Chapter 71: Intervening in a Canon Event...?
Julius and Lillian crept around the alley, both dressed and draped in black; they were prepared, very prepared.
As expected of protagonists, but since they were still in a story... all that preparation didn’t matter when the plot had to happen.
"Get behind me..."
Julius stopped Lillian from advancing further, silently telling her to support him from the back.
He had sensed something that she didn’t.
"Got it..."
click...
click...
click...
Multiple metal balls suddenly rolled out of the darkness that was the alley, a maze of unbridled proportion that equalled that of the Cold Iron District’s own slums and dark market.
"What the—" Lillian peered over Julius’s shoulder, seeing the metal contraptions, her eyes widening in concern the moment she did.
"It’s a smoke—"
Too late.
BOOM!
A wave of smoke filled the alley they were standing on, further obscuring their vision alongside the darkness.
But Julius was a light mage; if he were to have any problem, sight issues would definitely be dead last on the list.
[Light Guardian]
Wings bloomed from his back, lighting up a small radius around him, and not only that, it allowed him to protect Lillian passively without even needing to intervene.
The biggest advantage the attacker had was now null; if they wanted to approach, they’d have to step out of the smoke first and into Julius’s light.
Range spells wouldn’t work as well; Light Guardian made sure almost no spell would pierce it unless you were stronger than Julius itself.
Which was unlikely at best.
CLAP!
CLAP!
CLAP!
"You outdid yourself, Bastard of the lionbrights..."
An ominous voice stepped out from the smoke and into Julius’s range of attack.
The figure wore a smiling mask, his body cloaked in a dark fabric, an adept at dark magic, and the main antagonist of this small arc.
The Owl.
"What’s your goal? Why did you have to kill innocent civilians!?"
Lillian yelled out in outrage from behind, reaching her hand out as multiple ice spikes emerged from all around her, primed and ready to strike when commanded.
"My goal...? I simply just wanted to have fun, Lady Lillian."
"Have fun?" Julius repeated his words with disdain.
"Yes, did you really think I did all this to bait you two out?" The figure laughed, a rapier sliding out of his long sleeves and into his hands. "Both of you are too full of yourselves."
"And I’m not about to have some stuck-up nobles ruin my fun..."
***
CLANG!
CLANG!
CLANG!
Fighting rang out from below as Evelina and I continued to watch from above, our skill at dark magic more than enough to pierce through the darkness and smoke, allowing us a perfect view of the entire show.
"This is far better than the tomb’s theatrics..." She chuckled, resting her head on my shoulders as she watched with interest.
"The way both of them used their weapons is horrible, though."
"Oh...? Is that so?"
I pointed at the figure and Julius, who were engaged in a tight clash with their blades.
"Despite using a rapier, he’s closing distance too much, and as for Julius, he’s too rigid with his techniques, horrible for the type of opponent he’s handling."
FWOOSH!
FWOOSH!
FWOOSH!
A barrage of ice spikes was unleashed behind Julius, offering him support to make sure the figure didn’t have time to rest.
It was a battle of attrition, one that Julius and Lillian were sure to win.
"What about her?"
"I don’t have any complaints, she’s providing decent cover."
Evelina scowled at my observation. Complimenting another woman was something, but for it to be her rival? That left a bad taste in her mouth.
’I know I asked for his opinion... but...’ Evelina refused to finish her thought, she was being way too unreasonable. ’I swear to the gods... I’m being way too emotionally irrational recently.’
She covered her face with her hands, letting out a frustrated exhale.
"Is there something wrong?"
"Yes... I’m much more prone to jealousy than I initially thought."
Evelina wasn’t even sure what she was saying; she already knew she was far stronger than Lillian, and she sure as hell knew that I knew it as well.
But... rationality usually tends to be disregarded when personal feelings come into play.
Evelina lowered her hands slowly, eyes still fixed on the fight below.
"...Annoying," she muttered. "I don’t like feeling this way."
"You’re allowed to. You’re human... mostly." I replied playfully.
She shot me a look, grinning. "What’s that supposed to mean? Are you calling me a demon?"
"A goddess, more like it."
"Flattery will get you everywhere with me."
I smiled and turned my attention back to the alley just in time to see the tempo shift.
Down below, Julius took a step too far forward.
It was subtle, barely noticeable, but it was there. His footing was perfect, his posture clean, his magic stable... and yet he committed just a fraction of a second too much.
The Owl noticed.
CLANG—SKREE!
The rapier slid past Julius’s blade at an impossible angle, scraping along his Light Guardian barrier and sending sparks spiralling into the smoke.
"—Tch!"
Julius retreated a step, wings flaring as he reinforced the spell.
"Careful!" Lillian shouted, ice forming faster now, sharper, less measured.
The Owl laughed, the sound echoing unnaturally through the alley.
"There it is," I said quietly. "Horrible mistake."
"Mm," Evelina agreed. "I’m not a master at close-range, but even I could tell that was a mistake."
Their life-or-death battle had now completely turned into our version of a movie night.
And as if on cue, the darkness thickened.
Not smoke.
Shadow.
The Owl snapped his fingers, and the metal balls that lay harmlessly on the ground began to glow with faint, violet runes. They had a second function than just being smoke bombs.
Lillian’s eyes widened. "Julius! those aren’t just smokescreens!"
[Shadow Labyrinth]
The alley warped.
Walls stretched. Corners bent inward. The ground twisted into overlapping paths that shouldn’t exist. Light Guardian still shone, but now it illuminated too much, angles that hurt to look at, shadows that moved independently of their sources.
Julius clenched his teeth. "Illusion magic...!?"
"Well spotted," the Owl said, bowing theatrically. "But too late."
He launched himself forward, but for both Julius and Lillian, it felt like hundreds of him were charging all at once.
Undodgeable, and even Light Guardian couldn’t catch up with it, Julius was way too confused to continue to maintain his spell.
"Lillian—" Julius immediately turned backward, wrapping his arms around Lillian as his wings covered them.
In the novel, this would have led to another wild goose chase where the Owl would kidnap Lillian, causing the arc to last for a few more Chapters.
But...
[Abyssal Spear]
[Profaned Serpent]
Not anymore.
Chapter 72: Arc Antagonist turned Fodder...?
BOOM!
BOOM!
"Huh...?"
The two spells exploded at the Owl’s location, enough to cripple, but not sufficient to kill. There was no fun in taking down prey that quickly.
If you were to have any fun, it was better to extend the chase.
"You seem interesting."
Evelina descended first with teleportation, appearing in front of the still cowering Julius and Lillian, both still completely dominated by the illusion magic.
It was the perfect time to intervene while the two of them were still out of the picture.
"L-Lady..." The Owl’s voice hitched, shocked, surprised... but more surprisingly.
E-Excited...?"
"Lady D’Arclight!"
The owl shouted in excitement, immediately kneeling on one knee as he bowed his head in reverence.
"Do you know him?"
I was the next to descend, simply jumping off the rooftop and landing next to Evelina, but this wasn’t something I expected to happen at all.
The novel never stated that the Owl would be a huge fan of her.
"No."
The Owl’s head immediately snapped upward the moment he heard my voice. It was frantic, jittery even, his earlier bravado and confidence completely gone the moment we arrived.
"L-Lady D’Arclight... who is that with you...?" The figure said with mania, staring daggers at me through his mask, his killing intent even higher than when he fought both Julius and Lillian.
"Must be just another one of my fanboys..." Evelina snickered, brushing a lock of her hair.
"I’m just no mere fan, my lady!" He crawled on all fours as he approached close enough to graze Evelina’s shoes, his posture exaggerated as if he was staring at a goddess.
"I’ve studied you for so long! Mastered dark magic just for you, just in the hope of becoming one of your family’s assassins."
The Owl laughed, an obsessive hint creeping onto his tone.
Guess I wasn’t the only one who obsessively loved Evelina...
She looked at the Owl’s pathetic display for a brief moment before leaning close into my ear and whispering. She already had something fun in mind.
"Take him with us, I know a way he could be of use in tormenting the two..."
It was time to see her sadistic nature fully displayed.
"If you say so."
[Profaned Step]
"W-Wait... what!?"
The Owl stood up quickly the moment he saw the floor start to melt, the concrete of the alley beginning to turn into violet sludge that started to devour him whole.
