Chapter 409: Dark Demon Discovers the Truth (44/233)
“Further ahead is one of the entrances to the secret path.”
Dark felt a stir in his heart, realizing that this time the arena was likely still within the secret path.
“But if it’s within the secret path, why enclose the entire castle with a barrier? Is it to prevent interference or for some other reason?”
Just as Dark was pondering this, Ryan Hux suddenly stopped and said, “There are footsteps.”
Although Dark heard nothing, he immediately halted.
Then Ryan Hux glanced at him, reached into his pocket, took out a Magic Card, and winked at him.
This was the first time Dark had seen Professor Hux use a Magic Card, and he couldn’t help but ask curiously, “Professor, are you also a Magus?”
Ryan Hux gestured for silence, silently chanting a Summoning Spell.
Though it took slightly longer, he successfully activated the Magic Card in his hand.
A gossamer-like wave of light rose up, enveloping both of them and the Magic Golems.
Dark felt the light, thin sensation and looked on curiously.
But then, he indeed heard quick footsteps approaching, and instinctively moved behind a statue.
However, Ryan Hux grabbed his arm, stopping him.
In the next second, someone quickly darted from another intersection, suddenly appearing in their line of sight.
Dark’s eyes widened, and he immediately noticed that the person hadn’t noticed him.
“A Magic Card with an Invisibility effect?”
He instantly understood, but then thought of the “Invisibility Person,” which made him look strange.
Yet, this wasn’t the time to dwell on the “Invisibility Person.”
After all, there were many people with Invisibility-type Magic Cards.
Dark focused more on the newcomer.
To his great surprise, it was none other than his opponent from the Duel Festival—Tom Nixon!
“Why is it him?”
As Dark frowned, he suddenly focused, noticing that someone seemed to be approaching—or rather, tracking Tom Nixon behind him!
…
Tom Nixon didn’t notice Dark and Ryan Hux at all, running past them quickly.
Next, the night’s main characters finally appeared.
Wit Gold and his lackey.
Robert Broheim.
…
Seeing these two, Dark unexpectedly felt a bit relieved.
It was as if something had returned to his control.
It was very comforting.
His lips involuntarily curled upward.
Wit and Robert also didn’t notice them, passing by them in a moment.
Once the three sets of footsteps gradually faded, Ryan Hux put away the Magic Card, and Dark and the Magic Golems revealed themselves.
Ryan Hux said, “Look what we found.”
Dark: “A cat and two mice.”
Ryan Hux couldn’t help but smile. “Why can’t they be three mice? Let’s follow and see.”
He quickly moved, and Dark followed closely.
Ryan Hux, a hero in wartime, was adept at tracking, always staying behind Wit and Robert without them noticing.
In no time, they arrived at a wall.
“This is it.”
Ryan Hux touched the wall and confirmed, “They went through here. There are many entrances to the secret paths in the Mana Academy, and this should be one of them. But normally, the entrance should have been sealed. How did they do it?”
Dark remained silent for a while before turning to look behind him.
But behind him was pitch-black and eerily quiet.
…
In the carriage atop the Spiral Bell Tower, Metia Bartholomew instinctively leaned back, then laughed mischievously, “What now, Sarah? You’ve been discovered.”
Sarah Shylph softly replied, “Chilled.”
…
“Deoxys, did you discover anything?” Ryan Hux asked suspiciously.
Dark turned around, taking a deep breath. “Nothing. I think the seal on this secret path entrance might have been broken. The barrier around the castle is probably to isolate the professors’ senses. Shall we continue?”
Ryan Hux shook his head at this moment. “I know nothing about these secret paths. I’m not confident in protecting you. So, I’ll go on, and you stay here.”
Dark was stunned, about to say he didn’t need protection, but Ryan Hux suddenly looked at him, his eyes filled with warning. “You’re young with a bright future. Go back.”
After saying this, Ryan Hux’s expression softened, adding, “If you want to get an A in History of Magic this semester.”
