The Narrow-Eyed Villain of the Demon Academy

The book Samuel brought was about magic.

Not human magic, but the magic of the Demon Clan.

It piqued my interest, as I, too, was not well-versed in the intricacies of demonic magic.

While I had delved into the specifics of human magic in the original novel, I had never explored the magic system of the Demon Clan, leaving a significant gap in my knowledge.

Thus, I immersed myself in the book Samuel provided.

Whenever I encountered an unfamiliar concept, Samuel readily offered a detailed explanation.

"Unlike humans who utilize circles, our magic relies on 'tattoos.' Kyle, you'll need to abandon your current methods and embrace this new approach."

"So, all my efforts have been in vain?" Kyle lamented.

"Your efforts haven't been wasted. While you must discard the fundamentals of human magic, the mana circuits and proficiency you've cultivated won't simply vanish."

"That's a relief," Kyle sighed, his expression easing.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

I had to admit, the thought of my hard work going up in smoke would have filled me with dread as well.

Kyle, by human standards, had achieved a commendable level of mastery.

It was understandable for him to feel a twinge of frustration at the prospect of abandoning it all.

Nevertheless, he accepted Samuel's words without resistance.

Intrigued, I asked,

"Don't you find it a shame to discard all that you've learned? It may not be entirely for naught, but it must still sting."

"What's there to regret? Sure, it'd be a shame to forget everything, but this opportunity makes it all worthwhile."

"Opportunity?"

I tilted my head, prompting him to elaborate.

"Exactly. Samuel has grown far stronger since our encounter in Sytan. Whatever transpired is irrelevant."

He continued,

"Learning from a mage of Samuel's caliber without any strings attached? Don't tell me you think opportunities like this are commonplace. We'd be fools to let it pass."

"I see," I conceded.

In short, the potential knowledge they stood to gain from Samuel outweighed any sentimental attachment to their previous methods.

I, too, found myself agreeing with Kyle's perspective and readily embraced the prospect of learning demonic magic from Samuel.

The magic of the Demon Realm, while distinct, shared similarities with human magic.

Both relied on a specific bodily function to channel mana and manifest spells.

For humans, it was the circle etched onto their hearts, while demons utilized tattoos.

"Focus all your mana into your tattoo," Samuel instructed.

"It's the most straightforward and efficient method. Don't mistake simplicity for weakness. It offers far greater versatility."

While I couldn't grasp the entirety of his explanation, the essence was clear.

Channel mana into the tattoo.

Following his instructions, I directed my mana towards the tattoo, feeling it surge through my veins and converge around the marking on my neck.

Thrum-

As the energy coursed through me, I spoke,

"I could already do this before. What's different? I don't feel any stronger."

"Well, it's understandable for Kyle to struggle, seeing as this is his first attempt. But for you..."

Samuel chuckled, "This should be child's play."

Indeed.

"Allow me to introduce you to the next stage of our magic."

The next stage?

Could it be...?

My mind raced back to Sytan, where Samuel had mentioned surpassing his peers by breaking through a certain barrier.

He had mastered the 'utilization of tattoos,' a realm I had yet to reach.

Furthermore, my forte lay in dagger combat, not magic.

I had never felt the need to delve deeper into the arcane arts.

Naturally, I was curious about this next stage.

What knowledge would Samuel impart?

How much stronger could I become by taking this next step?

My anticipation grew. "Please, proceed."

"Weren't you complaining of boredom just a moment ago?" Samuel quipped.

"Why, I would never! I'm eager to learn more of your wisdom, Mr. Samuel," I replied with feigned enthusiasm.

Samuel clicked his tongue at my blatant flattery but continued nonetheless.

"Utilizing your tattoo isn't simply about channeling mana. It's about maximizing its potency."

"I'm not sure I follow. Aren't we already maximizing its potency by channeling mana through it?"

"The core concept might seem similar, but in practice, they are vastly different."

Sensing our confusion, Samuel elaborated,

"Think of it as a circuit. While the tattoo appears as a simple marking, it possesses invisible 'channels' for mana to flow. You must learn to manipulate these channels."

Tattoo circuits.

The concept was new to me, yet it felt strangely intuitive.

The flow of mana.

A mechanism to control and amplify it.