"Quiet down," Evelina ordered.
"O-Of course..."
He replied obediently like a dog. It didn’t even take him a second to answer.
I could learn a thing or two from this guy...
FWOOSH!
"H-Huh...?"
Julius’s state of mind suddenly returned to normal, confused at him and Lillian being unharmed, but he didn’t want to waste more time on questions.
[Light Sword]
He turned around quickly to where he knew the Owl last stood.
But nothing, not even a faint trace of his, just the metal balls on the floor, the only sign he was even there in the first place.
"He’s gone...?"
"W-What happened?" Lillian also recovered, stumbling against a wall as she struggled to stand straight.
The illusion magic hit her even harder; she wasn’t a light attuned mage after all, she didn’t have a natural resistance to dark magic as Julius did.
"Are you okay!?"
"I-I’m fine... just... dizzy is all."
"No, let’s go somewhere safe first. We’ll continue the investigation after you’re okay."
Julius carried Lillian, immediately leaving the alley as the two of them headed somewhere safer, but in truth, it was just a few blocks away.
Well... it was safer than they were previously were at least.
*** Nearby Building’s Rooftop
"Seems they’ve moved on."
I observed from the top, seeing them retreat for now, turning back to see the Owl finally getting over his reverence.
Now standing straight, his rapier still in hand, while also observing where Julius and Lillian chose to temporarily hide, likely to take note of it once this strange meeting was done.
"I-I apologize for the shameful display... I just couldn’t help myself after such an entrance like that." The Owl cleared his throat, chuckling awkwardly.
If he weren’t a psychopathic murderer, I think he’d be an outstanding citizen, in my opinion.
"You’re lucky I’m in a good mood tonight, if I wasn’t, you’d have lost your arms by now..."
Evelina said in disgust, talking about the moment he had grazed her shoes without permission.
’How insolent...’
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The Owl’s hand twitched when he heard the threat, but to his credit, he seemed to hide his terror.
"I-It’ll never happen again, my lady..."
"What did you want to do with him?"
I placed my hands in my pockets, resting my head over Evelina’s shoulder as I waited for her fun idea.
"You...!" The Owl suddenly lunged quickly, his rapier aimed to stab me through my eye sockets.
"How dare you casually approach Lady D’Arclight!"
CRACK!
I grabbed his rapier just before it reached my face, didn’t even need to move away from her shoulder to do it.
Even behind his mask, I could just see the shock and sheer rage he had on his face. Does this jealous prick really think he has a chance?
But more importantly... did he really try to attack!? despite me being so close to Evelina’s face!?
A third-rate whelp like him could have struck Evelina’s beauty instead.
[Profaned Step]
I appeared behind him, grabbing his head from behind as I slammed his face down into the roof, using dark magic to muffle the sounds of his mask breaking due to the impact.
"Never, ever, do that again, okay...?"
The Owl couldn’t even reply, his face covered in blood; it seemed like I may have been a bit too hard on him...
Actually, no, I didn’t, but... I did need him alive for Evelina’s plan.
[Major Healing]
"That should do it for now..." I chuckled, still holding his head from the back as I lifted it to check his condition.
"You’re able to cast an advanced light healing spell?"
Evelina crossed her arms, intrigued. She knew I had double attunement the moment I used divine power.
But it was another thing casting an advanced light spell while primarily a dark mage.
"Yeah, I practiced while you were gone."
Our conversation was surprisingly casual, as if I almost didn’t just killed a man by slamming his face onto the roof’s surface.
Good thing it was the dead of night... couldn’t have a stray vehicle with its headlights on driving around the streets and have it see everything.
Chapter 73: An Owl and a Lion
I completely healed the Owl, letting go of his head as I took position on the edge of the roof, making sure nothing else was watching.
Evelina, meanwhile, talked to him, who was still lying on the floor, surprised at the sheer strength with which he was slammed down.
But he seemed to get over it the moment he had heard Evelina’s voice, nodding often as she explained what she wanted for the villain to do.
’This feels wrong on so many levels...’
I laughed, not because it was morally wrong... no, I’m already way past something like that.
But, because bullying an important villain from a novel’s arc and letting him do our bidding was strange, especially since I already knew the outcome.
It was like playing a linear game, but in your second playthrough, a book was misplaced.
"Go, don’t disappoint me."
Evelina finished her explanation, and the Owl hurriedly scurried off to his feet as he immediately jumped into the dark alley.
He was excited to say the least...
"What’d you tell him...?"
"I just gave him more instructions on how to mess with the powercouple some more..."
"Does that perhaps include...?"
"Yes, if possible, the disappearance of Lillian."
"And what about Julius?"
"I leave it up to him on how he’ll take care of him."
The disappearance of Lillian... usually, her saying that would mean death, but in this case, it’s more like a temporary exile.
Having her long-time rival and source of so many irritations disappear so suddenly in the dead of night wasn’t a satisfying conclusion to their feud.
*** Back Alley
"Are you okay now, Lillian?"
Julius set her on a nearby pile of crates, allowing her to rest while still healing her with his magic.
"Yeah, just... the world rotating all around you is definitely a bit nauseating."
She laughed, trying to lighten the mood, and it did. Julius seemed to calm down for a while. That is... if another problem didn’t come.
And it sure as hell is coming.
TAP!
[Light Displacement]
Julius moved as soon as he heard the sound of footsteps in the alley; his sword, made out of light, was already prepared to kill whoever it was.
CLANG!
"Sorry for the sudden disappearance."
The Owl chuckled, breaking the sword lock by kicking Julius on the chest, sending him skidding backwards across the stone floor.
"Let’s dance again, shall we?"
The two of them lunged together, both planning to land a decisive hit.
At least, that’s what Julius thought.
"Pathetic, you really are a bastard."
The Owl laughed the moment the two of them got close, and instead of clashing with Julius, he just weaved past him.
FWOOSH!
"What...!?"
Julius struck the air harmlessly, the Owl running past him and to where Lillian was resting.
’Lady D’Arclight told me to break their will before I return to my original plan... shouldn’t be hard enough.’
The Owl thought to himself, his rapier primed and ready, but Lillian was no slouch either.
Already recovering and had spells in the ready just in case of an ambush.
[Ice Wall]
The Ice Wall erupted in front of Lillian just as the Owl attempted to slash at her with the rapier. The metal blade clanged against the frozen barrier, sparks flying off as the magical construct held firm.
"—Huh!?"
The Owl stumbled back slightly, surprised by her quick recovery, though he quickly regained his composure.
"Not so fast," Lillian hissed, shaping the ice into jagged shards ready to impale him if he dared approach again.
[Ice Spike]
[Ice Spike]
The Owl, still fully under Evelina’s direction, moved around the ice wall, trying to bait Lillian into making a premature move.
His attacks were precise but intentional, forcing her to overextend or hesitate.
Making sure she made as many mistakes as possible to break her ego and self-confidence.
Julius, meanwhile, had repositioned himself behind the crate pile, watching carefully. He could sense the subtle manipulation now, the Owl moving not for lethal strikes, but for... irritation?
"Why is he... not attacking to kill?" Julius muttered, eyes narrowing.
He could see the difference in his fighting style, from having fun and playing with them to outright calculation.
Lillian’s concentration wavered as she noticed the pattern in his movements as well, but before she could act or adapt to it.
The Owl feigned a retreat, then lunged back toward her, making her fire off an ice shard uselessly.
’As long as I can keep the pressure up, I can humiliate them without issue.’
[Light Guardian]
Julius joined in on the fight again, this time rendering Lillian impenetrable with his magic.
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But... Evelina already gave the Owl a counter to that annoying spell.
Bluffing...
"Think that saves her...?"
"What are you talking about!?"
The Owl snickered, throwing a poisoned dart in Lillian’s direction.
Normally, Julius wouldn’t move to save her; he already has his spell that actively blocks projectiles.
But...
He couldn’t risk it.
[Light Displacement]
Julius teleported in front of Lillian, redirecting the poisoned dart.
But the Owl already expected it, his rapier now inches away from Julius’s chest, imbued with enough dark magic that it could even bypass his advanced defensive spell.
Not that he had much dark magic in the first place, he was a spellblade, yes, one of the few ones in the entire city.
But he relied on secondary items for magic; without it, he was just a plain fighter with a little magical talent.
