Almost all of them wielded abilities that were absurdly, unfairly overpowered.

I didn't know what determined who was born with them.

Maybe no one did.

But I did know this:

Every Magic Eye's ability had its roots in demonic power.

And Lisa was one of those few.

One of the rarest beings in the world—standing casually beside me, smiling like she hadn't just dropped a massive revelation.

I don't know if real demons exist in this world.

The comic never explained it clearly, and the story only hinted at possibilities.

But after everything I've gone through…

It wouldn't surprise me if demon-like beings really did exist.

My thoughts drift to the rebels I fought not long ago—the man who, when cornered, swallowed something bizarre and transformed.

Horns burst out from his forehead, rising upward like twisted branches.

His skin darkened, turning pitch-black as if swallowed by shadows.

There are all kinds of horned species in this world, but those horns…

I had never seen that shape before.

And that aura—thick, murky, and nauseating.

Everything about him felt wrong.

Those horns, that transformation… they resembled the descriptions of demons written in ancient scriptures.

A chill crept up my spine.

"So what exactly is this ability?" I asked.

"Hm…" Lisa tilted her head, as if trying to find the right words. "The ability to control others as I wish?"

…Isn't that completely overpowered?!

If she used that ability on important figures—on people in positions of power—just how terrifying would the consequences be?

The Emperor, for example.

What do they even call this sort of thing?

Hypnosis?

Brainwashing?

Either way… it was the kind of power that didn't just bend rules—it broke them.

And somehow, she possessed it.

I didn't know the full limits of Lisa's ability, but one thing was obvious:

even in this world, her power was on a completely different level.

I glanced at her with a suspicious look.

"What?" she asked.

"You're not planning to use that ability on me, right?"

"…Hehe."

She just laughed—lightly, vaguely, and absolutely without answering the question.

Oh? So she wasn't going to give me a straight answer?

I narrowed my eyes and kept staring at her until she finally twitched.

"Alright, alright. I promise. I won't use it on Louis…!"

It took some stubborn persistence, but in the end, I managed to squeeze a proper promise out of her.

But then—

"…Can I use it just once? There's something I really want to try."

"No."

"Tch."

What in the world was she planning to do?

I immediately stopped her when she subtly tried to activate hypnosis again, and she pulled back with an expression that could only be described as disappointed.

She really wasn't giving up easily.

Was this why she had been chosen for her Magic Eyes in the first place?

Her talent wasn't just rare—it was dangerous…

especially when she looked at me with that mischievous glint in her eye.

That was the most likely explanation… but part of me suspected she might have other abilities hidden as well.

Magic Eyes, after all, were abilities bound to the original owner.

In the comic, there was an arc where someone tried to forcibly harvest a Magic Eyes user's eyes—literally extracted them—and attempted to transplant them into their own.

Yet despite all that effort, the eyes wouldn't work properly.

In the end, the original owner became nothing more than a helpless blind victim.

And the thief gained nothing.

That episode made one thing clear: Magic Eyes were an ability that belonged solely to their rightful owner.

No matter how crazed the scientist or how twisted the attempt, they couldn't use someone else's eyes.

…Of course, a mad scientist like the one behind Lisa's suffering might have found some loophole. They always do.

"But why did you come to the Academy?"

My curiosity slipped out before I could stop myself.

With an ability like hers—something so overwhelmingly powerful—why take the risk of attending the Academy? Why walk straight into a place filled with potential threats?

Lisa looked at me, her expression calm.

"You told me to do what I wanted to do. That's why I came here."

Ah.

Right.

I did say something like that.

Lisa immediately started chattering the moment we stepped outside, her voice brighter than I'd ever heard.

"I've always wanted to go to school, you know? Wear a uniform, make lots of friends. Studying… hehe, not so much."

"Then you've fulfilled your wish," I said.

"Yes. And it's all thanks to Louis."

Her eyes locked onto me—warm, sincere, uncomfortably earnest.

I quickly turned my head away.

I've never been good at receiving heartfelt gratitude.

Someone looking at me like that… it makes my skin crawl in a way I can't explain.

Pretending not to notice the intense stare coming from her side, I kept walking.

Finally, we reached the gymnasium.

But before we could enter, a sharp exhale echoed through the air.

"Haaah…!"

We stepped inside, and at the center of the gym, two people were sparring.

Hard.

And one of them had a face I recognized immediately.

'Clarice, was it?'

My mood dropped the moment I saw her.

Twisted justice.

Self-righteous to the core.

Exactly the kind of person I can't stand.

Lisa noticed me staring.

"Do you know her?"

"No. I don't."

I had no intention of admitting anything.

Just seeing her irritated me enough already.

Still, the sparring bothered me a little—not out of concern, but because something felt off.

Clarice was getting completely overwhelmed. Her opponent dominated her from start to finish, pushing her back again and again.

Lisa hesitated. "Shouldn't we help…?"

"There's no need."

This wasn't a playground fight between kids.

Everyone at the Academy was an adult, and this was clearly an official sparring session.

Interfering would be the real stupidity.

So I simply stood still and watched, expression unreadable, as Clarice struggled on her own.

---

Author Note:-

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