The Demon King is unfathomable

Chapter 384 Danger always approaches in a harmless form
Ever since her unpleasant encounter with Kurs, Ilana has made it a habit to frequent the cafeteria alone.

Because of her aloof and unapproachable demeanor, and the rumors circulating among the apprentices about her and Prince Colin, few people dare to approach her nowadays.

Finn had kindly warned her that someone was deliberately spreading these rumors, but Ilana didn't seem to care.

If His Highness Colin doesn't care, why should she care?
Moreover, she didn't mind being kept at a distance by others; she enjoyed this simple and regular life.

Go to class, go to the lab, and then immerse yourself in the vast and boundless world of academia.

She found that elegant and rigorous mathematical formulas were much more interesting than dealing with those complex and difficult interpersonal relationships.

Especially after witnessing Kurs's "change of face".

One morning, as usual, Ilana sat alone in a corner of the cafeteria, carefully cutting bread into small shapes with a knife while pondering the math problem she hadn't figured out the night before.

Just then, a figure suddenly sat down opposite her, his slightly broad arms partially blocking the light from the magic crystal lamp.

Ilana looked up in surprise and saw a slightly chubby, unfamiliar face.

She wore a blue apprentice robe, a symbol of her status as a mage, and had chestnut hair. Her smile was kind and lovely, like a sunflower blooming in a field.

"Are you Ilana?"

“Yes…” Ilana nodded cautiously, stopped cutting her dinner, and asked hesitantly, “Is there something you need?”

"My name is Anjie! I apologize for bothering you. I've been studying calculus recently, and there are some questions I really can't figure out. May I ask you for help?"

“Of course.” Ilana looked at Miss Ange, who was humbly asking for advice, with a surprised expression on her face.

It was a rare occurrence in a hierarchical academic community for a mage to ask him, a prospective student, for advice.

Anjie seemed to sense her confusion, smiled apologetically, but offered no explanation.

She stretched out her chubby little hand, quickly took out the paper and pen she had prepared in advance from her backpack, and respectfully handed them to the other side of the table.

There was a math problem written on the paper, which didn't seem difficult.

To be honest, compared to the questions His Highness Colin assigned to Miss Ophia, the question Miss Ange asked was not so simple as it could even be described as "basic".

and--

It seems His Highness Colin mentioned this in class?
After taking it and thinking for a moment, Ilana quickly found a solution.

“Senior Anjie, look here,” she said patiently, circling a key point in the equation with a quill pen. “The core of this problem isn’t finding a fixed value, but understanding the concept of ‘infinitely close.’ You can’t use the conventional substitution method; you should first try to simplify the equation…”

Her voice was clear and steady, and her thoughts were clear. In just a few words, she analyzed a seemingly complex problem of limits in a logical and organized manner.

Anjie nodded repeatedly as she listened, the confusion on her face gradually fading away, replaced by a delightful realization.

When Ilana finished explaining, she couldn't help but put her hands together, looking at Ilana with an almost worshipful gaze, and sincerely praised her.

"I see! I understand now, Junior Ilana, you are simply... amazing! This problem has been bothering me for days, but after hearing your explanation, I suddenly understand!"

"I'm not as good as you say..." Ilana scratched her cheek a little embarrassedly and handed the paper and pen back to Ange.

“No way! You must have something special to win Prince Colin’s favor. Whether it’s your beauty or your knowledge.”

Ange took the quill pen with a grin, and looking at Ilana, who looked slightly troubled, she continued with great enthusiasm.

"Junior Ilana, may I still ask you questions if I have any inquiries in the future?"

“Of course… If my immature knowledge can inspire you, it would be my honor.” Ilana didn’t know why this senior was being so polite, so much so that she, who rarely used written humility, couldn’t help but respond politely.

To be honest, she actually had a pretty good impression of this simple and polite senior. Compared to Kures's ulterior motives, she seemed to be simply asking her for knowledge.

At least for now, Ilana couldn't see what this senior could possibly want from her.

If he's trying to get close to me just to get into Prince Colin's laboratory, it's all in vain, since I'm just an apprentice.

The seeds of friendship were sown.

For the next few days, Ange followed Ilana around like a shadow, taking her to meals and to and from school every day, making Ilana, who was originally all alone, seem less out of place.

not only that--

The questions asked by this senior student, Anjie, progressed from simple to complex, and her attitude was sincere and humble. Ilana saw in her many of the diligent students in the laboratory.

