SYOV 08

Chapter 8

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According to Verity, he did not have the ability to open this barrier.

“But with Young Lady’s Opening and Closing ability, you can.”

“But if I open the barrier again…”

“I already heard from His Lordship that you coughed up blood and collapsed.”

Thankfully, Verity did not force me to do it recklessly.

Instead, the school-uniform demon patiently explained the trick.

“Don’t try to open the entire barrier. Just open enough for the three of us to pass through. Imagine there’s a door here.”

“A door?”

“The only entrance built into this enormous wall called the barrier.”

Encouraged by Verity’s calm voice, I closed my eyes and pictured a single door.

A tall, rectangular door.

The handle was on the right.

Right about here…

As I reached out my hand, I felt something round and smooth beneath my fingers.

“So, what do you do next?”

Verity asked excitedly.

Well…

Open it.

I slowly turned the handle to the right.

Click.

The sound of a lock unlocking echoed clearly in my ears.

As a strange sensation of power leaving my body washed over me, the three of us stepped inside the primeval forest.

Ian looked at me worriedly.

“Hebenia, are you alright?”

“Yeah.”

I was only a little tired.

Nothing more.

“Young Lady, close the barrier.”

“Ah, okay.”

Click.

The lock sounded once more.

Oh? Am I getting used to this?

Closing the barrier was even easier than opening it.

…But it’s really dark.

Outside, the village was enjoying a bright morning beneath a clear blue sky.

Inside the forest, however, it felt like eternal night.

Only thin rays of sunlight occasionally slipped through whenever the giant branches swayed in the wind.

Those strands of light, thinner than spider silk, briefly revealed the scenery.

Buildings swallowed by enormous trees and tangled vines.

“Judging by the buildings, this seems to have been the commercial district.”

Verity tossed a winged eyeball into the air.

The floating eye emitted a pale blue light that illuminated the surroundings.

“Before training begins, there are a few things you must remember.”

For the first time, the cheerful chuuni demon stopped smiling.

“Most of the monsters here have killed humans before.”

“And eaten them.”

“They’re extremely dangerous.”

His serious warning naturally made me nod.

“So please follow every instruction I give. Even if my orders sound crazy or make no sense.”

“Yes!”

“Understood.”

“Excellent. Then, Young Lady, if you don’t mind, may I count all the weapons and support I’ll be providing today as part of your wish?”

“That’s fine.”

With my permission, Verity summoned several weapons.

I wore a glove that looked like a wrist guard on my right hand.

Ian received simple protective gear along with a rusty sword whose blade had long since become dull.

Meanwhile, Verity’s clothes suddenly changed.

He switched into a thick winter school uniform layered over his hoodie, making him look rather uncomfortable.

He kept tugging at his collar.

Just then—

“Hebenia!”

Ian quickly pulled me behind his back.

I swallowed hard.

An overwhelming killing intent crashed toward us like a violent storm.

My bones seemed to freeze.

My breathing stopped.

…This is really scary.

Ian gripped the dull sword tightly with both hands and lowered his stance.

“Ian, your reaction was fast.”

“Very good.”

Verity praised him.

“They’re excited.”

“It’s been a long time since creatures weaker than themselves entered their territory.”

I looked at Verity’s school uniform.

So that’s what’s hiding his power.

That’s why I couldn’t feel this murderous aura when we first entered.

His power wasn’t gone.

It was simply concealed.

Before I knew it, monsters had surrounded all three of us.

But seeing Verity looking at every single one of them with complete disdain…

I wasn’t afraid anymore.

Training Begins

The training method was absurdly simple.

Kill every monster that attacked us.

SKREEEECH!!

Thud!

The monster with a lion’s body and a snake’s tail let out a grotesque final scream before collapsing.

It was the last one standing.

“…Huff… Huff…”

I finally released the breath I had been holding and collapsed onto the ground.

I tightly held my right wrist with my left hand.

My entire body felt exhausted.

My right hand throbbed painfully.

I’m so tired…

The monster that had just fallen…

I had killed it.

Remembering what I’d read in Complete Clavis in One Volume, I had hunted it by closing its windpipe.

I really killed something.

The horrifying realization that I had taken a living creature’s life hit me only afterward.

Can I really use this power properly?

A saying suddenly crossed my mind.

> “Great power comes with great responsibility.”

I was glad I remembered those words at this exact moment.

If I never forgot this feeling…

Then I would never abuse my power.

“Wow, Young Lady.”

A hand gently landed on my head.

When I looked up, Verity was smiling proudly at me.

His black uniform had become even darker, stained with monster blood.

“You defeated the last one entirely on your own.”

“Are you starting to understand your power?”

“I can’t say for sure…”

I smiled awkwardly.

Opening and Closing.

The power to open and shut.

I still wasn’t sure whether I was using it correctly.

But I did realize one thing.

Its applications were terrifyingly versatile.

At least… I can protect myself now.