Dark couldn’t help but be silent. “Professor, you’re not teaching ethics.”
Ryan Hux lightly said, “After leaving the battlefield, I realized one thing: one shouldn’t be too ethical. Are you going back?”
Dark had to say, “Alright, Professor, I’ll listen to you.”
“Don’t let me find you inside.” Ryan Hux gave the final warning, pressing hard on the wall. As ripples spread, he crossed through.
Dark watched the wall return to normal, putting his hands in his sleeves and thinking for a moment, then truly stepped back.
…
After moving away, he drew the “Mana Spirit” Magic Card, gesturing towards the secret path entrance, then put it away, addressing the Imp Beast that landed on his shoulder. “Imp Beast, do you think this fruit is sweet or salty?”
The Imp Beast tilted its head, puzzled. “Can a fruit be salty?”
“Acting dumb,” Deoxys said disdainfully.
The Imp glared at it. “That’s called innocence!”
Dark: O__O “…
After a long silence, Dark raised his hand, picking out a strand of blue wind from his hair and holding it up.
The blessing of the Wind Elemental naturally wrapped around his index finger, like a mischievous little imp.
Dark stared at the breeze for a while, suddenly asking, “Professor, can you hear me?”
…
Sarah Shylph originally didn’t want to respond.
But under Metia’s teasing gaze, she reluctantly said, “I can hear you.”
…
As the original owner of the “Wind Elemental’s Blessing,” Professor Shylph had many ways to connect with it.
But based on her own cultivation, she usually wouldn’t do so.
And every connection inevitably caused fluctuations in mana.
Professor Shylph was well aware of this.
She wouldn’t do it unless she was really worried about Dark encountering danger.
Dark sensed the mana fluctuation and suddenly asked.
But Professor Shylph’s response was a pleasant surprise.
He immediately said, “So, can you tell me what’s happening?”
“So, should I tell or not?” Metia’s voice suddenly came from the breeze.
Dark wasn’t surprised at all. “Professor Metia, can you not do this? I’m really tired today.”
Metia blinked, moving closer to Shylph. “I’m tired too, Professor.”
Dark: “So shall we speak frankly?”
Professor Shylph’s voice came again, “Deoxys, are you encountering some trouble?”
Dark signaled to the Magic Golems, adjusted his posture, and leaned against the wall. “My Magic Golems are having issues and need help.”
Professor Shylph was puzzled. “Is it that lion beast?”
“No,” Dark said. “It’s another “Mana Spirit.”
Spirit-type Golem? What kind of problem does it have this time?
Dark said, “Generally speaking, it should be related to what you’re doing now. So, can you tell me the details? Don’t worry, I’m quite good at keeping secrets.”
…
Inside the carriage of the Spiral Bell Tower.
Professor Shylph and Professor Metia exchanged glances. Professor Metia nodded solemnly and whispered, “They’ve all entered the secret path.”
Professor Shylph then said, “It’s not that I can’t tell.”
“That’s good.” Dark heaved a sigh of relief.
Shylph continued, “But you must keep it confidential.”
Dark replied, “I swear by the gods.”
Shylph smiled and said, “I know you don’t believe in the gods. Anyway, just remember, even Alvaraite cannot know about this.”
Dark: “Professor, you may start now.”
Shylph: “Alright. You should know who Ophelia Brad is.”
Dark raised his eyebrows and said, “Of course, we’ve discussed her many times already, haven’t we?”
Professor Shylph then said, “You once encountered someone named Lia Goethe.”
Dark became slightly interested, “Professor, are you trying to tell me that Lia Goethe and Ophelia Brad are indeed the same person?”
Professor Shylph said, “Not only that, Olivia Copernicus is also the same person. Although it was unexpected, our previous guesses were entirely correct.”
“This is really great news,” Dark said, “So, how did Professor confirm it?”
Professor Shylph said softly, “Brad told me herself.”
