Demon Sword Master of the Holy Sword Academy - Volume 1 - Chapter 6

CHAPTER 6

A WELCOME PARTY

Pop, pop, pop pop pop!

The crisp sound of party poppers filled the common room of the girls’ dorms.

“To Leo’s admission to the eighteenth platoon, and to Lady Selia awakening her Holy Sword!” Regina made her toast dressed in a full maid’s uniform, lifting a glass of nonalcoholic champagne.

True to her profession, she wore the outfit quite comfortably. She looked like a completely different person from the girl who blasted Voids with cannon fire.

“…Th-thank you,” Leonis said, streamers from one of the party poppers tangled in his hair.

It was a surprise welcome party. The table in front of Leonis was full of tasty food and sweets.

“Regina prepared this as soon as she returned to the city,” Riselia said, exposing the plan.

“On your instructions, Lady Selia. You said he’d definitely join our platoon.”

…So that’s why she went off on her own. Maybe Selia really did try to tempt me with candy.

“Plus, you were really something during your Holy Sword Trial. Promising, aren’t you?” Sakuya smiled, sitting on the sofa opposite him.

“My Holy Sword is nothing all that special. It’s just a support-type.” Leonis shook his head. “Miss Selia’s Holy Sword decided the match.”

“Leo…,” Riselia said bashfully, but there was a definite pride in her expression.

And who could fault her for it? She’d honed her skill with the sword, putting in every possible effort, all for the day when she would summon a Holy Sword. And today was that day.

“Yeah. The planet certainly rewarded you for your diligence today, Miss Selia. I’m happy for you,” Sakuya said.

“Rumors about your Holy Sword are already roaring through the academy like wildfire.”

“H-huh? Really?!”

“Of course. I asked the public relations department to spread the word, after all!”

“H-hey, you shouldn’t have done that!”

Regina gave a teasing look and puffed up her chest boastfully. Riselia grabbed her sleeve.

Still, I don’t think her awakening during the trial, of all times, was just coincidence…, Leonis thought as he watched the two girls sparring.

Riselia always had the talent to manifest a Holy Sword, but the fact that she hadn’t done so yet implied something inside her had impeded her awakening.

Had dying and becoming a Vampire Queen flipped some sort of switch? No…

In the end, this was all groundless speculation. Maybe the only thing that mattered was that her efforts were rewarded.

And I should be content knowing my minion has obtained this mysterious power.

“The fish pie’s ready!” Elfiné walked in, carrying a freshly baked pie right out of the oven.

It was a salmon pie, with mushrooms, cheese, and cream sauce. It looked crispy, and its crust had an appetizing golden-brown color.

“You made this, Miss Elfiné?” Leonis asked.

“Yes, pies are my specialty.” Elfiné answered the boy’s question quite confidently.

“It looks great! Let’s eat it while it’s hot,” Riselia said, taking a seat in the chair to Leonis’s right. Elfiné sat down on the boy’s left.

…?!

Stuck between the two of them, the Undead King felt flustered; his face reddened. A pair of sizable bosoms flanked him on either side.

“Does being stuck in a sandwich feel good, boy?” Regina caught him blushing. She whispered the words playfully in his ear.

“Wh-what?! N-no…!”

“Oh, would you like a sandwich?” Riselia asked, reaching for an egg sandwich sitting on the table.

“Oh, no, Lady Selia, this boy here is feasting on an entirely different kind of sandwi—”

“Yes! I’d certainly like some of that pie!” Leonis exclaimed loudly, almost shouting in his panic.

“Here you are.” Elfiné put a slice on his plate.

The pie’s texture made a satisfying crunching sound as he cut into it, and warm sauce poured over his plate.

“Does the Assault Garden get fresh vegetables and fish?”

“Outside the residential areas, there are cultivation lakes and plants for producing different kinds of food. It’s small, but our eighteenth platoon has our own vegetable garden there,” Riselia answered.

…They cultivate fish inside the city?

Mankind’s technological advancements in this area never ceased to amaze. Leonis bit into the pie. The savory taste of the sauce filled his mouth.

“…I-it’s good!” Without thinking, Leonis had spoken with his natural voice.

The crunchy texture of the confection was exquisite, and the sauce’s saltiness was just right.

“Heh-heh, thank you. Feel free to help yourself to more.”

“It’s great!” Regina exclaimed.

“Oh, I can’t match your cooking, Regina.” Elfiné shook her head humbly.

