Yōkai Academy's Newest Faculty

by Aros001

Life at Yōkai Academy was never exactly normal for its lone human, Tsukune Aono. But things take a turn for the stranger when some new teachers arrive. It's always been a school for monsters but these guys seem like MONSTERS.

6. Cliffside Heights

Chapter 6: Cliffside Heights

"Have you seen the new T-17?"

"Yeah, look like they modified the ion engine"

"I still prefer the T-16's."

"Maybe, but I bet the game will still be fun."

"I'll play it if you get it, but I don't think I will-"

The two boys put a pause on their conversation, one and then the other starting to hear a faint sound. The path they were taking back to the dorms wasn't particularly common for other students but they were in a hurry to make it back before curfew.

After scanning around for a minute, they finally spotted it; the back of a purple head of hair. A girl crouched over and her back completely to them, just off the side of the path.

"Hey…is she crying?" One asked his friend, both now definitely putting together the soft but distinct sound of quiet sobs.

"I think so…" The other said, the concern in his voice apparent. "Excuse me! Miss!" He called over to her. "Are you okay?"

The crying stopped for a moment, the girl's head raising up slightly not that she was aware she wasn't alone. With the smallest of turns, her eyes looked over her shoulder.

"Miss? Are you alright?" He asked again when she made no other moves. "Do you need help?"

Finally, she did stand, a small notebook falling loosely from her fingers.

"Shut… Up…"

"Huh?" The boy's friend said, only barely able to hear her.

It was then upon them in an instant. A clawed hand seeming almost made of crystal, blotting out the setting sky as hovered above their forms.

"Shut up!"

They barely had time to scream.

The only sound that followed her yell was the clattering of water turned solid in mere seconds. Like the footsteps of a thousand ants.

And then…silence.

"Tsu…"

But it did not last.

"…kune."

Try as she might, even her anger couldn't keep the sadness from blubbering its way past her lips and out into the world again.

"Tsukune…"

The droplets of water blurred Mizore's vision to the point she couldn't keep her eyes open anymore. The tears fell and her wails followed. The heartbroken maiden once again with her back turned to the two boys, unable to disturb her this time trapped within the geyser of ice.

---

…The Next Morning…

It was quite the long silence that followed when Tsukune and Moka entered the classroom. Something of an unusual occurrence, given the other two members of their club were there to greet them and usually would have by now. However, the stunned looks on the new arrivals' faces was quite apparent, as was the cause, as neither could turn their eyes away from the third student in the room. A silver-haired vampire with an impish grin.

"So, uh… I take it you two know her." Kurumu said, putting the pieces together.

Tsukune and Moka both nodded, with sack jaws, stiff necks, and blank white faces.

"Well of course they know me." Shalltear said, getting up from her seat. "It's not often you have your life saved by someone and then get to save them in turn."

"Saved?" Yukari asked. "You mean she's…?"

Feeling he'd only make things more awkward if he didn't, Tsukune felt forced to finally introduce her, as Shalltear clearly hadn't before they got there. "This is Shalltear Bloodfallen. She's in our homeroom. She's the one we told you about who helped Moka save me from Shirayuki."

"So that's her." Kurumu said, the girl in front of her certainly lining up with what they had described. "A little shorter than I'd expected." And that wasn't just because of the image of the inner Moka in her mind. Standing next to each other, Shalltear was barely taller than Yukari, which, given the witch was only 12, didn't speak well for any future growth. "I'm still a little miffed about that. If I'd shown up to the club even a minute earlier I could have helped too."

"No need to worry your pretty little head about it." Shalltear assured her, her tone making a little hard to tell if she was intentionally being condescending or not. "Between two vampires the poor snowgirl hardly stood a chance. Though I do admit you did most of the work at the end there when I took that rather nasty blow."

"About that…" Tsukune tried to politely chime in. "We were worried about you. You kind of just disappeared after the fight. We thought you might have fallen through the ice into the lake but we couldn't see where."

"Yes, well, I was rather…embarrassed…you see. Suffering such a quick defeat as that." She said, her expression not necessarily what any of them would refer to as embarrassed. More…murderously livid. "After talking such a big game I was bit too self-conscious to stick around and celebrate in the afterparty. You understand. I have my pride. As well as…"

The look she gave Moka, she couldn't quite read it and it did well to return some of Moka's tension about the woman. After everything her inner self had said, and what she herself had felt before when standing alongside her, it didn't feel right that Shalltear should have gone down so easily. She only had her family and herself to judge off of but would any vampire have lost like that? Was she just being paranoid, or…?

"So…Miss Bloodfall-…sorry. Shalltear. Why are you here?" Moka asked.

"Isn't it obvious?" Shalltear retorted. When it still seemed like it wasn't, she reached into her schoolbag and pulled out a form paper, completely filled out with all the needed information. "I'm here to join the News Club!"

All four now wore the same stunned expressions as Tsukune and Moka had when they'd entered the room.

"…You seem surprised." Shalltear chuckled, clearly amused by such reactions. "I'll confess, my motivation is less altruistic than any sort of journalistic passion or whatever you lot may call it. Simply put, when I saw your true form it was love at first sight!" She cupped her hands over her cheeks as she swooned with a sway of her hips.

"…Huh?" Moka blinked more than a few times.

Before she even knew what was happening and Shalltear was already on her. Hugging her from the front and being more than a little handsy. "You could have been killed if I hadn't shown up before. Now with me here you'll be well protected against any more nasty dolls. Though if you get serious again, I'll more than look forward to you protecting me."

"S-S-Shalltear…! That's kind of a contradiction…!" Moka stammered, too polite to say what she was really thinking as the other girl was rubbing against her. "Eep-! Did…did she just touch my butt?!"

"Hey! Hold up!" Yukari finally slammed her foot down, literally and figuratively. "Moka already has two soulmates and that's Tsukune and me!" She threw a hand over her chest and the other over towards Tsukune, who was doing his best to keep what was making his face so red from escaping outward as he watched what Shalltear was doing to Moka. "This ménage à trois is not looking to become a quartet!"

Taking a moment away from rubbing her cheek against Moka's form, Shalltear feigned ignorance. "Oh? Did anyone else hear a squeak? The voice was so quiet. It must have come from something quite small."

"You can't join a club just because you think it'll help your love life!" Yukari flailed her arms in frustration, genuinely not aware of the hypocrisy of that statement. "Journalism is serious business! Tell her, Tsukune!"

What could he possibly say in this situation? He was just as thrown off as Moka, and only slightly less distracted by Shalltear's groping of her.

"Hey, Shalltear, maybe she's right. Maybe you should-"

Interrupting his words, Tsukune found himself pulled suddenly by the arm. The world went dark and he found his breaths harder to take in. Around his face, there was solid matter. Something soft…and very familiar.

"You know, I think this arrangement works perfectly, actually." Kurumu said, hugging Tsukune's head lovingly into her bosom ("Air! Air! Air!" his thoughts cried as his arms flailed at his sides). "It divides the New Club up nice and cleanly. You can take Moka and I'll take Tsukune. Everyone wins."

"Cleanly?! What about me?!" Yukari demanded to be heard.

Shalltear grinned back at her unexpected ally. "Well now. Seems I misjudged you. Guess there really is a brain behind that strategically placed fat after all."

"You traitor!" Yukari pulled out her wand, waving it about and conjuring forth a set of twin washtubs. A mighty KONG! echoed throughout the room as one crashed down atop Kurumu's head, knocking her senseless enough to finally release Tsukune from her hold. The other would have struck just as true on Shalltear but just a flick of her knuckles and into the wall it went. Literally, into.

"That…certainly is vampire strength alright." Moka commented as she watched the chipped plaster fall from the hole caused by the embedded metal tub. Doubly so as she found it a very difficult time getting Shalltear off of her. When Yukari did stuff like this she was careful to try not to hurt her, but with Shalltear the arms around her were like steel vice.

As Tsukune was catching his breath, he did see the wings pop out from behind Kurumu's back and her nails elongate into talons; the vengeful aura wafting off her telling that she was preparing for her usual counterattack against the little witch.

Amidst the chaos, the classroom door slid open, causing everyone to finally cease their commotion.

"Oh, good. You're here." Albedo said, stepping inside. "Mr. Aono, Ms. Akashiya. I need you both to-"

She then came to a sudden stop. She'd only seen Moka at first. When she got closer, it was she'd finally noticed who was hanging off her.

