Lucas's eyes, left in the place where Amore had departed, were empty.

'What the hell do these bastards want from me?'

No one gave a clear answer.

'I can't even guess.'

What on earth could he, a human, possibly have that they needed? What was it that made them so desperate, calling a mere human like himself the 'key' to solving the apocalypse?

The Demon God Taras and the God of Love Amore. Why would they, who were quite influential among the gods, personally incarnate and give him artifacts?

It felt like his head was going to explode.

'A meaningless worry.'

Finally realizing that everything was meaningless, Lucas turned his head and calmly teleported.

Returning to the academy, Lucas realized that hoping for everything to be a dream was also meaningless.

It was dark. There wasn't even a single star in the dark, moonless sky.

Letting out a long sigh, he entered the dormitory, and there stood Aman.

Gulp.

Facing Aman, Lucas bit his lip at the sudden surge of emotion.

"Lord."

"...Yes."

Why? Was the emotion he felt at that moment, facing Aman, relief?

Lucas, worried that Aman might notice his emotions, changed his expression and smiled brightly.

"It's a long night."

"It is long."

At Aman's gentle smile, as if he knew everything, emotions welled up once again.

"By tomorrow morning, there will be chaos."

"I suppose so."

"But the child Lucas doesn't need to worry. This Aman will take care of everything."

A small laugh escaped Lucas's lips at the sight of Aman puffing out his chest.

As he said, by tomorrow morning, the academy would be in an uproar.

Following Brandy's death, even the servants of the Demon God had become cold corpses, so the festival was as good as over.

In fact, the main culprit of this incident was Lucas. It was he in his past life who had stolen the holy relic of the Demon God Cult, and it was also he who had driven all the priests of the Demon God Cult to their deaths.

"Yes. I'm sorry for giving you a troublesome task."

"Huh? I'm offended if you say that. Didn't you say you would just use me as you please? And how much do I owe the Lord?"

"Debt?"

Aman nodded his head vigorously at Lucas's question.

"Yes. Didn't the Lord solve all the numerous accidents I caused?"

"Haha. Everyone goes through a stormy hatchling phase. Of course, you were especially so."

"Yes. So please don't think like that."

Aman smiled brightly.

"Alright. Then try to repay your debt."

"Yes. Lord!"

***

As morning came, the academy was turned upside down, just as expected.

"The librarian!?"

The students standing in the hallway were hearing the rapidly spreading rumors.

"Yes, not only the librarian, but all the priests from the Demon God Cult are d-dead...!"

"H-how could such a thing..."

The students who heard the shocking news were all in a state of shock, as if they couldn't believe it.

"Students are requested to return to their dormitories immediately! I repeat! All students are requested to return to their dormitories!"

The faculty members also roamed the hallways, using amplification magic to send the students back to their dormitories.

"L-Rookie?!"

"He's in the dormitory. You should also hurry back to the dormitory with Nella."

The children who met in the hallway also checked on each other with anxious expressions.

As Skir, who had looked for Lucas as soon as he heard the news, relayed his well-being, Pola, who was holding Nella's hand, quickly nodded her head.

"Okay. I get it. You should also stay in the dormitory just in case. Got it?"

"Don't worry. You should also stay with Nella."

"Okay. Don't worry. Let's go, Nella."

"...Oppa, be careful. And please take care of Lucas oppa too."

Skir also nodded at Nella's request and patted Nella's shoulder.

"Don't worry. Stay close to Pola."

"Okay."

As all the children scattered, only silence remained in the hallway.

***

The meeting room located within the academy was filled with endless shouting.

"The festival cannot be resumed!"

"No, then what about everything we've prepared so far!?"

"Our Demon God Cult's high priest has passed away!"

"Are you saying we harmed the high priest!?"

"This is a magic academy! The fact that the high priest was struck by magic is a public fact, so who are you telling us to suspect!?"

The death of the high priest brought about a huge stir.

"That's absurd! The academy's festival is no different from the Arant Empire's festival! It's understandable that you're suspicious, but please don't be certain!"

The faculty and the priests of the Demon God Cult raised their voices and fought, and the sponsors watching also chimed in.

"No, I don't know about that, so what happens to the sponsorship money we paid? Huh!?"

"What about the sponsorship money our company paid! And what about the order you were supposed to give our company with this sponsorship!"

There were those who shouted for their own gain even in the face of someone's death.

"No, then if this academy festival is canceled, what happens to the grades? My son put his life on the line for this festival!"

"That's right! My daughter also passed the first engraving test!"

There were those who only cared for their own children.

"I don't need any of that! I got all the things I asked you to get for me first, so please pay for them!"

There was one who only worried about his own losses.

"Haa..."

