Chapter 185 - Agent Zero (4) (1/2)

Chitta wasn't expecting any guests so early in the morning. The assassin was immediately on guard. Even if this intruder was good at concealing his level of strength and aura, he wasn't very good at stealth. Chitta could easily take him out with some solid combat skills and weakening magic.

She lay in wait for the ignorant fool to enter her field of vision with the practised patience of a hunter. However, what the succubus hadn't been expecting was a clumsy and awestruck teenager who looked as weak as a human to come bumbling into her sanctuary. The student was obviously new, she did not recognise his face. The way he spoke to himself and pointed at the exotic plants only made Chitta think that he was slightly touched in the head.

Deciding that he wasn't a real threat, the succubus decided to observe the new specimen for a little longer as she remained hidden in the foliage of the grand Elder tree.

”Is this edible?” Zero asked and pointed to an orange fruit from one of the bushes.

Chitta raised a brow. It was common knowledge that Poxie fruits were poisonous. The only reason why they were grown in this greenhouse was because of their leaves. They made great tea and it was a tea that Chitta actually enjoyed from time to time.

The assassin wasn't quite expecting for Zero to pluck the fruit and pop it in his mouth all at one go. Her eyes widened instantly. The succubus swooped down from her branch to slam chop the brunet's nape and had him spit that out immediately.

”What do you think you're doing, idiot!”

Zero wasn't quite expecting to be attacked and the insult missed its intended purpose. He was only slightly disappointed at the waste of food. Still, he was pleasantly surprised that his hunch had been accurate. He didn't think that Chitta would so readily show herself even though she had been in the area. Zero had already achieved his motive of marking her on his map but it would be a waste to just leave the greenhouse without first exploring. Who knew that the target would choose to show herself before he made his move?

”Why did you do that? It hurts!”

Chitta couldn't believe it. She just saved this brat and he was complaining about getting hurt. The assassin gave him a glare. No matter how dumb a demon was, everybody should know what is deadly and what isn't? Did he not grow up in the abyss or something? How could he not tell apart poisonous from edible food? Besides, Poxie fruits grew in every domain. Has this kid been living under a rock or something?

”That was poisonous, idiot.”

Zero blinked. He knew that already. Why was she telling him that? He was only pretending to eat it. What he really wanted to do was absorb it and analyse if it contains any unique medicinal properties. One other thing Zero noticed was how her words and tone contradicted her intention. Maybe Chitta really was just a misunderstood person.

”Thanks, you're really nice. My name is Zero, would you like to be my friend?”

The assassin blinked at the random introduction. Zero? What kind of name was that? Also, she hadn't heard about any transfer student. In the Academy, she had the widest information network. How wasn't she aware that there would be a new student? A dumb one at that but that wasn't the point.

”Did you take the entrance exams to get accepted?”

Zero shook his head. ”No, Lucifer sent me an invitation to experience what school life is for a week. It might be a short time but I would like to try and make a few friends before I have to leave the abyss.”

Chitta blinked. ”Leave the abyss? Are you going on your first mission?”

Zero blinked. First mission? Did she know about the secret mission he was assigned? This was bad... his cover might be blown before he could get any action! Baal had specifically told him to run and avoid trouble at all cost. What was he going to do against her? She was a trained assassin who knew the Academy better than him. There really was no way to run.

”Hey! Dumb doctor! Where are you?”

Chitta was startled by the yell from the greenhouse entrance and took that opportunity to slip away. Zero was startled. Not many people knew he aspired to be a doctor. In fact, he didn't think that would be common knowledge in the Academy. Baal would never call him such mean things, who was it shouting for him?

”Dumb doctor!”

”I'm not dumb!” Zero shouted back at the unknown person, not willing to be insulted further. He wasn't the best doctor yet but he was working on it. They had absolutely no right to judge him for it. He hasn't even completed his training with Hua Tuo!

”There you are,” the familiar voice said and Zero turned around quickly.

”Beel!”

”Don't call me that,” the Demon Lord scowled. ”What do you think you're doing here? Also, what's with that fruit? Don't tell me you tried to eat it...”

Zero blinked at the fallen orange fruit on the ground.

”I was... but a girl suddenly fell out of a tree and smacked me from behind making me spit it out. She disappeared because you were shouting. Also, I am not dumb.”

Beelzebub raised a brow and looked at Zero for a few seconds before snorting. ”Says the one who tried to eat Poxie fruit. You don't have poison resistance or special abilities, do you?”

Zero blinked. Apart from absorption, nothing really. ”I guess not?”

Beelzebub rolled his eyes. ”You should be thanking her. No ordinary demon survives the poison of a Poxie fruit. The poison spreads within three minutes. No matter how good of a doctor you are, you wouldn't be able to make it. The only way to cure Poxie fruit poisoning is to drink blessed water but for demons, it's either death by poison or death by allergy reactions to the holy attribute.”

Zero blinked. Now he was more curious about it. In fact, the greenhouse was becoming one of the places he wanted to explore in the Academy apart from the library.