I Became a Demon Who Can Never Be Headpatted in the Academy?!

『Stress has increased by 7!』

I smacked the annoying status window away with my right hand. I know it's a close call, okay?

"Murmur thinks the real culprit behind this plot is Phenex."

"Phenex? Isn't that Mrs. Zepar's daughter's name?"

Unlike Esme, who tilted her head in confusion, Sitri had a serious expression.

"How is that possible? Ms. Phenex passed away a long time ago, didn't she? That's why Mrs. Zepar has been doing volunteer work in Star Alley for 50 years."

"The 'Phenex' that Murmur is talking about doesn't mean the real Ms. Phenex."

"Huh? Then... Augh, I'm so dizzy."

Esme covered her mouth with her hand.

"Do you know about Changelings?"

"Of course. Aunt Colette really hates them. It's a word that refers to demons who use forbidden transformation magic, right?"

"That Changeling is transforming into Mrs. Zepar's daughter, Ms. Phenex."

"That's, that's too much! How can they do such a thing?!"

Esme stood up from her seat and shouted.

Mother and daughter.

Esme has a lot to say about the bond between the two. It's natural for her to be angry.

"Murmur thinks, that's why Murmur and her friends couldn't persuade Mrs. Zepar."

"But! She got fined, and the people from the Imperial Palace took away Lunarine, right? They also burned all the ingredients in Piglet House."

"Yes, Mrs. Zepar also got rid of the magic circle."

Sitri sighed.

"She deceived Murmur and us. She must have hidden the Lunarine somewhere that can be used to complete a new magic circle."

"But didn't Sitri say that she investigated the ledger and everything and there were no problems?"

"Such ledgers can easily be manipulated if you're trying to deceive people."

I didn't want to believe that Mrs. Zepar would act so maliciously, but that's how the situation was unfolding.

"B-but! But...!"

Just as Esme was about to speak, Nikea appeared with a deep sigh.

"Am I very late? I'm sorry."

"No, we used Nikea's room without permission. Murmur is grateful."

Nikea smiled and sat down.

"I said it was okay, didn't I? Oh right! Were you in the middle of an important conversation?"

"We were just about to talk about you, Princess Nikea."

Esme clenched her fist and looked at me and Sitri.

"There might be a Changeling transformed into Phenex, but there's no way Mrs. Zepar could be plotting anything!"

"Is that because Mrs. Zepar is currently under the surveillance of adults from the Imperial Palace?"

Esme nodded and looked at Nikea.

"I went to talk to her again today. Mrs. Zepar is completely confined to Piglet House and is being investigated, and she has no means of contacting the outside world."

"See! She can't plot anything!"

"If she told the Changeling, who is transforming into Phenex, the location of the hidden Lunarine beforehand, there would be no problem. And before the event started, she would have told Mrs. Zepar that the Changeling told her about Murmur's exploits."

"Ah? Uhh? Uh..."

Esme slumped down in her seat.

"Nikea, didn't you find anything else suspicious?"

"Yes. Everyone believed me and investigated a little more, but there's nothing new or special about Mrs. Zepar or anyone else."

"How about Murmur meets Mrs. Zepar?"

Nikea made a troubled expression.

"That would be... absolutely... impossible. I'm sorry."

Considering my, Murmur’s reputation, it's a given.

No matter how much Nikea mediates, there's no way the adults from the Imperial Palace would agree to a conversation.

"Murmur? I have a solution I thought of, would you like to hear it?"

Nikea's idea? I couldn't help but feel excited and nodded.

Esme, for reference, had become a mochi and was staring up at us with her face stuck to the table.

"If the Changeling is transforming into Ms. Phenex, how about we find that Changeling?"

"Indeed, if we capture that Changeling, the plot is unlikely to progress further."

"This might be a rather unpleasant story for Murmur, but I can sense demons who are plotting evil."

I was naturally aware of Nikea's unique trait.

She could clearly distinguish the scent of demons emitting terrifying and dreadful killing intent. Or was it a sweet scent?

"Hmm, are you sure you're okay? Is the Empire's princess going to become a sniffer dog?"

"It's fine. The students at the Academy are in danger, aren't they? If the gatekeeper demon 'Gabriel' is summoned, something terrible will definitely happen."

Nikea's eyes sparkled with a burning sense of justice.

"Murmur thinks it's impossible."

"M-Murmur! It's okay!!"

"It's not about Nikea's effort. Does Murmur know? The Cosmos Academy is. E.NOR.MOUS!"

I stood up and drew a large circle with both hands.

"Ugh... Uck!"

"The Dragon Tail District is a city compared to its size. The New-Helheim club area is so big it's called a castle."

"But..."

"The Cosmos Academy is the land that was once called the 'Cosmos Duchy.' It's so big that Murmur can't walk around it on her two legs. It's incredibly huge."

Nikea bit her lip tightly.

"For Nikea to sniff around and find a Changeling hiding somewhere on this vast property is not a feasible plan. It's not a plan at all."

I shook my head vigorously.

"It's a gamble. Murmur doesn't want to gamble. We'll make a plan with our friends and stop the plot!"

"I understand. I think I was talking nonsense."

Thankfully, Nikea smiled.

"But Murmur, do you have a plan?"

"Yes, Murmur has a plan."

I made a V sign with my right hand.

"For this plan, Sitri and Nikea need to lend Murmur their strength."

They both nodded.

"Liora, please bring out the map Murmur told you about."

When I clapped the table with both hands, Liora smiled and unfolded the map of the Cosmos Academy.

I was scared that I would get scolded when I asked her the first time, but thankfully, I didn't.

