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Chapter 91: Caught Doing This?

The Side Story of the Azure Flame focuses solely on the first-year life of the protagonist, Eve.

The reason is simple: this side story serves as an epilogue to earlier arcs of Demon Dungeon Academy Slayer.

Demon Dungeon Academy Slayer consists of three main arcs.

The first two arcs, preceding the Flame Butterfly arc, are set in different time periods.

Both of them belong to earlier generations than the Flame Butterfly arc.

I didn’t play much of the first two arcs.

One was a puzzle game, and the other was a bullet hell shooting game.

As someone who enjoys pixel RPG games, they didn’t suit my tastes.

Perhaps that’s why Demon Dungeon Academy Slayer had different fans for each arc.

Among them, The Side Story of the Azure Flame was an appendix to the second arc.

It was released as an RPG epilogue to promote the third arc, Flame Butterfly.

As a result, The Side Story of the Azure Flame’s Injury doesn’t have a particularly long playtime.

The first-year life at Ordo Academy is all there is, which proves the point.

‘In other words, Eve is…’

…a character who has completed her scenario.

This side story is also the only arc I played apart from the first two.

Eve strode in confidently, her blue hair flowing.

“Azure Flame.”

“The sole star of Ordo.”

Eve’s remarkable achievements in the Ordo Kingdom are widely known.

Because of this, other students seemed to be aware of her reputation.

“…So that’s the Azure Flame.”

Isabel muttered as she looked at Eve.

It seemed even Isabel had heard of Eve’s name.

‘Well, she was frequently mentioned in the Flame Butterfly arc, too.’

Eve is one of the six stars who made a name for themselves in their generation.

My decision to play The Side Story of the Azure Flame was driven by my curiosity about Eve.

From the perspective of the game developers, this was probably a ploy to pique curiosity and make players purchase the earlier arcs as well.

It was a cunning tactic, but thanks to it, I encountered the protagonist of another arc.

I could feel the heat emanating from her body.

Seeing this, I was convinced.

‘I absolutely must transfer Eve to Zerion Academy.’

During the summer break, I wrapped up the event with the headmaster.

The headmaster had agreed to handle Eve’s transfer process, provided she was willing.

‘Preparing for this was an absolute nightmare.’

That’s why I barely rested during the break.

Now, only Eve’s decision remained.

But that was the hardest hurdle to overcome.

Eve wouldn’t lack attachment to Ordo Academy, even if the students there envied and resented her.

“Finally, we’re all here.”

Among the six stars, the only one from the humble kingdom of Zebra, which failed to record any stars in its generation, stood up.

Following the president of Rosley Academy, the other student council presidents also rose from their seats and headed to the roundtable.

Even the acting president, Iris, stood up and moved toward the roundtable.

Soon, the attendees took their seats at the roundtable, and the meeting began.

The content of the meeting didn’t particularly interest me.

After all, it was just about discussing the international individual competition.

‘While the influence of student council presidents within the academies can’t be ignored…’

…events on the scale of the international individual competition are managed and overseen by the headmasters and professors.

Thus, this meeting was more symbolic than anything else.

In reality, networking with future influential figures during the party afterward held more significance.

‘But because of that…’

…the conversations during the meeting were intense, without any concessions.

Everyone here was aware that they would likely become representatives of their respective nations in the future.

Losing ground here was tantamount to falling behind later.

This was a meeting staking the pride of their nations.

It was a brutal power struggle, to say the least.

“Yaaawn.”

Sharin yawned, completely uninterested in such matters.

Isabel scolded her, saying she shouldn’t act like that, but Sharin was already nodding off.

My eyes, however, remained on Eve.

She stood apart from the Ordo Academy students.

The Ordo Academy students chatted amongst themselves but didn’t exchange a single word with Eve.

It was evident to anyone watching that they were keeping their distance.

Eve had achieved such dazzling feats that her name spread across other nations.

Because of this, she stood out as an alien presence among the students of Ordo Academy.

Frelliz, a fallen kingdom mocked by others, was Eve’s homeland.

Its students were steeped in despair and crushed self-esteem.

With a crumbling economy and no future in sight, the kingdom’s people had succumbed to pessimism.

Once the brightest of the five kingdoms, Frelliz had experienced a time of great prosperity.

However, its society failed to grow in pace with its development.

This led to hardship, a rise in suicide rates, and a dramatic decline in birth rates.

Meanwhile, the royal family and nobles had become corrupt.

The reigning king was deemed the most incompetent in history, adding to the weight of blame, even as the kingdom lay in ruins.

As a result, Frelliz could not escape its reputation as a fallen kingdom.

The consequences were directly felt by its youth—the kingdom’s future assets.

The children of the fallen kingdom had no expectations for the future.

No matter how hard they tried, they couldn’t hope to surpass the happiness of the corrupt adults who had poisoned society.

Life itself was precarious, making it impossible to dream.

Yet, amid such despair, a star was born in the Ordo Kingdom.

The unyielding azure flame.

Eve.

