#1187 Guilty as Charged 

We arrived here based on the information the Demon King kindly provided us. 
This is a residential district tucked into one corner of the Demon Capital. 

Among the hundreds of nearly identical buildings stands one with a tremendous crowd gathered around it. 

“…Is this the place...?!” 

We make it all the way to the gate, and I look up at its impressive archway. 

Is this the magic cram school the Demon King mentioned? 
For chantless magic? 

“That’s right. It’s currently the hottest magic cram school in the Demon Capital. Applications never stop coming in, and they say the classroom building is packed to the rafters every single day.” 

The Demon King rattles off the details culled by subordinates and lays them out for us. 

Honestly, seeing it with my own eyes, you can tell even from a distance how popular it is.  
It’s like the lunch rush at a famous ramen shop… though I’d better not mention that phrase out loud, or Veil will get jealous. 

“…I’ve never seen anything like it. The crowd’s insane, just like the lunch rush at a famous ramen place.” 

Why is the Demon King echoing the exact same line?  
Stop! Please don’t say that out loud! I can’t risk Veil overhearing! 

“Magic is both a vital technology and a cornerstone of our culture. As a nation, we wholeheartedly endorse its advancement. That remains unchanged even after the war ended and magic lost some of its battlefield significance.” 

So, the kingdom’s got its eye on this booming school, too. 

“And true enough, chantless magic is drawing plenty of attention. Some ministers even sigh, ‘If only this had been perfected during the war…’ Frankly, I have no clue how to respond to that...!” 

In battle, every second counts.  
Spending dozens of seconds chanting spells just gives your enemy an opening and puts your life at risk. 

It only makes sense to keep such danger to an absolute minimum.  
From that perspective, any method that trims away wasted effort is bound to be treasured. 

But no business can thrive on sheer cost-cutting alone. 

“Some people haven’t learned that there are wastes you simply mustn’t eliminate…” 
“Do they honestly call respect for us spirits ‘waste’?!” 

Sensei and the Spirit King are fired up. 

“In any case, let’s speak with the headmaster. If the Demon King himself shows up, they can’t exactly turn us away at the gate...!” 

Right!  
Of course, Demon King! When in doubt, unleash overwhelming authority! 

Let’s storm in! Off to the magic cram school!!! 

“Please, oblige us! The Demon King is here!!!” 

That’s right! It’s the Demon King! 
Bow down! Lower yourselves! 

Hey, sometimes it’s okay to wave your power around and do as you please! 

“And accompanying our Demon King is Lord Saint! Both the Demon King and Lord Saint have come to speak with you! Kindly send for your representative!” 

Wah! 
Why me, too?! 

I mean, it’s true the Farm Kingdom doesn’t try to hide me anymore…! 
But seeing my name used like that in front of all these magic students…! 

“What?! The Demon King?!” 
“And Lord Saint, too?! The legendary one?!” 
“I’ve never heard of both the Demon King and Lord Saint visiting! Our school must really be famous!” 
“We’ll fetch our representative right away!” 

Amid the commotion, someone rushes off to fetch the head of the school.  
So it’s not just the Demon King’s reputation doing the work, my name carries weight, too? 

“Oh ho, Lord Saint’s fame lives up to its reputation! Now that you can proudly use your name, I’ll make sure to throw it around whenever I can!” 

No, no, Demon King, please don’t go advertising my name like that...! 

Still, the combined aura of a Saint and a Demon King is undeniably overwhelming. After a flurry of panic, a young man finally emerges. 

He’s tall and slender, with a cool, composed air about him.  
His features are handsome enough to count as an “ikemen,” and of course ikemen are my sworn enemies. 

The guy stands before us and says… 

“…Did I mess something up again?” 

What? 
Does he actually think he’s done something wrong? 

“Apparently I go and do amazing things without even realizing it. I only notice when I see everyone else staring, shocked. So, I figured that must’ve happened again.” 

Who the hell is this guy?  
Some kind of oblivious super-protagonist? 

