An outcast dropout, surviving on the frontier and rising to become an S-ranked counter-magician.

Hi, I'm Julia.

I returned from twilight, and for some reason when I defeated Shelly, I became a first class anti-magician. Yeah........kind of easily. Although my confidence in my ability to survive in that twilight world came out a bit............................I was, how dumb I was.

I got a room in the dormitory and was looking forward to the next day. By the way, for some reason, I was next to Shelly in the dormitory. According to her, that was the only room available. Although it's a corner of the girls' dormitory, it's a little distressing.... But from tomorrow, the bright academy life will begin...!　Yeah, that's what I thought.

Hello. I'm Julia Curtis. I've just transferred in from the Third Field City. It's nice to meet you!

I bowed my head begrudgingly. So far, so good.

'So, gentlemen, do you have any questions for him?

'Yes, sir!　Seriously!

So, Miss Sophia, go ahead....

When the class teacher, Ms. Delia, said that, I believe it was Sophia?　asks me a question.

"Is it true that you've been living in the twilight for two years?

No, that's a lie. I came to this city for a few reasons.

What is the truth of the rumor that you beat Miss Shelley?

'Sherry is the daughter of the headmaster, so I met her by chance when the paperwork was continuing. We didn't win or lose or anything like that.

Oh, you're lying...

I was told in advance to keep yesterday's game a secret. That's why I've thought about this in advance and prepared an answer. By the way, I don't want to tell you about the first class vs. demons either. I don't mind if they find out about it, but I don't want to take unnecessary distances to fit in with everyone for a while.

''........tch!

When I glance over, Shelly, who happens to be in the same class as me, clicks her tongue and looks at me with an abhorrent expression.

Wait!　You'd think it was weird if you looked like that!

I wanted to say that, but I let it pass with a casual look. If they find out that I've been living in the twilight for two years, it would be a lot of trouble, so I'd like to welcome them to graduation quietly as it is... As I was thinking about this, the question comes up again.

''Can I ask you that hard-to-answer question?''

'Okay, but what is it?　Ms. Sophia.

You don't think they're going to pursue the twilight further?　As I was poised, this time the question was in the direction of the day after tomorrow.

'Yulia-kun, Mr?　What is it?

What's going on?

I wonder if she's that transgendered. It's rumored that she lives in a girl's dormitory. You're sure about this?　And her name sounds like a girl.

''Well I mean I look like this but I'm a man I'm sorry.

At that moment, I felt the class buzzing.

''So the rumors about the girl's dormitory were true!

Looking like a girl like that, maybe you're a carnivore?

A man with that look?　Rather good!

Hey ... who or what's waking up?

Well, that's not surprising. I hadn't cut my hair since I came back. I wanted to keep my thoughts from the twilight as a warning, so I ended up keeping it the same. I'm putting it up in a ponytail now, but I don't know if I have that much of a woman's face... but when I walked into the men's room in the morning, I got a guffaw... no, I'm sure it's my hair!　Yeah!

'Yes, yes. Silence. Now, Julia, you can sit behind Miss Shelley.

Okay.....

With that, I take a seat behind Shelly. Just in the corner by the window. Maybe the corner is my place of residence, but I felt strangely calm.

'Nice to meet you, Shelly,'

Nice to meet you.

Looking at her as a bushy-haired woman, I wondered if I had overdone it yesterday........

◇

Located in the Kekkai City, the system of the Counter Demon Academy is different from that of a normal school. Ordinary schools have a set curriculum, but the academy has basic classes in the morning and elective classes in the afternoon. In the afternoon, it is an elective class. The basic class is the basic knowledge as an opposing magician. And basic physical strength, basic magic and fighting techniques. But as I said, each person has their own strengths and weaknesses, so in the afternoon, we have elective classes with the goal of developing our strengths and weaknesses.

Now, while I was thinking about what elective class I'll take in the afternoon.......the morning is over. It's the lunch break. By the way, it's not like people are gathered around me during recess. Everyone is whispering and whispering to each other, glancing at each other in a distant direction.

But that may not be an unavoidable thing. In the first place, it is almost impossible for people to move into the Boundary City system. There is a means to move between the warded cities, but it is mandatory to be accompanied by a first class anti-magician or special class anti-magician. Moreover, there is almost no reason to move to the current ward city, and the only reason is the exchange matches and competitions that occur a few times a year.

