I Became The Novel's Biggest Antagonist - Chapter 78

Chapter 78: [Demon Subjugation Exam] [End]

Eline Castell was seething in anger.

The breach into the academy’s artificial forest was an affront she could neither forgive nor overlook. Gehenna’s demons had dared to infiltrate her sanctuary and attack her students.

Hours had passed before the staff pieced together what had occurred. The delay wasn’t normal for Ocryphia but unsurprising; the dense expanse of the artificial forest wasn’t entirely covered by surveillance. Still, something gnawed at her.

Many cameras hadn’t just been destroyed—they had been tampered with.

Someone had disarmed them with a precision that suggested knowledge of the academy’s inner workings. While her instincts whispered of betrayal within her ranks, Eline pushed the thought aside. Accusing her own staff so early felt premature. What mattered now was ensuring her students’ safety.

The decision was swift: the exam was terminated, scores frozen, and all participants teleported out using the bracers they wore. These devices, designed to respond in emergencies, transported the students out of danger through the academy’s well-calibrated teleportation circle. Most students were blissfully unaware of the demonic incursion, emerging unscathed. But a select few had encountered the enemy—and among them were her top students.

Eline approached Ludivine, who was engaged in a hushed conversation with another staff member. Judging from her slightly torn and dirtied clothes she seemed to have fought a lot.

“Ludivine, you encountered a demon, correct?”

Ludivine turned around and nodded. “Professor… yes. He tried to capture me—likely because of my family’s influence. But I managed to evade him. His borrowed body was already deteriorating. I was… fortunate.”

Her explanation was succinct, rehearsed—a carefully constructed narrative designed to hide the truth. She had no intention of revealing Ivan’s covert involvement or his role as a secret operative of the World Order as promised. Ludivine doubted even the professors knew of his infiltration.

“I see. You’re unharmed, I hope?” She asked, concerned hinting clearly at a possession. “I’m sorry, but like the others, you’ll need to undergo a full scan.”

Ludivine nodded without hesitation. “Of course, Professor.”

Eline’s stern gaze lingered for a moment longer before she turned away. Ludivine exhaled quietly, guilt simmering beneath her calm face. Lying to Eline Castell was a dangerous gamble. But for now, the professor seemed to accept her account.

As Eline moved on, Ludivine glanced around. Her gaze swept over the gathered students, searching for one person in particular.

Obviously it was Ivan.

Aaron and Jaxon stood nearby, talking in low voices, but Ivan was nowhere in sight. She doubted he was even teleported with them. Like she had guessed he hadn’t left them to find his cousin, Aaron. As for the reason why he wasn’t there with them…the most likely explanation was troubling: either he had removed his bracer or he had been too far away to be teleported.

There was also the possibility of him being kidnapped and killed but Ludivine wasn’t sure about it. He easily killed a fully transformed Demon after all.

While Ludivine was thinking, Eline Castell continued her inquiries, heading toward the second student who had confronted a demon. Her footsteps quickened as she spotted him.

Travis Rivers lay slumped against a tree, his face pale and twisted in pain. Beside him, Theresa fussed over his injuries, her hands deftly bandaging the bloody wound on his abdomen.

“Stop squirming!” Theresa snapped, exasperated.

“Just finish already,” Travis muttered through gritted teeth. His temper, always hot, had reached a boiling point.

“Travis Rivers,” Eline called.

His head snapped up. “Yeah?”

“You’ve already given your account to others, but I need to hear it myself. Explain what happened,” she asked.

Travis groaned, irritated by the repetition but recognizing the gravity of the situation. “I ran into Cattleya,” he began. “She was fighting a demon. I jumped in to help, but that bastard was too strong for us.”

Eline’s brow furrowed. “What happened next? Two students are unaccounted for, and Cattleya Starlight is one of them. You were the last to see her. I need every detail.”

The mention of Cattleya’s disappearance was weighing heeavilu on her shoulders. The Starlight family’s influence loomed large over Ocryphia, and the consequences of failing to protect their daughter would be catastrophic.

