Kinsou no Vermeil – 09

「神命の魔術師」 (Shinmei no Majutsushi)
“The Mage of Heaven’s Will”

Kinsou no Vermeil’s ninth episode depicts Alto figuratively and literally smashing the Practical Exam. But before Alto can run his victory lap for the Written Exam, everyone and their grandmothers are plotting their next move against him and Vermeil.

A QUICKIE BEFORE THE WRITTEN EXAM

This post might be a little shorter because it’s a preamble to some major events going down in the next batch of episodes. I was expecting the pompous kid with the Shinji Hirako bob-cut to have more of a presence in the next episode.

But while Vermeil was trying to squeeze in a quick one before the exams, he was getting some penetration of his own in the bathroom. Unfortunately, Iolite opted to use a knife since the poor guy only existed so that Iolite could take his identity and ambush Alto during the exam.

It’s gonna be weird to see what’ll happen with Iolite having to keep his homicidal tendencies at bay to play mind games with Alto. Will he try distracting him with ASMR to ruin his chances at the exam, allowing him to murder a disgraced and expelled Alto? Or does he plan to beat him up after the test and prefers to warn him to meet him afterward by the lockers?

I suppose it gives him a good “I am L” moment to turn next to him and tell him that his ass is grass, but it’s kind of an underwhelming first impression for Alto to find one of the most dangerous arch enemies asking for an eraser before threatening to shank him next.

MASTERMINDS?

On top of this, the Student Council is sharpening its knives when it comes to handling Alto. During the exams, Jessica and Elena are too busy flunking the Bechdel Test by bringing up Alto as they shower together. Everything Elena says is automatically suspicious, so when she gleefully talks about how much Alto has fallen in love with the big scary demon that he’s made a pact with, it’d be hard not to imagine her licking her chops as she prepares her next move to take a massive bite out of the two of them.

At this point, Iolite and Elena are in a relay race on who gets to step on Alto and Vermeil’s throats. Yes, Iolite’s the one who wants to get rid of him and Vermeil. Still, with the reveal that Elena would’ve killed them both immediately if he didn’t join them, I can see Elena intending to weaponize Alto against those who fought her during Obsidian’s rampage, and then cleaning her hands of them once they stop becoming useful.