Thinking that, I looked down at my aching right hand.

“Why does this hurt?”

“Muscle soreness.”

Verity took out a small glass bottle filled with medicine and poured it over my wrist.

The pain disappeared instantly.

“According to His Lordship’s report, you activate your power by moving your hand.”

“You did it when opening the barrier.”

“And during the battle just now.”

He had given me the wrist guard because I unconsciously twisted my wrist too much whenever I used my ability.

“It seems that movement has become your activation trigger.”

“Activation trigger?”

“A motion that helps you focus, aim, and release your power.”

“Think of it as your own battle gesture.”

While we talked, Verity handed another bottle to Ian.

Ian was leaning on his dull sword like a cane, breathing heavily with one knee on the ground.

Ian was amazing too.

He had defeated half the monsters by himself.

With nothing more than that blunt sword.

Just as he had warned beforehand, Verity occasionally gave completely insane instructions.

“Stick your arm into its mouth.”

“Trim its fur.”

None of them made any sense.

Yet Ian trusted every word Verity said.

One monster instantly became helpless after Ian shoved his arm into its mouth.

Its weak point had been hidden inside.

Another monster’s fur was coated with poison.

Thanks to trimming it first, Ian avoided being poisoned.

Verity couldn’t stop praising him.

“You exceeded my expectations!”

“How do you feel?”

“I feel like I’m going to die…”

“And yet you’re still standing.”

“My expectations for your future have grown even higher.”

“It seems your years in exile weren’t wasted.”

“Does that really count as an achievement…?”

“Of course.”

“Enduring injustice without giving up is difficult.”

“You accomplished that.”

“So no matter what lies ahead…”

> “I’m certain you’ll overcome it too.”

Ian smiled.

He looked as if he were about to cry.

After barely drinking the potion, his eyes suddenly widened.

“W-Wait…”

“Is this… Holy Water?”

“What?”

Startled, I also stared at my empty glass bottle.

Only then did I notice the engraved angel wings decorating it.

Without thinking, I shouted,

“You crazy demon!”

“Crazy? That’s hurtful.”

“Can demons really carry Holy Water?”

“Isn’t that basically attempted suicide?”

“What are you talking about!”

Verity proudly explained that demons also visited temples, prayed to God, and even went to confession.

Then he casually drank his own bottle of Holy Water.

“…Wow.”

First there was a demon with an angel tattoo.

Now there was a demon happily drinking Holy Water.

Philosophers would absolutely love this.

Good and evil truly coexisted here.

Three Days Later

It was the third day of training in the primeval forest.

Verity was deeply impressed by how seriously Hebenia and Ian had taken their training.

They’re doing even better than I expected.

The monsters living in this forest were no ordinary creatures.

Some had once destroyed entire kingdoms.

Others had been worshipped as evil gods by heretical religions.

Every one of them had gathered here.

An ordinary human could never fight monsters like these.

Only Transcendents, or beings on that level, could hunt the monsters of the primeval forest.

Young Lady is a Clavis, so she’s an exception.

Her power is much stronger than expected, which worries me… but thanks to this training, she’s already learning how to control it.

However…

The one who truly surprised Verity wasn’t Hebenia.

It was Ian.

At this rate…

He may soon be able to hunt these monsters on his own.

Which meant…

He possesses the talent of a Transcendent.

A young Clavis… and a future Transcendent by her side.

Is that really just a coincidence?

Before Verity could think any further—

“H-how far have we come?”

Hebenia asked.

“We’ve gone pretty deep already.”

“If we continue a little farther, we’ll reach the outer boundary.”

Hebenia’s eyes sparkled.

Verity smiled.

“Want to go outside?”

“Hmm…”

She glanced at Ian.

The moment he heard the word outside, Ian’s expression became complicated.

He desperately wanted to leave.

But at the same time…

He was afraid.

“Hebenia?”

She suddenly grinned.

“Let’s go scout outside.”

“And while we’re at it, let’s chop down a few of the Emperor’s lackeys!”

“…I’m fine with going outside.”

“But let’s skip the chopping.”

And so…

Their first trip beyond Exilium was decided.

The three gathered around a map.

Verity pointed toward a city east of Exilium.

[Barony of Deste]

“It’s famous for magical engineering.”

“Magical engineering?”

“A field that develops practical technology by applying magic.”

“That’s why it’s such a prosperous border city.”

“The Deste family is also an old and prestigious noble house.”

“Oh…”

Hebenia nodded absentmindedly.

Deste…

Why does that name sound familiar?

Before she could remember—

Ian quietly muttered,

“Lady Dallis’…”

“Hm? What about Aunt Dallis?”

“Lady Dallis’ maiden family…”

“…was Deste.”

“…Ah!”

Hebenia suddenly remembered.

Lady Dallis had been falsely accused of murdering her husband and abusing her child.

The husband mentioned in those charges…

Was none other than Baron Deste.