Demon Sword Master of the Holy Sword Academy - Volume 9 - Chapter 7

CHAPTER 7

ELYSION ACADEMY

“This is…humiliating.”

Leonis grumbled as he looked at the dresser mirror. A lovely girl in a maid’s uniform looked back at him.

Last evening, Regina had come up with a plan to get Leonis into the female dormitory area—dress him as a female maid. Apparently, they couldn’t get an Excalibur Academy girl’s uniform in time, but if they claimed he was Riselia’s personal attendant, nobody would think twice about it.

They’d had a maid’s uniform sitting in the closet that was just Leonis’s size left over from the café the eighteenth platoon held during the Holy Light Festival. Before they brought out the maid’s uniform, Riselia tried to have Leonis wear her old clothes from when she was in elementary school, but that didn’t work out.

“Me, a Dark Lord once feared as the incarnation of death and terror, dressed like this!” Leonis stood in front of the mirror, trembling with anger as he gripped the hem of his skirt.

“M-my lord, I think you look v-very lovely!” a voice squeaked behind him.

“Are you making a mockery of me, Shary?” Leonis turned around and glared at his assassin maid.

“O-of course not!” Shary shook her head, clearly flustered. “But, my lord, while you look like a maid, you’re certainly not conducting yourself like one.”

“What? Am I really so improper?” Leonis furrowed his brow, pinched up his skirt, and twirled in place.

“You’re doing it all wrong, my lord! Allow me to show you how to act like a maid. Like this. Aha.  ” Shary struck a cute pose. “Come now, my lord, follow my example. Aha.  ”

“Don’t get carried away. You are testing my patience, Shary.”

The air shook furiously as Leonis released his aura of death.

“M-my apologies, my lord!” Shary bowed and apologized profusely.

“Very well.” Leonis cleared his throat with a sour expression. “I suppose this disguise will be useful for exploring the academy’s premises.”

Shary’s expression turned serious. “I hope Lord Blackas is safe and sound.”

“He’s cautious. I doubt we have much to worry about, but…”

The fact that he hadn’t reported in since last night was concerning. But before Leonis could think about that any longer…

“Leo, it’s time to go.”

…Riselia knocked on the door and came in. Shary swiftly sank into the shadows to hide herself.

“Oh, Leo, you look adorable!”

“Not you too, Miss Selia…,” Leonis groaned.

“Heh-heh-heh, sorry, Leo. You’re cute when you’re dressed like a boy, too.” Riselia smiled and patted him on the head.

“…That doesn’t make it any better,” Leonis replied dispiritedly.

Riselia, Regina, and Leonis took the linear rail to the Imperial Capital. While each Assault Garden was currently in a state of high alert, the students of Excalibur Academy could move between cities without having to go through any troublesome formalities.

“It’s a shame that Miss Finé couldn’t come,” Regina remarked.

Riselia shook her head. “There really isn’t much to be done… There aren’t enough analysis-type Holy Swords to go around.”

Elfiné was basically forced to help the Imperial Knights today, and there was no telling when she’d return to the Hræsvelgr dorm.

“And I couldn’t get in touch with Sakuya. Where did she go off to…?” Riselia added.

“She’ll probably pop up if there’s an emergency summons,” Regina replied. “Phew…I’m pretty nervous.”

“Don’t worry. Leo and I are here with you.” Riselia patted her dear friend on the shoulder.

They got off the linear rail at the Central Garden station and walked toward Elysion Academy’s grounds. Before long, the three were standing before the campus—a building reminiscent of a chalk white palace, surrounded by artificial greenery.

This is a fairly old architectural style. Is this what they call retro-culture? Leonis thought while minding the skirt of his maid’s uniform.

According to what Alexios had told him, two hundred years ago, the gifted who heard the voice of the planet were granted knowledge that allowed them to rapidly develop civilization via magical technology. There were some differences, but the structure was similar to those Leonis recalled from a thousand years ago.

“Elysion Academy is the second oldest Holy Swordsman training school, built after the Second Assault Garden’s Military Instruction School.” Riselia pointed at the campus building.

“Excalibur Academy is a relatively recent school, right?” Leonis asked.

“Yes. It was built to be a branch of the Military Instruction School when the Seventh Assault Garden was completed. It’s the largest of all the training academies and boasts the most cutting-edge facilities… Wait, Leo, didn’t you attend a lecture about the history of the schools?”

“I—I did?”

