Chapter 30

The day after I won the duel with Legal.

My reputation at school changed completely.

Not necessarily for the better, though.

“Didn’t he use some underhanded trick?”

Some students said,

“Hasn’t he been hiding his ability to use magic all this time?”

Others mocked me.

Still, there were those who, seeing that Legal couldn’t use erasure magic, claimed that Legal was actually weak, and some students said I was a nobody who couldn’t use innate magic because I hadn’t used it in the duel.

Overall, I seemed to have shifted from being a target of ridicule to being seen as a creepy student.

“Norman, it seems you can use magic now.”

During class, Mr. Rudon said this with a sharp look.

“Um, yes...”

It seems Mr. Rudon had heard about my victory in the duel.

“Then, why don’t you try the wind magic I just explained here?”

I hadn’t learned wind magic yet, but I replied, “Yes.”

“Arise, wind.”

I chanted while looking at the magic circle written on the paper.

As expected, no magic occurred.

“It seems you can’t do it.”

“I haven’t learned wind magic yet.”

“Well, you do take longer to learn things than others. Do your best.”

Usually, other students would tease me at this point, but not today.

Just for that, I thought the duel was worth it.

◆

“I’m going to summon a new demon today to learn wind magic.”

After returning home, I declared this in front of Ourobus and Closel.

“Do you two know of a demon that’s perfect for learning wind magic?”

“M-Master, I’m sorry! I can’t be of any help!”

Ourobus said this and prostrated himself.

Yeah, I kind of expected Ourobus wouldn’t be much help in this kind of situation.

“What about Closel?”

“Hmm, ah, I have one in mind!”

Closel thought for a moment and then said this.

It seems she had someone in mind. That’s good.

If she didn’t, I would have had to ask Fullcas, but at this hour, Fullcas is probably asleep.

“So, what’s the name of the demon?”

“Well, it’s Focalor, ranked 41st...”

Closel seemed to want to say something more, her lips moving uncertainly.

“Closel, if you have something to say, please tell me.”

“Well, I’m not very good with her...”

Closel said this, looking down.

“In that case, I’ll have Closel leave for a moment.”

“No, no! I don’t want to leave Master Norman!”

“Hmm...”

Closel, like Ourobus, doesn’t want to leave...

“Anyway, I’m not sure if I can summon three demons at once...”

So, I want one of them to leave for a moment.

Thinking this, I looked at the two of them...

“Um, Ourobus...”

“M-Master!!! I don’t want to leave!!!”

Well, that’s Ourobus for you.

“That’s not fair! Why does Ourobus get to stay?!”

I didn’t know why Ourobus was so against leaving.

“Ourobus, why don’t you want to leave?”

I asked, suddenly curious.

“It’s because I don’t want to return to the Netherworld!”

The Netherworld? Hmm, what’s the Netherworld?

“The Netherworld is where we demons usually live.”

Closel explained, sensing I didn’t understand the term.

Oh, the Netherworld.

I wonder what it’s like...

It doesn’t seem like a very comfortable place.

“So, Ourobus, why don’t you want to return to the Netherworld?”

“It’s because I’m confined there...”

Confined, meaning imprisoned, right?

“So, I don’t want to return to the Netherworld!”

Ourobus insisted.

I can somewhat sympathize with his situation.

“By the way, what did you do to be confined?”

“It’s because I disobeyed my superior. But my master is only you, Master! So, it was inevitable that I would disobey my superior!”

Ourobus made a confusing claim.

Well, being a demon must be more complicated than I imagined.

“By the way, why doesn’t Closel want to leave?”

“Well, it’s because... I want to stay with Master Norman...”

Closel said this, her face turning red.

I had a vague sense that Closel admired me.

But if that’s the case, I don’t think she would be too unhappy about returning to the Netherworld for a while.

“Closel, I’ll summon you again once I learn wind magic. Can you leave for a moment?”

“...If Master Norman says so, I have no choice. But you must, must summon me back right away!”

With that, we agreed, and I dismissed Closel.

“Alright, let’s summon Focalor.”

I’m looking forward to seeing what kind of demon will be summoned.