That left Leonis surprised. That maid could cook something better than this? Leonis had a maid of his own in Shary, but she was completely incapable of cooking.

…She’s an accomplished assassin, though, so she’s adept at handling poisons.

“So, Miss Riselia, think of an inscription for your Holy Sword yet?” Sakuya asked, half-busy helping herself to a piece of pie.

“Hmm, I haven’t decided yet.”

“An inscription?” Leonis asked.

“Yes—in other words, a name. It’s necessary for registering a Holy Sword at the academy,” explained Riselia.

“What about Slasher Cut Blade?”

“No, go for Shining Saint Sword!”

Sakuya and Regina didn’t hesitate to offer their own suggestions. Riselia smiled wryly.

“…What do you think would be good, Leo?” Curious, she posed the question to Leonis.

“Hmm…”

He applauded his minion for her devotion, but this was a difficult question for him. Giving the Holy Sword an odd name would reflect poorly on him as her master. Leonis pondered for a moment…

“I can’t really come up with anything when her Holy Sword’s power isn’t clear yet…” He came up with an innocuous response.

“…You’re right. For now, it’s just a very sharp sword, but it might have some special powers. I should have it registered once I’m more accustomed to using it.” Riselia placed a hand over her chest.

“Speaking of registration, you still need to be registered, Leo…,” Elfiné said.

“…Me?”

“We need to have your physical information scanned. My Holy Sword can do that and register it in the network. It’ll be over in a jiffy, so could you stop by my room?”

“All right.”

“That reminds me, where’s he gonna stay?” Sakuya asked.

“I don’t think there are any free rooms in the girls’ Witch dorm.”

“Oh, then how about you bunk with me, little guy? You’ll have all the sweets you’ll ever want.”

“You can come to my room. I’m usually out the whole day.”

“You’re welcome in my room, too.”

Regina, Sakuya, and Elfiné all chimed in with offers.

“…Y-you can’t…!” Riselia got to her feet and waved her hands in protest.

“Lady Selia?”

“I’m Leo’s guardian, so I’ll take responsibility and take care of him.” Riselia cleared her throat and gave Leonis a sidelong glance.

Leonis understood what she meant. Staying in the same room should help the two of them keep their respective secrets safe.

I do need to make sure she has a supply of mana…

“…I’d like to stay in Miss Selia’s room,” Leonis announced, grabbing hold of Riselia’s sleeve.

…He had to admit Regina’s offer of sweets was tempting, though.

“Are you sure that’s a good idea, Lady Selia?” Regina asked.

“I am. My room always felt a bit too big for me.”

“No, I mean, I’m concerned he might do something pervy to you.”

“L-Leo would never…! Y-you wouldn’t, right?”

“Of course not!”

Riselia’s slightly anxious reaction evoked an astonished response from Leonis.

…If anything, Riselia struck him as a bit too naive. To an awkward degree.

“Regina, Leo is a ten-year-old boy. There’s nothing to worry about.”

“I suppose, but…” Regina eyed Leonis suspiciously. “I’m just gonna warn you now, kid. Lady Selia tosses and turns in her sleep, so be careful if you end up sharing a bed.” The maid whispered the words in his ear.

“Regina, what are you telling him?!”

“You always hug my body like a big pillow, Lady Selia!”

“…Th-that’s your fault for being so squishy, soft, and easy to hug!” the silver-haired girl stuttered, her face a deep red as she averted her gaze.

…It probably went without saying what part of her was so squishy and soft.

With Leonis’s lodgings decided, the topic among the welcoming party shifted to more idle chatter. They talked about a new store that had opened in the commercial district, about the pet Sakuya kept in her room… Honestly, Leonis couldn’t keep up with half of what they were saying. But for the first time in a thousand years, he had a chance to relax.

Leonis’s welcome party came to a close before it had grown too late in the evening. Afterward, Leonis was called into Elfiné’s room so she could register his biological information using her Holy Sword.

…It truly was a boisterous meal, though, Leonis thought as he sat on Elfiné’s sofa. Having three girls together was a…loud affair, to be sure, but such an energetic party would never have happened when Leonis was the Undead King. The only things that served as his company back then were darkness and silence. But…

A meal like that isn’t so bad every now and then. Leonis shrugged.

He couldn’t deny a part of him enjoyed spending his time that way.

Leonis looked around Elfiné’s room. It was about as wide as Riselia’s, but the fixtures and furniture left a more sophisticated impression. Between that and the wood-colored wallpaper, the place had a very mature feel.