Leonis had probably skipped out on that lecture. He’d often used skeletons as his body doubles when he avoided classes, but recently, Riselia had learned to identify his replacements. Now he’d been caught red-handed.

As they walked down the trail on the school grounds, Riselia, Regina, and Leonis came upon an iron gate.

“So, hmm, do we just walk in?”

“We have the letter from Princess Chatres…”

While they pondered what to do, the bird spirit that had delivered the letter flew in front of them, scattering particles of light into the air. The spirit fluttered around the three to confirm their identities and, upon seeing Leonis in his maid’s uniform, cocked its head in confusion.

“Erm, I’m Miss…ah, Lady Selia’s maid,” Leonis said with exasperation.

The spirit nodded in understanding, and the gate opened.

The bird led the group to the girls’ dorms.

“Oh, are those guests? They’re wearing Excalibur Academy uniforms.”

“Are those the ones who fought Lady Chatres in the Holy Sword Dance Festival?”

“Ah, it’s Lady Riselia!”

“The Crystalia Duchy girl?”

Some noble ladies walking along the road looked at Riselia and whispered to each other. Unlike Chatres, not many of Elysion Academy’s students dressed in military uniforms. Instead, they wore stylish urban outfits. Many of the girls spoke in the same prim and proper manner as Fenris Edelritz, owing to the fact that this was a school for the upper class.

“You’re really the center of attention, Lady Selia,” Regina remarked.

“That’s because the reporters wrote all sorts of half truths about me…” Riselia hung her head, embarrassed, and hastened her steps.

Assorted press outlets published all sorts of special features about her, calling her a beautiful contestant who shook up the Holy Sword Dance Festival. Riselia was a pretty girl, and on top of that, she was the daughter of Duke Crystalia, a hero who died a tragic death in the line of duty fighting against the Voids. This made her as appealing a topic as Chatres, the most promising contender in the Holy Sword Dance Festival.

Riselia’s popularity had only grown since her surprising performance during the competition. It only made sense that she’d gained the admiration of all the girls her age who aspired to be great Holy Swordswomen.

“A few reporters even took secret photos of our training. It was awful…,” Riselia admitted with a sigh.

Secret photos?! Leonis’s ears twitched at the term.

He secretly resolved to reduce those reporters to ashes.

“E-erm, Miss Riselia, could we get a picture with you?”

“C-can I get your autograph?! My kid sister is a big fan!”

As Riselia, Regina, and Leonis crossed the courtyard, girls surrounded them.

“Huh?!” Riselia exclaimed, confused. However, she ultimately complied. “F-fine, just, please, line up…”

“Your battle with Lady Chatres during the Holy Sword Dance Festival was amazing!”

“I—I fought her, too…,” Regina whispered, sulking, but no one heard her.

All right…

Leonis looked around. Nothing struck him as out of the ordinary about the place, but there was the possibility that some manner of disguise was fooling him.

“Shary, how do these building’s shadows look?” He communicated with Shary, who was hidden in the shadows.

“Nearly all the shadows have been seized by someone. It’s like a labyrinth covered in traps.”

“…I see.”

As a shadow denizen, Shary saw the area differently from Leonis.

“Is there any sign of Blackas?” Leonis asked.

“No, Lord Blackas is nowhere to be seen,” Shary replied telepathically. “He might be hiding somewhere deep within the shadows.”

“I should hope he is.”

The Shadow Wraiths that Leonis had lent to Blackas never returned. Something might have happened to him…

I doubt Blackas was taken by surprise, though…

“Should I go search for Lord Blackas?”

“Hmm.” Leonis paused for thought. “Yes. But don’t do anything reckless.”

“Understood, my lord…”

Shary’s presence disappeared from the shadow at Leonis’s feet. He wanted to join the investigation but decided it was best not to do anything to attract enemy attention.

I don’t know who’s behind this, but I will crush them to bits.

Free at last from the swarm of girls, Riselia let out a haggard exhale.

“Th-that was terrible.”

“It looked taxing, Lady Selia,” Regina said with a strained smile.

“Y-yes. But I’m glad for their support.” Riselia pumped her fists.

“I’m happy, too. Everyone’s acknowledging your hard work, Lady Selia.”

Regina had watched Riselia through it all. She knew how much her friend suffered while longing for a Holy Sword. Regina had been the only one there while Riselia trained tirelessly in pursuit of her goal. Seeing students from another school acknowledge Riselia was undoubtedly a touching moment for Regina. Leonis was also pleased to see his minion praised for her efforts.

