Huh?
Surprised by Harca’s unusual perspective, Anakin wore a stunned expression.
Harca, however, spoke as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
“It’s not like you’re going to live your whole life hiding your face. Besides, Anakin, you’re plenty strong yourself.”
“……”
‘Is… that so?’
Hearing it from Harca, it actually made some sense.
It wasn’t like he had done anything wrong; there was no reason to live like a criminal, hiding his face.
However, it was also true that things would get complicated if he accidentally caught the eye of someone in a much higher position than him.
“Harca, you just don’t know…”
The life of the weak—vomiting blood and groaning in bed whenever something happens.
Harca could think that way because he was strong, but Anakin was different.
Though he had grown stronger in his own right, there were still countless people more powerful than him.
The world he had stepped into was far too vast, and he had to be cautious.
“I’m definitely going to get strong.”
Perhaps it was only natural for Anakin to be obsessed with strength.
Just thinking about what would happen when Anakin—who had been nothing but a complete underdog—became a powerhouse made his heart flutter with excitement.
“Um, Anakin.”
Anakin looked up at the sound of someone calling him.
There stood Mantis, looking awkward and clearly mindful of Harca’s presence.
“Mantis! What’s up?”
“The… uh, Hilde is looking for you at the dormitory.”
“Oh, tell him I’ll be there soon.”
After hearing Anakin’s answer, Mantis nodded, gave a brief greeting, and headed back.
“Harca. I think I have to go now.”
“……”
To Anakin, who spoke with a hint of regret, Harca nodded and said:
“Go on then.”
“Yeah. See you next time.”
Anakin smiled and waved at him. In an instant, Harca vanished from the spot.
‘Really fast. Harca can use teleportation, too.’
Then again, with his strength, there was probably nothing he couldn’t do.
After staring blankly at the spot where he had disappeared, Anakin made his way back to the dormitory.
Knock, knock.
When Anakin knocked on Hilde’s door, it wasn’t long before it swung wide open.
“Come in.”
Hilde’s room was a cozy space with a dry, calm atmosphere.
Lingering traces of Alpha pheromones were scattered throughout.
“Where’s your roommate?”
“He went out. Said he wanted to look around outside.”
“Who is it?”
At that question, Hilde’s face twisted into an expression of pure distaste.
There were very few people who could provoke such a reaction from Hilde…
“Ahaha. No way, it can’t be…”
‘Lucien?’
Hilde gave a weak nod as if to confirm.
“I guess we were paired because we’re both Alphas.”
“……”
As Hilde’s expression grew increasingly miserable, Anakin quickly changed the subject and stepped further into the room.
“Why were you looking for me?”
“I promised to explain my magic, didn’t I?”
At those words, Anakin’s eyes went wide.
“Really?”
Honestly, he hadn’t expected Hilde to actually tell him.
It was such a sensitive issue.
But since he was offering to tell him directly, Anakin couldn’t very well refuse to listen.
Sitting in a chair at the table, Anakin pulled back his hood and rested his chin on his hand, staring intently at him.
Hilde sat on the edge of the bed and began to speak.
“First of all, you know my family has a leaning toward Magic-Engineering, right?”
“Yeah. You’re a famous Great House of Magic-Engineering.”
Magic-Engineering refers to the combination of magic and engineering.
The House of Duke Asta had consistently produced powerful mages for generations, and their skill and knowledge were so unique that even the Elders acknowledged them.
They had a profound influence on the development of human magic and science; it was widely believed that without them, human progress would have regressed significantly.
“Perhaps reaching the pinnacle of Magic-Engineering makes one lose their mind, but my grandfather, Grashtar, researched black magic. It’s a power forbidden by Imperial law, but no one could stop my grandfather’s academic passion.”
“……Yeah.”
Grashtar—wasn’t he the Elder of the famous Jurgen School who achieved numerous feats in Magic-Engineering?
Anakin nodded, fascinated by the prestigious name carved in history books.
“And one day, Grandfather realized something. He found that by using black magic, he could use magic that was far more powerful and of a higher dimension than conventional calculations.”
“……”
“Only saints can use the power of God, right? But the power of demons is different. Anyone can borrow that power as long as they make a contract. It’s on a completely different level of power compared to black magic that merely imitates it.”
“……Hilde.”
