"(His eyes won't leave my sigil. If I move about aimlessly I'm screwed, I have to think of something!)"
Naki did his best to appear unfazed by Frowart's suspicions.
"(Think Naki! What other shadow tricks can you pull to get out of this!)"
Frowart cleared his throat, prompting Samantha to pause.
"Um? Headmaster? Is there a problem with the plan?" she asked.
"No, Sam, I think you've said enough. Umm, Naruki." He casually brushed aside Samantha's question to address Naki.
"Yes, headmaster?" Naki responded.
"A couple of hours ago, news reached me of a certain caravan destined for the academy being attacked on the road."
"Reports made mention of the victims muttering the words - demon of black flames. You wouldn't happen to know anything about this...demon, would you?"
Much to everyone's surprise, the headmaster asked as Naki found all eyes on him.
"(tsk...I knew it. This geezer is onto me. But I can't give myself up that easy. He has nothing on me at the moment so this is all just probing. Which means-)"
"The sage class demanded my full attention, so I must confess this is my first time hearing of this. Am I supposed to know something about this demon?" Naki turned the question around.
"You tell me. After all, the instructor you have replaced mentioned a black flamed demon too."
"Makes me wonder if this is not all some orchestrated plot for you to find yourself here. Won't you humor an old man?" Frowart said, rubbing his beard with his hand, a smirk on his face.
"So, you think I'm responsible?" Naki asked
"Correction, I suspect you are, based on the connection." He said, lifting his index finger.
"It's up to you to convince me, or else," he added with a frown.
The room fell silent as the tension was building. Naki's shadows lingered, awaiting their next command, but it wasn't coming, for their master was under immense scrutiny at the moment.
"(tsk...alright, this is not good. What can I do...)"
Naki pondered his options, then he recalled a line he saw from the devil's mission hint.
<><><>
'Shadow trick will be beneficial in the case of the shrewd vixen.'
<><><>
"(What was it Habiki said again - Lucille never lies?)"
"(We've established Bisky is the shrewd vixen, and it is through her path that I am here. Which means the shadow trick must be able to help out here somehow)"
Naki was calculating his next move as Samantha returned to her seat.
She expected Naruki's sudden interrogation to take a while.
"(He has inadequate information, that is why suspects. So, If I give him new information, his understanding will be skewed...heh that should work.)".
Naki initiated his plan of info. redirection.
"Hm-hm-hm, it seems you're onto me. You are indeed wise, old man",
Naki started acting as he put on a menacing look.
This shook the rest of the instructors as they shifted on their seats. Frowart's eyes narrowed on him.
"Sir Naruki?" Samantha muttered.
"Urgh!!! aaarghh!!" Naki pretended to be in pain, clawed at his hair and face, then he allowed his head to fall on the table.
Lloyd, who sat by his side, jumped and took a step back.
"Whoa whoa! Naruki!!" he called, but no response.
Then a shadow emerged from Naki's body, forming a dark silhouette.
This one was distinguished by its unnaturally long hair that stretched down to his heels.
"Ahhh, finally freedom!" the newly formed shadow Naki said with a grin.
Eunice's hand immediately reached for her grimoire while Samantha grabbed a short wand. But Frowart raised his hand to stop them from attacking.
"!? headmaster?" Eunice asked, concerned.
"Hmph, it seems one of you is aware of your situation. Although..."
The shadow Naki said as his hand reached for the real Naki's hair.
"I must confess, I did not expect to be discovered so soon. Despite being hidden so well in this one's body," he added.
"Discovered? Wait, are you truly the demon of black flames?" asked Samantha.
"Demon of black flames...hmph. So that is what they call me. I suppose we can go with that," he smiled.
"What are you after, demon?" Lloyd asked.
"Hm-hm-hm, like the old man deducted, I wanted to get to this office."
"To claim something of value. Having succeeded, I will gracefully make my exit if you don't mind."
The shadow Naki spread his arm wide as the other 2 shadows Naki had sent out before rejoined him, to the surprise of the instructors.
"Tsk, this is not good, he's slowly making up the odds, and I don't like the sensation I'm getting from him, it-it feels..." Eunice panicking.
"Diabolical is the word you're looking for, my dear," Frowart interjected and stood up, still composed.
"As I suspected, our guest here is related to Lucille."
"Hohh...aren't you perceptive, old man?" Shadow Naki said with a smile.
"Wha! You can't be serious!!" exclaimed Samantha.
"If you know of my master, then you know what you're up against should you get in my way," the shadow said with a patronizing smile.
"Not quite. While I couldn't act before in Sam's room, I have all of my instructors here with me now."
"Hmm? Do you truly mean to stand against me, and invoke the wrath of Lucille?"
Frowart rubbed his beard, pretending to think. "...the devil's wrath or the safety of my students and instructors...as headmaster, I'm afraid the latter is my responsibility"
"So, I pass this order. Lloyd, Samantha, Eunice - get rid of him!" .