“Er, well… Lord Saint’s reputation is pretty incredible, too...!” 
“And, uh, the Demon King and Lord Saint… I’m sorry, I don’t really understand how this all works. If I offend anyone, please forgive me.” 

Who does he think he is?! 

…Ah, my bad. I got a bit carried away there.  
Losing my cool like that just goes to show I still need to work on my self-control. 

“Oh! I haven’t introduced myself yet. The name's Kaito! I teach here at the Kaito Magic Classroom!” 

Where's the respect?! 
But seriously, I’m fine with that. It’s the Demon King standing next to me who deserves all the respect here! 
Be more formal and polite! 

“…So, Kaito, you’re the one who founded this magic cram school, correct?” 

The Demon King, as ever, ignores Kaito’s rude tone and gets straight to business. 
Truly, a model of composure…! 

“Please don’t call it a ‘cram school.’ That sounds so rigid and old-fashioned. I prefer ‘magic classroom’ because it’s more relaxed and laid-back. That’s what I want, so please remember that.” 
“…! ...!!!” 

Demon King, stay calm!  
Your veins are about to pop!!! 

“Very well…! Then, in your magic classroom, you focus on chantless magic, is that correct?” 
“Yeah! Demon King, you’re curious about that too, huh?! This is bad, I was trying to keep things low-key, but now that famous people know, it’s bound to blow up!” 
“…!!!” 

Demon King! 
Keep it together, Demon Kiiiiiiiing!!! 

“I’ve always thought chanting was pointless! Just mumbling while your enemy’s within arm’s reach, leaving you wide open...how unrealistic is that? So I devised a real-world battle approach!!!” 

Chanting spells in the heat of battle just isn’t practical. 
It’s a fair critique. 

It’s obvious that whoever strikes first has the edge, but doesn’t the very existence of those ritual steps hint that they serve a purpose all the same? 

“That’s why you developed chantless magic?” 
“Yep. I just want as many people as possible to use magic conveniently. I’ve always been good at tinkering with magic systems, so it was pretty easy!” 

Kaito speaks with a proud glint in his eye. 
There’s no doubt his intentions are pure, born of curiosity and goodwill—but goodwill can still cause harm…! 

“I want everyone in the world to be happy! That’s why I keep cutting out useless bits to build a world that’s easier to live in!!!” 
“Foolish whelppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp!!!” 

The one who roared and charged was none other than the Spirit King. 

“Whoa?! Who’s this old guy?!” 

Kaito jumps back in surprise. 
But is it really something to be that shocked about? He came here with us, so even if he suddenly barged to the front, I wouldn’t think it worthy of such a fuss. 

“I hid the Spirit King’s presence completely.” 

You did, Sensei? But why? 

“If beings like us non-humans strolled through the streets openly, it’d cause mass panic. It’s our responsibility to avoid such chaos. Besides, as a Lifeless King, I’ve mastered an invisibility art.” 

Sensei took that into consideration...?! 
So that was the reason for the earlier screams; his invisibility had suddenly worn off. 

“But thanks to the Spirit King rushing forward, the spell broke. His magic forcibly shielded people’s awareness of him, but then my presence got revealed, too.” 
“My goodness, an invisibility technique that perfect? I have to decipher its mechanism…!” 

Kaito, in his usual laid-back way, only paid attention to whatever caught his interest. Maybe he was born with the heart of a researcher. 

“Research zeal is commendable. That said, it doesn’t excuse rudeness.” 

Sensei’s tone is calm but carries an unmistakable chill. 

“Curious youth, I’ve brought forth the one who has a grievance with you. Behold...” 
“Urrrgh!!! How dare you insult spirits! We will not stand for this!!!” 

At last, the Spirit King, at peak rage, reveals the root of the conflict. 

“Who is this old codger? Stop meddling—my research is for everyone’s happiness!” 
“You clearly haven’t considered how your actions might affect others. If you pursue a path for humanity’s sake, you must account for every possible outcome.” 

An intense standoff is taking shape. 
What on earth is about to happen next?