Aman, who was watching everyone, let out a long sigh.

"Silence."

The hall became quiet in an instant at his gesture, which seemed annoyed.

"This is truly disappointing."

As Aman slowly rose from his seat, only mumbling sounds occasionally escaped from the mouths of the people looking at him, and no one could utter a word.

Aman's gaze, with both hands on the desk, swept over the people.

"First, I would like to express my sincere apologies and condolences to everyone present here."

"Mmph! Mmph!"

As one of the priests of the Demon God Cult protested violently, as if telling him to release the magic immediately, the tip of Aman's finger pointed at him.

"Sleep."

-Thump!

As Aman's empty voice chanted the spell, the man collapsed and fell asleep.

"I apologize again for my coercive attitude. I hope you will understand that I have no other choice."

Aman, who slowly swept back his silver-blue hair, opened his mouth again.

"First, the damages suffered by the Demon God Cult will be compensated at the empire level. We also promise to do our best to find the culprit who harmed the priests, and if the Demon God Cult graciously agrees, we dare to express our intention to pay a settlement."

-Bang! Bang!

Another priest slammed the desk violently at the word 'settlement'.

"Yes. I know. It's natural that you're angry since I dared to talk about money when the high priest has passed away. But if the culprit is caught, the culprit's identity will also be handed over. Also, if you do not agree, please understand that we have no way to express our sorrowful hearts. As soon as the meeting is over, His Majesty the Emperor will also request an audience."

The angry priest's attitude softened considerably when the emperor was mentioned. An audience requested by the emperor would mean that he was thinking deeply about this situation and would personally express his apology.

"And this festival will be temporarily suspended."

Then all the other people in the meeting room began to run wild.

"Yes. I know. Therefore, our academy promises to provide all compensation. First, we will give all our academy students who participated in the festival priority to enter the Mage Tower. Of course, the department and position will be divided according to their skills."

Then all the rampaging parents became quiet in an instant.

Where was the Mage Tower? Wasn't it one of the dream jobs for mages not only in the Arant Empire but everywhere?

To give all students priority to enter such a Mage Tower? There was no greater opportunity than this.

"Also, we plan to give the 5th place prize to all students who passed the first test in all fields. Although it may not be satisfactory."

This was also satisfactory. Of course, the 5th place prize was not something that everyone would covet, but it was certain that it was a valuable item.

"And we promise to fulfill all the contract details for all the companies that sponsored this festival. We also promise the same contract for the next festival."

Then there was no longer any opposition in the hall.

"I apologize once again."

Although the silence magic was released at the end of Aman's apology, there was no one who opened their mouth there anymore.

***

The news that the academy festival was suspended had already spread far and wide within the empire.

At the same time, the excited atmosphere of the empire cooled down, and two black flags were hung at the entrance of the academy.

One had the emblem of the Demon God Cult, and the other was a flag with a picture of a book honoring the librarian Brandy.

The words 'Brandy Trendian' were engraved in small letters on the book picture.

Lucas stood in front of the flag and looked at the words for a long time.

'I'm sorry.'

Like the wrinkles of an old librarian, the flag wrinkled and straightened every time it fluttered in the wind.

"Excuse me..."

Then someone called Lucas.

When Lucas turned his head, a girl who looked to be in her late teens was standing there.

"I-I came to deliver this..."

As the girl hesitantly took out a note from her pocket and handed it to him, Lucas's brow furrowed slightly.

"What is this?"

The note, which was folded so tightly, was square, and its sides and corners were all sharp.

"T-that's..."

As Lucas just glanced at the hand holding out the note and didn't even take it, the girl became even more flustered and fidgeted.

"Please state your identity. Otherwise, I cannot accept it."

"I-I'm just an e-errand..."

"If you're just running an errand, there's no reason why you can't reveal it. Especially if it's a note handed over by a stranger."

"T-that's... that's..."

At Lucas's words, the girl stuttered and the hand holding the note began to tremble.

"I can't accept it."

"I-I'm..."

The girl repeated her words several times and then finally closed her eyes tightly.

"I-I'm T-Tilly A-Astrid...!"

"Astrid?"

The girl, who had revealed her name in a trembling voice, continued with her eyes closed.

"A-Astrid Co-County... n-not now, but..."

"Ah."

Only then did Lucas nod his head slightly as if he understood and took the note.

'Not now. Then it must be a family with circumstances.'

As Lucas took the note, the girl finally opened her eyes and took a deep breath.

"G-goodbye!"

As the girl, who had turned her body at the end of those words, disappeared at a fast pace, Lucas, who had tilted his head slightly, unfolded the note.

'...What the hell is this nonsense?'

Lucas's brow furrowed mercilessly as he saw the contents of the note.

(End of Chapter)