As soon as they received the command, Lloyd jumped behind the shadows and summoned his familiar, a bunny with sharp eyes, wielding twin sabers adorning a crimson cloak.
Samantha raised her wand as a magical glyph appeared on the floor beneath her feet, with complex magic glyphs and floating lightning orbs.
Eunice opened up her grass grimoire, and the pages flipped through rapidly, spreading out gusts of leaves, enchanting everyone in the room with their restorative powers.
The shadows were surrounded, but they appeared unfazed.
"Hoh...so you all choose to court death," Shadow Naki said with a frown.
"That may be, but I have a bone to pick with the devil," Frowart said.
"If dealing a mighty blow to his plans by destroying his pawns will get him closer to me, then I don't fear death," he added bluntly, as the space around him was visibly vibrating due to the sheer aura he released.
The shadow watched him, impressed by his resolute will and awed by his power.
"Hmph, even I know when I'm outclassed. So-"
The shadow brought its hands together, and every shadow in the room that did not belong to a living thing left its core and formed an extremely large black orb in the center of the room.
The instructors were shaken, but Frowart passed a command immediately.
"He's trying to escape! STOP HIM NOW!!"
"Too slow!"
The orb expanded and shrouded the room in complete darkness, shattering every glass and cracking the walls of the office in the process.
"Tsk, I can't see a thing!" Eunice cried
Then Frowart concentrated a spell on both hands and slammed them together, spreading out a vibrant light that washed away the darkness completely, illuminating the room once more.
The room was a mess, with shattered windows, broken paintings, cracked walls, and destroyed pillars. Repairs were in order.
But most importantly, the shadow was gone, and only Naki lying on the floor could be seen.
"Sir Naruki!" Samantha rushed to him immediately, calling off her wand.
"Sir Naruki! wake up!" she shook him repeatedly.
"Urgh! urhh..." Naki held his head, pretending to be in pain as he played the part of the victim expertly.
"grk..what...where am..." he muttered and then appeared in shock at the sight of the room. "What the! what happened here!?"
"Haha, that doesn't matter now. You're still alive. At least that's good." Eunice said, walking up to them
"But just to be safe, lemme heal you."
She controlled the leaves of her grimoire to rotate around Naki as he felt a faint light and natural energy being emitted from them.
It set his mind at ease and comforted his soul, facilitating his regeneration.
"Ahhh...this feels nice, thank you, Eunice."
"My pleasure. But you have to be careful. Harboring a demon is not in the list of requirements for an instructor here, you know."
"Harboring a demon? What do you mean?" Naki asked.
"I see...so you were not aware," Lloyd asked, calling off his familiar.
Naki shook his head in pretend disbelief. Then Lloyd turned to Frowart.
"Headmaster, what should we do?" he asked.
"...Scout the premises. The demon may still be near."
Lloyd nodded, "Got it, I'll set off now."
Lloyd left the room.
"Eunice, ensure all the students are not made aware of this and their minds are focused on their lessons."
"Got it!" she replied.
"Sam, you're with Naruki. Ensure he's privy to the situation and have him retire for the day safely."
"Understood, headmaster. Come on, Naruki, up you go."
Samantha helped him up, and they bowed before leaving.
Frowart walked to the shattered windows of his office, thinking.
"(Shadow demons and obsidian gems...the demons are infiltrating already. We moved up the magic competition because of this, I can only hope everything goes through in time)"
Meanwhile, The Instructors Retreat - Sunset
Samantha was walking Naki to his room.
"That about covers it. You should be more careful in the future, Sir Naruki. It'd be a shame to lose you too, after Sir Zickler."
She said as they reached the door.
"I understand. Thank you so much for your concern, instructor."
"Don't forget, you have a ring and we're just a call away. Don't hesitate in the case of emergencies, alright?"
Naki nodded. "Got it."
"Okay. I shall go help Eunice with the students. You get some rest."
She said and left. Once Naki confirmed she's vacated the premises, he calmly got into his room and leaned on the door.
"..." A smile slowly formed on his lips. "That couldn't have gone down any better."
He searched his pockets and pulled out the vermilion ring relic.
"Instructors out wide searching for a demon that doesn't exist and a missing piece from the headmaster's collection, his target."
"Heh, Hahahahahaha, all angles are covered!!! Hahahahah!"
He couldn't help laughing maniacally at playing the instructors for fools.
"Now, I just have to ensure Bisky modifies the looks of this and keeps it out of sight."
As soon as he said that, his sigil vibrated.
"Huh?" he accessed its interface, and it displayed the results of his heist.
-- DEVIL'S GAME RESULTS --
Vice - CRIME & TEMPTATION
Activity - Vermillion Ring Heist and Shadow demon Misdirection
Execution Rating - A - The devil is impressed
Mercy Recovered - 350 [Updated Mercy: 256/700]
Reward- Lohki's path exp gained, Merphisto's path unlocked,
-> -> -> Swipe right to confirm procedure
--------------
Naki read the results and grinned. He's about to gain more power and he enjoyed every second it. His soul was slowly but surely accepting the devil's ways.