Chapter 229: Father


    <strong>229. Father</strong>


    I sat in the lecture hall with my arms crossed and my back halfway slid down the seat as lecturer udia nced over at Sal.


    And who might you be? I dont recall such a student being enrolled in my ss.


    She narrowed her eyes as she adjusted a pair of ssesid on her face. Sal the Devil, and my apparent father nodded, standing up.


    I am Sal, father of this amazing young girl right here.


    He gestured at me, and I buried my head in my face.


    Please stop.


    I whispered, but he ignored me, continuing with his speech.


    I have heard much about this prestigious institution from my daughter here, and I decided that Id love to take a look at it myself.


    Lecturer udia raised her brows. Her gray hair was tied into a bun, and the wrinkles engraved on her face only deepened.


    Hrmph, I do not believe that our academy allows such visits to be held. At least, not visits during lecture sessions. While Imend you for your crity at wanting to learn more about our institution, I will have to ask you to leave my ssroom.


    I looked up, hopeful. Was she going to kick Sal out of the ss? Thatd be great. I really wanted him to leave right now to end this annoying facade. But Sal paused.


    Your ssroom?


    Then he ced a hand on his chest, aghast.


    I do apologize, Miss! I did not know that you were the instructor of this course. You just look too young for that!


    udia blinked as Sal shook his head.


    If Id been aware, Id have been more discreet. I just assumed you were another student here.


    Then her face turned red. I stared at her as she flushed. My jaw worked slowly.


    Um, what?


    <em>Oh dear me. That is oh my</em>


    She ced her hands on her cheeks, her frail arms looking like theyd fall off just from being raised at an incline. I nced between my blushing lecturer and the smirking Devil. He ced a hand on his forehead, feigning his disappointment.


    I guess Ill have to leave your ssroom, young miss. And it took me a month to get here


    Now, dont be in such a rush, Mr Sal.


    udia raised her hands catingly.


    I guess aodations can be made for special asions. Especially since you traveled far to get here. Itd be a shame if you had to leave so soon, right?


    ...what?


    I repeated myself, but no one heard me. My hope was crushed with a few simple sentences by the Devil. It was such an <em>obvious </em>attempt at ttery. And it somehow worked! How?!


    Lamarr nodded as he rubbed a hand on his chin.


    That is certainly a long trip. And Im sure Salvos here would be upset if you were kicked out of her ss.


    I wanted to protest <em>yes, kick him out! Get him to leave me alone! </em>But udia shook her head.


    We wouldnt want that to happen. So, you may stay, Mr Sal.


    Then she leaned forward almost conspiratorially.


    And if possible, Id love to chat with you about your daughters performance in this ss.


    Of course. That would be my pleasure, Ms udia.


    The Devil winked at her, and she giggled. <em>Is this for real? </em> I looked between the two of them, gaping. I turned to Sal as he smiled, settling back into his seat.


    Arent you d, Salvos? Your father isnt getting kicked out!


    I hate you.


    I spoke the words simply. Then I shut my eyes.


    I really hate you.


    He grinned.


    I know. Thats the point.


    <strong></strong>


    --


    <strong></strong>


    Sal wore a bored look on his face as he sat through my first ss. He kept leaning over towards me and whispering.


    Is this really what youre learning in ss? Its <em>boring.</em>


    Shut <em>up. </em>


    I shot him a re, but no one overheard. He had some sort of <em>magic </em>that let him whisper all he wanted without being caught. But I was pretty sure that even if that barrier wasnt up, udia wouldve excused him.


    She kept calling him up to ask him questions, even though he wasnt a student in the ss.


    Mr Sal, do you know the form to


    Yep. Its


    He stood up and replied instantly, giving udia a bright smile, as though he wasnt just insulting the ss. Then he sat back down and proceeded to insult udia herself.


    And look at that old hag. Well, actually, Im like a thousand times older than her or a few hundred times. Point is, shes old, and she looks old. Who in the right mind would ever be interested in her?


    Thats rude.


    I crossed my arms, but he waved a hand off.


    Come on, now. Youre a <em>Demon, </em>Salvos. Thest thing you should be caring about is treating others with respect.


    My brows snapped together.


    Im not wild. Im not like you.


    Wild, huh? I guess Im pretty radical and cool, arent I? Thats quite the praise from my young daughter.


    And I''m not your daughter!


    I really, really, really wished Sal had been thrown out of the ssroom. Unfortunately, he wasnt, and the ss ended with him harping into my ear the entire time.


    Honestly, Im disappointed in you, daughter


    <em>I am not</em>


    Id have thought all of this stupid <em>theory </em>wouldvee naturally to you like it did to me.


    He waved a hand nonchntly as he followed me out of ss. With a final wink, he waved at udia who muttered something along the lines of asking him to visit again before she copsed into a chair and fanned herself.


    I crossed my arms as I turned to face the Devil.


    Didnt youe here to lecture my teachers or something? Why do you keep praising them instead, anyway? Thats annoying!


    Oh, dont be annoyed because your dad is good-looking and funny and intelligent. I was just being <em>nice. </em>If udia interpreted it as flirting, then its not my fault.


    He opened his hands and shrugged as I scowled. Then he shook his head.


    Anyway, this isnt the ss thats the problem. While everything they taught you was pretty basic, it wasnt <em>wrong. </em>Not like what I read in your textbook.


    Alright, so are you going to leave me alone now?


    I asked hopefully. Sal patted me on the shoulder.


