“What?”

“A hybrid with a demon? Is that possible?”

The room became noisy at Mathilda’s bombshell. Amidst the confusion, Hayden was the first to ask Mathilda.

“What do you mean? Atilei’s disciple is a hybrid with a demon?”

“Not that she is a hybrid, but the possibility of it, Lord Hayden.”

Leonard corrected Hayden’s words with his arms crossed.

“How does the possibility even come up in the first place? Doesn’t Mathilda have some basis for saying that?”

This time, people’s gazes turned to Mathilda. Mathilda calmly continued her explanation.

“I should explain from the beginning. The reason I suspect Vasquez’s birth is because of her mother, Grita Manson.”

“Manson? Manson, I’ve heard that somewhere. Ah! Manson. She was your disciple, wasn’t she?”

“I remember her too. Wasn’t she particularly skilled in summoning magic?”

Menufio chimed in, seeming to remember her as well. It’s been over twenty years, but those who shine with talent are not easily forgotten.

“That’s right. She was a child I cherished, Grita. If she hadn’t quit magic due to her family’s opposition, she could have become a high-level magician.”

Mathilda reminisced about the young Grita, recalling how talented she had been. However, Hayden’s urging from across the table brought Mathilda back to reality.

“What about Manson? Oh, it’s frustrating, just say it quickly.”

“Among my disciples, Manson was the most talented in demon summoning. She had already succeeded in summoning several times, but she didn’t make a contract with any demon. Then she suddenly quit magic and married into the Vasquez family, and shortly after, she gave birth to a child.”

“What’s strange about that?”

“She was physically incapable of having children from birth. Moreover, about a year before Cordelia Vasquez was born, there was a collapse in the northern part of Ershe. Could all of this really be a coincidence?”

Mathilda said, slowly looking around at those seated. Hayden asked with a serious expression.

“Hmm. Are you saying Manson made a contract with a demon to have a child?”

“But that’s all circumstantial evidence. Where’s the proof that our Cordelia is a hybrid with a demon?”

Cannon frowned and refuted Mathilda’s words. Mathilda humbly accepted his opinion.

“That’s right. It’s all circumstantial evidence. But if Vasquez can drink tea with demon’s blood without any problem, and demons and magical beasts are very pleased with her, then it’s a different story.”

“What are you talking about now?”

Menufio asked. Mathilda briefly explained the story of offering Cordelia tea mixed with the blood of a magical beast. Hayden leaned forward with a very serious face.

“What came out of the collapse twenty years ago? Was there any trace of Manson found there?”

“No. Not only was there no trace of Manson, but there was nothing at all. I looked at the records of the investigation of the collapse at the time, and the content was strangely sparse. As if someone had tried to cover up the incident.”

“It’s suspicious in many ways.”

“Suspicious? From what I see, it’s all speculation. In the end, the only thing you can cite as evidence is the fact that she can drink tea mixed with demon’s blood. Isn’t it unreasonable to accuse someone of being a demon based on just that?”

Cannon glared at those seated, sitting with his stomach tense. Menufio also agreed and added:

“True. And originally, demons and humans are different species, so hybrids can’t be born, right?”

“That’s what we believe, but we’ve never actually experimented.”

Mathilda immediately countered Menufio’s words. Cannon beat his chest as if frustrated.

“So what are you trying to say? That Cordelia is a demon hybrid, so we should expel her from the Magic Association?”

“Expel? That’s dangerous talk. If she really is a demon hybrid, we should kill her. So she can’t cause any harm.”

“You’re crazy, crazy! Kill who?”

Finally unable to contain his anger, Cannon jumped up from his chair and shouted at Mathilda, pointing his finger. Of course, Mathilda didn’t even blink.

Hayden let out a short sigh and took Mathilda’s side.

“Mathilda’s words aren’t wrong. If she’s really a human mixed with demon blood, what are we going to do? We’ve seen magicians who made contracts with demons go berserk several times, haven’t we?”

“Those were fools who made contracts in exchange for power! There are so many people who aren’t like that, and you’re saying this just because of that? Atilei! Say something too. Are you going to sit still while hearing talk about our Cordelia being a demon hybrid and needing to be killed?”

“It seemed like you all had a lot to say, so I was waiting. Have you said everything you wanted to say?”

Leonard, who had been watching the situation with indifferent eyes, straightened his back. Just that, and he seemed to appear much larger.

He looked at the four seated with arrogant eyes, one by one. And he delivered a short and concise warning.

“You seem to have forgotten, but Cordelia is my one and only disciple and the successor of Acheron. If you touch even a fingertip of hers, I will erase the school that cause belongs to with blood, so keep that in mind.”

