All-Master Player Of The Academy [EN]: Chapter 139

◈ Chapter 139

70. This Is My Territory – 1

Whether they came to capture Eose or had other motives didn’t matter.

Being demons was reason enough to target them.

‘Where is Instructor Valentine?’

Ian nodded and headed in their direction.

Rowena proceeded as cautiously as possible, while Ian strolled along at a leisurely pace.

As they approached Korden Canyon, employing these contrasting approaches, they spotted a handsome boy with platinum blonde hair waiting beneath the moonlight.

“Welcome, Rowena.”

“Eose Ebol.”

He grinned as Rowena recognized him.

“I have a proposition. Join the student council I’m forming.”

He seemed quite confident.

She snorted, detecting the arrogance and dignity of royalty in his demeanor.

“Shouldn’t you extend that invitation after you’ve actually become student council president?”

“Of course, I intend to reiterate it then as well. But shouldn’t I plant the seed beforehand? My ambition is to become the king of the Ebol Kingdom.”

“Dream big.”

“The current heir to the Ebol Kingdom is the second prince, Thorban Ebol. You’re familiar with him, correct?”

“A muscle-bound idiot obsessed with chivalry. A warmonger who openly declares his intention to expand the territory through war if he ascends to the throne. Utter trash.”

“You have a good grasp of his character. I, however, am different. I don’t believe war holds any value. Furthermore, I will support you and foster trade with the Salt Marquisate, leveraging your influence.”

*And I will ensure the Salt Marquisate receives favorable trade terms within the Ebol Kingdom.*

*Consequently, Rowena’s standing within the Salt Marquisate will naturally rise.*

*And if that transpires, you might even be in line to inherit the position of the next Salt Marquis [a noble title associated with the salt trade].*

“So, align yourself with me. I will elevate you to the Salt Marquis.”

Rowena shook her head at the offer.

“Even if I were to become the Salt Marquis with your assistance, wouldn’t I perpetually remain in your debt?”

“Is it so difficult to view that as a mutually beneficial arrangement?”

“And one more thing.”

Rowena pointed her staff.

“How about competing fairly in the test if you wish to discuss such matters? It’s difficult to trust you when you resort to cheating.”

“What do you mean…?”

Rowena immediately raised her staff.

“Sun Light!”

A sphere of light ascended into the sky, illuminating the surroundings like the sun, and the shadows receded.

“Oh my?!”

The light exposed those who were concealed.

They were all armed and wore grim expressions.

“Harboring outsiders and making such offers. Aren’t you stooping a bit low?”

Rowena sneered, but Eose looked genuinely puzzled.

“Who are they?”

“Huh?”

Rowena tilted her head, questioning Eose’s ignorance.

Were they not allies?

“What are you?”

Those who had appeared remained silent in response to her question.

They simply brandished their weapons.

“Eose Ebol.”

“We are here to eliminate you, as per our contract.”

Demons.

They made no further attempts to conceal their presence, openly radiating malice, which startled both Eose and Rowena.

“Demons?!”

“Why demons?!”

Without offering any explanation, they simply glared with cold eyes.

“You go. It seems their target is me.”

“Hmph.”

This test was designed as a combination of monster hunting and a survival exercise.

In other words.

Demons could also be considered valid hunting targets.

“Catching demons will also contribute to the score. It’s not as if I haven’t dealt with demons before as an upperclassman. I’ll be fine.”

Eose offered a wry smile at her confident assertion.

He, too, had encountered demon contractors in the past.

Therefore, both he and Rowena were prepared to fight rather than flee.

“Wicked, Iceman.”

The superior wind spirit and the superior ice spirit materialized.

Rowena admired his skill as an excellent spirit caster and took her position within the leyline [a naturally occurring alignment of energy].

“Hmph!”

She plunged her staff into the leyline.

As she attempted to seize control of the leyline, one of the demon contractors thrust his sword into the ground.

Instantly, Rowena’s leyline control was disrupted.

“You think I’ll allow that to happen?”

“Looks like you’ve fought magicians quite a bit! Eose! Attack!”

At his command, wind and ice combined.

Three colossal ice spears materialized and hurtled towards the demons.

The demons dispersed their auras and demonic energy, intercepting the projectiles.

Just as the demons, having blocked the initial assault, and the two who were preparing to attack again were about to engage in combat.

-Swish!!

The heads of the three demon contractors who were advancing were severed from their bodies.

“Huh?”

“W, what?”

What was happening?

While the two were bewildered by the sudden turn of events, black energy emanated from the three corpses.

“Damn it! They are manifesting!”

It was exceedingly difficult to combat manifested demons without control of a leyline.

They needed to seize the leyline before the demons fully manifested.

While Rowena swiftly moved to secure the leyline, Eose launched another attack.

However, even two superior spirits proved insufficient to restrain the manifested demons.

Eventually, all three transformed into monstrous forms, unleashing their full power.

“Kuaaaa!!”

“Who dares!!”

“Come out!! Stop hiding like a coward!! Who is it!! Who dares!!”

To the intensely enraged demons.

“It’s me.”

A cold voice echoed from behind a large rock where nothing had been visible moments before.

All eyes turned towards the source.

Clearly, the area had been empty just a moment ago.

But from where had that boy emerged?

“Ian Brandon!”

The demon with large horns roared upon recognizing him.

