Chapter 53: Chapter 53: Sean
After leaving the Staff Section, Kael walked through the academy grounds with his newly obtained sword resting at his side.
The conversation with Stella and Lyra still lingered in his mind.
Particularly Lyra.
The woman was exactly as troublesome as he remembered from the game.
"Grandma..."
Kael muttered before shaking his head.
"I should probably avoid calling her that again she’ll definitely be plotting how to assault me next time we meet."
Just imagining the enraged elf launching fireballs through the academy hallways made him grimace.
The academy grounds were much livelier than usual.
It was still the weekend, meaning students weren’t required to wear uniforms.
Humans, beastkins, elves and other races moved freely through the streets surrounding the academy.
Some trained.
Some shopped.
Others simply enjoyed their free time.
The atmosphere felt more like a bustling city than a school.
"Miss Lyra..."
Kael muttered, since he has been coming across the original characters from the game as of recently.
In the original game, Lyra had always been one of the most popular instructors among mage players.
She wasn’t his teacher back then.
She taught magic classes while Stella never even appeared in the main storyline.
Yet somehow the two women were close friends best friends even according to Lyra.
Kael sighed.
The timeline was already feeling unfamiliar from what he knew from the game.
Maybe it was because he was placed in the academy 1 year before the arrival of the main character that everything feels unfamiliar.
Many of the people he remembered either hadn’t entered the story yet or were acting differently than expected.
Eventually he arrived at the equipment district.
The academy had brought all first years here during orientation.
Most students in higher classes bought weapons immediately.
Kael hadn’t bothered partly because he was ranked dead last in his set.
Now that he possessed his student badge, it was finally time to claim a free weapon, well every student is privileged to getting free weapons it’s the custom made ones that use merit points.
Entering the smithy, the heat immediately struck him.
The sound of hammering echoed from deeper inside the building.
A dwarf sat behind the counter smoking lazily.
The moment he noticed Kael, he frowned.
"What exactly are you doing here, first year?"
"Well, I came for a sword, just a normal sword."
The dwarf removed the cigarette from his mouth puffing out smoke.
"Then go to the free section."
"I’m sure you’ll find something that suits your taste."
"Now hurry up, get your weapon and leave."
Kael blinked.
"I guess they still hate people taller than them." He thought.
"HEY!"
Kael immediately froze.
Slowly turning around.
The dwarf was staring at him suspiciously.
"Did you just insult me in your mind?"
Kael almost laughed.
"What?"
"Why would you think that?"
"I just came for the weapon."
"Your paranoia is a bit much."
The dwarf narrowed his eyes.
"But you just insulted me."
Crack.
His knuckles popped.
Kael immediately stepped backward.
"Hey, you’re bullying a student."
The dwarf frowned harder.
"I guess you aren’t even trying to hide the insults anymore."
He began walking toward Kael.
Before things escalated further, another voice echoed from deeper inside the smithy.
"Now you’re just looking for an excuse to beat up the poor boy."
The approaching dwarf immediately stopped.
"I just hate how he’s tall."
Kael blinked.
"So that’s the reason."
For a second he genuinely thought the man was psychic who could read minds.
"Note to self."
"Stay away from dwarves in dark alleyways."
"They’ll beat you up because of your height."
Ignoring the strange angry bird *cough* dwarf, Kael grabbed a simple academy sword from the free rack.
The blade wasn’t special.
No enchantments.
No rare materials.
Just standard steel well it was free he couldn’t ask for more and if he tried he’s a hundred percent sure that the dwarf would complete what it started.
He tested the balance briefly.
For a free weapon, it was surprisingly decent.
"Perfect". He said out loud as a form of compliment before leaving the smithy.
The moment he left an older dwarf stepped out from the inner chambers of the Smithy.
"That’s the eleventh student you’ve assaulted today although you didn’t complete this one."
"I understand you’re royalty."
"But His Majesty didn’t send you here to beat up everyone taller than you."
"You were sent here to understand other races not fight with them."
The younger dwarf looked away.
Humiliated.
"Humans are annoying."
"They aren’t that annoying just give it time although some of them are crazy not all of them require beatings the other 10 students I let you beat deserved it this one didn’t." The older dwarf said.
Outside, Kael stopped in front of the Smithy catching his breath.
"Definitely staying away from dwarves."
The conclusion felt completely reasonable.
He shortly resumed wandering around the academy.
The academy was massive.
Large enough to be considered a city on its own.
Students could spend months here and still discover places they had never visited before.
Without realizing it, Kael found himself entering a much quieter area.
The noise of the crowds faded.
The surroundings became almost deserted.
Tall trees lined the pathway.
Then he stopped.
Without turning around he spoke.
"Well."
"You’ve been stalking me for quite some time."
"How long do you plan on hiding, you pervert?"
