The day after the rank promotion, students gathered to pick their elective classes for the next semester. Iruma sat at the desk, staring at the sheet with a weary expression.
My body still feels like it's falling apart... I need something where I can just sit quietly... no running, no fighting... please.
Alice watched him with mild amusement.
"Iruma-sama, are you alright?"
"Y-Yeah... just sore. Maybe I'll pick a lecture class..." Iruma mumbled as he dragged himself forward like a zombie.
After picking his class, Iruma glanced around—and spotted a familiar green-haired ball of energy bouncing toward the signup tables.
"Clara!" Iruma called out, waving.
He and Alice made their way over—and then froze as they saw the class Clara had eagerly chosen.
Succubus Fundamentals 101.
"W-What... what are you signing up for?!" Iruma stammered.
Alice grimaced. "Pitiful. She probably didn't read the description."
But Clara beamed proudly. "Nope! I picked it on purpose!"
Both boys leaned back as if struck.
"W-Why would you do that?!" Alice demanded. "Are you conspiring against us?!"
Clara whistled and looked away suspiciously.
Three days ago...
In a flashback, Clara sat with Sabro, pouting.
"Iruma-chi is playing with that Ameri girl a lot lately... I want him back!"
Sabro grinned, flexing. "Then seduce him, obviously! Make him fall for you!"
"Seduce?" Clara blinked in confusion.
"Yeah! Girls are scary when they go all out!" Sabro gave a thumbs up. "Trust me!"
Back to now...
Clara clenched her fists, full of secret determination. I will make Iruma-chi fall for me! I'll show him my womanly power!
Succubus Fundamentals Lecture
Inside the dim, velvet-draped classroom, the succubus lecturer Raim stood at the podium, tapping a whip against her palm.
"Listen up, you little brats." Raim grinned devilishly. "Concupiscence is not something you're born with. It's something you nurture and grow."
The students leaned forward nervously.
"Succubi and incubi adapt their appearance to the preferences of their partners. But technique is key." She snapped her whip. "Without skill, you're nothing but a pretty face."
Suddenly, Caim Kamui shot his hand up.
"Sensei, uh, when do we learn the advanced techniques?" He waggled his eyebrows.
"OUT." Raim snapped her fingers, sending Caim flying out the door with a puff of magic smoke.
Raim dusted off her hands and turned back to the class.
"Now, let's see what I'm working with..."
She raised her hand, activating her Bloodline Magic—Ero Scope.
With a quick scan, she pointed at Elizabetta.
"89% eros. Rank A."
Elizabetta winked, twirling her hair proudly.
Next, Kerori.
"51% eros. Rank B. Not bad, kid. Relax."
Kerori breathed a sigh of relief, though she still looked nervous.
Then came Clara.
Raim paused.
She stared harder.
Her jaw dropped.
She scanned again.
"...2%."
The whole class went silent.
Raim staggered back dramatically. "Even BABIES have 3%! WHAT IS THIS?!"
Clara smiled innocently, totally unbothered.
"You're... special." Raim finally muttered, shoving an entire stack of books into Clara's arms. "Study these... a lot."
Clara's "Training"
Over the next few days, Clara threw herself into her "studies."
First attempt: Seductive posing.
She arched her back awkwardly, stretched her legs, and made a heart shape with her arms in front of Iruma.
Iruma blinked. "Wow, Clara! Are you doing yoga?"
Clara flushed and bolted away.
Second attempt: Physical attachment.
She suddenly latched onto Iruma's back.
"Huh? Oh, piggyback rides! Okay!" Iruma laughed, carrying her around.
Clara squeaked in frustration and ran off again.
Third attempt: Costume play.
She wore a frilly cat-girl outfit, complete with paw gloves and a tail.
Iruma clapped. "That's an awesome costume, Clara!"
This isn't working...!
Fourth attempt: Perfume.
Clara sprayed herself with an experimental aphrodisiac perfume.
The entire hallway reeked.
Students fled coughing. Even Iruma gagged.
Fifth attempt: Makeup.
She smeared lipstick, eyeshadow, and blush all over her face in a chaotic mess.
Passing students burst out laughing.
This is impossible...! Clara thought, tears welling.
Return to Raim
Clara slumped in front of Raim, defeated.
"I'm not getting anywhere..." she mumbled.
Raim raised an eyebrow and slid a small pink vial toward her.
"This is an aphrodisiac. Just one drop will—"
Clara shoved it away, shaking her head.
