I Became a Murderer in the Academy.

Chapter 58

About 20 years ago, the Demon King was killed by the Hero’s Party, which consisted of three people.

However, the Hero died in the process, and the saint perished five years later.

It was a great curse directed at those who killed the Demon King.

As time passed, it was a curse that made them lose their humanity.

Humans burdened by curses and magical energy don’t last long.

More precisely, they either die or become something not human.

The mage, left alone after losing her comrades, despaired.

Because in the end, only she had lived.

That even if they killed the Demon King, peace didn’t exist.

With a body bearing the curse, she could no longer stand at the forefront.

Now, she could do nothing but prolong her worthless life day by day.

She wonders what it would have been like if she had died that day too.

At least, it wouldn’t have been as painful as it is now.

Sertia took on a disciple to find a reason for her remaining life.

Though she could no longer stand on the frontlines, she had knowledge and experience built up as a mage.

There were more than enough people who wanted to learn magic from her.

So, there was no difficulty in her retiring and getting a job as a professor at the academy.

Rather, the academy had offered first for her to come.

The title of the strongest mage in history didn’t disappear even after her retirement.

She was now the last remaining Demon King slayer in the world.

After the previous dean died, Sertia succeeded him by a unanimous vote from the other professors.

Now, she exists as the dean of the academy and an observer of the world.

Even that doesn’t have much time left.

Sertia opened her mouth towards her disciple, following behind as she walked through the park inside the academy.

“Do you know why I called you, Albert?”

“......”

“It’s almost time for me to go. Although my body doesn’t age due to the curse, I think it’s right to say that my lifespan is up.”

The curse laid by the Demon King slowly corroded Sertia’s body.

She, who was born human, is gradually being tainted to become like him. A monster.

Even the human who historically killed the most demons is finally changing to become like them.

“Originally, both my eyes were blue, and my hair wasn’t black either.”

“I know. I’ve closely observed your changes.”

“You remember that? I’m glad. It’s sad when no one remembers.”

Sertia sat lightly on a bench in the park.

Then she gestured for him to sit beside her. It was a considerate gesture for Albert, who still found walking difficult.

“Albert, do you know what happens to those who receive the Demon King’s curse?” She called her disciple’s name with a slightly solemn expression.

Whereas before a faint smile mixed with playfulness had lingered, she now appeared somewhat bitter.

She also looked a bit lonely.

The emptiness of one left alone is something an ordinary person would not be able to understand.

Albert sat beside her and waited for her next words.

“They lose their self-control as humans and become something inhuman. The previous generation’s Saint Karen, who received the same curse as me, became just like that. I had to kill my long-time comrade with my own hands.”

“By that, you mean......”

“It’s exactly as you think, Albert. I couldn’t escape from that fate either. I’m already an existence that can barely be called human.”

Sertia could feel her approaching death with her whole body.

The vast amount of mana in her body only delayed her from becoming a monster, but soon, she would become like Saint Karen.

There are no exceptions.

So she could close her eyes in relief now because even if she disappeared, the Empire would not fall.

But for some reason, Albert wanted to deny her words.

There might be various reasons, but the biggest reason might be that he didn’t want to see Sertia die.

“Is there really no way for you to not die, to not disappear?” Albert asked pleadingly.

“There is one. Do you want to hear it?”

Albert crossed his arms as if to say he would listen.

Even he, who had always appeared rational, had a complicated look today.

Sertia continued speaking.

In stark contrast to the cruel content, her tone was very calm.

“Accept the Demon King’s curse with your whole body and live on as something not human. It’s just a change of race; you don’t die, right? I don’t particularly want to die either.”

“......”

“But you don’t want that, do you? The Hero of humanity suddenly turning into the worst monster. If I lose all my humanity and go berserk, do you have the confidence to stop me?”

Albert couldn’t answer.

Perhaps because he had already imagined the worst-case scenario that came from Sertia’s mouth.

At this point, there is no human who can directly defeat her.

Who could stand against the only one who returned alive after taking the Demon King’s head?

This generation’s Hero? No, he was still woefully lacking compared to the Hero before him.

Perhaps she might become the spark of disaster.

If there’s one fortunate thing, it might be that she herself is aware of this aspect.

Sertia let out a small sigh and added her final words.

It was a sentence that showed deep bitterness.

“If not that, then please let me go. I want to close my eyes while still human, at least.”

She had an expression of someone on the verge of collapse.

She seemed close yet felt distant.

It was evident from her attitude alone that Sertia’s physical condition was not good.

Even during the conversation, her blue left eye faintly turned red and back again repeatedly.

It meant that maintaining her current appearance was unstable.

This is the end of one who dared to confront the Demon King while human.

Without exception, those who stood before the Demon King met the same fate as her.

This was the end of an era.

“Ahem.”

She must have thought the atmosphere had become heavy as she coughed lightly.

After that, she showed a faint smile.

She stood up from her seat and held out her hand to Albert.

“I guess I talked about too many dark things. This isn’t what I called you for.”

“No, it’s fine.”

“Then shall we walk a bit more? Actually, I’ll go straight to the main point. It’s about your battle.”

Albert agreed to do so.

Once again, Sertia walked through the academy park while Albert followed.

It’s like following the path his master walks.

But why is it that today, her back looked so small?

Looking back now, unlike her overwhelming reputation, she had a very small and fragile body.

And he had been relying on such an existence until now.

She had been supporting everything alone with such a body.

The current Sertia looked full of wounds.

Both physically and mentally.