The grueling mixed training camp, scheduled to last seven nights and eight days, had finally reached its midpoint: Day Four.
Even on this day, the students of First-Year Class A continued to clear every part of the curriculum without issue. In fact, they were performing so well that they were practically dragging students from other classes and even upperclassn forward with them.
That trend was especially noticeable in the large group I belonged to.
My small-group teammates—Iké, Tokito, and Yoshida—had been confused and hesitant on the first day of camp, but now they had been completely swept up in Class A's pace and were tackling every assignnt seriously.
It happened during the brief period of free ti between the afternoon fitness tests and dinner.
As I quenched my thirst with the water we'd been provided, the third-year group leader, Gonda-senpai, approached with a sowhat nervous expression.
"Yo, Aizen. Good work today."
"—Likewise. You have my gratitude for your efforts as well."
"Man... you're seriously sothing else."
Gonda scratched his head awkwardly and looked straight at .
"To be honest, after hearing about the club-destruction incident back in April, I thought you were so kind of demon. But after working with you during this camp, I've changed my opinion a little."
He paused.
"I'm a third-year, so I know just how amazing Horikita Manabu is. I honestly thought there wasn't anyone in this school who could surpass him."
His gaze sharpened.
"But after seeing that overwhelming presence of yours... and the way you've been leading this entire group..."
A smile spread across his face.
"I can't help thinking you've already got power comparable to Horikita himself."
(WOOOOOOAH!?)
(A third-year just compared to Manabu-senpai, that perfect superhuman!?)
(I'm so happy! But co on, I'm nowhere near his level yet!)
I wanted to modestly reply, "Not at all."
Unfortunately, my mouth belonged to a man burdened with an absurdly powerful ego.
What ca out instead was the usual arrogant poetic nonsense.
"—The only thing I seek is the summit of heaven, a place no one has ever reached before."
I brushed aside my bangs dramatically.
"I am honored by the comparison, but my journey will not stop."
"...!"
Gonda froze for a mont before bursting into laughter.
"Haha! That's so confidence."
He shook his head.
"But honestly? Soone like you might really surpass Horikita soday."
Then he grinned.
"I'm counting on you from here on out, Aizen."
(Senpai, you're too broad-minded!)
(You can laugh off sothing that arrogant!?)
While we were talking, Soma-senpai, the second-year leader, joined us.
"Gonda-senpai's right."
He sighed.
"If only our year had soone with overwhelming power like yours..."
His expression darkened.
"Then maybe we wouldn't have ended up under Nagumo's control, following all these ridiculous orders."
(...I get wanting to rely on a strong leader.)
(But that doesn't an you should stop fighting and just obey soone stronger!)
(Nagumo only beca a dictator because everyone gave up so quickly!)
(This is the perfect chance to give so passionate advice about independence!)
I straightened my posture, intending to say:
"Don't depend on others. Stand on your own feet and keep fighting."
Naturally, what ca out instead sounded like the philosophy of a tyrannical dark lord.
"—All creatures want to believe in sothing bigger than themselves. They cannot live without blind obedience."
"...Huh?"
"And to escape the pressure of that trust, those in whom faith is placed in turn look for soone higher than themselves."
"And then those people in turn look for soone even stronger."
I closed my eyes.
"That is how all Kings are born."
My gaze sharpened.
"That is how all Gods are born."
"...!"
The words struck Soma-senpai like a blade.
"You rely created the king known as Nagumo because of your own weakness."
My voice turned cold.
"You crawled upon the ground, blaming your defeat on circumstance, and broke your own fangs."
"That weakness belongs to no one but yourselves."
(Translation: Nagumo only beca a tyrant because you all gave up and followed him. Stop relying on others and fight for yourselves.)
Soma stared at as though lightning had struck him.
Then he clenched his fists.
"...You're right."
His voice trembled.
"We convinced ourselves we couldn't beat Nagumo."
"We chose blind obedience."
"We're the ones who turned him into a tyrant."
For a mont, he looked down.
When he raised his head again, a fierce determination burned in his eyes.
"You've opened my eyes, Aizen."
He slamd a fist into his palm.
"I'll fight in my own way."
"No more clinging to soone else!"
His voice rang with conviction.
"We're taking first place in this exam no matter what, and we're going to shove it right in Nagumo's face!"
"Yeah!" Gonda joined in.
"We'll show him the pride of the third years!"
(O-Oh...!)
(I accidentally quoted a famous speech and acted all high and mighty...)
(But sohow I actually reignited their fighting spirit!)
