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Ali-san was a great partner, without him Iruma wouldn't have survived in the netherworld for as long as he had, he was positive.
But there was one thing Iruma was positive he could do with Ali-san that he never dared to try.
While a lot tended to go Iruma's head, when it came to survival he never forgot a single detail. So while he went through life constantly worried that a stray demon maybe eat him someday. He never forgot the day demons were scared of him for the first time.
When Ali-san had just awoken. When he devoured mana indiscriminately, even Kalego was cautious. And Iruma couldn't help but wonder, never aloud of course. If he needed to, could he activate a state like that initial hunger on purpose?
Iruma was fine keeping this as a thought experiment.
Until the heart-breaker exam.
—-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Babyls was a place of learning and growth, it was in fact one of the few places that Iruma had ever felt safe in his short life.
So why was Sabnock lying in a pool of his own blood.
“Ah this is embarrassing, I went overboard it seems”, Blood was still dripping from Atori hands “ I don’t suppose you’ll come along with me easily now, will you Iruma.
That's for the best though, maybe. It'd be a shame to kidnap you without seeing what you’re capable of, wouldn’t it I-ru-ma.”
“What did you … what did you do to Sabnock?!”
“ Oh him, it's his fault really.
If he didn’t want to end up like that he shouldn’t have tempted me with such a promising fight and such delightful pain,”
“Why would you do such a thing! Aren't you meant to be our teacher!” Iruma was stuck between rushing towards Sabnock and staying away from this demon that was setting his danger sense on fire.
“Why teaching is what I’m doing Iruma, can’t you see!” Atori exclaimed , “Demons these days are too caught up in the ranking system to act as they should.”
He then turned to Sabnock’s kouhai, hands poised at the ready, “And what they should be doing is doing whatever they want and what I want to do is punish the weak!!”
Atori shot forward, rushing towards the first years. As they stood still in shock from watching the aftermath of the violent brawl between Sabnock and the teacher. They were unable to move as Atori…
-Thwack-
Leapt backwards to avoid the arrow that appeared where he had previously stood.
“Geez Iruma, your gonna hafta do better than-”
Atori didn’t get to finish his sentence as he started to dodge the volley of arrows that Iruma had let loose . Every dodge driving him further back from Sabnock
“Let a guy finish talking would ya.” Atori Smirked, “A mutual acquaintance of ours told me you were a much more agreeable demon.”
“You two,” Iruma called to the younger demons stepping in front of Sabnock, “Take Sabnock and get out of here! I’ll hold him off until the teachers get here.”
“How arrogant Iruma,to claim to be able to hold me back when you're not even aiming to hurt me,” Atori lost his grin, “A demon that can’t bring himself to hurt others! HA!
How pathetic can you get?
It seems that Sensei needs to give you a very… special education.
Hmm, Okay let's start with this. I'm going to grab blondie and the young ones, So don’t you DARE think of moving him you two!” Atori yelled towards the first years, “ and once I have them I’m gonna make them hurt.
Now Iruma I’ll have to go straight past you to do this. Your goal is to stop me anyway you can. Let's see if we can’t get that resolve of yours to harden.
You ready for this, I’ll even give you a countdown to make things more fair. And Iruma, you better make this hurt or else.”
Iruma grit his teeth. He knew that the netherworld was a dangerous place, He knew that someday he might have to fight to protect his place here, but this was too soon!
“Three”
Was Shiida right, was he too cowardly to aim to hurt another person. But he didn’t want to hurt anyone
“Two”
But it seems that he didn’t have a choice because -
“One” - times up
Atori shot forward and arrows rushed to meet him.
‘There's no way he can get by this, he has to dodge back to avoid this.’ Iruma thought, ‘I made sure if he continues straight these arrows will hit him, I may not like it but-’
“Not bad,” Iruma’s thoughts were cut off when a hand clapped him on the shoulder, “I didn’t expect you to hit me as much as you did, but I suppose that's the power of youth your morals are so flexible at that age.”
It was like looking at a pin cushion, it would have been easier to count the spaces on Atori’s arms and legs that weren’t covered in arrows
“But you didn’t aim for anywhere vital,” Iruma stumbled back from Atori
“How did-”
“Meaning Iruma. You're still,” Atori reeled his fist back, “Too. Weak.”
Atori’s punch launched Iruma across the roof.
“Though I suppose your defense is something to be praised, I was seriously trying to hurt you there.” Atori Chuckled.