Although Ilana was occasionally puzzled by this sudden enthusiasm, she didn't think too much about it.

Moreover, she actually enjoys using her knowledge to solve other people's problems.

That pure sense of accomplishment not only made her feel at ease, but also made her feel that the knowledge that His Highness Colin had given her was meaningful.

It was not, as the apprentices standing outside watching the spectacle might have thought, a collection of useless tricks and gimmicks.

A week passed peacefully like this. It was lunchtime again, and Ange sat with Ilana as usual, chatting about the daily life in the Mage Tower.

She poked at the sausage on her plate with her fork, watching the apprentices bustling about in the canteen, all discussing the same thing, and sighed casually.

"Sigh, All Souls' Day is almost here, and lately everyone's been talking about the 'Maze Trial'."

At this point, Ange suddenly turned her head, looked at Ilana with her usual sunny smile, and said expectantly.

"Ilana, aren't you curious? That's the Academy's annual grand event!"

“It’s alright,” Ilana said calmly, sipping her soup. “There are quite a few people in the lab preparing for it; I’ve heard some things about it.”

She certainly knew about All Souls' Day; many senior apprentices in the Magic Science Laboratory were actively preparing for it.

It is said that it was a rehearsal for the Sage's Trial, and also an important opportunity for senior apprentices to leave a deep impression on their mentors and professors before graduation.

Especially for those senior apprentices who intend to stay in the Mage Tower, this trial is something they are determined to succeed in.

Once she became a mage, she planned to give it a try.

Seeing that Ilana seemed to have an idea, Ange's eyes lit up. She leaned forward slightly and said with a hint of encouraging excitement.

"Then...would you like to give it a try?"

"I?"

Ilana was taken aback by her abrupt suggestion, subconsciously put down her spoon, and smiled somewhat embarrassedly.

"Senior Anjie, you must be joking. I'm just a prospective student, my magic level is only at the Iron level, and the most proficient offensive spell is probably... throwing a fireball without burning myself. Wouldn't I just be causing trouble for everyone?"

She paused, then added, "Moreover, I heard that prospective students are not qualified to participate in the maze trial."

"Then you just don't understand!" Anjie immediately smiled warmly and waved her hand, saying, "The rules only say that preparatory students can't sign up, they don't say that they can't team up with senior students! As long as there are senior students willing to mentor them, even preparatory students can participate!"

“So that’s how it is…” Ilana looked at Ange in surprise. This was the first time she had heard this explanation. No wonder one of her roommates seemed to be secretly preparing for it.

"That's right! That's exactly it! Although our Xuebang (a learning platform) can be quite rigid at times, it's still very flexible when it needs to be!"

Ange seized the opportunity, looked at Ilana with sincere and expectant eyes, and extended a formal invitation.

“Our team is just one member short, Ilana, come with us! You're so smart, you can help us analyze the rune structure of the maze from behind. As for safety, you don't need to worry about it at all!”

As she spoke, Anjie patted her slightly full chest and assured them.

"I'll protect you!"

That heavy voice did give people a sense of reliability, but at this moment, Ilana felt more caught off guard.

She waved her hands in surprise, saying with a wry smile, "This, this is too much, Senior Anjie. My strength is too weak. What if I drag you down? Why don't you talk to your teammates and find a classmate?"

"Hey, don't worry! My teammates are all great people, and they're really skilled!"

Anjie interrupted her with a smile and continued in a friendly tone.

"And another thing, I've already discussed it with them, and they're all very happy to hear that you're willing to come! Besides, the labyrinth trial isn't a real labyrinth, and the difficulty isn't as exaggerated as you think. A Black Iron level level is enough to protect yourself. Many adventurers don't even have extraordinary powers yet, but they still dare to venture into real labyrinths, let alone you who are already at the Black Iron level!"

She paused, then continued in a persuasive tone.

"Just follow behind us, and we'll make sure you're safe! Besides, you've helped me so much, I need to find a way to repay you."

Ilana said in a low voice.

"No, I didn't expect you to repay me..."

“That’s true, but I also want to do something for you. I can’t always be the one troubling you…” Ange looked at Ilana with hopeful eyes, her face full of expectation, “Can you give me this chance?”

Ilana fell silent.

