At any time, a group needed someone whose words carried weight—either someone with overwhelming prestige, someone charismatic, or someone older and experienced. Earlier, Caron had tried to rely on that advantage to seize the position of the group’s backbone, but he failed.

Now he could see it clearly. With Fennia and Amisha, the two of them had already, without realizing it, come to trust Vinny—and they clearly didn’t trust Caron’s words as much.

They were listening to Vinny now.

In the dark, Caron silently clenched his fist.

Two students with Church backgrounds choosing to trust Vinny—how unbelievable was that?

Fennia tossed the snake-tongue dagger into the small pool. The water turned from clear to cloudy in an instant, as if something that had soaked into the dagger’s surface was dissolving into the pool, spilling out and dyeing the water an overly vivid cyan-green.

Just like mushrooms with colors that were too bright always looked poisonous, a color that was too bright always made people feel unsafe.

After the cyan-green rapidly filled the pool, the pool gradually caved inward. In front of them, a spiral stone stairway descending downward appeared.

Was this the entrance to the next scene?

Everyone looked at each other.

“There’s nothing left to explore here. I’ll open the way,” Caron said, stepping as if he meant to go first.

“You’re poisoned, aren’t you? Stop forcing it. Fall back a bit. I’ll go.” Vinny blocked him and took the lead himself.

After all, Fennia and Amisha had no mana left—both were Sorcerer-class, and both were girls. The two of them as grown men weren’t in great shape either, but they were both in the Magus realm and still had mana. No matter what, they couldn’t have the girls standing in front, could they??

Hearing that, Caron fell silent, as if tacitly accepting it.

Vinny gave him a glance, then carefully descended the stone steps, step by step.

As he went, Vinny looked downward and found that the path below seemed endless. He had no idea where it led. There was only a hazy, profound black, as if it were shrouded in an invisible fog.

In that environment, apart from the footsteps of himself and the people behind him, there was nothing to hear. And what he could see was only a few steps below his feet.

Very quickly, Vinny felt that the deeper he went, the thicker the fog became. The most direct sensation was that visibility dropped sharply—before, he could still see five steps ahead. Now he could only see the step beneath him, and the next one.

Out of the corner of his eye, Vinny glanced back and found the outlines of the people behind him had become extremely blurry, to the point he was almost unable to make them out.

He kept walking, then Vinny stopped.

He noticed something different—there was only his own footsteps left.

Vinny paused, then turned around. There was no one behind him anymore. Caron, Fennia, Amisha—gone. Everything had returned to black silence. He couldn’t even see the way he’d come, or how far he’d descended into the depths of this well.

“Student Amisha? Student Fennia?” Vinny fell silent for a moment and tried calling out. The only response was stillness and the echo of his own voice.

Looks like he was alone again.

But it didn’t matter. He was used to it.

He just hoped they were all safe.

Vinny looked forward. The way back was unclear, and the way ahead was the same—flickering uncertainly like a flame in a storm. Everything could only be explored by him alone. No one could help him.

No matter what, caught between advance and retreat, he could only keep going.

He placed one foot after another on the stone steps. He didn’t know if it was his imagination, but he felt like his footsteps had grown heavier—louder. Maybe it was only because he was alone again, so his own footsteps felt louder than they were.

Soon, he felt himself losing his sense of direction. The chaos and fog seemed to be affecting his mind, making it impossible to discern where he was, hard to think. He could only follow instinct, descending step after step into this stairway without an end. In this blur and haze, he didn’t know where he was, how far down he’d gone. Little by little, he lost his way.

The darkness swallowed his figure bit by bit, in this deep well no one knew.

———————

“Why didn’t you act earlier? That was the best chance. What were you hesitating for?”

“There were other people present, weren’t there? And they were from the Church.”

“Young Master, it seems I have to remind you at all times, so you don’t forget what kind of person you are.”

“I said there were other people there. It wasn’t convenient. And I don’t want to drag other people into this. This is between him and me.”

“Best if that’s true, Young Master. Don’t you dare go soft at the critical moment. You and I both know—you were never soft.”

“Shut up. I don’t need you ordering me around.”

“If I could, I wouldn’t want to. I already said it before—we’re allies, aren’t we?”

