Chapter 41: Morning of Victory, Shadows of Mystery

Morning Assembly

Anderjan opened the attendance sheet, scanning the list as he called out names one by one.

The students responded in turn, raising their hands.

Total: 20. Present: 19. Exception: Miss Angelica.

Since that day, Angelica had refused to come to school, but Lucy and Abet had decided not to concern themselves with it. After all, it was her own doing.

“The only absentee is Miss Angelica, so class—”

Anderjan was about to continue but hesitated, setting his textbook down with a bitter smile.

The students, who were already buzzing with excitement, were in no mood for lessons.

This morning, news had arrived from the border—Helatos had successfully driven out the northern forces.

The classroom erupted into cheers, celebrating their country’s victory.

Lucy sat amidst the excitement, silently gazing out the window.

Balloons drifted through the sky, and the distant echoes of firecrackers could be heard.

A grand festival was unfolding in the city center to commemorate the victory.

‘It’s good that we won, but…’

She couldn’t muster any real enthusiasm. Perhaps it was because she still felt no true sense of belonging.

Still, as a ‘princess,’ she knew how to put on an act.

“Lucy’s father is incredible!”

“As expected, he’s Satan!”

“There’s no way he drove out the enemy forces alone, right?”

The children crowded around Lucy, heaping praises on her father.

Lucy forced a smile.

“Wow… I’m so happy.”

She tried to appear cheerful, but her awkwardly twitching lips betrayed her lack of enthusiasm.

Just as the chatter continued, Anderjan clapped his hands, bringing the class back to attention.

“Tomorrow, we’ll be visiting Edem Mountain to commemorate the end of the war.”

The classroom exploded with excitement.

It wasn’t just the idea of a field trip—it was the destination that thrilled them.

Edem Mountain was a mystical land where fairies and gods were said to coexist, with lead veins, the source of magical power, flowing beneath it.

A place filled with mystery and breathtaking scenery, it was usually off-limits.

And yet, tomorrow, the academy would be taking them there.

“This is amazing! I’ve never been there because it’s a protected area.”

“My parents say the view is unbelievable!”

“What should I wear tomorrow?”

The class buzzed with anticipation, forcing Anderjan to raise his voice to restore order.

Lucy, however, remained silent.

‘The essence of magic and the land of fairies…’

It was a place she had long wanted to investigate.

Now, the academy was handing her the opportunity on a silver platter.

“The field trip groups will consist of four students each,” Anderjan continued. “Write down your preferred group members and submit it before the end of the day.”

Immediately, the class began forming groups with their closest friends.

“Are you looking forward to tomorrow, Lucy?”

Abet leaned toward her, her voice brimming with excitement.

Her question implied something more—Will you be in the same group as me?

Lucy had no particular preference, so she agreed without hesitation.

“Do you want to be in the same group?”

“Yes!”

Before Abet could respond, a new voice cut in.

“I don’t have a group yet. Can I join yours?”

Noah stepped forward, inserting himself between Lucy and Abet.

A few of the girls nearby sighed in envy, their eyes lingering on the noble-looking young man.

Noah, either unaware or indifferent, merely smiled.

Lucy, however, felt mildly irritated.

Normally, a person would read the mood and back off. But Noah? He clearly had no intention of doing so.

Abet, ever friendly, showed no signs of protest.

Lucy sighed.

“Do as you please.”

“Thank you.”

Only then did Noah offer a polite bow before walking away.

After School: The Hunt

As usual, Lucy and Abet left school during self-study time.

Their destination? A small forest beyond the castle walls.

They were there to hunt beasts.

“Yaaah!”

With a powerful shout, Abet swung her weapon—the Reaping Scythe—and the head of a wild boar-shaped beast rolled to the ground.

She had finally managed to wield the scythe on her own.

Though she still struggled with mobility, Lucy’s illusion magic had helped bind the demon’s legs.

Still, it was progress.

At least Lucy no longer had to go through the ridiculous ordeal of swinging the scythe with her.

“How was that?” Abet wiped the sweat from her forehead, looking to Lucy for feedback.

She examined the corpse closely.

A clean, precise cut.

Compared to when she couldn’t even lift the scythe, her improvement was undeniable.

She nodded.

“Not only have your strength and magic improved, but your technique as well. You’ve worked hard, Abet.”

“Really!?”

Abet clenched her fists, her heart racing with excitement.

By Lucy’s estimation, her level had risen from 10 to 12—a small step for someone at level 100, but a great personal achievement for her.

“Shall we head back?”

“Yes! Ah, but before that… could we stop by a clothing store near the royal capital? I want to buy something for tomorrow’s trip.”

“Why a clothing store?”

“I need something suitable for Edem Mountain. Is that okay?”

It was a good idea—Lucy needed a proper outfit too.

“Alright. Let’s go.”

“Thank you!”

They turned toward the capital.

Then—

Drip. Drip.

Raindrops splashed onto Lucy’s nose.

Dark clouds had gathered overhead, unnoticed until now.

The drizzle soon turned into a downpour.

“We need shelter,” Lucy muttered. “Even if we teleport, we’ll still get drenched.”

“If we stay in these wet clothes, Anderjan will definitely notice.”

Abet scanned the area and pointed ahead.

“Lucy, look! A cave!”

A small cave entrance was nestled within the trees.

They hurried inside, shielding their heads with their hands.

The cave was cool and dry—a perfect hiding spot.

“Looks like we’ll have to wait for the rain to stop,” Lucy sighed, shaking out her damp sleeves.

“Here, use this.”

Abet handed her a handkerchief.

She accepted it, patting her hair dry.

“I’ll start a fire,” she murmured.

A flick of her fingers, and a small flame appeared in her palm.

The cave brightened instantly—revealing something hidden in the darkness.

A mural.

Hundreds of grotesque demons intertwined, their hollow eyes staring from the walls.

Abet took a step back, her expression uneasy.

“What… is this?”

Lucy studied the mural carefully.

At the far end of the cave, the path descended into pitch-black depths.

A cold, magical wind drifted up from below.

‘A dungeon.’

Caves like these formed naturally around magical veins, often serving as treasure troves for demons.

Lucy’s lips curled into a smirk.

She took a step forward.

“Lucy, wait!”

Abet grabbed her sleeve.

“This place… doesn’t feel right.”

She was a skilled magician—her instincts told her this place was dangerous.

“I’ll just take a quick look. You stay here.”

She pulled away, heading deeper into the cave.

Thunder rumbled outside.

“Hic…!”

Abet flinched at the sound, her face paling.

A moment later, she scrambled after her.

“L-Lucy, wait! Let’s go together!”