The Cradle of the Empire. Claris Academy.
This year, a special investigation committee was established by the academic staff due to the ongoing incidents and accidents related to demonkind.
“Perhaps… the seventh war is approaching soon.”
“That’s… ominous!”
“Ominous, you say? Don’t you all know? War cannot be avoided, and only one side can prevail. Have you forgotten the reason for this academy’s establishment?”
“…”
As discussions aimed at resolving the incidents wrapped up, and futile anxiety turned into desk talk, former professor McClone, who had retired in the worst possible way, was having slightly different thoughts.
‘That must be… that freshman from back then.’
The freshman selection exam in the Lint Forest.
The students, Edwin Gwynn and Lev Denec, who fought off a rag at that time.
These two were also involved in the current incidents.
Of course, it was just a series of unfortunate coincidences, but surviving through two demon attacks holds significant meaning.
Before judging their strength, if they had not succumbed to fear… then those negative experiences could also serve as a foundation for growth.
Therefore, McClone had already informed Professor Diana.
He must nurture these two.
It was cruel, but McClone was certain it was the moment of a hero.
‘If the old man’s judgment isn’t wrong… it would be good.’
…
“Did you see the demons in the Lint Forest?”
“See? When the war hero showed up, they ran away right away!”
“True, this is the base; how could a great demon be any different…”
“What’s that supposed to mean? Did they come just to declare war?”
The incident of the Bunea Academy’s invasion was a hot topic among the students at Claris; there was hardly anyone unaware of it.
After all, for a great demon to suddenly appear and occupy the Lint Forest without bringing an army was immensely puzzling.
“There was definitely a door there, a demon’s gate…”
“That’s right. Both I and this guy fought here… prepared to die.”
According to Dailen and Raymond’s testimonies, there had been an unidentified door in the underground tunnels, allowing a legion of corpses to emerge, but that could not be proven.
When the guardians went to check, everything had already been destroyed, and nothing remained.
In the end, everything seemed to have been made to appear that way by ‘someone,’ but no one could notice this truth.
…
And in the Archer Department’s Student Committee Room.
The promising human archer, Violet de Crescent, with her long lavender hair cascading down, was deep in thought.
First of all, the academy atmosphere was chaotic.
In such conditions, she had to select a candidate among the archer department’s hero aspirants.
In reality, she didn’t particularly want to choose anyone.
The reason for selecting hero aspirants each time was simple.
It was insurance.
A backup if the previous class failed in the demon king expedition.
In other words, Violet, who believed she had the skill to defeat the demon king, did not need such insurance.
However…
“Violet, I have something urgent to tell you. Are you busy right now?”
“…”
Her master, Professor Diana Ashkar, came to visit Violet directly.
In a way, it was a simple request.
Could she bring a student named Lev Denec to be a candidate for the archer department’s hero aspirants?
But as the saying goes, the difference between ‘ah’ and ‘uh’ matters; it was a plea to bring him, not merely to accept him as a candidate.
“Phew.”
She wasn’t inclined to take on candidates anyway, and now she had to persuade a first-year student in person.
Naturally, Violet, confident that there was no archer better than herself, was reluctant regardless of her master’s request.
“Lev, Denec…”
The marksman who held out during the time the war hero appeared during the recent demon incident in the Lint Forest.
Though he had contributed to capturing the rag brought by the great demon, she had heard that there was nothing remarkable about him otherwise.
However, he held the same position as Professor Diana’s top disciple.
Violet lightly rubbed her forehead with her fingers.
How on earth had things been going while she was away?
Eventually, she frowned and stood up.
‘…’
Let’s see what this Lev Denec looks like.
…
The Sanctuary, Claris’s Holy Ground.
The garden was clearly untended, but the plants in the green space were harmoniously groomed.
In the center stood a small temple-like building with only pillars and open walls.
“…Is this… the right place?”
Aria, who was excellent in her studies at Claris, could borrow this location under the pretense of practice.
And it was indeed correct to bring him here with the help of Sinatis.
No place was as good as the sanctuary for suppressing demonkind’s power, and she had to pour holy water onto his body, which was heavily eroded.
Despite his sturdy and large frame, washing him with holy water alone was quite a challenge for a woman.
Yet each time she needed to go to the Restoration Chamber or call someone else, Lev instinctively grabbed Aria’s arm as if to say it was absolutely not allowed, so this was the best option.
