques and spells. It is unavoidable if I am to avoid killing my opponent. But if not for all these handicaps, there is no way I would fall behind that bizarre witch! Now, stand up! My anger has yet to subside!”

Junpei had no intention of ending the duel like this. So he clenched his teeth and forced himself to stand, all the while glaring at Sonia as if reproaching her.

“…Why are you taking revenge on me for what Meryl did to you?”

“Because you went and summoned something like a banana peel and interfered with me!”

Then Sonia raised her right arm, pressing her upper arm against her ear, and pointed straight upward with her index finger.

“Round two. Ruby, come forth!”

At her fingertip, a massive lump of ruby appeared. It was roughly one meter in diameter.

“Gem magic, huh.”

At Junpei’s remark, Sonia fixed him with a heated, aggressive gaze as she spun her incantation.

“Ruby, come forth and shatter, become countless grains of sand, become pebbles, and turn into tens of thousands of glittering crimson meteors—pierce my enemy without end—Scarlet Sands!”

A sharp, ear-piercing sound rang out as the giant ruby shattered all at once. Its fragments became as fine as grains of sand, then moved as if possessed of will, writhing and surging, transforming into a deep crimson wave that came crashing down over Junpei.

“U-woah, uoooooh!”

Instinctively, Junpei shut his eyes and raised both arms to shield his face. The ruby fragments struck him like a ferocious sandstorm, battering not just his arms but his stomach—his entire body—relentlessly.

“Ow, ow, ow, ow!”

“Fufufufu, if not for the barrier of this dome, your entire body would have been pierced through by those ruby fragments, torn to shreds, and you would have died instantly. But of course, I will not kill you. That said, I will not render you unconscious in a single blow either. I shall return the humiliation I suffered twofold, and torment you until you shed tears and beg for forgiveness.”

Because her voice came through so clearly, Junpei hesitantly opened his eyes. The ruby storm had already subsided. However, the crimson grains that had formed that storm were now gathered into a single mass, forming a sphere that floated beside Sonia.

“Eh… it’s not over?”

Pointing at Junpei as he asked that, Sonia declared mercilessly,

“Second volley, release.”

And once again, the ruby storm came crashing down on him.

After that, Sonia repeated it again and again. It seemed she truly intended to wait until Junpei cried and apologized. But as for Junpei, he had absolutely no intention of begging for forgiveness. If anything, it was the opposite. He was getting seriously pissed off.

—Damn it, you bastard! It hurts, you damn idiot!

If she wanted, she could’ve finished me in one hit, and yet she’s pulling this underhanded crap!

He wanted to pay Sonia back somehow. But if she used magic, of course he stood no chance, and even if it turned into a pure hand-to-hand fight without magic, Sonia still seemed more than capable of overpowering him.

So did that mean Junpei had no way to fight back?

—No, that’s not it. I should have magic too. My own magic.

When he was a child, he had admired mages who could freely control flames and lightning. He had wished to ride upon beautiful beasts and soar into the night sky. He had wanted to grasp the stars.

But Meryl had said this

【—You’re an ero mage!】

“Fu… fu, fu, fu!”

In the middle of the battle, Junpei found it amusing and started to laugh. Perhaps it seemed strange, because Sonia frowned and halted her attack.

“My, what’s the matter? Have you lost your mind?”

“No, I just thought I’d smash that smug look right off your face!”

And with that, Junpei began to raise the magical power within himself. From the top of his head to the tips of his fingers and toes, magic filled every corner of his body. Sonia seemed to perceive it as well, her slender brows knitting tightly.

“What a futile struggle… Magic will not activate unless the image is clear. You do not know what kind of magical aptitude you possess. Therefore, you cannot form a complete image of your magic. Even if you can construct the process up to activation, it will not connect to actual magic. That is why you cannot use magic!”

“I’ve got an image!”

Perhaps thinking it was just a bluff, Sonia curled her lips into a sharp smile.

“How amusing! If that is true, then show me—your magic!”

—Like I need you to tell me. My magic… I don’t want to admit it, but it’s ero magic!