"…Ms. Bloodfallen. What a surprise." Albedo said, certainly not making it sound like a pleasant one. "I'm afraid you seem to be in the wrong place. This room is reserved during this hour for the Newspaper Club. As you have no business here, I would suggest you be on your way and stop bothering your fellow students."

The way Shalltear glared back at her from Moka cleavage, Tsukune thought he might be about to witness a repeat of the new teacher's first day of class.

However, Shalltear's scowl was soon replaced by a toothy gloating grin, soon raising up a very specific piece of paper for Albedo to read; her club enrollment form.

The older woman stared at the form in front of her face for so long the club members thought it might catch on fire from her gaze any minute now. They couldn't see her expression past the paper but given the small twitches they saw coming from Albedo's body, they doubted it was a happy one.

With quick motion, Albedo ripped Shalltear off of Moka (the young vampire giving a "Phew." in her restored freedom), leading her way by the shoulder for a…calm chat.

"Now, now. Surely you must be mistaken. I'm certain your talents lay better with other clubs.

"Why, Ms. Albedo, what an improper thing for a teacher to say. Should you not be encouraging us to follow our passions?"

"Passions are fine but as your teacher my job is to help you reach your fullest potential, and yours, I'm certain, would be found elsewhere."

"Ohh, that's so sweet of you to be looking out for me. But don't worry yourself. Give it a little time and you'll find I'll be quite adept within this club. Why, I may even surpass your potential. Who knows?"

Even if she wasn't a masochist Shalltear probably would have still loved the tightened grip of Albedo's hand on her shoulder, just able to feel how deeply she was getting under her skin by how deeply the nails were digging into hers.

Reaching the corner of the room, they were out of direct earshot and with their backs turned to the others. "What exactly do you think you're doing, you little lamprey?" Albedo hissed in a hushed whisper at her.

"We were ordered to keep an eye on the boy. Being part of the club and getting close to the girl, I can do that and observe all his friends as well." Shalltear whispered back, her face stuck in a permanent mocking glee.

"I am the club's advisor and the boy's homeroom teacher. I am already doing that job so there is no need for you."

"You're a teacher. It'll be suspicious if you're always around. They'll be more open with me."

"You can't pull off the part!"

"I can and you can't stop me! Lord Ainz has already given me his permission to join!"

"You underhanded little-!"

"So…did you two know each other before this semester?" Kurumu had to ask, watching the two formed huddled over, exchanging words that, while unheard, were clearly quite heated.

"Not at all. Why do you ask?" Albedo and Shalltear turned around to reply back in unison, almost to the point of perfect harmony.

"A-hem." Came the awkward cough from the doorway, finally making everyone aware of the man who'd been there the entire time, patiently waiting for Albedo to finish until now.

Everyone looked, none in the newspaper club recognizing the glasses-wearing man as either teacher or classmate, though even with his height his features seemed too young to be the former. Evidently, Albedo knew who he was, as his interruption was enough to remind her of the topic she actually came there for.

Needing to gather herself, Albedo forced her body to take a step away from Shalltear. Pitching the space between her eyes, she took in and then let out a breath. "We'll discuss this later. In the meantime, Mr. Aono, Ms. Akashiya. I need you both to come with me."

Naturally surprised, Tsukune and Moka looked at each other, worried about what new complication they may be about to be struck with.

---

"Shirayuki attacked two students?!"

Albedo had taken them off to a secluded area of the hall, explaining the situation to them once she was certain they'd be out of earshot.

"Not simply attacked but left them in critical condition." She continued. "They were discovered frozen in ice and with serious injuries. Any later and there's almost a certainty they'd have died."

Tsukune and Moka exchanged uneasy glances. It wasn't as if they could say they couldn't imagine Mizore doing something like that. Moka could still almost feel the phantom pressure of the ice doll's hands around her neck. But still, to hear that she actually did go that far, and on couple of innocent bystanders no less.

"We're trying to keep this quiet for now as to not cause a panic among the students." The stranger Albedo had brought with them said. "But from what we understand she was last spotted hanging around you two."

Given his black variant of the school uniform this man was their upperclassman, likely in his final year. Standing almost a full foot over him, Tsukune felt absolutely crushed under his very presence, most especially because of his glasses, the overhead lights reflecting off them to completely hide his eyes behind the gleam.

"This is Hokuto Kaneshiro." Albedo finally introduced him. "He is the student council president and the one who brought this matter to my attention."

"The student council president?!" Tsukune's heart dipped even further. This was a school for monsters, after all. Just what kind of creature would you have to be in order to be placed at the top of a place like that? If even just his human disguise was making him feel this uneasy…

Tsukune felt his skeleton nearly give a leap out of his skin when the giant of a man turned his full attention towards him.

"So, you're Tsukune Aono, then?" He asked, his expression near unreadable.

"Y-…Yeah?" Tsukune managed to stumble the word out.

Before he even knew what was happening, Tsukune was staring down at the back of a head of neatly trimmed brown hair; Hokuto having lowered it along with the rest of his upper body to bow to him.

"On behalf of the student council and this school, I want to express my sincerest apologies to what you've been through."

Tsukune was stunned, his body moving in an awkward wiggle. He was just a freshman. Why on earth was a third year bowing to him?! Especially someone this important! "What-?! What are you-?"

"You were the victim of targeted harassment by the Public Safety Committee, were you not?" Hokuto cut him off, keeping his head lowered to the stunned Tsukune for a minute more before raising it back up to seeing him eye to eye. "We'd known Kuyō was growing out of control but everyone on the student council and even the teachers were too afraid of his strength to do anything about it. That he continued to escalate to point he tried to have you killed, under accusations of being a human no less, and now you've been being stalked by a known problem student. That is a failure that lies entirely with us and I beg for your forgiveness."

Tsukune genuinely didn't know what to say. What'd happened with the Public Safety Committee wasn't that long ago and yet it almost felt like it'd happened in another life entirely with how little the school itself brought it up. Other students talked about him beating up Kuyō, sure. It'd even gotten him attacked by a member of the wrestling team who wanted to prove himself. But it honestly had felt like the school staff would rather just act like such an incident never happened and just move on. Even if it wasn't a teacher, to have someone in some position of authority actually acknowledge and apologize for what he'd been through like this…

"Th-Thank you." Tsukune gave an awkward but still properly polite bow back, accepting the apology. When he lifted his head back up, he was almost surprised to see the touches of relief on Hokuto's face. It hadn't been just talk to cover their ass, it seemed. He truly had been sincere with his words and worried what Tsukune might say back. He didn't see it but Moka gave a small smile as well, happy to see him getting a break for a change.

"The lack of a disciplinary committee is actually part of the reason this matter is not resolved already." Albedo explained, getting the discussion back on topic. "Headmaster Ainz is in the process of assembling a new one to take its place, but in the meantime he has sent his assistant to deal with the Shirayuki situation. In addition to getting any information you may have on her, he also asked that I inform the two of you as you were her prior targets and she may strike again in retaliation."

That did make sense. They couldn't just leave her on her own now that she's done this. Still, it didn't sit quite right with Tsukune. "What'll happen to Shirayuki?"

"That will depend heavily on her." Albedo gave him that natural answer.

"I did warn him." All ears perked up to the new voice joining the conversation. All turned and the man walked further into view, Tsukune and Moka soon recognizing him as Mr. Kotsubo, the gym teacher. They'd both had classes with him…with Tsukune naturally in the exact middle in terms of rank placement. Then again, with his human physique, that he didn't rank at the very bottom felt like a small miracle. "I warned the new guy that Shirayuki was probably going to pull something like this. Still, even I didn't think it'd happen quite this fast."

Albedo's features did not lose their kindness, nor their beauty, but for a second there all present thought she may be about to strike at Kotsubo with the glare she shot him. "Headmaster Ainz did take your words into consideration. How he chooses to deal with the matter is not something for you to question him on."

Hokuto raised his hands up, trying to calm the tension between the teachers, not wanting a brawl to break out between two adult monsters. "Mr. Kotsubo, please, I told you we'll handle it. I know the boys were members of your soccer team but I assure you, we're doing everything we can."

Kotsubo didn't seem particularly satisfied with that statement but he also didn't seem all that upset either. In the end he just decided on ignoring this particular student and giving his attention to another. "So, it's your turn this time, eh, Tsukune?"

Initially surprised at being called out, that soon eased into confusion for Tsukune. When he saw that he clearly didn't understand what he was talking about, Kotsubo then held up what he'd been carrying.

