Villainess and the Stalker - Chapter 25 - Caliber of Summoned Beast

Chapter 25 : Caliber of Summoned Beast

「Yes, your name is… Ryuu-kun, the transfer student, isn’t it? Is there anything you don’t understand?」

Since Mirana-sensei had mentioned my name, I nodded in response.

「Yes. I’ve been introduced to everyone, but this is the first time I participated in this lesson… So please take good care of me.」

「Anyway, please tell me what you had wanted to say before.」

「Thank you very much. I was wondering about the beast you summoned directly. It was as you described, but how do we handle a case where we need to subdue a wild animal or demon without using that method?If my memory serves me right, we need to go directly to that particular demon’s home and make a contract with them, but…」

「Ah, I see now. You’re right, I’ve yet to explain that part to you. I might be using this chance to explain that method to you guys.」

After she said this, Mirana-sensei turned her attention back to everyone.

「As everyone has learned before, forming a pact with a summoned beast falls into one of two categories: through direct contact with the creature, or by forming a binding contract with the demon summoned. As you’ve been told before, our lesson will be focused on the latter, and we will later cover the former. I’m sure that I’ve yet to tell you guys regarding the details of the former method. Well, there’s only one requirement for the former method: search for the demon that you want to make a contract with in their own habitat and make a pact with them. Pretty simple, right? All you need to do is visit said demon in their own habitat.」

「Does that mean we can’t go looking for them in the labyrinth?」

A curious student asked Mirana-sensei.

「Good question. Sure enough, there are many demons that live in the Royal Academy’s exclusive labyrinth. Anyone can easily make a pact with these demons, as long as they can defeat them. However, defeating them can be a pretty tough job.」

「Why?」

「The answer is pretty simple, almost all demons of the labyrinth won’t obey a human. Though… It’ll be easier for you guys to understand if you see it with your own eyes. It’s hard to fathom without a live example. Let see… You over there, the one accompanied by slime. Slimes are the kind of demon that you can find naturally and pretty easily in the labyrinth, right?」

Mirana-sensei used a certain student who made a pact with slime as an example.

「Yes. I made a pact using direct summoning, but….」

「Well, what I’m going to tell you now isn’t about direct summoning, the point is… Slimes can be found anywhere. Then, imagine a scene where you try to make a pact with that slime using the former method, like locating them on a mountain or in a forest. You’d have to lure them in with food, or make them submit with your fists. After that, all you need to do is make the magic circle and pour your mana into it, right?」

「Yeah.」

「The problem with this method is trying to make them yield with your fists or feed them with your favorite food. In their natural habitats, demons act like normal animals. Some of them even build their own civilizations, like goblins, for example… However, they are nothing like those in the labyrinth. In general, demons in the labyrinth will attack anyone on sight. Their instinct is to kill; offering them food or beating them an inch away from death makes no difference.
The students understood what she meant by “everyone who entered the labyrinth,” and yet the majority of them still seemed shocked by this revelation.

It seems that the majority of the students here have yet to dive into the labyrinth.

I thought that everyone had experienced a labyrinth dive since there’s a lesson about it, but…

As I pondered, Mirana-sensei gave some more explanation.

「I suppose it’s hard to completely grasp from just my words; after all the dungeon capture will commence in a month. You’ll understand once you experience it yourself. But please keep in mind that subduing the demons in the labyrinth is close to impossible.」

I understood what she meant.

Yet, even so, I felt something was missing in her explanation.
Mirana-sensei had a certain look in her eyes as if hoping someone would ask her a question. However, most of the students in this room had been overwhelmed with the explanation, so they failed to notice their teacher. I guess I’m the only one who can give her what she wants.

When I raised my hand, her relatively expressionless face smiled lightly as she looked at me.

Although it was a smile befitting her youthful appearance, it faded just as soon as it came. She returned to her usual expression and called out my name.

「… Do you have another question, Ryuu-kun?」

「Yes… According to your story, subduing a demon in the labyrinth is close to impossible.」

「Indeed.」

「Since you didn’t say it’s “impossible”, does that mean there’s a way to subdue them?」

「Nice question. You’re quite attentive.」

「Well…」

「Well then, let’s explore this matter too. I’ve explained to you before, but let me reiterate. The labyrinth’s demons are completely different from those in their habitat. That’s the natural law; with minority as exception.」

Although I was the one who asked about this, I had been long since aware of this knowledge.

Because I had been into the labyrinth.

After all, Mirana-sensei had been eagerly waiting for a question that would never be asked by her students in a normal situation… She had teased them with hints, hoping it would pique one of their interests. She had been deliberately waiting until someone asked that particular question.

Thus, I played along accordingly.

However, many students were smiling as they whispered. “What is he asking about?”

Especially Conrad, he even said 「What in the world are you talking about.」.

Mirana-sensei continued her explanation.

「It has proven to be successful on certain eccentric and unique demons in the labyrinth. The special demon who is born naturally inside of the dungeon is called “unique,” “special individual,” or “variant.” Please remember this fact since the difference between the common labyrinth’s demons and variants is quite distinctive.」

The students diligently jotted down Mirana-sensei’s explanation into the notebooks that they carried with them.

Although I had long since known this knowledge, I thought the others who were not taking notes were just completely unconcerned about the exam.

Well, that was another thing for me to worry about.

「The variants are similar to the demons who live outside the labyrinth. They’re like animals. That’s why… It’s possible to confront them. Our researcher said that this kind of demon was 《open for negotiation》. However, the chance of meeting this kind of variant inside of the labyrinth is really low. That’s why it’s widely agreed upon that making a pact with a labyrinth’s demon is close to impossible. Understand?」

The majority of the students nodded to what Mirana-sensei said.