After classes ended, Dylan and his group headed to the Academy cafeteria.
Dylan and Miriam sat next to each other at a rectangular table while Evon and his two followers went to buy the most sumptuous meals on the menu.
While they waited for their food, Dylan noticed a student with pale white skin, dull eyes, grayish-black hair, and dark circles under his eyes. Despite his thin appearance, he ranked 11th and was considered a promising talent with an affinity for dark magic. He was Andrew Discant, the mini-boss who caused the bloody incident.
"Do you know him?" Dylan asked Miriam casually.
"No, I haven't heard much about him." I think he's a low-ranking noble, that's all," Miriam said.
She wasn't concerned about using the term "low-ranking noble" because she had heard Dylan use that term when referring to other nobles.
"So the Cursed Prophets are well hidden among the students. Dylan thought without giving it much importance, but since he had mentioned it to Miriam, he said, "Don't investigate it, just let it be."
"Okay," Miriam said without asking any more questions.
Shortly after, Evon and his group approached with trays of food on which they carried lunch for the whole group.
...
Regarding the deaths of the Eden inspectors, Dylan only heard rumors from students saying that there was a dangerous criminal in the disadvantaged areas of the city and that he was believed to have escaped. In the end, it was mentioned that the Eden organization, which was in charge of security in the capital, warned that it was best not to go near the disadvantaged areas, especially at night.
••••
Weeks passed.
In the midst of physical training and mana absorption techniques classes, the students were pushed to their limits by Professor Belgram, a bald, burly man with tanned skin who wore black sportswear.
Because Dylan had increased his strength attribute a little, he was not among the worst in the class, but he was not among the best either.
"This training is hellish; what's the point of this? I just need to do a few good deeds and raise my points... no, I'm becoming too dependent. How exhausting," thought Dylan, who was lying under the shade of a tree.
At that moment, the beautiful Luna approached him and handed him a bottle of water:
"Cheer up! We'll eventually get used to this class," Luna said with a beautiful, charming smile.
Dylan smiled subtly and said sincerely:
"Thank you."
After Dylan took the bottle of water, Luna walked away and went to give bottles of water to the rest of his classmates.
Just as Dylan finished drinking, a notification appeared.
[Mandatory mission: Conquer the Saint]
[Mandatory mission: Betray the Saint]
[Mandatory mission: Steal the Saint's eyes]
[Rewards:
1. Devil's Eyes: detect any malicious or murderous intent towards the host
2. +10 Perverse Points in all attributes]
[Penalties for failure:
1. You will lose the Perverse System.
2. The entire kingdom of Acadis will learn of every perverse act committed by the host]
"Didn't you say I could do whatever I wanted?" Dylan thought, somewhat angry.
[Everything has a price]
Dylan felt a sinister power, much more sinister than his own; it reminded him of the day the Perverse System forced him to choose it.
"By losing you, do I lose the powers I've accumulated?" Dylan asked.
[No. It wouldn't be fun if you became a weakling who is simply executed. However, you will not be able to obtain any more Perverse Points. You will be on your own, with the world against you.]
Dylan brought his forearm up to his face and lay back down on the ground, not wanting to show his dark expression.
[Do you accept the mandatory mission:
(Accept) (Decline)]
[If the host does not decide within 24 hours, it will be considered that they have declined the mission and punishment will proceed]
"You know that the saint can detect evil directed at her, right?" Dylan asked in his mind.
[Don't worry. The system will suppress your evil and murderous intentions so she can't sense them.]
Dylan sighed, finished drinking the water, and then said in his mind:
"Accept."
••••
Several weeks later.
"Really?" Dylan asked curiously.
"Yes, we believe that through faith in the sun, which is the life and origin of all things, one can obtain blessings and divinity, but to do so, one must have faith, not doubt," Luna replied in her charming tone of voice.
Luna and Dylan were talking in the classroom during recess.
Over the past few weeks, Dylan had subtly gotten closer to Luna. He would greet her occasionally and politely, then began to support her every time she handed out water bottles and towels to classmates during practice. That's how he gradually began to gain Luna's trust.
"Wow, if this keeps up, I'll end up becoming a believer in the Rising Sun," Dylan thought as he listened to Luna, who always spoke enthusiastically about her beliefs.
Deep down, Dylan felt a little remorseful, because in his previous life he had valued beauty and was reluctant to kill a beautiful woman unnecessarily.
After talking for the rest of the day, Dylan headed to his room, and as he walked, a notification appeared:
[You have incited Perverse acts: +2 Perverse Points]
Dylan smiled and then asked, "Can you at least tell me where those points come from?"
[Believers of the Crimson God]
Dylan entered his room and immediately remembered the soldiers of the Sarco Kingdom whom he had spared in the city of Teristan.
"It seems they have been accumulating merits," Dylan said to himself.
...
[Mana + 2 Perverse Points]
[Mana: 120]
"Now I only need one point; I think I should thank them when I get the chance," Dylan concluded as he sat on the edge of his bed.
"Do you like the saint?" Miriam asked with an inquisitive look.
"Why do you care?" Dylan smiled mischievously.
Miriam got up from the chair she was sitting in, and then she was about to leave.
"Don't betray me. You won't like the ending," Dylan said before the door to his room closed.
He knew Miriam was jealous. He and she weren't boyfriend and girlfriend, nor were they a couple, so he felt he owed her no explanation. If she betrayed him, he would show no mercy.
By betrayal, he meant that the members of the Drecon kingdom would not find out that he knew she was a spy.