Silence.
Then a young man stepped out from behind a tree.
Kael frowned.
The face seemed familiar.
Very familiar.
"Who are you calling a pervert, pervert?"
The boy replied offended.
"I’m not the pervert, you’re the pervert."
Kael said raising an eyebrow.
"What?." The boy asked.
"I’ve never stalked dudes before."
"Whatever you’re doing right now is definitely suspicious, pervert activity detected."
"No, that’s not what I—"
The boy stopped.
Took a deep breath.
Then sighed.
"You know what?"
"I’m not having an argument about who’s the bigger pervert with you."
Kael nodded.
That seemed like the correct decision.
"Just stay away from Lilith."
"This is your final warning."
He threatened turned around.
Preparing to leave.
At that exact moment Kael felt something stir inside him.
His mana core trembled.
The dormant demonic seed reacted.
A faint killing intent flickered across Kael’s eyes.
Something about Sean’s presence irritated him far more than it should have.
"Don’t be foolish."
The student stopped.
Then slowly turned back.
"You’re Sean, right?"
Sean froze.
"You know me?"
Kael smirked.
Of course he knew him.
Sean was one of Lilith’s subordinates in the game.
A loyal follower.
A loyal victim.
And someone Lilith had killed on multiple occasions everytime he restarted the game Lilith was the one to kill him one way or the other.
His fate had always been death by Lilith’s hand.
"What exactly do you mean by that?"
Sean asked.
Kael shrugged.
"You’re Lilith’s lapdog."
Sean’s expression immediately darkened.
"What do you mean lapdog?"
"I’m ranked higher than her in the Velvet Gang."
"Sure both you and I know that, it’ll only be for the moment."
Kael stated before shaking his head his eyes were now locked on Sean.
"But you’re still telling me to stay away from my lover."
Sean’s eye twitched.
"And I don’t like the way you were walking away after threatening me so obviously."
The atmosphere immediately changed.
Sean drew his blade.
The metallic sound echoed through the quiet pathway.
"Don’t get arrogant just because you’re a Demon King Candidate."
"You’re still pathetic."
Kael smiled.
"Why don’t you show me how pathetic I am, I challenge you to a duel." Kael stated.
Sean dashed forward.
Fast.
Much faster than ordinary first years.
His sword cut toward Kael’s neck.
A spark flashed beneath Kael’s feet.
Kael vanished.
Sean’s blade hit nothing.
His eyes widened.
Behind him.
Kael had already moved.
Clang!
Their swords collided.
Sean stepped backward.
Attacked again.
And again.
And again.
Steel rang continuously.
Kael remained silent.
Watching.
Observing.
Analyzing.
Every stance.
Every movement.
Every habit.
Every opening.
Sean soon noticed.
"Something’s wrong."
He jumped backward.
"You’re only a first year."
"How are you matching me?"
Kael said nothing.
That silence made Sean even more uncomfortable.
Because every exchange felt worse than the previous one.
As if Kael was learning.
Adapting.
Improving.
With every clash.
Sean attacked again.
A downward slash.
Kael copied the angle.
A thrust.
Kael copied the footwork.
A feint.
Kael copied the timing.
Sean’s face paled.
"No."
"That’s impossible."
Then Kael moved.
A single step.
Nothing flashy.
Nothing dramatic.
Just perfect timing.
Sean instinctively raised his blade.
Too late.
Slash.
The academy sword cut straight through Sean’s weapon.
And continued.
Blood sprayed.
Sean stared.
His right arm fell.
A second later pain arrived.
"ARGHHHHH!"
He stumbled backward.
"What did you do you bastard?!"
Kael took another step.
Sean’s instincts screamed.
Danger.
Death.
Run.
But before he could react—
Kael disappeared.
Sean felt movement behind him.
Then—
Slash.
His remaining arm flew off.
"ARGHHHHHH!"
Sean collapsed.
His sword fell beside him.
For the first time genuine terror appeared in his eyes.
The confidence he carried moments earlier was completely gone.
Kael approached slowly.
Sean crawled backward.
"Stop."
His voice trembled.
"Please."
"I’ll stay away."
"I won’t interfere anymore."
"I won’t even tell the other Demon King Candidates— don’t forget that I’m still a member of the velvet gang."
Kael’s eyes narrowed.
Wrong answer.
Sean immediately realized his mistake.
Too late.
A single flick of Kael’s wrist.
A silver flash.
Sean’s vision spun.
For a brief moment he saw his own body kneeling in front of him.
Then darkness consumed everything.
Silence returned to the pathway.
Kael quietly stood there with his bloodied sword.
The academy’s rules allowed duels and Kael announced his challenge for the duel before their fight.
And Sean had accepted.
No one would question it.
After all.
Sean had been the one who drew his blade first.
