CHAPTER 41: Someone Stronger

The Academy discovered the disappearance of Blake Soron two hours after his visit to the city when he failed to return. His instructor in the spear class, noticing his unwavering attendance, promptly informed the administration. A thorough search of the dorms and the city revealed the harsh reality: Blake Soron was missing.

This information was known only to select higher-ups in the academy and the Soron family; everyone else remained in the dark.

Eliza observed the absence of Blake and Levi in her class, a subtle smile forming on her face. To her, their simultaneous absence suggested one thing: a confrontation.

'They must have clashed.'

She had been keenly observing Blake's escalating frustration during training sessions with Levi.

If two students were found fighting within the academy, expulsion awaited them, and for nobles, suspension was the consequence.

'I didn't anticipate this plan working so well.'

A warm glow of triumph enveloped Eliza as she envisioned Levi leaving the academy for good. However, she also noted an unusual occurrence—her mentor, Fiona, was notably late. Ten minutes into the class, a tardiness unusual for the disciplined and strict teacher.

Fiona eventually entered, wearing a subtle gloom on her face. Eliza caught it as Fiona's eyes scanned the room, realizing two seats were empty. She wished they were occupied.

Teaching as usual became the immediate focus.

'God... I hope Blake is fine and that... idiot. Why is he always getting in trouble?'

Fiona couldn't help but feel a mix of worry and irritation toward Levi.

******

[Five Hours After Blake's Disappearance]

'Ahhh... my head... shit...'

Blake gradually regained consciousness, finding himself tied up with ropes and tape covering his mouth. A mana-restraining cuff suppressed his powers, leaving him only able to blink and survey the confined space he was in.

Lying on a rigid stone bed, pipes embedded in his veins, introducing a mysterious purple liquid into his body.

'I shouldn't have followed him.'

Not once did he sense any hostile mana from the man guiding him through the shop. Even upon thorough inspection, the feeling of bloodlust eluded him until a pricking sensation on his neck signaled an ominous aura.

'A majin's aura.'

In Servania, hosting various species, three dark beings existed: demons, devils, and majins. Majins were those who had made a contract with a demon, while devils embodied pure carnage and hatred. Demons, though inherently evil, could have good intentions and collaborated with humans. Hence, only majins and devils were considered truly malevolent.

A majin, a host to a devil, required exorcism upon their demise to prevent the temporary release of the devil.

Blake's mind raced, contemplating escape plans or how to confront the kidnapper. In a life-or-death scenario, begging seemed a reasonable option.

"Do you think that kid will be the perfect host?"

Blake heard the old man's voices again, now deeper and more malicious. It baffled him how people concealed their true nature so effortlessly.

"Of course, he has the bloodline of the dragon slayers."

*Clink* *Clink*

The sound of a wind chime resonated in Blake's ears.

'I am confined somewhere in the shop.'

But where, he didn't know, as it was too dark to discern.

"Ohh... Levi."

Noel said as he always did.

Blake experienced goosebumps all over his body.

'Why is that bastard here?'

The way the old man welcomed Levi suggested familiarity.

'Is he also an accomplice in this?'

Blake pondered, attempting to wriggle out of the tightly bound ropes. While he despised Levi for belittling his family's art, he never expected to become the hunted rather than the hunter.

"Good afternoon, Noel."

Levi's voice cut through the room as he took a seat at the counter. Noel inquired about Levi's purpose for visiting.

"Oh, I just needed to buy some items for the upcoming training sessions."

"What do you need?"

Noel asked, wiping sweat from his face.

'This kid arrived at the worst time.'

Levi strolled around, scanning the shop. He took out some potions and a relatively expensive dagger from the old and webbed shelves.

"You must have saved a lot of money, to be able to buy all this items."

Noel wore his glasses like everyday old people and started calculating the price of the items.

 Levi walked unfamiliar trap door in the corner, catching the attention of Noel and his brother lurking in the room.

Noel, sensing Levi's focus on the spot, gulped. The looming threat of an attack hung over him.

"I didn't know you had a hidden cellar. What do you use it for?"