’Idiot!’
[Light Whip]
’Huh...?’
SNAP!
The Owl’s rapier was suddenly snatched by a whip of pure light, ripping it from his grasp and leaving him unarmed just a step away from Julius.
"W-Wait...!"
THUD-CRACK!
Julius kicked the side of the Owl’s head so hard that it not only shattered his jaw but also carried through with enough force to slam the other side of his head against the wall.
The Owl fell to the ground with a whimper of pain, blood leaking out of the sides of his even more broken mask, showing a glimpse of his right eye.
"The hell...?"
I frowned while Evelina and I were still observing.
I knew he was a prodigy, but... did he already develop a counter to close-range fighting styles like mine when we fought back in the tournament?
"He got stronger just by fighting me that briefly...?"
Chapter 74: Tonal Whiplash
"Well, that was disappointing..."
Evelina sighed, pouting and pinching the bridge of her nose.
She was less interested in Julius’s sudden improvement in close-range combat and more focused on the fact that the Owl was weaker than she had initially thought.
"You aren’t concerned?"
I asked, normally, seeing the lover of your rival get stupidly strong would be a cause of worry. For Evelina’s case, that was the norm.
But...
"Why would I be? I have you, don’t I?"
She expressed herself with a wicked smile, giving me a peck on my cheeks.
Her comforting words were enough to make me feel like I’ve been stabbed straight in the heart.
"Y-Your right... he got better in close-range fighting, but when it came to me—"
"He doesn’t stand a chance."
I laughed when she finished my sentence for me, but now there was another thing... what were we supposed to do now?
"Would you like me to save him?"
"No... he’s way too weak and impulsive to be useful."
"Then what about messing with Lillian and Julius?"
Evelina took a moment before she could reply, staring at where Julius and Lillian were currently tying the Owl up with ropes they packed in advance.
It looked like she was having conflicting feelings, once again confused at new emotions she had never felt before.
"I’ve decided that... It’s more fun to spend time with you instead." She clasped her hands behind her back, chuckling.
"You’re going to eventually kill me talking like that if you don’t give me a warning next time."
"Then I’d just summon you as a demon and make a contract with you."
She leaned closer, inches away from my face, the moon behind us providing a beautiful backdrop, but it also made us very visible to anyone looking at the right moment.
But that didn’t matter to me.
The way her hair and skirt flowed in the cold wind, and how her crimson eyes and smile caught the moonlight on her skin, took my breath away.
"Enjoying my beauty?" Evelina tilted her head, amused. "Nevermind, that’s a dumb question, you always do."
She reached out, fingers brushing against my sleeve first, testing, deliberate, before slipping her hand into mine. There was no hesitation in her grip, only certainty.
"Think anyone’s watching us? Two silhouettes on a rooftop holding hands?" She whispered in my ear, making my spine tingle.
"Even if they are, they won’t get a good look at their face unless they’re skilled."
I placed my free hand on her waist, a touch she reflexively leaned closer to.
"What are you planning?"
Evelina teased, noticing the way I was raising both of our arms, which were intertwined.
"Have you danced with someone before?"
"No, I haven’t, but I do know how."
That was enough confirmation for me to continue, moving as I gently guided her into a slow turn, our joined hands lifting as if the rooftop itself were a ballroom.
The city below us faded into background noise, the distant clatter of streets, the muffled echoes of combat resolving itself; none of it mattered. All that existed was the rhythm we set between us.
Evelina caught on instantly.
Her steps were precise, elegant, almost instinctive, as if she’d always known how to move like this but had simply never been given a reason to. Her free hand settled on my shoulder, light at first, then firmer once she realised I wouldn’t pull away.
"Oh," she murmured, surprised. "So that’s what you meant."
"You’re a fast learner," I replied.
She scoffed softly. "What do you expect?"
We swayed slowly, not to music, but to the shared understanding between us. The wind played the role of an orchestra, tugging at her hair, carrying the faint scent of night and her perfume. Every step brought her a little closer until there was barely any space left to close.
"We look insane..." she admitted quietly, as if the words themselves embarrassed her.
"I’d rather you call us graceful instead."
"Dancing without music on top of a roof under the moonlight?" She smirked. "I guess you could call it that..."
"But I still think it makes us look insane."
She laughed, both of us continuing to move in tandem, no efficiency in our movements at all.
"That isn’t an entirely wrong description as well, isn’t it?"
"Insane? Me?" Evelina expressed fake shock before leaning more into my touch and moving with even more enthusiasm.
Evelina was a lot of things, and that included self-awareness; she knew that being sadistic and cruel wasn’t very... normal.
And she embraced that, but now she had someone to share it with, someone equally as powerful, and equally as wrong in the head.
"Julius..."
Lillian whispered from below as they literally placed the unconscious Owl into a sack.
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"Anything wrong?"
"A-Are you seeing what I’m seeing?" Lillian pointed to a rooftop where two silhouettes were dancing under the moonlight.
Us, basically.
"What in the gods’ name?"
Julius took a step forward and beyond the alley, trying to give himself a better view of the strange sight.
"I-Its—"
Julius couldn’t even finish his statement; he was absolutely shocked by what he had seen to the point he dropped the sack that contained the Owl onto the ground.
THUD!
"What was that for!?"
Lillian reprimanded Julius, but stopped quickly after seeing his face.
She couldn’t tell what in the world he was even feeling.
Shock? Disgust? Bewildered? Impressed? Or a mix of every emotion known to man.
For Lillain, it looked like he was staring at something so terribly eldritch, something so terribly weird and out of place that he didn’t even know how to react.
"I-Its... Evelina and Cael."
"W-Wait..." Lillian covered her mouth like she had heard something scandalous, looking back at the silhouettes on top of the rooftop.
Narrowing her eyes until she spotted one defining feature.
Crimson eyes and white hair.
That was enough for her to believe in Julius.
"Don’t look!"
Lillian immediately covered Julius’s eyes, forcing him to look away.
"What are you doing, Lillian!?"
"It’s rude to stare at a couple like that!"
"That’s what you’re worried about!?"
Chapter 75: Abruptly Ending A Story Arc...?
-- [Progress to Hidden Ability: 10/100] --
*** Mechanist Street
After capturing the owl, faster than the original timeline intended.
The two walked through the streets in silence, with the sack hung over Julius’s shoulder as they both tried to bring him to the local officials.
"What do you think they were doing...?" Julius asked, his mind a literal wreck after witnessing the scene.
"Beats me, but I guess the rumours of them being lovers were true, huh?"
"That somehow disturbs me more than the literal murders."
Julius replied nervously. Evelina was already a problem in his eyes, but now that she has someone equally as eccentric as her? The mere thought alone gave him shudders.
"Don’t be dramatic..." Lillian waved his concern off.
"Dramatic? Remember what happened during the tournament!?"
"Of course I do! But... maybe they’ll change?"
"You’re way too optimistic..."
*** Arden Estate - Cael’s Room
[Profaned Step]
FWOOSH!
We both teleported back to my room mid-movement, ending with a deep dip, her back arched in my hold, my grip secure at her waist, our hands still entwined as I hovered above her, close enough to feel her breath.
"Did you have fun?"
I asked, fully composed, but Evelina, meanwhile, was surprisingly sweating and panting; even if she was skilled with magic, she still wasn’t a physical powerhouse.
"More than I thought I would dancing on top of a rooftop like that..."
She replied, breathing heavily.
Although learning to dance was required of every noble, especially her, she had never had the chance to use it. At almost every ball or party, she stayed on her own, focusing on building connections, using her words rather than dance to gather people to her side.
It irritated her to no end. What was the point in being taught how to dance if she never even used it?
But now... maybe it was worth it after all.
"Where’d you learn to dance like that?"
She asked as I twirled her around and finally let go of her hand, finishing our impromptu performance.
"Isn’t that required for every noble?"
"You’ve got to be kidding me. Nobody’s that adaptable to an impromptu dance, especially in such steep terrain."
"Is that really surprising?"
"No, not really."
Evelina laughed, noticing the way her sweat clung to her attire. It was uncomfortable, especially with how stuffy her clothing was.
"You didn’t seem to sweat at all. That seems unfair, doesn’t it?"
"I am the brawn in this relationship after all, maybe you’d like to train with me sometime?"