Unlike the courtyard, the area behind the girls’ dorm was a quiet, serene place. There were no students to be seen, and silence hung over the place. Evidently, these dorms were reserved for the highest achievers at the school.

Just like Excalibur Academy had the Hræsvelgr dorm and the Fafnir dorm, the living quarters here came in different quality grades. The halls were made of polished marble and lined with expensive-looking paintings. A portrait of a serene sea offered a glimpse of the world before the Void invasion.

This isn’t much to my taste, though.

The corridors of Death Hold were decorated with paintings of assorted monsters and undead. When they spotted an intruder, the images came to life and sprang out to attack.

The bird spirit leading the way suddenly sped off somewhere.

“…?”

Riselia, Regina, and Leonis stopped in front of a portrait, and a moment later, the sounds of approaching footsteps echoed from the far side of the corridor.

“My apologies for calling you here. Thank you for coming.”

“Princess Chatres.”

Chatres Ray O’ltriese approached with the bird spirit perched on her shoulder.

“Just what…is this?!”

After crossing through the woods, Arle stood stunned in front of the gigantic Void tear. Many trees grew on the other side of the fissure, but they were quite different from those in the Spirit Forest. The malformed things pulsed with eerie life, surrounded by eerie miasma.

“I doubt my forest striding spell will work here,” Arle said.

“It reeks of them…” Sakuya’s eyes glinted as she glared into the depths of the woods. Her hand was already clutching her sword of crackling lightning. “Let’s go.”

“H-hold on, wait…”

Sakuya stepped into the tear in space without a second thought, and Arle hurried after.

…?!

The moment Arle set foot in the forest on the other side, she was overcome by dizziness and nausea. It was the intense vapor the Voids produced.

“Cough, cough… Protection of the Wind!” Somehow, Arle invoked a spell through a coughing fit, forming a barrier around herself.

“Are you all right?” Sakuya asked, grabbing the elf girl by the arm as she swayed on her feet.

“H-how are you fine inside this miasma…?” Arle asked, still choked up.

“I’m used to it,” Sakuya whispered curtly. She looked around. “So this is the Void home world…”

Arle also scanned the surroundings. A bloodred sky. Writhing, eerie trees. And…

“What’s that?” Sakuya frowned as she peered into the distance.

Arle followed Sakuya’s gaze. Past the trees stood the tip of a giant stone pyramid.

Is that what I think it is?! Arle’s blue eyes widened in disbelief.

“A structure? Do the Voids have a civilization?” Sakuya wondered, baffled.

Arle shook her head. “No. That pyramid is a temple!”

“A temple?” Sakuya repeated, and Arle nodded in confirmation.

“What is the Spirit King’s temple doing in this world?”

Chatres led them to a room awash with sunlight. At the center of the chamber were a sturdily built table and sofas. The fixtures were all fashionable and fancy. Each had clearly been handpicked.

“I would have greeted you at the gate, but if I were spotted meeting you”—Chatres opened the door and ushered her guests in—“it would have caused a commotion. Do pardon me.”

“Think nothing of it, Princess Chatres.” Riselia waved her hand dismissively, clearly humbled by the princess’s words.

Given Chatres’s incredible popularity, it would have drawn unnecessary attention if the two beauties who’d clashed in the Holy Sword Dance Festival were spotted and photographed together.

“Is this your room, Princess?”

“No. Normally the Executive Committee here uses it as a meeting room.” Chatres bowed to Riselia, Regina, and Leonis. “Once again, allow me to thank you. You have my deepest gratitude.”

“Ah, please raise your head, Lady Chatres!”

“We only did what was expected of us as Holy Swordswomen.”

“What was expected of you… Indeed, all who aspire to be worthy Holy Swordswomen harbor such ideals. However, with that swarm of Voids surrounding us, no one would have blamed you for leaving me behind.” Chatres shook her head quietly. “Normally, I would have been the one protecting you all. I am greatly ashamed.”

She bit her lip despondently.

“Lady Chatres…,” Riselia called out to the princess, who lifted her head in response.

“The Holy Sword Dance Festival may have ended unusually, but I would love to fight you and your unit again,” Chatres said.

“Y-yes! We would love nothing more!” Riselia answered enthusiastically.

“Uh, no, I’d decline if I could…,” Regina muttered, cold sweat on her face.

“Anyway, take a seat.” Chatres motioned to the sofas.

“O-of course…” Riselia said.

Regina sat down, looking terribly nervous. Riselia did the same, although her eyes were focused on the room’s corners.