‘This is bad, I don’t want to think what could have happened to me if I didn’t bring my bow up in time to block,’ Iruma struggled to his feet, ‘ Next time I’ll-’
“Well, I guess I better wrap things up here.”
“Huh?”
“Hmm, don’t tell me you forgot Iruma, this was a lesson.” Atori motioned towards the trembling first years, now just behind him. “And you failed!”
“What…?”
“Say goodbye to you kouhai Iruma,”
“Wait, Just -”
I hope they didn’t put too much trust in you but well, that's what you get for trying to live under the strength of other demons instead of your own.”
“Just hold on a second!”
“Say good night kiddies!” The first years stared at Atoris hands as they rapidly descended towards them…
“Pain!” only to stop a hairsbreadth aways from their faces, “ I can promise you pain, you love pain right! I think,” Iruma muttered, “ Then, if that's true … Lets try that lesson again and this time I’ll show you pain you wouldn’t think possible”
“Ha, you've caught my attention Iruma, but know if you just stalling for time I’ll make their deaths excruciatingly painful. “Atori nudged his hands against the faces of the student, “How would you deliver this promised pain?”
Iruma swallowed, “My ah, … Bloodline ability. Do we have a deal?”
“Hmm … why not! You’re lucky I’m such a dedicated teacher, but you’ve got nothing behind you to protect this time so I think it's fine if we change the rules up a bit.” Atori grinned, “ My only instruction if my cover was blown was to bring you back alive.
So Iruma if you can't stop me this time. I, am going, to rip your fucking arm off. Okay!”
“If that's what it takes for a chance to save these demons” Iruma readied himself, “then I wholeheartedly accept!”
“Good, Here I come.
—-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Atori was having a wonderful day.
Sure he was bound to get chewed out by the other 6 fingers for blowing his cover so quickly. But, he thought, getting to nab their target would soften their ire. They got Iruma and he got to spread a bit of blood and mayhem a win-win, and Atori knew he’d win.
Iruma’s last gamble was this bloodline ability, how naive. To think that he could beat him just with that, the students at this school sure are arrogant, well it would be worth it for the experience alone.
Who knows how much pain could be caused by a bloodline ability as potent as one belonging to one of three heros after all.
“Good, Here I come”. Atori grinned to himself
“ReadySetGo!”
As Atori leapt forward hands reaching towards Iruma, who it seems was getting his arm ready to Atori to tear off by de-summoning his bow, his mind filled with thoughts of what kind of delightful face Iruma would make when he realized his arm was gone, so consuming were these thoughts that Atori could almost feel Iruma’s arm in his grip already.
Which is why he was so shocked to seem the same hand on his chest instead of in his grasp
*Death*
He was also surprised at the instincts now screaming in his mind, that he was in danger, that any second could be his last.
That he was now standing before a predator.
Atori’s grin fell off his face, “Wha-”
“Alikred Devour”
And that was the last he knew.
—---------------------------------------------------------------------
Ronron was not having a wonderful day, being hunted down by the teachers within the first month of school was not ideal in her mind, the running, jumping and fighting that Sabnock-senpai dragged them through was a little too much for her if she was being honest, at least Pulu Puko seemed like he was having fun. And she started to enjoy it too once she realized how reliable Sabnock was for protecting the both of them. A little like a father, she realized, with Pulu Puko’s help.
Which is why it got even scarier when that teacher attacked them.
It was nothing like their brief fight with Momonoki-Sensei. Which was frightening in its own right. This fight was dangerous like they could really get hurt, and Sabnock did. He wasn’t moving when another student found their way onto the roof.
She didn’t pay attention to the conversation between the student and the Demon. Couldn’t pay attention. She was only snapped out of it by the impact of the arrow that saved her life.
Iruma, she heard the teacher call the Student.
She had heard stories about Iruma, a powerful demon the rumors said. But so was Sabnock and even in his wicked phase he was no match for this teacher, could she really leave Iruma to fight this demon only.
Turns out she didn’t have that choice.
So here she was Sabnock-Senpai, Pulu Puko and her, the payout for a desperate double or nothing gamble. She was so nervous she’d almost passed out after the teacher and gotten past Iruma the first time and now Iruma was betting on a bloodline ability that according to the rumors no one had any concrete idea about. She hoped Iruma had brought enough time for another teacher to appear. In fact she was hoping for this so much that when Atori dropped limp to the ground with Iruma’s arm still outstretched she was almost disappointed. All that tension just for it to end so anticlimactically .
This was not an outcome she had thought could happen, wouldn’t have dreamed of it and yet here it was.
