Chapter XIII. My Very Own Magic
Now here dawned the third day of the Harvest Festival, an extreme game of survival where many students no longer have the energy to hunt down any more magical beasts or perhaps not. The students surviving the third day have found the most efficient ways of hunting down their prey. In the example of Asmodeus, Sabro and Lavande in friendly competition of gator hunting with the Dorodoro Brothers, the strategy of aggressively attacking. They've been finding other high-ranking beasts in Block One, but the only one they found so far was the Hundred Flapple from the first night. Any high-value target on sight would be annihilated by this formidable group of demons. Over in Block Two, there are people who can't rely on their own strength alone. Therefore it becomes suitable to work in great numbers in order to handle tasks. Goemon and several other demons took a night to pin down a Tortoiseshell Cow. Meanwhile, a certain student was standing out by using her charms to control magical beasts, no other than Keroli. With an army of animals harvesting on her command and collecting intelligence, this young queen of the beasts could be unstoppable. Other strategies include deception and seduction. It was within the first half that everyone used the best of their abilities.
In the Broadcasting Tent, Kalego announced that there were less than two days remining in the Harvest Festival as well as the interim results.
Current Interim Results
(The following accumulations were reported to Harvest Reporting Towers throughout the days of the Harvest Festival.)
(They are also above the threshold to win the event.)
Alice Asmodeus: 21,800 Points
Lavande Félin: 20,300 Points
Sabro Sabnock: 18,600 Points
Ichiro Androalphus: 16,500 Points
Niro Androalphus: 16,500 Points
Keroli Crocell: 19,200 Points
Kamui Caim: 12,400 Points
Kaminari Levina: 17,300 Points
Yanna Sigfried: 17,300 Points
Elizabetta Ix: 13,200 Points
Clara Valac: 9,800 Points
Coco Orobas: 15,400 Points
Picero Agares: 9,500 Points
Goemon Goemon: 9,500 Points
Keem: 7,600 Points
Tokel: 6,800 Points
Ryūko Suzuki: 17,800 Points
Acheron Gremory: 1,900 Points
Isabelle Abaddon: 1,900 Points
Lied Shax: 1,900 Points
Why exactly was this festival the final training of the year? It was the the test of survival, which is an important step to living in solitary when out of civilization's reach. The forest was a miniature version of the Netherworld. Encounters with chance or dilemma come in equal measure, filled with excitement, thrills, despair, and inspiration. The Harvest Festival is where adolescent demons discover whether they can survive in the Netherworld and the one who ends up on top will receive the most renowned title - the very same one given to every victor in the event's history - The Young Demon King Candidate: The Young King. Those called out earlier with the most points were the closest to becoming the Young King. Kalego's last word of advice was for contestants to be aware of each other.
Dali commented on how his junior was quite the instigator, but the latter tapped into the intercom again with another statement. This time to bring someone out.
"At this moment, there is one fool of a student with 1,900 points who has somehow survived but is nowhere to be found." He said, "I don't know where you are or what you're doing, but if you're going to forfeit, best do it now. Though if you actually plan on winning... hurry up and claw your way to the top, fool! What are you waiting for?!"
"Oh? Be still, my heart." Cooed Dali, sensing something off, "Professor Kalego, you wouldn't be playing favorites now, would you?"
"Pshaw! I only issued a warning because it'd be a pain to have to retrieve him." Countered the academy's guard dog.
Dali would continue to tease him on that, making Kalego all the more uncomfortable.
"Yo, so is the Young King or whatever supposed to be number one?" Asked Ichiro.
"Yup, it's the number one team." Nodded Niro.
As always, this friendly competition between the warriors of the Misfit Class and the Dorodoro Brothers would have some banter on who would be the one crossing the finish line first. Sabro countered that the title of Young King was befitting of him as Asmodeus (as well as Clara) wordlessly looked up as they knew that missing person was Iruma.
Flashback
Pre-Harvest Festival, School Corridor
In the corridors of the Battler Tower, Asmodeus and Clara were aggressively racing to check on Iruma. It would be impossible for them to try and sneak into the Royal Guard Castle at this time to see Ryūko, Kaminari, and Lavande or the Silent Sniper Training Grounds to know what Isabelle and Acheron are up to, not that some of the security knights and subordinate hunters would allow that anyway. On their way, they kept arguing about who was the better best friend of Iruma's and wanted to see who would get the better compliments.