Travis’s fists clenched. He hesitated, then forced himself to continue. “Another guy from our class showed up. Out of nowhere, that bastard punched me.”

Eline’s eyes widened. Theresa froze mid-motion, her mouth hanging open.

“Wait, what?” Theresa said, incredulous. “Then those injuries…”

“Yeah,” Travis grumbled, annoyed. “Some random guy decked me. Took me completely off guard.”

“Was he possessed? An accomplice of the demon?” Eline asked.

Travis shook his head. “No, he didn’t seem possessed or on that guy’s side. Honestly, I don’t know what his deal was. All I know is that he’s the last one who was with Cattleya. You’ll have to ask him yourself.”

“Who is this person?” Eline obviously asked the identity of the man.

Travis frowned. “Never seen him before today. His name was something like… James Grayling?”

“James Grayling?” Eline repeated, furrowing her brows. She prided herself on knowing every student under her charge, and that name wasn’t familiar.

Pulling out her tablet, she quickly scanned the student registry but as expected no one of that name was registered among her students. She even checked all the years.

“Are you sure he’s a student?” Eline asked to get a confirmation.

“He was wearing our uniform,” Travis replied. “And he had a bracer. Unless he stole both, yeah, he’s one of us.”

Eline Castell fell into deep thought but she didn’t reach any answers. However, she soon shifted her attention to the other missing student.

“What about Leon Cromwell?” She asked.

Travis scowled, his annoyance flaring again. He’d just been reminded of another person he had little patience for, though James Grayling now held the top spot on his list of grievances.

“What about him?” Travis muttered irritably.

“He’s also missing, like Cattleya Starlight,” Eline explained.

“Eh? But he was fine the last time we saw him,” Theresa said, her brows knitting in concern.

“I heard he left your group,” Eline probed further.

“Yes,” Theresa confirmed. “He said he was going to look for Aaron. He was probably worried about his cousin. Do you think he ran into a Demon on the way?” Her expression grew complicated.

Despite her irritation with Leon Cromwell’s stoic, often annoying demeanor, Theresa couldn’t help but feel concerned. For all his flaws, Leon seemed genuinely protective of Aaron so seemed a good guy.

“…” Travis remained silent, his mind working overtime.

Two missing students.

Cattleya Starlight and Leon Cromwell.

But then there was James Arnold Grayling, the student whose existence was proving increasingly baffling. James had appeared seemingly out of nowhere and had somehow crossed paths with both Cattleya and, potentially, Leon.

A troubling idea began to form in Travis’s mind—a connection between Leon and James. Could they be the same person? The possibility seemed absurd but possible.

He shook his head to clear the thought. “No way,” he muttered to himself.

The differences were too many. Leon and James didn’t just look different—James was taller, more animated, and his mana signature was entirely distinct. Changing your appearance with magic was plausible, but altering height and mana? That was another matter entirely. James’s talkative, almost cocky demeanor also contrasted with Leon’s nature.

No, they were two separate people. It had to be a coincidence.

“Theresa.”

The voice startled them. Erion Mistral strode toward the group, his expression as serious as ever. He glanced at his sister, his frown deepening when he noticed her tending to Travis’s wounds with a bit too much care for his liking.

“Father has called for us. We need to return home immediately,” Erion said.

Turning to Eline, he inclined his head respectfully. “My apologies, Professor, but we must leave.”

“You may go, but only after you pass through the scanner,” Eline replied.

Erion nodded in agreement. Theresa, too, offered no resistance.

“See you, Travis,” Theresa said with a small wave, though Travis barely acknowledged her, still gritting his teeth in anger at what happened.

She wanted to give him comforting words but her brother seeing enough dragged his sister away. He really had to do something about this.

“Professor Castell!”

The urgent call snapped Eline out of her thoughts. One of her staff members came rushing toward her, clutching a tablet tightly.

“What happened?” Eline asked.

The staff member held out the tablet. “We’ve received a message from Gehenna. They’ve taken Cattleya Starlight and Leon Cromwell hostage.”

Eline widened her eyes. “And?”

“They’re demanding a ransom for their release!”