226. Father [1]

One of the 72 demons. The elimination of Grand duke Belial.

This became a significant example for the Eldain students.

There were several reasons for this.

First, it was a complete shift in perception regarding Thalia von Stiliner, who had been considered inferior to her sister.

She proved that her qualification for the swordsmanship festival, which she obtained by placing third, was not merely due to her sister’s reputation. As the absolute master of the White Flame Form, she came to be treated as equal to her sister, Cell.

The fact that she manifested a white, typified sword aura and personally cut down a Grand duke-level demon left no room for further debate.

Second, Cell von Stiliner was exempted from punishment.

This was due to the ‘Benevolence’ of the new emperor, Penelope, who publicly acknowledged the Stiliner family, the sole users of the White Form, for their past contributions.

The crucial point was that everyone in the academy knew Cell had been unintentionally possessed by a demon and that the demon had now completely vanished from her body.

Additionally, the testimony of the central figure in the incident, in other words, me, played a significant role.

[You have defeated a fragment of the Grand Duke ‘Belial’.]

[The player’s lifespan has increased by 71 days.]

A suddenly gleaming status window.

Even as I heard that my lifespan had increased, I was still stuck in an uncomfortable situation.

“Damn it. That punk was pain in the ass to cut down.”

Belial.

A Grand duke embodying all words associated with evil on the continent, Lies, worthlessness, and more. Unlike other demons who sought the revival of Baal, he was a new axis of evil building his own faction.

I had assumed he would have other fragments or alter egos.

‘…..But I didn’t expect a mere fragment to wield this much power. This is going to be annoying.’

Of course, I wasn’t at full strength either. I hadn’t used [Limit Break], a technique that shortens lifespan, or even [Genius’s Time], yet I still managed to sever its soul.

But I couldn’t even pretend the situation was favorable.

At best, I’d only destroyed one fragment, and the remaining pieces hadn’t even been mentioned in Inner Lunatic’s game.

Either way, Belial would undoubtedly prove to be as dangerous an omen as Baal.

If I didn’t find a way to track him down as quickly as possible…

Drrrrk.

“Young Master? Are you awake?”

The sound of the door suddenly swinging open, and a maid steps inside. I quickly pull the covers over myself and steady my breathing as much as possible.

This isn’t good. Getting caught here would be dangerous.

My instincts were warning me.

“Young Master?”

The one calling me was none other than Zitri.

One of the few people who could scold me.

And of all times, Rona had also come to visit me here, the academy’s private infirmary room…

This situation isn’t looking good.

‘I’ll just pretend I don’t know anything.’

“Oh my… Why won’t Young Master wake up…?!”

Rona’s voice.

Was it just my imagination, or did she sound oddly excited?

A little uneasy, I force my eyes shut and barely let out a breath.

[The player is shaken.]

[The trait 'Prodigy of Acting’ is wavering.]

‘Of all times!’

As soon as the system message echoed, I felt my hand trembling faintly.

My past self, Yoochan.

The cowardly, timid version of me overlapped with the present, and my heart began to pound.

‘…Please, can you just let this pass?’

“Waa!”

The covers are yanked away.

At the same time, a sudden chill hits me, my nose itches, and..

Achoo—!

I let out a massive sneeze.

….Damn it.

I met the four eyes staring down at me and gave a faint smile.

“Yaaawn. I just woke up.”

“We know you weren’t sleeping.”

“W, what are you talking about?”

“Someone who just woke up wouldn’t say ‘I just woke up’ like that, would they?”

“…..”

Oddly, she had a point.

Carefully sitting up on the bed, I give up and declare.

“Make it short and simple. I’m still a patient, you know.”

“You do look like a patient, but…”

Rona mumbles but falls silent at a single glare from me.

It’s about time for her to get a smack.

Lately, I’ve been too lenient since it’s been a while since I last saw her.

As expected, Stick is the answer for Rona.

Just as I’m thinking that, Zitri lets out a deep sigh and continues.

“Actually, we have a guest, so we can’t stay long. As young master’s personal maid, it is my duty to correct your misconduct. Zitri von Rovelia sincerely, truly apologizes to you, Young Master Nox.”

“I, as a senior maid, also apologize!”

“Wouldn’t it be better if neither of you didn’t do anything that demands an apology? If you keep this up, I’m fine with both of you leaving.”

What’s the best way to dodge a lecture?

If this were a multiple-choice question, I’d say I picked a pretty effective option. But the response I got was impressive.

“…Apologies. That doesn’t sound like something Young Master should say.”

Thanks to Zitri’s sharp glare, I spent a long moment reflecting on the value of life under her gaze.

“Young Master Nox, it’s truly baffling how you always end up in dangerous situations. Other families’ young masters and ladies prioritize their own lives above all else. Personally, I sometimes wish…. You were like that too.”

“I’m a certified ruffian. I do prioritize myself. So, just get me a glass of water. I’m thirsty.”

“Here you go.”

As if expecting this, Zitri pulls out a glass of water she had prepared beforehand. This trick doesn’t work anymore. As expected of a maid with the [Genius] trait.

I’ll have to come up with a new variation.

“I know Young Master is a kind person.”