"No. I wanna do it right!"
A Field at Sunset
Clara sat alone in a grassy field, hugging her knees, pouting miserably.
Maybe Iruma-chi doesn't see me like that... maybe I'm just a dumb friend...
Footsteps approached.
"Clara?"
Iruma appeared, looking concerned.
"I was worried. It's not safe for girls to be out alone."
Clara's heart skipped.
She stood up, cheeks heating.
For a moment, she stared at him—his soft eyes, his genuine worry—and a spark lit in her chest.
Clenching her fists, she declared loudly,
"I'm gonna make you fall hard for me, Iruma-chi!"
Iruma blinked—his heart thudding once, sharply, without warning.
What was that... just now...?
Clara grabbed his hand, pulling him along with a bright laugh.
"Come on! Let's go find Alice!"
Iruma stumbled after her, still feeling the strange beat in his chest.
From a distance, Raim watched, scanning Clara again with her Ero Scope.
The reading blinked: 10%.
Raim smirked.
"Looks like you're starting to grow up, Clara-chan."
---
At the cafeteria, Iruma sat casually, arms crossed, surveying the fancy meal laid before him — a privilege of now being Rank 3. His violet eyes scanned the golden dishes with mild approval, though he didn't outwardly show excitement. He gave a small, cool nod.
Finally... something worthy of the effort.
The cafeteria was emptier than usual, the air strangely charged. Iruma narrowed his eyes slightly, sensing something off even before asking. Before Alice could speak, however, a group of girls rushed toward them — or rather, toward Alice.
Alice, as dignified as ever, maintained his composure, but the girls swarmed him, practically knocking over Iruma without even noticing. A sharp, irritated breath escaped Iruma's lips as he found himself pinned under the mob.
"Tch... get off," Iruma muttered in a low, sharp tone.
The girls blinked, finally realizing someone was underfoot. As they backed up hastily, one of them gasped, recognizing him.
"Wait— he's the guy who turned a teacher into his familiar! And fought the Beast of the Valley! And attacked his own classmate in that duel!"
Their faces twisted with fear for a split second... but then one girl narrowed her eyes, noticing the color of his rank badge.
"...Isn't he still Rank 1?"
Instantly, their fear evaporated. In one fluid, dismissive movement, they brushed Iruma aside like an unwanted pebble, flocking back to Alice with giggles and sparkling eyes.
Iruma stood up, dusting off his uniform with a cold flick of his wrist, his expression flat. He didn't even bother glaring — their behavior wasn't worth it.
From nearby, Clara waved her arms frantically.
"Iruma-chi! Nooo, you're not Rank 1 anymore!" she cried, pointing dramatically at his uniform. "You're Rank 3 now, nya!"
The girls froze and stared. Sure enough, the proof was stitched into Iruma's jacket: the symbol of Rank 3 — Daleth.
Immediately, their attitudes reversed again.
"W-we're sorry for misunderstanding!" they stammered. "Would you like to hang out with us sometime, Iruma-kun?"
Iruma simply stared at them coolly, then turned his gaze elsewhere without answering. Not worth my time.
Before the awkwardness could stretch any longer, a loud sound echoed across the cafeteria — a bell ringing, voices shouting. The girls, predictably, shrieked and ran off in a flock without even saying goodbye.
Iruma watched them go, the barest hint of a smirk pulling at the corner of his mouth.
"...Pathetic."
Alice adjusted his glasses with a faintly annoyed expression.
"Rude, indeed. However, Iruma-sama... that is the reality of being considered 'weak' at Rank 1."
Iruma shrugged slightly, unaffected. He had no interest in impressing people who only saw rank.
Turning back to business, Iruma asked,
"What's the commotion?"
Alice's eyes lit up — he remembered. He unfurled a flier and pinned it neatly to the board.
"Battlers," he explained crisply. "Essentially, group activities based on shared talents. Joining a good one is essential for rising in rank efficiently."
Clara's eyes sparkled with excitement.
"It's like a huuuge club party, nya!"
Iruma studied the paper silently, analyzing the examples listed — Magic Research, Beast Taming, Magical Tool Creation. His mind immediately began sorting the options.
If I join strategically, I can further refine my techniques...
In the past, he might have picked something random. But now — after experiencing real training, real growth — Iruma refused to waste this opportunity. His violet Rinnegan flickered faintly with determination.
"I'll participate," he said simply, his voice low but firm.
Alice's face broke into a bright smile — rare and full of pride.
