Chapter 8
Demonology was the most popular class at the Academy.
There were several reasons why enrolling in it was always so difficult.
Many students genuinely wanted to learn about the demons that occasionally appeared throughout the Empire.
Others hoped to leave a favorable impression on Duke Gillian Roas, who taught the course, in the hopes of securing a prestigious position after graduation.
And then there was another reason—
“Wow… Lord Damian looks as perfect as ever.”
“Is Prince Fried absent again today because of his duties with the Holy Knights?”
The popularity of the Empire’s two princes, Damian Ivelrn and Fried, who attended the class as members of the Imperial Family, also made registration fiercely competitive.
Damian entered the classroom dressed as impeccably as always, wearing the gentle smile he had practiced thousands of times.
“I hope everyone is having a pleasant afternoon.”
Smiling so frequently wasn’t natural for him.
But concealing his sharp and cynical nature required constant effort.
Especially…
When the person wondering when he would finally die was standing right in front of him.
Even if Demonology is a required course for graduation…
To think I’d have to sit through Gillian Roas’s lectures.
Who was Gillian Roas?
The very man who had relentlessly slandered Damian’s mother until she wasted away in despair.
Just remembering how heartbroken his mother had been after hearing that the New Year’s gift she’d sent Gillian had been thrown into the mud…
Made Damian’s stomach churn.
Yet not a single trace of emotion appeared on his face.
He maintained his usual relaxed composure.
He was no longer the immature boy who let his feelings control him.
“Then let us begin today’s lesson.”
Unlike before, Gillian no longer displayed open hostility toward Damian.
Instead, he began speaking in an even, composed voice.
“Demons are filthy beings born from the sins designated by the Goddess.”
“Once they attach themselves to a human, that person loses all reason and becomes little more than a beast.”
“The demon remains inside the body for several days.”
“When the flesh begins to rot from demonic energy, it abandons the corpse in search of another host.”
“…”
“The Temple and the Holy Knights exist to prevent demons from taking possession of human bodies.”
Hearing the explanation from the Empire’s foremost authority on demons made the subject feel surprisingly vivid.
Damian concealed his boredom and continued listening.
“Demons are broadly divided into seven natures.”
“Greed.”
“Lust.”
“Gluttony.”
“…and so on.”
“The Seven Sins decreed by the Goddess define their very personalities.”
“…”
“Each demon seeks out humans who possess the same nature.”
“For example…”
“A Lust Demon searches for depraved and promiscuous individuals to possess.”
The instant he heard the words promiscuous individuals…
Damian’s heart skipped a beat, as though one of his own secrets had just been exposed.
Nevertheless…
He calmly continued taking notes.
Scratch… scratch…
People hated demons because they harmed humanity.
Damian was no exception.
If he intended to defeat Fried in the struggle for the throne and become Emperor…
Then under no circumstances could he allow himself to become connected to demons.
Even the slightest association would give House Roas and the Temple endless ammunition against him.
…Damn it.
Why was I born without a shred of holy power?
If only he’d possessed holy power comparable to Fried’s…
Life would have been much easier.
As he continued thinking…
Gillian instructed one of his attendants to bring something forward.
“Everyone.”
“Inside this cage is a lesser demon.”
“His Highness Prince Fried personally captured it for educational purposes.”
After casually mentioning Fried’s accomplishment…
Gillian removed the crimson cloth covering the cage.
Inside…
A black snake writhed behind iron bars.
The students, most of whom had lived sheltered lives and had never seen a demon up close, instinctively frowned.
Ugh… it’s disgusting.
It almost looks translucent.
That aura makes my skin crawl.
Voices praising Fried could be heard throughout the room.
“As expected of Prince Fried.”
“He even captures demons for the Academy.”
Gillian quietly listened to the admiration.
Then…
His gaze shifted toward someone else.
“Now then.”
“This is an appropriate opportunity to demonstrate what kinds of power can subdue demons.”
His sharp emerald eye settled directly upon Levy.
“Lady Levy Heron.”
“Would you honor us by demonstrating the Sacred Lion’s Blessing inherited by House Heron—the Imperial Family’s Sword?”
The moment Gillian singled her out…
The classroom erupted into whispers.
“If she could actually defeat demons, she’d have attended social gatherings long ago.”
“Even if she’s sickly… surely someone from House Heron can handle a tiny lesser demon.”
“They’re called the Empire’s Sword, after all.”
“If she can’t even kill something that small…”
“She has no right to inherit that title.”
Damian heard every single whisper without missing a word.
