Chapter 438: The Underworld (XIV)

Two weeks later, Vhar’Zul had stopped feeling new.

The Red Horn Inn was no longer safe after House Veyth started asking questions of the residents, so he had changed rooms twice.

He had spent the days the way he planned: markets, drunk escorts, exchange-house clerks, caravan drivers, and one archivist who sold copies of academy notices for too much Demon Cash.

By the end of the second week, the map in his head was clean enough.

The Demon Academy sat in the Demon Capital.

That was where the entrance exam would be held.

That was where the heirs, the clans, and the instructors all gathered in one place and pretended it was only about education.

It was also where two things he wanted were being kept.

The first was the Undying Snake’s Orb.

From what he had pulled together, it was stored among the academy’s restricted evolution materials, locked behind contribution, bloodline verification, or the kind of exam result that made instructors stop asking where a student had come from.

If Atrinae successfully absorbed this treasure, she would be able to evolve and grant countless more benefits to Gray.

The second treasure was less clearly placed and more dangerous to want.

A fragment of a dying star.

The rumors did not agree on the shelf it sat on. Some said the academy vault, others said the capital’s inner sanctum.

Some also said it was only brought out when the academy needed to test whether a genius was a genius or a disaster.

What the rumors did agree on was the nature of it.

It was a fragment, a remnant of something that had burned itself out above the planes and left a piece behind, heavy with laws that did not belong in ordinary cultivation.

Gray stood at the eastern departure yard with a travel cloak over the incubus shape and a new, cheaper sword at his hip.

The unnamed rapier had been recovered three days after the alley, bought back from a scavenger who did not know what he was holding.

House Veyth had searched the lower market and then lost interest once the princess’s convoy left the city.

Pride recovered faster when the witness left town.

A black-scaled caravan lined up for the capital road. He paid the fare and climbed into the caravan and took a seat near the back.

The capital was weeks away by ordinary travel.

The caravan left Vhar’Zul before noon.

Six black-scaled wagons rolled through the eastern gates, each pulled by two thick-limbed Nether Beasts.

THUD...

Gray sat near the back of the third wagon, one arm resting against the wooden frame as he watched Vhar’Zul disappear behind them.

The city became smaller with every passing minute.

The tall outer walls faded into the distance, then the watchtowers, then the crowded streets and market roofs.

Before long, there was nothing left except the long road stretching ahead through the dark forest.

Gray had expected the journey to be quiet.

He had expected to spend most of his time sleeping, cultivating, or sorting through everything he had learned during the past two weeks.

That plan lasted approximately ten minutes.

"Hey."

Gray kept looking outside.

"Hey."

He continued ignoring the voice.

"Hey, horn-boy."

Gray finally turned his head.

A tiny demon was staring at him from across the wagon. She was so short that her feet did not touch the wooden floor.

Her boots swung back and forth beneath the seat as she leaned forward, resting both hands beneath her chin.

She had short violet hair, two small curved horns, bright golden eyes, and an expression filled with the kind of curiosity Gray had learned to distrust.

Beside her sat a taller young demon with dark green hair and a pair of black horns. He was holding a travel journal in one hand, though he had stopped reading several minutes ago.

Gray looked at the girl.

"You’ve been staring at me since we left."

"I know."

"Do you intend to keep doing it?"

"Probably."

Hearing those words, Gray shook his head, smirking lightly.

"At least you’re honest."

She smiled.

"So you noticed me."

"I noticed you after the third time you said ’hey.’"

"Actually, it was the fifth time."

Gray raised an eyebrow.

"You were counting?"

"Of course I was. You looked like you were deliberately ignoring me, so I wanted to see how long it would take before you finally gave up."

"And what did you learn?"

"That you look way more stubborn than you look."

Gray gave her a faint smile.

"That’s quite a lot to learn from five words."

"I’ve been watching you for longer than five words."

The taller demon sighed without looking up from his book.

"Vessa, please leave the man alone. We haven’t even reached the first checkpoint yet."

Vessa turned around.

"Why are you always telling me to leave people alone? I’m talking to him, not stealing his belongings."

"You asked the merchant at the last stop seventeen questions about his family, his business, his childhood, and why he had chosen to sell dried Nether Fruit instead of becoming a caravan guard."