"As expected of Iruma-sama!"
Without warning, Alice — in his usual dramatic fashion — picked up Iruma and placed him onto a soft cushion atop the table, like crowning a king. Iruma let it happen, arms crossed, looking vaguely bored by the theatrics.
Alice gestured grandly to the cafeteria.
"I brought you here to witness the beginning. Every year, the upper Battlers begin the Rookie Hunt — a tradition where senior students hunt down promising first-years to recruit into their Battlers."
Iruma arched an eyebrow, unimpressed.
A 'hunt,' huh? Sounds like a waste of effort... unless you use it properly Like killing.
All around them, the air was growing tenser. Footsteps, laughter, battle cries — upperclassmen were on the move, the hunt beginning in earnest.
Iruma remained seated, calm and unshaken, watching the chaos unfold around him like a hawk observing prey. A quiet confidence radiated from him.
I guess... I must do something for the lower demons. Those without much magic... those who can't easily rank up. That will be my mission. Ha... ha.. Kill them all or help them all.
A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips as the gears in his mind turned, already preparing for the battles to come.
Iruma remained seated, calm and unshaken, watching the chaos unfold around him like a hawk watching prey. A quiet confidence radiated from him.
His hidden violet Rinnegan glinted faintly under the cafeteria lights.
Clara leaned closer, eyes wide and sparkling. "Iruma-chi, look! They're coming over here!"
---
Sure enough, a group of upperclassmen — tall, muscular demons, all wearing flashy Battler insignias — strode purposefully toward their table, laughing among themselves like lions approaching easy prey.
The lead one, a demon with spiked red hair and a long tail, grinned widely.
"Yo! You three look promising. Especially you—" His gaze flicked to Alice. "And that chick with the weird energy." He jerked his thumb toward Clara without a shred of politeness.
Then his eyes settled on Iruma, sitting cross-legged and unimpressed.
"Huh? Who's the pretty boy? Looks like he'd snap in half if I sneezed on him."
Laughter erupted from the group. A few students nearby snickered.
Alice's eyes narrowed dangerously. Clara puffed up, waving her arms in protest.
"Don't make fun of Iruma-chi, nya!"
But Iruma didn't react. His fingers drummed lightly on his knee.
Pathetic.
They judge strength by appearance alone.
The red-haired demon smirked and leaned forward mockingly. "Tell you what, pretty boy. I'll be generous. Come join my Battler. You can polish our shoes or something."
The cafeteria quieted. Eyes turned toward them, waiting to see what would happen.
Iruma finally moved.
He stood up — slow, deliberate — brushing invisible dust from his coat.
Then he met the red-haired demon's gaze, his own violet eyes sharp and cold.
"No."
His voice was soft, but it cut through the noise like a blade.
The red-haired demon blinked, confused for a second, before grinning wider.
"Tch, you've got guts. But you're still just a first-year punk. You think you can say no to me?"
The demon flexed his hand, magic crackling at his fingertips.
Iruma didn't even flinch.
Instead, he tilted his head slightly, his Rinnegan flashing once.
If you only see the surface...
...then you're already at a disadvantage.
In a blink, Iruma moved — so fast that many couldn't even follow it.
One moment he was standing; the next, he was directly in front of the red-haired demon, his hand casually resting on the demon's shoulder.
The upperclassman's magic fizzled, his body locking up in surprise.
Iruma leaned in, voice low, almost a whisper.
"You shouldn't pick fights you can't win."
Then — using only the lightest touch — Iruma shifted his aura, letting a controlled wave of pressure roll over the demon.
Not attack.
Not violence.
Just domination.
The upperclassman staggered backward, face pale, instincts screaming at him to run.
The rest of his group tensed, unsure whether to help or flee.
Iruma stepped back, hands slipping calmly into his pockets.
"If you want someone to fetch your shoes..." he said coldly, "find someone as weak-minded as yourself."
Silence hung in the air.
Then Clara broke it, cheering loudly.
"Yaaaay! Iruma-chi is so cool, nya!"
Alice bowed deeply, a proud glint in his eye.
"As expected of Iruma-sama. A flawless handling."
The upperclassmen, humiliated and shaken, mumbled curses and retreated, pretending it was "just a joke" all along.
The crowd that had been watching erupted into whispers.
"Did you see that?"
"That guy... he's crazy strong..."
"What's with his eyes?!"
Iruma paid them no mind. He was already thinking ahead.
The Rookie Hunt had only just begun.