I was initially confused when Kevin offered to become my student, but after a moment, I was ecstatic.
My simple power play helped me gain a powerful pawn, a pawn that would surely help me if Julius becomes too big a threat.
"Stand up, you don't need to do something that unnecessary."
Kevin looked at me with something I can only describe as puppy eyes. He was extremely eager to become my student, to learn how I had managed to understand a book that most scholars on the entire continent had given up on.
"Okay, I'll take you in as a student," I said, smiling.
"Really!"
"But!" I added, placing a finger over my lips, my smile curving into something more devilish. "If you do something for me..."
"I'll do anything!" Kevin blurted out without thinking.
"Good..." I chuckle, the sound making Kevin nervous.
"Do you know of Evelina D'Arclight?" I said. "I want you to serve her."
But... the moment I said my demands, that nervousness instantly disappeared and turned into a small laugh.
"I-Is that it?" Kevin looked befuddled, but very amused; it's as if I was asking him to make me a sandwich in exchange for ultimate power.
Is he not at all surprised or hesitant at my condition for him to basically become a pawn?
Kevin looked at me, catching my surprised reaction and explaining everything, turns out... he had taken an interest in Evelina as a master as well, her mastery at dark magic catching his eye long before I had even met him.
But every time he tried, he was rejected almost instantly, and now? He had an excuse to become her 'student' while also having me as his teacher.
It was hitting two birds with one stone.
And surprisingly enough, the novel didn't have this information written.
'No wonder Lady Evelina had a specific distaste for him at the start..."
I cross my arms.
***
With the deal done, we both left the library and headed home, with me giving the book to him after I scanned all the pages, my memory already doing its work and imprinting it automatically into my mind.
As for Kevin? I told him I'll teach him about the things I learned after he proved himself useful.
[6:13]
I arrived home later than expected, the only reason being that Kevin asked me to show him more of the spells in the book.
And I didn't refuse... the more I get him to idolise me, the better my position will be in the future.
"Did your studies go well, young master?" A maid waited for me by the door, clearly ordered by Miss Rose to wait for my arrival, just in case something had gone wrong.
And when I was fine, I broke out into a huge sigh of relief.
They were very protective, treating me like their child, and it made sense. My parents barely even visited the manor due to their work, and the maids made it their job to ensure I had a normal childhood.
And I couldn't help but think... how did such a useless and fragile person gain so many gifts and miracles in life?
THUD!
I entered my room, quickly changing attire to something simpler. It was now time for me to test if my quick exercises were enough to let me cast the spell I wanted.
"I'm rushing things... but the worst case scenario is me passing out, I'll risk that."
I grabbed a quill from a nearby desk, drawing a specific shape on the floor, something akin to a pentagram.
It wasn't something written in the 'Theoretical Dark Magic Applications' book at all... in fact, this was something that happened very late in the novel.
When a certain beautiful antagonist found the book and discovered Marcellus' notes, combining it with demonology.
My plan?
Forcefully trigger a breakthrough.
Using the same method Evelina used in the novel to attempt to overpower Julius.
"Hasn't even been a week yet, and I'm already using forbidden magic."
I laughed, running a hand through my hair.
[Call of Oblivion]
I began to cast, it was a spell laid out on the fifth page of the book.
The ability to conjure a minor shadow to fight for you, the shadow completely and totally mimicking its conjurer in abilities.
It was powerful on its own.
But just as expected, Evelina's genius managed to figure out a way to make it even more effective.
"Heed the call of this puny mortal... Beelzebub."
And with a tap of my feet, the inky drawing burst out into purple flames.
'I'm really risking it all now, aren't I?'