"He had an interesting face."

"He looked exhausted."

"Exactly. I wanted to know why."

Gray chuckled.

The taller demon finally looked toward him.

"I’m sorry. She’s like this with everyone."

Vessa frowned.

"Don’t apologize for me. I’m perfectly capable of apologizing for myself if I ever do something wrong."

"You’ve never done that."

"That’s because I’m usually right."

Gray looked between them.

"You two travel together often?"

Vessa answered before the other demon could.

"Yes. We’ve known each other since we were children."

The taller demon closed his book.

"Unfortunately."

"See? He says that, but he would cry if I disappeared for more than a day."

"I would enjoy the silence."

"You’d get bored."

"I have books."

"You’d still get bored."

"I wouldn’t."

"You absolutely would."

Gray smiled.

"You two argue like siblings."

Vessa immediately pointed at the taller demon.

"He’s the annoying older brother I never asked for."

Riven gave her a tired look.

"And she’s the little sister who somehow survived every attempt I made to get some peace."

Vessa grinned proudly.

"My name is Vessa, by the way."

She pointed at the taller demon.

"And that’s Riven."

Riven gave Gray a small nod.

"Nice to meet you. Sorry about her."

Vessa smacked his arm.

"Stop apologizing for me."

Gray smiled.

"Gray."

Vessa tilted her head.

"Gray?"

"Yes."

"That’s your name?"

"That’s my name."

"Your full name?"

"No."

She waited.

Gray waited.

Vessa narrowed her eyes.

"Are you going to tell me the rest?"

"No."

She stared at him, then she burst out laughing.

"You’re strange."

"So I’ve been told."

"By people who know you?"

"Mostly."

"Are you from around here?"

"No."

"Where are you from?"

"Somewhere farther away."

"How far?"

"Far enough."

Vessa’s eyes narrowed again.

"You really don’t like answering questions, do you?"

"I don’t mind questions. I mind questions that don’t need answers."

"But how am I supposed to decide whether a question needs an answer if I don’t ask it first?"

Gray paused.

Riven looked at him.

"She’s going to win this argument."

"I noticed."

Vessa smiled triumphantly.

"See? He understands me."

Gray looked at her horns.

"You’re quite short for a demon..."

Vessa stared at him.

"Are you mocking me?"

"A little."

She laughed.

"Fair enough."

She leaned forward again. Then her gaze slowly moved from Gray’s face to his horns, then to his wings.

Her expression changed.

Gray noticed immediately.

"You’ve been staring at my horns for the past minute."

"I wasn’t."

"You were."

"I was looking at your hair."

"My horns are above my hair."

"I know."

"So you were looking at them."

Vessa hesitated.

"Maybe."

Gray’s smile widened.

"Do you want to touch them?"

Her eyes lit up.

"Can I?"

"No."

Her face immediately fell.

"That’s cruel."

"You asked."

"And you said no."

"Correct."

"But now I want to touch them even more."

"Then I suppose saying no was the correct decision."

Riven laughed under his breath.

Vessa turned toward him.

"What are you laughing at?"

"Nothing."

"You are definitely laughing."

"I’m enjoying watching someone else deal with your curiosity for once."

Vessa ignored him and looked at Gray again.

"Are they real?"

Gray reached up and tapped one of his horns.

"Unfortunately, yes."

"Do they hurt if you touch them?"

"Why don’t you ask someone else?"

"I don’t know any other Incubi."

"Then perhaps you should respect the rarity of the situation."

She stared at him for a moment, then her eyes moved toward his wings.

"What about those?"

"What about them?"

"Can you fly?"

"Yes."

"How fast?"

"Fast enough."

"That’s another annoying answer."

"It’s also a true answer."

"How high?"

"High."

"How far?"

"Far."

Vessa crossed her arms.

"You’re doing this on purpose."

Gray smiled.

"Now you’re learning."

She narrowed her eyes at him, but the corners of her mouth were already rising.

Then she leaned forward again.

"So you’re really an Incubus?"

"Yes."

"An actual Incubus?"

"How many times do you intend to ask me?"

"Until I’m convinced."

"What would convince you?"

She looked him over.

"Well..."

Her gaze moved over his body.