Moreover, he's a top-secret special class antagonist who lived for two years in the twilight, beat Sherry, a first class antagonist, looks like a girl, lives in a girl's dormitory, or maybe he's actually transgender?　The rumor that "I'm not going to be able to go to school," has been flying around the school. It seems that not only from other classes, but also people from other grades have come to see me.

"....Are you free?

I'm not busy but...

Follow me.

What... hey!

I reluctantly followed Shelly as she said this.

Yes, this is.......rice.

"Oh... a rice ball!　Thank you!　Well it's been a long time since I've had a cultural dinner...

Rooftop. The two of us had come to the rooftop. I've heard that it's not open to the public, but Shelly, the headmaster's daughter, seems to have the key. It's an abuse of power, but it's not like she's abusing it, so it's safe.......the theory goes.

''Homemade by Shelly?''

Yeah, right!　Bad!

I haven't had a meal made by someone else in two years................

Well can I ask you something outside?

'Mugging........hmm?　Okay.

What have you been doing for dinner?

'Hmm. Basically, he ate demons, I guess. They liked snakes, spiders, bees, and other things that were high in protein. And sometimes they ate fatty insects, too. Well, I think I got the basic food locally.　The nutrients humans need are protein, carbohydrates, and fat, so I guess I was careful not to skew any of them... oh, but there were times when I didn't eat for a week or so. I managed to stay connected with just water. Oh, and this is a top secret but we actually had this magical piece of wood outside that could store water and we used it as a water bottle... ...Hmmm, I'll show Shelly next time.

What a great vitality you have. It's not nearly survival.

No.

What?

Not nearly. It was all about survival. I literally did everything I could to survive. We killed, we took, we took, we sipped muddy water, we vomited blood, and we lived.

Why are you... why are you out there?

I was a little hesitant to say it. That event was traumatic for me. An abominable incident that saw the darker side of humanity. I don't know if I hate those three people enough to want to kill them........... It's been two years, and I'm back in the fives. But I thought I could talk to Shelly about it.

'Doesn't the academy have a system of partying up and hunting in a safe zone?'

Yeah, well, I guess.

But our leader was in the danger zone at one point.

That's not possible...

So they used me as bait to get the other three out. I was even carefully warded so they couldn't come back.

That's not... that's a murderer!

'Yes. And that's where my life in the twilight began, and that's where we are now... I guess.

Don't you regret it?

'Well I kind of lost those thoughts. Walking through that wide, horrible twilight world, everything seems unimportant.

You're strong...

No way. Two years ago, I was a fifth-grade anti-magician. And I was the lowest in my grade. Mainly because of my lack of actual fighting skills.

What ... with all that technology, you're at the bottom?

'That was all learned in the twilight. It's a skill I learned to live by.

'Well you're literally not ready for this. I kind of understand how strong you are.

But just because you want to be strong doesn't mean you want to go to the twilight... or anything, right?

You're right. You were going to make it to the danger zone tomorrow anyway, weren't you?

You know...

You look like you're in a hurry. It's just like me two years ago. And that's why I have to tell you, Shelly, you're going to die now.

Isn't it enough?

''It's not enough. I have basic skills, but I'm still no match for the Dusk Demon and Demon Race. In particular, the further east you go, the stronger the demons become. I just got lucky and got my power by accident. You shouldn't go over there on your own.

I see...

Schoon, Shelly is depressed. I felt a little sorry for her, like she was torturing me. There must be some special reason for wanting to be so strong.

''I........''

What?

I'd be happy to train with you. If you'd like, Shelly, that is.

'Really?　Actually, you know, I've been meaning to say that all day!

Oh... oh.

I'm surprised when she comes very close to me in a biting manner. Instantly, the fluffy scent of girlhood tickles my nostrils.

'After school!　After school, I promised!　Absolutely!

Uh, yeah...

''Honestly, your ability is as good as or better than that of a special grade anti-magician... How lucky I am to have someone like that to practice with me!

Oh, God, what a character.

No, no, no!　Oh, I'm so excited!

"Ha-ha-ha.

Then we sat here for a while, chatting about random things. Peaceful days are not bad, I thought.