Episode 6-27: The “Sinner” and the “Extreme”

The inter-academy competition’s second day was immediately called off, and the students were sent home for the time being—with the exception of Fray, Igni, and the rest of the Student Council.

“So, Igni-kun, are you suggesting these two aren’t actually at fault~?”

“It’s not that they aren’t at fault… but rather, it might be more accurate to say they had no other choice,” Igni replied, shifting his gaze toward Gregory and Claire.

Both sat before Mira, their wrists bound by magic-sealing artifacts. Mira watched them, lost in thought.

“This talk of a ‘Demon Lord’… what’s your take on it, Igni-kun~?”

“I believe it’s worth considering.”

“I see, I see~.”

“…Why ask me, though?”

“Well, Igni-kun, you lived in the ‘Demon Lord’s Territory,’ didn’t you? I figured you’d be the best person to tell if what these kids are saying is true or not~.”

“I suppose that makes sense…” Igni nodded.

It was true; Igni had spent two years training within the ‘Demon Lord’s Territory.’ He had mentioned as much to Mira before. If there were truly strange occurrences happening in that land, it was only logical to ask someone who had actually lived there.

“So, where are you two from? And why did you become ‘Sinners’?”

“……”

Gregory remained silent, pulling Claire closer into his arms. He refused to speak.

“Want me to guess? You’re both from the Mercenary State of Sorond, aren’t you~?”

“Where is that?” Igni tilted his head at the unfamiliar name.

Mira continued, “Let’s see~. How many years has it been… I forget if it was ten or twenty… but it’s a fallen nation now. It was located near the ‘Demon Lord’s Territory’ and was constantly under siege by monsters. But as the name implies, the citizens were so strong they actually exported their own people as mercenaries to earn foreign currency~.”

“Why did it fall?”

“Mmm, it was a slow decline into poverty, I guess. Every country expected it would happen eventually. The neighboring nations took in some refugees, but they couldn’t take in everyone.”

Mira stared intently at the two of them, gauging their reactions. “I’m right, aren’t I?”

“…Yeah.”

“Just because your country fell doesn’t mean we can overlook you breaking into our Rolmod Academy~.”

“Even so! Even so! If we had gone through official channels, none of you would have lifted a finger!”

Anyone listening could tell he was referring to the threat of the Demon Lord.

Gregory was right. The Kingdom didn’t even acknowledge the Demon Lord’s existence. No matter how many “Sinners” told the same story, it would be dismissed as the delusional ramblings of madmen.

Igni believed Gregory because he sensed a sense of duty—one bordering on obsession—within them. That was why the existence of the Demon Lord felt real to him. However, how the rest of the world felt was another matter entirely.

In fact, that was precisely why Igni had brought the two to Mira; he felt she was the one person most likely to listen to reason regarding their fate.

“…Hmm. Well, you have a point. Usually, we’d have to dispatch people to the territory, verify the situation, and then decide how to act… it would definitely take time~.”

“That’s too slow! The Demon Lord has already begun to move! The entire world could end!”

“If that happens, we’ll deal with it then~.”

Mira casually brushed off Gregory’s panicked, angry outburst.

“But, well… we have some pretty ridiculous people in this country, you know~? In an emergency, they could reach the ‘Demon Lord’s Territory’ in an instant. So, you can relax.”

“…Even so, that’s not enough—”

Mira laughed, cutting him off.

“Mmm. Well, I think this is the fundamental difference between us and you ‘Sinners.’ You’re underestimating us far too much~.”

Wearing her usual carefree smile, Mira pointed a finger at Gregory.

“You’re underestimating the ‘Kyokuten’—the Extremes. Sure, like you, they are beings who can use magic. But just because you’re a mage doesn’t mean anyone can claim that title~.”

“…I know how incredible the ‘Kyokuten’ mages are.”

“No. You really don’t.”

Mira’s smile widened at Gregory’s words.

“If you truly understood, you never would have come to the Kingdom. Nor to the Empire, the Holy State, or Alirimania. You simply wouldn’t have come. Not ever.”

Gregory fell silent, perhaps sensing something heavy beneath Mira’s words. At that moment, color began to return to Claire’s face. It seemed she was finally recovering from the aftereffects of her magic usage.

“Do you even know what a ‘Kyokuten’ is? An ‘Extreme’ is the absolute pinnacle of what a human can reach. It is the limit. Magic is a divine art, so it’s impressive enough that humans can use it at all, but that alone won’t get you to the ultimate peak of humanity~.”

Mira was said to be the mage in Rolmod closest to reaching the rank of “Kyokuten.” In other words, she stood closest to the very edge of human potential.

“We’re talking about extraordinary willpower… the kind of endurance that lets you maintain your sense of self for a hundred or two hundred years in a void of absolute nothingness. The mental strength to be dropped into an infinite abyss or countless parallel worlds and just spend your time there laughing. Mages who can wipe a continent off the map with a single spell—that is what a ‘Kyokuten’ is. Do you really understand now?”

Gregory went quiet. It was true that the “Sinners,” being fellow magic users, tended to look lightly upon the “Kyokuten.” Perhaps it was a manifestation of the arrogance that comes from standing in the same general field.

“So, why not have a little more faith in them? In the Guardians of Humanity.”

“Guardians of Humanity? When not a single soul came to help us?!”

“Well, maybe because there was no benefit in helping you~?”

With a single sentence, Mira silenced the infuriated Gregory.

“If you want people to want to help you, you have to show them what they gain from it. There’s no such thing as a hero who saves everyone unconditionally~.”

“……”

Gregory simply stared at Mira, speechless. Igni started to say something but ultimately held his tongue.

Lucas had saved Igni.

But he hadn’t saved the nation that perished ten or twenty years ago. Igni accepted that reality in his heart and continued to watch over the two.

“Now then, Igni-kun. Let’s finish the cleanup.”

“What about these two?”

“Mmm. I’ll try talking to the Headmaster for now~. She’s quite an incredible person herself, you know~.”

“The Wise” Aria.

The founding Headmaster of Rolmod and a surviving member of the legendary Hero’s Party.

“Here. Igni-kun, take this.”

What Mira handed over was a headless corpse.

“…Is this the Vampire’s?”

“Burn it for me~?”

“Ah, right…”

With a short reply, Igni unleashed a ‘Fireball.’

[End 198]