Junpei didn’t really understand what ero magic was. But Meryl had let slip some of its effects.

According to her, it ranged from trivial things like peeking under a girl’s clothes or forcibly stripping them naked, to more extreme effects like charming someone into falling in love or heightening the sensitivity of the entire body.

Among these, the one Junpei focused on was the second.

—A spell that forcibly makes someone naked!

For a healthy teenage boy, imagining a girl’s naked body was hardly difficult. And for Junpei, there was an even stronger, more pressing thought.

—Am I really an ero mage? Was what Meryl said true? I can confirm it with this one attack. Everything!

Gathering all those thoughts into one, Junpei shaped his right hand like a gun and aimed it at Sonia.

“Take this!”

Shouting that, Junpei moved his gun-shaped hand as if firing. At that moment, for the first time in his life, he felt his magical power properly connect to actual magic. Two gears that had long remained isolated finally met and meshed together. The power to rewrite the laws of the world began to move with force.

—This is my magic.

And then the magic activated, and all of Sonia’s clothes, along with her underwear, burst off.

“…Eh?”

Sonia blinked blankly, as if she still didn’t understand what had just happened to her. And Junpei, too, despite having imagined exactly this, found himself transfixed by the sight before him. Sonia’s naked body was even more beautiful than he had imagined. Who was it that had compared a woman removing her clothes to clouds parting as sunlight pours down?

—Ah… so it’s true. I really am an ero mage. When I see Meryl next time, I should apologize. She said she’d come again, so she will, right?

At that moment, suddenly, it seemed Sonia’s gears of reason finally clicked into place.

“Kya, kyaaaahhh!”

Sonia let out a scream like silk being torn, hastily covering her breasts and her most private area with both arms, her face flushed bright red as she crouched down, lowering her head and curling her back inward. At the same time, the mass of ruby sand floating in the air fell to the floor, forming a small pile. Meanwhile, Junpei, snapped back to his senses by her scream, reconsidered what he had just done and turned pale all at once. He was starting to get scared.

—This is bad. Did I go too far? I mean, she beat me up pretty badly with her magic, so I figured it’d be fine to pay her back a little, but… was this too much?

“W-what should I do…”

As Junpei panicked and muttered that, Sonia, who had been trembling with her back hunched, suddenly stopped shaking. Then, from her entire body, an overwhelming presence began to rise like an aura.

“H-hey…”

Just as Junpei called out, half in fear and half in concern, Sonia, still keeping her face lowered, began to mutter words that sounded like a curse.

“My sword, my armor, my shield! In the name of the Hero, come forth from the throne of light!”

“What?!”

In the next instant, the space within the room rumbled, and suddenly, from the void, a sword, armor and shield appeared.

“Spatial transfer! You summoned them?!”

Then Sonia stood up straight, and the armor burst apart. The scattered pieces of the armor flew toward her body on their own, attaching themselves one by one, and in an instant, her armament was complete.

In the blink of an eye, before Junpei stood Sonia clad in a blue knight’s armor. A sword in her right hand, a shield in her left. Faced with that heroic figure, Junpei was left speechless.

Looking at him with emotionless eyes, Sonia spoke.

“This is the equipment my ancestor, the Hero Arciela, used when she defeated the Demon King. The holy sword Aurora Spark, and the Hero’s shield and armor… they are now inherited by me.”

“I see…”

Junpei gave a neutral reply, but at that moment, Sonia pointed the tip of her sword at him.

“Ichinose Junpei. As a descendant of the Hero, I will kill you.”

“…Huh?”

At first, he didn’t understand what she had said. Once it sank in, Junpei forced a smile and raised both palms in an attempt to calm her down.

“Hey, wait. Calm down. Killing someone just because they saw you naked is going way too far. There’s no way that balances out. Besides, this happened during a duel. In more ways than one, we’re even here.”

“Unfortunately, this has gone beyond such trivial considerations. Say nothing and accept your fate. As a final act of mercy, I shall kill you without letting you feel pain.”

