【Stamina 1, Magic 11, Hunger 0, Stress 13】
Even after checking the status window again, it’s really overwhelming.
If Gabriel hadn’t granted my wish, I would’ve turned into a squishy pancake.
“P-please, don’t kill me! Please, Murmur!!”
Leviathan trembled and screamed.
What can I say about that sight?
“… Pitiful.”
A demon who manipulated Lady Jepar’s heart, pretended to be ‘kind,’ and toyed with people.
The more I thought about it, the angrier I got.
But on the other hand, Leviathan’s state was pitiful.
“Y-you can do anything… eat anything! Just please, don’t kill me!”
The trembling Leviathan was stark naked. Not a metaphor—literally born that way.
From her white chest to her armpits, bare feet, thighs, and even her most private areas, everything was visible.
And though she brought it upon herself, black blood was gushing from her right wrist.
“Leviathan.”
What should I do with this one?
A demon who did evil, merciless, unforgivable things—should I kill her?
Isn’t killing the right thing to do? She committed crimes, right?
“I… I don’t… want to die…”
I looked down at the old sword in my hand.
A failed hero.
What was the heart that ‘Seren Valkyries’ passed on to Murmur?
What story did I love the most in Legend of Academy?
“From now on, Murmur will…”
“P-please… spare me!!!”
Pathetic.
She was so gleeful stabbing Lady Jepar’s back in Fenex’s form, but now that it’s her turn to die, she’s begging for her life?
Even wetting herself?
“… I’ll heal you.”
“Huh…?”
“Murmur?!”
I heard Nicasia’s shocked voice from behind the pillar.
Really sorry, Nicasia. But I have my reasons.
Lady Jepar’s scheme went off the rails from my expectations, but the end result hasn’t changed.
Meaning, the events I know might still unfold. If I kill Leviathan, who’s bound to appear in future super events, who knows what could happen?
Worst case, the timeline changes, and I, Murmur, might have to survive in this academy with no knowledge of the future, just a 5th grader in the Elementary Section.
“Sigh… Murmur, you’re an idiot.”
To be honest, I hate this. The reasons I came up with are just me trying to find some benefit.
Leviathan, who toyed with Lady Jepar’s heart, betrayed, mocked, and played with her, is really, really, really, really hateful!
But I have no right to kill her.
A hero isn’t that kind of being, and there’s no law in this world that says you can kill someone just because they’ve sinned.
I, Murmur, am a demon who will become a hero.
“Murmur…?”
“Stay still.”
I crouched down, took Leviathan’s right hand, and used Healing Magic.
Who would’ve thought I’d use this on one of the Seven Sisters of Paradise? When I learned it in the library, I imagined a different scenario.
“… Why are you healing me?”
“Leviathan, you’ve committed terrible sins. But that doesn’t mean Murmur can kill you.”
“But, but… Murmur, you…”
“Yeah, Murmur is a hero. And a hero isn’t someone who kills demons.”
I stood up and stepped back a little.
Despite the unexpectedly pleasant smell, standing in a puddle of blood and urine is still gross.
“A hero is someone who protects precious people.”
“… Murmur.”
“So, Murmur won’t kill Leviathan. Because you sinned, I’ll send you to Tartarus.”
Leviathan gave a faint, unreadable smile.
Of course, you don’t want to go to Tartarus, right? It’s an endless prison.
You’re planning to escape. Well, I was going to let you go anyway, so relax.
“What if, Murmur.”
Leviathan’s eyes shone brightly, like the sky after rain.
“If Leviathan and my sisters… become your precious people, will you protect us?”
I thought she’d run away immediately, but she asks such a strange question.
“Leviathan, are you mocking Murmur again?”
“Haha… Of course not. You said you’d become a hero, Murmur.”
“Murmur will protect you. I told you. A hero is someone who protects precious people.”
It was such an obvious question that I couldn’t help but smile as I answered.
* * *
The shocking twist in Lady Jepar’s scheme, which shattered my expectations, was resolved without major issues.
First, the Seven Sisters of Paradise, ‘Kind Leviathan,’ predictably escaped.
Then Professor Aiaie, Citrine, and Esme appeared at Piglet House.
The timing was perfect, and Professor Aiaie’s arrival allowed us to neatly repair the pillar of power, which I couldn’t fix with my strength and magic.
Next, just as Professor Aiaie was trying to sort things out, the ‘Middle School Vice Principal’ from the New-Helheim club showed up and caused a commotion.
Nicasia, in a fit of anger, lifted the vice principal and slammed them to the ground, and Lady Jepar, watching the scene, declared she would confess, bringing the incident to a close.
“So, Lady Jepar ended up going to Tartarus?”
“Yes, thanks to Murmur’s efforts, summoning the gatekeeper demon Gabriel was pointless, and Leviathan couldn’t destroy the academy anymore, but they still found fault with her being a demon.”
“Amazing! Murmur! You really did something incredible!”
Esme, with an excited voice, hugged me tightly.
… What does me being amazing have to do with hugging?
“However… I feel it’s a shame we couldn’t capture or kill that worst one, Leviathan.”
Nicasia glanced at me and gave a secretive smile.
I thought she might not understand, but surprisingly, Nicasia gave a different answer.
— “You did well, Murmur… If you had tried to kill Leviathan recklessly, who knows what could’ve happened. You made a very mature choice.”
Nicasia actually respected my decision. I wasn’t expecting that.
“But, Murmur. Can I ask you a question?”
I nodded while picking up a fork for the cake Citrine bought.
“How did you talk to the gatekeeper demon?”
“… Huh? You can’t talk to the gatekeeper demon Gabriel, can you?”
Citrine widened her eyes and looked at me.
“Is there a reason? Can’t you talk to demons?”
“That’s impossible.”
“But in the books I read…”
“Esme, do you believe fairy tales?!”
Citrine’s reaction was completely expected.
“First of all, the demons Esme mentioned disappeared a long time ago. It’s common knowledge that spirits, monsters, and demons can’t talk to humans!”
“Hmm, but Murmur first said she had a wish, then sang a song. I thought she used some magic to talk to spirits.”
Citrine looked at me with shocked eyes.
As a demon, Citrine immediately understood the significance of me being able to talk to a ‘demon.’
But that’s a misunderstanding. How do I explain this?
“Murmur just sang with her heart. Nicasia, you heard it too, right? Gabriel’s voice was as beautiful as a harp’s melody.”
“Right? It was truly beautiful. It was my first time hearing such a lovely string performance.”
“Mur, Murmur…?”
Citrine suddenly poked my side and whispered in my ear.
“Y-you talked to it?!”
How do I answer this?
For a demon, being able to talk to a ‘demon’ holds immense significance. She seems overjoyed that I’m such a demon…
If I don’t explain this properly, she’ll definitely think I’m ‘the flesh of the Demon God.’
But this is a huge deal for Citrine. Being able to talk to a demon means being able to talk to the ‘Demon God.’
But to explain this clearly, I’d have to reveal my true identity, and that would lead to even more chaos…
“Ugh…”
“Murmur! Murmur! Answer me! You have to answer me!!”
“Ci… Citrine? What did you whisper to Murmur that’s making her so distressed?”
“A question that concerns my life! My fate! My very existence as Murmur’s future bride!”
Ugh!!
I can’t answer this!!!
— Knock knock knock!
“Princess! Professor Aiaie and Lady Jepar are here. What should we do?”
Nicasia’s maid, Maris, peeked through the door and spoke.
“Murmur wants to meet them!”
I jumped up from my seat and shouted.
“Sorry, respected Princess Nicasia. Lady Jepar wanted to talk to Murmur one last time before going to Tartarus.”
“It’s fine. Murmur is okay with it, right?”