"...you don’t look like the Incubi I’ve heard about."

Gray raised an eyebrow.

"How exactly do the Incubi you’ve heard about look?"

"Usually thinner."

"Thinner?"

"Yes. I always heard Incubi weren’t known for physical strength. They were supposed to rely on charm, mental techniques, illusions, dreams, seduction, and things like that."

Riven nodded.

"That’s what most stories say."

Vessa pointed at Gray.

"But you look like you’ve trained your body."

Gray glanced down at himself.

"I have."

"Why?"

"Because swords are useful."

"You’re a swordsman?"

"Among other things."

Vessa’s eyes widened.

"That’s interesting."

"Is it?"

"Of course it is. You’re an Incubus who fights with a sword. I thought Incubi mostly used their special abilities to manipulate people."

"Some do."

"Do you?"

"Sometimes."

"What kind of abilities?"

Gray leaned back.

"Why are you so interested?"

Vessa gave him a completely serious look.

"Because I’ve never met an Incubus before."

She paused.

"And because I want to know what makes you special."

Gray’s eyes narrowed slightly.

"Special?"

"Yes."

She shifted closer.

"I’ve heard so many stories about Incubi. Some people say they can make people fall in love with them. Other people say they can enter dreams and manipulate someone’s emotions. One merchant told me an Incubus once made an entire noble household fight over him without touching a single person."

Riven frowned.

"That story sounds exaggerated."

"I know."

Vessa looked at Gray.

"But some part of it has to be true, right?"

"Some."

"Which part?"

"Depends on the Incubus."

"So you can manipulate people’s minds?"

"Not exactly," Gray shrugged.

"What does that mean?"

"Manipulation isn’t always mind control."

Vessa tilted her head.

"Then what’s the difference?"

"Mind control forces someone to do something. Manipulation makes them believe doing it was their own idea."

Vessa went silent.

Riven slowly closed his book.

Gray continued.

"An Incubus doesn’t need to control someone if he understands what they want."

Vessa’s curiosity only grew.

"So you study people?"

"Everyone studies people."

"Not like that."

"What do you mean?"

"You’re talking like you know exactly what someone wants after looking at them for a few seconds."

Gray smiled.

"Sometimes I do."

Vessa stared at him for a moment before smiling mischievously.

"Then what do I want?"

Riven immediately sighed.

"Vessa."

"What?"

"Don’t."

"Why?"

"You know why."

Vessa ignored him and looked at Gray.

"Go on. You said you can figure people out."

Gray studied her for a moment.

She had been asking questions since the moment they left the city. Her curiosity was genuine, but she kept pushing for another reason.

It was clear what she wanted.

She wanted to see if the famous Incubus charm was real.

Gray smiled.

"You want to know whether the stories about Incubi are true."

Vessa blinked.

"That’s not difficult."

"No?"

"No. I already told you that."

"You’re right."

Gray leaned slightly closer.

"But that’s not all you want."

Vessa’s smile slowly disappeared.

Riven looked between them.

Gray continued calmly.

"You want to experience it yourself."

Vessa’s face began turning pink.

"I..."

She suddenly became much quieter.

Gray’s smirk grew.

"You’ve been trying to figure out whether an Incubus really has something different about him since the moment you saw me."

Vessa swallowed.

"I was only curious."

"Mhm..."

"And I don’t mean anything strange by it."

"Sure..."

"I’ve never met one before, so I thought..."

She hesitated... her cheeks slowly became brighter.

"...I wanted to taste what makes Incubi so seductive."

Silence.

Riven’s book slowly lowered.

Gray stared at her.

Vessa realized what she had said.

Her entire face went bright red.

"I DIDN’T MEAN IT LIKE THAT!"

Gray covered his mouth, but his shoulders were already shaking with laughter.

Vessa became even redder.

"I meant your abilities! I meant I wanted to experience your charm or whatever it is that makes Incubi special! I wasn’t asking you to..."

She stopped.

Gray’s smile became wider.

"To what?"

"Don’t make me say it again."

"Why not?"

"Because you know exactly what I meant!"

"I thought you wanted to taste what makes me seductive."

Vessa covered her face.

"You’re horrible."

Gray leaned back, clearly enjoying himself.

