“You manipulate concepts, right? Like Professor Dennis?”
“…Steel. Reflective.”
So it was something like a cloning technique. Magic was, as expected, overpowered.
It seemed he twisted the concept of “reflectivity” or “shining” from the earth attribute of steel to create glass.
“Then you must have a lot of applications for it. It must be extremely durable.”
“You’re smart… and strong.”
Thinking about it, it was a highly effective method. Combining the toughness of steel with the malleability of glass meant it could be used in versatile and unconventional ways.
‘Isn’t the Crown Prince basically a broken character?’
I briefly admired his ability. With this, he could definitely protect our Saintess. I glanced at the golden eyes behind the glass helmet, feeling a twinge of envy.
He was, after all, a descendant of the Ten Greats. Both Nex Aureus and he inherited their absurdly overpowered bloodlines. But why did he seem weaker in the sequel?
“Were you always this strong, Mr. Mardol?”
“No, I’m weak.”
“…Lying is bad. Please tell me the truth.”
“I must… become stronger.”
Even as I tried to probe for information, his obsession with “becoming stronger” shone through. I took a moment to study Mardol, clad in his pristine white full-plate armor, from head to toe.
“…What is it, Licht?”
I paused, deliberating. Something felt off. Was he really the same person I thought he was?
‘This might be the true personality of the Crown Prince. Maybe the Lupus I knew was an imposter…’
Seeing his magic in action clarified some things for me. Each attribute had unique characteristics.
A character who twisted the earth element to use glass wouldn’t just fade into the background as a Mary Sue.
The Nameless Saintess, for example, shared the same light attribute as Kainel.
“What’s the reason you feel like this? Was it because you were too weak to protect someone?”
“…”
In Black Heart, Lupus lacked depth. If he had been portrayed as reserved, like now, it might have better justified his role as a monetization bait character.
“…You don’t have to answer that. I was too harsh with my words. I’m sorry, Mr. Mardol.”
“No, it’s my fault.”
Seeing him bow his head deeply, I felt my resolve waver.
At this moment, he wasn’t a bad person. To ease the tension, I took a step closer.
“Mr. Mardol.”
We’d eventually be comrades hunting Demon Lords together.
“So don’t worry too much. This time, you’ll be able to protect them.”
“…Thank you. I’m sorry.”
I’d also have to entrust our Nameless Saintess to him. I decided to soften my tone and gently patted the shoulder of his crystal armor as a gesture of encouragement.
“By the way, we didn’t encounter any six-star monsters among the ones we hunted, right?”
“No, Licht.”
To shift the topic, I glanced at the collected spoils in one place. While the results weren’t bad, it wasn’t enough to secure an A+ grade.
Without Ariel and Mardol participating fully, we probably wouldn’t score well in teamwork either.
“When Kainel and Miss Ariel wake up, let’s have a discussion. Let’s aim for something stronger and easier to deal with.”
With my mood lifted, thanks to the dream of our platinum wolf, I had to make up for yesterday’s shortcomings.
***
“Hmm…”
At the same time, back at the academy where Licht’s group was absent…
“This won’t do…”
A white-haired woman wearing a magician’s hat was fiddling with a barrier. Crackle. The sound indicated her tampering wasn’t being permitted this time.
“…How boring.”
Her expression reflected a lack of interest as she propped her chin on her hand. Aside from her hair, everything about her outfit was jet-black.
“Is it because of that reaper? The barrier’s gotten thicker.”
Her polite tone shifted into casual speech. How much time had passed?
“Well, I suppose there’s no other way…”
From her robes, she pulled out a black mask and placed it over her face. The design was eerie, its smiling expression unsettling.
“Finally, it’s letting me through. My authority really is the best!”
As soon as she donned the mask, her clothing transformed into a typical academy student’s uniform. Her face, too, shifted into someone else’s.
“Hmm, do you think my dear husband might not recognize me with this mask on?”
Frowning, she adjusted her appearance as if something about it felt awkward. The mask, which had seemed to vanish without a trace, left her looking completely different.
“No, he’ll recognize me. I trust him!”
Her spirits high, the Demon King of Truth hummed a cheerful tune, her voice surprisingly sweet and girlish.
“…It’s been a while since something’s been this entertaining. Hehe.”
With her distinctive white hair and golden eyes, she disguised herself and infiltrated Grand Hearts Academia.