I nodded and carefully watched Lady Jepar enter.
“Murmur, thank you so, so much for forgiving this old woman.”
That forgiveness probably means not killing her on the spot.
“No, Grandma Jepar. Murmur doesn’t have that kind of authority.”
“Murmur… you’ve shown more kindness than anyone this old woman has met in 50 years.”
Lady Jepar knelt down and met my gaze.
“This kindness… if the day comes, I will repay it.”
She didn’t run away.
She could’ve made excuses, saying she was just a shapeshifter pretending to be Fenex, used by Leviathan.
So I forgave her a little. With that in mind, I spread my arms and hugged her tightly.
“Promise Murmur, Grandma Jepar.”
“I will keep any promise.”
“Later, we’ll eat pudding together.”
Lady Jepar didn’t answer for a moment.
“We’ll eat pancakes and make pretty cookies too.
“Ah… of course. We must.”
Lady Jepar hugged me, tears in her eyes, and gently stroked my back and hair.
“Ah… great and noble Demon God… you’ve granted this old woman’s wish to see her beloved daughter again.”
Lady Jepar spoke with tears of happiness.
Someday, I hope we can meet again and enjoy delicious desserts.
* * *
Professor Aiaie and Lady Jepar exchanged a few more words with Nicasia before leaving.
“Ugh…! But it’s a shame! The Moonlight Choir Festival is the last chance to have fun before summer vacation, right?”
“But summer vacation is just around the corner, so it’s not a big deal, right?”
“Still! I didn’t get to see Princess Nicasia and Murmur sing happily at the festival!”
I won’t sing. Absolutely not.
“Ah, speaking of summer vacation, how is everyone planning to spend it? It’s really just a few days away.”
“I’m obviously going back home. Aunt Colette left me with things to learn, and the adults said they’d help.”
So Esme will be away from the academy for a while.
“I’m similar. I have things to do at the Imperial Palace. I want to rest, but it’s not going as planned.”
“Oh? So only Citrine and Murmur will be staying at the academy?”
Citrine’s eyes sparkled as she grabbed my hand.
“Citrine, you’re not going back?”
“Of course not! My mother asked me to stay at the academy during the vacation to handle some tasks.”
“Is it related to the guild?”
Citrine smiled at Nicasia’s question.
I pretty much expected all this.
I, Murmur, have no home to return to, so I’ll be staying at the academy.
I’ve already planned this part.
I’m supposed to meet ‘Saintess Monica,’ whom I missed at the Moonlight Choir Festival.
In a way, it’s a blessing in disguise.
Meeting her for the first time during summer vacation will trigger a cute and heartwarming event, boosting her affection, so it’s a win in some ways.
“This summer vacation, I think I can spend it happily with Murmur.”
“Yeah, Murmur is looking forward to it too.”
Though most of the time will be spent with Monica.
“Then, Murmur, how about we make a vacation schedule together!”
… Huh?
“From the first day to the last! I won’t waste this chance to monopolize Murmur~”
“Ci, Citrine?”
“Hmm, how about we explore every corner of the academy in the first week? We can go shopping at Starlight Alley or Dragon Tail Street…”
“Mu, Murmur has plans…”
“Oh! Oh my! Do you have plans for a fun date with Citrine?”
No! That’s not the plan!
I’m doomed, doomed! I’m going to spend the whole summer vacation raising Citrine’s affection!
What does this mean? It means nothing!
Dating events don’t start until middle school, so in elementary school, it really means nothing!
“Ni, Nicasia, help…”
I don’t want to date a squishy elementary schooler!
“Citrine monopolizing you is annoying, but what can I do? Have fun during summer vacation? I’ll try to finish my tasks and come back quickly.”
“I’ll try to learn quickly and come back too! Murmur! Don’t have too much fun with Citrine!”
Guys! Help me!
I need to meet Monica…!!!
You’re always so kind with your words! We can still be good friends, right?!