Levi inquired, curiosity in his gaze fixed on Noel.

"Oh, that."

Noel had to tread carefully. Levi wasn't a threat, but if he discovered and escaped, their normal lives would be jeopardized, though they were ready to throw it at any moment.

"We mostly used it to dry age alcohols, but not anymore. Too many rats infested the place."

A quick and witty lie, designed to preserve their lives. They, specially Noel didn't want Levi dead; the profit from his business made him valuable.

Levi moved away from the cellar, relieving Noel. He inspected the dagger he had just purchased, then glanced again at the concealed compartment.

"Do you have any alcohol left that you made there?"

Levi asked, a sly tone in his voice, a trace of drool escaping.

"Unfortunately, it's all gone."

Noel replied, retrieving a piece of meat from a creaky drawer.

"But I do have some dried meat I made there. Care to try?"

Noel presented a yellowed meat, likely aged for more than five years. The taste promised richness, though the visual didn't earn a pass.

Blake, listening from the adjacent room, realized Levi wasn't aware of him, considering him just a regular customer.

'Run, shithead, run for your life.'

He harbored no desire to see Levi brutally killed by a majin, despite their animosity.

Levi touched the dry meat, probing it with his knife.

"What did you make this from?"

He asked, poking the meat with the dagger.

"A cow I bought for 1000 Dale. They called it 'wagyu' or something. I don't remember well. Try it; you won't be satisfied with any other meat after this."

Noel suggested, readying a knife to cut through the aged meat.

"SO, it's from a cow, and here I thought you had already killed Blake."

*Swish*

Everything unfolded within a split second. To Blake, unable to see, Levi had stepped on a metaphorical landmine. The shattering of glass and breaking of wood resonated throughout the room.

'That bastard, he should have called for help.'

Blake thought, losing his last hope, prepared to hear Levi's screams of pain. However, the outcome defied expectations.

"Let him go."

A man declared, extending his hand.

Levi, who had been behind Noel, crashed onto the counter with the dagger's tip against his head. A slight push, and Noel would lose his fragile life.

Noel, trembling in his boots, was bewildered. One moment, he was ready to cut the meat; the next, his head was on the table, hands restrained, broken, and the boy he had been conversing with was poised to end his life.

'How did he know?'

There wasn't a single trace in the shop. Yes, the cellar was suspicious, but they had employed a special trap to prevent mana leakage, rendering Blake undetectable.

"What are you doing, Levi?"

Noel said, attempting to persuade Levi. But even he realized it was too late. This was a desperate attempt to salvage his former life.

Levi stared at the man in front of him, glaring straight through the black cloth covering his face, revealing only a glimpse of his eye.

"Take off your mask."

Levi ordered.

"Don't be foolish; let him go if you want to live."

The man threatened, but fear couldn't penetrate the psycho; it never had. Instead, Levi smiled.

"Take it off before you see this dagger through his skull."

'This kid...'

Those eyes spoke the truth, and that smile was more frightening than his worst demons.

The cloth fell off, revealing a face similar to Noel's, except for a prominent mole on his nose.

"To think you deceived me to such an extent."

Levi smiled, observing the two similar, albeit formerly human, figures sweating in desperation.

"Noel, I never thought the old man I trusted would turn out this way. Everything I dreamt of building with you, now reduced to dust."

Levi's voice, resembling the whispers of death, unsettled the already bent Noel.

"We—we can still be business partners. Just let me go, and don't tell anybody about this. We are even willing to share the money after we finish our job with that kid."

Blake shuddered at the offer. What would he do if faced with such a proposition? He would likely accept it; after all, his life mattered more than that of a stranger.

Levi experienced déjà vu, recalling a similar offer when he saved Irene.

He looked at the man, prepared to throw a knife at him, and the trembling man inches away from death.

"See you in hell, Mr. Noel."

"Noooo."

The man rushed to save his about to be killed brother but it was too late.

Levi was just too fast. The dagger pierced straight through Noel's head, swiftly penetrating his skull, offering no chance to move.