After the class ended, Ares went to find his sister since he could feel Cedric was obviously aiming for him instead of Jered.

 

'Didn't the original Area die in his previous life so why does he seem to be coming after me? Can't you just focus on capturing those Djinns?'

 

He was angry and he felt that letting the protagonist be seems like a wrong decision. Even though he wouldn't kill him, he would still let him know the cost of messing with him.

 

 

Zerisa was elated when Ares sent a message wanting to meet her thus she told him to come straight to the student council private office but he was shocked seeing his brother's teary red eyes that looked painful.

 

 

"Ares, what happened?!"

 

"Someone splashed Sun God's holy water on my eyes," Ares answered directly.

 

"What?! We need to call grandpa. Let's go back to the mansion tonight and let our family's healer do a thorough check up on you," Zerisa's reaction seemed over the top.

 

 

She looked worried and nervous which was out of what Ares had expected. He thought she might have felt angry and worried but she was nervous instead as if something really bad had happened.

 

 

"Can your eyes see well?" Zerisa asked while looking at his eyes carefully.

 

 

"Yes, it stings but my eyesight seems fine."

 

 

"We need to go. My servants are already waiting for us at the gate. Don't worry about class, I will inform the Chief Director myself."

 

 

And just like that, Ares who was confused, was dragged out of Heptagon that instance.

 

 

A few hours later, Cedric got a message from the school board after he just finished his night practices.

 

 

 

 

Jered looked at his watch and the time had already passed by a few minutes which meant he was already late.

 

 

"Are you sure you wanted to go?" Ima asked.

 

 

"Well, this is the academy ground and many people have their eyes on me. What can Jered even do to me? Harm me?" Cedric was confident Jered wouldn't harm him but he was curious why Jered summoned him during this time.

 

 

A lot has changed and his previous lives memories have mixed together thus he wasn't sure which event happened in which lifetime.

 

 

Cedric didn't even have time to wash himself and went straight to the meeting place. Since the message was sent by the academy board thus there would be more people attending it, not only just Jered and him alone.

 

 

 

"Arghhhh!"

 

 

A sudden scream echoed throughout the quiet hallway. Cedric immediately sprinted towards the meeting room where the scream came from and what he saw the moment he entered was a mountain of bloodied meat with multiple humans' hands and eyeballs all over it.

 

 

He could feel goosebumps all over his skin and he immediately knew what had happened.

 

 

"Cedric, be careful. The demonic energy lingering in the area hinted that the Djinn is still here somewhere," Ima reminded.

 

 

He looked around the area to detect any presence of someone else and soon after, he saw Jered walk towards him with a vicious smile, "You're late."

 

 

"It's you!" Cedric was furious.

 

 

He never thought Jered, who was supposed to be low key, would act this way.

 

"Well, you're making my work easier and as a thanks for you, I will not harm you. I'm such a great guy isn't it?"

 

 

Cedric couldn't help but feel ominous and he couldn't understand what Jered's words meant. But without him able to say anything, Jered suddenly turned around as if fleeing from the room which made Cedric instantly run after him.

 

 

 

"Officers, catch that student. He's a demon!" Jered shouted.

 

 

Cedric, who was stunned by the sudden turn of events, couldn't help but curse inside his heart when he saw the security officers of the academy had already arrived and surrounded him.

 

 

"Student, please surrender and cooperate with us until we finish the investigation," one male officer said.

 

 

"It's not me. I can prove it. Instructor Jered was the one who killed them!"

 

 

"Please refrain from accusing other people without proof and don't retaliate. We're just doing our job according to procedure."

 

 

Cedric knew he couldn't fight with the officer at his current state, "I was called to the meeting room. You can check my student messaging app. I have an alibi."

 

 

"Sigh, this area is closed for students after 10pm. You shouldn't be here so does it make sense for any of the academy staff to send a message to a student after the curfew hours? Please follow us, students."

 

 

-Clack

 

 

Cedric's hand was handcuffed and he was escorted into the academy isolation chamber and was detained there for the time being.

 

 

"As I thought it was a trap," Ima commented.

 

 

Yes, Jered didn't harm Cedric in any way but who would people believe more. A noble instructor who had been with the academy for a decade or a first year student who was an orphan commoner without any background.

 

 

"Cedric, from now on, you can't rely on your memories anymore. The future is constantly changing due to the butterfly effect of your regression and other things. You need to focus on planning what you need to do after you are released from here."

 

 

Cedric remained silent. He should've just focused on Jered and thrown that holy water on him instead of Ares but the rice already turned into porridge thus he could only afford to feel regret and aimed not to repeat the same mistake again.

 

 

"Officer, what will happen to me after this? I'm not a demon. You can order me to drink the holy water and I will gladly do it," Cedric said to the guard.