At the word “contract,” Anakin’s face turned cold. Nevertheless, Hilde continued as if it were nothing.
“Grandfather eventually succeeded in summoning a demon, and he made me—at a young age—contract with it.”
“What?”
‘How could someone make their own grandson contract with a demon?’
Does reaching the peak of magic really make a person that insane?
Anakin bit his lip hard, shocked by the utterly unacceptable, mad idea.
“Naturally, there’s a price to pay for borrowing a demon’s power. Because it’s a ‘contract.’”
“So, what did you contract with?”
Anakin asked with eyes full of anxiety. Hilde stared at him silently before answering.
“A soul. In exchange for borrowing the demon’s power, I agreed to give my soul.”
“……A soul?”
“Yes. If I fail to harvest a certain amount of souls, it will take mine.”
“That’s insane……”
Just imagining what a demon would do with Hilde’s soul was horrifying.
“Did you have to make that contract?”
“Grandfather said the condition was very easy. He also said it wasn’t an opportunity that came to everyone. He said as long as I captured other people’s souls and offered them to the demon, my soul would be safe.”
“Hilde……”
Clearly, the Elder had poured a lot of strength into summoning the demon and must have thought it would be difficult to call it back if he missed that moment.
So he must have forced the contract on the young Hilde…
“Are there any other side effects?”
“……Sometimes when the demon plays pranks, I have nightmares, or I get occasional pains as if my bones are corroding.”
“……”
No wonder he had never seen Hilde sleeping.
Honestly, between Harca and Hilde, both were so pitiable.
It wasn’t just Anakin’s situation that was unfortunate.
These unstable children, used by adults for their own ends, were so incredibly tragic.
“I felt like I had to explain it to you eventually.”
At Hilde’s words, Anakin replied:
“……Thank you for being honest with me.”
Confiding such a secret meant he trusted Anakin that much.
That fact made Anakin feel slightly good.
“Then, is the reason you said you don’t need friends also because of the black magic?”
Anakin recalled what Hilde had said during the second exam.
He had said he didn’t think of Anakin as a friend.
If they stayed close, it would only be a matter of time before Anakin noticed the black magic.
Anyone hiding such a secret wouldn’t want to have people close to them.
“……”
Hilde stared at Anakin silently.
As Anakin tilted his head at the heavy gaze, Hilde spoke.
“No, Anakin. I’m saying I don’t see you as a friend.”
“……You’re going to play another prank, aren’t you?”
Seeing the slight upward curve of Hilde’s lips, Anakin bit his lip and forced a smile.
“It’s not funny. That kind of prank.”
Just as Anakin was about to say something more, Hilde suddenly grabbed Anakin’s arm and pulled.
Helplessly dragged by the absurd strength of an Alpha, Anakin struggled to keep his balance, his eyes wide with shock.
Hilde, as if showing no mercy, pushed Anakin onto the bed.
Thump.
Anakin collapsed onto the bed, and Hilde hovered over him in a looming stance, gently brushing Anakin’s hair aside.
Amidst this, the hand supporting the back of Anakin’s head to keep it from hitting the frame was almost absurd.
“What are you—”
Golden eyes stared deeply into Anakin’s startled ones.
“You seem to have forgotten that I’m an Alpha.”
His gaze was sharp, feeling cold compared to the warmth Anakin usually saw in Hilde’s eyes.
“Entering an Alpha’s room so carelessly when you’re an Omega…”
“……Hilde?”
Anakin swallowed hard, staring at him with trembling pupils.
Looking at Anakin’s beautifully exposed face, Hilde released his Alpha pheromones.
Faced with this unfamiliar, completely different atmosphere, Anakin quickly became frightened.
Hilde’s tickling touch as he stroked Anakin’s cheek made his body go stiff.
“I-I’m scared. Hilde…”
As Anakin’s lovely eyebrows furrowed, Hilde spoke with chilling eyes.
“Taking off your robe so easily… you’re far too defenseless.”
“……”
Anakin’s red lips twitched as if to say something, but they closed again.
The soft bridge of his nose and his red eyes, shining beautifully as if in temptation, were fatal enough to entrance any man.
Anakin was so beautiful and mysterious that he appeared almost genderless—neither strictly female nor male.
Like an angel descended from the heavens.
