Chapter 579: Assessments before the festival

Cristo Kal.

From what I remember of him in the game, he was one of those side characters who only got a brief spotlight in this arc.

Not a mini-boss, not a mid-boss, and certainly not a final one. Just… there.

A piece on the board that most players overlooked.

He was, however, described as a candidate for true demonic possession by the demon king Asmodues.

Across the many routes I completed, he never quite reached that point—but when [Act 4 — Chapter 5: Lightbringer] came around, he did end up becoming a dangerous assassin-class demon.

He wasn’t strong enough to be a serious opponent on his own.

But tricky? Absolutely.

Annoyingly tricky.

His role in the climax wasn’t to overwhelm the protagonist, but to create openings—just enough of a distraction for Asmodeus to land hits that actually mattered.

And that was what made him dangerous.

In terms of experience points, he was practically worthless.

No major loot, no meaningful rewards. Which is exactly why he’s the perfect target for an early elimination.

Why let someone like him live long enough to become a thorn later?

It’s not like I particularly liked or disliked him.

He was just… there.

Another face in the crowd of villains and pawns.

Some might argue it’s cruel to kill him now, especially since he isn’t a demon or a worshipper yet.

He’s still human. Still redeemable, maybe.

But then you remember the atrocities he committed later—everything he did in blind loyalty to his so-called master’s orders and desires—and sympathy quickly dries up.

Hardly anyone would waste their pity on him.

And then, of course, there’s Seo. In one of the bad ends, Cristo’s involvement with her was… unforgivable.

That alone was enough reason to erase him early.

Besides, he isn’t just a potential threat down the line.

Right now, he’s Hajey’s spy and informant.

Removing him would cripple Hajey’s movements, limit his eyes and ears in the academy.

Killing two birds with one stone.

But since he was still technically a foreign student on tour, erasing him right away would only bring unnecessary trouble to the principal.

So, for now, an initial evaluation would have to do.

The foreign students were probably still wandering through Killian Hall, trying to familiarize themselves with the academy.

Naturally, academy students like us had been told to stay in our dorms for the time being, to give the newcomers space before any mingling.

That meant there should be an influx of them roaming the main halls and open areas.

Which narrowed down the places I could find him.

But knowing Cristo’s personality—and the fact that Hajey was the one pulling his strings—the odds of him strolling around in the open were low.

He wasn’t the type to waste time pretending to be casual when he had orders to follow.

I spread my mana sense as I walked forward, scanning the area.

As expected, two signatures stood out from the rest, tucked away deep within Killian Hall—in the hidden training grounds.

One was massive and steady, almost overwhelming in its presence.

That had to be Kagami.

The other was faint, flickering in and out like a flame on the verge of going out.

That one could only belong to Cristo.

So, he really did sneak this far in.

I could guess Hajey’s instructions easily enough.

Most likely, Cristo had been sent to find Seo.

But considering our history, the chances of him looking for me as well were high.

After all, everyone from the Gyeoul household should already be aware of my interest in Seo—assuming, of course, Master Beon had already informed them.

I couldn’t deny my curiosity.

How exactly did the demon king Asmodeus decide on his potential incarnation targets for possession?

If I could glimpse even a fraction of the essence behind Cristo, it might prove useful.

Sure, I already knew who Asmodeus would possess in the end.

But variables existed for a reason.

Take Trisha, for example—her ties with Erebil were a constant reminder that nothing was set in stone.

Just because the game had shown me one path didn’t mean this world would follow it perfectly.

For all I knew, Asmodeus might shift his plans, or worse, collaborate.

And if that happened—if Asmodeus and Erebil were colluding—then things would spiral quickly.

Whether out of spite for me, or simply to test me, Erebil could easily throw Asmodeus into the mix earlier than expected.

But I wasn’t about to let it get that far. Lucas would handle the main threats. That much, I was determined to see through.

As I descended the broad stone staircase toward the center of Killian Hall, I passed groups of foreign students scattered in the empty corridors.

Their eyes followed me as I walked, filled with curiosity, awe, and maybe a hint of unease.

Attention wasn’t something I wanted today, but it couldn’t be helped.

For them, spotting one of the academy’s top students must have been like seeing a rare beast in its natural habitat.

Ignoring their stares, I pressed on until the hall finally opened up into the outside field of the hidden training grounds.

SWOOOSHH!!!

BOOOOMMM!!!

The sounds of battle hit me immediately.

Inside, the air quivered with explosive force.

A young man wielding twin daggers was darting desperately across the arena, his body twisting and bending just to avoid the incoming barrage.

Towering fists, each blow heavy enough to rattle the ground, hammered toward him in rapid succession.

