The Academy’s Ankle Reaper

“Since it’s our first meeting, let’s have a self-introduction.

As for me… I hold the position of a Demon Evangelist in the Demon Church. I’m on an important mission to spread the word of the Great Demons to all of you. What kind of mission brings you to this place, sisters?”

What an incredibly unpleasant person… no, a Demon.

Their behavior and speech are polite, but their voice scratches at my ears like nails on a chalkboard.

Dressed in the same black robe as the usual fanatics, the huge horns protruding from their mask give off a menacing aura that no ordinary fanatic could match.

“What the hell is that..?”

“That’s a Demon Evangelist from the Demon Church… they’re con artists who deceive innocent farmers into converting to the Demon Church.”

Upon seeing the Demon Evangelist for the first time, River drew his sword.

He may not know who this person is, but it’s clear from his instincts that they are a dangerous individual.

“A con artist, you say? I only opened their eyes. I’ve never forced anyone to come to the Demon Church. They all came of their own will.”

– Bang! Bang! Bang!!

Talking with a Demon Evangelist spreading the word of the Great Demons is futile.

In response, they fired silver bullets from their right-hand gun, but it seemed to have no effect on the Evangelist.

“Hmmm…? So it’s you. I hear there’s been a nuisance bothering us lately… Did you make this beautiful altar into such a mess? How sad.”

“It wasn’t us…”

“Trying to make excuses while wearing that getup… The person beside you seems to still have room for conversion, but you, it seems, do not.”

The gaze of the Demon Evangelist slid over to River like a serpent.

Being looked at in such a way made me feel uneasy.

“Amy, shouldn’t we attack now?”

“Not yet. Let’s wait just a little longer.”

Though River wanted to slice the Demon Evangelist to pieces immediately, he had to hold back.

Demon Evangelists are key combatants of the Demon Church, equipped with enough strength to traverse areas of the Empire where the mere scent of the Demon Church would get them killed, recruiting believers.

I didn’t mean to dismiss River, but the Evangelist was dangerous for her, someone who didn’t know how to deal with Demons.

“Ah, Ivan, Freya, James, Charlie, brothers and sisters… Your martyrdom will be remembered… by the Great Demons.

May you go comfortably to Hell… Your will shall be carried on by me.”

Suddenly, bulky shoulders of the Demon Evangelist swelled up, sprouting two black arms.

“Then let’s clean up the nuisance and welcome the new sister.”

“Who would follow someone like you!!”

Looks like they chose combat instead of preaching.

River aimed his sword at the Demon Evangelist.

– No need to hear more. Let’s use ‘that’.

I’ve faced the Demon Evangelist multiple times already.

Demon Evangelists, who spread the word of the Great Demons and grow their followers, are not ones for conversation.

I had been letting them talk because they might simply rant and disappear on their own.

I didn’t prepare it for use against an Evangelist, but luckily, I have weapons that are extremely effective against Demons.

I pulled out the gun from my left hand, which had never been fired before.

So far, I had used silver bullets and learned the hard way that my gun had little effect.

The gun in my left hand is no different from the one I shot with my right hand.

The only difference is the two bullets loaded in it.

While the right gun only required a pull of the trigger, this one required infusing magical energy into the weapon before pulling the trigger.

That is the trigger for awakening these special bullets.

“Unseal, the Fire of Saint McKinto.”

As I infused magic, I felt terrifying shards of power within the revolver.

Before the Demon Evangelist could notice, I pulled the trigger.

– Bang!!

As I pulled the trigger, the dry sound echoed just like the right gun.

But it wasn’t a silver bullet that was fired.

What was loaded was the sacred breath of the Red Dragon, a high-ranking species that became a saint, ‘Saint McKinto’, moved by the word of God.

The sacred flames sealed within the bullet erupted and engulfed the Demon Evangelist.

– Whoosh!!

The fire of Saint McKinto lasted for about five seconds, incinerating the altar without leaving a trace behind.

“Wha??”

River, who was ready to charge out at any moment, was taken aback by the blinding white flames filling his sight.

The sacred breath from the dragon could inflict damage even on a Great Demon.

To ever use it, one must not simply make generous donations to the church, but build good relationships first.