"I’d have to refuse... I’ll focus on magic for now."
"A shame."
I replied with a smile, pocketing my hands. I was starting to get used to being in an official relationship with Evelina.
My nerves had finally begun to steady, starting to get used to her presence without the constant hyperventilation and absurd dramatics of acting like a dog.
That doesn’t mean I’ve completely abandoned it, though.
"Right, you need a change of clothes!"
I headed to my doorway to ask my servants, but...
[Fabric Chains]
She blocked the door immediately, taping it off like an entrance to a crime scene.
"No need, I can just borrow some clothes from you, male clothes suit me just fine, don’t you think?"
While she had asked the question, she already knew I didn’t need an answer; she’d seen my thoughts and fantasies back when we explored the tomb.
She had also seen the way I imagined her in boyish attire.
"Don’t answer that." She laughed. "You really did imagine me in everything, didn’t you?"
"It seems you’re no longer flustered by it."
"I adapt quickly, same as you."
"I’m choosing to take that as a compliment," I said dryly.
"How else would you take it?"
Evelina turned away from the door, the fabric chains dissolving into threads that faded back into the air.
She walked past me without hesitation, already scanning the room as if it belonged to her, which, considering everything, wasn’t far from the truth.
Her eyes landed on the wardrobe.
"...You don’t mind, do you?"
"My main clothes are back at the academy, I don’t mind."
"Good." She smirked. "Saves me the trouble of teleporting to get clothes."
She opened the wardrobe and rummaged through it with surprising familiarity, fingers brushing past uniforms, coats, and spare shirts until she pulled out a plain black one. Practical. Minimal. Very her.
She held it up against herself, tilting her head.
"This one will do."
I turned away instinctively, more out of habit than embarrassment.
"Feeling shy?"
"I’m just practising modesty."
Evelina laughed. Was I seriously saying that after everything that had happened between us?
"Say, what if others see me in this state? What would you do?"
Her question hit me like a truck; it came so completely out of nowhere that it even managed to catch me off guard.
"Before, I’d wait for your orders before doing anything, however..." I turned around slightly, enough to catch a glimpse of her.
"I’d probably kill them..."
Evelina took a step back, feeling a tingle travel throughout her spine, even though she didn’t expect a reply like that coming from me.
But it didn’t take long for her to immediately recover.
Remembering how she literally nearly killed someone in my courtyard just because I was training someone.
"That’s fair..."
She finished changing her clothes, only wearing an oversized black t-shirt that fit her impressively well, or more accurately... exactly just as I had imagined.
"That’s fine with you?"
"Its practical, as long as it works as clothing, I couldn’t give a damn. Besides, you’re the last person I’ll be worried about seeing me like this."
Evelina tugged lightly at the hem of the shirt, testing its length, then shrugged as if the matter was settled.
"See? Perfectly serviceable."
"That’s one way to describe it," I replied, leaning back against the desk, arms crossed.
She glanced up at me, eyes narrowing just slightly, catching the undertone.
"Does this help remind you not to invite other girls to your estate again?"
"You fully know I didn’t mean it that way..."
"Mmm." She seemed pleased more than anything else.
She walked closer, bare feet silent against the floor, stopping just a step away. The oversized shirt shifted with her movement, the fabric hanging loose enough to make it obvious she hadn’t bothered with anything else underneath.
Casual, dangerous, and entirely her.
"So," she said, tilting her head, "are you going to keep staring like a statue, or are you going to say what’s on your mind?"
"I’m weighing my thoughts," I answered honestly.
"Oh?" A slow smile crept onto her lips. "And?"
"They’re severe."
She laughed softly, the sound low and amused. "Good. I’d be disappointed otherwise if you suddenly became sane."
She turned away again, this time heading for the window, peering out at the darkened estate grounds below. The moonlight spilt into the room, outlining her silhouette in pale silver.
"Do you know," she said idly, "this is the first time I’ve stayed in someone else’s room without it being for strategy or necessity?"
"That so?"
"Yes." She looked back over her shoulder. "It’s... strangely calming."
That was unexpected.
Evelina D’Arclight didn’t do calming. She was pressure, presence, inevitability. And yet, here she was, barefoot in my room, wearing my clothes, speaking like this was natural.
I pushed off the desk and joined her by the window, keeping a close distance.
"The two of them saw us," I said.
She snorted. "Hope we captivated our audience then."
"You don’t seem bothered by it."
"Why would I be?" Evelina replied, eyes still on the moon. "Let them misunderstand, let them think, let them be confused, it just makes them easier to manipulate in the long term."
She paused, then added, quieter, "Besides... they aren’t the type to spread rumours."
She pushed off the window and stepped closer again, closing the remaining distance. This time, she didn’t stop until she was well within my space.
"Let’s rest," she said simply. "Tonight was... entertaining."
"And tomorrow?"
Her smile sharpened.
"Tomorrow," Evelina D’Arclight said, "Hmm... we’ll figure it out."
She turned toward the bed without another word, utterly at ease, as if this had always been where she belonged.
Chapter 76: Master and Servant Vice Versa...?
The bed dipped slightly as Evelina lay back first, utterly unbothered by the unfamiliarity of the space. She didn’t bother arranging herself properly, one leg bent, the other stretched out, arms folded behind her head as she stared up at the ceiling, as if she owned it.
I stood there for half a second longer than necessary.
"You’re not going to stand there all night, are you?" she asked lazily. "If you are, I’ll assume you’re planning to do something reckless again."
"Is that really the only thing you think I care about?"
"Yes," Evelina replied without hesitation.
Fair point.
I moved to the bed and lay down beside her after a change of clothes, keeping a respectful distance, at least for now. The mattress was softer than I remembered, probably because I rarely ever used it.
At least, this version of me did.
The room was quiet in a way that didn’t feel empty. Moonlight slipped through the window, casting pale lines across the ceiling and over Evelina’s hair, making the white strands glow faintly silver.
She turned her head slightly, crimson eyes drifting to me.
tap...
She placed a finger on my cheeks, a glow of her magic radiating from where it made contact.
"More fantasies?"
"I can’t really hide anything from you, can’t I?"
"Not like you mind."
"You’re right."
Evelina smirked, and after a moment, she shifted closer, not abruptly, not forcefully, just enough that our shoulders brushed.
Then she turned to her side, facing me fully. Close enough to see the small red blush in my face, and the small but obvious smile of contentment washing over me.
I was living the dream to say the least...
My dream.
"Let me give you a reward for being such a good servant~" she whispered, draping one leg over my waist, her closeness unhurried.
"Servant...?"
"You’d be happy with anything I call you; does it really matter?"
She didn’t stop there. She sat up, straddled my waist, and pinned me to the bed, her hair falling loose over her shoulder and a sultry look on her face.
Her eyes subtly glowed red as well, not because of magic, but because of the choker on her neck.
But unlike before, she now had full control over it, thanks to whatever she had done with the darkyte a few days prior.
[Demonic Transformation]
Horns suddenly grew out of her forehead, along with a tail with a heart-shaped tip on the end. It was clear her resonance with the succubus contract had reached its absolute zenith.
"Impressed—?" She suddenly stopped, her pupils glazing the moment her transformation was completed.
[Eye of the Profaned (Unique)]
- Demonic Dominion (Activated)
She couldn’t help but whimper the moment my eye activated on its own. Even though I started to forget about it, I’ve only used that ability once before.
I never expected it to activate today suddenly.
But...
"This is... odd."
Evelina chuckled, her breathing growing more ragged as she started to feel the effects of the ability even more, but she didn’t hate it; she loved it, in fact.
"Are you okay?"
I sat upright, grabbing her by her waist, her body naturally responding to my touch as she let out a sigh of pleasure.
"And here I thought I was supposed to be the dominant one today..."
Evelina blinked, staring directly at me, her pupils actually starting to resemble those of hearts, a clear effect of her demonic transformation and my artifact’s ability.
"But... it wouldn’t hurt to switch dynamics now and then...?"
She leaned in closer, and without warning, bit into my neck hard enough that it drew blood.
"Right... master?"
Her teeth pierced skin.
Not deep enough to be fatal.
Not shallow enough to be playful.
Just enough.
A sharp sting bloomed at my neck, followed by warmth as blood welled, and Evelina shuddered against me as if she’d tapped directly into something forbidden. Her tail flicked once, twice, the heart-shaped tip trembling.