By the moment they reached the highway platform Iruma and Bachiko were training at, the two gazed in awe and inspiration from Iruma's sheer determination to carry on regardless of his limits being reached. They soon got back to the school grounds, deciding not to meet up with Iruma so he can train undisturbed. And just like that, Asmodeus and Clara came to an agreement that they got motivated to train even more after seeing how hard Iruma was training. After encouraging each other to do their best, both demons would show Iruma how well they have done and have him praise them.
Returning to Present Day
After his resolve, Asmodeus seemed to be shaking while leaning down towards a rock. Sabro worried about his fellow teammate. Ichiro and Niro noticed that and were perhaps wondering if provoking Asmodeus now would help them win. But that wouldn't happen with the piercing violet glare of the only certified knight in the entire school. Lavande remembered what Niro asked, and her expression was telling him that she wouldn't give what he wanted if they ever tried, forcing the Dorodoro Brothers to back down from their intrusive thoughts.
Meanwhile, Asmodeus was reassuring himself that there would be nothing to fear as Iruma would return soon after this festival. Despite how badly he wanted to run back to his side, the fire demon had to restrain himself and endure that pain of his. Sabro supported him while advising not to push himself too hard. Clara was doing the same, which concerned Elizabetta. The former took into the sentiment that a true woman wouldn't chase after men, rather it being the other way around for men to chase a woman. Well, at least when it comes to the traditional ways of courtship, right? No matter how much she needed to endure this, one thing is for sure- she wanted to see Iruma as much as Asmodeus did.
Down in the abyss, the quartet are reunited but Iruma had a feeling he was missing those two demons. Ryūko, on the other hand, was missing not just Lavande, but her honorary sister Kaminari and that adoptive brother of the Pikachu who would be her betrothed. Unbeknownst to Iruma, Alikred had heard him repeating "I miss Clara and Azz-Azz." on multiple numbers, which was supposed to keep him sane. Reficul looked upon the scar on Ryūko's right ring finger that symbolized an undying love between her and that same demon whom is hidden far away from her sights.
By the looks of it, the twins have fallen from the exit when getting out of the ruins, with Isabelle and Acheron setting off to find them. When Iruma fell unconscious from the illusion, Ryūko's inflatable silk cushion bag protected him. After which, Alikred retrieved back the Seed of Beginnings and even tried to fight off that magical spider that inhibited the illusion until Iruma regained his senses. Isabelle appeared to have faced an illusion of her own until she was able to overcome the living representation of her trauma before reuniting with Iruma. When it came to Ryūko's forceful thrust against her own body, her screams and cries called Reficul to safely alleviate her fall with the flap of his wings and back against his fallen master's. Once Ryūko had gone berserk without control, it was quite a struggle for the black and purple phoenix to find an opening for him to get her back to reality. She still suffered some strange effects on her crimson right eye, but was somewhat recovered from insanity. All the while, Acheron kept her distance as he eyed Ryūko in hopes she will come back to her senses. As a result of being rescued by their rings' entities, Ryūko and Iruma seemed to have become even more determined to live in the Netherworld.
While it seemed like Ryūko, Isabelle, and Acheron had no issues with sticking on the pillars of rock or flying up with their wings (with Ryūko's fallen angel wings enclosed to hide the inner feather sections of white), they couldn't necessarily have enough strength to carry her brother by the arms. Suddenly, Naphula came down in flight, jump-scaring Iruma. They turned out to have worried about the twins and their allies. The small demon gestured to why Iruma wouldn't fly to get back up, Iruma had to lie that he wasn't any good at it. Ryūko told Naphula in their language that she didn't have enough strength to challenge Iruma's weight and that producing silk ropes wouldn't help her either way. In that notion, Naphula pulled out a Nigi-nigi Green they had, as well as a watering pot. This surprised Iruma, who questioned why Naphula would go around carrying such things.
