Chapter 27: Cursed Constitution

“Teacher, do you think I hurt people without meaning to, and that’s why I don’t have many friends?”

Back in the lab, Suna still felt guilty, gloomily organizing ancient stone tablets.

She realized that every time something bad happened to Truth, she somehow had a part in it.

“Don’t be silly. Don’t you have plenty of other friends who are just fine? Maybe Truth just has one of those rare bad-luck constitutions. And this time was just an accident— don’t take it too hard.”

Professor Lister tried to comfort her.

Bad-luck constitution? Suna had heard of that before— some sort of extremely unfortunate affliction.

Thinking back on everything Truth had been through recently, it actually sounded… plausible…

First she got sealed away, then possessed by a demon, then harassed by people.

But even after all that, Truth still acted like nothing was a big deal. Had she just gotten used to these things?

That was just too sad! Imagining a gentle, frail priestess suffering from misfortune day after day yet still staying cheerful and never complaining made Suna’s eyes well up with tears…

“I’m back!”

Truth’s voice came from outside. She strode confidently into the lab, looking full of energy.

There was one thing Truth needed to confirm— whether Tia believed in the Mist.

Huh? She’s already back? It’s only been an hour! Was High Priestess Tia’s healing that miraculous? Suna suddenly rushed up and hugged Truth. Truth paused, confused.

What’s going on now?

“Sniff, I’m so sorry, Truth! I didn’t know you had one of those cursed, misfortune-attracting constitutions… you’ve been through so much lately!”

Suna made up her mind— she had to protect this precious friend no matter what.

Then that precious friend responded with a puzzled look:

“Huh? Bad-luck constitution…? So you’re saying all the bad things that happened to you lately were because of me?”

“What…?! I didn’t mean it like that at all!”

Suna rushed to explain, repeating her earlier speculation. Truth then turned to give Professor Lister a questioning look— what was that nonsense about a bad-luck constitution?

Lister just shrugged, saying it was just a wild guess, and that Suna’s imagination had run a little too far with it.

After Suna calmed down, Truth finally remembered there was something else she wanted to ask:

“Suna, do you remember your butler, Norton?”

“Him? I haven’t seen him at home for a few days now. Why do you ask?”

Truth briefly explained how, during a nighttime “walk,” she saw demon hunters surrounding Norton, who had been possessed by a demon. Suna was left completely dumbfounded.

She runs into a demon the moment she steps outside… yep, Truth must really be cursed!

Suna started tearing up again— so pitiful… but right now, the most important thing was to inform her father about what Truth said, or things could get dangerous. She wiped her tears and said:

“Got it. I’ll go tell him right now—he’s in a meeting at the academy…”

Suna left the lab for the moment, and Professor Lister continued organizing things while trying to put in a good word for her:

“Suna’s really not that overbearing, right?”

“She’s just a bit of a dummy. If I sold her off one day, she’d probably help me count the money with a smile.”

“Uh…”

Wait a minute… Could Truth be the one in control here? Lister wondered.

Truth sat on a tall chair, legs swinging as she began tracking Norton’s location.

She had already locked onto the demonic aura on him long ago. 

Soon, an image formed in her mind of an opulent, classical estate.

Suho Manor… Norton actually went back there? Didn’t he realize how strong his demonic aura was? Or was he planning to go down swinging?

That probably meant Suna’s father was in serious danger.

Once Truth sensed Norton’s demonic aura mingled with fresh blood, she’d teleport over to protect him — after all, she did quite like Suna.

Oh right, she should have Reg spar with Norton for a bit.

Norton was already badly wounded anyway, so it would be a good chance for Reg to train and maybe finally reach Tier Two.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t be worthy of being her underling.

So Truth casually held up a book to hide her face, her eyes glowing red as she silently summoned Reg.

Using her main account’s skills was always such a pain…

In the academy cafeteria, Reg had just finished morning training and was having breakfast with Anderson, who’d just woken up.

Anderson quickly noticed the bandages wrapped around Reg’s left hand.

“What happened to your hand?”

What else? Got cursed by someone he couldn’t mess with. Reg didn’t dare tell anyone he’d been hit with black magic, so he just replied:

“Injured it.”

“Doesn’t look like an injury… more like something out of a chuuni phase.”

“Screw you!”

Reg cursed, but the moment he did, he felt the mark on his hand burn like fire.

Startled, he jolted upright and clutched his left hand, just as Truth’s voice echoed in his mind:

“Go to Suna’s home now and protect Earl Suho for a day.”

Oh crap. The final boss just gave him a mission.

Seeing Reg’s slightly panicked expression, Anderson couldn’t help but slap his thigh and laugh:

“You’re really going for it, huh? Can’t suppress the demon lord’s power inside you anymore?”

Reg took a deep breath and shot Anderson a glare.

Fine, he’d drag this guy along to Suna’s place too— no way anything good was waiting for them there.

Meanwhile, at the academy’s central area—

Suna found her father, who had just wrapped up a meeting, sitting by the central lake admiring the scenery.

“Father…” Suna approached from behind, just in time to hear him sigh:

“Sigh…”

What’s wrong? A disagreement with another family during the meeting? Suna was about to ask when her father suddenly spoke:

“Suna, you know I’ve never been strict about your preferences. You’ve got four older brothers, after all. But this time, you’ve gone too far. Forcing yourself on someone like that… love born of coercion never ends well!”

“What?!” Suna was stunned on the spot.

“I’ve heard everything. Couldn’t you consider Truth’s feelings for once? You two barely just met, and you went and did something like that to her in front of everyone without even asking how she felt. Maybe I’ve spoiled you too much…”

“No! It’s not like that at all! Father, how could you think that too?!”

Suna cut him off and hurried to explain, but her father only gave her a knowing look that made her face flush red with embarrassment.

Ugh… maybe being a domineering rich girl who bullies Truth wouldn’t be so bad after all…

After a bit of a scolding, Suna finally managed to bring up the situation with the butler Norton, which made Suho frown.

“If Norton really has been possessed by a demon, then tonight, pack your things and move back into the academy for now.”

Suho believed Suna’s words.

After another reminder not to be so pushy with others, he got into his carriage and left the academy to continue attending various high-society gatherings, all the while mulling over the Norton problem.

“A demon? That doesn’t add up…”

Suho had always thought he treated Norton pretty well. Norton got things done efficiently, and even if he skimmed a little off the top here and there, Suho turned a blind eye.

But this time, Norton had gone too far — he’d stolen an entire cartload of premium potions. That, Suho couldn’t overlook.

Still, that wasn’t enough to drive someone to make a deal with a demon.

Especially now, with the demon hunters sealing off the city… could it be that Norton had run into something even worse?

By dusk, after a long day, Suho finally returned to the manor.

In the main hall, he saw Reg and another student he didn’t recognize.

“Reg, are you two here to help Suna move?” Suho asked.

“Uh… something like that.”

After a bit of small talk, Suho made his way to the door of his office.

Just as he was about to open it, a miniature magic device in his pocket started vibrating — it had picked something up.

Ever since the demon hunters sealed off the city to hunt a major demon, the noble families, fearing for their lives, had all started carrying these expensive devices to detect demonic energy.

Someone… no, something demonic was inside!

Suho didn’t make a sound. He carefully backed away… and then ran as fast as he could!

But even as he sprinted away, the next second, a bone-chilling killing intent surged up behind him…

The demon had followed him out!