Chapter 43: The Demon’s Disciple (5)

“Liana. What did you just say?”

“I said this is my room.”

“Liana-nim... Is that really true?”

Avelin, clearly shocked, asked for confirmation.

But Liana, still smiling with a slight hint of shyness—perhaps not fully grasping what the issue was—gently reaffirmed it for us.

“Yes. I’ve already told you twice, haven’t I? This is the place I’ve been staying. Just look—does this look like your average dorm to you?”

She wasn’t wrong.

The room Liana claimed as hers was anything but ordinary. Nestled deep in the female apprentice quarters, it was larger and more luxurious than most family homes, decorated in an ornate and elegant fashion.

It made sense, though. As a rising star and a top-tier candidate for High Mage, such accommodations weren’t out of place for someone like her.

But the problem was…

The source of the overpowering demonic aura we’d been sensing throughout the women’s quarters—it was coming directly from Liana’s room.

While Liana blinked innocently as if nothing was wrong, a storm of thoughts raced through my head.

Strictly speaking, what we felt within the female apprentice area wasn’t raw, active demonic energy. It was more like… a lingering stench. A residue of something a demon had done after lingering here for a long time.

‘Don’t tell me…’

Ronos.

Had that bastard left something behind in the room of his chosen apprentice, Liana?

There shouldn’t be any trace of demonic presence in her quarters unless someone had tampered with the place deliberately.

But even then—there was something else that didn’t make sense.

Because the energy we were sensing from deep inside… wasn’t Ronos’ at all.

It was demonic, yes. But it carried the unmistakable trace of someone else entirely.

“Kayron, are you okay?”

Avelin asked me in a worried tone.

“I’m fine. Why? Do I not look okay?”

“Not even close. Do you have any idea what your face looks like right now?”

“What’s wrong with my—oh.”

I glanced at the windowpane, catching my own reflection. Yeah. Not great.

Honestly, I was starting to feel physically sick.

The demonic residue clinging to this place wasn’t recent. It had accumulated over a very long time.

“Anyway… You’re saying you want to come into my room, right?”

“Yeah. I need to check something.”

“And what exactly are you trying to check?”

“Well, it’s kind of…”

Liana stared at me with the curious, bright eyes of a passionate young mage.

But how could I possibly tell her the truth?

That her room reeked of demon—so strongly it made my skin crawl.

And worst of all… she genuinely seemed to have no idea.

“Okay, fine. You have my special permission.”

“Wait, really? Even though I didn’t explain?”

“Why not? It’s not like I have a reason to not let you in. I’m not hiding anything. Actually, I want you to see it. How I’ve been living until now. And more importantly…”

Liana added with a bright, easy smile:

“Because it’s you, Kayron oppa.”

“Me? That’s your reason?”

“Of course. Because… hmm?”

She paused mid-sentence and turned her gaze—not toward me—but to Avelin, who stood silently by my side.

I wasn’t sure why she stopped talking… nor why Avelin’s expression looked nearly as uncomfortable as mine after sensing the demonic energy.

Liana and Avelin exchanged a silent glance, one I couldn’t quite read—before Liana simply smiled again.

“Hmm. Let’s save that for later. For now, let’s go in.”

As she passed by me, her soft shoulder gently brushed against mine—a casual, familiar gesture that oddly carried warmth.

There was an ease in her voice, her body language. Like she didn’t have a care in the world when it came to letting me in.

“Tch…”

Avelin let out a faint, disapproving click of her tongue at the sight.

Liana walked up to her door and laid a hand on it. The magically sealed entrance silently slid open on its own.

“Go on. Come inside. This is the room I’ve never let anyone else enter before, you know?”

“Then I’ll take you up on that.”

Before stepping into the room, I swallowed hard.

For two reasons, my nerves were on edge.

First—because I had no idea what kind of demonic ritual or corruption might’ve taken place inside this room.

And second—because no matter how familiar I was with Liana, this was still the personal living space of a young woman, a place where she lived alone.