The room reacted.
The air thickened, pressure settling like an invisible weight as Demonic Dominion fully stabilised. Shadows pooled unnaturally along the corners of the walls, stretching toward the bed as if drawn by gravity.
"...Ah," Evelina exhaled, her voice unsteady now. "Never thought I would crave the taste of blood..."
I didn’t answer immediately.
Instead, my hand slid up her spine, not to pull her closer, but to steady her. The moment my palm pressed between her shoulder blades, her body stiffened, then relaxed, as if instinctively recognising authority rather than resisting it.
That wasn’t normal.
Especially for someone so used to power like her.
"You bit me," I said calmly.
Her new pointed ears twitched.
"Couldn’t help myself," she replied, though the confidence in her tone wavered just slightly. "You didn’t warn me you have natural influence over demons..."
The glow in my eye intensified when she mentioned the last word.
Not hostile, not aggressive, but absolute.
The world narrowed, both from desire and alignment. Evelina froze mid-breath, pupils dilating further as the dominion effect reached her core, her succubus contract resonating violently with the authority pressing down on it.
"...So this is how it feels," she murmured, voice hushed, reverent. "Being on the receiving end."
I tilted my head, studying her body and reaction alike. The way her pride warred with fascination. The way her power didn’t diminish, but bent.
Carefully.
"Evelina," I said, and the sound of her name alone made her inhale sharply. "Look at me."
She did.
Immediately.
The realisation hit her a second later, and she laughed breathlessly, equal parts amused and unsettled.
"That’s unfair," she said. "Is this how it feels... obeying commands from someone so naturally?"
She smirked, tracing a finger over the bite mark she’d left, watching it heal unnaturally fast.
"I don’t mind it at all..." She licked her lips. "If it came from you, at least."
Then she caught herself, it wasn’t fun if she just gave herself like that without some bit of resistance.
It was more fun that way, both for her and me.
"But don’t get used to it, alright...?"
Chapter 77: A Night of Ecstasy (1)
Evelina shuddered against me, the taste of my blood igniting a hunger she’d never known before. She licked her lips, savoring the coppery essence, feeling it fuel the demonic power surging through her veins.
Her clawed fingers dug into my shoulders as she ground her hips against mine, the heat between her thighs growing with each passing second.
I could feel the change in her, the way her body responded to the shift in dynamic. She was no longer the one in control, and the knowledge that I had taken the reins only seemed to inflame her desire.
She let out a low moan, her breath hot against my neck as she nipped and sucked at the sensitive skin, leaving a trail of marks in her wake.
"C-Cael..." she panted, the name falling from her lips like a prayer.
"This feels worse than when I was affected by the choker."
She chuckled nervously; she expected to be the one dominating after her transformation, not the other way around.
But... it’s not like she minded.
"Evelina..."
I muttered breathlessly, seeing her like this... holding her like this, it took every ounce of my being to prevent myself from going berserk.
[Clear Mind]
[Clear Mind]
"Don’t be shy now... You were frustrated for not remembering our last... escapade, didn’t you?"
Evelina tantalizingly rolled her hips, the influence from both her succubus form and my artifact fueling her with near-limitless desire.
And that also included me...
She was radiating magic like a breaking dam, influencing me as well, and making it harder for me to think clearly.
A part of me just wanted to go all out, but the loudest voice inside my head wanted to enjoy this, to take it slow and make this as enjoyable for both of us as possible.
It wasn’t every day she would let me take control like this, so I needed to make this worth it.
[Profaned Manipulation]
Tendrils of light and dark emerged from underneath the covers, taking off our clothes one by one. What’s the use of magic if you also can’t use it in scenarios like this?
And after my magic did its work, we were now left bare on my bed.
Evelina was still straddling me, but now her heart-shaped pupils were fully defined and lusting, her gaze travelling across my body and into my defined muscles.
Evelina traced her clawed fingers along the chiseled lines of my torso, admiring the way my abdominal muscles clenched under her touch.
She leaned down, her ample breasts pressing against my chest as she licked a slow, sensual trail up my neck, her tongue leaving a shimmering trail of saliva in its wake.
"Mmm, Cael..." she purred, her voice dripping with desire, "you taste even better than I remember. Not that you would know of course..."
She grinded her hips against mine, the heat of her bare sex radiating against my throbbing member. Her slick folds coated my length, the evidence of her arousal dripping down onto the sheets beneath us.
"Don’t hold back, master," she hissed, her breath hot against my ear. "Take me like you did that night."
She laughed, pinching the bridge of her nose. Even while in this state, she knew what she just said was absurd.
"Can’t believe I just said something like that..."
But I couldn’t really reply, still too overwhelmed by the pleasure that was starting to overtake my body.
"Guess you can’t really hear me, huh?" She smirked. "Don’t be shy then, not like this was your first time."
She leaned closer.
"Am I right?"
...She was right.
We had already crossed this line before.
I just didn’t remember.
[That’s the spirit...]
The succubus from inside her choker chimed in, urging me on.
[Don’t disappoint now...]
My hands roamed her curves, exploring every inch of her succulent flesh. I squeezed her ample breasts, feeling her nipples harden under my touch. She arched her back, pressing her chest further into my grasp. A breathless moan escaped her lips, spurring me on.
Emboldened by her response, I flipped us over, pinning her beneath me on the bed. She looked up at me with lust-darkened eyes, a wicked smirk playing on her lips. Her legs still wrapped around my waist, heels digging into my backside.
She used the leverage to grind her dripping core against my rock-hard cock, the friction delicious and maddening.
I leaned down, capturing her mouth in a searing kiss. My tongue delved past her lips, tangling with hers. She kissed me back fiercely, whimpering into my mouth. Her claws raked down my back, leaving stinging red lines in their wake. The slight pain only heightened my arousal.
"Evelina... I won’t be holding back anymore..."
I loomed over her, my larger body completely pinning her under me, the clear sight of my athletic physique urging her on even more.
"Do it, before I’d take matters into my own hands again."
I slid a hand between her thighs, my fingers finding her slick folds.
Evelina cried out, her hips bucking against my hand as I stroked her most intimate places. Her walls clenched around my invading fingers, drawing me deeper.
I pumped them in and out of her, my thumb circling her sensitive clit. Her juices coated my hand, dripping down onto the sheets.
"Cael!" she panted, her voice ragged with need. "Don’t stop... faster..."
Her words dissolved into a wanton moan as I hit a particularly sensitive spot. Something my body remembered from a night my mind couldn’t. Everything came naturally to me.
I could feel her trembling beneath me, her body wound tight like a bowstring ready to snap. I knew she was close.
And with a final, hard thrust of my fingers, I pushed her over the edge. Evelina threw her head back, biting her own hand as she muffled her own screaming. Her sex clenched and spasmed around my digits, gushing her essence.
Even with magical precautions that made sure the sound in the room would be muffled, she was taking no chances.
"Did you like it?" I asked, kissing her on the lips.
"You already know the answer to that..."
Chapter 78: A Night of Ecstasy (2)
Evelina kissed back fiercely, her tongue tangling with mine as she poured all her newfound hunger and desire into the heated exchange. She nipped at my lower lip, drawing a bead of blood that she lapped up eagerly, shivering at the exquisite taste.
Her claws raked down my back, leaving faint red lines in their wake as she urged me on, desperate for more.
Breaking the kiss, she trailed her lips along my jawline, her breath coming in short, sharp gasps.
"Don’t delay any longer," she panted, her voice rough with arousal.
"I want to feel every inch of you again," she said, her pointed tail wrapping around my thigh. "To feel everything from the man who entered my life without asking for anything but love in return..."
She rolled her hips, grinding her dripping sex against my throbbing length. The sensation was exquisite, her slick heat searing my flesh.
I gritted my teeth, fighting the urge to simply plunge into her then and there.
No, like I said. I wanted to take this slow, to savor every moment of this.
Evelina, it seemed, had other ideas. With a surge of strength born of demonic desire, she flipped us over, now straddling me once more. She grinned down at me, eyes glinting with wicked intent.
"Remember when I said not to get used to being in charge?" she purred, dragging a finger along my chest.
"I intend to keep that promise."
She chuckled, fighting the submissiveness of her demonic instincts, her willpower powerful enough to even defy an artifact as powerful as my eye.
