After high school, those seeking higher education consider attending the Academy. It's an institution for specialized education, attracting those who dream of higher-paying jobs, government positions, or research careers.
That's why more than half of Academy students consider going on to the Institute.
What effort does it take to become a professor at such a prestigious Academy?
First, one must achieve good grades and enter the Institute. After three years at the Academy and two years at the Institute, a degree is awarded. Then, an additional two years are required to reach the position of professor.
Yuria embraced those seven years and claimed her professorship.
Not only did she secure a teaching position, but she also earned the title of Demon God Slayer as a side occupation.
Yuria grew powerful enough through her research to create an Original. Her unique formulas and combinations to create her own magic, which she used to ensure people's safety, made her more than worthy of admiration.
"...Sigh."
Receiving a sudden notification about a Demon God appearance on Monday morning, Yuria set out immediately. She clutched her head in frustration. Taking a ring from her pocket, she furrowed her brow.
It was puzzling why so many were appearing lately. She worried whether the world was ending or if there was a place where Mana was severely condensing somewhere.
Brushing her hair back, she scanned the message she had received earlier.
The approximate location of the Demon God's appearance had been transmitted. This was normal, but the incomplete count of victims made Yuria's stomach churn.
Usually, the count would be quickly tallied, but the lack of information suggested either a massive scale incident or that only the Demon God's descent had been observed, making it difficult to count casualties. Either way, it made her hurry even more.
She had left Urr at the Academy, so she was probably meeting friends or something. Still, she was a good kid, so she wouldn't leave the Academy without permission. Even with this reassurance, Yuria couldn't help but worry.
The main concern was the Demon God, but she also worried that someone who disliked Urr might harm her because of the rumors. Of course, since Urr had friends who were close to her, it would be difficult for anyone to approach and harm her directly.
She shook her head, trying to clear her mind.
For now, she focused on her duty and moved forward.
Upon arrival, Yuria surveyed the surroundings. She confirmed that the incident was occurring in the outskirts of the city.
Unlike previous Demon Gods she had encountered, there were no ruins or craters.
While she didn't wish for everyone involved to die, searching for a Demon God among rows of houses would take considerable time, which made her frown.
"What a troublesome one."
Clicking her tongue, Yuria began typing on her phone.
Yuria had the power to kill Demon Gods. That didn't mean she could easily find them.
No matter how powerful a Demon God might be, they generally had a human-like form. She could detect their Aura when nearby, but whether she could make contact with the Aura in this vast residential area was uncertain, so she requested assistance.
[This is the Demon God Disaster Verification Headquarters. Please state your request.]
This line, open only to Demon God Slayers, immediately asked for her requirements to handle the situation quickly.
"The Demon God seems to be hiding between buildings without destroying them. I have no way of knowing where and how much damage is occurring, so please assign me a searcher."
[Understood. We will send support personnel to your location immediately.]
People who arrived instantly through the Warp Point bowed their heads at the sight of Yuria.
She noticed that these neatly dressed individuals each carried their preferred weapons at their waists.
"Hello. I am Dyton, team leader of the search team dispatched from the Demon God Disaster Verification Headquarters."
The man in front stepped forward and introduced himself.
"...Yes, please find it quickly. I don't know where the Demon God is killing people."
"Yes!"
Knowing that formalities weren't important right now, Yuria turned away. The atmosphere almost grew cold, but the realization that human lives were more important than formal greetings soon followed, pushing the staff into action.
The employees moved quickly with their weapons drawn.
Yuria quietly watched them go. She tilted her head, wondering if search teams typically recruited people specialized in movement magic.
As she followed behind Dyton to check if they were searching properly, a female employee suddenly jumped up.
"It's here! The Demon God's Aura is..."
The Demon God itself wasn't visible. Nevertheless, Bati, the female employee who sensed the Aura nearby, climbed onto the roof of an adjacent building and shouted.
At Bati's voice, everyone tried to climb onto the roof to confirm the location. But Bati and Yuria weren't the only ones who heard her voice—a black shadow approached from behind.
"Bati!!"
Dyton's cry rang out. They had spread out to search, so even with high-speed movement, it was impossible to close the distance immediately.
"Tch...!"
Yuria stopped after running quickly across the rooftop. Drawing her sword from its scabbard, she spun it and gripped it in reverse.
Her eyes rolled rapidly. Quickly identifying her target, Yuria immediately took her stance and swung her arm. Bracing her foot to throw, she swung her arm while twisting her waist.
Swoosh!
The knife from Yuria's waist flew toward Bati's back in a matter of seconds. With a thud, the Demon God approaching rapidly behind Bati was pushed back.
