NOVPUBConfusion spread like tendrils throughout the art classroom, causing the formerly echo-prone space to fall hush.
All eyes turned to a single target—Lanci.
As though yearning to find an explanation within his innocent expression.
However,
His face was like a puzzle harder to decipher than the painting in the professor’s hands, its mysteries lost to all.
Four times he had answered instantly, each time striking the correct option like a lightning bolt.
Such a streak could hardly be chalked up to coincidence; no demon had room for doubt that Lanci was relying solely on luck.
Though they could not comprehend what strange magic this Radiant Demon had used to analyze the answers so accurately and quickly...
"..."
The Eagle-eyed Demon sat there, his thoughts entangled by Lanci’s suggestive words, his gaze raging with frustration and conflict.
He knew full well it was only fitting for Lanci to take revenge.
So, Lanci might have deliberately answered a few questions correctly, only to mislead him with a wrong answer later!
But then,
Lanci could also have predicted that the Eagle-eyed Demon would see through this trap, so he still answered correctly, luring the Eagle-eyed Demon into deliberately answering in reverse.
After some analysis, the Eagle-eyed Demon’s thoughts became ever more tangled, becoming less and less assured of what level Lanci was operating on, gradually suspecting Lanci of only messing with his head!
Finally, after another bout of consideration.
The Eagle-eyed Demon seemed to have found a clue, the corners of his lips slowly rising.
As if he had figured out what to do.
"You are smart, but you overlooked one thing..."
The Eagle-eyed Demon focused on Lanci, like a police officer who had found a lead on a criminal.
Being an adept of spiritual magic, he could discern the spiritual vibrations of other demons with utter clarity.
When Lanci had given him the answer, there was hardly any complexity in his thoughts. 𝔫𝖔𝔳𝖕𝖚𝔟.𝔠𝔬𝖒
His words had been too calm, his gaze too pure.
In the Demon World, no demon would ever — so sincerely, without a hint of ulterior motive — give the right answer to an opponent they regarded as an adversary!
That was the only flaw in the trap set by the Radiant Demon! He must have harbored the innate malice of the Demon Race and given the wrong answer.
"The student drew it."
The Eagle-eyed Demon did not take Lanci’s answer, his voice resolute, resonating throughout the vacant classroom.
Soon after, he shot Lanci a cold, sneering glance.
As if ridiculing Lanci’s powerless scheme, which not only failed to harm him but also ended up helping him!
"... "
Professor Mogut fell silent, shaking his head,
"Wrong, I drew it."
There was a hint of displeasure in Professor Mogut’s words.
Lanci looked sympathetic, looking at the Eagle-eyed Demon as if he were a fool.
"I told you the correct answer, why didn’t you believe me..."
He looked like he had no ill intentions, merely wanting to help his classmates to the best of his abilities.
"..."
Hyperion, who was standing to the side, stared at Lanci’s face. She knew that Lanci was definitely telling the truth, but unfortunately, this Eagle-eyed Demon just wouldn’t believe it.
Thinking it over, Hyperion felt like a demon was being toyed with by Lanci again.
Regardless of whether the Eagle-eyed Demon believed him or not, Lanci’s action of revealing the answer disrupted his train of thought. Even the Eagle-eyed Demon himself didn’t realize he had unconsciously shifted his entire focus from the painting to Lanci.
"What’s wrong?"
Lanci seemed to notice Hyperion looking at him, turned his head, and smiled at her, his voice as clear as spring water.
"...Nothing."
Hyperion didn’t say much to Lanci.
She knew that even if she asked Lanci, he would just look at her guiltlessly and say: "I didn’t know", "He just presumed bad of me", "How could I possibly harm a classmate?"
This guy’s natural ability to deceive had become a part of him, making it impossible for her to discern whether he was doing good or evil. He was even beginning to show signs of duality...
...
The entire right side of the classroom was enveloped in a profound silence.
"Ah..."
The Eagle-eyed Demon’s face was consumed by fear, his eyes reflecting Lanci’s light and shadow, as if a demon was distorting his face in the darkness.
His face twisted, filled with resentment and helplessness.
As he saw Professor Mogut approach, the once sharp-eyed demon’s eyes filled with deep despair.
Until this moment, he couldn’t comprehend how the Radiant Demon could display "goodness"—something that did not belong to the Demon Race—so purely and flawlessly!
Professor Mogut moved with a steady, firm pace. Each step rang in the Eagle-eyed Demon’s ears like a death knell, resonating with his final fear.
Soon, Professor Mogut’s hand slowly rested on the Eagle-eyed Demon’s head, causing his skin to wither, his blood to evaporate, his muscles to shrink, until ultimately he became a shriveled corpse, the light in his eyes gradually extinguishing.
The expression of fear and despair eternally frozen on the Eagle-eyed Demon’s face.
"Let me store this body away first. The next round is a free-for-all."
Before producing the next painting, Professor Mogut, holding the corpse in his hand, cast Lanci an intent glance.
He felt the nature of this lesson might have changed.
This classroom might have held a level 3 difficulty for other students,
But for this Radiant Demon, the difficulty seemed more like negative three.
...
An hour later.
The melodious bells echoed once again, an invisible tension permeating every corner of the classroom, seeping through the walls.
Professor Mogut stood at one end of the round table, his brows furrowed, eyes filled with disbelief.
In his hands were the succession of paintings he had replaced, each aiming to increase the challenge, testing Lanci’s appreciation ability.
But the results, none of them gave Lanci an iota of difficulty.
Professor Mogut was even starting to question how it had become a situation where he was challenging a student?
Professor Mogut was certain that when Lanci discerned the paintings, he did not use any magic power. He simply relied on his keen eyes, meticulously observing every corner.
It was impossible to imagine why there would be such a terrifying student in this school, who was so proficient in visual art appreciation, as if he was possessed by the God of Art!
"Who exactly are you..."
Professor Mogut stared at Lanci, deeply astounded.
In the eyes of Professor Mogut, a senior art professor, Lanci was already like an unfathomable Art Master.
Even Professor Mogut couldn’t help wondering. If a paintbrush were handed to this Radiant Demon, what kind of masterpiece could he create...
"So, Professor, could you tell me what the reward for 263 points is first?"
Lanci simply supported his cheek with his hand, sitting back in the chair with a relaxed smile and asked.