"Wait…that's…!"

It was Mizore's scrapbook. He recognized it instantly just from the cover.

"It was found at the scene of the crime." Kotsubo cracked it open, flipping casually through its pages, just the slightest scent of glue wafting up to tickle his nose. "What she put you through she did last semester too, only to a teacher. Stalking the object of her affections and then freezing him solid in revenge when her feelings were rejected. Quite frankly, it's a miracle that you and him didn't end up like those two poor boys. It's clear now a suspension wasn't enough to get her to change her ways."

"A teacher…" Tsukune had heard of that incident from Kurumu and Yukari after the battle with Mizore. Again, it wasn't hard to believe, not after what she'd tried to do to him. But at the same time, something felt off. She herself had told him she'd missed most of the first semester but not all of that was from her suspension. He didn't think she'd been lying when she said that she had trouble feeling comfortable around other people.

"Tell me, Tsukune, don't you wish she would just…disappear?" Kotsubo asked him, Tsukune not quite liking the hints of a sneer he was seeing on the man's face. "Come on, be honest. You're at your wit's end, right? You aren't remotely interested in her and yet she sticks to you like glue. The only thing that's ever going to get her to leave you alone are more extreme measures. You agree with me on that much, right?"

She was making no actual sound but the glare Albedo was giving Kotsubo seemed to indicate she was almost literally growling on the inside, like the warning an angry tiger gives to something wandering far to close into its territory. If there was anyone at their wit's end it was Hokuto in thinking of ways to deescalate the tension. But Moka…

"Mr. Kotsubo…" She said, uneasily. "Don't tell me that you're the one she…"

Tsukune was lost but only for a moment, soon piecing together exactly what she already had from the implications of this conversation, feeling his heart sink a little further.

Kotsubo just gave a sinister grin, placing his hand warmly on Tsukune's shoulder. "Let's just say that I know how you feel. And because of that you have my personal assurance that we'll make sure Shirayuki never bothers you or anyone else ever again."

Tsukune felt his body start to give a tremble. The hand on his shoulder felt crushing but it wasn't from its actual weight. Kotsubo's eyes…the sheer glee behind them…

"Of course, I mean I'm going to appeal to the headmaster." Kotsubo laughed as he took his hand off him, perhaps realizing how excited his body was getting. The prickles along his arm told him he'd been dangerously close to accidentally undoing his human disguise. "I'm hoping he'll let me help out. Don't want to go stepping on the new boss' toes right now, do I? Eh, Albed-!" He found himself interrupted, a sudden weight pushing its way past his shoulder.

Before he even realized what he was doing, Tsukune found his legs carrying him past the group, running as fast as he could down the hall.

"Tsukune!" Moka called after him though he was soon already well out of sight.

---

"What is with this place?!" Tsukune's thoughts swam in that bitterness as he kept running. Ishigami. Kagome. Ichinose. Now Kotsubo. "So many good-for-nothing teachers!"

He remembered thinking for a moment that maybe some of the new staff might bring a welcome change to the school but all Ms. Albedo said in objection to Kotsubo's gleefulness was that he was daring to question the headmaster. Nothing in defense of Shirayuki herself.

"Why can't anyone at least try and understand how she feels?"

Finally, he arrived at his destination, his shoes screeching to a halt in the dirt before the student dormitories. Admittedly, he was more familiar with the boy's side of the buildings, given that's where he himself lived, but he'd heard this was where Ms. Nekonome had their club's newspapers delivered to Mizore and he knew the path well enough that this had to be the first place he checked.

And, given what he saw upon his arrival, it would seem his instincts were correct.

Approaching the doors in a calm walk, there was the older man with greying hair and beard. Tsukune remembered him from the assembly on the first day of the new semester. Given what Ms. Albedo had said, he no doubt worked for the headmaster.

"WAIT!"

Just before he'd been about to knock, Tsukune's voice made that plea and caused the man to pause, soon after turning around to see who it was.

Tsukune rushed his way up to him, and to the gentleman's credit he did stay stopped in order to wait for him, even giving Tsukune a moment to catch his breath once he finally reached him.

"Is there something I can do for you, young man?"

Hands on his knees, Tsukune needed a few more pants before he managed to speak. "Are you…here for…Shirayuki?"

The man gave Tsukune a look over with his eyes first before answering, likely judging him first before he'd decide how much he should say. "That is correct. I am Sebas. Assistant to Headmaster Ainz and here on business in his name."

Pushing himself to straighten his posture Tsunuke begged the man. "Please, let me talk to her first! She knows me! Maybe she'll listen to what I have to say!"

Sebas raised an eyebrow up at the begging student before him. Was it out of curiosity? Impatience? Tsukune really couldn't tell. The man's features were like stone, so unmoving they were. He was too hard to read. "You're Mr. Aono, correct? You really shouldn't be here. It's not safe for you."

"I know, it's just…" Just what? What exactly had he come here hoping to do?

"You're all I have, Tsukune."

"I don't… I don't think Shirayuki is really a bad person." He finally managed to say the words that at least somewhat conveyed his thoughts, even if he himself had trouble knowing what he really meant. When she'd said those words to him, she'd sounded so…lonely. "Please, just let me talk to her. Maybe I can get her to come peacefully. There'll be no need for anyone to get hurt."

The two of them stood there for the longest time, Tsukune waiting with stopped breath for whatever answer the old man would give. His steely eyes were fixed on him, likely judging how much he'd really be able to back up what he was saying and whether it'd be worth the risk regardless. …But then he tilted his head up, just slightly away from Tsukune. It almost looked like he was listening intently to something but, focus his ears as hard as he might, Tsukune couldn't hear anything. And then…

"…Very well." Sebas agreed when his focus returned to him, causing Tsukune's face to immediately brighten, almost unable to believe he'd really done so. "I shall allow you your chance to talk with her. Though if I believe that she is about to inflict harm upon you, I must insist that I intervene. That condition is non-negotiable."

"Y-yes! Of course! Not a problem!" Tsukune agreed easily, just thankful he was being given the chance at all.

Sebas pointed towards one of the doors, his hand coated in a pristine white glove. "Ms. Shirayuki's room is that one; Number 106." He said as he stepped away to an appropriate distance. "I will be right here if you need me."

Tsukune gave him a nod in gratitude. He walked up to the door, giving a look back to Sebas. True to his word, he simply stood there waiting for him, hands held calmly behind his back.

Straightening himself and head facing forward, Tsukune gave three knocks. He couldn't help but notice how quickly the nerves were building up in him now that the moment was here. The anticipation wasn't helping, as only silence seemed to follow as any sort of reply in the minute that stretched on. It didn't help him in thinking of anything to say either, sadly. His eyes wandered, looking down to notice the mail slot was stuffed full of letters and delivered newspapers. Nothing more could be fit in, and likely done so that no one could look in through.

"…Who is it?"

"She's here!" Tsukune's eyes were wide in relief, recognizing Mizore's voice instantly. He'd been worried that they may have missed her entirely, which wouldn't spell well for whoever else may have found her. "Shirayuki! It's me! Tsukune!"

Another moment of silence. Tsukune held his head a little closer to the door, trying to listen in. Did she not hear him or…?

THUD! CRASH!

The quick scattering of dishes, paper, and body movement behind the door quickly informed Tsukune that wasn't the case. That said, none of it sounded like it was a move towards him, and the noise soon settled.

"…I'm sorry to bother you." Tsukune pushed himself to keep going. He had to take the initiative if he really wanted to help her. "I just wanted to say…I'm sorry. About what happened yesterday."

He waited, still hearing nothing.

"I'm afraid I hurt your feelings. I mean…we left things kind of messy and… Please, can we talk?"

One blink later and Tsukune found his own eyes staring back at him, reflected in the blade of ice bursting through the door. One of many, in fact.

The door was blown apart and Tsukune was sent tumbling back. He did not make it quite as far as Sebas' feet but it was still a decent distance. To the old man's credit, he still did not intervene. He simply stood there waiting, watching as the silhouette slowly exited from the dust and into view.

"Shirayuki?" Tsukune said as he stumbled to his feet. Indeed, it was her, walking her way in a slow sway towards him, still dressed in the same clothes as yesterday. "Wait! Wait!" He held his arms up as he saw that one of her own was already coated in the thick ice claws he'd seen her use before. "I'm not here to start a fight! I'm here because I want to help you!"

