EVHE 39

Chapter 39

Even though it was broad daylight, no light entered the room. Only a faint candle flickered dimly, casting shadows on objects.

Nox lay straight on a bed red as blood. His eyes were gently shut, like someone who had found peace.

In front of him sat a man in a neatly worn priest’s robe, holding a holy scripture. Beneath the hood, his hair was the color of ash.

“She will harm your lover at the upcoming ball.”

Flood murmured words that had nothing to do with the scripture in his hands.

At those words, Nox’s brow twitched faintly, as if in pain.

“That’s why you must keep a close eye on her.”

Nox gave no response. His eyes remained softly closed.

Flood nodded as if he understood all the words Nox didn’t say. A benevolent smile curled on his lips.

“You just need to stay true to your original role.”

What he was whispering was a form of insidious brainwashing.

Nox slowly opened his eyes. His reactions were oddly delayed, as if his mind were buffering.

But that lasted only a moment. Soon, his behavior returned to normal.

His eyes, dark as if they’d devoured the abyss, still gleamed with coldness. To anyone else, his presence would have been enough to make them bow in fear.

“Is this really working? I still have nightmares every night.”

Nox stood up, pressing his stiff shoulder with his hand. His voice was tinged with irritation.

He had been plagued by relentless nightmares for the past six months. In an effort to solve the issue, he’d sought out a priest—and that priest had been Flood.

But Nox would likely never know that the one who had planted those nightmares was Flood himself.

“It’s still too early to expect results. With time, it will gradually subside.”

Flood responded casually, as if he had never brainwashed anyone.

“Sure it will.”

Nox didn’t bother hiding his displeasure at the answer. He straightened his clothes and walked out of the room without another word.

He looked no different from usual. A clear sign that Flood’s powers had taken hold without issue once again.

Flood leaned back in his chair with leisure. Then, he opened the holy book once more.

Though he was now blind, unable to see, it didn’t matter—he already knew every word within.

“So there’s only one thing left.”

All that remained was to create a situation where Nox’s brainwashing would explode.

“Though there are still heaps of unresolved issues…”

Like the princess who refused to obey him. Or the situations that kept veering off from his original plan.

“But I suppose it doesn’t matter.”

What mattered was not the process—but the result.

Flood was one who had received divine revelation. And he had also been tasked with making the world follow that revelation.

Thus, every person in the world was within his grasp.

If anyone dared to defy that, he would simply manipulate their mind—or kill them.

After all, he had Estella, and the undeniable blessing of God. And even now, after the voice of God had gone silent, that blessing remained valid.

“Heh heh…”

A satisfied laugh slipped through his lips.

Flood was confident that, at this rate, his long years of effort would finally bear fruit.

“Did you finish your homework?”

Even before the library doors were fully open, Saint asked me without preamble. I almost turned around and walked out again.

‘This is why I didn’t want to come!’

Frustration welled up inside me, and my face scrunched into a miserable pout.

I lingered outside for a while, seriously considering just going home. But eventually, I forced myself to step into the library.

“About the barrier creation homework…”

Of course I hadn’t finished it, so my voice trailed off.

Two weeks ago, right after receiving the assignment, I had worked my hardest. But no matter how much I tried, I couldn’t make any progress. When it came time to actually create a spell, I had no idea what to do.

“I just don’t understand how to create a barrier…”

“I already taught you all the theory, didn’t I?”

“Knowing the theory doesn’t make it easy! How are you supposed to go ‘zap, snap, boom!’ and make one?!”

I poured out my frustration, and Saint looked at me with the most pitiful expression.

“Don’t look at me like that.”

I grumbled bitterly.

“Isn’t a teacher supposed to help students when they’re struggling?”

After I whined for quite a while, Saint finally tapped the desk, telling me to sit down.

“If I don’t know where you’re getting stuck… we’ll just have to go over everything from the beginning.”

“F-From the beginning?!”

All of that again? My face turned pale, but Saint clearly had no intention of cutting me any slack.

“Let’s start with just five hours.”

Five… what? Ten books were stacked in front of me before I could even react.

‘Should’ve just done it on my own!’