But she wasn’t just resisting it; she was also accepting it, letting it affect her while still maintaining control, the two opposing forces letting her act without one overwhelming the other.
Once again, she demonstrated her adaptability in the realm of magic.
With that, she reached down and positioned the swollen head of my cock at her entrance. Then, with a swift downward motion, she sank down onto me, taking me to the hilt in one smooth thrust.
A guttural groan tore from my throat at the sudden, exquisite sensation of being engulfed in her tight, scorching heat. Evelina never broke eye contact with me, a long, low moan tearing from her lips as she began to ride me with deep, undulating motions.
"That’s... fuck, Cael..." she gasped out between thrusts, her breasts bouncing with each roll of her hips.
"You feel... ah!... even better than you did before. I can feel every... mm!... inch of you, stretching me, filling me..."
Her inner muscles clenched around me, rippling along my length as if to pull me in even deeper. I gripped her hips, my fingers sinking into the supple flesh as I matched her movements, thrusting up to meet each downward plunge of her hips.
Meanwhile, my head was a blur.
It was impossible not to see the wide grin I had on my face.
Something I had wished for so long, something that was taken away from me just because I lost control.
And now I have it.
The love of my life.
Mine... all mine...
Evelina’s movements grew faster, more urgent, her hips slamming down onto mine with a force that shook the bed frame. Her breasts bounced wildly with each powerful thrust, the sight of them hypnotizing me.
I reached up to palm the soft mounds, thumbs and forefingers sinking into the pliant flesh as I kneaded and caressed them.
Evelina arched into my touch with a throaty moan, her nipples stiffening into hard peaks that I couldn’t resist rolling and pinching. She gasped and shuddered above me, her inner muscles clenching and rippling around my pistoning cock in response to the dual stimulation.
"Yes, Cael," she panted harshly, bracing her hands on my chest as she rode me with wild abandon.
"Touch me, taste me, take me... all of me... until you never look at other women the same way again..."
"You’re still on about that?"
"Do you really think I can find another person crazy enough to approach me as you did?" Evelina wrapped her hands around my neck.
"It’s not common that I say this, but you’re definitely a one in a million."
"What about the person that Julius and Lillian fought?"
The Owl might not be as skilled or powerful as I, but surely he still fits the bill, even if a little, right?
I mean... I already knew the answer would be no, but hearing it directly from her would definitely be a huge bonus to my own ego.
"Him? He’s weak, impulsive, and annoying; he’s more of a pawn than a lover."
"Sounds a bit like me, doesn’t it?"
I replied, flipping her onto her back and settling between her spread thighs. Evelina let out a yelp of surprise that quickly turned into a moan as I began to pound into her harder and faster, the new angle allowing me to reach even deeper into her hot, silken sheath.
"At least... hah!... you could back up... mm!... your words with action better than he could!" She moaned a laugh, wrapping her legs around my body as she locked me in place, ensuring I couldn’t pull out.
Her pointed tail caressed my face as she looked at me wickedly with her heart-shaped pupils.
I gripped Evelina’s supple hips tightly, my fingers sinking into her soft flesh as I rutted into her with increasing fervor. The wet slap of skin against skin echoed obscenely through the room, mingling with our wanton moans and grunts. I could feel her velvet walls clenching around my throbbing member, drawing me in deeper with each powerful thrust.
"C-Cael... I’m close..." Evelina covered her mouth with her arm, muffling her increasingly loud moans due to the strength of my thrusts.
’He looks so good like this...’
She thought, her gaze focusing on the way my body and muscles tensed as I continued to move in and out inside her, the small action making her redder than everything we’ve already had done.
’His body... his technique... I love it!’
Chapter 79: A Night of Ecstasy (3)
Evelina’s hands gripped tightly onto my shoulders, nails digging into my skin as she arched her back in ecstasy. Her heaving breasts pressed against my chest, hard nipples grazing my skin as she trembled and quaked from the force of her impending climax.
"Y-Yes! Fill me up, Cael! Don’t hold back!"
Evelina cried out, all traces of hesitation forgotten in the heat of the moment. Her velvety walls clenched and spasmed around my throbbing shaft, a vice-like grip that threatened to milk me dry.
And at this point, I no longer had any reason to refuse or stop.
With a guttural roar, I hilted myself deep inside her quivering cunt, burying my cock to the hilt as I exploded. Thick ropes of cum erupted from my member, painting Evelina’s insides white.
She looked me in the eye as I did, the sensation of my seed flooding her depths, rejuvenating her beyond compare.
Her transformation into a succubus turned it into an incredible life force, both to gain power and to rest without limits.
Evelina’s body tightened, her juices gushing out around my still-pulsing cock as she came undone. I held onto her tightly, gripping her hips so hard that I could feel the shape of her bones beneath my fingers. Our combined fluids leaked out around my shaft, an obscene mix of our liquids mingling together.
We stayed locked together like that for a long moment, both of us gasping for air as the aftershocks of our intense coupling raced through our bodies. Finally, I lifted Evelina’s trembling form off my cock, watching as the last vestiges of our union dripped down her inner thighs.
The feeling of it finally ending gave me both satisfaction and emptiness.
One was finally getting to experience and claim her body, and the second was having it end just like that.
’I-I can’t believe I just did that...’
I laughed to myself, feeling some of my strength start to be sapped by her power.
- [Demonic Dominion (Activated)]
But it wasn’t enough to completely weaken me with the help of my eye.
"G-Good boy..."
Evelina panted, a satisfied smirk playing at the corners of her kiss-swollen lips. She didn’t seem to care about the mess we had made of ourselves and the bedding beneath us.
Right now, she was lost in the haze of post-coital bliss, revelling in the feeling of our mixed fluids painting her insides.
"You’ve always wanted to be called that, right?"
"Guilty as charged..."
Evelina chuckled, sitting up in bed as she slowly reverted to her human form, her horns and tail disappearing into a fine red mist as if it had never even happened.
"H-How pent up were you...?"
She placed a hand on her lower stomach area, filling herself to the brim, the sheer amount rivalling that of biology textbooks she had read.
[Lust Crest]
Her palm glowed a slight red; below it, a small lewd crest appeared that marked her skin.
"What’s that for?"
"This is to make sure I don’t get pregnant."
She smiled, lying down on the bed again like a satisfied cat as she stared at the ceiling.
But then, not even a second later, stood up again and embraced me with a manic giggle that echoed throughout my room.
"What’s gotten into you so suddenly?"
I laughed back, my hands resting on her back as she suddenly pressed her body against me without warning, her crest making sure she wasn’t at all tired from the action.
"You have no idea how good it feels to just let loose like that..." She nuzzled her head on my neck, her breath making warm contact around my skin.
"Being able to just recklessly enjoy life without having to worry about every single thing!"
She giggled even louder, pushing my back against the bed as she once again landed on top of me, her face filled with unrestrained glee.
Then her face softened, genuine, loving, something you couldn’t imagine someone called a ’villainess’ could make.
"Thank you..." She awkwardly said, not used to saying genuine things like this.
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"For allowing someone like me to live carefree like this for even just a moment."
She sighed; even her past or her childhood, it was hard to find a moment where she genuinely just did something out of pure fun.
Sure, torturing people for information and obedience gave her some satisfaction, but like always, it was still for some greater purpose to strengthen her influence.
But tonight? Nothing she did actively benefited her.
She just did it...
Because she knew...
Knew that...
"I’d always make sure you’re happy..."
I replied, her destined ending in the original novel playing in my mind, and how much I’ve already achieved in redirecting the story from her inevitable fall.
From the tournament to giving her early access to unmatched power.
I made sure she wouldn’t have to go to drastic measures to achieve what she wanted.
"You took the words right out of my mouth..."
She said it with a soft laugh, like she was embarrassed to admit how much it meant. Her fingers traced lazy circles on my chest, slower now, calmer, as the excitement had finally settled into something warm and steady.
For a moment, neither of us spoke. The room felt smaller in a good way, filled with quiet breathing and the kind of closeness that didn’t need words to justify itself. She rested her forehead against mine, eyes half-lidded, a faint smile tugging at her lips.
"Don’t get used to this side of me," she murmured, though there was no real warning behind it. "I still need to keep up appearances once we’re back in public."
"You don’t have to keep reminding me that," I said. "In fact, the thought of having this side of you all for myself is... incredible."
She huffed, pretending to scoff, but her arms slipped around my neck anyway. The tension she always carried, sharp, guarded, and ready, finally eased as she relaxed into me.
"From pawn and master to lovers... that’s a new dynamic I haven’t even heard about..."
Chapter 80: Her End of the Bargain
*** The Next Morning
"Ughhh..."
I woke up with an annoying headache, my body more drained than usual.
It was even worse than when I was still training light magic—it felt like I had just come back from a week-long war without a single break.
The cause was more than obvious to me; it was Evelina’s transformation, sucking me dry more than I thought it would.
[Major Healing]
But when I looked around my room, she was nowhere to be found at all; instead, in her place was a neatly written letter with her handwriting.
I picked it up, still grasping at my forehead as I read out the contents of the letter.
’Last night was fun... more fun than I thought it would be, but I’m sure you already know that. I’ll make it short: if you’re reading this, I’m already likely off. I had other stuff to do, so don’t wait up for me, kay?’
I let out a small laugh as I stand and stretch my aching, sore body.
She was still as busy as ever, I see.
"Huh...?"
I looked to the left, and unexpectedly, saw the system panel hovering silently, like it was just waiting for me the entire night to just wake up and see it.
[Apprentice: Lvl 2]
"I achieved a breakthrough?"
[Profaned Fireball]
I conjured a small spell on top of my palm, trying to make sure the balance between light and dark didn’t break.
Maintaining the sanctified modifier for my attunement far outweighed the benefits of having one stronger element.
"Ah—fuck!"
The casting made my head throb even more; the calculations it took to solve the spell formula were enough to strengthen the pain.
Succubi were dangerous for that exact reason; no matter the rank difference, once a being like that managed to absorb some of your life essence, its ability would scale to match its target.
Even someone like me with the profaned prince modifier would be affected, probably even worse if I didn’t have it.
Though I sure as hell didn’t regret anything yesterday, it was worth it.
And a mere headache was nothing compared to the pleasure and sheer joy that night brought.
[Profaned Healing]
"That’s better."
I usually relied on simple light magic for minor wounds or pain. I did this mainly to train my attunement to light, which in turn allowed me to draw more power from darkness as it grew stronger.
But when I genuinely couldn’t stand the pain anymore, like this annoying headache, nothing was stopping me from using profaned healing.
And now that it was sanctified, it was two times as effective without any of the usual chaos downsides it usually had with it.
No reason not just use it.
This wasn’t pain from training after all; I had no reason to just let it linger like I usually do.
"I need to take a bath..."
*** A few minutes later
"Make sure to visit more often, young master!"
Miss Rose sent me off with a smile on her face, pride and satisfaction filling the faces of all the servants in my estate, knowing the child they raised for years had grown to be a respectable young man.
And while they weren’t wrong, I sure hope they don’t get their hopes up too much...
"Of course, Miss Rose."
I waved them goodbye as I walked past the gate and once again returned to the city.
There was nothing out of the ordinary about it, other than a few airships that advertised the academy’s coming examination; it was fairly normal.
Of course, rumours about the murderer being caught by Julius and Lillian were also already circulating throughout the city.
People called them heroes, some called them reckless idiots; either way, their reputation took a more positive turn than it did negative.
Too bad I didn’t get a share of that reputation increase.
I sure as hell needed it more than them after all.
[Profaned Step]
I already saw enough of the city to decide to teleport back to the academy dorms, other than simple information gathering. Exploring the rest of the city would be pointless for now.
Besides, I still needed to wear my uniform and head to classes to check the examination’s coverage.
My room’s wardrobe back in the estate was already fairly barren after all.
"Ready as ever."
I equipped the dagger launcher on my wrist after I finished changing, looking as neat as ever, don’t know why I even bothered with it, to be honest.
Not like it’ll change anything if it was slightly crumpled.
*** Academy Hallway
Just like with the city, the halls themselves were normal, at least, if you were used to people staring at you with weird curiosity.
And while that was the norm for a while now...
Their gaze definitely seemed more judgmental than before.
Did anything happen while I was skipping classes?
"Isn’t he the one who trained Lady Vivianne?"
"What training regimen did he put her through?"
So it was about that...
Right...
That reminds me, she still had her own end of the deal to finish.
I’m not going to let her go scot-free, stronger than ever, without taking something back in return.
That goes against my entire morals.
Quid pro quo after all.
FWOOSH!
Huh...? Did something just fly past my vision?
CRASH!
The hell is it this time...?
I looked behind me and, to my surprise, saw Count Marcus’s son lying unconscious on the ground, as if a powerful gust of wind had just slammed into him.
His entire uniform and his hair were a mess, but, surprisingly, he didn’t have any visible wounds.
The wind mage who blasted him away must have been incredibly skilled at controlling their magic to pull off something like that.
I could even count on my fingers the students who could probably do such a thing, but none of them were wind mages.
So what the hell was going on here?
"Oh my god! I’m so sorry!" Vivianne’s high-pitched voice pierced my ears as she moved right past me, kneeling beside the unconscious student as she checked his pulse.
Guess that’s my question answered...
"I told you not to be so pushy..."
Vivianne’s voice was a mix of irritation and worry. It was clear that the unconscious student was an admirer of some sort. An admirer who probably confessed to her and refused to take no for an answer.
[Photographic Memory]
It lined up with the random murmurs and gossip I heard around the school as well.
And all that resulted in... well, this shameful display.
But at least it was convenient; I didn’t have to go looking for her to fulfil her end of the bargain.
"Vivianne."
She froze slightly at the sound of my voice, like it triggered some sort of trauma.
"C-Cael..."
She slowly lifted her head and, to her worst fear, it was me. It seemed Evelina’s ’threat’ had really gotten to her if the sight of me alone was enough to make her tremble in fear.
Chapter 81: The Two Troublesome Apprentices
"Y-You didn’t see me!"
[Speed Boost]
Vivianne detonated the air beneath her feet as she tried to escape. The powerful gust of the explosion launched her far away, leaving the unconscious student lying on the ground behind her.
"I don’t really blame her..."
My mouth twitched, sure... what she did was the smart thing, hell, I would even do the same thing in her shoes.
But that doesn’t at all mean I would tolerate a previous student of mine running away from me without paying me back for my services.
BEEP!
’You called, Cael?’
"Can you allow me to talk to Vivianne for the day?"
CRACK!
I heard a vase shatter through the transceiver the moment I spoke those words.
’I hope I misheard you there...’
"Let me explain... basically..."
I explained everything to Evelina, from the reason why I started to train her to the price she had to pay in order to be trained.
I needed to make sure to leave no detail missing if I wanted to not get killed by her the next time we meet.
My heart couldn’t take it if she suddenly hated me.
’To repeat... this is just to increase your social standing, right?’
"Yes, nothing more."
I replied through the transceiver, kneeling down beside the unconscious student and checking if he had anything useful on him.
If I were stuck here in the meantime, it wouldn’t hurt to check if he had anything useful I could potentially use in the future.
’F-Fine... but... ugh, nevermind.’
I could hear Evelina’s reluctant agreement through the static, along with her ordering a servant to clean up the shattered vase.
She didn’t at all want to accept, but as pragmatic as she was, she had no choice but to accept, really.
It would hurt her as well if her ’servant’ were literally hated or unpopular throughout the academy.
Besides... if anything did happen, well, Vivianne’s family was weak enough that she could easily crush her if she dared to lay hands on me.
And she made sure to tell it directly to me on the transceiver.
’You got that?’
"I got everything, love you."
’You’re ridiculous.’
Evelina sighed, ending the call.
Now I have another problem, this time, finding where the hell Vivianne even went, but... with how much wind magic she used to escape from me.
It shouldn’t be hard to track her. I would be a disgrace as an S-Rank and a student if I couldn’t find a literal wind mage who radiated that much magic from her escape.
[Profaned Step]
"I should have lost him, right?"
Vivianne hid between two academy buildings, leaning back against a wall as she tried to catch her breath. Even with wind magic, the sheer speed she was going at would be enough to tire anyone. Even with her newly gained stamina from the training.
"It’s rude to run, you know?"
EEK!