There don’t seem to be any traps here…

The bird spirit flew from Chatres’s shoulder and landed in Regina’s hands.

“Um…Princess Chatres?”

“It seems to like you. Play with it, would you?”

“Er…” Regina stroked the bird’s feathers with an uneasy expression.

“Heh-heh. Let me pet it, too.” Riselia tried to pat the spirit on the head, yet it looked the other way, rejecting her. “Whaaat?! How come?!” There were tears in Riselia’s eyes.

It is regrettable, but spirits keenly sense the presence of the undead.

“By the way…” Chatres turned to face Leonis. “Why are you dressed like a maid? Is that some, uh…personal preference of yours?”

Leonis couldn’t overlook that implication.

“Er, no. We thought that a man walking into the girls’ dorm might cause a panic…”

“I doubt that would have been an issue. A male student would be refused, of course, but you’re ten years old, correct?”

“Huh?”

“Besides, you have an invitation. Even an older student would be granted entry with an invitation.”

“Miss Regina? What’s the meaning of this?” Leonis glared at the mischievous girl.

“D-don’t get the wrong idea, kid! I wasn’t trying to trick you into dressing like a girl so we could toy with you!” Regina laughed, looking the other way.

“Y-you’ll pay for this with interest later, Miss Regina!”

“Oh, gosh, kid. You’ve got a scaaary look in your eyes…”

“B-but you do look cute, Leo!” Riselia insisted. It was clearly meant as encouragement.

“You’re her accomplice, Miss Selia!”

Chatres took a few teacups out of a cupboard and placed them on the table. They were made of pretty white porcelain and had golden rims.

Ohhh, now these are impressive pieces of work.

Leonis eyed the cups, fascinated. They were likely antiques from the days when kingdoms still dotted the world.

“Regina, bring out the sweets,” Riselia whispered while the other girl played with the spirit.

“Oh, right. Uh, we brought some snacks, if you’d like to try them,” Regina said, taking out a paper bag from her tote and placing it on the table.

“Oh, much appreciated. I’ll gladly have one.” Chatres opened the paper bag. “Mm! These are cream…cream puffs!”

The third princess’s green eyes narrowed sharply.

“Hmm…one of the special features on the Holy Sword Dance Festival mentioned you like them,” Regina explained.

“Those blasted reporters wrote about that?” Chatres muttered bitterly. “Anyway, I’ve never seen cream puffs like this on sale. Did you make them?”

“Y-yes, I made them myself.”

“Oh my. You make confections?”

“Yes. I’m a maid, after all.”

I know of a certain maid who’s a master at munching on snacks… Leonis mused.

“Altiria likes making treats, as well.”

Chatres poured hot water from the pot into the cups. The fragrance of the tea leaves and the sweet scent of peach wafted into the air.

Regina nodded enthusiastically. “Ah, yes, I’m aware!”

“Y-you are?” Chatres replied, a bit surprised. “Well, she ought to arrive soon…”

“Huh? Princess Altiria is coming, too?” Regina asked, taken aback.

“Yes. You saved her aboard the Hyperion, and she wishes to thank you personally. Especially you, Leonis Magnus.”

“I’ve done nothing that warrants gratitude.”

“Hmm, is that so? Well, Altiria seems to believe you saved her.”

“She must be under the wrong impression.” Leonis acted coy, playing with the hair of his wig.

The princess should have been unconscious…

Had she seen him in flight?

“That said, she is a little late…” Chatres glanced at the wall clock while picking up a teacup.

Leonis stood. “I could go check if she’s on her way, if you’d like.”

His intent was to act lost and investigate the school.

“No, you’re a guest. Please stay and relax. I’ll go.”

“Ah, it’s just, erm…I’d like to use the bathroom…”

“O-oh. Pardon me for not grasping your implication.” Chatres’s face flushed a little.

“Which way is the boys’ dorm?”

“Oh, take a right in the central corridor and you’ll get there. I worry you might get lost, though…”

“I’ll walk him halfway, then,” Riselia suggested.

“Miss Selia?” Leonis looked up at Riselia’s face. She seemed to be signaling something to him with her eyes.

“Huh? L-Lady Selia!” Regina protested, flustered.

Her cheeks looked quite stiff, and her mouth was opening and closing like a fish’s as she held her teacup.

“L-Lady Selia, I can’t stay alone with her!” Regina pleaded silently.

Riselia winked. “D-don’t worry! You’ve got this!”

“Lady Selia, you traitorrrrrrrr…!”