"You were the one who said it."

"I know!"

"You said it with a completely serious expression too."

"I know!"

"Then perhaps you should be more careful with your words."

"I hate you."

"You’ve known me for less than an hour."

"That makes it easier."

Riven suddenly stood up.

"Enough."

Vessa looked at him through her fingers.

"What are you doing?"

"I’m moving you."

"Why?"

"Because I don’t trust either of you anymore."

Gray raised an eyebrow.

"Either of us?"

"Yes."

Riven grabbed the back of Vessa’s coat and pulled her toward his side of the wagon.

"Hey! Let go of me!"

"You’ve embarrassed yourself enough."

"I did not!"

"You turned red the moment he repeated your own words."

"Because he’s teasing me!"

"Exactly."

Vessa looked at Gray.

"Tell him!"

Gray smiled.

"I think he’s jealous."

Riven froze.

Vessa froze.

Then she slowly looked at Riven.

"...Are you?"

"I’m not jealous."

"You are."

"I’m not."

"You pulled me away from him."

"Because you were embarrassing yourself."

"You wouldn’t have cared if I was talking to another demon."

"I would."

Vessa’s eyes widened.

Riven realized what he had said.

"I mean..."

Gray smiled.

"Interesting."

Riven glared at him.

"Don’t start."

Gray laughed.

Vessa looked between them, then suddenly grinned.

"You’re jealous."

"I’m not."

"You absolutely are."

"I’m trying to prevent you from making another embarrassing comment."

"You are jealous!"

"I said I’m not!"

Vessa started laughing.

Riven rubbed his forehead.

"I already regret this trip."

Gray leaned back against the wooden wall, watching the two of them argue.

Vessa eventually settled down, though her cheeks were still pink.

After a few minutes, she looked toward Gray again.

"Fine. I’ll stop asking embarrassing questions."

Riven nodded.

"Thank you... For now."

Riven’s expression dropped.

Gray laughed.

Vessa ignored him.

"Can I ask normal questions?"

Gray shrugged.

"Go ahead."

"How old are you?"

"Old enough."

"That’s not normal."

"You asked."

"Where are you going?"

"The Demon Capital."

"So are we."

"I noticed."

"Are you going to the Demon Academy?"

Gray looked at her.

"Why do you ask?"

"Because most people traveling toward the capital right now are going there."

Riven nodded.

"The entrance examination is coming soon. There are caravans from almost every major city heading toward the capital."

Vessa leaned forward.

"Are you applying?"

"Mayhaps."

"Then you are."

"Perhaps."

She groaned.

"You really enjoy making people work for answers."

"A little."

"Why?"

"Because people reveal more when they’re trying to get an answer than when they’re giving one."

Vessa stared at him.

"That sounds like something an Incubus would say."

"Maybe it is."

She smiled.

"Then maybe I should be careful around you."

"Maybe."

She thought about it for a moment before grinning widely.

"I don’t think I will."

Riven sighed.

"Of course you won’t."

The caravan continued along the road.

The forest gradually became thicker around them, with enormous black trees rising on both sides of the road. Their branches blocked most of the sunlight, leaving only thin strips of light across the caravan.

Vessa remained interested in Gray, but now her questions were less about Incubi and more about him.

"What kind of sword do you use?"

"Rapier."

"Why a rapier?"

"Because it suits me."

"That’s another vague answer."

"It’s a good weapon for controlling distance."

Vessa nodded.

"So you prefer speed over strength?"

"Not exactly. I prefer precision."

"How precise?"

"Precise enough."

She groaned.

"You’re doing it again."

Gray smiled even Riven chuckled.

"I warned you."

Vessa pointed at Gray.

"One day, I’m going to make you answer a question properly."

"I look forward to seeing you try."

She smiled.

"You really are interesting."

Gray looked toward her.

"You’re still interested in the Incubus thing?"

"Of course."

She rested her chin on her hands.

"But now I’m interested in you too."

Riven immediately glanced over.

Vessa noticed.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"You made that face again."

"What face?"

"The jealous face."

"I’m not jealous."

"You’re terrible at lying."

Riven opened his book again.

"I am surrounded by idiots."

Gray laughed.

Vessa smiled proudly.

"You see? We already get along."