Hearing Sonia speak so coldly, seeing her frozen expression like that of a doll, Junpei felt true fear for the first time. This wasn’t just a girl blushing in anger because someone had seen her naked. This was something colder, more merciless. A refined, invisible blade of killing intent was being thrust toward him.

“Wait… are you serious?”

Sonia said nothing. From that silence, Junpei understood that she truly meant it. Half-panicking, he desperately tried to resolve things through words, forcing his voice out.

“Why?! Why did this suddenly turn into something about killing me?! Give me a reason! Explain it!”

Sonia, who had been clenching her teeth, showed a flicker of hesitation as her brows clouded. Seeing that as his opening, Junpei pressed forward, shouting,

“Talk!”

It worked. Sonia slowly lowered her sword, and rather than explaining it to Junpei, she began speaking as if confirming that her sense of justice had no flaw.

“First, you summoned a banana peel, did you not?”

“Huh? Yeah.”

“I slipped on that banana peel and exposed my underwear. Then the other day, the wind you caused flipped up my skirt, which led to this duel. And now, in this match, that mysterious magic which stripped me naked… When such shameless acts occur three times, it becomes clear. The magic you used… it is ero magic, is it not?”

“Geh—”

“And the one who can use such magic… is the reincarnation of the Demon King, Xenon Eelsover.”

“Geh-geh?! How do you know about that… oh right, you’re a descendant of the Hero Arciela. I guess it wouldn’t be strange for you to know all kinds of legends about the Demon King.”

“Precisely. So your memories from your past life have returned, have they not? That is why you were able to use ero magic.”

—No, my memories haven’t come back at all, I just heard about it from Meryl.

But if he said that, it would only complicate things further, so Junpei hurriedly tried to cover it up.

“Wait, I really don’t understand any of this. My past life memories haven’t returned! It’s just… yeah, I only have fragmentary knowledge, and I only found out I’m an ero mage literally just yesterday! I’m serious!”

In truth, Junpei had not regained any memories of a past life. He had only concealed Meryl’s existence, but what he said itself was true. Perhaps his sincerity got through, because Sonia’s gaze softened slightly.

“Indeed, the secret art of reincarnation is an imperfect one… It would not be strange if the inheritance of memories failed. Very well, I shall at least explain the reason you must be killed.”

Sonia paused there, then began to recount an old tale in a quiet, measured tone.

“A thousand years ago, in London, there lived a great mage known as the Demon King. His name was Xenon Eelsover. He was a specialist in one extremely unique 『single type of magic』 and while he could not use any other magic at all, it is said that he alone could wield that one magic. It did not even pass down to his hundred children, so it must have been a one-generation-only anomalous magic.”

“…That would be ero magic?”

“Correct. According to my family’s records, ero magic includes spells such as these: Temptation, which allows one to charm women without limit; Overfeeling, which heightens the sensitivity of the entire body; God Hand, which freely alters the size of breasts or buttocks upon touch; Water Down, which induces urination; Virgin Protect, which makes it impossible for a woman to be with any man other than oneself; and Cross Break, which strips a woman naked… Zenon used ero magic to captivate many women. My ancestor Arciela was also one of them. The Hero was the Demon King’s lover. However, Zenon gradually grew arrogant and began to dabble in a forbidden form of slave magic involving rings and engravings. Seeing this, Arciela finally became enraged, took up her sword, and slew Xenon. Then, as he lay dying, she cast the secret art of reincarnation upon him, saying,『Let us meet again in the next life』and watched over his final moments. That is the story of my ancestor.”

—This is bad. It matches exactly what Meryl told me.

Junpei felt his head spinning. But this was a life-or-death situation; this was no time to be overwhelmed. Steeling himself, he spoke.

“Th-then what does that have to do with killing me?”

“There is more to the story… Arciela, who performed the reincarnation ritual out of sorrow for having killed the one she loved with her own hands, later judged it to have been a mistake. After all, if the Demon King were reborn and repeated the same sins in a later era, it would be disastrous. Thus, Arciela entrusted a mission to the son she bore with the Demon King. The bloodline of Arciela’s firstborn would inherit the Hero’s memories and equipment. And the Hero of the generation that encounters the Demon King’s reincarnation… must fight and slay him!”

