H/M: So for all the people who say "He's been a demon for song long yet he hasn't changed" and stuff. 😐. He's friend is Agera. Who was a human in his last life as well.
And if I remember correctly, even in the lightnovel Agera never changed his human nature and even hated Carrera's acts of just nuking everything. This is like saying if someone stays with an abuser long enough they should become an abuser as well????
Yes Loki is a demon, but he's inherently human. That's not something that will change ✌
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Shizue waved her hands lightly in front of her, shaking her head as she smiled.
"No, no. Don't be so humble, Loki-san," she said warmly. "You are definitely stronger than me."
Loki answered without missing a beat, his expression calm and sincere.
"No, you need not be so humble, Shizue," he replied. "You are definitely stronger than me."
Rain, standing a short distance away with her arms crossed, narrowed her eyes slightly.
'What's the point of this?' she thought.
Kenya leaned forward, resting his elbows on his desk, eyes practically sparkling.
"Well, if you can't decide," he said eagerly, "why not just have a battle?"
Alice immediately turned toward him, clearly irritated.
"Kenya, you just love violence," she said. "Why does it always have to be fights with you?"
Gale nodded in agreement, his voice calmer.
"Yeah. There's really no need to be fighting."
For a moment, it seemed like the idea would be dropped
But then Loki spoke.
"Actually," he said, a faint grin forming, "I think it's a great idea."
Shizue froze.
Her eyes widened slightly as she turned to look at him. She remembered their previous encounter all too well, back when Loki hadn't even been named yet, when the gap between their strengths had been painfully obvious.
'I was nowhere near him then,' she thought. 'Even now… that hasn't changed.'
She quickly stepped closer and lowered her voice.
"Loki-san," she whispered urgently, "what's the meaning of this?"
Loki leaned down just enough to answer quietly.
"Don't worry," he said. "This is just to make you look good. We'll have a fight, but I'll let you win."
Shizue blinked, confusion flashing across her face.
"No," she whispered back. "I still don't get what the point is."
Loki's gaze shifted briefly toward the children, who were now watching them with growing anticipation.
"Think of it as a practical," he said calmly. "A chance for the kids to see how proper combat should go."
A hint of amusement entered his voice.
"And it doubles as entertainment, doesn't it?"
Shizue hesitated.
She looked at the eager faces around her, the excitement barely contained. After a few seconds, she let out a small sigh.
"…Fine," she said. "But we cannot cause large-scale damage."
Loki straightened and raised his voice slightly.
"Well then," he said, clapping his hands once, "shall we go to a training ground?"
The tension instantly melted.
The kids erupted into cheers, excitement filling the air.
"Yes!"
"Sensei's gonna fight!"
"This is gonna be awesome!"
---
The training grounds were wide and open, reinforced with sturdy magic barriers and scorched marks from countless past lessons. The air felt heavier the moment Loki and Shizue stepped into the center.
They stood facing one another.
The children gathered along the edges, voices ringing out loudly.
"You can do it, Sensei!"
"Come on, Sensei, beat him!"
Loki glanced over at them and raised an eyebrow.
"…Is nobody going to cheer for me?"
Chloe didn't hesitate for even a second.
"No," she said flatly. "Nobody is cheering for you."
"BOOO!"
The rest of the kids joined in immediately.
"BOOOO!"
Loki let out an awkward chuckle, rubbing the back of his head.
"Wow," he muttered. "That's cold."
He turned back toward Shizue, his expression settling into something more focused.
"So," Loki said, "how should we do this?"
Shizue adjusted her grip on her sword, grounding herself.
"I guess anything is fine," she replied, "as long as we don't destroy school property… and don't kill each other."
Loki nodded.
"That's easy."
He shifted his stance.
"Whenever you're ready," he said calmly.
The cheers slowly died down.
The training ground fell silent.
For a brief moment, neither of them moved.
The wind brushed across the training ground, stirring dust along the reinforced stone floor. The children leaned forward unconsciously, eyes locked on the two figures standing at the center.
Shizue inhaled slowly.
Then
She stepped forward.
Her sword flashed from its sheath in a smooth, practiced motion, the blade glinting under the sunlight as she closed the distance in an instant.
Loki's eyes widened just a little.
"Oh—!"
He hopped backward, narrowly avoiding the first slash as the tip of her blade skimmed past his chest. The kids gasped.
Shizue didn't stop.
She flowed into a second strike, then a third, her movements sharp and efficient. Each swing carried intent. Enough force to test, to pressure.
Loki backpedaled clumsily, boots scraping against the stone.
"W-Wait, Shizue," he said, raising his hands defensively as if flustered. "You're not holding back at all!"
Kenya clenched his fists.
"Yeah! That's our Sensei!"
Rain watched silently from the sidelines, unimpressed.
'That was a terrible dodge,' she thought flatly. 'He could've avoided that without moving.'
Shizue pivoted and kicked off the ground, spinning midair as her blade came down in a clean vertical arc.
Loki barely managed to slide to the side.
The blade struck the ground with a sharp clang, sending sparks flying.
"Nice!" Loki said, grinning. "That was close!"
Shizue narrowed her eyes.
She didn't hesitate.
Magicules surged through her body, subtle but controlled. Flames licked faintly along her blade as Ifrit's power responded to her will.
"Sensei's using fire!" Alice exclaimed.
Shizue thrust forward.
A wave of heat burst from the sword, just enough to scorch the air.
Loki yelped and threw himself backward, rolling across the ground before scrambling to his feet, smoke rising from the edge of his coat.
"Okay, okay," he laughed nervously. "That one actually stung!"
Chloe crossed her arms, unimpressed.
"…He's so weak."
Loki glanced at her.
"Ouch."
Shizue pressed the advantage.
She dashed forward again, this time faster, her footwork tight and deliberate. Loki raised his arm to block or at least, it looked like a block.
Her blade struck his forearm.
CLANG.
Loki staggered backward, sliding several meters before catching himself.
The kids erupted.
"Did you see that!?"
"She pushed him back!"
"Sensei's amazing!"
Shizue felt her heart pound.
'He's really letting me lead,' she thought. 'But… this feels good.'
She adjusted her stance, breathing steady, sword angled forward.
"Are you alright, Loki-san?" she asked, genuine concern in her voice.
Loki straightened slowly, rubbing his arm as if sore.
"I'm just getting started," he said dramatically.
Loki suddenly rushed forward.
The shift was immediate.
The kids gasped as he closed the distance, his movements suddenly sharper. His strikes were fast enough to challenge, slow enough to follow.
He threw a straight punch.
Shizue deflected it with the flat of her blade.
He spun into a low sweep.
She jumped over it.
Loki overextended, on purpose.
Shizue saw the opening.
Her eyes sharpened.
Now.
She stepped inside his guard and struck with the hilt of her sword, driving it into his chest.
"Ugh—!"
Loki stumbled backward, coughing theatrically as he fell onto his back, sliding across the stone before stopping just short of the barrier.
Silence.
Then—
"WOOOO!"
"She got him!"
"Sensei wins!"
Kenya practically bounced in place.
"Yes! Sensei is the strongest!"
Shizue froze, staring at Loki on the ground.
"…I didn't hit you too hard, did I?"
Loki lay there for a second.
Then he burst out laughing.
"Nope," he said cheerfully, sitting up. "That was perfect."
He rose to his feet and dusted himself off, then turned toward the kids.
"Well?" he said, spreading his arms. "What did you think?"
The children cheered again, louder this time.
Shizue felt her chest tighten.
A warmth spread through her.
'They're happy,' she thought.
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