    Nope. Ill get to the bottom of this eventually. When I find that dumb professor thats been feeding you wrong things, Ill give him a huge earful.


    Youll get in real trouble for that. If Headmaster yton Skyshredder is called down, youll be extricated from the academys premises.


    Who?


    He cocked his head, and I rolled my eyes.


    Whatever.


    Itd be more entertaining if I had to watch the Devil argue before being kicked out by yton. Although


    My eyes narrowed.


    I didnt know what level Sal was. Neither did I know what level yton was. Were they even in the same league? One of them could potentially be far higher-leveled than the other. And I feared that the Devil mightve been the stronger one. After all, hed been alive for a long time. That meant he had to be strong, right?


    I shook my head, heading to my next ss.


    <strong></strong>


    --


    <strong></strong>


    Fortunately for me, Sal wasnt let into my next ss. Professor Lisbenon didnt buy the Devils wits and tricks. And since it wasnt a ss on space magic, the Devil didnt bother protesting. He was dragged out, drawing only a few confused looks.


    Valda went up to me with a raised brow.


    Who is that, Ms Salvos?


    That?


    I nced between Sal and the girl. I shrugged.


    Dunno. Just some weirdo.


    Huh. I see.


    She nodded and went back to her seat. I breathed in relief, d to have gotten rid of him, at least temporarily.


    The ss ended soon after, and I tried sneaking out the back of the ssroom, excusing myself from Valda and her friends. I promised her Id tutor her more on a different date, but first, I had to deal with Sal. I poked my head out of the door and escaped with the crowd, keeping an eye out for the Devil.


    I expected him to pop up at any moment. But he didnt appear.


    I wrinkled my brows, perplexed hopeful. Maybe he finally decided it wasnt worth it trying to apprentice me. Unfortunately, my dreams were dashed when I caught sight of him standing in front of my next ss on alchemy. He was standing at the front door, chatting with Gallus and Nn.


    Oh, there you are!


    He turned to face me with an innocuous smile.


    Took you long enough. My little girl is always runningte, isnt she?


    I stared at him, then at the other two men chuckling. Nn waved a hand off.


    Well, she is indeed quite busy, as to be expected for someone as important as her. But tell me, Salvos, why have you never told me about your father?


    Gallus grunted.


    He is an interesting man. I can see where youve got it from.


    Please my Salvos is going to grow up to be much better than this old man. I wont be surprised if she surpasses me in half or even a quarter of the time it took me to get to where I am today!


    Sal bowed his head slightly, looking at me with a twinkle in his eyes. I stared at the three of them, then at the open door by their side.


    I Im just going to enter the ssroom now.


    Alright, see you after ss!


    Sal continued to chat with the two men as I entered theboratory. I needed to get rid of him, somehow. He wasnt going to bother me with my alchemy ss, but the next ss was going to be on space magic. And I really didnt want Sal to embarrass me again there.


    I spotted someone already sitting in the ssroom. Veronica Adash. I squinted as I remembered her ss. She was a [Space Mage] or something like that. A member of the faculty too! Even if she was a student in the School of Aspiring Elites. Maybe she couldve helped me with Sal talk him out of lecturing my next professor.


    I ran up to her as she unpacked her things, slightly distracted and ncing to the side.


    Veronica, I need


    I started, but she sighed.


    Your father is handsome, Salvos.


    She didnt even turn to face me, admiring Sal from where she sat. I halted mid-step.


    Are you serious?


    Yeah. And hes so <em>charming </em>and <em>witty </em>too! I spoke to him for like ten minutes, and time flew by like it was nothing. Youve got to arrange a dinner for us. Tell me what he likes.


    I blinked. Then I closed my and sank into my seat.


    ...s-sure.


    Massaging my temples, I ignored Veronica as she droned on about Sal and how great he was and how I somehow resembled him, when I didnt at all. His eyes were multi-colored! Mine was the same gold!


    But apparently, I got it from my mother.


    Who even was my mother?! I didn''t have a mother! Just like I didnt have a father!


    This was the literal worst.


    I crossed my arms, harrumphing as Sal waved at me, leaving when [Alchemist] Raymond arrived. I barely even paid attention to what was going on next, dreading only my next ss, where the worst would only be worse and the Devil could finally do what he wanted.


    I considered skipping myst ss. But then Sal would just follow me on another day. And Id have to experience this all over again. Gritting my teeth, I finished myb session and stomped out of the ssroom.


    Sal was waiting for me outside. He perked up, but before Veronica, Nn, and Gallus could exit after me, I grabbed him by the arm and dragged him away.


    Aw, I didn''t get to say goodbye.


    I just want to get this over with, alright?


    Why?


    He pouted, and I red at him.


    You know why you keep embarrassing me!


    The Devil raised a brow. Then he slipped out of my grip without me even realizing it.


    Come on!


    He grinned, walking around to face me.


    Embarrassing daughters is what fathers do!


    I paused. Our gazes met. I saw the smirk twisted across his face. The Devil waited for a moment for my reaction. He knew what I was going to say. And sure, I was going to say it regardless. But I added in some ir too.


    I punched him in theher region.


    He blinked, looking down at where Id hit him. Then he doubled over.


    Ouch.


    <em>Im not your daughter! Im Salvos!</em>


    I stormed off as hey there for a minute. Then he picked himself up and followed after me. Because it was time for my final ss. My ss on space magic. And the ss where hed do whatever he could to embarrass me the most.