Those words struck Junpei like a bolt of lightning, and Sonia, once again raising her sword and shield, shouted.

“That’s right! It is my duty, as a descendant of the Hero Arciela, to slay the reincarnation of the Demon King! To think it would happen in my generation! And to encounter you like this, in a place like this… I never even dreamed of it!”

“Th-that’s insane… wait! Maybe I am the reincarnation of the Demon King, but you’re seriously going to kill me over some ancient promise like that?!”

“It cannot be helped. You are the Demon King reborn. Until now you were a failure, but it seems you have begun to awaken your past life’s memories and your ero magic. If that is the case, then killing you here is for the good of the world, for the good of humanity, and for the sake of all women! That is justice!”

“Don’t give me that crap, what kind of justice is that—!”

Junpei was about to shout, but at that moment, he noticed that Sonia’s armored body was trembling ever so slightly.

Looking closely, there was unmistakable fear in Sonia’s eyes as she looked at him. Normally, it should have been Junpei, the one about to be killed, who felt fear. And yet it was Sonia, the one intending to kill, who was afraid of her own actions. And then Junpei realized.

—I see… so that’s it.

If Sonia had truly intended to kill him, she would have done so long ago. But she hadn’t. No… she couldn’t. She had been talking at length, trying to use words like justice and duty to push herself forward, but even now, she couldn’t take that final step toward committing murder. Which meant that if Junpei was going to survive, this was his only chance.

“Stop. You can’t do it, can you?”

“What are you…”

“You don’t want to kill someone. That’s normal. There’s no need to let your hands be stained with blood just because you’re bound by some old code. And have you even thought about what happens after? This isn’t the Middle Ages. Just because I’m the Demon King, if you kill me, you won’t get away with it either.”

“I am well aware of that. A life must be paid for with a life. I will kill you, and then I too shall die. That is the duty passed down from my ancestors… yes, I must fulfill that duty…”

Then Sonia’s blue eyes began to take on a dangerous gleam. Seeing that, Junpei felt something in his own resolve settle into place.

“Even if I’m the reincarnation of the Demon King, I’m Ichinose Junpei! I’m not Xenon! So I promise you, I won’t become the Demon King!”

That heartfelt shout seemed to ignite something within Sonia. The Sonia who had been leaning toward a dangerous edge stopped herself, and Junpei could tell just by looking into her eyes.

“…Really?”

“Yeah.”

“Then… would you be willing to form a contract with me?”

“A contract? What kind?”

When Junpei asked, Sonia discarded her sword and shield as if to show she had no intention of fighting, and walked toward him. Then she stepped even closer.

“Huh—”

Before he could react, Sonia’s face was right in front of his. With such a beautiful face at breath’s distance, Junpei forgot the situation entirely and flushed red.

Then Sonia spoke with a serious expression.

“I will not kill you. However, leaving you alone is absolutely not an option. So that you may properly learn and control that magic, and not use it for evil desires… in other words, so that you may become a mage who possesses a Red Heart Brave, with justice, passion, and imagination, I will educate and monitor you. That shall be my mission. You will accept this and acknowledge me as your teacher in magic. Is that agreeable?”

“A teacher? You mean you’re going to be my magic instructor?”

“Yes, precisely. In preparation for the Demon King’s revival, the Hero Arciela left behind knowledge of ero magic. Therefore, I know more about ero magic than you, whose memory inheritance is incomplete. There is no one more suited than me to be your teacher.”

Faced with that proposal, Junpei found himself thinking it over.

“I appreciate it, but… is that really okay? Wouldn’t it be better for you if I just never learned to use ero magic at all? And yet you’re going to train me? Are you really sure about this?”

“Of course it’s fine. Even without my guidance, you already reached the spell that strips a woman naked, 【Cross Break】didn’t you? Yes, the reincarnation ritual may have been incomplete, but both the memories and the power of the Demon King still lie dormant deep within you. There’s no telling when or what might trigger them to surface. In that case, I may as well teach you myself. You will properly learn ero magic from the basics, and in that process, you will learn how to discipline yourself.”