"Kuhuk!"
"Eek...!"
Bati turned her head in surprise. Her body trembled with fear at the gaze of the Demon God now moving away from her.
Long hair fluttered in the air. Confirming it was a female Demon God, Bati lowered her body and jumped off the building.
"Fall back!"
The search team wasn't there to help Yuria fight. They would only get in the way of Yuria's power release anyway.
Though Bati's legs gave out, she had done her job by finding the Demon God. Yuria shouted loudly before rushing forward.
The other employees hesitated and stepped back. Being fast enough, they were able to put sufficient distance between themselves and the fight.
Yuria, noticing their safety was secured, injected Mana into the ring she had been wearing.
An Aura identical to the Demon God's enveloped Yuria's body. It enhanced her physical abilities while simultaneously neutralizing the effects of the Demon God's Aura—an ability specialized for Demon God Slayers.
When Yuria used her power like this, all Demon Gods sensed the threat and changed their stance. This Demon God was no different.
"Graaaah!"
The Demon God gripped the sword embedded in its body. The sword's luster disappeared and then lost its form as if crumbling.
In that brief moment, Yuria deduced information about this Demon God.
Corrosive ability—if corrosion had started immediately upon contact with the body, it would have been frightening. But since it only began after being gripped with both hands, she considered that she just needed to avoid those hands.
Though Yuria had lost her sword, she hadn't lost her means of attack, so she stood confidently before the Demon God.
She examined the Demon God from top to bottom as it staggered to its feet. Bleached white hair and blue eyes visible between the strands stared at Yuria.
Those eyes, filled with murderous intent as if ready to kill her immediately, made Yuria shudder.
"...Not a young one, are you?"
"Don't... interfere...!!"
The Demon God's voice expressed rage through gritted teeth. The moment it kicked off the ground, the distance between the Demon God and Yuria narrowed.
With her Aura released, Yuria's physical abilities were comparable to a Demon God's. No matter how powerful the Demon God might be.
She took a step. She felt her stiffened body reset and become lighter. With a quick tap, Yuria's body twisted, causing the Demon God to miss.
The Demon God's body passed in front of Yuria. Not missing the opportunity, Yuria raised her knee from the side.
"Kugh!"
Yuria's knee struck the Demon God's abdomen with lightning speed. It was an impact that might have twisted the internal organs of a human. The Demon God's expression contorted severely.
Not missing the opening, Yuria kicked the Demon God and slammed it into an alley wall.
"How many did you kill?"
Yuria asked with cold eyes.
She always asks. How many people did you kill? But there was never an answer. Even Demon Gods didn't know how many they had killed, and most had no reason to count.
They only sought to eliminate obstacles in their path.
The Demon God pulled its face out of the crumbled wall and twisted its body. It lowered its posture and tried to strike at Yuria's ankle.
Yuria stepped and jumped, avoiding contact with her feet. The kick that sliced through the air rotated and rose upward. A high kick aimed at the airborne Yuria. Yuria deflected such a kick and disrupted the Demon God's balance.
Yuria's fists moved rapidly like machine gun fire. The Demon God counterattacked with a flurry of blows, but some got through, and it began taking hits.
Realizing that corrosion only occurred when both hands made contact, Yuria decided she could be more aggressive and increased her output.
"How old are you?"
The torrent of Mana flowing through Yuria's body intensified.
She asked how many lives it had stolen and how many years it had lived. But since the Demon God had no reason to count such things, it merely raised its fists toward Yuria.
"Leave me alone!"
A panting voice. The Demon God stood its ground, knowing that fleeing and being caught from behind would be disadvantageous.
Yuria found this absurd and felt anger rising within her, causing her expression to contort.
How many had it killed? Now, in the past, how had it grown by devouring people? These questions burned within her, and she clenched her fist tightly.
Thud!
Yuria closed the distance in an instant and crushed the Demon God's foot.
"Ugh..."
Its eyes bulged and became bloodshot. Even in this state, it reached out its hand, showing remarkable determination despite the pain.
Yuria struck the Demon God's arm outward. The extended arm left the body defenseless, and Yuria seized the opportunity to deliver a powerful punch forward.
A sound that one would hope never to hear from a human body tickled her ears. After watching the Demon God collapse and spit blood, she took out her phone.
"...It's over. Please collect it. Yes, put it under my name. Yes."
Dusting off her hands, Yuria withdrew her Aura and put the ring back in her pocket.
Even after killing a Demon God, even after contributing to world peace, the fact that the dead would not return made her heart uneasy.