I Became a Demon Professor at the Academy

139 – The Appearance of the Ulpen Clan (End of Part 1)

A week later.

[The emergence of an unidentified monster]

[It looked human, but it was definitely not. At the scene of the incident, the victim’s entrails were always painted on the wall as if on display, and there were beastly manes…]

The world was already noisy. Articles popping up simultaneously without regard to location were showing just how rampant the Ulpen clan was in the world.

“Things have gotten quite complicated.”

I muttered my thoughts briefly.

Although the photo was blurred, I could clearly see its contents. It was indeed a human, eviscerated and ravaged.

Christine, who was beside me, sighed deeply and chimed in.

“We can’t just quietly resolve and move on anymore. There are already too many victims.”

Christine was fiddling with an apple, then she turned her head and looked at me intently as she spoke.

“Why is this happening?”

“Hmm, I have a hunch.”

“…Actually, me too.”

The Ulpen, a clan from the demon world that evolved from the commonly known ‘werewolves’, seemed to have reasons for their senseless killings that I could vaguely guess.

“Maybe…”

Christine started to speak, but I shook my head. There was no need to say it out loud. Instead, I began to unravel the story.

“Yes, they must be trying to summon me.”

“Huh? Summon you, Ezekiel?”

Christine’s eyes widened, suggesting she had a different theory. I asked her,

“What did you think?”

“Ah… I just thought they were flaunting their power. I didn’t realize they were trying to summon someone.”

“You knew one thing but not the other. It’s true they’re showing off, but it seems they’re also trying to summon me.”

I had once brought a terrible disgrace upon a high-ranking member of the Ulpen clan. In the demon world, the concept of grudges and debts of gratitude runs deepest among the Ulpen.

So much so that there’s a saying among them, ‘A favor or a grudge must both be repaid threefold,’ which has spread widely within the demon world. They would never forget my actions.

Hearing about my past encounter with the Ulpen, Christine finally nodded.

“Now that I think about it, it does make sense. I think I understand perfectly why they’re doing this…”

She rubbed her chin with a troubled look.

“We have to stop innocent humans from dying, but it’s also a problem that we can’t just rush in recklessly. If they’re showing off their power like this, it means they’re fully prepared.”

Christine was deep in thought for a while before letting out a deep sigh. She looked at me with worried eyes.

“It’s frustrating. Why is it so hard for us to have a normal life…”

I quietly stroked Christine’s hair. It was regrettable, as she said, but I could no longer stand by and do nothing.

The time had come for me to act.

***

“Tsk…”

Vivian clicked her tongue as if her head hurt. She continued with half-closed eyes.

Although she had come all this way to the demon world for an important meeting, Vivian had been sighing the whole time.

“It’s practically a given that the Ulpen clan is up to something. Seeing them struggle in the human world instead of the demon world, it’s clear they’re trying to spite you.”

“Hmm.”

“If you, Ezekiel, were to dust off your hands and return to the demon world, it would be a matter to leave alone. But don’t you want to continue living at the academy? Then, what can you do? You have to resolve it.”

“Is that so?”

Vivian was thinking exactly what I had in mind. The thought of how this would complicate things for days to come at the academy already gave me a headache.

With a shrug, Vivian said,

“Perhaps what they want is your life?”

I nodded silently in agreement.

“Of course. Those Ulphen folks always go overboard. They’d probably like nothing more than to hang your head somewhere for all to see. As conspicuously as possible.”

Indeed, that’s how the Ulphen are.

Their straightforwardness often leads to losses in the demon world, but conversely, their ignorance of any other way makes them all the stronger.

And now, their anger was directed at me.

As Vivian said, whether I would continue my activities in the human world was also an important issue. What I would do, how I would think, all of these were critical junctures.

Making a decision wasn’t hard. Since I already had ‘disciples’ in the human world, I had to take responsibility for them.

“Well, Vivian. It seems I must continue my activities in the human world.”

“I thought you’d say that.”

Vivian sighed deeply, her attitude suggesting she knew I would answer this way from the start.

“What can I help you with… Ah, okay. Let’s see.”

Leading the way, I followed Vivian. Given her penchant for various research in the demon world, her support would be invaluable.

“Take this first.”

“A potion?”

What Vivian handed me was a flask containing a red elixir. Its radiant color alone spoke volumes of its potency, no questions needed.

I had to correct myself immediately.

“No, not a potion. It should be called an elixir.”

Like wines have grades, potions naturally do too. What Vivian had given me was of such a high caliber that it could never be circulated in the market.

“Yes. I only have three, but I’ll give you one. It’s not like I have any use for it anyway.”

“Thank you.”

“It will restore all your vitality when you drink it. Though it might give you a bit of a headache…”

With a push as if to refuse any refusal, Vivian forced the flask into my hands, and I tucked it away.

In that manner, Vivian gave me many useful things. Items that assisted with magic, were handy for disguises, or gave an advantage against the Ulphen.

Time flew by as I received these things.

Swoosh─!

A snake slithered down from the ceiling, flicking its tongue urgently at Vivian. She looked at it with a grave expression for a moment.

“…What about Ezekiel? It seems the situation has already escalated.”

Vivian looked at me with a grave expression. Her face was so tense that I instinctively felt a sense of urgency creeping into my shoulders.

“It seems the Academy is in danger.”

“The Academy?”

Instead of answering, Vivian simply nodded. Out of all places, why the Academy? My mind was suddenly flooded with thoughts.

For a while, neither Vivian nor I said anything. Eventually, I was the one to break the silence.

“Why such a grim face? It was to be expected.”

“It’s worrying, that’s why.”

With those words, Vivian waved her hand dismissively. The situation was urgent; it was a sign for me to hurry.

***

The Academy’s conference room.

This place, usually bustling with students learning and professors teaching, was now facing an unprecedented crisis, operating under a state of emergency.

“What, what, what did you say?”

One of the professors stood up abruptly, exclaiming. Another professor, glancing around, pressed his index finger to his lips.

“Don’t raise your voice too much. It could cause unnecessary confusion. The students are still unaware, you know.”

“But, this is not something one can remain calm about…”

The professors’ gazes turned towards two empty seats in the conference room. One of them belonged to Professor Aridnel, who was now a cold corpse and could not attend.

“Professor Aridnel has been attacked? In the same manner as those incidents reported in the newspapers?”

“Exactly. We thought these were incidents happening outside the Academy, but not anymore.”

“Then…”

Just then.

“I apologize for my tardiness.”

All eyes in the room turned to one place. The latecomer was Ezekiel. He seemed remarkably composed, as if he knew the solution to the crisis.

“Let’s start addressing the issues one by one.”

He spoke only that much. Of course, to the professors who were unaware of the full situation, it seemed like an absurd statement.

One of them, unable to contain his anger, retorted sharply.

“What are you talking about? The situation is serious…! You can’t just walk in and talk lightly about such matters!”

“I’m not speaking lightly.”

He cut off the conversation firmly.

“I am, indeed, quite serious.”