The demons’ primary target of vigilance and a high-priority assassination target.

Consequently, the demons charged towards him.

Heavenly Demon Divine Art, Chapter of Destruction.

Destructive Dance.

-Kwaaaang!!

The immense energy that erupted from the ground reduced the demons to ashes.

Ian, having annihilated the demons with a single strike, addressed the two who were staring at him in stunned silence.

“Pay me no mind and continue with what you were doing.”

And with that, he vanished.

Eose and Rowena, who had witnessed the entire scene from beginning to end, exchanged glances.

“What is this…?”

“I had heard he was strong, but…”

Was it the sheer magnitude of the power they had just witnessed?

Both abandoned their conflict and turned away.

Rowena, having secured the leyline, erected a barrier in place, and Eose trudged off.

Thus.

Ian, having effectively demoralized them, clicked his tongue in regret.

‘Should I have simply left them to their own devices?’

It felt as though he had spoiled a good show.

But what was regrettable was just that.

It wasn’t as if he had nothing else to occupy his time.

“Then I should proceed with my task. Circe, locate the remaining contractors.”

As Circe relayed the locations of the remaining demon contractors, Ian confirmed that Rowena’s barrier was complete and moved towards them.

* * *

The test concluded without incident.

Upon everyone’s safe return, Pridion smiled and said to Ian.

“Good job.”

“It was nothing significant.”

“Still, dealing with demons must have been challenging. Instructor Valentine informed me that you were the one who apprehended them?”

“It’s a frequent occurrence for me.”

“Is that so? Oh, and Trion, the one who dispatched those demons, was exiled from the royal family by the Ebol royal family and handed over to the Solar Church [a religious institution].”

It wasn’t particularly compelling information.

No, on the contrary, he should be expressing gratitude to her.

Thanks to her actions, he had effortlessly eliminated the demons.

“I presume she wasn’t a baptized believer.”

“Indeed. Consequently, she wasn’t executed, but…”

Still, she is destined to spend her entire life confined within the Solar Church’s sanctuary.

The royal family also disowned her, deeming her actions disgraceful, so she is unlikely to ever return to the Ebol Kingdom.

Ian chuckled at Pridion’s explanation.

“By the way, she summoned demons through a ritual…”

“Why? Are you contemplating summoning them yourself? Haha. Do you believe demons will appear simply because you summon them?”

“I don’t believe I need to summon them.”

“I doubt demons will approach merely because you’re nearby… Regardless, I’ll investigate that aspect as well.”

“Yes.”

“And Krudin achieved the highest score on this test. He captured a significant number of monsters.”

Eose, despite performing well on the written exam, didn’t achieve as high a score as anticipated.

“Why is that?”

The individual himself provided the answer.

Eose, approaching from behind, spoke in a serious tone.

“How can I maintain motivation after witnessing the power to defeat demons with a single blow?”

Due to that shock, he was flustered, and his monster hunting was delayed.

“To be envious of another’s power, rather than focusing on one’s own, and to neglect one’s responsibilities. How pathetic.”

Pridion briefly clicked his tongue at those words.

Ian is Ian, and Eose is himself.

He understood that he would accomplish nothing by simply envying others.

“I won’t deny it. But what’s the point of this test after witnessing such power? If I could persuade Ian and secure his full support…”

“You’re mistaken about something.”

Ian chuckled at him.

“Becoming the student council president will be easier than gaining my support, you know?”

“Isn’t that something one must attempt to determine?”

A spirit of challenge ignited within him.

Ian smiled as Eose stared at him with burning eyes.

“Try it.”

After a lengthy conversation, Eose retreated dejectedly.

How could persuasion be possible?

Ian could subtly twist the argument with demagoguery even when there was justification.

But since there was no justification, he had no choice but to be defeated in logic.

Also, he doesn’t desire much, so there was nothing he could offer in exchange for support.

As he walked away with drooping shoulders, Pridion watched him and said.

“Anyway, good job. Let’s go. I’ll treat you to dinner tonight. And let’s have a sparring match after dinner. How about it?”

Ian smiled at him.

“I have other commitments tonight. I’ll see you later.”

Pridion also failed to persuade him and became dejected.

When Ian, having parted ways with him, returned to the dormitory and opened the door, he was met with Harun’s face.

And in front of Harun was the face he had seen steadily for the past week.

“Why are you here? You should be resting.”

“Oh. You’re here? First of all, thank you.”

Rowena thanked him politely.

Ian had intervened to stop the demons’ attack on the first day.

And she had also learned from some instructors that Ian had been protecting her.

She smiled wryly, never anticipating that her supervisor would be Ian.

“You’ve been watching me all this time… Ian, may I ask you just one thing?”

“You may ask me several things.”

“You still don’t want to recommend me? I’ll do anything you want.”

She had also witnessed Ian’s power firsthand.

He had defeated three demon contractors with a single blow.

He had even captured the manifested demon instantly.

If someone with such immense power supported her, she would be capable of achieving anything, not only as the student council president but also after graduation.

“If you’ve been observing me, you’ll recognize my value.”

Facing her confident gaze, Ian replied coldly.

“In my opinion, Harun is superior to you.”

Harun, who was praised for no reason, said proudly.

“That’s right, isn’t it? We may not share blood, but we’re like brothers?! Let’s swear brotherhood right now!”

Ian chuckled at his excitement.

“Not to that extent.”