She's not good at saying no, especially to friends she's on good terms with. After spending the last few days with Anjie, she felt that Anjie was a very nice person, only not very good at math.

Seeing that Ilana's delicate eyebrows were still furrowed and she was still hesitating, Ange suddenly put away her carefree smile and put on an extremely serious and sincere expression.

“Ilana, I’m seriously thinking about you.” Her voice became serious. “In the Academy, there aren’t many opportunities like this to publicly demonstrate one’s abilities. An apprentice as gifted as you will surely stay in the Mage Tower to conduct research under His Highness Colin, right?”

She leaned forward and lowered her voice.

"Think about it, if you can stand out in the maze trial, even if it's just getting the most basic credits... and pass the maze trial as a prospective student, I think even His Highness Colin will look at you with new respect."

Ilana looked at the enthusiastic Ange with a mixture of amusement and exasperation.

To be honest, she had a clear understanding of her own abilities, and it was simply a pipe dream to "shine" in the maze trial with her Iron-level skills.

Even if the goblins there aren't real goblins, the man-eating treasure chests won't actually eat people...

However, Anjie's enthusiastic invitation, especially the last reason, made it impossible for her to simply refuse.

perhaps……

Why not give it a try?
This is a rare qualification, and His Highness Colin has always encouraged his apprentices to actively participate in the activities of the Mage Tower.

Ultimately, these were all just excuses; she still couldn't refuse her friends' requests... especially those made in good faith.

Ilana finally nodded slightly.

"Hmm... I'll think about it."

Ange's face lit up with a bright, sunny smile, and she excitedly hugged the unsuspecting Ilana tightly before that bright smile could turn into a sinister and cunning one.

"Oh! Ilana! You're so kind! Thank you so much!"

Although it was only a vague answer, she knew Ilana's personality well. If this bookworm didn't directly refuse, it meant she had already agreed…

……

The afternoon sun shone through the arched windows of the dormitory tower, illuminating Miss Ophia's luxurious single room, which was decorated indistinguishably from the Duke's mansion in the Holy City, making it warm and cozy.

Although the vast majority of apprentices are crammed into eight-person cells like sardines in a cage, it is clear that not everyone needs to develop that damn willpower and social skills.

"Miss, there is a letter for you."

The maid who was in charge of taking care of Miss Ophia's daily life respectfully presented her with a letter bound tightly with parchment.

At this moment, Ophia was idly flipping through the "Collection of Poems" she had brought from the Holy City, as a pastime during her spare time while studying magic and science.

Upon hearing that a letter had arrived, she raised an eyebrow in surprise, a hint of interest flickering in her languid eyes. In this cold mage tower, besides the occasional letters from her father, who else would write to her?
"Elifite, bring this to me."

"Yes, Miss." The maid stepped forward respectfully and handed over the letter.

Ophia gracefully extended her finger, opened the unromantic envelope, and began to read.

The handwriting on the letter appeared somewhat immature, with even a few minor grammatical errors, and the word choice and sentence structure were extremely constrained.

However, it's clear that this boy named "Sana" has been working very hard. After all, the Kingdom of Rhodes is a rural area, so it's understandable that its grammar is different from that of the Holy City.

Getting back to the point, the boy named "Sana" in the letter, with an almost humble tone of admiration, invited her to meet him at the entrance of the potion classroom on the twelfth floor of the Great Sage's Tower in the North District when the evening bell rang, saying that he had something important to discuss with her.

Important things...

What else could be important for a boy this age?
Ophia couldn't help but smile slightly, a knowing smile blooming in her eyes, like watching a gorilla peeling a banana in a zoo.

"Love letters...hehe...how interesting."

She casually placed the letter on the table, rested her chin on her hand, and talked to herself in the air, her voice carrying a hint of barely perceptible teasing and joy.

As Miss Castellón, she was all too experienced in this sort of thing.

In the Holy City, she received so many love letters every day that they filled a desk drawer, so much so that she needed a horse-drawn cart to haul them away when she had to clean up the junk.

Based on her extensive experience, she could even deduce that the love letter must have been written by a young man who had never been in a relationship, and who had probably only exchanged fewer than ten sentences with any girl this year.

Ophia stood up gracefully, walked to the dressing mirror, looked at her flawless face and radiant blonde hair in the mirror, and sighed softly.