Dark was surprised, “Professor…”
A hint of cunning appeared in Professor Shylph’s expression, “Yes, I caught her!”
This time, Dark was truly shocked.
He had been almost fully involved in the professors’ plan, from the initial search for the ‘Invisibility Person’ which unexpectedly led to the capture of the vampire Vlad, to overturning all deductions related to the Blood Princess, and now he was astonished to find out that the overturned deductions turned out to be the truth…
Especially Professor Shylph, who had silently captured ‘Lia Goethe’!
How did she manage to do that?
What was the past of the Blood Princess like?
Dark couldn’t help but feel curious.
Shylph paused for a moment, then said, “Ophelia Brad’s mana is very special. I added a small identity verification program in the five identification cards as rewards.
Once it detects a mana fluctuation similar to Ophelia Brad’s, the card will automatically display a message.”
Dark asked, “What message?”
Professor Shylph smiled, “Come to my office to see me.”
Dark was puzzled, “Just that?”
Professor Shylph nodded with a smile, “Just that!”
Next to her, Professor Metia clearly saw her得意神情.
But Shylph’s pride was not in her strategy.
It was in her trust in her students, and their trust in her.
Although Ophelia Brad said she wouldn’t go, her body still brought her to Professor Shylph’s office.
During this period,
Professor Shylph didn’t do anything!
It was the trust between teacher and student that built the bridge between them.
…
After hearing this, Dark couldn’t help but look strange.
He never imagined that things would turn out so simple.
Since the identity of ‘Lia Goethe’ was confirmed, many things could be deduced.
How could someone who went through such lengths to sneak into the academy confess with just one sentence?
But when it comes to ‘confession’, that ‘Blood Princess’ seems to have a history?
Could it be a ‘confession fetish’?
Oh God, how could there be such a preference?
But reality is always unpredictable.
Just like reality is often unreasonable, people who always think logically are often overwhelmed by illogical realities.
Ophelia Brad not only confessed to Professor Shylph, but also revealed her entire plan.
“Even though I asked many times, she didn’t reveal anything at all,” Professor Metia said sourly.
But no one cared about her little heartbreak.
Professor Shylph even glared at her, “I haven’t even追究 your responsibility for leading people into the academy!”
Professor Metia immediately pretended to be coy, “But I couldn’t refuse a救命恩人的 request—”
Dark suddenly shivered, goosebumps rising.
Professor Shylph obviously wasn’t feeling well either and quickly continued explaining.
Metia Bartholomew had once been to the battlefield.
The reason was to find ‘destiny’.
Of course, this was a more poetic way of putting it.
In fact, she just got tired of being single and went to the battlefield to clear her mind and check if there were any handsome men around.
With the identity of a ‘Seer on the Star Tower’ protecting her, she basically became a guest wherever she went, and safety should have been guaranteed.
But she was an active person, and accidentally found herself in danger. It was the ‘Blood Princess’ — Ophelia Brad — who saved her!
Don’t ask why a seer would encounter danger?
If being a seer were such an easy profession, everyone would want to become one.
But in reality, the profession of a seer is something many people try to avoid.
Out of gratitude for saving her life, Metia accepted Ophelia Brad’s request and brought her into Saint Maryann Academy.
Of course, back then, Ophelia Brad had a very legitimate reason.
…
“Ophelia Brad initially sneaked into the academy to see her child—at least on the surface.”
When Shylph said this, a complex expression flashed in her eyes.
Dark was surprised, “She has a child?”
“Yes,” Professor Shylph sighed deeply, “I never thought that Wit Gold would actually be her child.”
Metia added, “No one could have guessed.”
Professor Shylph continued, “I don’t know if it’s because Brett Gold’s bloodline power is too strong or if he did something special, but up until now, I can’t detect any traces of the bloodline of the Blood Tribe in Wit.”
“Previously, I always thought that Wit’s mother was a noblewoman’s daughter who fell in love with Brett after being rescued by him and died in the war. And Ophelia Brad had disappeared long before Wit was born.”