“As long as you don’t mess up later. If you do, then I think at least one of us will be embarrassed afterward. Maybe we’ll even lose everything we were supposed to have.”

“Are you threatening me?”

“I wouldn’t dare, Young Master. I’m only urging you along. In any case, it’s fine if you go ‘soft’ now—but don’t go ‘soft’ every time and ruin the big matter, hm?” 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

“For today, we exhausted ourselves creating chances for you, including this ‘accident.’ Do you know how much effort it took us to awaken this demon corpse? You’d better cherish it, and don’t let everyone’s work go to waste, okay?”

“......”

“What? Don’t tell me you still haven’t figured it out, Young Master?”

“I think doing it now is too rushed.”

“Rushed?” the ethereal voice teased. “Then when you set an ambush outside the royal capital of Camella and arranged a band of death-squad men to silence witnesses—was that not rushed?”

“Back then, the methods were decisive and ruthless. I admire you. But the moment you cooperate with me, you say our moves are too fast, that it’s a little rushed—why is that?”

“That time wasn’t authorized by me.”

“Haha. Young Master, I’m willing to believe that. But whether others are willing to believe it—that’s another matter.” The ethereal voice chuckled. “Especially Princess Mirexia. Whether she’s willing to believe it—I think that’s a very worthwhile question for us to discuss.”

“......”

“Young Master, admit what you’re thinking. Actually, there’s nothing wrong with what we think. Everyone believes someone is redundant—someone who shouldn’t exist, don’t they? If he continues to exist, it will only drag more innocent people into danger, like a magic bomb set to explode on a timer.”

“We can certainly keep it around. But what’s the point? What’s the point of continuing to bear that risk? A wise man doesn’t stand beneath a collapsing wall.”

“Stop hesitating. What we’re doing is justice—proper, reasonable behavior. Tell me, in this world, how many people would feel regret if he were killed? The number probably wouldn’t fill one hand.” The ethereal voice let out a low laugh. “But how many people would clap in delight? Heh. I don’t need to keep going, do I?”

“Root out evil completely. When an evil man is at his weakest and hasn’t grown yet, strangle him in the cradle. You can’t go soft with that.”

“A knight—shouldn’t a knight use thunderous means against that kind of sin?”

“You don’t need to say those things.”

“Heh, of course. I’m only offering a kind reminder. How to do it—I’m sure you have your own decision.”

———————

When Vinny’s awareness returned and he regained clarity, he found himself in an unknown barren ridge. Beneath his feet was solid black bedrock like obsidian, covered in gold-red traces like molten flow. Above was a dark crimson sky, as if it had been soaked through with blood.

This place was...?

Vinny scanned his surroundings. Every previous scene had been unfamiliar—only this one gave him an eerie sense of wrongness.

He had the distinct feeling that the scene he °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° was in wasn’t dead, but...

Just then, footsteps echoed across this silent land of ash.

Vinny snapped his gaze over and saw that the tall figure walking toward him was familiar.

It was Caron.

“Caron?” Realizing he wasn’t alone, Vinny didn’t rush to feel happy. He didn’t go over, because he could see that Caron’s expression was very wrong right now—walking toward him step by step, his face grim and heavy.

“What is it?” Vinny frowned as he asked, not knowing what kind of stunt Caron was trying to pull now.

It was also at that moment that Caron stopped, drew a luxurious long sword with a golden hilt, and swept it through the air. A wave of sword force slashed toward Vinny.

【正气剑罡】

[Righteous-Qi Sword Aura]

Vinny’s eyes were sharp and his hands fast. He flipped aside and dodged the sword wave, his expression changing instantly, brows drawn tight as he stared at Caron.

“Caron. Do you know what you’re doing?”

“Doing what? Of course I know.” Caron’s voice was calm. “I’m fulfilling a knight’s duty—slaying a demon.”

“You’ve lost your mind?” Vinny narrowed his eyes, staring hard at Caron. “Carillian Academy rules: attacking a fellow student gets you expelled at the very least. You don’t know that? You even repeated it to me earlier.”

“Of course I know. I’ve memorized the academy rules far better than you, Vinny.”