"I'm so sorry, Mr. Sana, but my heart already belongs to someone else... You should save your feelings for your future wife." She spoke with a slightly regretful tone, her intonation as dramatic as if she were performing in a play.

"Don't be discouraged, it's not your fault, it's just... I prefer a more mature man. What? You'll try? Hehehe, no need, you can't possibly be a match for that person."

If this were at the Royal Academy of Arts in the Holy City, she probably wouldn't even bother to open a letter with such a timid signature; she would simply have a maid take it and throw it into the fireplace.

but……

This is, after all, a learning community.

The maid, Elliefelt, who was standing in the corner, silently left the room and closed the door, pretending that she had seen and heard nothing.

This is purely out of consideration for the young lady.

If she were to recall what she did without a care in the world, she might bury herself under the covers and wail all day without eating or drinking.

"As a representative of the Castellion family, studying in a vassal state of the empire, every action represents the family's honor, and you must not be impolite. Yes, Miss Castellion, you are a capable woman, and you cannot lose face in such a trivial matter."

Ophelia looked at herself in the mirror and nodded in satisfaction. "We can't let the barbarians think that we Castellion family members are all impolite barbarians."

She would never admit that the reason she was willing to open the letter and even planned to keep the appointment was not because of any family honor, but purely because of the little vanity that was stirring deep inside her.

Back when she was in the Holy City, she received so many love letters that they could fill a carriage, and she was the center of attention wherever she went.

But here, none of these clueless mage apprentices dared to write her a letter! And the love letter written by this naive young man was the first letter she ever received!

How is this possible? !
Miss Castellón may refuse to accept it, but that doesn't mean you can refuse to write it!

She craved more attention, especially hoping that this fragrance called "charm" could reach the heart of that prince.

As stated in the novel she's currently following, "The Adventures of Baron Corsia"—beautiful things need to be highlighted. Without experiencing the storms of the vast ocean, he would never realize how hard-won his past squandered time was.

How could a leading lady, who is the center of attention, not have a few heartbroken suitors as foils?

With that thought in mind, Ophia made up her mind.

She decided to keep the appointment, or rather—she had to go!
This is the duty of a lady, just like Madame Torragiri in "The Art of Loving," who, even though she had no interest in Baron Finleyl's rigid manner, patiently listened to his complaints until the very last scene when she delivered a magnificent rejection.

"Elliefit, get my clothes ready, lunch break is almost over—wait, did you hear me?!"

Ophia blushed and turned around abruptly. Only when she saw the empty bedroom did her heart, which had been in her throat, finally settle down, and she slowly breathed a sigh of relief.

That was close!

She just accidentally blurted out what was on her mind again.

……

The evening bells rang softly from the top of the tower, announcing the end of the day's classes.

The apprentices left the classroom one by one, and the corridor gradually became lively.

Ophia straightened her dress, and with a hint of demureness and excitement at playing the role of a "mature lady," she went to keep the appointment with great poise.

Ilana gave her a strange look, sensing that her friend was acting a little unusual today.

Aren't you going to the lab?

“You go ahead, Ilana,” Ophia tossed her golden hair and gave her a smug look. “I have something to take care of… It’s really a headache.”

"Do you need my help?" Ilana asked with concern.

"No need, no need, I'll take care of it quickly." Ophia turned the corner and walked out the door, afraid that her potential competitors would catch up with her.

She was only going to the appointment to honor the Castellón family, and she didn't want strange rumors to spread in the laboratory, nor did she want His Highness Colin to misunderstand.

The Potions classroom is located on the north side of the twelfth floor, but it has been vacant for almost half a year because the new batch of prospective students has not yet started taking Potions classes.

As Ophia approached the Potions classroom, a familiar name suddenly reached her ears, causing her to pause slightly in her brisk steps.

“…Ilana?”

Out of curiosity, she didn't go over immediately, but crouched down and quietly hid in the empty classroom next door that was not in use.

The classroom was dimly lit. Using the rows of lab benches and the oddly shaped bottles and jars on them as cover, she moved silently from the back row to the shadows near the door.

Although eavesdropping is not something a lady should do, the Castellion family's ancestral precept is not to be bound by rules, so it is tantamount to the ancestors tacitly approving it.

This position is perfect.

Looking at the sunset glow reflected on the corridor window, Ophia, hiding under the table, was secretly delighted. It seemed that even Saint Sith had tacitly approved of her spying.

