Chapter 469: Dark Demon Subdues Without Fighting (82/233)
The sixth floor of the Starry Sky Tower was akin to a private club.
There were no goods for sale there, and even food and entertainment were provided free of charge.
However, only the nobles’ offspring with significant influence in the capital city were qualified to enter.
Among them, the one with the most power was naturally the statue of Prince Charles (Male Prince) standing on the stone pillar.
It was precisely because of Prince Charles’s backing that the Starry Sky Tower could remain safe amidst the covetous gazes of so many nobles.
Otherwise, such a large piece of meat would have been devoured long ago.
Apart from the six statues, the Starry Sky Tower often released rankings comparing young people.
Some were attention-grabbing, while others had considerable reference value.
Dark Demon (Male) was once a prominent figure in the capital city. Although he was young, his status placed him frequently on these lists.
Of course, he did not show much interest in these things.
In the past, he was always impulsive, doing whatever came to mind, and had a certain degree of competitive spirit, but it was not high.
Today, the sun shone brightly.
The noble offspring huddled on the sixth floor were holding an emergency meeting.
Since the moment the carriage appeared outside the noble trade district, they had learned about Dark Demon’s return, each reacting instinctively.
Among them, the reaction of Joshua Middleton, the youngest son of Marquis Middleton, was the strongest!
Joshua was sixteen years old, not particularly old, but already considered “adult” in this world.
During the war period, merely fourteen years old was considered “adult,” but relative peace over the past decade had pushed back the age line by two years.
Moreover, the development of the era slowed down the mental growth of children, potentially pushing back the age line even further.
But at least now, Joshua was considered an adult.
His father, Marquis Middleton, was a new aristocrat who rose to prominence during wartime. Though he fell slightly short of Alvaraite in terms of fame, he was still an immensely powerful warrior and a seasoned strategist.
Before the development of mana technology, the power system in this world primarily revolved around magic and aura.
Magic was profound and difficult to master, and humans generally lacked sufficient mana support, making them far inferior to demons.
To counter the demons, humans developed “aura,” a mysterious force unique to them.
Aura, as the name suggests, was a force derived from the human body’s chakras.
Mages believed that aura was a form of magic itself.
The Church of the Saints viewed aura as a divine innate ability, passed down through generations and latent within the human body’s chakras.
Both perspectives had their merits.
Demons lacked chakras, whereas aura’s effects were similar to some enhancement spells.
In other words, aura could only be used to strengthen the body.
Humans had seven chakras, which acted as energy gathering points controlling different bodily systems.
These were the crown chakra, brow chakra, throat chakra, heart chakra, solar plexus chakra, sacral chakra, and root chakra.
Each opened chakra allowed humans to control their physical body more effectively.
Aura’s quality and quantity also improved accordingly.
Only the crown chakra was located outside the body, above the head.
If the crown chakra was opened, aura could be projected externally, forming a highly oppressive “aura”!
Sufficiently strong aura could produce an effect akin to dragon might, collectively suppressing weaker-minded individuals!
Nevertheless,
the widespread use of aura only allowed humans to barely withstand demon attacks.
Its limitations were significant, far inferior to magic.
Furthermore, demons were naturally physically stronger, and any demon warrior would not be weaker than a human warrior with all seven chakras open.
To enhance their limits, humans usually practiced both aura and magic simultaneously.
Before the rise of mana technology, the most powerful pure-blood humans were those who practiced both aura and magic—magic warriors!
Marquis Middleton was a powerful magic warrior.
As his son, Joshua was also a magic warrior.
At just fourteen, he had already accompanied his father in eliminating numerous radical elements, making him a rare powerhouse among noble offspring.
His statue being erected on the stone pillar was indeed a result of his accomplishments.
Conversely, last year, Dark Demon (Male) was nothing but a duke’s son, acting aggressively and arrogantly, and was mocked and ridiculed, receiving what he deserved.
However, after that day, Marquis Middleton called Joshua to his study for a long night conversation.
The next day, Joshua emerged from the study with a deeper sense of strategy.
He had yet to repair the statue in the Starry Sky Tower, indicating his intention to wait for Dark Demon’s return.
He intended to defeat him openly and fairly, then re-establish his statue to wash away the disgrace!
…
Joshua, sitting on the sofa, looked serious.
Although he had been studying at the Royal Academy, he still paid attention to news about Dark Demon.
Rumors had it that Dark Demon was thriving at Saint Maryann Academy, having changed significantly.
Today’s battle was uncertain.
“But that’s good. If I were to duel someone without strength, it would seem unjust. My Middleton family rose through military achievements, commanding the Mage Knight Order. During wartime, we can use deceitful tactics, but in daily life, we must act honorably. With my abilities, I will uphold our family rules.”