I had to remind myself:

It wasn’t just that I was entering a restricted female dorm…

I was about to walk into a room where a woman slept—alone.

Even if that woman was someone like Liana, who had always felt more like a younger sister to me.

As I stepped inside, I could hear soft voices behind me—Liana and Avelin, speaking in hushed tones.

****

“Avelin-nim?”

“…Yes?”

Liana called out to Avelin, stopping her just as she moved to follow me inside.

“What is it, Liana-nim?”

“Hehe, I’ve heard you two are rivals.”

“Sounds like some baseless rumors are going around. Seems our personal bickering gets more attention than the efforts of the Order itself.”

“Oh, everyone knows the Order is doing its best. Especially here in Rostia, at our Mage Tower—we see it up close. But still, it’s odd. What I’ve heard doesn’t quite match what I’m seeing.”

Liana, younger and still bearing traces of girlish curiosity, beamed at Avelin with sparkling eyes.

“I heard you and Kayron clash constantly—your personalities are completely opposite, your fighting styles and values too. That the two of you butt heads over everything. But… looking at you now, it doesn’t feel that way.”

“No, those rumors aren’t baseless. They’re true. Kayron and I are different in every way. That’s just a fact.”

“Hmm… If you say so, then I guess it must be true…”

Still, Liana tilted her head slightly, as if she couldn’t quite believe it.

“Maybe it’s just my imagination, but it seems to me… the two of you are closer than you let on. Like you actually get along.”

“Get along…?”

Liana’s innocent remark made Avelin’s eyes go wide.

“That’s absurd, Liana-nim. I’m only here because of your father—Commander Balthazar. He ordered me to accompany Kayron, even though I’d much rather be spending my break in peace. I was forced to be here with him.”

“My father gave that order?”

Now it was Liana’s turn to widen her eyes with interest.

“That’s strange. Of everyone I know, Father is the most thoughtful person I’ve ever met. There’s no way he’d randomly pair up two people who can’t stand each other… If he did, then he had a reason.”

A sharp gleam of intelligence flickered behind her curious eyes.

Seeing it, Avelin couldn’t help but finally accept—yes, Liana was truly Commander Balthazar’s daughter.

That same unreadable depth…

The ability to sense intentions behind words…

It wasn’t on the Commander’s level, but Liana clearly inherited that sharp, insightful gaze.

Even if Avelin couldn’t quite figure out why Liana’s attention was focused on her instead of Kayron.

“You know something, Avelin-nim? You fascinate me.”

“Fascinate you? What do you mean by that?”

“You don’t shrink back.”

“…Excuse me?”

“Who do you think I mean? You, Avelin-nim.”

There was genuine admiration in Liana’s voice as she complimented her.

“Most people get flustered or intimidated around those they see as ‘above’ them. Especially when there’s a clear difference in rank or talent. Like—”

She glanced toward a small group of other female trainees peeking from afar. They flinched and quickly scurried off.

“—when someone has far more talent. Or maybe… when that person happens to be the daughter of a commanding officer who’s practically revered.”

“Commander Balthazar is such a figure to our Order. But I don’t see why that would mean I should feel intimidated.”

“Actually, in most cases, it would. But not you, Avelin-nim. You’re different.”

Liana leaned forward slightly to peer up at Avelin from below.

“Mm. I knew it.”

She nodded to herself, as if confirming a personal theory.

“Knew what, Liana-nim?”

“You’re someone who’s more used to looking down than up.”

“…!”

A flicker of emotion passed through Avelin’s eyes.

“Your posture, your speech, even the way you walk. It’s all different. You’re… special. Not like Kayron at all.”

“What are you trying to say, Liana-nim?”

“I’m just curious, Avelin-nim. What are you doing here?”

Liana took a step forward. Then another.

Slowly, deliberately, she approached Avelin, stopping only a breath away.

Looking up into her eyes, she tilted her head and asked softly—

“Why are you here, of all places? Someone like you… in this place?”

-- The End OF The Chapter --

 

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