Chapter 34. The tempering demon sword saint - Tempus Infinitum

The next day at the 2nd training ground classroom.

Emilia enters along with the bell signalling the start of class.

Behind her is a male student in black clothes.

“Good morning. Before we start I’m going to introduce a new transfer student.”

Emilia writes a name on the blackboard.

Ray Grandori.

The black-clothed student steps forward.

“Nice to meet you all. I’m Ray Grandori. Actually, I was supposed to be here for the first day but due to certain circumstances, I’m starting late. There’s lots of things I don’t know so I would appreciate it if people could help me when I’m stuck. Thank you.”

He had a transparent like voice with light blue eyes, white hair and a beautiful androgynous face that gave off a cool impression.

“….Oi, oi…..he’s a 7 sided star..”

“Idiot. Of course he is. He’s Ray Grandori, one of the chaos generation. The tempering demon sword saint. He’s a monster who can use any sword. Forget about demon swords, he can even use spirit swords and sacred swords that mazoku shouldn’t be able to use.” (1)

“I’d heard he’d enrolled but since he hadn’t come to school yet I thought it was just a made-up story.”

One of the chaos generation huh. Like Sasha, he seems very famous.

“Ray-kun. Because you can use Demon King Army <Guys> you are eligible to run as a group leader. What do you want to do?”

“Is that so? What should I do?” he says in a refreshing tone.

He doesn’t seem a warlike type.

“The groups have already been decided but I’ll postpone the matches to give you time to prepare some members for the group opposition test. Of course, you can enter someone else’s group this time if you want but next time you will be participating as a leader. A group with you as a leader with your ability…..”

Apparently, Emilia really wants to make Ray a group leader for some reason.

“I haven’t made friends with anyone yet so I’m happy being in someone else’s group.”

“Eh…..?”

Emilia raises a puzzled voice.

Was it an unexpected remark from a member of the chaos generation?

“I…I understand. You won’t find members for your group so soon, so you are temporarily entering someone else’s group. I think there will be a number of students who want to join Ray-kuns group when you become a leader though.”

“Being a leader is too much for me.” Ray says frankly.

“Even if you say such a thing, I’m sure that those that enter your group will disagree.”

Fumu. Emilia seems to be pushing Ray quite a bit. I wonder why?

“Well then. Since you need to choose a group, will the group leaders please stand up.”

“It’s fine. There’s no need.”

Emilia looks curiously at Ray

“Do you already know the group leaders names and faces?”

“Nope. Not at all.”

Emilia starts looking at Ray suspiciously now.

“But I know the one.”

Ray finishes talking and starts walking.

The classrooms gaze was fixed on him and whispered voices started leaking out.

“…..Who’s group is he entering…..?”

“He’s the tempering demon sword saint. Did we have someone capable of controlling him in our class?”

“Maybe he thinks Sasha-sama is a leader?”

“I see. That’s true. There’s no way you’d think the witch of ruin was a member of a white clothes group.”

Ray walks straight to Sasha’s seat, walks past and stops in front of my seat.

“Yo. Nice to meet you. I’m Ray Grandori.” Ray says while having a refreshing smile “What’s your name?”

“It’s Arnos Voldigod.”

“Well, Arnos-kun will you let me join your group? I’m pretty good at handling swords. I’m sure I’ll be of help to you.”

Fumu. This is an unexpected offer.

“How do you know I was a leader?”

Ray answered immediately.

“Because your magic is the strongest in this class.”

He can sense my magic and remain unafraid?

In other words, he has considerable magic power himself.

“Even though I’m in white clothes?”

Ray looks at my clothes and an expression that says he’s just noticed appears on his face.

“Oh yeah. I only saw your magic power.”

Ray laughs at his own mistake.

“Even so, Arnos-kun is great. Normally white clothes couldn’t be leaders.”

“If there’s rules, they can be broken.”

Ray laughs.

“As I thought, I want to join your group. You’re interesting.”

Ray offers me a handshake. He’s a very refreshing man.

“Ra…Ray-kun. You may join any group but Arnos-kuns mark is a stigma……..”

“Stigma…..?”

Ray looks at the brand of the inept on my uniform.

“Aah, so you’re the rumoured one. The first person to be branded inept in the whole school’s history.”

“So it seems.”

“I see. So even with your strong magic, you are still branded inept? What’s the aptitude test for then?”

Emilia seems to be surprised at Ray’s simple question.

“Ra…Ray-kun. It that statement a royal critique?”

“Aah, sorry. Let’s pretend you didn’t hear that.”

“I didn’t hear……….”

I couldn’t help laughing at Ray’s attitude towards royalty.

“You’re a pretty interesting guy.”

“Really? Is that okay? I’ve often been told I can’t read the air very well.”

“That’s amusing.”

Ray lets out another refreshing smile.

“That’s the first time I’ve been praised for that.”

Ray turns towards Emilia.

“Can I join the group of an inept person?”