Hearing that, Junpei’s eyes lit up as he looked at Sonia.

“Got it. If that’s how it is, I’ll accept you as my teacher. I’m counting on you.”

“Very well. Then, as proof of our contract, I will now use one of the secret arts passed down in the Hero’s lineage to cast a certain spell upon us. You will not betray me, and I will not betray you. That is the nature of this magic. If you understand, close your eyes.”

There was an undeniable force in her words, and Junpei obeyed, though he quickly cracked one eye open to ask,

“That won’t hurt, right?”

“It will not hurt, so keep your eyes closed until I say otherwise!”

Sonia snapped like thunder, her shoulders tense, her movements somehow stiff.

“Yeah, yeah…”

This time, Junpei shut his eyes tightly without hesitation. Then, beyond the darkness of his closed eyelids, he sensed Sonia taking a deep breath. Wondering what she was about to do, he suddenly felt something sweetly fragrant press against him, and something soft touched his lips.

—Huh?

Startled, he opened his eyes, only to find his vision almost completely filled by Sonia’s face, her eyes still closed. Junpei couldn’t immediately comprehend what was happening.

—Eh? What am I doing right now? This… no way…

“G-gyahhh!”

Instinctively, Junpei jerked backward, pulling his face away from Sonia as he shouted.

Sonia’s eyes widened at once as well, and realizing how Junpei had reacted, she shot him an irritated glare.

“How rude!”

“But you just—just now—you kissed me—!”

“This is part of the contract, so it cannot be helped! It was my first kiss too, you know! I would have preferred it to happen under the moonlight!”

“No, no, wait a sec—”

His words cut off midway. Suddenly, he felt heat in his chest. Looking over, he saw that Sonia was pressing a hand against her own left chest as well.

“H-hey, Sonia, this is—”

“It seems the magic was successful. A spell that shares life.”

“Shares… life?”

“Yes. A simple spell where if I die, you die, and if you die, I die as well.”

Hearing Sonia say that with a triumphant smile, Junpei was left dumbfounded.

“That sounds more like a curse than magic…”

“Fufun. Even if you stray from the path and run somewhere beyond my sight, the moment I take my own life, you will die as well. Remember that.”

—Ugh, what a pain.

Junpei felt as if his freedom had been chained down, which he didn’t like at all, but Sonia, on the other hand, nodded repeatedly with satisfaction.

“With this, if I ever bear the sin of killing someone, I will immediately atone with my own life, so it is logically consistent, is it not? Honestly, this isn’t the Middle Ages. It’s not as simple as killing evil and calling it done. This is the proper compromise.”

Is it really? Junpei tilted his head, but there was something else that bothered him more.

“By the way, does this magic have a duration?”

“It does not. It is permanent.”

Sonia said that with a proud puff of her chest.

After that, to discuss what would happen going forward, Junpei and Sonia returned together to the student dormitory. Sonia, as an exchange student, also lived in this dorm, but she didn’t seem willing to invite Junpei into her own room, so they decided to talk in Junpei’s room on the nineteenth floor. Incidentally, Sonia had already sent the Hero’s equipment back to London and was now back in her original uniform, repaired with restoration magic.

“Excuse me for intruding.”

Saying that, Sonia stepped into Junpei’s room, looked around, and remarked,

“Surprisingly, it is not as messy as I expected.”

“Yeah, well.”

“However, how should I put it… your furniture and decorations lack any sense of style. It feels rather plain overall. Why not add a bit more color to it?”

“It’s tiny as hell, so I don’t really have a choice. Anyway, just sit wherever.”

Saying that, Junpei sat down on his bed.

Following him with her gaze, Sonia tilted her head slightly and asked,

“Tea?”

“I don’t have anything like that. I don’t cook and anything I buy gets eaten or drunk right away, so the fridge is empty. If you want something, you’ll have to buy it from the shop downstairs.”

At Junpei’s response, Sonia looked utterly incredulous, tilting her head back before pressing her fingers against her temples as if struck by a headache.