Her expression was as cold and unreadable as before. She did not slow her walk nor cease it but the fact that she hadn't struck yet despite Tsukune knowing full well she could get him from this short distance at least gave him hope. He had a chance to make his case quickly before she changed her mind…though at that same moment her eyes did glace up to spot who else was there with them. Tsukune realized it probably looked really bad to have Sebas there, like he himself had brought him along for protection. Much as he wanted to explain the true reality of the situation, he didn't have time for that right now.

"Shirayuki, yesterday, did you…attack two guys? They're in the hospital now and things are getting pretty serious." He quickly spilled out what he needed to tell her, his breath slipping from him in surprise when those words actually caused Mizore to halt her advance. Whatever she'd been expecting him to say, it wasn't that. "They're talking about…expelling you."

"Expelling me…?" Mizore repeated the words, looking down in contemplation. He couldn't tell what she was thinking but, if nothing else, she was at least taking this seriously.

"But I know you didn't do it on purpose, did you? I know you're not like that."

Tsukune didn't see it but Sebas did. The way Mizore's pupils shrank when he said that. Quivering before lowering themselves, hiding within the shadows of her face.

"I'm thinking if we go together, and apologize properly, the teachers will be willing to-…to…" Tsukune's words started to trail off, his tone losing its initial hopefulness. She was standing right there in front of him. So why did it feel like the distance between them had just increased so much more?

Mizore's non-iced hand curled itself up into a tight fist, her palm stinging from the harsh press of her nails against her skin. "…Apologize? Why should I? It wasn't me."

"…What?" Tsukune blinked.

"Yeah, I popsicled those two guys yesterday. But I was just pissed off. As soon as I realized what I'd done I melted the ice." She explained herself simply. "They were both totally fine."

That last line struck at Tsukune. Mizore… She wasn't lying. Try as hard as he might, he couldn't get any feeling off her that she was. But…if that was the case…

"Ms. Albedo and Hokuto had said they'd been found still frozen and badly hurt. But who was it who found them?"

A thin, sneering face wafted its way through his mind, causing Tsukune to sweat as certain pieces started falling into place for him.

Unfortunately, Mizore could not see his thoughts. And even if she could, it might not have helped.

"You look so shocked." She said. "You really thought I was the type of girl to beat up innocent bystanders?"

Mizore lifted her head up. She was…smiling. But it wasn't a happy one.

"I really thought that you of all people would understand me…" She said to him, her eyes glistening with the wetness starting to fall from them.

Before Tsukune had a chance to say anything more he felt the temperature drop considerably. A wall of whiteness sprang up from behind Mizore's back, soon coating the entire area in a blinding blizzard.

"Shirayuki! Wait!"

He rushed forward the moment she had vanished from view. But when he reached the spot where she had been standing, the flash snowstorm dissipated, and Mizore had vanished, nowhere to be found. Even running forward to look inside her room in his panicked state, he still found nothing.

"Dammit!" Tsukune found himself punching the empty doorframe in frustration, only resulting in hurting his own hand for his efforts. He rested his head against the wooden panel, trying to think of what to do next. "What was I thinking?! Saying something like that to her! I didn't even try to hear her side of the story. What kind of journalist am I?!"

"You're surprisingly defensive over someone who, though she may be innocent of this crime, did indeed attack you." Sebas pointed out as he walked forward to him, slightly startling Tsukune as he'd almost forgotten he was even there.

Tsukune turned back around to face him. "I'm not saying what she did was okay. She tried to hurt a friend of mine. I'm not sure if I can forgive her for that. But…"

"You feel it too, right? That loneliness?"

"But…Moka was terribly lonely before you came along. You're helping her just as much as she's helping you. Don't forget that."

"…I think…I think I was very lucky to have people who reached out to me. I could have been all alone too. What Shirayuki did to me and Moka wasn't right but I don't think she did it because she's a bad person. I think she's just lonely and…maybe…maybe I can help her. It'd be the right thing to do, anyway."

The change in Sebas' features were too subtle for someone as untrained as Tsukune to notice but a change there was. Just the slightest of widening of the eyes; those words sounding just the slightest bit similar to those of another he knew.

"Tsukune!" The two men turned to see Moka running their way, having finally managed to break away from the teachers. "I saw that huge column of snow that just suddenly popped up. Was Shirayuki just here?"

In shame, Tsukune nodded his head, quickly explaining to her what had happened.

While they were distracted, Sebas then felt a light tug on his sleeve, though he could not see the cause. His attention was being directed off to a specific location in the far distance.

With a single nod, Sebas silently communicated that he understood. "My thanks, Lady Aura."

---

Even from this high up, the crash of the waves against the shore were quite audible. They were the perfect background noise. They always seemed to be able to help her calm down, if even only a little.

The cliffside where Mizore stood was a distinct feature of the academy's campus. Very well-known despite not many students venturing out this far. Upon reaching its peak it dipped down towards the ocean, stopping just a few hundred feet short of touching its surface before it curled back up again to point towards the cliff. The odd sight had sparked a rumor or two throughout the generations whom had attended the academy. Some believed that, were you brave enough to try running down the steep slope, the curl would extend outwards to form a bridge, allowing you to travel across its length safely. Others insisted the strange shape was actually an appendage and the cliff was a monster itself, sleeping away under centuries of dirt and foliage.

Whatever the truth, be it mundane or fantastical, Mizore rarely found herself disturbed when she came here. The winds bristled past the grass, her hair and sleeves swaying without resistance against it. She was staring off into the distance, to the furthest point on the horizon she could see. A million thoughts swam through her mind and yet she found she wasn't really thinking about anything in particular. Her brain had moved from one subject to the next and ultimately decided…she didn't want to have to think about any of them right now.

Perhaps, if she hadn't been deliberately trying to push everything out of her mind, she may have noticed the footsteps as he approached, crunching the dry grass.

"You never change. Whenever you're depressed, this is where you go."

The forceful hands grabbed her just below the shoulders. In her startled state she perhaps would have fallen were it not for their tight grip. Though the rest of her body couldn't follow, Mizore turned her head.

It was strange. His stubble was always what she noticed first at this distance. Perhaps it was because she was so used to seeing him from afar.

"Mr. Kotsubo!"

The gym teacher smiled down at her. It'd been quite a while since he'd been this close to her too. Unintentionally his fingers were moving to give a slight massage to her arms, enjoying the feel of her body in his hold again. He suspected he'd feel this way even before he got here, that temptation to let it go on longer. But he knew he simply shouldn't risk it.

"Careful. You really do need to watch your step here." He told her, still not letting go. "The winds are strong. A girl like you…all alone… One wrong step and off the cliff you'd go. Worst part is, most people probably wouldn't question it. They'd probably figure you finally just…"

He didn't do it all at once but out of the corner of her eye Mizore could see it. How his arms were holding her out further away from him…and closer to…

Her body became more and more tense, the sound of the crashing waves feeling far louder than before. "Mr. Kotsubo… You don't mean…?"

At her question, he just gave a sneer.

"!"

Fight or flight immediately kicking in, Mizore immediately grabbed at his hands, trying to pry him off her.

"No! Let me go!" The winds carried her screams during the struggle. Every time a hand was forced off Kotsubo made another grab at her, quickly cutting short every opportunity Mizore gained to try and flee. In the end, the most see managed to do was get herself turned around, now facing him head on. "GET-! OFF!" Now with some decent leverage, Mizore managed to put all her weight behind one great big shove against his chest.

…And that's when she realized what she'd just done.

She opened her eyes just in time to see Kotsubo's legs going over the side of the cliff. She hadn't realized just how turned around they'd become and her shove had just sent him right over the precarious edge.

Mizore was lost in a daze for a moment, her brain needing time to catch up with what had just happened.

Before she was even fully aware of what she was doing she found herself crawling over the cliff's edge in a panic. She didn't… She didn't mean to…!

"Mr. Kotsu-!"

It flew up so fast from over the side she might have thought it was a bird at first. Maybe a snake hidden in the grass that was now attacking out of agitation over being disturbed. That would certainly explain the length. But no. The sting she felt wasn't from the bite of fangs. It covered too much area, Mizore's eyes turning to see a thick, slimy string of suction cups wrapping around her leg, gripping so tightly she could feel it even through her legging.

"Now you've done it." The voice called to her from over the edge. "If I were anybody else I'd have been a dead man."

"What…what…?" Mizore was frozen. Her body paralyzed with fright. Something…something big was climbing its way up towards her.