(Perfect! Morale in our group is now at maximum!)
Internally relieved, I rely offered a calm smile.
---
That Evening
At dinner, I sat with Hiyori, Ichinose, and Kanzaki, discussing the day's progress and our plans for the second half of camp.
"Tachibana-senpai is continuing to work hard despite the atmosphere around her," Hiyori reported.
"I'm gathering evidence while supporting her, so please don't worry."
"Our group's doing well too," Kanzaki added.
"Class A has been helping the other classes properly."
I nodded in satisfaction.
Then heavy footsteps interrupted the peaceful mood.
"Yo, first-years."
A familiar voice spoke.
"You all seem pretty relaxed."
Looking up, I saw the newly appointed student council president:
Nagumo Miyabi.
Hidden irritation and dark emotions swirled behind his eyes.
"—Aizen."
His voice was low and threatening.
"When you're done eating, co outside."
"I've got sothing to discuss with you."
(...He finally noticed.)
(Thanks to Hiyori and the others gathering evidence, targeting Tachibana-senpai for an expulsion-by-association has effectively beco impossible.)
(Looks like he's panicking enough to co confront directly.)
(Still as short-tempered as ever.)
I silently signaled Hiyori and the others to return without .
Then I rose and followed Nagumo out of the cafeteria.
The Confrontation
He led to a secluded courtyard at the edge of the facility.
Cold winter winds swept through the darkness.
The mont we were alone, Nagumo discarded his fake smile.
"You bastard..."
His eyes narrowed.
"How long have you known?"
"..."
"When did you figure out I was targeting Tachibana-senpai!?"
His shout echoed through the night.
I stood with both hands in my coat pockets and answered emotionlessly.
"—From the beginning."
"Don't give that bullshit!"
"—You misunderstand."
I t his gaze.
"I truly an from the beginning."
My voice remained calm.
"The mont I heard the absurd rule regarding expulsion by association in the student council room..."
A faint smile appeared.
"...it was easy to predict where soone as shallow as you would direct his attention."
"...What?"
Nagumo's face twisted with rage.
"You lack the courage and ability to defeat the forr king directly."
My voice cut through the darkness.
"So instead you throw mud from outside the board."
I looked down at him.
"Targeting Horikita Manabu's right-hand woman in order to shake him."
"That is the kind of stale plot favored by third-rate villains."
"You...!"
Nagumo stepped forward furiously.
"Don't act so damn superior!"
His lips curled into a vicious grin.
"I know you've been using that girl from your class to report upperclassn who were trying to sabotage Tachibana-senpai."
He sneered.
"You think you've stopped ?"
His eyes glinted maliciously.
"Don't get cocky, Aizen."
"I control the entire second year."
Then he spoke the words that crossed the line.
"That girl you care about."
"Shiina."
"I can switch targets."
His grin widened.
"I can make sure she gets expelled instead."
Thump.
My heart pounded.
(...I'd already considered the possibility that he'd target Hiyori.)
(But...)
(He actually said it.)
(He openly declared that he'd hurt my precious angel.)
(That he'd use her as a threat against .)
(This guy...)
(He's really human garbage.)
Reason ceased to matter.
All at once, a cold, pitch-black fury erupted inside .
Anyone who threatened Hiyori's safety...
Anyone who tried to harm her...
My heart and soul rejected their existence absolutely.
The air itself seed to grow heavier.
Colder.
Darker.
The entire courtyard was swallowed by crushing pressure.
It felt as though the atmosphere itself was screaming.
And then...
My mouth began speaking on its own.
"—Seeping crest of turbidity."
"...Huh? What the hell are you—"
"—Arrogant vessel of lunacy."
"Hey, what are you talking abou—"
Nagumo suddenly staggered.
His face lost all color.
"Guh...!"
It looked as if invisible weight had crushed his shoulders.
The killing intent and pressure pouring from overwheld his very instincts as a living creature.
"—Boil forth and deny. Grow numb and flicker. Disrupt sleep."
"—Crawling queen of iron. "
"—Eternally self-destructing doll of mud"
"—Unite. Repulse. Fill with soil and know your own powerlessness!!"
I opened my eyes.
"—Hadō #90. Kurohitsugi"
...
Nothing happened.
Of course.
There was no spiritual power in this world.
No black gravitational coffin materialized.
No distortion of space appeared.
Only a quiet winter wind passed through the courtyard.
(WAIT A SECOND!?)
(This is the first ti I've ever genuinely lost my temper in my life!)
(And when I do, my system automatically outputs the full Black Coffin incantation!?)