His eyes came to rest on a framed picture sitting on top of a shelf. Riselia and the other members of the eighteenth platoon were absent. Instead, it was a different group. Perhaps Elfiné had belonged to a different platoon first.

…Doesn’t seem like she would keep a picture if they’d fought and had a falling out, though.

It was hard to imagine that happening, given Elfiné’s personality.

“Sorry to keep you waiting. I’m ready to start.”

Elfiné returned from another room, carrying large tablet devices in both hands, and sat on a wheeled chair. She leaned forward to meet Leonis eye to eye.

“You can sit back and relax,” Elfiné instructed.

“…O-okay.”

“What’s wrong? There’s no need to be nervous.” Elfiné smiled and tilted her head.

“………”

The girl’s large breasts were level with Leonis’s line of sight… True, she wasn’t a match for the maid girl, but they were still more than enough to capture one’s attention. Leonis turned away, a hint of red on his cheeks.

“All right, take off your clothes,” she ordered.

“…Huh?” Leonis asked, unconsciously.

“Just your top will do. It’s hard to read biological information through fabric.”

“………”

“Sorry. I guess this is embarrassing for boys, too?”

“No, it’s…it’s fine.”

Leonis removed his shirt.

“Oh, could you take off your undershirt, too?”

“Okay…”

He undid his buttons and took off his undershirt, revealing his unblemished white skin.

“Yeah, this will do. What lovely skin you have,” Elfiné said, reaching her hands around his back. Her cold fingertips gently caressed his shoulder blades.

…Aaah… What is this…this sensation…?

Something about the feeling of an older girl’s eyes on him filled his heart with intense bashfulness.

“Holy Sword—Eye of the Witch, Activate,” whispered Elfiné, and transparent orbs appeared around her. What looked like numbers made of light began circling the orbs rapidly.

“All right, I’ll register your data, Leo.”

Elfiné placed a hand on Leonis’s skin and closed her eyes, and as if in response, the orbs began circling him.

“…Hmm. This is kind of a strange pattern.”

There was curiosity in Elfiné’s voice.

“R-really?” The boy’s heartbeat quickened.

“Yes. I can’t see the flow of your mana…”

…Damn. My mana obfuscation might be working too well…

“Erm, Miss Elfiné, can I ask you something?” Leonis hurriedly tried to change the subject.

“Of course. What is it?”

“Why did you join this platoon?”

Riselia was a borderline dropout who hadn’t been able to summon a Holy Sword. Leonis was genuinely curious as to why an upperclassman like Elfiné would join her team.

And then there’s the photo…

The question prompted Elfiné to hang her head for a moment before she whispered her reply.

“…I lost the power of my Holy Sword.”

“…Huh?” Leonis let slip without thinking. “What do you mean by that…?”

“This isn’t the Eye of the Witch’s true power.” Elfiné shook her head. “It’s only a limited ability.”

“Really?”

“Yes. I used to be an attacker focused on high firepower instead of an operator.”

“H-high firepower…?”

Leonis couldn’t believe that was true of such a nice, levelheaded, mature girl. Elfiné walked over to the picture and picked it up.

“The seventh platoon, the one I used to be a part of, was a skilled, well-balanced team. We were pretty high in the academy rankings, and we even went on Void subjugation missions. But then…”

She paused, taking a deep breath.

“Six months ago, my platoon was attacked by Voids during a ruin investigation.”

“………”

She explained that a cunning pack of Voids had been waiting in the ruin. Elfiné’s group was caught in a trap, and by the time they noticed, it was too late. Soon after they encountered the enemy, the Voids began radiating a powerful signal that jammed the platoon’s communications and threw the chain of command into chaos. The Voids took the lives of two of the members of the squad…

Elfiné surviving was nothing more than a lucky coincidence.

No one had blamed her for abandoning her comrades and fleeing. Surviving and bringing data on the Voids back to Excalibur Academy was a Holy Swordsman’s mission, after all.

Even so, she couldn’t help but blame herself. Surviving filled her with guilt, and she kept torturing herself over it.

And so her Holy Sword lost its original power.

Elfiné’s fingers shivered as they traced along Leonis’s back. Each of the orbs hanging in the air illuminated faint light as if expressing her emotions…

“It was when I was in that sorry state that Riselia found me.”

Riselia visited Elfiné time and time again after she’d shut herself in her room, imploring her to join her platoon.

