CHAPTER 304: RETURN AT THE ACADEMY.

Sylvia watched the battlefield one last time — the shattered ground, the frozen craters left by the Five Deadly Sins, and the massive demon corpse crushed.

Sylvia raised her head and let out a soft sigh.

"Let’s head back."

Myra nodded firmly beside her.

At once, the surviving students gathered around them in a shaky circle, some limping, some dragging their weapons, others trembling but forcing themselves to stand straight in the presence of their teachers.

Myra stepped forward.

"Are you all alright?" she asked.

"Y-Yes, madam... but Kael, Edwin, and Cecelia are injured..." one of them replied.

Everyone’s eyes shifted toward the trio lying on the ground.

Myra’s face darkened with worry.

Before she could respond, Sylvia spoke briskly.

"Some of you carry them. We must leave immediately. If we delay, more enemies might come."

Her voice held no room for argument.

Immediately, several students rushed forward.

Five boys lifted Kael carefully, making sure not to move his injured shoulder.

Five girls carried Edwin, who gritted his teeth, refusing to cry out despite the pain.

Four others knelt beside Cecelia, gently hoisting her up with worried expressions.

Cecelia opened her eyes weakly.

"I... I can walk..."

One of the girls shook her head.

"No you can’t. You almost fainted earlier."

Myra placed a hand on Cecelia’s forehead, checking her temperature.

"Don’t speak. Save your strength."

Cecelia nodded and closed her eyes again.

When everyone was ready, Sylvia raised her arm.

"Move out."

The group began walking away from the destruction site, carrying the wounded with them.

The evening sun bled across the horizon, casting long shadows on the ruined land.

Students whispered among themselves, replaying the horror, the fear... and the miracles that saved them.

Some murmured about Sylvia freezing time itself.

Others whispered about Myra punching Zereth like he weighed nothing.

And then, the biggest rumor among them...

Kael killed a giant demon.

Even the students carrying him stole glances at his face, trying to understand how someone so quiet, so normal, could unleash such force.

Meanwhile — At the Demon’s Domain

Far away, in a massive cavern carved from obsidian and bathed in crimson light, the portal cracked open.

The Five Deadly Sins stumbled out one after another, bruised, scorched, and covered in ice.

Zereth followed, wiping dried blood from the corner of his lips.

The moment they landed, they began shouting.

Wrath pointed at Zereth, fire flickering across his arms.

"I ALREADY SAID IT WAS MY TARGET! If you hadn’t intervened, I would’ve killed them all!"

Zereth scoffed and rolled his neck.

"You? Kill them? Please. I nearly killed that beast woman myself."

Pride snarled.

"This was an order from the Second Lord! You barged in and CHOPPED our plan into pieces!"

"Your plan?" Zereth snapped. "Your plan was flawed from the beginning!"

As their shouting escalated, the air suddenly turned cold.

A figure materialized from the shadows.

A tall man cloaked in black robes.

"Third Lord."

The Shadow Disciple surveyed the wounded group, voice dripping with displeasure.

"Uhh... where were you all? Puppets of the Second Lord?"

Wrath clenched his jaw.

"We were ordered to clear the heroes of Arcadia Academy."

The Shadow Disciple narrowed his eyes.

"Did you kill them?"

Greed shifted nervously.

"...No."

"Why?" the Shadow Disciple asked.

Pride answered quickly, "They were stronger than expected."

The Shadow Disciple blinked.

"Strong? What year were they?"

Wrath hesitated before muttering,

"...They were first years."

"Uhh..." The Shadow Disciple dragged a hand over his face, clearly furious.

"First years? FIRST YEARS? And six of you failed?"

Zereth grunted.

"They had beasts and ice gods assisting them."

The Shadow Disciple ignored him, too irritated to entertain excuses.

He sighed in frustration.

"Tsk. Tsk."

His fingers drummed against his cloak.

His shadow shifted — pulsing with anger.

Before he could continue scolding them, no one talked.

A deep, unnatural hum echoed across the cavern, sending shivers down every demon’s spine.

A summoning call.

Wrath gulped.

Pride stiffened.

Greed bowed lower.

Sloth, surprisingly awake for once, whispered,

"Abyss Warden... he’s calling us."

All six demons dropped to their knees.

"We are being summoned," Envy said.

"We must leave."

Zereth gave the Shadow Disciple one last look.

The Shadow Disciple waved a hand dismissively.

"Alright, alright. Go. I don’t need more headaches."

The portal opened again — a swirling abyss of shadow.

The five deadly sins and Zereth stepped in, vanishing into darkness.

At the Terminals of Elaris

The sun was setting when Sylvia’s group reached the large terminal platforms of Elaris, the city that connected directly to Arcadia Academy.

