CHAPTER 56: THE SECRET PROTECTOR!

Back at the Duke’s mansion, Rin was met with the usual cold atmosphere. All he wanted was to head to his room and not have a discussion with the duke but no... There was no way he could pass by silently.

Duke Vortellion barely glanced his way as he passed the foyer.

"You’re back."

"Yup," Rin replied, waiting for a punishment that never came. He blinked.

Still no lecture or anything that would lead them to the bed together.

He turned to leave... but then the Duke’s voice stopped him.

"Where have you been?"

Rin hesitated.

"I was out. Just walking."

The Duke’s brow lifted, and his eyes narrowed.

"Walking... with Silas?"

Rin’s mouth opened.

’How did he know? Did he follow me? No way! It’s definitely Silas’s scent,’

He could lie... again. Like he did with Theron. But something inside him said not to. He knew that the duke would definitely find out the truth one way or the other.

"...Yes," Rin said quietly. "We’re friends. I guess."

"Friends? With that professor?" He asked and Rin nodded his head.

"Yes. Friends," he answered, trying not to make his voice waver.

The Duke stared at him for a long, heavy moment. Rin stared back but couldn’t maintain eye contact.

Then, Evan looked away.

"Very well."

"I’ll head to my room, then"

Rin climbed the stairs in confusion, with his hand on his chest.

’Phew! That was way too easy.’

He entered his room, flopping down on his bed. The second he did...

DING!

[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: Congratulations! You survived three encounters with Lucien’s lovers.]

[REWARD: Unlock Skill - Pheromone Concealment Lv. 1 (+5 to all stats)]

[Strength: +5 | Agility: +5 | Intelligence: +5 | Endurance: +5 | Libido: +5]

Rin grinned.

"Oh hell yeah! Wait! You didn’t have to add to the libido... I don’t need it,"

The system didn’t respond till half a minute later.

DING:

[System Online.]

[Host: Kim Myung Uploaded Successfully.]

[Current Vessel: Rin Elric — Omega.]

[Initiating Status Screen...]

Name: Rin Elric (Kim Myung)

Race: Human

Gender: Male

Secondary Gender: Omega (Fake Beta)

Level: 2

Health: 82/100

Strength: 4 → 9

Agility: 2 → 7

Intelligence: 8 → 13

Endurance: 10 → 15

Libido: 1 → 6

Condition: No Pheromone Leak Detected

Skills: Pheromone Concealment Lv. 1

He studied the status screen for a few seconds before turning away from it. He couldn’t believe his intelligence was that low. Only if he could take the points from libido and add them to strength and intelligence.

DING!

[NOT POSSIBLE!]

"Of course, it’s not. Tsk!" He rolled his eyes like he was already expecting that answer from the system. It was as if the system hated him.

After he heard his stomach grumbling, he pulled out the half-eaten fried chicken and fries from his inventory... which was in the same warm condition it was when he kept it... and shoved a piece into his mouth.

"Niblet," he called, and the cute and fluffy demonic dog appeared from under the bed, growling affectionately.

"Here," Rin said, slicing his finger and letting a few drops of blood drip into a silver bowl. Niblet licked it up like wine. "Don’t ever say I don’t treat you well. So do your job and keep your eyes on the door,"

Niblet yapped, then barked sharply, nudging Rin toward the bed.

"Yeah, yeah. Bedtime. I get it," Rin said, flopping back on the pillow and curling up. "Goodnight Niblet. Eyes and ears open. If you bark loudly, I’ll definitely wake up."

He said like he would really wake up if he heard Niblet bark as he drifted off quickly.

It became peaceful and quiet.

Until...

CLICK!

The window creaked open.

Three masked men climbed in silently, dressed in black. They looked around to make sure they were in the right room as they crept toward Rin’s bed.

Daggers gleamed in their hands.

"Is he the one?"

"He matches the description. White hair... Small frame. That’s enough,"

"Good. Finish the job and let’s leave from here before the Duke finds us," the leader ordered.

"Understood!" The other two chorused.

One of them raised his sword slowly, aiming for Rin’s chest.

Another charged, trying to reach for his throat.

But the moment the dagger tip touched the edge of the sheet...

WOOOOOOMMM!

A pulse of dark, violent energy burst upward from the floor.

Shadow-like energy spread out beneath Rin’s bed. The ground trembled, faint cracks forming in the tiles.

The assassins froze.

Their daggers trembled in their hands as they stepped away from the bed.

That was when Niblet began to bark. With a single snap, his mouth was slammed shut. He could only whine silently.

He couldn’t bark when the assassins snuck in but he started barking when ’he’ came. It was as if ’he’ was the dangerous one there, not the assassins who came to kill Rin.

Then came the cold and echoing voice.

"Did you think you could touch what belongs to me?"

Their eyes widened.

"What is that?"

"A... demon?"

"No way! Why is a demon at the academy?"

One of them dropped his blade, stepping back. He looked at the window, thinking he would be safe if only he could fly out in one jump, but it was too late.

Before he could move his feet, a massive, black clawed hand burst through the floor, grabbing one of the assassins and dragging him into the darkness with a scream.

"No... No... I haven’t even aimed for him yet. I have a son. Spare me, please. I’ll give you whatever you want,"

"Since when do demons bargain? Be gone!" He waved his hand, and the same energy opened a mouth from the floor and swallowed him up.

The third turned to run... but black tendrils snaked from the corners of the room and bound him where he stood. It crawled up to his neck, squeezed his throat so tight... he couldn’t even scream.

When it was all over... He walked towards Rin on the bed, hand trailing over his face like a possessive psycho lover. He then pulled his head lower, Niblet whining beside him.

"You’re just like her... reckless. Stupid. Half-witted. But, don’t worry, as long as you’re in this academy, no harm will ever come to you. I’ll always protect you," he whispered into his ear and...

.

.

Rin stirred in bed, eyes fluttering open.

He lazily turned to the other side, trying to avoid the sun. He then blinked repeatedly...

"What...?" he sat up groggily. "Is it morning already?"

His hand slid into his white hair, scratching it.

"Hold on... What’s that smell?" He grabbed his clothes, sniffing himself. He actually thought it was the blood he touched yesterday during the stupid dissection since he forgot to take a shower. But it wasn’t coming from him.

He lifted his head and looked around... and saw the swirling mass of demonic energy that surrounded the intruders’ lifeless bodies.

He sat there for three seconds... Five... Ten...

Then, he screamed.