It was too late for regrets now.

And so, I focused with an unprecedented level of concentration for the entire lesson.

Maybe it was because there hadn’t been any recent threats that I’d gotten lazy. Feeling deathly pressure during this endless class, my learning sped up shockingly fast.

I had to create a barrier within these five hours—before he could suggest even more tutoring!

“W-Wait a second. I think I can do it now!”

Without waiting for a response, I quickly closed my eyes. I pressed both index fingers to my temples and chanted.

I visualized the spell and let mana flow around my body. I imagined turbulent waves surrounding me, forming a perfect circle—for protection.

“Check if it worked! Attack me, quickly! Before I lose focus!”

I shouted in a panic, lips trembling. Saint approached and placed both hands on my shoulders.

“W-Wait, what?”

Saint passed through my barrier like it was nothing. There was no resistance, no sound of it shattering.

“You haven’t yet learned to control the barrier’s strength. But the form is there.”

Saint still looked unsatisfied. But I didn’t care about his opinion.

“So… it worked, right?!”

I beamed up at him, eyes sparkling. He gave a wry chuckle—but didn’t deny it.

“Yes.”

“That means class is over for today!”

I immediately slammed the book shut and flopped onto the desk. Erasing all those formulas from my head finally made me feel alive again.

“Is there a reason you’re in such a rush to master this?”

Saint asked as he sat down.

“Well, it’s a dangerous world out there.”

And I had already been threatened multiple times, so I was especially desperate.

“Why not just get a protective charm?”

“That’s not the same. I want to be able to protect myself even without one.”

I already had the necklace Leschel gave me. But I wanted to survive even after its magic ran out.

“Then let’s continue barrier training next week.”

“Ah.”

His words made me flinch, and a sigh slipped out.

“Um… actually, I don’t think I can make it next week.”

I straightened up, lowered my eyes, and hesitated.

“I mean… um…”

I skipped class a lot, didn’t do homework, and today I even asked to end early. Not exactly model student behavior.

And hadn’t I insisted I needed to learn magic quickly? I felt ashamed.

“I’m sorry!”

I clapped my hands together and bowed them properly.

“The truth is… I’m not really Edelline…”

“You mean, you’re the noble lady from House Crescent?”

“Y-Yes! That’s right.”

I nodded without thinking, then snapped my gaze up.

“…Ah, you knew?”

I had suspected he might, but hearing it from his mouth made me feel embarrassed.

He had accepted my lie all this time, knowing it wasn’t true.

“I’m really sorry for telling you so late. I missed the right moment to say it…”

My face flushed red from embarrassment. Saint just tilted his head slightly, as if telling me to continue.

“Anyway, I have to attend the imperial ball next week, so… I won’t be able to come.”

It was just one missed class, but I felt terribly guilty about it.

“Very well.”

To my surprise, Saint accepted it without protest.

“But make sure you complete the barrier spell before the next class.”

Of course. Another massive assignment landed squarely on my shoulders.

“That’s harsh…”

I complained, but he remained indifferent.

Once the topic of class was done, silence fell over the library.

Even though we’d known each other for a while now, it always turned awkward like this unless I brought something up.

I hated these silences. I looked around, searching for something to talk about.

“Saint. Are you going to the imperial ball too?”

It was the hottest topic lately, so it naturally came to mind.

“No.”

His answer was exactly what I expected.

“Should I go?”

But the next question wasn’t.

“If you want me to come, I will.”

His tone made it sound like I’d begged him to accompany me.

“You don’t have to…”

I mumbled, half-annoyed, half-embarrassed.

“I’ll definitely go.”

How he interpreted my grumbling, I had no idea—but what started as a question turned into a firm promise.

“I should see the real you, not just Edelline, right?”

Saint leaned one arm on the table. His shadow fell over my head.

His unreadable eyes stared down at me from up close.

“I’m looking forward to it.”

He whispered, then touched my cheek. His fingers brushed my hair, then lightly tapped my ear before pulling away.

When I flinched, I saw the faintest smile form at the corners of his mouth.

It was the first expression I had ever seen from him—a smile whose meaning I couldn’t begin to understand.