Chapter 13 : Solutions
“This should be fine now.”
Via endured the pain, bandaging her hand wound with gauze, then downing a healing potion; the ache eased somewhat.
The pink-haired girl leaned against a tree trunk, sheltering from the downpour.
She had fled the Giant Horn Lizard’s territory, finding a temporary safe spot to rest.
As for Mary…
Probably beast chow by now.
Via felt no guilt—Mary came to assassinate her from the start; self-inflicted end.
Next, ponder her own situation.
“So Demon King Viel… was my past self.”
Via sighed.
Theoretically, she and Serena perished together, souls bound for hell—yet she reincarnated human.
Explaining recent oddities:
Mirror demon—former self.
Silver Sword Princess hostility—arch-nemesis.
“Serena, bet you didn’t expect this. I get a second life; you go to hell alone—fate’s irony.”
Via stood slowly.
Past life: slain by foe, ambitions unfulfilled.
This life: grow stronger, seize destiny, rule from world’s peak, no repeats—dominate all.
“I’ll become a god!”
Via covered half her face, declaring weightily.
From past Demon King Viel: imposing.
In this pink-haired body…
Middle-school syndrome flare-up.
“Damn! Why’s my voice so soft, and this body…!”
Via glanced down at her ample chest, displeased.
Appearance: cute.
But cute fills stomachs?
“Doesn’t suit at all! Where’s the Demon King vibe?!!”
Pink-hair grumbled aggrievedly.
Situation: not optimistic.
Demon physique vastly superior to human.
Mana gap alone: huge.
“Ow… still hurts.”
Via clutched her arm.
Meridians throbbed faintly—from channeling overload mana for the bullet.
“Even disadvantaged, I have turnaround confidence.”
Via undaunted.
Talent gap? So what?
She refused zero odds of powering up.
Any sliver—she’d seize it.
Once strong, finish past unfinished business: all humans—
Mid-thought, she spotted the saintess pendant at her waist.
“This… Mom left it.”
Crisis warmth from mother; Via paused.
Deceased mother protected her.
Then, memories with Sophie and Mom frolicking in flower fields.
“Sis…”
Mood complex.
Dual emotions clashed:
Demon King’s human enmity, indifference.
Human attachment to mother, sister.
Continue as Demon King: sever human ties, leave—abandon Sophie?
Just imagining parting with Sis ached inexplicably.
Weakness unbecoming a Demon King! Humans: insignificant ants!
“I’m the Demon King… proud Demon King!!”
“Hmph.”
Rain stopped.
Via traversed wetlands, using mana detection for intel and bearings, heading back to Evergreen Mountains assessment zone.
Post-rest, she didn’t flee—returned to continue the test.
“A Demon King swayed by stray emotions?”
Via chuckled lightly.
After deliberation, Avalon Academy: exploitable—ties to powers, student ID accesses resources.
Hiding in undisturbed mountains, restarting with frail body: tough.
Academy hid dangers, but covert; leave sans protection: worse.
Borrow momentum for resurgence: valid strategy.
Thus, pass this exam—excel!
“But how to excel? Cores used up.”
Via assessed.
No sacred arts, supplies nearly gone.
Mana scant; bullet drained most. Reuse cores: body can’t, high risk.
No teammates, gear, resupply—slay many beasts for cores…
Objectively: normal excellence impossible.
“Even passing tough?”
Via recalled assessment details meticulously.
Avalon tests all abilities: collect Evergreen cores, reach safe zone—done; score by submitted cores…
Wait.
Sudden epiphany; she yanked out handbook.
Read cover-to-cover, double-checked rules, spotting key
“Exactly.”
Via devised perfect plan.
“Handbook bans killing students—not attacking each other.”