Joshua spoke slowly, his gaunt face shining.
The noble offspring surrounding him, though not fawning, praised him wholeheartedly.
Indeed, the duke’s son was overly arrogant, never building relationships with others, even driving them away.
In this Starry Sky Tower, even if anyone had thought of getting closer, they were rejected, leaving him without supporters.
However, only a third of the nobles centered around Joshua, while the remaining two-thirds merely watched from the sidelines, enjoying the spectacle.
…
Soon, footsteps echoed from the stairs.
“He’s here!”
Joshua’s eyes narrowed, gazing toward the staircase.
Almost everyone stopped their discussions, focusing their gaze on that spot.
Then, as expected, Dark Demon appeared in the focal point of their gazes.
This son of a duchess, unseen for nearly a year, was impeccably dressed, his golden hair meticulously combed, his skin glowing like jade, better even than those famous on the lists.
His demeanor was gentle, his aura refined and cultured, making him appear like a sage’s descendant.
Yet, the noble youth who ascended the sixth floor was indeed the familiar son of a duchess!
Not only Joshua, but almost everyone’s eyes revealed a hint of astonishment.
If change were to be noted, everyone had changed in nearly a year.
Joshua had become more mature, his personality corrected.
But compared to Dark Demon’s evident transformation, this change seemed negligible.
This made people wonder whether Dark Demon had truly transformed or merely learned to disguise himself.
Two options…
Undoubtedly, the latter was easier to accept.
After all, bad boys becoming worse suited most people’s expectations.
But if that were the case, Dark Demon’s difficulty would likely skyrocket!
Those with little interaction with Dark Demon became increasingly invisible.
After his initial shock, Joshua did the opposite, standing up proactively.
His supporters habitually stood beside and behind him.
Joshua walked confidently toward the staircase, extending his hand to Dark Demon.
Dark examined Joshua’s face closely for a moment before confirming this was the marquis’s son, terrified by Trina’s aura.
So, he shook hands and said, “Joshua Middleton?”
As the saying goes, a handshake signifies peace.
Dark Demon was not unreasonable; a handshake and some compliments would settle last year’s issues.
Later, they could sit comfortably on the sixth floor, eat, and leave peacefully.
For such a social place, Dark Demon’s presence indicated confidence in his own self-control.
But Joshua’s expression darkened as he said, “Long time no see, Dark.”
“It has been nearly a year,” Dark withdrew his hand and walked directly past him.
Following closely, Aurora and Trina arrived side by side, the determined female servant trailing behind.
Aurora held her hands in front of her abdomen, slightly timid but curious about her surroundings.
Trina ignored everyone, not even glancing at Joshua.
Joshua suddenly felt like
The streetlights illuminated the path of the three advancing figures.
Of course, he couldn’t just stand there rigidly.
After all, before Dark came up, he had made his intentions clear.
“Hold on, Dark!” Thus, he immediately called out.
Dark stopped and turned to look at him, “What’s wrong?”
Joshua hesitated under his pure, big eyes, even changing the prepared lines he had in mind, “It’s like this, I heard you’ve learned a lot at Saint Maryann Academy. How about we spar a bit? Just touch and go.”
This could be considered very friendly.
Dark, not sensing any malice, asked doubtfully, “But aren’t you a mage warrior?”
Joshua didn’t understand for a moment and replied, “Yes, is there anything wrong with that?”
Dark then raised his hand, and the Imp Beast immediately flew to his hand like a bird, but did not fully perch.
Then Dark said, “But I’m a magus.”
Joshua glanced at the clearly demonic familiar and thought to himself, Dark Demon indeed is a demon.
However, he didn’t pay much attention to Dark’s words and said, “Magi are indeed the highest tier among battle mages, but we mage warriors aren’t pushovers either.”
As he spoke, he took a step forward, instantly gathering energy within him. The six chakras in his body simultaneously generated surging energy, which then surged upward, forming a terrifying beast shadow above his head!
That was a highly special “aura.”
“Ten Thousand Beasts Aura” slowly spread out, like thousands of beasts running wild, with the roar of tigers echoing for miles, creating a shocking aura!
…
“What is this?”
Dark had only a basic understanding of “energy” and “aura,” but he could clearly see that Joshua had reached a very high realm.
Some of the noble offspring nearby were intimidated by the fierce “Ten Thousand Beasts Aura,” their faces turning pale, stepping back, some even trembling.
But compared to the divine power of the Moon Goddess, this aura was as trivial as child’s play.
