Extra Pages: The Author's Odyssey
Chapter 71: A Night Filled With Blood [ 1]

As Isabella approached the checkpoint after completing her report on the Fire Boar, a peculiar sensation prickled the air. The usual calm ambience of the surroundings seemed disrupted, replaced by an undercurrent of tension.

Upon reaching the designated area, her eyes widened at the scene unfolding before her. Two male students lay unconscious on the ground, their forms sprawled awkwardly. The sight raised immediate concern, as it was an unusual occurrence within the supposedly controlled environment of the training exercise.

A group of girls hovered over Samuel, the centre of attention. The girls seemed to be did not even care that two students were unconscious. All attention was on Samuel.

Samuel, positioned at the heart of the commotion, appeared to be the focal point of the unfolding drama.

Isabella's keen observation noted the subtle shifts in body language among the students, hinting at an underlying tension. Whispers exchanged between the onlookers created a low hum of uncertainty and the air charged with a sense of unease.

Taking in the scene, Isabella felt compelled to investigate the cause of the disturbance. Her analytical mind went into overdrive, trying to piece together the puzzle that unfolded in the wake of her return.

But she could not replace anything even after trying to think so hard.

So she decided to approach one of the girls near Samuel.

"Hey, why these two are unconscious on the ground?'

That girl gives Isabella a side glance and a pleasant smile came to her face.

"Oh, it's nothing they just had a little spar and went unconscious after they all of their mana."

"Is that...So?"

There is some logic behind the words this girl has spoken but even so, Isabella felt something was wrong here.

Samuel who was talking with some girls turned in to Isabella's direction.

A small smirk came to his face but he quickly hid it.

"Isabella so you completed your research report," Samuel said as he walked to Isabella.

"Yes, I completed. Here's the report."

Seeing Samuel approaching her she replied curtly and handed him her report paper.

Taking a report from her Samuel just gives it a small glance and places it on his AI bracelet.

Samuel is about to head back but Isabella stops him.

"Ah, Senior."

Hearing Isabella's voice, Samuel stops there and turns his head toward her.

"What is it, Isabella? Is there anything else you want to say?"

Isabella hesitates for a moment but she wants to know how to cure her older sister.

Samuel is the only person who knows how to cure her older sister.

Well, that is what is said in the note that Isabella received from him.

She wants to check if he telling the truth or not.

"It's about that black box you gave me."

Now this time Samuel didn't even bother to think that smirk of his.

"Oh that black box, yes I remember."

"Is it true what is written in that note? Is there a way for my older sister to save?"

Isabella asked him, there was a hint of depression in her voice. Isabella is most of the time cold to others and does not show that much emotion but when it comes to her family or maybe friends there is always some emotion in it.

"Yeah, there is a way to save your sister."

"Thank go-"

"But you have to pay the price."

Before Isabella can celebrate, Samuel stops her.

Hearing his words Isabella knows that there is nothing free in this world. If you want something you have to pay the price for it.

"How much, just tell me and I can get you any amount."

"Samuel's shoulder shuddered for a moment

"Hahahahaha"

Before he laughed.

Isabella became confused at his sudden laugh.

He stops after a few moments and looks at Isabella.

"Money is not what I want."

"Then what is it you want?"

"Ah, what is it I want? Let's see..."

He ponders while walking toward Isabella, he reaches very near to her.

"You, I want you."

"What? What do you say? Do you have a death wish or something?"

Isabella said angrily.

"I and death wish? You can't kill me you know that."

Samuel said as he took a step back and looked toward female students.

They were just standing there, like some kind of statue.

"Do you see all of the female students here, well they are in my control."

Saying that Samuel walks to a female student and Isabella jumps back a few meters back.

She already had a feeling that something was wrong as soon as she came here.

She also remembered what Lucas had said to her one hour ago.

'Something might happen tonight, and you might be the target—no, you're most likely the target'

So that is what he meant! But how did he know that something like that could happen?

It doesn't matter, for now, she can any time asks.

First, she has to do something to confirm.

"So Did you sell your soul to Demon?"

Samuel who had just reached the group of girls turned toward her.

There was a sinister grin on his face.

"Yes, I did, so what? Anyway even if you don't come to me I just have to make you come."

Then something happened, Samuel's hand began to turn into the tentacle.

His body turned into half-demon. Another benefit of making a pack with demons.

He shoots his tactical hand at full speed to his left.

His intention was clearly to kill.

Isabella knows that the situation is not in her favour but even so, she is not going down without fighting.

She dodged his attack barely and jumped back before she could get a chance to breathe another tactical came at her.

It was just a few inches away from her face if that's it she was dead for sure.

But Isabella did something unexpected, she raised her hand in front of her face and used wind magic.

"Wind magic: Wind blast," she shouted at the top of her lungs.

Barriers of wind surrounded her.

With a gust of wind tactical shot in different directions from her but Isabella shot backward because of using the wind magic at point black face.

She hit the tree and her mouth was full of blood leaving her mouth.

"Damm it!"

Gnashing her teeth, Isabella tried her best to remain conscious.

Although she hit herself hard with her wind spell, she still did not lose consciousness.

…but she didn't know how long she could remain conscious for. Time was ticking and she could only try her best to not fall for whatever plot someone was brewing.

Looking around she tried to look for the Lucas that had warned her…but it was to no avail as he was still not here.

Seeing Isabella's expression Samuel could not help but giggle.

"Ku ku ku"

Trembling, Samual smile deepened as he started laughing.

"how careless of me…I just couldn't contain my excitement"

Samuel exaggeratively facepalmed

"Ah… I'm sorry, I just couldn't hold myself after imagining myself sharing some alone time with you, one of the three great beauties of the first years, if you had just easily given yourself to me this would not have happened "

Isabella somehow manages to summon fireball magic.

"oh my, aren't we a little too hasty?"

Raising his tentical hands in surrender, Samuel smirked as he walked in Isabella's direction.

-Woosh!

As soon as Samuel took a step in her direction, without batting an eye, Isabella released the fireball with maximum speed.

A fit ball appears before Samuel.

-Thump!

"Oh wow that's some great fire magic power"

Looking behind him, Samuel whistled in admiration as he looked at the power of fire magic.

"…too bad you missed"

Looking at Isabella who was on the floor panting heavily, Samuel had a delighted smile on his face.

Walking slowly, Samuel savoured Isabella's struggling expression.

"Yes…this is what I wanted! Finally, the oh-so-cold Isabella has shown me a different expression!"

Gritting her teeth, Isabella glared at Samuel who was only a few steps away from her.

"Oh dear, don't show me such face…"

Kneeling on one leg and holding Isabella by her chin, Samuel's expression twisted savagely

"Now, now, we wouldn't want our dear Isabella showing such a face would we?"

Grabbing onto her face, Samual looked at her features in admiration

"If not for the strict orders I received from My Lord I would've already devoured you…"

"My Lord? Is he your demon contractor isn't it?"

"Oops, it seems like I spoke too much"

Lightly knocking on his head, Samuel had a silly expression on his face.

"Let's just say that you're going to be thanking me soon"

-Pu!

Spitting on Samuel's face, Isabella defiantly looked at him.

"Fuck off!"

"Y-ou you"

Trembling, Samuel touched his cheek where Isabella spat. Looking at his finger which was covered in saliva, Samuel's face twisted menacingly as his hand grabbed her neck

"How, how dare you spit on my face! You bitch!"