Noriki’s hand clutching the paper shook violently.

His gaze remained locked on the markings left on the white sheet, utterly transfixed.

Time slipped away unnoticed. His expression… grew graver than ever before.

The Third Prince stood silently nearby, not daring to utter a word.

This was the first time he’d seen Master Noriki so absorbed, so lost to the world.

After an indeterminate stretch of time, Noriki finally set the paper down.

He let out a long sigh. His aged face showed despair, shock, reverence—a lifelong sense of insignificance and inadequacy.

“Master Noriki, you—”

The Third Prince began, but the old man let out another bitter laugh.

“Master? No. I’m unworthy. Not just me—after seeing these markings, I believe no one is worthy… except the one who left them.”

Even his own teacher would be but an apprentice before the creator of these traces.

“This isn’t a true super combat technique,” Noriki admitted truthfully. “Only because its core circuitry still stems from that advanced combat technique we saw earlier. Yet in complexity and destructive potential… this advanced technique likely surpasses many super techniques. *That’s* what terrifies me. What makes me feel utterly ashamed.”

How many advanced combat techniques in the entire Abyssal Demons could rival super techniques?

Not even Noriki’s teacher—the current Deputy Dean of the Royal Capital Academy—could create an advanced technique of this caliber.

And this quasi-super technique? It was rewritten from an *ancient* combat art!

Every technique preserved in *The Demon’s Fragments* was notoriously fragile—tweak one structure, and the entire circuit might collapse.

In this era, Abyssal Demons capable of replicating and enhancing ancient combat arts were vanishingly rare.

Yet the creator of these traces had drawn multiple versions effortlessly… pushing it nearly to super-tier.

What terrifying talent was this?

These sketches were priceless treasures. Any sensible demon would hide them, guarding them from all eyes.

But that noble?

She’d discarded these papers without a second thought. Left the final traces untouched. Utterly indifferent.

As if she’d merely come to the library for warm-up exercises.

“Just… who was it that graced this humble library…?” Noriki murmured. Simply standing near that chair sent chills down his spine.

The Third Prince was equally stunned.

What kind of being possessed such profound mastery over ancient combat arts?

And why would she grace the desolate Soulfall Demon Territory with her presence?

“One thing I know for certain,” Noriki said, taking a deep breath. “Her mastery of combat techniques is extraordinary. Across the entire Abyssal Demons… she likely ranks among the top three.”

The value of these papers was undeniable.

Especially the last sheet—bearing only a partial circuit.

For Noriki, grasping even a fraction of her thought process could catapult him to the pinnacle of academia.

For the Third Prince, this technique would become his ultimate trump card for years to come.

Their breathing quickened as they stared at the marked papers, eyes burning with fervor.

They knew this was a heaven-sent opportunity—a rare stroke of fortune.

Which meant—no one else could ever learn of this paper’s existence.

Noriki tucked the papers carefully into his robes, glancing around warily. The Third Prince did the same.

“This place is no longer safe.”

“We’ll relocate to study these traces in depth.”

“Understood.”

“If only that noble had left the final, perfected diagram here…”

But that was surely a fool’s dream.

As they left, neither noticed the trash bin now holding a few extra crumpled paper balls.

---

Elsewhere.

Luyi returned to the manor and sank onto the sofa with a sigh.

“Lord Luyi, you’re back?” Alices hurried over, offering a glass of water.

“Mm.” Luyi nodded, accepting it and taking a sip.

“Did you find anything useful at the library?”

“Not really.” Luyi wouldn’t admit how embarrassing it had been. “Searching there is inefficient. I need you to gather some materials for me.”

“Of course!” Alices pulled out a fresh notebook.

“I require literature and visual records on Abyssal Demons culture.”

“Understood.”

“And…” Luyi kept her tone coolly aloof. “Especially picture books for toddlers and early childhood education materials. I need those as well.”

*Eh?*

*Toddler books and early education materials?*

*Is Lord Luyi planning to… have a child here?!*

Alices froze for a second.

Then she shook her head.

*Why would I think something so absurd? This is Lord Luyi. She must have her reasons.*

“I’ll have my subordinates search immediately.”

“Send all materials to my room.” Luyi added, “And I don’t want to be disturbed while studying them.”

“Yes, my lord!”

---

That afternoon, a maid delivered a spatial crystal to Luyi before quickly retreating.

Once safely locked in her room, Luyi reinforced the door with multiple isolation barriers.

*If anyone discovered the Demon Sovereign doing this… my dignity would be utterly ruined!*

“Alright. Let’s begin—”

She took a deep breath and activated the recording crystal.

“Mo~ Mo~ Ba~ Shi~”

A childish voice echoed through the spacious room.

---

Thanks to her triple SSS-tier Authorities, Luyi’s learning ability had sharpened dramatically.

In less than three days, she’d basically mastered Abyssal Demons script.

But to truly understand this world? That required far more.

*Knock knock knock—*

On the fourth day, she knocked on Alices’ door.

“Coming… ah! Lord Luyi?” Alices opened the door, startled by the sight of the radiant golden-haired girl.

*Why is Lord Luyi visiting me?*

“I want to enroll in school.”

Luyi met Alices’ eyes, utterly serious.

“…Huh?”

*Did I hear that right?*

*Lord Luyi… wants to go to school?*

*Does she even need to? The headmaster would grovel at her feet!*

And…

Alices’ gaze lingered on Luyi’s clear, starry eyes.

*If Lord Luyi goes to school… will her eyes lose that pure, starry quality?*

The strange thought surfaced unbidden.