Vivianne immediately jumped when she heard my voice echoing behind her, already stretching her palms toward me as she attempted to cast another spell.
[Wind—crack
I moved fast, grabbing her wrist and disrupting her casting with a simple hint of chaos magic within her system.
"You know... if that misunderstanding alone was enough to make Evelina kill you, how much worse do you think it’ll be for you if you try to harm me?"
I snickered, whispering in her ear.
But... I underestimated how much Evelina had affected her that day.
Because the moment I made my threat.
She fainted and fell backward, and I had to literally catch her by grabbing her hand and back to keep her from hitting the floor.
And here I thought I trained her to stand up for herself.
"Did you hear about the—?"
A group of female students somehow passed the alley the moment I caught her from falling.
It was just my luck... what the hell did I even do to deserve this today?
"W-What are you doing to Lady Vivianne, you creep!"
The girl beside the one who spotted me moved first, a fireball already prepared and ready to launch at me the moment I moved a muscle.
But...
[Profaned Prince]
"Sleep!"
If my words were powerful enough to affect a dog, it sure as hell would affect a human, and while it was still a weaker version of the demon prince modifier, it sure as hell was enough to knock out a group of C-Rank and below students.
And besides, it was mostly psychological; I could just leave them lying on the open ground without anyone being able to track it to me.
I’d let the other students who find them handle cleaning up my mess.
"As for you..."
I stare at Vivianne’s unconscious face, even from her muscles alone, I could still feel the tension and sheer fear she felt when I mentioned Evelina’s name and possible punishment.
"She isn’t a villainess for nothing."
I nod proudly, still glad that even if Evelina was more merciful this time around, she was still feared, and it should stay that way, because if it doesn’t? Well... I’d have to do something about that, didn’t I?
But I’m getting ahead of myself!
"Praise convenient teleportation..." I snickered to myself as I teleported us away from this sketchy alleyway surrounded by unconscious students.
The last thing I needed was for anyone to see me again.
[Profaned Step]
FWOOSH!
[Dark Step]
The moment I left the area, however, Kevin immediately appeared to replace me, his eyes filled with a burning curiosity as he still held the dark magic book tightly in his hands, now worn from constant use.
"Gotcha!"
He yelled out, but was shocked to find nothing but a few unconscious students.
He even looked around to confirm if there was anything else.
"T-That’s strange... I swear I just felt some weird disturbance around here..."
Sighing, he pinched the bridge of his nose, disappointed that he detected the disturbance too late, and that the likely source of it was now gone.
But...
"That’s weird..."
He kneeled, inspecting the unconscious students, immediately feeling a small, strange energy gather at his fingertips the moment he touched their hands.
"It’s master’s energy..."
He grinned at the revelation, licking his lips.
This was a perfect time to start an experiment.
SLAP!
"No!"
He hit himself hard in the face, realising that what he was thinking probably crossed a line at some point. Besides... these were still unconscious students who had barely done anything to him.
The least he could do was bring them to the medical district and then ask if he could test them for something after they woke up.
Chapter 82: Quid Pro Quo
FWOOSH!
I set Vivianne down on my dorm room bed, locked the door, and infused the surrounding walls with chaos energy to strengthen them against spells as an extra precaution.
While waiting for her to wake up was definitely a choice, I still needed to head to my room to check the examination coverage.
And I’d rather not have her escape while I was gone.
Not like this was an actual kidnapping anyway, after I’m done asking for what I wanted in return, I’d easily let her go without even the slightest scratch on her.
"All of this should be enough."
I knock on a wall, feeling it vibrate against my finger as I did.
It was durable enough, I decided, looking back at Vivianne’s unconscious form to double-check.
There was literally no way she could get out, even if she unleashed her strongest spell, and if she still does despite that...
Well, she probably deserved the freedom at that point, to be honest.
[Profaned Step]
"Sorry, I’m late."
I arrived in the doorway, suitcase in hand, as I entered the classroom.
This time, the professor in charge was Corvus, once again teaching moral and pragmatic applications of day-to-day life, just like the first time I attended this class.
It was uneventful as always.
"Finally attending again, Arden?"
Corvus chuckled, but stopped immediately as I reached a certain distance from him, his eyes narrowing immediately as he noticed the stark change in aura compared to before.
He raised a brow as I finally took my assigned seat. Kevin, as usual, was still absent, likely still doing his own research about dark magic to even bother about the usual curriculum.
"I’ll talk to your professor on spell formula to give you some extra marks." Corvus smiled, returning to the board as he continued to write terms and definitions.
"Sir, if I may."
"Yes, Gloomwood?" Corvus turned around, his personality switching entirely as he looked at the student with an annoyed expression.
The student’s hand lowered slightly at seeing the professor’s sudden change in demeanor, but to his credit, he didn’t completely back down.
"I feel it’s unfair to the rest of the class if you give—"
"Silence." Corvus returned to the board, barely even giving the student’s concern any attention. "If you deserved it, I’d also have included you, but you didn’t, so don’t complain."
He laughed slightly, looking at the student with a demeaning expression. "And here I thought this was supposed to be the top class of this batch."
He wasn’t the type to hold back at all.
"Marcellus... come on, back me up."
The student nudged Marcellus, who was sitting beside him with a less-than-interested expression. He himself had learned his lesson not to intervene in my business too much.
And being asked to help was certainly not going to change his mind.
"The professor has a point; stop bothering me with this."
"D-Don’t tell me you’ve given up, your highness?"
CRACK!
Marcellus snapped his dip pen.
The sheer statement that Gloomwood had proposed was absolutely ridiculous.
Him? A literal prince? Submitting to a mere baron’s child? Impossible.
But even he knew when and where to pick his battles, and a classroom where one of the world’s strongest dark mages was currently teaching was not one of them.
"I suggest you watch your words, don’t mistake me for my brother." He glared at the student with contempt.
"I am far less accepting of brazen insults like that..."
"I-I apologize..."
Hey... I gotta give Marcellus some credit, actually no... this was par on the course for his character.
A prodigious good guy who also isn’t fully a good guy; even the label of anti-hero doesn’t suit him very well. While he had a less-than-decent temperament, he was still mainly a good person, if you believe it or not.
"You’d better listen to Prince Charming..."
I muttered, resting my head against my hand as I mocked him from my seat.
"Y-You bastard..." The student gritted his teeth but immediately stopped when Corvus suddenly sighed in front of the class.
"I know my class is boring, but the least you could do is stop talking... It’s giving me a damned headache."
*** A few minutes later
Corvus left the class with a yawn, placing the coverage for the examination on the desk.
Didn’t even bother pasting it on the board for everyone to see; he literally just left it there in a position that could easily cause it to fly off the window, never to be seen again.
But I guess that’s the privilege you get by being a fully defined S-Rank.
I didn’t take long as I merely glanced at the paper, storing it within my memory to ensure I could access it later with photographic memory.
And with that done, I’m obviously going to skip the rest of the day.
I wasn’t the only one with that same idea as well; more like the entire class had also planned something like that.
"I love privilege..."
I shrugged, snapping my fingers and returning to my dorm room.
[Profaned Step]
In fact, I’m probably teleporting more than I was walking at this point, but then again, why the hell would I choose to walk if an option like this even existed?
FWOOSH!
THUD!
The moment I returned, I had to use my suitcase to block a letter opener aimed at my neck.
The culprit? A now awakened Vivianne with an irritated look on her face.
"I swear I could have gotten you there..."
"You’re still on about that?"
"Well... what do you expect me to do while I was locked up?" She sighed, sitting back down on my bed with her arms crossed.
"You seem to be in high spirits, no longer afraid of Evelina?"
Vivianne answered with an anxious chuckle at my question, avoiding eye contact and instead looking directly at the open window while her mouth twitched.
"I’m already far off the deep end at this point..."
Her voice was filled with utter devastation as she realized that being brought to my room had probably already sealed her fate once Evelina heard about it. Yet I still couldn’t bring myself to take her seriously...
The way she delivered it was far more comedic than actually depressing.
Watching someone calmly accept that their life was about to fall apart—even though it really wasn’t—was genuinely amusing.
I already had Evelina’s permission after all; she had no reason to worry, but I preferred not telling her that.
There’s nothing wrong with having a bit of fun with her reactions...
"Finally willing to hear what I have to say...?"
"Y-Yes..."