“Atilei. Think rationally. The one you took as a disciple is not a human, but a demon…”

“Who was the successor of Triska? Ah. Amelia Pachel. She’ll be the first to die.”

“You. Are you threatening me now?”

Mathilda’s black eyes flashed. Leonard neither mocked her nor got angry. He spoke calmly, as if just stating facts.

“It’s not a threat. I’m just telling you the order of events that will happen in the future. Since Lady Mathilda says my disciple should be accused of being a demon and killed, I’m just responding in kind.”

“You’re completely blind. Tsk tsk. For such a mere disciple!”

“Haha. You said ‘mere disciple’? Then, does that mean it’s okay if I kill Liton, Lord Hayden’s most cherished disciple?”

“Atilei! Watch your mouth. How dare you, here of all places!”

Hayden flew into a rage as soon as he heard Leonard’s words, slamming the table. Then Leonard also dropped the formal speech he had been using ritually and returned to his original way of speaking.

“You seem to think you’re above me because I’ve been showing you respect, but don’t make such an arrogant mistake. The reason I speak politely to other Seirius is because I learned magic from sixteen Seirius, albeit briefly, not because I consider you my masters.”

“…”

“I am the Seirius of Acheron, the head of the Atilei family, and the court magician of Ershe. How dare you? How dare you say you’ll kill my disciple in front of me?”

The pressure was so great that the room was enveloped in heavy silence.

“Let me warn you, if I hear one more word about my disciple being a demon or needing to be killed, that school will lose its successor. If you don’t believe me, try it. I’ll try it too.”

“…Do you think the Ropel Magic Association will stand by and watch if you do such a thing?”

Mathilda, who had been silent for a while, asked with her back straight. Leonard smiled very faintly and said.

“You should ask the opposite, Lady Mathilda. If you dare to lay a hand on my disciple, will I leave the Magic Association alone?”

Leonard stood up from his seat. The atmosphere had completely frozen, and no one even turned their eyes.

Just before Leonard opened the door and left, Mathilda spoke to his back.

“But I’m going to keep trying to find out if your disciple is really a pure human. It won’t help even if you try to stop me.”

“Do as you please. It won’t change anything anyway.”

He threw out those words as if it didn’t matter and left the room. Only after the door was completely closed did Cannon let out the breath he had been holding.

“That, that crazy bastard. I knew he was crazy before, but… the way he talks.”

“I expected him to object, but such an intense reaction.”

Menufio clicked his tongue. Hayden just glared at where Leonard had been sitting with displeased eyes, not adding any other words.

The calmest one was Mathilda.

“For now, verification is needed to see if Vasquez is really a demon hybrid, so I plan to continue the investigation. I’ll let you know when the results come out.”

“Is there anything we can do regardless of what the results are? He’s protecting her like that?”

“If she’s human, there’s no need to worry. But if demon blood is mixed, we must kill her by any means necessary.”

“Mathilda. Have you already forgotten what that bastard just said? He’s the type to really do it! What kind of trouble are you trying to cause by messing with Cordelia?”

Cannon beat his chest as if frustrated. Despite his reaction, Mathilda was unmoved.

“If it’s a being that shouldn’t exist in the human world, it should disappear.”

“It’s like talking to a rock. Fine, I’m on Atilei’s side anyway, so don’t try any tricks on our Cordelia. I’ll be watching everything.”

Cannon shook his head and left after making a light threat. Mathilda also left the conference room and slowly walked to her laboratory.

What filled her mind was Grita’s last appearance from twenty years ago.

‘Master. I’m sorry for leaving like this. I’m really sorry.’

Grita apologized, tears streaming down her face. Mathilda hugged her tightly and said.

‘My most beloved disciple, don’t cry. Wherever you go, I will always be with you.’

“Lady Mathilda.”

“Hello, Lady Mathilda.”

Rosenblur and Cordelia were waiting for her in front of the laboratory.

Mathilda looked carefully at Cordelia’s face. Cordelia and Grita didn’t look very alike. Grita had hair close to blonde and light brown eyes. Compared to the lively Cordelia, she was less talkative and had a timid personality.

“What’s the matter?”

“I came to ask about Lydia. If it’s alright with you, could I ask a few questions?”

“Sure. Come in.”

“I’ll be going now.”

Cordelia took a step back and gave a light greeting.

“Thank you, Cordelia. For waiting with me.”

“It’s nothing. I was glad to see Lord Rosenblur after a long time.”

“If you have time, you can come in too.”

“What? Me too?”