"This is a map of the Academy?"

"Yes, Murmur, do you see the places I marked here with crayon?"

"Oh my? Those are the places where we went around with Mrs. Zepar to erase the magic circles last time?"

Sitri pointed to the warehouse of the Venus Hall, Lake Hedone, and so on.

"Yes, that's right. Besides these... remember these 8 places."

Mrs. Zepar's magic circles are randomly set up in 8 locations.

Even the summoning of the gatekeeper demon is decided in one of these places.

"It's most efficient to set up the magic circles in these eight places."

"Hmm... I think I saw it in a book before. If it's not here, you'll probably need more than four magic circles."

As Esme said, I actually acquired this knowledge from the library and had to check the magic circles while going around the 8 places when I did the sub-quest.

"Okay. I remember the locations. What's next, Murmur?"

"Murmur thinks Mrs. Zepar's plot will definitely happen in conjunction with the 'Moonlight Choir Festival.'"

"Are you talking about Professor Aphrodite's Moonlight Choir Festival?"

"Yes, that's the day we sing under the full moon."

Esme nodded.

"That's right. It's the day we receive the magic of the full moon, share delicious snacks, and sing happily, right?"

"It's the day when students and faculty who are wandering around will thankfully gather in one place."

Thanks to the date the broken status window gave me, I was sure, but there was also this reason.

"Murmur wants to send people to guard these eight places starting an hour before the Moonlight Choir Festival."

"Is there a reason why we're not erasing the magic circles starting today?"

"Murmur doesn't want to play hide-and-seek with the Changeling."

These eight places are precious future information that I obtained through my 'game knowledge' and knowledge confirmed in reality.

This is the only chance to use this to stop the plot and deliver a counter punch to the opponent.

If we keep erasing the magic circles, it's hard to predict how the opponent will react. We don't know where the already twisted canon will go.

"If all the magic circles are erased before the Choir Festival starts, there's no way they can proceed with the plot."

"That's right. And there's no way the hidden Lunarine is unlimited, so they won't be able to set up new magic circles again."

"There's no way they can make desserts with Lunarine at Piglet House again, so they won't be able to supply the magic power required for the magic circles either."

Primeordial Rex's terrifying plot would be reduced to nothing in an instant.

It would be nice if we could find them all in the darkness and punish them, but that's quite difficult, so I won't even consider it.

I'll do what I can do right now.

"Murmur's plan seems quite perfect. If I were them, I would definitely set up magic circles in these eight places."

"In fact, this Choir Festival is the only chance they have. We may not be able to catch the bad Changeling who transformed into Phenex... hmm, um..."

Esme looked at us, gauging our reactions.

"Are you trying to say it doesn't matter?"

"Aunt Colette always said that capturing Changelings fails. For us fifth-graders in elementary school to catch a Changeling who is proficient in transformation magic is a dream in a way."

Esme clenched her fist tightly.

"But! If this opportunity is wasted, Mrs. Zepar might tell us more!"

"...Are you saying that knowing that the hope and memories we gave her can't replace Ms. Phenex?"

"That Changeling is still Ms. Phenex, after all!"

Esme's eyes sparkled.

"Murmur believes that too. Mrs. Zepar just couldn't resist the temptation of meeting her daughter if she took just one more step."

"I don't think the world works so softly, but..."

Sitri grabbed my hand.

"If Murmur says so, I'll trust it!!"

"Yes! Thank you, Sitri. Then, can you send the people from the Merchant Guild to these eight places Murmur told you about?"

"Ohohoho! That's an easy task!"

I nodded and looked at Nikea.

"Nikea, can you help too? It might be dangerous with just the Merchant Guild people."

"Okay. I'll talk to the adults. And I'll send Liora, Maris, and Brisa too."

The three maids standing behind Nikea smiled.

Great, they're a huge help!

"How about asking the professors for help?"

"That's a good idea! Esme!"

I felt sorry for Nikea and Esme, who were smiling brightly, but the professors wouldn't help.

The middle school vice-headmaster would interfere by bringing up some strange reason. In the game, it's hard to even see the professors' faces before the incident happens, let alone get help.

"Murmur! Let's do our best!"

Nikea smiled and hugged me once.

"Yes, Murmur will do her best to stop Mrs. Zepar's plot."

"We'll make the Changeling who plotted an evil scheme while transforming into Phenex cry a river!"

"Murmur's plan is perfect!"

Sitri and Esme also naturally came to me and stroked my horns and head.

My head is throbbing a little, but who cares?

I, Murmur, have friends.

* * *

"Mommy, mommy, do you know what?"

"Oh my, what is it? My daughter?"

"That Murmur is cool and amazing?"

"Murmur?"

"Yes, don't you know Murmur, Mommy? She's a super amazing person? She's a super, super amazing person who will do anything for her friends!"

The girl, smiling brightly, shoved a pudding with strawberry syrup dripping down into her mouth.

"You know! Murmur, she has cool horns!"

"Mommy hasn't heard of her before. Is she that famous?"

"You have to remember! Murmur is the one who will become the Demon King."

The girl picked up a pancake with sparkling syrup dripping down with her fork and ate it.

"If it's Murmur, she'll make it so Mommy and I can meet forever. She's already someone who can summon spirits."

"Is that true, my daughter?"

"Yes, Murmur is a great person who will become the Demon King, you know? She's small, soft, and cute now, but she's incredibly strong and terrifying!"

The girl took a cookie that her mother had carefully baked and bit off the head first.

"So you have to remember? Murmur is a precious and amazing person who will make it so that Mommy and I can meet no matter what happens."