(I was literally trying to kill him!)
(Thank goodness nothing actually happened!!)
Internally, I scread at myself.
Yet the final-boss aura pouring from was so overwhelming that supernatural effects weren't even necessary.
Nagumo couldn't understand a single word I had said.
But the murderous intent behind those words...
The absolute aura of death...
The instinctive certainty that his life was in danger...
All of it shattered him.
"W-What is this pressure...?!"
Nagumo collapsed to his knees.
His teeth chattered violently.
Fear—pure, genuine fear—filled his eyes.
The arrogance and anger were gone.
Only terror remained.
(This is bad.)
(He's genuinely about to wet himself from intimidation alone.)
(Calm down, .)
(If I push any harder, he might actually pass out.)
(All I need is to warn him not to touch Hiyori.)
I took a breath.
Maintaining the overwhelming pressure, I looked down at him as though he were an insect.
"—This warning will only be given once."
My voice was ice-cold.
"If you so much as dim her light..."
The pressure intensified.
"...I will erase your entire little garden and everything within it."
"Guh... y-you..."
Nagumo tried to glare back.
His body refused to obey.
He shook like a newborn deer.
"—Reason exists for those who cannot go on living without clinging to it."
My gaze pierced him.
"Did you truly believe your petty logic could bind ?"
"...!"
Nagumo fell completely silent.
Unable to speak.
Unable even to rise from the ground.
(Phew...)
(I nearly died of embarrassnt after accidentally reciting the full Black Coffin chant.)
(But if an incantation with zero spiritual pressure scared him this badly, I'll call it a success.)
(After a trauma this severe, even Nagumo won't dare target Hiyori.)
Without sparing the defeated man another glance, I turned away.
Like a shadow disappearing into the night, I returned to my room.
Day Five
The cooperation within our small group grew stronger every day.
"YES!"
Iké pumped his fist.
"This was one of the questions Kanzaki taught yesterday!"
"Heh."
Tokito smirked.
"Those Class A guys are actually pretty good teachers."
"As expected," Yoshida said admiringly.
"Class A's unity and Aizen's leadership are incredible."
(Yep, yep.)
(Iké, Tokito, and Yoshida have completely blended in with everyone from our class now.)
(There are still a few days left in camp, but at this rate we'll finish without any problems.)
(Seriously... everyone in our class is amazing.)
Feeling proud, I quietly watched over their efforts.
---
That Night
Later that evening, while spending so quiet ti in the lounge, Hiyori leaned close after confirming nobody was nearby.
"Sousuke-kun."
She lowered her voice.
"Today the upperclassn stopped slacking off and participated seriously."
"There was no interference with Tachibana-senpai either."
She tilted her head.
"Do you think Nagumo-senpai gave up after realizing we were gathering evidence?"
I lowered my eyes slightly.
Then, in a gentle voice ant only for her, I briefly explained what had happened the previous night.
"—Yes."
I smiled faintly.
"But after realizing that, a fool tried to change his target to you."
My eyes narrowed.
"So I gave him a small lesson."
"Eh...?"
"If anything happened to you..."
My voice softened.
"...it would be my fault for asking you to take such a dangerous role."
I looked directly at her.
"I'm sorry."
Then I swore:
"But no matter what darkness approaches, I will protect you."
Hiyori's eyes widened.
Then...
A smile blood on her face.
A smile warr than spring sunlight.
"Please don't apologize, Sousuke-kun."
Her voice was gentle.
"Tachibana-senpai is a very kind person."
"I didn't want her to be unfairly expelled either."
She clasped her hands together.
"And more than anything..."
A proud smile appeared.
"I'm happy that I could help protect soone important to you."
"...Hiyori."
"So please continue relying on ."
She looked at sincerely.
"I want to be of help to you."
(A-A-AHHHHHHH!!!)
(AN ANGEL!!!)
(THE ULTIMATE ANGEL!!!)
(There is absolutely no one else in this world this kind!)
(No one who cares about this much!)
(She's seriously the greatest girlfriend in existence!!!)
Internally, I was crying waterfalls.
I barely resisted the urge to prostrate myself before her divine radiance.
Externally, however, I remained the perfect Demon King.
With a stylish smile, I gently stroked her silvery hair.
"—As long as your light guides , I will never lose my way."
I narrowed my eyes affectionately.
"Thank you, Hiyori."
Deep within the quiet night, the camp was only halfway over.
Yet the greatest threat hanging over us had already fallen silent.
Carrying with us our unshakable bond and the confidence to overco the remaining days, we shared a quiet smile together.
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