“But I understand that compared to academy rules, the kingdom’s peace—and the flourishing prosperity of the kingdom’s citizens—matters most.”

“What the hell are you talking about?” Vinny’s voice turned cold. “Caron, are you mentally unstable, or controlled by a demon? What does any of that have to do with you attacking this young master??”

“Vinny, take a guess.” Caron looked at him deeply. “If you die here, how many people would be sad?”

“I’m afraid you can count them on one hand.”

“But how many people would be happy—would feel relieved?”

“That’s your reason for killing?” Vinny lifted his chin, looking at Caron. “If so many people would feel relieved when I die, then that only proves Tyrelis Continent is already terminally ill.”

“Vinny, looks like you understand very well that you’re unwelcome.”

“So what? Unwelcome people deserve to die? That’s the knight’s creed you’re willing to defend with your life? Is that what your knight instructor taught you?” Vinny raised a brow.

“I don’t understand knights, and I’m not a knight. But if knights are just a bunch of unreasonable scoundrels who use their status to commit evil without punishment, then does such a thing have any meaning in existing at all?”

“The only scoundrel from start to finish is you, Vinny.” Caron gripped his sword and watched him, as if afraid Vinny would run. “I know what you were like from childhood to now. I know too well what kind of person you are.”

“Other people might be fooled by you. I won’t. I understand—you’re a thoroughbred scoundrel.”

“Then where’s the evidence?” Vinny frowned. “The evidence to punish me—bring it out. And also, who gave you the authority to judge me? Mirexia?”

“No need for that kind of thing.”

“Then may I ask what this young master did wrong?” Vinny suddenly laughed. “Actually, I’ve always been curious. What exactly did I do that made you all hate me to the bone??”

“Those baseless slanders? Those rumors with nothing behind them? Which of the two are you planning to use as evidence to judge me?” Vinny demanded.

“You shouldn’t have appeared at Carillian Academy, Vinny.” Caron advanced with his sword.

“You should stay where you belong and keep your place, instead of overstepping like this.”

“You can fool ignorant Church juniors. You can fool kindhearted Princess Mirexia.” Caron’s eyes were cold. “But you can’t fool me.”

“Oh.” Vinny gave a cold laugh. “I get it now. Caron, you mean you don’t have any other reason—you just don’t like seeing Mirexia change her view of me, so you want to get rid of this young master, right?”

“Words are pointless, Vinny.” Caron spoke with absolute certainty. “Today, I will make your demonic nature show itself.”

“Demon?” Vinny’s gaze locked onto him. “Before, I didn’t know what a demon looked like. Now I do. The more terrifying the demon, the more it needs to wear a proper human skin, the more it needs to pretend to be sanctimonious.”

“Before they deceive others, the first person they deceive is themselves.”

“Caron—I think I still gave you too much credit. I thought no matter what, you were still human.” Vinny’s voice was icy. “I didn’t expect you to have fallen to this level.”

“Talking won’t save you, Vinny.” Caron’s tone was cold. “Or do you still refuse to give up—still want to resist?”

“You and I both know. We’ve fought since we were kids, fought from childhood all the way up.” Caron’s eyes sharpened. “You’ve never won once.”

“Young Master, you’re stupid enough to disappoint me. Why didn’t you do what I said—use an illusion to confuse him first, then meet up with him acting like nothing happened, trick him into trusting you, and then ambush and kill him?”

“Shut up. I have my own way. And you want me to ambush?” Caron’s voice was sharp. “If I can defeat a demon fair and square, why would I ambush??”

“What, you mean I need an ambush to win against Vinny? I’m stronger than him. Much stronger. Why would I use that kind of method to win??”

“Fine. Do as you please, Young Master. Just don’t flip the cart.” The ethereal voice chuckled. “Otherwise, everyone will be embarrassed.”

“I said it already. You don’t need to remind me.”

After finishing that mental exchange, Caron fixed his gaze on Vinny.

“Since you still want to struggle, then try.” Caron enunciated every word. “Earlier, because there were two ignorant junior girls whose trust you’d deceived, I couldn’t make a move on you. Now it’s different. There’s no one else here.”

“This time, no one will come help you, Vinny.”

“So that dagger earlier really was you stabbing yourself?” Vinny laughed abruptly.