But instead of peaceful streets, they were met with chaos.

Dozens of news reporters were already gathered.

Journalists yelled over each other, scrambling for answers.

The moment they spotted Sylvia and Myra leading the battered students, they surged forward like a tidal wave.

"Madam Sylvia! Madam Sylvia!"

"Is it true the first years fought demons!?"

"Were they high-ranked demons?!"

"How many casualties?"

"Did a first-year kill a demon, yes or no?"

Myra raised her hand sharply.

"Step back."

The crowd paused for a moment — not out of respect, but fear.

Myra’s wild golden eyes and her expression filled with simmering rage made even professional reporters hesitate.

But Sylvia stepped forward.

Reporters immediately swarmed her again.

"Is it true the first years fought strong demons!?"

"Rumor says one of them even killed a giant demon—"

"Who was it? Which student? Is he or she the next prodigy of Arcadia?"

"Is it true the first years defeated demons stronger than third-years have ever faced?"

The questions piled endlessly.

Sylvia remained silent for a long moment.

She looked at the wounded students behind her — their tired faces, their trembling legs, their determination despite everything.

She looked at Kael.

Still unconscious.

Head resting on a student’s arm.

Hand wrapped in cloth stained with blood and dust.

Myra placed a protective hand over his shoulder.

Sylvia finally spoke.

"No comment."

The reporters erupted again, but Myra’s aura flared sharply — an invisible pressure radiating outward, silencing those closest to her.

"Move aside," Myra commanded.

This time, nobody dared argue.

The crowd reluctantly parted, creating a path for the battered group to move forward.

But the whispers didn’t stop.

"First years fighting demons..."

"Arcadia is insane..."

"Who is this Kael?"

"Is he some hidden prodigy?"

"Or maybe a high noble’s secret child?"

"No, I heard he’s a commoner."

The rumors spread like wildfire.

Drones filmed everything.

News channels already broadcast headlines.

Other academies were also heard.

Even in far-off cities, students whispered:

"Someone from Arcadia killed a demon."

"A first-year did the impossible."

But the boy at the center of all this attention?

Kael didn’t even know.

He was unconscious — unaware that the world had begun whispering his name.

Arrival at the Academy Gates

When they finally reached the gates of Arcadia Academy, the sun had dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in deep purple hues.

The academy guards ran forward.

"Madam Sylvia! Madam Myra! What happened? Is everything alright?!"

Sylvia handed them a sealed scroll.

"Emergency report. Notify the Academy Council immediately. And call the medics."

Myra gently placed Kael on a stretcher brought by the healers.

A healer gasped.

"He... he fought something huge..."

Myra didn’t respond.

And all the first year students gather at the front of the gate looking at their classmates after their demon clearing mission.

Another healer examined Edwin.

"Broken ribs, three fractures, internal bruising..."

And Cecelia—

"Mana overload... she pushed herself too far."

The medics rushed all three into the healing wing.

Myra watched Kael disappear behind the double white doors.

Her hands clenched at her sides.

Sylvia stepped beside her.

"You’re worried."

Myra didn’t deny it.

"That boy... he shouldn’t have survived. No normal student could have. And yet..."

Sylvia finished her thought.

"...And yet he killed a giant demon."

Myra took a long breath, steadying her heartbeat.

"There’s something inside him."

Sylvia nodded.

"I know. I could feel it too. A dark force... asleep, but powerful."

Myra’s eyes darkened.

"We must watch him carefully."

Sylvia looked at the closed doors where Kael was being treated.

"Yes. Because if he loses control..."

"Everyone is in danger," Myra whispered.

Outside — The Academy Overflowing with Rumors

Meanwhile, students all over the academy began receiving emergency notifications.

Groups gathered in hallways, dorm rooms, cafeteria corners, whispering excitedly.

"Did you hear? The first years fought demons!"

"Sylvia personally joined the fight!"

"Myra went berserk and punched one into a crater!"

"One of them even killed a giant demon!"

The name floated across every conversation.

Kael.

Kael.

Kael.

A nobody who wasn’t supposed to stand out.

A boy who had no magic.

A student who barely passed the entrance test.

And now...

The rumor claimed he killed something even third-years couldn’t defeat.

Inside the Healing Room

Kael lay silently on the bed, his breathing shallow but steady.

His body twitched slightly — perhaps dreaming, perhaps remembering the fight...

Myra stood outside the door, arms crossed, refusing to leave.

Sylvia approached her with a calm expression.

"The Academy Council will question us soon."

Myra didn’t move.

"I’m not leaving until he wakes."

Sylvia gave a small sigh.

"...Very well."

The cold night settled around them.

Arcadia Academy had survived this time.

But both women knew the demons would return.

Zereth would return.

And Kael...