Show Them a Fierce One - chapter 6

Anuo devoured the “fat nun” pastries one after another with great satisfaction, and only then did he remember that earlier in the evening, when he met Ludwig, he had enthusiastically recommended the Sunset Orange smoothie from the principal’s office.

“Lud!” It was a rare instance of linking the syllables together, and even Anuo was surprised at himself.

Then, the beige curtain beside Anuo’s hospital bed was pulled open slightly from the outside, and the Demon Race student in a silk shirt looked over with a puzzled expression. In his violet eyes, the greeting “What’s wrong?” was vividly written. He had been quietly reading behind the curtain near the fireplace, and his rimless glasses could be seen pressed against the large letters of “Classical Music Appreciation.”

It was Ludwig, the tall Demon Race student with spiral black horns, who had carried Anuo to the school infirmary. Anuo thought Ludwig was not only warm-hearted but also physically strong, since he had carried Anuo all the way without even breaking a sweat.

If Anuo closed his eyes, he could almost recall the sharp scent on Ludwig-like the wind of early summer, or the firewood of a warm winter. In short, it was a feeling that made an Elf very comfortable.

After delivering Anuo to the infirmary, Ludwig hadn’t left; he simply remained very quiet-so quiet that even the principal hadn’t noticed him.

Principal Tacitus, who had just hurriedly wiped the frosting from his mouth, finally remembered, prompted by Anuo, that Ludwig had also had a smoothie in his office today.

“Don’t worry.” Ludwig stopped the two from ringing the bell to call the school doctor. As a Demon Race member who had struggled to survive since childhood, he had eaten far worse things: the venom of the Ba Snake was sour, the roots of the Borudo were bitter, and most of the food he could find carried an inescapable taste of decay, which on countless quiet nights seemed to burn his stomach away. “I think I should be fine…”

Before Ludwig could finish, the school doctor arrived to check on Anuo and Principal Tacitus’s recovery. With one glance, he could tell Ludwig was perfectly healthy.

He took the opportunity to tease the other two: “He only drank a normal amount. Unlike some people, who can drink enough to trigger flower-spitting syndrome-quite impressive.” Especially Principal Tacitus, who showed even less restraint than Anuo, an Elf child. “You’re not young anymore. Do I need to say this for the third time today?”

The first time was for straining his back while forging iron.

The second time was for injuring his leg while forcibly casting wind magic.

The third time…

No matter how powerful a Magic Saint the principal was, in front of the doctor, he could only stand at attention and take the scolding.

But one of Principal Tacitus’s greatest strengths as a dwarf was his fearlessness of embarrassment. No sooner had the doctor finished lecturing him like a grandson than Tacitus turned to Anuo without the slightest psychological burden: “It’s just as well we ran into each other tonight. Otherwise, I was planning to have your Dormitory Supervisor talk to you tomorrow.”

“It seems you’re getting along well with Lord Ludwig. From now on, he’ll not only be your roommate in the same Dormitory building, but also your Guidance Junior. Are you willing?”

Guidance Junior is a unique relationship born from the Dormitory system at Sky Fortress.

Sky Fortress is a year-round boarding school with a long and complex history. Its dormitory district is filled with countless independent buildings of varying styles, all collectively called Dormitories and managed by different Dormitory Supervisors. Each Dormitory has its own unique name, culture, and spirit of tradition, forming a naturally close-knit community.

They eat and live together, grow together, and even after graduation, most maintain some degree of contact.

Anuo’s Dormitory is called Oak Tree Dormitory, one of the most famous at Sky Fortress, as most Elves enrolling each year choose it. Although few male Elves pursue advanced magic studies, there are quite a few female Elves. The natural beauty of the Elf Race has made Oak Tree Dormitory synonymous with beauty.

However, Oak Tree Dormitory isn’t exclusively for Elves-after all, Elves are quite rare. Generally, the school and Dormitory Supervisor prioritize other Long-lived Species or students in need of protection.

Besides high looks and strong magic, the Elf Race is also notably protective of their own.

Although the usually aloof and exclusive Elves may not interact much with students of other races, as long as they live in the same Dormitory and there’s no deep-seated racial conflict, Elves generally consider their dormmates under their protection by default. If anyone dares to bully a student from Oak Tree Dormitory, they become an enemy of all the Elves at Sky Fortress.
Beautiful Elves always give you a sense of complete security.

