Chapter 58: Chapter 58: Aftermath and Orders
"Goodbye Sean," Lilith said, walking out of his room.
A hooded figure stood on the other side of the corridor.
The moment Lilith stepped out, the figure’s gaze drifted toward the room behind her.
The smell of blood was already beginning to spread.
"Aren’t you going to clean that up?" the figure asked.
Lilith, who had already returned to her human form, frowned at the figure in front of her.
"He’s under your supervision, you handle it," Lilith said.
The figure squinted his eyes.
Lilith slowly pulled out her dagger.
The atmosphere between them immediately turned tense.
Neither seemed willing to back down.
After a few seconds, the figure sighed.
"If I’m handling it then I want you to report his death," the figure bargained.
Lilith simply walked past him.
The figure watched her leave.
For a brief moment he considered stopping her.
Then he gave up on the idea.
"I hope you know that you’re not untouchable because you’re a direct disciple of a member of the Creed. We are both disciples after all, so don’t ever go killing anyone that’s under my supervision."
Lilith stopped walking.
Her eyes shifted slightly.
"Then don’t approach Kael," Lilith replied.
The figure frowned.
"He is a Demon King Candidate. We aren’t the ones that’ll approach him."
Lilith didn’t answer.
The figure clicked his tongue.
It was impossible holding a proper conversation whenever Kael was involved.
He turned and entered Sean’s room.
Blood covered the floor.
Sean’s corpse lay motionless.
The hooded figure stared at it for several seconds.
"What a waste."
Sean wasn’t particularly important.
Still, losing a trained member was annoying.
Especially before the upcoming tournament.
He crouched beside the body.
"At least she didn’t blow up the room this time."
The figure shook his head.
"Simon is definitely going to complain about this."
Meanwhile, Lilith continued walking through the dormitory corridor.
Her expression was hidden beneath her bangs.
The further she walked, the quieter her footsteps became.
Eventually she stopped.
Her eyes slowly rose.
She was standing in front of Kael’s room.
Lilith blinked.
She hadn’t even realized how she got there.
The corridor was silent.
The door remained closed.
For several moments she simply stood there.
Part of her wanted to knock.
Another part wanted to enter.
A larger part wanted to ignore every instruction the Velvet Gang had given her.
Her fingers twitched slightly.
The order was clear.
Avoid contact with Kael Draven.
Monitor him.
Protect him if necessary.
Do not interfere.
Lilith hated that order.
The entire week had felt empty.
Before entering the academy she had spent more time around Kael.
Now she could only observe from a distance.
She knew where his classes were.
She knew when he trained.
She knew when he skipped meals.
She knew far more than she probably should.
Yet she couldn’t properly speak to him.
Lilith slowly shook her head.
"I’ll need to report Sean’s death."
She forced herself to turn away.
Moments later she arrived at her room.
The moment the door closed behind her, she released a tired sigh.
Her gaze drifted toward her bed.
The room felt strangely empty.
Not physically.
Emotionally.
She sat down.
Then immediately laid backwards.
The ceiling came into view.
Her thoughts naturally drifted toward Kael.
His smile.
His confidence.
The way he always seemed to say ridiculous things without hesitation.
The memory caused a small smile to appear.
Then she remembered the Velvet Gang’s orders again.
The smile disappeared.
With another sigh, Lilith sat up.
She opened a drawer.
Inside was a small orb.
Lilith grabbed it and injected a small amount of demonic mana into it.
The orb immediately began glowing.
A connection formed.
"Why have you called girl."
A woman’s voice echoed through the room.
"Lady Evelyn."
Lilith lowered her head slightly.
"Sean’s dead."
Silence followed.
A few seconds passed.
Then Evelyn spoke again.
"Why did you kill him?"
The question lacked surprise.
If anything, it sounded like she already knew the answer.
"He attacked Kael," Lilith replied.
Another brief pause followed.
"Simon might not like this, but at least Sean wasn’t officially his disciple yet considering how weak he was."
Evelyn sounded thoughtful.
"What about his supervisor? That guy is quite the nuisance."
"He’s handling the clean-up."
Lilith’s answer was immediate.
A tired sigh came from the other side.
"Of course he is."
The conversation paused briefly.
Then Evelyn spoke again.
"That vampire and his addiction to blood. Has he killed anyone inside the academy?"
"No."
Lilith shook her head.
"He’s been leaving the academy to commit massacres, which might get even worse in his third year with the amount of freedom being granted to them."
The room became silent again.
Even Lilith could hear Evelyn exhale.
"That idiot."
Evelyn sounded genuinely annoyed.
"The academy keeps dangerous people under one roof and expects everything to work out."
Lilith remained silent.
Evelyn continued.
"Listen carefully."
"Yes Lady Evelyn."
"Avoid him whenever possible."
Lilith nodded.
"I can’t begin to tell you how dangerous he is."
"I understand."
"No."
Evelyn corrected.
"I don’t think you do."
Lilith blinked.
It was rare hearing Evelyn speak so seriously.
"He isn’t dangerous because he’s strong."
"He isn’t dangerous because he’s talented."
"He isn’t dangerous because he’s a vampire."
Evelyn paused.
"He’s dangerous because he enjoys it."
Lilith remained silent.
"People like that are unpredictable."
"People like that eventually stop seeing limits."
The orb flickered slightly.
Evelyn’s voice softened.
"You’re reckless enough already."
"I don’t need another disciple dying."
Lilith felt slightly surprised.
Evelyn rarely expressed concern openly.
