The Legend of the Flower Demon Lord

Chapter 34 - A demon embraces the light!

Chapter 34 – A demon embraces the light!

"I'm sorry!"

Sitting in Cecile's office, I deeply bowed my head and apologized.

At first simply staring at me sternly, she suddenly revealed the kind of social smile adults were so good at.

"My, there is no need for that! The tools used for admittance testing are extremely expensive but also of the highest caliber and would never be broken by a mere potential student. The magical limit on it could, perhaps, be broken by the strongest of Ciels, or maybe by only a god himself. Additionally, for some unknown reason, the tools were rigged so that the tests were much harder and the limits much higher...I don't think even a Ciel could have broken it! It could only have been defective, so don't worry! Hohoho!"

She finished with that typical fake laugh of high social occasions and business transactions. I decided to join her.

"Hohoho! Of course! Maybe whoever tampered with it even damaged the poor tools!"

"Hohoho! Maybe!"

My comment seemed to have hit a nerve. However, she maintained her composure, laughing and agreeing with me. Then, her eyes suddenly sharpened all too quickly, being drawn to the sleek black ribbon tied neatly around my neck into a bow. Could she have noticed...?

"And...what would that be?"

"Oh, this? It's nothing much – just an accessory I happened to inherit from...my father."

Delicately placing a hand on the ribbon, I quickly made an excuse, smiling brightly. However, it was not Cecile's voice that replied to my comment.

"Ho...I see. So, you consider me like a father."

A sudden chill went down my spine as the voice sounded in my head.

"Hm? What's wrong? Does speaking of your father sadden you?"

"Oh, no! Nothing of the sort. He was a uselessfather who died in the stupidest way possible. While cooking the most horrible food imaginable, he slipped on a banana peel, stabbing himself with the knife he held! He never seemed to do anything right...And wasn't very missed. However, I felt as if I should at least keep a memento. He was my father, after all. Hahaha!"

With a smile, I rambled on with the stupidest lie ever, in turn, angering the Shadow god in my head...

"Oi! Who are you saying died like that?! Do you really think I would ever do something as mundane as cooking?!"

That's what you're angry about...?

"How could you treat me this way?! After I even went so far as to point you in the direction of that which you so seek!"

"...Is...something the matter?"

Cecile looked a bit disturbed and confused as she asked. I decided to ignore the screaming voice, smiling and assuring her that everything was fine. Then, we discussed how my admittance test would proceed – for one week I would take the advanced classes, and if I could keep up, my stay would become permanent.

Of course, that would be very difficult for any beginner, jumping directly to the hardest class. It seemed as if Cecile really did not wish for me to succeed. However, I knew it truly would be no problem. So, there I sat, smiling as bright as day, with no care, slightly unnerving Cecile.

*

I slid the door of the classroom open, and instead of stepping in, stood in place, an odd scene unfolding before me.