As I started hunting Demons, what I focused the most on was nurturing a friendly rapport with the church.

Everything was all for obtaining this ‘Fire of Saint McKinto’, which took several years to finally obtain a piece two years ago.

I had three in total, received one each year, used one already, and now had to use one more.

If it were just me, I’d have fought and won somehow, but now River was beside me.

I had no choice but to use it.

I felt a bit regretful for using the breath of McKinto that I could only obtain once a year, but I found satisfaction in keeping River safe.

“Wow, you actually hit me~”

“?!”

A nasty voice still echoed amidst the swirling smoke.

The Fire of Saint McKinto had surely consumed the Demon Evangelist.

There’s no way they could still be fine after that; how are they talking?

“You bring that kind of thing, and I’ve got no choice but to use both hands… no, probably just one hand.”

The Demon Evangelist spoke casually, even though most of their body had been blown away.

From their left arm to the legs, the sacred flames had turned the Demon Evangelist into ashes, and though it was miraculous they were still alive, with only a right leg and right arm left, they were somehow managing to maintain their life.

“Do you think I’ll let you go?!”

Though they pretended to be relaxed, a good half of their body was gone.

Instead of the ineffective silver bullets, I grabbed the mithril greatsword slung on my back.

A decisive strike here would end things.

“You shouldn’t worry about me.”

Suddenly, a massive amount of magic energy began to surge forth.

“The altar has been completely destroyed, where is all this coming from?!”

For summoning a Demon, you need an altar and a sacrifice.

Both of those were shattered; where on earth is this ritual being conducted?

“Amy, look at the ceiling… what’s that?”

River pointed at the ceiling.

It became clear where the altar was.

From the lofty ceiling, a black sphere of swirling dark magic slowly descended toward us.

“This dungeon structure is quite interesting, isn’t it?

Sealing the Boss Room to take control… What a brilliant idea. You just close it without knowing what’s happening inside…

The pastor said this. That sealed space would look splendid when offered to the Master.”

Just as I’d surveyed, there was no issue with the seal of the Boss Room.

This ritual was swallowing the Boss Room while still sealed.

The lives of people didn’t matter much.

What they were after was the dungeon itself.

“This altar was a bait?”

“No, this was also an important altar. This is beneath the Boss Room, and conducting the ritual from here causes the altar up there on the ceiling… essentially the altar just below the Boss Room, to operate simultaneously.

Normal believers couldn’t hold the ritual hanging from the ceiling, after all.”

– You’re just full of tricks…!!!

I hadn’t even realized the ritual was still going due to the altar being destroyed.

If the ritual had progressed properly, there would definitely have been some precursor signs, but this descent was far too sudden.

Seeing River and me at a loss, the Demon Evangelist laughed.

“The Master enjoys conversing with lambs.

If you please the Master… you may accept the gospel and join us.”

The black sphere continued to descend slowly.

“Well then, I’ll take my leave…”

Saying that, the Demon Evangelist vanished.

The black sphere was falling slowly towards us.

[Were you the reckless bugs that called me?]

The dense magic that made up the sphere dispersed, and from within emerged someone.

The sight of someone falling from the dark ceiling was as fearsome as an unknown nightmare awakening from a black egg.

The descended Great Demon appeared just like a gigantic old man.

With deep-set wrinkles on his face, a hunched back, a bulging belly, and a beard that reached down to his toes.

Had it not been for the curving horns sprouting from his head and the long, sharp fangs from his mouth, he would resemble a grumpy old man.

But he was undoubtedly a Great Demon.

Surrounded by dense magic, he exuded a terrifying majesty and power as if he had descended straight from Hell.

His presence shook the cave with a feeling of endless fear.

My hands trembled.

He looked like an old man with lazy eyes, but he instilled a fundamental terror in humans.

Finally, he spoke to the quaking humans in front of him.

[I am Belphegor… the Great Demon ruling over the Swamp of Hell.]

His voice was deep, like a giant boulder rolling down a hill.

The Great Demon Belphegor spoke in an old man’s voice.

Belphegor’s voice echoed throughout the cave, and the deeply low tone felt like it was crushing my chest.