The Academy’s Ankle Reaper

The Master shattered the wall.

A being who enlightened the laws of this world and redefined themselves anew.

Those who reached the realm of Master have numbered more than ten in the same era, and they all share one common trait.

They all have the same character…

—

The cave, once shrouded in darkness, was filled with blinding light.

The Aura Blade generated around a huge greatsword illuminated the dark cave brightly.

The flash, erasing the dense Magic Energy, resembled Holy Power at first glance, but it was an entirely different substance.

Holy Power, like Magic Energy, derives from another world.

The miraculous Holy Power bestowed by celestial beings and the Magic Energy of Hell are opposing forces that destroy each other upon contact, yet the Master’s Aura Blade was different.

The Aura Blade created by the Master is composed of Mana, just like the Aura Blades created by other Experts, harmonizing three elements: Heart, Body, and Mind.

The density of the Aura Blade, which could be seen as a beam of light, represented a powerful manifestation of ‘Heart,’ and its indomitable ‘Will’ eradicated the power of another realm.

[GRAAAAHHH…!!!!]

Magic Energy erupted from the chest of the Great Demon.

It wasn’t that he used a technique but rather that it gushed out because he was cut by the Aura Blade.

Formless Magic Energy was severed.

Pikes made of dense Magic Energy created by Belphegor were all sliced away by the storm.

Great Demon Belphegor is a lazy demon.

While he masters the Hell he rules and uses his forces well, his direct combat abilities are lacking.

On top of that, he didn’t come down with a proper Descent Ceremony, so there’s that.

It seems he forced his way down using the body of a dungeon boss.

“So you’re a Great Demon and the ruler of Hell, but this is all you can manage?”

[Y-You’re crazy!!!]

Black Magic Energy gathered in Belphegor’s hand, which had healed from previous wounds.

At first glance, his seemingly lackluster attack was in fact a ‘normal strike’ with the power of at least an eighth-circle magic spell.

Even though I was facing a Great Demon who could shoot high-level magic attacks with just a gesture, there was no tension at all.

“Do you think I’ll let you do that?”

The Aura Blade severed Belphegor’s hand along with the Magic Energy.

Even an attack of eighth-circle power was nothing more than a regular Fireball in front of the Aura Blade created by the Master.

Everything vanished as soon as it touched the Aura Blade, erased like chalk on a board.

The Great Demon’s formidable strength was completely fragmented before it could even manifest through the Aura Blade.

From the cleanly severed section, dark Magic Energy spilled out uncontrollably.

The Great Demon Belphegor, who descended imperfectly as the ruler of the Abyss of Hell, was being toyed with by a human Master.

[KRAAAAHH!!]

Belphegor screamed as he swung his severed arm, but I was already gone from that spot.

It was as if I vanished right there and, from midair, came back down to swing my sword at Belphegor’s empty knee.

“The knee is wide open.”

–Swoosh!

Cutting off Belphegor’s knee, which looked to be at least 4 meters tall, the huge demon fell.

I never imagined I’d ever cut a Great Demon’s leg in my lifetime.

[Y-You can’t be serious… I’ve fallen…?!]

Looking at it closely, it was hard to tell if this was a Black Troll or a Great Demon, horns and all.

With a hole in his side and Magic Energy leaking out, one of his hands and a leg were also gone.

Belphegor, who was born as a ruler, had never been humiliated like this; he spoke rapidly, unlike the lazy demon he was.

As I approached Belphegor with the sword in hand, he widened his eyes and threatened me.

[Don’t think this is my full power! If I were to descend in my true form, I could crush a bug like you with one hand!!]

“What’s it to me?”

I severed his other leg.

Belphegor’s sight of flailing arms on the ground was quite pitiful.

Normally, even if I was strong, overpowering a Great Demon like this wouldn’t make sense.

If both sides fought at full strength, the Great Demon should have the upper hand.

However, due to his imperfect descent, Belphegor, who descended based on the body of a dungeon boss, possessed no more than a fifth of his original power.

I felt incredibly uneasy, so I borrowed a Holy Relic from the Church—but it turned out to be completely useless.

Who would have imagined that a Great Demon would be this weak?

‘… Well, I haven’t used it yet, so I might as well hold onto it.’

There was no specific timeline given for when to return it during the contract.

There would surely come a time to use it again.

This wasn’t what was important right now; I’d think about the Holy Relic later. For now…

“So… don’t you have something to say to me?”

We had something serious to discuss regarding Amy, who was collapsed over there.

—

“Man, look at your body. Not a single spot is unharmed.”

Amy was in a mess.

With bruises all over her body, her right arm broken, and her forehead slit with blood flowing down.

The worst injury was on her leg, where a Magic Energy pike was embedded, causing the wound to turn an ominous black.

She needed proper healing.

“Climb on.”

We couldn’t stay here long.

I could feel the dungeon starting to collapse as the boss was defeated.

Even if I had something to say, I’d have to do it while moving.

With Amy’s leg in that condition, she wouldn’t be able to walk properly, so I sat down and gestured for her to hop on.

“What’s taking so long? Do you want to die for real?”

But Amy hesitated and wouldn’t climb on my back.

I figured out why—she cautiously looked at me and spoke.

“Umm… Is it okay?”

That subtly shifting gaze made it clear what she was thinking.

She was wondering if it’s alright for her to ride on me considering she was bigger.

–Smack!

“Ouch!!”

I gave her another playful smack on the head.

“Since you’re still blabbing, you seem fine enough. Get on before I drag you.”

“… Okay…”