Those who had already lost their light could not bear the radiance of hers.

Thus, what they chose was not to shine brighter alongside the star, but to turn away from it.

It was easier to avoid the star than to be consumed by trying to shine by its side.

And so, Eve became an isolated island at Ordo Academy.

Because the children, afraid of burning by her side, all avoided her.

Then, as if sensing my gaze, Eve lifted her head.

Her blue eyes locked onto mine.

At first glance, her eyes seemed emotionless, but the firm confidence within them was unmistakable.

As expected of the unyielding azure flame.

Tap-

At that moment, I felt a poking sensation in my side.

Startled, I turned my head to find Isabel, pointing her finger at me.

"What are you staring at so intently?"

For some reason, displeasure flickered in Isabel’s eyes.

It seemed she had noticed me looking at Eve.

"Wherever I look is none of your concern."

"Scolding you is entirely my concern."

Isabel's quick retorts were becoming sharper with time.

Is she developing even in this area?

Reluctantly, I averted my gaze under Isabel’s glare.

After all, I would have the chance to speak with Eve soon enough.

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* * *

The meeting concluded successfully.

The reason for its success was simple.

Although the others had made an effort, the meeting was led by Iris.

The imperial princess.

A strong contender for the throne of the empire.

Even royalty would hesitate to directly oppose Iris’s statements.

Thus, Iris took the lead in the meeting as she pleased.

Watching her like that reminded me anew that Iris was indeed royalty.

“Hannon.”

It was only after the meeting ended, when she stretched her arms out to me in the assigned resting room, that I was reminded otherwise.

Her gesture clearly conveyed she wanted me to embrace her.

Isabel stared at me intently.

Her gaze seemed to be asking if I was seriously going to do it.

“Hannon?”

Iris tilted her head, her actions urging me to hurry and come over.

I quietly inhaled and exhaled.

This feels like it’s going to lead to another fight between the two of them.

It’s about time I drew a line.

This is going too far.

“Lady Iris, your recent antics have been excessive. Even I find it difficult to handle this constant behavior.”

I conveyed my words to Iris with utmost politeness, gazing at her firmly.

Iris, perhaps realizing something, opened and closed her hands repeatedly.

She wasn’t someone who couldn’t be reasoned with.

She was likely acting this way because Isabel’s presence had triggered her possessiveness.

Iris was someone capable of restraining herself if she chose to.

“I’m more than willing to help ensure Lady Iris has a restful sleep. However, if you continue behaving like this, it will tarnish your name. Not to mention, it puts me in a difficult position.”

Isabel and Sharin weren’t the types to spread gossip, but if someone else were to witness such behavior, it would become a serious issue.

No matter how close we were as cousins, such displays between an 18-year-old man and woman would invite rumors.

Especially for someone like Iris, a princess, such rumors could spread as damaging scandals.

There were always people eager to find flaws in her otherwise perfect image.

“…Alright, I’ll only act like this when we’re alone.”

Not stopping altogether, huh?

Still, Iris showed willingness to restrain herself.

Satisfied for now, I turned to Isabel.

She nodded approvingly, as if agreeing with my rebuke of Iris.

Isabel, you’re no different.

“And Isabel, you’ve been meddling too much lately.”

Isabel flinched.

She had grown more intrusive recently, acting like a childhood friend despite our rocky history.

Understanding her insecurities, I had overlooked it, but her obsession had been escalating.

“I know you dislike me criticizing Lucas, but enough is enough.”

I reminded Isabel of my disdain for Lucas, knowing it would strike a chord.

Although it hadn’t been very effective lately, I had originally been at odds with Isabel.

After various twists and turns, we had become rivals.

But we weren’t supposed to be this close.

“….”

Isabel lowered her gaze to the floor.

Having warned her enough, I hoped she would restrain herself for a while.

“Lastly, Sharin.”

I called out to Sharin, who had somehow sneaked into the room and was munching on popcorn.

“If you keep watching with that entertained look, I’ll give you a German suplex.”

“Ummm.”

With popcorn stuffed in her mouth, I couldn’t make out what she said.

Her puffed-up cheeks made me want to pinch them.

But I refrained, knowing she would probably retaliate with magic.

“Well then, take it easy. I’m going to get some fresh air.”

I quickly excused myself, unwilling to stay in that tense atmosphere any longer.

Fortunately, no one followed.

Once outside, I finally caught my breath.

Today, I learned one thing.

The compatibility between Isabel and Iris is the worst.

I need to avoid putting them together in the future.

As I reflected on this, I continued walking.

It was then that I saw a cascade of blue hair fluttering near the hallway window.

Familiar with that hair color, my eyes widened slightly.

It was Eve.

The moment she saw me, she walked straight over, as if I had been her target all along.

Her unwavering gaze locked onto mine.

As expected of the protagonist of a side story, her presence was extraordinary.

“You.”

Eve addressed me directly, leaving me frozen on the spot.

“You’ve been affected by the magic of an ancient dragon.”

This was an unexpected turn of events.

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