Perhaps the key was to fill these channels with mana, preventing its flow. In doing so, wouldn't the tattoo become an extension of my own body?

Could this be the first step towards mastering the next stage of demonic magic?

As if reading my thoughts, Samuel grinned.

"Give it a try. I'll prevent any mana backlash, so don't hold back."

That was reassuring, to say the least.

With a nod, I focused on the concept of tattoo circuits.

Thrum-

First, I drew upon my mana, carefully gathering it at the edge of my tattoo.

It was a delicate process, as even a fraction of my power was overwhelming.

Next, I needed to condense all my mana within the tattoo, transforming it into an extension of myself.

Thump-

A surge of pain ripped through my neck, as if my arteries were about to burst.

For a fleeting moment, I wondered if ending it all myself would be a sweeter mercy.

The agony was unbearable, and I could barely stifle a scream.

‘It hurts.’

It hurt like hell.

Every nerve ending felt like it was on fire.

I clenched my jaw, teeth grinding against each other, desperately seeking an outlet for the pain.

I bit down so hard that I thought I chipped a tooth.

Thud-

Suddenly, Samuel's thorn pierced my thigh, diverting the unbearable agony from my neck.

I gasped, eyes flying open as the pain shifted, becoming almost manageable in comparison.

As I lay there, chest heaving, Samuel clicked his tongue.

"You were moments from death."

"Death?"

I croaked, still reeling from the experience.

"Precisely. Had I not intervened, your neck would have exploded from the inside out."

"---!"

His words sent a shiver down my spine.

It was agonizing, yes, but to think I was actually close to dying...

The realization hit me with unexpected force.

Was this how it ended?

Would I die a pointless death while trying to master magic?

What a pathetic way to go.

Noticing my horrified expression, Samuel simply shook his head.

"You won't die, not while I'm around. I'll make sure you're both running at peak performance until your dying breath."

"...."

I suppose it was meant to be reassuring, but...

...it was terrifying.

‘Running at peak performance until our dying breath’ implied that he'd push us to our absolute limits, regardless of the pain, as long as we were alive.

What a terrifying man.

Despite my trembling fists, I steeled myself and tried again.

I needed to understand where I went wrong.

What was the cause of my failure?

I had to analyze my mistake if I wanted to succeed. Samuel offered a cryptic clue.

"Do you understand the difference between a tidal wave and a drizzle? Picture a valley."

A valley.

What happens when rain falls upon a valley?

And what about a tidal wave?

I closed my eyes, carefully considering his words.

When rain falls on a valley, it gradually fills with water.

The flow doesn't start strong but builds up over time until it becomes a raging torrent.

A tidal wave, on the other hand, crashes down with immense force from the very beginning.

Samuel was telling me to differentiate between these two approaches.

Instead of forcing all my mana at once, I needed to be patient, to guide it gently.

I had to divide my mana into smaller, manageable portions and circulate them through the circuit in a specific sequence, ensuring that my body could handle the flow.

Slow and steady.

Carefully, I channeled a tiny fraction of my mana.

Thrum-

Thrum-

Thrum-

I broke down my mana into minuscule fragments, though even these felt enormous.

Beads of sweat trickled down my forehead as I focused on the delicate process.

‘Slowly, carefully…’

A shiver ran down my spine as the uncomfortable sensation of my damp clothes registered, but I pushed it aside.

I had to maintain my focus on guiding the mana through my tattoo's intricate pathways.

A circle and a cross.

That was the pattern of my tattoo circuit.

It mirrored the design of the tattoo itself, yet it felt far more complex, as if something was missing.

Following Samuel's instructions, I patiently guided my mana through the circuit.

Thrum-

A sense of fulfillment washed over me as I felt a change within my tattoo.

Did it work?’

I opened my eyes and glanced at my companions, but their reactions were not what I expected.

"You..."

"Perhaps magic isn't for you after all."

Why?

I managed to do it, so why were they looking at me like that?

Confused, I tilted my head.

"Maybe you should see for yourself."

Miriam approached me and held up a hand mirror.

As I looked into the reflection, my jaw dropped.

"Holy shit."

The transformation was startling.

I typically used my darkness affinity to conceal my Arsene tattoo, but now, after activating the next stage of demonic magic...

The tattoo, a mark of my lineage, blazed with an intense light, prominently displayed on my neck for all to see.

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