Chapter 30: This isn’t an exam
Outside Han’s Mansion, a group of six acolytes lurked. They wore plain black robes with hoods over their faces. Only their weapons were visible: swords and wands. They moved as quietly as they could and used an artifact to hide, oblivious that Han and his maids had already noticed them.
Four men and two women around Han’s age exchanged wary looks.
"This mansion looks like it’s been here for a while."
"We’re close to the forest border. Maybe it belonged to a Tenaxis border patrol. Whatever. The note said claiming this mansion and killing everyone inside earns an S Grade.
This smells like a setup."
In this exam, new acolytes had to defeat monsters and humans. They also had to claim usable resources and bring them back to the checkpoint before the exam ended. Corpses counted as resources, so killing alone was enough, though some acolytes preferred to loot or steal.
Humans were forced into the exam as well—mostly mercenaries, plus some young bishops and even commoners. Such was the way of the Underworld.
"I know, but it’s so suspicious. It feels like a special mission," Tess said.
"Once we clear this mansion, we can settle in and wait until the exam ends. It’s a win-win for us. I’m going in. Who’s with me?" Kael, a man with short brown hair and a black sword strapped to his back, asked.
The others exchanged glances again and slowly joined him.
The group edged closer to the main gate. Two men peeked inside and felt pressure clutch at their hearts, warning them to stay away. The odor of fresh blood drifted out. It didn’t smell like any human blood they knew or any monster they’d killed before.
That isn’t human blood.
They backed away.
"What’s in there?" Kael asked.
"It looks like a normal garden, but the smell of blood is strong. Something pressed on my heart. You?"
"Yeah. Same."
"It seems this place was used for rituals involving monsters," Kael said. "Tenaxis could have used monsters as materials for their artifacts."
"Or there’s an active defensive ward telling us we can’t handle what’s inside," Tess added.
No one listened to her.
After a moment’s thought, they decided to waltz in and try their luck. They passed through the main gate and stepped into the courtyard garden—vast, green, and well-tended.
A moment later, the mansion gates opened. An old maid stepped out.
"I see. You’ve chosen death," she said.
They tightened their grips on their weapons and focused. At the front stood Kael. He smirked at the maid.
"She isn’t emitting any mana. She must be one of those physically enhanced maids. We learned about them, didn’t we?" he said, smiling.
Many Young Masters from Dark Families brought maids to the academy. Those maids weren’t special. Their edge was experience and raw strength. Word spread among commoners that most maids had sacrificed their mana for that physical boost.
Their fates were sealed, so even commoners looked down on them when their masters weren’t around.
Kael unstrapped his sword from his back and grinned. "My sword is like your old bones, maid. It’s crafted from a troll’s bone, a lesser demi-human variant. The troll was enhanced with the same spell your master used on you. That’s why my blade is black and...the perfect weapon against trash like you."
Kael claimed a single slash could sever the maid’s arm. Everyone believed him, including the maid. One glance at the blade told her he wasn’t lying.
He turned to his team. "Assist me."
He tightened his grip on the hilt and activated his spell. A red magic circle bloomed from the handle, feeding the sword and his muscles. He traded a sliver of sanity for strength and speed, his lips curling into a predator’s grin. Behind him, his teammates triggered their own spells.
He lunged, tearing across the garden with shocking speed.
A shadow shot from the mansion and landed in the courtyard. It was Hanna, naked, with only dragon scales covering her chest and pelvis. She hit the ground barefoot, then rushed him.
He raised his sword over his head and brought it down on her. Hanna splayed her fingers, ready to catch the blade in her bare palm.
The sword struck—and snapped in two. The other half spun away and lodged deep in the ground.
Kael’s eyes went wide. "Huh?"
Run.
Hanna drew her left hand back and thrust forward. A thin needle slid from her palm and punched into his stomach. Inside him, the needle expanded into the shape of a Black Dragon, modeled after Han’s Dark Dragon. Its head burst from his back.
She retracted her hand and the needle, leaving a gaping hole through his stomach and chest. He had no organs left—hardly any flesh at all.
"You saw me naked—"
He collapsed into his own blood.
"—so you’ll die."
The last thing Kael saw was Hanna’s cold stare, her eyes glowing gold and her bangs fluttering across her face.
Quite a final image.
The acolytes screamed and scattered. As they reached the main gate, the rest of the maids appeared around them, blocking the way.
"I told you it’s too dangerous!" Tess shouted.
No one listened to her.
They couldn’t. Their lives were in jeopardy.
Loud footsteps sounded behind them. They looked over their shoulders. A man their age in a black suit approached, with long black wings and horns arching from his body. His tail dragged low, scraping the ground with a harsh grate. He kept his hands in his pockets. His blue eyes with slit pupils were cold.
Wings. Horns. Tail. This isn’t an exam.
"I rarely get visitors, but when they come, I give them good entertainment. Last time, two wyverns arrived with a woman. The pets learned humility the hard way, and the woman now screams for me in bed. As for you five, I’ll give you the honor of being the first victims of my new spells and let you watch me ascend from acolyte," Han said, smiling.