This is also one of the reasons why the dust-free Elves can still attract a large number of admirers inside and outside the Sky Fortress. Even if their actions are merely territorial instincts, at least they have truly helped many people.

The Dormitory next to Anuo once belonged to a timid Human who suffered from bullying. The two rarely interacted, but if Anuo saw him on the road, he would still nod in greeting and walk back to the Dormitory together. How many years had the other been enrolled? Anuo couldn’t quite remember, only vaguely recalling that after last year’s end-of-term ball, he was given a delicate Gem Flower. That must have been a farewell gift before graduation. Fortunately, although Anuo didn’t know at the time, he still gave a set of Potion Vessels in return.

The old classmate graduated, so naturally a New Classmate moved in.

To help New Classmates integrate faster into the Sky Fortress, senior students in the Dormitory are assigned the task of guiding their Guidance Juniors. Doing well can earn extra credits.

In previous years, Anuo was never chosen as a guide; being able to take care of himself was already a miracle blessed by the gods.

But this year’s Ludwig…

Is rather special.

Outsiders couldn’t determine Ludwig’s identity, but Principal Tacitus certainly knew: he was Ludwig, the Conqueror of the Demon Race, the one and only Elector.

Countless people have spoken ill of this Demon Race commander, but Principal Tacitus only trusts his own judgment.

Because three hundred years ago, this commander was just a perfect top student living in the Oak Tree Dormitory, holding a full scholarship.

Back then, Ludwig was simply Ludwig, not yet bearing the name Asmodeus. He was outstanding, diligent, and hardworking, thirsting for magical knowledge like plants crave rain. Many mentors at the school firmly believed that if Ludwig chose to develop in their field, he would become a genius who transcended eras.

Unfortunately, after graduation, this genius didn’t choose to further his studies at any Mage Tower, but instead went far away to the Demon Battlefield.

This choice even alarmed the few Grand Archmages at the school, who came to protest to Principal Tacitus, slamming tables and declaring that allowing such talent to go to war was a murder of academic prospects. Tacitus would become the greatest fool of the age.

Principal Tacitus didn’t want to be a fool, but Ludwig’s mind was made up. Storms brewed in those beautiful violet eyes-he was destined for greatness, no matter where he was.

A month and a half ago, Principal Tacitus suddenly received a message from Ludwig. Upon hearing that Ludwig intended to return to school to complete the Classical Music Appreciation course he failed years ago, the old principal was delighted, though not entirely surprised. He knew that a perfectionist top student like Ludwig would eventually come back to perfect his grades.

The only thing Principal Tacitus didn’t expect was that Ludwig, who seemed as cold and solitary as when he first climbed the mountain to study years ago, would proactively request to become Anuo’s roommate.

Though he didn’t know why, Principal Tacitus’s intuition told him this might become a great turning point.

So he went all the way to help, and even assigned them a Guidance Junior relationship.

However, on the very first night of this Senior Student–Junior Student acquaintance, the care dynamic was completely reversed. Anuolaide was simply too exhausted today; he had experienced an unusually eventful day in his slow-paced life, and while talking in the school infirmary, he suddenly fell asleep, not even saying goodbye, like a machine that had lost power. It would have been fine for him to sleep in the infirmary, but…

Ludwig didn’t know what he was thinking either. By the time he realized, he was already carrying the Light Elf, who smelled sweetly of desserts, back to the Oak Tree Dormitory.

Ludwig’s subordinate, Bobobawa, was waiting obediently at the entrance of the red-brick building. When he saw this scene, the entire Demon Race was about to panic.

Yet Ludwig’s expression was as usual, holding the Elf in one arm and making a shushing gesture to Bobobawa with the other, as if it was no big deal. He first delivered Anuo to the Dormitory, then returned to his suite to hear his subordinate’s report. There are many students with special status like Ludwig in the Sky Fortress, and the school flexibly opens convenient channels for them, such as allowing registered subordinates to freely enter and exit.

