Devon Lesser slowly opened his eyes.
When the darkness before him faded away, what came into view was a gray, gloomy sky, just like his current situation, utterly devoid of light.
This was outside the academy.
"You're awake."
A faint voice came from behind him. Devon carefully distinguished it, it wasn't Viktor's.
He abruptly snapped awake, shaking his body, trying to escape this desolate place.
But he quickly discovered that his body was still restrained.
His dulled physical senses hadn't yet caught up to the pain.
Devon lowered his head and saw that his entire body was wrapped in some unknown, ink-black liquid.
It was this thick, fluid-like substance that had completely bound him here.
"How does it feel to be restrained?"
Henny's voice sounded beside him, her expression showing neither joy nor sorrow.
Devon raised his head and looked at her, shock written all over his face.
"Y-you… who are you!?"
Henny, "..."
She casually cast a spell formation. A surface of water floated in the air, mirroring her face like a reflection in a mirror.
Dark, sludge-like markings wound up from her neck to her forehead, covered sparsely in intricate runes.
Those marks and runes pulsed unsteadily, as if they were alive.
Even Henny could hardly recognize herself anymore.
No wonder this disgusting fat pig couldn't recognize her.
"Heh… hehehe."
"Professor Devon really does forget people easily. Guess it's normal that you don't remember someone as insignificant as me."
"Do you want to take a closer look?"
Henny completely pulled back her black hood. Her eyes met Devon's directly. In that instant, countless memories flashed in her eyes. Devon froze, and the memories in his mind suddenly became clear.
Burning books. Malicious humiliation. The girl's suppressed sobs, gradually turning hoarse.
And his own disgusting self, proudly strutting away.
"It... it's you!? Viktor's damned assistant!"
"You and Viktor, both of you just won't stop tormenting me, huh!?"
Henny ignored what Devon said, because his attitude already told her that he and Viktor had long been at odds.
She simply thought too simply of people.
Now, Devon's life and death were completely in her hands.
She could take her revenge anytime she wanted.
Yet Henny didn't feel the joy of vengeance fulfilled.
Because she had achieved everything through borrowed power.
Her plan had met no obstacles, everything had gone strangely smoothly.
She'd taken control of the entire academy and forcefully restrained Devon Lesser within it.
It was all progressing like something out of a story.
And that made Henny suddenly realize how fragile mages truly were.
Knights could still rely on their strong bodies to face danger, but once a mage lost their magic,
They were nothing.
There were so many third-circle mages in the academy, yet not a single one could stop her from sealing the place.
However…
"I still have to thank you, Professor Devon. You made me realize that being weak only means I'll keep being bullied."
Henny didn't move. Both her hands were hidden inside her robe.
But suddenly, black ink slithered out from her shadow like living tendrils and climbed up Devon's body.
Devon broke into a cold sweat, terrified.
This thing, whatever it was, felt terribly wrong.
"W-what… what is this!?"
Devon forced a nervous smile and hurriedly said, "Miss Henny, perhaps we can reconcile… as long as you let me go..."
"No need to explain, Professor Devon."
Henny cut him off. Her amber eyes turned completely black, even her pupils disappeared, like the eyes of an emotionless executioner.
"After I settle things between us, I'll turn myself in."
The black tentacles suddenly writhed in excitement, lashing so violently they snapped apart, only to regenerate instantly, surging toward Devon like a tidal wave.
Devon's eyes went wide, his heart almost leaping into his throat.
"This is the end of me!"
"Henny!"
The tentacles froze all at once, stopping just a hair's breadth away from him.
Devon gasped for air, the feeling of death so close that he could barely breathe.
A familiar voice called out. Henny turned her head.
Erica was standing across from her, panting heavily.
Henny's appearance startled Erica.
"Y-you… what happened to you?"
"It's just a side effect of magic. Don't worry about it."
Henny didn't care how she looked now, even though she knew she must appear hideous.
Erica, however, frowned in confusion.
"Henny… you can use magic again?"
Henny didn't answer. She just turned her head away.
When Erica saw Devon Lesser tied up by countless black tendrils, her face changed drastically.
"Devon Lesser!? Why is he here?"
"Didn't Professor Viktor already have him tied up?"
At the mention of Viktor's name, Henny froze. She turned back, disbelief written on her face, and slowly walked closer to Erica.
The markings on her face began to fade, her emotions surging so much that her real features emerged again.
"Erica, what did you just say? Who tied Devon up?"
"Professor Viktor."
Henny took a few steps back, stunned.
"The Professor… is still alive?"