Dark only slightly frowned, treating it as a breeze passing by, feeling nothing.
Trina, who was already beside him, had an instinctive reaction, but perhaps seeing that her young master wasn’t scared as she feared, the “sword aura” she had revealed instantly receded.
Aurora’s two sun and moon elementals were startled and emerged from her hair, flying above her head.
Some knowledgeable people couldn’t help but reveal surprised expressions upon seeing the two sun and moon elementals, wondering who this girl accompanying Dark truly was.
Aurora, protected by the Flame Sun Elemental and Ice Moon Elemental, felt nothing.
Seeing this, the “Ten Thousand Beasts Aura” released by Joshua suddenly stagnated, losing its initial overwhelming presence.
Dark curiously said, “This aura is indeed impressive. But if it’s just this…”
“I practice both magic and martial arts, not giving my all.” Joshua subconsciously explained.
But this made it seem as though he was pleading for guidance, causing his supporters to gasp in surprise.
However, Joshua had experienced life-and-death battles. When facing opponents stronger than himself, he had a natural perception.
He instinctively realized that the once weak Dark Demon might now be above him.
But a man should keep his word. Since he initiated the duel, there was no backing down.
Fortunately, he didn’t mention “duel,” instead wisely changing it to “spar,” which was indeed his wisest decision today…
In this moment of reflection, Joshua suddenly realized he was showing cowardice before the fight, his expression turning grim.
The “Ten Thousand Beasts Aura” plummeted, completely losing its initial surge.
…
This obvious change left the spectators amazed.
In just one exchange, Dark Demon hadn’t done anything, yet Joshua seemed deflated, turning into a withered shell.
Those noble offspring who initially wanted to see how this would end were greatly disappointed.
Dark even noticed that Joshua had lost his fighting spirit, shaking his head, “Forget it. We have free time, why don’t we try a different sparring method?”
“What kind of method?”
Joshua couldn’t miss the implication of this offer.
He was surprised and a bit fearful by the sudden increase in Dark’s emotional intelligence.
How does one grow to achieve such a terrifying transformation in just a year?
Dark gave him the impression of a Magikarp suddenly transforming into a Gyarados.
Of course, he didn’t know what Magikarp or Gyarados were, but it didn’t stop him from using this analogy.
“How about a game?” Dark’s expression shifted slightly.
At the academy, he needed to restrain himself and not lose focus.
But since it was break time, why not play a game?
…
The atmosphere changed dramatically.
Dark ordered the female servant to bring over a set of Mana Chess pieces and laid them out on the sixth floor hall.
The Mana Chess board was placed on a jade table, with sofas on each side that could seat three people.
Others who wanted to watch also brought chairs and sat around.
But if one looked closely, they would notice a hint of confusion in these people’s expressions.
They couldn’t comprehend why a duel had turned into a Mana Chess match.
The class gap among nobles was evident here; those qualified to sit around the table were the children of the elite.
Those lower in rank stood to watch.
Dark told Trina to relax and sit on either side of him with Aurora, then arranged the chessboard and asked Joshua, “Have you played before?”
“Three years of experience.” Joshua nodded seriously.
Oh, a veteran player?
Dark became interested.
Mana Chess was called “magical” but essentially didn’t require mana to drive, making it potentially accessible.
Without mana, the viewing effect of Mana Chess would be poor, requiring manual data calculations, as every move supported by data.
Mana Chess was also very expensive, and if the pieces didn’t move, it wouldn’t convey the right feel.
Thus, it remained popular in small circles.
Joshua practiced both magic and martial arts. Though his mana talent wasn’t enough to become a magus, playing Mana Chess was easy for him.
They quickly began their game.
…
The strategic thinking behind Mana Chess was fundamentally similar to regular chess, which is why Dark grasped it so quickly.
Once the game started, their strengths were soon displayed, appearing evenly matched!
Or at least, their combat abilities were more evenly matched.
After a while, the first game ended.
Dark won narrowly.
Seeing a chance of victory, Joshua didn’t give up and blurted out wanting a rematch.
Dark said, “Let’s play best out of three, I’ll start with one win.”
In the second game, Joshua aggressively pursued, while Dark calmly responded, doing his best but still losing.
The score became 1-1.
Then the third game began directly.
This time, Dark changed tactics, attacking while defending, rapidly altering the game. It was like a thousand troops assaulting a castle, breaking down Joshua’s defense and ultimately capturing the castle!
When the castle fell, Joshua slammed the table and stood up.
But standing alone for a while, he sank back into his seat, saying, “Best out of five!”
“Eat first.” Dark smiled.
Winning without arrogance, losing without discouragement.