The glass, reflecting the light, acted like a mirror, allowing her to clearly observe the figures of several people talking furtively at the corner of the corridor outside the classroom.

However, it was extremely difficult to see her hiding in the shadows of the dimly lit classroom from the well-lit corridor.

"Is the matter done?"

"Hehe, it's all taken care of, Miss Rastina."

Ophia's eyes widened slightly.

She recognized her almost instantly: the plump girl with the fawning smile and the obsequious manner of a servant was none other than Ange, who had been inseparable from Ilana just a few days ago!

Standing before Anjie was a girl with two exaggerated gold diamond-shaped ponytails and an arrogant expression.

Judging from her superior expression and imperious attitude, she must be the Miss Rustina that Angelina mentioned.

What are they doing?
Why was Ilana's name suddenly mentioned?

and also……

What does "that's settled" mean?
Filled with intense curiosity and unease, Ophia swallowed hard and listened intently as she continued.

Lastina nodded in satisfaction, a graceful smile playing on her lips. Before she could speak, another girl standing beside her said with a mischievous grin.

“Great, Ange, well done! Next, all we have to do is take her to the deepest part of the maze during the trial, and accidentally get separated from her while she’s entangled with the hungry ‘Hit-and-Hit Vine’…hehehe, that scene will be beautiful.”

A chestnut-haired girl next to her added with a mischievous grin, "We could also add a few 'acid slimes,' whose acid can corrode fabric. In less than half a minute, there will be a naked, pretty girl in the maze... Hopefully, she can hold out until she gets out."

"Haha! It's a pity there aren't any real goblins in the maze, otherwise she might have had to go out pregnant, haha." Ange let out a vicious, sinister laugh.

These words reminded a few girls, and the chestnut-haired girl eagerly spoke up.

"How about we go find the adventurers and buy two? I heard they have genuine ones on Craftsmen's Street!"

"Alright, stop giving me bad advice. The magicians at Xuebang aren't stupid. Do you think they can't tell the difference between a real goblin and a fake one?"

Rastina slowly interrupted the thoughtless remark, then looked at the girl who was bowing her head in fear and said, "Don't do anything unnecessary and leave yourself open to criticism. Our goal is to teach her a lesson, to make her lose face in front of Prince Colin, and preferably to make her too ashamed to stay here any longer... That's enough."

She paused, and her elegant smile gradually turned sinister.

"However, the idea of ​​acid slime is not bad... It can let more people enjoy seeing that bitch in such a sorry state."

Laughter filled the corridor, along with whistles that replaced clapping.

"Hahaha!"

"Those young men got off easy."

"Hopefully someone brought a recording crystal!"

Upon hearing this, Ophia's face turned completely cold, and her light blue eyes flashed with icy anger.

I see--

She knew all too well about these dirty tricks.

In the Royal Academy of the Holy City, only the lowest-ranking nobles would resort to such despicable means to bully those citizens who entered through merit. Their family crests are long since tarnished, and only through such methods can they assert their pitiful authority.

The Castellion family disdained such things, and even Miss Lambell, whom they disliked the most, respected her status and refused to engage in such sordid dealings.

She never expected that the Academy, regarded as an academic mecca by countless citizens of the empire, would have such sordid affairs!
"You dare to touch my friend... very well."

Ophia chuckled coldly to herself, having already made up her mind to give these fools a "surprise" they would never forget...

She had completely forgotten about the love letter and the confession.

Without waiting for the little boy named "Sana" to appear, she tiptoed out of the empty classroom...

There are more important things to do now.

As Ophia tiptoed away, she didn't notice that there was another person hiding in the empty classroom.

Behind the gently swaying curtains, Sarah's figure blended into the darkness, her cat-like vertical pupils taking in everything that was happening there.

She watched Ophelia hide in the classroom, overheard the vicious plans of the older apprentices, and finally saw the cold anger and the determination to retaliate on Ophelia's face.

well.

Just as the Demon Lord said, she doesn't have to do everything herself; she only needs to place the pieces where they should be and then observe what happens.

Sarah gained a deeper understanding of her work.

Having confirmed that the Demon King's plan had unfolded exactly as expected, she lingered no longer, disappearing silently into the shadows of twilight like a drop of ink blending into the night.

It's as if it never existed...

(End of this chapter)