Seeing her like that, Junpei began to feel that maybe he was the one being unreasonable.

“I-if you really want something, you could drink tap water…”

“No, that will not be necessary.”

With a sigh, Sonia said that and sat properly in seiza beside the low table.

“Now then, before we get to the main topic, let us confirm something. Regarding the result of the duel earlier… it is acceptable that I am the victor, yes?”

“…If that’s the case, then I’m going to get in trouble for trying to attack you with magic.”

“That is only natural. However, I will put in a word so that it does not result in any severe punishment. Besides, if it were said that you were the one who won, explaining that to others 

be troublesome.”

That made sense. No one would believe that Junpei had defeated Sonia. It would be far less disruptive to say that Junpei had lost.

“Alright, let’s go with that. Now, about the main topic.”

At that, Sonia’s expression tightened as she spoke.

“Yes. First of all, you are treated as a failure at school, are you not?”

“Yeah… I only found out I’m an ero mage literally just yesterday.”

“Was that because your past life memories suddenly resurfaced?”

“Yeah… something like that.”

In truth, it was Meryl who had pointed it out, but explaining that would only complicate things. After all, Meryl was currently believed to be a dangerous criminal who had sent Instructor Kondo to the hospital, and Sonia likely shared that view. If it became known that Junpei was on friendly terms with Meryl, clearing up that misunderstanding would be extremely difficult, and Sonia might very well declare that she would kill him again.

—Yeah… I definitely have to keep my relationship with Meryl a secret from Sonia.

Quietly resolving that, Junpei began to speak in a low voice.

“Up until now, I’ve been using magic with a vague image like『if some kind of miracle happens』, so I think that’s why it kept failing or misfiring. But…”

“Yes, from now on, it will be different. You now know the true nature of your magic. Therefore, depending on your imagination, you will be able to freely control and master it.”

In other words, he had finally reached the starting line as a mage.

As Junpei felt his chest heat up at that realization, Sonia asked him something.

“And so, what I wish to ask first… is about you.”

“About me?”

“Yes. I have become your teacher. As I said earlier, you must learn both the technique and the discipline to control ero magic. But just as important, and something that must never be neglected, is your heart.”

Hearing that, Junpei was surprised. As the reincarnation of the Demon King, he had assumed he would be strictly monitored by Sonia from now on, and he had already resigned himself to that. But the way Sonia looked at him held a kind of pure light, and that was something he hadn’t expected at all.

“Huh? What’s with you? Aren’t you about to say something really normal for once?”

“I am always perfectly reasonable!”

Sonia snapped at him, then cleared her throat with a small cough and composed herself before continuing.

“Please do not dodge the question and answer honestly. To begin with, what did you want to do in the future? Your dream? Your desired profession? Or even your personal circumstances will do. The fact that you remain in the dorm despite not participating in any club activities suggests that there must be some reason, does it not?”

He hadn’t expected her to touch on that. Junpei felt slightly taken aback, but the two of them were now bound together, sharing their very lives. He had no choice but to tell her everything.

So Junpei told Sonia what he had previously told Kaede. About how he had admired mages as a child. About how he was a mutation born to non-mage parents. About how that had caused his family to fall apart. And about how he had been a failure at the magic academy up until now.

“Kaede-san said this to me…『You love magic, and you hate magic. That’s rough… you’re all messed up』.”

“I see. And now… how do you feel?”

“Hmm… honestly, being an ero mage is kind of a shock, but at the same time, I also feel this way. All this time I’ve been a failure, but now it finally feels like I’ve found a path to becoming a proper mage. So yeah… I want to try testing my own abilities.”

“I see… in that case, let us begin by removing that 『failure』label from you. You will become a member of the Red Heart Brave.”

“W-what? Me, a member of Red Heart Brave?”

“Yes. Kaede-san mentioned it the other day. 『At this rate, Junpei will only continue to fall behind. So I want to give him a high goal to strive for. How about having him aim for Red Heart Brave?』When I heard that, I thought there was absolutely no way someone like you could do it. But I have reconsidered. It is the perfect goal. Don’t you think?”