…
The staff from the Starry Sky Tower, who had been waiting, quickly served the food, and the manager hiding behind breathed a sigh of relief.
It was fortunate that Dark didn’t fight with Joshua right away.
He didn’t dare slack off, ordering the kitchen to continue cooking.
As for himself… he naturally continued hiding!
After all, a gentleman doesn’t stand under a dangerous wall, let alone a villain.
Who knew whether the duke’s son might suddenly lash out during the game, or if the marquis’s son would fly into a rage?
These young men were the most unpredictable. As someone who merely survived by clinging to the prince, it was better to stay hidden.
…
Of course, neither the female servant nor the manager experienced their imagined scenarios.
After Dark, Aurora, and Trina finished lunch, they continued their game.
Dark initially worried Aurora might find it boring, but seeing her enthusiasm while watching, he continued playing.
So the match went from deciding the winner in one game to best out of three, then five, and finally to eleven wins out of six.
Finally, when Joshua lost 2-6, he had no face to continue.
And it was already three o’clock in the afternoon.
Dark got up, waved goodbye, and took Aurora down to the fifth floor in a light-hearted manner.
From the fifth floor to the second, various youth trends were suitable for the young generation.
Luxuries of every kind were available.
Yet Aurora clearly had no interest in loitering around here, so the three of them went downstairs and headed to their next destination.
…
It wasn’t until they had indeed left the Starry Sky Tower that the nobles’ children on the sixth floor suddenly came to their senses.
Someone couldn’t help but ask, “So what exactly was Demon here for?”
The rest remained silent.
Only Joshua, who had lost miserably at Mana Chess, quietly said, “Just to go shopping, right?”
Though this was the truth, no one believed it.
…
East City Pet Street.
As peace became more enduring and the residents of the Capital City became wealthier, they also developed spiritual needs.
If someone lived alone, having a couple of cute little things could add some fun to life.
When Dak used to come, he often wandered around this pet street.
However, he only touched but didn’t buy, which made him quite unpopular with some merchants.
Of course, because he always had a beautiful female servant by his side, the merchants were afraid to speak out.
This time, Dak parked his carriage outside the street as usual and walked into the street.
He was notorious on this street, but at least he didn’t do worse things than other noble children.
Therefore, the merchants turned a blind eye.
Certainly, Dak usually didn’t put on airs and rarely attended those noble gatherings, so even ordinary people and a large part of the young nobles only knew his name but not him.
Otherwise, if the merchants knew that it was the son of the Valkyrie visiting, they would certainly rush to give him all the cute little things.
After all, the Valkyrie’s prestige in the kingdom was so great, especially in the Capital City where everyone admired her.
Otherwise, she wouldn’t be able to compete with the Saint Church, which had been rooted in the kingdom for so long.
After entering the pet street, Dak naturally went straight to his favorite cat pet shop.
There was no way that pet shops in the city would sell rare pets like Grass Cat Plants, but not all were ordinary pets. Some had traces of monster bloodlines, or were related to magical creatures.
“Is this the place you wanted?” Dak asked.
Aurora nodded.
The name of this cat pet shop was “Pet You Forever,” and there were a few very old cats that never sold well. Every time Dak came, he would pet them.
The owner of “Pet You Forever” was a plump aunt, and she was the only one on the whole street who welcomed him warmly.
At first, it might have been because few people were willing to play with those old cats.
Later, it was because once there was a conflict in the store, Dak happened to be there and let his female servant intervene.
Of course, he wasn’t the kind of good kid who liked to help others.
It was just that the voice of the small noble was too noisy at the time, affecting his petting of the cats.
But in any case, he did help the pet shop solve a crisis, and thus received thanks.
This was one of the few “good deeds” Dak had done.
The plump aunt immediately brought out a plate of cookies to welcome him when she saw him enter the store.
Dak picked up a cookie, took a bite, and said, “Where’s Fatty?”
There was an orange cat named Fatty in the store. When Dak first came to the store to wander, Fatty was already there, and it had been several years since then.
Because of its advanced age, Fatty would always lie down in a sunny spot and stay still, allowing the young Dak, who was struggling to catch “Galileo,” to pet it thoroughly.
Children always favored the first thing they got.
Every time Dak came, he would habitually look for Fatty.
But this time, the plump aunt’s expression seemed a bit off.
Dak gradually prepared himself mentally.
And sure enough, the plump aunt sighed and said, “It’s gone at Christmas.”
In the end, it couldn’t withstand the corrosion of time.
The elderly orange cat didn’t survive Christmas.
Dak couldn’t help falling silent.
Aurora, who had originally been excitedly looking at the kittens, unconsciously retracted her expression.
