The Radiant Young Lady of the Dark Family - Chapter 38
The ancient duty of the Cellie family – eliminating heretics. That heretics was a colloquial term for demons was something Hartbisa learned from the original story information. Until then, she had only known heretics as those who opposed monotheism.
Just as she hadn’t received succession training despite belonging to the Cellie family and thus didn’t know about demons’ existence, Hasa actually knew nothing about demons.
Yes, until quite recently.
Hartbisa recalled the description of heretics she had read while researching the succession ceremony. While heretics who sold their souls to demons appeared no different from normal people on the outside, they would gradually rot from deep within, emitting a putrid smell from their mouths, and eventually lose their sanity as their souls were captured by demons.
‘And when humans lose their sanity, their eyes, the windows to their soul, no longer remain human.’
Hartbisa silently recited the passage in her mind as she looked at the man before her.
Jual Mandro’s whites had turned black, and his pupils had narrowed like a beast’s, no longer resembling human eyes.
“Tell me the truth. Who did you buy the questions from? Zhao? Radant?”
Mandro asked in a distorted voice. Every time he opened his mouth, an unbearable foul stench poured out.
Hartbisa covered her mouth and stepped backward, and the professors too, sensing danger, began one by one to rise from their seats and move toward the door. At that moment, Mandro, who was close to the exit, blocked it while snarling.
“I’m still speaking, who said you could move?”
“Man, Mandro, you don’t look well. Calm dow-!”
Before the man could finish speaking, Mandro struck him. The professor crashed into the table, breaking it. The other professors screamed at the commotion.
“Kyaaak!”
Watching this, Zhao began gathering blue energy in his hands as if to attack Mandro, but at that moment, Mandro looked at him and lifted the fallen professor by the neck. Blood trickled like hairline cracks where his unnaturally sharp nails touched the professor’s skin.
Mandro opened his mouth demonstratively.
“Zhao. If you move even slightly, I’ll twist this neck.”
It was a warning to Zhao, the only magic professor. Though an academy professor, Zhao was proficient in theory but not an exceptional magician. He could barely manage to escape alone. Therefore, he couldn’t subdue Mandro, who had been emitting an eerily strong magical power.
‘What should I do.’
As Zhao swallowed dryly, Hasa quietly spoke.
“His soul has been completely devoured by a demon.”
“What?”
As Zhao looked at Hasa in surprise, she calmly answered.
“They’re also called heretics. When demon possession becomes severe, they lose their will and go berserk. Like the man before us.”
Zhao inwardly admired Hasa’s response. As expected of a family that made eliminating heretics their profession, she remained calm even when facing such a situation. Talk of heretics and demons was usually just theory for ordinary people, who would panic in situations like this.
But Hasa’s next words were different from what he expected.
“Though this is my first time seeing it with my own eyes too.”
First time? How could she be so calm? As the surprised Zhao looked at her, he noticed her clenched fist trembling slightly.
Hasa took a deep breath. Though fortunately, her words came out well, her body’s trembling hadn’t stopped since earlier. Demons grow by feeding on human desires, she’d heard. And for whatever reason, Professor Jual Mandro’s desire was directed at her.
‘If I keep his attention focused on me, others will have time to escape. But after that…’
Hasa knew about the side effects of special abilities. But right now, she felt a bit sad that she didn’t have abilities like Dayan’s.
“Now then, Lady Cellie. It’s quiet now, so answer me. Which bastard did you sell your body to for the questions?”
Mandro, emitting a putrid smell from his body, gradually approached Hasa. Hasa answered coldly.
“I did no such thing, Professor Mandro. Those are all your delusions.”
At Hasa’s bold response, Mandro muttered with a face that seemed unable to control its muscles properly, appearing to both smile and cry.
“Delusions? …This won’t do, she can’t be admitted, that person will be disappointed. What should I do? What should I do. What should I do.”
He repeated “What should I do” in a completely cracked voice. Seeing this grotesque sight, Hasa covered her mouth to suppress her nausea and spoke to Zhao.
“Now’s the time. Get out first.”