"I was just going to scare you a little. But that's not enough now. Now…I'm going to have to drag you down to the depths with me!"

Her senses were returned to her as the tendril cracked like a whip, pulling her towards the edge with one solid motion.

She screamed and struggled to the fullest of her strength, grabbing at everything within arm's reach to fight against the pull. She ripped numerous handfuls of grass and earth out of the dirt, their connection too weak to resist the tendril's might. Finally, when her legs hand gone over and the rest of her had been about to follow, Mizore's hand was met with a searing pain. Her desperation had found her the thorn coated branch of a small bush, its roots embedded deep enough into the cliff that she was able to prevent herself from being pulled any further. God, it hurt so badly! And even from here she could see there was so much blood oozing from her palm and down her wrist. But her instincts overrode the pain and she gripped the branch ever tighter, not daring to let go.

Mizore's shoes scrapped against the rocks, trying to find some kind of footing against the side of the cliff to give herself some leverage to push her body back up over the edge. Her heart pounded like mad against the dirt. Her brain was too scared, too focused on surviving the immediate peril. She couldn't concentrate enough to create any ice.

She could hear her foot knocking a few loose rocks out from under where she tried to step. Without even thinking about it, though she knew she'd rather not see, Mizore's head turned to look down.

It was wide. Blackened against the shadow cast by the cliff. To the panicking mind one could almost believe it was a tarp, stretched out with the promise to catch her safely. But connected to that mass was the appendage that threatened to pull her down in the first place, with seven more lying in wait to perhaps do the same. Only two were being used to keep the center body from falling after all. It…no…he…had arms to spare.

"Mr. Kotsubo's…true form…!"

Mizore had never seen it before. Never known what kind of beast he truly was, on the inside or out.

A Kraken. An ocean dwelling creature that had been the bane of the Vikings and an odd Greek hero or two since ancient times.

Now trying to pull this girl to her death.

"It's only what you deserve, Shirayuki." Kotsubo called up to her, the squishy octopus mantle that made up the back of his head puffing and depressing with gentle intakes of air as he talked. His legs and torso were the only parts of him left that even resembled the illusion of being human. "You froze me once, remember? It's hard not to still be kind of sore about that."

"But-! But what choice did I have?!" Mizore screamed back to him, still fighting to pull herself up, something he was having a far easier time of. She could see his tentacles helping him ooze his way closer to her. The higher up he got, the more leverage he had to pull her, the more the branch that was her lifeline started to be ripped from the dirt. "I had to protect myself! Because you…! You tried to…!"

"Didn't you say that you loved me?"

Mizore's pupils widened. Of everything…he threw that back into her face…

"You said it. You said that you loved me." He reminded her, again and again as he could see her hurt expression looking back at him. At it, he could only smile. "So you shouldn't have complained no matter what I tried to do to you."

She was trying to hold it in but he felt it; the slight wetness that touched on his face from above. The sky did not have enough clouds for rain and they were too high above the sea for him to be getting hit by the spray.

It was only a few tears, but he'd gotten her to shed them.

"I was only going to have a little bit of fun and you had to go and get all prudish on me. So what choice do I have, Shirayuki? I can't exactly have you go spreading rumors about me, can I?" His tentacle slithered its way further up around her leg. It was very tempting for him to let this go on as long as possible. He always did enjoy the feel of a woman in his squeeze. But he knew he had to end this as soon as possible, before anyone might come out here looking for her like he had. "You had a chance but you just had to come back. You should have just stayed away!"

Everything started to piece itself together in Mizore's head. "He hurt those two boys, just to frame me."

Her grip on the branch started to slip. But not because of the blood.

"I am…so stupid."

---

"This flower is called a Snow White. It's like my last name! Pretty, isn't it?"

She held out the flower to him, surrounded on all sides by hundred of the same kind. That such a beautiful plant could grow out here in the desolate cold, let alone thrive, it was no wonder her people had always found an attraction to it, even before discovering its medicinal effects.

"Let's promise each other that when I turn seventeen we'll come back here and pick this flower again. To my people it means… It means we'll be together forever!"

She waited on his answer with bated breath. In contrast to her kimono, cut so short that her legs were exposed to the frigid air yet seemed to not bother her in the slightest, the boy was bundled up in a thick winter coat and pants, still having the occasionally shiver from the chilly wind upon his exposed face. She remembered so many times she'd made fun of him for being such a wimp to the cold and how stubbornly he'd insist he could still stay out in it longer than she could. He never was able to, naturally, but the games they played out here, the random nonsense they'd talk about until they had to go home…she wanted every day to be like that. Which is why she had to tell him.

And that…

"…Cut it out, Mizore."

…was her biggest mistake.

"Be with you?" He said. The shivers. They weren't just from the cold. Not this time. "How can I ever be with you?!"

"W-wait-!" She tried to stop him but he was already backing away from her.

"You're-! You're a monster who eats humans like me!"

---

"How could I have ever thought I loved him?" She felt the dirt underneath her stomach crumbling away more and more.

It was so obvious now, wasn't it? Mr. Kotsubo…he looked so much like him, didn't he?

---

"W-wait…! Mr. Kotsubo, I'm…I'm not sure if I'm ready."

"It's fine. No one will see us here. We're all alone."

"I…I know, but that's not…"

"Stop worrying. Come here."

"Please! Mr. Kotsubo!"

"Will you stop-"

"Mr. Kotsubo! Let me go! You're hurting me!"

"If you would just-!"

"STOP!"

When she'd next opened her eyes, she couldn't believe how much ice she had created without realizing it.

---

Kotsubo just kept on laughing, enjoying the feel of her squirms in his tendril. He was almost glad she pushed him off the cliff now. He was going to get rid of her and get one last squeeze in.

"Stop fighting it! You really think anyone's going to be sad to see you gone, Shirayuki?! You really thought someone out there is going to miss some creepy little stalker?!"

---

She looked up from where her head laid against her knees. She'd heard the back-and-forth clatter of the mail flap and, sure enough, there was the newspaper that'd been dropped in through.

The school's news club must have started up recently. She hadn't gotten any papers at the beginning of the semester but here they came almost every week. Then again, she didn't start getting deliveries until her suspension either, so perhaps that had something to do with it. A way of keeping her connected to the school, despite her best intentions.

She got up from her bed to go grab it. It wasn't to read. Certainly not in this lighting. Even at night she rarely flipped the switch on and those blinds behind her stayed shut 24/7. She lived in a dorm room on the campus but she preferred to simply act like there was no one here at all. The paper was simply going to go into a pile with all the others she'd been sent, for her to…eventually…toss in the recycling outside the building.

This time however…something caught her eye when she reached down to pick it up.

It was impressive she'd even taken notice of it. It wasn't even the main headline. Just one of the smaller articles on the side that would continue further within the paper.

Monster & Humans: The Great Divide

"You're-! You're a monster who eats humans like me!"

"…Tsukune Aono." She read the name written in the byline.

She wasn't entirely sure why she'd decided to read the article. But…for the rest of that afternoon… she found herself glad that she hadn't yet tossed away any of the other papers.

---

Mizore could hear the root tearing more and more, mixing with Kotsubo's taunts from behind to become simple noise that felt worlds away right now.

If she'd frozen her friend, maybe he wouldn't have run away and she could have explained things to him.

If she'd frozen Kotsubo sooner, maybe she never would have had to have found out what he was really like.

She… She loved the image of Tsukune his articles had created in her mind. She wanted to preserve it at all cost.

Her blood-covered hand was finally pulled away from the root, but not because it had slipped.

"I really am…all alone." She accepted her fate.

"Shirayuki!"

There was the feeling of weightlessness, just for a moment as she was pulled over the side of the cliff, into the open air. But then, the sudden jerk on her arm and a sharp pain rolling through her shoulder; a force trying to pull her upwards as gravity and tentacles tried to keep dragging her down.

Just below her wrist, the hand of another had caught her.

"Hold on, Shirayuki!"

"That voice…" It combined with the pain and shock. She was starting to come back to reality. "It can't be…"

Mizore looked up. Her fingers were already well over a foot away from reaching the cliff's edge. He'd had to practically throw his entire front half over in order to grab her. The girl holding his backside was the only reason he wasn't going down with all the loose bits of dirt the press of his chest was chipping away from the edge.

"Hold onto me, and I promise you'll be okay." Tsukune smiled down at her, fighting through the pain that threatened to pop his arm out of its socket from the sudden catch. Like everything else about him, his upper body strength was only about average, so clearly he hadn't even thought about how much it was going to hurt to raise her up enough for his other arm to grab hold as well.

