[Zareth's POV]
"Of all the times for something like this to happen," I sighed as I quickly wrote things down.
*Knock-knock*
Hearing a knock, I said, "Come in."
Some of the guild receptionists and other workers walked in with concerned expressions.
After getting Jack's message, I called them instantly.
"Post a B-ranked Emergency quest! They are to head to the academy's arena immediately. An explosion just happened there, and I want someone to investigate. Prioritize healers, but also send mages and fighters. This could be some sort of attack."
"The academy was attacked!? How?" one of the younger receptionists asked.
"Classes just started, so it's possible someone tried using a magic item or a more advanced spell that backfired, but I want to be safe.
Send a representative to accompany the adventurers and make it clear that this was ordered by me. The academy might try to stop the adventurers from entering the academy grounds."
"Sir, do you believe that the academy might cover this up?" an older man asked.
I nodded. "The academy has become more private in recent years, making it difficult to know what's happening over there and any potential dangers happening inside those walls.
Regardless of that, my priority as the head of this city's adventurers' guild is the safety of this city. If the academy tries to cover up some sort of attack, I want to know about it."
They all nodded and quickly filed out to begin the preparations.
I looked out the window, down at Kion training a few rookie adventurers how to properly train with a sword.
It was a simple thing, so much simpler than most of the stuff I deal with on a daily basis, one I would love to do again, but so long as I am bound by my contract, I cannot disobey and have to manage the guild to the full extent of my abilities.
The only time I can ever step away from the desk is to keep up appearances that I am a mortal, when political reasons require it, and when danger arises that requires my assistance.
I might be a devil, but that doesn't make me evil.
I have lived hundreds of years among humans. I have learned how to love and be loved, how they work, think, live, and why they are one of the strongest races in existence, despite not having any natural advantages.
I even became an S-ranked adventurer and walked among their own, helping people and stopping death and destruction.
In all my time in the mortal world, I have lived so many lives and loved so many people that if a mortal lived that long, they would have forgotten the majority of them (not including elves).
Most devils would forget about them the moment they died.
And yet, as a devil, I choose to remember them all. Every friend, every lover, every enemy, every ruler, every student I had, every lesson I taught.
I was a devil, not following the flow of chaos my kind embodies.
I was an outlier, running away from the fate I know befalls me when I return to the underworld.
I promised myself long ago that I would live the life I have left to the best I can, and until I made that one contract, I did that with no issue.
But now I am bound to this desk all day, until I am called upon by Jack.
Which, considering his tone from that message, suggests my wait might not be for much longer.
~
[Dark Raven's POV]
*Shink*
*Splat*
Blood splattered on the ground, dripping from my sword as I glared down at the cultist I just killed, lying dead on the forest ground among over forty other cultists in dark red robes.
'To think they would be bold enough to try a summoning ritual this close to the city,' I thought to myself as I made my way over to the last cultist, who was trembling and trying to hide behind a tree.
When I first arrived in Raventhorn, I looked into everyone with the resources or power to assist in this cult and keep it hidden.
Nobles, adventurers, merchants, travellers, everyone, even priests from the Holy Church.
I recognized this one, Bernard Cals. He was a lower-class merchant from a nearby city. He claimed to be here on business, but it seemed he was instead part of a cult.
I looked at this man. He was chubby, around his mid-forties to early fifties. He had on several expensive rings and pieces of jewelry, a thinning hairline, and the obscene odour of expensive perfume.
However, he was also wearing a more detailed robe. The other cultists were in dark red robes, seemingly old priest robes that were dyed dark red. What they used as dye, though, isn't a question I am concerned with.
This man's robe had stitchings and markings woven into it in golden thread, markings of ancient languages and runes.
However, when I looked closer, I noticed something off.
The markings were in completely random places. A true cultist would have those markings in specific locations.
Not to mention that the markings had nothing to do with each other. This seemed more like a child making something up rather than a real devoted cultist.
I pointed my sword at his throat and asked him, "Was this all some made-up game to you, or are you actually insane enough to summon an old god?"
He looked at me in fear as a dark patch formed in his pants. "- I am a merchant and the son of Baron C-"
"I don't care about your rank. I could kill you here and now, and no one would know," I said, pressing the tip against his neck, drawing blood.
Using shadow magic, I made everything go dark, only letting him see me and my sword. Of course, with my face covered by my mask, he could only see the cold look in my eyes.
His face paled in fear.
"Now answer the question. Was this real to you, or just some fun tricking commoners?" I said menacingly.
