(✔︎) ❝𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐁𝐔𝐓𝐋𝐄𝐑❞

63 | Azul Ashengrotto

*I'm the one under your bed

*I'll bite your kneecaps if you won't comment (lol)

- Hall of Mirrors -

Barbatos just sipped her tea as she watched the sea of anemones gathering the area, every student that got an anemone was crying because they didn't manage to enter the Top 50. Luke was insulting them under his breath, while Yuu tried to stop him...

     "Damn it, we're tricked by that lying octopus asshole!" A Savanaclaw student yelled, trying to remove the anemone on his head. "My lovely student life, farewell!" One of the Scarabia students exclaimed as he sobbed.

     "What the hell is going on? There are more students with an anemone on their heads," Jack remarked, surprised at the number of students getting gathered by the anemone in their heads. "Not only first years are here, but also second and third years. They're all entering the mirror leading to Octavinelle," he added.

     "(Name)-san, they're all talking about test rankings..." Yuu whispered. The Headmistress nodded, "I'm aware, Yuu-san. Now let's go follow them," she told them.

- Octavinelle Dorm -

Everyone, except the Headmistress, gasped as they saw the inside of the dorm. It's like they're inside an underwater aquarium, perking the interest of Luke and Jack. The wolf was amazed that there was a dorm underwater, while Luke played with the fish...

     The wolf coughed when he noticed the demoness staring at him, "Sorry, Headmistress. This is only mandatory, right? We should be careful because we're entering a completely different dorm," he told her. "Jack's completely different earlier," Yuu whispered to the demoness, who silently chuckled.

Once they arrived in the lounge, a lot of anemones were gathered. Jack took Yuu and Luke's wrists, hiding them behind the couch. The demoness blended in the dark to avoid getting seen by the crowd. The estimated number of students with an anemone is 200-300 inside Monstro Lounge...

     A spotlight appeared from the ceiling, hitting the one and only dorm leader of Octavinelle, "Hello, poor unfortunate souls that didn't enter the Top 50. I welcome you in Monstro Lounge," he greeted. Jade and Floyd are behind him, waiting for his orders, "I know for sure all of you know me, but let me introduce myself again. I'm Azul Ashengrotto, dorm leader of Octavinelle and manager of Monstro Lounge—as of today, I'm your new master."

     "Is he the son of Professor Crewel?" Luke asked. Azul chuckled at the rowdy students, "All of you didn't meet the conditions of our contract, which means starting today you'll be working under me until the day you graduate—"

     "Stop it right there, you bitch! This is a scam, you know?!" Ace's voice was heard within the crowd, complaining. The dorm leader smirked, "Ace Trappola, a first year. Watch your mouth before badmouthing someone, okay? I promised as per our contract that I'll give you the perfect reviewers for the test. With that, you should be able to get at least 90 points at least."

     "I did score 92 points," Ace stated. Azul clapped his hands, "That's good news. I'm glad to be at your aid—"

     "But you didn't tell me that you'll give the others the same test notes!"

Yes, Ace is right. Considering the limited number of honors, it's impossible to get 200 people on the board. Even if you get an average of 80 or 90, it's still considered a fail for the ones who didn't manage to get in the Top 50...

     "You're not aware of the agreement of secrecy?" Azul asked them. "I've received reasons like they want to pass the test, get a high score, laze around during the tests, and more... All of your reasons are unique, quite impressive to be honest, but you aren't aware of the deeper questions if you want to create a deal with someone..."

     "I'm glad I didn't make a contract with him," the demoness herself, sipping tea. Azul just smirked at them, "All of you straight up signed the contract as long as you get what you need or want from me, but you didn't ask such questions concerning other people signing the contract that has the same desire as you. However, I have prohibited myself from telling such important information about my client!"

He pulled a golden contract from his coat, showing them page 127: "I swore I won't tell anyone the contract you signed with me." He said he's an honest man that can't bring himself for betraying someone's trust until Grim yelled what's gonna happen to his magic with other students asking as well...

For me to provide my test reviewers, you are assigned to surrender what you hold proudly: your unique magic...

If you managed to get into the Top 50, you'll get to keep your magic and I'll give you test reviewers until you graduate...

However, if you didn't manage to enter the Top 50, you'll be my servant with the use of absolute submission...

     "Isn't that the condition of our contract?" Azul asked them. "A strand of your hair is part of our deal, as well. This means that it's up to me if I'm going to give you back your unique magic..." He added with a sly smirk.

     "This isn't legal!" Ace yelled. Yuu peeked, "No wonder they didn't use their magic last time they fought..." He whispered.

The Headmistress chuckled when Jack stood up from where he was hiding, while Yuu and Luke are trying to pull him back down to cover. Azul must've heard the wolf's yelling and looked above his head, but didn't find an anemone. He asked for Jack to leave, but for him to receive a stubborn retort from the wolf. Jack hates cheaters after all, which made Yuu and Luke show themselves to say sorry for bothering...

     "Yuu, Jack! Did you guys come here to save us—"

     "Sorry to disappoint you, Grim, but no," the demoness answered from the sidelines. The Octavinelle trio suddenly went into a fighting stance, "We're not here to save anyone, nor fix this problem. We're not involved after all—we just want to know who's the cause of the anemones above your head," she added.

     "The Headmistress is right. I can't stand anyone of you here," Jack angrily retorted. "I despise people who use the advantage of others for their gain and ones who always rely on others' help!"

The demoness just watched the scene, not interested in helping them—it's their fault after all. Grim said about Jack opening his eyes and telling the others to fight Azul, for them to steal the contracts and destroy them. Then again they don't have magic, but they can outnumber the three of them...

     "Bunch of imbeciles," Yuu scoffed.

      Azul sighed, "It seems that I don't have a choice, but to use violence to behave all of you," he sadly said. "Well then, Jade and Floyd, feel free to play with them."

     "As you wish."

     "I can squeeze all of them~! Yay~!"

The demoness already knows what's gonna happen, considering the ones that have an anemone in their head. As Azul said, he has control over their powers and that's his trump card in defeating them with ease. She remembered that Jade told her about the Golden Contract can't be destroyed or is it? 

The Headmistress left the dorm with Luke, leaving Yuu and Jack alone. She isn't interested in playing with insects in the meantime, she has a bigger fish to fry. The Headmaster is not gonna come back anytime soon, so she'll force him to come back to this school instead. What's the first step of her plan? Find out who's the debt collector behind the Headmaster's debt. *Beep* "If you're gonna find out the debt collector, ask Shan-Yu in Apple Cider. The usual time like before: 7 PM," the unknown sender told her...

     "(Name), where are we going?"

     "Outside the campus," (Name) replied. "Also I'm proud you got a high score without cheating, dear," she added and caressed the angel's head.

~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~

(バルバトス)