Erica, "?"
This time, it was Erica's turn to be confused. She opened her mouth, puzzled.
"Who told you Viktor was dead?"
Her gaze instinctively turned toward the trembling Devon Lesser.
———
"I didn't think… that's what really happened…"
"So now you…"
Erica looked at Henny's unfamiliar face and began to guess.
She knew that demons always appeared when people were at their weakest, attaching themselves to their hosts and feeding on their negative emotions.
She suddenly understood what Kevra meant by "filthy thing."
Erica slowly walked up to Henny, patted her shoulder, and said softly, "It's okay, Henny."
"We'll go find Professor Viktor. He'll definitely know how to drive out whatever's inside you."
Henny took a step back, smiling bitterly as she shook her head.
"It's too late, Erica."
A faint smile returned to her face, perhaps hearing that Viktor was alive had eased her heart a little.
But along with that calmness came a hint of resolve in her eyes.
"I borrowed too much power. The barrier that covered the whole academy, even the headmaster, a holy-rank mage, would've needed a long time to prepare that."
"Do you think the demon will ever let me go now?"
"It's dying to devour me this very instant."
Listening to Henny's words, Erica trembled slightly.
"So you already knew, it was a demon that came to you, didn't you?"
Henny nodded.
"Once I've taken my revenge, I'll turn myself in."
"Someone like me, someone no one cares about, dying in prison wouldn't affect anyone."
She smiled as if she'd found peace. Around her, the black tentacles began writhing again, this time almost frantically.
Devon Lesser trembled uncontrollably.
If he'd known things would end up like this, he never would've dared bully this little assistant back then!
Now it was far too late for regrets.
Erica was silent for a moment, then glared fiercely at the immobilized Devon Lesser.
"How do you plan to take revenge? Kill him?"
"I'll support you."
Henny looked at Erica in confusion and chuckled softly.
"Erica, how could you think like that?"
"He burned ten years of my work, destroyed my dreams."
"So, in return, I'll only destroy his knowledge completely."
"For a professor, isn't that the most painful punishment?"
Erica, "..."
Devon Lesser, "..."
Even the tentacles froze.
Maybe even the demon was speechless at that answer.
Erica fearlessly stepped closer, gripping Henny's shoulders firmly.
"Devon Lesser humiliated you in front of everyone, didn't he?"
"Yes."
Henny nodded.
"He burned all your research, told students to harass you, play pranks on you, ruin your reputation, and finally had you expelled from the academy!"
"That's right."
Erica began shaking Henny by the shoulders.
"Wake up, Henny! You made a deal with a demon for your life, and you're telling me you'll be satisfied just making this fat pig lose his knowledge!?"
"If that's all, you might as well just bash his head in!"
Devon, "..."
"Look at you! You're literally a villain right now! And as a villain, you should at least do your job properly!"
"Wouldn't killing him be better?"
"But…"
Henny lowered her head, thinking deeply.
"If I so easily take a life, what difference would there be between me and the demon?"
Devon frantically nodded his pig-like head, and Erica scooped up a handful of ink from the ground and smeared it over his face.
To her, Devon Lesser's face was more disgusting than those tentacles.
"Help! Someone!"
Erica clutched her head, let out a long sigh, and grew frustrated.
Henny's worldview was completely different from hers.
As a noble, and one from one of the highest-ranking families, Erica had long since seen the dark side of society.
But Henny was different. She had never witnessed the scheming and deceit among nobles.
To her, life and death were still distant concepts.
To arbitrarily decide someone's life or death, Henny simply couldn't do that.
She still thought too simply, since she lost her job, she'd make Devon Lesser lose all his knowledge, so he'd receive equal punishment.
Henny was still too naive.
Utterly naive.
"Forget it! If you won't kill him, I'll kill him for you!"
"Once he's dead, you'll come back with me to Professor Viktor. He'll know how to save you!"
With that, terrifying flames erupted in Erica's hands.
[Second-Tier Magic: Fire Bullet]
Before Henny could even reach out to stop her, the blazing fireball shot straight toward Devon's face.
It was just about to hit...
Biu! Biu! Biu!
Three silver-white blades shot out of nowhere, shattering the fireball apart and scattering its magic. They clanged against the ground, ringing crisply.
Erica froze, staring at the dispersed flames, then whipped her head around.
A beautiful woman with long purple hair was standing there, smiling playfully at the two of them.
She twirled a few silver throwing knives in her hand and waved them teasingly.
"Two adorable little girls."
"Won't you tell big sister what you're playing at?"
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