Mizore tried to say his name but her throat felt completely closed. The world her eyes took in started to become muddled with wetness. Seconds passed but still it presented no sign to give away that it was a dream or a delusion the end of her life was mercifully granting her. Tsukune…he was really here.

Though she was not the only one taking by surprise by the sudden rescue. "Damn brats." Kotsubo swore, feeling the pull from the other end of the girl. His strength was still greater but that wasn't the problem. "Even if I drop Shirayuki, if these two make a break for it they could rat me out. I'll have to…wait… That's…!"

His eyes bugged out wide, his mantle inflating sharply from the stress.

Moka was doing her best to help Tsukune pull Mizure up, but right behind her…!

The elderly man in the dark suit. The same one assisting the headmaster in his office. Like a wall of blackness with his silhouette against the lowering sun. And yet Kotsubo felt like he could still see the glow of a single eye, casting its gaze down upon him in judgment.

It was an eruption of tentacles that cast themselves up over the cliff. For a moment panic rippled through Moka and Tsukune, believing they were about to be ensnared.

But the tendrils passed over and ignored them completely, reaching quickly for their intended target.

"Mr. Sebas!" Tsukune called out, hearing the tight snap of the encircling tentacles around an arm and a leg each before pulling him upwards; Tsukune watching helplessly as the butler was dragged over his head and off the side.

Were he in a calmer state, he might have noticed Sebas's own had not changed in the slightest.

With a sudden thrust of his arm, solid rock was split apart.

Sebas created his own hold within the cliffside, embedding his gloved hand deep within and immediately stopping his dissent. Kotsubo's slippery hide found itself becoming slightly more so with sweat, suddenly finding himself face to face with his "prey".

Though it'd mean less tentacles to keep him secure along the steep surface, Kotsubo's instincts told him to act quickly.

He had to keep one on Mizore, otherwise the kids would get away. He needed at least three to keep himself from falling into the ocean. And he had one each on a single arm and leg for Sebas. But since his other was now buried in the cliffside, the fool had saved his life only to leave his body without any way of defending itself.

With a wide sneer, Kotsubo threw one of his remaining tentacles around Sebas's neck, pulling back to maximize the tightness of his suckers' hold before squeezing.

The students could wait. Even with three of them he was confident he could take on three monsters who hadn't finished developing yet. But Sebas was an unknown. Even if he couldn't take Kotsubo on in a fight, if he managed to get away and bring the other faculty, he was done for. He had to take this man out as quickly as possible. He'd be free to worry about everything else later.

Not a bad plan. The only one he had, really. …But there was one bit of a snag in it.

"What…the…hell…?! Is this guy's neck made of solid steel or something?!"

Kotsubo had split boats in half with the amount of pressure he was putting out, yet even with his tentacle squeezing to the point he thought he might rupture something internally from the stress, Sebas's stone features remained unchanged.

"So…" The elderly man finally spoke, Kotsubo actually being the one of the two of them to start finding himself short of breath. "This is the extent of your strength then, is it?"

He spoke…so calmly. So easily. Was he even feeling Kotsubo's squeeze?!

Kotsubo thrashed the remaining tentacles that weren't keeping him held up, slapping them against Sebas's face. He'd say he might as well be striking against the cliffside itself for all the good it was doing him but even the literal rocks his whipping limbs were cracking against crumbled away more than the man before him did.

Kotsubo's mind was going frantic, trying to think of any options he had left. At the end of that train of thought, he threw one of his tendrils up to the cliff's edge. In response he felt the horrifically harsh squeeze of Sebas's gloved hand around the one binding his arm.

"I'm afraid you won't be making any escape." Sebas stated simply, essentially now keeping him pinned to the wall for as long as he would be with his fist inside it. "Come along peacefully to face the headmaster's judgment, or die here and now. Those are your-"

CRK-CRACK!

Sebas's eyes went wide. For the briefest of moments, he thought he'd underestimated his enemy and paid the price for it. For a servant of Nazarick to die in such a way, he'd have just brought the ultimate shame upon his master and proved himself of ever serving him at all.

But no…that wasn't his neck he'd just heard.

He threw his head sharply upwards, just as a small splatter of blood touched down on Mizore's cheek from above. In that moment, she and Moka shared the same shaky, unbelieving stare.

Kotsubo let out a small chuckle. "Guess he wasn't made of as strong of stuff." He said, his eighth and final tentacle slithering away from the boy's now vacant expression.

"TSUKUNE!"

---

"Dammit!" Ainz fists slammed down against his desk. Were this YGGDRASIL, he'd be seeing a little red 0 points icon popping up from the area where he'd struck. In the game even the most high-level attacks couldn't damage the environment and that often included furniture. Walls, floors, grass, and even tables were coded to basically have an infinite defense stat, so no matter the attack strength of a player all those complex calculations to determine damage outcome would always result in zero. Given that this was reality however, he should be thankful he held himself back just on reflex or he'd be seated at a pile of splinters right now.

Feeling the effects of his body's emotional suppressor kick in, his rage was quick to subside, though that did not change the underlying reality that was still causing his upset mood; Ainz giving a sigh and leaning against his hand as he continued watching the events within the mirror.

"This is on me. I'm the one who told all the NPCs to hold back until we had a better understanding of this world's power levels." There wasn't a doubt in his mind Sebas could have taken this Kraken monster out instantly if he'd allowed him that freedom. But until they knew what this world's upper limit was, and how far above or below it the Nazarick members stood, it'd be a bad idea to go flaunting about their power and potentially inviting challenge from those who'd want to squash any competition for the top seats. "I'll be sure to tell Sebas not to blame himself. Not that I expect he'll believe me when I say the fault is mine. I could point to the sky and say it's neon green and the NPCs would insist that I'm right."

It certainly said something about how much of Ainz's connection with humanity had faded since becoming an undead that it wasn't really the loss of an innocent life in and of itself that was upsetting him. Were that all it was he likely wouldn't have even given the matter a second thought. Rather it was that they just lost one of their only leads on understanding Mikogami's true objectives, through his screw-up no less, and it was going to be a pain and a half to try and recuperate on their loss, if it'd even be worth it at all.

"I still have plenty of Resurrection Wands in my inventory but I have no idea if such magic works in this world yet, or if it'll even work on him period. Given what Aura said, his level might be too low to survive the level drop that comes with being resurrected. Beyond that I'll have to alter the memories of those two girls and that always costs a crap ton of MP. And if he turns out to be a dead-end on the other headmaster, then I'll have invested all that cost for nothing." Ainz groaned heavily to himself like a child, so happy there was no one else in the room to hear him. "If nothing else I suppose I can view it as testing to gain knowledge for the future, so it wouldn't be a total loss. But still, I'd really rather…rather…wait, what is she doing?"

---

"Tsukune…no, no…! Wake up. Please!"

Moka didn't know why she was saying such things. Her rational mind knew there was no point. His head hung as limply as his arm over the cliff's edge and he gave no response to either her words or shakes. Still Mizore clung to him but felt her remaining time quickly slipping away. The tentacle that'd snapped his neck was now oozing its way around his arm. Pulling down on that and Mizore's leg, it wouldn't be long until they'd all be dragged down.

Moka bit her quivering lip. She had one option left. She had hoped the Witch's Knoll would have been the last time. Her other self had warned them that they couldn't keep doing this to him. But with her sealed away, unable to fight, and Tsukune's body growing colder by the minute in her touch…

She opened her mouth up wide, bearing her fangs in preparation before diving forward to sink them into his neck.

Sebas and Kotsubo were too far down to see any of this. It was only through the noise and the screams that they both understood what'd happened to the boy from here, though only one of them was happy about it.

"You all should have just stayed out of my way." Kotsubo said, his new plan clearly to get rid of the students as quickly as possible and focus all his attention on Sebas. If he could drag him into the water, he felt it was almost guaranteed he'd be able to kill him.

The shock slowly faded from Sebas's features, hardening into a cold gaze by the time he lowered his head to set his sights back on the man before him.

"You're going to regret having done that."

That was all he said, and all that he needed to say, as he pulled his arm back…against Kotsubo's best efforts. The Kraken's confidence quickly faltered once more. Even if he wasn't crushing his bones he'd thought his tentacles were at least restraining the butler. But the ease with which he moved his arm, not even the least bit slowed by tendril wrapped around it. It was like Kotsubo was trying to push back against an avalanche.

