After David returned to his seat, Hugo continued the examination.
"Alright then, let's resume the test," Hugo said.
Everyone returned to their respective places, waiting for their names to be called one by one.
Clarisse, who was sitting beside me, suddenly asked why I had protected her.
"Why did you protect me? Aren't you mad at me?" Clarisse asked.
"Mad? Because you tried to take my seat earlier?" I replied.
"Of course not!" Clarisse responded.
"If that's the issue, I don't really care. It was just a small thing," I said casually.
"Then, why did you protect me?" Clarisse pressed on.
"Because I don't like seeing people use violence, especially against women," I answered.
"So you think I'm weak?" Clarisse asked again.
"Who said you're weak? I just don't want to see that beautiful face of yours get hurt," I replied coldly.
Hearing my words, Clarisse's face immediately turned red, clearly embarrassed.
"What's wrong? Do you have a fever?" I asked.
"N-No, I'm not sick... I'm just a little hot," Clarisse stuttered, clearly flustered.
Moments later, Clarisse's name was finally called to take the exam.
"Clarisse Bernadette, step forward," Hugo announced.
"Yes, sir," Clarisse answered.
She stepped forward and entered the barrier, where a magical beast awaited her.
Upon entering, she began casting her spell.
"Oh fiery spirit that rages between the cracks of dimensions, gather your power in the palm of my hand! Become the flaming orb of destruction that burns all! Crimson Fireball, launch!" Clarisse chanted.
A crimson-colored fireball emerged from her hand and struck the magical beast directly.
"Clarisse Bernadette. 20 magical beasts defeated. Passed," Hugo declared.
Clarisse jumped with joy upon hearing that she had passed.
Afterward, she exited the barrier and looked at me, expecting a surprised expression—but instead, I showed no reaction at all.
"Hey, did you see that? So, what do you think?" Clarisse asked.
"Nothing special," I replied coldly.
"Hmph, you're so cold! But remember our bet!" Clarisse reminded.
"Yeah, yeah, I remember," I replied.
Not long after, Hugo called my name.
"Alright, the final participant—Kyle Ardyn, step forward," Hugo said.
I walked forward and entered the barrier. But as soon as I stepped in, something strange happened—red mist began to fill the entire space inside the barrier.
"Teacher, what's going on? Why did the atmosphere change the moment he entered?" a student asked Hugo.
"This sign… could it be a Behemoth?" Hugo muttered.
"What?! Behemoth? Do you mean one of the subordinates of the Demon Queen Lilith, the so-called Seductive Demon Queen?" Clarisse asked, clearly worried.
"There's no time to explain. We must cancel the test immediately!" Hugo shouted in panic.
The participants began running around in fear, trying to find a safe place to hide.
However, Clarisse remained where she was, too worried about me still being inside the barrier.
"But what about Kyle?" Clarisse asked.
"I'll try to save him. You go now!" Hugo ordered.
"No! I'm not leaving! He still owes me a bet, and he's the only one who treated me like a normal person, not as Princess Bernadette!" Clarisse cried.
"Fine. You'll come with me. But if things get worse, you must leave immediately," Hugo warned.
They both rushed to the barrier but were unable to enter—something was blocking their way as if the barrier itself rejected them.
"Damn it. We're too late," Hugo cursed.
"What is this? Why can't I get in?" Clarisse asked.
"This barrier is locked from the inside. It can only be opened when one person remains," Hugo explained.
"Then what about Kyle? Will he be alright?" Clarisse asked with trembling voice.
"We'll have to wait and see," Hugo replied.
Clarisse collapsed to her knees, crying from sheer worry.
Meanwhile, David appeared pleased by what was happening—he saw this as a hidden blessing.
"Hahaha... a lowborn wants to rival me? Just die inside. Clarisse will be mine," David thought with a wicked grin.
Elsewhere, a spy sent by Celestine to watch over me from the shadows attempted to enter through another path, but failed—every inch around the barrier was tightly sealed.
The spy quickly returned to the Valenmont estate to report the incident to Celestine.
Inside the barrier, I was now facing the Behemoth.
"You weak human, I am Behemoth, loyal servant of Queen Lilith," it growled.
"Yawn So you're just the loyal dog of that slutty demon queen? Why the dramatic entrance?" I mocked while yawning.
Infuriated, the Behemoth roared.
"How dare you insult Lady Lilith! Die!!" it shouted, lunging at me.
Just as it was about to land a blow, I had already appeared above it.
"How?! How are you suddenly above me?" it exclaimed in disbelief.
"Oi, oi, did you forget that this world has magic?" I replied.
"Impossible! Humans shouldn't be able to use magic without chants! Demon God Lucifer set that rule!" Behemoth barked.
"Oh? So Lucifer's the reason magic in this world declined," I said.
Behemoth froze, realizing it had accidentally revealed a dangerous truth.
"Damn it, I slipped. But if I kill you here, no one will know," it muttered.
"Hahaha! Kill me? With that weak power? Dream on," I said coldly.
"Don't get cocky, human. You haven't seen my true strength yet!" Behemoth shouted.
It then cast a powerful spell.
"Hellflame Cataclysm!"
Suddenly, the entire area transformed into a sea of blazing fire.
"Hahaha! Let's see how you survive this!" the Behemoth laughed.
But I calmly countered.
"(Exhale) Icefrost Domain."
Instantly, the blazing sea turned into a frozen tundra, covering the flames in a layer of ice.
"Impossible! Who… who are you really?!" the Behemoth gasped.
I didn't answer right away. Instead, I raised my hand to the sky and cast another spell.
"Spear of Destruction."
The sky turned black, as if acknowledging the will of destruction about to descend. The ground trembled as dense magic enveloped my body. No chant, no signal—just a cold gaze and an outstretched hand.
From outside the barrier, Clarisse and Hugo were shocked.
"Teacher, what is this?! Why did the sky turn black?" Clarisse asked.
"I don't know… In my entire life, I've never seen this kind of magic," Hugo responded.
Suddenly, from the darkened sky, a massive spear of reddish-black light began to form. It pierced the clouds, made of red lightning, molten magma, and pure chaotic energy swirling like a caged storm.
The spear shattered the barrier in an instant, allowing Hugo and Clarisse to rush toward me.
The spear then struck the Behemoth, pinning it in place. It had no chance to escape.
After it hit, the spear vanished without a trace.
"As expected… demons don't die easily," I said coldly.
As the Behemoth's body disintegrated, Clarisse ran and hugged me tightly, overwhelmed by relief.
But from afar, a mysterious figure watched us, smirking ominously.
Who is this mysterious figure? Do they have a connection to all of this?
Find out in Chapter 7.