“K-Kaede-san was thinking something like that? But wait a second. That’s…”

Being told that so suddenly, Junpei was taken aback and instinctively hesitated. But perhaps Sonia saw right through the fact that he was already preparing to back out, because she frowned and said,

“What is it? Do you think you cannot do it? No, you can. If you try, you can do it and if you reach out, you can grasp it. Especially with my support. You can do anything, and you can absolutely become whatever you want, one hundred percent!”

As Sonia spoke passionately with her face shining, she looked dazzling and beautiful to Junpei.

“…You’re amazing. I actually feel like I can do anything now. But I’m an ero mage, you know? If people find out about that, it’ll be bad, right?”

“Yes. The fact that you are the reincarnation of the Demon King, and that the magic you use is ero magic—these two things must remain secret. If others were to learn of them, nothing good would come of it.”

“Then…”

“That is why you simply use ero magic in a way that does not reveal it as such. Reveal the results, but not the process. By applying it cleverly, you can present yourself as a mage of an entirely different system.”

“You can really… do something like that?”

“Don’t go saying『I can’t』like it’s a habit!”

That sharp rebuke, as if she had read his mind, made Junpei feel like his very spine had been reset.

Sonia stood up straight, then looked down at Junpei sitting on the bed and said,

“Are you really fine staying like this? You’ve finally reached the starting line as a mage, haven’t you? Don’t you want to master ero magic, deceive others and climb your way up from the depths of failure? If even a little part of you feels that way, then take on the challenge! Challenge yourself, and make your student life shine from here on out! That will surely be far more enjoyable!”

“You… you…”

Illuminated by Sonia’s brilliance, Junpei felt as though his heart was welcoming the dawn. What came to mind was the day he first met Meryl, and the conversation he had with Kaede when she scolded him.

—Why is it that just being a mage means being bound by everything?

—That is the fate of those born as mages.

Back then, he had been frustrated, feeling like a failure who was only burdened with the obligations of being a mage. But from today onward, things were different. From today onward, he truly was a mage.

“Sonia…”

“I have become your teacher. It is the duty of a teacher to ensure that their student’s wings are not broken, but instead allowed to spread and take flight. Therefore, you must respond to me with all your strength.”

“Yeah…I’ll do my best. I’ll give it everything I’ve got…”

Junpei said that as if struggling to catch his breath, then realized he couldn’t stay seated and stood up from the bed. With eyes shining, he looked at Sonia and declared,

“I promise again. I won’t become the Demon King. I won’t disappoint you either. And I’ll shed this disgrace of being a failure and become a member of the Red Heart Brave!”

“Very good. That is most satisfactory.”

Sonia’s lips curved into a small smile, but then, in the next moment, her expression returned to seriousness.

you, on the other hand, must be free, correct? You will arrange your time according to mine. You have no objections, I presume?”

“Yeah, none. But, um…”

Junpei hesitated, trailing off awkwardly. Sonia frowned slightly and tilted her head.

“What is it?”

“Well… I just thought of something. Ero magic is, you know… like… Overfeeling, which heightens the sensitivity of the whole body, or God Hand, which lets you freely change the size of breasts or buttocks you touch… is it really okay for me to use that on you?”

Ghk—an odd sound caught in Sonia’s throat. Her face visibly stiffened.

If she said yes here, this would be an even bigger deal than with Meryl!

And then, Sonia, her face filled with resolve, eyes like someone facing a great trial, spoke.

“So, you are hesitant about using me as a test subject for ero magic. I understand that. That is only natural. However, given the situation, it cannot be helped. This too is for the good of the world… It is the duty of one descended from the Hero to make such sacrifices! If by offering my body we can prevent future tragedies, then I shall gladly offer it!”

Declaring that loudly, Sonia placed her right hand boldly over her chest.

“Do not hold back. Come at me with everything you have. I am a descendant of the Hero Arciela and a super elite. There is no way I would lose to the ero magic of someone like you, whose reincarnation is incomplete!”

And so, from that day onward, Junpei and Sonia’s secret special training in ero magic began.