"What the hell kind of monster are you?!" Kotsubo bellowed at him, only able to watch as Sebas flattened out his hand to go perfectly straight. The position he was in, he was aiming right for his neck. He was preparing a simple chop. So why… Why couldn't Kotsubo stop shaking? Why were his instincts screaming at him to drop everything and run?!

It was a like a vacuum. The world beginning and ending at Sebas's incoming hand.

And then, a singe one of Kotsubo's tentacles went taut. One of the one's reaching up to the cliff's edge.

With a single motion, both Kotsubo and Sebas found themselves staring upwards towards the sky. With that one pull, Kotsubo's suckers were ripped from the wall. Sebas's grip could not be so easily overpowered but the rocks he held to only had so much to give and were now tumbling down to the ocean as we speak.

Suddenly, they were back above the cliff, carried by their momentum until they landed on soft grass.

"What the hell…?" Kotsubo stumbled, his fear forgotten in his confusion. He was a mess, tripping over his own tentacles as he tried to get his bearings, while Sebas had somehow landed perfectly on his feet, though still in a crouch. It honestly would have been the perfect time for either to attack the other, but it would seem they both found themselves the same distraction.

Following the tentacle back to where it was still wrapped around his hand, there Tsukune Aono stood; the aura he gave off far different from before.

Like he was still waking up, Tsukune's eyes slid lazily until they finally found Kotsubo; the teacher gulping in spite of himself when he felt their gaze. His pupils…they hadn't been slitted before, had they?

"You…? You're supposed to be dead!" He yelled at him, getting no response in return for all his frustration. Those eyes… They were too red to be this cold!

Sebas was lost too, but only for a moment. "I see…" He remarked, taking notice of the blood still leaking out from the twin punctures on Tsukune's neck.

Mizore wheezed and coughed against Moka's chest, her knees finally feeling the touch of solid ground beneath them. Moka could feel the poor girl trembling. She could only imagine how traumatic an experience this must have been for her. But hopefully, it would be all over soon.

"It worked. Thank goodness." She breathed in hesitant relief as she watched Tsukune's backside. Every time she felt this dark pressure emanating off him, she wondered if this is what he experienced every time her Rosario came off. "My blood's revived him and turned him into a vampire. But it won't last long! We need to end this now!"

Whether it because he was feeling a sting from the puncture or simply that the leaking blood from the overflow was annoying him, Tsukune turned his eyes away, placing hand on his neck to hold the tender area.

Regardless, it was a final shot to his pride that Kotsubo couldn't stand.

With every tendril available to him now, Kotsubo dove forward in attack. "You cocky little br-!"

With the speed and force of a cannonball, Tsukune's open palm collided with his face. Though there were no bones behind the squishy membrane, the distinct ripple of something popping was felt.

Over the edge Kotsubo went, travelling out a far greater distance than his tentacles could reach, going and going until his tiny little dot blipped down into the waters below.

Mouths agape at the sudden display of sheer power they'd just witnessed, the girls were too stunned to notice the tremble in Tsukune's arm. It was not broken but it was a limb clearly unused to the strength it'd just output and it was not without its toll.

Slowly, the redness faded from Tsukune's eyes, returning them to their familiar brown hue. The vampire blood having run its course, his pupils widened back into a dreamy stare and his legs became weakened. Within just a few seconds and he was already too tired to stand, his body allowing gravity to tip it over backwards.

But well before his backside would have smacked against the ground, it felt itself caught by the strong arms of another, taking care not to jiggle him around too much as they helped lower him more gently.

"Well fought, Mr. Aono." Sebas gave him that simple but honest praise, it taking a moment before Tsukune's vision was able to readjust enough to make him out from the blurs.

He was seated on the grass and Sebas was kind enough to help keep his back upright so that he wouldn't go flopping down. "Shirayuki…is she…?"

Sebas turned his head and directed Tsukune's tired gaze over to where Moka and Mizore both sat. Shaken, but none the worse for wear. "She owes you her life. As would appear I do as well." When Tsukune looked at him in confusion, he elaborated. "If I had to give an estimate, it would appear that I was only a touch bit stronger than he was." He said to him with a smile so warm it almost felt grandfatherly to Tsukune, as he held up his thumb and finger, showing only the smallest of space between the two. "But given my perilous predicament, the battle could have easily resulted in my untimely end. As such, you have my gratitude."

Tsukune gave a small chuckle, finding such words from someone so much older than him a bit weird but he didn't care that much. Everyone was safe and that was all that mattered.

Slowly Moka helped Mizore get back to her feet, the girl probably still getting used to being back on solid ground, and the two made their way over to Tsukune. When they got to him, Mizore tried to speak but everything just became caught in her throat.

In the end, she collapsed back down to her knees, practically throwing herself against his chest. "I'm sorry…! I'm so sorry…!"

She broke down, hiding her sobbing face against his shirt. Initially, Tsukune and Moka were stunned, unsure of what to do or say. But after a look towards each other, and a soft smile coming across Moka's features, they understood nothing was needed. The two simply huddled closer and held the crying girl between them.

To the side, Sebas stood back up. There would be a time for his own comments later. For now, he would wait and keep watch; allowing these children their time to recover.

---

It wasn't just the waves that was splashing against the shore. It was an obscene amount of blood that was dipping off his fractured face and he could only imagine how much he'd left behind in the ocean. It was never anything that would have been a concern to him in the past but now Kotsubo supposed he should be thankful that the waters of Yōkai Academy weren't known for having sharks.

"Fu…! Uuu…kkk!" He swore through a barely functioning jaw. One student, with one blow, had reduced him to this. Were it not for his squirms, were someone to pass along right now they'd probably think him to be some beached carcass. "Aono…Shirayuki…and that old bastard… I'll get you all for this!"

Even if the waves hadn't carried him out this far he was in no condition to try climbing back up the cliffside. His tentacles had only barely managed to get him to this shore on the other side of the bay. Right now his eight appendages did well enough to help him crawl along the beach but that was about the extent of it. His body was in too much pain and he'd lost too much blood to do much more.

As his limbs pulled him slowly along, Kotsubo again cursed the boy who did this to him, fairly certain the brat had broken a damn blood vessel inside his eye. Half the world was a permanent crimson blur to him, which is why he did not notice until it was within the view of his good eye. The wall of raven black fabric just inches from his nose.

With great effort, Kotsubo turned his head, just enough for his eye to be able to look up and see the "face" of the fine robe's owner. "Headmaster…?"

"I know everything, Kotsubo." Ainz said simply. Had he been standing here this entire time, just waiting for Kotsubo to notice him? It was like he had just suddenly appeared. "Oh. And I don't just mean what happened on the cliff just now."

His tendrils acting as a brace, Kotsubo somehow managed to push himself up off the ground, at least enough to sit up onto his knees.

"You see, on the advice of someone I trust, I had one of my subordinates keep an eye on you after our little meeting. They saw you attack those two boys after Miss Shirayuki thawed them out and left." The mask across Ainz's face was designed to be an incomprehensible expression. A scowl or a smile. It could be either and could even be none, depending on the angle. But down from Kotsubo's perspective, combined with Ainz's own tone, its stare seemed almost mocking. "There's this little mystery I'm trying to solve right now, so I decided to let things play out in order to see what would happen. Perhaps you were involved in our transport somehow. A long shot but worth investigating. Imagine my sheer utter disappointment to have it turn out to be something so petty as you just trying to cover up for your own crimes."

"W-wait… Wait a minute…" Kotsubo started to beg, his exhausted brain finding great difficulty even keeping up with the conversation, let alone in finding a way to get him out of this corner he'd suddenly been dropped into.

Ainz placed his gauntleted hand up to the chin of his mask, acting as though he were pondering something, despite the two of them knowing full well he'd already made up his mind. "I doubt the former headmaster would have left it unmentioned on your record if he'd known the truth about what you tried to do to that girl. I suppose that makes this your second strike then, yes? Normally I suppose one would be inclined to leave room open for redemption but, in this matter, I think I'll take your advice, and go with a much harsher punishment."

Behind the eyes of the mask, Kotsubo could swear he saw a flare of intensity. Like fire behind the lens.

With all the strength he had remaining, he lunged all eight tentacles at Ainz, in one last act of desperation.

And then Kotsubo saw…himself?

One eye staring into the other, seeing that there perhaps was some confirmation of a broken blood vessel. It was so red, while the other was barely able to make anything out through it.