“Of course, now we know she was rescued by Brett during the vampire attack.”
When Dark heard this, he had a hunch: “That means the disappearance of the Blood Princess is fabricated. Actually, after being captured by vampires, she was saved by the Hero.
But the Hero hid this fact and married her. Let me guess. The Hero hid this to protect the Blood Princess, and the reason she needed protection was because she was sired by a vampire?”
At this point, Dark’s heart suddenly jolted, “Could it be, the vampire who bit her was Vlad?”
The atmosphere suddenly became silent for some reason.
After a while, Professor Shylph said, “Your imagination is really rich.”
Dark touched his nose, embarrassed, “Just average.”
But Professor Shylph immediately followed up, “To some extent, you’re right.”
Dark: “Huh?”
Professor Shylph continued, “The mistake is that Vlad is just a container.”
Dark: “Who is he?”
Shylph: “The Demon King.”
Dark: “Oh.”
Shylph: “You’re not surprised?”
Dark: “I’m very surprised.”
Metia: “Pfft.”
Shylph helplessly said
:”That’s how it is. This information was never meant to be shared with a first-year student, but since it’s you, there’s no need for me to hide it.
Ophelia Brad was taken by a vampire after her capture, and she was directly sent to the Demon King’s side.
The Demon King bit her neck, initiated the embrace, and turned the last bloodline member into a blood slave!
Then, Hero Brett Gold arrived, rescued Brad from the Demon King’s hands, and successfully escaped. But it was too late.”
From a blood slave to a blood demon, and then to a vampire, this is an essential progression for a non-hereditary vampire.
After being embraced by a vampire, one becomes a blood slave, controlled by the vampire.
Blood slaves are bloodthirsty, violent, and irrational, the lowest form of demonic creatures.
Only by advancing to become a blood demon can one control the thirst for blood and gradually regain rationality.
If Ophelia Brad was truly turned into a blood slave by the Demon King, then the hero’s reason for withholding the message would be found.
Regardless of what Ophelia Brad’s identity was before the embrace, she could never appear in human society again.
And the reason why Ophelia Brad was wanted by the Church at the end of the war is easy to guess; it’s mostly because the hero protecting her sacrificed himself.
From the Church’s perspective, they probably don’t know that Ophelia Brad and Brett Gold were actually married.
Otherwise… their warrant would likely have included a child’s name as well!
Ophelia Brad chose to turn herself in to cut off the Church’s pursuit.
With her status as a war hero and her innate ability to resist the erosion of the vampire bloodline due to her race, she received “leniency” and was merely imprisoned in Bustedia Prison, not executed.
Had the one who embraced her been a regular vampire instead of the Demon King, she wouldn’t have ended up like this.
Fortunately, her status as a war hero did play a role, and her treatment in Bustedia Prison was decent.
She had her own cell and could obtain any books she wanted.
Aside from not being able to leave, there wasn’t much else.
But during her ten years in prison, the erosion of her vampire bloodline deepened. She realized that if she didn’t act soon, she might completely become the Demon King’s blood slave, controlled mentally.
Thus, she took advantage of the heretical sect’s attack on Bustedia to escape from prison.
…
All the clues came together.
Dark listened to Professor Shylph’s detailed recounting and finally felt a sense of reality about Ophelia Brad’s experience.
At the same time, he had the opportunity to inquire about information regarding the Demon King.
“The Demon King is also a vampire?”
“No.”
Professor Shylph decisively denied: “The Demon King is not a vampire, but he possesses all the traits and abilities of a vampire. This comes from his vampire container, Vlad!”
Dark couldn’t help but ask: “What exactly is Vlad?”
Professor Shylph explained: “Vlad is one of the Demon King’s many containers. Should the Demon King be killed, he would be reborn in one of these containers.