“At first, I kept saying no. But she was so earnest, I eventually gave in. See…?”

“…Yes, I see.”

It made sense to Leonis. Riselia did seem to have an odd power that allowed her to get her way in those kinds of situations. Perhaps it was charm…a charisma of sorts.

Elfiné took her hands off Leonis’s back. The light emitted by the hovering spheres changed to a subdued shade of green.

“All right, I finished registering your biological information. I’ll sync it up with the terminal.”

She got to her feet and started rapidly entering information into a tablet.

“…Okay, so, ‘Has a cute face but seems surprisingly preoccupied with breasts’… I… I see…” Elfiné turned to look at the boy with a mixed expression.

…Wait. What kind of data is this?!

“D-does biological data include that kind of thing, too?”

“Being a perv is bad, Leo.”

“Y-you misunderstand…!”

Elfiné scolded him, and Leonis protested. Then, the boy’s gaze suddenly fell on the screen of the other terminal sitting on the table.

It displayed a map of the area around Excalibur Academy. He did recall her mentioning that she was investigating the waters around these parts for a Void hive.

“Miss Elfiné, would it be all right if I took a look at that information later?”

“…? Sure, I don’t mind…” The young woman cocked her head to one side at his request.

Leonis returned to his room with a spare tablet that Elfiné had lent him. Apparently, she had several of them handy.

…Is she some sort of collector?

He opened the door to his room. As he entered, he could hear the inviting sound of water running from deeper inside… Riselia seemed to be taking a shower. Leonis gave a dry, loud cough and sat on his bed. As his fingers approached the tablet, he ran mana through it. The screen lit up, and a map dotted with red spots surfaced on the screen. It was data on Void locations over the last few months.

There really is a correlation…

Ogre, troll, chimera, wyvern… Those were all the names of monsters the Dark Lords’ Armies employed in their war against humanity. The Voids Leonis saw had the characteristics of some of those ancient beasts. And larger Voids seemed to appear predominantly around ancient ruins and battlefields.

Among all the locations, more Voids appeared to originate from somewhere below the seas where the Seventh Assault Garden now sat. This was where the Wasteland of Sidon once stood. The site of a battle between the Dark Lords’ Armies and the Six Heroes. The final resting places of countless monsters and undead, as well as the Archsage of the Six Heroes, Arakael Degradios, who had fused with the Holy Tree…

…Are Voids monsters of the past that have been transfigured by some sort of power?

He believed this theory to be sound. But even if that was the case, it still begged more questions. The remains of those ancient monsters should have disappeared long ago…

…And the Voids that took over the ruins disappeared after some time, too.

The cadavers of the Voids that Leonis had stored in his shadow had curiously vanished without a trace. Were the Voids invaders from another world or some type of weapon? But if they were weapons, they were a bit too diverse. Their reason for attacking mankind was still a complete mystery, as well.

…I may have to investigate this undersea nest of theirs.

These Voids could prove to be a great obstacle to the return of the Dark Lords’ Armies. And as the Undead King, having these entities running rampant through his territory was irksome.

Suddenly sensing a presence, Leonis shut off the tablet’s screen. The shadow at his feet wavered slightly.

“—I have returned, my lord.”

The umbral maid, Shary Shadow Assassin, silently appeared in the room. The black-haired girl twirled in place and bowed elegantly.

“Oh, Shary. Good work,” Leonis told her gratefully.

“Your words are wasted on me, my lord.”

“So did you gather any information pertaining to the current state of mankind?”

“Yes…”

Shary presented Leonis with a large paper bag.

“What might this be?” the Undead King asked suspiciously.

“These are sweets, my lord. I believe they are called doughnuts.”

“Hmm?”

Shary opened the bag, and a sweet scent wafted through the room.

“Have one.”

“………”

Leonis took a doughnut out of the bag and bit into it.

“…How is it?”

“It’s good.”

The sweetness of sugar filled his mouth. It was a taste that made him crave some tea.

“I’ve brought you something to drink, as well.”

“That’s considerate of you.”

“It’s called tapioca juice.”

It had an odd texture. Shary also began munching on a doughnut.

…That’s fine, but don’t spill your crumbs into my Realm of Shadow, if you please.

“I’ve brought all sorts of other delicacies as well. Like this stretching ice cream…” Shary started taking an assortment of sweets out of her paper bag.

“Wait, wait…”

“…?”

“That’s enough about food. Don’t you have any other data to share with me?”