“I can’t leave alone…!”
“Staying here together won’t solve anything. Go out and bring someone, anyone.”
Hasa urged Zhao.
“Hurry.”
Zhao clicked his tongue softly, then without hesitation wrapped his body in blue light and quickly escaped the conference room. Mandro seemed no longer interested in him, not even glancing his way, before suddenly lifting his head to look at Hasa as if he’d found an answer.
“Ah, I should kill her. If she’s dead, she can’t enroll.”
Hartbisa felt her hair stand on end. With each step Mandro took, the wooden floor cracked slightly. His strength seemed to have increased dramatically to the point he couldn’t control it.
But that also meant his speed was slower. If she timed it right, she could dodge his attacks.
She couldn’t die here. After finally coming back, just when she could finally start being a proper daughter and sister.
“Die!”
As Jual Mandro reached out, Hartbisa, who had been tracking his movements carefully until the end, twisted her body to dodge. And before her eyes, Mandro’s arm was severed.
The arm with grotesquely grown nails flew behind him and fell to the floor. As black blood flowed and Jual Mandro howled in pain, a massive wall-like back appeared before her, as if to shield that sight.
Hasa lifted her head slowly with trembling eyes. The man who stood blocking her path with his black cape fluttering was none other than her father. With his back to her, he spoke.
“That’s right, never give up until the end. That’s what makes you a Cellie, Hasa.”
At that warm address, Hasa’s throat trembled.
“…Dad.”
At that small voice, Vanwilhelm’s shoulders seemed to stiffen for a moment, but then, looking at Mandro sprawled disgracefully before him, his expression changed as he spoke in a low voice.
“Vanwilhelm Cellie, here to eliminate the heretic by the Emperor’s order.”
With those words, all the windows in the conference room shattered. The foul stench that had filled the interior escaped as the white curtains fluttered chaotically.
Vanwilhelm, standing as if protecting Hasa, called out to his aide without moving.
“Jomallon.”
“Yes.”
After that brief response, Jomallon drew his sword and stepped forward. It happened in an instant. Before one could blink, Jomallon had vanished and reappeared behind Professor Mandro, beheading him in one stroke.
Though Hartbisa’s view was blocked by Vanwilhelm, she could clearly hear the sound of the unhesitating blade cutting through the air and the thud of the lifeless body falling to the floor.
“You did well, Hasa.”
With her father’s words, both Mandro’s screams and the eerie aura disappeared.
***
By the time the academy security guards arrived, the Cellie family knights had already taken control of the scene. The commotion was settled when Vanwilhelm showed the imperial seal to the bewildered security personnel.
Wearing the cape that Vanwilhelm had draped over her shoulders, Hartbisa looked past the professors being carried out on stretchers to the blackened spot covered in ashes. Even in retrospect, Mandro had shown an unusually strong obsession with her admission status.
He definitely said that person would be disappointed.
Hartbisa’s expression darkened with an ominous feeling. Just then, she overheard some professors talking as they left the conference room.
“To think Professor Mandro was a heretic.”
As her gaze fell on their shocked expressions, the next words made her furrow her brow.
“I knew it. That’s why he was researching the demon language.”
“Hey. Keep quiet.”
Demon language? Suddenly, she recalled some characters from the ancient language questions he had given on the spot – characters that hadn’t felt unfamiliar even at first sight.
As Hartbisa sighed deeply at the complicated issues that had rushed in, she saw Professor Zhao approaching from afar.
He was the one who had called the academy security.
“Lady Cellie.”
He spoke with a subdued expression, as if gauging her reaction.
“I apologize that our prejudice has left a stain on what should have been a celebration.”
“It’s alright.”
Hartbisa answered with a faint smile. Then, after hesitating for a moment, she asked.
“Then, regarding my admission status…”
She felt anxious that her admission might be reconsidered regardless of the cheating allegations, given the commotion she had caused. Zhao’s eyes widened, and then he smiled slightly.
“While the official announcement of successful candidates will take a little more time, I’m glad to be able to congratulate you first. Miss Hartbisa, congratulations on your admission.”