“That’s….it’s allowed…….but as one of the chaos generation that regarded as a potential reincarnation of the founder you should make a more suitable judgement regarding your position.”

Emilia presses her view on Ray forcefully.

“Understood. A suitable judgement.”

Ray tightness his expression and turns back to me.

“Well then, Can I join Arnos-kuns group?”

Fumu. Did he think as long as he makes a face befitting a member of royalty he would be fine?

He really can’t read the air at all.

Emilia seems to have had too many surprises for one day. Her eyes are wide open and her mouth is hanging open but she doesn’t seem to have noticed at all.

Actually, this is a masterpiece.

“….What’s going on? Why is the tempering demon sword saint going to the inept persons camp all of a sudden?”

“….Even if it’s temporary it’s too much…..”

“Now that Ray Grandori had arrived I thought that finally, that inept person and his arrogance would be finished……”

The ruthless voices of the royal students leak out.

“As expected of Arnos-sama! He showed himself to be better without any fighting. How cool!”

“Yes! Arnos-sama’s charm is so great even the tempering demon sword saint has fallen to it!”

“Wait! I noticed something enormous!”

“What?”

“If he fell to Arnos-sama’s charm then isn’t this love at first sight!?”

“Eeeeh. Then isn’t Ray-kun our rival?”

“Bu…But he’s a man…….!!”

“That’s powerless before love!!”

The voices of the strange Arnos Fan Union ring out.

“Is that fine? It seems like there will be some disappointed people.”

I hint about his royal colleagues.

Yeah, he’s thinking deeply over it now.

“If I’m honest, I was wondering what I would do if there were no good leaders but isn’t Arnos-kun absolutely stronger than me?” Ray says in a down-to-earth tone of voice.

It seems he doesn’t care that I’m an inept person.

I don’t know if it’s his true intention but I don’t hear any lies either.

“I guess.”

“Then please let me. It matches my nature to serve under a talented leader.”

This freedom of not being bound to royalty is like the mazoku of 2000 years ago.

“That is my reason. Is it okay?”

“Fumu. In that case, I decline.”

“……Nn?”

Ray’s expression turns blank.

“If you just want to blindly follow orders then join any group here. If you want to be one of my subordinates then, by all means, show me the corresponding power.”

“Arnos-kun.”

Suddenly a striking expression floats on Ray’s face and he says in a theatrical tone of voice.

“Even though I said I wanted to follow orders I’m not that carefree to blindly follow them. I have something I must do at any cost. Yes, a mission. In order to do that I’ll become your hands and feet and climb to the top of this academy. I want to be put in your group at any cost!!”

“Is that so? Then show me suitable power.”

Ray returned to a refreshing smile again.

“….That’s strange. I thought that performance was pretty good…..”

I can’t get a grasp on this man. It feels like he’s air.

“……Eh? Did he just turn down the tempering demon sword saint!?”

“As expected of Arnos-sama! Haughty! He’s so haughty!”

“Wait! I’ve noticed enormous!”

“What now?”

“….Ray -kun said he wanted to put it in……”

“What about receiving!?”

The Arnos Fan Union were having an incomprehensible conversation.

“Ah, that’s right Misa. You can enter Ray’s group.”

“Eh? Errm…..yes. If you say so Arnos-sama then I will…….” Misa says in a puzzled voice.

“Combine your strengths and challenge me in the test. If you do well I’ll add you to my subordinates.”

“…..Understood.”

I watched Ray.

“Is that okay?”

“A leader is too out of character for me……..”

Fumu. He said that a while ago but I thought he was being modest but he doesn’t seem to be.

Being a leader is essential to becoming a demon emperor along with power. He has the power but doesn’t seem interested in positions or politics.

“You’re very interesting. I only wanted to play a little but if you aren’t motivated I won’t force you.”

“No, it’s fine. I’m interested in you too.”

Ray states his opinion and smiles his refreshing smile.

“Be gentle.”

“Nah. I’m going to smash you with my full power.”

Ray had a strange expression on his face before correcting himself.

“As a matter of fact, I have a one-year-old daughter waiting for my return.”

“My my. Then you will have to fight with your full power so you can return alive to her.”

I laughed at Ray. That has to be a lie. He’s an irresponsible man.

“What’s that for?”

“What?”

“No, it doesn’t matter. I feel like I can get along with Arnos-kun very well.”

“Fumu. That’s strange. Even though this was a chance meeting I just had the same thought myself.”

Even though I’m just being whimsical my words seemed to fall into place and in my gut, I knew them to be right.

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(1) I’m having trouble with his nickname/title. The author used 錬魔の剣聖. 剣聖 is sword saint, 魔 is demon and 錬 is tempering, refine, drill, train, polish. I couldn’t think of anything that sounded good in English so if anyone has a better suggestion I’m all ears. I’m starting to wonder if the author was playing around with the alchemist kanji and was going for something like demon alchemist sword saint?