"I’ll be careful."
"You better be."
The conversation shifted.
"Has Kael shown any unusual growth recently?"
Lilith’s eyes brightened immediately.
"Yes."
Evelyn sighed.
"I walked right into that one."
Lilith ignored the comment.
"He formed a demonic core."
Silence.
Then another silence.
Then another.
Even Lilith became confused.
"...Lady Evelyn?"
"What?"
"You stopped talking."
"I was processing that."
Evelyn sounded genuinely stunned.
"A demonic core?"
"Yes."
"He formed one already?"
"Yes."
Another pause.
Then Evelyn laughed.
A rare sound.
"I see."
"What is it?"
Lilith asked.
"Nothing."
Evelyn replied.
"But the higher-ups are going to lose sleep when they hear that."
The orb flickered again.
"Alright. I’ll handle the complications regarding Sean’s death."
"Thank you."
"Continue observing Kael."
Lilith smiled.
"I planned to."
"I know."
The orb dimmed.
The connection ended.
Lilith carefully placed the orb back inside the drawer.
The room became quiet.
Once again her thoughts returned to Kael.
She rolled onto her side.
A small smile appeared on her face.
Then another.
Minutes later she slowly drifted to sleep.
Kael opened his eyes.
The first thing he noticed was the familiar ceiling.
The second thing he noticed was the smell.
Medicine.
Immediately he knew where he was.
"The infirmary again, but I’m on the receiving end."
Kael sat up.
He turned.
Stella stood nearby with her arms folded.
Beside her stood another familiar figure.
"Professor Ralph."
Kael blinked.
"I see you know of me."
Ralph smiled slightly.
"Did Stella introduce me in her class?"
Stella stared at Kael.
Kael squinted.
"Of course not."
The answer came instantly.
"He just happens to know every teacher in the academy." Stella continued.
Ralph chuckled.
Stella narrowed her eyes.
Kael looked away.
Of course that was true.
He knew Ralph and other teachers from the game.
Meanwhile Stella remained the exception.
No matter how much he searched his memories, he couldn’t remember seeing her in the original storyline.
It was strange.
Very strange.
Almost like she disappeared before the game’s main events began.
His thoughts were interrupted.
A sharp pain struck his ear.
"Ouch!"
Stella was pulling it.
"And you young man."
Her voice carried obvious irritation.
"Of every opponent you could have chosen, you picked Zion."
Kael winced.
"And while losing horribly, you decided to increase the pain threshold."
"Ouch! My ear!"
"I only cranked it up to gain better experience fighting Zion."
Kael pointed accusingly.
"The system agreed. Blame whoever approved it."
Stella’s eye twitched.
Then she knocked him on the head.
"You idiotic individual."
The room spun briefly.
Kael grabbed his forehead.
Professor Ralph quickly intervened.
"Come on now Stella."
"Do you want him becoming a patient again?"
Stella finally released Kael.
"For a masochist like him?"
She crossed her arms.
"I highly doubt it."
Kael rubbed his head.
"I’m not a masochist."
"Well I’m about to make you one."
Stella’s response came immediately.
Kael looked offended.
Ralph looked amused.
Stella ignored both reactions.
"You challenged Zion."
"You challenged him repeatedly."
"You increased the pain threshold."
"You kept going."
Stella rubbed her forehead.
"Do you know what normal students do after losing to Zion once?"
Kael remained silent.
"They stop."
Stella pointed at him.
"You didn’t."
Kael looked away.
That was fair.
Stella continued.
"Based on your performance, you’re currently at the entry level of C-Rank."
Kael immediately paid attention.
"You have a mana core."
"You have talent."
"You learn quickly."
"But you’re using mana like a one-trick pony."
The criticism was blunt.
"You strengthen your body."
"You swing your sword."
"You repeat."
Kael frowned.
Stella pointed directly at him.
"You understand mana manipulation."
"You don’t understand mana application."
The room fell silent.
"At this rate you’ll eventually hit a wall."
Her voice became more serious.
"You might never awaken your aura."
"You might never develop your own path."
Kael froze.
That statement carried far more weight than the others.
Stella sighed.
"There are two things I want you to do."
Kael listened carefully.
"First."
She pointed toward the Virtual Simulation Room.
"Start from Rank Twenty."
"Fight your way upward."
"Stop challenging monsters immediately."
Kael looked slightly disappointed.
Stella ignored him.
"Second."
"Limit yourself."
Kael frowned.
"Limit myself?"
"Yes."
Stella nodded.
"Copying techniques isn’t enough."
"Every student in the Top Ten possesses something unique."
"Many of them have at least one B-Rank stat."
"You don’t."
Kael remained silent.
Stella stood up.
"Figure out how to win without relying on copying."
She turned toward the door.
Then paused.
"Your growth is impressive."
The compliment surprised him.
"But don’t let it make you stupid."
With that Stella left.
Ralph remained behind.
The professor stared at Kael quietly.
Then smiled.
"You have extraordinary talent."
Kael listened.
"And extraordinary potential."
Ralph continued.
"But Stella is right."
The smile disappeared.
"Don’t let arrogance cloud your judgement."
Kael looked down.
The battle with Zion replayed in his head.
Ralph turned toward the door.
"The tournament is closer than you think."
"Use this opportunity well."
Then he left.
The room became quiet.
Kael sat alone on the bed.
His thoughts slowly drifted toward the tournament.
Toward Zion.
Toward the Virtual Simulation Room.
A small grin appeared on his face.
"Rank Twenty, huh?"