Therefore, even the hero can only seal him, not kill him outright. No one knows how many containers he has or where they are. In fact, all the information about Vlad was told to me by Ophelia Brad.”
Dark listened carefully and thought to himself: “This sounds even more complicated than Voldemort…”
Professor Shylph, unable to see Dark’s expression, said: “Let’s set aside the Demon King for now. Vlad’s resurrection was an accidental event; he should have been long dead. Ophelia Brad told me that Vlad was one of the vampires who invaded the academy during the war and had contact with her, but he was later killed in a secret passage.
However, his soul nature is very special, possibly related to his role as a container, which led to his potential for resurrection.”
“So that’s it.”
Dark nodded: “I understand roughly. So what was the true purpose of the Blood Princess infiltrating the academy? It couldn’t have been just to see her son, right?”
Professor Shylph replied: “Of course, that was part of it, but another purpose… was to resurrect Vlad!”
Dark was surprised: “But Vlad isn’t already…?”
Professor Shylph sighed: “That was an unforeseen accident. Ophelia Brad’s original goal was to resurrect Vlad and remove the vampire corruption from herself.
Since the Demon King’s vampire abilities come from Vlad, she believed Vlad must have a solution. But later…”
Dark’s expression was strange: “But later, she found out that Vlad had already been resurrected and then died?”
Professor Shylph shook her head: “The problem lies here. Vlad didn’t fully die this time either.”
Dark was confused: “How so?”
Even if ashes were made, how could he still not be dead?
Professor Shylph explained: “Ophelia Brad found Vlad’s soul before us and cut off a piece, using it as the foundation to create a phylactery.”
Dark realized tonight was full of surprises: “A lich phylactery?”
Professor Shylph responded: “More or less. In any case, she successfully re-cultivated Vlad’s soul fragment and planned to resurrect him again on Easter… today!”
“So that’s it.”
Dark exhaled sharply: “I finally understand.”
Professor Shylph asked in confusion: “What do you understand?”
Dark touched the “Mana Spirit” magic card he had put away, but didn’t reveal that the “Mana Spirit” was made from Vlad’s soul powder.
He had roughly figured out the problem with the “Mana Spirit.”
It was clear that the Blood Princess had already initiated the ritual, and Vlad was likely in the process of resurrection.
And this time, Vlad’s memories might also be restored due to “Easter.”
But the “Vlad with memories” was precisely what the Blood Princess wanted to resurrect.
As a “Mana Spirit” made essentially from Vlad’s soul powder, it would naturally be influenced by the ritual.
Although the part of “Vlad’s consciousness” should be in the Blood Princess’s hands, the “Mana Spirit” wouldn’t turn into Vlad, but it might share some of his memories.
Further thinking:
Could the “Mana Spirit” have become one of the Demon King’s containers?
Dark quickly pondered in his heart, but when he answered, he said: “The Blood Princess wants to emulate ‘Saint’s’ resurrection, making Vlad regain his memories upon revival.”
“That’s correct.”
Professor Shylph confirmed his judgment, but immediately added: “But that’s in the past. I’ve persuaded her to abandon this impractical idea.”
Dark was slightly puzzled: “Why?”
Professor Shylph replied: “Because even if Vlad regains his memories, he won’t have the ability to remove the Demon King’s embrace. Ophelia was blinded by temporary gains.”
In other words, it was desperation leading to rash actions.
Professor Shylph continued: “Vampires are a race that places great emphasis on hierarchy, determined by their bloodline. High-ranking vampires exert absolute dominance over low-ranking ones.
Vlad’s position relative to the Demon King is obvious, relying on him to remove the Demon King’s embrace is like relying on a lizard to fight a dragon, which is absurd.”
Dark didn’t really understand this.
But given Professor Shylph’s assessment, it was likely true.
He analyzed: “So if the Blood Princess really does this, she not only won’t succeed, but she might also be devoured by the vampire Vlad?”
Professor Shylph smiled slightly: “So I provided her with another method that’s more likely to work.”
