The school is located on the outskirts of the city and can be considered quite remote. It sits near a mountain that the local villagers commonly use as a place to make offerings to the gods.
Because of this, some students from the nearby village still hold strong beliefs in mystical things.
And some time ago, there was a rumor going around the village claiming that if someone succeeded in doing a ritual to summon a creature from another world, their wish would be granted. But, in exchange, after their wish was granted, they must be willing to offer something they possess.
If the summoner failed to fulfill this condition, the creature, consumed by rage, would bring a countless of misfortunes ending in death
From what the young master had heard at school, several strange incidents that happened to students were believed to be the result of this summoning ritual.
But usually, the misfortunes only befell those involved, as it was a consequence they had to bear for breaking the contract. Outsiders who had nothing to do with it were unlikely to become targets of the wrath.
Unless...
"I disguised myself as a student and went around the school asking who conducted the ritual. But no one knew anything about it. They said there were too many students who did it." Zach, who was driving, added some information.
Almost all the students' answers were the same as Darian's. That bespectacled boy had no idea who performed the summoning ritual that endangered everyone at the school.
Even when the young master asked how they could assume that the strange incidents were the result of the ritual, Darian simply replied, "Because it's the most likely explanation."
There was no valid evidence supporting their assumption.
"Could all the incidents at school have happened because many students were doing the same ritual?" The young master murmured to himself.
But in the very next moment, he dismissed the thought.
"No, it's impossible. If the students' summoning rituals had actually succeeded, they would have already warned me. Besides, I don't see any marks on the students. That means the rituals failed."
Usually, those who successfully perform the summoning ritual have a red mark on their face, as if it were a sign that they've made a pact.
"Another strange thing is that the only ones affected are the students. Meanwhile, the teachers and villagers haven't experienced anything unusual, even though the rumors about the summoning ritual first appeared in the village," the young master voiced his thoughts again, resting his head against the car window.
Zach stepped on the brakes as the traffic light turned red. He pulled the handbrake and glanced at the young master through the rearview mirror.
"That means someone is deliberately targeting the students? Could it be a teacher?"
The young master turned his head away with a scowl, avoiding the reflection of Zach's blue eyes. "I don't know. Besides, there's still too little information. Tomorrow, bring Sera along to investigate with you."
The corner of Zach's lips lifted slightly. He turned his attention back to the road as he replied, "Understood."
30 minutes later, the car began to enter the gate and head toward the terrace. A few meters away, a tall man stood with a relaxed posture.
It was a familiar figure who had been missing for a whole day with no trace of where he'd gone. As soon as the car stopped at the terrace, that tall man immediately opened the passenger door, cheerfully welcoming the young master.
"Welcome home!"
But hearing no angry retort as usual, the tall man blinked a few times before leaning his tall body slightly to check inside the car.
At that moment, a familiar cold voice came from the driver's seat. "Lower your voice and take the young master to his room."
Those blood-red, sharp eyes stared innocently at Zach for a few seconds before shifting their gaze to the young master. He found the young master's eyes were closed, sleeping soundly. Since the tall man had opened the door the young master had been leaning against, his body tilted and looked like it could fall at any moment.
Sure enough, the next second, his body gave up trying to stay upright and slumped to the side. But before he could fall out of the car, the tall man quickly caught him and lifted him up.
A wide grin immediately spread across the tall man's handsome face as he felt the weight of the young master in his arms. "Then I'll take him away."
"Take him to his room—"
Before Zach could finish his sentence, the tall man slammed the car door and turned around, completely indifferent
He hummed contentedly and began walking into the house.
His careless steps and sloppy way of carrying made the young master squirm uncomfortably. His eyelashes fluttered before his eyelids slowly opened, revealing empty, pitch-black eyes.
"Oh, young master, you're awake."
The familiar voice, filled with a teasing tone, snapped the young master out of his daze.
His anger flared immediately as he realized who it was. "Damn it, Sera! Where the hell have you been, huh? Planning to leave your master and become an independent guardian flame?"
The young master stretched out his hand to grab the cheek of the man carrying him with all his strength.
"Ouch, young master, you're going to swell my cheek," Sera whined pitifully.
Yet despite his whining, Sera didn't stop the young master's actions and continued walking, unfazed.
Whether the whining worked or the young master's arm simply grew tired, he eventually lowered his hand with a grunt, which made Sera chuckle.
But when he caught a sharp glare from the person in his arms, he quickly stopped chuckling. He forced his expression to go neutral like Zach's before speaking carefully, attempting not to provoke the young master's easily triggered temper.
"I was checking whether that place was truly destroyed or not."
"Oh? And what did you find out?"
Sera shrugged nonchalantly. "It was already destroyed, unfortunately."
The young master stared straight ahead after hearing that. He thought for a moment before saying, "It's such a shame. Seems like we need to tell Rivelle about this. After all, that spring was once her home."
"I'll have Zach tell her later," Sera replied with mischievous delight. Clearly, he just wanted to see Zach's awkward expression when delivering such sad news to Rivelle.
But even knowing his true intention, the young master didn't seem to mind. He just hummed in agreement.
As Sera walked up the stairs, the young master spoke up again, commenting, "You're terrible at carrying people. You should learn from Zach. He can carry me with one hand without waking me up."
Those red pupils widened upon hearing the young master's remark. He hated being compared to that cold, expressionless man.
"Young master, you can't say that. My body is much warmer and can make you more comfortable than his!"
His unreasonable argument only annoyed the young master once again.
"Shut your mouth, bastard! Don't go home and go gather information until nightfall tomorrow."
"Waah, young master, you're so mean!"