In the conversation that followed, Vieno couldn’t stop bringing up the Hidden One.
After learning even more about the Saintess of Truth and the Hidden One, Vieno began to doubt whether the Hidden One was really a Blood Demon:
“In the Demon Lord’s palace, there’s a Blood Demon widely recognized as the most powerful—its name is Yeyong. This demon is addicted to killing, vile and shameless, never fighting head-on but always attacking from the shadows. Besides the usual behaviors of demons, it’s infamous for tormenting its prey. It especially loves to let its victims escape to give them hope, only to personally snuff out that hope bit by bit.”
“All these are things the Blood Demon species loves to do, it’s in their nature, without exception.”
Even though Suna kept describing the Hidden One in the worst possible light, Vieno couldn’t sense any similarity between the Hidden One and the Blood Demon.
Compared to a normal Blood Demon, the Hidden One was practically a saint.
“But…” Suna lifted her collar and turned around, letting Vieno clearly see the Hunting Mark left on her:
“That demon already put a Hunting Mark on me, and it didn’t care at all when I came to Snowveil City. Could it be just as you said—it’s giving me hope for survival, then…”
“Hiss… That really looks like a Blood Demon’s mark… In that case, I suggest you prepare yourself.”
“Eh?!”
“Blood Demons are one of the three top assassin species. If they want to hide, even the gods would have a hard time tracking them down, let alone our Royal Academy. We simply can’t protect you, so ending things yourself would be easier—at least you wouldn’t be tortured.”
“But there’s something odd. The Hidden One you describe doesn’t seem to like killing at all, and instead… plays? Maybe one day it’ll suddenly show up just to make you bark like a dog again.”
“Isn’t that just another way to torture me?!”
“It’s more like a kind of… ahem, a kind of kink! Never mind, it’s pointless trying to explain to an innocent like you. Anyway, as long as you’re not lying, you won’t die in the short term. There’s still a week left until the New Semester starts, so just stay in the Academy for now. I’ll handle the rest.”
“If you can’t sleep, go visit the Library. Our Academy’s Library is second only to the Empire Capital Grand Library. Don’t you love studying ancient scripts? There are lots of well-preserved Ancient Message Boards in the Library for you to look at.”
“Really?!” Suna’s spirits, which had been drooping, instantly lifted with Vieno’s words.
She’d always suspected that a powerful demon like the Hidden One, who had lived for so long, couldn’t possibly remain unknown.
Maybe there’d be some clues in the records from five hundred years ago…
Three minutes later, Suna left Vieno’s office, and Vieno immediately picked up a pen to write a letter to her subordinate Krof, who was still on assignment in the Sylvia Kingdom:
“We need to have Krof send someone to investigate the Hidden One as soon as possible. If everything Suna said is true…”
Then she herself would willingly kneel and wear the Dog Collar in front of the Hidden One!
A being that doesn’t twist people’s wishes, and demands almost nothing in return for granting them—wherever such a being appeared, countless people would flock to follow it. She had to seize this opportunity!
Still, before confirming that the Hidden One truly doesn’t twist wishes, it was better to not act rashly.
For now, she’d secretly observe Suna to see if there were any side effects. After all, Suna had made several Wishes already.
……
Compared to Deya City, which is under curfew year-round, Snowveil City at night was practically a city that never sleeps.
Somehow, the city managed to keep the heavy snows from blowing in from outside, yet the sky remained clear to see.
Far from the bustling streets, inside the sprawling Royal Academy—an area as large as all of Deya City—Suna confirmed her dorm room and headed straight for the Library.
The Academy was still on break, so the Library was especially empty and quiet.
Coupled with the late hour, the only sound was Suna’s light footsteps:
“Demons… demons… ah, found it!”
Suna tiptoed and pulled down several books about demon species from the tall shelves, soon noticing that the information here was much more detailed than what she’d seen at the Deya Magic Academy.
For over an hour, Suna lost herself in the books.
Eventually, she selected two volumes that contained more information about Blood Demons and began heading toward the basement level’s Ancient Slab Exhibition Area.
The whole Library was almost too quiet, and the dim candlelight only added to the haunted-house feeling. Luckily, this was the Royal Magic Academy—no ordinary ghost could do evil here.
With that thought, Suna relaxed a little, but after only a few steps, she felt a chill:
“Who’s there?”
She whipped around and saw, in the flickering candlelight, her own shadow starting to squirm.
Startled, she hugged her books and stumbled back two steps. Her shadow slowly stood up and stretched out its pitch-black right hand toward her:
“Suu… na…”
“Eek!”
Without hesitation, Suna, her face pale, turned and ran. What was going on—was the Library haunted?!
“Help!”
“Don’t… run… away…”
Her shadow’s speech was slow, but its skill activation wasn’t.
Two inky-black chains shot out, wrapping precisely around Suna’s flailing legs and sending her crashing to the floor, then slowly dragged her back.
Staring at the horrifying three-dimensional shadow in the candlelight, Suna burst into tears.
Was this just a prank or what? Wasn’t the Royal Magic Academy supposed to be safe?!
Could this be yet another way the Hidden One tormented her? Was it secretly watching her helpless, terrified state even now?!
She wouldn’t let it win! Suna gritted her teeth and struggled desperately, but it was no use.
She was just a measly Second Tier, and without her Fire Pattern Staff, she had no means of resistance—she could only watch herself be dragged closer…
“Oh? A Shadow Demon?”
Suddenly, a woman’s voice rang out from the Library entrance. It was Vieno:
“The last time a demon showed up in the Academy was five years ago. What brought you here this time?”
As soon as she finished speaking, a rainbow light filled the Library.
Under the glow, the Shadow Demon before Suna was instantly revealed and seemed frozen in place.
The next moment, the rainbow light merged into a blade shaped like a bird’s wing and slashed the Shadow Demon in two.
A series of light blades followed, chopping the demon to pieces. Bathed in rainbow light, it gradually faded to ashes…
From being immobilized to annihilated, it had taken only two seconds.
Suna hadn’t even caught her breath before Vieno, smiling, appeared before her, a small bird with iridescent feathers perching on her shoulder, tilting its head at Suna lying on the floor.
Only after several deep breaths did Suna finally speak:
“Y-you already knew I was being targeted by a Shadow Demon?”
“O-of course I knew. Everything was within my expectations. Don’t worry—as long as no one above the Ninth Tier comes after you in the Academy, you’re absolutely safe.”
Vieno replied a bit guiltily, but her expression remained confident, so Suna didn’t notice anything strange.
In reality, she hadn’t noticed a mid-level Shadow Demon sneaking into the Academy at all.
If she hadn’t just had her contract beast check on Suna, things would have gotten out of hand.
To be targeted by another demon… This Suna must really be something. Looks like I’ll have to monitor her around the clock.
Just then, as Suna stood up, she felt something brewing in her mind, and Vieno also sensed a demonic power stirring within Suna.
Accompanied by a wave of dizziness, the voice of the Eighth Saintess, Mary, appeared in Suna’s mind:
“Hey, looks like something’s gone wrong. The teacher I sent to you just got killed—it was a Seventh Tier Shadow Demon. Just a few minutes ago, she said she’d already found you. Where are you right now?”…
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