Bobobawa, one of Ludwig’s trusted aides, is not very bright but possesses unprecedented strength. He brought his master two Memory Crystals, one recording Anuo’s mishap during last term’s final exam, and the other showing the release of Forbidden Spell flames during today’s retake.
Towering and beast-like, Bobobawa-known as the “Butcher”-was now willingly bowing his head, attending at Ludwig’s side. He dared not speculate about his master’s thoughts, only following orders to the letter: from vanishing at the right moment to appearing precisely when needed, every action executed with flawless precision.

Yet…

Bobobawa could swear by the God of Darkness: the violet-black flames released by the Elf in the Memory Crystal were exactly his master’s signature move on the Pandemonium battlefield-Forbidden Spell: Inferno Descent.

With the Staff, one or more blazing dragons would be unleashed, sweeping across the battlefield and leaving behind scorched earth, reminiscent of the epic devastation wrought by the birth of an infernal demon. The earliest followers of Ludwig had witnessed this merciless hellfire countless times, lighting up the night sky of the war zone again and again. Its roar reached the heavens, its power shook the earth, and wherever the flames passed, not a single demon survived.

Before earning the title “Conqueror,” Ludwig was once hailed as the “Arson Demon.”

Neither Bobobawa nor any legion commander who followed Ludwig could have imagined that one day, such Forbidden Spell flames would be mastered by an Elf only one hundred and eighty years old.

In theory, this kind of Forbidden Spell was not just impossible to imitate-it was impossible to learn at all.

“Unless the Duke himself taught him,” said another of Bobobawa’s colleagues-the Ravenfolk who had managed to obtain these images.

At first, Bobobawa thought his supposedly clever colleague must have gotten too much seawater in his brain during the last naval battle. But after seeing his master personally carrying the Elf back under the cover of night, even Bobobawa’s not-so-developed mind began to wander uncontrollably.

Just over a month ago, after hastily pacifying the Demon Battlefield, his master’s first move was neither to take control of the various factions nor to reorganize the countless dead and wounded Demon God bloodlines that could be his in an instant. Instead, he inexplicably decided to head for the Central Domain. No demon knew why the Conqueror would do this, and even the most arrogant Clan of Baal among the Seventy-Two Pillar Demon Gods would not be so presumptuous as to think the Demon Race, fresh from civil war, was ready to reignite conflict with the Central Domain.

So what could Lord Ludwig hope to gain in the Central Domain? Suddenly, a memory flashed through Bobobawa’s mind: the Elf’s glance back in the Memory Crystal, silver hair flowing like a river of stars at night, beauty transcending all racial boundaries.

No, no, no-Bobobawa shook his head vigorously, trying to banish these strange thoughts. How could his master possibly be as low-minded as he was?

Coincidentally, Ludwig was also repeatedly scrutinizing the Elf in the Memory Crystal.

The Prince Brother’s surprise was slow to show; his clear, lake-green eyes widened bit by bit, pupils slowly contracting. His delicate yet elegant movements cast a veil of confusion over his entire being. Beneath that veil was a neck so slender and fragile it could be snapped with one hand, reminiscent of a dying swan.

And this little swan had, not long ago, slept defenselessly in Ludwig’s arms, pale lips rising and falling with a faint, indescribable creamy scent.

When Ludwig placed Anuo on the high, soft bed beneath layers of curtains, Anuo seemed to wake in a daze-or perhaps was simply talking in his sleep. In a slow, gentle tone, he solemnly promised: “Don’t-worry, Senior Student-will-protect-you.”

The not-so-bright Elf had clearly misunderstood the principal’s reason for making him Ludwig’s Guidance Senior.

Yet, inexplicably, this scene reminded Ludwig of the first time he tasted bread that was actually palatable. They told him it was milk brioche, rice made from milk. Its crispy exterior was a beautiful golden yellow, but inside it was unbelievably soft. The high sugar content guaranteed a delicate texture, like ice cream melting on the tongue.

He truly didn’t care for sour flavors at all.

But he had an insatiable craving for sweetness.

Author’s Note:

*Bobobawa’s name comes from a local demon in Tanzanian folklore, but the character will not be written strictly according to legend.

*The Dormitory system in the story is inspired by British public schools, though there are some creative liberties. Please don’t take it too seriously, mwah!