CHAPTER 108: CHAPTER 108

-Yes, that’s what I plan to do. Right now, I’m only good at passing on information. Whether you use it or not, I can’t control that, but I’m not going to put my partner in danger, especially after they were watching me yesterday. Right now, they’re probably in chaos because of your arrival. Grandfather, I think it’s best to pretend that I’m returning to the Academy angry and that you’re returning to the marquisate. That way, you can come back with reinforcements if you want to intervene. That is, if there’s still something that can be done by the time you return. Mart replied.

Balac looked at Mart suspiciously and then asked him:

-How did you change so much in just a few months?

-You said it yourself, Grandfather. I am a believer in Alvat. I received a revelation. -Mart showed Balac his index finger.

Balac saw a ring-like shadow appear around his grandson’s index finger. But what surprised him most was hearing Mart say that he had received a revelation. A revelation from Alvat, the demonic deity of secrets, that is, from a Demon God.

After talking for over an hour, Mart left Balac Sevec’s room, making a pathetic scene in which he argued with his grandfather for not giving him money to spend in Zazel City, after which Mart returned to his room.

••••

Mart sighed and lay down on his bed.

Is what you told your grandfather true? -asked Iristel as she sat down on the edge of the bed.

Mart created several barriers around them and replied:

-You could say that half of what I told him is true.

Mart felt a slight disturbance in one of the barriers and pretended not to notice, but he did not let his guard down and immediately changed the subject:

-It would have been satisfying to buy some luxury demonic artifacts and a few grimoires.

Iristel understood immediately and added:

-Yes, I saw several dresses reinforced with demonic spells that I loved.

-We’ll buy them. Just wait until I become a marquis. -Mart said capriciously.

"There’s someone powerful in this city. They overcame the barriers in the room to try to spy on us. I’ll go back to the Academy for now; that’s the best decision," Mart thought after his barriers were subtly overcome.

••••

Balac was sitting on a sofa when the warrior Sitan entered.

-General Balac. I am at your service. -said Sitan respectfully, standing at attention.

-How has my grandson been behaving in the few days you’ve seen him? -Balac asked, then walked over to the bar in the suite and took a dark brown bottle with a gold cap from one of the shelves, opened it, and poured himself a glass of the golden-colored alcoholic liquid.

-The young master has behaved somewhat differently than the rumors suggest, but since I didn’t know him before, I can’t be sure whether his behavior is different or not. Since we began our journey, he has shown no interest in the three maids who were chosen for him. Furthermore, he is always with that demon woman of the succubus race; it seems that he truly cares for her. I might also add that since we arrived in the city, the young lord seemed to be visiting different parts of the city, and yesterday I sensed slight presences watching us, although I cannot be certain. The truth is that the young man bought a slave woman from the Sinister Coliseum, and she is now under his care. I attributed the fact that we were being followed to the fact that someone or some demons in the coliseum did not agree with their grandson taking that slave, especially since she was of the beast-man species.

Balac finished his drink, his gaze deep, then asked:

-My grandson showed no interest in the big auction?

-I apologize for my incompetence. Yes, the young master sent two of the maids to find out what kind of products were going to be auctioned at the grand auction, and yesterday, he walked around the building where the grand auction was to take place.

-Call those maids. I want to talk to them. -Balac ordered in a firm tone.

-As you wish, General. -replied Sitan, who left the room to carry out Balac’s order.

••••

With only two hours left before nightfall, Balac summoned Mart again.

Mart, now dressed in casual white attire, like Iristel, stood before Balac once more.

-I won’t send you back yet. I have already sent a message to Commander Fercan. He will come with Deria, a demonic sorceress at the midpoint of the sixth rank. That way, Sitan and Deria will protect you so that you can return safely to the academy, but at the end of the semester, I will send a strong group to escort you back to the marquisate.

-Grandfather, aren’t you worried that they’ll take action now that you’re here? -Mart asked calmly.

-No, they won’t. Because the highest authority in this city has only imposed two laws, and one of them prevents them from acting, so they’ll have to act according to their plans even if they don’t want to. -Balac replied.

Silence fell over the room, and shortly after, Balac said to his grandson in a calmer tone:

-Your father wanted to see you. You may leave now.

Mart nodded respectfully and then left the room with Iristel.

"System, activate the laziness trait and notify me if any hostile energy sources approach while I sleep. I need to rest and recover my physical and mental strength," Mart said as he lay down with Iristel by his side.

[Laziness trait activated]

[Voluntary hibernation]

••••

"How many sources of Demon God energy are there in Zazel City?"

A few hours later, at dawn, Mart didn’t hesitate to ask the system.

[Detecting Demon God energy...]

"More conspirators are entering Zazel City. Perhaps it’s due to Balac Sevec’s presence. I’m sure they want everything to go according to plan," he thought as he got out of bed.