Outbreak

“Hehe~”

From atop a tall building not far from the scene, the devil with outstretched wings overlooked the chaos below, its narrowed crimson slit pupils filled with mockery.

“The flames of hateful jealousy… how perfectly suited to the contractor’s abilities~ So ugly, yet it harms others and oneself~

Ahh~ This is the sin of humanity, the most delicious part~

Continue spreading fear~ Your terror is the finest bait for my king’s revival~”

…

…Though I boasted grandly, in reality, after fighting,

we discovered we had almost no way to deal with her.

The temperature of those flames was simply too high; whether ice magic or water magic, they would completely evaporate before even touching Rebecca.

Wind magic would deflect due to the airflow from the burning flames, making it hard to hit.

Earth magic… might break through that flame barrier, but due to range, it couldn’t touch the target in the air at all.

The miss, as a close-combat fighter, couldn’t get near because of the flames.

…It made sense; if ordinary methods worked,

the students in the boys’ dormitory would have already started counterattacking.

Even the several teachers who rushed over, along with a few male protagonists, all looked helpless.

Fortunately, she seemed to be searching for someone and wasn’t massacring wildly—at most, she was bombing everywhere and damaging buildings.

…One had to admire the academy’s construction quality; even at this level, it hadn’t completely collapsed.

“Light Strike!”

…But unlike us who were at a loss, Sophina, with her rare attribute—light magic—didn’t need to be constrained.

A beam of light shot straight toward the girl in the air.

Perhaps the previous attacks missing gave her confidence; Rebecca didn’t dodge at all.

Just like that, the beam passed through the flames and hit her smooth shoulder.

“Arghhhh!!!”

The instant it hit, Rebecca screamed… proving this strike was extremely effective.

It seemed magic worked on devil contractors too.

Light magic had a special effect on devil contractors.

As expected of light magic with purifying power… it could casually reach levels mortals couldn’t.

“Haaah!”

Probably sensing the threat “Sophina” posed, Rebecca, who had been attacking indiscriminately, now targeted the heroine.

Several balls of dark fire rained down from the sky!

“Protect classmate Sophina!”

The teachers understood quickly and immediately directed the students present to shield “Sophina”.

The students responded at once; in the blink of an eye, layers of barriers rose around “Sophina”.

…Though earth magic wasn’t great for offense, its defense was still very high.

Even so, the black flames melted through many barriers, breaking through to “Sophina”‘s side before turning into black mud and barely dissipating.

“Thank you everyone for the help! Here I go!”

“Sophina” cupped her hands; in an instant, countless beams burst forth!

Rebecca also fired several fireballs, trying to cancel out the light beams.

But several beams still broke through the defense net, attacking Rebecca from blind spots.

“Aaahhhh—!”

Rebecca let out an even sharper scream, sounding in great pain.

Her altitude dropped noticeably, and the flames seemed to become unstable.

Now, earth magic should be able to reach her.

The surrounding students were already gearing up, eager to try;

no, some had already shot rock bullets at her.

Facing attacks from all directions, Rebecca lost her previous composure and fell into passive defense.

Gradually, blood marks appeared on her body.

It felt like I didn’t even need to act.

Under everyone’s siege, she would soon be defeated…

“…Rebecca!”

“Miss!”

Two different voices rang out.

Looking over, it was Noel and Nino, along with Monica who had been silent nearby.

“…What’s goingовал on? Why has the miss turned into that?”

To understand the situation, they all wore expressions of disbelief.

“She was infiltrated in her heart by a devil and signed a contract with it, turning into this.”

“Why… did it turn out like this?”

Watching Rebecca, burned by her own flames and covered in wounds from stones, Noel couldn’t help covering her mouth.

“It’s my fault… If, if I had explained clearly back then… maybe she wouldn’t have been so heartbroken as to be tempted by the devil.”

“…What do you mean?”

“Actually… today Rebecca… confessed to me. But I didn’t respond clearly… probably that’s what led her astray…”

“Uh… Aaaaaah!”

Though Noel’s words were concerning, Rebecca suddenly howling like mad in the distance drew more attention.

She suddenly ignored the surrounding attacks and charged straight in one direction.

To avoid the flames on her body, the crowd parted, revealing the boy with slicked-back hair hiding among them.

“That’s… Miss Ethan’s fiancé!”

After seeing the man, Rebecca shed two lines of bloody tears, erupting in an even hoarser roar; her speed and flame intensity escalated further.

Just as she was about to crash into the man…

“Don’t do this, Rebecca!”

At the critical moment, green twin ponytails fluttered as someone stepped between them.

“Wake up! Rebecca!”

Miraculously, Rebecca, who had raised her fist to smash down a fiery punch, froze in place.

…

(Someone’s perspective)

My consciousness was like sinking into a quagmire, unable to think at all.

I wanted to open my eyes, but my eyelids were too heavy to lift.

The only thing I could feel was pain.

It hurts, it hurts so much.

But the demonic fire in my chest burned even more fiercely.

What on earth has happened to me?

Struggling to open my eyes, what met my gaze was that man I hated to my very core.

My eyes instantly widened in rage, my body charging forward uncontrollably.

Kill him…

Kill him kill him kill him kill him!

However… just as I was about to touch him, she spread her arms and blocked in front of me.

“Wake up, Rebecca!”

Just a little more, and my hand would have reached her.

If I hadn’t braked in time, the consequences would have been unthinkable.

…Come to think of it, why have my hands turned like this?

“Get out of the way! Noel! I must… must kill him!”

Glaring at the man hiding behind her, the fire of jealousy in my chest blazed.

“No… The Rebecca I know wouldn’t do something like murder! I know better than anyone—you’re introverted, but you’re a good girl kinder than anyone!”

Here it comes again…

“…What do you even know about me?”

I fell silent, the dark emotions accumulated in my heart exploding in an instant.

“I’ve admired you so much, I’ve always been by your side, my world only had you left! Yet you never once noticed my feelings!”

I knew I was just taking it out on her…

But I could no longer control myself.

“Yet you, for that stinking man you’ve only met a few times, turn around and abandon me after all the time we’ve spent together? Why are you enchanted by him? The hatred in my chest… the jealousy in my chest, it won’t extinguish!!!”

Hearing this, Noel lowered her head, her shoulders trembling slightly.

Ah, she must be angry.

“You…”

However… her next words were beyond my expectations.

“—You big idiot!”