Chapter 32: The Strange Weapon

Chapter 32: The Strange Weapon

Exorcist schools usually had a lot of rare treasures gathered over the years by their students. But they rarely gave anything to others.

The headmaster asked me to pick a reward and probably had ulterior motives. Was it some political stuff behind the scenes? I was a Dark Sword Clan member. So I was bound to get involved in troublesome stuff, sooner or later. The source of this content nov(el)bi((n))

I didn't have the experience, brain, or time for politics. So I didn't bother thinking about it. In this world as long as someone had power, they could do many things. Might makes right, and deep down everything followed the law of the jungle.

"How about early graduation?" I asked for something basic, which he could easily accommodate.

I attempted to find out if the headmaster anticipated this response or if he was taken aback. The only thing I ended up finding out was that the old man was a hard man to read.

"I agree with that. You held back the Demonic Exorcist that even I couldn't defeat," the headmaster nodded. Acting as if my request was something obvious.

Thankfully, due to Anika's warnings, I knew the gist of the situation.

I didn't show any expression when he said I could hold back the Demonic Exorcist.

Technically, he wasn't wrong. But he made it sound like I battled the Demonic Exorcist and he couldn't defeat me until the headmaster came.

"Don't tell me you believe those rumors," I shook my head. I doubt the headmaster was like the gossiping students, who might believe something like this. At his age, he knew when to look at the facts.

Whatever he thought. I will still refuse those rumors. I don't want anyone to overestimate my ability. Superiors who overestimate an Exorcist's ability could send them on deadly missions without even meaning to.

"I found it hard to believe them too," The headmaster smiled. "But do you wanna know something?"

"What?"

"When I fought the Demonic Exorcist, he had an injured arm. Pretty much unusable during our fight. Now I wonder how he got that?"

My heart dropped. Now I could understand how some might take some things as 'evidence'. But I knew my abilities best.

Even Elite Exorcists would have difficulty buying time against the Demonic Exorcist. With my current abilities, I could barely take on a low-class demon.

"It was a fluke," I reasoned. He should know that. I didnt know whether he was playing with me or not.

But I had to keep calm. Come on my racing heart, slow down a bit! I mustnt show any sign of weakness.

Meleo couldn't help but sigh internally when he thought of the Demonic Exorcist. Despite how he looked now, many decades ago Even the cruel Demonic Exorcist was a young man once learning the arts of exorcism.

The old headmaster sank back to the memories of many decades ago.

A young dark-haired boy and a red-haired young girl are sitting at the same desk. They were opposite to each other. The boy looked withdrawn while the girl was outspoken and arrogant.

Meleo smiled at the memories. It felt like he could still hear the girl bragging. She was one of the least talented exorcists he had ever taught, but she was a fun pupil to have. Every day she would get into some shenanigans.

The boy was the opposite, he didn't have any confidence, but his talent was overwhelming. Low-class demons didn't attack him; they would even protect the boy sometimes. Just like how a mother would instinctively protect their baby. He had earned the name; The Exorcist Loved by Demons.

Later he would become known as the Demonic Exorcist.

It was sometimes bewildering how people could change so much. The gentle and unsure boy ended up becoming a monster. Back in the day, Meleo had hoped that the young exorcist would be the one to take his seat amongst the Special 22.

Where did it all go wrong? Wondered Meleo. The bitter feeling in his chest would never go away, no matter how hard he tried to forget it. Those same feelings hurt more than the wound on his shoulder ever could.

"I choose the Demon Turning Sword as a reward," Kon's voice woke Meleo up from his melancholy.

It took a couple of seconds for the old headmaster to register what the youngster had asked for.

What did he say?! Who gave him that information?

He didnt think someone so young would know about a magic weapon like that. The demon-turning sword lived up to its name and could turn any creature it cut into a demon. It was a catastrophic weapon and one of the three most dangerous weapons sealed in the academy. Sorry, but you cant have something like that.

Meleo liked the kid and had seen how brave he was. If Kon hadn't been there to save the students and professor Chain, many more people would have died. But weapons like the Demon Turning sword were too dangerous to give out.

I dont care about a weapon like that, Kon shook his head. I just want to use it once. I wouldnt mind if the usage were under your surveillance.

No matter how he looked at the situation, Meleo couldnt see what Kon was thinking about. He was wondering if he was making some kind of mistake by trusting another one of his students. Well, he wasnt his student, but Meleo considered everyone here as his disciple. Sure, but you will have to use it before me.

Meleo was confident in his ability to stop a kid. Though as soon as he thought of that, the wound of his shoulder blistered in a pang of pain. He almost winced, but with his decades of experience, he kept his composure.

I wasnt even able to defeat the Demonic Exorcist when he didnt have all his high-class demons around him. Im getting too old for this job.

Time was unforgiving to humans. He at his peak would laugh at the current state he had ended up in.

Maybe resigning as one of the twenty-two special exorcists would be for the best.