“………”

“Don’t tell me you spent all this time playing outside.”

“………”

The umbral maid looked away, unable to meet her master’s eyes.

“Well, that’s fine… I suppose even their cuisine is a good indicator of mankind’s current cultural level.” Leonis sighed.

“I did gather some information, however.” Shary cleared her throat. “There is no one in this city who seems to know about the Dark Lords…”

“Hmm, I assumed as much…”

According to Shary’s intelligence, the citizens of this city were apparently unfamiliar with the gods of old or the war between the Dark Lords and the Six Heroes one thousand years ago. The fact that no one knew about such a great war was quite jarring, to say the least.

It’s as if someone’s wiped the past from the face of history…

Leonis decided he would go to Excalibur Academy’s library tomorrow to look into it on his own.

“…Understood. Continue your investigation.”

“Yes, my lord.”

Shary nodded and…suddenly turned in the direction of the sound of running water in the bathroom.

“I see you’ve made that girl your minion.”

“I did,” Leonis confirmed.

“Ah. So you indiscriminately make everyone you come across into your minion, my lord,” Shary said, pouting.

“What are you getting angry over?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. You’re a dummy, my lord…”

“How can you call your master a ‘dummy’? Now, listen and be amazed…”

“…What is it?”

“That girl, she’s a Vampire Queen. The highest rank an undead minion can achieve. And she’s recently awakened the mysterious power of a Holy Sword. Should I raise her properly, she will be a great confidant for the newly re-formed Dark Lords’ Armies.” Leonis gave a boastful smirk, as if to say, “How do you like that?!” Shary, however, merely scowled in further displeasure.

“A confidant… I see.”

“Are you still upset over something?”

“Not at all. I hate you, my lord!” Miffed, Shary turned away from him and returned to his shadow.

“…What’s her problem? I never could understand what that girl was thinking.”

Leonis heaved an exasperated sigh and rolled onto the bed. He stared, unblinking, at the ceiling.

…Still, this world really has changed.

He was suddenly overcome with loneliness, as if there were a hole in his heart. Had she really reincarnated in this new era? Would he truly be able to rebuild the Dark Lords’ Armies in this world devoid of demons and monsters…?

…No, a Dark Lord like myself can’t afford to be so timid. Leonis smiled wryly.

He would have to seek her out. And if that meant hiding in this form, then that’s what he would do.

Besides, this isn’t all bad…

It may have been accidental, but he’d obtained a powerful vampire minion. She may have been inexperienced, but Riselia showed promise. With the Undead King’s guidance, she’d surely become a promising retainer to him.

That’s when he heard the bathroom door click open.

“…?!”

Reflexively, the Dark Lord turned his gaze toward the door. Gorgeous silver hair came into view… Riselia, dripping with water, emerged with a bath towel wrapped around her body.

“Oh, Leo. You can use the bath now, if you want.”

…See, you’re too naive!

Once again, she treated him like a child. Leonis was at his wit’s end.

On that same day, in the early morning…

Something awakened on the seafloor directly below the Seventh Assault Garden. It was one of the Six Heroes, the one praised for being the wisest of all mankind. The one who, long ago, had cast aside his human form to fuse with the Holy Tree.

It was the Archsage, Arakael Degradios.

But his form had long since changed from what it once was, becoming a massive seedbed producing denizens of nothingness—Voids…

However. A small fraction of the man once called the Archsage still remained within this new form, and it sensed the revival of his sworn nemesis.

…Undead… K…ing… Unnnndeaaaaad…Kiiiiiiiiiinnng…

Ancient hatred awakened a soul festering in emptiness. The roots of the Holy Tree writhed eerily below the water. Countless Voids birthed themselves from knots in its trunk.

Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooh!

The flock of Voids raised their voices in celebration, unknown to those above. They cheered as one would to praise the return of a king…

“Number 03 reporting. Large-scale change in the crust of the seafloor detected…”

“Roger, thirteenth platoon. Proceed with your survey, but be careful.”

“Roger that— Hold on. What’s that…?”

A research team of Holy Swordsmen, diving underwater with the power of a water-type Holy Sword, raised their voices in alarm.

“Number 03, what’s wrong?!”

“Wh-what the…what the hell is that…? Aaah, aaaaaaaaaaaah!”

The sight before the man’s eyes struck fear into his soul.

“Calm down, Number 03. Please respond…”

“Are those…? Are those all Voids…?!”

The man’s terrified voice vanished in a wave of static.