During the afternoon exploration, Lilith’s team continued to kill many more magical beasts, including a Rank 3.
They brought the corpse of the Rank 3 beast back to the temporary camp.
Shortly after they returned, the other teams arrived one by one. Some had successful hunts, while others had encountered powerful enemies; the atmosphere was heavy in the teams carrying wounded members.
Raymond immediately summoned all the guides and students to the clearing in the center of the camp to conduct a centralized inspection and analysis of the samples and corpses brought back.
Lilith watched from the side.
She saw Raymond and several senior mages huddling around the corpse and a pile of samples, whispering among themselves. Their expressions grew increasingly grim.
Eventually, Raymond straightened up, his face looking exceptionally dark.
He scanned the gathered students and spoke in a low voice.
“The test results are in. In these magical beasts—both the corpses you brought back and the samples we collected earlier—we found the same substance. They all have high concentrations of magic contamination.”
After a moment, he uttered a term that made the faces of many students turn pale.
“Demonic Energy.”
A suppressed wave of gasps rippled through the crowd.
Demonic Energy was a property of magic unique to the demon race. It differed significantly at its source from the magic of humans and other races.
It typically possessed strong corrosive and contaminating properties. To most living beings, it was a potent toxin.
“However,” Raymond’s tone shifted as he furrowed his brows in deep confusion, “the strange thing is, this contamination seems accidental, as if it were caused unintentionally.”
“If the demon race simply wanted to cause trouble for humans, there would be no need for them to do it this way. This looks more like collateral damage.”
He shook his head and stopped speaking, but the doubt on his face only deepened.
“The demon race’s magic can contaminate living things?” Lilith was stunned as she listened, her heart instinctively muttering to itself.
“But I don’t remember releasing my magic recklessly. Besides, the beast riots started before I even arrived, so this shouldn’t have anything to do with me, right? It couldn’t be me, could it?”
She carefully recalled her actions since transmigrating and was certain she hadn’t released magic indiscriminately, let alone Demonic Energy with contaminating properties.
She wasn't even sure if what she released was Demonic Energy.
Raymond paid no mind to the students' whispering. His attention returned to the corpse of the Rank 3 beast.
He crouched down, hovering his palm over the corpse. He closed his eyes to sense it for a moment, and his expression gradually became extremely solemn, even carrying a hint of imperceptible shock.
He stood up abruptly, his voice suddenly rising with unquestionable decisiveness.
“No, this concentration and scale of unintentional contamination affecting the entire eastern region is definitely not something a low-ranking demon could achieve. It might not even be a high-ranking demon.”
His gaze swept across every young or nervous face present.
He took a deep breath as if he had made a decision, then looked at the crowd from the various academies and spoke loudly.
“Things have exceeded our expectations. This is no longer a simple investigation mission into a beast riot. This involves a high-ranking demon potentially lurking nearby. The threat level is at least Calamity-level!”
“This is no longer something you students can handle. If you remain here, it will only lead to senseless casualties and more variables!”
He swung his hand toward the clearing on one side of the camp.
“Now, immediately, all investigation missions are terminated! I will set up an emergency teleportation circle for you and send you all back to your respective academies!”
“The situation here must be reported to the kingdom’s higher-ups immediately to request the deployment of the empire’s resident Rank 9 experts!”
After speaking, Raymond stopped looking at the varying expressions of the students and turned to begin working busily with several accompanying mages.
The tension in the air reached its peak.
The mages began to carve complex runes into the ground. The students were ordered to pack their gear quickly and gather in the designated area.
Lilith stood in the crowd, watching the busy group setting up the teleportation circle, lost in thought.
Was it really the work of her subordinates? And also, they were just going back like this? Her first academy training mission was ending in such a bizarre way?
What kind of training was this?
“Whatever, going back is fine too.”
She sighed inwardly. “I can just ask Instructor Arret or the principal.”
She made up her mind that after returning, she would have to think about how to deal with those subordinates who didn't seem to know how to behave.
The teleportation circle began to glow, and the students stood in the center of the formation in batches according to instructions.
Lilith followed the crowd and stepped into the halo of light.
The light slowly dissipated on the teleportation plaza in the center of the Holy City.
Lilith shook her head, which felt a bit dizzy. She was back.
She looked around. The academy students who had been teleported back with her were all walking in groups of twos and threes.
Lilith walked alone on the road back to the academy. At first, she didn't feel anything was wrong, but as she walked, she noticed the abnormality.
There were very few pedestrians on the road. Those she did see were clutching small bags and sprinting toward the city gates with pale faces.
An occasional carriage would speed past, completely ignoring the usual traffic etiquette.
“What’s going on? What happened?” Lilith frowned.
The confusion in her heart grew.
Even if a suspected high-ranking demon appeared at the border, there was no reason for the Holy City to be in such a panic, right?
This was the core of the Human Empire. The Mages Guild and several top academies were located here; the defensive strength should be very formidable.
While she was lost in thought, she saw a middle-aged man at the entrance of an alley ahead. He was frantically stuffing several boxes into a carriage, his movements hurried and panicked.
“Uncle!” Lilith jogged over.
“Excuse me, what happened in the city?”
The man looked up at the sound of her voice. Seeing Lilith’s academy uniform, he didn't relax; instead, he became even more urgent. He desperately shoved the last box into the carriage while lowering his voice and speaking rapidly.
“Little girl, you’re a student from the Magic Academy, right? Don’t ask, just hurry. Hurry and pack your things. Run as far as you can!”
“Ah, why?” Lilith was even more bewildered.
The man looked left and right as if afraid of being overheard. “A Demon Calamity has arrived. He’s right there at the Magic Academy.”
“Ca... Calamity?” Lilith blinked, and Luya’s face instantly flashed through her mind.
“Yes, a Calamity!” Fear was written all over the man’s face. “Veen! It’s that Veen! An hour ago, he appeared above the Central Plaza without any warning!”
Lilith’s heart skipped a beat.
“What is he doing here? Is he attacking the Holy City?”
Lilith asked tentatively, feeling a bit guilty. After all, he was her butler.
“Attacking? Who knows what that lord wants to do.”
The man had a tearful expression. “That lord is famous for being fickle. I heard that when he descended on a human city in the North before, just because...”
“Stop, I’ve heard it before,” Lilith interrupted him.
“Doesn’t the Holy City have Rank 9 experts? I remember there are at least two, right? Didn’t they come out?”
Lilith recalled the introduction to the kingdom’s powers she had read before.
“Rank 9?”
The man looked like he had heard a joke, his expression looking worse than a sob. “Those two lords? The moment Veen descended, their presence vanished. They ran faster than anyone! They’ve probably already hidden in another city by now.”
“Besides, that’s a Calamity—above Rank 9. Who would dare stop him? Who could stop him?”
Having finished, he finally secured the boxes and scrambled onto the carriage. “I’ve said enough. Little girl, listen to my advice: look out for yourself! Saving your life is what matters.”
The carriage galloped away, kicking up a cloud of dust that made Lilith cough twice.
“What is all this? What is Veen doing at the Magic Academy?” Lilith massaged her forehead. Suddenly, she thought of what to do.
“Looks like it’s time for my persona to make an appearance.” Lilith put on the black robe again. This time, she used magic to condense artificial limbs beneath her feet, hidden under the robe, making her twenty centimeters taller.
Rate on N.U.