-……
He looked as if he were having a nightmare, sleeping with an unpleasant expression.
She had already reported to the academic staff, so when he regained consciousness, moving to the Restoration Chamber would probably help avoid suspicions regarding his whereabouts.
In any case, Aria saved Lev’s life once more.
Of course, she couldn’t be sure if this was the correct decision.
Professor Sinatis had quietly helped him, but he hadn’t given Aria any specific advice either.
However, this incident allowed Aria to feel a sense of certainty.
There was no longer a need to suspect him.
Lev Denec… could wield the power of demonkind.
And his character only changed when he used the power of demonkind and then was gradually consumed by it.
The reason for being consumed was not due to influences from other demons, but because of his own abilities.
‘But why… the mention of Yeriel…’
The first words that emerged from him while the demonization process was in full swing.
– Yeriel.
Why could that be?
Unlike what she had seen in other humans’ demonization contexts in the demon-related books, this was quite different.
Typically, normal demonizations resulted from seeking power by making contracts with demons and accepting dark magic, leading to obsessive and destructive behavior due to the rising power.
However, calling out the name of a human woman or playing pranks seemed decidedly out of place.
“…So, it’s not just about wanting to get stronger.”
He might not be accepting the powers of a demon for his own selfish reasons.
From what Aria had observed lately about his actions…
‘He has spent a long time with Yeriel…’
‘If the mention of “Yeriel” is related to this…’
“…?”
Having finished that line of thought, Aria’s heart sank.
It wasn’t the first time she felt this way.
If she were to add extreme despair to this, it would be similar to when she lost her family to Andras.
In short, her chest felt inexplicably stuffy as if she had lost something.
For now, Aria shook off that feeling.
What she needed to do now was to treat the injured.
“Me…”
“?”
Just then, Lev began to mutter in his sleep, his voice mingling with desperation.
And as Aria pieced it together, it formed a simple sentence.
– Let.me.go.back.
“What does it mean?”
Returning, where to?
She was a bit surprised.
Perhaps it was his sincere feelings she had never heard before.
He definitely hadn’t pretended to be weak.
At that moment, a conclusion suddenly formed in Aria’s mind.
The man named Lev Denec,
To return. And for Yeriel…
Had instantly accepted the power of a demon. Could it be interpreted that way?
“…”
Since the start of the semester, when she cast surveillance magic on him, he had occasionally shown great waves of magic power.
Moreover, every time a major incident occurred at the academy, his erosion level worsened.
He must have been struggling in pain to save someone…
Unlike ordinary demons.
However, regardless of his intentions,
Whether selfish or altruistic,
Accepting the powers of a demon was a taboo that would never be accepted at Claris Academy, or rather, in the Empire.
Thus, if it weren’t for Aria, Lev Denec would have already…
– …Ugh.
Just then, Lev’s mouth opened one more time.
“!”
Aria leaned in closer to Lev to listen properly.
…
“Lev…!”
After finishing the recovery in the Restoration Chamber, Yeriel, who witnessed Edwin’s miraculous recovery despite the academy investigators’ attempts to restrain her, rushed straight to Claris’s sanctuary.
What happened to her yesterday was nothing short of a miracle.
– Dailen? What’s wrong?
– No way. He’s gone.
– What? What’s missing?
– The curse of the great demon…
The curse of the great demon, which was the cause of Yeriel’s deteriorating health, had been lifted before the holy water could arrive.
However, she had to remain under the protection and surveillance of the war hero until she stabilized, so she couldn’t keep her promise with Lev.
– Lev, are you okay…?
Looking at the curse having vanished, it was evident that he must have taken some action.
But Lev’s physical condition was in shambles.
It must have been difficult even to move…
Why wasn’t he taking care of himself?
In the end, Yeriel spent the night without a wink of sleep, consumed by worry.
– Don’t forget our promise.
All she could do was hope that promise would be kept.
And even after hearing that Lev was recovering in the sanctuary after dawn broke, Yeriel couldn’t feel at ease.
She needed to see his condition with her own eyes to feel reassured.
…
Thus, in the holy ground…
“Lev…!”
Like an angel descending, with her pure white hair flowing, Yeriel encountered,
“!”
Lev, with Aria’s figure overlapping above him.
