Hate Me, Miss Witch!

Xaya's predatory gaze, akin to that of a ravenous beast, made the hooded assailant feel incredibly uneasy.

He was here to pillage, destroy, and wreak havoc, yet standing before this male student, he felt as though the roles had reversed. It was as if he had become prey, locked in the crosshairs of a hungry wolf.

Still, the student had accurately recited the teachings of his faith without error. Not only that, but the enthusiasm and fervor in his expression felt genuine—almost too convincing.

It was rare to find such devout followers in the capital, let alone within Saint Roland Academy, a school filled with elites.

With this realization, the hooded figure softened slightly, his voice less hostile:

"In a land ruled by heretics, it is commendable that you have still heard my Lord's teachings."

"Of course!" Xaya's face lit up with excitement as he jumped off the bed and rubbed his hands together, closing the distance between them.

"I've been a loyal member of the old FFF brigade, always itching to burn those obnoxious lovebirds who flaunt their affection in public."

"But alas, this damnable heretical kingdom suppresses the teachings of the Ashen Lord. I've had no choice but to lie low and feign indifference."

His eyes sparkled as he added, "But now—finally! I've found my comrades!"

"Can we join the cult? Both of us are devout followers of the Lord of Ashes."

The hooded man was momentarily taken aback by Xaya's fervor, shifting uncomfortably under the young man's gaze. He hesitated before replying:

"The Church's requirements for new recruits are strict. Only the most faithful may pass the trials."

"During the test, even a flicker of doubt will lead to your being incinerated by the Lord's black flames."

"If you are prepared to face this, then after our mission here, I can bring you to meet the Pontiff to request the rite of induction."

"No problem!" Xia Ya agreed enthusiastically, leaning in closer.

"By the way, are you planning something big at Saint Roland Academy? I've been here for three years, and I know the layout and the strength of the faculty and students like the back of my hand."

"If I could provide intel to help accomplish the Lord's will, it would be my highest honor."

The hooded figure hesitated, but the offer was tempting. The information could indeed aid their mission significantly.

After a pause, he nodded.

"The Lord has decreed that the Freesta Empire's royal family must be punished for their obstinate refusal to embrace His teachings. That is why the Pontiff has brought us here."

"As expected." Xaya grinned and quickly followed up:

"However, this academy is near the capital. Even if we disregard the headmaster and vice-principal, there are division heads here with four-ring Beast Master capabilities. Reinforcements from the capital could arrive at any moment."

"No matter how strong the Pontiff is, it's unlikely he could handle such overwhelming odds alone."

"That's why... he must have brought a relic of the Lord with him, didn't he?"

The hooded figure gave Xaya a startled glance, astonished by the youth's deduction.

"Indeed."

"The Pontiff carries a finger bone from the Lord's ash-formed body before His ascension to godhood."

"A fire attribute relic, then?"

"Naturally." The hooded man spoke with pride.

"Our Lord represents the ultimate incinerating black flames—capable of consuming entire planes. Even the tiniest remnant of His pre-divine form is the mightiest fire in existence..."

The hooded man's voice trailed off abruptly.

A realization dawned on him. From the start, he had inexplicably felt an odd trust and kinship with the boy before him, readily divulging both critical and trivial secrets.

But why?

His gaze fell on Xaya once more. Something was wrong.

He raised his black, flame-wreathed scythe, the weapon's fire revealing a contracted elemental beast of the fire attribute.

"You..."

Before he could finish, an intense flash of silver light cleaved through the air, breaking the dusk's dim glow.

A silver lance split the atmosphere, tearing apart the winds and obliterating all in its path.

A heartbeat later—

Clang.

The hooded figure's scythe clattered to the ground, its flames dissipating rapidly.

The man's gaze fell to his weapon. It was lifeless—a clear sign that his contracted beast had perished. And if a Beast Master's creature died without injury, the only explanation was that the Beast Master himself had died first.

His eyes widened as he looked down to see the gaping hole in his chest.

He toppled over, dead, his face frozen in shock.

The hooded figure was no ordinary lackey. He was a peak two-ring Beast Master, strong even among the academy's upper echelons, with a resume stained by countless bloody skirmishes.

Against students with limited combat experience, he should have been unstoppable.

And yet, he had been instantly killed.

"Damn, I wasn't done squeezing information out of him!" Xaya clicked his tongue in frustration.

"I was planning to infiltrate their ranks using Tsukuyomi. Next time, leave them alive—cripple their limbs or something."

Beside him, Aurora wiped blood off her silver lance with a handkerchief.

Her academy uniform had vanished, replaced by silver-white armor. Beneath her knight's helm, her pale face was as calm as ever.

"He raised his weapon against you," she replied emotionlessly.

Xaya sighed, recognizing the unspoken message: I hear you. I understand. But next time? Don't count on it.

"Fair enough," he muttered, shrugging.

Squatting down, Xaya closed the dead man's eyes.

"Rest in peace, brother."

"Honestly, I wanted to let you live, but... you made the mistake of touching her reverse scale."