 

 

"........."

 

 

 

"You can even ask the Targael to check on me whether I'm a demon or not."

 

 

"Student, please stop talking. The Targael don't have time to entertain you."

 

Just like that, the night passed and early next morning, the news about Cedric being a demon and killing several Blood Supremacist Club's members were spread all over the academy.

 

 

"Is that why he harmed Ares yesterday afternoon?"

 

 

"Yes I think it makes sense now. I heard from somewhere that all the Targael in the academy were summoned back to their main mansion because Ares felt sick after class yesterday."

 

 

"Damn it seems like it has long been planned. He knew Ares had been sick since he was born so he purposely made him fall sick and caused the other Targael to have to escort Ares back home. So nobody would obstruct him from killing those students."

 

 

 

"Instructor Jered was the one who found him committing the crime since one of the victims managed to send a distress message to him. He must have felt so heartbroken seeing his students being killed and mutilated."

 

 

"Instructor Jered seems to be inflicted with demonic energy too."

 

 

"Why is he so vicious? Did he really rank third?"

 

 

"It was said demonic energy can amplify your mana and ability by a few folds."

 

 

"How can he still be human if he even forsake his humanity for just a bit of power."

 

 

 

The students could be heard discussing about the topic all over the academy.

 

 

"Mel, you need to help Cedric. I know he isn't guilty," Abby pleaded.

 

 

Ken who was nearby at that time couldn't help but felt annoyed despite his always laid back attitude, "Abigail, why do you care so much about that guy? The academy is still investigating the case and none of us have the authority to meddle with the investigation."

 

 

 

"But you guys knew all along that it was possible for Jered to frame Cedric," Abby retorted.

 

 

Melinda who was initially being silent couldn't help but to interrupt, "Yes, what you're saying is correct but there's a lot of other lower ranking commoners that Jered could choose from; so why must he choose Cedric? And did you know that none of the Targaels were in the academy last night because Ares fall sick? It's too much of a coincidence Abby."

 

 

"But Cedric has no reason to collude with a demon."

 

 

"How do you know? He's an orphan, a commoner with no background. People like him with no one to depend on are the most vulnerable to be manipulated by those Djinns and Demons. I'm not saying he is indeed guilty, but what I'm trying to say is that all the motives and reasons are pointing at him," Melinda couldn't help but felt odd on why Abby was acting like this.

 

 

"If you really want to help him, go ask those Targaels yourself. Let's see if they will still testify and help Cedric after Cedric hurt Ares yesterday," Ken suggested since he knew the Targael wouldn't be so magnanimous to do so.

 

 

They cherished Ares even more than Zerisa, their own heir and even Zerisa seemed to put his younger brother Ares on an altar.

 

 

Ken still remembered how Zerisa and Karin broke someone's legs just because Ares was pointing his finger at that person. At that time, the seven years old Ares didn't even say anything.

 

 

That was why Ken and Melinda never wanted to pick a fight with Ares since they knew those crazy Targaels were all under Ares's thumb. Where his fingers pointed, that person or place would definitely be destroyed.

 

 

While the academy was bustling with Cedric being captured and accused as a demon, Ares who was still blindfolded inside the mansion couldn't help but feel restless.

 

 

He couldn't move more than two meters from his bed without making his family members nervous as if he would collapse at any moment.

 

 

"Doctor, are you sure my brother's eyes really aren't blind?" 

 

 

Ares could hear Zerisa and his cousins all around him, pestering the middle aged doctor.

 

 

"Lady Zerisa, the young master's eyes are only irritated and not blind. No need to feel worried. He is the blessing for this family."

 

 

"Fuhh, thanks Goddess for this blessing. Don't worry Ares. I already called Grand and Nana along with grandpa. They will all arrive this evening."

 

 

"Hey Eris don't you want to tell him-ugh"

 

 

"Shut up muscle head Adrian. Can't you see Ares can't see," Karin cut off Adrian's words after elbowing his gut.

 

 

"I can see. I'm not blind," Ares couldn't help but say.

 

 

"Yes yes, I know my brother is tough but just let your eyes rest for a bit ok."

 

They immediately escorted the doctor out after he finished checking everything and they came back into the room again. They took turns observing him thus even while sleeping, there was at least one of them standing guard as if they didn't trust the bodyguards enough.

 

 

Of course Zerisa also wouldn't let him take off the bandages around his eyes.

 

"Hey if I can't go out of this room, can we at least play a game?" Ares suggested.

 

 

"What game?" Karin asked excitedly.

 

 

It has been a long time since Ares wanted to play with them.

 

 

"It's called a loyalty test. Tell my servants Vincent and Vanya to prepare all the items."