He shook his head. "N-no! I- I was only doing this as an experiment. T-to see if I could convince commoners I was a god s-so they would work for me for fr-free!"
I stayed silent for a second before I raised my sword.
"Wait! I-" he tried to say, with tears falling down his face.
But I didn't care.
*Shing.*
Killing him quickly, I turned and started looking at some of the items they had.
Animal bones tied to sticks, old books with crazed ramblings, random markings and symbols that don't match any language, both magical and non-magical, and several pentagrams made out of dried blood on stone tablets.
It was all so crude and effortless. This was nothing more than some merchant's wish for power over others.
'This isn't the cult I was after, but at least this one is gone now. Just wish I could have gotten here before they sacrificed so many people to nothing,' I thought to myself as I pulled out a fire mana crystal.
I was about to throw it when I noticed something. Bernard had an old book hidden in his robe.
I removed it from his robe, looked at the cover, recognized the symbol on the cover and instantly dropped it.
'So this wasn't just some made-up cult,' I thought as I glared at Bernard's body. 'He actually used references to one of the Old Gods. No wonder they all seemed crazy.'
A book like this would corrupt the minds of normal people, turning them evil or simply insane. Just looking at its pages could cause some effects.
I was immune, of course, but that doesn't mean it isn't a problem.
Shadows moved from under me and engulfed the book, storing it for when I can properly dispose of it.
I then turned to the rest of this cultish clearing and threw the crystal.
It shattered when it hit a rock, and fire burst forth, incinerating everything in its vicinity, while I used shadow magic to contain the fire, preventing it from spreading.
Once the fire burned out and all the evidence was gone, I turned to leave.
As I walked through, I noticed a trail of shadow magic through the forest.
It was a few days old and barely noticeable, to the point that even I could barely notice it when I was only a few feet from it.
Curious, I looked closer and felt a familiar sensation, a sensation I hoped I would never feel again, yet it was so distinct I realized where this came from instantly.
My old patron. It had found a new host.
"So Zareth was telling the truth about that," I mumbled, remembering what he said to me a few days ago.
Then I remembered the other person he mentioned during that conversation.
Jackson Drovas.
I looked up into the sky and let out a sigh. "To think he survived until now. I thought the last of the Drovas clan was killed off... I guess I was wrong."
Focusing back on the task, but also keeping in mind what Zareth said about Jackson's involvement with a possessed student and coincidences, it was possible our paths would cross when dealing with this situation.
"I just hope he can forgive me for failing them," I mumbled to myself as I followed the shadow magic remnants.
~
[Jack's POV]
After talking with Ark and walking back to everyone, I looked around and saw everyone ready to enter the labyrinth, each of us holding our weapons or wands, prepared for battle.
That is, everyone other than Terra.
I looked at her with a raised eyebrow.
She smiled and said, "You have obviously told them more than you told me. I know you limit what people learn to prevent them from getting involved in serious danger due to the old rules put in place by the spirits.
You limited what I know to protect me from a fate that isn't meant for me, and I appreciate it." She bowed her head in thanks.
"You all head down, and I will stay up here. As a high-ranking noble, if I disappeared now, it would become problematic. Instead, I will help coordinate with the rescue efforts and explain what happened to the guards and authorities.
Plus, this will allow me to cover for you all, so you don't need to think about coming up with some story."
I nodded, ripped a page from one of the books, handed it to Terra and said, "Alright then. This contains a summary of everyone's modified memories of my fusion spell. Everyone other than us, that is."
She took the paper and read what appeared on it.
She looked back at me and nodded.
"Good luck," I said.
She smiled and said, "To you all as well, but please be careful down there. The labyrinth houses many monsters, many above rank C, and it isn't uncommon for overconfident students to wander in and not return."
I nodded to her in thanks and said, "That is fine. I have ways to avoid major problems."
She nodded and turned to leave, returning to the other students.
But before she left, I remembered something and shouted, "One more thing!"
She stopped and turned back, confused.
"Do you remember the instructions I gave you for the final contingency plan?" I asked, seriously.
She froze for a second, then nodded slowly, understanding what I was implying.
I nodded back, and she gave me a sad smile and left quickly.
I looked at everyone else. They all wore determined expressions, worry of course present, but a determination to help so strong it should work for us.
"Alright. You all ready?"
They all nodded. "Yeah!" Orin said.
Zek, sitting on Orin's shoulder, nodded and raised his wand.
Ark and Araki nodded as I turned to the labyrinth entrance.
"Alright then, let's go!" I said as we made our first trip into the academy labyrinth.