His tentacles…they were in the air around him…but not a one was connected to his body. In fact, he couldn't really see his body anymore. Everything was too…scattered.

In Kotsubo's last moments of consciousness, he saw ice.

The second of motion finally came to an end, and at Ainz's feet fell a slapping pile of wet meat.

"My apologies for making you dirty your blade on such an unworthy opponent, Cocytus."

The hulking mass of pale blue exoskeleton bowed its head to him, even while doing so still coming up as a significant height taller. "HE. SOUGHT. TO. INFLICT. HARM. UPON. YOU." The Vermin Lord's tusked clicked as he talked, clouds of cold escaping as his very breath. "THOUGH. IT. WOULD. NOT. HAVE. WORKED. IN. THE. SLIGHTEST. I. WOULD. DRAG. DECAPITATION. FANG. THROUGH. THE. MUD. ITSELF. WERE. IT. TO. MEAN. IT. WOULD. BE. RAISED. IN. YOUR. DEFENSE. SUPREME. ONE." He declared proudly, the staff of his halberd striking the ground at the ready within the grip of his two right hands.

In response, Ainz gave just a simple nod. He had brought Cocytus out here for that very purpose after all. Just in case. From what he'd observed there was little doubt Kotsubo would have been no threat to him or any of the NPCs. Even the weakest spell Ainz knew probably would have incinerated him. Still, he'd been bitten by his own arrogance once already back in the other world and it'd be foolish to repeat such mistakes now when he had even less resources at his disposal. Better he be overly cautious in case Kotsubo had some hidden power or allies and have it end up being pointless then to scroll his way right into an avoidable death.

Ainz gave the pile of viscera a light poke with his boot, the item too high quality for the blood to even stick to its surface. "We'll hand these remains over to Demiurge. I'm sure he'll be able to squeeze at least some useful information out of the corpse, especially as I don't believe we'd encountered any water-dwelling species in the last world during our time there. Oh, and I suppose I'll need Albedo to write up a report on his firing and leave to cover our tracks. The exorcist left me a great deal of freedom when it came to the school's staffing but I imagine murder is still somewhat frowned upon."

"YOUR. WILL. SHALL. BE. DONE." Cocytus bowed to him again.

"Hrm…and we'll also need someone to replace him as gym teacher. That'll be a pain." Ainz grumbled to himself. This day certainly hadn't gone the way he'd been hoping.

Still, it's not as if nothing interesting was gained.

"So…racial change exists in this world too."

---

By the next few days news of Kotsubo's firing had spread like wildfire among the student body, as well as a good rumor or two as to its reasoning. Given the testimony of a decent number of girls who all had something to say about the uncomfortable leering the teacher would often give them, most suspected he'd perhaps been caught making a move on a student and the new headmaster wanted to make a strong impression by immediately canning him. Though if it was true, the identity of the student was still being kept secret, whoever she was.

Though there was also a smaller number of rumors that it'd been less a firing and more a resignation, due to being unable to return to duty, and possibly too afraid to.

"I heard someone pushed him off a cliff."

"I heard he's in the hospital and his face is so messed up no one's allowed to see him."

"I wonder if the girl's boyfriend caught him while he was trying to hit on her and kicked his ass. Man, I'd have loved to have seen that."

Tsukune's face dripped with sweat and it wasn't just because they were in the middle of PE. So glad was he that he was ahead of them on the track so that they couldn't see his face.

The boys were running laps while the girls were playing volleyball. About at the halfway point of class they'd switch. Those who'd been hoping that Kotsubo's absence would mean gym would be cancelled for the day found themselves sadly mistaken, as the headmaster had found a substitute for the time being. A rather…interesting one, at that.

"YOUR. FORM. IS. ALL. WRONG. YOU'RE. GOING. TO. TRIP. IF. YOU. TRY. GOING. AFTER. THE. BALL." Cocytus, the new physical education teacher could be heard even from where Tsukune was as he gave advice to the girls on one of the various courts in the track's center. They hung onto his every word, as did all those running. Normally, when the boys' pacing was slow it was because they were watching the girls and hoping to see a few good jumps (along with the physics that'd follow after with their chests). But for today's class, all eyes were on the new teacher, as it would be rather hard NOT to be distracted by the 8 ft tall artic bug man if you even tried.

"Does Mr. Cocytus know he's supposed to be in human form?" One of the girls asked her friend.

"Maybe…that is his human form? If you ignore the face I guess it could maybe pass as just weird cosplay."

The two then felt a large shadow loom over them, attracted by their conversation.

"IS. THERE. SOMETHING. WRONG. WITH. MY. FACE?"

The twin screams were quickly followed up by a barrage of no's and assurances that he looked amazing, giving the general idea of why no one else was commenting any further on the breach of school rules.

Tsukune was tempted to give a little chuckle. If nothing else, this guy at least probably was going to be better than Kotsubo. Only thing that stopped him, and slowed his run in turn, was that he started to feel an icy chill of his own. At first he wondered if Cocytus's breath was reaching him from this far over but after what he'd experienced with Mizore this didn't feel quite as literal. It was more like an…awareness? Like he felt like he was being wat-…ched.

Tsukune stopped in his tracks. He'd only been casually turning his head to see if maybe anyone had eyes on him. And they did…from behind a tree. Her head was just slightly poking out from the side, hiding behind the trunk so that she could watch him from outside the track.

"Uh…Shirayuki?" Tsukune called carefully over to her, smiling though still a little startled by her surprise appearance. Her unwavering stare especially was kind of getting to him. Like he was being haunted rather than followed.

After a few moments of working up the nerve, Mizore finally came out to walk over to him. "…Good morning…Tsukune." She said, fidgeting shyly with the sucker stick in her mouth. It took him a minute to realize she was wearing the same gym shorts as the rest of the girls, as for whatever reason she was still wearing her sweatshirt over everything else. Still, there was something different about her Tsukune couldn't quite point his finger on. Until he realized…

"Your hair!" He blurted out as soon as it dawned on him. "You cut your hair!"

Mizore smiled and her blush grew a touch more apparent, her fingers playing a little with the now shoulder-length strands, like she was happy he had noticed. "I just wanted to say…thank you, Tsukune. Because of you…I feel so much lighter."

She wasn't the only one. Simply because of that little sentence and Tsukune found his back standing a little straighter and his heart raise itself a little higher in his chest. "I want to make it at this school on my own." He had to have been such an idiot to say such a thing back then. He couldn't have gotten anywhere close to where he was now without the others in his life, and he certainly wouldn't be as happy. He was glad…to know that he was able to pay that forward to someone else.

He then noticed that Mizore's expression had shifted back into more neutral features, looking ahead behind him, like she had just noticed something. He wondered what she was looking at…until he felt the large mitt encompass the entirety of his scalp in its hold.

"YOU. ARE. SUPPOSED. TO. BE. RUNNING. LAPS."

From where Moka and Kurumu were in their own court, they probably would have turned to the sound of Tsukune's comical screams were they not already looking his way. Moka gave a small bit of flustered laughter, that of the "Well, what can you do?" variety, while Kurumu simply seemed a bit less than enthused over the prospect of yet another girl after Tsukune.

From where she was in her own court, Shalltear watched them in turn, barely even needing to focus on the game around her in order to play. This volleyball was easily the slowest attack she'd ever seen sent her way, and a tap of her knuckle was all that was needed to send it back over the net. Without even trying (or caring) she was unknowingly acting as her team's MVP.

["Shalltear."] The voice of her master echoed inside her head, as she herself did her best to avoid showing any reaction to it. Lord Ainz had to know she was in public and thus wasn't likely expecting her to answer back and blow her cover. Rather, he simply had an order to give. All she had to do was listen. ["I'd like you perform an experiment for me."]

---

Author's notes: Thanks again for your patience with me. Now that the Mizore intro arc is over, we should now be seeing a lot more of the Overlord cast really changing the direction of events from Rosario+Vampire instead of just reacting to them, starting with a somewhat notable change next chapter. I just figured this would be a good arc to have the Overlord characters observe their new surroundings and ease their way into Tsukune and Moka's circle of the world before they start causing bigger events.

Sorry about the delay in this chapter. Thanksgiving week coming up kind of threw things off and I actually initially planned on uploading this chapter yesterday but didn't have time to spellcheck it. Also wanted to finish next chapter and since it's pretty short I'll like upload it tomorrow.