The tiny demon then watered the plant before it grew to wrap itself around the nearest and tallest stalagmite. But it would be hard for Iruma to climb up, considering how he sustained a leg injury somehow after his fall. Then, he remembered that day his sister healed the child of the Guardian of Cutthroat Valley with her human blood. He held Naphula before he bit his finger, motioning Isabelle to use her blood inside her phial, which she did. Both of them release a drop of blood each onto the leaf below them. Consequently, the ground beneath the other demons at the surface began to shake as if it was a hellquake - the demonic version of an earthquake because this is Hell. It didn't take long, but that became the sight all competitors were able to behold. The Nigi-nigi Green evolved into what appeared to be the largest and strongest of its stalk. That was quite overwhelming for Iruma and Naphula. Flying nearby, Ryūko, Isabelle, and Acheron saw a cute little Camera Demon approaching them. Ryūkolaughed in amusement as they and Iruma announced their return to the surface.
"Well, a chaotic pleasantry of dawn have we arrived at long last!" Announced Ryūko, still unrecognized behind her hood and mask, which altered her voice quite deeply.
"Iruma is alive and well!" Followed Iruma with a smile, "Are you watching, Lied? We've finally got the Seeds of Beginnings! Can you believe it?"
While Dali and Suzy were impressed, Kalego made his way to the microphone to scold him.
"You hooligan! What is this ruckus all about?!" He shouted, "Does everything have to be a circus with you?!"
"Professor Kalego?! I'm sorry!" Apologised Iruma, "I didn't mean to make this a scene, honestly. This are just Nigi-nigi Greens, and-"
"I do not care about that." Interfered Kalego in irritation, "Are you hurt at all? Are you going to report what you've collected? Are you going to forfeit?"
"That, we shall highly doubt on his behalf." Said Acheron proudly, "This victory shall be ours for certain!"
"Well, in that case... Hurry up and get back to hunting, you near-squat 1,900-point slacker! And that means you, too, Abaddon and Gremory." Scolded Kalego.
"Need not to worry, dear professor." Assured Isabelle, "I have a feeling that we can get these rare plants blooming by the time the festival ends."
At this point, the twins had to reunite with Lied before they can explain their situation with Naphula. Speaking of whom, why not we go back to Lied from the second day of the festival after the team split up on his search for the Vases of Ending?
Flashback
The Second Day to the Third Day
Similar to finding the Seeds of Beginnings, the path to finding the Vases of Endings had Lied to enter the secret ruins where another genie was guarding it. To win, Lied had to go through a hundred obstacles, basically another game that would put his courage and focus to the test. With various unexpected encounters, this was a game of life and death. After all, life is a game we inevitably play. Through and through all those many obstacles, Lied was finally able to obtain the vases in one piece and return to the husband and divorced wife stones by the next morning. He apparently was akin to a protagonist, but he was getting ahead of himself by thinking of how popular he would become as the Young King. He wanted to come up with a signature, but a Camera Demon flew at his location with Dali and Suzy providing a tip.
The points announced were based on everything turned in to the Reporting Towers, so students were advised to get to them as soon as possible.
"Hey, you there, from the Misfit Class! That's right! Lied Shax! Those vases you're clutching in your hands!" Called out Dali, "They're not exactly ingredients, but each vase is 20,000 points! Did you know that? Did you?"
This shocked the blond demon as it turned out to be risky to continue holding it for long. On an impulse, Suzy leaked the secret that they were supposed to be for the Legendary Leaf and the Shining Shrub. Absolutely no remorse from these smiling teachers! They were clearly enjoying every second of making things harder to handle for students. This forced Lied into a corner without a choice but to keep a low profile. Even worse when Isabelle, Iruma, Acheron, and Ryūko came back. The former announcing their obtaining of the Seed of Beginnings without thinking things through. Since the five of them were getting close to what seemed to be above 200,000 points, everyone in the forest would be out to grab them at any given cost.
While in hiding, Lead had an encounter with Elizabetta. It seemed like he ran into a dead end if she manages to coerce him into surrendering the Vases of Beginnings to her. What would he do next, will Lead be able to escape with the treasure in his hands? How will Elizabetta's charms be enough to seduce him for a second time in the whole festival? Will anyone be able to stop this madness before it becomes too late? Find out in the next chapter!
~Interval~
Back with Asmodeus, Lavande, Sabro and the Dorodoro Brothers, Ichiro commented on their rivals' outfits. Sabro and Asmodeus's clothes were considered weird, while Niro couldn't help but have his eyes on Lavande's gallant armor. The three Misfits turned out to be adorning their noble battle outfits and were recommended such by their respective tutors. But again, the Dorodoro Brothers were still having the wrong idea about who was the master of Asmodeus and Sabro. That said, they suddenly thought their rivals looked cooler than before.