Underworld Academy – Headmaster's Office
The Vice Headmaster, whose name was Mary (a 7th-level magician) and who handled the Magic Hall, talked to the Duke and then walked out of the room.
Duke (in his mind): Yes, now I also feel that I can't hide my powers for much longer. I'll have to bring my vampire powers out in the open — but I'll do that only when I become a 1st Grade Alpha. And then he began staring fixedly behind the Headmaster's desk.
Headmaster: So, Duke, my offer is still the same today… will you— (and then he noticed where Duke's attention was).
Duke was staring intently behind the Headmaster, where, against the wall behind his chair, there was a table filled with many decorative items. Among them was a glass sphere that looked completely ordinary.
The Headmaster, seeing Duke looking at the sphere, said: "This thing is of no use to you, Duke."
And he began to walk towards it.
Duke's attention broke at the sound of his voice, and he said in surprise, "What?"
Then the Headmaster went behind his desk towards the sphere and said: "This is a gift from our previous Headmaster, who was at Half-Baki level about 200 years ago when he was the Headmaster of this Academy… and who is no longer in this world. This is his last keepsake." Then he began running his hand over the glass sphere.
Duke (in his mind): Not Half-Baki… he had become a full Baki. How could I forget him… And from this sphere, I can feel faint traces of his soul's power. So he created a Soul Artifact.
[Note: A Soul Artifact is something into which a soul is merged. Most Soul Artifacts are made using a monster's soul. Monsters, unlike vampires, don't have multiple cores — they have only one core, and their soul resides in it. When a vampire or magician kills a monster, the only thing they target is this core. Once the core is broken, the monster is destroyed. When a monster's core breaks, a piercing sound is released as its soul comes out, which magicians or vampires capture inside a crystal or container, and then merge into an object. (Example: as you saw in the earlier chapter with Veronica's sword.)
A monster's soul has no identity or understanding — it is a "dead soul." The higher the monster's level, the more powerful the soul and the richer its blood. And if no one captures the soul, it dissipates into nature within minutes after death.
Similarly, magicians can voluntarily seal a part of their own soul into an object, so that it can help their future generations in leveling up. Their soul retains their own thoughts and personality. (For example: the painting you saw in the Gry Family house.) To do this, a magician must be at least 6th level.
Vampires split their soul into fragments and hide them inside their cores, or merge them with the core itself. As they level up, their cores grow in number; when one core breaks, a new one forms, and more soul fragments are merged into the new core. A vampire can also hide one of these cores inside an object — but this temporarily weakens them until a new core forms. To create a Soul Artifact, a vampire must be at least Half-Baki level or above. Like magicians, their soul retains personality and awareness. Vampires also do this so their family's magicians can level up. (After reaching Nova level, vampires gain new mind-related powers — which you'll learn about as the story progresses.) ]
Headmaster: This is nothing of interest to you, Duke… but if you were a magician, then perhaps it would be worth your attention.
Duke (in his mind): This is actually one of the most useful things for me… to open that map. And that old man (referring to the old Headmaster) will not even refuse me for it…
Headmaster: But I can give you this… (he said slyly).
Duke (understanding his slyness): So, I have no other choice… isn't that right, Headmaster?
Headmaster (smiling): Yes… but I won't force you into anything.
Duke: Fine then… but this will tarnish your reputation.
Headmaster: Oh, don't worry about that… I don't care about such things.
Duke: Fine then, I'm ready to become your personal student.
The moment Duke said this, the entire atmosphere of the room changed. Queen and Veronica couldn't understand anything, and Laila — who had some idea — saw exactly what she expected. Queen and Veronica looked at the Headmaster in shock, wondering what was happening. When did the Headmaster even ask Duke? And Duke was just a noob — so why was he being chosen over all the powerful students in the academy to be the Headmaster's personal student? Laila thought to herself…
Laila (in her mind): My guess was right… but why can't I sense his powers? This doesn't make sense… is he Gold level or Half-Gold, hiding his power so easily? No, no… he can't be Gold. At his age — he's only 19 — that's impossible. Then how? I can't even sense his core… (she drifted into her own thoughts).
Headmaster: Good decision, Duke… it wasn't me, but this old Headmaster's relic that made you say yes. So from today, you'll be my personal student.
Duke: Alright… (and he bowed his head in respect).
Headmaster: These three here are also my students — you must already know them. From today, you'll join them as one of my personal students. And you—
Duke: One condition — you will not stop me from doing anything, and I will come to you to learn only when I choose to.
Headmaster (thinking for a moment): Fine.
Duke (in his mind): That's good enough… I know my vampire level, but I lack experience. So I'll learn from someone who's about to become a Half-Baki… that will be perfect. And he accepted my condition… that's all I wanted. Now, whenever I meet him, I'll pretend to respect him… and then I'll find a way to take that glass sphere.
Then the Headmaster told them to leave. Queen, Laila, Veronica, and Duke bowed their heads and left.
Inside the office, the Headmaster wondered why Duke needed it. He tried to guess… Arthar is at 4th level, he can't handle such high soul power. He'll have to be made at least a 6th-level magician… so why? The Headmaster kept making guesses, then stopped himself and said: "Interesting… I too want to see what you really are, Duke… and why you want this ball." And then he vanished from the room.
Inside the glass ball, the soul within thought: "This soul energy I just felt… it belongs to that Old Demon… but how is it inside this boy? Old Demon…" And then it drifted into its memories.
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