“Pfft! K…kind…?”

Out of nowhere, Rona bursts into laughter at Zitri’s words.

She’s been nothing but a nuisance today, so I think I’ll give her a smack later.

Zitri ignored it and continued.

“I understand you did it to save others. But I still don’t know why you push yourself so hard.”

“I killed it because it was a demon. I don’t care about the others. Live or die, whatever. They can handle themselves.”

I gave a half-hearted answer. In the end, Zitri was the first to give up.

“….Haah. Though it’s unbecoming of a maid to show this side to Young Master, please understand. I’ll continue to assist you silently, but… the truth is, I’m anxious every day. The others must feel the same.”

“You’re overestimating me. Who’d even be sad if something happened to me? My family’s already a mess. Haha….”

I try to laugh it off, but Zitri glares at me, slightly angry.

Rona joins her with the same look.

It seems I messed up.

Seems like I said something wrong.

“We would never abandon Young Master Nox.”

At Zitri’s words, Rona nods vigorously.

Damn it, why am I, the master, being scolded by my maids?

Just as I’m thinking that, Zitri drops a bombshell I never expected.

“Also, the Patriarch has not abandoned you either.”

“What are you talking about? That man doesn’t even seem like he’d bleed a single drop if stabbed. Do you think the Patriarch would care and shed even an ant’s tear?”

“The Patriarch came to see you.”

“…..?”

As I was about to retort with ‘What kind of bullshit is this?’, Zitri continued.

“I mentioned earlier that an important guest arrived. It’s the family you’ve been desperately searching for.”

“I wasn’t desperate.”

“Isn’t he your father?”

“…So, let me ask. Does Nox von Reinhaver have another father somewhere?”

Zitri looks at me with pity for a moment.

No matter what, isn’t that gaze a bit too much?.

You would react the same way if you were in the same situation as I.

Zitri adjusted my clothes and continued.

“Theo von Reinhaver… The family head of the Reinhaver family has personally come here to meet his son.”

Zitri isn’t the type to lie.

It was strange, but a fact.

Is he here to pry information about the demons from me?

Either way, it seems today is going to be a long day.

I’ve only been awake for half a day.

And before I could even process the situation, a new danger was looming over me.

My crisis-detection senses were ringing.

This is definitely a big deal….

**********

“Nox is awake!”

Thalia said, looking at her sister Cell lying beside her in the shared infirmary room.

Cell nodded gently with a warm smile.

“That’s a relief… I was worried.”

“Ng! There’s a visitor, so we can’t see him until after 2 pm, but… they said there’s no major problem!”

“…Ng”

Cell responded briefly before falling into thought.

Unable to look Thalia in the eye, she lowered her head.

“I’m sorry, Thalia. Because of me….”

“Sis, we agreed to stop talking about that.”

Thalia said, putting strength into her voice for the first time in a while.

She hated seeing her only sister shrink back like this.

Now that everything was slowly falling into place.

What reason was there for family to dwell on such things?

Robert was also the same.

“I should’ve paid more attention. Cell, blame this useless father of yours.”

“No, Father… It was just my own shortcomings…”

“Enough of this mood! Stop it! It’s annoying, so let’s just drop it! Emma, don’t you agree?”

“I am merely a maid. The Patriarch’s words are unconditionally correct.”

"Shameful.”

Thalia pouted playfully, and finally, Cell and Robert’s expressions softened.

The three of them began chatting lightly.

The main topic, of course, was Nox von Reinhaver, the reckless boy who had saved them.

“The reason I’m still alive is because of you and that boy, Nox von Reinhaver.”

Cell reminisced briefly.

The moment during her trial exhibition when Nox intervened came to mind.

— Ultimately, the academy’s primary purpose is the subjugation of magical beasts, demonic humans, and even demons.

— No one here is ignorant of the value of the White Flame Form.

— If there are two who have mastered it perfectly, they can deal a greater blow to the demons seeking Baal’s revival.

— Killing Cell von Stiliner here would be a tremendous loss for the entire continent. Please let her live.

It was only natural that Nox’s testimony, as the first witness, carried weight.

In the end, he even succeeded in severing the demon’s soul.

‘At the very least, he’s undoubtedly among the top swordsmen on the continent.’

Cell was certain.

Nox hadn’t given his all yet, he was hiding far more.

He would improve. He would grow stronger.

That was what made Nox truly terrifying.

“We should reward him later. Theo should treat him to something grand too.”

“Good!”

“Yes, Father.”

And so,

When the icy atmosphere between the three family members gradually thawed.

Meanwhile, the boy who had made this situation possible was looking around with an uncomfortable expression.

What the hell is going on?

Countless question marks floated above the white-haired boy’s head, but there was no one to answer them.

A brief silence passed.

A tense air hung over the two in the infirmary room.

Surprisingly, the first to speak was the middle-aged man. Theo von Reinhaver.

“You seem uncomfortable.”

‘Would you be comfortable in this situation?’

Barely holding back the curses rising in his throat, Nox lets out a sigh and answers.

“Yes. I’m uncomfortable.”

An answer that aligned with inward thoughts.

Though, of course, a few harsh words were omitted.