 

 

"Is that a new game you created, Ares? If you can rest and not be too tired, we can accompany you to play along," Zerisa didn't sense anything was odd.

 

 

"Vincent and Vanya at your service young master, "Vincent greeted Ares.

 

 

"Can you kill all of them?" 

 

 

"What? Ares?" Zerisa felt her heart fall down.

 

 

"Is it like faking death? I want, I want," Karin felt thrilled.

 

 

Ares ignored what they said, "If you really believe in me and have no intention to betray or hurt me, you will get resurrected but if not, you will really die. Vanya came here."

 

 

Vanya came with a dagger in her hands before she gave it to Ares who proceeded to stab her on the neck.

 

 

"Ares! What kind of game is this?" Zerisa was shocked.

 

 

"Vincent, you've done locking this room right? Kill all of them."

 

 

"Argh!" Adrian who was too stunned couldn't evade when Vincent appeared beside him and stabbed him on the back before cutting off his neck.

 

 

"There's no way I will die without fighting back. This is a fun game Ares," Karin attacked Vincent.

 

 

Zerisa was dumbfounded and kept on staring at his brother's face who she always cherished even more than her own mother.

 

 

"Why?"

 

 

"It's because I don't want you guys to be destroyed," Ares gave an ambiguous answer that she couldn't understand.

 

 

"Will killing us make you happy?" Zerisa could feel her tears trickling down her cheeks.

 

 

"Not really but it makes me feel at ease and secure, I think."

 

 

"If you say so," Zerisa smiled.

 

 

Her mind was in a mess but her heart already decided what to do. As the official heir, she knew she couldn't do this but it was her brother's wish.

 

 

He wanted them to die for some reason so she would fulfill it.

 

 

-Zappp!

 

 

"Eris! Why?!" Karin suddenly realized the situation was actually real and not a game the moment he saw Zerisa falling down on the floor after stabbing her own heart with the same dagger that had stabbed Vanya.

 

 

"Lady Karin, teaching no.20 of Targael's martial arts, never turned your back on your opponent during a fight," Vincent suddenly appeared behind her and stabbed her.

 

 

The sword came from her back and went straight through her abdomen. Karin vomited blood and she knew there was something else on the sword.

 

 

"You bastard really wanted to kill us for real? You dare coated holy water on the swor-"

 

 

-Bukkk

 

 

 

Ares, who heard Karin's last words, couldn't help but feel confused, "What does Karin mean?"

 

 

"Oh, I think the former matriarch must have forgotten to tell you young master since you're the only exception. The Targaels are actually allergic to holy energy. If holy water went into their inside, they would wriggle in excruciating pain and probably die. Sprinkled with holy water will give them terrible rashes and skin irritation."

 

 

"I thought we were cursed by a demon?"

 

 

"Yes, that's the curse. That Archduke rank demon decided to curse the Targael by making them unable to use any kind of holy energy or even being in contact with one, just like the demon. What is more painful than turning someone into the enemy that they hated."

 

 

"Does that mean we're demons?"

 

 

"Nope. If you dig Lady Zerisa's heart, her heart is still a normal human heart but due to being exposed to demonic energy, the Targael's mana already formed a natural shield to purify those energy and that was why the Targael are not affected by demonic energy even before being cursed."

 

 

Ares felt this information might be dangerous if it was known to other people, "Did all the Moran know about this?"

 

 

"Yes, that's why all of us have to pledge a lifetime death vow with the matriarch. Once we do that, we can't say any secret of the Targael to a non-Targael. Can you see this tattoo on my tongue, young master. This will make my head explode if I ever break the rules. So the enemy can't even extract any of my memories since even my brain had been blown up."

 

 

 

"What do you mean I'm an exception?"

 

 

"Aren't you consuming holy water from the God of Death Church on a daily basis young master? We thought you might have a special blood that enables you to accept almost every energy in this world. We try feeding you demonic core and demonic creatures meat and you are still fine. Sun God holy water might be too much since even their own acolytes won't dare consume more than a few drops of it at a time."

 

 

 

-Bzzzt

 

 

 

Suddenly, the telecom on his bedside was buzzing and Vincent immediately pushed a green button to answer it.

 

 

"Young master Ares, the former matriarch along with the matriarch and the Duke already arrived. Please inform the young Ladies and young master Adrian to go down," a male servant who they knew was one of Adrian's two butlers informed.

 

 

Ares looked around the bloodied area. Blood smell started to permeate throughout the bedroom. Fortunately they didn't install anything to detect blood or else the mansion would be in chaos.

 

 

"Sigh, you go out and prepare clean clothes for them. I will settle this."

 

 

"Yes young master."