The following day was quiet for a while.
Vivianne’s plan had to come to a pause; not only that, but the entire academy was silent, but the silence didn’t come with the usual peace it was associated with.
Instead, a tense mood hung over the entire academy.
The air itself hummed with latent magic. With every step, even just crossing the academy’s threshold, it felt as though a thousand needles were pricking your skin.
Everyone was preparing for the examination, not only for the new enrollees, but for the seniors as well.
It was a major event sponsored by the Lionbright royal family and dukes from all across the nation.
Eryndor’s Semimonthly Examination was finally arriving.
"Can’t think of anything..."
I slouched over my desk chair, looking over my now-useless dagger launcher as I contemplated possible ways to modify it.
But nothing came to mind.
I’d probably just have to resort to throwing sabers if the worst-case scenario happened.
BEEP!
"Evelina?"
"How have your preparations been?"
Her voice hummed with static through the transceiver, but even with it, I could tell she was excited.
She wasn’t able to go all out during the tournament because of its rushed state, but now that almost every student had the same amount of preparation as her?
This was finally the time to unleash everything, a feeling that I also shared.
Especially one part of the examination I remembered the novel had laid out...
The Hunt
A very ominous name for an exam, but it suited what was about to happen tomorrow, after the academic portion was done.
"Could be better, but I’m sure I’ll do fine."
She chuckled. "I know you will, but I have to remind you, you’ll be facing me as well."
"I know, but I’ll try my best to make sure we don’t have to clash."
"How kind of you. I wish you luck, Cael."
"You as well."
BEEP!
I stood up from my chair and opened my dorm’s curtains, overlooking the academy, more particularly, its main gate.
It was filled with guards, both from the academy’s faculty and from the government and royal family itself.
They were distinct; some were elite mages, others were heavily armored gunmen, and some were even soldiers and warriors who were skilled with a blade.
"Really making sure no one would interfere, huh?"
fwish!
"How interesting..."
My heart skipped a beat at the sudden voice that appeared inside my dorm; it came directly from above my bookshelf, and the one behind it was obvious.
Beelzebub.
"L-Lord Beelzebub."
I immediately turned around, seeing the demon prince sitting above my furniture, it’s smile wide and just as unnerving as I remembered.
Even with my current power, the sheer amount of pressure I felt just by being near him didn’t change at all.
I may have grown stronger, but that didn’t mean Beelzebub hadn’t grown stronger too. It didn’t help that my interference had turned him into the undisputed strongest demon prince.
It was just like the first time I had summoned him.
But now I had the eye and strength to manage the pain better. No longer crumbling to my knees the moment I hear his words.
Still didn’t mean I was fine with the situation, though!
What does he want this time?
"Why did you come to visit?"
"Nothing, I was just checking on your progress..."
Beelzebub snickered. He was still not over the idea of turning me into his champion, keeping an eye on me until I was fully ready, and eager to accept.
Though he didn’t say it to me directly.
It was obvious that’s what he wanted.
But he didn’t have to manifest directly into the physical world to observe me; he just wanted to do this for the fun of it. If you had overwhelming power, you’d also be bored enough to waste some of it in useless things like this.
"Goodluck, mortal."
click.
He disappeared, not even a hint of his presence remaining.
I couldn’t even tell what he used to disappear with; he just outright removed himself from the physical world without even moving a single limb.
I guess dramatic exits and entrances came with the job of being a demon prince.
KNOCK!
KNOCK!
What is it this time?
I opened the door, and instead of an annoyance, I was met with a pleasant surprise.
Kevin, not only that, but the impressive dark energy he radiated all around him.
Didn’t take a genius to tell he was training before he came to me.
"Came to report?"
"Y-Yes!" Kevin’s voice was manic, rabid even.
I didn’t even think he slept at all this past few days, with how mentally exhausted his eyes look.
"I mastered the entire book! I’ve achieved the level of an adept dark mage!"
A-Adept...!?
He really was working hard; he even managed to surpass me in rank, in firepower, however. I still doubt it.
"The entire book!? Already?"
"Yes! The information I gathered from the unconscious girls was the remaining thing I needed to solve the rest of the formulas!"
He really is a perceptive genius... male leads really do have it easy, don’t they?
But that doesn’t matter, what matters is that my living nuclear bomb had now been finished, the only thing I needed to do now was redirect him to things I needed gone.
And what else than the examination?
"Time for the next step of your training then, student..." I grinned, emphasizing the last word more than I needed to.
"I’m ready for it! Give me all you got!"
"Team up with me during the physical part of the examination tomorrow, you know my magical presence more than anyone, just meet with me the moment it starts. I’ll brief you in on your lesson then."
"G-Got it, master!"
[Dark Step]
Kevin immediately scurried off without even letting me say goodbye, teleporting away with a snap of his fingers.
And just by seeing Kevin’s progress alone... I could already tell tomorrow was going to be interesting.
More particularly, from my other student.
Vivianne.
"She’s gonna cause a lot of trouble, isn’t she?"
I awkwardly laughed, but at least she’ll be able to take out the fodder. No need to get my hands dirty for my plan to work.
"I almost feel bad for my fellow students..."