“I dont like you”, She was startled by Iruma’s voice, he was glaring at Atori, “ You’re mean, and you like to hurt people, and …I’m sorry…” tear were gathering in his eyes, “I don't know what will happen to you now.”
“Senpai!” Ronron exclaimed, “What happened? Are you alright?!”
“Me? I’m-no,wa-wait” Iruma hastily wiped his tears away, “What about you two? And Sabnock! Is he alright?” He began to walk towards them
Ronron quickly looked over Sabnock, she couldn’t believe she forgot to check his injuries, but luckily Pulu Puko was already there checking him over. When he noticed her looking he gave her a big thumbs-up!
“He’s okay I think,” She sighed in relief before beginning to turn back towards Iruma,” Looks like you really saved our skin there Sen…” She froze as Iruma fully came into her view once more. Fear filled her eyes as she fell backwards, hands scraping themselves on the rough ground behind her.
This demon saved her life. Not only her life but Pulu Puko’s and Sabnock’s. So why… why..
Why did she want to run away?
She wanted to get as far away from this demon as fast as possible, every baser instinct left over from a more violent past screamed at her to run.
‘I can’t move’, she thought, ‘if I move, it’ll see me and I’ll die.’
Iruma noticed that something had spooked the students. “Hey, what's wrong?” Iruma ask in a gentle tone slowly extending his hand towards her only to see,what had frightened her so badly
A thick, roiling black mist covered Iruma’s right arm. A twisting mass of darkness and shadows, writhing like a pit of snakes.
“Ali-san…” Iruma spoke so softly and Ronron could barely hear him. He continued, tone quiet and fearful as if too much noise would break the careful equilibrium the mist had created for itself, “ What’s happening?”.
Ronron watched in fear as the mist began to spread across his body, inching up his arm, across his chest. Iruma's eyes widened and Ronron could see panic dancing in them before a tendril of shadow snuck up and curled around his ear. Instantly, he seemed to relax and started moving his mouth as is speaking but she could hear no words . As he began to mutter to himself Ronron could only watch in muted horror as the mist enveloped him completely.
And so she stared at the perfect darkness. A void in the shape of a demon for what seemed like an eternity.
Then the mist began to thin, no longer a void but a shadow, then a silhouette and finally Iruma-Senpai reappeared the remaining mist seeping into his flesh.
As the mist vanished Ronron felt most of the fear leave her. But not all of it.
“I-Iruma.. What,” She trailed off. Did she want to know what that was? Was not knowing worse or would knowledge grant her brief relief followed by the terrible weight of knowing. Was it better to stay ignorant?
No.
She had to know. Even when she was about to die she hadn’t felt like that. If the knowledge came at a price then let it be hers to bear.
And Pulu Puko’s. She guessed glancing at the demon. Feeling a bit embarrassed that she had forgotten he was there too.
She gathered her strength, “Iruma, what just happened? What was that mist? Are you okay?”
“Hmm,” Iruma gave himself a pat down and returned a smile, “I’m fine and as for what that was. Hmm.” He tilted his head, “I guess you could call it a side effect!”
“A side effect” she whispered.
“Of what I did to Atori”
“And,” she swallowed nervously, “What did you do to Atori?”
“Oh, well it's a bit embarrassing but I guess I ate him. A little bit.” Iruma nervously rubbed the back of his head, “Just slightly.”
“You… ate him?” She turned to look at Atori’s… corpse? He wasn’t moving but neither did Sabnock and he’s okay now. “He doesn’t look eaten.”
Iruma pouted, “I said I only kinda ate him.”
This was a ridiculous conversation, Ronron realized.
“He’s not dead is he?” she asked cutting to the most important question
“No! Devi thanks. I was worried about that at first too, But he’ll wake up right as rain in a bit, sorta”
“Sorta?”
“Well what I ate was his mana. All of it. Every last drop. So that might cause some problems going forward. Haha…ha?” Iruma chuckled lamely.
“But that's not possi… I … nevermind.” A mana-eating demon, those things only existed in picture books to scare children. What's next? A human living in the netherworld?
“I'm going to go find some help,”She continued, “Could you please keep looking after those two?”
“Of course I was going to anyway. Sabnock’’s my friend after all!”
As Ronron turned to leave she could help but take one last look at Iruma she hadn’t forgotten the paralyzing fear whatever Iruma did cause her. But watching him now chatting with Pulu Puko while checking over him for any injuries
‘Well If he was a monster’ she thought before turning away.
‘At least he’s on our side.”