It was Kagami. His strikes were merciless, a storm of raw strength packed into every swing.

And Cristo—poor Cristo—was clearly struggling. His daggers flashed, his feet scrambled, but from the pale, almost whining look on his face, it was obvious this wasn’t his idea.

He had probably been dragged into training by Kagami’s sheer force of will.

It was almost amusing, really, watching these two unlikely characters train together.

I narrowed my eyes, letting my mana stretch out and brush against Cristo’s essence from afar.

Nothing abnormal.

No corruption, no hints of demonic energy laced through his veins.

Is it because he hasn’t been influenced yet?

Or has Asmodeus simply not taken an interest in him at this stage?

In the game, not everyone turned into demons by the end of Act 4, Chapter 5.

Only certain individuals, under certain conditions, managed that “demonic transcendence.”

Which meant there had to be a special reason behind Asmodeus’ choices.

Something more than coincidence.

“W-Wait, senior—PLEASE STOP!!!”

“Hahaha!”

Cristo’s panicked pleas echoed through the training ground, met by Kagami’s booming laugh as his massive fists crashed down again and again.

The clash of raw strength against frantic agility painted a ridiculous picture—like a giant trying to squash a squirrel.

I couldn’t help but shake my head.

Kagami wasn’t holding back.

Against someone as slippery as Cristo, I supposed he couldn’t afford to.

Still, when I noticed the faint scratch trailing across Kagami’s cheek, I raised a brow.

So Cristo had managed to land a hit. Small, but enough to sting.

No doubt the big guy took it personally.

How petty.

Not that I cared what happened to Cristo in the grand scheme.

But letting my experimental subject die here, in a meaningless sparring match, would be a waste.

There was still so much to learn from him.

Step—!

My body blurred forward in a single movement.

BOOOOM!!!

The ground split and cracked beneath the shockwave as Kagami’s mana-coated fist came down—but it never connected.

My hand stopped it cold, fingers wrapping firmly around his knuckles.

The pressure reverberated outward, rattling the air and leaving fractures spiderwebbing across the stone floor behind me.

Kagami blinked, eyes wide. “Huh, bud…??? Where’d you suddenly come from?”

“Just around…” I replied casually, not bothering with explanations.

I turned my gaze to the side, where Cristo stood frozen, both arms raised protectively over his face.

His wide eyes peeked out between them, staring at me with open shock—half-relief, half-disbelief.

….

Meanwhile, at one of the three most prestigious buildings of the academy—

Royal Hall.

The place where only those of royal and the highest noble bloodlines could stay.

The very air carried an air of superiority, as though even the stone walls whispered of bloodlines, pedigrees, and centuries of privilege.

A carriage adorned with white panels and golden detailing rolled to a stop before the grand entrance.

The coat of arms gleamed on its side, polished until the crest almost seemed to shine with its own light.

From within stepped a man.

Golden hair, golden eyes, posture straight as a blade. His very presence radiated a cold, untouchable authority.

Adjusting his thin-framed glasses, his expression did not so much as waver.

A manservant already awaited him, bowing low.

“It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance,” the servant intoned smoothly. “My name is Albert, head butler of Royal Hall. I trust your journey here was without issue, Duke Raymond Brilliance. Please allow me the honor of guiding you to your quarters.”

The duke gave only a short nod.

His sharp golden eyes flicked across the surroundings with a single sweep, evaluating and memorizing.

He followed without a word, every step echoing with quiet dignity.

It had been some time since he last left his dukedom.

Years, in fact.

Yet when he returned to this academy… everything looked the same. Awfully, disgustingly the same.

Not that he expected much.

Still, wasn’t it basic courtesy to greet someone of his standing properly?

At the very least, the principal or the student council president should have made their appearance. Sending a mere butler—it was laughable.

His assessment of the academy soured further.

But he hadn’t come here to complain about trivial formalities.

Upon reaching his assigned quarters, Duke Raymond dismissed Albert with a single glance.

His personal attendants were already waiting, swift to hand over the documents he had requested in advance.

He sank into the velvet sofa, crossing his legs with practiced elegance, golden eyes narrowing as he read through the papers.

One name stood out.

“Riley Hell…”

His voice was cold, measured, as though simply uttering the name was distasteful.

The document was simple—basic information about the young man.

But its implications were not.

This was the man who was to marry his daughter.

His most brilliant daughter.

And all of it had been decided without his knowledge.

Without his consent.

A shadow crossed the duke’s face, his grip on the paper tightening ever so slightly.

This academy…

This boy…

Neither would be allowed to trifle with the Brilliance family.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep