A few days later, we received a formal notice of acceptance at the inn where we had been staying.
　A few days later, we received the official notice of acceptance at the inn where we had been staying, and Yifa and I were allowed to enter the school.

　And today is the entrance ceremony.

Seika-kun........is this skirt too short?
It's not like that, is it?

　Short.
　But it's a uniform design....
　I didn't see it much in the territory, but it seems to be in vogue in the big cities.

''I'll be living in a dormitory starting today, will I be able to get into the boys' dormitory?
I don't think we can.
What's a squire...
I'm just a student here.

　We walked through the school at night while talking to each other.

　The night in this world is bright thanks to the two moons.
　But tonight's school was even brighter than that.
　Magic vague lights were lit here and there, illuminating the streets and the school building.

　I stopped in my tracks.

"Yefa.
What?
Are there any spirits around there?
Uh....oh.

　Yifa runs up to the bushes.

'Bats........'
Bats?
This is the Son of Darkness a spirit of the Darkness attribute. It's rare. Why are there so many of them here........
...maybe it's because of this.

　I rummaged through the bushes.
　There was a big magic circle with blue-white paint on it.

This is...
Yifa. Can we take the Dark Spirits with us?
''Uh-huh. Some of the magic stones that Seika-kun and I found were ones that the dark children liked.
Good.
''........Seika-kun, how did you know there was a magic circle like this?''
A hunch. I've always had a very good instinct.
Yeah, I see. Hey, what do you want to do with this magic circle?　I have a very...unpleasant feeling about this.
It's from the school, right?　It's not a good idea to take a genie with you, but it's not a good idea to mess with it on your own. I don't even know what you're going to use it for.
'Yeah you're right.
Come on, let's get to the venue. There's still time, but we don't want to get lost.

　Then I start walking.
　It seems like Yifa is also following behind me.

　But still, I have a bad feeling about this, huh?
　I'm sure you'll agree with me.
　I'm not sure I'm ready to learn more about the magician's circle, but that flow of power is probably... that.

　I'm sure you're not the only one who's interested.

　It's really just a hunch.


****


　The venue for the entrance ceremony was a large auditorium.

''Wow, it's huge... and there's an awful lot of food...''

　There are a lot of new students. Two or three hundred?
　They say that the food is served standing up on a plate and eaten. It's a strange party.

Have you eaten already, Seika?
'You should eat Yifa while you can, too.
"You sound like a commoner...

　Eventually the host said something and the ceremony began.
　The ceremony proceeded smoothly.

Seika-kun, are you listening to me?　See, it looks like that Amu girl is going to be the next one to say hello.
Hmm?
Maybe it's because I was accepted at the top of my class.

　When I looked, my red hair was swaying on the platform.
　An interesting, well-voiced voice rang out.

''------I don't know what reason you are all here today.

　I put the plate down.
　Oh, you're coming now.
　I'm not sure if it's good timing or not...

　I search the view of the shikigami that I've sent some of them to beforehand.
　Unlike crows, owls' images are blurred, but instead they have good night vision.

　It's a good idea.
　It's so close. It's just around the corner.

I only came to the school because...

　At that time.
　The walls of the auditorium were blown away with a roar.

　Screams erupted from the hall.

　The walls of the auditorium were partly completely destroyed and a large hole was left.
　Fragments of stone fell with a crunch.
　Through the white dancing dust, I can see out.

　From the hole, a black, huge shadow emerged.

　It must be three times as tall as a man.
　A mighty body covered in jet-black body hair.
　The face was a strange one, neither a cow nor a goat.

'So ... it was a demon!
There's a lesser demon!

　A student shouted.
　At the same time, a group of people fled towards the exit of the hall at the same time.

''Wow!''

　I pull Yifa behind a thick pillar in the midst of a huge wave of people.
　The humans are going to crush me if I don't.

　I peek out from the pillar and watch my enemies.

　The number of Lesser Demons has increased to three.
　It seems that all the ones that were nearby have entered the auditorium.

　They look terrifying.......but they're small fry.
　They're wielding their clubs, but their movements are fidgety and they're in each other's way because of the three of them coming in.

　In the meantime, flames and icicle magic began to shower the daemons with flames and icicles.
　Is it the teacher who is flying instructions loudly? There are some students who seem to be seniors among those who respond.
　The daemon, having been hit by the magic, flinches and stops moving.
　But.

...It's sluggish. What are you doing?

　You're spending too much time on it. Why don't you take down that little fish as soon as possible?

　One of the daemons in the shadows of his companions swung a club at the students who were releasing magic.
　Because it was leaning back. He's dead.
　When I was about to release the jutsu while thinking that...

　I could see the red hair ducking under the club.

　The sword flashed.
　With a sharp metallic sound, the cudgel flicked loudly and the Lesser Demon fell on its back.

'If you can't fight, get out of my way!

　Amu screams and releases a wind spell, crushing the other eye. The daemon's shrill cry rises.
　The tide has turned.
　The human side is beginning to gain the upper hand. It's all right now.
　Utterly heartbreaking.

　But those monsters are strange.
　Their eyes seem to be searching for their prey, but their attacks are slow. The number of three monsters seems to be needlessly large.

　Is it a diversion? Or perhaps.....
　A kind of power reconnaissance, where you get your hands on it first and see how it reacts.

　Well, whatever.
　Now, where's the surgeon who summoned me?
　I'm going to search all of the view of the ceremony that I flew throughout the school.

　----I found it. It's that one, isn't it?

Yifa.
CeCeCeCeCeCeCeCeCeCeCeCeCeCeCeCeCeCeCeCeCeCeCeCeCeCeCeCeCeCeCeCeCeCeCeCeCeCeCeCeCeCeCeCeCeCeCeCeCe

　Eefa says in a shaky voice.

Oh, it's a demon. I didn't think it was going to be in the magic academy.
It's really amazing, isn't it?
It's so light!　Ugh, I don't want to die yet...
Calm down. The teachers will get rid of him soon enough. They're small fry.
'Small fry!　It's a demon!　One of them even took out an entire army unit!
I'm sure the daemons have a lot of problems, and that was the weakest one.
'But I don't think he's a small fry...'
Listen, Yifa.

　I say, "You should hide out here for a while.

"We should hide out here for a while. There are a lot of people at the exit right now, and it's not safe. He'll probably beat the demon sooner or later, but when the time comes, don't hesitate to use your magic to escape. Understood?
Uh-huh.

　Let's leave a couple of shikigami behind, just in case.
　That should be enough.

''Ce, Seika-kun?''
I'm just running an errand.
What, you need something?
I'll be right back if you need me.

　He jumps out from behind a pillar to hide from Yifa's eyes.

　And.