His crimson eyes slowly turned toward Gillian, whose lips carried a faint, knowing smile.
Why would he target the girl who’s supposedly in love with Fried?
House Heron remained neutral between the First and Second Princes.
That was true.
But that neutrality belonged to the family…
Not necessarily its heir.
The incident in which Levy had supposedly fainted after merely making eye contact with Fried was already famous throughout noble society.
So why wasn’t Gillian trying to recruit her?
Why publicly humiliate her instead?
Damian couldn’t understand his motive.
One thing, however, was certain.
Levy Heron’s value will be decided here.
If the future head of House Heron—
The family responsible for protecting both the Imperial Family and the Empire from demons—
Couldn’t even defeat a lesser demon…
Tomorrow’s newspapers would undoubtedly feature it on the front page.
“She lacks the qualifications.”
“She is unworthy.”
Damian had seen countless headlines like those directed at himself.
The thought left an unpleasant taste in his mouth.
House Heron’s responsibilities are certainly immense…
But she only recently recovered from a long illness.
Wouldn’t it be better to wait until her health fully returns before testing her?
Gillian’s actions struck him as unnecessarily cruel.
Perhaps…
Seeing Levy coughing violently only a week earlier—
Reminding him of his own chronically ill mother—
Made him sympathize with her even more.
Just as Damian considered discreetly releasing a trace of mana to knock the demon unconscious himself…
Levy stood.
“Understood, Duke Roas.”
She answered simply before carefully rising from her seat.
She wasn’t wearing particularly high heels.
Nor was her dress restrictive.
Yet…
Every step looked unsteady.
At that rate…
Forget defeating a demon.
Can she even swing a sword properly?
Does she even possess enough mana to summon one?
Why is she coughing so often?
Her face is so pale…
Perhaps enrolling in the Academy was an overreach just to build connections.
Scorn.
Pity.
Concern.
Every gaze followed her.
Even Gillian—
Usually expressionless—
Allowed himself a faint, mocking smile.
Just as I thought.
Not a single person believed Levy’s frailty was an act.
Exactly…
As Levy had intended.
She quietly stopped before the cage containing the demon.
I never imagined someone as influential as Gillian Roas would make such an obvious move.
There was a reason she believed this situation would become an opportunity.
Gillian didn’t know…
That she already knew who owned the emerald-eyed bat.
It would be stranger if I didn’t know.
In the original novel, Gillian constantly used those bats whenever he wanted to separate Fried and Ayla.
As a direct descendant of one of the Empire’s greatest houses…
Gillian’s pride was immense.
And that meant…
He never hesitated to crush anyone he disliked.
In the original story…
Before Ayla awakened her holy power…
He had tormented her relentlessly.
“Lady Heron.”
“If defeating the demon proves too difficult…”
“You may return to your seat.”
Just like now…
He always spoke politely.
Calmly.
While publicly humiliating his targets.
But Gillian had made one mistake.
He had allowed that emerald-eyed bat to approach too closely.
Because of that…
Levy had been given time to prepare.
“I’ll be fine, Your Grace.”
Levy answered with the same respectful courtesy.
Then…
She condensed every bit of mana she had painstakingly accumulated over the past week.
Hummmmm—
“…?”
For the first time…
A hint of surprise appeared in Gillian’s eye.
What…?
That amount of mana…
Before he could finish calculating…
Space itself distorted.
From the twisting void emerged—
A massive longsword.
From its ivory-white hilt…
To its gleaming white blade…
Every inch resembled polished ivory.
In that instant…
Even those with no knowledge of swordsmanship understood one undeniable fact.
Summoning—
And wielding—
A sword bearing the crest of House Heron…
Was not something just anyone could accomplish.
Wait…
Wasn’t she supposedly too sick to attend social events?
She was staggering just moments ago.
How can she summon something like that?
Even the court mage serving my family couldn’t perform a summoning spell of this scale in perfect condition…
Levy could clearly feel it.
The contempt fixed upon her had transformed into shock.
Into disbelief.
None of them have ever actually witnessed my illness.
They’ve only heard rumors.
Which means…
I can exaggerate my abilities as much as I like.
No one will realize it’s an act.
That was precisely what she intended to exploit.
Knowing this sort of test would eventually come…
She had spent the past week sleeping less and less.
Practicing.
Learning how to summon…
And control…
House Heron’s sword.
Even now…
She was pushing her body so far beyond its limits that she would likely suffer a severe fever for the next two weeks.
…But this performance is worth the price.
Suppressing the smile threatening to rise onto her lips…
Levy quietly moved her fingertips.