“The cycle of life and death is always like this,” the plump aunt comforted her. “Don’t worry, Fatty passed away peacefully.”
Dak nodded. “It’s fine, let me sit down.”
As he spoke, he casually picked up a chair and moved it to where the sunlight from the window shone through.
Every summer, Fatty would always lie in this position, never changing.
Dak stared blankly at the circle of light cast by the sun.
He seemed to hear the long-lost purring sound.
There was dust floating in the sunlight.
…
After watching motionless for half an hour.
Dak finally retracted his expression.
When he stood up again, he had returned to normal.
“How is it? Did you see any cats you like?”
“They’re all lovely,” Aurora said, holding a small kitten and looking up.
Dak asked, “Would you like to pick one to take back? It would be nice to keep Galileo company.”
Aurora shook her head. “No, I have to go to school. We can’t bring cats to the academy, right?”
“But you can bring Grass Cat Plants,” Dak winked.
Aurora hadn’t been to his bedroom, so she didn’t know about the specialty of St. Maryan Traveler Street.
She immediately asked curiously, “What is a Grass Cat Plant?”
Dak said, “A plant that shares similar traits with a cat.”
“Is there such a thing?” Aurora imagined the appearance of the Grass Cat Plant, wondering how its roots connected to its body.
Dak said, “We should head back. After we return to the mansion, I’ll show you.”
Aurora responded, “Okay!”
…
Afterwards, Dak and Aurora directly left the pet street.
Although he appeared to have recovered, Aurora could clearly feel that his mood was still low, so she didn’t talk much and accompanied him onto the carriage, returning to the Duke’s Mansion.
…
When the Duke’s Mansion came into view, the dazzling sun overhead had already dimmed.
Dak stepped down from the carriage first, then helped Aurora down by supporting her hand.
Aurora was actually as strong as Diana and mentioned quietly that she didn’t need help, but Dak seemed to have forgotten.
Once they got off, she quietly walked beside Dak and entered the mansion together with him.
Trina, however, soon parted ways after entering.
She had many things to handle.
…
Dak went upstairs, walked through the corridor styled like a playground, and arrived at the door of his bedroom.
Then he raised his hand to knock on the door.
But before his hand could fall, the door opened from inside.
The Mana Golems had sensed his approach and immediately opened the door.
Eevee’s ribbon wrapped around his wrist like it was programmed, conveying thoughts and concern.
Dak squatted down, hugged Eevee, and invited Aurora to enter.
This was Aurora’s first time entering a boy’s bedroom, and her cheeks were already flushed.
She curiously looked at the Mana Golems filling the room, surprised to find that almost all the Mana Golems were reading books.
Even though these books were early childhood educational books with phonetic annotations, they were still shocking.
Dak wasn’t overly cautious.
He clapped his hands toward the direction of the Grass Cat Plants.
Immediately, five Grass Cat Plants—except for the timid and dark-loving Longlong Grass—happily ran over.
The sight of the cute little things running towards him with their short legs made people involuntarily smile, easing Dak’s low mood. He said to Aurora, “These are Grass Cat Plants, diverse in species and suitable for raising in the academy dorms.”
Aurora, seeing both animals and plants in the Grass Cat Plants, couldn’t help squatting down to catch the sprint of the short-haired Grass Cat Plant.
She seemed to have a natural affinity for plants, and the Grass Cat Plant obediently let her hold it without struggling.
Before long, a circle of Grass Cat Plants surrounded her.
Dak let her play with the Grass Cat Plants for a while and then took a brief rest on the sofa.
Not long after, Olivia, the head maid of the “Aries Palace Maid Team,” knocked on the door.
Her arms were full of thick stacks of resumes. She entered and said, “This is a simple introduction to the tutors who applied. They’ve already been screened, so there’s no doubt about their reliability.”
Dak pointed to the table. “Put it there. Has the Desil Seed been planted?”
Olivia smiled. “Yes, it has.”
“Let’s go check it out!” Dak stood up.
Aurora reluctantly put down the Grass Cat Plant and followed them out.
The three of them went downstairs, crossed the long corridor, and soon arrived at the backyard.
First, they saw a vast expanse of flowers and grass, neatly covering the entire courtyard.
As they walked through the path between the flower beds, a gentle breeze carried the fragrance of flowers towards them.
The sun set, and the sunset’s afterglow slowly spread.
Golden rays shone on their skin.
The golden-haired youth and the silver-haired girl strolled among the flowers.
The graceful maid walked gracefully.
In the unfolding scenery, a specially cultivated circular plot appeared, with moisture rising.
The Desil Seed had indeed sprouted a tiny tender shoot.
